UFC DVD Release Dates

According to DeepDiscount.com, UFC 66 will be released on 06/26. Also on that date you can purchase UFC 67 On 7/31 UFC 68 is available. On 8/7 a UFC Boxset comes out.

The UFC DVDs are starting to appear faster, though they're not nearly to the point where they compete with WWE in terms of quickness. I would add that these dates can always change but at least we've got a rough aproximation.

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MMA News and Notes

Sam Caplan interviews Joe Riggs for CBS-Sportsline.

UFCJunkie.com says that The Ultimate Fighter 6 will feature 16 Welterweights.

Today, you can watch a UFC Fight Night marathon.

UFCJunkie.com reports that Rashad Evans Vs. Tito Ortiz will take place at UFC 73 and not as previously believed, UFC 71.

MMAWeekly has an Interview with Royce Gracie

Jason Lambert also gets the interview treatment.

With that, I'm back to my sick bed.

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Some Randy Couture Love

ESPN.com chat transcript

Dave Meltzer writes in the L.A. Times that Couture's win was a night to remember

This has nothing to do with Randy Couture but Don Frye gives great advice

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MMA News and Notes

We're going to go around the MMA world to see who is reporting what.

MMA Weekly has an interview with the Rua brothers
talking the past, present and future.

Lots more behind the cut.



MMA Weekly also has a look at the UK MMA Scene
they also have a look at new UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture

Speaking of Couture, and I just was, he and Mick Foley were guests on last night's Between the Ropes give it a listen.

Another man who once had a fight in the UFC Joao Peirini is a naughty naughty boy

"I want sanctioning in every state says UFC President Dana White.

Ultimate Fighter 1 cast member Nate Quarry tells NBC Sports: "I grew up in a Cult"

Sam Caplan of CBS Sports reports on his blog that Tito Ortiz will face Rashad Evans and not Keith Jardine at UFC 71

UFCJunkie notes that Frank Mir, Jeff Joslin and Anthony Torres are off of the Fight Night Live 9 Card set for April 5
Sherdog says that Mir's replacement is a training partner of Tito Ortiz Justin McCully in the fight against Antoni Hardonk

So the card for the April 5 show looks like this as of now.

UFC Fight Night 9 on Spike TV (The Palms Las Vegas)
April 5, 2007

Main Card Bouts:
Joe Stevenson vs. Melvin Guillard
Kenny Florian vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima
Antoni Hardonk vs. Justin McCully

Preliminary Bouts:
Drew Fickett vs. Keita Nakamura
Wander Braga vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Naoyuki Kotani vs. Thiago Tavares
Wilson Gouveia vs. Seth Petruzelli
Kuniyoshi Hironaka vs. TBA
Roan Carneiro vs. TBA

UFC 71's card as of now looks like this:

UFC 71 — May 26, 2007 (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Chuck Liddell vs. TBA
Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans
Karo Parisyan vs. Josh Burkman
Eric Schafer vs. Sean Salmon
Chris Leben vs. Kalib Starnes

Watch Randy Couture's recent ESPN News Appearance Here

UFCJunkie reports that someone named Gray Maynard is a cast member on the Ultimate Fighter 5 I hope he does well because that name is awesome.


MMAWeekly has these rumored participants

Debut: April 5 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV

Coaches: B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver

Confirmed Cast Members:
Nathan Diaz
Matt Wiman
Alan Berubie
Joe Lauzon
Cole Miller
Wayne Weems
Gray Maynard

I hope Joe Lauzon is on Jens Pulver's team.

Pulver: Lauzon, I want you to attack him this way...
Lauzon: I knocked your ass out in 40 seconds, shut up!

It seems that Jason MacDonald's trainer had some Criticism for UFC officials being cheerleaders for Rich Franklin and to be honest I see his point.

The interesting quote is:

“I saw some of the UFC staff jumping up and down like Rich Franklin was their child or something and I took great, great offence to that,” said Pavelich.
“I am going to take that into training every day now until we get back there.”

Chuck Liddell's Trainer says that his speech was slurred as a result of a combination of NyQuil and Sleep-aid pills Sheiky say he no pass the medicine test again.

Michael Bisping has a new column up

Steve Sievert reflects on Randy Couture's title win

NBC Sports asks the question of who gets the next shot at Anderson Silva? Nathan Marquardt or Rich Franklin

I think that's enough for you to sift through at this time.

