From a press release in my inbox:

NEW YORK, December 3, 2008 – World Cagefighting Alliance (www.WCAfights.com) has formed a Mixed Martial Arts Organization that will establish their fight promotions on the east coast. Their first event called “Pure Combat” will be premiering in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, February 6, 2009 at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom. Tickets on sale now, priced at $100, $75, $60 and $50. Cageside seats are available at $150. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. More information on fighters, tickets and a seating chart can be found at out www.WCAfights.com. The first fight begins at 7:30 PM.

The World Cagefighting Alliance, “Pure Combat” event will feature some of the best East Coast rising talent in the sport. The Co-Main Event fight will feature a New Jersey Flavor pitting Welterweights Rich Ashkar (Team Oliveira) fighting out of Redbank, NJ against USKBA Champ Tom Gallicchio (Team Pellegrino) out of Toms River, NJ. Included in other match-ups will be Vineland, NJ standouts and former Cage Fury Lightweight champ, Al Buck (Team Evolution) taking on Jose Rodriquez (Rhino Fight Team) out of Keansburg, NJ. Other Welterweight bouts include; Doug Gordon (Team Rush) from Maryland will go against Mike Medrano (Rhino Fight Team) from New Jersey and Brian Demuro (Team Balance) out of New Jersey will fight Cortland, NY’s Eric Henry (Bombsquad MMA). Featherweights Doug Solnier (Fight Firm / Fight Unit) fighting out of Philadelphia, PA. will fight Steve D’Angellis (Bombsquad MMA) out of Tom’s River, NJ.

From a press release in my inbox:

WHAT: The largest martial arts event in the world - FiELDS K-1 WGP 2008 Final taking place at the Yokohama Arena in Tokyo Japan - will be broadcast live on HDNet to MMA fans in North America.

Joining the broadcast team of Michael "The Voice" Schiavello, four time K-1 WGP Champion Ernesto Hoost and FEG USA's Mike Kogan will be none other than Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson. Kimbo was invited by FEG and HDNet to be a guest commentator for K-1's US début.

FiELDS K-1 WGP 2008 Final, an 8-man knockout tournament for the coveted K-1 Grand Prix crown, features the world's best heavyweight strikers including Moroccan/Dutch Bad Boy Badr Hari; legendary triple K-1 World Champion Peter Aerts; French monster Jerome LeBanner; Russian wonder Ruslan Karaev; and two-time former champion Remy Bonjasky.

From a press release in my inbox:

M-1 Global is pleased to announce that Gilbert Yvel, one of its top heavyweight competitors, has agreed to terms on a three-fight contract with Affliction Entertainment.

Yvel will make his Affliction debut against former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett on January 24 in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center during "Day of Reckoning," to be presented by Affliction, M-1 Global, and Golden Boy Promotions.

Despite being veterans of the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, Yvel and Barnett have never fought before with "Day of Reckoning" serving as the first-ever meeting between the two.

Washington, DC - East coast regional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) powerhouse the UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge announced today the signing of a fight between H.I.T. Squad's Chase Beebe and Team Lloyd Irvin's Mike "The Hulk" Easton. The bantamweight bout (135lbs) will be the Co Main Event for UWC: MAN "O" WAR, which will take place February 21st, 2009 at the George Mason University Patriot Center Arena in Fairfax, VA. The winner will be crowned the UWC Bantamweight Champion of the world.

"The UWC has always been committed to delivering the highest quality fights for metro Washington, DC and east coast MMA fans," said UWC CEO S. Marcello Foran. "That's why we are so excited to announce the signing of this bout. Chase Beebe and Mike Easton are two of the best bantamweight fighters in America – if not the world – whose styles are tailor made for each other. If there was ever a 'can't miss' fight for fans in the Washington, DC area, this is it."

SAN JOSE, Calif. —A special 30 minute episode featuring a collection of the 10 greatest knockouts in Strikeforce mixed martial arts (MMA) history will premiere on NBC Saturday night.

The all-new “Strikeforce on NBC” episode will showcase the handiwork of some of Strikeforce’s most lethal competitors, including reigning world middleweight (185 lb. limit) champion, Cung Le; two-time world MMA champion, Frank Shamrock; and superstars Kazuo “The Grabaka Hitman” Misaki and Duane “Bang” Ludwig.

DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with FEG USA, Inc. to bring the extremely popular K-1 World Grand Prix and K-1 World MAX tournaments to HDNet. K-1 is an electrifying form of kickboxing that combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines. HDNet will be the exclusive home of
K-1 in North America.

"K-1 is one of the most popular and exciting combat sports in the world and we're proud to present it on HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "If you are a fan of DREAM, you are going to love the explosive non-stop, stand-up action of K-1 and K-1 MAX."

"K-1 features the best stand-up fighters in the world and draws enormous crowds everywhere," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are very excited to have HDNet bring the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final, 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix and 2009 K-1 World MAX tournaments to North American viewers."

