UFC 129 officiating: Iole talks Ontario commission and reveals the refs

MMA's in its infant stages in Ontario, but the Canadian province won't have the chance to grow slowly and work out any issues below the radar. After debuting the sport with events that drew around 5,000 last month, this weekend Toronto hosts a UFC event with 55,000 in attendance and the MMA world watching. Will everything be up to snuff with the officiating inside and out of the Octagon?

Yahoo!'s lead MMA writer Kevin Iole joined us to talk about the referees assigned to the event and how the ringside officials will handle different situations during the card.

Check out what happened during the MFC 29 fight in Ontario between Marcus Davis and Curtis DeMarce. There was a little confusion about getting doctors into the cage during round three. You'll also see fighters being allowed to use towels and wipe their own faces (9:05 mark). That's a no-no. It also took roughly 35 seconds for doctors to get into the cage and then 1:53 for the fight to restart.

After speaking to Marc Ratner, the UFC's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Iole sounded confident that all the kinks have been worked out.

The key to things running smoothly revolves primarily around the referees judges. Ontario has gone above and beyond to bring in some of the best refs MMA has to offer. John McCarthy, Herb Dean, Dan Miragliotta and Yves Lavigne will work the event.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-129-officiating-Iole-talks-Ontario-commissi?urn=mma-wp1506

Tim Sylvia Randy Couture Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Brock Lesnar

Remaining UFC 129 prelims to stream live on Facebook

When UFC 129 fires up from Toronto in a little more than a week, fans will be given the unique opportunity to watch the entire show from top to bottom thanks to the UFC?s decision to stream five undercard bouts live on their Facebook page. Two preliminary pairings had already been announced as airing on [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/04/21/remaining-ufc-129-prelims-to-stream-live-on-facebook/

Frank Mir Daniel Moraes Scott Morris Johnnie Morton

Brian Ebersole vs. Dennis Hallman planned for August event

One has the nickname of a comic book character with a large ?S? emblazoned across his chest, the other is himself known for shaving an upwards arrow into the hair on his. Both will meet on August 6 in Philadelphia as part of the UFC 133 line-up. According to an official announcement on the UFC?s [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/04/22/brian-ebersole-vs-dennis-hallman-planned-for-august-event/

Tony DeSouza  Edwin Dewees  Nick Diaz  Tadhg Steamfist Dixon

UFC 132: Mayhem Miller vs. Aaron Simpson

by Michael David Smith

Jason "Mayhem" Miller's return to the Octagon will take place in July, as he battles Aaron Simpson at UFC 132. The UFC announced the Miller-Simpson fight on Saturday, a day after Miller's signing with the UFC was confirmed.

There's no word yet on whether Miller-Simpson will be on the pay-per-view card, but it would be an ideal fight for a Spike TV preliminary bout. Thanks to his brash personality and his status as host of MTV's Bully Beatdown, Miller was one of the most famous mixed martial artists outside the UFC, and his presence on a basic-cable bout would draw some eyeballs and likely reel in some casual fans to make a last-minute pay-per-view purchase.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/23/ufc-132-mayhem-miller-vs-aaron-simpson/

Bobby Lashley Joe Lauzon Mo Lawal Ruthless Robbie Lawler

UPCOMING EVENT: Bellator 42, April 23

Bellator 42
Saturday April 23
Lucky Star Casino
Concho, OK
Airing on MTV2

MAIN CARD

* Tim Carpenter vs. Christian M'Pumbu (Light Heavyweight tourney semifinal)
* Richard Hale vs. D.J. Linderman (Light Heavyweight tourney semifinal)
* Josh Arocho vs. Ronnie Mann
* Luiz Alberto Nogueira vs. Jerod Spoon

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Chris Bell vs. Jared Hess
* Shane Howell vs. Mark Oshiro
* Owen Evinger vs. Brandon Shelton
* Chris Guillen vs. Mark Holata

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Upcoming_Events_42/article_8497.shtml

Murilo Ninja Rua Marco Ruas Rodrigo Ruas Gabe Ruediger

Royce Gracie expects to make return to MMA at UFC Rio in August

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

LogoUFC_150_874.jpg

UFC Hall of Famer and MMA legend Royce Gracie is looking to return for one last fight in the organization at UFC Rio in August, and it appears that it's coming closer to a reality.

In an interview with UOL Esporte (translated by Tom Mendes at BloodyElbow.com), the 44-year-old Gracie revealed he's in talks with the UFC and expects to have an opponent lined up for the UFC's second event in Brazil in the next couple of weeks.

"It would be the perfect place to do my last fight. I never fought in Rio de Janeiro and I couldn't be more psyched," he said. "We are negotiating [the fight deal], but we should have it finalized in two weeks. We only had an initial contact and I don't even have an opponent yet, but we should have that finalized soon."

"My weight is the same as it was twenty years ago [80kg], I am still training, keeping the blade sharp. I follow a very strict diet. I never drank, never party, Carnaval, none of that... I'm ready to fight."

The very first UFC tournament winner, Gracie was synonymous with the UFC in the early years of the organization, before the sport of mixed martial arts became the sport it is today. However, the last time he was in the Octagon, he was badly beaten by Matt Hughes at UFC 60, and he hasn't fought since 2007. A return to action has been discussed since the UFC announced their return to Brazil, but now it could be more than just talk when the UFC comes to Rio de Janeiro on August 27.

Penick's Analysis: I don't know who the UFC could possibly put him in against that in 2011 wouldn't just run through him, and for a lot of fans they're not going to want to see a repeat of his fight with Matt Hughes. At the same time, he is a legitimate legend for the UFC, and I wouldn't begrudge him an opportunity to have one more fight in his home country in the Octagon that he initially made famous.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9048.shtml

Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo  Kyle Bradley 

White believes in Couture, thinks Machida’s style is hurting him

If you questioned why 47-year-old Randy Couture is getting a shot at Lyoto Machida, look no further than the head honcho at UFC. Dana White has long argued that Couture is still a top 10 fighter in the UFC's light heavyweight division.

During this Yahoo! feature, Fight Day, White also says Machida's counterstriking style may be turning into a negative (1:05 mark).

"The style that got him all those wins, all these years is kind of backfiring on him now. I don't think people have figured it out, but he lays back a little too much," White said. "I think he needs to be more aggressive and come forward. And he's definitely gonna have to be that way with Couture. Cause Couture's gonna be right in his face the whole fight."

Couture's recent wins came against boxer James Toney and 45-year-old Mark Coleman. Before that, he struggled to get by Brandon Vera, who was cut and then brought back by the UFC.

The USA Today/Bloody Elbow MMA poll has Couture at No. 16 in the world and No. 12 in the UFC. White says the rankings are [expletive]. Does he really stand a chance against a top five 205er in his prime? The oddsmakers say no. Machida is a massive minus-350 favorite.

Don't forget, you can watch UFC 129 on PPV right here on Yahoo! Sports.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/White-believes-in-Couture-thinks-Machida-s-styl?urn=mma-wp1463

Carlos Newton Mike Nickels Alexandre Franca Nogueira Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira