MMA Universe

• Two-year Vancouver trial MMA period, Vancouver fires head of athletic commission
• Ultimate fight: to convince Victoria
• UFC Hires Leadership to Open China Office
• UFC Announces Anti-Piracy Settlements with 500 Businesses and Individuals
• Strikeforce’s August schedule, UFC 119, 120, 121 Announcements

Two-year Vancouver trial MMA period could end with only one pro event having been held

Ongoing insurance and indemnity issues surrounding professional mixed martial arts in the city of Vancouver could well see the two-year trial of regulated MMA pass with only a single professional event having been held, according to Vision Vancouver city council member Dr Kerry Jang and licensing staffer Tom Hammel. (Vancouver Sun)

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Vancouver fires head of athletic commission

City council fired the head of the Vancouver Athletic Commission on Thursday after city staff and others complained about his conduct during the recent debate over allowing an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

Citing a lack of confidence in Mirko Mladenovic, the council appointed Dave Rudberg, a longtime city bureaucrat, to replace him as head of the commission when it reconvenes later this month. (Vancouver Sun)

Ultimate fight: to convince Victoria (Australia)

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship will use Geelong star George Sotiropoulos and the lure of a $15 million tourist injection to convince the Victorian government to allow cage-fighting into Melbourne, after the sport was again rejected by the state.

Having sold out its debut Australian event at the 17,000-capacity Acer Arena in Sydney in February within 90 minutes, the UFC will be returning early next year but wants to infiltrate the Victorian market, with figures suggesting the state harbours the most mixed martial arts fans in the country. (Sydney Morning Herald)

UFC Hires Leadership to Open China Office

The UFC’s global expansion has become a business in and of itself lately, and the next stop for the promotion will be in China.

Just weeks after the UFC opened an office in Canada – with former CFL commissioner Tom Wright leading the charge – the company hired a leader for a new office in China, which should open in the next few weeks.  (MMAWeekly) … (MMAPayout Perspective)

UFC Announces Anti-Piracy Settlements with 500 Businesses and Individuals

The organization today announced it has reached “confidential settlements” with more than 500 businesses and individuals as a result of illegal broadcasts and viewing of UFC events…The settlements span over the past two years.

“We are committed to standing toe to toe with anyone trying to illegally broadcast or stream UFC events,” UFC President Dana White stated. “Today’s announcement further drives home the fact that we are fully prepared to pursue any business or individual that steals our programming.”  (MMAJunkie) … (MMAPayout Perspective)

Strikeforce’s August schedule, UFC 119, 120, 121 Announcements

Strikeforce Houston Card (8/21): “King Mo” Lawal (7-0) vs Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (9-2) [LHW Title] , Tim Kennedy (12-2) vs “Jacare” Souza (12-2) [Vacant MW Title], KJ Noons (9-2) vs Jorge Gurgel (13-6), Bobby Lashley (5-0) vs TBA, POSS: Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) vs Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (14-2) have all been rumored for the card at the Toyota Center.  Erin Toughill (10-2) vs Shana Olsen (4-0) has also been recently rumored for this event, where the winner would take on “Cyborg” Santos in a future 145 lbs Title bout.

Strikeforce Phoenix (8/13): J. Riggs (32-11) v L. Taylor(6-1), D. Cormier (2-0) v TBA, Women’s 1-Night 135 lbs GP: Maiju Kujala (4-1), Hitomi Akano (15-7), Miesha Tate (9-2), and TBD.

Strikeforce Washington (7/23): Shane Del Rosario (9-0) v Lolohea Mahe (4-1), Sarah Kaufman (11-0) v Roxanne Modafferi (15-5) [135 lbs Title], Mike Kyle (16-7) v Abongo Humphrey (7-1), Corey Devela (9-4) v Bobby Voelker (21-8).

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UFC 119: A rematch between heavyweights Frank Mir (13-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) headlines September’s UFC 119 event.  (MMAJunkie) ..  this event is also rumored to have Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira penciled in as their co-main event, which would be the first time in UFC history to have twins headlining an event.

UFC 120: A middleweight bout between Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama will be part of October’s UFC 120 event in London.  (MMAJunkie) .. UFC 120 is also set to have Dan Hardy vs Carlos Condit as the co-main event and the event is scheduled to be televised on Spike TV from London.

UFC 121 : UFC 121, which was rumored to be taking place in Germany, is now reported by MMAJunkie to be likely moving to California.  Germany has made a firm stance against the UFC moving into the country, as was reported back in March, when they banned UFC from television.  The rumored main-event here was Vitor Belfort (19-8) versus the winner of Anderson Silva (26-4)/Chael Sonnen (24-10). UPDATE: Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez signed for UFC 121 (MMAFighting).

QUICK HITS

• FC: The Uprising Airing Live on Viewers Choice Canada (The Fight Network)
• HDNet to Broadcast ‘HDNet Fights: DREAM 15′ Live (PRESS RELEASE)
• SUFFER Signs Robert Drysdale Endorsement Deal (MarketWatch)
• Strikeforce’s August schedule headlined by ‘King Mo’ title defense (LA Times)
• Sifting through the rubble of the Fedor fallout (Yahoo! Sports)
• STRIKEFORCE Looks to Phoenix’s Dodge Theater for AUG. 13 (ULTMMA)
• Strikeforce Defy Boycott, Put Card in Arizona (Exile In Fightville)
• German UFC lightweight Dennis Siver hoping for MMA acceptance in home country (MMAJunkie)
• Voting ends Saturday for 2010 ESPY voting, UFC’s St-Pierre and Edgar nominated (MMAJunkie)
• Faber Out of WEC 50, Expected Back in September (Sherdog)
• Riggs-Taylor Heads Up Aug. 13 Strikeforce Challengers (Sherdog)
• Strikeforce Champion’s Clause an Issue in Fedor Talks (MMAFighting)
• Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez Won’t Happen at UFC 119 (MMAFighting)
• CAIN VELASQUEZ WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE UFC (MMAWeekly)
• SYLVIA VS. BUENTELLO IN AUGUST; PULVER RETURNS (MMAWeekly)
• Torres vs. Valencia Slated For Co-Main Event Of WEC 51 (Heavy)
• UFC 121 In The Works For Oct. 23 in Anaheim (Heavy)

TV LISTINGS

• HDNet Fights: XFC: The Next Generation at 9 PM ET on HDNet (07/09/10)
• Fighting Words with Mike Straka (Frank Shamrock) at 1 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• HDNet Fights: Affliction Day Of Reckoning at 1:30 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• HDNet Fights: DREAM.15 at 3 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• HDNet Fights: XFC: The Next Generation at 9 PM ET on HDNet (07/09/10)
• HDNet Fights: DREAM.15 at 3 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Del Rosario vs Mahe at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime(07/23/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World Max 2010 Final 10 PM ET on HDNet (07/23/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World GP 2010 at 10 PM ET on HDNet (07/23/10)
• UFC on Versus 2 : Jones vs Matyushenko at 10 PM ET on Versus (08/01/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs Taylor 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/13/10)
• HDNet Fights: KOTC: Imminent Danger at 9 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• UFC 117 : Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen at 10 PM ET on PPV (08/18/10)
• WEC 50: Cruz vs Benavidez at 9 PM ET on Versus (08/18/10)
• Strikeforce: King Mo vs Rafael Feijao at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/26/10)
• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championships 14 on HDNet (08/27/10)
• UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (08/28/10)

Five straight losses will not stop former Pride FC fan favorite, Mark Hunt, from making his Octagon debut against undefeated Sean McCorkle at UFC 119, which is scheduled for the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sept. 25, according to FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

Hunt, who has tipped the scales well over 300 pounds during his heyday competing in Japan, will have to shed quite a few pounds (if he hasn't already) to make the 265-pound heavyweight division limit.

More on this news in a bit.

UFC 119 will feature a rematch between former heavyweight champions, Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in the main event of the evening. Light heavyweights Antonio Rogerio Noguiera and Ryan Bader are so to throw leather in the co-featured fight of the night.

For more on the upcoming UFC 119 event click here.

Former lightweight champion and division stalwart, Sean Sherk, has been tapped to diffuse the meteoric rise of Evan Dunham at UFC 119, which is tentatively scheduled to take place at Conseco in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Sept. 25.

The potential 155-pound showdown between the 36-year-old veteran and 26-year-old up-and-comer was today confirmed by MMAWeekly.com.

Sherk has not competed in more than a year, sustaining several different injuries that have forced him out of three separate fights. In fact, bouts against top division players such as Clay Guida, Gleison Tibau and Jim Miller have all been scrapped, delaying perhaps his final run at another title opportunity.

In his most recent performance, "The Muscle Shark" dropped a unanimous decision to Frankie Edgar -- who has since gone one to become lightweight champion -- at UFC 98: "Evans vs. Machida" in back in May 2009. His decision to abandon his roots (wrestling) in that fight in favor of a new stand-up attack was a big factor in the loss.

He'll need to relocate his identity if he plans to pass his upcoming test against an incredibly resilient and hungry opponent.

Dunham is on a four-fight tear since making his Octagon debut early last year, taking out Per Eklund, Marcus Aurelio, Efrain Escudero and Tyson Griffin. It was his gutsy win over Griffin, however, which made most fans stand up and take notice.

And if he can add Sherk to his hit list, keeping his perfect record (11-0) intact and winning five straight UFC fights, you can expect to see Dunham mixing it up with more of the top contenders in the division in the months and years to come.

He's got quite an unassuming upside.

UFC 119, which has yet to be officially announced by the promotion, is still awaiting a potential main event. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on this developing fight card as it becomes available.

"We worked out many positions, many specific situations of attack from the bottom and attacks from the top. We even worked katagatame, that was the submission with which he finished the fight. We made a globalized job to make him feel comfortable and able to choose and develop the positions on the floor. Brock is in constant evolution, always cheered up. Since he owns a few fights in MMA, he’s thirsty for knowledge, so he dedicates so much. When you practice something for a long time it’s  normal to become relaxed and even lazy in certain moments. For this reason he performs each time better and is in frank evolution."

-- Brock Lesnar’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Rodrigo Medeiros, recently spoke to Abril.com.br about preparing the UFC heavyweight champion for his monumental showdown against Shane Carwin at UFC 116 last weekend. Lesnar gushed about "Comprido" at the post-fight press conference and his lessons, which led him to a stunning second round submission after enduring a brutal first round of punishment. In fact, "Brocky Balboa" ate about 60 unanswered punches in the first round of the event's main event. Whether it's his toughness or quick learning curve, the coach feels that Lesnar is the best heavyweight alive and will continue to improve, keeping him on top for a very long time. Care to argue otherwise?

And lives to tell about it, according to the UFC 116 FightMetric report.

That's once every five seconds. Ouch.

For the entire FightMetric break down of the "Lesnar vs. Carwin" main event on July 3 click here. For complete UFC 116 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Yup.

Brock Lesnar unified the UFC Heavyweight Championship by defeating Interim titlist Shane Carwin at UFC 116: "Lesnar vs. Carwin" last night (July 3) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena  in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And by arm-triangle choke, of all things.

But it didn't come easy. Carwin dominated round one with his trademarked power shots, rattling the returning champ on several occasions and even coming within a punch or two of forcing referee Josh Rosenthal to wave him off his crumpled opponent.

Call it heart, or maybe a little bit of luck, but Lesnar somehow survived the vicious onslaught and managed to get back to his feet, running out the clock with "The Engineer" pressed against the cage.

Round two would be a completely different story.

As color commentator Joe Rogan alluded to, Carwin had pretty much emptied his tank trying to finish the fight in the opening round.

Coming into the second stanza he was sucking wind and was taken down with relative ease, making no effort to keep Lesnar from getting mount and quickly transitioning to side control.

From there it was academic.

Lesnar wrapped his albino pythons around Carwin's neck and never let go. It took some time to adjust, but when the windpipe got up and excused itself from the room, there was no place to go but tapsville.

Brock Lesnar is (still) the UFC Heavyweight Champion.

How does that make you feel?

LAS VEGAS - Below are the official weigh-in results for Saturday night's UFC 116 event. UFC 116, which is headlined by the heavyweight championship bout between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and the middleweight bout between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Chris Leben, airs live on Pay-Per-View from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 10pm ET / 7pm PT. Fans can also tune in to Spike TV at 9pm ET / 6pm PT to see live UFC 115 preliminary bouts.