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Opportunity knocks. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight Urijah Faber is fresh off a short notice main event victory over Scott Jorgensen last month (April 13, 2013) at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, but in light of recent events in the bantamweight division, he'd be willing to do it again if asked. UFC 161 was supposed to be headlined by an interim title fight between Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland, but a foot injury to the Brazilian champion has left that fight in serious jeopardy. While no one has reached out to Faber about

filling in to fight Wineland in a number one contender bout, he tells MMAmania.com that he'd definitely be interested: "I just found out and from what it sounds like, we've got the champ injured and now the interim champ is hurt. This sucks. No one has reached out to me about filling in but if the opportunity comes knocking, I'll definitely consider it." When informed that UFC 161 would take place in just under a month, the former WEC champion Faber, who's been busy promoting an upcoming MMA art show and his new amateur MMA website MMADraft.com, warmed up to the idea. "That would work. I feel like in the rankings I'm number two, it's kinda like waiting to see what happens. If an opportunity comes...(Read Full Article)

There was much to love about Saturday night's UFC on FX 8 event from Jaragua do Sul, Brazil. Former Strikeforce champions made their MMA debuts, flyweights shined and there was a spinning heel kick that ended up on ESPN's SportsCenter. Then again, the card wasn't overly impressive and the main event featured a fighter, fairly or not, who is reigniting the debate about the role of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in MMA. It's time to separate the winners from the losers, the best and from the worst and the signal from the noise. Credit Where Credit Is Due

Award: Vitor Belfort We'll get to the TRT issue in a moment because it's inextricable from the situation at this point. For now, though, let's talk about the kick. Under no coherent concept of 'good' was that kick anything but. The timing, set-up and ferocity of it all was positively sensational. Moreover, it's one thing to want to spinning heel kick a reporter. It's quite another to be able to do it to one of the best middleweights on earth. The kick ultimately found it's way onto ESPN's SportsCenter's Top Plays, which is the least it deserved in available accolades. If nothing else, Belfort is now in the running for Knockout of the Year while Rockhold is sent to the kind of career drawing board...(Read Full Article)

UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard hoped to return from injury to a high-profile bout. Two months after he signed a contract to fight T.J. Grant at UFC 160, he got his wish. In the closing moments of UFC on FOX 7's post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White announced the winner of Maynard vs. Grant would be next in line to challenge reigning lightweight champion Benson Henderson. It was exactly the opportunity Maynard had been waiting for. "I thought it could be [an important fight], yeah, because we asked for Anthony Pettis and then

he dropped down. And then they offered [Grant] and I thought that he was a top guy too, so we took it and we kind of knew it would be one of those types of fights," Maynard said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "Halfway through the camp, you get a little bit down, a little slowed up. But [announcing it was a No. 1 contender fight] was a kick in the ass, so I was pumped." That's not to say White's announcement was met without its fair share of criticism. Just hours before, perennial Strikeforce contender Josh Thomson made his presence felt with a resounding knockout of Nate Diaz in his UFC return, while Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez fell just inches...(Read Full Article)

After firing off a tweet that used a gay slur to criticize Bryan Caraway, UFC star Nate Diaz was quickly fined $20,000 and suspended 90 days for violating the UFC's code of conduct. Diaz has not been heard from publicly since then, but his manager Mike Kogan has attempted to defuse the situation by explaining that Diaz was using the term in a different context than the more generally understood, offensive way.

That explanation hasn't been enough for some critics, who believe that Diaz might have missed a lesson on sensitivity, but Diaz's team is holding

steady on their stance.

According to Kogan, who discussed the incident on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Diaz feels he has nothing to be sorry for.

"Nate doesn't feel remorse for what he said," Kogan told host Ariel Helwani."I don't feel remorse for what he said. I don't feel remorse for defending what he said or elaborating on what he said. Because it was not a homophobic statement. It was not intended to offend homosexuals. We weren't even talking about homosexuals. One can debate the multiple uses of this term. We can sit here and debate in the English language, there's a lot of words that mean a lot of different things, but whatever. As it is, it wasn’t intended to be used...(Read Full Article)

Former Strikeforce heavyweight and Olympic talent Daniel Cormier is still eyeing a cut to 205 pounds, but he wants a fight at UFC on Fox Sports 1 this August.During a UFC on FX 8 post-fight coverage segment on Fuel TV (via MMA Weekly), the top-ranked contender asked for a fight at heavyweight to follow up on his one-sided decision victory over former UFC champion Frank Mir: I want to fight on the first card on FOX Sports 1 in Boston on Aug. 17. And I hope my man Chael Sonnen is fighting Wanderlei Silva next to me. Put us on the

card, boss! At the end of the day I can't cut massive amounts of weight.  That's well documented from my problems in the Olympic games.  But I can diet, and when I'm dieting I can still fight.  Can I fight at 205? No.  Because it's too much weight to cut in a short period of time.  But could I fight a heavyweight fight and just be a little lighter? I think so. UFC on Fox Sports 1 takes place on August 17, and given the timing, that would only free up two names on the promotion's roster.Currently, the only winning heavyweights yet to face Cormier without a fight scheduled are Roy Nelson and Todd Duffee.Since Duffee is nowhere near the title hunt and well outside of...(Read Full Article)

Check out the recently released poster for the Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg II event set for July 13th in Kansas City, Missouri, headlined by the women’s featherweight title clash between former Strikeforce champions Marloes Coenen and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. Why not tell us what you think about this story and get your thoughts [...]

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Although Daniel Cormier has announced that he’ll remain at heavyweight for his next bout, as he continues to explore the possibility of moving to 205, the rising star  does not have a fight lined up. Earlier in the month, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix winner relayed that fighting at the August 17th, UFC on FOX Sports [...]MMAFrenzy.com

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Records, not toes, were made to be broken. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is in a big hurry to break the division record for consecutive title defenses at five, one he currently holds with former 205-pound titleholder Tito Ortiz. Then tack on one more, just for good measure. His manager, Malki Kawa, talks to Bleacher Report. "I'll just tell you this, I wouldn't be surprised if Jon fights two more times this year. That's very aggressive and I know that's crazy, but it's something that he discussed with

me and we talked about it. I told Superman to relax a little bit, you're injured right now, but he's got an aggressive timeline in his head. Certain goals and accomplishments that he wants and we're looking to get that record. The truth and the fact of the matter is before we can talk any superfight or any move in weight class or anything to that effect, Jon Jones wants to win his next fight at light heavyweight, he wants to break that record, he wants to own that record solely. He wants to be considered the greatest light heavyweight of all time at this point. I already think he is the greatest light heavyweight of all time, record or no record." Jones

"I wanted to fight the 'Korean Zombie' because the UFC really holds him in high regard. Dana White is a fan of his. You see him wearing Korean Zombie shirts, so what better guy to go up against? I really want to make a statement in this fight and get that title shot. I'm bringing fireworks... I am going out there to finish the job. I think I have to finish him to really impress the UFC. I'm always looking to finish, but this is my chance to make a huge statement. I'm working harder than I

ever have before, and people are going to see a caged animal when I step in there." -- UFC featherweight Ricardo Lamas completely understands the importance of making a good impression. Considering the popularity of his upcoming opponent "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung, Lamas tells Bleacher Report that he views his UFC 162 bout as the ultimate opportunity to make a statement and finally clear up some of the muddled mess that is the top UFC featherweight contenders. With UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo locking horns againt Anthony Pettis, Lamas would be in prime position to get the next shot at the champ should he get past Jung. Do you agree with the Bully?...(Read Full Article)

Matt "Deep Waters" Riddle Joins Bellator's Stacked Welterweight Roster

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