Dos Santos (9-1) opened his UFC career with back-to-back first-round knockouts of Fabricio Werdum and Stefan Struve, before forcing Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic to submit to punches in the third-round of their September bout.

Gonzaga (11-4), previously rumored to be fighting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 107, bounced back from a March  loss to Shane Carwin with a first-round knockout of newcomer Chris Tuchscherer in August to improve to 3-1 in his last four fights.

UFC 108, which will air live on pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, is expected to feature middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort and Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva.

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

Pictured: Junior dos Santos

In the evening’s co-main event Junior dos Santos battered the legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic through out the first two rounds of the fight. Filipovic looked his best in the first round of the fight, but as the fight wore on dos Santos took over. In the third round, it was more of the same, and eventually dos Santos forced Filipovic verbally submit after landing a combination of knees and punches to his head.

UFC debutant Paul Daley made good on his debut, upsetting UFC veteran Martin Kampmann with a first round TKO. With the TKO loss for Kampann, any title hopes he had coming into the bout have been spoiled. Daley’s victory over Kampmann gives him a strong injection into the UFC’s welterweight division.

In Frank Trigg’s return to the UFC, Josh Koscheck played spoiler and ended his night in the first round with a series of strikes, beginning on the feet, and then finishing him on the ground.

Both bouts on the SpikeTV televised portion of the card ended early. In the first bout Drew McFedries did not look his usual self, and eventually succumbed to a rear naked choke at 1:03 of the second round. In the second of the scheduled SpikeTV bouts, Efrain Escudero ended Cole Miller’s night early, with a first round technical knock out, 3:30 in.

The official results for UFC 103 were:

• Vitor Belfort def. Rich Franklin via KO — 3:02 Round 1
• Junior Dos Santos def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic via verbal submission (strikes) — 2:00 Round 3
• Paul Daley def. Martin Kampmann via TKO — 2:31 Round 1
• Josh Koscheck def. Frank Trigg via TKO — 1:25 Round 1
• Tyson Griffin def. Hermes Franca via KO — 3:26 Round 2
• Efrain Escudero def. Cole Miller via TKO — 3:36 Round 1
• Tomasz Drwal def. Drew McFedries via submission (rear naked choke) — 1:03 Round 2
• Jim Miller def. Steve Lopez via TKO (shoulder injury) — 0:48 Round 2
• Nick Lentz def. Rafaello Oliveira via unanimous decision — 29-28 (2x), 30-27
• Rick Story def. Brian Foster via submission (arm triangle) — 1:09 Round 2
• Eliot Marshall def. Jason Brilz via split decision — 30-27 (2x), 27-30
• Vladimir Matyushenko def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision — all three judges scored the bout 30-27
• Rafael dos Anjos def. Rob Emerson via unanimous decision — all three judges scored the bout 30-27

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Vitor Belfort vs. Rich Franklin Prediction:
Belfort def. Rich Franklin via (T)KO — Round 2
I personally will be pulling for Rich Franklin to pick up another victory in this bout, as I’m sure many other fans will be as well. However, Vitor Belfort has been on a role lately and has devastating power in his speedy hands. If Franklin can avoid Belfort’s power, he has a chance at pulling this victory out with a decision, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think Belfort is going to be too quick and too strong for Franklin, and will pull off the TKO in the second round. Franklin will be smart, and careful enough to avoid Belfort’s power for a while, but eventually he will be too slow getting out of the way of Belfort’s hands and will get caught.

Junior Dos Santos vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Prediction:
Junior dos Santos def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic via (T)KO — Round 1
Like the last bout, I will likely be pulling for the fighter I see as the underdog, Cro Cop is a legend, and I really want him to do well this time around in the UFC. Cro Cop is a top level striker, and has knocked out some of the best fighters in the world, but in recent years he seems to have lost some of his speed and power. Junior dos Santos is a hungry young fighter, with dynamite in his hands, and impressive speed. Cro Cop’s ability to avoid damage recently has been suspect in m opinion, and I think that dos Santos will overwhelm him early and not let up, putting him down in the first round.

