• Vale Tudo Japan, which is set to take place on October 30th, in Tokyo, is still taking shape. An opponent for lightweight fighter Takanori Gomi, was recently announced. Gomi will be taking on King of the Cage lightweight champion Tony Hervey, in his alleged final fight in Japan. Other expect bouts for the event are “Lion” Takeshi Inoue vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira, Willamy Chiquerim vs. Kenichiro Togashi, Mamoru Yamaguchi vs. Jesse Taitano, Tenkei Fujimiya vs. Tito Jones. Also expected to participate are Rumina Sato and Yoichiro Sato, but their opponents are yet to be determined.
• Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago will take on recent promotional acquisition, Polish light heavyweight star Mamed Khalidov in a non title fight at Sengoku 11 on November 7. Also recently added to the card were a heavyweight bout between “Big” Jim York and Dave “Pee-Wee” Herman, a lightweight number one contender match up pitting Eiji Mitsuoka against Kazunori Yokota, and a featherweight contest of Shigeki Osawa vs. Ronnie Ushiwaka Mann.
• Top female fighter Miku Matsumoto extended her winning streak to twelve straight at Deep 44th Impact on October 10, defeating “Windy” Tomomi Sunaba via unanimous decision.
• Dream 12, on October 25, has gained two more middleweight bouts as slugger Melvin Manhoef will take on Zelg Galesic, and ground ace and former WEC champion Paulo Filho will face Korean judoka Dong Sik Yoon inside the White Cage. (Dream 12 Poster included below.)

Teaser video for “Dynamite 2009!!” event, which we reported Wednesday.

Nogueira (13-5-2), a former Shooto lightweight champion, was defeated by Jose Aldo via second-round TKO at the June 1st event. Despite losing three of his last four bouts, Nogueria was still regarded as a contender in the WEC’s featherweight division and was even mentioned as a possible opponent for an October bout against former UFC champion and WEC featherweight contender Jens Pulver.

A popular steroid commonly used by body builders and banned by Major League Baseball, Boldenone can show up on steroid tests for months after discontinuing use due to its long half-life.

Nogueira’s “A” sample was tested at Quest Diagnostics and his “B” sample was tested at Laboratoire de Controle du Dopage in Quebec, Canada.

He has the right to appeal the ruling.

• UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has been nominated for the 2008 Best Fighter ESPY. To vote for GSP visit espys.tv.

• The UFC has cut light heavyweight PRIDE veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura. Nakamura was 0-2 inside the octagon including his most recent loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 84 in May.
• WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber will likely fight again in September at WEC 36 against Mike Brown.
• Josh Thomson took home $35,000 for his main event unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce 10. Melendez earned $50,000 in the loss and Bobby Southworth received $25,000 for his successful title defense over Anthony Ruiz. Also, all fighters from the event tested clean for performance enhancing drugs and drugs of abuse.
• Edwin Dewees will replace Vernon White against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at Affliction “Banned” on July 19th.
• UFC 89, which is headlined by a clash between rising middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, will likely be shown on tape delay on Spike TV.
• The Association of Boxing Commissions has passed revised Universal Rules of Mixed Martial Arts at their annual conference in Montreal. Most notably, the revised rules more specifically define illegal strikes to the back of the head and make downward elbows, which were previously banned, legal.
• Anderson Silva wants to fight three more times before the end of the year including his July 19th light heavyweight debut against James Irvin on Spike TV. If Silva emerges victorious (and relatively uninjured) from the main event bout he plans on fighting at UFC 88 on September 6th in Atlanta as well as in November or December. Next up for Silva is 185-pound number-one contender Yushin Okami followed by Patrick Cote.
• Welterweights Ryo Chonan and Roan Carneiro will clash at UFC 88 on September 6th in Atlanta. The fight, which was originally set for UFC 85 in June but postponed due to an injury suffered by Chonan, is a rematch of a February 2005 bout which Chonan won via third-round TKO due to a cut.
• Andrei Arlovski will make his professional boxing debut on September 13th in the opening bout of the Casamayor-Marquez HBO pay-per-view. No opponent has been named for the bout.
• EliteXC has applied for a Nevada promoter’s license to hold events in the state, most likely in Las Vegas. Affliction has not yet filed an application for a Nevada promoter’s license.
• Lightweights Sam Stout and Paul Kelly will square off at UFC 89 on October 18th in Birmingham, England.
• UFC 86 drew an official attendance of 11,172 for an official live gate of $3.2 million.
• Forrest Griffin took home an official purse of $250,000, including a $100,000 win bonus, for his unanimous decision victory over Quinton Jackson in the main event of UFC 86. Jackson received $225,000.

