UFC Booking Alert: Michael Bisping to Face Cung Le in August, Hector Lombard vs. Dong Hyun Kim Booked as Well

(We don’t regret choosing this image. / Photo via Getty)

Michael Bisping has been booked to fight Cung Le on August 23rd, in the main event of a Fight Night card that takes place at the Cotai Arena in Macau. This booking was announced at the UFC 173 post-fight presser.

Le won his last match with a sudden, dramatic KO victory over Rich Franklin. Despite such a win, the 42-year-old isn’t exactly a threat to Bisping, who’s coming off a disappointing decision loss to Tim Kennedy. Looks like the UFC wants its British meal ticket back in the win column as soon as possible.

Get the details on the co-main event, and where the fight card will air after the jump.

(We don’t regret choosing this image. / Photo via Getty)

The co-main event of this Fight Night card will feature a bout between Dong Hyun Kim and Hector Lombard. Kim is on a four-fight winning streak. Most recently, he knocked out John Hathaway with a gorgeous spinning back elbow. Lombard is only on a two-fight win streak but has looked equally if not more impressive. Since dropping to welterweight, he’s smashed Nate Marquardt and sent Jake Shields out of the UFC.

It’s a shame these matches will only air on Fight Pass.

Shogun vs. Henderson 2 to Headline March ‘UFC Fight Night’ Card in Brazil [UPDATED]

(2011’s Slobberknocker of the Year is getting a sequel. / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

As first reported by Tatame, a rematch between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson will headline a March 23rd UFC Fight Night event in Natal, Brazil. Broadcast plans haven’t been announced yet; hopefully the UFC doesn’t bury it on Fight Pass, because I’d actually like to watch this one.

(Update: UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2 will take place at the Nelio Dias Gymnasium in Natal, and will be aired live on FOX Sports 1. By the way, March 23rd is a Sunday. The event isn’t happening on Saturday because FS1 is airing a motocross event that day. Seriously.)

Shogun and Hendo first squared off at UFC 139 back in November 2011, with Henderson earning a unanimous decision victory after five rounds of beautiful violence. But as we all know, Shogun was kicking Dan’s ass in last round, and would have won had the fight been scored under the Unified Rules of Stockton.

Rua has gone 2-2 since that night, including savage knockouts of Brandon Vera and James Te-Huna (“The Old Shogun is back! PRIDE neva die!”) and losses to Alexander Gustafsson and Chael Sonnen (“Shogun is finished! PRIDE die, maybe!”). Meanwhile, Henderson has only tasted defeat over the past two years, eating three straight losses against Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Vitor Belfort. Hendo’s losing streak led the UFC to make him a borderline-insulting lowball offer during his recent contract negotiations, but apparently the two sides have come to terms.

So are you psyched to see these two living legends do battle once again? Or did you satisfy your PRIDE fanboy fix the first time?

(2011′s Slobberknocker of the Year is getting a sequel. / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

So are you psyched to see these two living legends do battle once again? Or did you satisfy your PRIDE fanboy fix the first time?

UFC Booking Alert: Mark Hunt and ‘Bigfoot’ Silva Verbally Agree to Fight in Australia Dec. 6th

(Bigfoot returns to MMA from his foray into music December 6th against Mark Hunt.)

Mark Hunt and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will headline a December 6th UFC Fight Night card somewhere in Australia. MMA Fighting reports that the two hard-sluggin’ heavyweights have verbally agreed to fight one another. A city and venue has not been announced for the event.

Hunt is a native of nearby New Zealand but currently lives in Sydney, Australia, and is coming off his first loss in five fights at UFC 160 in May, when he was knocked out by Junior Dos Santos. Silva is also looking to rebound after a loss that same night, as he suffered a first-round TKO loss to current heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

Even in a division dominated by finishes, Hunt and Silva are particularly decision-averse. All four of Bigfoot’s UFC fights have ended by stoppage due to strikes (including his wins over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem), while Hunt has only gone the distance once in six UFC appearances, earning victories over Chris Tuchscherer, Cheick Kongo, and Stefan Struve.

What do you think, Taters? Will Hunt start another unlikely campaign towards the heavyweight title or will “Bigfoot” use his eight-inch reach advantage to stop the “Super Samoan?” We’re not sure, but we know we like watching highlights of them smashing things so…Hunt and Silva highlight vids after the jump!

(Bigfoot returns to MMA from his foray into music December 6th against Mark Hunt.)

Mark Hunt Highlights:

(Video via justfightmma)

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva Highlights (for those that like their monsters to come with a techno beat):

(Video via The Sporim)

– Elias Cepeda

Update-ish: Fret Not, Chael Sonnen WILL Be Fighting at “Fight Night 26? or Whatever It’s Called

(“I’m tha muthaflippin’ Chaelnocerous, my insults are bottomless, poppin off tha top-of-this esophagus. Yes, sometimes I am know to be quite sexist, but you lovely bitches n’ hoes should know I’m trying to correct this.” Photo via UFC.com)

Another Culinary Union powerplay denied, Potato Nation! Let’s go to the scoreboards:

MMA: 438 and counting CU: 1 (but it’s a big one)

Earlier today, we reported that Chael Sonnen was having a little trouble getting licensed for his fight with Mauricio Rua at Fight Night 26 (or as some of the CP old guard call it, UFC on FOX Sports 1) based on his poor “moral turpitude.” Being that Chael couldn’t fall back on his classic counterpoint, “I don’t speak ghetto,” it seemed as if The American Gangster would be facing some legitimate opposition less than two weeks out from what is primed to be a major event for both the UFC and the FOX Sports network.

Well fret not, Bostonians, because according to Sonnen’s manager — who we are going to assume is just Sonnen wearing a top hat and monocle — the panel that gathered at this afternoon’s closed-door meeting ultimately voted in Sonnen’s favor. He spoke with MMAJunkie:

They had a panel, we had a meeting with them, and as far as we know, they’re going to license him. As far as we know, it will be just like everybody else’s license.

Maybe it’s just us, but there’s something about Chael P.nut Sonnen’s emphasis on “as far as we know” that makes us uneasy here. You know, kind of like how Chael used to say “As far as we know, your house needs $70,000 in plumbing repairs.”

–J. Jones

Another Culinary Union powerplay denied, Potato Nation! Let’s go to the scoreboards:

MMA: 438 and counting CU: 1 (but it’s a big one)

They had a panel, we had a meeting with them, and as far as we know, they’re going to license him. As far as we know, it will be just like everybody else’s license.

–J. Jones

Dan Hardy Worried Anthony Johnson Won’t Make Weight

It may be a stretch to call it MMA’s “March Madness,” but over the next few weeks there’s more than a few bouts scheduled to satisfy the fight diet of any avid fan. Maybe that’s why that the upcoming UFC Fight Night bout between Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson has been getting lost in the […]

It may be a stretch to call it MMA’s “March Madness,” but over the next few weeks there’s more than a few bouts scheduled to satisfy the fight diet of any avid fan. Maybe that’s why that the upcoming UFC Fight Night bout between Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson has been getting lost in the mix a little bit.

Granted, sales on Dan Hardy Mohawk replicas may have dipped some because of his KO loss to Carlos Condit in October, but if you can’t understand why one might be excited about “The Outlaw’s” upcoming fight with Johnson, maybe it’s time to pick a new sport huh? After all, until Johnson got worked over by Josh Koscheck, the massive welterweight was quickly rising up the rankings with a head kick here and a night ending punch there. In other words, this fight could, repeat, could be a striking barnburner.

While speaking to Middleeasy.com, however, Hardy is apparently concerned about Johnson’s ability to make weight for the UFC Fight Night card. Johnson has missed weight in the past, and according to Hardy at least, the fighter may be looking to redefine the meaning of “oversized welterweight.”

“I saw him a few months ago, he was about 235 lbs. Even if it was nine months ago, to lose 65 lbs is a push. It’s going to be tough on his body. He struggles to make weight anyway when he’s fighting regularly, so coming down from that weight — I don’t know. I’m a little concerned because I don’t want a percentage of his purse, I want the win bonus.”

We’re concerned too buddy; here’s hoping both dudes can bring it come March 26^th, as this one could be FOTN. To bet on the bout head here.

UFC Fight Night Marquardt vs Palhares

UFC Fight Night Main card * Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs Rousimar Palhares – Bad matchup for Marquardt if this gets on the ground. With both their skillsets I like Palhares. * Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs Charles Oliveira – Charles Oliveira wins this. * Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau – Interesting fight […]

UFC Fight Night Main card

* Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs Rousimar Palhares – Bad matchup for Marquardt if this gets on the ground. With both their skillsets I like Palhares.

* Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs Charles Oliveira – Charles Oliveira wins this.

* Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau – Interesting fight here. If there is going to be a TKO its coming from Tibau’s hands. Miller could out point Tibau, but Gleison has been doing well is last couple of outings and really concentrating. I like Tibau here he will be bigger and more powerful – slower though.

* Lightweight bout: Ross Pearson vs Cole Miller – I don’t think Miller has an answer to anything that Pearson will be throwing. Pearson has looked great on his feet in his two fights vs Aaron Riley and Denis Siver. These two fighters are known for pushing the pace and steamrolling their opponents. Pearson handled them with relative ease. I think Miller will have trouble the whole fight so the odds of Miller slapping on a triangle or RNC I think are slim. Pearson has showed a laser like focus sticking to a fight plan against both Riley and Siver. I like Pearson to win.

UFC Fight Night Prelims card

* Lightweight bout: Yves Edwards vs John Gunderson – As much as I’m fan of Gunderson. I think Yves has the speed and all the ability to stifle Gunderson. Yves by decision.

* Light Heavyweight bout: Jared Hamman vs Kyle Kingsbury – Kingsbury has been looking better lately, and Hamman has that tough zombie style. I like Hamman because he is unbreakable.

* Middleweight bout: Tomasz Drwal vs Dave Branch – Dave Branch wins this.

* Middleweight bout: Rich Attonito vs Rafael Natal – Pass

* Welterweight bout: Anthony Waldburger vs David Mitchell – Pass

* Welterweight bout: Brian Foster vs Forrest Petz