Get Fit for the New Year w/ Arianny Celeste

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Fresh Faces: UFC 125 edition

UFC 125 rings in the New Year with a lightweight title match between champion Frankie Edgar and undefeated challenger Gray Maynard.

The card also features four fighters making their UFC debuts, including three WEC standouts. Meet them in this edition of Fresh Faces.

Name: Josh Grispi

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Dustin Poirier

Record: 14-1 (6 (T)KOs, 7 submissions) for the WEC and various U.S. promotions

Recent body of work: Submitted LC Davis by first-round guillotine choke at "WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus" in June

Who he is: Grispi enters his UFC debut riding a 10-fight winning streak, including eight straight first-round finishes and a 4-0 mark in the WEC. Originally, Grispi was scheduled to face Erik Koch at WEC 52, but the UFC decided to grant Grispi a shot at the newly-crowned UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo instead. After Aldo was forced to withdraw from the bout with a back injury, Poirier became Grispi's new opponent.

Name: Dustin Poirier

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Josh Grispi

Record: 8-1 (5 (T)KOs, 3 submissions) for the WEC and various promotions in the United States and Canada

Recent body of work: Defeated Zach Micklewright by TKO in just 0:53 at "WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki" in November

Who he is: Poirier will step in to face Grispi after Grispi's original opponent, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, was forced to withdraw due to an injury. A Louisiana native, Poirier rebounded from his first career loss -- a decision to Danny Castillo -- with a 53-second TKO win over Micklewright in November, and will drop from lightweight to featherweight for the first time in his career.

Name: Diego Nunes

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Mike Brown

Record: 15-1 (5 (T)KOs, 6 submissions) for the WEC and various Brazilian promotions

Recent body of work: Defeated Tyler Toner by unanimous decision at "WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan" in September

Who he is: Hailing from Brazil, Nunes entered the WEC having finished all 11 of his professional fights. After suffering his first career loss to LC Davis, Nunes rebounded with back-to-back victories in 2010 to run his WEC record to 4-1. Since entering the WEC, all five of Nunes' fights have gone to decision.

Name: Antonio McKee

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Jacob Volkmann

Record: 25-3-2 (3 (T)KOs, 4 submissions) for various promotions in the United States, Canada and Mexico

Recent body of work: TKO'd Luciano Azevedo in the first round at "MFC 26: Retribution" in September

Who he is: The 40-year-old McKee has not lost a fight since dropping a decision to Karo Parisyan in 2003, a span that has lasted 15 fights (14-0-1). Long criticized for being a boring fighter (18 of his 25 wins have come by decision), McKee has finished his last two fights in the first round. In his most recent bout against Luciano, McKee stated that he would retire if he failed to finish the fight. He made good on his guarantee, blasting Luciano with elbows that forced a doctor stoppage.

Also, remember to click HERE to sign up for the best MMA training, fitness, nutrition and entertainment, only on TapouTVTC.com.

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Brendan Schaub in the Works for UFC 128

A heavyweight match between Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic and Brendan Schaub is in the works for UFC 128, which is expected to take place on March 19 in Newark, NJ.

'Cro Cop' (27-8-2 (1 NC), 4-4 UFC) will look to rebound from a tepid loss to Frank Mir in the headlining bout of UFC 119 that had many questioning whether or not the Croatian would retire. Prior to the loss, 'Cro Cop' had won two straight.

Schaub (7-1, 3-1 UFC) has won three straight UFC bouts since losing to Roy Nelson in the finals of "The Ultimate Fighter 10." This is Schaub's third suspected opponent, after previous reports have had him fighting Frank Mir and Stefan Struve.

'Cro Cop' last three fights:
Loss (KO - Knee) Frank Mir - UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop (09/25/2010)
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Pat Barry - UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin (06/12/2010)
Win (TKO - Doctor Stoppage) Anthony Perosh - UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez (02/21/2010)

Schaub last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Gabriel Gonzaga - UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez (10/23/2010)
Win (TKO - Punches) Chris Tuchscherer - UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin (07/03/2010)
Win (TKO - Punches) Chase Gormley - UFC Live on Versus: Vera vs. Jones (03/21/2010)

Props: Fighters Only

Sean McCorkle vs. Christian Morecraft in the Works for UFC Fight Night 24

A heavyweight bout between Sean McCorkle and Christian Morecraft is in the works for UFC Fight Night 24, which is expected to take place on March 26 in Seattle, WA.

McCorkle (10-1, 1-1 UFC) has emerged as one of the best trash talkers in MMA, taking to forums and his Twitter to blast his opponents. In his most recent outing, McCorkle lost by first-round TKO to Stefan Struve at UFC 124. The loss marked the first of McCorkle's career.

Morecraft (6-1, 0-1 UFC) also suffered his first career loss at the hands of Struve, this time at UFC 117. Prior to that loss, Morecraft had won all six of his professional fights in the first round.

McCorkle last three fights:
Loss (TKO - Punches) Stefan Struve - UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2 (12/11/2010)
Win (Submission - Kimura) Mark Hunt - UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop (09/25/2010)
Win (TKO - Punches) Johnathan Ivey - Legends of Fighting 39 (05/28/2010)

Morecraft last three fights:
Loss (KO - Punches) Stefan Struve - UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen (08/07/2010)
Win (Submission - Punches) Lee Beane - Cage Fighting Xtreme 9: Finally (05/28/2010)
Win (TKO - Punches) Jason Dolloff - Cage Fighting Xtreme 8: Rumble in the Jungle 3 (02/20/2010)

Props: MMA Fighting

Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares in the Works for UFC on Versus 3

A lightweight bout between Shane Roller and Thiago Tavares is in the works for UFC on Versus 3, which is expected to take place on March 3 in Louisville, KY.

Roller (9-3, 0-0 UFC) will make his UFC debut after a 6-2 run in the WEC. A powerful wrestler, Roller capped off his WEC career by submitting former WEC champion Jamie Varner in the first round at WEC 53.

Tavares (15-3-1, 5-3-1 UFC) is undefeated in his last three fights (2-0-1) after dropping three of four from 2007-2008. Most recently, Tavares submitted Pat Audinwood by first-round guillotine choke at UFC 119.

Roller last three fights:
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Jamie Varner - WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis (12/16/2010)
Loss (Submission - Triangle Choke) Anthony Pettis - WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez (08/18/2010)
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Anthony Njokuani - WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber (04/24/2010)

Tavares last three fights:
Win (Submission - Guillotine Choke) Pat Audinwood - UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop (09/25/2010)
Draw (Majority) Nik Lentz - UFC Fight Night 20: Maynard vs. Diaz (01/11/2010)
Win (Unanimous Decision) Manvel Gamburyan - UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2 (01/31/2009)

Props: MMA Junkie

Pro Training Preview: Greg Jackson

If you are an MMA fan, Greg Jackson needs little introduction.

Jackson has become one of the most successful coaches in MMA, leading fighters like Georges St-Pierre and Rashad Evans to world titles. His is known for creating the perfect game plan, and for having the best-prepared fighters in the business.

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A Holiday Message from Brittney Palmer and TapouTVTC.com

If you know a guy that is hard to buy for, Brittney Palmer and TapouTVTC.com have your Christmas solution.

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Fitness Expert James Ellis on TapouTVTC.com

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WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis post-fight thoughts and analysis

The WEC finished its farewell tour Thursday night, in front of 6,348 fans in Glendale, Arizona. In fitting WEC fashion, the night ended with a Fight-of-the-Year candidate.

Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis

- I'd be remiss in talking about this fight without first commenting on the ridiculous, video-game-esque kick that Pettis landed on Henderson late in the fifth round to seal the fight. I, like two of the three judges ringside, had the fight 38-38 heading into the final frame. Pettis put an emphatic exclamation point on his performance with that kick, winning over a pro-Henderson crowd to the point that he received the loudest ovation of the night. That kick summarizes what I love most about MMA; you never know when you're going to see something truly original.

- Pettis fans are familiar with his wide array of flashy strikes, but he has become a very well-rounded fighter. In his last fight, Pettis kept a good wrestler in Shane Roller from taking him down. On Thursday, Pettis was able to survive with Henderson on his back before eventually reversing position. This win gives Pettis a shot at the UFC lightweight title against the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Either fighter presents a unique challenge, but I think that Pettis will be able to hang.

- Henderson is an imposing 155-er physically, with legs that look like they belong on a horse. However, his overall game is still very raw. He rarely throws more than two-punch combination and doesn't use his kicks in conjunction with his punches. He has the physical tools to survive in the shark tank of the UFC lightweight division, but Henderson will need to continue evolving to climb to the top.

- To learn some of the unorthodox striking that Duke Roufus-coached fighters like Pettis use, check out Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione's Pro Training modules on TapouTVTC.com.

- This fight was the perfect sendoff to the WEC. It was a back-and-forth battle, a Fight-of-the-Year candidate, featuring excitement and a move that literally left our jaws hanging open. Like so many other WEC fights, it ended in a standing ovation, seen by too few but appreciated by those who did.

Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen

- Cruz is a nightmare matchup for anyone in the bantamweight division. He possesses size, speed and unlimited cardio. How exactly do you beat Cruz? If you force him to come to you and look to counterpunch, he can out-quick you. If you try to bully him in the clinch, he can out-strength you. Jorgensen had no answers for Cruz's elusive style, and Cruz dominated from bell to bell.

- When ranking the most frustrating fighters to face, Cruz ranks at the top with Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. Any time Jorgensen looked to brawl on the feet, he ended up swinging at air.

- Cruz's biggest asset is his footwork, which is quick and disciplined. Whether he is moving in to attack or out after attacking, Cruz always works his angles. It's disheartening as an opponent when you absorb three punches and a leg kick from Cruz, only to have him disappear from your sight when you look to return fire.

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki

- Cerrone did a great job of submission chaining on the ground, transitioning from a triangle to an omoplata before switching to a triangle again for the finish. This is a preaching of Cerrone's coach, Greg Jackson, who likes to see his fighters swing directly from submission to submission, rather than retreating to guard after one missed attempt.

- Cerrone might have finished the fight earlier, had he chosen to rotate forward on the omoplata attempt instead of reaching for a crossface and pulling Horodecki backwards. It looked like a move out of pro wrestling, but rolling back actually took pressure off of Horodecki's shoulder. Instead, Cerrone should have looked to flatten Horodecki onto his stomach, then rolled his hips forward to apply the submission.

- To see Greg Jackson demonstrate the triangle, omoplata, and submission training, sign up for Jackson's Pro Training modules on TapouTVTC.com. 

WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis results

Main Card:
Anthony Pettis def. Ben Henderson by unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 48-47) to become the final WEC Lightweight Champion
Dominick Cruz def. Scott Jorgensen by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the WEC Bantamweight Championship and become the first UFC Bantamweight Champion
Donald Cerrone def. Chris Horodecki by submission (triangle choke) at 2:43 of round 2
Kamal Shalorus def. Bart Palaszewski by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Preliminary Card:
Danny Downes def. Zhang Tie Quan by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Shane Roller def. Jamie Varner by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:55 of round 1
Brad Pickett def. Ivan Menjivar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Eddie Wineland def. Ken Stone by KO (slam) at 2:11 of round 1
Danny Castillo def. Will Kerr by KO (punches) at 1:25 of round 1
Yuri Alcantara def. Ricardo Lamas by KO (punches) at 3:26 of round 1
Renan Barao def. Chris Cariaso by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:47 of round 1


$10,000 Bonuses:
Fight of the Night: Ben Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis
Knockout of the Night: Eddie Wineland
Submission of the Night: Shane Roller

Get Fight Fit with Arianny Celeste and TapouTVTC.com

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WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis Weigh-In Results

Main Card:
Ben Henderson (155) vs. Anthony Pettis (154.5)
Dominick Cruz (134.5) vs. Scott Jorgensen (135)
Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Chris Horodecki (155)
Bart Palaszewski (156) vs. Kamal Shalorus (156)
Danny Downes (154.5) vs. Teiquan Zhang (155.5)

Preliminary Card:
Jamie Varner (156) vs. Shane Roller (155)
Ivan Menjivar (135) vs. Brad Pickett (136)
Ken Stone (135) vs. Eddie Wineland (136)
Yuri Alcantara (154.5) vs. Ricardo Lamas (156)
Danny Castillo (155.5) vs. Will Kerr (155)
Renan Barao (136) vs. Chris Cariaso (136)

Behind the Scenes with Brittney Palmer part II

TapouTVTC.com wrapped up a great day of shooting with the beautiful Brittney Palmer last week.

Brittney is the newest UFC ring girl after garnering a huge following in the WEC. Before she takes her final walk around the WEC cage this Thursday, Brittney shot some great footage that will be up on TapouTVTC.com soon.

Another big thanks to the talented Tracy Lee, who was on set with us to shoot these pictures.

Check out more behind-the-scenes photos after the jump, and sign up on TapouTVTC.com, where we will upload 60 more photos of Brittney tomorrow that you can only find on TapouTVTC.com!

Give Frank Trigg this holiday season

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Shawn Tompkins: The Perfect Holiday Gift with TapouTVTC.com

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Buy your loved one a one-on-one training session with "The Coach," Shawn Tompkins, only on TapouTVTC.com!

TapouTVTC.com is your ultimate source for the best MMA training, fitness, nutrition and entertainment on the net. Give the gift that really does keep on giving!

UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck II post-fight thoughts and analysis

- Is there any doubt that Georges St. Pierre is the best fighter in the world? After dominating Jon Fitch, BJ Penn, Thiago Alves and Dan Hardy on the ground, St. Pierre put on a striking clinic against a Josh Koscheck that many thought would test the champion's chin. St. Pierre only attempted three takedowns in the entire fight, content instead to blast away with jabs and lead hooks that left Koscheck with a fractured orbital bone. Koscheck was never in the fight, throwing the same jab/ overhand right combo that, while successful in the past, was predictable and easy for St. Pierre to avoid. Training with Freddie Roach looks to have elevated St. Pierre's boxing game. Combine that with a world-class wrestling game, and it's hard to find a fighter in the welterweight division that will give the champion a true test.

- Don't think nutrition is important for a fighter? Thiago Alves is example 'A' to the contrary. After missing weight --for the second time in four fights -- and looking sluggish in a lopsided decision loss to Jon Fitch, Dana White put Alves on blast; miss weight again and move up to middleweight. Alves enlisted the services of nutritionist Mike Dolce, and the results were convincing. Alves made weight with no issues on Friday and looked crisp, energized, and most importantly healthy Saturday against John Howard. After the bout, Alves credited Dolce and "lifestyle choices" for the win. If you want to learn from our nutritionist, P.R. Cole, sign up on TapouTVTC.com today.

- Like St. Pierre, Alves used his technical striking to avoid damage and beat up an opponent set on throwing haymakers. Alves' leg kicks were especially on point, and he looked fresh after the 15-minute beating that he administered. I typically shy away from the clichéd "best we've ever seen" statements, but with a new nutrition plan coupled with his deadly striking, the building blocks are in place for Alves to truly be the best Alves we've ever seen.

- Stefan Struve showed poise on the ground, using the cage to help defend a kimura attempt from Sean McCorkle. From there, Struve took advantage of a quickly-gassing opponent, using a hip-heist sweep to gain mounted position and pound McCorkle out. At only 22-years old, Struve has already amassed a staggering 25 career fights, including seven in the UFC. His 6'11 frame gives his tremendous reach on the feet, but Struve must continue to put on muscle to avoid being bullied by bulker heavyweights. Considering that his body has not fully matured yet, he has plenty of time.

- Jim Miller continues to bolster his contender status after knocking off fast-rising prospect Charles Oliveira by catching a kneebar in the first round. It surprised me that Oliveira showed no urgency when his leg was trapped, opting to fire off a few strikes to the body instead of using his free leg to push Miller's hips below his vulnerable knee. Still, Oliveira is just 21-years old, and he will learn from this loss and come back better. Miller ran his winning streak to six, and his overall UFC record to 8-1. The lightweight division has become stacked with contenders, with Miller, George Sotiropoulos (7-0 UFC) and the winner of Benson Henderson/ Anthony Pettis all potential number-one contenders in the next year.

- Mac Danzig flattened Joe Stevenson with a looping left hook that would have made Chuck Liddell proud, delivering the knockout blow while moving back and away. Despite not having a lot behind it, the hook connected in the perfect spot, proving that the hardest punches aren't always the ones that finish fights. Danzig was fighting for his UFC life in this bout and he delivered with the most emphatic finish of his Octagon career.

- Matt Riddle has the type of attitude that I love in young fighters. Instead of wilting from a first-round barrage of punishment courtesy of Sean Pierson, Riddle came back with a smile on his face in the second, eager for more. Riddle might have lost the decision, but heart like that is not coachable and a precious commodity in MMA.

UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck II results

Main Card:
Georges St. Pierre def. Josh Koscheck by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the UFC Welterweight Championship
Stefan Struve def. Sean McCorkle by TKO (punches) at 3:55 of round 1
Jim Miller def. Charles Oliveira by submission (kneebar) at 1:59 of round 1
Mac Danzig def. Joe Stevenson by KO (punch) at 1:54 of round 1
Thiago Alves def. John Howard by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC.com Live Stream:
Dan Miller def. Joe Doerksen by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Mark Bocek def. Dustin Hazelett by submission (triangle choke) at 2:33 of round 1

Preliminary Card:
Jesse Bongfeldt and Rafael Natal fought to a majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-29)
Sean Pierson def. Matt Riddle by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ricardo Almeida def. TJ Grant by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
John Makdessi def. Pat Audinwood by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

$100,000 Bonuses:
Fight of the Night: Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Knockout of the Night: Mac Danzig
Submission of the Night: Mark Bocek
Submission of the Night II: Jim Miller

UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck II weigh-in results

Main Card:
Georges St. Pierre (170) vs. Josh Koscheck (169)
Stefan Struve (253) vs. Sean McCorkle (264)
Joe Stevenson (155.5) vs. Mac Danzig (156)
Thiago Alves (171) vs. John Howard (171)
Jim Miller (155) vs. Charles Oliveira (153.5)

UFC.com Live Stream:
Dan Miller (184.5) vs. Joe Doerksen (185.5)
Dustin Hazelett (155) vs. