M-1 Challenge 26 – Garner vs. Bennett 2
July 8, 2011
The Hangar at the O.C. Fair and Events Center,
Costa Mesa, California, United States

Main Card (Aired on Showtime)

Heavyweight (265 lbs)

Kenny Garner (7 – 3 – 0) defeated Patrick Bennett (4 – 3 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 1:15 of round 2.  Garner, who has back to back KO wins (5-1 in his last 6), jets 54 spots up the ranks from [#152] to [#98].   Bennett, who is 1-2 in his last 3 (both losses to Kenny Garner), plummets 67 spots down the ranks from [#147] to [#214].

Middleweight (185 lbs)

Arthur Guseinov (8 – 2 – 0) defeated Tyson Jeffries (8 – 6 – 0) by KO due to a spinning back fist at 1:32 of round 1.  Guseinov, who rebounds from back to back losses with this win, enters the middleweight “Top 350” at [#280].  Previously ranked [#287] Jeffries, who has back to back losses (preceded by a 3 fight win streak), falls off the rankings.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Mairbek Taisumov (15 – 3 – 0) defeated Josh Bacallao  (6 – 3 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 2:01 of round 1.  Taisumov, who is on a 3 fight win streak (10-1 in his last 11), moves 1 spot down the ranks from [#65] to [#66].   Bacallao, who has back to back losses, remains unranked.
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UFC 132 – Cruz vs. Faber 2
July 2, 2011
Mandalay Bay Events Center,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

UFC Bantamweight Championship

Bantamweight (135 lbs)

Dominick Cruz (18 – 1 – 0) defeated Urijah Faber (25 – 5 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Cruz, who has not lost in over 4 years, remains ranked at [#1] and jumps 3 spots up the Division Dominance list from [#7DD] to [#4DD].  The fight that makes most sense now for Cruz is a rematch with [#5] Brian Bowles, after Bowles’ unfortunate hand injury cut the first bout short.  A possible rubber match with Faber may be in the cards as well.  Faber, who is 3-2 in his last 5 (1-1 in the UFC), drops 1 spots from [#3] to [#4].  Now might be a good time to pull the trigger on a Faber vs. [#12] Miguel Torres bout, if they do not decide on the immediate Cruz/Faber rubber match.

Middleweight (185 lbs)

Chris Leben (26 – 7 – 0) defeated Wanderlei Silva (33 – 11 – 1) by KO due to punches at 0:27 of round 1.  Leben, who is 4-1 in his last 5 (12-6 in the UFC), moves 13 spots up the ranks from [#23] to [#10].  A bout with fellow rising star [#8] Mark Munoz would most likely dazzle the crowd with wild stand up exchanges and good scrambles.  Silva, who is 1-3 in his last 4 (2-4 in the UFC), after falling off the rankings due to inactivity enters the middleweight “Top 350” at [#21].  There has been retirement talk abound in regards to Wanderlei, and his next fight will most likely be one of his last.  A bout against someone like [#12] Jorge Santiago would help shed light on how far gone Silva’s abilities are.  He could also wait to face the loser of the [#9] Vitor Belfort vs. [#42] Yoshihiro Akiyama bout taking place at UFC 133 in August, provided Akiyama is not cut following a loss.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Dennis Siver (19 – 7 – 0) defeated Matt Wiman (13 – 6 – 0) in a hotly contentious unanimous decision.  Siver, who is 8-1 in his last 9 (8-4 in the UFC), remains ranked at [#8].  Bouts against [#6] Clay Guida or [#14] Sam Stout would help usher a new name into the title discussion.  Wiman, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss (7-4 in the UFC), moves 5 spots down the ranks from [#32] to [#37].  Many people believe Wiman deserved the nod, but the records still show he lost.  He should face fellow loser on the card [#40] Shane Roller in his next fight in an Oklahoma native battle.

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Tito Ortiz (17 – 8 – 1) defeated Ryan Bader (12 – 2 – 0) by submission due to a guillotine choke at 1:56 of round 1.  Ortiz, who was 0-4-1 in his last 5 prior to this victory (and had not won since 10/10/2006), jumps 15 spots up the ranks from [#27] to [#12].  Ortiz should look to face either the winner of [#9] Rich Franklin vs. [#21] Antonio Rogerio Nogueira or a rematch with [#22] Vladimir Matyushenko (should he beat [#25] Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 133).  Bader, who now has back to back losses (5-2 in the UFC), drops 9 spots down the ranks from [#9] to [#18].  Conversely, Bader could face the loser of the Matyushenko vs. Gustafsson scrap.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Carlos Condit (27 – 5 – 0) defeated Dong Hyun Kim  (14 – 1 – 1) by TKO via flying knee and punches at 2:58 of round 1.  Condit, who is on a 4 fight win streak (3 by (T)KO), moves 1 spot up the ranks from [#7] to [#6].  With 4 wins (3 stoppages) in a row over difficult UFC talent, Condit is the logical next contender for the welterweight title.  He should face the winner of [#1] Georges St. Pierre vs. [#4] Nick Diaz coming up at UFC 137 in October.  If he wants to stay busy before then, he could take a fight with [#17] Charlie Brenneman, though the risk vs. reward of the bout is not very tantalizing for Condit.  Kim, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss (5-1-0  1 NC in the UFC), drops 10 spots down the ranks from [#18] to [#28].  He should look to rebound from his first loss by facing either the loser of [#9] Mike Pyle vs. [#30] Rory MacDonald taking place at UFC 133 or [#19] Rick Story next.
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Bellator Fighting Championships 46
June 25, 2011
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino,
Hollywood, Florida, United States

Bellator Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinals

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Pat Curran (14 – 4 – 0) defeated Luis Palomino (16 – 7 – 0) by submission due to a Peruvian necktie at 3:49 of round 1.  Curran, who is 5-1 in his last 6 (4-1 in Bellator), moves from [#39LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#4].   Palomino, who was on a 3 fight win streak prior to this loss (3-3 in Bellator), drops 15 spots down the ranks from [#10] to [#25].

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Marlon Sandro (18 – 2 – 0) defeated Genair Martins da Silva Junior (10 – 4 – 0) by split decision.  Sandro, who is 4-1 in his last 5 (3 wins by 1st round KO), holds his rank at [#11].   Da Silva, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to this loss (4 wins by stoppage), moves 2 spots up the ranks from [#58] to [#56].

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Nazareno Malegarie (20 – 1 – 0) defeated Jacob Devree (10 – 2 – 0) by submission due to a guillotine choke at 1:25 of round 3.  Malegarie, who has won all but 2 of his victories by stoppage, moves 15 spots up the ranks from [#61] to [#46].   Devree, who was on a 7 fight win streak prior to this loss (4 by choke based submissions), moves from [#272LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#160].

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Ronnie Mann (20 – 2 – 1) defeated Adam Schindler (9 – 2 – 0) by KO due to punches at 4:14 of round 1.  Mann, who is on a 4 fight win streak, moves 4 spots up the ranks from [#43] to [#39].   Schindler, who was on a 6 fight win streak prior to this loss (3 by choke based submissions), moves from [#291LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#170].
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Strikeforce – Challengers 16
June 24, 2011
ShoWare Center,
Kent, Washington, United States

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Caros Fodor (6 – 0 – 0) defeated James Terry (10 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Fodor, who has won 4 of his 6 victories by stoppage, flies 91 spots up the ranks from [#195] to [#104].  Fodor should look to test himself against someone like [#79] Conor Heun next (if he isn’t off for a long time due to the arm injury he incurred in his last bout).  If he can defeat him, he will be ready for the next level.  Terry, who was on a 3 fight winning streak prior to this loss, moves from [#159WW] into the lightweight “Top 500” at [#220].  He could face [#362] Matt Ricehouse for his next bout.

Lightweight (155 lbs)

Matt Ricehouse (5 – 0 – 0) defeated Ryan Couture (2 – 1 – 0)  by unanimous decision.  Ricehouse, who won his first 3 victories by stoppage, enters the lightweight “Top 500” at [#362].  Ricehouse may be ready for a stern test in [#220] James Terry in his next bout.  Couture, who has fought all 3 of his pro bouts inside Strikeforce, remains unranked.  Couture should look to test himself against someone of comparable fight experience like [#479] Anthony Avila in his next fight.

