Morning Report: Enter the Flyweights; Faber to Cruz: 'You're Welcome for Letting You Live'

What a weekend we have in front of us. Two events. Two days. One brand new division.

Finally, after years of teasing hints and playful false starts, the flyweights have truly arrived, and it couldn't have gone down any other way. A good old-fashioned tournament, just like the old days. The two men who fans and pundits alike have always referred to as future titleholders at 125-pounds, and the two champions of the world's most renown flyweight organizations. When the blood settles tonight, two of these fighters will be one step closer to the UFC's eighth and final goldcard.

And that's still not even mentioning a blistering welterweight showdown with guaranteed fireworks, plus the most heavily-hyped women's bout since 2009. So fellow fight fans, with that being said, get ready for a weekend to remember with the Morning Report.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

UFC on FX 2 weigh-in results. All 22 fighters met their required weight in advance of Friday night's FX card.

What's at Stake? UFC on FX 2/Tate vs. Rousey Edition. Luke Thomas breaks down the implications for this weekend's biggest Strikeforce and UFC stars.

Association of boxing commissions tells members to not license fighters from Michigan. The ABC mailed a letter to state athletic commissions requesting they no longer recognize MMA events in Michigan or license fighters from the state.

UFC 144 medical suspensions and injuries. Nine fighters from last Saturday's Japan card have received medical suspensions for their work, including Frankie Edgar, Ben Henderson, and Rampage Jackson.

Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II official for April 20. Bellator's biggest rematch is set to headline Bellator 66 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, OH.

MEDIA STEW

Urijah Faber took his trash talk to the next level after hearing Dominick Cruz's latest string of insults. (HT: Reddit)

If you don't know what Ian McCall is all about, trust me, this video is worth checking out. "Uncle Creepy" takes on Darrell Montague last August for the Tachi Palace flyweight title.

Anderson Silva's cameo in this Brazilian national soccer ad is a testament to how big he's become in his home country, and the indescribable amount of pressure that will be on his shoulders to beat Chael Sonnen.

You've been wondering what Bob Sapp was up to last weekend? Well, let me show you. (HT: Bloody Elbow)

Chad Mendes, Cain Velasquez, and Mike Pyle tried to not make fools of themselves while the Sydney Swans taught them Australian rules football. (HT: Middle Easy)

Well, it was bound to happen. Ben Henderson finally snapped (albeit, as nicely as possible) after the week-long flood of criticism.

Wow, seems like a lot of ppl have a lot of stuff to say...somebody interview me so I can get some things off my chest...

— Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012

I have a lot to say but like saying things thought out first...you know, Think before you Speak...just my own humble opinion...

— Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012

THANK YOU!!!RT @HeathBTN: @Smoothone155 Funny how people think you dictate who you fight, you already said you are open to anybody.

— Benson Henderson (@SMOOTHone155) March 1, 2012

Australia really is a magical place.

One of my dreams just became a reality... twitter.com/JoeJitsu/statu…

— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) March 1, 2012

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 1, 2012):

- Bellator 66: Eddie Alvarez (22-3) vs. Shinya Aoki (30-5, 1 NC)

- UFC on FUEL 3: Dustin Poirier (12-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (12-3) confirmed as main event, winner to "emerge as a challenger to the UFC 145-pound title"

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Luke Nelson: On The Hunt, In The Mix: An In-Depth Evaluation of Mark Hunt vs. the UFC Heavyweight Top-Ten

1. Junior dos Santos

Strengths: Boxing, Speed. Dos Santos has destroyed everyone he's faced in the UFC, with only Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin managing to make it to the judges scorecards. I could be wrong but I don't believe that he has lost a round in the UFC. He has a devastating uppercut and closes distance like a heavyweight Georges St. Pierre.

Weaknesses: One dimensional. If you were to find a weakness, it would be that dos Santos has only shown that he can win a fight in one way: Punching his opponent in the face. Joe Rogan has been pleading for dos Santos to throw more leg kicks for as long as I can remember, but dos Santos seems content to simply blast away with uppercuts and hooks. He hasn't gone to the ground at any point when a fight hangs in the balance. He did take Shane Carwin down a couple of times but he had already beaten him to a pulp and the take downs were academic.

How would a fight against Hunt look: It's difficult to imagine that Hunt would be able to match the speed that dos Santos would bring. That being said, the fight would almost surely be fought on the feet and you could never count Hunt out of a stand up fight. We've yet to see how dos Santos responds to adversity, so Hunt would need to land early if he was going to have any chance of winning.

Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.