MMA Universe

It wasn't long ago that I was touting Chael Sonnen for his "pro wrestling genius." And at the time I wrote that piece, I had a good reason to feel that way. He was at the height of his game, having just delivered a promo that became an instant classic.

Now? Not so much.

It's not that he's all that different than he was before. Quite the opposite, in fact. He's just as wily and eager to please as ever. But it would seem that he's gotten a little too into his own character. In pro wrestling speak, since that's the parallel we're drawing here (because it's the one that applies best), he's become a bit of a mark for himself.

At the UFC on Fox 2 pre-fight press conference, as well as in interviews with various members of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media, Sonnen would go off on tangents, seemingly out of nowhere. It's not even that he was answering questions with quick-witted responses that made fans chuckle. He carefully scripted spots that he was going to deliver come hell or high water, even if that meant cutting people off to shout his message into the microphone.

As my esteemed colleague Jesse Holland noted here yesterday, Sonnen jumped the shark. He became a parody of himself in one press conference.

On top of his usual schtick (which badly needs to be updated with some new material, by the way), Chael literally turned into a rapper. This man sat at the podium and spit rhymes like they were hot fire in an attempt to ... well ... I'm not sure why he did it.

And that's the problem. I'm as big a fan of a good promo as any but if you don't have a good reason to say what you're saying, then you shouldn't open your mouth. Sonnen seems to have lost touch with that. Essentially, he stopped promoting the fight and made himself a spectacle.

Let's break down what a good promo should be and how Sonnen has gone away from that.

(I'm going to add a disclaimer here just because this subject matter seems to piss off a great deal of MMA fans. Here's the thing: When Sonnen is cutting pro wrestling style promos and he's admitting to doing as much -- and even trying to walk out to the cage with a famous pro wrestler -- I'm going to analyze him through that lens.)

Pro wrestling is built on the premise that two guys are going to have a match at a show and you should pay to watch it. Simple enough, right? That's no different than MMA, really. Chael Sonnen is going to fight Michael Bisping and you should pay to see it.

But why should you pay for it? What reason do you have?

That's where pro wrestling got creative and eventually developed into what most of you have seen at some time or another throughout your lives. Someone comes out to the ring, picks up a microphone and cuts a promo designed to get you to care about his match against so-and-so, who also gets his chance to cut a promo to accomplish the same goal.

When it works, everyone makes a lot of money and everybody wins.

So what constitutes a good promo?

The best will find a way to work in the four W's -- the who, what, when and the where, while also giving you, the fan, a reason to care about why the match is taking place. I'll give you a recent example in video form.

Here's Triple H cutting a great promo on CM Punk (there's some fluff before and after it but the part I'm referring to starts at 11:34 and ends at 12:13):

Here's the text from the vid that I'm referring to:

"This isn't business, it's personal. You made it personal. I tried to keep it business, you made it into a personal issue. That's why this Sunday, you are going to step into the ring -- no disqualification, anything goes -- with me. Not the business man, not the COO, not the multiple time world champion, not 'The Game;' quite frankly and quite simply, just a man. A man you insulted and a man that is going to kick your ass."

Those lines, delivered with the necessary passion and emphasis, really drove home why the ensuing match was something we should care about. Triple H tried to keep things business but CM Punk made it personal and insulted him. Because of this, Triple H is going to kick Punk's ass this Sunday.

The message was built to and delivered in a manner so as to make it nearly impossible not to have an emotional reaction and attachment to it. That's why it works. That's why it makes money.

Sonnen on the other hand, while making sure at times to let folks know when the fight is, would simply hijack the microphone and deliver some terribly cheesy lines that were scripted to sound a lot better than they did:

"You're looking at the reflection of perfection, the one that gets all your attention.
You're looking at the man with the biggest arms, the man with the greatest charm,
And the man who came to Chicago to do a lot of harm to the guy three doors down."

"Maybe I can ask a question, maybe I can ask three of Michael Bisping,
First, what are going to do when you know who?
How are you gonna deal with the man of steel?
And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?"

He did this while screaming into the microphone like he was Hulk Hogan circa 1987. It wasn't a coherent promo designed to get us to care about the fight this Saturday night. It was Sonnen trying to figure out the best way to play to the crowd. And they reacted like marks, too, cheering on the ridiculous drivel that was spewing from his mouth.

To make matters worse, he did all this after bringing a replica UFC championship belt with him to the press conference and propped it up in front of him.

In pro wrestling, they can get away with all the theatrics and goofy storylines. Because you're already being asked to accept a match for it is -- an athletic exhibition between two guys who are putting on a show -- they can stretch the boundaries of what's acceptable. It's not rooted in reality.

With MMA, however, that's where it draws its larger adult audience from. The folks who grew out of the campy storylines pro wrestling offered and graduated to the visceral world of MMA, where you can watch two men climb inside a cage and spend 15 to 25 minutes doing their best to physically harm the other.

