Midwest Fight Report » Rumors

Rashad Evans May (Or May Not) Rematch Rampage Jackson at UFC 130, Due to Thiago Silva’s (Allegedly) Failed Steroid Test

ben — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:22:00 +0000

(If you look at the changes in Thiago Silva's body shape over the years, you do have to wonder...)

Could Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson settle their continuing feud with a formal rematch when Sugar's knee is healthy again? Is Thiago Silva about to get busted for steroids? There's a ton of conflicting information surrounding these related stories, so we'll just pass along what we've heard...

- MMAWeekly was the first to report that UFC light-heavyweight contender Thiago Silva has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled match against Quinton Jackson at UFC 130 (May 28, Las Vegas). "Sources close to the bout" confirmed that Rashad Evans will be stepping in for the Pitbull — meaning that Evans's first opponent since outpointing Quinton Jackson last May will be...Quinton Jackson, once again.

- However, Thiago Silva himself denied the report to Tatame, saying "I’m very healthy and looking forward to fight Rampage...Nobody called us about anything, the fight is on.” Quinton Jackson's camp was also surprised by the report, and according to Rashad Evans's manager, Evans hasn't been offered the fight either.

Reports: Ricco Rodriguez on Verge of Prerequisite, Redemptive Mid-30s UFC Return

chaddundas — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:33:25 +0000

(The hypogonadism is spreading like wildfire. PicProps: MMAClothingTrends)

So, we forgive you if you didn’t spend 2010 following Ricco Rodriguez’s career with the rapt and breathless attention you reserve for ex-UFC champs like, say, Tim Sylvia. If you’re just a youngling and/or aren’t a huge fan of Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab then it’s also sort of understandable if you read that headline and were like, “Ricco who?” (Seriously though kid, UFC 39, check it out sometime) In any case, you’ll have to excuse the rest us oldsters if we pause from massaging Tiger Balm into our arthritic hip and raise one hoary eyebrow at reports out this week that the former 265-pound-titlist-turned-tragic-cautionary-tale might be on the verge of returning to the UFC.

MMA Weekly got the water boiling with an interview published on Christmas Eve and on Monday Five Ounces of Pain inserted the standard “learned from a source close to the fighter” qualification to the story that Rodriguez has been "negotiating" with our Octagon Overlords about a brand new three-fight, six-figure deal. To this we say: Huh. Weird.

Fedor vs. Bigfoot Reported for January Strikeforce Meeting, Overeem vs. Lashley Rumored for Dynamite!!

ben — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:12:14 +0000

(Oh yeah. The person who made this wallpaper just *gets it*.)

After months of negotiations between Strikeforce and Fedor Emelianenko's useless management company, the Last Emperor may finally have a return date. According to MMA Weekly, Emelianenko will face fellow heavyweight contender Antonio Silva at a yet-unannounced January 29th Strikeforce event. It will be Emelianenko's first fight since his shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum in June. Silva also dropped a fight to Werdum last November, but has posted wins over Andrei Arlovski and Mike Kyle since then. Emelianeko is already 1-0 against fighters with acromegaly.

The January 29th event is expected to take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, and will allegedly feature the return of Herschel Walker, and — get this — the third meeting between Jason Miller and Tim Kennedy, now that the trash talk between Miller and Nick Diaz has officially reached a stalemate, with neither fighter willing to leave their weight class.

But enough about non-freak-show fights. Let's get to the good stuff...

Pre-Thanksgiving Rumor Funhouse

ben — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:28:40 +0000

Apologies to those of you who patiently waited all day yesterday for our weekly rumor feature, which has been making us tons of new friends in the industry, believe me. After the jump, you'll find five juicy items, mostly pertaining to guys getting screwed out of money. As usual, four are complete fabrications, and one is 100% on the level. Can you solve the mystery? Can we avoid getting sued for one more week? Time will tell!

Tuesday Afternoon Rumor Funhouse: True Romance Edition

ben — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:44:49 +0000

Oh man, you thought last week's Rumor Funhouse was grossly irresponsible? You guys have no idea what's in store for you. Today's installment features five warm 'n fuzzy tales, all about the romantic bond. Four of them have been completely made up, either by us or by other people. One of them is actually legit. Can you separate the bullshit from the chicken salad? (That's what they say down South, right?) Read on if you dare. Actually, don't. Just move along. You'll be a lot better off for it...

Tuesday Afternoon Rumor Funhouse: True Romance Edition

ben — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:44:49 +0000

The Tuesday Afternoon Rumor Funhouse

ben — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:30:54 +0000

(Ortiz and Liddell will settle their grudge once and for all on New Year's Eve...OR WILL THEY?? / Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle)

One of my weekly MMA must-reads is the "Sunday Morning Rumor Mill" column on MiddleEasy, which features a bunch of juicy stories that just might be true. In homage to our pals, we'd like to start a similar feature on CagePotato — except ours will work a little differently. Of the eight items you see below, seven have been pulled directly out of our asses. The other one is absolutely, positively, 100% true, and has been confirmed by inside sources. Which one is it? We'd rather not say, due to legal reasons. You'll have to figure it out yourself...

- Vinicius Quieroz wasn't the only fighter who was caught by the UFC's independent drug-testing at UFC 120. There was a second guy who pissed hot for the same steroid, but the company decided to let him off with a private (but very stern) warning. Hint: Main card, but not main event.

- Arianny Celeste has been dating a former UFC fighter for the past year, but has kept the relationship hidden from the public, in order to protect the fantasy that she's "available" to her fans. We can't reveal her boyfriend's name, but his initials are Tiki Ghosn.

Report: UFC Returns to Brazil in November 2011

ben — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:56:21 +0000

(Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil. Jesus, they've been talking about "the old Vitor" since 1998??)

According to a new report, the UFC will make a long-overdue return to Brazil in November 2011. GracieMag.com sources claim that the event will be held at the HSBC Arena in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, a 15,000-seat venue that will host the basketball and gymnastics events at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The rumored event would mark the first time the UFC has held a card in Brazil since "Ultimate Brazil" in October 1998, which featured Frank Shamrock defending his middleweight belt against John Lober, Pat Miletich becoming the UFC's first welterweight champion after outpointing Mikey Burnett, Pedro Rizzo's UFC debut against Tank Abbott, and Vitor Belfort's legendary knockout of Wanderlei Silva. With a renewed rivalry brewing between Belfort and Silva, we can't think of a better occasion for a rematch.

Semi-related: Speaking of Pedro Rizzo...the three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger is currently preparing for a fight against former champ Tim Sylvia, which will take place in the War on the Mainland promotion sometime early next year. According to Rizzo, "Dana White mentioned that the winner should get another chance in the Ultimate Fighting Championship." Both fighters are currently riding three-fight win streaks.

Donald Cerrone Ruins ‘Evolution 1′ Main Event Due to Backstage Brawl

ben — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:26:51 +0000

(Only the immortal can truly become "best friends forever." Photo courtesy of facebook.com/cowboycerrone)

This is not the best way to make an impression with your new employer. As first reported by the Na Koa MMA Show, WEC lightweight contender Donald Cerrone was involved in a backstage brawl with a heavyweight headliner at the first event put on by Evolution Combat Sports Championship, this Saturday in Clovis, New Mexico. According to Na Koa...

The brawl was apparently about a young lady now dating Donald Cerrone who used to date the main event fighter of the evening Marcus Sursa. [Ed. note: Not Brittney Palmer. Possibly this chick.] Comments were exchanged after Sursa returned from a trip to the rest room and Cerrone was overseeing the warm-ups of several Jackson MMA fighters on the card...some words were exchanged by the two and then a shove followed by Cerrone throwing a punch causing a laceration on the eye of Sursa, who responded with a punch cutting the lip of Cerrone.

Donald Cerrone Ruins ‘Evolution 1′ Main Event Due to Backstage Brawl

ben — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:26:51 +0000

(Only the immortal can truly become "best friends forever." Photo courtesy of facebook.com/cowboycerrone)