“It’s possible, unfortunately,” Florian said. “I’ve kind of been going back-and-forth with some of the doctors, so it’s possible. I’m going to see. As of right now, obviously I can’t compete and train like I was at all. I’m just kind of doing what I can and hoping that things heal up and get better. I’m just kind of in a holding pattern. That’s why I decided to do this commentary for the time being and take this next six months to really heal up and try to make some money on the side. It sucks. The last couple of months I’ve just been figuring out what’s going on and what I’m going to do.”

Florian last fought on October 8, losing to featherweight champion Jose Aldo. There was some talk immediately following that fight that Florian could retire, but at that time Florian said he still wanted to compete, likely back at lightweight.

Cage Potato brought some sideshow news to light as Fedor Emelianenko is rumored to be facing Brock Lesnar in a Japanese professional wrestling match, or maybe not

According to Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Antonio Inoki’s Inoki Genome Federation is trying to put together a pro wrestling bout between recently retired former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and former PRIDE and WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko.

The chances of the one-off fake fight happening are slim-to-none considering Brock mentioned that one of the main reasons he retired was to spend more time with his family after his pair of diverticulitis scares the past two years. Traveling to Japan likely isn’t high on his list of family vacations.

Dana White may not have faith in Jose Aldo’s recent performances. Lowkick reports.

Middle Easy brings us an exlcusive interview with Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

Fight Opinion’s Zack Arnold breaks down January’s upcoming MMA cards.

The Xbox 360 is offering UFC 142 to appease angry consumers. See more at MMA Payout.

Mark Wayne of Fightline continues his oddly specific predictions for MMA in the year 2012.

MMA Mania previews this Saturday’s main card event between Anthony Johnson and Vitor Belfort.

ESPN and UFC president Dana White exchange harsh words found at Bleacher Report.

Miss the UFC 142 post-fight presser? Find it at MMA Convert.

Five Ounces of Pain evaluates UFC light heavyweight contender Phil Davis.

At UFC 141′s press conference yesterday, MMAHEAT.com reporter, Karyn Bryant confronted UFC President Dana White about previous comments he had made about Former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Alistair Overeem. Karyn questioned the validity of claims that White wanting to “embarrass”  Overeem and throw him to the wolves, by welcoming him with former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar. Dana was quick to point out that Overeem is the favorite going into the fight, but never refuted Karyn’s of the statement.

The UFC President may not be the only one with serious doubts about Overereem’s chances of success over the former WWE star. The 2010 K1 World GP’s former trainer, Martijn De Jong of the Golden Glory Team had some things to say in a Fighters Only article:

“If Alistair had his old team surrounding him, he would have definitely won this fight, I would have predicted a second-round TKO. Now, it’s a different story. I am not involved in his camp anymore. Me knowing him well, and with all the recent events happening, it is hard to predict.

“Besides all that, Brock will be the crowds favourite. All this mentioned above would be very hard for any fighter to prepare fully for a big fight like this, and Brock is a strong, huge and amazing wrestler who can take a punch.

Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar are set to face off at “UFC 141: Lesnar vs Overeem” on Friday, December 30th. Also o the card is a highly anticipated Lightweight match up against Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone. Their face-off yesterday ended abruptly when Cerrone said something to Diaz ,who quickly responded by slapping off Cerrone’s trademark cowboy hat. Dana White later confirmed that Cerrone said he was going to, “get in that a**.”

This Friday, the UFC will close out the year with a clash of their biggest and baddest as Alistair Overeem fights against Brock Lesnar for the number one contender spot in the heavyweight division. And with a big event comes a chance to win big money by callously tearing down the hard work of others.

Below is a bettor’s analysis of the main card of UFC 141, evaluating the risks and rewards of the individual fights as well recommendations for spreading wagers over the card as a whole. All money lines referenced are aggregate numbers and may vary slightly between books.

Brock Lesnar (+115) vs Alistair Overeem (-145)- When looking at each fighters’ strengths and how they have played into their opponents’ games in the past, the bout between Lesnar and Overeem should be an even money affair. Lesnar has shown that his game plan and composure break down when he is hit with a solid combination to the face. Meanwhile, as evidenced in his bout with Fabricio Werdum, Overeem has shown that when he is too wary of a possible takedown that his machinations tend to get seriously gummed up.

Those factors make this matchup a race between two quick starters to see who gets his game going first, which is essentially a coin flip. Reports of Lesnar’s persistent health problems and the possibility that they may effect his performance rightly account for his slight underdog status.

Normally when the money lines perfectly reflect the realities of a fight, the smart gambler will stay away from them. Money is made on bets when some miscalculation creates a discrepancy between the money line and what the real chances are. That being said, while taking the average odds available as of now is a bad idea, slight variations between sports books or any changes in the odds as fight time approaches can be golden.

If on Friday morning any legitimate books are offering either +130 or better on Lesnar or even money or better on Overeem, that would be a smart bet. Either way, since this bout is a coin toss, keep the money small even with acceptable odds.

Nate Diaz (+220) vs. Donald Cerrone (-280)- This bout could potentially be a bad matchup for Diaz. Cerrone has momentum on his side and  Diaz has been consistently troubled by explosive lightweights like the cowboy. Diaz’s takedowns aren’t the strongest and, even if he could force the battle to the floor, there’s no certainty that he has the chops on the ground to submit Cerrone.

That being said, Nate still has three inches of reach advantage, which is enough to work his peculiar striking style that has badly frustrated opponents in the past. Also, the only time that Cerrone has ever been finished was by a quick guillotine while trying to charge in on an opponent with longer reach: a set of circumstances by which Diaz has won multiple fights.

Cerrone is still more likely to win this bout, but the +220 payout on Diaz makes him more than worth the risk. Put 20-25% of the total amount wagered for the event on Diaz. The card provides plenty of opportunities to anchor should he lose.

Jon Fitch (-225) vs. Johny Hendricks (+175)- For as impressive as Hendricks’ explosiveness can be, he is stepping in to a deep, dark place against Fitch. Hendricks has fought two big, tough, forward moving wrestlers at this level of competition, resulting in his only loss and a razor thin decision win. Fitch is the grandaddy of the fighter type that Hendricks has struggled against and the few skills that have troubled Fitch in the past Hendricks simply does not possess.

Whatever amount was bet on Diaz, put double on Fitch as an anchor. Even at -225 the former Purdue wrestler is a little underpriced.

Vladimir Matyushenko (+250) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (-325)- Gustafsson is a rising star facing perennial gatekeeper Vladimir Mayushenko, and if the odds are any indication, the former Russian Olympic wrestler is a test the public at large is convinced that Gustafsson can pass. The years have been hard on Matyushenko and his underdog status is deserved, but +250 is preposterous.

Matyushenko is more dangerous in the pocket than anyone Gustafsson has faced to date and could pose some interesting problems for him. Gustafsson is the more likely winner, but the odds are too long to bet on him. If putting money on this bout at all is a must, keep the wager small and put it on Matyushenko. The Janitor is not sure enough to bet the farm on, but he is more likely to pull off the upset than the numbers are giving him.

Nam Phan (-230) vs. Jimy Hettes (+180)- After his first impressive outing in the UFC, young Mr. Hettes is knocking at the gate and Nam Phan is there to try and turn him around. Unfortunately, with the odds as they are, this is a fight to be enjoyed, not bet on. Hettes is a young, fast, submission wizard who may be a little underestimated because he does not have the accumulated fame that Phan has gotten as a TUF alumnus and more experienced fighter.

But, the fact remains that Phan is better standing, does not take any unnecessary risks going for the finish, and has never been submitted. Phan is the clear favorite, but the numbers are simply too long right now to bet on either man. For the opening fight of the Pay Per View, smart money will stay in wallets.

“Big guys. Small gloves. Someone will fall.” That is the slogan on the back of the “UFC: Ultimate Heavyweights” DVD, and that accurately describes the promotion’s HW division. From the old school legends like Mark Coleman, Don Frye, and Tank Abbott, to the champions of modern times like Shane Carwin, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, and many other beefy men, the heavyweights have left an indelible mark in the sport, punctuated with many highlight reel worthy knockouts and submissions.

In this DVD set, Anchor Bay entertainment and the UFC set out to create a comprehensive compilation of some of the greatest moments in the octagon that had anyone over 205 lbs. in it. The DVD features 30 fights, but are these fights even worth re-watching? More importantly, is this set worth picking up in the first place, or is it best left sitting around in a clearance bin at your local Wal-Mart for rednecks to gawk at (“Why are those shirtless guys humping each other on the floor? Fight like men, HYUK!”)?

Hit the jump to check out the full review of the “UFC: Ultimate Heavyweights” DVD!

“UFC: Ultimate Heavyweights” is a one-disc compilation from 2010 that features 30 full fights all in one convenient place. The front and back cover of the DVD remind me of video game box art, especially the back. It showcases some of the more recognizable heavyweights in the UFC, both posed and in action from fights. This is not a cluttered cover, but focusing on the name power of the UFC’s big stars that even a mainstream fan can identify.

The main feature is the 20 fights, which goes for two hours and fifteen minutes long. The special features add up to another 20 minutes of bonus fights, since they are all relatively quick. The most important question any fan should ask is what fights are on this disc? Here is the full list, which includes four fights never before released on DVD (courtesy of a reviewer on Amazon.com:

Tim Sylvia vs Frank Mir from UFC 48
Cro Cop vs Gabriel Gonzaga from UFC 70
Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir from UFC 81
Christian Wellisch vs Shane Carwin from UFC 84
Fabricio Werdum vs JDS from UFC 90
Randy Couture vs Lesnar from UFC 91
Big Nog vs Mir from UFC 92
Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shane Carwin from UFC 96
Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir from UFC 100
Tim Hague vs Todd Duffee from UFC 102 (Fastest official KO in the UFC, up until UF 140′s Chan Sung Jung’s KO over Mark Hominick)
Randy Couture vs Big Nog from UFC 102
Roy Nelson vs Brendan Schaub from the Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale
Frank Mir vs Cheick Kongo from UFC 107
JDS vs Gilbert Yvel from UFC 108
Big Nog vs Cain Velasquez from UFC 110
JDS vs Gabriel Gonzaga from UFC on Versus (Never before released on DVD)
Frank Mir vs Shane Carwin from UFC 111
Roy Nelson vs Stefan Struve from UFC Fight Night (Never before released on DVD)
Cro Cop vs Pat Barry from UFC 115
Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin from UFC 116

The “Bonus Fights” include five older fights, which are:

Frank Mir vs Brandon Vera from UFC 65
Frank Mir vs Antoni Hardonk from UFC 74
Cain Velasquez vs Jake O’ Brien from UFC Fight Night (Never before released on DVD)
Shane Carwin vs Neil Wain from UFC 89
Brendan Schaub vs Chase Gormley from UFC on Versus (Never before released on DVD)
Tank Abbott vs Joun Matua from UFC 6
Don Frye vs Thomas Ramirez from UFC 8
Mark Coleman vs Dan Severn from UFC 12
Randy Couture vs Tony Halme from UFC 13
Vitor Belfort vs Tank Abbott from UFC 13

Keep in mind that this DVD was released in 2010, so anything beyond that date is not on here.

Are the fights truly as good as this set wants you to think? Absolutely. Jam-packed with many memorable moments from the heavyweight history of the UFC, and not just one-punch knockouts. I am happy to report that a good variety of fights are shown, some ending with submissions, some with knockouts, and a few that even went the distance (although there are not too many of those on this DVD). To be fair, there are far more KO’s than there are anything else in this, but the UFC heavyweight division has always been filled with heavy-handed fighters more than anything else.

Every full fight begins with a brief history lesson about the relevance of the fighters and the match-up you are about to watch, a great refresher since some of these clips go back far in the UFC timeline. The set also has updated graphics for each fight, including it’s own custom “tale of the tape” and timer. The newer fights are presented in widescreen format, while older ones are shown letterbox format, with the UFC logo on the sides filling in the screen. There is also some post-fight stuff, but not much, and it is usually just seeing the winner get his arm raised. In other words, if you are expecting to see Brock Lesnar’s tirade after UFC 100, I recommend you look for a different DVD.

Obviously, every fan is going to have a different take on what they wish was in this DVD, and I do have a few fights that I would have loved to see here too. For example, Gary Goodridge VS Paul Herrera from UFC 8 is one of the most infamous moments in the golden age of UFC, but I can understand it not being here since it is unnecessarily brutal by today’s standards. Even without that, there is enough content here to keep you thoroughly entertained.

I was very glad to see one of my favorite fights of all time, Randy Couture VS Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in full on this DVD, as well as fights with (back in those days) rising stars like Brendan Schaub, Junior Dos Santos, Shane Carwin, and Cheick Kongo, working their way up the ranks with their great victories. The 150 minutes that are in this DVD fly by, with no dull moments – this is pure heavyweight action at it’s finest.

I really enjoyed watching “UFC: Ultimate Heavyweights”, especially for the nostalgic value of seeing how the UFC heavyweight division evolved, and watching guys who were coming up back then, turn into the top draws that they are today. This is also an excellent way to introduce newer fans of MMA to who is who in the UFC heavyweight division, as well as give them a look back in time to see how things have changed and to deepen their understanding and respect for the history of this sport.

You can pick this DVD up from the official UFC Store for around $20, although the site constantly has sales, so be on the lookout for those. 30 great fights in one reasonably-priced DVD, with something for every kind of fan of MMA, be it submissions, KO’s, or three-round wars. “UFC: Ultimate Heavyweights” is a fine gift (or very large stocking stuffer) during this holiday season for the MMA fan in your life, or you could just spoil yourself and get one for you, too!

Don’t forget to check out The Fight Nerd’s Holiday Shopping Guide for MMA fans for more great gift ideas!

“I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but when your product is human beings, you are going to have problems. Injuries, personal problems, it’s a laundry list of problems you have when dealing with athletes.” – Dana White

Back at the UFC on Fox 2 Press Conference in Chicago last Wednesday, Fight Nerd correspondent Hiroko Yamamura caught up with UFC President Dana White and filmed some footage of DFW answering questions from a huddle of reporters, including herself. White answered questions about Georges St. Pierre’s recovery from his injury, Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s poor performance at the TUF finale (Dana calls Miller’s stand-up “the worst I have ever seen in my life”), the UFC’s plans in Japan and the Asian market, and if he had any hesitation in adding lighter weight classes into the promotion and who will be entering that new flyweight division, and much more.

Don’t forget to enter our “Ranger Up” Twitter Contest for a chance to win a t-shirt for you and a friend this holiday season!

Round 5 President Damon Lau, announces the release of the “Ultimate Collector” Series 8 featuring updated versions of some of the UFC’s most popular fighters as well as all new characters hitting retail shelves this Christmas.

The “Ultimate Collector” Series 8 is anchored by a Championship Edition Jon “Bones” Jones commemorating his historic victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, and a Championship Edition Georges “Rush” St-Pierre honoring GSP’s victory over Matt Serra to regain his title at UFC 83.

Series 8 also includes a new version of former heavyweight titleholder Brock Lesnar, and Round 5 debut figures for reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo, and heavyweight contender Roy “Big Country” Nelson.

“This Series has something for both our hardcore collectors as well as our more mainstream fans,” says Lau. “We’ve never included two Championship Editions in one Series before, but our fans requested these, and we were happy to oblige.”

As with previous “Ultimate Collector” Series releases, each figure in Series 8 arrives on shelves in protective UFC-themed packaging as well as a short bio detailing each fighter. “Ultimate Collector” Series 8 will be available in December at Walmart and Zellers in Canada and FYE in the United States.

British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury has issued a challenge to Brock Lesnar, and a very odd one at that.

“I want to do something crazy like be involved in a mad match-up in boxing or MMA! Fury v Lesnar!” the undefeated 16-0 boxer wrote on his Twitter account, throwing down the proverbial dueling glove across the online face of the Twitter world. “Fury v Lesnar stand-up and fight with MMA gloves or without!”

Fury has not fought outside of the UK in his combat career, and has no experience in any other combat sports beyond boxing. Fury’s next bout comes on November 12, against a yet-to-be-named opponent. Lesnar is still recovering from his latest health battle, and will be back in action at UFC 141 for the company’s New Year’s show in a match against former-Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem.

MMA is no stranger to boxers crossing over into MMA, but it rarely works out well for them. Case in point – Ray Mercer, James Toney, Butterbean… should I keep going? Heck, Ricardo Mayorga didn’t even make it into the ring for his match! Was Fury serious or just sniffing the leather on his new gloves? Would you want to see these two go at it in the octagon?

Over on Round 5 MMA’s Facebook page, the company has revealed details for their eighth wave of the “Ultimate Collector Series”. The figures in this line-up will be Jose Aldo, Roy Nelson (pictured above), Brock Lesnar (New Sculpt), Jon Jones Championship Edition (New Sculpt), and George St. Pierre Championship Edition with a sculpted gi.

Limited Edition variant figures for this set will include special versions of Brock Lesnar (Limited to 1500 Units produced), Jon Jones Championship Edition (Limited to 1500 units produced), Jose Aldo WEC (Limited to 750 units produced) and Roy Nelson (Limited to 750 units produced). Variants typically include a fabric entrance shirt.

Do keep in mind the image you see above is a prototype and not a final version, so any of your qualms about appearances will be (hopefully) fixed by the time they go to production. All of these figures will be available in November. No pre-orders are available for them yet, but hey, you can still order the awesome PRIDE Versus Series 1 SPECIAL EDITION Action Figure two-Pack of Quinton Rampage Jackson Vs. Wanderlei Silva because it’s pretty much the best MMA toy set ever.

While promoting the newest WWE Studios film ‘Inside Out’ with AOL Moviefone, WWE Chief Operating Officer and multiple-time heavyweight champion Triple H, was asked how he thinks the UFC needs to learn from WWE, and as well as Brock Lesnar’s controversial exit from WWE.

“I don’t think we have to evolve. It’s two totally different things. I think now especially there’s this thing like, ‘oh it’s very similar.’

They couldn’t wait to see him get beat up. And then he did well, and he beat some guys and then people jump on his bandwagon going ‘Brock’s the greatest.’ I’m good friends with Floyd Mayweather and Floyd would be the first to tell ya, ‘I make the most money in boxing and I have the biggest buyers because I have the biggest mouth.’ He’d be the first guy to tell you that. That’s what it’s about. Sports is entertainment.”

What HHH says is indeed accurate to an extent. He is correct in that a sports bout that is not predetermined
is unpredictable and could end very quickly or go the distance, and that being a pro wrestler does allow more room for creativity and fan-service, since you have the luxury of planning ahead and knowing exactly how much time you have in the ring to do your job. Am I insulting pro wrestling? Not at all, since I am a fan as my readers know, but Hunter is off-base here and considering how much WWE has ripped straight from the UFC in the past (including a pathetic attempt at cashing in on MMA with their straight-to-DVD reject called “Knucklehead”) and how many dusty finishes WWE uses on a nightly basis, calling the proverbial kettle black is an understatement.

Via MMA Fighting

The unthinkable has happened (I feel like I have said that way too many times this year already). Here we were thinking that Zuffa was done dealing with the fighters from Golden Glory, when all of a sudden yesterday afternoon they announce that the UFC has signed former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem to a new contract.

Making things more interesting, Overeem’s first opponent will be former UFC Heavyweight champ, Brock Lesnar. Lesnar has been out of action for a long time, due to diverticulitis rearing its ugly head on the former WWE pro-wrestler. The fight will take place on Dec. 30 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and the winner will be first in line to fight the winner of the Nov. 12 fight between Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, which is also the UFC’s debut on Fox. “This is the fight the fans want,” UFC President Dana White told the LA Times. “Both of these guys are monsters. Can Lesnar take Overeem down?” Overeem’s title will not be on the line, so this will not be a unification match between the two companies, although in the mind of many fans it will be.

As for Strikeforce, no news on if their current heavyweight grand prix, which continues this Saturday in Ohio, will crown a new champ or not. Most likely, it will have to which means either Josh Barnett, Sergei Kharitonov, Antonio Silva or Daniel Cormier will be wearing Strikeforce gold by the end of the year.

Image via Fight Linker