Cage Talk – MMA – All The Latest Mixed Martial Arts News

Now that I’m back in not so sunny Montreal (just in time for another wet Canada Day tomorrow, yay!), radio transmissions will return to normal. Almost. We’ve decided to do the Happy Hour on Tuesday this week so that on Thursday we can do a super special 2nd of July Extravaganza Mailbag for both Canadians and Americans. We call it the Declanadian of Indimerica show.

Anyways, today we talked about the TUF finale a little, the UFC magazine, Dr Johnny Benjamin’s 3 rounds vs 5 rounds, Bob Sapp vs Bobby Lashley, and how Drew Fickett showed up for his fight drunk. As usual, there’s 1001 other topics jammed between those talking points, something for everyone! Well, everyone that pays I suppose. 30 minutes long.

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The Happy Hour is our weekly show for members that donate to the Fightlinker cause, otherwise known as sitting around doing as little as possible while eating stale bread and processed chicken slices. If you’d like to help out with this dream of being semi-paid to talk shit about people who do stuff, click here!

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It doesn't take more than simply glancing over UFC heavyweight Heath Herring's (28-14 MMA, 2-3 UFC) record to see what kind of fighter he is.

While "The Texas Crazy Horse" hasn't won every fight he's ever entered, Herring has fought the world's toughest fighters throughout his 12-year career.

But despite having fought 42 times in bouts all over the globe, his UFC 99 withdrawal provided Herring a new experience that has forced him to take a little time away from the sport.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is expected to announce a new home for its live programming in the United Kingdom (UK) after an abrupt end to its partnership with Setanta Sports, according to The Sun.

One of the biggest shows in mixed martial arts history is set to go down on July 11 when UFC 100 blows up the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On the main card will be one of the UK’s biggest stars, Michael Bisping, as he collides with opposing Ultimate Fighter coach Dan Henderson to determine a possible number one contender for the UFC middleweight crown.

In wake of the financial collapse of Setanta Sports, there was speculation that a home for the upcoming live broadcast would not be found in time for the big show, forcing fans across the pond to wait for “The Count” to appear via tape delay.

Not to worry, says UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik:

“I’d like to guarantee our loyal British and Irish fans that UFC 100 will be LIVE on television over here. You won’t have to wait to see the biggest event in UFC history. UFC 100 will be live in the UK.”

Starting with UFC 80 back on January 19, 2008, the Ultimate Fighting Championship struck a deal with international sports broadcaster Setanta Sports to bring the UFC to millions of homes in the United Kingdom.

Setanta operates in Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Australia and provides premium sports television channels on a subscription basis, including its multi-year deal with Zuffa.

That deal recently eroded due to the financial instability of Setanta.

Unfortunately the dissolution of some of its English Premier League rights left Setanta strapped for cash and on the prowl for some emergency funding. A complete and utter collapse in operations — which would effectively blackout any and all UFC programming in the UK, had been reported as inevitable.

It was unknown if UFC 99, scheduled for June 13 in Cologne, Germany, would even make the airwaves in the UK until just a day before the broadcast, jeopardizing the momentum of Zuffa’s Europe expansion.

Now it looks like the UFC isn’t taking any chances with its future programming as they consider a new partnership from six different networks including Virgin 1, Sky Sports, Bravo and ESPN.

Though a long term deal would likely begin with UFC 101, Virgin 1 is reportedly the lead candidate to air UFC 100 prior to that.

An official announcement is expected by next Monday.

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(Combat Lifestyle captures Bisping's wrestling practice at the brand new TapouT training center in Las Vegas.)

Here’s Michael Bisping, or as he will soon come to be known, “Johnny Takedown,” working on his wrestling skillz in advance of his UFC 100 bout with Dan Henderson next weekend.  You’ll recall that we previously laughed off the idea that Bisping might try and take Hendo down rather than just focusing all his energy on trying to stay upright.  And sure, maybe double-legs were only 10% of a wrestling practice that was 90% about sprawling and scrambling back to the feet.  Still, training takedowns this close to the fight makes it seem suspiciously like Bisping intends to turn Henderson’s greatest strengths against him.

