The MMA Hour With Joe Rogan, Carlos Condit, Cesar Gracie, Jake Ellenberger, Aaron Simpson, Dave Herman

• By Ariel Helwani
• February 13, 2012 08:00 am
• 

  Ramsey Cardey, MMA Fighting

  The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another loaded lineup. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by.

  * UFC color analyst and comedian Joe Rogan will discuss the latest news from around the world of the UFC.

  * Interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit will look back at the wild week following his UFC 143 win over Nick Diaz.

  * Nick Diaz's manager and trainer Cesar Gracie will discuss Diaz's recent drug test failure and what's next for him.

  * Jake Ellenberger will look ahead to UFC on FUEL TV main event fight against Diego Sanchez.

  * Aaron Simpson will preview his UFC on FUEL TV fight against Ronny Markes.

  * Dave Herman will stop by (for real, this time) to discuss his upcoming fight against Stefan Struve.

  * And MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes will look back at the week that was in MMA.

  Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074.
  
  Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

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For Stefan Struve, It's Not About How You Start, But How You Finish

• By Mike Chiappetta
• February 12, 2012 09:37 am
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  Looking back, Stefan Struve can acknowledge that certain things came too quickly for him. He was just three days past his 21st birthday when he made his UFC debut. At that young age, he had barely had time to fill out his 6-foot-11 frame, which hovered around 235 pounds. And his first octagon encounter came against a then little-known Brazilian by the name of Junior Dos Santos.
  
  The result was a 54-second knockout loss, a lopsided defeat that could easily have stunted his progression.

  But there was always an end game in sight for Struve (22-5), who was clearly a work in progress when he walked into the UFC for the first time. While that's true for most fighters, it usually refers to their fight game, and the development of incorporating elements to complement their existing strengths while bolstering weaknesses. For Struve, it's a two-pronged growth plan encompassing both his fight skills and physical strength.

  Many fighters try to pack on as much muscle into their frames as possible, but most don't do it in such little time, while trying to compete at the highest level of their sport. But due to his youth and a growth spurt, Struve was playing catchup from the beginning.

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Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson to Face Matt Brown at UFC 145

• By Mike Chiappetta
• February 11, 2012 03:49 pm
• 

  Stephen Thompson after his KO of Dan Stittgen. Photo by Esther Lin

  Undefeated striking phenom Stephen Thompson won't have a long wait on the sidelines to follow up his spectacular debut. The South Carolinian, who has now won 63 straight kickboxing and MMA fights, will take on Matt Brown at UFC 145.

  The UFC confirmed the welterweight pairing on Saturday, following a report from Thompson's hometown paper, Greenville Online.

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Miesha Tate Thinks Ronda Rousey Is Fake, Will Get Nervous After First Minute

• By Ariel Helwani
• February 11, 2012 09:00 am
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  MMA Fighting recently caught up with Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate about her upcoming title fight against Ronda Rousey on March 3. Tate talked about whether she finally thinks Strikeforce made the right call by booking her against Rousey instead of Sarah Kaufman, how she feels about being around Rousey during their press tour, Rousey's overall MMA skills, and much more.

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Jamie Varner Beats Up Drew Fickett at XFC 16

• By Michael David Smith
• February 10, 2012 11:31 pm
• 

  Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

  Former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Jamie Varner earned his most impressive win since being released by the WEC on Friday night, defeating Drew Fickett by first-round TKO at XFC 16.

  Varner floored Fickett with a huge right hand just 10 seconds into the first round, then pounced on him and continued swinging wildly until Fickett turned over and turtled up, and that's when the referee stepped in to stop it. The whole fight lasted just 41 seconds.

  Afterward Varner credited Fickett, a longtime friend, for inspiring him to get into MMA.

  "Drew Fickett is the guy that got me into this sport," Varner said. "I was a junior in high school and I went to a fight, and I saw him fight -- he was a wrestler, he was well rounded, he had all this heart. I looked up to him before I knew him and all I wanted to do was meet him. I had the opportunity to meet him, he took me under his wing and taught me how to train. ... I love the guy. I wouldn't be here without him."

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Dustin Poirier vs. 'Korean Zombie' Tapped as UFC on Fuel 3 Main Event

• By Shaun Al-Shatti
• February 10, 2012 03:58 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  Dustin Poirier called his shot.

  After trading verbal barbs with Chan Sung Jung throughout the week, the two fast-rising featherweights have been tapped as the main event of UFC on Fuel 3, set for May 15 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. According to UFC officials, the headlining tilt will be a three-round affair.

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Top FUEL Executive Thrilled With Early UFC Programming Ratings

• By Mike Chiappetta
• February 10, 2012 03:24 pm
• 

  Jake Ellenberger. Photo by Esther Lin, MMA FIghting

  It may be little more than one month into a seven-year deal, but FUEL TV officials are excited by the early returns when it comes to ratings generated by UFC programming.
  
