UFC 157: Ivan Menjivar vs. Urijah Faber & Rousey vs. Carmouche

[Kemal]

It appears as though Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida is headed to UFC 157.

According to sources close to the event, both Machida and Henderson have verbally agreed to meet on the Feb. 23 card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. No contracts have been signed just yet, though. Tatame.com first reported the news earlier this week.

The fight isn't expected to serve as the main event. UFC president Dana White told MMAFighting.com on Tuesday that he was "working on" that card's headlining act.

The 42-year-old Henderson (29-8) hasn't fought since he defeated Mauricio Rua last November in what many consider to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history. He was scheduled to fight Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at the ill-fated UFC 151 card, but he pulled out of the fight to due a knee injury.

Machida (18-3) most recently knocked out Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 4 in August. That victory was supposed to have earned him a title shot, however, after he turned down two short notice fights against Jon Jones, the UFC decided to make him fight another contender instead.

UFC 157 will mark the promotion's return to Anaheim for the first time since UFC on FOX 1 last year.

[T15Boxing]

Wow mooie matchup. Denk dat Machida dit zeker gaat winnen wat opzich erg jammer is voor Hendo omdat hij al voor de titel had moeten vechten in plaats van Clown-Sonnen.

[Kemal]

Ivan Menjivar vs. Urijah Faber rematch official for UFC 157 in Anaheim

A bantamweight bout between Ivan Menjivar (25-9 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and Urijah Faber (26-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is now official for February's UFC 157 event in California.

MMAjunkie passed along news of the bout on Tuesday, and UFC executives recently made it official.

The fight serves as a rematch of their 2006 bout at a TKO event in Canada, where Menjivar was disqualified for an illegal upkick. Both fighters later signed with the WEC.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook. Faber vs. Menjivar likely will be part of the PPV main card.

Faber, the WEC's longtime featherweight champion, is stuck in a 1-2 skid following UFC title losses to bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao (for an interim belt earlier this year). A submission win over Brian Bowles separates the two losses for "The California Kid," who went 13-0 from 2005-2008 (but who's 5-5 since then).

Faber now meets Menjivar, a fast-rising contender who's 4-1 in the UFC with his lone loss coming to fellow contender Mike Easton earlier this year. However, the Canadian-Salvadoran fighter and Tristar Gym member recently rebounded from that loss with a submission victory over Azamat Gashimov at UFC 154, which earned him a "Submission of the Night" bonus (his second in three fights).

[Kemal]

Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos shoots down announced UFC 157 fight with Ronda Rousey

Ex-Strikeforce women's featherweight champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1) is not fighting UFC women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Not yet, at least.

Santos on Wednesday told MMAjunkie that a notice on the UFC's Portguese-language website announcing a fight between the women at UFC 157 is the "wrong information."

She did, however, say that negotiations for the fight are underway, and said that she could fight at 135 pounds.

"In one month, I can't do it, but if I have time, I could do it," said Santos, who added that her management is currently negotiating with the UFC.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 in Anaheim, Calif., which is Rousey's Southern California home turf. The card does not yet have an announced main event, though a light heavyweight fight between Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson has been targeted for the show.

Santos clarified that she could compete at UFC 157 at 145 pounds, but needed additional time to drop to the 135-pound limit needed to vie for Rousey's title.

The conditions are a stark reversal for Santos, whose doctor recently said she would be unable to cut to 135 pounds without seriously affecting her health.

Word of the possible matchup quickly made Internet rounds. A UFC official said the posting was in error and the fight is not planned for UFC 157 or any upcoming card.

The two share a heated rivalry stoked by several interviews. Rousey has taken aim at Santos' suspension for steroids, which came following a fight nearly a year ago against Hiroko Yamanaka and led to her being stripped of the featherweight belt. And Santos has repeatedly voiced her desire to silence the outspoken champ.

Santos' suspension, a one-year term handed down by the California State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the bout, expires on Dec. 17.

Rousey most recently fought in August, when she defended her Strikeforce belt with a first-round submission of ex-champ Sarah Kaufman. UFC President Dana White recently said she would be the first woman to fight in the UFC and also would become the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight champ.

[Naj85]

Ronda Rousey has signed a contract to fight in the MAIN EVENT at UFC 157 in February ... the first ever female fight in UFC history ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us the 25-year-old Olympic medalist will step in the ring with 28-year-old Liz Carmouche ... a highly-ranked MMA badass who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Rousey was named UFC champion (female 135 lbs division) when she signed with the organization -- and her belt will be up for grabs.

The fight is set to go down on Feb. 23 in Anaheim, CA.

FYI -- Carmouche has a 7-2 record and an awesome nickname -- The Girl-rilla.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2012/12/06/ronda-...#ixzz2EJIorVpy

[Naj85]

WMMA als UFC main event.. denk een fail. het is er nog te vroeg voor denken jullie niet?

[e-type]

WMMA als UFC main event.. denk een fail. het is er nog te vroeg voor denken jullie niet?

Rousey is aardig populair (en goed gehyped door Dana). Een main card verdient ze wel vind ik.
Rousey op armbar, 1e ronde

[Harrie Nak]

Ik snap dat Marloes bij Invicta zit (en sinds Strikeforce ook helaas volledig uit de picture is), maar na al haar moeite om WMMA naar een hoger niveau te tillen kan ze kan toch niet lijdzaam toezien hoe alle cans van het WMMA stuk voor stuk een podium bij de UFC aangeboden krijgen?!

[Kemal]

Even offtopic: Ik denk dat Marloes gewoon bij Glory gaat knokken, gezien het feit dat er een samenwerking is tussen bijvoorbeeld Dream en ONE FC.

[Harrie Nak]

Even offtopic: Ik denk dat Marloes gewoon bij Glory gaat knokken, gezien het feit dat er een samenwerking is tussen bijvoorbeeld Dream en ONE FC.

Ik hoop dat ze nog steeds het hoogste podium nastreeft (= UFC).

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson now targeted for UFC 157

A heavyweight matchup between Brendan Schaub (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and Lavar Johnson (17-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC) originally scheduled for UFC on FOX 5 is now targeted for UFC 157.

Sources close to the event today passed along the news to MMAjunkie. The bout's placement on the fight card is unknown.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The event's main card, which is headlined by the first-ever women's fight in the promotion (Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche), airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Johnson was forced to withdraw from UFC on FOX 5 the week prior to the event with a pulled groin. With the promotion unable to secure a short-notice replacement, Schaub was scratched from the card, as well. "The Ultimate Fighter 10" veteran took to Twitter to voice his frustration over the canceled bout and Johnson's late scratch.

The fight comes at a time when both heavyweights are in need of a win inside the octagon. Johnson faced Stefan Struve on short-notice at UFC 146 and lost via first-round submission, which was his first loss in the octagon after back-to-back first-round stoppage wins.

Schaub, meanwhile, has lost back-to-back fights, both in the first round. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira knocked him out at UFC 134, and Ben Rothwell did the same at UFC 145. However, prior to that, he had put himself in the title picture by winning four straight fights.

The latest UFC 157 card includes:

Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - for women's bantamweight title
Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub*
Neil Magny vs. Jon Manley*
* - Not officially announced

[Kemal]

Court McGee drops to welterweight, scheduled to fight Josh Neer at UFC 157

Court McGee is moving to welterweight.

The winner of the eleventh season of "The Ultimater Fighter" has agreed to fight Josh Neer in 170-pound action at UFC 157 on Feb. 23, MMA Fighting has learned from closes sources to the event. The UFC has yet to officially announce the bout.

McGee (13-3), who has lost his last two in row, will be making his welterweight debut. He most recently dropped a controversial unanimous decision to Nick Ring at UFC 149 in July. Prior to that loss, he lost another unanimous decision to Costa Philippou at UFC on FX 2 in March.

Neer (33-12) has also lost his last two in a row. Justin Edwards needed just 45 seconds to submit the veteran at UFC on FX 5 in October after Mike Pyle knocked him out at UFC on FX 3 in June.

UFC 157, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche for the UFC women's bantamweight title, will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

[Kemal]

Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub, Michael Chiesa rebooked for UFC 157

A trio of fighters initially booked for UFC on FOX 5 have received their next assignments. Heavyweight slugger Lavar Johnson (17-6) will meet TUF 10 alumnus Brendan Schaub (8-3) at UFC 157, while TUF 15 winner Michael Chiesa looks to avoid a sophomore slump against Finnish lightweight Anton Kuivanen (17-5) on the same card.Promotion officials announced the bouts on Wednesday.

UFC 157 takes place February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event is headlined by UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's inaugural title defense against Liz Carmouche, as well as a light heavyweight bout between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida.

Initially slated to fight on the UFC on FOX 5 undercard, Johnson and Schaub became a late scratch when Johnson suffered a groin injury a week out from the event. Promotion officials were unable to locate a short notice replacement and Schaub was ultimately removed from the card.

Both fighters now look to get back into the win column. Schaub hopes to rebound after suffering consecutive highlight-reel knockout losses, while Johnson most recently tapped to a Stefan Struve armbar in just 65 seconds at UFC 146.

Meanwhile, both Chiesa and Kuivanen look to extend their winning streak to two straight after earning their first UFC victory over the summer. Chiesa submitted Al Iaquinta at TUF 15 Finale, while Kuivanen claimed a split decision over Mitch Clarke at UFC 149.

[Kemal]

Robbie Lawler returns to UFC, meets Josh Koscheck at UFC 157

Robbie Lawler will return to the UFC for the first time in more than eight years and gets a stiff test in his return in former welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck.

Lawler (19-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) also will return to 170 pounds for the fight with Koscheck (17-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), which is set for UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif. The Orange County Register first reported the booking, confirming the bout with UFC officials.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 at Anaheim's Honda Center. The pay-per-view card will be headlined by the first women's bout in UFC history as bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey defends her belt against Liz Carmouche. A light heavyweight contenders fight between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida and a bantamweight bout between Urijah Faber and Ivan Menjivar also have been announced for the show.

Lawler left the UFC following a submission loss to Evan Tanner at UFC 50. He went on to win middleweight titles for Icon Sport and EliteXC before moving to Strikeforce in 2009 after a nearly yearlong layoff following EliteXC's collapse.

In Strikeforce, Lawler's run was up and down. He went 3-5 in the promotion, dropping fights to Jake Shields, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Tim Kennedy and Lorenz Larkin.

But when he was on, he was ferocious. His three wins were brutal first-round knockouts of Melvin Manhoef, Matt Lindland and Adlan Amagov, the most recent coming this past January. But a July unanimous decision loss to Larkin gave Lawler three losses in his past four fights.

He'll look to rebound with the return to welterweight, where he fought for the first 10 bouts of his career, including a 4-1 start in the UFC that included a win over Chris Lytle. After a loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 47, he moved from welterweight tot middleweight for the fight with Tanner and, with the exception of a 182-pound catch weight fight against Shields, has fought at 185 pounds ever since.

Koscheck was scheduled to fight Jake Ellenberger this past September, but was forced out of the fight with a back injury. Now he returns looking to get back in the win column after a split-decision loss to current welterweight title contender Johny Hendricks in May at UFC on FOX 3.

Koscheck was on the shelf for nine months after a unanimous decision loss to champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 124 two years ago. But when he returned, he did so in a big way with a "Knockout of the Night" win over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes at UFC 135.

After being booked for a fight with Carlos Condit at UFC 143, Koscheck instead fought Mike Pierce when Condit was moved into an interim welterweight title fight against Diaz. He beat Pierce by split decision and admitted to being uninspired with the matchup.

The loss to Hendricks was a contentious one. But Koscheck did what former teammate Jon Fitch and recent contender Martin Kampmann could not do against Hendricks by not only going the distance, but getting out of the first minute with him.

With the welterweight booking, the latest UFC 157 card now includes:

Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - for women's bantamweight title
Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub
Josh Koscheck vs. Robbie Lawler*
Court McGee vs. Josh Neer*
Mike Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen
Neil Magny vs. Jon Manley*
* - Not officially announced

[Kemal]

Chad Mendes vs. Manny Gamburyan, Dennis Bermudez vs. Matt Grice added to UFC 157

Two featherweight match-ups have been added to bolster the depth of UFC 157, including one featuring a pair of former No. 1 contenders.
Fresh off his win at last week's UFC on FX 6 event, Chad Mendes didn't wait long for his next assignment. He's agreed to take on Manvel Gamburayn at the Feb. 23 show, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Mendes (13-1) was the more recent of the two to face champ Jose Aldo. He was KO'd with one second left in the first round of their January bout. Since then, he's rebounded with first-round knockout wins over Cody McKenzie and Yaotzin Meza.

Gamburyan (12-7) lasted longer than Mendes against Aldo, making it 92 seconds into the second round before suffering a knockout loss in Sept. 2010. Afterward, Gamburyan dropped two more fights, falling into a three-bout losing skid before getting back into the win column with a decision over Michihiro Omigawa in August.

Meanwhile, Dennis Bermudez and Matt Grice will be attempting to keep their positive momentum rolling when they square off earlier in the night.

Bermudez (9-3) has captured two straight, with wins over Pablo Garza and Tommy Hayden. Grice (15-4) recently captured his first win at featherweight by beating Leonard Garcia.

Both bouts will be supporting acts for the first-ever UFC women's main event featuring bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey attempting to defend the belt against Liz Carmouche.

[Kemal]

Strikeforce import Caros Fodor meets Sam Stout at UFC 157

Yet another Strikeforce fighter has been booked for his UFC debut as six-time Strikeforce veteran Caros Fodor (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) meets Sam Stout (18-8-1 MMA, 7-7 UFC) at UFC 157.

The bout was first reported by The Canadian Press' Neil Davidson and later confirmed by UFC officials.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and features a main event women's bantamweight title fight between champ Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche. The night's main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Fodor vs. Stout is expected to take place in the evening's preliminary card.

A Washington-based fighter who trains with Matt Hume's AMC Pankration, Fodor has been fighting professionally since 2009. He made his Strikeforce debut in 2010 and earned a unanimous-decision win over Ousmane Thomas Diagne. He would ultimately build a five-fight win streak in the promotion by defeating names like Justin Wilcox, James Terry and David Douglas before losing via third-round submission to Pay Healy at this past March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.

Fodor was expected to face Josh Thomson at a planned Strikeforce event this past September, but that card was ultimately scratched when the planned headliner fell through.

Meanwhile, 14-time UFC vet Stout looks to rebound from a UFC 154 loss to fellow Canadian John Makdessi via unanimous decision.

A five-time "Fight of the Night" winner, "Hands of Stone" can always be counted on to bring an aggressive, strike-first style to the cage. Stout hasn't dropped back-to-back UFC fights since 2008, when he came up short against Terry Etim and Rich Clementi in successive appearances.

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

Brock Jardine vs. Kenny Robertson added to UFC 157

A welterweight matchup between Brock Jardine (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Kenny Robertson (11-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is the latest addition to February's seemingly full UFC 157 card.

Officials recently announced the fight.

UFC 157 takes place Feb. 23 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Jardine vs. Robertson likely will be part of the prelims.

Jardine fights for the first time since June, when the Canadian made his promotional debut and suffered a lopsided unanimous-decision loss to Rick Story at UFC on FX 4. Prior to joining the UFC, Jardine, a member of the Pit Elevated Fight Team, had won three straight fights, all via stoppage. A TKO victory over WEC vet Blas Avena eventually earned him the late-notice opportunity against Story.

He now takes on Robertson, who's also searching for his first UFC win. After a 10-0 start to his career, he signed with the UFC and fought Mike Pierce at UFC 126, where he suffered a TKO loss. He then left the organization and picked up a spinning-backfist KO of UFC vet Lucio Linhares. That earned him an invitation back to the UFC, but he most recently suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Aaron Simpson at UFC on FUEL TV 4.

The latest UFC 157 card now includes:

Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche - for women's bantamweight title
Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar
Lavar Johnson vs. Brendan Schaub
Josh Koscheck vs. Robbie Lawler
Neil Magny vs. Jon Manley*
Court McGee vs. Josh Neer
Mike Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen
Manny Gamburyan vs. Chad Mendes
Dennis Bermudez vs. Matt Grice
Caros Fodor vs. Sam Stout
Brock Jardine vs. Kenny Robertson

* - Not officially announced

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

[Kemal]

[Kemal]