Riggs vs. Diaz II Update; Possible Title Fight?

A rematch between rivals Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg could be for the vacant welterweight belt, MMAInsider has learned from sources close to the fight.

Negotiations for the Aug. 15 bout are nearly completed, though Strikeforce has yet to make a formal announcement.

The two first fought at UFC 57, where Riggs won a three-round unanimous decision. Later, they engaged in post-fight brawl at a Las Vegas hospital. Their enmity towards each other hasn't faded since.

Riggs defeated Phil Baroni by unanimous decision in his last appearance at Strikeforce: Shields vs. Lawler in June. The UFC veteran believed he broke both hands during the course of the fight, but the extent of injuries turned out to be less severe, with damage to the small bones in his wrist. He has begun training again.

Diaz outboxed middleweight Scott Smith on the main card of St. Louis event.

With Cung Le apparently shelved until the end of the year, a source from Diaz's camp said a title was the only worthwhile option for Riggs.

Hardy's Not Picking Next Fight, Addresses Condit

MMAInsider caught up with UFC welterweight Dan Hardy in Los Angeles as he prepared for the festivities of July 4 -- namely, taking on grill duties and eating everything in sight.

A speculative match-up that recently made the internet rounds was Carlos Condit. Good match-up: Condit has solid Muay Thai skills and is great off his back. Hardy is an excellent kickboxer and showed he's no slouch on the mat against Marcus Davis at UFC 99.

With Martin Kampmann and Mike Swick doing battle in September for what could be the next contender slot, Condit coming off a loss to Kampmann after a long run as WEC champ, and Hardy continuing to build his name, one might think, why not?

For one, Hardy is a less excited, and what's more, he's taking a backseat in the next fight of his UFC career.

"I've seen Condit come up quite a bit and a few others as well. I think it's a great fight. I really don't mind who they pick. Obviously with me being quite aggressive about picking my last fight, I'm kind of looking forward to handing this one over to Joe Silva, and letting him pick the fight for me."

Most fans believe Condit would have the advantage on the ground, and Hardy doesn't necessarily disagree. But for those who think he would be a submission victim, he begs to differ.

"Realistically, he probably does have a slight advantage on the ground if you look at his record, because he has a lot more submissions than I have. But for my last three fights, I've been destined to get my ass kicked by every one of them and it hasn't happened yet, so at some point people are going to stop doubting me and realize that I'm not such a pushover."

From his perspective, their recent records say more about the fight's likelihood.

"He's coming off a loss and I'm coming off three wins, so I don't know whether the UFC will see that as a viable fight for me," he said. "Maybe he should get someone like Davis next, I don’t know. I really don’t know what value it would be to me, to be honest, apart from being fun."

At the moment, he has nothing booked, but a fall return is his preference.

"I'm just waiting around at the moment," he said. "I think it's going to be sometime in October or November."

Ken Shamrock's All Women's MMA Reality Show Starring Tonya Evinger

PRESS RELEASE:

FightLife bases a group of eight professional female fighters in one house where they live, breathe and make their money off the sport of Mixed Martial Arts fighting. The series will focus on the girls' real lives – hardcore partying, the drama, catfights, relationships, owning and operating fight shop, intense physical training led by Ken Shamrock, and their professional MMA fights.

FightLife (wt), starring popular and outspoken fighter Tonya Evinger, combines some of the biggest names in MMA with the drama and extreme lifestyles these female fighters experience on a day-to-day basis. It's a complete picture of what goes on inside and outside the octagon.

The show also has co-stars Ken Shamrock, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) World Champion and UFC Hall of Famer, as the fighters' coach and trainer; female coach Kelley Weatherford from Freestyle Gym in Reno; and female MMA promoter Mario Horta.

The series will follow the girls from their hardcore training to their wild partying and showcase each of the girls in a full MMA match throughout the series, organized by Horta.. The group of eight girls each have unique backgrounds, which will provide for compelling storylines throughout the series.

Click Here to Watch Trailer

Why Brian Bowles is the No. 1 WEC Bantamweight Contender

Brian Bowles highlight video showcasing why he is the number one contender to WEC bantamweight champ Miguel Torres.

Would anyone disagree?

Vitor Belfort on Mousasi, Affliction, UFC, and more...

Vitor Belfort talks with ESPN 1100's Steve Cofield about his move down to the middleweight division, Gegard Mousasi, fighting for Affliction, and whether or not he'll make the move to the UFC to challenge middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

UFC and Maxim Searching for New UFC Octagon Girl at UFC Fan Expo

It's the Ultimate gig in the world of sports modeling, and when The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) decided to search for potential new Octagon Girls, it reached out to the only magazine devoted to discovering new beauty around the world: Maxim, the largest young men's lifestyle magazine in America. The result? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for attendees of the UFC Fan Expo to be on hand when the winner of the first-ever Maxim UFC Octagon Girl Search is chosen at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, July 11th, just hours before the lights go down for the biggest event in mixed martial arts history, UFC 100.

During the two-day Fan Expo, the Octagon Girl Search will culminate with a live voting phase at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, on the main stage of Bayside Hall B. The event will feature UFC fighters and Maxim editors selecting the winner in a runway-style pageant during the UFC Fan Expo. The winning model will receive a UFC Octagon Girl contract and will be featured throughout the Maxim properties, including Maxim magazine and on Maxim.com.

Girls interested in entering the Maxim UFC Octagon Girl Search will need to pre-register at Maxim.com or at one of Maxim's upcoming casting events. Details on the casting events will be listed at Maxim.com. Participants must be 18 years of age.

Tickets for the first-ever UFC Fan Expo -- which leads up to the historic UFC 100 event that takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, July 11th -- are limited, but are still on sale and can be bought exclusively at www.ufcfanexpo.com. V.I.P. Passes for this event are already SOLD OUT, but Customers that purchase Expo tickets in advance will receive $10 off the two-day pass.

The UFC® Fan Expo features an unprecedented lineup of UFC, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and former PRIDE fighters, and already confirmed to be in attendance are UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida, UFC Hall of Famers Royce Gracie and Randy "The Natural" Couture, and former world champions Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, "Suga" Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. UFC contenders Kenny Florian, Steve Cantwell, Shane Carwin, Marcus "The Irish Hand Grenade" Davis, Tyson Griffin, Clay Guida, Dustin Hazelett, Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann, Josh Koscheck, Joe Lauzon, Junie Browning, Nate Marquardt, Gray Maynard, Karo Parisyan, Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez, Sean Sherk and Mike Swick will also be meeting fans, along with The Ultimate Fighter winners Nate Diaz and Efrain Escudero.

Fans of the PRIDE Fighting Championships will have the chance to re-live the excitement of Japan's classic organization as well, with MMA icons Renzo Gracie and Gary Goodridge being joined by "The Texas Crazy Horse", Heath Herring, and Brazilian superstars Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

And if that's not enough MMA star power, the premier fighters of the WEC will be on hand to sign autographs, with current champions Miguel Torres, Mike Brown, and Jamie Varner sharing the convention center floor with Urijah Faber, Jens Pulver, Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavidez, Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, Ben Henderson, and Alex Karalexis.

Among the UFC Fan Expo's two-day roster of activities will be the aforementioned meet and greets with legendary UFC, WEC, and PRIDE fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, and other exciting opportunities and entertainment. All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 100, including the free-to-the-public weigh-in event on Friday, July 10th.

MMA Live Starts Looking Ahead to UFC 100

ESPN's MMA Live, with special guest Pat Miletich, bread down the upcoming UFC 100 fight card, talk Hawaiian MMA, Roger Huerta, and more...

Art of War 13, Rolles Gracie Returns to China

PRESS RELEASE:

Since 2005, the Art of War Fighting Championship has strived to establish itself as China's premier mixed martial arts organization. Featuring China's best martial arts athletes, the Art of War is recognized by fans and industry experts as the pioneer and leader of China's mixed martial arts revolution. The Art of War Fighting Championship 13 "Rising Force" returns to the National Olympic Sports Center on July 18, 2009 with 12 action-packed mixed martial arts fights for your entertainment pleasure.

Under Card:
84 kg - Xu Chao (China) versus Yoann Gouaida (France)
90 kg - Luo Qiang (China) versus Dorjderem Munkhayasgalan (Mongolia)
78 kg - Kim Dong Hyung (Korea) versus Lubomir Guedjev (Bulgaria)
66 kg - Ning Guang You (China) versus Kang Kyung Ho (Korea)
72 kg - Bernueng Sakhomsin (Thailand) versus Jadambaa Narantungalag (Mongolia)

Main Card:
72 kg - Yu Woo Sung (Korea) versus Egon Racz (Slovakia)
72 kg - Wu Hao Tian (China) versus Shukhrat Minavarov (Uzbekistan)
96+ kg - Katsuhisa Fujii (Japan) versus Rodney Glunder (Holland)
72 kg - Dai Shuang Hai (China) versus Marcin Pionke (Poland)
96+ kg - Rolles Gracie (Brazil) versus Yim Joon Soo (Korea)
78 kg - Wang Sai (China) versus Claes Beverlov (Sweden)

*Fight card subject to change

Let's take a look at the main card...

72 kg match
The main card will feature up-and-coming Korean fighter, Yu Woo Sung "Bronco" (10-3), who was the 2006 Spirit MC Welterweight Tournament Finalist. His opponent is the always tough and durable, Egon Racz (1-2) of Slovakia, who is returning to the Art of War ring after a one year absence. Bronco is a very strong wrestler who will look to bring the fight to the ground where his powerful ground and pound skills give him a big advantage. Racz is an expert striker with over 100 matches to his credit and also the 2006 European open Muay Thai champion, and the 2005 European kickboxing champion. No doubt he will be looking to stop Bronco with a powerful knockout.

72 kg match
After dominating his opponent in AOW12, Chinese fighter, Wu Hao Tian (6-0), will be returning to face his toughest challenge yet in Shukhrat Minavarov of Uzbekistan. Minavarov is a 3x Central Asia kickboxing champion and 2007 World Kickboxing Federation world champion. Wu Hao Tian will have to display perfect grappling skills if he is to get Minavarov to the ground and force the submission. Minavarov is also an expert in combat sambo and claims to be unafraid of Wu Hao Tian's ground skills.

96+ kg match
Katsuhisa Fujii (9-17) of Japan will face the very dangerous Rodney Glunder (25-18) of Holland. Fujii is an expert grappler and is a disciple of famous Pride veteran, Kazuyuki Fujita. His opponent, Rodney Glunder, has wins over Melvin Manhoef, Cheik Congo, Valentijn Overeem, and Cyrille Diabate. Fujii is coming off a tough loss to Korean MMA superstar Choi Mu Bae and wants to get back on the winning side.

72 kg match
Dai Shuang Hai (8-0-3) "The Wolf" of China will face undefeated Polish superstar, Marcin Pionke (6-0), who is a disciple of Olympic Judo Champion, Pawel Nastula. Both are expert grapplers and strikers. Will youth and power prevail over technique and experience?

96+ kg match
Rolles Gracie (2-0) of Brazil will be facing Korean fighter Yim Joon Soo (5-5). Rolles Gracie is coming off a submission victory over Baga Agaev in Art of War 12 while Yim Joon Soo is coming off a KO victory over Yang Cheng in Art of War 11. Will Gracie be able to take the fight to the ground? Yim Joon Soo has devastating power in his hands and has proven it in previous MMA bouts. Will he be able to keep the fight standing and KO Gracie?

78 kg match
In the main event, up and coming Chinese fighter Wang Sai (2-0) will be facing Swedish newcomer, Claes Beverlov (5-2). Wang Sai will be facing a much more experienced opponent, but he has proven that he can remain calm under pressure. Beverlov is a product of the famous Legacy Gym under the leadership of Ole Baguio Larsen. This is a match up of the young guns and will no doubt end in knock out or submission.

