Fighters Only is reporting that UFC british middleweight fighter Michael Bisping is set to take on Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama as the main event bout for UFC 120 in October. According to the report one of the two sides has already signed the fight agreement, and the other side will complete shortly and then the match will be officially announced.

Bisping will look to build on his victory over Dan Miller at UFC 114, and fighting on British soil should provide some extra motivation. Akiyama will try to overcome a loss to Chris Leben suffered at UFC 116, and if possible bring back the “Sexyama” MMA fans love.

The MMA News will report back on this story as news comes out.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira versus Ryan Bader is looking very possible for UFC 119 which takes place from the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 25, this according to MMAWeekly. The light heavyweight bout would be the co-main event bout though nothing, including the location, has been officially announced by the UFC.

Lil’ Nog came into the UFC bringin with him considerable excitement but his shine dulled slightly during his decision victory(which many thought he lost) over Jason Brilz at UFC 114. Nogueria was expected to win easily but seemed to be dominated for many portions of the match; however he still secured the win.

Bader is looking at moving ahead in a tough light heavyweight division,and a victory over Nogueira would certainly move him much closer to an eventual title shot. The Ultimate Fighter 8 winner has won three fights in a row, including a victory over former UFC light heavyweight gate keeper Keith Jardine at UFC 110.

The MMA News will keep you up to date on this card as things become official.

It’s been some time since we’ve heard anything from Lyoto Machida’s camp, with Machida taking some time to get things organized after losing his championship to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Now, his manager Ed Soares, recently talked to MMAWeekly about his fighter, and to let people know that not only is Machida training, but that he’s ready.

Machida is no doubt looking at a rematch with Shogun, as the record puts them at one even(though most MMA fans disagree giving it a clean 2-0 sweep to Shogun) but with Rua being out of action until next March it seems that Soares is looking for other options. Two interesting names are Rich “Ace” Franklin and Vitor Belfort:

“That could be a big fight. At the end of the day that’s the first guy who gave Rich Franklin his first loss, maybe Rich Franklin would like to avenge that. That could be a good fight.”

“You know what I think would be interesting is how about a Vitor Belfort? Vitor Belfort/Lyoto Machida? I think Vitor now will get another fight before he fights Anderson Silva. Put it this way, anything can happen, you never know.”

Belfort would certainly seem a much stronger opponent for Machida, but Belfort is looking at taking a run at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva so Franklin could be a very viable opponent. The UFC hasn’t announced anything official, but The MMA News will keep you in the loop.

It’s been some time since we’ve heard anything from Lyoto Machida’s camp, with Machida taking some time to get things organized after losing his championship to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Now, his manager Ed Soares, recently talked to MMAWeekly about his fighter, and to let people know that not only is Machida training, but that he’s ready.

Machida is no doubt looking at a rematch with Shogun, as the record puts them at one even(though most MMA fans disagree giving it a clean 2-0 sweep to Shogun) but with Rua being out of action until next March it seems that Soares is looking for other options. Two interesting names are Rich “Ace” Franklin and Vitor Belfort:

“That could be a big fight. At the end of the day that’s the first guy who gave Rich Franklin his first loss, maybe Rich Franklin would like to avenge that. That could be a good fight.”

“You know what I think would be interesting is how about a Vitor Belfort? Vitor Belfort/Lyoto Machida? I think Vitor now will get another fight before he fights Anderson Silva. Put it this way, anything can happen, you never know.”

Belfort would certainly seem a much stronger opponent for Machida, but Belfort is looking at taking a run at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva so Franklin could be a very viable opponent. The UFC hasn’t announced anything official, but The MMA News will keep you in the loop.

Despite words directly issued by current Strikeforce Heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, it seems that Japanese promotion DREAM is still sticking with their belief that Overeem will face Ricco Rodriguez at DREAM.15 on July 10. Talk about being in denial.

Overeem specifically talked to MMAFighting about the situation, as The MMA News previously reported. Here’s the meat from that statement:

“I feel very sorry for Ricco Rodriguez’s camp if they still think the fight is on, and I apologize to my fans that have bought a ticket to see me compete. I hope this statement has shed some light on the unfortunate situation.”

It seems pretty cut and dried, but DREAM doesn’t seem to be taking it to heart. Here’s DREAM’s side of the coin, via CagePotato.com:

According to sources close to the fighter, who is currently aboard a plane to Japan under the assumption that the fight is still a go, DREAM officials have denied the reports that have surfaced about Alistair bowing out of the event and they have held steadfast to their claim that Rodriguez will indeed face Overeem.

Hmm seems like Rodriguez is going a long way for nothing, but you never say never when it comes to mixed martial arts.

Tonight’s “UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin” event will kick off tonight at approximately 7:00 PM EST (4:00 PM PST) with the preliminary bouts. Spike TV will be carrying two preliminary fights and will start their live broadcast at 9:00 PM EST (6:00 PM PST). The live pay-per-view main card will start at 10:00 PM EST (7:00 PM PST) and will feature five bouts.

UFC 116 is taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and features a total of 12 bouts.

The main event features a heavyweight unification title bout between the returning champion Brock Lesnar and interim champ Shane Carwin. Both men had been scheduled to meet back in the fall but an illness which almost ended Lesnar’s career sidelined him for almost a year. Now mixed martial arts fans will get to see who the true number one heavyweight fighter in the world is.

The co-main event has Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama taking on the “Crippler” Chris Leben, who steps in at the last minute replacing Wanderlei Silva. This will be Akiyama’s second bout in the UFC and hasn’t been defeated in an mma bout since 2005. Leben steps in with just two weeks between his last bout having defeated Aaron Simpson at the “TUF 11″ Finale.

As always, The MMA News will be keeping the spoilers off the main page, to view the “Live Quick Results” just click

Main card

Heavyweight Championship bout: Brock Lesnar def. Shane Carwin via submission (arm triangle) – R2, 2:19
Middleweight bout: Chris Leben def. Yoshihiro Akiyama via submission (triangle choke) – R3, 4:40
Welterweight bout: Chris Lytle def. Matt Brown via submission (armbar) – R2, 2:02
Light Heavyweight bout: Stephan Bonnar def. Krzysztof Soszynski via. TKO (strikes) – R2, 3:08
Lightweight bout: George Sotiropoulos def. Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Preliminary card (Spike TV)

Heavyweight bout: Brendan Schaub def. Chris Tuchscherer via TKO (strikes) – R1, 1:07
Light Heavyweight bout: Ricardo Romero def. Seth Petruzelli via submission (armbar) – R2, 3:05

Preliminary card

Middleweight bout: Kendall Grove def. Goran Reljic via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Middleweight bout: Gerald Harris def. Dave Branch via knockout (slam) – R3, 2:35
Welterweight bout: Daniel Roberts def. Forrest Petz via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Heavyweight bout: Jon Madsen def. Karlos Vemola via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s fightnight and it’s time for the fighters to get their final words in before they hit the Octagon. Krzystof Soszysnki & Stephan Bonnar are set to lock horns tonight in a highly anticipated rematch. In addition there’s videos from Chris Lytle and Matt Brown and George Sotiropoulos and Kurt Pellegrino. The MMA News will have live coverage for UFC 116 with all the pre and post coverage you can handle.

If it were up to UFC light heavyweight fighter Chuck”The Iceman” Liddell BJ Penn wouldn’t be having a rematch against Frankie Edgar. Why? Simply because Liddell thinks that Penn won the fight, taking at least four of the five rounds from Edgar, as he stated during a Q&A with The Fight Network in Toronto recently:

To be honest, I thought Penn won the first fight. I thought he won at least four out of the five rounds. I was watching it after hearing about the results already. I watched the first few rounds and then called my buddy and said, “what are you talking about? How did he lose this fight?” I think the punch stats would indicate that, too.

No word on whether Liddell will continue his career or call it quits but he does mention that he’ll be talking to UFC president Dana White next week to plan his next moves. There’s been talk of a last match between himself and Tito Ortiz, but so far these are nothing but weak rumors. If Liddell makes a decision The MMA News will bring you the details.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s hard to imagine these two behemoths getting out of the first round, especially since no fight involving Shane Carwin has ever made it that far, so expect some crazyness. UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin will take place this Saturday and The MMA News will bring you all pre and post fight news as well as live coverage of the event.

Mixed martial artist Michael Kirkham, nicknamed “The Tree” due to his 6′9″ frame, died from brain-related injuries after debuing for an event in South Carolina. The news was carried by several different sources, including the Huffington Post


:

The Aiken County coroner said Monday that 30-year-old Michael Kirkham died from bleeding inside the brain. Coroner Tim Carlton said Kirkham collapsed following Saturday night’s fight at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

He added that Kirkham was taken to Aiken Regional Medical Center and never regained consciousness. Carlton said an autopsy will be done Tuesday.

The MMA News sends condolences and prayers for Kirkham’s family and friends. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.