Nick Diaz remains silent about the potential fight with Michael Bisping

Talks of Nick Diaz’s octagon return has stemmed earlier this week from an interview with Diaz’ close friend and training partner Gilbert Melendez. El Nino has stated Diaz might come out from retirement once he is offered a fight of his liking. After a few days, Michael Bisping noticed the news and decided to join the fray. He wrote in his twitter account that he will be happy to welcome Nick Diaz to the middleweight division.

That being said, UFC President Dana White has revealed that Diaz has not yet expressed an intention to return to the cage.

“I love that fight,” White said following today’s pre-UFC 166 media session. “I love that fight. I like it, but everything I hear from Nick Diaz is that he doesn’t want to fight.”

Nick’s habit for announcing to retire after a loss is perhaps the reason why his retirement has not been taken seriously. He did it first after the Condit loss and it earned him his biggest fight to date, a match with GSP. Considering Diaz’ attempts to land a fight against Anderson Silva a few months ago, it would be safe to assume that it will be just a matter of time before the Stockton native announces his octagon return.

[Photos by www.kimura.se]

Jake Shields likely to get the Condit vs. Brown winner

Jake Shields already has an idea of whom he will face next after the upset win over Demian Maia in UFC Fight Night 29. He thinks that he will likely take on the winner between Carlos Condit and Matt Brown. Shields already holds a win over Condit when they locked horns way back in 2006. However, he says that he welcomes the idea of a rematch or a fight with any top rated welterweights.

UFC returns to the big screen with UFC 167

UFC 167, which is headlined by a welterweight title fight between George St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks marks the return of UFC to the big screen after almost a year. The last event to hit the theaters was GSP’s successful return against Carlos Condit in UFC 154, it was held a year ago in Montreal, Canada. The upcoming event will be shown in more than 350 theaters nationwide. The complete line up of theaters and locations are listed in NCM Fathom Events website.

Maia expects a title shot if he wins convincingly against Jake Shields

Sao Paolo, Brazil – BJJ black belt Demian Maia expects that he will get the winner of George St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks if he beats Jake Shields in an impressive fashion tomorrow at UFC Fight Night 29. Maia is on a tear since dropping to 170 lbs. He won all three of his welterweight bouts against notable oppositions in Dong Hyun Kim, Rick Story and most recently Jon Fitch. After an open training in Barurei Brazil, Meia spoke to the media and says that he is anticipating a title fight if he wins convincingly against Shields.

“I hope I can get the chance after I win,” Maia said. “It will be four wins in a row. I’ve already fought for the title in the middleweight (division), so I’ll be better ranked. The other fighters ranked higher than me already fought for the (welterweight) title.”

Pat Healy and Jamie Varner added to UFC on Fox 9

The highly stacked UFC on Fox 9 gets even more loaded with the addition of the lightweight showdown between Jamie Varner and Pat Healy. The two lightweights are known to put up highly entertaining fights and both are recipients of Fight of the Night honors.

However, both of them have also lost their previous matches. Varner is 1 – 2 after defeating Edson Barboza in a fight that is considered as the Upset of the Year of 2012. He dropped a split decision loss to Gleison Tibau in his last fight. Pat Healy also lost his recent outing. He was outclassed by the Russian prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov last September in UFC 165. Prior to that fight, Healy submitted Jim Miller but the win was overturned when Healy tested positive in marijuana in his post-fight test.  He is 0-2 with 1 No Contest in his UFC career.

The event which will take place on December 14 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California is headlined with a lightweight title bout between Anthony Pettis and Josh Thomson. It also features several top names in the UFC including former interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit and former title contenders in Urijah Faber, Michael McDonald and Chad Mendes.

Cody McKenzie battles Sam Stout in UFC on Fox 9

Cody McKenzie returns to the lightweight division after splitting his two fights at 145 lbs. He started his featherweight campaign with a 31-second TKO loss to Chad Mendez a year ago in UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2. He bounced back this April when he defeated Leonard Garcia by unanimous decision. McKenzie is known for […]

Jake Ellenberger eyeing a rematch with Martin Kampmann this December

Jake Ellenberger is planning to get back in the octagon in UFC 168 and he has set his sights in Martin Kampmann as a possible opponent. He said that he is currently on a negotiation to fight in December and is aiming for a fight against a top rated welterweight.

“I’m just looking for someone one the top 10,” he said. “(Kampmann) is a good possibility right now. That’s something I’d definitely look forward to. UFC hasn’t offered me yet so I just have to wait. I’m always highly motivated to fight. I’m excited be back in there against a top 10 opponent.”

UFC on Fox 9: Pettis vs. Thomson main card update

UFC fox 9 is already taking shape 2 months prior to its schedule. The event will be headlined with the UFC lightweight title fight between current champion Anthony Pettis and Josh Thomson.

It will be Pettis’ first defense of the title that he took from Benson Henderson by submitting him in the first round. Thomson on the other hand has won his last fight via 1^st round TKO over Nate Diaz, whom has not been stopped prior to his bout with Thomson.

The main card will also feature former UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit against Matt Brown as well as a fight between high ranking bantamweights in Urijah Faber and Michael McDonald.

The most recent addition to the highly stacked card is a flyweight scrap between one time flyweight contender John Moraga and Darren Uyenoyama. Both fighters have lost their most recent outings. Moraga suffered a fifth round submission loss in his bid to take the title away from Demetrious Johnson. Meanwhile, Uyenoyama was stopped in the 2^nd round by Joseph Buenavidez at UFC on Fox 7 last April.

[Photo from graciemag.com]

Tickets for ‘UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit’ Goes On Sale This Week

UFC fans will be happy to know that the tickets for the well awaited “UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. Condit” event is set to go on sale this week. The UFC show will feature a main event bout between welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and and interim title holder Carlos Condit.

Georges St-Pierre Receives Medical Clearance to Train

UFC Welterweight Champ Georges St-Pierre finally seeked a medical clearance to begin his training for his long awaited Octagon return. GSP announced this exciting news through his Facebook and Twitter account. He was last seen in action at the main event of UFC 129, where he defeated Jake Shields via unanimous decision. He injured his knee while training in December of last year.