Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

The UFC is targeting a March 2010 date for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre's title defense with No. 1 contender Dan Hardy, a source with knowledge of the situation told FanHouse.

Once formally agreed to by both sides, the matchup would likely be the main event of UFC 111, which is expected to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The 28-year-old St. Pierre (19-2) is one of MMA's hottest commodities after signing major sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Under Armour within the last year. He has been out of action since injuring his groin during the course of a successful defense against Thiago Alves at July's UFC 100.

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Filed under: Fighting, MMA Media Watch

When Under Armour signed Georges St. Pierre to an endorsement deal earlier this month, the mixed martial arts world took notice, though it likely did not resonate in the larger sports business world.

But the release of a recent study may have the inverse effect.

Scarborough Sports Marketing's new demographic survey, conducted over a six-month span, revealed a young audience with a high income. According to their statistics, MMA fans are 15 percent more likely than the average American adult to have a household income of over $75,000.

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Filed under: UFC

Darrill Schoonover, a cast member of the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, has been called back to active military duty in the U.S. Army, and will have to report shortly after his Dec. 5 fight on the TUF finale.

Schoonover, who previously served four years in the Army, believes he may be called to serve in Afghanistan, according to an interview he conducted with Shambala Sports Radio.

"At first I was kind of pissed," he said. "I was like, 'I've already served my country for four years and been out for almost two years.' I'm getting my fighting started and getting the ball rolling on that. I was kind of mad, but the very next day, I just accepted it. I'll do what I gotta do, and then I'll come back and work on my fighting."

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

At first glance, the Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin UFC 106 main event seems simple enough to diagnose. It's Ortiz's wrestling against Griffin's active standup, right? It'll be a carbon copy of their UFC 59 matchup, right?

Maybe, but maybe not.

After all, who can really say with any certainty what Ortiz will look like in the octagon after nearly 18 months away from the sport, after surgery, rehab and a taxing training camp? Unless you had eyes in his Big Bear facility, there is really no way of knowing.

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Filed under: UFC

UFC welterweight Karo Parisyan has apparently used up his last chance with the organization.

After Parisyan suddenly withdrew from his UFC 106 matchup with Dustin Hazelett on Thursday, UFC president Dana White took to his Twitter to vent, writing, "Karo Parisyan has f***ed over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!! He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC."

Parisyan meanwhile, told MMAWeekly.com that he could not fight because he was unable to pay a $32,000 fine stemming from a prior athletic commission drug suspension, and therefore was not issued a Nevada fighter's license.

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Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

In 2007, Jake Rosholt entered the world of MMA as a bona fide blue-chip recruit. A four-time collegiate wrestling All-American and three-time NCAA champion, Rosholt was signed by a major promotion (the WEC) just over a year after his debut, and joined the UFC in February.

After dropping a submission loss in his UFC debut, he rebounded impressively with a submission of his own over gritty veteran Chris Leben in his most recent matchup. That victory propelled him to the opportunity to fight Kendall Grove at Saturday night's UFC 106.

Rosholt recently took a few moments from his pre-fight preparation to discuss his fight with Grove, suffering growing pains in front of a worldwide audience, his thoughts on the Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin main event, and more.

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Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

With heavyweight kingpin Brock Lesnar on the shelf for the forseeable future, the UFC is likely moving towards an interim heavyweight title future, but who exactly that future involves is anyone's guess.

FanHouse spoke to several sources in the last 48 hours, and it seems that the organization is no closer to having any type of clarity in the title picture as they continue to deal with illnesses, injuries and other issues that have suddenly crept into scheduling.

According to two sources close to the situation, the UFC's preference is an interim title bout between Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez to be held at UFC 110 on Feb. 21 in Sydney, Australia. But the UFC will have to wade through several difficulties in putting together such a matchup, which seems increasingly less likely to happen.

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Filed under: WEC

Ladies and gentlemen, last night was a night for the history books. Years from now, you won't remember this column, but you will understand its significance. Because last night, Nov. 18, 2009, was the night that a 23-year-old human highlight reel by the name of Jose Aldo completed his ascension to MMA royalty.

Some of you might be thinking it's way too early to put him in the company of greatness. I've seen enough.

Aldo (16-1) is a singular talent in a world of overachievers. Armed with fast-twitch muscle that makes his standup a thing of destructive beauty, a seasoned ground game, surprisingly effective takedown defense and an even fight temperament, the WEC featherweight phenom laid a beating on defending champion Mike Brown, seizing the belt and starting a reign that has every possibility of lasting for years.

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Filed under: Fighting

David Allen Tyner, a 28-year-old former Marine who fought seven times professionally as a mixed martial artist, has surrendered himself to police in Oklahoma City, Okla., in connection with a multiple homicide on Nov. 9.

Oklahoma City police had issued a warrant for his arrest on Monday related to six murder complaints. According to the warrant obtained by FanHouse, fire investigators arrived to the grisly scene on Nov. 9 after being notified of a house fire. Upon arrival, fire personnel quickly encountered one deceased person. Upon extinguishing the fire, the other victims were discovered.

While four bodies were found at the scene, authorities say two of the victims were pregnant. All four victims were shot, and the crime scene had been intentionally set ablaze, authorities determined.

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Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

At 34 years old, and out of action for almost 18 months, Tito Ortiz doesn't miss a beat during UFC 106 fight promotion. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion still finds ways to needle his opponent, still has no problem reciting his resume, still talks about his big dreams.

But there's a change, too. There's much more nuance and subtlety in his delivery today. Perhaps changed by a nasty divorce with the UFC, followed by back surgery and a long rehabilitation, followed by a kiss-and-make-up with Dana White, Ortiz -- at least for now -- is a quieter, more mature version of himself. That is a change that he hopes will contrast sharply with his athletic performance. Before he was talking loudly, but getting no results; he hasn't won a fight since 2006. Now, he speaks more softly, but trusts his body to deliver the real statement.

"There's going to be a belt in my future for sure," Ortiz told FanHouse in a recent interview. "It's 'Dream it, work it, win it.' That's the dream comeback. But it's one fight at a time, and I don't want to look past this one."

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Filed under: UFC

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Filed under: UFC

Every time Randy Couture steps into the cage, the mind can't help but wonder if this will be the last time. For years, the 46-year-old has made a very good living bucking the odds and overcoming expectations, but his UFC 105 bout with Brandon Vera will mark the first time since 2002 that Couture stares a possible three-fight losing streak in the face.

In Vera, Couture will face a mercurial talent who was once seen as a future superstar but has yet to reach the heights expected of him.

So how will the fight go down? Let's take a look.

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Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

The UFC's cable broadcast home Spike will air two UFC 106 preliminary matchups prior to the pay-per-view portion of the card, a pair of sources confirmed to FanHouse on Tuesday.

The two bouts scheduled to air include the welterweight clash between Marcus Davis and Ben Saunders, as well as a middleweight tangle pitting Jake Rosholt against Kendall Grove.

An official announcement of the broadcast should come in the next day or two.

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Filed under: Strikeforce

When Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Jake Shields step into the cage on Saturday, it will match up one of MMA's best known personalities with one of its most underrated fighters.

For all his verbosity and bluster, Miller is highly skilled and well rounded, and presents the surging Shields with a stern challenge in all facets of the fight game.

So how will the Stikeforee middleweight championship fight go down? Let's take a look.

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Filed under: Strikeforce

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