Former UFC Interim and PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira will face once-beaten prospect Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub at UFC 134: Rio on August 27th. The bout was first reported by Sportsnet.ca and officially announced by the promotion today.

Nogueira has dropped two of his last three bouts, both by stoppage, and his once infallible chin has begun to wear down after 12 years of competing in the sport. Schaub, meanwhile, has won four straight fights and is coming off of a knockout win over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović in March.

Read More…

DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki will face former MFC champ Antonio “Mandingo” McKee at DREAM: “Fight For Japan” on May 29th in Saitama, Japan. The non-title bout, which was first reported by Sherdog.com last week, was made official for the card on Sunday.

Aoki has not fought in Japan since New Year’s Eve, when he was knocked out in embarrassing fashion by Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima in a mixed rules kickboxing and MMA bout. McKee, like other recent MFC champions, vacated his title last month and will compete for DREAM for the first time.

Read More…

Rising star Cat “Alpha” Zingano kept her unbeaten record intact tonight with a third-round knockout victory over Japanese veteran Takayo Hashi at Fight To Win: “Outlaws” in Denver, Colorado. Zingano finished the title fight with a highlight-reel powerbomb slam with just 18 seconds remaining.

Much of the three-round affair was contested in the clinch against the cage, where Zingano was able to use her strength advantage to keep Hashi on the defensive. Hashi was aggressive early on, but Zingano controlled most of the striking exchanges throughout until just before the end of the fight.

Read More…

The all-female doubleheader of Jewels events concluded tonight at Jewels: “14th Ring” in Tokyo, Japan. The evening event was headlined by a Jewels vs Valkyrie Special Rules bout between Misaki Takimoto and Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama, which determined the top female strawweight in MMA.

In other action, Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion Ayaka Hamasaki took on promotional postergirl Saori “Shooting Star” Ishioka in a grappling match, while Mika “Future Princess” Nagano faced Emi Murata in a bout rebooked from March. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for Jewels: “14th Ring.”

Read More…

Noted striker Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig picked up one of the biggest wins of her mixed martial arts career tonight at Xtreme Fighting Organization 39 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The popular Illinois native earned a Unanimous Decision victory over Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc.

In a second women’s bout on the card, Amanda “Red Fox” LaVoy shocked Michele “Diablita” Gutierrez with a second-round doctor stoppage victory after opening a deep gash above Gutierrez’s left eye. LaVoy, a significant underdog coming into the fight, was overjoyed with the victory.

Read More…

The first half of an all-day doubleheader of events kicked off this afternoon at Jewels: “13th Ring” from Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan. The event, which will aid in disaster relief in Japan, was headlined by a kickboxing match between Kozue “Azuma” Nagashima and Yukimi Kamikaze.

Also on the card, Jewels fighters clashed with rivals from Valkyrie in a pair of mixed martial arts bouts. Mongolia’s Bolormaa “Esui” Erdenebileg took on Chisa Yonezawa in one bout, while Asami Higa faced Megumi Morioka in another. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for Jewels: “13th Ring.”

Read More…

Following yesterday’s announcement that former champion Brock Lesnar has been forced out of the upcoming UFC 131 event on June 11th, the card has undergone two more changes. Dave “Pee-Wee” Herman now faces Jon Olav Einemo, while Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran takes on Aaron Rosa.

Original plans called for Einemo to make his Octagon debut against former title challenger Shane Carwin, but Carwin will now replace Lesnar against Junior “Cigano” dos Santos in the night’s main event. Rosa now enters the card against Beltran, while Herman moves up to challenge Einemo.

Read More…

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar has once again been stricken with diverticulitis and has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 131 bout against fellow TUF 13 coach Junior “Cigano” dos Santos. The news was officially announced by UFC President Dana White this afternoon.

As a result of Lesnar’s illness, the June 11th card has undergone a change. Former title challenger Shane Carwin will now step in to face dos Santos in the night’s main event, while Carwin’s original opponent on the card, UFC newcomer Jon Olav Einemo, will face an opponent to be determined.

Read More…