UFC 129 RESULTS: Jose Aldo survives fifth round assualt, retains Featherweight Championship by decision over Mark Hominick

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Mark Hominick put forth a valiant effort, but at the end of the night it wasn't enough to dethrone UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto.

Despite a massive hematoma suffered in the fourth round, Hominick came out in the third round, took Aldo to the ground and delivered punishment until the final bell. But the one round of work wasn't enough to make up for four lost rounds prior to the final frame.

He gave Aldo everything he had, landing punches and hitting a tired champion with numerous combinations throughout, but for four rounds Aldo found a way to win each of them with a combination of leg kicks, takedowns and precise punches.

In both the third and fourth round, Aldo dropped Hominick with punches, but was unable to put him away in either situation. The toughness displayed by Hominick was appreciated by the hometown crowd, who cheered heavily for him afterward, but ultimately his fifth round assault was too little too late.

After an injury kept him out of action for a few months, Aldo showed the negative affects of the injury and layoff, as well as a bad weight cut. However, a not-100% Aldo was able to take Hominick to the limit and win four of those round to earn the decision and hold onto his title in his first UFC fight.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9204.shtml

Ryuki Ueyama Caol Uno Alexander Ustinov Umer W Chheena

Brock Lesnar?s diverticulitis forces him out UFC 131, replaced by Shane Carwin

The UFC continued to steal headlines this week with another major announcement on the heels of having already expanded fighter insurance to cover injuries sustained outside of the cage. Minutes ago, in a conference call with media, UFC President Dana White dropped a bomb in explaining former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar‘s diverticulitis had returned [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/05/12/brock-lesnars-diverticulitis-returns-replaced-at-ufc-131-with-shane-carwin/

Brandon Vera Renato Verissimo Marcus Vinicios Falaniko Vitale

ROUNDTABLE: Who had the most impressive performance at UFC 129? Hansen, Perez, Hobaugh, Marsh, Hyden and Pelkey

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Who had the most impressive performance at UFC 129?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Obviously KOs and submissions are nice and all, but Rory MacDonald stood above and beyond.  MacDonald, in his first fight since losing to Carlos Condit, ragdolled a very capable opponent for 15 minutes.  MacDonald fought a very controlled fight, and wasn't in trouble for even a second of his victory over Nate Diaz.

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

The most impressive performance had to come from Mark Hominick.  He took an absolute beating from Jose Aldo, as have previous opponents of his, but the difference here was that Hominick was able to give back what Aldo was giving, and then some.  He may not have looked impressive after the fight, but Hominick proved he can easily hang with the champion, and I would look forward to a rematch between the two.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Lyoto Machida, hands down, was the most impressive at UFC 129.  He not only knocked out Randy Couture's tooth, he used a technique that is rarely used in MMA to do it.  He did this to one of the best fighters in the history of the sport and made it look easy.  If this is Randy Couture's last fight at least it is a memorable one. Machida had a run of two bad fights for him and this win puts him back in the mix at light heavyweight. That kick will be remembered and talked about for a long, long, time.

GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Lyoto Machida!  If anyone disagrees you're insane.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think I'd have to go with Jose Aldo. Lyoto Machida had a great highlight, but Randy Couture isn't the fighter he once was. Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields both had subpar - for them - performances. Mark Hominick is a legitimate contender and Aldo was able to pull out the win and do a number to Hominick's face. Nobody really stood out, and a lot of people were really good, but I think Aldo's title defense over Hominick was the most impressive.

MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
 
I'll take the upset pick here and say Vladdy Matyushenko. Yes the fight only lasted 20 seconds, but that was the result of a crisp two punch combination on the feet and some brutal hammerfists on the ground. In the biggest event in MMA history, in a fight everyone was labeling the "bathroom break" fight, Vladdy threw his name in the hat for KO of the night (although he finished a distant fourth in that race) in defeating a fighter most were expecting him to lose to. At 40 years old, Matyushenko is still diligently working to improve his game, and has somehow managed to keep himself relevant in MMA's premier division.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_9279.shtml

Harout Terzyan James Thompson Nick Thompson Josh Thomson

UFC releases Maiquel Falcao, pulls him from UFC 134 card

UFC officials have released promising Brazilian fighter Maiquel Falcao and pulled him from a UFC 134 bout with Tom Lawlor.

A representative from Prime Fighters Management and DCA, Falcao's management companies, told MMAjunkie.com of the release overnight.

The rep said Falcao's 2002 arrest still plagues the fighter, and with fans and media contacting the UFC and demanding his removal from the summer card in Rio de Janeiro, officials ultimately decided to sever ties with the middleweight.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/1ZolBz8-AEI/ufc-releases-maiquel-falcao-pulls-him-from-ufc-134-card.mma

Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund

Mike Brown back in action at UFC 133 against Nam Phan

Former WEC featherweight champ Mike Brown is set to return to the Octagon for the third time this year after back-to-back appearances in January left him nursing a torn finger ligament and an inability to fully train due to repeated cases of lactic acid build-up. Brown has since healed up and, according to an announcement [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/05/11/mike-brown-back-in-action-at-ufc-133-against-nam-phan/

Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin  Jason Hollywood Chambers

Recap Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, Melendez vs. Kawajiri, Mousasi vs. Jardine, Aoki vs. Beerbohm - Strikeforce

The official recap of April 9th Strikeforce Diaz vs. Daley. Relive the main event between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley, plus Gilbert Melendez, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gegard Mousasi, Keith Jardine, Shinya Aoki, and Lyle Beerbohm.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/recap-strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley-melendez-vs-kawajiri-mousasi-vs-jardine-aoki-vs-beerbohm-video_a53818203.html

Ken Shamrock Sean Sherk Katsuyori Shibata Jake Shields

Ryan Couture Gets Matt Ricehouse for Strikeforce Challengers 16

Filed under: ,

Ryan Couture, the son of recently retired UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, is set to face undefeated Matt Ricehouse at Strikeforce Challengers 16 on June 24 in Kent, Wash.

Strikeforce announced Couture's opponent Wednesday as well as the main event featuring Caros Fodor against James Terry.

Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/11/ryan-couture-gets-matt-ricehouse-for-strikeforce-challengers-16/

Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki  Andrei Arlovski  Ricardo Arona 

UFC's Chael Sonnen suspended indefinitely by California State Athletic Commission pending May 18 hearing [UPDATED]

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Chael Sonnen's got more issues on his plate than the Nevada State Athletic Commission, as Josh Gross at ESPN reports that he has been suspended by the California State Athletic Commission yet again, this time indefinitely pending a special hearing on May 18.

Sonnen's suspension was handed down two weeks ago, according to the report, due to the CSAC legal counsel's belief that Sonnen perjured himself during his hearing with the Commission in December.

The December hearing came about when Sonnen was suspended for his failed steroid test at UFC 117. Sonnen's 16:9 testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was four times the limit allowed by the commission, but Sonnen attempted to claim his use was necessary as treatment for hypogonadism.

However, Sonnen's only disclosure of his use was in one short conversation with a CSAC representative while giving a urine sample. He claimed at the hearing that he had previously been approved for testosterone replacement therapy by Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer, a claim immediately and continuously refuted by Kizer.

Sonnen's admission last month that he had indeed not spoken to Kizer about it, and the fact that he has not been cleared by any commission for TRT was part of this most recent suspension. CSAC executive director George Dodd commented that the false statements about Kizer are a major concern, because it could have swayed their votes in December.

"My commission is concerned with that because if one commission approves [the use of prescribed medication], it could sway how the vote would have come out," Dodd said. "They're looking at that allegation."

Sonnen and his lawyers reportedly requested the May 18 hearing after receiving his suspension, and the commission will examine his statements made in December, as well as his recent conviction for money laundering in Oregon.

According to Dodd, he is concerned that Sonnen is bringing "discredit to the mixed martial arts community," which was grounds for the indefinite suspension.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: This is an unexpected development. I honestly didn't think we'd see the CSAC retroactively take Sonnen to task for his farcical presentation in December. At the hearing, the commission didn't do their jobs; Sonnen didn't provide any proof that he had sufficiently disclosed his treatment or that he went through proper channels to get any potential treatment approved, yet he got his suspension cut in half. Part of that was because of his comments about approval in Nevada, and with those being false, the CSAC is in their rights to go back and address it with Sonnen. Because of this suspension, any potential dealings with the NSAC will be put on hold, and until this is cleared up, Sonnen's not going to be getting into the cage at all.

UPDATE: David Bixenspan at CagesideSeats.com has put together an excellent compendium of the relevant timeline of information regarding the events involving Sonnen, and got some more clarification from CSAC director George Dodd. Some tidbits from Dodd:

* The CSAC worked with Keith Kizer to get straightened out the stories told to both sides by Sonnen, and that's what took the longest in getting this in motion.

* Dodd was informed during the December hearing of Kizer's denial of Sonnen's statements, but didn't have the whole story so could not comment during said hearing. Knowing immediately that Sonnen was not telling the truth put this suspension in motion from the moment that hearing concluded.

* There could potentially be criminal charges applied to Sonnen for perjuring himself under oath during his testimony to the CSAC, but that would be the responsibility of Deputy Attorney General Karen Chappelle, who will represent the state during Sonnen's May 18 hearing, after the commission has handled their business.

Bixenspan's full piece should be read, as it paints a very clear picture about what Sonnen has said and done during this entire ordeal, and makes clear why the CSAC is taking action at this point. Also, Sonnen's license is technically suspended through its expiration date, but the indefinite suspension means he wouldn't be relicensed in the state until all is cleared up.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9297.shtml

Ray Cooper  Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator CôtéÂ