Video: UFC 170's Pat Cummins vs Ricky Pulu at Xplode Fight Series

Video: UFC 170's Pat Cummins vs Ricky Pulu at Xplode Fight Series
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

By now you will probably know that undefeated 4-0 Light-Heavyweight Patrick Cummins will step in to face Daniel Cormier as a last minute replacement for Rashad Evans at UFC 170. What you might not know is how good he is.

Check out what you can expect from Cummins when he faces Cormier next week in his bout against Ricky Pulu at Xplode Fight Series in March 2013 below.

Shogun vs Hendo rematch announced for UFC Fight Night 38

Shogun vs Hendo II announced as the main event for UFC Fight Night 38

by Chris Marzella @ChrisMarzella

A UFC fight for the ages is set be revisited as Dan Henderson (29-11) and Shogun Rua (22-8) get set to meet again at UFC Fight Night 38. It was announced on Thursday that the two veterans will square off in Brazil on March 23.

The pair first met in an instant classic back at UFC 139 in November 2011 in which Henderson came out on the right end of a hard fought decision in what many considered to be the fight of the year. Since then, both men have gone on to suffer a down turn of fortunes.

Henderson has lost three straight since then, most recently suffering the first knockout loss of his career to Vitor Belfort. Before that he lost two controversial decisions to Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida.

Rua has similarly been struggling for form, failing to string a winning run together. He spectacularly knocked out James Te Huna in little over a minute back in December. Prior to that he lost successive fights to Alexander Gustafsson and Chael Sonnen.

The fight sees Henderson return to the UFC after entering free agency after his fight with Belfort. It also sees Henderson head south, back to Brazil, to have another attempt at picking up a win.

It remains to be seen how Henderson can bounce back after being brutally knocked out back in November.

Whilst Rua was victorious in his last outing, as always, it all depends on what kind of condition he can get himself into ahead of this rematch.

The fight is between the number six and seven ranked light heavyweights, but it would seem that both men, at least Henderson at 43-years-old, could very well be about to begin their final attempt at a run in the UFC.

If history has taught us anything it's that rematches of legendary fights very rarely live up to the expectation, but the fact is we will be getting Henderson vs Shogu II. All we can do is accept that and hope that the rematch gets close to the first fight in terms of excitement.

UFC Fight Night 38 takes place on March 23 from the Ginasio Nelio Dias, Natal, Brazil.

Chael Sonnen vs Rashad Evan Confirmed For UFC 167

SONNEN VS EVANS TO CO-MAIN UFC 167 IN LAS VEGAS

By Tommy Strong @strong_tea

If UFC 167 wasn't wetting your appetite enough already, then news of Chael Sonnen vs Rashad Evans being the co-main event of the evening, will surely have the desired effect?!

The bout will be at light heavyweight (205lbs) and take place on November 16th in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Sonnen (29-13-1) found himself fighting at light heavyweight after being the only fighter to step up at short notice to fight Jon Jones after Dan Henderson had to pull out due to an injury. Though it was Jones who refused to take the fight on such short notice forcing the UFC to cancel UFC 151.

With a heavy first round loss to Jon Jones at UFC 159 in April, when the pair met after being 'TUF' 17 coaches. Sonnen looked like he was fighting in the wrong division. Though a very impressive win over 'Shogun' Rua last month at UFC Fight Night 26, Sonnen managed to pull off a first round submission victory that earn't himself a top contender in Evans.

Though defeat for him here would more than likely see him return to the middleweight division, where he will be seeking to get another crack at the title or just possibly Anderson Silva!

Former light heavyweight Rashad Evans (18-3-1) has looked very poor since his defeat to Jon Jones in April 2012 when the pair squared off at UFC 145 for the light heavyweight title, losing via unanimous decision after 5 rounds.

Then going onto lose his next fight to Antionio Nogueira in a woeful performance and more recently getting back to winning ways with a split decision win over Dan Henderson at UFC 161 in June which wasn't easy to digest.

This could be just the type of fight Rashad needs to find his mojo, and climb his way back up to the top of the division where he belongs.

UFC 167 will be headlined by Georges St-Pierre when he puts his Welterweight belt on the line and faces the very dangerous and heavy handed Johny Hendricks.

Barao out of UFC 161 Injured, Evans vs Henderson Now Headlines

Foot injury forces interim champ Renan Barao out of UFC 161

by Tommy Strong @Strong_tea

The UFC have officially announced that Interim UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao, will no longer be headlining UFC 161 after being forced to pull out due to a foot injury.

Barao (30-1-1-NC) was due to headline the event for his Interim belt against Eddie Wineland (20-8-1). There has been no official statement by the UFC regarding Wineland. Whether he remain on the card, or not we will have to wait and see but it could mean he has to wait a little longer to get his shot at the belt.

The headline spot has now been taken by the original co-main event which will see Dan Henderson take on Rashad Evans. It has also been confirmed that this fight will take place over 3 rounds and not 5 rounds which is now the standard for all main event fights. 

Evans (22-3-1) is coming into the fight on back to back unanimous decision losses, first to Jon Jones at UFC 145 for the UFC light heavyweight title and more recently and surprisingly to Antionio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156 in February. Dan Henderson saw his title shot against Jon Jones go up in smoke when he lost in a split decision to Lyoto Machida at UFC 157. This will be a good chance for both fighters to get back into the title mix.

A fight that has also just been announced and added to the main card of UFC 161, which will see Roy "Big Country" Nelson (19-7) face Stipe Miocic (9-1).

5 UFC fights to watch in the next 6 weeks

5 Fights To Look Out For In The Near Future

by Jack Broadey @J3cK_b

With a break in the UFC schedule I thought I would take a look at the fights upcoming with some maybe flying under the radar. We have been spoilt lately with UFC events the last few weekends. These are my 5 must watch fights that take place over the next 6 weeks and I have tried to avoid picking the obvious matches and main events. However some main events do deserve inclusion here.

1. Junior Dos Santos v Mark Hunt
For me the co main event of the heavyweight double bill at UFC 160 is the more intriguing fight. Can Mark Hunt's fairy tale rise back up the rankings continue? Can Dos Santos get back into contention after a brutal beatdown and losing his title last time out? It's going to be great whilst it lasts either way!

2.Antonio Nogueira v Fabricio Werdum
What has Nogueira got left in the tank? This kind of fight should suit him stylistically. His boxing ability means this almost certainly will end up as jiu jitsu battle. Is Werdum the real deal and the next title contender many think he is? The 2 BJJ experts go at it in Brazil in June.

3. Gray Maynard v TJ Grant
The winner of this fight will meet Benson Henderson for the chance to win Lightweight gold. Gray Maynard is always a solid contender at the top of the division and Grant has rose very quickly with a string of not only good wins but very good performances to go with them. Can he get past his biggest test to date to get that elusive title shot?

4. Vitor Belfort v Luke Rockhold
If Belfort keeps winning in the fashion he is the UFC can't keep denying him another title shot. He's running through top contenders. Rockhold comes over from Strikeforce as the last Middleweight champion. Can he defeat Belfort and set up his own title shot? It would be hard to argue against the winner being granted a title shot whoever that might be.

5. Rashad Evans v Dan Henderson
Lets face it both men are coming off hugely disappointing losses. Henderson was supposed to fight Jon Jones for the Light Heavyweight title and instead got injured. He lost to Lyoto Machida instead in a very boring fight. An unmotivated  Rashad Evans surprisingly lost to little Nog and that's what makes this fight so exciting. Both men badly need to get back into the win column if they have serious title aspirations. Who wants it more at this stage of their career?

Rashad Evans vs Dan Henderson Official for UFC 161

A Light Heavyweight clash between a former Pride champion vs a former UFC champion is now set for UFC 161

In what only seems to be a matter of days since we last saw both Rashad Evans (17-3-1 MMA 12-3-1 UFC) and Dan Henderson (29-9 MMA 6-3 UFC) in the octagon and both pick up losses via decision they have agreed to enter again to face each other at UFC 161 on June 15th.

Last time out Rashad Evans lost to Antônio Rogério Nogueira in the co main event at UFC 156 in an uneventful fight. Evans will be hoping that his quick turn around and return to the Octagon will bring with it a return to the winning ways and get him back in to title contention.

Dan Henderson though will have something to say about that, Henderson who also lost in the co main event at UFC 157 to Lyoto Machida in a number 1 contenders battle in the light heavyweight division. Both fighters will want to improve on the previous performances they put in and do all they can to take the win.

This fight will be on the main card of the UFC 161 card which is headlined by the interim bantamweight title fight between Interim champion Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland and its set to go down on June 15th 2013. It is also the first time the UFC goes to Winnipeg, Canada.

The Fight card for UFC 161 currently looks like this:

Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland - for interim bantamweight title

Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua

Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley

Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan

Stipe Miocic vs. Soa Palelei

Sam Stout vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg

Sean Pierson vs. Anthony Waldburger