Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson II is on

According to Dana White's Twitter feed, the muddled mess that is the lightweight title picture has been cleared up. After Edgar lost his championship belt in a decision to Benson Henderson at UFC 144, Edgar will rematch with current champ Henderson this summer. An exact date or event was not given, but the UFC has planned events for a pay-per-view July 7 and a Fox show on August 4.

Anthony Pettis and the winner of the upcoming bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller have been mentioned as possible contender, but Edgar is the winner. He pushed for the rematch in every interview that came his way. Edgar believed he deserved the fight because he had to rematch close fights twice.

But as Snoop Pearson said, "Deserve got nuthin' to do with it." The fight is good business. Edgar and Henderson's first fight was an exciting, five-round brawl. The rematch will draw more fans who heard about the first match-up. Whether it's on Fox or pay-per-view, a lightweight title bout will offer good TV.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/frankie-edgar-vs-benson-henderson-ii-004513126.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott

Picture of the day: Canadian prime minister gives signed UFC gloves to Japanese prime minister

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda a signed pair of UFC gloves before they started free trade talks this weekend. Noda is a big fan of Georges St. Pierre, and Harper was happy to share memorabilia signed by Canada's greatest export.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/picture-day-canadian-prime-minister-gives-signed-ufc-144009583.html

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez

Reader rants: Cagereaders speak up on ?Rampage,? ranking weight classes and fighter excuses

Welcome to another edition of Reader Rants, where Cagereaders get their say. Readers weighed in on Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, ranking the weight classes, and a little civil discourse. If you want to be included in a future Reader Rants, like Cagewriter on Facebook and share your opinion on our Facebook page.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's problems with the UFC and desire to leave the promotion brought out strong opinions. Two readers think the UFC should move on from him.

Letting him go would be best for both. When you get past being a Rampage fan and reality sets in, he just hasn't looked good in a while. He's using the excuse he's been injured, but really ... come on. None of these guys are 100% going into fights. He claims the UFC doesn't promote him right ... really? He's complaining they are only giving him fights with guys that want to hump his leg, but we all know that isn't true. If it really was a problem and he's such a great fighter he would finish them before they had the chance to hump his legs. -- Rocky Williams

The man abandoned his wrestling which is what made him great. He just needs to go ahead and make A-Team sequels and call it a day. -- Rayburn Wesley Mitchum

Cagewriter's ranking of weight classes was viewed as almost correct.

Your ranking of the weight classes in terms of strength was off only in one aspect. welterweights should definitely be higher than middleweights think about all the contenders. Yes, middleweight has Silva, Munoz, Sonnen but welterweight has GSP, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, Jake Ellenberger, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, Johny Hendricks, Josh Koscheck and many more who I believe are easily top ten fighters if they choose to move up a division. -- Daniel Jeong

One reader wants to see fighters stop making excuses when they lose.

Your only excuse for losing a FAIR fight should be that you gave it all you had and it wasn't enough. Not that you stubbed your toe or you fought with an injury. There is no "You're bigger than me, controlled the octagon better and had my back against the cage", BJ. That's the name of the game. Your opponent was better than you that night. End of story. -- Amanda Allen

And another wants to see some civility in the comment section.

My one rant is the constant whining and crying from the internet commenters. Bash every article posted on Cagewriter and the other sites. They bash the UFC no matter what they do or don't do. Just non-stop foolishness. Very uninformed comments based on skewed views on various topics. -- Rocky Moore

Do you want to make your opinion known? Follow Cagewriter on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/reader-rants-cagereaders-speak-rampage-ranking-weight-classes-144205725.html

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

First time climbing at Froggatt Edge

I’ve only just got chance to post about last week’s trip to Froggatt Edge. Friends tell me that a crisp spring morning is better for climbing grit but if you ask me sunshine is the way forward. I headed to Froggatt Edge (just south of Sheffield) with a few friends for my first ascents on [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rock-climbing-blog/~3/hOSsO_V8trg/philsheard

Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo 

?The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil? Results

"The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil" debuted last night, featuring the initial sixteen elimination round battles which determined the fighters who advanced into the TUF house. The episode saw thirty-two middleweight and featherweight UFC hopefuls fight tooth and nail for the opportunity to get one step closer to their dreams of a UFC contract. If you missed the TUF.tv stream, read on for results.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28030/the-ultimate-fighter-brazil-results/

Thiago Alves  Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen 

BAMMA brings us the most terrifying MMA poster ever

BAMMA, a British-based promotion, is putting on its ninth show this weekend. The fight card is topped off by veteran Tom Watson taking on Jack Marshawn, an--WHY IS A CLOWN STARING AT ME?

Colin Fletcher is a lightweight submission specialist with a 7-1 record and a tendency to frighten people and eat their souls. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to attempt to wipe him from my nightmares.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/bamma-brings-us-most-terrifying-mma-poster-ever-122052074.html

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi 

Matchmaker, matchmaker: May is for heavyweights

The latest in fight bookings, starring tons of heavyweights fighting in May:

-- If Roy Nelson's Facebook followers get him to drop to light heavyweight, it will have to happen after UFC 146. He will face former Strikeforce heavyweight Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva there on May 26.

-- Also at UFC 146, Cain Velasquez will take on Frank Mir in a title-eliminator bout. This is Velasquez's first fight since losing the heavyweight belt to Junior dos Santos. Mir won his last three bouts, including a gruesome submission of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in December.

-- During Saturday's fights, Strikeforce announced the final of the drawn-out heavyweight grand prix. With a healed hand, Daniel Cormier will take on Josh Barnett on May 19. Barnett received a conditional license from California on Monday, and the fight is expected to take place in San Jose.

-- In non-heavyweight action, Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will take on UFC, Sengoku and Pride veteran Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 on May 4 outside Toronto.

Who will win these bouts? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/matchmaker-matchmaker-may-heavyweights-145913461.html

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

Cristiane ?Cyborg? Santos Releases Statement on Positive Test (Video)

Former Strikeforce featherweight champion recently released a video regarding her positive test following Strikeforce: Masvidal vs. Melendez. Santos was stripped of her title following a positive test for stanozolol after the event. While Santos says she ingested the drug by mistake, she also acknowledged that it was her fault for not knowing the supplement contained a banned substance. Santos warned others to be careful what they take without a doctor's approval.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/28038/cristiane-cyborg-santos-statement-on-positive-test-video/

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

James Toney and Ken Shamrock Nearly Fight at a Press Conference - James Toney

James Toney and Ken Shamrock are supposed to fight sometime in the fall of 2011. The two had a short press conference in Van Nuys, California to announce the fight, but started to get physical a little early.

Source: http://mmalice.com/james-toney/james-toney-and-ken-shamrock-nearly-fight-at-a-press-conference-video_184a34575.html

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott