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• UFC Quick Quote: Hail Mary, full of weight…
• Vote for Chuck: ‘Iceman’ debuts on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) tonight!
• Cung Le: Vacating the Strikeforce middleweight title ‘is the right thing to do’
• UFC Fight Night 19 fighter salaries and paydays for ‘Diaz vs Guillard’
• Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller and ‘King Mo’ Lawal demo EA Sports MMA video game
• UFC 103 medical suspensions and injuries
• NFL legend Herschel Walker signs with Strikeforce for MMA debut
• Monday morning scrap: UFC 103, FN 19 and TUF 10 week in review
• Tyson Griffin video talks UFC 103 win over Hermes Franca
• UFC Quick Quote: Dodge tennis balls, fight like Anderson Silva

UFC Quick Quote: Hail Mary, full of weight… Posted: 21 Sep 2009 07:34 PM PDT Saulo is with thee… “im feeling good at 185 and im not chuby either so looks like i will drop ten lbs this months and 5 in octeber then finish the water eight in the sauna……. i love cutting weight and getting in that sauna…. its a mental challange i almost seen god in the sauna before the guida fight i was 172 4 days before the fight and cut the weight between the 4 days,,,, but those last 2 pounds i was in the sauna holding saulos hand praying for god to take the weight off and when we were done praying. i checked my weight and it was .4 over i was like yes yes yes thank you jesus…..Every fight is different and the camps change, everything is always changing and here i am evolving with the change! EVER EVOLVING…” UFC lightweight number one contender Diego Sanchez comments via his official blog about his current weight and future cutting techniques that will allow him to make the 155-pound mark for his upcoming title fight against division kingpin BJ Penn at UFC 107 from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee on December 12. The “Nightmare” sliced and diced his way into a title shot with a thrilling war of attrition against Clay Guida last June — but does the colorful TUF grad have enough under the hood to dethrone arguable the best lightweight in the world?

Vote for Chuck: ‘Iceman’ debuts on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) tonight! Posted: 21 Sep 2009 04:23 PM PDT Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will make his much anticipated debut on the upcoming season of the hit television show "Dancing with the Stars" tonight (Sept. 21) at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. "The Iceman" will compete against 15 other celebrity and notable non-dancers such as former Cowboy great Michael Irvin, snowboarder Louis Vito and celluloid butt-kicker Mark Dacascos. The show pairs a number of celebrities with professional dancers as they compete in front of a panel of judges. Viewers cast their votes for their favorite performances via phone or Internet. The couple with the lowest combined score (judges plus viewers) is eliminated until only one couple remains. Liddell's popularity as a fighter has made his future role as an ambassador for the sport practically a no-brainer. And if Mr. Mohawk avoids getting bounced out of the competition in the first or second show — and manages to look good while doing it — it could generate some additional mainstream interest. So it’s up to us Maniacs, to do our part to keep him on the air as long as possible. We’ll do the voting, he”ll do the dancing. To cast your vote for Chucky and his dancing partner, Anna Trebunskaya, call 1-800-868-3402 during the show and up to thirty minutes following its conclusion. You can also vote online at the DWTS official website by clicking here. In the meantime, go ahead and sound off in the comments section before, during and after the big event. Good, bad or indifferent — we want to hear from you. Be sure to check out video of Liddell’s foxtrot after the jump!

Cung Le: Vacating the Strikeforce middleweight title ‘is the right thing to do’ Posted: 21 Sep 2009 01:23 PM PDT Props: MMAWeekly Quoteworthy: “For me, potentially I have another project, and I know I'm not in fight shape right now, and I think I should vacate my title because it's not fair to them who their livelihood is fighting for an interim title when I'm here running around making movies and doing something different. It does not mean that I'm retiring; I'm just doing it because I think it's the right thing to do … because I'm not ready to step up in the next coming months and fight five-rounders. I definitely intend to return, and I know for a fact that I will return, but I can't just jump back in and be able to go five rounds at peak level when I left (after) the fight with Frank (Shamrock).” –Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le talks about his absence from the promotion after churning out an assortment of upcoming movie roles. He already has two movies set to be released in the near future, including the big screen version of the popular video game "Tekken" in which Le will play the role of Marshall Law. With three more movies in progress it will be no sooner than 2010 before he returns. Fortunately Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker will create an interim title in his absence that Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Jake Shields are scheduled to fight for on Nov. 7 live on CBS. It's already been well over a year since Le captured the belt from Frank Shamrock in his hometown of San Jose and definitely plans on returning — but will the then 37-year-old Le still have the chops to compete in the new-look Strikeforce?

