Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold is expected to make the first defence of his new title against UFC veteran “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine on January 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAFighting.com first reported the bout on Thursday. Jardine replaces an injured Tim Kennedy.

Rockhold captured the championship in a razor-thin five-round battle with former champion Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza in September and has won seven straight fights. Jardine is unbeaten in his past three fights after enduring a disastrous 2009-2010 campaign that included five consecutive losses.

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Former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion Dan “Hendo” Henderson picked up one of his biggest wins to date in a thrilling contest at UFC 139 last month. Henderson edged one-time UFC titleholder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua after five rounds and vaults to the number two spot in the light heavyweight division.

One week earlier, Junior “Cigano” dos Santos stopped Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds on FOX. Dos Santos begins his reign atop the heavyweight ranks. In women’s action, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey enters the top three at 145 pounds after a quick submission victory over Julia “The Jewel” Budd.

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Japanese star Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii will make her DREAM debut on New Year’s Eve. The submission specialist faces Spanish prospect Karla Benitez at DREAM: “Genki Desu Ka” in Saitama, Japan. MMARising.com confirmed plans for the bout following an initial report from Sherdog.com.

Fujii has been sidelined while rehabbing injuries following a July victory over Jewels postergirl Mika “Future Princess” Nagano. She has tasted defeat just once; a contentious decision in last year’s Bellator women’s tournament. Benitez most recently had a five-fight winning streak snapped in October.

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Leading U.K. promotion Cage Warriors Fighting Championship has instated a 125-pound women’s title and will crown a new champion in 2012. CWFC director Graham Boylan and matchmaker Ian Dean confirmed the news with MMARising.com today and discussed plans for the coming year.

Cage Warriors’ first and only women’s champion, Rosi Sexton, captured her title in 2005 before travelling outside of the U.K. for bouts in BodogFight and EliteXC. Sexton’s title was later retired, but she is expected to be among the top contenders for the newly-created vacant championship in 2012.

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Welterweight contenders Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger and Diego “The Dream” Sanchez are likely to face off in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 1 on February 15, 2012. The targeted matchup is expected to take place at the CenturyLink Center in Ellenberger’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

MMAjunkie.com first reported the bout today, including details of the date and location. UFC officials confirmed the fight this evening. Ellenberger has won five straight fights since a close defeat in his Octagon debut. Sanchez earned a contentious decision victory over Martin Kampmann in March.

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Former WEC welterweight champ “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit will return to action against recent UFC title challenger Josh Koscheck at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Koscheck announced the planned bout last week and UFC officials confirmed it earlier today.

Condit has won 12 of his past 13 fights and he had expected to challenge for the UFC Welterweight Championship last month before an untimely injury to champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre cancelled the fight. Koscheck stopped Matt Hughes in September in his first fight back since losing to St. Pierre.

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Twelve bouts have now been confirmed for UFC 144: “Edgar vs Henderson” on February 26, 2012 in Saitama, Japan. Among the latest additions today is a lightweight bout between former long-time PRIDE champion Takanori “Fireball Kid” Gomi and submission specialist George Sotiropoulos.

Also announced today was a bantamweight battle between Japanese star Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and England’s Vaughan Lee, as both fighters look to rebound from setbacks. Elsewhere, Chinese prospect Tiequan “The Wolf” Zhang faces off with Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia in a featherweight bout.

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After bouts in Russia failed to materialise, Kaitlin Young will remain at home for her next fight. The Minnesota native is expected to face Canadian Anna “Smiles” Barone in a featured 140-pound matchup on January 6, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. Both fighters earned wins in October.

Young was originally booked to face Milana Dudieva for ProFC last month, but withdrew from the bout as a result of visa issues and cited promotional disorganisation. The fight was then rebooked for December 10th, but has since been scrapped again and Young will square off with Barone instead.

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