Daily News & Rumors

Fedor Emelianenko will make his Strikeforce debut in a showdown with undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced on Wednesday during the Russian superstar’s public workout at the Fighthouse Gym in New York City. No date or venue was announced. Sherdog.com


Nogueira is preparing like never before to rebut the doubters. He even moved his main training camp from his home in Brazil to the U.S. mmaweekly.com

“I took three months off (from) Brazil, (it’s) better for me to concentrate here,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I wanted to get outside hometown, see no friends, nothing, just wake up every day morning do my yoga, do my jiu-jitsu training, do my Muay Thai, do my wrestling, just thinking about fighting.” mmaweekly.com

Jones, 36, a former first-round draft pick, is the most high profile of the four. In 2000, he had 13 sacks as a defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he left the N.F.L. in 2003 because of injuries. He had planned to take two years off to heal and then return. But one night, roughly two years ago, while hanging out with friends from college and talking about the U.F.C., Jones and his friends cleared out the living room furniture and began to spar. nytimes.com



UFC fighter QUINTON 'RAMPAGE' JACKSON is set to fill the infamous role of BA Baracus in the forthcoming remake. thesun.co.uk.



Undefeated UFC middleweight Demian Maia has made it clear his game plan going into Saturday's UFC 102 fight against Nate Marquardt is to take his opponent down and submit him. And although Marquardt is comfortable on the ground, it's on his feet where he holds a significant advantage. mma.fanhouse.com

However, one fighter not getting guaranteed TV time is Okami. The UFC veteran is 23-4 with a 7-1 record in the UFC, and his lone octagon loss came to former champion Rich Franklin via close decision. Counting UFC 104, though, three of the Japanese fighter's past four fights have been stuck on preliminary cards. Without that much-needed exposure, Okami is unlikely to get a title fight with current champ Anderson Silva anytime soon. mmajunkie.com

UFC newcomer Nik Lentz (16-3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his promotion debut as a replacement for injured Dan Lauzon (12-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and will meet Rafaello Oliveira (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC 103. mmajunkie.com

"I have to stay more active," said Florian. "I can't be taking almost nine months off between fights and then try to fight somebody like B.J. Penn. I have to be more active than that. mmaweekly.com

FanHouse recently spoke to Wicks about making her debut at UFC 101 earlier this month in Philadelphia and her other job as a golf caddy. Yes, a golf caddy. The full interview is below. mma.fanhouse.com


So when can we expect you to fight next?
You know, I don't have anything scheduled right now with the UFC. Like I said, this acting stuff is kind of taking off, I've got some other things going on. I'm really not in a big hurry to jump back in there right now. I'm kind of riding this wave and seeing where it's going to take me. mma.fanhouse.com


A welterweight bout between prospect Tyron Woodley (3-0) and veteran Zach Light (6-8) has been signed for Strikerforce's upcoming Challengers card on September 25. Light's agent, Ken Pavia, confirmed the news with FanHouse on Tuesday. The event airs live on Showtime from the SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby, Okla. mma.fanhouse.com

"I've been in this game for nine years, and I have been in training camps with the best fighters in the world for the last nine months. We're seven weeks off. The only reason I haven't been fighting is because we're in training camps with "Rampage," Michael Bisping, Paul Kelly, Cheick Kongo, and I'm running, training, lifting, doing jiu-jitsu, wrestling ... everything, every day with these guys." mma.fanhouse.com