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)

Lorenz Larkin (11 – 0 – 0) defeated Gian Villante (7 – 3 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Larkin, who has won 8 of his 11 victories by (T)KO (6 in the 1st round), moves 10 spots up the ranks from [#87] to [#77].  Larkin looks like he might be ready for the next level of competition, and could fight veterans [#25] Trevor Prangley or [#18] Renato Sobral to determine where he goes next.  Villante, who is 1-3 in his last 4, moves from [#171HW] into the light heavyweight “Top 250” at [#183].  Villante needs to get back on the winning track, and should look to do so against [#153] Ron Humphrey next.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Jason High (14 – 3 – 0) defeated Quinn Mulhern (15 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision.  High, who is on a 5 fight win streak, moves 16 spots up the ranks from [#47] to [#31].  High is on a roll, and could possibly be in line for number 1 contendership if he were to next defeat another surging prospect in [#45] Eduardo Pamplona.  Mulhern, who was on a 7 fight win streak (6 by stoppage-4 by rear naked choke submission), drops 29 spots from [#56] to [#85].  Villante needs to get back on the winning track, and should look to do so against [#153] Ron Humphrey next.

Women’s Featherweight (145 lbs)

Julia Budd (2 – 1 – 0) defeated Germaine de Randamie (2 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Budd moves 5 spots up the ranks from [#14] to [#9].  De Randamie remains unranked.
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UFC Live 4 – Kongo vs. Barry
June 26, 2011
Consol Energy Center,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Heavyweight (265 lbs)

Cheick Kongo (16 – 6 – 2) defeated Pat Barry (6 – 3 – 0) by KO due to a punch at 2:39 of round 1.  Kongo, who is 2-0-1 in his last 3 (prior to which he suffered back to back losses), moves 2 spots up the ranks from [#16] to [#14].  General consensus seems to be that Kongo should face fellow winner on the card [#19] Matt Mitrione next.  This would be a test for both fighters to see who will enter the next tier of the division.  Barry, who is 2-3 in his last 5 (3-3 in the UFC), drops 5 spots from [#44] to [#49].  Barry could either face [#43] Aaron Rosa or [#50] Stefan Struve next, both which would be slugfests.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Charlie Brenneman (14 – 2 – 0), who was a 1 day late replacement for [#5MW] Nate Marquardt, defeated Rick Story (13 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Brenneman, who is on a 2 fight win streak (3-1 in the UFC), rockets 80 spots up the ranks from [#97] to [#17].  He should look to face the winner of [#7] Carlos Condit vs. [#18] Dong Hyun Kim taking place this Saturday at UFC 132.  Story, who was on a 6 fight winning streak prior to this loss (6-2 in the UFC), drops 9 spots from [#11] to [#20].  Perhaps Story should next face the man whom he replaced in tonight’s bout, [#21] Anthony Johnson.

Welterweight (170 lbs)

Matt Brown (12 – 10 – 0) defeated John Howard (14 – 7 – 0) by unanimous decision.  Brown, who breaks a 3 fight losing streak with this win, flies 75 spots up the ranks from [#136] to [#61].  He could face fellow “Ultimate Fighter” alum [#51] Rich Attonito in his next fight.  Howard, who is on a 3 fight losing streak (4-3 in the UFC), drops 13 spots from [#54] to [#67].  If Howard isn’t cut for losing 3 in a row, he could face [#56] T.J. Grant or [#74] Carlos Eduardo Rocha in what would be a must win fight for the Boston native.

Heavyweight (265 lbs)

Matt Mitrione (5 – 0 – 0) defeated Christian Morecraft (7 – 2 – 0) by KO due to punches at 4:28 of round 2.  Mitrione, who has won 4 of his 5 victories by (T)KO, moves 1 spot up the ranks from [#20] to [#19].  Mitrione should face [#14] Cheick Kongo next.  Morecraft, who is 1-2 in his last 3 (all in the UFC), drops 13 spots from [#91] to [#96].  Morecraft is in need of a victory to stay employed by the UFC,  He should face [#43] Aaron Rosa or [#53] Jon Madsen to see if he will stick around.

Featherweight (145 lbs)

Tyson Griffin (15 – 5 – 0) defeated Manny Gamburyan (11 – 6 – 0) by majority decision.  Griffin, who breaks a 3 fight losing streak with this win, moves from [#37LW] into the featherweight “Top 250” at [#7].  He should look to face rising prospect [#18] Dustin Porier in his next bout.  Gamburyan, who has back to back losses (prior to which he won 3 in a row), drops 5 spots from [#8] to [#13].  Gamburyan will need a win in his next bout to stay relevant in the 145 lb division, and should look to accomplish this feat against [#14] Mark Hominick or [#15] Diego Nunes.
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