MMA Universe

Thanks to MMACanada.net for the video.

All the hype for the UFC 127 co-main event fight between Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera came to a head on Feb. 26 at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, when "The Count" mercilessly pounded out "El Conquistador." 

What he also did, was land an illegal knee and spit at his beaten foe's corner men. 

He claimed that wasn't the case; that he was simply spitting at their feet to accentuate his feelings of disgust for them and the various videos they made mocking him. 

However, this being the 21st century, video of the incident quickly hit YouTube and the evidence is pretty damning against him. 

Apparently that was enough to convince the bossman Dana White that some disciplinary action is in order. That's what he told MMAFighting.com, saying he's not sure if it will be a fine or a suspension but there will be punishment. 

Oh yes, there will be. 

Fight fans the world over are likely pulling for a simple fine in lieu of a suspension, seeing as Vitor Belfort has thrown his name in the hat of potential opponents for Bisping the next time he hits the Octagon. 

"The Phenom" believes he will put up a much better fight than Rivera did, and with his track record, despite the loss to Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 126, it's hard not to believe him. 

All that talk is put on hold until the boss brings down the hammer and we know the repercussions for "Spitgate."

The question is, how swift will he bring that hammer down? 

What's fair, Maniacs? A fine or a suspension? Maybe both?

All the hype for the UFC 127 co-main event fight between Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera came to a head on Feb. 26 at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, when "The Count" mercilessly pounded out "El Conquistador." 

What he also did, was land an illegal knee and spit at his beaten foe's corner men. 

He claimed that wasn't the case; that he was simply spitting at their feet to accentuate his feelings of disgust for them and the various videos they made mocking him. 

However, this being the 21st century, video of the incident quickly hit YouTube and the evidence is pretty damning against him. 

Apparently that was enough to convince the bossman Dana White that some disciplinary action is in order. That's what he told MMAFighting.com, saying he's not sure if it will be a fine or a suspension but there will be punishment. 

Oh yes, there will be. 

Fight fans the world over are likely pulling for a simple fine in lieu of a suspension, seeing as Vitor Belfort has thrown his name in the hat of potential opponents for Bisping the next time he hits the Octagon. 

"The Phenom" believes he will put up a much better fight than Rivera did, and with his track record, despite the loss to Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 126, it's hard not to believe him. 

All that talk is put on hold until the boss brings down the hammer and we know the repercussions for "Spitgate."

The question is, how swift will he bring that hammer down? 

What's fair, Maniacs? A fine or a suspension? Maybe both?

Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles will return to action to take on the gritty Damacio Page at UFC on Versus 3 this Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.

The two fighters have met once before, at WEC 35, where Bowles brought home "Submission of the Night" honors by submitting Page with a first round guillotine choke.

Bowles will be making a return to active competition after a year without competing in MMA due to various injuries.

As for Page, he will seek his revenge in his first bout inside the famed Octagon.

Who will go moving on up that 135-pound ladder? Will we see a repeat of the first fight? Or have the tides changed enough that an upset is in order?

We'll find out soon enough (9:00 p.m. ET to be precise). In the meantime, here is a quick preview of their rematch.

Check it out:

Brian Bowles

Record: 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the WEC

Key Wins: Miguel Torres (WEC 42), Will Ribeiro (WEC 37), Damacio Page (WEC 35)

Key Losses: Dominick Cruz (WEC 47)

How he got here: Bowles had a perfect professional record up until losing his title to Dominick Cruz, where he broke his hand. He was expected to return to action to face Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 52, but was forced off the event with a broken foot. Known for being an exceptionally well-rounded fighter, all eight of Bowles's wins came via knockout or submission against some of the toughest fighters the WEC had to offer.

How he gets it done: Bowles has a lot more tools in his arsenal than Page, as he has shown both exceptional stand up and solid grappling skills. If he can make this fight a grappling match, like he did in their first outing, he can get the easy victory as four of Page's five losses have come via submission. 

 

Damacio Page

Record: 12-5 overall, 3-2 in the WEC

Key Wins: Scott Jorgensen (WEC 32), Marcus Galvao (WEC 39), Will Campuzano (WEC 43)

Key Losses: Brian Bowles (WEC 35), Demetrius Johnson (WEC 52), Genki Sudo (K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!!)

How he got here: Albuquerque, New Mexico's own, Page has gone 3-2 in his last five outings.  In his last performance, he lost via guillotine choke to Demetrius Johnson in now the defunct WEC. Prior to the bout with Johnson, Page was coming off impressive victories over Marcus Galvao and Will Campuzano.

How he gets it done: Page's strength relies in his ability to make the fight a brawl. The Greg Jackson pupil will need to keep this fight off the mat if he is to avoid a second loss to Bowles. Also, he will need to make sure he gets after it early in order to take advantage of any ring-rust Bowles may suffer from.

 

Fight "X Factor:" The layoff could very easily play a huge factor as Bowles hasn't seen action in almost exactly a year. He is also coming off a broken foot and one has to question how good his timing will be coming into this fight. Also, Bowles broke his hand the bout before that, and it's hard to determine how willing he will be to throw punches with the same velocity he once did.

Bottom Line: Bowles has everything to lose in this fight, as he's still ranked in the top three bantamweights and is a former champion. Should Page win, he'll make a drastic climb in the rankings and the memories of Bowles's dominance will simply be a thing of the past. However, even with the layoff, I see Bowles getting the job done via submission. Page always has a punchers chance, of course, but if Bowles is healthy and back to form, he will hold an advantage in the stand-up as well. Good enough for me. 

Which bantamweight will win their Octagon debut at UFC on Versus 3? Tell us who you think will win!

Poll Who will emerge victorious at UFC on Versus 3? Brian Bowles Damacio Page

  116 votes | Results

Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles will return to action to take on the gritty Damacio Page at UFC on Versus 3 this Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.

The two fighters have met once before, at WEC 35, where Bowles brought home "Submission of the Night" honors by submitting Page with a first round guillotine choke.

Bowles will be making a return to active competition after a year without competing in MMA due to various injuries.

As for Page, he will seek his revenge in his first bout inside the famed Octagon.

Who will go moving on up that 135-pound ladder? Will we see a repeat of the first fight? Or have the tides changed enough that an upset is in order?

We'll find out soon enough (9:00 p.m. ET to be precise). In the meantime, here is a quick preview of their rematch.

Check it out:

Brian Bowles

Record: 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the WEC

Key Wins: Miguel Torres (WEC 42), Will Ribeiro (WEC 37), Damacio Page (WEC 35)

Key Losses: Dominick Cruz (WEC 47)

How he got here: Bowles had a perfect professional record up until losing his title to Dominick Cruz, where he broke his hand. He was expected to return to action to face Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 52, but was forced off the event with a broken foot. Known for being an exceptionally well-rounded fighter, all eight of Bowles's wins came via knockout or submission against some of the toughest fighters the WEC had to offer.

How he gets it done: Bowles has a lot more tools in his arsenal than Page, as he has shown both exceptional stand up and solid grappling skills. If he can make this fight a grappling match, like he did in their first outing, he can get the easy victory as four of Page's five losses have come via submission. 

 

Damacio Page

Record: 12-5 overall, 3-2 in the WEC

Key Wins: Scott Jorgensen (WEC 32), Marcus Galvao (WEC 39), Will Campuzano (WEC 43)

Key Losses: Brian Bowles (WEC 35), Demetrius Johnson (WEC 52), Genki Sudo (K-1 Premium 2006 Dynamite!!)

How he got here: Albuquerque, New Mexico's own, Page has gone 3-2 in his last five outings.  In his last performance, he lost via guillotine choke to Demetrius Johnson in now the defunct WEC. Prior to the bout with Johnson, Page was coming off impressive victories over Marcus Galvao and Will Campuzano.

How he gets it done: Page's strength relies in his ability to make the fight a brawl. The Greg Jackson pupil will need to keep this fight off the mat if he is to avoid a second loss to Bowles. Also, he will need to make sure he gets after it early in order to take advantage of any ring-rust Bowles may suffer from.

 

Fight "X Factor:" The layoff could very easily play a huge factor as Bowles hasn't seen action in almost exactly a year. He is also coming off a broken foot and one has to question how good his timing will be coming into this fight. Also, Bowles broke his hand the bout before that, and it's hard to determine how willing he will be to throw punches with the same velocity he once did.

Bottom Line: Bowles has everything to lose in this fight, as he's still ranked in the top three bantamweights and is a former champion. Should Page win, he'll make a drastic climb in the rankings and the memories of Bowles's dominance will simply be a thing of the past. However, even with the layoff, I see Bowles getting the job done via submission. Page always has a punchers chance, of course, but if Bowles is healthy and back to form, he will hold an advantage in the stand-up as well. Good enough for me. 

Which bantamweight will win their Octagon debut at UFC on Versus 3? Tell us who you think will win!

