According to the good people at MMAWeekly.com, the UFC is planning an event in Portland in November. One fight rumored to be on the still unannounced card is a lightweight bout between Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson. More details to follow, but the prospect of the UFC coming to the northwest is certainly intriguing.

"THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: TEAM MIR VS TEAM NOGUEIRA," FEATURING FIGHTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, PREMIERES SEPTEMBER 17

Two Of The UFC's Top Heavyweights, Interim Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Former Champ Frank Mir, To Serve As Coaches

New York , NY , August 18, 2008 – They come from all over the globe, spanning Brooklyn to Israel , including far-off locales such as Russia , Nova Scotia , England , and Hawaii . Their diverse backgrounds range from a former Division 1 college football player to a CIA recruiter and include the brother of "The Ultimate Fighter 2" winner.

For these 32 up-and-coming mixed martial arts fighters, there is one goal, to win a six-figure contract with the preeminent mixed martial arts organization in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship.®

Season eight of Spike TV's wildly successful original series, "The Ultimate Fighter," premieres Wednesday, September 17 at 10:00pm ET/PT, with 16 lightweights (155lbs) and 16 light heavyweights (205lbs) under the watchful eye of the coaches interim UFC heavyweight champion, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.

Each of the 32 contestants must fight his way into the Ultimate Fighter House by winning a preliminary bout that will be featured during the first two episodes (Sept. 17 and 24). The remaining 10 episodes will feature the victorious 16 fighters and their quest for the coveted "Ultimate Fighter" crown.

During the six-week taping of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Mir vs. Team Nogueira," these 16 men who survived the prelims endured a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, muay thai, karate, boxing and wrestling. The intense competition between the fighters continues after they leave the gym – at The Ultimate Fighter House. These warriors must live together, knowing that any day they might be forced to fight each other in the famed UFC Octagon™.

The two finalists will square off in a live finale Saturday, December 13 on Spike TV, when the two weight class winners will be declared The Ultimate Fighter® and net the aforementioned contract and a cash prize. UFC President Dana White will once again serve as host of the series.

The 32 fighters for "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Mir vs. Team Nogueira" include:

LIGHTWEIGHTS:
Jose Aguilar
Age: 25
MMA Record: 17-3-0
Trains With: Grapplers Edge
Location: Las Cruces , NM

Fernando Bernstein
Age: 25
MMA Record: 2-0-0
Location: San Clemente , CA

Junie Allen Browning
Age: 22
MMA Record: 2-0-0
Trains With: Four Seasons Martial Arts
Location: Lexington , KY

Rolando Delgado
Age: 26
MMA Record: 7-3-1
Trains With: Westside Fight Team
Location: North Little Rock , AR

Joseph Duarte
Age: 24
MMA Record: 3-0
Trains With: Unleashed Training Facility / Alliance MMA
Location: San Diego , CA

Efrain Escudero
Age: 22
MMA Record: 10-0-0
Trains With: Southwest Martial Arts
Location: Tempe , AZ

Brandon Garner
Age: 26
MMA Record: 4-1-0
Trains With: Team ROC
Location: Raleigh , NC

David Kaplan
Age: 28
MMA Record: 3-1-0
Trains With: Lloyd Irvin Team
Location: Camp Springs , MD

Eric Magee
Age: 23
MMA Record: 3-1-0
Trains With: South Shore Sport
Location: Rockland , MA

Brian McLaughlin
Age: 23
MMA Record: 5-0-0
Trains With: Team Gracie Tampa
Location: Tampa , FL

Wesley Murch
Age: 25
MMA Record: 4-2-0
Trains With: Trojan Gym
Location: Bristol , UK

Shane Nelson
Age: 24
MMA Record: 11-3-0
Trains With: BJ Penn's MMA
Location: Hilo , HI

Phillipe Nover
Age: 24
MMA Record: 5-0-1
Trains With: Team Renzo Gracie
Location: Brooklyn , NY

Ido Pariente
Age: 30
MMA Record: 13-4-0
Trains With:
Location: Tel Aviv , Israel

John Polakowski
Age: 26
MMA Record: 3-1-0
Trains With: The Pit
Location: San Luis Obispo , CA

George Roop
Age: 26
MMA Record: 7-3-0
Trains With: Ultima MMA
Location: Tucson , AZ

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS:

Ryan Bader
Age: 24
MMA Record: 7-0-0
Trains With: Arizona Combat Sports
Location: Chandler , AZ

Antwain Britt
Age: 29
MMA Record: 4-0-0
Trains With: Bombsquad MMA
Location: Virginia Beach , VA

Jules Bruchez
Age: 30
MMA Record: 3-2-0
Trains With: Ronan Dojo
Location: Lafayette , LA

Charles Diaz
Age: 25
MMA Record: 3-0-0
Trains With: SD Fight Club
Location: San Diego , CA

Lance Evans

Age: 30
MMA Record: 4-2-0
Trains With: TKO MMA
Location: Niagara Falls , NY

Karen Grigoryan
Age: 26
MMA Record: 5-0-0
Trains With: RusFighters Sport Club
Location: Russia

Jason Guida
Age: 30
MMA Record: 26-13-0
Trains With: Hellhouse Gym
Location: Chicago , IL

Ryan Jimmo
Age: 26
MMA Record: 6-1-0
Trains With: Titans MMA
Location: Halifax , Nova Scotia

Kyle Kingsbury
Age: 26
MMA Record: 7-1-1
Trains With: American Kickboxing Academy
Location: Sunnyvale , CA

Tom Lawlor
Age: 24
MMA Record:
Trains With: American Top Team
Location: Oviedo , FL

Ryan Lopez
Age: 25
MMA Record: 5-3-0
Location: Oklahoma City , OK

Vinicius Magalhaes
Age: 23
MMA Record: 2-2-0
Trains With: Team Quest
Location: Temecula , CA

Eliot Marshall
Age: 27
MMA Record: 5-1-0
Trains With: Eastern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Location: Boulder , CO

Sean O'Connell
Age: 24
MMA Record: 1-0-0
Location: Salt Lake City , UT

Shane Primm
Age: 23
MMA Record: 1-0-0
Trains With: Team Gracie Tampa
Location: Tampa , FL

Krzysztof Soszynski
Age: 30
MMA Record: 16-8-1
Trains With: Team Quest
Location: Temecula , CA

To check out "Emelianenko: Just trying to keep 'em pleased" from Sergio Non's Strikes and Submissions blog for USA Today, click here.

To check out "Exclusive: Q&A with MMA's only pro female referee Kim Winslow" FightTicker.com's David Mayeda, click here.

To check out "Fedor possibly out for rest of this year (with video)" from Carlos Arias' Keep Punching blog for the O.C. Register, click here.

To check out "Playboy Magazine: Read it for the MMA articles" from Jared Barnes' Brawl Sports blog for the Houston Chronicle, click here.

To check out "Matt Hughes has some criticism for Georges St. Pierre" from Larry Vollmer Jr.'s Inside the octagon blog for The Journal News, click here.

If you're an MMA fan, you probably know the results of this past Saturday's UFC 87: Seek and Destroy. In case you missed it, here's a quick recap of the event.

Ben Saunders def. Ryan Thomas by submission (armbar) at 2:28, R2

-Chris Wilson def. Steve Bruno by Unanimous Decision (30-27) on all judges score cards

-Jon Jones def. Andre Gusmao by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

-Cheick Kongo def. Dan Evensen by TKO (strikes on the ground) at 4:55, R1

-Tamdan McCrory def. Luke Cummo by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

-Demian Maia def. Jason MacDonald by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:44, R3

-Kenny Florian def. Roger Huerta by unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards)

-Rob Emerson def. Manny Gamburyan by KO at :12, R1

-Brock Lesnar def. Heath Herring by unanimous decision (30-26 on all cards)

-Georges St. Pierre def. Jon Fitch by unanimous decision

But the results don't necessarily tell the entire story. Here's what I came away with, after watching the fights.

Demian Maia is a future force.

The Brazilian middleweight displayed an amazingly high level of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in his win over MacDonald. While "The Athlete" is a fine submission fighter, he was clearly a step below Maia as soon as the fight hit the mat. The BJJ ace still has a ways to go in terms of striking and cardio, but his submission skills alone make him a legitimate contender.

Kenny Florian's technique is top notch.

I know a lot of people are giving Kenny a tough time for not finishing Roger Huerta, but I thought he put on a great show. Being a skinny, unassuming looking fellow myself, maybe I have a greater appreciation for guys like Kenflo who rely on technical skills over raw physical talent. I'm by no means trying to bash "El Matador" but Florian made him look like a free swinging bar brawler.

Rob Emerson is a spoiler.

Aside from the GSP beating Jon Fitch fight, I thought a Manny Gamburyan win over Rob Emerson was the closest thing to a sure thing. 12 seconds later, Emerson proved me wrong and cost me several rounds of drinks for the rest of the night.

Brock Lesnar has a long way to go, but I dare you to tell him that.

This fight went almost exactly how I thought it would, but there was one big surprise and it came in the form of a super-human sized right hand. As expected, Brock used his wrestling pedigree to take Heath Herring down and control him for 3 relatively uneventful rounds. One thing I didn't expect however, was the punching power displayed by Lesnar. Even Brock's biggest nay sayers had to be impressed by his right hand. The way he literally sent Herring (no small man himself) rolling backwards with just one shot proved just how much potential the former pro wrestler has as an MMA fighter.

GSP is the man.

Let me preface the following by giving Jon Fitch a lot of props. The challenger brought his A-game and displayed an amazing ability to take punishment and continue to fight. That being said, he was thoroughly outclassed by the champion. After relying on his outstanding wrestling, ground and pound and submission skills to win his last few fights, GSP reminded everyone just how good his striking is. His footwork, combinations and power were truly remarkable and made Fitch look slow. While Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva are widely considered the best pound for pound fighters in the world, GSP showed that he at least belongs in that mix.

To check out "FightTicker.com panel picks Brock Lesnar at UFC 87" from FightTicker.com, click here.

To check out "UFC 87: Seek and Destroy pre-fight analysis and predictions" from Larry Vollmer Jr.'s Inside the Octagon blog for The Journal News, click here.

To check out "FightTicker.com panel picks St. Pierre at UFC 87" from FightTicker.com, click here.

To check out "UFC 87: Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch" from Jared Barnes' Brawl Sports blog for the Houston Chronicle, click here.

To check out "Lesnar in MMA for long haul" from Carlos Arias' Keep Punching blog for the O.C. Register, click here.

To check out "UFC 87: Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring" from Barnes' Brawl Sports blog, click here.

To check out "Fitch presents rare challenge for St. Pierre" from Sergio Non's Strikes and Submissions blog for USA Today, click here.

To check out "UFC 87: Roger Huerta vs. Kenny Florian" from Barnes' Brawl Sports blog, click here.

To check out "MMA's only professional female ref offciated two WEC 35 fights" from FightTicker.com's Pramit Mohapatra, click here.

To check out "The Razor's Edge: Rob McCullough's MMA Blog (Aug. 6)" for the O.C. Register, click here.

After failing to come up with cool names for its last two events (Jackson vs. Griffin and Silva vs. Irvin) the UFC has risen to the occasion with this weekend's UFC 87: Seek and Destroy. Aside from a very awesome sounding title, the event also features some of the best fighters in the world. Here's what to expect.

Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch

The welterweight title bout features two of the very best fighters in the UFC's deepest division. GSP is coming off a revenge win over Matt Serra, to reclaim the title back at UFC 83. Fitch is fresh off a decision win over Chris Wilson back at UFC 82 and is currently tied with the legendary Royce Gracie, for the longest winning streak in UFC history (8). Both fighters are great representations of how the sport has evolved and how important the "Mixed" aspect of Mixed Martial Arts truly is. Fitch is a good wrestler, who has rounded out his skill set, with a good blend of strikes and submissions. The problem for Fitch is that GSP is a GREAT wrestler, who has GREAT striking and GREAT submissions. It's the reason why he's considered one of the three best pound for pound fighters in the world. Expect Fitch to try and use his size advantage to try and wear out GSP early. While I think both fighters will each have their moments for the first few rounds, GSP's superior skills will eventually be too much to handle for Fitch.

Winner: GSP by 4th round TKO.

Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring

This heavyweight match up features the veteran Herring taking on the MMA neophyte Lesnar. After finishing his career as a professional wrestler, Lesnar received a lot of hype in his UFC debut back in February. While he lost via submission to Frank Mir (as I correctly predicted) Lesnar did show a lot of promise with his combination of top level wrestling and raw strength. Despite being just 30 years old, Herring has seen his fair share of ups and downs, but is most recently coming off a solid decision win over Cheick Kongo. This is an important bout for both fighters and the UFC as a whole. While Herring came into the UFC with a solid reputation, he's been inconsistent thus far and another poor performance could lead him right out of the organization altogether. The intrigue and luster of Lesnar would certainly be a bit tarnished with a second straight loss to start his career. For the UFC's sake, both guys will hopefully come out and put on a great performance. With Affliction being home to most of MMA's best heavyweights (Fedor, Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski) and Elite XC being home to the best known heavyweight (Kimbo Slice), the UFC NEEDS a heavyweight star. Expect Lesnar to successfully get the takedown early and maintain top position throughout most of the fight. Herring is experienced enough to avoid any major damage or give into a submission, but he doesn't have the skills to finish Lesnar from his back.

Winner: Lesnar via decision.

Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta

This lightweight battle features the top two contenders in the division. After dropping a decision to Sean Sherk back at UFC 64, Florian has rebounded with four straight wins via TKO or submission. As impressive as Ken Flo has been lately, Huerta may have been even better. The 25 year old has lost just once in more than 20 pro fights and is a regular "Fight of the Night" bonus winner. While Florian personally told me that he expects to be bigger and stronger than Huerta, it's probably in his best interest to rely on his technical skills versus his physical strength. Huerta is more of a brawler type and if he can bait Florian to abandon his normal routine of crisp Muay Thai and smooth Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he will have the advantage. Florian however, is a smart fighter and has one of the very best trainers (Mark Dellagrotte) in his corner to keep him sharp. Look for Florian to use his technical superiority to tame "El Matador."

Winner: Florian via decision.

Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson

This lightweight bout features two fighters, very familiar with each other. Both were cast members on season 5 of the Ultimate Fighter and spent nearly two months sharing a house. Manny had a chance to win the show, but suffered a shoulder injury during his fight with eventual winner Nate Diaz. "The Pitbull" has since rebounded with two impressive submission victories. After losing twice on the show, Emerson has one No Contest (a strange double KO/submission) and a decision win over Keita Nakamura. While Emerson may be a better fighter than his mediocre record indicates, I expect Gamburyan to negate Emerson's reach and striking advantage with his aggressive takedowns and nasty submission game.

Winner: Gamburyan via 1st round submission.

Jason MacDonald vs. Demian Maia

This middleweight bout features two fine ground fighters looking to establish themselves in what has become the division of Anderson Silva and everybody else. MacDonald showed off some impressive strikes in his last fight with a KO win over Joe Doerksen. However, "The Athlete" is probably at his best on the ground, as evidenced by his submission wins over Chris Leben and Ed Herman. As good as MacDonald is on the ground however, he's light years behind Maia. The Brazilian is considered one of the best BJJ practitioners in the world and has been successful thus far, translating his skill to MMA. While MacDonald is the more experienced and well rounded MMA fighter, I don't believe his striking advantage or his experience advantage are enough to thwart Maia's submission onslaught.

Winner: Maia via 2nd round submission.

Aside from the main event, the card also features several other promising bouts. Here are my quick picks for the remainder of the night.

Luke Cummo over Tamdan McCrory via 2nd round TKO.

Cheick Kongo over Dan Evensen via 1st round KO.

Andre Gusmao over Jon Jones via 1st round submission.

Chris Wilson over Steve Bruno via 2nd round KO.

Ben Saunders via decision over Ryan Thomas.

He doesn't have any big tattoos, or an Adonis like physique, or even a very original nickname, but make no mistake, Kenny Florian is one of the best Mixed Martial Arts fighters in the world. Despite having only three professional fights prior to entering the UFC back in 2005, "Ken Flo" has always fought like a veteran. After losing a shot at the UFC lightweight title to Sean Sherk back at UFC 64, Florian has used his excellent combination of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to reel off four straight wins. Standing in the way of extending that streak at UFC 87: Seek and Destroy is former Sports Illustrated cover boy, Roger Huerta. While "El Matador" does have big tattoos, an Adonis like physique and an original nickname, Florian is confident he can beat him. I recently spoke with the former Boston College soccer player to get his thoughts on the upcoming fight and why we should get accustomed to seeing his face on television.

TK: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Tell me how your training has been going.

KF: Training's been going great. At this point, it's kind of on cruise control and I'm just kind of relaxing. At this point, the hard training is kind of out of the way. I'm just trying to keep the weapons sharp and getting mentally prepared for the fight.

TK: What are your thoughts on your upcoming opponent Roger Huerta?

KF: Roger's a very tough fighter. He fights with a lot heart and passion and is a well rounded fighter. I trained for this fight as hard as I ever have and with every training camp, I train even harder. I probably took a week off from in between fights so I'm always training hard. I'm always in shape and this one will be no exception. You'll see the best Kenny Florian yet.

TK: There's a lot on the line in this match up. It's clear that whoever wins is the number one contender for a shot at the lightweight title (currently owned by BJ Penn). Do the stakes add any pressure to you?

KF: Not at all. It's just another big fight in my mind. I have a lot experience fighting in the UFC. I think it's my sixth or seventh main event now. I'm ready and definitely don't feel any pressure. I'm looking forward to going out there. I feel like I get my reward on Aug. 9. I get to perform and I'm looking forward to it.

TK: Former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has been in the news a lot lately after his recent hit and run arrest. You are considered one of MMA's "good guys." How important do you think it is for fighters to represent themselves and the sport in a positive way?

KF: I think it is important. Athletes in general are in the public eye, but like the common person, they get into trouble every now and then. Athletes are no different. I think the pressure and the constant high level of competition can get to fighters every once in a while and lead them to make some poor decisions. I don't want to be that guy who criticizes anyone because everyone is different. Everyone has different problems with their families or in their personal lives. It's important though, especially as this sport continues to grow and we get more notoriety, that we behave accordingly.

TK: This sport is growing at a tremendous rate, but not without some criticism. What would you do from a management perspective, to advance the sport?

KF: The main thing is, trying to educate the public. Just letting everyone know how much training really goes on in this sport; educating the fans on what it really takes to become a mixed martial at a high level. I think just continuing to do, what the UFC is doing now, showing that we are regular guys and that it's a sport like any other. Hopefully we can take it to that next level with marketing and get some mainstream sponsors on board.

TK: Your opponent Roger Huerta's been fairly vocal recently about being unhappy with fighters' salaries and general mistreatment. What are your thoughts on what's becoming a very hot topic?

KF: I can't talk for Roger, but I've been very happy with the UFC. I came to the organization at a different time in my career, pretty young in my career. It's like any job, you need to work for it. You need to work for your pay scale. You don't start at a company and become president the first day. You start at your cubicle and work your way up just like at any other job. You've got to prove yourself. For me, I've been really happy with the way the UFC has treated me and I think it's only going to get bigger and better for fighters.

TK: Several new organizations have gained some traction in the MMA world recently. Do you think having multiple organizations helps or hurts the sport overall?

KF: I think it's good for the sport and good for the fighters. In my opinion, competition is always healthy. I'm hoping that fighters will have more options. Not everyone's going to be able to fight in the UFC, so the more options available, the more the sport can grow, the more outlets we can reach and the more fans we can reach.

TK: You probably have more interest in the sport than a lot of other fighters because of your analyst duties (Florian is a regular co-host of ESPN.com's MMA Live show and has been a guest color analyst for the UFC). How much do you enjoy your broadcasting duties and is that something you'd like to continue to do?

KF: Absolutely. I can't get punched in the face forever so it's good to have another plan after the UFC. I went to Boston College and majored in communications and just really enjoy myself. I love this sport and I'm always watching it and doing my own research anyways, so it's great. It's another job that I absolutely love and get paid for. I feel like I've been blessed having these opportunities, working for ESPN and doing commentary for the UFC. Hopefully I'll continue to do more of it. With the way the sport is growing and the way the show is going for ESPN, I only see bigger and better things to take this sport to the next level.

TK: The show is a big hit on ESPN.com, but has yet to find a spot on television. Can you provide any insight as to if and when the show makes airwaves?

KF: We're hoping within the year. There's already been a lot of interest from sponsors to do the show. The view count has been amazing considering the show's kind of hidden on the website. It's been unbelievable how many thousands of hits we get in a week. We're really excited about it and I know ESPN's really excited about it. I think within the year, hopefully before 2009, we'll get it on the air.

TK: I'd like to put you on the spot as a commentator and get your thoughts on some of the other fights taking place at UFC 87. First up, Jason MacDonald vs. Demian Maia.

KF: This is a very interesting fight. Their striking is pretty equal so I think it comes down to the ground work. MacDonald has more experience in the Octagon, but Maia has better all around ground skills. He's world class, one of the best in the world today. I think the fight's going to the ground and Maia definitely has the edge.

TK: How do you see the Manny Gamburyan, Rob Emerson fight going?

KF: Emerson is a very well rounded fighter who's record doesn't indicate just how tough he is. Manny is just a little bull. He's a good submission artist who obviously wants to take this fight to the ground with the reach disadvantage and the striking disadvantage. I think Manny can get the fight there and give Manny the slight edge in that fight.

TK: What about the Heath Herring and Brock Lesnar fight?

KF: This is a real tough fight and it's interesting because Lesnar just doesn't have a lot of experience, but his raw strength and talent is just so damn impressive. He's probably not going to want to stand with Heath Herring. I think he'll try to take him down and work his ground and pound which was so brutal against Frank Mir. A heavyweight that big and that fast is pretty scary to see. I don't think Heath has a crazy amount of submissions to thwart Lesnar on the ground or to be a huge threat to him, but he is a threat on the feet. If Lesnar can get it to the ground, I give it to him. If Heath can keep it standing, then I give the advantage to Heath.

TK: Last, but not least what are your thoughts on the Georges St. Pierre and Jon Fitch fight?

KF: Very interesting fight. I think Jon Fitch is going to be a real tough test for Georges St. Pierre. I feel like a lot of people are writing him off. These are two very similar fighters and Jon Fitch is very tough, but I think Georges does everything Fitch does, just a little bit better. The size advantage will go to Jon Fitch. He's been really impressive in his fights and has fought some tough competition that a lot of people haven't had the chance to see. Whoever wins this fight, it's going to go to a decision. I don't see either one submitting the other or knocking each other out, but I give the edge to Georges St. Pierre.

TK: You mentioned that Fitch will have the size advantage. You aren't the biggest guy in your division, while Roger is fairly huge and has talked about eventually moving up in weight class. How much of a role does size actually play in a fight?

KF: I'll actually probably be bigger than Roger Huerta actually. I don't think he's going to have an advantage there. I'm a little taller than him and for this fight, I think I'll be a little bigger. I've definitely put on muscle mass since my last fight. It can definitely be an advantage. I think it was a huge advantage for Sean Sherk back when we fought. Every pound counts and at the highest level, every detail counts.

For more information about Kenny Florian, please visit http://kennyflorian.com/index.html

In the last two weeks, MMA fans have been treated to three stellar events courtesy of the UFC, Affliction and Elite XC. The WEC looks to continue the trend this Sunday with its own promising fight card. While it lacks the big names of the other promotions, there are several reasons why you should be excited to tune in.

Reason #1
Carlos Condit
The reigning WEC welterweight champion looks to make this third defense of the title against Judo specialist Hiromitsu Miura. If you've never seen the Albuquerque native fight, you are in for a treat. The 24 year old Condit has a slick blend of striking and submissions and is currently riding an impressive 7 win streak. "The Natural Born Killer" is at an interesting point in his young career. A win this Sunday cements his top spot in the WEC's welterweight division and could increase the demand for him to move to Zuffa's other promotion, the UFC.

Reason #2
Brian Stann
The newly crowned light heavyweight champion looks to make his first title defense against Steve Cantwell. In a sport filled with interesting and unique competitors, Stann is in a class by himself. The now retired U.S. Marine captain is an Iraq War hero, who earned a Silver Star for his courage on the battlefield. Even if you don't enjoy MMA, you can't help but to root for this man.

Jamie Varner and Marcus Hicks

This lightweight title fight features two of the better competitors in the division. Varner won the title in surprising fashion back in February, outstriking the accomplished Muay Thai stud Rob McCullough. Hicks too is coming off a rather improbable win. In March, the 5'6 submission specialist showed some surprising stand up, and thoroughly outstruck the much taller Ed Ratcliff.
Expect both fighters to put on a back and forth show.

You can catch all the action this Sunday at 6pm on the Versus network.

To check out "EliteXC: Shields, Thompson exemplify 2nd CBS card" from Sergio Non's Strikes and Submissions blog for USA Today, click here.

To check out "MMA Notebook: No. 1 debate rages on" from NBCSports.com's David Avila, click here.

To check out "Anderson Silva should never fight at middleweight again" from Jared Barnes' Brawl Sports blog for the Houston Chronicle, click here.

To check out "EliteXC/CBS Saturday Night Fights pre-fight analysis and predictions" from Larry Vollmer Jr.'s Inside the Octagon blog for The Journal News, click here.

To check out "Kids and MMA: Review and Commentary on ESPN's Outside the Lines Piece" from FightTicker.com's David Mayeda, click here.

To check out "Forrest Griffin's L.A. shadow" from Carlos Arias' Keep Punching blog for the O.C. Register, click here.

To check out "Exclusive Interviews: Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson and Kevin Burns" from Barnes' Brawl Sports blog, click here.

To check out "Diary of a Dream: Watching the Lightweight GP" from Non's Strikes and Submissions blog, click here.

To check out "The Razor's Edge: Rob McCullough's MMA Blog (July 22)" for the O.C. Register, click here.

Just a week after both Affliction and the UFC each combined to put on the most exciting night in MMA history, Elite XC is looking to follow up with its own quality event. The organization is once again teaming up with CBS, to present its second "Saturday Night Fights" While the "Unfinished Business" card lacks the hype of the last CBS/Elite XC event and does not feature the organization's most recognizable face (Kimbo Slice) it does feature some quality bouts. Below are just a few reasons why it's okay to stay home and just watch T.V. this Saturday night.

Scott Smith vs. Robbie Lawler.

The main event features a rematch between the middleweight champion Lawler and the heavy handed Smith. The two were putting on quite the show in their last fight, until an accidental eye poke from Lawler, forced officials to rule it a "no contest." These are two of the promotion's most well known and best fighters so it's definitely a good idea to showcase them again. The fight should be visually pleasing for casual fans as well since both are top level strikers who rarely go the ground. Expect a back and forth battle until one of Lawler's strikes finally lands squarely on Smith's chin.

Nick Diaz and Jake Shields.

Despite being just 24 years old, Nick Diaz is a veteran MMA competitor, with several memorable fights all around the world. While inconsistency has plagued him in the past, he is almost always guaranteed to put on an exciting performance. He's also a bit of a loose cannon out of the ring/cage and has the type of personality (love/hate) that is a draw. Jake Shields may be one of the best fighters no one knows. The grappling phenom holds numerous wins over "name" opponents including Yushin Okami, Mach Sakurai, and Carlos Condit, yet has managed to fly under the radar. This will be a perfect opportunity for him to showcase his talents and make a name for himself. Expect both Shields and Diaz to show off some well rounded skills before finishing their opponents (Nick Thompson and Thomas Denny) with a slick submission.

Main card airs live on Saturday, July 26 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM (ET/PT) on Showtime; and from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM (ET/PT) on CBS