If that is the plan, it’s now officially the worst kept secret in MMA.  Imagine how shocked Henderson would have been to see Bisping shoot for a takedown right off the bat.  Not now though.  After his wrestling coach blew up his spot and these pictures hit the internet, it’s safe to say the element of surprise is gone.

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Former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (12-1) will likely appear at the as-yet-unannounced World Victory Road's "Sengoku 10th Battle" event in September.

Silva's manager and American Top Team founding manager, Alex Davis, today informed MMAjunkie.com Radio of the potential bout, as well as his client's desire to return to action in the U.S.

"I think that probably by next year you'll see him back in the U.S.," Davis said. "I'd like him back in the States; that's our goal. Right now we still have a contract with Sengoku. He's probably going to fight in September. If that goes well, possibly for a Sengoku title at the end of the year."

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“Sobral is so tough. When he comes, he comes to fight. It will be a good test for me. With Sobral, I will try to fight (my) stand-up game. If it goes to the ground, I will take top position and work him over with my ground and pound. Sobral will have to watch out for my elbows; I want to use them in this fight. If I end up on my back, I can defend myself and eventually we will stand back up again.”

– Former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi prepares for his stiffest test to date when he challenges Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral at Affliction 3: ‘Trilogy” on August 1 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. “The Dreamcatcher” has finally made his long anticipated move to 205 lbs., and if his recent drubbing of Mark Hunt at DREAM 9 back in May is any indication, Mousasi is going to make a lot of noise in the heavier weight classes. First things first — get past the very dangerous “Babalu,” who doesn’t plan on being anyone’s stepping stone. Did Mousasi bite off more than he can chew? Or is Sobral going to sleep? Predictions please.

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(The secret to a good striking workout with Frank Mir?  Tell him that the focus mitts called him chubby.)

After Brock Lesnar’s unfortunate UFC debut against Frank Mir you may be wondering whether we’ll see the same full-steam-ahead Lesnar that got himself kneebarred in the first encounter, or whether he’ll look to change it up for the heavyweight championship showdown at UFC 100.  Well, as long as it’s up for debate, Mir would like to offer a suggestion via an email sent out by the UFC.  It goes a little something like this:

"If Brock really comes out and tries to abandon the running at me, heads over heels and just trying to knock, bull rush me over, I honestly think that's his best approach," said Mir, with a black shine circling his eye. "I would just come after me - take a chance, 'cause to sit there and play the cat and mouse game with me, and jab and slip and move around, I think that's a slow death for him that he can't possibly win."

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As with any dispute, there are always two sides to every story.

And as "Ultimate Chaos" victor Javier Vazquez today told MMAjunkie.com Radio such was the case with this past Friday's weigh-in fiasco in Biloxi, Miss., which ultimately cost Din Thomas a chance to fight - and took money from Vazquez's pocket.

"I never went up to the commission," Vazquez said. "I never bitched and complained. I never said anything. It wasn't my job to do that. That's the commission's job to do that."

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As with any dispute, there are always two sides to every story.

And as "Ultimate Chaos" victor Javier Vazquez today told MMAjunkie.com Radio such was the case with this past Friday's weigh-in fiasco in Biloxi, Miss., which ultimately cost Din Thomas a chance to fight - and took money from Vazquez's pocket.

"I never went up to the commission," Vazquez said. "I never bitched and complained. I never said anything. It wasn't my job to do that. That's the commission's job to do that."

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Following a 2-1 record in the world's premier MMA organization, middleweight Rob Kimmons has signed a new four-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A source close to the fighter today told MMAjunkie.com the 28-year-old fighter recently accepted the new deal.

Kimmons (22-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) most recently defeated Joe Vedepo via first-round submission at UFC Fight Night 18 in April. It was the sixth win in seven fights for Kimmons, a Midwesterner who's now 13-2 over the past three years.

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