HDNet's coverage kicks off December 6 at 12:00 a.m. PT with LIVE coverage of the biggest show of the year, the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final. The event will be repeated later that evening at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. K-1 stages regional qualifiers throughout the year, which culminate in the K-1 Grand Prix, an annual one-night, 8-man tournament to determine the best stand-up fighter in the world.

The 2008 World Grand Prix Final on HDNet will feature the following tournament match-ups, which will lead to the crowning of the 2008 Grand Prix Champion:

• 3-time Grand Prix Champion and K-1 Legend Peter Aerts (62-21 w/ 28KOs, Holland) vs K-1 Heavyweight Champion Badr Hari (11-3 w/ 10Kos, Morocco)
• Errol Zimmerman (5-0 w 5KOs, Holland) vs Ewerton Teixeira (5-0 w 5KOs, Brazil)
• Gokhan Saki (7-1 w 4KOs, Turkey) vs Ruslan Karaev (11-6 w 6KOs, Russia)
• 2-time Grand Prix Champion Remy Bonjasky (33-8 w 15Kos, Holland) vs Jerome Le Banner (43-16-2 w 29Kos, France)

(The participating fighters may change due to injuries or their physical condition).

The deal encompasses six events from the 2009 K-1 tournament and six events from the 2009 K-1 MAX tournament.

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DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced that it has extended its existing partnership with FEG USA, Inc. to present the DREAM Mixed Martial Arts events in 2009 and beyond. This announcement makes HDNet the exclusive North American television destination for the DREAM MMA events.

"We're very happy to expand and continue this successful partnership with FEG USA, Inc.," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "DREAM is known for having the best MMA tournaments and superfights in the world and clearly has the greatest production and fighter entrances in the sport. This partnership solidifies our commitment to being THE Home of MMA."

"It has been a good year for DREAM," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are glad that FEG is able to continue its partnership with HDNet and bring more DREAM action to North American Fans."

Airdates and times for the upcoming DREAM events will be announced at a later date.

San Jose, CA. —Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-5) weighed in at 185 ½ lbs. and his opponent, Terry Martin (18-5), tipped the scales at 186 lbs. one day before their meeting at Strikeforce “Destruction,” the mixed martial arts mega-event at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.

Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight (205 lb. limit) Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) and his opponent, Renato “Babalu” Sobral (30-7), both registered in at 204 lbs. Knockout artists and opponents Duane “Bang” Ludwig (17-8) and Yves Edwards (34-14-1) weighed in at 163 lbs. and 164 lbs, respectively.

The following are the official fighter weights from today’s weigh-ins at Hotel DeAnza:

185 lb. limit:
Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith – 185.5 lbs.
Terry Martin – 186 lbs.

205 lb. limit:
Bobby Southworth – 204 lbs.
Renato “Babalu” Sobral – 204 lbs.

164 lb. limit:
Duane “Bang” Ludwig – 163 lbs.
Yves Edwards – 164 lbs.

133 lb. limit:
Kim “Sugar Free” Couture – 132 lbs.
Lina Kvokov – 133 lbs.

170 lb. limit:
Joe “Diesel” Riggs – 170.5 lbs.
Luke Stewart – 170.5 lbs.

135 lb. limit:
Brad Royster – 134 lbs.
Darren “Bone Crusher” Uyenoyama – 136 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Nik Theotikos – 185.5 lbs.
Luke Rockhold – 185.5 lbs.

170 lb. limit:
Zakary Bucia – 169 lbs.
Adam Steele – 168 lbs.

145 lb. limit:
Alvin Cacdac – 143 lbs.
Jose Palacios – 145 lbs.

175 lb. limit:
Lemont Davis – 173 lbs.
Brian Schwartz – 175 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Josh Neal – 184 lbs.
Kurt “Rhino” Osiander – 185 lbs.

155 lb. limit:
Bobby Stack – 155 lbs.
Cyrillo Padilha – 156 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Tony Johnson – 184 lbs.
Eric Lawson – 185 lbs.

HP Pavilion doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for Strikeforce “Destruction” and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m. The main card will commence at 7:30 p.m.

The live HDNet telecast of Strikeforce “Destruction” will begin at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST).

From a press release in my inbox:

Grand Terrace, CA (November 19, 2008) – TapouT, the premier mixed martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand, announced today that for the first time, they signed a licensing agreement with Kids Headquarters to expand the current offering of children’s apparel and provide new and exciting products to TapouT customers nationwide.

Under this relationship, Kids Headquarters will distribute children’s active wear, sportswear, sleepwear, swimwear, outerwear and underwear. Available in sizes 0-20 for boys and girls, there will be extensive offerings of t-shirts, hoodies, shorts and even onesies, to create a noticeable increase in the offering throughout the youth category at all TapouT dealers worldwide.

“As the leading MMA lifestyle and apparel brand, TapouT is excited to extend our product with Kids Headquarters,” said Mask, TapouT Founder. “As we travel the country, our fans beg us us to expand our kids line. It’s exciting to team up with Kids Headquarters, who dominate this market, to help celebrate and spread the attitude, strength and style that fans of TapouT have grown to love.”

Cory Silverstein, Kids Headquarters' executive vice president, said: "TapouT is the most recognized and powerful Mixed-Martial Arts lifestyle brand out there today. We’re excited to combine TapouT’s passion for excellence and success with our knowledge and understanding of the children’s market."

From a SpikeTV press release in my inbox:

NEW YORK, NY, November 17, 2008 – After a controversial ending to their first bout, UFC welterweights Kevin Burns and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will meet in the Octagon once again in December. The two will settle the score at the live finale for "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir", emanating from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV LIVE on December 13 at 9:00 PM ET.

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter® Team Nogueira vs Team Mir Finale are on sale now at $350, $250 and $150, plus any additional box office or service fees. Please visit any Ticketmaster location, call 702-474-4000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

A Georgia native fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnson (5-2), one of the welterweight division’s most explosive athletes, and Burns (8-1), a promising newcomer from Des Moines, IA, first met this past July at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Irvin. Towards the end of three highly competitive rounds, it seemed that Johnson was on his way to a hard fought decision win when Burns inadvertently poked him in the eye while throwing an uppercut. The strike escaped the view of referee Steve Mazzagatti, and when Johnson was felled by the blow, Burns pounced and won by TKO. Both fighters have lobbied for a rematch, and their wish will be granted on December 13 in Las Vegas.

Also on the card, Edmonton’s Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald (22-10) will square off against Fortaleza, Brazil’s Wilson Gouveia in middleweight action. MacDonald last fought at UFC 88 in September, where he defeated Jason Lambert in impressive fashion. The Canadian will look to vault himself into title contention in the middleweight division with a victory over a stern test in Gouveia. Wilson Gouveia (11-5) made his middleweight debut at Ultimate Fight Night 15 this past September after compiling a 4-2 record as a light heavyweight in the UFC. The drop in weight did not have any ill effects on his performance, with Gouveia submitting his opponent Ryan Jensen via armbar in the second round. The American Top Team product will look to notch his sixth UFC victory when he takes on MacDonald.

The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts' (WAMMA) new rankings for the month of November have been released through its official website at www.GoWAMMA.com and they include upheaval in several weight classes.

The most notable moves include the elevation of a new number one ranked featherweight, the return of a legend to the heavyweight top ten, as well as new UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar's debut as a ranked WAMMA fighter.

Lesnar, who defeated Randy Couture to claim the UFC heavyweight title following a second round TKO this past Saturday at UFC 91, debuts in the WAMMA heavyweight top ten at number four. The 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion finds himself only ranked behind undisputed WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, current interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and former UFC heavyweight champions Andrei Arlovski and Josh Barnett.

"With his dominating win over Randy Couture, Broke Lesnar proved one thing -- he is for real," said WAMMA Chief Operating Officer Michael Lynch. "The WAMMA Ranking Committee is the best in MMA and for these guys to rank Brock Lesnar as the number four heavyweight in the world speaks volumes as to where he has come as a Mixed Martial Artist."

The November's rankings also mark the return of Couture. During a September vote, WAMMA pollsters created a new bylaw that declared fighters that had been idle for 12 months be declared ineligible to receive votes. Prior to this past weekend's event, Couture hadn't competed since UFC 74 on August 25, 2007.

WAMMA pollsters seized the opportunity to vote for Couture the first time in the past several months by voting him back into the heavyweight top ten poll as the sixth best-ranked heavyweight in the world.

"Well before his fight with Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture had all ready cemented his place as a legend in the sport of MMA and one of the most dominating and popular fighters of all time," said Lynch. "Even in his loss to Lesnar, our WAMMA Ranking Committee voting Couture with the number six spot proves that Randy is still a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division."

WAMMA pollsters also voted on a brand new number one ranked featherweight. During WAMMA's October poll, Urijah Faber was a consensus number one rated featherweight with every WAMMA pollster voting him as their top ranked fighter at 145 pounds. Considered one of the most dominant fighters in the game, Faber was upset earlier this month at WEC 36 following a first round TKO loss to Mike Thomas Brown.

With the win, Brown not only supplanted Faber as the WEC's featherweight champion but also as WAMMA's top ranked featherweight competitor. The term upset should also be used rather loosely, as Brown had been ranked as the third featherweight in the world by WAMMA pollsters in October.

In a true testament to Faber's ability, WAMMA pollsters collectively voted to only drop him one spot from number one to number two.

Unlike Faber, WEC middleweight Paulo Filho experienced a more precipitous drop in the rankings. Ranked as the number two middleweight in October, WAMMA pollsters penalized Filho for his unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen at WEC 36 earlier this month. One could safely speculate that the native Brazilian's failure to make weight for the fight also contributed to his falling from the number two spot in WAMMA's middleweight rankings in October to number eight in November.