The undercard will feature the return of WMC 70 kg world champion Bernueng Sahkomsin verus Jadambaa Narantungalag of Mongolia, who is a K1 veteran having faced such great fighters as Kid Yamamoto and Buakaw Por Pramuk. Also, Ning Guang You "The Tank" will fight Kang Kyung Ho, who is a veteran of Korea's Spirit MC and also the winner of Go! Super Korean Season 3, an MMA reality show.

What: Art of War 13 - Rising Force
When: Saturday, July 18, 2009
Where: National Olympic Sports Center
Time: 2:00 pm (doors open) 4:00 pm (event starts)
Tickets: http://www.piao.com.cn or call 400-810-3721
Information: http://www.mmachina.com or call 010-5129-5028

The Art of War Fighting Championship can be seen on Inner Mongolia Satellite TV (NMTV) from within China every SUNDAY afternoon from 12:40 pm - 1:30 pm.

Visit our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/artofwarfc.
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.mmachina.com.

Chuck Liddell Goes Platinum at UFC Fan Expo, Courtesy of JAKKS

PRESS RELEASE:

Top UFC fighters and MMA fans will get the first look at the official Ultimate Fighting Championship action figures from leading U.S. toy maker JAKKS Pacific, Inc at UFC Fan Expo for UFC 100 in Las Vegas. The first two series of the line, Wave 0 and Wave 1 include some of the best and well known UFC fighters such as heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, Chuck Liddell, middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Forrest Griffin, Rampage Jackson, and Royce Gracie. Several of the fighters will be in attendance to view their new figures before they hit retail shelves this Fall, and are expected to meet and greet with fans at the JAKKS UFC Fan Expo booth (#427).

To help celebrate UFC 100 and the first ever UFC Fan Expo, JAKKS will also have Limited Edition UFC Fan Expo Platinum Chuck Liddell figures available for purchase by fans in attendance at the JAKKS booth while supplies last. The exclusive Limited Edition Platinum figures will be sequentially numbered 1:500 and will only be available at the UFC Fan Expo. The first 250 units will go on sale at 10:00 am on Friday with the next 250 units available Saturday starting at 10:00 am as well.

Where:
JAKKS Booth #427
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Bayside Hall B
Located at 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
Las Vegas, Nevada

GSP's Gatorade Ads Hit the U.S. In Rolling Stone

The ever expanding world of advertising surrounding MMA superstar and UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, hit a new market this week as the Canadian was featured on the latest ads for Gatorade's "G" campaign in Rolling Stone magazine.

St. Pierre was previously featured in a Gatorade commercial that aired all over Canada and featured other sports stars such as Miami Heat guard, Dwayne Wade, and hockey legend, Gordie Howe.

Now, Gatorade has taken the next step to push GSP out to the American fans with a two page spread in Rolling Stone that features the athlete alongside the words, "No Excuses, No Truces."

St. Pierre's manager, Shari Spencer, commented about her client's deal with Gatorade, and how the two brands will continue to grow together in the future.

"Georges' relationship with Gatorade has recently expanded into the US, where he will be featured in a national print campaign launching July 1st that includes Rolling Stone magazine and outdoor advertising in the New York City & Los Angeles markets," Spencer said.

As St. Pierre readies for his July 11 showdown against #1 contender, Thiago Alves, the Gatorade ads will continue to grow and help the sport of MMA gain even more mainstream exposure.

The only question left is when will Gatorade start a campaign centered around St. Pierre much like their 90's ads featuring basketball mega star, Michael Jordan?

"I Wanna Be Like GSP"

Rampage Says Fight With Rashad in Memphis in December

Quinton Rampage Jackson, in the above YouTube video with buddy Computer from MTV's Three 6 Mafia Hollyhood, says that he is fighting Rashad Evans in Memphis, Tenn., in December, following their stint as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter "The Heavyweights."

Marc Ratner, the UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, later confirmed to MMAJunkie.com that the bout is set to take place in early December at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.

(WARNING: Explicit Language)

Four Grappling Superfights at UFC Fan Expo

PRESS RELEASE:

Rumina Sato. Fredson Paixao. Joe Stevenson. Vinicius Magalhaes. Jeff Glover. Ulysses Gomez. Bill Cooper. To those in the grappling world, the names represent the best of the best. To have them in the same hall together at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center is electrifying enough. To see them competing against each other in four Superfights that cap off the largest Submission Grappling tournament in history is something that could only be held at the UFC Fan Expo on Friday, July 10th and Saturday, July 11th, just hours before the lights go down for the biggest event in mixed martial arts history, UFC 100.

In the headline Superfight on Friday, July 10th, mixed martial arts pioneer Rumina "Moon Wolf" Sato faces Ulysses "Useless" Gomez. Also in action on Friday, July 10th, against an opponent to be determined, will be The Ultimate Fighter 8's Vinicius Magalhaes. On Saturday, July 11th, the action continues with a match pitting four-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and WEC contender Fredson Paixao against 22-time Grapplers Quest champ Jeff "Pipelayer" Glover, and an intriguing showdown between UFC lightweight contender Joe "Daddy" Stevenson and Bill "The Grill" Cooper. The Superfight doubleheaders on both days begin at 1pm.

"For fans of the ground game, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of the world's premier grapplers in one place competing against each other," said UFC President Dana White.

Tickets for the first-ever UFC Fan Expo -- which leads up to the historic UFC 100 event that takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, July 11th -- are limited, but are still on sale and can be bought exclusively at www.ufcfanexpo.com. V.I.P. Passes sold out quickly, but fans can still buy tickets to the Expo, and Customers that purchase in advance will receive $10 off the two-day pass.

About The Competitors:
Perhaps Japan's most influential mixed martial artist ever, Rumina "Moon Wolf" Sato has inspired countless fighters to not only take up the sport, but to take it to new levels. A pro since 1994, Sato has fought the world's best, including John Lewis, Yves Edwards, Caol Uno, Takanori Gomi, Javier Vazquez, Alexandre Nogueira, Joachim Hansen, and Gilbert Melendez. And when it comes to his grappling prowess, suffice to say that the Shooto legend and master of the flying armbar can do it all on the mat, making this rare United States appearance a must see for fight fans.

A native of Los Angeles who now makes his home in Las Vegas, Ulysses "Useless" Gomez has been training in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2001, and this purple belt has learned his lessons well, winning championships in Grapplers Quest, Desert Quest, IGJJF, NAGA, and the Mt. Sac Submission Open. Gomez was also the first American to win a Gold medal in the FILA Pankration World Championships. Currently 3-1 in MMA, this member of Marc Laimon's Cobra Kai team is eager to perform on the big stage against the world-renowned Rumina Sato.

If you wanted to list Fredson Paixao's accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you would probably need at least this entire page. Suffice to say that the 30-year old from Parintins -- a four-time world champion -- is one of the best grapplers of this era. Now competing in MMA for the WEC, Paixao -- who is only the second person in the world to go from purple to black belt in just four years -- will get back to his roots by grappling competitively during the UFC Fan Expo.

With 22 Grapplers Quest titles to his name, California's Jeff Glover has taken the jiu-jitsu world by storm. Add in accolades as a 2008 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship-Silver Medalist, 2008 PacSun Hawaii Absolute/No-Gi/Gi Champion, 2007 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship-Gold Medalist, and it's clear why seeing Glover's name on the marquee means some high-level jiu-jitsu. Rated to have the number one rated guard in the United States by Gracie Magazine, Glover will put all his skills to the test against world champion Fredson Paixao.

Winner of 35 MMA fights, including a recent victory over Nate Diaz, UFC lightweight contender Joe Stevenson is one of the top fighters in the world, but what some may not know is that he's also a skilled grappler. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under BJJ superstar Robert Drysdale, Stevenson has ended four MMA fights with his devastating guillotine choke, and he will be looking to test it against Bill Cooper on July 11th.

22-year old jiu-jitsu phenom Bill "The Grill" Cooper earned his black belt from Ricardo Miller at the age of 20, and he's done his teacher proud to the tune of 24 Grapplers Quest titles from around the country. Now teaching in Thousand Oaks, California, Cooper will face one of the toughest tests of his young career in Joe Stevenson this July.

Rio De Janeiro's Vinicius "Pezao" Magalhaes first came to the attention of UFC fans in 2008, when he finished three opponents in the first round en route to a spot in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter's eighth season. But to those in the jiu-jitsu community, Magalhaes' reputation was already rock solid. Winner of eight medals at the BJJ World Championships (four Gold, one Silver and three Bronze), this black belt under Vinicius Aieta and Royler Gracie will show UFC fans even more dimensions of his game when he steps on the mat on July 10th.

Please note that all rings of the UFC Fan Expo tournament will be stopped during these Superfights, and that while fans will get to see all the tournament and Superfight action, seating will be limited and handled on a first come, first served basis.

TUF 10 Cast To Be Unveiled at UFC Fan Expo on July 10

Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship will officially reveal the full cast of the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series, dubbed "The Heavyweights," on Friday, July 10 at the UFC Fan Expo.

According to representatives of Spike TV all 16 fighters will be available for autographs from 11 a.m. until noon at UFC Fan Expo Booth #149 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Aside from a load of rumored participants, the only fighter officially revealed thus far has been Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson.

Top WEC Featherweights Combine for 125-15 Record

Leonard Garcia was a guest on Inside MMA and talked about the elite fighters in the WEC's featherweight division. The top 8 guys have a combined record of 125-15.

Riggs vs. Diaz II Possible, But Not Cleared

A proposed rematch between Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on Aug. 15 is still on hold, MMAInsider has learned from multiple sources close to the fight.

Although both parties have agreed to the fight, the bout will not go forward until cleared by Showtime executives. As per Strikeforce's agreement with the premium cable network, all bouts need to be approved by Showtime before they are finalized.

Thus, no bout agreements have been signed for the bout and both camps are waiting for confirmation, which could come as early as the end of Tuesday.

Diaz and Riggs fought, twice, over three years ago at UFC 57 in Las Vegas. Riggs won a close decision, which Diaz protested by instigating a fight at the hospital where both were taken afterwards.

The two have shared disdain for each other since.

Bobby Lashley Recounts Win over Sapp, Plans for Fight Career

Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley recounts his win over Bob Sapp this past weekend and talks about his plans to take it slow in building his MMA career. (Courtesy of Cagewriter.com)

Will Bobby Lashley be the guy to eventually challenge Brock Lesnar in this new era of super huge, athletic heavyweights?

MMA Legend Don Frye Appears in "Public Enemies"

MMA Legend and credited actor, Don Frye, recently attended the premier of Michael Mann's movie "Public Enemies", starring Johnny Depp, at the Mann Theater in Westwood, California. Frye, who previously worked with Mann on Miami Vice, plays the character of Texas Ranger Clarence Hurt in this major motion picture. Public Enemies, set to premier in theatres July 1st, is an adaptation of Bryan Burrough's non-fiction book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34 and stars A-list actors such as Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Channing Tatum.

Don Frye had this to say about his involvement in the film, "I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of this amazing film and to be associated with such an impressive cast and crew. Director Michael Mann is great to work with, and my character Texas Ranger Clarence Hurt was right up my alley. I really enjoyed getting into character and being a part of the action. The1930's set was really amazing; it was like taking a step back in time."

Don Frye has proven to be very successful both in front of the camera as an actor and facing skilled competitors as a mixed martial arts fighter. 2009 continues to be a busy and rewarding year for Frye. In addition to his role in Public Enemies, he was cast in the upcoming film Salt, a spy thriller starring Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber. Also in 2009, Frye competed and defeated his opponent at the Shark Fight 4 MMA event in Texas and is currently training for a major fight scheduled to take place in August. As Frye’s acting career continues to gain momentum, his career as a decorated MMA competitor shows no signs of slowing down.

Frye was very candid about his two, very distinct, career paths: "I enjoy acting as much as I enjoy fighting and I'm very fortunate to be able to do both. As an actor, I‘m typically cast in roles that involve fight scenes. As an MMA competitor, my role is to fight and to entertain. That being said, even though both career choices are very different, they work hand in hand."

Don Frye is considered a legend in the sport of mixed martial arts. Over the past decade Frye has proven that his skills expand well above and beyond his elite status as a decorated mixed martial arts fighter. We will continue to see him on the big screen as well as in the cage.

Strikeforce Challengers Final Gate Tally

The Washington Department of Licensing's Professional Athletics Program on Monday released the final attendance and gate revenue figures for Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg held June 19 in Kent.

The promotion drew 2,836 fans to the ShoWare Center for $85,805 in live gate revenue. The number of comps went unreleased.

Strikeforce next heads home to San Jose, Calif. for Carano vs. Cyborg on Aug. 15 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Rumina Sato to Make Rare Appearance at UFC 100 Fan Expo

PRESS RELEASE:

The UFC and Inspirit are proud to announce the participation of Shooto legend Rumina Sato at the UFC Fan Expo on July 10 and 11 in conjunction with UFC 100. Sato will be participating in a grappling superfight against seven-time Grapplers Quest champion Ulysses "Useless" Gomez on July 10. On July 11, he will be conducting a once in a lifetime seminar at the UFC Fan Expo.

Sato is known as one of the pioneers of mixed martial arts in Japan, captivating fans with his relentless submission attacks. Whether it is in Shooto or grappling events around the world, Sato has developed a reputation as one of the best lock flow submission fighters in the world. Now on July 11 at the UFC Fan Expo, he will teach his techniques and secrets to a small group of lucky fans that will be amazed by his precision and expertise on submission grappling.

"Rumina Sato is not only one of the legends of mixed martial arts, but he's been an inspiration to a whole generation of fighters. I think it's safe to say that without Sato, you wouldn't be seeing fighters like Caol Uno or Yushin Okami today. So it's an honor for us to have him participating in the UFC Fan Expo, and I'm positive that taking part in his seminar and watching him grapple will be something our fans won't ever forget," said UFC President Dana White of Rumina Sato's participation at the UFC Fan Expo.

Sato will also be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans throughout the UFC Fan Expo on both July 10 and 11 at the Rumina Sato/Inspirit booth. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet one of the true pioneers of mixed martial arts and submission grappling in Japan.

TUF 9 Pulls in Half Million Dollar Gate

The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale finished in a flurry with the UFC designating three Fights of the Night -- a first in the promotion's history -- and Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida immediately being mentioned as a Fight of the Year candidate.

The reality series finales aren't typically counted on for live ticket revenue, but season nine's sold out for an official tally of $498,650.00 at the gate, based on 1,801 tickets sold and 326 comps, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Who Ya Got? Fedor or Barnett?

Inside MMA recently did a segment where they asked several fighters who they feel will win at Affliction "Trilogy": Fedor Emelianenko or Josh Barnett.

Who you got? Fedor or Josh Barnett?

Miguel Torres Highlight Video

As he prepares for his latest title defense, WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres -- the No. 1 ranked fighter in the class in the world -- is featured in this highlight video from the WEC. He squares off with No. 2 ranked Brian Bowles in an epic clash at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on August 9.

Is Brian Bowles the one that can finally knock Miguel Torres off his pedestal, or will he be the latest name added to the Torres hit list?

Dana White on Chuck, Cro Cop, Belfort, Huerta and More...

ESPN 1100's Steve Cofield talks with UFC president Dana White about a number of subjects, but notably about the "he is, he isn't" situation around Chuck Liddell retiring from mixed martial arts, the Cro Cop situation, Roger Huerta's return, and Vitor Belfort's prospects in the UFC.

Liddell has been mum on the retirement talk, but the UFC has said they will induct someone into the Hall of Fame at UFC 100. Are they just waiting for the Hall of Fame ceremony to make a dual announcement out of Chuck's retirement and then subsequent induction into the Hall of Fame or are they inducting someone else entirely?

Limp Bizkit Concert at Mandalay Bay Cancelled

UFC on Saturday announced that the Limp Bizkit concert event planned for Friday, July 10 at the Mandalay Bay Beach has been cancelled. Tickets will be refunded at place of purchase.

As part of the UFC 100 event weekend, the concert was to be the first Limp Bizkit show in the United States with the original line-up in eight years. The band was also planning to attend the UFC Fan Expo to sign autographs.