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Couture defeats Sylvia takes Heavyweight title

I've never been so thrilled to be wrong.

More on this show, later.

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CARE and Other Vuz, Vuz, Vuz, Jabronis Preview: UFC 68 'The Uprising'

Click here

Thanks to Art for putting it together.

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ACE Podcast: UFC 68 preview

This is the first official podcast, and it is myself, Euan and Art

Enjoy the UFC 68 'The Uprising' Audio Preview

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Randy Couture has ageless story

Read Dave Meltzer's column in the L.A. times on Couture and his fight with Tim Sylvia Right here

Also, this is OC Times post #2,000~!

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02/19/07 MMA News, Notes, Rumors and Quotes

Lets take a look around the news and rumor mill shall we?

Note: All of the links should work now.

We've got quotes from Matt Hughes, Jake O'Brien, Michael Bisping and others. We also have a match for UFC 69, and an update on Joe Riggs and Nate Quarry, all that and more just by clicking on continue reading.



First we have a Houston Chronicle article by Steve Sievert looking at Rich Franklin and his quest to get back to the middleweight title
Franklin says he’d want another fight before facing Anderson Silva again. I think that’s smart, may as well delay your beating for as long as you can.

We also get a Follow-up from the Chronicle’s Brawl Sports Blog
Talking a little bit more about Franklin’s fight with Jason MacDonald at UFC 68.

Recently, Mike Chiapetta of NBCSports.com interviewed Jake O’Brien who had this to say about his fight with Heath Herring at Fight Night 8.

Q: Herring bad-mouthed you a little bit in the post-fight interview, basically saying that you didn't really come to fight. What do you think about his
comments?

A: He was a sore loser. It was supposed to be his big coming-out party and I ruined it, so he wasn't happy. If he wants to fight, he had plenty of time
to knock me out. In the first three minutes of the fight, we were standing up. And even after that, the referees stood us up how many times? Every time
we exchanged, he'd back up and I wouldn't chase him. He wanted me to chase him so he could hit me with a big shot, and I wouldn't, so he was frustrated.

It is hard for me not to agree with him that Herring was a sore loser that night. You can read the rest of the interview Here

Speaking of Heath Herring his next opponent will be Brad Imes at UFC 69

Next is an article on the man~!
Anderson Silva – Here Comes the Spider-Man
Serene Thio of MSN sports.

Michael Bisping had some interesting things to say in a recent interview, and here is what he said about Quinton Jackson.

But even though I enjoyed myself and the fights, I switched out of "fan mode" when Quinton Jackson made his Octagon debut.

Because he's in the same division as me, I took a very close interest in Jackson's win over Marvin Eastman. Because of his big win over Chuck Liddell in
Japan a couple of years back, Jackson's come to the UFC with this massive reputation but, to be honest, I've got to say I wasn't that impressed.

I'd probably give Jackson five out of 10 on his performance, if you forgive the pun.

Even allowing for the fact that Eastman is a very underrated fighter, I didn't think Rampage looked like this killer who has put the entire division on
red alert.

Jackson said he was nervous and I am sure he was – and maybe he'll show more of himself next time. I hope he does because I want my division to be the most
exciting one in the UFC.

You can read the rest of Bisping’s interview here

Matt Hughes was profiled in the St. Louis Post Dispatch and had this to say.

"I want to get my (welterweight) belt back from Georges, then I want to fight for the middleweight title," Hughes said. "I'd like to hold both belts at
the same time. I'd be the first person in the UFC to do that."

My suggestion for Hughes would be to not put the cart before the horse as it were, he still has to deal with GSP.
Small town guy is big time fighter

UFCJunkie.com says that Karo Parysian will fight again in May

Speaking of UFCJunkie.com, sponsored fighter and columnist and man of the brutal KO at the foot of Rashad Evans, Sean Salmon Talks about his next bout against Eric Schafer in May

One more from UFCJunkie.com where they have an update on Nate “The Rock” Quarry

MMAWeekly says that Frank Trigg will pull double duty planning to fight and then announce Pride 33 this weekend.

Joe Riggs to fight on next WEC show so says the rumors page for the show at MMAWeekly.com

I may have more later but that should be enough to tide you over for now.

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MMA Notes

New Fighter added to Pride 33 "The Second Coming"
I can't imagine how happy Euan will be to hear this.

New bout added to UFC 68
Sounds like an interesting bout.

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Early Friday Notes

Bout order for UFC 67
Though I think Ric meant that only the first 5 are guaranteed to air as this is a PPV and not the Ultimate Fight Night Live. Unless UFC is doing some cutting back on the live shows I don't know about.

Also I'm disappointed that the 2 lightweight fights are dark matches. If UFC is supposedly renewing its focus on that division it might be nice to see some fights make these broadcasts, but hey I'm just crazy that way.

Updated lineup and bout order for UFC68
Babalu is back.


ECW rating
A 1.5 which is where it has been so the increased Raw rating did not see an increase in the ECW rating. That was a theory once that the higher the raw rating the higher the ECW rating because the more people would be reminded that it was on. Yeah, not so much this week anyway.

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Wednesday Notes

Card taking shape for UFC 68
Looks like fun.

Final card for WEC's Vegas debut
Wish I could see it.

Final Smackdown Ratings
Dropped a bit but is still in range.

Updated Royal Rumble card
Fantasy Players take note.

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More on Randy Couture

He's signed a 2-year 4-fight contract with UFC

He will face Tim Sylvia on March 3, and I am on the record as hoping he wins.

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Tim Sylvia's next opponent

According to the Figure 4 Weekly Newsletter and Dave Meltzer it will be announced on this week's episode of Inside the UFC that...


Randy Couture will be coming out of retirement to face Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 on March 3 in Columbus Ohio.
If this is true, and I believe that it is given that Randy was on a friend's radio show last week and all but said he was returning, I hope he beats Sylvia badly. A Couture/Cro Cop fight would interest me greatly.

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Lineup for UFC 68 beginning to take shape

You can see it here

So to recap:
Yesterday Meltzer said that Sylvia would face Gonzaga. Today he says its not final yet, and then Ric posted that was the match. So for now that's the match.

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Raw Rating plus Sylvia's next defense.

Both of these come via WrestlingObserver.com

Raw Rating it was a 3.9 which is not what they hoped for I'm sure. It will be interesting to see the quarter hours.

Tim Sylvia's next title defense will be against Gabriel Gonzaga. Brandon Vera's not getting a title shot with 1 fight left on his deal so he needs to sign an extention before any title match is granted or have his 1 fight and move on.

***UPDATE/CORRECTION***
Gonzaga not officially Sylvia's Opponent

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UFC 68 Press Release

check it out

Also on a different note
WWE Fantasy Manager Season 9 coming soon

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Matt Hughes added to UFC 68 card in Columbus Ohio

Early rumor and the hope of many is that his opponent will be Diego Sanchez. I'm about to tell you why that has bad idea written all over it.

Just click the link and

It is a lose-lose situation for UFC that's why.

If Matt Hughes were to lose to Diego Sanchez you end up losing the intrigue of a Hughes/GSP rematch even if you do get the intrigue of a Sanchez/GSP fight. The fact is that the former right now is worth more money than the latter because of the fact it would be a third bout between the 2 not 2 guys meeting for the first time.
The reason the intrigue is lost is because now its less special that GSP defeated Hughes since another man would've done the same thing.

As for if Diego loses, yes you protect the Hughes/GSP rematch but you do so while sacrificing the momentum of Diego Sanchez. Yeah, perhaps he can recover but you don't know how long that can take.

I say you don't match Diego up with either Hughes or GSP until after they've had their rematch. The 170 pound Welterweight division is in my mind the deepest division in UFC. So as to the question of what to do with Diego if he's not seeing either Hughes or GSP until after their rematch I'll tell you what I'd like to see.

I'd like to see another fight between Diego and Karo Parisyan. The first bout was a very close one and might've gone differently had Parisyan been ready for a longer fight. I guess you have the same problem there that you would with Diego and Hughes in that a loss to Parisyan would hurt him but truthfully a loss to anyone would hurt him. You could protect him with a lower-level fighter but you can't protect a guy 100% just ask Jens Pulver about that one.

So it will be interesting to see how this shakes out but as I said in my mind Hughes/Sanchez is a bad idea. It eventually won't be a bad idea at all but it is now.

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