UFC News, Results & Interviews

Dana White Announces Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks for UFC on FOX

By Michael David Smith
February 12, 2012 08:15 pm
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

A fight that will bring some order to the rapidly evolving welterweight division has been booked for the May 5 UFC on FOX 3 card.

UFC President Dana White announced on Twitter that Josh Koscheck will face Johnny Hendricks on the card, which is expected to be headlined by Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller.

The fight is a huge one for Hendricks, who is coming off a 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch at UFC 141. Hendricks was a heavy underdog heading into that fight, but if he follows his upset win over Fitch with a win over Koscheck, he'd have a very strong case that he deserves to be third in line in the UFC's welterweight division, behind only the sidelined champion Georges St. Pierre and interim champion Carlos Condit.
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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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Diego Sanchez and the Dangers of Fame in MMA

By Ray Hui
February 12, 2012 08:25 am
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Diego Sanchez’s past several years could serve as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers that come along with the notoriety of being an MMA fighter.

In June 2009, Sanchez was at the height of his MMA career. He had defeated Clay Guida to improve his MMA career record to 21-2. More importantly, the win assured him his next fight would be for the UFC lightweight title against champion B.J. Penn.

Sanchez had proven himself inside the UFC Octagon. But outside, it was a different story.

"I got sucked real deep into the fame and the money," Sanchez said recently on The MMA Hour. "I was a bachelor and I got sucked into a bad life of partying. I got really into smoking weed, drinking, partying. After my Clay Guida fight, I went down a bad path, man. It was just not a good path. After my loss to B.J. Penn it just got worse. I got really out of control."

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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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UFC on FOX 3 Fight Card: Diaz vs. Miller

By Ray Hui

February 11, 2012 06:00 am

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

The UFC on FOX 3 fight card boasts a main event between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller on May 5 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

The winner of Diaz-Miller will likely become the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight title.

Also confirmed for the FOX card will be a heavyweight tilt between sluggers Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson.

The current UFC on FOX 3 lineup is below.

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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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For One UFC Newcomer, Patience Is Paying Off

By Ben Fowlkes

February 10, 2012 12:46 pm

Ben Fowlkes, MMA Fighting

Like a lot of would-be UFC fighters, Justin Salas had started to wonder if the call would ever come. The lightweight had had nibbles from the big show, vague assurances that ultimately went nowhere. After he beat former Ultimate Fighter contestant Rob Emerson on a mat so heated by arena lights that it tore a chunk of skin off the bottom of his foot, his coaches at Denver’s Grudge Training Center felt sure that he’d get his shot.

When he beat Joe Ellenberger -- the undefeated brother of UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger -- ten months later, it seemed all but certain. For the first time, conversations with the UFC brass had begun to take the form of when rather than if.

"Then they called us back and said, ‘Have him take another fight. We don’t know if we’ll be able to take him right now,’" Salas said. "I just thought, well, guess I’ll have to find another guy like Joe Ellenberger. ...I don’t expect anyone to hand me anything. They don’t think I’m ready? Then I guess I better keep proving it."

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Nick Diaz's Love/Hate Relationship Will Be Tested While He's Gone

By Mike Chiappetta

February 10, 2012 12:21 pm

Nick Diaz. Photo by Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

At some point, Nick Diaz will run out of chances. Just not now. Just not yet. Despite Diaz's positive drug test stemming from his participation at UFC 143, you can expect him to be welcomed back into the UFC with open arms, if and when he's ready to return. That's what happens when you're talented and popular and in your prime.

Now the question is: will he return?

Like most questions pertaining to Diaz, we'll just have to wait and see, with the understanding that anything is possible. This is a guy who missed out on a UFC championship fight and the chance to make a seven-figure payday because he couldn't organize himself enough to make three separate flights to media obligations. You think he has long-term plans?

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Nick Diaz Is to Blame, But So Are Meaningless Commission Marijuana Tests

By Luke Thomas

February 10, 2012 10:22 am

Daniel Herbertson, MMA Fighting

Let's establish two facts from the outset. First, Nick Diaz's use of marijuana to the extent it produced a positive drug test result is irresponsible. Second, the urinalysis test regarding marijuana consumption used by athletic commissions (ostensibly) designed to protect the health and safety of fighters does neither and is little more than kabuki theater.

The UFC has every right to be disappointed with Nick Diaz. They invested huge sums of money and other promotional resources to push him, his fight and build him as a pay-per-view attraction. As incoherent and insane as some of the rules may be (more on that in a minute), he accepted the handshake. That meant not only fighting Condit, it also included media promotion and some measure of clean living. For him to test positive on the urinalysis - which could've resulted in promotional disaster for the UFC had he actually defeated Condit at UFC 143 - is the height of unprofessionalism and represents a total failure as a partner to the UFC.

But it's also true, and perhaps more important, that the urinalysis test (MMAFighting.com has confirmed Nevada uses urinalyses to test fighters for various banned substances, including marijuana) used by the Nevada State Athletic Commssion (NSAC) to gauge marijuana use does not perform the function it purports to do.

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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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Morning Report: Nick Diaz's Troubles, Dan Henderson Considers Fight at Heavyweight

By Shaun Al-Shatti

February 10, 2012 08:00 am

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

In retrospect, I guess we shouldn't be that surprised that Nick Diaz outkicked his coverage and tested positive for weed during a UFC 143 drug screening. After all, this is the guy that hit a bong in the middle of a Strikeforce conference call.

But still, Hendo might fight at heavyweight if we can find him a good match-up. So it's not all bad.

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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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