The “California Kid’s” victory highlighted the twelve-bout card which was broadcast on Versus.

Faber dominated from the opening bell, controlling the pace of the bout with a right hand that immediately found it’s mark and continued to land for the remainder of the bout. After an especially dominant opening to the first round Pulver coutered Faber’s early shots with some offense of his own but Faber finished out the round with accurate rights. In the second, Faber rocked Pulver with a combination then followed with even more strikes but the UFC veteran survived the flurry and returned with some offense of his own, hurting Faber with a solid combination before the pair finished out the round with a back-and-forth exchanged.

Through the final three frames, Faber continued to connect with accurate rights and combos and secured multiple takedowns to wrap up the exciting unanimous decision victory. Judges scored the bout 50-45, 50-44, and 50-44. MMAFrenzy.com scored the contest 50-45 in faver of the “California Kid”.

After the fight, both fighters expressed their mutual respect for one another while the announcer’s set the stage for a Faber-Pulver rematch down the road. When asked about a potential rematch, Jens Pulver (21-9-1) stated that he wished to defeat another opponent before rematching with the promotion’s dominant 145-pound champion Urijah Faber (21-1), who improved his record to twenty-one wins and only one loss with the unanimous decision victory.

In the event’s other title bout, the promotion’s 135-pound bantamweight title was on the line as champion Miguel Torres (34-1) looked to defend his crown against challenger Yoshiro Maeda (23-5-2). In a very exciting, back-and-forth battle the pair put on quite the show, battering, bruising, and bloodying one-another over three full rounds. After closely contested first and second rounds, Torres took control in the third and tagged his opponent with a series of combinations including a solid punch that immediately caused Maeda’s eye to swell. Maeda narrowly survives the round but during the break the doctor calls the bout as a result of the eye injury and Torres is declared the winner, retaining the WEC bantamweight title.

In other main card action, Chuck Grigsby (13-4), who held a distinct size advantage over opponent Mark Munoz (4-0), was knocked unconscious late in the opening round after Munoz connected with a vicious ground and pound assault from the top position and former WEC lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough (16-4) defeated Kenneth Alexander (5-3) via split decision to open the broadcast with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 28-29.

WEC 34 OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Champion Urijah Faber def. Jens Pulver via unanimous decision
  WEC Featherweight Championship
• Champion Miguel Torres def. Yoshiro Maeda via TKO – Round 3, 5:00
  WEC Bantamweight Championship
• Mark Munoz def. Chuck Grigsby via KO – Round 1, 4:15
• Rob McCullough def. Kenneth Alexander via split decision
• Donald Cerrone def. Danny Castillo via submission – Round 1, 1:30
• Mike Brown def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision
• Will Ribeiro def. Chase Beebe via split decision
• Tim McKenzie def. Jeremy Lang via submission – Round 3, 0:40
• Alex Serdyukov def. Luis Sapo via TKO – Round 1, 5:00
• Jose Aldo def. Alexandre Nogueira via TKO – Round 2, 3:22
• Dominick Cruz def. Charlie Valencia via unanimous decision

• Champion Urijah Faber def. Jens Pulver via unanimous decision
  WEC Featherweight Championship
• Champion Miguel Torres def. Yoshiro Maeda via TKO – Round 3, 5:00
  WEC Bantamweight Championship
• Mark Munoz def. Chuck Grigsby via KO – Round 1, 4:15
• Rob McCullough def. Kenneth Alexander via split decision
• Donald Cerrone def. Danny Castillo via submission – Round 1, 1:30
• Mike Brown def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision
• Will Ribeiro def. Chase Beebe via split decision
• Tim McKenzie def. Jeremy Lang via submission – Round 3, 0:40
• Alex Serdyukov def. Luis Sapo via TKO – Round 1, 5:00
• Jose Aldo def. Alexandre Nogueira via TKO – Round 2, 3:22
• Dominick Cruz def. Charlie Valencia via unanimous decision

EXTENDED RESULTS

CHAMPION URIJAH FABER DEF. JENS PULVER
WEC FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 1 – There’s no touch of gloves for this one and Faber gets started quickly with a solid series of punches. Faber continues to tag Pulver with rights. He slips and Pulver pounces onto the WEC champ but they both return to their feet. Pulver is accidentally poked in the eye but the action quickly resumed. Pulver connects with a good knee. Pulver improves late in the round but Faber continues to land right hands. Good late combo by Pulver. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Faber.

