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With new training camp, same attitude, Ellenberger ready to shine at UFC on Versus 2

With a career record of 22-5, UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger was doing just fine the way things were.

But in the ultra-competitive world of professional mixed martial arts, if you're not moving forward, you're about to get passed up.

With that in mind, Ellenberger took his training camp from his native Nebraska to Orange County, California, and he's looking forward to displaying the results at this weekend's UFC on Versus 2 event.


HDNet Fights Video Vault: Marianna Kheyfets vs. Kim Couture at XFC 11

In our latest installment of HDNet Fights Video Vault, we take a look at a female contest from a recent Xtreme Fighting Championships event.

In our fight-of-the-week feature, Marianna "The Crushen Russian" Kheyfets made her professional debut against two-time Strikeforce veteran Kim "Sugar Free" Couture.

The fight served as the co-main event of HDNet's July 9 broadcast of "XFC 11: The Next Generation" at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.


Fight Path: Olympic medalist Randi Miller brings wrestling pedigree to female MMA

The difference for Randi Miller came when a roommate put in a University of Iowa wrestling tape.

Before that, the daughter of a firefighter and public relations executive didn't feel like she was reaching her potential in female wrestling after starting the sport as a senior at her Texas high school, where the sport was more accepted for girls.

Now after securing an Olympic bronze medal and being named the 2008 U.S.A. Wrestling Female Wrestler of the Year, Miller eyes her mixed martial arts debut, and she's not willing to settle for less than a championship belt.


Wanderlei Silva protégé Vitor Vianna targets big-show contract with MMA Xplosion fight

Vitor Vianna hasn't had a mixed-martial-arts fight in 26 months.

But just think about what he has done since: Move from his native Brazil to Las Vegas because Wanderlei Silva was once so impressed with fights he saw years ago he wanted Vianna in his camp. Become a teacher at Silva's gym. And gain a buzz that is one of the most significant for the relatively unknown fighter in Vegas.

He just hasn't been fighting, but not all by his choice.


UFC's Jason MacDonald cleared to train, anticipates December return

Duane "Bang" Ludwig isn't the only fighter getting back to his feet.

UFC middleweight Jason MacDonald on Tuesday had two three-inch screws removed his ankle and was cleared for light training.

MacDonald suffered a broken tibula, a dislocated ankle and bone and ligament damage when John Salter took him down in the first round of their fight at UFC 113.


Despite little fanfare, 38-year-old Todd Brown promises to deliver at UFC 117

At 38 years old, UFC newcomer Todd Brown has a lifetime of combat sports competition under his belt. Toughman contests, amateur boxing, kickboxing - Brown has done it all.

So while the Indiana native certainly won't have youth on his side when he faces veteran slugger Tim Boetsch at August's UFC 117 event, Brown said he'll have something even better to rely on: a proven track record of hard work.

"In this case, my age is probably a good thing," Brown told MMAjunkie.com Radio.


Browne vs. Kongo, Patrick vs. Wilks among four official additions to UFC 120

The UFC's return to England is quickly taking shape, and Spike TV executives today announced that four previously reported matchups for the Oct. 16 event are now official.

On the main card of UFC 120, Travis Browne faces Cheick Kongo, and Claude Patrick meets James Wilks.

Meanwhile, on the prelims, Cyrille Diabate faces Alexander Gustafsson while Steve Cantwell clashes with Stanislav Nedkov.


MMAjunkie.com Radio: Ricco Rodriguez, Dr. Johnny Benjamin, Cal Rocha

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show 11-year MMA veteran and former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez, as well as MMAjunkie.com medical consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin and The Sunday Junkie winner Cal Rocha.

Rodriguez has undergone a career renaissance of sorts and is currently on an eight-fight win streak. Meanwhile, Benjamin calls in to discuss a variety of medical issues in MMA. Finally, Rocha calls to discuss his winning entry regarding the UFC's anti-piracy efforts.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


Ryan Couture makes professional debut at Strikeforce Challengers 10 in Arizona

The long-anticipated professional debut of Ryan Couture is now official.

Following a successful amateur career, Couture will cash his first paycheck following an Aug. 13 bout against Rage in the Cage veteran Lucas Stark at Strikeforce Challengers 10.

Couture, of course, is the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and trains with his father's Xtreme Couture camp in Las Vegas.


UFC welcomes fans to next week's UFC 117 open workouts in Concord, Calif.

In keeping with a recently introduced trend in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fans will be granted access to the open workouts of six high-profile fighters competing at August's UFC 117 event.

UFC officials recently announced the event's open workout sessions are open to both media and fans.

The free event, which are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 1-3 p.m. PT (local time), take place at the UFC Gym at 1975 Diamond Blvd. in Concord, Calif.



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