After an injury forced Brad “One Punch” Pickett out of UFC 130, the event has undergone two changes. Miguel Torres, who was set to face Pickett, will now take on Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Renan “Barao,” who was first set to face Johnson, will now battle Cole “The Triangle” Escovedo.
The UFC announced the revised Torres-Johnson fight on Thursday, and the Escovedo-Barao bout was made official today. Both fights will be contested in the newly-formed UFC bantamweight division. All four are veterans of World Extreme Cagefighting, where Torres and Escovedo held titles.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich “Ace” Franklin will continue his campaign in the light heavyweight division when he faces Antonio Rogerio “Minotoro” Nogueira at UFC 133 on August 6th. The fight was announced today and is expected to take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Hard-hitting striker Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort will look to rebound from his knockout loss to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva when he takes on former K-1 HERO’s star Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133. ESPN.co.uk first reported on the targeted matchup earlier today.
First-round matchups for the upcoming eight-man bantamweight tournament on May 29th in Japan are now set. Previously dubbed the “Japan Cup,” the event has been rebranded the DREAM Japan Grand Prix: “Fight For Japan” and will be held under the DREAM banner at the Saitama Super Arena.
A bantamweight battle between former WEC champion Brian Bowles and Japanese standout Takeya Mizugaki is currently targeted for UFC 132 on July 2nd in Las Vegas. The UFC announced plans for the fight today, and verbal agreements are in place. Bout agreements have not been signed.
Two-time All-American wrestler Carla Esparza needed just 53 seconds to submit Yadira “Little Ya Ya” Anzaldua on Friday in Clovis, New Mexico. The brief fight was part of an all-female pro card promoted by Evolution Combat Sports, and was Esparza’s first since suffering a broken nose last year.
Three additional bouts have now been announced for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Brazil at UFC 134: Rio on August 27th. Among the additions to the card is a 205-pound rematch between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Forrest Griffin.
These days, Elena Reid is a busy woman. The 29-year-old former champion in both boxing and mixed martial arts is not preparing for a fight, however. Reid is currently planning her October wedding and just closed on her first house. Fighting is the last thing on her mind, and she couldn’t be happier.