Former UFC welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck has been given a new opponent for UFC 143 on February 4, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Koscheck, who was scheduled to face Carlos Condit, now battles fellow wrestler Mike Pierce on the card. The bout was officially announced today.
Also targeted for UFC 143 is a bantamweight bout between rising star Scott “Young Guns” Jorgensen and Brazilian standout Renan “Barao” Pegado. Jorgensen has won seven of his past eight, with the lone defeat coming in a WEC title fight. Barao is unbeaten since his losing April 2005 pro debut.
Three additional fights have been announced for the upcoming Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs Jardine” event on January 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler faces rising star Adlan Amagov in a featured 185-pound matchup on the card.
On December 17th, Japanese star Hiroko “Cat’s Eye” Yamanaka takes on the toughest test of her MMA career. The 5’11” Yamanaka faces champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Championship at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship is on the line this Saturday when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for UFC 140: “Jones vs Machida.” Current champion Jon “Bones” Jones makes the first defence of his title against ex-champ Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre has suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and may be sidelined for up to ten months. Nick Diaz, who was set to challenge for St. Pierre’s title at UFC 143, will face former WEC champ “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit in an interim title bout.
Fresh off of a dominant victory this past weekend, British star Michael “The Count” Bisping will return to the cage on January 28, 2012 when he faces submission specialist Demian Maia at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago, Illinois. The middleweight bout was officially announced by UFC personnel today.
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick “The Dominator” Cruz and bitter rival “The California Kid” Urijah Faber will serve as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 15. The upcoming live season of the competition, the first in history, will air on the FOX-owned FX network and begins on March 9, 2012.
Two top contender bouts have been officially announced for UFC on FOX 2 on January 28, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Chael Sonnen takes on Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz at middleweight. Former champ “Suga” Rashad Evans faces Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis in light heavyweight action.