The last protein-fueled zombies from the Arnold Classic fitness expo filed out of the Columbus convention center more than five hours ago, and WEC 47 from Columbus, Ohio is now the books.

It was an eventful night as the WEC crowned a new champion and a legendary figure in the world of MMA gave one of the sport's most memorable speeches.

Read on for reaction from one of the most eventful fight nights of 2010 so far:

Dominick Cruz vs. Brian Bowles for the WEC Bantamweight Title: After Cruz got the better of the champ Bowles for the first two rounds, Bowles threw in the towel because of a broken right hand entering the third round.

Many WEC fans will point to other instances of fighters to continuing with a broken hand (Urijah Faber being one example) and hold it against Bowles, but you can't fault him too much for putting his health first in this one.

Cruz pleaded with the crowd afterwards for their understanding before giving the title belt to his mother in the cage.

"Please don't boo me, I appreciate everyone coming out here to watch this fight!"

About half of the Columbus crowd responded with boos anyway.

Still, it was a title-worthy early performance for Cruz as he rocked Bowles with two heavy combinations punctuated by leg kicks in the second round..

Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Angel Torres: All the talk about Torres coming back stronger than ever from his bantamweight title loss to Brian Bowles was silenced in a hurry as Benavidez used his wrestling skills and a nasty elbow to carve a deep gash on Torres' head before submitting him via guillotine choke at 2:57 of the first round.

Torres looked shockingly unsure of himself in this one and his status as a member of the MMA pound-for-pound elite is now history.

Benavidez was no doubt aided by training partner Urijah Faber and the tutelage of his mysterious shades-clad muay thai cornerman and Master Thong (pronounced "tong") in this one as he took home a huge win, perhaps setting up a rematch with Cruz for a future title shot.

Javier Vazquez vs. Jens Pulver: After a Vazquez takedown, Pulver sunk in a guillotine, but it wasn't nearly enough as the black belt Vazquez rolled it over to secure top position.

The 35-year-old former UFC champ Pulver was outclassed as Vazquez dominated him on the ground before finishing him off with an all-too-easy arm-bar at 3:41 in the first round.

Afterward, the crowd chanted Pulver's name and booed Vazquez.

Pulver delivered a speech for the ages next, stopping just short of announcing his retirement while revealing that he heard a couple of "pops" in his arm.

"I don't know how many times I can cry in front of you guys; I don't know how many times I can keep doing this," he said of the fans.

"I love y'all way too much, you guys have made my life a miracle. You're the reason I've done this for so long."

L.C. Davis vs. Deividas Taurosevicius: Not a whole lot of action in this one, with Davis eeking out a ho-hum unanimous-in-name-only decision.

It's hard to pinpoint where Davis managed to win this one but one fan yelled "So, one takedown wins the fight then!?" late in the third round.

Davis got the better of a few exchanges in the first round, however, and has a bright future.

Karen Darabedyan vs. Bart Palaszewski: The Warsaw, Poland native Palaszewski took out the Armenian judoka with a sneaky arm-bar at 4:40 in the first round.

Darabedyan looked good early but got caught by the superior ground fighter in this one.

Seen in the Crowd: Pro boxer Miguel Cotto (word has it in support of Torres, whom he was said to have trained with a bit by a journalist from his hometown), former UFC light heavyweight champion, former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber.

By Nick Meyer, special contributor

MMA's own version of March Madness is about to kick off here in Columbus, Ohio, where Nationwide Arena will be the site of WEC 47 on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET on the Versus TV network.

It's a big month for MMA starting tonight with three UFC cards still on the way in March, and an even bigger event for the WEC as the UFC's partner organization continues its ascent.

The WEC's done an excellent job focusing on lower weight classes and developing a stable full of stars for fans to follow along the way.

That success will culminate in the WEC's first-ever pay-per-view card on April 24, WEC 48, which features a matchup between WEC poster boy/former featherweight champion Urijah Faber and the ultra-talented Jose Aldo along with a title fight between Donald Cerrone and current champ Benson Henderson at lightweight.

But for now, all eyes are on WEC 47. Here's a quick rundown of the main card along with WEC 47 predictions.

Main Event- Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz: Cruz's crisp boxing will make things tough on Bowles at the beginning of this WEC Bantamweight Title Bout, but the power of Bowles will prove too much as he wins by TKO in the third round.

Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez: A motivated Torres following his surprising loss to Brian Bowles is bad news for the rest of the bantamweight division in the WEC. Benavidez's smothering wrestling skills are a challenge for anyone in the division but Torres will prove to be too much, taking home a submission win in the second round in this one.

Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez: The aging legend Pulver got a warm welcome from an enthusiastic Arnold Classic crowd here in Columbus, but the polished ground game of Vazquez will allow him to take home a unanimous decision win here.

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. L.C. Davis: Davis is a bit rough around the edges, but he's the more gifted all-around fighter. Davis scores a second-round TKO in this one.

Bart Palaszewski vs. Karen Darabedyan: This lightweight fight seems like a showcase match for Darabedyan, a talented judo player and boxer, and he should dominate en route to a unanimous decision win.

Undercard WEC 47 prediction: Also on the card is a featherweight bout between Lubbock native Leonard Garcia and George Roop, a former Ultimate fighter contestant. Garcia should win this one by TKO in the first round with his smooth stand-up skills.

By Nick Meyer, Special contributor

Noted MMA trainer joins the panel of HDNet's "Inside MMA" Friday night to discuss the latest on his prized pupil, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

From HDNet:

THIS FRIDAY'S "INSIDE MMA" ON HDNET GREG NELSON SPILLS THE LATEST ON BROCK LESNAR

Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten host Greg Nelson, Eddie Alvarez and Mark Dacascos,
Friday, February 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET only on HDNet

WHAT: The panel for this Friday's "Inside MMA" will feature top fighters and trainers - and even an Iron Chef - to discuss topics ranging from a preview of UFC110, to the trials and training needed to fight in an MMA tournament, to proper nutrition for fighters. Joining Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten this Friday is Greg Nelson, owner and head trainer of Minnesota Martial Arts Academy - the gym where Brock Lesnar trains. Nelson will give us the latest news on Lesnar and what his future planes are. Also, Eddie Alvarez, the Bellator Lightweight Champion who participated in the DREAM Lightweight tourney will discuss his upcoming bout against Josh Neer. And finally, Mark Dacascos - "The Chairman" of Iron Chef America on the Food Network, will give pointers on proper nutrition for MMA fighters. Dascascos is also an actor, who has trained in many styles of martial arts. Don't miss this episode of "Inside MMA," Friday, February 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET only on HDNet.

WHEN: Friday, February 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET only on HDNet!

Canadian fighting promotion Maximum Fighting Championships head Mark Pavelich is no stranger to controversy. His publicly waged verbal battles with several MMA personalities have garnered much publicity through the past several years. But today, Pavelich's promotion issued a "press release" that crossed the line when it comes to dealing with private matters in the public eye.

Several prominent media sites have voiced their desire to leave the MFC on their "pay no mind" lists based on this latest release.

Price is wrong

Fighter quits, blows big opportunity at MFC 24

By MFC Staff

Chris Price has blown has his shot at making a name for himself in the MFC, and at the same time, likely torpedoed his entire career in mixed martial arts.