Poll Who will emerge victorious at UFC on Versus 3? Brian Bowles Damacio Page

  1014 votes | Results

"I would want to fight Tito Ortiz. Just because I grew up watching him. I want to have one of those guys on my résumé like a Randy Couture or Chuck Liddell. Purely out of respect, he's one I'd like to fight before my career is over ... Really, I didn't even feel like going back and watching [the Feb. 5 loss to Jon Jones] because I didn't feel like I fought to even a quarter of my potential. Right before I walked out, I was standing there and telling myself, Man, you really need to wake up."

After watching his undefeated record (and quest to become division number one contender) go up in smoke against fellow light heavyweight sensation Jon Jones at UFC 126 back on Feb. 5, Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Champion Ryan Bader tells ESPN.com he's ready to get back on his horse and gallop into a 205-pound rodeo with Tito Ortiz. And hey, whaddaya know, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" just so happens to be free for the remainder of 2011 after ditching Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 26 in Seattle thanks to a "minor concussion" that compelled him to withdraw from the March 24 event. Anyone clamoring for this "young vs. old" battle of wrestlers? Anyone? Bueller?

"I would want to fight Tito Ortiz. Just because I grew up watching him. I want to have one of those guys on my résumé like a Randy Couture or Chuck Liddell. Purely out of respect, he's one I'd like to fight before my career is over ... Really, I didn't even feel like going back and watching [the Feb. 5 loss to Jon Jones] because I didn't feel like I fought to even a quarter of my potential. Right before I walked out, I was standing there and telling myself, Man, you really need to wake up."

After watching his undefeated record (and quest to become division number one contender) go up in smoke against fellow light heavyweight sensation Jon Jones at UFC 126 back on Feb. 5, Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Champion Ryan Bader tells ESPN.com he's ready to get back on his horse and gallop into a 205-pound rodeo with Tito Ortiz. And hey, whaddaya know, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" just so happens to be free for the remainder of 2011 after ditching Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 26 in Seattle thanks to a "minor concussion" that compelled him to withdraw from the March 24 event. Anyone clamoring for this "young vs. old" battle of wrestlers? Anyone? Bueller?

Melbourne moaner Michelle Cazzulino pouts her way through her faultfinding review of UFC 127: "Penn vs. Fitch," calling last Saturday's sold out event in Sydney "bloody, brutal and stupid."

Maybe she was a "Crowbar" fan?

Melbourne moaner Michelle Cazzulino pouts her way through her faultfinding review of UFC 127: "Penn vs. Fitch," calling last Saturday's sold out event in Sydney "bloody, brutal and stupid."

Maybe she was a "Crowbar" fan?

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced during last Saturday night's pay-per-view broadcast (via Heavy.com) that its UFC 129 "Prelims" telecast will include welterweight bouts featuring Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald and Brian Foster vs. Sean Pierson.

UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" is set for April 30, 2011, from the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

The 25-year-old Diaz is looking to bounce back from a hard fought unanimous decision loss to grappling "Stun Gun" Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 125 back on Jan. 1.

The Cesar Gracie product is 1-1 since his return to the welterweight division following an inconsistent run as one of the promotion's top 155-pound prospects. After submitting Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 19 in 2009, Diaz lost a very questionable split decision to Gray Maynard in 2010.

While he's comfortable in either weight class, a decisive win up North could go a long way in determining which division he calls home for the remainder of his 2011 fight campaign.

But don't expect MacDonald to make it easy for him.

After an impressive armbar submission win in his UFC debut over Mike Guymon, "Mac" shocked both fans and pundits when he controlled the majority of his next fight against the highly-favored Carlos Condit and may have been on his way to a lopsided decision victory -- until he gassed out and was finished with just seconds remaining in the contest.

The loss sent the Canadian to the famed Tristar gym to train with 170-pound deity Georges St. Pierre and if he watched Diaz lose to Kim, he might find it advantageous to drill wrestling with the very best in the world.

Tune in to find out.

In a hometown hustle, Brian Foster will throw hands against Sean Pierson to see who moves up the divisional ladder and who gets blown away like a dried-up maple leaf.

Foster may not have the biggest name in the sport but he's done relatively well for himself since making his way into the world's largest fight promotion, winning a couple of bonus awards including "Knockout of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" while looking impressive in the finishing of his last two opponents.

But will his progress be arrested by the (former) Canadian police officer?