  According to the cable network's executive vice president and general manager George Greenberg, ratings so far have surpassed expectation, with an 80 percent increase in the target demographic of men ages 18-49, and a near 230 percent increase in overall primetime ratings from past ratings periods.
  
  "To say I’m jacked would be putting it mildly," he said.

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Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir, Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin Confirmed by Lorenzo Fertitta

• By Michael David Smith
• February 10, 2012 09:18 am
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  In a wide-ranging late-night chat with his Twitter followers, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed several pieces of news, including plans to book Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir and Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin.

  Fertitta, who has more than 76,000 followers on his verified Twitter account, said late Thursday night that he'd answer questions from fans. Among the pieces of information he provided are that Velasquez will fight Mir in a bout that may determine the No. 1 contender for the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. Fertitta also said a third fight between Ortiz and Griffin is coming. Ortiz beat Griffin by split decision at UFC 59 in 2006, and Griffin beat Ortiz by split decision at UFC 106 in 2009.

  In addition to those fights, Fertitta offered his opinions and plans on a variety of issues including:

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Dana White 'Beyond Disappointed' in Nick Diaz

• By Michael David Smith
• February 9, 2012 07:16 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  UFC President Dana White has weighed in on Nick Diaz's failed drug test with a prepared statement that's tamer than most UFC fans would probably expect from White.

  "I am beyond disappointed that he tested positive for marijuana," White said in the statement that the UFC distributed to the media. "It is now in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission."

  The prepared statement comes across like something a PR staffer would write for White, not like something White would say himself: It doesn't contain any F-bombs, and it doesn't say anything about what this does for Diaz's future with the UFC. White has also been silent on Twitter, where he usually doesn't hesitate to mix it up with fans when controversy explodes in the UFC.

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The MMA (After) Hour: Dissecting Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test

• By Ariel Helwani
• February 9, 2012 07:06 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  The MMA (After) Hour is a new feature on MMAFighting.com where we'll provide you with breaking news and interviews in audio podcast form when there isn't a regular episode of The MMA Hour scheduled.

  On this first-ever edition of the podcast, we discuss Nick Diaz's positive marijuana test with MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes, what this means for Diaz's MMA future, what the UFC should do next with Diaz and Carlos Condit, and much more.

  Listen to the show after the jump or download the audio directly here.

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Nick Diaz Tests Positive for Marijuana

• By Michael David Smith
• February 9, 2012 05:25 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  The Nevada Athletic Commission has confirmed that Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana at UFC 143 and will face disciplinary action, almost certainly canceling his planned rematch with Carlos Condit and throwing his future into question.

  "Mr. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites. A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed," Nevada Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer wrote in a statement distributed to the media.

  After losing to Condit by unanimous decision, Diaz was expected to get a rematch before it became clear that there was an issue with Diaz's drug test. Now Diaz is likely to be suspended at least six months, and possibly longer because he's a repeat offender. Diaz was also busted for marijuana after his upset submission victory over Takanori Gomi in Pride, and that result was subsequently changed to a no contest.

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Nevada State Athletic Commission Confirms Positive Test at UFC 143

• By Michael David Smith
• February 9, 2012 01:32 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  The Nevada State Athletic Commission has confirmed that someone tested positive for a banned substance in drug testing at UFC 143. What has not yet been confirmed is who that someone was, or what that substance was.

  In an e-mail to the media sent on Thursday, Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer acknowledged that there has been great sustained interest in knowing what the results of drug tests were at UFC 143, and he confirmed that someone tested positive. But he declined to elaborate further than that.

  "Thank you for the many email and phone calls. I am still waiting for all the steroid and drug test results to come back. We did have at least one positive test. I will send out an email later today on that matter," Kizer said in his e-mail, in which the word "many" was bolded.

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Ed Soares Calls Jose Aldo Divorce 'Strange'

• By Ariel Helwani
• February 9, 2012 09:40 am
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

  Ed Soares' more than two-year business relationship with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo came to an abrupt end last week.
  
  According to Soares, he was sent an e-mail from Aldo's trainer Andre Pederneiras of Nova Uniao informing him of the decision to severe ties with Soares and his business partner Jorge Guimarães.

  "It wasn't really much of anything," Soares told MMAFighting.com, "other than his coach, who used to be his manager, felt like he didn't need our services. It pretty much was one of those things."

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UFC Twitter Bonuses: Silva, Dos Santos, Schaub, Le Are Most Followed

• By Ray Hui
• February 8, 2012 05:28 pm
• 

  Esther Lin, MMA FIghting

  11 fighters have been named winners in the UFC's most recent Twitter quarterly incentive program.

  Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos, Brendan Schaub and Cung Le won in the category for the most Twitter followers.

  Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Roy Nelson, Jake Ellenberger and Le won in the category for the biggest percentage growth in followers.

  Finally, Tim Kennedy, Duane "Bang" Ludwig, Joseph Benavidez and Pat Barry won for being most creative.

  Fighters received a $5,000 bonus for each category win. Le was the lone fighter this recent quarter to collect $10,000.

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