Chris Weidman’s home unfortunately destroyed by Hurricane Sandy

With the unfortunate natural disaster of Hurricane Sandy ravaging the East Coast, news comes that it has had its affect on the world of MMA as well. UFC Middleweight contender Chris Weidman, a native of New York state, has apparently lost his home in the devastating storm. This comes according to UFC Light Heavyweight Ryan Bader, who Tweeted the following:
Thoughts go out to @ChrisWeidmanUFC & his family. Lost his home in the storm on the east coast. Please show him your support. @magllc @ufc
Bader is

Chris Leben returns to the Octagon at UFC 155

Suspended since last November, UFC veteran and fan-favorite Chris “The Crippler” Leben’s timetable for a return to the Octagon has been unknown until now. Leben has apparently finished the rehab program furnished for him by the UFC after failing a drug test for painkillers, and will make his return at UFC 155 to face Czech fighter Karlos Vemola. The fight will round out the six-bout main card, which will take place December 29th from Las Vegas, Nevada.
For Leben, the news is a refreshing

UFC 151 Media Call: Jon Jones says MMA fighters shouldn’t have to use TRT

The controversial topic of TRT again rears its head in MMA, this time surrounding a high-profile title fight. When Dan Henderson enters the cage to face Jon Jones on September 1st, he will be 42 years old and seemingly getting better with age, at a time when most fighters are long gone. It is no secret that Henderson uses a TRT regime to help him combat the effects of aging and a hard training schedule. He is far from the only one to use the controversial therapy by now, with fighters like Chael Sonnen,

Anderson Silva will not fight for the rest of this year

With many fighters at Middleweight clamoring to call out long-reigning division champion Anderson Silva, the Brazilian legend is hearing none of it. News comes today the Silva will stay on the shelf for the entire remainder of 2012, chossing to forego another chance to extend hisUFC-record title defense streak. Dana White confirmed this earlier today, saying the follwing to MMAJunkie.com:
“Anderson said he wants to take some time off until after the end of this year, and then we’ll start talking to him.

Dethroning Silva: Could one of these five fighters have what it takes

Anderson Silva (32-4) is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. He has been called “a mutant”, a “freak of nature” and “the greatest martial artist of all time”. With 15 straight wins in the UFC spanning over 6 years, the question I am most often asked by fans, fighters and fellow scribes is “What is it going to take for someone to defeat Anderson Silva?”
There is no quick or easy answer. A shift up and down to the wrong weight class could be his undoing, likewise age could start to catch up with him, but

UFC on FUEL TV 4: Fighter Bonuses and Attendance

The attendance and post-fight bonuses have been announced for tonight’s UFC on Fuel TV 4: Munoz vs. Weidman. from the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California. Bonuses of $40,000 each, were awarded for Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night to Alex Caceres, Chris Weidman, Joey Beltran and James Te Huna. The total bonus payout for this event came to $160,000. UFC President Dana White gave the attendance as 4,250 at the post fight press conference and said: “It was a great event

Jake Ellenberger: I can’t sleep at night after losing to Kampmann

In an interview from the Reign Training Center courtesy of MMAInterviews.tv, UFC Welterweight Jake Ellenberger chronicles his struggles after losing a pivotal bout against Martin Kampmann at The Ultimate Fighter: Live Finale. Ellenberger says he does want to make any excuses, but did go into that bout at only 70% of his full health after a drastic weight cut. Stating that he is looking for a top-ten opponent, Ellenberger is hungry to get back on track towards the title. He suggests facing Johnny Hendricks

Etim and Penner injured, changes made to UFC on Fox 4 and UFC on FUEL TV 4

Terry Etim (15-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is one of the latest UFC injury casualties and has had to bow out of his main-card bout against Joe Lauzon (21-7 MMA, 8-2 UFC) at UFC on FOX 4, according to FUEL TV’s “UFC Tonight”. Lauzon is expected to remain on the card to face a new opponent. Etim last fought in January at UFC 142, where he was knockouted by Edson Barboza, by way of a head-kick. Ironically, Lauzon is coming in off a loss via a similar knockout at the hands (or feet) of Anthony Pettis.UFC on FOX 4 takes