The fights themselves, though, are not enough to draw significant interest. Just like the wrestling matches aren't. Just like anything isn't, really. We, as human beings, have to always have a reason to feel invested in something, or it will never catch and keep our attention. The fights are great, sure, but we still need a reason to feel connected to a fight one way or the other. Watching two strangers fight is a lot different than watching your friend fight your enemy.

When I was touting Sonnen's pro wrestling style genius, I was doing so because he was manipulating the masses with a message they either did or did not approve of but one that was rooted in reality. He relentlessly called out Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva for being phony and harped on actual issues that many fans were already having, like the fact that Silva rarely does interviews in English, despite the fact that he can speak the language. To hear Sonnen riff on that is to connect with something real.

To watch him trot out to a press conference with a fake title belt calling himself the real champion and randomly busting out raps about how he has the biggest arms and the most charm is to watch him turn into a parody of himself. Somewhere down the line, it stopped being about Chael's quest to be both the middleweight champion and the "People's Champion." He first came to fame by trash-talking, yeah, but he did so with a clear message that had a purpose and was rooted in the truth.

Now he's talking just to talk. He's either trying to outdo himself or he likes the attention it brings him.

Are his antics ultimately promoting the fight? At this point, the answer has to be no. There are still quite a few folks who think he's brilliant and will hang on his every word like it's gospel. Hell, there are members of the MMA media who do that. But there is also a growing legion of folks who see and hear him do and say these things and simply shake their heads before finding something better to do with their time.

I liked it when Sonnen was calling out fighters for their faults. I liked when he was the no-nonsense guy who would say what no one else would because they didn't want to rock the boat.

I don't like the Sonnen who busts out silly raps and tries to be a modern day Hulk Hogan screaming into the microphone about how big his arms are and how charming he is. Why? Because it doesn't make me want to watch him fight, which is the point of all this in the first place.

If you want to cut pro wrestling style promos, at least do it right.

Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis may sit astride the UFC’s second big outing on the FOX network but the hastily assembled bout between Chael P Sonnen and Michael Bisping has inevitably gathered the most attention. The UFC may not have had a full campaign to promote this fight but both Sonnen and Bisping have done [...]

After a wishy-washy 2011 fight campaign, we may finally end up with a pair of definitive number one contenders.

That's the big story heading into UFC on Fox 2, which is all set to blow the roof off the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) live on network television.

Leading the charge is former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who is (once again) just one win away from challenging his former training partner and current ruler of the roost, Jon Jones, for the 205-poud strap.

But he'll have to get past the undefeated Phil Davis to do it.

Also blowing into "The Windy City" are a pair of motor-mouthed middleweights, as Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping fight for the right to party with Anderson Silva later this year. And should one of them emerge victorious and get hurt in the process, expect the winner of Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman to eagerly step in and take their place.

Only three televised fights -- but the stakes have never been higher.

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 28), which is slated to air at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 5 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts on FUEL TV.

Alrighty then, that takes care of the housekeeping issues, now let's figure out who's gonna win this thing come Saturday night. Already made your picks? Better check with your Uncle Dumbass before rushing off to the sportsbook.

Predictions after the jump.

205 lbs.: Rashad Evans (16-1-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0)

Nostradumbass predicts: Is undefeated division prospect Phil Davis an accomplished collegiate wrestler? No doubt. Does he have slick submissions and a tank full of gas? Yes and yes. Is he beating Rashad Evans on Saturday night?

Suga please.

He's had some "Wonderful" performances over the higher end of the middle of the pack, outwrestling Brian Stann and tapping out Alexander Gustafsson and Tim Boetsch. But that's still middle of the pack. Remember too, that Davis has been in the UFC for less than two years.

He's still wet behind the ears.

Evans has been in the game since 2005 and has defeated four former light heavyweight champions during his incredible run. Yes, I said incredible. Did you forget that Evans has just one loss in 18 fights? There's just no substitute for that kind of experience.

Let's also keep in mind that Davis has been out of the cage for 10 months due to injury. You know all that jibber-jabber about the Penn State alum's unparallelled wrestling? Let's see how well those shots are timed after riding the bench for almost a year.

He sure as heck won't be setting them up with strikes.

Davis's striking is rudimentary at best and Rashad has fast hands. If he thinks he's gonna get away with that herky-jerky offense he pulled in the Nogueira fight, he's doomed. Davis won't admit it, but it sure looked to me like he was fighting scared against the littlest of Nogs.

Wait until he gets a takedown stuffed by Evans, he'll be terrified.

"Suga" might not be as sweet a wrestler, but the fact that he's good enough to keep pace with Davis is all you need to know about the outcome of this fight. Evans can survive on the ground. Davis can't survive on the feet. That's why I have him getting crushed somewhere in the opening frame.

Bring on the "Bones."

Prediction: Evans def. Davis via technical knockout

185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen (26-11-1) vs. Michael Bisping (22-3)

Nostradumbass predicts: I don't know if this was an early birthday present or a late Christmas gift but Chael Sonnen sure lucked out in the matchmaking for this title eliminator in "Chi-town."

It's hard to break this fight down without sounding like a Bisping basher because I'm not. He's had a few hiccups along the way, but when you strip away the bravado and the H-Bomb GIFS, what you're left with is a very talented fighter.

Regrettably, he's victimized by unfavorable matchmaking.

In order to defeat Chael Sonnen, you have to have one of two things: A sledgehammer for a hand or a birth certificate from Brazil. Bisping has neither. "The Count" is the superior striker from a technical standpoint, but his pillow-fisted pitter-patter is hardly enough to knock his opponent out and while he may have decent grappling, he doesn't have a single submission win in 15 UFC fights.

Submitting Ross Pointon seven years ago in England isn't the kind of thing that's keeping Sonnen up at night.

I don't think anyone is gonna be shocked at how this thing unfolds. Sonnen will stay upright for as long as he wants to. Maybe he'll try to pull a Hendo and airmail this guy across the pond. If he can't, it's back to his bread-and-butter, the wrestling.

Bisping is confident that if he does get taken down, he can get right back up and keep it competitive.

I'm pretty sure that's what Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami thought, too. You see how well that worked out for them in the end. Even without the TRT, Chael is a strong mofo. You can ask Brian Stann, who can bench-press a Humvee, how hard it is to escape from under a top-heavy Sonnen.

The Brit is too tough to finish, so prepare yourselves for three rounds of maul and stall.

Prediction: Sonnen def. Bisping via unanimous decision

185 lbs.: Demian Maia (15-3) vs. Chris Weidman (7-0)

Nostradumbass predicts: What has this sport come to? On what planet is a guy with seven pro fights and three wins in the UFC favored over a five-time world jiu-jitsu champion with four "Submission of the Night" bonuses in 12 Octagon appearances?

Oh, that's right, Weidman was a good college wrestler.

C'mon people, let's be realistic here. Weids put the screws to Alessio Sakara, Jesse Bongfeldt and Tom Lawlor, so excuse me if I'm not popping the bubbly during the pre-fight introductions. It's easy to be undefeated when you've only fought seven people.

If he wants to make me a believer, then handle Maia on Saturday night and I'll shut the hell up, but until then, I have to go with the facts I have and the fact of the matter is Weidman has yet to prove he should be favored against the Brazilian.

He's a great wrestler, but do you really wanna take a fighter with Maia's jiu-jitsu to the floor? And anyone thinking that Maia is weak on the feet hasn't been paying attention, because he's busted his butt to improve his hands ever since the knockout loss to Nate Marquardt.

I don't think anyone in K-1 is breaking a sweat, but take another look at the Mark Munoz fight to see how far he's come. That leaves Weidman with very few options. He doesn't have an advantage on the feet and on the ground he's a sitting duck.

Maia's last six fights have gone to a decision, but that's because his opponents have allowed them to by obliging him on the feet. Weidman on the other hand, who will eventually fall back on his wrestling, is sooner or later going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Say night-night.

Prediction: Maia def. Weidman via submission

That's a wrap, folks.

For previews and predictions on the preliminary card fights click here and here. To see all the odds and betting lines for UFC on FOX 2 click here and remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Evans vs. Davis."

What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow night's event.

Our buddy Pillow Pants brings news that fans can download Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight number one contender Alistair Overeem FOR FREE to add to their UFC Undisputed 3 video game roster when it drops Feb. 14, 2012, for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

How does it work?

Head over to the UFC Undisputed 3 Facebook page and "like" them. That gets you a redeemable token that you can cash in when the popular mixed martial arts (MMA) video game franchise spits out its third offering.

Yes, on Valentine's Day.

She gets the roses, you get "The Reem."

Get a closer look at "Demolition Man" in all his video game glory after the jump.

The UFC Undisputed 3 playable demo is now available to download for FREE at the Xbox Live Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game console, as well as the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 (PS3).

The demo will feature a fantasy match-up between current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and reigning 185-pound champion Anderson Silva. In addition, former rivals Quinton Jackson and Wanderlei Silva will hook 'em up in a rematch from their PRIDE days.

The UFC Undisputed 3 playable demo will also feature "mirror matches," which gives players the ability to challenge their buddies (or opponent AI) as the same fighter. That's a good way to level the playing field amongst friends and see who truly is the better player.

Get a closer look at the UFC Undisputed 3 roster here.

CHICAGO, Ill. (January 27, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Bayou State on Friday, March 16 for Bellator 61 live from Bossier City at the Horseshoe Riverdome. The night will feature the long awaited rematch between "The American Solider" Eric Prindle (@EricPrindleMMA) and "The Big Monster" Thiago Santos (@BigMonsterMMA) to determine a winner from last season's heavyweight tournament, as well a host of local talent from the Louisiana area.

Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Riverdome.com, by phone at 888-512-SHOW (7469) or by visiting The Gift Horse at Horseshoe Bossier City Casino. Tickets are priced from $25-$75. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.

The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.

"Louisiana's been an amazing home to Bellator. Our last two Louisiana events we're spectacular sell outs, so bringing Bellator to Bossier City was an easy decision to make," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "This Prindle-Santos fight has war written all over it and both of these guys have taken this huge fight very personally. March 16 should be a great night."