ROUND 2 – Pulver is accidentally kicked in the groin early in round two and after a brief break they quickly resume. Faber gets a takedown on the restart but they return to their feed. Faber rocks Pulver a combination and continues with a series of strikes that Pulver is narrowly able to survive. Now it’s Pulver’s turn, who comes back with a solid combination led by a hard left hand that hurts Faber who then shoots for a takedown. Both fighters return to their feet late and trade before the round concludes. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Faber.

ROUND 3 – Faber again utilizes his right hand to open the third round and it finds its mark. Pulver with a big kick to the body. Faber counters with a kick and then shoots for a takedown. Pulver sprawls and ends up on top in a scramble. Faber reverses and claims the top position but Pulver neutralizes and they are soon restarted by the referee. They trade again late as the horn sounds to mark the end of the third. The closest round thus far on the scorecards. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Faber.

ROUND 4 – Pulver is hit by a Faber combo to open the fourth. Another solid combination by Faber sets up a takedown. They remain on the mat for the remainder of the frame with Faber peppering elbows onto Pulver to win the fourth round and take a dominating lead on the scorecards. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Faber.

ROUND 5 – Pulver avoids a Faber takedown and looks for the knockout but it’s not to be had as Faber avoids the punches. Pulver connects with a hard left. Pulver again connects but Faber gets one more takedown to win the final round on the scorecards and rides his way to a unanimous decision victory to retain the promotion’s 145-pound title. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Faber and the bout 50-45 Faber.

Champion Urijah Faber defeats Jens Pulver via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44)

CHAMPION MIGUEL TORRES DEF. YOSHIRO MAEDA
WEC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 1- Torres slips avoiding a kick and Maeda follows him to the mat but Torres is quickly back on his feet and presses the action, landing a series of knees and kicks that has Maeda running away. They go to the ground and Torres nearly finishes of his foe with an armbar but Maeda escapes and Torres gets back to his feet. Their pair exchange some solid knees. The go back-and-forth with more strikes before Maeda catches a kick and Torres pulls guard. They briefly trade on the ground before returning to their feet and again go back-and-forth. The pace finally slows briefly before Torres scores a good punch-kick combo just before the end of the frame. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Torres.

ROUND 2 – Maeda again makes Torres slip avoiding a kick early in the second round and makes him pay, brutally landing leg kicks. Torres comes back with a up kick that hits Maeda on the chin. Back on their feet the war wages on and the pair again go back and forth with hard punches, kicks, and knees. The fight again hits the mat and both simultaneously secure toe holds. Neither taps however and they scramble away and return to their feet. After another offensive series on their feet Torres secures a guillotine then mounts Maeda late and lands a series of good kicks to the ribs to steal the second round. MMAFrenzy.com scores the second round 10-9 Torres.

ROUND 3 – Both fighters are bloodied, bruised, and battered. Torres scores a solid combination to open the round. Torres continues to connect as the round wages on and Maeda’s eye starts to swell. It’s all Torres in the third but Maeda survives the round despite landing very little in contrast to the previous back-and-forth rounds. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Torres.

Between rounds the doctor rules Maeda is unable to continue due his his eye, which has now swollen shut, and Torres remains the promotion’s bantamweight champion.

Miguel Torres defeats Yoshiro Maeda via technical knockout (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 3, 5:00

MARK MUNOZ DEF. CHUCK GRIGSBY

ROUND 1 – A brief feeling out period before Munoz shoots multiple times and Grigsby, with a distinct size advantage, sprawls to remain on his feet. Munoz and Grigsby clinch before they fall to the mat and Munoz lands in side control. Grigsby quickly gets back to full guard and looks for submissions but none are to be had. Munoz quickly gains the upper hand and pounds on Grigsby before transitioning to side control. The ground and pound assault continues and Munoz knocks Grigsby out before referee Steve Mazzagatti can halt the bout late in the opening round.

Mark Munoz defeats Chuck Grigsby via knockout – Round 1, 4:15

ROB MCCULLOUGH DEF. KENNETH ALEXANDER

ROUND 1 – There’s little action in the opening minute as they attempt to get a feel for one another. Alexander shoots for a takedown but McCullough reverses and takes Alexander down. They work back to their feet but there’s little strikes and next none land. Alexander again shoots for a takedown and McCoullough tags him with a punch to avoid the takedown. High kick by Alexander is blocked.  Punch-kick combo by McCullough. Alexander with a decent combo and they lock up but quickly break. Alexander shoots again but McCullough hits him with a knee on the way in that just misses but Alexander again returns to his feet. The round ends. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 McCullough.

ROUND 2 – They stand and trade early before Alexander shoots and finally takes McCullough to the ground but they quickly return to their feet. McCullough misses and Alexander shoots but McCullough sprawls and they’re both back up. The boos from the crowd continue to get louder as the fight wages on with little damage done. Body kick by Alexander is blocked. Solid uppercut and kick by Alexander. McCullough counters with a kick of his own. Alexander misses a head kick. Inside leg kick by McCullough. Another late-knee by McCullough just misses. Alexander gets a takedown and lands in half guard but he’s unable to do anything on the ground before the round concludes. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 Alexander.

ROUND 3 – Both fighters are much more active to start the final round as the pair trade much more solid strikes. Alexander catches McCullough with a solid knee. Overhand by Alexander misses. Solid leg kick by McCullough followed by another. Punch-kick combo by McCullough knocks Alexander down and he returns to his feet and locks up with McCullough. McCullough accidentally knees Alexander in the groin and the fight is halted to allow Alexander time to recover. They quickly resume and Alexander shoots but McCullough sprawls and remains standing. They clinch against the cage briefly then separate momentarily before clinching again. Knees to the body by McCullough before they again separate. Alexander takes McCullough down but McCullough provides most of the offense on the ground in the form of elbows before they both get back to their feet. Alexander works for another takedown but McCullough defends the attempt as the final round ends. MMAFrenzy.com scores the round 10-9 McCullough. On our cards it’s 29-28 in favor of McCullough but this one could go either way as neither fighter did enough to clearly win any of the three rounds.

Rob McCullough defeats Kenneth Alexander via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

• Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver
  WEC Featherweight Championship
• Yoshiro Maeda vs. Miguel Torres
  WEC Bantamweight Championship
• Chuck Grigsby vs. Mark Munoz
• Kenneth Alexander vs. Rob McCullough

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

• Richard Crunkilton Jr. vs. Donald Cerrone
• Jeff Curran vs. Mike Brown
• Chase Beebe vs. Will Ribeiro
• Tim McKenzie vs. Eric Schambari
• Alex Serdyukov vs. Luis Sapo
• Jose Aldo vs. Alexandre Nogueira
• Charlie Valencia vs. Dominick Cruz

The June 1st event, WEC 34, takes place at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California and features a main event featherweight title bout between current champion Uriah Faber and former UFC lightweight champ Jens Pulver. The event will air live on Versus beginning at 9pm ET.

McCullough captured the WEC lightweight belt with a submission win over Kit Cope at WEC 25 in early-2007. Following his first title defense via first round stoppage against Richard Crunkilton at WEC 30 last September, McCullough dropped the 155-pound title in February at WEC 32 to Jamie Varner.

Alexander, who had won five of his first seven professional fights, will look to rebound from a WEC 30 loss to Donald Cerrone. Fortunately for Alexander the submission loss was erased from his record and recorded as a no contest after Cerrone tested positive for a diuretic during a post-event drug tests.

The current official fight card for the event is after the jump…

For more on WEC 34 check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.

OFFICIAL WEC 34 FIGHT CARD

Main Card

• Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver
  WEC Featherweight Championship
• Yoshiro Maeda vs. Miguel Torres
  WEC Bantamweight Championship
• Chuck Grigsby vs. Mark Munoz
• Kenneth Alexander vs. Rob McCullough

Preliminary Bouts

• Jeff Curran vs. Mike Brown
• Tim McKenzie vs. Eric Schambari
• Alex Serdyukov vs. Luis Sapo
• Jose Aldo vs. Alexandre Nogueira
• Charlie Valencia vs. Dominick Cruz

An all-Brazilian battle between Alexandre Franca Nogueira and Jose Aldo is set for the June 1 WEC in Sacramento, Calif. Both camps confirmed the bout.

“Pequeno” Nogueira, who reigned for years as champion of Shooto’s 143-pound division, was expected to fight Nick Agallar. Leonard Garcia was then mentioned as a potential opponent before he was arrested in Texas last week.

Aldo, 9-1, had already signed with the promotion and was also waiting on an opponent. The 21-year-old featherweight trains with Nova Uniao.

For more on WEC 34 check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.