UFC Fight Night 19 fighter salaries and paydays for ‘Diaz vs Guillard’ Posted: 21 Sep 2009 11:56 AM PDT The Oklahoma Athletic Commission today released the official fighter purses for those who competed at UFC Fight Night 19: “Diaz vs. Guillard” last Wednesday night (Sept. 16) from the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. Former Ultimate Fighter Nate Quarry was the big earner of the night, pocketing a suitcase-busting $60,000 for his winning performance over fellow TUF alum Tim Credeur. Fresh on his heels was another reality show veteran Nate Diaz. Not only did the Stockton native bank 30 G’s for tapping out “The Young Assassin,” he also racked up $48,000 for the second round victory. Like Diaz, former WEC stud Carlos Condit took home $48,000 — and a few lumps from a very game Jake Ellenberger, who earned $10,000 in a losing effort. Here is the complete list of UFC Fight Night 19 payouts: Nate Diaz $48,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 to win) Melvin Guillard $14,000 Diaz defeated Guillard via submission (guillotine choke) Round 2 Gray Maynard $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win) Roger Huerta $21,000 Maynard defeated Huerta via split decision Carlos Condit $48,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 to win) Jake Ellenberger $10,000 Condit defeated Ellenberger via split decision Nate Quarry $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Tim Credeur $10,000 Quarry defeated Credeur via unanimous decision Brian Stann $22,000 ($11,000 to show, $11,000 to win) Steve Cantwell $10,000 Stann defeated Cantwell via unanimous decision Mike Pyle $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win) Chris Wilson $17,000 Pyle defeated Wilson via submission (guillotine choke) Round 3 CB Dollaway $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win) Jay Silva $6,000 Dollaway defeated Silva via unanimous decision Phillipe Nover $20,000 Sam Stout $24,000 (Fight canceled to due Nover health issue) Jeremy Stephens $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win) Justin Buchholz $8,000 Stephens defeated Buchholz via TKO (doctor stoppage) Round 1 Mike Pierce $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Brock Larson $26,000 Pierce defeated Larson via unanimous decision Ryan Jensen $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win) Steve Steinbeiss $6,000 Jensen defeated Steinbess via submission (guillotine choke) Round 1 Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for Fight Night 19 go here. The total base fighter payroll for the blockbuster Spike TV event, which attracted an official crowd of 9,490 attendees (6,687 sold, 2,803 comped) and a solid gate of $577,966, was $476,000. For complete results and coverage of “Diaz vs. Guillard” click here and here.

Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller and ‘King Mo’ Lawal demo EA Sports MMA video game Posted: 21 Sep 2009 09:17 AM PDT

UFC 103 medical suspensions and injuries Posted: 21 Sep 2009 09:01 AM PDT The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation today issued its list of medical suspensions for UFC 103, which took place on Saturday, September 19 from The American Airlines Center in Dallas. It was a wash across the board for "The Lone Star State," as all 26 fighters were issued medical suspensions for their participation in the “Franklin vs. Belfort” pay-per-view event. While everyone got a mandatory time-out, most of the suspensions were only for seven days as a precautionary measure. Former PRIDE star Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic got the stiffest penalty, getting suspended indefinitely after throwing in the towel against Junior Dos Santos in the third round of their heavyweight affair. Other notable suspensions were dished out to Rich Franklin, Martin Kampmann, Frank Trigg, Hermes Franca and Cole Miller — all of whom were on the receiving end of TKO stoppages. Each of those fighters will join Steve Lopez on the sidelines until October 20. Lopez injured his shoulder in his UFC debut against Jim Miller, bringing a halt to the contest at just under a minute of the second round. Here is the complete list of UFC 103 medical suspensions: Vitor Belfort — suspended until Sept. 27 Rich Franklin — suspended until Oct. 20 Belfort defeated Franklin via TKO Junior Dos Santos — suspended until Sept. 29 Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic — suspended indefinitely Dos Santos defeated Filipovic via submission (surrender) Paul Daley — suspended until Sept. 27 Martin Kampmann — suspended until Oct. 20 Daley defeated Kampmann via TKO (strikes) Josh Koscheck — suspended until Sept. 27 Frank Trigg — suspended until Oct. 20 Koscheck defeated Trigg via TKO (strikes) Tyson Griffin — suspended until Sept. 27 Hermes Franca — suspended until Oct. 20 Griffin defeated Franca via TKO (strikes) Efrain Escudero — suspended until Sept. 27 Cole Miller — suspended until Oct. 20 Escudero defeated Miller via TKO (strikes) Tomasz Drwal — suspended until Sept. 27 Drew McFedries — suspended until Sept. 27 Drwal defeated McFedries via submission (rear naked choke) Jim Miller — suspended until Sept. 27 Steve Lopez — suspended until Oct. 20 Miller defeated Lopez via TKO (injury) Nick Lentz — suspended until Sept. 29 Rafaello Oliveira — suspended until Sept. 29 Lentz defeated Oliveira via unanimous decision Rick Story — suspended until Sept. 27 Brian Foster — suspended until Sept. 27 Story defeated Foster via submission (arm-triangle choke) Eliot Marshall — suspended until Sept. 29 Jason Brilz — suspended until Sept. 29 Marshall defeated Brilz via unanimous decision Vladimir Matyushenko — suspended until Sept. 29 Igor Pokrajac — suspended until Sept. 29 Matyushenko defeated Pokrajac via unanimous decision Rafael Dos Anjos — suspended until Sept. 29 Rob Emerson — suspended until Sept. 29 Dos Anjos defeated Emerson via unanimous decision Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. For complete results and coverage of UFC 103 click here and here.

NFL legend Herschel Walker signs with Strikeforce for MMA debut Posted: 21 Sep 2009 08:21 AM PDT Not to be outdone by the UFC’s recent acquisition of former NFL star Marcus Jones for their Ultimate Fighter 10 series, Strikeforce announced today they have signed NFL legend Herschel Walker to a mixed martial arts contract for a possible 2010 debut. The 47-year-old Walker is a sixth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and was scheduled to appear alongside Jose Canseco in a mixed martial arts reality show that by the grace of God, was never able to find its way onto television. From Hersch: “I’ve been training for several years. I will go in there and test myself against any 20 year old. I know there will be naysayers and I’m fine with that. I want to prove to people who sit on a couch and don’t do anything but criticize other people that, if you’re a true athlete or martial artist, you’re not old until you can’t get up and walk around anymore. MMA fighters are said to be some of the best athletes in the world, my plan at the age of 47 is to show the world I am still one of the best athletes as well.” Walker plans to compete at heavyweight and is currently headed to the famed American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) training camp in San Jose, California. In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982, Walker was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and is perhaps best remembered for the infamous “Herschel Walker Trade” (HWT) between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings in 1989. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com in the coming weeks for more on Walker’s pending mixed martial arts debut.

Monday morning scrap: UFC 103, FN 19 and TUF 10 week in review Posted: 21 Sep 2009 07:32 AM PDT Fans of mixed martial arts were once again treated to an action-packed week chock full of fights thanks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and its triple header over the past few days. UFC 103: “Franklin vs. Belfort” went down from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, marking the return of Vitor Belfort to the ranks of UFC contenders as he knocked out former 185-pound champ Rich Franklin. Earlier in the week, the UFC gave us back-to-back programming on Spike TV featuring Fight Night 19 and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10. As expected, millions tuned in to see Kimbo Slice make his much-anticipated TUF debut — but not before up-and-coming stars Nate Diaz, Gray Maynard and Carlos Condit put on a show at Fight Night 19. In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines coming out of each event. Let's get to it. UFC 103: “Franklin vs. Belfort” Vitor Belfort Video Blog Live results and play-by-play Main card recap and post-fight thoughts UFC 103 contest winners Bonuses and awards Post-fight press conference UFC 103 archive UFC Fight Night 19 Live results and play-by-play Recap and post-fight thoughts Bonuses and awards MMA Live video recap Phillipe Nover medical update FN 19 archive The Ultimate Fighter 10 Episode 1 ratings Episode 1 recap and discussion Kimbo Slice on MMA Live TUF 10 archive Feel free to also link to any event-related material in the comments section below … it's wide open:

Tyson Griffin video talks UFC 103 win over Hermes Franca Posted: 21 Sep 2009 07:31 AM PDT

UFC Quick Quote: Dodge tennis balls, fight like Anderson Silva Posted: 21 Sep 2009 07:02 AM PDT “It helps. I practiced it for many years and do it with my children, my daughter and the smaller one, João, for them to acquire reflexes. It's a play in which you take the reflexes and it works out many times. Obviously everything that happened was instinct and other things like technique is God’s gift.” – UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva tells BrasilCombate.com that he attributes a portion of his “spider sense” to the ability to dodge oncoming tennis balls at a high rate of speed. Perhaps the next 185-pound contender — whether it be Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson or Vitor Belfort — should ditch the heavy bag and start playing whack-a-mole. Could the key to the crown be finding a training regimen that is an unconventional as his?

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