Variety is reporting that both HBO and ESPN are negotiating with the UFC to gain rights to the growing sport. HBO is interested in premium fights while ESPN may be seeking rights to highlights as well as smaller events like UFC Fight Nights. Here’s an excerpt from the report:
“[HBO], which airs many of the premiere [...]

Josh Burkman has confirmed his match against Karo Parisyan at UFC 71 via his myspace site:
I signed the fight today, me and Karo Parysian May 26th at Mandalay Bay in Vegas. Tickets go on sale monday!
Thanks for the support and messages!
JBurk
“peoples warrior”
Not sure if Burman didn’t get the note or if the UFC has changed [...]

Fresh off the heels of us talking about Brandon Vera (8-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) getting a contract extension the undfeated mixed martial artist got a contract to stay with the UFC. Here’s the announcement from The Fight Network:
“Heavyweight contender Brandon Vera has signed an extension with the Ultimate Fighting Championship with plans to complete [...]

Brandon Vera (8-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was typing up a storm yesterday on the Sherdog forums and it was a good chance for him to answer questions surround his status with the UFC. Vera was bashed by a lot of people for asking for a large per fight contract and turning down several UFC contract [...]

Has the saga finally come to an end? According to MMAWeekly.com it has with Japanese newspapers reporting today that UFC has in fact purchased PRIDE. Here’s part of the MMAWeekly piece:
“The Japanese newspapers reported today in Tokyo, Japan that the UFC has bought Pride. The UFC/Pride rumor has been circulating for awhile, but the deal [...]

Going against what every major and minor MMA media outlet has been reporting, Dana White told Sherdog.com last night that no “concrete” deal is in place for Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta to purchase Pride. Here’s part of what he had to say:
When questioned about reports claiming PRIDE president Nobuyuki Sakakibara had informed his American staff [...]

Hard Lessons
SI.com has a featured article on their site about Nate Marquardt who will be facing Anderson Silva for the middleweight title on July 7th at UFC 72.
Wineland works overtime to climb MMA ladder
Houston Chronicle writer Steve Seivert has a blog post up about MMA fighters who have regular jobs as well as fighting [...]

Today was supposed to be the hyped match between Tito Ortiz and UFC President Dana White however Ortiz decided not to show up for weigh-ins yesterday and the fight has been canceled, at least for now. Here’s the details from the Fight Network:
“On March 5, the NSAC had voted 3-1 to allow the exhibition bout. [...]

Tickets for UFC 71 will be going on sale this Monday, March 26th, to UFC Fight Club members at 1 pm EST. Two days later on Wednesday March 28th tickets will be available for subscribers to the UFC’s email subscribers but for those who aren’t the presale password is “RAMPAGE”. Finally on Friday March 30th [...]

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has signed a 4 fight deal with Pride, not the UFC as originally rumored, according to MMAWeekly.com. The rumors of Shogun coming to the UFC and Pride came as a direct result of the massive ammount of rumors involving the purchase of Pride by the Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta.
The deal will keep [...]

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Nobuyuki Sakakibara, Pride President and CEO, has confirmed the Pride sale to the Fertitta brothers in a message to employees. From the article:
“Nobuyuki Sakakibara yesterday told several members of the U.S. Pride staff that the company is in the proces of being sold to Lorenzo & Frank [...]

Various MMA media outlets, most notably MMAWeekly.com, are confirming that Nate Marquardt will indeed face Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at UFC 73 on July 7th. They have signed the contract for the fight, which will be the night’s main event.
Also on the undercard for the event will be a match between Tito [...]

In late February at Pride 33, Dan Henderson became the first mixed martial artist to hold two titles in two different weight classes at the same time when he knocked out Wanderlei “The Axe Murdered” Silva.
The surprise upset headlined the best MMA event so far this year. Henderson fights out of the talent ladenTeam Quest [...]

Last night we reported that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua had signed a 2 fight deal with the UFC and a 2 fight deal with PRIDE. More news has come out today making the situation no clearer.
First came news earlier today from a Sherdog.com radio show that Rua had signed a unique deal allowing him two fights [...]

Rumors have been floating around for months that Kurt Angle, olympic champion and former WWE star, has been looking into entering mixed martial arts. The details have been murky at best but Sam Caplan from CBS Sportsline recently got a call from Angle to talk about his future in MMA:
“Despite choosing TNA over the [...]