The light heavyweight was supposed to make his organizational debut at MFC 24: Heat XC but after several issues regarding his passport arose, he has now backed out of his fight against Nick Penner completely. In fact Price told one half of his management via text message that he was finished with fighting all together, apparently stating "I'm done. I was never that good in the first place."

With Price backing down and immediately being released from his multi-fight contract with the MFC, Maximum Fighting Championship officials have approached heavy-handed Aron "The Poster Boy" Lofton to take on Penner (9-1). A final decision on that potential matchup should come within the next 24-48 hours.

Price had initially run into passport problems in reference to substantial amounts of child support he owed to his wife. The pair had split up with his wife filing for child support, but then got back together thus erasing the need for support. Though that issue seemed bypassed for the time being, Price continued to waffle on getting his passport right up until allegedly contacting his agent and flushing his fight career.

"It's embarrassing," offered one source close to Price. "The kid hung everyone out to dry and then didn't have the balls to call - he sent a text."

Lofton (8-3) won three of his first four fights in the MFC but is currently on a two-fight skid in the organization, having been stopped by Marvin Eastman at MFC 21 and then getting submitted via armbar by Roger Hollett at Heat XC 4.

170 SHUFFLE: Due to a torn ACL, Thiago Goncalves has been shelved for his appearance at MFC 24. The Brazilian black belt who trains in Vancouver, B.C., was looking to avenge a loss at Heat XC 3 to Corey MacDonald. Instead, Jesse Juarez will take the spot vacated by Goncalves and square off against Nathan Gunn. Juarez (12-5) won his sixth straight fight at MFC 23 when he bested Joe Christopher by unanimous decision. The Torrence, California, native trains under MFC lightweight champion Antonio McKee.

For at least one day, one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters was just like every MMA fan in the world: He was wondering who the UFC would pick for him to fight next.

UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva (25-4 MMA, 10-0 UFC) found out on Thursday, along with pretty much the rest of the MMA world, that title challenger Vitor Belfort had been forced to withdraw from a planned UFC 112 bout on April 10 in Abu Dhabi due to a shoulder injury.

Then on Friday, Silva found out just hours before the UFC made its official announcement that Demian Maia (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) had agreed to fill in. "The Spider" smiled, and his mind was immediately brought back to the early days of the UFC.

"I think it's a very interesting matchup," Silva told The Dallas Morning News through his manager, Ed Soares. "I think it's MMA's best striker against MMA's best grappler. I think it kind of brings back the old-school UFC of standup fighter vs. grappler."

The UFC brass agrees with the assessment, and Friday's official announcement of the fight noted precicesly the same observation.

"Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia will be a matchup between MMA's best striker and MMA's best grappler," UFC president Dana White stated in the release.

While White is an occasional source of hyperbole, it's hard to argue with him on this point.

Silva owns 15 of his 25 career wins by knockout or TKO, and many of them have come in devastating fashion (as Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, James Irvin, Chris Leben and Nate Marquardt can attest). Meanwhile, in addition to his extensive credentials in the grappling world, Maia has put those talents to work in the cage, as well, claiming four "Submission of the Night" bonuses in his seven UFC appearances.

"Anderson was very motivated to fight Vitor," Soares said. "He was taking that camp very seriously, and now he's going to be taking the Demian Maia camp very seriously.

"I think Demian is a professional. He's a great person. He's a very humble guy, and he's a very talented guy. This is the classic, old-school MMA fight where it's the world's best grappler against the world's best striker. It's got that old-school feel."

BUT WHY MAIA?

When Belfort went down, the UFC was left with a difficult decision to make.

Silva, one of the world's best and most recognizable fighters hasn't fought since August. But a recent string of round-robin contests left the middleweight division without a clear-cut contender who was ready to take the fight on eight-weeks' notice.

Chael Sonnen (24-10-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC), riding the strength of three-straight wins in the UFC over quality opponents (Marquardt, Yushin Okami and Dan Miller) and bolstered by a recent barrage of verbal jabs at Silva, appeared the leading candidate. But UFC officials determined the damage Sonnen endured in his UFC 109 win over Marquardt was too great for him to overcome in time for UFC 112, so they turned to the last man to beat Sonnen: Maia, who submitted Sonnen in the first round of a February 2009 contest.

"I think it's a shame that Chael wasn't able to take the fight because I know with all that crap he was talking about Anderson this and Anderson that it would be interesting for him to put all those things he had to say into the octagon," Soares said. "But then again, you've got Demian Maia here who is a guy who submitted Chael stepping up here and taking the fight on less-than-two-months' notice.

"We appreciate Demian stepping up and taking the fight on such short notice, and now you've got two of the best at what they do stepping into the octagon."

However, the knock on Maia is that Marquardt dispatched of him via knockout in just 21 seconds in an August 2009 contest. Soares admits the timing of the loss is unfortunate, but he believes the nature of the one-punch finish actually should hamper Maia's contender status less than Marquardt's own positioning after being dominated for 15 minutes by Sonnen at UFC 109.

"It's a bummer to have a loss two fights ago," Soares said. "But a situation like that, that can happen to anybody. That just goes to show you that if anybody gets hit in the chin with a four-ounce glove, you can go down.

"And it wasn't like he got beat up for three rounds. He literally got caught, and anybody can get caught. I think it was unfortunate, but I don't think it takes away from Demian Maia as a fighter."

And, Soares contends, Maia proved in his own UFC 109 win against Miller - a win the submission ace earned largely on the feet rather than through his actions on the ground - that his standup game had improved dramatically.

"Demian obviously has improved his stand-up game quite a bit," Soares said. "I'm not going to say he's an A-plus striker now, but you definitely can see that his striking game has improved. It might not be in his best interest to stand with Anderson, but I think he can stand with Anderson a lot better than he was able to six months ago.

"He seemed like he knew how to move around the octagon much better, and he looked like he felt a lot more comfortable using his hands. He wasn't just desperate to take his opponent down. I think that's going to be important. I think that's going to present some challenges."

Soares doesn't mean to suggest that "MMA's best grappler" ought to try and turn the bout with Silva into a Muay-Thai fight, but he does believe the refined skillset makes for a more entertaining matchup.

"I'm not saying Maia's striking is going to be as good as Anderson," Soares said. "Right now, in this day and age, I think Anderson is the best standup fighter in the world. I think it's going to be difficult for anyone to say, 'I'm going to stand with Anderson.' But I think that the way Demian's striking has been improving is going to make the fight more interesting because it's not like we're expecting him to just go in and shoot. That's what everyone is thinking, but I don't think he's going to do that.

"I don't think the bell is going to ring and Maia is just going to jump in and shoot. He's going to have to exchange a little bit, and that's going to be interesting."

THE LEITES EFFECT

Save for the 21-second disaster against Marquardt, the Maia bandwagon has been steadily gaining steam for quite some time.

Silva has shown time and time again that he can out-strike even the best of challengers. But those observers eying a potential kink in Silva's nearly impenetrable armor frequently point to a 2007 contest with Travis Lutter in which Silva found himself briefly mounted.

If Lutter, who missed weight for the matchup, could put Silva on the brink of disaster, then maybe jiu-jitsu is the champ's Achilles' heel?

Enter Thales Leites.

Leites earned a title shot with Silva in April 2009. The Nova Unaio fighter was 14-1 at the time, and he counted submission wins over Jose Landi-Jons and Gustavo Machado among his pre-UFC accomplishments.

Theoretically, he could prove a real threat to Silva on the floor. Reality resulted in a 25-minute snoozefest with Leites largely refusing to engage Silva on the feet.

Soares doesn't believe Maia will approach the April 10 fight in the same manner.

"I think a lot of times, people look at the glass as half-empty, and some people look at it as half-full," Soares said. "A fight is a fight, and every fight is different.

"I think Thales Leites was a great fighter. It's hard to say, but I think Demian Maia is a little bit of a different type of fighter. Demian goes in there, and he's the best at what he does on the ground. Anderson is excited to test himself against what the world considers to be the best grappler in MMA."

Soares also believes Maia, despite the loss to Marquardt, may have proven more on his way to the top with victories over a higher quality of foe than Leites ever faced.

"I think it's going to be a great fight," Soares said. "The guy's got a 12-1 record, and he's beaten some great guys. I think he's dangerous, and it's going to be good."

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

So whether or not Maia can present the type of challenge for Silva that many fans long for remains to be seen. But with the convoluted triumvirate that is the UFC's Maia, Marquardt and Sonnen, the organization was forced to make a move. Now that a contender has been named, Soares believes Silva will once again prove ready to impress.

"Demian and Vitor are both very tough fighters, but they're different types of fighters," Soares said. "I'm sure Anderson is going to make a few adjustments to his training camp on what he's going to do, but for the most part, Anderson goes out there and does the same thing for every fight. Then he just changes certain details depending on who the opponent is."

And Soares believes Maia is the best opponent for Silva right now.

"The UFC is the biggest organization in the world for a reason," Soares said. "They know what's going on behind the scenes, and basically, it makes sense.

"The fight with Vitor Belfort, it was the right time to make that fight happen. That's why they put the fight together. At this point, unfortunately there weren't a lot of options, but I think that Demian Maia was a very good replacement. He's the best at what he does, which is grappling. He's the best. No one can deny that."

As for Silva, who will train in Brazil for the remainder of his camp before traveling to Abu Dhabi about two-to-three weeks before the fight to get used to the time and climate changes, he's excited for this "old-school" fight as the UFC ushers in a new era.

"I just appreciate that Demian Maia stepped up and took this fight," Silva said. "It's going to be a history making UFC, and I'm glad to be a part of it.

"This is going to not only be the first UFC event in Abu Dhabi, but also the first UFC event that's going to be held outdoors, and I'm very happy to be part of that milestone in UFC history."

For complete coverage of UFC 112, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

Melvin Guillard (22-8-2 MMA, 5-4 UFC) would like to introduce himself to you.

That may seem a little silly as he prepares to make his 10th appearance for the UFC, but Guillard insists "The Young Assassin" that will step into the cage with Ronnys Torres (14-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) for Saturday night's UFC 109 event in Las Vegas is unlike any version of him you've ever seen before.

"Right now, I feel that I'm 0-0," Guillard recently told The Dallas Morning News. "I'm wiping my slate clean. I'm not looking back."

Not all that long ago, looking back would have been just fine for Guillard. After all, the New Orleans native and Houston resident was riding a three-fight win streak into his September 2009 fight with Nate Diaz. And Guillard appeared effective in the early going of that bout - until a mental lapse left him tapping out from a guillotine choke with no one to blame but himself.

"I look at it as a mental mistake," Guillard admitted. "In my planning for that fight, I was never supposed to take Diaz down to the ground. The fight was supposed to stay on the feet, and I was supposed to stay on the feet."

Instead, a brief moment of confusion between the first and second round left Guillard mentally ill-prepared for the next frame.

"After the first ended, I went to my corner," Guillard said. "I had blood all over me, but I didn't even know I had a small cut. I thought I just cut Diaz. The cutman comes in, and he's telling my coaches to move out of the way so he can work on the cut. I was like, 'Cut? What cut?'

"Instead of taking the time to really gain my composure and catch my breath and be able to go back out fresh, I started the second round, and I was still a little winded. I never had a chance to catch my breath back. I kind of danced around a little bit and tried to stay away from him so I could take a couple of deep breaths. In doing that, I just went for a blind shot. That shot was never supposed to happen."

It was, quite simply, a mental error.

It's the type of mistake that has plagued Guillard throughout his career. The potent striker's athleticism and physical talents have never been up for debate. Rather, it has always been Guillard's lack of mental focus.

Enter renowned MMA trainer Greg Jackson.

"I think with Coach Greg, it's the way he comes off in the mental part of the game," Guillard said. "He's a sentimental-type guy. He has that approach like, 'We're going to do this. This is the gameplan.' Just the way that he talks to you and the way he gives you that respect - not only as a fighter, but as a person and a man - it's phenomenal.

"I'm not taking anything from Coach Saul (Soliz). When I was with Coach Saul in Houston, I had a good run. Training was good. I was able to keep afloat in the UFC. But Coach Jackson just takes it to a whole new level."

Guillard prepared for Torres at Jackson's New Mexico training facility, and the lightweight contender plans on making the camp his permanent home. And as time goes on, Guillard believes fans will see the difference.

"When we're preparing for a fight, it's hard to learn something new," Guillard said. "We can only prepare. Once I start going up there and I don't have a fight, then I can start learning and getting better at new stuff."

But for now, Guillard will have to focus solely on Torres. The Brazilian Nova Uniao fighter is a submission wizard, and Guillard admits that is the one part of his game that is obviously lacking.

Torres is just the latest submission specialist that Guillard has faced, and he realizes the importance of defeating that style of opponent.

"I think (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva has it out for me," Guillard joked. "No, it's not frustrating. That's the one hole in my game, and once I can convincingly start beating these jiu-jitsu guys, then that sets the mark for me as one of the greatest fighters. Even before I win a title, I can be labeled one of the greatest fighters if I can take out some of the guys that are very, very great and good at submission.

"They can keep feeding me whoever - whether it's a striker or a jiu-jitsu guy. The best part of it is, it gives me more of an opportunity to win knockout bonuses because I don't have to stand in front of a guy I think can knock me out. I'm going to stand in front of guys that I know just want to take me down and don't want nothing to do with my standup."

Guillard will certainly carry the more effective striking game into the matchup. And with Torres fighting for the first time in the UFC, Guillard believes he'll be able to impose his will.

"Torres is going to be a tough fight, but everybody knows that when fighters step into the octagon for the first time, they're nervous," Guillard said. "They don't really execute well.

"Working with these guys I'm preparing with, I'm not nervous. I could have gone into this fight without watching any film on this guy. As long as I'm mentally ready to go in and be in good physical condition, I can beat anybody standing in front of me."

Guillard truly believes that if he can raise his mental focus to the level of his physical gifts, no one will be able to stop him. And with Jackson, Guillard now believes he knows how to get there.

"Mentally, as your game gets stronger, you feel invincible," Guillard said. "I've been walking around like I'm on top of the world out there.

"I'm not even going to dwell on the past. I'm just going to wipe my slate clean and just keep progressing from here. I know for a fact that if I stay with Coach Jackson, I'll be a world champion within two years."

"UFC 109: Relentless" airs live on pay-per-view on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. For complete coverage of UFC 109, check out MMAjunkie.com.

UFC welterweight contender Mike Swick (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has been here before.

After suffering a disappointing loss in his last appearance, the Houston native knows what it takes to dust himself off, put the past behind, and leave it all in the cage while looking to start another impressive win streak.

And as Swick recently told The Dallas Morning News, his "UFC 109: Relentless" bout with Paulo Thiago (12-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) this Saturday in Las Vegas is the perfect time to prove his character to the world.

"Losses are really hard to deal with for me because I'm very competitive," Swick said. "It usually brings the best out of me, which is good, and that's what I think it's going to do this time.

"After every loss I've ever had so far in my career, I've come back on a big winning streak. I think that's what is important to my fans - how I pick myself up. Fans don't necessarily look at your win-loss record. I don't get many emails from fans that say they are my fans because, 'Wow, you have a good win-loss record.' It's always because of how I've overcome stuff and how I've dealt with hurdles and negative impacts in my life and how I've kept my head positive and pushed forward. I think that's something you can take inspiration from in any field, whether it's fighting or not."

"I just want to pick myself back up"

Swick hasn't lost often - just two times, in fact, during his near-five-year run in the UFC. The second of those came to British slugger Dan Hardy, who will soon challenge for the UFC's welterweight title, this past November at UFC 105.

Swick refuses to explain away the loss, though he does relish the opportunity to erase the memory.

"It just wasn't my night," Swick said. "But I don't want to make excuses about it; I just want to pick myself up and get back on the winning track.

"I feel you're only as good as your last performance, and that was one of the worst performances of my career. I just want to look ahead right now and get focused on this fight and go out there and show my fans where I stand in the division."

Following the loss to Hardy, Swick had actually planned on taking some time off from training to relax in Brazil. But when his American Kickboxing Academy teammate Josh Koscheck was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury, Swick knew it was a blessing in disguise - even if it meant he's have just five weeks to prepare for the fight.

"I'm always looking to fight, and I knew that even with five weeks, I had enough time to get in shape," Swick said. "I'm very mentally strong, and I can discipline myself and get in shape pretty fast. I didn't have the camp that I usually have, but I think it went well enough to get in shape and go in there and win.

"An opportunity to get back on the winning track was too good to pass up. I hate sitting on a loss. In my mind, you're only as good as your last performance. I don't want to sit on that performance. I want to get back in there and have a better performance."

"I like fights that are challenging"

Thiago, who fights in his spare time when not working as a Brazilian special forces agent, is a tough matchup for any opponent. Swick believes Thiago is certainly the best grappler he's ever fought.

"I definitely think he's the best grappler I've ever faced, and that excites me," Swick said. "I take fights and I like fights that are challenging. I don't want to take fights that I'm like a 5-to-1 favorite or where everyone thinks I'm going to win. I want to fight fights that if I don't go out there and do what I'm supposed to do, I'll lose. That's the fights that I want because that's a challenge to myself.

"When I'm done, I can look back and say, 'You did something. You did good.' You went out there, and you did what you were supposed to do, and you earned the victory.' It's not like, 'You went out there and settled and just didn't let him do anything, and then you won.'"

But despite his grappling prowess, Thiago may be best known for earning a shocking TKO win over Kosheck in February 2009. The Brazilian has sometimes been criticized for landing a "lucky punch," but Swick thinks Thiago is a credible opponent in the standup department.

"That was no more of a lucky shot than any shot that lands," Swick said. "That's the way striking is. You throw shots until they land. The best strikers in the world throw punches that don't land. You can't just say every punch that lands is lucky. But the thing about it is with him, he has a very unorthodox style.

"If you look at some of the best strikers in our sport today - like Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell - a lot of these guys are very unorthodox strikers. That's what works. That's what gets in. That's what tough to prepare for. I take him as a very dangerous striker. He obviously has a lot of power."

Nevertheless, Swick - who owns seven career wins by knockout or TKO - said he will be looking to keep the fight standing.

"He put Koscheck down, and Thiago Alves didn't even do that," Swick said. "He also knocked down Jacob Volkmann, and he's had a few more knockdowns. He's got a lot of power in his hands, and he's very loopy and very long. He's got long arms.

"I'm taking his standup serious. I'm not just assuming I'm going to walk right through him on the feet. I definitely respect his standup, but then again, I feel that's where I'm the best fighter, and that's where I'm going to try and keep it."

"My job is to win fights"

Prior to the fight with Hardy, Swick's most recent loss was to top middleweight contender Yushin Okami. Following that result, Swick reeled-off four-straight wins.

The 30-year-old Texan said he's as relaxed as can be for this shot at redemption, and regardless of the result on Saturday night, he promises a vintage performance.

"I'm not super-focused on where I'm going yet," Swick said. "I just need to get back on the winning track. That's what is important to me. At this point in my career, I'm so appreciative to be living my dream. I'm fighting in the UFC, I've been here for five years, and I'm living my dream.

"I'm having a good time, and I think that's what you're going to see. One thing that is very different from my last few fights is that there's a lot of things I'm doing as far as rest and keeping my stress level down. I'm going to be in a lot better spirits, and I'm going to be a lot happier and a lot more pumped up for this fight. I think that's what you're going to see when you see me walk out on Saturday night.

"At the end of the day, I'm living my dream, and I'm ready to go out there, and I'm going to have a good time. I'm going to go do my job, and my job is to win fights in the UFC."

"UFC 109: Relentless" airs live on pay-per-view on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 10 p.m. For complete coverage of UFC 109, check out MMAjunkie.com.

MMA pioneer Don Frye was today announced as a part of the Shark Fight broadcast team. Official word from the promotion:

Shark Fight Promotions Signs MMA Legend Don Frye to a Ten Fight Color Commentating

Deal - Fights to Air on ESPN 1440 Radio

In 2009 popular Texas fight promoter Shark Fight Promotions and ESPN 1440 radio secured their place in MMA history by airing the first live MMA broadcast in the U.S. Shark Fight Promotions announced today that they have joined forces with ESPN 1440 once again, this time to sign the legendary Don Frye to a ten fight commentating deal. Frye, one of the founding fathers of MMA, is not only a highly decorated champion; he is also a well established actor, writer, and radio personality. Frye will partner with ESPN 1440 Host Warren McCarty to call the action, as it happens, during the live radio broadcasts.

According to Warren McCarty, founder and host of My Passion is Football on ESPN 1440, "Don Frye is quite possibly the most unique individual I've ever met in the world of MMA. This man has accomplished so much in a sport that defines the ultimate test of a man's skill, determination, and toughness. Don Frye's in- depth knowledge of the fight game is unsurpassed. His deep intimidating voice is well recognized, his strong opinions are well respected, and fans relate to his comical outlook on life. That being said, I have no doubt that Don will quickly become known as one of the most entertaining and insightful color commentators in the business. It's an honor to have him as my broadcast partner."

Don Frye will make his Shark Fight commentating debut with ESPN 1440 host Warren McCarty on February 5th, 2010, during Shark Fight 8 at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. "Don Frye is undoubtedly a legend in the great sport of MMA" states Medley, President of Shark Fight Promotions.
"He immediately became a fan favorite in the Shark Fight arena, both as a fighter and an entertainer. Don immediately came to mind when we discussed bringing on a celebrity color commentator. We are extremely excited to have him on the team. I have no doubt that Don will be instrumental in taking Shark Fight MMA broadcasts to the next level. You never know what he's going to say, but it's always entertaining."

Shark Fights reputation undoubtedly played a big part in securing Don Frye to the ten fight color commentating deal. The highly respected fight organization has quickly become a leader in the industry, attracting well sought after fighters both in and out of the cage, from A-list contenders such as Don "The Predator" Frye, Trevor Prangley and Josh "The Dentist" Neer, to celebrity commentators such as HDnet's Bas Rutten and Ron Kruck. In the words of Bas Rutten, legendary mixed martial arts fighter and host of HDnet's Inside MMA, "Shark Fights is quickly becoming a mainstay in MMA - it's a must see show."

In 2009 Shark Fight Promotions exceeded the expectations of many by breaking the attendance record for an outdoor MMA event in Texas, and by making MMA history by airing the first live MMA radio broadcast in the U.S. The fight promotion's contributions to the sport have not gone un-noticed, as they have been publicly recognized by well established media outlets within the MMA industry. Shark Fights not only earned the title of "Best Pro Promotion of 2009" by Texas Fight News Magazine and "Best Pro Promotion of 2009 in the Southwest Region" by ULTMMA.Com (Uniting Locals Through Mixed Martial Arts), they surpassed all others and claimed the title of "Best Pro Promotion of the Year", also awarded by ULTMMA.com.

Sports fans in Texas, Eastern New Mexico, Southeastern Colorado, Southwestern Kansas, and Northern Oklahoma can tune in via the radio at ESPN 1440 AM. MMA fans across the nation can tune in online at www.ESPN1440.com. For more information on Shark Fight Promotions and to view the full fight card for Shark Fight 8 - Super Brawl, please log on to www.Sharkfights.com.

Fighting in the evening's very first bout at "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson" earlier this month, WEC bantamweight and Mt. Pleasant native Will Campuzano (7-1 MMA, 1-1 WEC) had to wait several hours to find out his rousing unanimous-decision win over Coty "Ox" Wheeler had been named the evening's "Fight of the Night."

But after making just $6,000 for the fight, it was certainly worth the wait to learn he was being given another $10,000 for the award.

But despite the influx of cash, Campuzano recently told The Dallas Morning News that he only has one small plan for the cash.

"I'm taking my girl out to dinner," Campuzano said. "That's all I got for right now."

It's a response that should perhaps be expected. The even-keeled brawler showed almost no emotion in the cage on fight night, even as the action-packed bout unfolded.

"That's typical of the way I fight," Campuzano said. "One promoter I used to fight for said I always look bored in there.

"I'm too relaxed some times and I can't get going."

Campuzano definitely got going, and his barrage of striking attacks, punctuated with several well-placed flying knees, brought the Sacramento, Calif., crowd to life.

However, Campuzano said he wasn't sure he had done enough to please fans or WEC brass.

"It was fun," Campuzano said. "I made a couple of mistakes. A couple of times my hands were kind of down, and he hit me with a couple of overhands. But overall, I think I did good.

"I was trying to figure out how to finish him the whole time. I landed a lot of big shots, but the guy was still right there in front of me. I was trying to put together something big, and I did, but the guy lived up to his nickname. He's strong like an ox. At that point in time, I didn't think I did all that well because I couldn't finish the guy. But in the end, it all worked out good. I got the recognition from my employers."

Campuzano said he was sore for several days, but he doesn't appear to have any long-term injuries. As such, he's hoping for a brief rest to nurse some pre-fight wounds and then follow up his first WEC win with another as quickly as possible.

"I'm used to fighting like every other month," Campuzano said. "I picked up a lot of injuries in my training camp, though, so I kind of need a little rest. I'd like to fight in April."

And though he called out Damacio Page - the man that handed him his first loss - directly after the fight, Campuzano said he'll wait patiently to find out what the WEC has intended for him.

"It was my first loss," Campuzano said. "It just burns when I think about it, I guess. But Damacio's a contender right now. I'm far away from his status. I'll just let it take its time, but I'll get that fight down the road."

Campuzano's "Fight of the Night" with Wheeler can be viewed for free on Versus.com.

UFC heavyweight champion and former WWE superstar Brock Lesnar has been sidelined with a variety of illnesses following his UFC 100 win over Frank Mir in July 2009. A notoriously private individual, Lesnar has remained remarkably quiet throughout the ordeal. That will change on Wednesday, when Lesnar reveals his future plans during an appearance on ESPN.

From MMAjunkie.com:

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will no longer host a planned press conference for the fighter, but UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar instead will appear on Wednesday's edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" to give an update on his health status.

A UFC spokesperson today confirmed the media appearance with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), which is slated to begin at 11 a.m. ET.

Lesnar has been out of action since July due to an illness.

The ailment, initially diagnosed as mononucleosis and then diverticulitis, forced Lesnar out of a scheduled November UFC 106 headliner with Shane Carwin.

In recent months UFC president Dana White said the condition could be career-ending. He expected to get an update on Lesnar last week, but he later stated the update would be given at a UFC-hosted press conference this week.

Instead, Lesnar is scheduled to appear on "SportsCenter," where he's expected to give an update on his health status and a timetable for a possible return. Both White and Lesnar's camp have been tight-lipped about the illness in recent months. However, Lesnar's trainer, Greg Nelson, told MMAjunkie.com earlier this month that Lesnar "will fight again," though a timetable wasn't known.

With Lesnar unlikely to return anytime soon even if given a clean bill of health, the UFC will award an interim title to the winner of March's UFC 111 fight between contenders Frank Mir and Carwin. White said Lesnar could be stripped of the title outright if his illness keeps him out of the cage for an extended period of time.

Of course, UFC officials and heavyweight fighters alike are anxious for the former WWE star, who's already proven to be a top UFC pay-per-view draw, to return. The division is arguably its deepest in years; in addition to Mir and Carwin, fellow contenders Cain Velasquez and Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera meet next month at UFC 110, and Junior Dos Santos is a win or two away from a title shot.

Bob Shamrock, adopted father of MMA pioneers Frank and Ken Sharock died today at the age if 68.

Ken, who already had three mixed martial arts contests under his belt prior to appearing at the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship event, was a major influence in the life and career of Houston native and current Dallas resident Guy Mezger in their time together in the Lion's Den training academy.

Mezger would go on to establish his own branch of the academy, Lion's Den Dallas.

The official release from the Lion's Den:

Bob Shamrock, the father of legendary MMA fighters Ken Shamrock and younger brother Frank Shamrock passed away today, Thursday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. at the home of his eldest son Ken - surrounded by friends and family. Ken Shamrock and his wife Tonya brought Bob to their home on Saturday after a long term battle with different health complications due to Diabetes - Bob was 68 years old. Bob is best known for opening up his home in Susanville, CA to literally hundreds of defiant and hardcore kids. Ken Shamrock (then Ken Wayne Nance) was 13 years old when he arrived at the Shamrock Boys Home in Susanville, CA - Ken at the time was in trouble with the law for strong armed robbery among other things. "I just watched Ken's eyes when he first arrived, because this was my home. It wasn't some business place where I came on from 8 til 5 - it was my home, and the house was really big, we ate well, we had a swimming pool, and all those kinds of things. It was a lot different than the other group homes he had been in."

Bob promoted sports in the community - "We'd have the football team and their cheerleaders out at the ranch when the season was over, and the same with the wrestling, baseball and basketball teams. We tried to get them all interested in outside activities, and the biggest one was sports. That's what we did with Ken because he came to me as a fighter. We got him involved in football and wrestling and if the kids made the team for their class, we'd get them a gym membership in town. We did lots of activities to try and keep the kids busy and to provide outlets. That's the problem with a lot of kids these days: They don't have the outlets to get their energy out and their aggression down."

One of Ken's fondest memories of growing up at the Shamrock Home was the way his dad had the kids settle their disputes. If the kids got mad with each other, Bob would let them put on gloves and box in the backyard to sort things out. The only rule imposed for these matches was that Bob had to be there at the time.

"Ken winded up being the house champion in boxing and wrestling. He had a way about him that just drew me to him: his own way of looking at things that was upright and honest. It wasn't always kosher or exactly right, but that's the way he thought and basically it was fair. Sometimes you had to show him there was another side to the story, but he always tried to do the right thing. By no means was he perfect, but we'd sit down and I could reason with him."

When Ken turned 18 in February, 1982, Bob legally adopted him and Ken changed his last name to Shamrock. Later, Ken's younger brother Frank also changed his surname to Shamrock out of respect for the man who had done so much to help him.

"It is an incredible feeling, knowing that two boys I have done so much for, have gone on to be world champions in Mixed Martial Arts." Bob Shamrock

Just yesterday I sat across from Ken and listened as he began to look back and think about his dad, "My dad had an unbelievable light with these kids - I've never seen anybody able to take a defiant kid into their home, and handle them like my father could - willing to get into a fight with them if he had to because of disrespect and then turn around and hug them and let them know, the minute you give me respect - I'll give you respect. Everyone that came in contact with my dad - you could tell he made a difference in their life. I've never seen anyone have that much success with kids. I'll miss him and I'm forever thankful.

From Shark Fights:

Ryan Ford to Face Anselmo Martinez at Shark Fight 8
for the Interim Welterweight Title

Kyle Bracey to face local fan favorite Eric Davilla in the co-main event

Lubbock, TX. - January 8, 2010 -Popular mixed martial arts fight promotion company, Shark Fight Promotions, announced today that one of Canada's prime fighters, Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford, will face off with Shark Fight Veteran Anselmo Martinez at Shark Fight 8 in the main event. The winner will claim the promotions interim welterweight title, and will later step into the cage with Shark Fights current champion, TJ Waldburger, for a shot at the official title. Shark Fight 8 - Super Brawl will take place on February 5th 2010, at Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas.

According to Brent Medley, President of Shark Fight Promotions, "Shark Fight executives agreed to create the interim welterweight title, after learning that there were several scheduling conflicts over the coming months that would keep TJ from defending his title."

Medley went on to say, "We were very strategic when selecting an opponent for Anselmo, as we wanted it be an extremely compelling match up. I believe that we achieved our goal by signing Ryan Ford. Both fighters are incredibly skilled and both are hungry for the title. The entire Shark Fight 8 card is stacked with exciting match ups, including a co-main event featuring Kyle Bracey and Erick Davilla. I couldn't think of a better way for Shark Fights to kick off 2010!"

Anselmo Martinez (5-1), a Shark Fight veteran with a history of winning by knock out, typically finishes his opponent in the first round. Martinez recently defeated Lorenzo Borgomeo at Shark Fight 7, clinching his fourth straight win in the Shark Fight arena. Martinez, who was contemplating retirement late last year, decided to stay in the game and challenge himself by going for the gold.

His opponent, Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford (11-2), will be Martinez's toughest opponent to date. Ford, often compared to Georges St. Pierre due to his remarkable athleticism, has an explosive fighting style and impressive mixed martial arts record. Ford was also the top ranked running back to come out of the University of Canada. On January 5th, Ford will fight in the United States for the first time in his career. His goal - to become the Shark Fight welterweight champion.

This is an MMA event that you won't want to miss! Doors to the Fair Park Coliseum open at 6:00 PM. Fights will begin at 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the Shark Fight retail store located in Westgate Mall or online at www.sharkfights.com.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - If you don't remember the WEC debut of Will Campuzano (6-1 MMA, 0-1 WEC), that's alright with him.

As the Dallas resident recently told The Dallas Morning News, it was hardly his best performance.

But while Campuzano was defeated in that bout after accepting the appearance on just 11-days' notice, he guarantees the result will be different this time around.

"I didn't have enough time, last time, to get ready," Campuzano said. "It was short notice, and your timing is not going to be there. But I feel good for this fight.

"I was able to get everything done for this fight - my Muay Thai, my boxing, my wrestling and my jiu-jitsu. I think it's going to come together really well."

Campuzano was submitted by top WEC contender Damacio Page in their October 2009 bout. Campuzano and Page went toe-to-toe in one of the most thrilling 62 second contests in recent memory, but the result was the Texan's first loss as a professional.

Despite the long odds Campuzano faced, he doesn't regret the decision to fight on the big stage at less-than-full strength.

"It is what it is," Campuzano said. "I'm just glad I'm here now. I took a chance, and things happen.

"Mentally, I felt good. Once we started exchanging, I felt really strong. Damacio, he's a game guy. I like his style. He comes in aggressive. He comes in to fight. I like that kind of fight, but my grappling just wasn't there."

Campuzano had suffered through several canceled contests prior to the Page fight, and his financial situation hadn't allowed for consistent training. Campuzano admitted his timing suffered due to the inactivity - especially in the grappling department.

"Really, I wasn't training much before the fight," Campuzano said. "I had a whole bunch of local shows cancel on me, and I was forced to do other things. I was working. I wasn't training as much. I couldn't afford to go to the gym.

"I knew [my grappling] wasn't going to be there, but I thought, 'You know, he did say he wanted to knock me out, me being skinny and stuff.' I was hoping he'd stand with me a lot longer. That was really my only chance because of that little time I had to prepare."

Now Campuzano meets submission ace Coty Wheeler (10-2 MMA, 1-2 WEC) on the preliminary card of Sunday's "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson" event.

Campuzano said he returned immediately to the gym after the loss to Page, and he insists he's ready for the challenges Wheeler will present.

"I'm a really good grappler," Campuzano said. "I did look like a white belt in my last fight, but I really am good. I train with a lot of black belts, and I would consider myself a purple belt. I don't train in gi, but I am good.

"[Wheeler] is not a really strong grappler. Yeah, he hunts for leg locks and stuff like that, but it's nothing I haven't seen or aren't ready for. ... 'Ox' is good, but I think I have, overall, more technique than he does."

With eight of his 10 career wins coming by submission, Wheeler's grappling prowess is well-documented. And while Campuzano is generally considered a striker, he insists that the extra prep time has left him capable of handling Wheeler's attack.

"I went straight to the gym because I was training myself to get my grappling back," Campuzano said. "It took a couple weeks. I didn't feel good until just a few weeks ago - like I was back to where I was before. It was just three months (off from training), but you lose your timing.

"Grappling is all about timing - jiu-jitsu, at least. Movement, pivoting, control, equilibrium. It takes a long time. It's something I have to work on because I'm a striker. The grappling goes faster than anything else, for me at least."

Campuzano will need to perform well on Sunday night should he have his sights set on remaining with the promotion. Consecutive losses in the WEC could easily signal his release from the organization and a return to the local-show circuit.

It's a reality Campuzano accepts.

"I'm pressured," Campuzano said. "It's definitely a fight I don't want to lose. They'll cut you.

"Being at the beginning of the fight card, I definitely don't want to lose. I am pressured, but it gets me motivated."

So while a disappointed Campuzano was forced to walk away from his WEC debut with his first-ever professional loss, the Texan knows he was fighting at far less than his full potential. Now he's looking forward to proving that to Wheeler and the WEC.

"My main focus for the last fight was just conditioning and boxing," Campuzano said. "That's the only things I could get done. ... But this time I got a full training camp, so I should be good.

"It doesn't take me long to figure a guy out in his striking. I think if Damacio would have stayed standing with me, I would have figured him out. I think I'll have an easier time with 'Ox' just because he's not a power striker. ... When I do hit, he's going to realize he's in there with a real striker."

For complete coverage of "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson," check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - If you were responsible for the gameplanning WEC lightweight Kamal Shalorus (5-0-1 MMA, 1-0 WEC), a wrestling attack would probably be the first strategy you'd implement.

As a 15-year practitioner of the art and a former Olympian, wrestling is undoubtedly one of Shalorus' best attributes.

But as the Iranian-born Austin resident recently told The Dallas Morning News, his goal is to put on a show for the fans, and that means throwing his hands.

"This is fighting," Shalorus said. "There has to be some excitement. The crowd likes knockouts, so I'll punch.

"I like to punch. I know I'm a wrestler, but I like to punch."

Fans of Texas-based promotions King of Kombat and Supreme Warrior Championship already knew that about Shalorus. But the world caught a glimpse of "The Prince of Persia's" abilities this past November in his World Extreme Cagefighting debut against Will Kerr.

Well, most of the world caught a glimpse.

"My family, they still live in a very small village in the north of Iran," Shalorus said. "Even if I explained to them that I'm fighting, they're not going to understand. When I say, 'I'm fighting mixed martial arts,' they think it's wrestling. They say, 'Great. Wrestling.'

"I tried to explain to them, but I don't really push real hard. I just tell them, 'Sure. Wrestling.'"

Kerr probably wished he was just wrestling after Shalorus battered him extensively in the 86 seconds the two were in the cage together. A crushing right hook landed flush for Shalorus, and it was obvious to all in attendance that the world-class wrestler had successfully made the transition to mixed martial arts.

Because of a lengthy WEC 44 preliminary card that evening, Shalorus' bout was featured on the evening's Versus broadcast. Shalorus credited his extensive international wrestling history for helping to remain calm in the face of such a massive opportunity.

"I wasn't nervous," Shalorus said. "I've done so many wrestling matches that I was used to the crowd. I was just excited.

"The WEC is one of the biggest promotions in the world, so I was excited to fight for them. It was a big opportunity."

The impressive performance earned Shalorus a quick return to action, and he'll meet undefeated lightweight Dave Jansen (14-0 MMA, 1-0 WEC) on the main card of Sunday's "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson" event in Sacramento, Calif. "The Fugitive" brings an impressive submission game to the cage, and he also showed the ability to take a punch in a unanimous-decision win over Rich Crunkilton at WEC 43 this past October.

"Dave Jansen is a tough fight, and he's the biggest challenge so far in my MMA career," Shalorus said. "But I'm ready for this fight 100 percent. I'm going to do my job. I had good training. I train with the best team. All my trainers have put together a good gameplan."

And with that Olympic wrestling background, will grappling be the plan?

"I'm going to strike with this guy, too," Shalorus said. "At the same time, I'll wrestle. If he wants to wrestle, I'll wrestle. If he wants to strike, I'll strike with him. Anywhere he wants to go, I'll be fine.

"I have to prove myself. My first fight, I won. Now I want to win my second fight. The people want to see what I can do. It's a little dangerous to strike, but I can use my wrestling if I get in trouble."

Shalorus and Jansen will fight in front of an anticipated crowd of 10,000 screaming fans in Sacramento's ARCO Arena. While the pressure of the moment could easily wilt a lesser man, Shalorus' humble beginnings and wrestling experience - even if he refuses to use it - will have him ready to soak in the moment.

"The bigger the crowd, the more energy it gives me," Shalorus said. "This is the American dream. The WEC has given me this great opportunity, and I can't thank them enough."

For complete coverage of "WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson," check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

From HDNet:

Tonight on HDNet's "Inside MMA," some of the biggest names in the sport join Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten in the studio, when Tito Ortiz, UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer and WEC general manager Reed Harris join the panel - Friday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m.

Ortiz speaks about his return to the UFC, as well as his coaching role on "The Ultimate Fighter 11" against his nemesis, Chuck Liddell. This panel will also recap the recent UFC 108 and Dynamite!! events.

Also, Ron Kruck speaks with Randy Couture who reveals some huge news on the Brock Lesnar situation. To see a clip of the interview, please click on the link below:

UFC fighters Brian Stann and Frankie Edgar and Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields join "Inside MMA" hosts Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice on tonight's edition of the weekly MMA news program.

From Dallas-based HDNet:

HDNet's "Inside MMA" features a trio of fighters on winning streaks this Friday, December 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET. This episode has it all! Jake Shields talks to Bas and Kenny about the impact of Dan Henderson's signing with Strikeforce and an upcoming potential title bout between the two. Frankie Edgar tells the world whether or not he is ready to try to take the UFC lightweight title away from BJ Penn, while Brian Stann discusses his military service and his future in the light heavyweight division. Also, reporter Ron Kruck heads to Las Vegas to share an exclusive feature on the growth of gambling in the MMA world, and how to interpret what the odds mean when you bet on a fighter. Don't miss this week's Inside MMA!

LAS VEGAS - WEC lightweight contender Anthony Njokuani (11-2) has a message for the bullies that picked on him as a Nigerian immigrant growing up in suburban Dallas: Thank you.

"Growing up during that time wasn't really easy," Njokuani said. "My mom had my sister in nightgowns. It wasn't cool. I was wearing like dress shirts and slacks. When you're wearing a dress shirt and slacks in school? I don't think so.

"It was hard. The kids during that time were really cruel. That actually, what they put me through, has made me a stronger person. I'm happy that happened."

Njokuani, who faces Chris Horodecki (13-1) at Saturday's "WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff" event, turned to fighting almost by need rather than choice. The cultural differences he faced on a daily basis as a child led him to scrutiny among his peers.

"My dad, he came [to the U.S.] for a better life for all of us," Njokuani said. "He actually moved out here first. All this stuff was going on in Nigeria, so he wanted us to get away from all that. He came here in like 1982 or 1983. He was going to school. He got a job. He made some money, and he got us plane tickets and all that to fly out here.

"Being a kid from Nigeria, looking the way I did back then, it wasn't nice. I was fighting like almost every single day, and it actually made me into an angry, angry child when I was younger."

Njokuani's family settled first in Denton, then eventually in Garland where he attended North Garland High School. Despite the efforts his parents were making to secure a better life for their children, Njokuani had a strained relationship with them, at best.

Njokuani's father passed away in 2003 before that bond had been repaired.

"It shook me up for awhile," Njokuani said. "What really hurt the most was that I didn't even get a chance to have a great connection with him. I was always really angry toward him, angry at my mom. We never had a great relationship. We were always fighting all the time."

Things began to change when Njokuani visited his homeland for the first time since he was 3 years old.

"I went back to Nigeria to bury [my father]," Njokuani said. "In Nigeria, if you're born there, you have to be buried out there in order to have respect to that family member's family.

"It was (difficult), but when we got off the plane, actually it was the best thing because we finally got to see where we were from. We had never been there until that time. It's sad to say that's what brought us over there, but it was a very beautiful place. I loved it."

That trip, and the difficulty of losing his father, set in motion a change in Njokuani's view on life.

"[My father's death] actually helped because it made me realize a lot of stuff," Njokuani said. "It made me realize that I needed to change a lot of things that I was doing to my family.

"It really sucks that I don't have a chance to build a great bond anymore, but it also made me change myself and become a better person toward my family and my mom. Now I take care of my mom, and I help her out. I'm there for her now, and we have a great relationship."

After rebuilding a relationship with his mom, Njokuani then had to convince her that the scrapping he had done in self-defense as a child was now turning into a full-fledged career.

"Coming from a Nigerian family, they really want you to be more productive," Njokuani said. "One sister is about to be a lawyer. Another sister is about to be a doctor, and another sister is about to be an English teacher. Then you've got the two boys that are fighters.

"They didn't like it first, but they love it now."

They'll love it even more should Njokuani earn a win on Saturday night. A victory for the up-and-coming striker could easily position him as one of the lead title challengers in the WEC's quickly filling lightweight division.

And while Njokuani is pleasant, jovial and upbeat in the hours before his contest, the powerful striker said he keeps close the turmoil of his childhood when he steps into the cage.

"I'm glad I did change my ways and became the person that I am now," Njokuani said. "But I still keep all of it to help me in the gym.

"Right now you're seeing Anthony, but when I step in the ring, you're seeing 'The Assassin.' I still keep all that with me to help me out in the cage."

"WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff" airs Saturday night at 9 p.m. on Versus. For complete coverage of the event, stay tuned to the WEC 45 section of MMAjunkie.com.

Tonight's edition of HDNet's "Inside MMA" features FoxSports.com writer and MMA enthusiast Jay Glazer, UFC welterweight contender Frank Trigg and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" winner Roy Nelson.

In addition to catching up on all the latest news in MMA with show hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten, the trio previews Saturday's UFC 107 main event between UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn and challenger Diego Sanchez.

A preview clip of the episode is included below.

After a successful first-ever UFC Fan Expo held in conjunction with this past July's UFC 100 event, the UFC and Reed Exhibitions have teamed up to bring another expo to Las Vegas - specifically the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

While the official announcement did not mention a UFC event, logic dictates that the UFC will soon announce its traditional Memorial Day weekend event to coincide with the expo. That event is expected to be UFC 114 and take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 29.

From the UFC:

(LAS VEGAS, NV) - This past July, the first-ever UFC Fan Expo took the sports world by storm, as fans celebrated the past, present, and future of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. So by popular demand, the UFC, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions, has announced that the second UFC Fan Expo will take place May 28-29, 2010, back in Las Vegas, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The jam-packed two-day event, occurring during Memorial Day Weekend 2010, will provide fans with the opportunity to experience a number of special events, fighter appearances, autograph signings, and training & development sessions with elite fighters and industry leaders.

Over 200 leading companies are expected to exhibit, covering 200,000 gross square feet of space, and will feature apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products, and much more.

"I was blown away by the response to the first UFC Fan Expo. We have the greatest fans in the world," said UFC President Dana White. "Our next Fan Expo is going to be another incredible event, we are taking it to the next level, and offering even more exciting ways to experience UFC."

"We're excited to be coming back to Vegas and next year's event is going to be bigger and better than the first time around," said Ed Gallo, Event Director for UFC Fan Expo.

The inaugural UFC Fan Expo took place in July 2009 during the historic UFC 100 weekend, providing over 15 hours of keynote addresses, special events, and training & development sessions. It was also the site for the first Grappling Tournament ever held in conjunction with a UFC event. With so much in store for the second UFC Fan Expo, organizers expect the event to really be taken to the next level.

For more information on UFC Fan Expo and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at (203) 840-5546 or email egallo [at] ufcfanexpo.com.

Former collegiate wrestling champion and WWE star Bobby Lashley (4-0) has signed on with the quickly expanding Strikeforce organization.

Lashley has long been tagged as a potential star in MMA, and the success of fellow WWE-import Brock Lesnar in the UFC's ranks certainly hasn't hurt his potential drawing power.

While Lashley has earned positive results in his previous four trips to the cage on the regional circuit, the 33-year-old's performances have sometimes drawn mixed reviews. Nevertheless, Lashley does have "name" recognition, and his physique makes him an impressive specimen to any casual observer.

From Strikeforce:

NEW YORK (December 10, 2009)-Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) heavyweight champion and undefeated mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Bobby Lashley has signed a multi-year agreement with STRIKEFORCE and will make his debut for the world championship MMA promotion at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida on Saturday, January 30.

The 6 foot 3 inch, 250 pound Lashley, also a former collegiate wrestling star for Missouri Valley College and member of The United States Army, will face an opponent that has not yet been determined during the live, SHOWTIME® telecast of STRIKEFORCE: Miami, the historic, first-ever STRIKEFORCE event in the state of Florida.

In his last MMA start on June 27, 2009, the 33-year-old pulverized and scored a first round (3:17) TKO on 6 foot 5 inch, 350 plus pound goliath Bob "The Beast" Sapp with a barrage of punches in Biloxi, Mississippi. The win brought Lashley's overall MMA record to 4-0.

"I'm looking forward to fighting for STRIKEFORCE and challenging myself by taking on some of the top heavyweights in MMA," said Lashley, a native of Junction City, Kansas and resident of Denver, Colorado.

After getting his feet wet with several matches in both the WWE Raw and SmackDown! shows in 2005 and 2006, Lashley captured the WWE United States Championship by defeating rival competitor "JBL." During this stint with the league and another in 2007, Lashley wrestled several top superstars, including The Big Show and John Cena.

Lashley made his MMA debut on December 13, 2008, earning a 41 second TKO over Joshua Franklin after Franklin sustained a cut that would not allow him to continue their fight.

Earlier this year, Lashley joined Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. In his first appearance with the league on July 30, he helped tag team matchup partner Mick Foley defeat superstars Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash.