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Dean Lister vs. Jeremy Horn Ultimate Fighter 7 fight confirmed Posted: 24 Apr 2008 08:52 AM CDT Brazilian jiu-jitsu players and Octagon veterans, Dean Lister (10-5) and Jeremy Horn (79-17-5), will meet up in a middleweight tilt at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 Finale at The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 21, according to UFC.com. Lister has won three of his last four bouts, including a recent unanimous decision win over Jordan Radev at UFC 79: “Nemesis” back in December 2007. The “Boogeyman” only competed one other time last year, losing to Nate Marquardt at UFC Fight Night 8 in January. He spent most of 2007 recovering from a surgery to repair a badly torn biceps muscle. Horn didn’t have much luck with Marquardt either, getting beat up and nearly decapitated in a standing guillotine choke to end the fight in the second round at UFC 81: “Breaking Point” in February 2007. It was his first time back in the Octagon since tapping top WEC middleweight contender, Chael Sonnen, with an armabr at UFC 60: “Hughes vs. Gracie” in 2006. “Gumby” actually took the fight with Marquardt on short notice because of an injury to Thales Leites. He’s lost three of his last four fights, which means that this will be an important fight for one of the sport’s most recognized pioneers. To check out the latest fight card for the TUF 7 Finale click here.

Kimbo Slice: ‘Come get it, Chuck’ Liddell (Video) Posted: 24 Apr 2008 08:30 AM CDT Elite XC sensation Kimbo Slice responds to this statement from former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell:

UFC 86: Cole Miller vs. Jorge Gurgel Posted: 23 Apr 2008 11:25 PM CDT It’s battle of the The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) alumni as season 5 contestant Cole “Magrino” Miller (13-3) will battle Jorge Gurgel (12-3) from Season 2 at UFC 86 in the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 5. Miller last appeared at UFC Fight Night 12 where he suffered a second round technical knockout loss against Jeremy Stephens. After dropping a controversial fight to Joe Lauzon via technical knockout during his TUF stint, Miller went on to defeat Andy Wang at the TUF 5 Finale and Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 11. He now stands 2-1 inside the Octagon. Gurgel defeated John Halverson by unanimous decision at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” back in March and posts a record of 3-2 with the UFC. He was booted from season two after dropping a decision to late replacement Jason Von Flue. Interesting to note that Gurgel’s first 10 fights all ended by submission whereas the following five were all unanimous decisions. In addition to this announcement, UFC.com also confirmed several other rumored bout slated for UFC 86, including Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Lytle and Patrick Cote vs. Ricardo Almeida. For more on UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” click here.

Razor Rob McCullough vs. Kenneth Alexander WEC 34 fight slated Posted: 23 Apr 2008 10:49 PM CDT Former WEC lightweight champion Razor Rob McCullough is set to get back on the road to reclaim his 155-pound title, beginning with Kenneth Alexander at WEC 34: “Faber vs. Pulver” at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif, on June 1. McCullough is looking to rebound after losing his WEC lightweight strap to Jamie Varner his last time out at WEC 32. He will take on a decorated wrestler in Alexander. Both men are coming off losses; therefore, the last man standing will take the first step in getting back into title contention. In addition, Jeff Curran will also be on the lookout for redemption on the star studded card against American Top Team-trained fighter Mike Brown. This will mark the first fight for Curran since his loss to featherweight champion Urijah Faber via guillotine choke at WEC 31. Brown — who is making his WEC debut — has a tall task ahead of him, taking on a very experienced fighter in Curran. This is a very stacked card and the biggest event in the history of the promotion. Faber will tangle with former UFC lightweight champion in the main event, and gifted bantamweight champion, Miguel Torres, will defend his 135-pound belt against Yoshiro Maeda. It’s shaping up to be a great night of mixed martial arts action and the best part is it’s FREE on Versus. Check out the most recent WEC 34 card after the jump: WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres vs. Yoshiro Maeda Rob McCullough vs. Kenneth Alexander Rich Crunkilton vs. Donald Cerrone Jeff Curran vs. Mike Brown Jose Aldo vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira Tim McKenzie vs. Eric Schambari Alex Serdyukov vs. Luis Sapo Charlie Valencia vs. Dominick Cruz Damacio Page vs. TBA Mark Munoz vs. TBA

UFCs Diego Sanchez Krush magazine coverboy Posted: 23 Apr 2008 10:29 PM CDT Props: KRUSHMagazine.com (via MySpace) Also worth mentioning: He plans to put a “burque” beat down on newly-minted UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St. Pierre, if the two ever lock horns. Juicy.

Chuck Liddell vs. Shogun Rua September UFC fight possible (Video) Posted: 23 Apr 2008 10:16 PM CDT Props: KSBY 6 Action News Quoteworthy: “I think this is a huge setback for this fight, and it’s a huge setback for the UFC and this England show. But in the grand scheme of things for Chuck Liddell’s future, I think it’s just a minor setback because I think his hammy is going to heal up 110 percent and he’s going to be back stronger than ever.” John Hackleman — the trainer for former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell — comments on the hamstring injury that forced the “Iceman” out of the UFC 85 main event against Rashad Evans on June 7. James Irvin is penciled in to fill-in and take on “Sugar.” Meanwhile, the report indicates that Liddell could return in September against his original UFC 85 opponent, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, sometime in September. Rua had to withdraw from the bout because he blew out his knee … again. There’s no word on whether or not he’ll be fit in time for a September fight with Liddell.

Ultimate Fighter 7: Episode 4 recap and discussion Posted: 23 Apr 2008 10:03 PM CDT Episode four of The Ultimate Fighter 7 is in the books and since this week’s episode is titled “Everything to lose” I wonder about the second half of that quote as it pertains to the contestants (and possibly the viewers). After our standard recap of last week we roll right into Jesse Taylor and his afterparty of one. Not that anyone has labeled him all brawn and no brains but I think I saw him trying to open a Heineken with a butter knife. Matthew Riddle and Dante Rivera continue their on-camera courtship with some friendly barbs but you know what they say about the thin line between love and hate. Team Rampage is back in the gym trying to find a way to rebound from their first loss - and Rampage gets a laugh from me when one of his boys rolls a grappling dummy into an armbar and Rampage exclaims “See that! He just gave it to you!” Rampage also doesn’t appreciate the fact that the heat’s turned off while he trains and that his team doesn’t have gloves that fit. Maybe there is something to that name Team Brown-nose after all. The guys on Team Blue expect Forrest to pit his top guy against their worst. Patrick Schultz humbly acknowledges his place on the team and prepares himself to get called out. Back at the house everyone is still reeling from last week’s herpes outbreak and when Jesse Taylor gets a few red bumps on his chest he goes from team hero to Typhoid Mary in less than 24 hours. He gets sprayed with some tough-actin’ Tinactin and lives to fight another day. Riddle starts up with his shtick again - only this time Rivera’s not there to hear it. As Riddle drones on the viewing audience simultaneously becomes envious of Dante Rivera. Dana is conspicuously absent from the fight announcement and Forrest wastes no time announcing Tim Credeur from Team Brown taking on Matthew Riddle from Team Blue. Credeur makes a good point while explaining his decision to fight Riddle: He wants opponents who can make him a better fighter and a leftover like Patrick Schultz is not capable of doing that. Ouch. At the house we get more of Riddle and Rivera. This time Rivera is needling Riddle over whether or not he has the stones to bet $500 on his own fight. Meanwhile my wife offered me $500 to change the channel. Team Brown hits the gym and Credeur gives a pretty convincing argument for why he’s there. Over at Team Blue’s training session Coach Ibarra tells Riddle he must get into Credeur’s butt. While initially appalled, I do concur that sodomy is enough to make any man tap. Riddle shows up at the weigh-ins wearing a Speedo with a promise to show America what he’s got. I wonder aloud what it was about Gabe Reudiger that Matthew Riddle found so appealing - since he seems to be emulating his entire routine. Both guys make weight but back at the house Riddle admits that he has at least 10-15 years left in MMA. That’s assuming he can first get his driver’s license and move out of his Mom’s house. Team Brown’s Tim Credeur (10-2) vs. Team Blue’s Matthew Riddle (1-0) Round 1: Riddle opens with a lazy shoot but hangs on and wrestles him down. Riddle not doing much and Credeur explodes out of it and gets back to his feet. Jab and low kick by Credeur find their mark. Half-assed crane kick and another lazy shoot backs Credeur up who locks up and gets dumped to the mat. Riddle pushes him to the cage but Credeur escapes. Kick/slip by Creduer followed by some punches and they tie-up but this time it’s Credeur who gets the takedown. Credeur gives him a half-slam into the cage and Riddle rolls out and briefly gets control. Credeur grabs a leg but eats a shot and ends up in guard. From there he reverses and lands some shots from the top. Riddle starting to take punishment and gives up his back. Credeur pours it on as the bell sounds. Close round. Round 2: High kick and shoot by Riddle gets Credeur to the mat. Creduer quickly looks to triangle but instead finds his feet and reverses. Riddle against the cage eating elbows. Credeur postures and lands a big shot. Credeur postures again but Riddle escapes and comes out swinging like a Wildman with punches and kicks. Credeur retreats and gets taken down. Credeur looks gassed. Riddle lands a nice elbow. Both sides are screaming. Credeur almost has a triangle but loses it. Riddle rolls and winds up on bottom. Riddle looks spent. Credeur rolls into a slow-motion armbar but Riddle is too winded to defend and is forced to tap. Tim Credeur defeats Matthew Riddle via submission (armbar) Team Blue is now down 0-2 and Rampage looks extremely disappointed. A very mediocre episode was saved by a very entertaining fight. While not the most technical affair, it was still very close and the action was constant and back-and-forth. Stay tuned next week as Rampage loses his cool, Bisping makes a cameo (and gets kicked in the yam-bag), and Jeremy May and Matt Brown have a war of words. See you then!

UFC Quick Quote: Brandon Vera wants Rampage and everyone else Posted: 23 Apr 2008 10:01 PM CDT “It’s my one-year goal — to win both titles. I’ll fight anyone UFC wants me to fight. I’m not scared of anyone. I train ridiculously hard for all my fights. I drive myself to the point of exhaustion. In the past, I’ve collapsed in the gym. When I’m training for a fight, I work out thrice a day from six to eight weeks. Each day, I do 50 minutes of conditioning, including working six six-minute rounds, then 1 1/2 hours of repetition drills and finally, 1 1/2 hours of doing whatever my coaches want, like sparring or banging the bag or hitting the mitts…. After I get the heavyweight belt, I’m going after Rampage (light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson). I’ve already challenged Rampage. We’ve agreed that whoever wins will buy a car of his opponent’s choice but the plate will show the word 'loser.’ I wouldn’t like to drive a Lamborghini with 'loser’ on the plate so I don’t intend to lose.. I’ve trained with Rampage and he’s tough. But when the title’s on the line, it’s anything goes in the UFC.” – Heavyweight contender Brandon Vera tells the Philippine Star that he plans to win the division title and then take on UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, claiming both title at the same time. “The Truth” will have to first take out Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85 at the O2 Arena in London, England, on June 7.

deanlister-jeremyhorn Posted: 23 Apr 2008 09:53 PM CDT dean lister jeremy horn

Site improvements … Posted: 23 Apr 2008 11:36 AM CDT … mean a very SLOW experience today on our site. In addition, news updates will be not up to our usual breakneck standard because of various behind the scenes activities that will prevent and or delay posting. Therefore, hang in there and sit tight. We apologize in advance for any delays. We should be back to normal (and better) soon. Thanks.

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