Martin Kampmann vs. Paul Daley Prediction:
Martin Kampmann def. Paul Daley via submission — Round 1
Paul Daley is making his UFC debut filling in for Mike Swick on short notice, though he was already slated to fight on the card. Kampmann is a top level fighter, who boasts heavy hands and a strong ground game. Daley is an outstanding stand up fighter, with knock out power, but Kampmann is no slouch in the striking department. The difference in this fight will likely be Daley’s relative lack of a ground game. I expect Kampmann to take Daley down early and ground and pound his way beyond Daley’s submission defense, and eventually lock in a fight ending submission.

Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg Prediction:
Frank Trigg def. Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision
I think that Trigg and Koscheck are similar fighters, and I think that Trigg’s experience will pay dividends in this fight. Both fighters have good hands, and good wrestling and this fight could take place anywhere. Though both fighters are capable of ending fights, I don’t see it happening in this one, especially since I’m predicting Trigg for the win and his last few have come via decision. I will admit that I’m partly selected with my heart and not my head on this one, I just really like watching Koscheck lose.

Hermes Franca vs. Tyson Griffin Prediction:
Tyson Griffin def. Hermes Franca via unanimous decision
Tyson Griffin is a top level fighter from Sacramento with a strong wrestling base. He has won multiple “Fight of the Night” honors and will definitely be pushing the action against Hermes Franca tonight. Franca has shown a past weakness against strong wrestlers and I expect more of the same here. I believe Griffin will grind out a decision with crisper striking on the feet, and some quality take downs and top control.

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

Erain Escudero vs. Cole Miller Prediction:
Cole Miller def. Efrain Escudero via submission — Round 2
Escudero is a strong wrestler with capable ground and pound, but I think Miller is the more complete fighter and will catch Escudero in the second, possibly set up by rocking him standing.

Tomasz Drwal vs. Drew McFedries Prediction:
Drew McFedries def. Tomasz Drwal via (T)KO — Round 1
This bout will probably be over quick. Both men have won “Knockout of the Night” honors in previous outings, and will likely come out swinging for the fences. In some ways I think the outcome of this fight depends on who connects first, and I think that will be McFedries, who I also believe possesses more power.

PRELIMINARY CARD (Non-Televised)
Predictions:

• Jim Miller def. Steve Lopez via submission — Round 1
• Rafaello Oliveira def. Nick Lentz via split decision
• Rick Story def. Brian Foster via unanimous decision
• Elliot Marshall def. Jason Brilz via submission — Round 2
• Vladimir Matyushenko def. Igor Pokrajac via (T)KO — Round 3
• Rob Emerson def. Rafael dos Anjos via (T)KO — Round 1

KRIS KARKOSKI’s UFC 103 QUICK PREDICTIONS

• Vitor Belfort def. Rich Franklin via (T)KO — Round 2
• Junior Dos Santos def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic via (T)KO — Round 2
• Martin Kampmann def. Paul Daley via (T)KO — Round 3
• Josh Koscheck def. Frank Trigg via unanimous decision
• Tyson Griffin def. Hermes Franca via unanimous decision
• Cole Miller def. Efrain Escudero via submission — Round 2
• Tomasz Drwal def. Drew McFedries via (T)KO — Round 1
• Jim Miller def. Steve Lopez via unanimous decision
• Rafaello Oliveira def. Nick Lentz via unanimous decision
• Rick Story def. Brian Foster via submission — Round 2
• Jason Brilz def. Eliot Marshall via (T)KO — Round 3
• Vladimir Matyushenko def. Igor Pokrajac via unanimous decision
• Rob Emerson def. Rafael dos Anjos via (T)KO — Round 2

FR702’s UFC 103 PREDICTIONS

• Rich Franklin def. Vitor Belfort via unanimous decision
  I honestly believe that Rich will win this via UD, and stay just a step ahead of Vitor… Belfort isn’t going to run straight out and attack wildly but for some reason I just see Rich being the victor in this bout… Watchout for the left Rich because if you get touched you might go down…
• Junior dos Santos def. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic via (T)KO — round 1
  As much as I personally want to see the Left High Kick ko from Cro Cop, I have to admit that I see dos Santos winning this bout in first via (t)ko.
• Martin Kampmann def. Paul Daley via submission — Round 2
  Paul Daley stepping up and face a very tough guy on short notice, I was seriously looking forward to seeing Swick v Kampmann but hey this will do. No doubt that Daley holds power, and really needs to work on his ground technique I just see Martin overwhelming him with speed and takedowns and Kampmann wins this via submission in round 2. I see this fight being very similar to Kampmann v McFedries.
• Josh Koscheck def. Frank Trigg via unanimous decision
  Welcome back Trigg, for your first fight you have to face a guy that is just as good as you in wrestling someone who has better submission technique than you do and perhaps has faster more powerful hands. Plus you dissed me and Eric at the Loews in Philly, I do however believe that this fight will go to a decision and it will be unanimous for Koscheck.
• Tyson Griffin def. Hermes Franca via unanimous decision
  I see this being a battle of wills and I can’t bring myself to give Franca the win by any means. Sure he hits hard and has great subs but Griffin can take a punch and we all know that he DOES NOT TAP. Franca has his own issues with strong wrestlers, so in this fight I’m going with Griffin via unanimous decision.
• Cole Miller def. Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision
• Drew McFedries def. Tomasz Drawl via unanimous decision
• Jim Miller def. Steve Lopez via (T)KO — round 2
• Rafaello Oliveira def. Nick Lentz via submission — Round 2
• Brian Foster def. Rick Story via unanimous decision
• Elliot Marshall def. Jason Brilz via submission — Round 2
• Vladimir Matyushenko def. Igo Pokrajac via (T)KO — Round 2
• Rafael dos Anjos def. Rob Emerson via unanimous decision

Spike TV-televised combatant Efrain Escudero failed to make weight on his first attempt, weighing in at 157 pounds, one pound over the the non-title lightweight limit of 156. He, like Belfort, was given time to shed the extra weight and did so, weighing in at 156 pounds on a subsequent attempt.

The rest of the fighters on the 13-bout card, including main card fighters Josh Koscheck and Frank Trigg, successfully made weight on their first attempts for the Spike and pay-per-view televised event.

The official weigh-in results for UFC 103 were:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)

• Vitor Belfort (196) vs. Rich Franklin (195)
• Junior Dos Santos (236) vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (226)
• Martin Kampmann (169.5) vs. Paul Daley (170)
• Josh Koscheck (170) vs. Frank Trigg (170.25)
• Hermes Franca (159) vs. Tyson Griffin (155.5)^

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

• Efrain Escudero (156) vs. Cole Miller (155)
• Tomasz Drwal (185) vs. Drew McFedries (185.25)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Steve Lopez (154.5) vs. Jim Miller (154.5)
• Nick Lentz (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155.25)
• Brian Foster (170.75) vs. Rick Story (170)
• Jason Brilz (205.25) vs. Elliot Marshall (204.75)
• Vladimir Matyushenko (205) vs. Igor Pokrajac (203)
• Rafael dos Anjos (155.5) vs. Rob Emerson (155.5)

*Belfort and Escudero each weighed-in over the limit for their bouts and have been given additional time to lose the additional weight.
^ These fighters agreed prior to the weigh-ins to meet at a catchweight of 159 pounds.

Stop back tomorrow for live UFC 103 coverage, as well as MMAFrenzy.com’s fight night recap and post-event news.

Click here for more UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort Coverage.

“I think I’ll fight September 19. They took me off the August 29 show,” said dos Santos. “My opponent’s changed. I’ll probably face Cro Cop. If I beat him I’ll be in really good standing. If that’s truly the case, I’m guaranteed on the main card and in the main event of the evening. If I were to fight now it wouldn’t be on the main card.

“To me it’s incredible. When they asked me if they could change the fight date I was a bit bothered, because I wanted to fight right away. I’ve been away for some time now. But the Fertitta brothers asked me and I accepted,” he continued. “After that I found out it would be against Cro Cop and was overjoyed. It’ll be a big opportunity in my career. Lots of good things have happened in my life and this is one more. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Dos Santos (8-1), who’s never gone the distance in any of his 9 career bouts, is currently riding a 3-fight win streak that includes back-to-back first-round knockouts of Fabrico Werdum and Stefan Struve inside the Octagon. “Cigano” had been scheduled to fight Justin McCully in late-August on the UFC 102 preliminary card, but news broke on Wednesday that he was pulled from the event in favor of a better matchup.

Nearly two years after leaving the Octagon following back-to-back losses to Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo in 2007, Cro Cop (25-6-2) returned to the UFC in June, defeating Mostapha Al-Turk via first-round TKO at UFC 99. Filipovic’s future in the UFC was jeopardized when he nearly signed with DREAM following the victory, his third-straight, but UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta was apparently able to convince the popular veteran to return to the Octagon with a contract he “couldn’t refuse”.

Rich Franklin is likely to headline UFC 103 against an opponent to-be-announced with Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg, and Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller also rumored for the card.

For the latest UFC rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com MMA rumors section.

[Pictured: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic]

McCully announced on MMAjunkie Radio on Wednesday that he’ll instead fight newcomer Mike Russow at the August 29 event in Portland, Oregon.

Another UFC newcomer, Todd Duffee, who had been slated to fight Russow at the pay-per-view event, will instead take on Tim Hague.

Both McCully-Russow and Duffee-Hague will take place on the unaired preliminary card.

Though no reason has yet been given for lineup changes, it appears likely that dos Santos was pulled from the card for a better matchup at one of the UFC’s fall events. Adding the exciting up-and-comer dos Santos to the main card for the UFC’s September 19 event in Dallas, UFC 103, could supplement a still to-be-booked but likely weaker-than-normal main event, especially if he’s matched against another attention-grabbing heavyweight such as Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (should he return to the UFC).

For the latest UFC rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com MMA rumors section.

[Pictured: Junior dos Santos]

Joining a heavyweight headliner between Randy Coture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on the pay-per-view main card are Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva, Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt, Demian Maia vs. Nate Marquardt, and Matt Hamill vs. Brandon Vera.

The event’s now-complete 11-bout lineup features:

MAIN CARD

• Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
• Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
• Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt
• Demian Maia vs. Nate Marquardt
• Matt Hamill vs. Brandon Vera

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer
  
• Wilson Gouveia vs. James Irvin
• Junior Dos Santos vs. Justin McCully
• Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
  
• Nick Catone vs. Mark Munoz
• Evan Dunham vs. Matt Veach

MMAJunkie has confirmed that both fighters have agreed to the bout, that was first rumored by Tatame. The fight agreements have not yet been finalized, however.

Dos Santos really caught the eye of fight fans when he was seen hitting the pads in Dana White’s video blog leading up to UFC 90, giving the fighter a bit of an underground buzz going into the fight. On fight night dos Santos did not disappoint, dropping his opponent, Fabricio Werdum early in the first round, ending Werdum’s title aspirations, and effectively knocking him out of the UFC. In his last bout dos Santos made quick work of Stefan Struve at UFC 95.

McCully on the other hand has fought for several promotions over his twelve year career before ending up in the UFC. In his promotional debut he secured an unexpected unanimous decision victory over Antoni Hardonk, which he followed up by getting submitted by Gabriel Gonzaga. McCully was last in action in December earning another unanimous decision victory, this time over Eddie Sanchez.

For more information on this event, please visit our UFC 102 Rumors page.

Diego Sanchez attempts a flying knee against Joe Stevenson at UFC 95

Diego Sanchez was victorious in his lightweight debut at UFC 95, topping Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision on Saturday in London. Newcomer Paulo Thiago upset welterweight contender Josh Koscheck via first-round knockout on a card filled filled with stoppages.

Dan Hardy is likely to receive a step up in competition for his next bout after dispatching of Rory Markham with punches in just over one-minute in the evening’s co-main event.

Middleweight contenders Nate Marquardt and Demian Maia may be on a collision course after both picked up impressive victories over Wilson Gouveia and Chael Sonnen respectively at UFC 95.

$40,000 fight night bonuses were awarded to four UFC 95 fighters for their performances at the event. Sanchez and Steveson received “Fight of the Night” honors, Thiago earned “Knockout of the Night”, and Maia received the “Submission of the Night” award.

The event’s full results were:

• Diego Sanchez def. Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Dan Hardy def. Rory Markham via KO (punches) — Round 1, 1:09
• Nate Marquardt def. Wilson Gouveia via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 3:10
• Demian Maia def. Chael Sonnen via submission (triangle choke) — Round 1, 2:37
• Paulo Thiago def. Josh Koscheck via KO (punches) — Round 1, 3:29
• Terry Etim def. Brian Cobb via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 0:10
• Junior dos Santos def. Stefan Struve via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 0:54
• Evan Dunham def. Per Eklund via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 2:14
• Mike Ciesnolevicz def. Neil Grove via submission (heel hook) — Round 1, 1:03
• Paul Kelly def. Troy Mandaloniz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-28)