UFC releases Sean McCorkle following UFC Fight Night 24 loss to Christian Morecraft

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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The UFC has released heavyweight Sean McCorkle following his second consecutive loss in the Octagon, according to multiple published reports.

The former super heavyweight, known more on the internet for his joking ways than for his in cage prowess, was given a shot in the UFC last September in his home state of Indiana at UFC 119. After submitting Mark Hunt in his UFC debut, he was given a co-main event bout against Stefan Struve in Montreal at UFC 124 in December.

A loss to Struve led to a preliminary card bout with Christian Morecraft at UFC Fight Night 24, and a technical submission loss to Morecraft sent him on his way out of the organization. McCorkle commented on the release in a message to Ariel Helwani at MMAFighting.com.

"I want to thank the UFC for giving me an opportunity that I had not earned, giving me very favorable match-ups, and hyping me far more than my talent warranted."

Think he was done there? Of course not, as he added:

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought was writing a statement for Matt Mitrione."

Penick's Analysis: The release isn't surprising. McCorkle wasn't able to follow up on the momentum from his debut win, and two straight losses in the UFC in most divisions will send a fighter packing. He still has his sense of humor, and you have to admit that's a funny line aimed at Mitrione, who would be more than happy to dish it back to him. That's how McCorkle is, and it's how he was throughout his UFC stint over the last six months. The fact that he got a shot in the first place after being a super heavyweight in Indiana was probably validation enough for him as a fighter, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a return invitation if he picks up a few wins back on the regional scene.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9015.shtml

Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana José Aldo John Alessio

Brian Bowles vs. Takeya Mizugaki Added to UFC 132 Lineup

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Former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles will look to continue his climb back towards a championship at UFC 132, when he takes on durable Japanese fighter Takeya Mizugaki.

The fight's booking was confirmed by the UFC late on Monday night.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/19/brian-bowles-vs-takeya-mizugaki-added-to-ufc-132-lineup/

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Strikeforce Rumored July Card

Strikeforce in July
Saturday July 30
TBA
TBA
Airing on showtime

Rumored fight card for July 30:

* Dan Henderson (#8 Ranked Light Heavyweight) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (#9 Ranked Heavyweight)
* Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Ovince St. Preux
* Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Roger Gracie
* Tarec Saffiedine vs. Evangelista Santos

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Upcoming_Events_42/article_9079.shtml

Matt Wiman Travis Wiuff Wu Haotian Rani Yahya

Spicing Up A Dry Season: M-1 Challenge 25 Streams Live And Free

Is it just me, or is the month of April really lacking in quality MMA cards? Sure Bellator is doing their thing and Strikeforce just put on an awesome event, but compare those offerings to March, where it felt like a major event was going on every single week and sometimes twice in one day. [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/04/14/spicing-up-a-dry-season-m-1-challenge-25-streams-live-and-free

Tim Sylvia Randy Couture Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Brock Lesnar

Exclusive pictures from Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

Check out our exclusive photo gallery from Tracy Lee, including a very bloody Keith Jardine, an emotional Shinya Aoki, UFC executives at Strikeforce, and dogs and cats living together in harmony.*

*No dogs or cats are pictured in this gallery. Everyone knows dogs are better, anyway.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Exclusive-pictures-from-Strikeforce-Diaz-vs-Da?urn=mma-wp1134

Shane The Engineer Carwin Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan Dan The Sandman Christison

Judge Chuck Wolfe Defends 30-27 Score for Joe Warren

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Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren won a controversial unanimous decision over Marcos Galvao on Saturday night in Yuma, Arizona, with all three judges seeing the fight differently than nearly every member of the MMA media saw it.

Particularly surprising about the decision was that judge Chuck Wolfe scored the bout 30-27 for Warren: Not only did Wolfe score the first and third rounds for Warren, as did his fellow judges, but Wolfe also gave Warren the second round, even though almost everyone else watching thought that round was decidedly Galvao's.

Although Wolfe declined to go into a detailed blow-by-blow account of the second round, he defended his scorecard and his decision, saying on Tuesday morning that he thought all three rounds in the fight were close, and that in close rounds, something relatively minor can be the difference in a 10-9 score.

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/19/judge-chuck-wolfe-defends-30-27-score-for-joe-warren/

Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus Todd Duffee

Nate Marquardt making drop to welterweight, meets Anthony "Rumble" Johnson at UFC on Versus 4 [UPDATED]

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Nate Marquardt wasn't kidding about making the move to welterweight, and it's coming a lot quicker than was probably expected.

According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Marquardt will make the move for a June 26 bout with Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

That fight will serve as the main event for UFC on Versus 4, coming to the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., the UFC's first ever event in the city of Pittsburgh.

Marquardt ends his time in the middleweight division after a win over Dan Miller at UFC 128 last month. The decision win was a good rebound from his loss to Yushin Okami in a number one contender's bout in November of last year, and now he'll look to forge ahead through the 170 lb. division.

Johnson will make a quick turnaround after returning in March from a 16 month injury layoff. After missing all of 2010, Johnson got back on track with a one-sided decision win over Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night 24, and will have a chance to make a big move up the 170 lb. ladder with a win over someone on Marquardt's level.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: I absolutely love this fight, especially with it coming to free television. Marquardt has had some issues in his last several fights with wrestlers putting him on his back in Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami, and though that's certainly a weapon in Johnson's article, there's not going to be a huge strength disparity between the two and I don't think Johnson will be able to keep him grounded and flustered for three rounds. If the cut goes well, for both fighters, this should be an excellent, excellent welterweight fight. This card needed a good headlining fight, and it's got one now.

UPDATE: The UFC has confirmed that this fight will headline the June 26 card, and UFC President Dana White has commented on the bout.

"Anthony Johnson has always been one of the largest welterweights in the UFC but now former top middleweight contender Nate Marquardt will drop down and attempt a run at the welterweight title,? White said. ?Both of these guys are powerful strikers and grapplers and it should be a great fight."

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_9059.shtml

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