A featured UFC 108 lightweight bout between top contenders Tyson Griffin and Jim Miller has been cancelled after Griffin suffered an injury in training and was forced to withdraw. Former UFC Lightweight Champion Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk will step up to face Miller.
Sherk was originally scheduled to take on Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira in an undercard bout on the card, but will now move up to the televised main card to battle Miller in a crucial fight. Oliveira will still compete on the card and a replacement opponent will be announced soon.
Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair “Demolition Man” Overeem will return to mixed martial arts at K-1 “Dynamite!! 2009” on New Year’s Eve when he takes on revered Japanese veteran Kazuyuki “Ironhead” Fujita. The bout was announced by Overeem’s Golden Glory management.
The Strikeforce heavyweight division continues to grow, and professional wrestler and undefeated rising MMA star Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley is the latest addition to the promotion’s ranks. He is set to make his Strikeforce debut at Strikeforce: Miami on January 30th.
Following a strange and incredibly tentative performance against former street brawler Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson at the TUF 10 Finale, one-time light heavyweight contender Houston “The Assassin” Alexander has officially been cut from the UFC’s roster.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s rumoured first trip to Abu Dhabi at UFC 112 may feature an intriguing welterweight revenge bout, as former long-time UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes is tentatively set to battle Renzo Gracie, of the famed Gracie family, in a grudge match.
After suffering an undisclosed hand injury during training, former WEC Welterweight Champion “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit has withdrawn from his featured bout with British knockout artist Paul “Semtex” Daley at UFC 108. Submission ace Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett has stepped in to replace the injured Condit in the fight.
After an impressive performance in his long-awaited promotional debut at UFC 106, former PRIDE ace Antonio Rogerio “Minotoro” Nogueira will look to make it two in a row inside the Octagon when he battles Brandon “The Truth” Vera in a featured light heavyweight bout at UFC 109.
After extensive negotiations, former PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight Champion Dan “Hendo” Henderson has officially signed with Strikeforce and may debut for the promotion as early as next April on CBS. The signing comes after lengthy talks with both the UFC and Strikeforce.