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Bellator 27 recap: Joe Warren claims belt with stunning knockout win

For the opening five minutes of Thursday's Bellator 27 main event, the self-described "baddest man on the planet" looked like anything but.

Then came round two.

After getting tagged throughout the first round with lead left hands and nasty right uppercuts, Joe Warren uncorked a powerful barrage of strikes that left former champion Joe Soto unconscious on the floor.

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"Rhino" vs. Uscola heads Tachi Palace Fights 6; MMAjunkie.com's Morgan broadcasts

Former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug "Rhino" Marshall returns to the venue that gave birth to his MMA career to take on "The Ultimate Fighter 11" cast member Kyacey Uscola under the Tachi Palace Fights banner.

Marshall and Uscola meet in the main event of "Tachi Palace Fights 6: High Stakes" on Sept. 9 at The Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif.

The card also features a co-main event between former WEC lightweight champ "Razor" Rob McCullough and "The Ultimate Fighter 5" cast member Corey Hill, as well as a middleweight title fight between dual challengers Anthony Ruiz (20-14) and Leopoldo Serao (7-7).

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Thiago Alves vs. John Howard targeted for UFC 124

Well, you can't always get what you want.

One day after Thiago Alves welcomed a fight with Mike Pierce, who on Tuesday called him out on MMAjunkie.com Radio, the former contender is now expected to meet John Howard at UFC 124.

Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that verbal agreements are in place and contracts will be sent out shortly.

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Fight Path: With 10 titles to her name, Germaine de Randamie starting over

If an early childhood choice had gone another direction, Germaine De Randamie might've become a dancer.

Instead, she turned to something no less focused on movement but a touch more violent.

"When I was 8, my mother said I could choose between dancing and kickboxing," De Randamie told MMAjunkie.com. "I went to the first kickboxing class, and I never even made it to dancing. I told her I had found what I wanted to do."

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Karo Parisyan vs. Dennis Hallman slated for UFC 123 in Michigan

As it turns out, UFC president Dana White believes in second, or maybe third, chances.

Nine months after White gave Karo Parisyan his walking papers, the welterweight veteran is octagon bound once again for a meeting with Dennis Hallman at UFC 123.

Although not officially announced by the promotion, UFC 123 is expected to take place Nov. 20 at Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Michigan.

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Brian Bowles vs. Wagnney Fabiano likely for WEC 52 in Las Vegas

A bantamweight contest between former champion Brian Bowles and Nova Uniao submission ace Wagnney Fabiano has been targeted for WEC 52.

MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to the event that verbal agreements are in place for the contest and bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly. News of the matchup was first reported by SportsNet.ca.

While the event has yet to be officially announced, MMAjunkie.com has learned that WEC 52 is expected to take place Nov. 11 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

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New Bellator signee Chris Lozano targeted for Bellator 31 fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Undefeated welterweight prospect Chris Lozano was recently announced as the newest member of the Bellator Fighting Championships' roster, and it appears his first matchup has already been determined.

MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the fighter that Lozano has agreed to meet five-time UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida at Bellator 31.

Bellator officials have yet to officially announce the contest, which takes place Sept. 30 at L'Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, La.

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UFC 118 medical suspensions: Nate Diaz and John Salter out for up to six months

While this past weekend's UFC 118 event concluded without a single knockout, that doesn't mean the night's competitors escaped without issue.

The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission today emailed the list of UFC 118 medical suspensions to MMAjunkie.com.

The evening's four main-event and co-main-event competitors were each cleared to return immediately, though Nate Diaz and John Salter's six-month orders led a list of 10 fighters suspended by the commission.

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MSAC: UFC 118 draws 14,168 spectators for $2.8 million live gate

This past weekend's "UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II" event at the TD Garden in Boston drew 14,168 spectators for a live gate of approximately $2.8 million, according to the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission.

MSAC officials today emailed the preliminary figures to MMAjunkie.com.

Of the 14,168 fans in the arena, 11,205 purchased tickets and 2,963 were issued complimentary admission, according to the report.

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UFC 118 salaries: Toney ($500K), Couture ($250K) top $1.428 million fighter payroll

Co-headliners James Toney ($500,000) and Randy Couture ($250,000) garnered the most attention heading into this past weekend's UFC 118 event, and they also walked home with the evening's largest disclosed checks.

MMAjunkie.com recently requested and today received the list of officially disclosed paydays from the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission.

The total disclosed payroll for the Aug. 28 event was $1.428 million.

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MMAjunkie.com Radio: Bellator's Bjorn Rebney, UFC 120's Mike Pyle, TSJ winner

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney to the program, as well as UFC 120 competitor Mike Pyle.

Rebney calls in to preview tonight's Bellator 27 event, which features a title fight between featherweight champ Joe Soto and challenger Joe Warren. Pyle, re-scheduled from Wednesday's show, discusses his bout with John Hathaway at next month's Spike TV-televised UFC 120 event. "The Sunday Junkie" winner David Quan also calls in to discuss his winning entry.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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Thiago Alves answers Mike Pierce's call, eyes UFC 123 meeting

Well, that didn't take long.

UFC welterweight Thiago Alves is more than willing to fight up-and-comer Mike Pierce this fall. Alves plans to text UFC president Dana White for a possible booking at UFC 123 on Nov. 20.

"I would be more than happy to beat [Pierce's] ass if the UFC allows me," Alves told MMAjunkie.com. "I will show him some love, definitely."

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Late replacement Gabe Ruediger promised another UFC fight

Despite a less-than-impressive return to the organization, Gabe Ruediger will get another fight in the UFC.

Ruediger, who failed to make weight and then flamed out of "The Ultimate Fighter 5" cast back in 2007, posted a six-fight win streak to earn his way back into the UFC.

But this past weekend as a replacement for injured Terry Etim, Ruediger suffered a one-sided beatdown and eventual submission loss to Joe Lauzon at UFC 118.

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Although UFC title shot looms, top contender Gray Maynard as patient as ever

UFC Gray Maynard jokes that he doesn't even know his professional fighting record; maybe, he says, he should write it in the "Notes" application of his iPhone.

The lightweight contender used to keep score of such things. As a wrestler, he put a heap of pressure on himself to take home a new accolade in every season.

But as an MMA title shot with champ Frankie Edgar looms, Maynard has taken a much more relaxed approach to the fight game.

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Bellator 27 weigh-in results: Champ Soto (144.8), Warren (143.6) set for headliner

Bellator Fighting Championships today hosted official fighter weigh-ins for Bellator 27, and all 20 event competitors successfully made weight for the show.

The weigh-ins took place at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio.

Bellator featherweight champ Joe Soto (144.8 pounds) and season-two tournament winner Joe Warren (143.6) had no issues making weight for their main-event fight, which takes place Thursday at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio.

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Lyman Good vs. Ben Askren welterweight title fight added to Bellator 33 in Philly

October's Bellator 33 fight card has another big addition.

A week after the organization announced a headlining non-title fight between lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and Roger Huerta, a five-round title fight has been added to the mix.

Welterweight champ and season-one tourney winner Lyman Good meets former NCAA Division I national wrestling champ and season-two tourney winner Ben Askren.

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Once fighting for survival on plantation, Rousimar Palhares now fights for better life

When Brazilian submission ace Rousimar Palhares steps into the cage against Nate Marquardt in the main event of UFC Fight Night 22, he'll be competing in perhaps the most high-profile contest of his career.

But don't for one minute believe that the Spike TV-broadcast bout is the toughest fight of Palhares' life.

No, the UFC middleweight contender's biggest struggles came well before he ever set foot in the octagon - when a 10-year-old Palhares and his brothers and sisters worked 13 hour days on Brazilian plantations while (usually) making just enough money to live just slightly more luxuriously than the animals to which they tended.

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UFC 125 slotted for Jan. 1 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

The UFC's traditional year-end show will be a first-of-the-year event with UFC 125 tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 1 in Las Vegas.

A source close to the pay-per-view event today told MMAjunkie.com that the 2011 event tentatively is scheduled to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The event kicks off a new year for the UFC, which hosts an annual high of 24 events in 2010.

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Detroit suburb to host UFC 123 on Nov. 20, "Rampage" vs. Machida headlines

For the first time in more than 14 years and 150 events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to Michigan.

UFC 123, which takes place Nov. 20, will be hosted by the 23,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills in a suburb of Detroit.

The "Detroit Free Press" first reported the plans, and MMAjunkie.com since has confirmed them with sources close to the show. A light-heavyweight fight between former champs Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida headlines the show.

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MMAjunkie.com Radio: Title challenger Gray Maynard, UFC 120's Mike Pyle

With his title shot already promised and a meeting with champion Frankie Edgar on the horizon, UFC 118 winner and still-undefeated lightweight Gray Maynard today joins MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Veteran Mike Pyle, who fights John Hathaway at next month's UFC 120 event, also joins the show to discuss his preparations for the Spike TV-televised fight.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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Following UFC 118 loss, ex-champ B.J. Penn looking for quick return to action

B.J. Penn wants to return to the octagon sooner rather than later.

This past weekend at UFC 118, the former champ fell short in a rematch with Frankie Edgar, the same fighter who defeated Penn and took his belt in April at UFC 112.

Rather than sulk about the loss or rethink his approach, Penn simply wants to get back in the cage as soon as possible.

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WEC vet Anthony Leone replaces injured Alvin Robinson at Bellator 28

Recent WEC fighter Anthony Leone (8-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC) has replaced injured Alvin Robinson and now meets fellow featherweight Georgi Karakhanyan at next week's Bellator 28 event.

Karakhanyan confirmed Robinson's injury via Twitter, and a source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com Leone has been tapped as a replacement.

Bellator 28 takes place Sept. 9 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans.

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Replacement Conor Heun not joining Shine Fights tourney field (Updated)

(Update: Shine Fights officials today told us Conor Heun has not joined the tournament as an injury replacement. A post on what appeared to be the organization's official Twitter account mentioned the change earlier today, which prompted our report. However, the switch apparently wasn't official.)

With Josh Shockley scratched due to injury, Strikeforce and IFL veteran Conor Heun has stepped in as a replacement.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt now joins the eight-man field for next month's "Shine Fights: Lightweight Grand Prix" tournament.

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UFC's Mike Pierce aiming for Ireland, Thiago Alves for future challenges

Mike Pierce says he'll stand and bang when he gets the right match-up.

The UFC welterweight earned his third octagon victory this past Saturday when he submitted newcomer Amilcar Alves at UFC 118 with a straight armbar.

So far, he's chugged forward by keeping his opponents on the mat. But he's only graced the main card of one event - a short-notice meeting with perennial contender Jon Fitch. But Pierce knows just the opponent who could provide an exciting televised matchup.

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UFC's Nate Diaz has unfinished business at 155, but trainer sees future at 170

Nate Diaz established a strong foothold in the UFC welterweight division this past Saturday when he submitted Marcus Davis at UFC 118.

It was Diaz's second victory at 170 pounds after serving most of his six-year career in the lightweight class.

And though Diaz wants to avenge his losses there, trainer and manager Cesar Gracie thinks he should stay at welterweight - at least for the time being.

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Fickett vs. "Krazy Horse" set for Sept. 10 Shine Fights tourney, Shockley scratched

The first tournament matchup has emerged from Shine Fights' fan-driven matchmaking.

Organization officials today announced UFC veteran Drew Fickett will meet the always-entertaining Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett in an opening-round matchup of Shine Fights' single-night eight-man lightweight tournament.

Officials also announced that an injured Josh Shockley has been scratched from the field and that a replacement will be announced soon.

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DREAM rep on FEG future: "We need investment money; that's the bottom line"

PUJI Capital is conducting an internal review of Fighting and Entertainment Group's (FEG) assets and liabilities in advance of a push to attract investors to the struggling fight promotion.

"The actions they're taking are similar to an audit," FEG's U.S. representative, Mike Kogan, told MMAjunkie.com on Monday.

Kogan said the Japanese investment bank hopes to raise $230 million for FEG, which operates MMA's DREAM promotion and the K-1 kickboxing organization, over the next five years. But with the company's current financial condition, that timeline may need to be shortened.

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Strikeforce's Brett Rogers meets "Warpath" Villareal at Oct. 23 W-1 event

Strikeforce fighter Brett Rogers will meet fellow heavyweight Ruben "Warpath" Villareal at an October event in Canada.

The W-1 MMA organization hosts the show, "W-1: New Ground," on Oct. 23 at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The organization recently announced the 11-bout fight card for the show, and a Strikeforce official confirmed with MMAjunkie.com that Rogers received permission to compete at the event.

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UFC 118 "UFC Prelims" special draws series-low 1.1 million viewers on Spike TV

This past weekend's "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV drew a series-low 1.1 million viewers, officials today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com via email.

Nevertheless, the one-hour special drew a 0.83 household rating and was the highest-rated cable program in its timeslot among men 18-49 and men 18-34.

However, in a rare occurrence, the ratings actually diminished throughout the broadcast, which could be blamed at least partially on a lackluster bout between Nik Lentz and Andre Winner that opened the Aug. 28 broadcast.

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HDNet Fights Video Vault: Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki SRC 14 title fight

In a special edition of HDNet Fights Video Vault, we present an early candidate for 2010 Fight of the Year honors.

Earlier this month, Jorge Santiago, the middleweight champion of World Victory Road's Sengoku organization, put his belt on the line in a rematch with Kazou Misaki at Sengoku Raiden Championship 14.

Like their first meeting in early 2009 for the vacant belt, Santiago vs. Misaki II proved an absolute barnburner that wasn't decided until the fifth and final frame.

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UFC president Dana White to address Oxford Union Society during UFC 120

Winston Churchill, Jimmy Carter, Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon, the Queen of England, Henry Kissinger, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Bobby Kennedy, Stephen Hawking, Richard Dawkins, Clint Eastwood.

And UFC president Dana White?

Joining a long list of some of history's most influential figures, White will address Oxford University's famed Oxford Union Society in October, UFC officials today announced.

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MMAjunkie.com Radio: Mike Pierce, Cesar Gracie, Jacob "Stitch" Duran (in studio)

MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show fast-rising welterweight Mike Pierce, who submitted Amilcar Alves this past weekend at UFC 118 for his eighth win in his past nine fights.

Also joining the show is famed trainer Cesar Gracie, who updates us on Nate Diaz, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and the rest of his all-star team. And veteran cutman Jacob "Stitch" Duran again joins us as in-studio guest host.

MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from 12-2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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UFC 118 weigh-ins draw 380,000 viewers on Spike TV, ratings "pretty good"

Spike TV's live broadcast of this past week's UFC 118 weigh-ins resulted in an average audience of 380,000 viewers, an industry source today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com.

The Aug. 27 broadcast aired at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) live from Boston's TD Garden.

Spike TV officials could not be reached for comment, but a source close to the event said the ratings figure was "pretty good" for its timeslot and especially strong among men 18-34.

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Escudero vs. Oliveira official for UFC Fight Night 22, main card now set

The ever-changing UFC Fight Night 22 main card finally appears set with the official addition of a lightweight bout between "The Ultimate Fighter 8" winner Efrain Escudero and Charles Oliveira.

The bout completes the four-fight main-card lineup for UFC Fight Night 22, which takes place Sept. 15 and airs live on Spike TV from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.

As MMAjunkie.com first reported, Escudero originally was slated to fight John Gunderson and then Matt Wiman before a series of injuries and fight-card shuffling led to the Oliveira matchup.

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Bellator 27 main card set with four bouts, prelims feature six bouts (Updated)

The fight card for Thursday's Bellator 27 event is set with 10 bouts, four of which are part of the night's FOX Sports Net-televised main card.

The organization recently announced a champion Joe Soto vs. Joe Warren featherweight title fight and two opening-round bantamweight-tourney bouts.

A third bantamweight-tourney bout between Bryan Goldsby and Ed West is the fourth and final addition to the televised card.

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UFC 124, St-Pierre vs. Koscheck II headed to Montreal's Bell Centre on Dec. 11

As it turns out, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will rematch first-time contender Josh Koscheck in his backyard.

The marquee match-up will not take place in Las Vegas, as early reports suggested.

Instead, the promotion will return to Montreal's Bell Centre for the event, presumably titled UFC 124, on Dec. 11. It's the UFC's fourth trip to the Canadian city.

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Newcomer Rafael "Sapo" Natal out to defend Gracie family's honor at UFN 22

UFC newcomer Rafael "Sapo" Natal has taken the losses of teammates Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida to heart.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt feels indebted to the Gracie family and says he won't let them down when he makes his octagon debut next month at UFC Fight Night 22 against Rich Attonito.

"I'm training harder to make sure that won't happen again," he recently told MMAjunkie.com.

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Sengoku's bantamweight quarterfinals set with Inoue, Shimizu, Nakahara, Tamura

With today's announcement of four new participants, the field is set for World Victory Road/Sengoku's Asian bantamweight grand prix.

As MMAjunkie.com reported this past week, the Japanese-based promotion announced the four Sengoku fighters who compete at Sengoku 15's tourney continuation: Wataru Takahashi, Shoko Sato, Jae Hyun So and Shintaro Ishiwatari.

Joining them and coming from outside promotions are Manabu Inoue, Shunichi Shimizu, Akitoshi Tamura and Taiyo Nakahara.

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Team Takedown squad plans expansion, move to Texas with Marc Laimon

Aspiring mixed martial artists find few better places to establish themselves than in the fight capitol of the world, Las Vegas.

Once you're established, though, it's nice to get a break from the hum of Sin City.

That's why the fighters of Team Takedown, one of the sport's more unique management firms, recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio that they're turning over a new leaf in the Lone Star State.

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Sengoku middleweight champ Jorge Santiago wants to fight again in the U.S.

It's been almost three years since World Victory Road/Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago fought at home - or at least his adopted home.

Santiago, a Brazilian who hails from Rio de Janeiro but who's long called Coconut Creek, Fla., home, said he'd like to fight in the U.S. sooner than later.

While he feels comfortable as a champion in one of Japan's most notable organizations, he's on a search to fight the world's best middleweights, and that could lead him stateside.

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