Prindle meets Santos after last season's Heavyweight Finals were declared a no contest as Santos delivered what was ruled an accidental illegal blow to the groin of Eric Prindle, which eventually halted the fight. The two will square off to determine who will earn the right to face current Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad(@ColeKonradMMA).

The night will also feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament. UFC veteran Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao (@Falcaomma) will make his Bellator debut against the dominant Norman Paraisy. Falcao enters Bellator with an astonishing 23 knockouts to his record and will look to keep that trend intact at Bellator 61.

In a matchup worthy of a Middleweight title fight, Brian "The Predator" Rogers (@Brogthepredator) battles Brazilian ace Vitor Vianna (@VitorVianna) for a spot in the semifinals. For Rogers, the Ohio native wants to build off last season's semifinals appearance and punch his ticket to a guaranteed title shot. Vianna put up a tremendous fight against eventual Middleweight Tournament Champion Alexander Shlemenko(@StormShlemenko) and is eager for another long tournament run.

Entering Bellator on a 14-fight win streak, explosive Russian Vyacheslav "Slava" Vasilevsky (@SlavaVasilevsky) will be making his U.S. debut in a fight with Victor O' Donnell (@Victor_ODonnell). One of the most promising prospects in the world, "Slava" joins Bellator as two-time Sambo World Champion and will look to make his mark with Bellator.

Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (@GivaSantana) is back with Bellator and will be gunning for another victim when he takes on Bruno Santos. Always looking for the armbar, Santana has tapped 13 of his 17 career opponents with the hold.

"A lot of fighters like to go out there and try to knock their opponents out as soon as they can, and that's the same way I am with my submissions," Santana said. "For me, to tap a guy out is the same feeling as the knockout. When a punch lands and you know you knocked your opponent out, I feel the same feeling when I lock up a submission on my opponent. I know right away that he's going to tap, and it's a great feeling."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

The hacking of UFC.com, it seems, was only just the beginning. This past Sunday saw UFC.com compromised as retribution for Zuffa’s public support for the SOPA bill but, even in the light of this security breach, the outspoken president seemed calm about the situation and even applied his usual firebrand rhetoric to the hackers. Last [...]

The hacking of UFC.com, it seems, was only just the beginning. This past Sunday saw UFC.com compromised as retribution for Zuffa’s public support for the SOPA bill but, even in the light of this security breach, the outspoken president seemed calm about the situation and even applied his usual firebrand rhetoric to the hackers. Last [...]

Veteran referees Herb Dean and "Big" John McCarthy have been tapped to call the UFC on FOX 2 main card bouts this Saturday night in Chicago. Rookie ref Rob Madrigal will also get his feet wet on the big stage for the UFC on FUEL TV Prelims.

Props: Chicago Tribune

If hacking into the UFC.com website was stage one, what is stage two?

It may have been the recent attack on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, who engaged in a Twitter war with the "Anonymous" group that claims responsibility for holding his website hostage as a response to the promotion's support of the anti-piracy bills SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP).

Said White:

"I'm not afraid of you, you don't f*****g scare me, you come in and do your thing, you don't scare me."

Their tete-a-tete on the social media network came to a head when White's personal information was made available, including his address, phone number, social security number and prior criminal record. Then, they turned their attention back to the UFC.com website for a second go-round.

Dana White told us to come at him, so we did. Total deface time: 3 hours. Method of showing off 1337 skills: Tweeted wile video streaming the whole process.

We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Dana White, we are not terrorists, you should have expected us.

Find out what happened next, after the jump.

From Softpedia:

This morning, S3rver.exe, the hacker who not long ago breached Sony Pictures and who's currently helping out Anonymous hackers, along with others, breached UFC.com and UFC.tv, defacing some of their webpages.

"I hacked those 2 sites this morning. One of them has 60+ vulnerabilities and ufc.tv has XSS, BlindSQL Injection and other vulnerabilities," the hacker said.

The report also claims that unlike before, hackers have managed to extract critical data from UFC servers. In other words, this one is likely to get worse before it gets better.

But does it change your stance on SOPA, either for or against?

More on this developing story here, here and here.

It doesn't take much to get MFC head honcho Mark Pavelich riled up as he's one of the most vocal and opinionated promoters in the business.

So when both participants of MFC 32's scheduled lightweight title fight, Antonio McKee and Brian Cobb, missed weight earlier today, needless to say, someone was going to get an earful.

During an appearance on Bloody Elbow Radio just hours ago, Pavelich lashed out at his champion, McKee, who had just recently made peace with the promotion and was returning from a two fight stint that saw him lose his debut with the UFC against Jacob Volkmann via split decision.

"This will be the final fight ever for Antonio McKee at the Maximum Fighting Championship. He will never fight ever again in our show. When you're a champion of an organization of our magnitude and you weigh [in] over seven pounds, you're basically telling people you don't want to fight anymore."

And that wasn't the end of the drama either.

Pavelich made the order to immediately strip the 41 year old of his title after he stepped off the scale.

"I snapped. That was my reaction. I was in absolute snap mode ... the second the scale said 162, the decision was made immediately. He was stripped of the title. He will no longer ever wear the MFC belt and that's the end of it."

On top of being seven pounds overweight for a title fight, Pavelich had another key reason to be perturbed with the his now ex-champion, it was a lack of trust and that fact that not only did it appear McKee didn't even try to cut weight, he may have gained a pound or two upon his arrival into Edmonton.

"He said that when he came off the plane on Tuesday, he said he was three pounds over so why would we have any kind of discrepancy about it, right? And I guess my guy, when he checks guys on the scales and stuff, he said that he was about five or six over and I was like, 'Well what is there to worry about on a Tuesday?' so that's why I have the issue."

Also coming in under the radar to do the magnitude of McKee's troubles, his challenger, UFC veteran Brian Cobb failed to make weight and will need a victory to keep his job in the promotion as well.

"Brian Cobb weighed over .6 pounds, if Brian Cobb loses the fight tomorrow night against Antonio McKee, he will be released also from our organization too. If he wins he stays, if he loses, he goes. That's it."

While the fight will still be taking place, it will no longer be five rounds, instead becoming a three round non-title catchweight affair. Pavelich is so disgusted with both men that he's planning on making a dramatic exit during their bout as a form of protest.

"When that fight goes on, I'll leave the building and I'll come back for the superfight. I'm not even gonna watch it. It's a disregard for our organization and for how hard we work and I won't be a supporter of it. When you have an opportunity to fight in an organization of my magnitude and both come in overweight, trust me, I'll go get a hot dog at the vending stand during their fight."

Thankfully, for the fans, the main event, a five round non-title bout between Duayne Lewis and Wilson Gouveia will be going forward as planned, with both men making weights and looking "like thoroughbreds" according to Pavelich. He offered some final words for fans who are interested in tuning in on HDNet tomorrow night, not afraid to showcase any bias towards his former champion.

"You know what you can't miss tomorrow? You can't miss the atomic beating that Brian Cobb's gonna put on Antonio McKee tomorrow night. I want everyone to tune in to watch that because Brian Cobb is gonna put an ass-whoopin' on Antonio McKee like no one's ever saw before so I want everyone on HDNet to tune into that."

So what do you think, Maniacs?

Do such unprofessional issues like missing weight in a title fight require drastic actions like this? Did Pavelich go too far, or not far enough?

Opinions, please.

The UFC was shutout for the 2nd straight year in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Top Power 100 Sports Ranking. Notably, boxers Manny Pacquiao (28) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (49) were on the list.

Drew Brees edged out Aaron Rodgers for the top spot this year. Brock Lesnar and Fedor made it on the list in 2010. The list is based on an athlete’s performance, popularity and marketability.

Last year’s top spot, Peyton Manning, fell to 51st on the list. Lance Armstrong, No. 8 on the list last year, fell off the list completely as he announced his retirement last February. Despite retiring, Shaquille O’Neal remained No. 7 on the list.

Payout Perspective:

Will there be a UFC fighter on this list next year? Certainly, Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre would be the two names that would come to mind when it comes to the criteria. Jones would be more likely to make the mainstream jump this year consdering GSP’s injury. A combination of Jones’ personality, his athletic ability and the UFC’s visibility through the Fox deal should help land Jones on this list.

Twitter lovers got their popcorn out last night, as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White went back and forth with "Anonymous" hackers in regards to the recent UFC.com takeover, a response to the promotion's support of the anti-piracy bills SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP).

From International Business Times:

"All these hackers and all these guys that want to act f*****g cool and think they're f*****g funny, you guys just flipped the switch and believe me I have a lot more information on what's going on than you do," said White. This bill that was looking like it was going to be dead, you may have brought it back to life."

Finally adding: "I'm not afraid of you, you don't f*****g scare me, you come in and do your thing, you don't scare me."

The "Anonymous" retort:

"@danawhite won't liek [sic] the #cake he's about to receive. #OpUFC" read one tweet from AnonymousIRC. "Answering @danawhite's challenge today, UFC's site has been hacked - stay tuned, we hear moar [sic] lulz are on the way. #OpUFC" YourAnonNews quickly followed up.

As a result, White's personal information was released to the public, including his home phone number, address, criminal record and social security number.

Have they gone too far?

More background on this story here.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns with its "Primetime" preview for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," a three-part series featuring a behind-the-scenes look as former Strikeforce welterweight Champion Nick Diaz prepares to fight fellow division number one contender Carlos Condit for the Interim title on Feb. 4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Episode two premieres TONIGHT (Fri., Jan. 27) at 11 p.m. ET on the FX Channel. Episode three of "UFC Primetime" airs Feb. 3 and if you missed the first installment, click here to watch it in its entirety.

"Diaz vs. Condit" was booked after UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre suffered a devastating knee injury, one that was severe enough to require surgery and several months of rehab.

His ACL tear marked the second time St. Pierre has been forced to withdraw from a headlining title defense against Diaz, which will no doubt do little to convince the fiery Stockton slugger that he ain't "scared."

"Rush" pulled out of their UFC 137 main event back in October after spraining his medial collateral ligament (MCL). It was not torn and St. Pierre was quickly re-booked to face Diaz, who bumped Carlos Condit from the number one contender spot after retiring B.J. Penn back on Oct. 29.

Now both Condit and Diaz get the opportunity they've wanted since day one: To fight for the UFC welterweight title. In fact, PPV buys notwithstanding, this 170-pound war could meet and perhaps even exceed the fireworks expected in the original billing.

Time will tell.

For more on UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. See the current fight card and rumors here.

The official weigh in event for UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" is set to go down a little later today (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) LIVE from the Chicago Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 5 p.m. ET.

As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.

UFC on FOX 2 will feature a light heavyweight match-up between former division champion Rashad Evans and undefeated prospect Phil Davis. The winner could be in line for a shot at Jon Jones 205-pound title.

Also booked for the "Windy City" fight card is a middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. UFC President Dana White has declared the winner the new 185-pound number one contender.

Here is the current UFC on FOX 2 fight card and line-up:

Main Event:

205 lbs.: Rashad Evans ( ) vs. Phil Davis ( )

Main Card (FOX):

185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen ( ) vs. Michael Bisping ( )
185 lbs.: Chris Weidman ( ) vs. Demian Maia ( )

Preliminary Card (FUEL TV):

155 lbs.: Evan Dunham ( ) vs. Nik Lentz ( )
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson ( ) vs. Shane Roller ( )
265 lbs.: Jon Olav Einemo ( ) vs. Mike Russow ( )
145 lbs.: George Roop ( ) vs. Cub Swanson ( )
145 lbs.: Charles Oliveira ( ) vs. Eric Wisely ( )
265 lbs.: Joey Beltran ( ) vs. Lavar Johnson ( )

Preliminary Card (Facebook):

155 lbs.: Chris Camozzi ( ) vs. Dustin Jacoby ( )

**Weigh in video available later today.

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 28), which is slated to air at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 5 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts on FUEL TV.

It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC on FOX 2 coverage you can handle.

For all the latest news and notes on "Evans vs. Davis" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland pictured above, we can all "get along."

Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.

This week, Lowkick goes inside Team Golden Glory, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden takes a good look inside Chael's training camp and The Fight Nerd speaks with Eddie Alvarez, confirming his upcoming bout with Shinya Aoki.

The full list of links is after the jump.

- Combat sports chronicles: Team Golden Glory (LowKick)

I had an opportunity to attend Team Golden Glory training in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The training took place at Duncan's Training Center, half of which is currently undergoing a series of improvements to become a fully-operational gym.

- All gun, ammo, knife and hunting sponsors are banned (Cage Potato)

FOX's ever impressive magical act is set to make all firearm, knife, ammo, and hunting companies disappear from all Zuffa promoted events.

- The unfair UFC career of Phil Davis (Five Ounces of Pain)

From the moment Phil Davis stepped into the Octagon, he was never given a fair chance. In the second round of his first UFC fight against Brian Stann, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan compared his skills and physique to Georges St. Pierre. In the third round, with three minutes remaining in the bout, Rogan was already bringing up the possibility of Jon Jones vs. Davis

- Around the Octagon with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting)

White discusses UFC on FOX 2, Sonnen's belt and "terrorists" online.

- UFC announces May 15th event in Virginia (5thRound)

- Hackers accept Dana White's challenge (MiddleEasy)

Well, when you challenge a group of individuals that hacked the FBI and the Department of Justice's website all within two weeks, of course they're going to respond. Here's what JoshTheGod stated just a few minutes ago regarding Dana White's digital invite.

- Eddie Alvarez confirms Shinya Aoki fight in April, talks loss to Chandler (video) (The Fight Nerd)

- Why sports media are turning their fire on UFC (Fight Opinion)

The issue of UFC and its fighters beating up on the media is an old & tired issue... which is why I found it extremely curious that CBS Sports columnist & flame thrower Gregg Doyel decided to bring up the issue yesterday in his column online. Doyel basically admits that he is a UFC fanboy but that he's all of a sudden had a change in heart to speak truth to power in only a way he possibly can. The timing of this attack raised my eyebrows.

- Pro-SOPA editorial may have led to hacking of UFC.com (MMA Payout)

The UFC's Executive Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Epstein wrote an op-ed in Sunday's Las Vegas Review Journal in defense of the UFC's position in favor of SOPA. On the same day, the UFC web site was hacked in what is believed to be a response to the UFC's position on the bill.

- Will the real Chael Sonnen please stand up? Inside Sonnen's training camp (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping won't be able to talk each other to death Saturday night on FOX. In the end, as is the case in all sporting events from tee ball to the Super Bowl, things will be settled on the field of play. And that's why people at Team Quest in Oregon were all smiles last week when Bisping replaced former NCAA champion Mark Munoz as Sonnen's opponent in a fight to determine the next top contender for Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title.

- UFC on FOX 2 preview: The undercard (MMA Convert)

The UFC's "A" team may be taking to the field on the FOX network on Saturday night, but there's a sizeable "B" team that's duking it out on Fuel TV in the three hours before that big hoedown. (Did I just use the word "hoedown"? What the hell?)

- Anthony Johnson looks at UFC exile while Nate Marquardt eyes UFC return (Fightline)

It's no secret that UFC president Dana White can be quick tempered and is prone to making harsh decisions when heated, only to soften his stance once heads have cooled. Specifically speaking, White has, on occasion, dropped fighters from the UFC after a screw up or disagreement, before eventually welcoming them back into the fold once things are settled or wounds are healed.

In just over a day, Rashad Evans will take on Phil Davis in the headlining attraction of the UFC on FOX 2 event this Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

There's a lot on the line for "Suga," as he's been promised a title shot with a victory. He knows the stakes and already has in his head what he's got to do to win the fight.

"I just gotta impose my will. To come out with the win, I just gotta do what I do best, not just strike, wrestle and just do everything. I don't think there's just one avenue to get it done in. I gotta be able to get it done in all facets of the sport."

As for "Mr. Wonderful," this is as good as it can get for Davis. A win catapults him way up the light heavyweight ladder.

"He's the number one contender and I hope to take that from him. Plain and simple."

Indeed. Evans wins and he gets a title shot, Davis wins and he could put himself in position to have the same. There's a lot on the line in the "Windy City," Maniacs.

Who ya' got?

For all the latest news and notes on the UFC on FOX 2 event be sure to hit up our complete archive right here.

When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) first hit the FOX airwaves for UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," company President Dana White and the now retired Brock Lesnar served as booth analysts. So who's handling duties for UFC on FOX 2? That would be retired former heavyweight champion Randy Couture and current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Anyone excited to see "The Natural" back in the fold as an analyst for FOX?

Ever wonder how Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan got that job?

It's an interesting little story and he told it to Rosie O'Donnell during his appearance on her show recently:

"I started out in 1997 with them. I was the post-fight interviewer. That was when we were in little places like Dothan, Alabama, and Augusta, Georgia. We would have to fly in these little propeller planes and it was weird, we would do it in like high school auditoriums, it would be half-filled. It was very strange. I did it for a couple years and then I won the... I got the job. They just needed someone to do post-fight interviews. It just so happens that my manager knew the guy who was the producer and they were, 'Hey, we need someone to interview fighters after they fight." And I was like, 'I'll do it.' Not only did they not talk to me about what to do, no one even told me what was going to happen. This is what they did: they brought me there, they gave me a microphone, they put an ear-piece in me and they go, 'Okay, ready, Joe? We're going to come to you in three seconds.' Or, you know, whatever it was. And they just said, 'Just start talking about the event.' So I just started talking. Nobody explained to me what I was going to do, how to interview people; it was a weird organization back then."

Rogan's memory is spot on the money. His very first appearance at a UFC event came at UFC 12: "Judgement Day," which took place in Dothan, Alabama, all the way back in 1997.

And for those of you who don't appreciate his work now, well, let's just say he's come a long way since then. You can see a nervous and shifty Rogan making his debut right here.

After the jump, he talks with Rosie about a few more topics, including her super fandom for Urijah Faber. You can click here for more clips from his appearance on her show.

MMA Junkie reports that Dana White’s personal information was revealed online after White challenged hackers that may have hacked UFC.com. The challenge came after the UFC head engaged in a heated twitter exchange with the alleged hackers.

Via MMA Junkie:

A Twitter user claiming to be a member of the same Internet group that over the weekend attacked UFC.com, UGNazi.com, posted a link to a file listing the apparent phone number, social security number and current and past addresses of the UFC boss.

In addition to addressing the issue of the UFC hackers at today’s UFC on Fox 2 press conference, White also addressed the controversial SOPA bill which the UFC supported:

“Is SOPA the perfect bill? No, it’s not,” he said. “The only thing that we’re focused on is piracy. Piracy is stealing. If you walk into a store and you steal a gold watch, it’s the same as stealing a pay-per-view. I don’t care what your twisted, demented idea of stealing is. This kids who grew up on the Internet never had to pay for anything, so they don’t think that you should have to.”

Payout Perspective:

Most would agree that the unauthorized posting of personal information, including White’s alleged social security number, is not acceptable. It has now drawn the attention of White and the UFC. If White had made the statement about SOPA on the day of the SOPA blackout, or if this was communicated in Sunday’s Las Vegas Journal editorial, we may not have seen such a militant response from the hackers. Certainly, most people would understand the UFC’s stance if it was communicated in a timely manner.

There’s no guarantee that hackers would have stayed away from the UFC.com web site even if White and the UFC came out with its statement. But, at least stating its position, instead of pretending not to care about it, would have satisfied most.

Out with the old, in with the new.

The old adage never felt more fitting than on the warm September night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rolled into Atlanta, Georgia. For the first time in the state capital's history, the city -- once known for being the home of grown men in tights pretend fighting -- was playing host to UFC 88 and the fight promotion built a card that would ensure the Peach State residents a night to remember.

Indeed it was unforgettable. Not because of the shellacking Nate Marquardt gave Martin Kampmann or even the near-flawless striking display Rich Franklin used to fell Matt Hamill but because of the main event between mixed martial arts (MMA) icon and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 winner Rashad Evans.

Evans steps inside the Octagon again tomorrow (Jan. 28) taking on Phil Davis, headlining the company's second offering on Fox -- and its first proper event on the broadcast station -- in a fight that would secure the former champion his second light heavyweight title shot. "Suga" is no stranger to having to win a bout in order to get his chance at gold. He was in the position that night in Atlanta.

And the results were shocking.

Since being dethroned from the 205-pound mountain by Quinton Jackson a little over a year prior, "The Iceman" appeared to have lost a step or two. After being knocked out by "Rampage," he dropped a split decision to Keith Jardine at UFC 76 in what was supposed to be a tune-up fight to get him back into the title picture. Losing to Jackson didn't necessarily make Liddell's stock plummet but the uninspired showing against "The Dean of Mean" gave fans and analysts more than enough reason to pause and reflect on Liddell's future among the light heavyweight elite.

Thankfully for his fans, Liddell finished off 2007 by stepping inside the Octagon opposite Wanderlei Silva, a fight MMA enthusiasts had been clamoring to see for years. "The Iceman," on a two-fight skid stood even with Silva who had also lost his two previous bouts. The cynical thoughts of "too little, too late" gave way to a more apathetic feeling of "why not, maybe it'll be fun" which eventually blossomed into pure and adulterated joy as the fight played out. Over 15 minutes, Liddell and Silva gave fans what could possibly be the greatest fight in the history of the sport and in the end, "The Iceman" stood triumphant. It seemed the deposed king was ready to return to his throne.

Evans, since winning the heavyweight tournament during the second season of TUF, had been slowly and steadily climbing the UFC ladder. Two Fight Night co-main events and two wins against fellow TUF alumni Sam Hoger and Stephan Bonnar led to "Suga's" pay-per-view (PPV) debut, an impressive victory over Jason Lambert who had yet to see defeat inside the Octagon. Evans was ready to top the bill.

His first taste at headlining ended as well as he could have hoped. A highlight reel head kick knockout (KO) ended his opponent, Sean Salmon's, night early in the second round and offered a glimpse of the striking prowess "Suga" had at his disposal. He returned to PPV for his next bout, a draw against Tito Ortiz before headlining UFC 78 against Michael Bisping. Since his split decision win over "The Count" that night, Evans hasn't been back to the undercard.

The roads Liddell and Evans had each been travelling met in Atlanta on Sept. 6, 2008. It was a match-up nearly as old as sports itself. The battle-hardened veteran was taking on the young, up-and-comer. Youth versus experience, the old guard trying to stay secure in its place while the new guard does everything it can to upend it.

The first round perfectly epitomized the feeling out process as both fighters circled around each other, hoping to better gauge what each was bringing to the table. Surprisingly, the previously wrestling-heavy Evans attempted no takedowns and opted to stand toe to toe with his knockout artist opponent. What "Suga" lacked in technique, he made up for in speed, both on his feet and in his hands. He continuously avoided Liddell's attacks, suffering only minimal damage while beating "The Iceman" to the punch several times over.

By the end of the round, Liddell was bleeding and nursing a decently sized mouse under one eye. When the second stanza began, each fighter came out much more aggressively. Evans let his hands go with more frequency and with even more speed. Liddell, comfortable enough with his appraisal of Evans' stand-up, began to pressure his younger opponent with more tenacity. Attempting to pin "Suga" against the cage, Liddell looked to add the TUF winner to his already impressive list of victims. But Evans continued to circle away, avoiding the onslaught and countering punches like ... well, like Chuck Liddell.

It all culminated when Evans snapped out a jab which Liddell attempted to answer with an uppercut. Had it connected, it may very well have put "Suga" to sleep. We'll never know as a monster overhand right -- the same punch that would be Liddell's finisher if he was ever in a Mortal Kombat game -- barreled its way into the former champion's jaw. He crumpled to the mat and a shocked silence fell over the Philips Arena. It seemed the only sound emanating from the crowd were the ear-piercing shrieks from Evans' elated wife.

The knockout was vicious; perhaps the most devastating in the sport's history. There were many fans -- like myself -- with no dog in this particular fight and simply marveled at the beautiful brutality that had just been unleashed inside the Octagon. Then there were others - a majority of UFC fans - who counted Liddell among their favorite fighters, if not THE favorite. When "The Iceman" dropped, so too did their moods and any hopes of seeing Liddell challenge for the title he once held onto with an iron grip.

In fact, Liddell would never see victory again in his career while Evans would only see defeat once in the five fights since. The career arcs of these two fights crossed at UFC 88 but each were going is distinctly different directions. If Evans hopes to continue his upward trend, a win over Davis tomorrow night is necessary to secure a showdown with former teammate Jon Jones.

Does "Suga" have what it takes?