Zuffa

Nate Marquardt (29-8-2) faces off against Chael Sonnen (23-10-1) at UFC 109 on February 6. The middleweight fighter said the UFC informed him that he will receive a title shot if he leaves Las Vegas with a victory. “From what I understand, if I win this fight, I will get the shot,” Marquardt said. Marquardt will have to wait for his eventual title shot, however. The middleweight title will be up for grabs when champion Anderson Silva defends his belt against fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort. “I think (Belfort’s) a great fighter. I don’t necessarily agree with him getting a shot [...]

Alan Belcher (15-6) is coming off of a first-round TKO victory over American Top Team’s Wilson Gouveia at UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez. Belcher was very impressive in the bout, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship has rewarded the middleweight contender with a new four-fight deal. MMAFighting.com reported the news. “It is a good contract, well over six figures,” Belcher told the Biloxi Sun Herald. “The first fight will be $50,00 and the final one is $66,000. That doesn’t include bonuses.” Those bonuses can be substantial: Belcher fought three times in 2009 and got bonuses after all of them, with a [...]

On April 10th, the UFC will travel to Abu Dhabi for UFC 112. The fight card is already scheduled to hold a title fight as the main event — Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort for the 185 lb. title — but it appears as if a second title fight will be added to the card. UFC president Dana White has announced today that Frankie Edgar (11-1) is the No. 1 contender and he will get the next crack at B.J. Penn’s lightweight title. Penn (15-5-1) confirmed the bout and has released a response on his website, BJPenn.com. It was initially [...]

The fighter salaries from this past Monday’s UFC Fight Night 20 have been released. Chris Leben — who fought on the preliminary card — topped the salary list by earning $60,000. Only one other fighter topped the $50,000 mark on the night, and that was Aaron Simpson with $52,000. Main event participants Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard earned $48,000 and $40,000, respectively. Here is the full list: Gray Maynard — $40,000 ($20,000 to show, $20,000 to win) Nate Diaz — $48,000 Evan Dunham — $48,000 ($9,000 to show, $9,000 to win, $30,000 bonus) Efrain Escudero — $45,000 ($15,000 to show, [...]

Some of the best fights in mixed martial arts history took place in the Pride organization. Starting on Friday, Spike TV will air a “Best of Pride” television series that will showcase some of the sport’s most exciting bouts. Enjoy this promo which includes Chuck Liddell vs. Alistair Overeem:

UFC middleweight Tom Lawlor (6-2) has become one of the best entertainers in the organization whether it be inside or outside of the octagon. Lawlor was first introduced as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir. He was eliminated in the first round of the competition by Ryan Bader (10-0) — who went on to win the show. At UFC Fight Night 20, Lawlor continued his pre-fight antics. First, at the weigh-ins, he went back in UFC history and gave a tribute to Harold Howard. When the time came to enter for his fight against [...]

The California State Athletic Commission announced the medical suspensions from WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson which took place on Sunday night in Sacramento, California. Jamie Varner was suspended 180 days unless cleared by a physician for his right knee and right foot. Kamal Shalorus suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician for a left thumb fracture. Dave Jansen suspended 180 days unless cleared by physician for right thumb fracture, 60 days for face and right ear lacerations. Mackens Semerzier suspended 60 days unless cleared by a physician for a right eye lid laceration. Charlie Valencia suspended 180 days unless cleared [...]

UFC Fight Night 20 takes place tonight live on Spike TV from the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia. The event will be headlined by a match between The Ultimate Fighter 5 alum Nate Diaz (11-4) and Gray Maynard (8-0). Diaz and Maynard previously met on the reality series and Diaz defeated Maynard by submission on his way to winning the show’s title. Two more TUF winners will grace the fight card. Season 7′s Amir Sadollah (2-1) and Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero (12-0) will also be in action. Here are the main card predictions for UFC Fight Night [...]

Urijah Faber accomplished his goal as he returned home to Sacramento, Calif. after a seven month lay-off.  “The California Kid” submitted top contender Raphael Assuncao in the final round in a bout that many thought would determine the next contender for current featherweight champion Jose Aldo’s crown. At the WEC 46 post-fight press conference, WEC general manager Reed Harris confirmed that Faber would get the next shot at Aldo. A date has not been set. After Faber’s victory, he stood in the center of the octagon with Aldo as the two discussed a potential match-up. The champion said, “I respect [...]

World Extreme Cagefighting announced their fight night bonuses for WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson. There were no knockouts in the event, so no Knockout of the Night bonus was given. The fighter bonuses were worth $10,000 and they were awarded to Urijah Faber, Will Campuzano and Coty Wheeler. Surprisingly, main event participant and lightweight champion Ben Henderson was not awarded the Submission of the Night bonus for his impressive standing arm-in guillotine finish of Jamie Varner. Faber was awarded the submission bonus for his third-round rear-naked choke victory over Raphael Assuncao. Fight of the Night went to Will Campuzano and [...]