FanHouse PaulBuentello

Unbeaten heavyweight sensation Todd Duffee has suffered an undisclosed injury and has been forced to pull out of his fight against former UFC and Strikeforce title challenger Paul Buentello at UFC 107 on Dec. 12.

"[Withdrawing] was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make," the American Top Team fighter told Sherdog.com.

All signs point to Todd Duffee facing Paul Buentello at UFC 107 in December. MMA Junkie first reported the bout over the weekend, and FanHouse has learned that it is close to being finalized.

FanHouse recently spoke to the 23-year-old UFC rookie about his stellar Octagon debut in August, why he was hesitant to fight in the UFC this early in his career and his unique nickname. The full interview is below.

Paul Buentello is a man in limbo.

After his fight against Gilbert Yvel was scrapped along with the entire Affliction promotion, "The Headhunter" is one of the few fighters from the "Trilogy" card who has yet to land with a new promotion. FanHouse spoke to the 12-year veteran at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose about where and when he hopes to fight next. Check out the full video interview below.

Update: Affliction Vice President, Tom Atencio, just informed FanHouse that he received an unexpected call from a member of Takanori Gomi's management team about reaching an agreement on a new contract that benefits both parties. Stay tuned.

Takanori Gomi won't be competing at "Affliction: Trilogy" after all. FanHouse has learned that Affliction Entertainment could not reach an agreement with the Japanese MMA star to fight on their upcoming show on August 1 in Anaheim, Calif. Affliction Entertainment Vice President, Tom Atencio, told FanHouse on Friday that after weeks of negotiation, the two sides couldn't agree on a contract. Gomi was offered a fight against Rafael Rivera.

Tim Sylvia's shocking nine-second knockout loss to Ray Mercer on Saturday has proven to be more costly than originally thought. Affliction Entertainment vice president, Tom Atencio, informed FanHouse on Monday that Sylvia has now been taken off the upcoming "Affliction: Trilogy" card. "It's his second knockout in a row, and I don't want to take a chance on anything," Atencio said. "The fight is less than 60 days away."

Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer have been struggling to gain media attention for their boxing match ... err, MMA fight on the same weekend as a UFC event.

Sylvia, however, might get the wrong kind of attention for this: the 6-foot-8 former UFC heavyweight champion weighed in at 310.6 pounds for his fight, which will take place on an Adrenaline MMA card in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night.

Takanori Gomi (30-5) will not be facing Brett Copper (9-4) at "Affliction: Trilogy" on August 1.

MMA Weekly reported early Thursday morning that the 165-pound catchweight bout was close to being finalized, but Affliction Entertainment VP, Tom Atencio, told FanHouse on Thursday that after brief consideration, the fight is not happening.

Former IFL heavyweight star, Ben Rothwell, will return to Affliction on August 1 to face up-and-coming Chase Gormley. The Vice President of Affliction Entertainment, Tom Atencio, informed FanHouse of the news at Wednesday's "Affliction: Trilogy" press conference in New York City.

Rothwell lost to Andrei Arlovski in the first Affliction show last July, but has since recorded a first round submission victory against Chris Guillen at Adrenaline MMA 2 in December.

News and notes from around the world of mixed martial arts:

* A heavyweight bout between Tim Sylvia and Paul Buentello has been penciled in for "Affliction: Trilogy," a source close to Sylvia informed Fanhouse on Friday. A member of Buentello's camp told FanHouse that he already signed the bout agreement and Sylvia will be doing the same shortly. Sylvia was last seen losing in 36 seconds via rear naked choke to Fedor Emelianenko at the first Affliction event last July. Meanwhile, since losing the Strikeforce heavyweight title to Alistair Overeem in November 2007, Buentello has won his last two fights in a row.