According to Fanhouse, Matt Veach, who had been set to fight Mark Bocek on the event’s preliminary card, is the leading candidate to replace Pellegrino, who is suffering from three herniated discs in his back and will be sidelined at least three weeks, with the injury.

Previously-reported fights between Matt Hamill and Jon Jones as well as Frankie Edgar and Kurt Pellegrino were confirmed for The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, while BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo, and Thiago Alves vs. Paulo Thiago were announced for UFC 107.

For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Pictured: Jon Jones

Pellegrino was last in action at UFC 101 in August where he earned a unanimous decision victory of Josh Neer. The bout was the third in a three fight win streak for “Batman” since he was submitted by Nate Diaz in April of 2008. The New Jersey based fighter has amassed a 14-4 record (6-3 UFC) in his MMA career, including nine submission victories.

Edgar will be looking to develop end Pellegrino’s winning streak while continuing one of his own. His last fight was a unanimous decision victory over Sean Sherk at UFC 98. The only loss currently on Edgars record is a Unanimous decision loss to Gray Maynard in April of 2008.

The Howard vs. Hallman bout, which was originally reported to be scheduled for UFC 106, has been moved to the card for The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, according to a report from MMAJunkie. This bout will mark Hallman’s promotional return, after a four year absence. Both fighters will be looking to extend winning streaks that night, Hallman will look to add a fifth victory to his current streak and Howard will be fighting for his sixth consecutive win.

The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale will also feature the final fight to determine the seasons winner, as well as other bouts including Matt Hammill vs. Jon Jones.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest TUF 10 Finale rumors.

Pictured: Kurt Pellegrino

• Joining Kimbo Slice and the previously rumored fighters on The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights, according to a rumored list of cast members that has circulated in recent days, will be Jim York, Justin Wren, Mike Wessel, Scott Junk, Zak Jensen, Darrill Schoonover, Jon Madsen, Tom Blackledge, and Abe Wagner.
• Andrei Arlovski has received a 60-day medical suspension following his first-round knockout loss to Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields on June 6, which has forced his boxing debut, which was to take place on June 27, to be postponed. Rafael Calvacante, who suffered a second-round TKO loss to Mike Kyle on the event’s preliminary card, was also suspended for 60 days.
• The first UFC Gym, whose features will include an “Arm Bar” with snacks and drinks, is set to open in Concord, California.
• After making critical remarks about Miletich Fighting Systems following his UFC 98 wins, Drew McFedries has been kicked out of the gym.
• Urijah Faber has been medically suspended until December 4th after suffering a broken right hand in his WEC 41 loss to Mike Brown on June 7.
• Lightweight contenders Ricardo Lamas and Danny Castillo will meet at WEC 42 in August.
• Randy Couture will train and corner Gina Carano for her Strikeforce 145-pound title bout against Cris Cyborg on August 15 in San Jose. Tickets for the event went on sale today and start at just $30.
• During a Q&A session before the UFC 99 weigh-ins, UFC President Dana White said he’s interested in signing Josh Barnett if he beats Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Trilogy in August.
• At the post-UFC 99 press conference on Saturday, Wanderlei Silva called for a rematch with Rich Franklin after suffering a close unanimous decision loss in the UFC 99 headliner. Dana White, meanwhile, wants Franklin to move back up to light heavyweight for a run at the 205-pound title.
• The UFC will host an event in the UK in October and the promotion is planning to hold 2 events in Canada in 2010, Dana White announced during the UFC 99 Q&A.
• At the post-UFC 99 press conference, welterweight contender Mike Swick said he’d “love to fight Matt Hughes”.
• A UFC 100 viewing party will be held at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on July 11 with Frankie Edgar and Matt Hamill scheduled as special guests.
• Weigh-ins for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale will take place this Friday at 4pm PT (7pm ET) at the Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.
• Heavyweights Todd Duffee and Mike Russow are likely to fight at UFC 102 on August 29 in Portland, Oregon.
• Despite a planned appeal from Mostapha Al-Turk over his TKO loss to Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 99 on Saturday that was setup by an accidental eye poke, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner announced on Monday that an appeal was not possible as it was a judgment call made by referee Dan Mirgliotta.
• Weigh-ins for Friday’s Showtime-televised Strikeforce Challengers event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington will take place on Thursday at the venue’s Club Lounge and are free and open to the public.

[Pictured: Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko]

NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer confirmed the negative tests to MMAFrenzy.com on Monday afternoon.

The tested fighters were George Roop, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Krzysztof Soszynski, Kyle Bradley, Brock Larson, Frankie Edgar, Chael Sonnen, Matt Hughes, Rashad Evans, and Lyoto Machida.

UFC 98 took place on Saturday, May 23, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and featured Machida scoring a second-round knockout of Evans in the pay-per-view headliner to capture the UFC light heavyweight title.

For complete UFC 98 results and news click here.

[Pictured: Lyoto Machida]

Main event loser Rashad Evans, who suffered a second-round knockout to Lyoto Machida, is suspended until July 23rd for precautionary reasons.

The longest suspensions were issued to winners Drew McFedries and Kyle Bradley as well as loser Pat Berry, who must be x-rayed and cleared by doctors or be suspended until December 10.

Receiving medical suspensions were:

• Rashad Evans (defeated by Lyoto Machida via R2 KO) — Suspended until July 23 with no contact until July 8 for precautionary reasons.
• Drew McFedries (defeated Xavier Foupa-Pokam via R1 KO) — Right wrist must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10.
• Xavier Foupa-Pokam (defeated by Drew McFedries via R1 KO)  — Suspended until July 8 with no contact until June 23 for precautionary reasons.
• Sean Sherk (defeated by Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision) — Suspended until July 8 with no contact until June 23 for precautionary reasons.
• Pat Barry (defeated by Tim Hague via R1 guillotine submission) — Right foot must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10. Minimum suspension until June 23 with no contact until June 14.
• Phillipe Nover (defeated by Kyle Bradley via R1 TKO) — Suspended until June 23 with no contact until June 14 for precautionary reasons.
• Kyle Bradley (defeated Phillipe Nover via R1 TKO) — Right hand must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10.
• Andre Gusmao (defeated by Krzysztof Soszynski via R1 TKO) — Suspended until July 23 with no contact until July 8 for precautionary reasons.
• Dave Kaplan (defeated by George Roop via split decision) — Suspended until June 23 with no contact until June 14 for a nose laceration.

[Pictured: Drew McFedries punches Xavier Foupa-Pokam at UFC 98]

Evans, the former UFC light heavyweight champion who was defeated via second-round knockout by Machida, earned $200,000 for the bout. Machida received $140,000 for his main event victory.

Rivals Matt Hughes and Matt Serra took home $200,000 and $75,000 respectively for their matchup, which Hughes won by unanimous decision.

The official salaries for UFC 98, as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, were:

• Lyoto Machida ($140,000 – includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Rashad Evans ($200,000)
• Matt Hughes ($200,000 – $100,000 win bonus) def. Matt Serra ($75,000)
• Drew McFedries ($34,000 – $17,000 win bonus) def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam ($6,000)
• Chael Sonnen ($50,000 – $25,000 win bonus) def. Dan Miller ($15,000)
• Frankie Edgar ($40,000 – $20,000 win bonus) def. Sean Sherk ($40,000)
• Brock Larson ($42,000 – $21,000 win bonus) def. Mike Pyle ($15,000)
• Tim Hague ($10,000 – $5,000 win bonus) def. Pat Barry ($7,000)
• Kyle Bradley ($8,000 – $4,000 win bonus) def. Phillipe Nover ($10,000)
• Krzysztof Soszynski ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. Andre Gusmao ($5,000)
• Yoshiyuki Yoshida ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Wolff ($3,000)
• George Roop ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. David Kaplan ($8,000)

In addition to the above salaries, Machida, Hughes, Serra, and Larson each took home $60,000 fight night bonuses.

[Pictured: Rashad Evans knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 98]

Evans offered little offense in the bout, while Machida controlled the fight throughout, using his famous (or perhaps infamous) unorthodox style to score a knockdown late in the first round before eventually connecting with a barrage of punches midway through the second that first staggered Evans before ultimately collapsing him cold to the canvas.

Evans falls to 18-1-1 with the first loss of his career, while Machida remains undefeated, upping his perfect record to 15-0.

In the UFC 98 co-main event Matt Hughes picked up a controversial unanimous decision victory over Matt Serra in the highly-anticipated bout between the welterweight rivals.

Hughes survived an early onslaught by Serra in the opening frame to take both the second and third rounds en route to the decision victory. Despite the judge’s views on the bout, most spectators scored the third frame in favor of Serra following a surprising takedown and outburst of offense in the closing minute. Even Hughes was apparently swayed in favor of Serra, raising his opponent’s arm following the conclusion of the contest. However, when the only scores that matter were handed down the judges awarded the close, albeit controversial decision to Hughes with 29-28 scores across the board.

The future hall of famer Hughes improves to 43-7 on his career after bouncing back from back-to-back defeats, while Serra goes to 9-6 following two-straight losses.

Drew McFedries rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 37-second knockout of Xaview Foupa-Pokam that could send “Professor X” packing from the UFC, while Chael Connen topped Dan Miller and Frankie Edgar scored a unanimous decision over Sean Sherk in other main card bouts.

Brock Larson, Tim Hague, Kyle Bradley, Krzysztof Soszynski, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, and George Roop were victorious on the evening’s preliminary card.

The official results for UFC 98 were:

• Lyoto Machida def. Rashad Evans (c) via KO (punches) — Round 2, 3:57
  UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Matt Hughes def. Matt Serra via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Drew McFedries def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 0:37
• Chael Sonnen def. Dan Miller via unanimous decision(30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Frankie Edgar def. Sean Sherk via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Brock Larson def. Mike Pyle via submission (arm-triangle choke) — Round 1, 3:06
• Tim Hague def. Pat Barry via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 1:43
• Kyle Bradley def. Phillipe Nover via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 1:03
• Krzysztof Soszynski def. Andre Gusmao via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 3:17
• Yoshiyuki Yoshida def. Brandon Wolff via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 2:24
• George Roop def. Dave Kaplan via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)

The official weigh-in results were:

• Lyoto Machida (204) vs. Rashad Evans (c) (205)
  UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Matt Serra (171) vs. Matt Hughes (170)
• Drew McFedries (185) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (186)
• Dan Miller (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (186)
• Frank Edgar (155) vs. Sean Sherk (156)
• Mike Pyle (172*) vs. Brock Larson (171)
• Tim Hague (263) vs. Pat Barry (237)
• Kyle Bradley (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (156)
• Andre Gusmao (206) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (206)
• Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
• George Roop (154) vs. Dave Kaplan (156)

*Due to the late notice replacement of Chris Wilson by Pyle, Pyle was allowed an extra pound at the weigh-in.

[Pictured: Rashad Evans (left) and Lyoto Machida]

Sean Sherk

Lightweight opponents Sean Sherk and Frank Edgar and welterweight rivals Matt Serra and Matt Hughes have all tested clean in drug tests administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission ahead of UFC 98, which takes place on May 23rd in Las Vegas.

NSAC executive director Keith Kizer today confirmed the results to MMAFrenzy.com via email.

The tests were part of the NSAC’s in-training drug testing, which tests fighters before an event, instead of only on event night, to reduce the possibility of fighters cycling off performance enhancing drugs and avoiding detection. Though any fighter can be tested under the policy, headliners and past offenders are most commonly required to undergo the tests.

In other UFC 98 news, MMAjunkie is reporting that Mario Yamasaki will referee the event’s headlining bout between light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and challenger Lyoto Machida.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC 98 news and stop back next weekend for complete UFC 98 coverage.