Three stars from full week of MMA: Chris Weidman, Nate Marquardt and Jason High

With UFC on Fuel 4 and Strikeforce: Kennedy vs. Rockhold in one week, the MMA world had plenty of great performances to choose from. Who rose above the rest to be a star? Here are Cagewriter's choices. Tell us yours in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Chris Weidman: With title-shot implications hanging over his bout with Mark Munoz, Weidman wanted to make a statement. He made a clear one with a second-round elbow that knocked Munoz out.

No. 2 star -- Nate Marquardt: A year ago, he was unemployed after out-of-whack testosterone levels forced him out of a UFC bout. Now, he's the Strikeforce welterweight champion due to a memorable fourth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley. Today, you spell redemption N-A-T-E.

No. 3 star -- Jason High: Strikeforce showed almost every fight from Saturday night's card. Every fight, except High's 26-second submission of Nate Moore by guillotine. It wouldn't have taken much to squeeze in a minute of fighting, but they didn't. Instead, check out the play-by-play from MMA Junkie to find out what happened:

After High landed a pair of leg kicks, Moore opted to shoot for a takedown. But when he did, High took quick advantage and latched onto Moore's neck with a guillotine. Seconds later, that was all she wrote ? Moore was forced to tap.

It was High's seventh win in a row.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/three-stars-full-week-mma-chris-weidman-nate-135237457--mma.html

John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

MMA Marketplace: The latest in handmade MMA items, including a sparkly bow and a really odd Fedor painting

MMA inspires arts, crafts, and several other handmade goods that don't fit in any easily discernible category. If there's something MMA-related you desire, there's a good chance you can find it somewhere on the internet. For example, look at the vast array of stuff available on Etsy, the online marketplace devoted to handmade stuff.

You know what MMA needs more of? Sparkly bows. This one can be yours for $9.25.

Never Forgotten Design will make you pretty cool invitations. They'll turn a UFC poster -- in this instance, UFC 107's poster with B.J. Penn and Diego Sanchez -- into an invitation. Tell me you wouldn't love opening up that kind of invite. For $15, Never Forgotten will do the design for you to get printed.

Dan Hardy fans can show their love to the British fighter with a feather replica of his mohawk. Buy it for $55, then wear it when reading how Matthew Riddle has been calling him out. Put it on again when heading to Hardy's bout with Amir Sadollah at UFC on Fuel 5. Pair it with a bandana, and you've got a ready-made Halloween costume. When headed to the grocery store and bank, wear it to fancy up your day. Really, there's no end to its uses.

And this next painting depicts Fedor Emelianenko as an angel speaking a language that is not Russian. I ... I don't know. Just look.

It -- whatever it is -- can be yours for $37.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mma-marketplace-latest-handmade-mma-items-including-sparkly-125557837--mma.html

Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo 

Josh Koscheck Hopes AKA ?Burns to The Ground?

Often considered the most hated man in MMA, Josh Koscheck continues to play up his heel persona in a candid video with close friend and former teammate Jon Fitch. Fitch, who the All-American has long considered one his best friends, paid Josh a visit at his home to catch up with his old friend. The [...]

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/29697/josh-koscheck-hopes-aka-burns-to-the-ground/

Andre Amade  Dean Amasinger  Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade 

Chris Cariaso serves up punch face at UFC on Fuel 4

Chris Cariaso offered a great punchface to Josh Ferguson on the way to a win at UFC on Fuel 4 on Wednesday night. Read on for more results from the early fights.

Alex Caceres def. Damacio Page via submission (triangle choke) - Round 2, 1:27
Chris Cariaso def. Josh Ferguson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Andrew Craig def. Rafael Natal via KO (head kick and punch) - Round 2, 4:52
Marcelo Guimaraes def. Dan Stittgen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Raphael Assuncao def. Issei Tamura via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 0:25.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/chris-cariaso-serves-punch-face-ufc-fuel-4-011056888--mma.html

Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio

Kyle Noke Drops to Welterweight to Face Charlie Brenneman at UFC 151

After a recent rough run at middleweight, Kyle Noke is moving to 170 lb. to take on Charlie Brenneman at UFC 151. “The Spaniard” will also be trying to right the ship, as he welcomes Aussie to welterweight. Noke (19-6) began his middleweight run with three consecutive victories, but fell on hard times with back-to [...]

MMAFrenzy.com

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/29689/kyle-noke-drops-to-welterweight-to-face-charlie-brenneman/

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua jumps out of a plane (VIDEO)

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's first fight since his epic brawl with Dan Henderson will happen at UFC on Fox 4 on Aug. 4. What's the best way to prepare for the bout with Brandon Vera? Jumping out of an airplane, of course.

At no point does he look scared. Perhaps taking Jon Jones elbows and living to tell about it is a way to remove fear from jumping out of a plane. He made the jump on July 1, so he had plenty of time to recover before his bout next week in L.A.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/mauricio-shogun-rua-jumps-plane-video-193855376--mma.html

Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi 

Strikeforce?s Lorenz Larkin drops to knees and begs for bonuses after win

After winning a decision over Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce: Kennedy vs. Rockhold on Saturday night, Lorenz Larkin asked UFC president Dana White for a favor. During the postfight interview, Larkin got down on his knees and asked commentator Mauro Ranallo to join him there. Larkin then begged for equality among fighters, and asked that Strikeforce fighters receive fight night bonuses, like their UFC counterparts.

"We're your family, too," Larkin said.

Five and six-figure fight night bonuses are a norm for UFC fights. Bonuses are given out for the best submission, knockout and fight from each event. The extra money can turn out to be a financial boon for fighters. UFC heavyweight Pat Barry was six days from eviction and surviving on ketchup packets and rice when two bonuses for one fight came in.

[Also: Nate Marquardt KOs Tyron Woodley for Strikeforce welterweight title]

Though Strikeforce is also owned by Zuffa, the company which owns the UFC, the two groups are operated differently. Several UFC events are held every quarter, giving UFC fighters two or three fights a year. Strikeforce fighters are often waiting for months and months for their bouts.

Tim Kennedy, one of Saturday night's main eventers, waited a year for his bout, despite having no injuries holding him out of competition. Considering fighters only receive purses when they fight, how often they fight affects how much money they make.

Strikeforce fighter Tarec Saffiedine tweeted his support of Larkin, saying, "Ooooohhh yeaahh BONUSES! Thx u lorenz!"

UFC champion Georges St-Pierre once famously dropped to his knees in the cage to beg for a title shot. Larkin used the same ploy while pointing out it's not even about getting his own bonus, but it is about all fighters being treated fairly. It's sad that he even has to go to such lengths.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/strikeforce-lorenz-larkin-drops-knees-begs-bonuses-win-032128489--mma.html

Tank Abbott Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah