News


MMA Junkie


Frank Mir already ahead of the game in prep for UFC 146

Frank Mir will still have to duck Junior Dos Santos' punches, but his gas thank shouldn't be an issue.

Mir's short-notice title shot against the current champ at Saturday's UFC 146 presents a 10-minute bump in the amount of potential time he could be fighting.

But the former champ said that's no problem - he'd already been training for 25 minutes in the cage.


'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' medical suspensions: Headliners lead way

As expected, Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett have emerged from a five-roung slugfest with significant medical suspensions following "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final."

Both are suspended for six months - unless cleared by a doctor - for hand injuries, and both earned additional two-month terms for lacerations.

"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" took place this past Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and aired live on Showtime and Showtime Extreme.


MMAjunkie.com Radio (8 p.m. ET): Gilbert Melendez, Burt Watson, Rob Cardenas

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

"El Nino" calls in to discuss his trilogy victory over Josh Thomson. Additionally, the always-popular Burt Watson stops by the studio to share a few behind-the-scenes UFC stories, and Rob Cardenas drops in to recount today's NSAC meeting.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs today in a special "PRIMETIME" slot of 8 p.m. ET live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.


NSAC issues one-year suspension, fine to Nick Diaz

In a hearing that stretched over three hours and two rooms within the Grant Sawyer Office Building in Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission unanimously voted today to suspend Nick Diaz for his failed drug test at UFC 143.

Diaz's suspension runs 12 months from the date of the event, which took place Feb. 4. Additionally, he has been fined $60,000, or 30 percent of his $200,000 show purse.

Diaz, who was present at hearing, must also submit a clean drug test in order to be licensed again in Nevada.


'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' salaries: Barnett, Melendez lead $768,500 payroll

"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" headliner Josh Barnett ($200,000) and co-headline winner Gilbert Melendez ($175,000) took home the biggest paydays at this past weekend's Showtime- and Showtime Extreme-broadcast event.

Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier ($100,000) and co-feature loser Josh Thomson ($90,000) lagged just behind on the event's payroll, which totaled $768,500.

MMAjunkie.com today requested and received the list of official disclosed paydays from the California State Athletic Commission.


Women's MMA Report: Aguilar defeats Fujii at Bellator 69, Invicta FC 2 card takes shape

For the second time in five fights, former female pound-for-pound kingpin Megumi Fujii suffered a decision loss.

This time around, it was American Top Team's Jessica Aguilar who accomplished the feat at this past weekend's Bellator 69 event.

In the latest Women's MMA Report installment, MMAjunkie.com Robert Sargent reports on that bout, as well as bringing you recent results bouts contested around the globe. Additionally. Sargent discusses the continued development of July's all-female Invicta FC 2 event.


Watch today's Nevada commission meeting live on MMAjunkie.com at noon ET

LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene for today's Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings beginning at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

One item on today's agenda is Chael Sonnen's request for a therapeutic-use exemption for testosterone-replacement therapy ahead of UFC 148.

Additionally, suspended UFC 143 fighter Nick Diaz has a disciplinary hearing following his failed drug test in February.


'The Ultimate Fighter: Live' ratings: Episode No. 11 draws 821K viewers

This past Friday's new episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" saw the total audience size fall to an all-time low with 821,000 total viewers.

The figure marked the fifth episode of "TUF: Live" to score fewer than 1 million viewers and served as the least-watched episode in the 15-season history of the series, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with an industry source.

The one-hour episode featured two fights as both Team Cruz's Vinc Pichel and Team Faber's Al Iaquinta won quarterfinal-round fights to advance to the 32-man tourney's semifinal round.


Chael Sonnen receives TUE exemption for UFC 148 bout with Anderson Silva

LAS VEGAS - The Nevada State Athletic Commission will not stand in the way of Chael Sonnen's rematch with Anderson Silva.

NSAC officials on Monday ruled unanimously in favor of granting Sonnen a therapeutic-use exemption for the use of testosterone in advance of the UFC 148 headliner.

The ruling means a major administrative roadblock has now been cleared for the blockbuster matchup, which takes place July 7 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event's main-card airs live on pay-per-view while preliminary-card fights air on FX.


UFC 146's Dos Santos vs. Mir main event gets veteran ref Herb Dean

Veteran referee Herb Dean will oversee the UFC 146 main event between Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir. Adalaide Byrd, Glenn Trowbridge and Tony Weeks will judge the contest.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission today issued the assignments at its monthly meeting in Las Vegas, which MMAjunkie.com attended.

The NSAC made the decisions based on recommendations suggested by executive director Keith Kizer. The pool of available officials also included Yves Lavigne, Steve Mazzagatti and Josh Rosenthal.



Latest Forum Posts