Pierson made headlines when it became known the Toronto Police force, of which he was an upstanding member of, was not happy with his participation in the sport of mixed martial arts. He was asked to make a choice between fighting and being a policeman.

Octagon it is.

The former lawman started his career a mediocre 5-4 but after stringing together five consecutive wins, he got the call up from the big show. Well, that and the UFC needed a late replacement for an injured T.J. Waldburger at UFC 124 against Matt Riddle.

The Canadian agreed and made the most of his opportunity by taking a unanimous decision that company President Dana White would have awarded "Fight of the Night" -- had it not been the one event he decided to let the fans vote on the award.

Apparently that was enough for the organization to ask the grappler back and now he'll get the chance to fight in his native land.

UFC 129 is set to feature a main event between Canada's own Georges St. Pierre, defending his welterweight title against fresh challenger -- and former Elite XC and Strikeforce champion -- Jake Shields.

In front of 55,000 screaming Canadians.

The event is also expected to include "Father Time" Randy Couture, defying the odds once again to take on Karate master Lyoto Machida.

For the current UFC 129 fight card and line up click here.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced during last Saturday night's pay-per-view broadcast (via Heavy.com) that its UFC 129 "Prelims" telecast will include welterweight bouts featuring Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald and Brian Foster vs. Sean Pierson.

UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" is set for April 30, 2011, from the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

The 25-year-old Diaz is looking to bounce back from a hard fought unanimous decision loss to grappling "Stun Gun" Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 125 back on Jan. 1.

The Cesar Gracie product is 1-1 since his return to the welterweight division following an inconsistent run as one of the promotion's top 155-pound prospects. After submitting Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 19 in 2009, Diaz lost a very questionable split decision to Gray Maynard in 2010.

While he's comfortable in either weight class, a decisive win up North could go a long way in determining which division he calls home for the remainder of his 2011 fight campaign.

But don't expect MacDonald to make it easy for him.

After an impressive armbar submission win in his UFC debut over Mike Guymon, "Mac" shocked both fans and pundits when he controlled the majority of his next fight against the highly-favored Carlos Condit and may have been on his way to a lopsided decision victory -- until he gassed out and was finished with just seconds remaining in the contest.

The loss sent the Canadian to the famed Tristar gym to train with 170-pound deity Georges St. Pierre and if he watched Diaz lose to Kim, he might find it advantageous to drill wrestling with the very best in the world.

Tune in to find out.

In a hometown hustle, Brian Foster will throw hands against Sean Pierson to see who moves up the divisional ladder and who gets blown away like a dried-up maple leaf.

Foster may not have the biggest name in the sport but he's done relatively well for himself since making his way into the world's largest fight promotion, winning a couple of bonus awards including "Knockout of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" while looking impressive in the finishing of his last two opponents.

But will his progress be arrested by the (former) Canadian police officer?

Pierson made headlines when it became known the Toronto Police force, of which he was an upstanding member of, was not happy with his participation in the sport of mixed martial arts. He was asked to make a choice between fighting and being a policeman.

Octagon it is.

The former lawman started his career a mediocre 5-4 but after stringing together five consecutive wins, he got the call up from the big show. Well, that and the UFC needed a late replacement for an injured T.J. Waldburger at UFC 124 against Matt Riddle.

The Canadian agreed and made the most of his opportunity by taking a unanimous decision that company President Dana White would have awarded "Fight of the Night" -- had it not been the one event he decided to let the fans vote on the award.

Apparently that was enough for the organization to ask the grappler back and now he'll get the chance to fight in his native land.

UFC 129 is set to feature a main event between Canada's own Georges St. Pierre, defending his welterweight title against fresh challenger -- and former Elite XC and Strikeforce champion -- Jake Shields.

In front of 55,000 screaming Canadians.

The event is also expected to include "Father Time" Randy Couture, defying the odds once again to take on Karate master Lyoto Machida.

For the current UFC 129 fight card and line up click here.

And as with any contest of this nature, everyone's a winner. To see more Furr click here and here.

Props: MMA Weekly

Quoteworthy:

"I want to go in there and dictate the pace. I want to punch him in the face every time he tries to get in there, and I want to get back to my old days. I want to get back to knocking people out. I started in boxing and Thai boxing, and I think it’s time to get back to my roots and start beating people up and standing again. If Diego’s going to give me submissions, of course I’m going to take it, cause I’m in there to get the win, but I think the fans definitely appreciate knockouts more than submissions, and I don’t have any knockouts in the UFC yet, so I think it’s about time."

Martin Kampmann is ready to make some noise in his headlining bout opposite Diego Sanchez this Thursday night (March 3) at the UFC on Versus 3 event in Louisville, KY. The Dane looked not-so-great in his task of welcoming former Strikeforce Champion Jake Shields to the Octagon when they butted heads last October and while "The Hitman" was outgunned in his split decision loss, his defeat had more to do with his gameplan than it did his skill set. The loss was just his second as a welterweight, having previously been mugged by the now-exiled Paul Daley at UFC 103 back in 2009. Can he achieve his dream of contending for the 170-pound title starting with a win over Sanchez at the Yum! Center? Or will the "Nightmare" continue for Kampmann on Thursday night?

Spike TV and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials today (Feb. 28) announced the complete cast and finalized roster for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 scheduled to debut on the cable television network on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

TUF 13 will feature 14 welterweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of heavyweight coaches (and division rivals) Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos.

The date for this season's live finale is already booked for June 4 in Las Vegas and will feature a main event lightweight title eliminator bout pitting number one contender Anthony "Showtime" Pettis against energetic caveman Clay "The Carpenter" Guida.

Check out the official TUF 13 cast after the jump, courtesy of SpikeTV. Recognize any of the names on this list?

Name: Nordin "Fist of Tangier" Asrih
Age: 32
Trains: Dusseldorf, Germany - Pride Gym
MMA record: 16-5-1

Name: Shamar Bailey
Age: 28
Trains: Indianapolis, IN - Integrated Fighting Systems
MMA record: 10-3

Name: Len "The Liger" Bentley
Age: 27
Trains: Olympia, WA - Victory Athletics
MMA record: 9-4-0

Name: Michael "Mick" Bowman
Age: 26
Trains: Liverpool, England - Wolfslair
MMA record: 7-2-0

Name: Keon "The Black Assassin" Caldwell
Age: 26
Trains: Moultrie, GA - Team Reality
MMA record: 8-1

Name: Chris "C-Murder" Cope
Age: 28
Trains: San Diego, CA - Arena MMA
MMA record: 4-1

Name: Zachary Davis
Age: 26
Trains: Rockville, MD - Evolve / Team Lloyd Irvin
MMA record: 4-1-0

Name: Anthony "El Cucuy" Ferguson
Age: 26
Trains: Ventura, CA - Knuckleheadz Boxing
MMA record: 10-2-0

Name: Clay Harvison
Age: 30
Trains: Marietta, GA - X3 Sports
MMA record: 6-1-0

Name: Myles "Fury" Jury
Age: 22
Trains: San Diego, CA - Victory
MMA record: 9-0

Name: Ryan McGillivray
Age: 24
Trains: Edmonton, Alberta Canada - Legends Training Centre
MMA record: 11-4-1

Name: Ramsey Nijem
Age: 22
Trains: Orem, UT - River Academy / The Pit
MMA record: 4-1-0

Name: Charlie "Superstar" Rader
Age: 29
Trains: New Orleans, LA - Power MMA
MMA record: 16-5

Name: Javier "Chunty Boy" Torres
Age: 25
Trains: Las Vegas, NV - Team Tompkins
MMA record: 3-0-0

For a video preview of the upcoming TUF 13 season click here.

For you Maniacs making the trip to Louisville for the upcoming UFC on Versus 3 event set to go down on March 3, the promotion has provided you with this handy-dandy schedule of events to work your week around.

Who's heading to the "Bluegrass State" to enjoy the festivities? For a hi-res version of the "Sanchez vs. Kampmann" schedule of events poster click here.

A Brit abroad There’s something Michael Bisping’s demeanour that makes it seemingly impossible for anyone to have a neutral opinion of him. Bisping himself seems to go through phases of hating the critics and then revelling in their jeers but few can argue with his 11-3 record since joining the UFC. His illegal knee on Saturday was controversial [...]

Already sporting a talent-rich lightweight roster, the Maximum Fighting Championship has added one of the division's most powerful strikers, and a fighter who has targeted big finishes in fan-favorite encounters.

Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis has signed a multi-fight deal with the Maximum Fighting Championship, and will make his much-anticipated debut when S.L. Feldman's & Associates presents MFC 29: Conquer at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on Friday, April 8. Tickets for the event go on sale at Noon ET on Friday, March 4 at www.caesarswindsor.com and The Colosseum box office.

Davis (17-8) is expected to meet the livewire "Ragin" Kajan Johnson (18-11-1) in one of the featured matchups that will air live on HDNet Fights.

The Bangor , Maine , product and member of Team Sityodtong already feels like he has found a home in the MFC which prides itself in pushing the entertainment envelope.

"I feel I'm sort of the Nostradamus of MMA," explained Davis . "When I started in the sport I was talking to boxing magazines and told them that MMA was going to take over boxing. They said I was crazy but it happened."

"I feel the same about being in the MFC. (Owner/President) Mark Pavelich has done a very good job not only developing his brand but also developing his fighters. That's why I made the choice I did.

"I'm a fighter who wears his heart on his sleeve. I go out and give it all I've got to be entertaining. I think my style fits very well with the MFC."

Davis is well-known for his all-out clashes as the 37-year-old has built a reputation of fights that leave a lasting impression. His career is highlighted by an 11-fight winning streak that included victories over notables such as Pete Spratt, Shonie Carter, Forrest Petz, Paul Taylor, and Jess Liaudin. While building up six knockouts and eight submission stoppages, Davis has captured victories over rival big punchers such as Jonathan Goulet, Chris Lytle, and Paul Kelly.

"No matter what, every time I fight, I try to end the fight and I'm bleeding all over somebody," cracked Davis .

"I think the MFC lightweight division is stacked but there's no doubt I'm the best striker. That's what I'm going to bring. I'm going to get right in there. I'm looking forward to coming in and making a big splash."

Johnson, who fights out of Vancouver , B.C., is coming off a one-sided decision win over Ryan Healy at MFC 27. Although Johnson sports four knockouts and 10 submissions on his resume, Davis doesn't expect his upcoming foe to be ready for this sizeable step up.

"He hasn't faced the type of competition I've faced and he has no idea the level of where my confidence is at," added Davis . "He's tough but I'm very confident."

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made its successful return to the land "Down Under" with its UFC 127 pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza last Saturday night (Feb. 26, 2011) from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.

"Penn vs. Fitch" featured former lightweight champion B.J. Penn battling perennial welterweight contender Jon Fitch to a majority draw in the main event of the evening.

Aspiring 185-pound contender Michael Bisping silenced the uprising of fellow trash talking middleweight Jorge Rivera in the co-featured fight of the night (and a bout riddled with controversy), while local favorite George Sotiropoulos dropped down the 155-pound ladder with an upset loss to German kickboxer Dennis Siver.

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 Saturday's blockbuster pay-per-view.

Let’s get to it.

UFC 127 live results and play-by-play

"Penn vs. Fitch" recap and post-fight discussion

Fight night bonuses and awards

Post-fight press conference video

BJ Penn and Jon Fitch fight to a majority draw

How did FightMetric score "Penn vs. Fitch?"

Does Jon Fitch still deserve a welterweight title shot?

Jon Fitch should get his due says MMAmania.com's Geno Mrosko

Michael Bisping stops Jorge Rivera in round two

Michael Bisping spits on Jorge Rivera's cornermen

Jorge Rivera calls Michael Bisping's illegal knee "deliberate"

Dennis Siver upsets George Sotiropoulos via unanimous decision

Brian Ebersole shocks Chris Lytle (and the fans) via unanimous decision

Brian Ebersole shaves an arrow into his chest to point him to victory (Pic)

Kyle Noke submits Chris Camozzi in round one

Mark Hunt knocks out Chris Tuchscherer and splits open the "Crowbar's" eye (Pic)

That my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.

Remember that UFC on Versus 3: "Sanchez vs. Kampmann" is just around the corner - along with UFC 128: "Shogun vs. Jones" on March 19. And what card are you most looking forward to in the second quarter of 2011?

Sound off, Maniacs.

With UFC on Versus 3 less than a week away, UFC middleweight contender Mark Munoz will be our featured guest on tonight's (Feb. 28) presentation of Pro MMA Radio beginning at 9 p.m. ET right here on MMAmania.com.

"The Philippine Wrecking Machine" will talk about his March 3 battle against C.B. Dollaway in the co-main event from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night through our exclusive live feed.

Live feed begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET after the jump.

Pro MMA Radio will begin playing automatically. Press (||) to turn it off.

For more on UFC on Versus 3 click here.

Michael Bisping finished Jorge Rivera at UFC 127  as the controversial British fighter continues to climb his way towards a possible UFC middleweight title shot. His immediate future remains uncertain, but the UFC didn’t have to wait long to find a willing opponent — UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort publicly shared his desire to fight [...]