UFC Confirms Marquardt-Kampmann

The Ultimate Fighting Championship today confirmed that former middleweight title challenger Nate Marquardt will take on Martin Kampmann in a main card bout at UFC 88: Breakthrough, which will take place at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on September 6th.

Despite clearly beating Thales Leites in their middleweight bout at UFC 85 in June, Marquardt ended up losing a split decision to the Brazilian because of two costly point deductions. Prior to that, he bounced back from a failed title shot against Anderson Silva to quickly submit longtime veteran Jeremy Horn at UFC 81 in February.

Two years after being acquired from the now defunct WFA, Kampmann remains undefeated in the UFC. After quickly racking up three straight wins, Kampmann was forced out of action for over a year after suffering a knee injury that required multiple surgeries. However he was victorious in his return, earning a first-round submission of Jorge Rivera at UFC 85.

Tapout’s Portrayal of Dan Lauzon Was Wrong

First off, let me preface what I’m about to say: I’ve never met Dan or Joe Lauzon so this isn’t coming from some personal agenda or anything like that. I’m also not trying to bash anybody. I could be completely wrong with what I’m about to rant on but after watching last night’s Tapout episode, does anyone else think that their portrayal of Dan and his camp was pretty distasteful? I know that I do.

I’ve enjoyed all of Tapout’s past episodes, but not last night’s, it struck me the wrong way. The biggest thing was how the producers of the show made Lauzon’s trainers/partners come off as if they weren’t worthy to be instructing and helping Dan. This is the same gym that his older brother Joe and many other solid fighters have come out of over the past few years if I’m not mistaken, so why create the image of it being inferior?

I’m not sure if there’s some kind of connection between Tapout and Sityodong because they are on good terms with the UFC and whatever, but making them out to be the better place to train by light years isn’t very fair in my opinion. The constant berating of Dan’s camp during the off-camera interviews was unnecessary. I know that Mask and company probably don’t have that much say in terms of production, but you have to remember that Mask said what he said during the episode. If he disagreed with it, he could have spoken up.

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Herring: “Lesnar Isn’t My First Rodeo”

In the above video courtesy of ESPN, UFC heavyweight contender Heath Herring discusses his upcoming showdown with professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist Brock Lesnar at this Saturday’s UFC 87: Seek and Destroy, which will take place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Herring also touches on how he believes Lesnar is a one-dimensional fighter and why he thinks his ten years of experience will pay off in this fight.

Surprises and Switches at Affliction Presser

Affliction Entertainment held a press conference earlier this afternoon at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to confirm a quartet of fights and reveal broadcast details for the promotion’s scheduled “Day of Reckoning” event, which will take place on October 11th at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

Among the bouts officially announced today by Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio included two previously reported bouts: a rematch between IFL light heavyweight champion Vladimir Matyushenko and longtime divisional contender Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and a middleweight contest between former UFC standouts Vitor Belfort and Matt Lindland.

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Faber Talks Brown, Future With WEC

In the above video courtesy of RawVegas, WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber discusses his upcoming fight against American Top Team’s Mike Thomas Brown at WEC 36 on September 10th in Hollywood, Florida. Faber also discusses his future with the WEC, whether or not he plans on moving up or down in weight, and whether or not he would be willing to attempt to avenge his only professional loss against Tyson Griffin.

Jameson and Ortiz to Be Parents

Not many MMA stars get to frequent Page Six like Tito does.  Word is his girlfriend Jenna Jameson is pregnant, and yes, it’s his:

CONGRATS to Jenna Jameson. The retired porn queen is pregnant with the baby of her boyfriend, UFC champ Tito Ortiz. “She had a bunch of meetings and things planned for Fashion Week, including meetings for her own line, but she’s postponed everything,” said our source. “She’s completely thrilled, this is something she’s wanted for a very long time.” Jameson miscarried during her marriage to Jay Grdina, whom she divorced in 2006. She also once failed with in vitro. Jameson’s assistant didn’t return calls and Ortiz’s rep had no comment.

Ford-Clark to Co-Headline MFC 18

MMA on Tap has learned that welterweight prospect Ryan Ford will attempt to bounce back from his first professional loss when he takes on longtime veteran LaVerne Clark in the co-main event of Maximum Fighting Championship’s upcoming “Famous” show on September 26th in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Ford was upset by journeyman Pat Healy at MFC 17 last month, succumbing to a late third-round armbar after dominating Healy for two rounds. Ford, a training partner of current UFC middleweight contender Jason MacDonald, also scored consecutive submission wins over C.J. Fernandes and Pete Spratt earlier this year.

Clark, a veteran of the early days of the UFC, is currently riding a three-fight winning streak. Clark has recently been fighting exclusively out of the Courage Fighting Championships. He last scored a first-round TKO of Matt Kelly in June.

MFC 18 will also feature the promotional debut of midwestern product Joe Heiland, winner of his first four professional bouts, against an opponent yet to be determined. The event will be televised on both HDNet in the United States and on The Fight Network in Canada.

MMA Fight Weekly: UFC 87 Preview

Aleks Emelianenko Barred From Fighting in US?

Those hoping to catch Aleksander Emelianenko fighting at Affliction’s upcoming next event in October might have to wait a bit longer to see him fight. Ever since he was reported to have failed to meet California licensing requirements prior to his scheduled fight against Paul Buentello last month, rumors have been frequently circulating that Emelianenko may have tested positive for Hepatitis B, a claim that the Russian’s camp has strongly dismissed.

However in a recent interview on Wrestling Observer’s Figure Four Daily radio show, California State Athletic Commission representative Bill Douglas reportedly stated that Emelianenko was not cleared to fight in the state and will not be by any other state athletic commission in the country.

“The one thing that I can absolutely say is that he was not and will not be cleared to fight in California.” Douglas said on the radio show. “He is officially licensed denied and that will stand for all of the United States of America”.

While Douglas refused to elaborate on the reasons behind Emelianenko’s licensure denial due to privacy issues, one has to assume that something serious is keeping Fedor’s younger brother from being able to fight here. MMANews’ Chris Howie points out that it might not be Hepatitis B after all due to the fact that Aleksander was permitted to fight Dan Bobish at a Hardcore Championship Fighting event last fall and that the province of Alberta will not let a fighter compete without passing strict blood tests.

UFC Headed Back to Canada by Year’s End?

Months after holding an uber-successful event at Montreal’s Bell Centre which marked records for the fastest and biggest sellout in UFC history, it seems the promotion is attempting to return to Canada for another event before the end of the year.

UFC President Dana White revealed the news yesterday while coming out of a meeting concerning the potential event. He stated that he is pinpointing a return to the Great White North sometime in either November or December. The UFC is also rumored to be considering a trip to Portland, Oregon for their November show as well.

Should Georges St. Pierre come away victorious in his welterweight title defense against Jon Fitch this weekend in Minnesota, an end of the year event could have St. Pierre face UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn in a rematch of their March 2006 bout, where St. Pierre won a razor-close split decision.

Many have estimated that the 21,390 the UFC drew to the Bell Centre earlier this year was no fluke and that the majority of those who purchased tickets resided outside of the province of Quebec. While a St. Pierre-Penn II would be huge in general, it would be of the biggest importance in Canada. So… Olympic Stadium anyone?

(For those in Canada - Dana White will be featured in-studio tomorrow afternoon on Rogers Sportsnet’s “Sportsnet Connected” program, which airs daily from 6 AM-1 PM ET.)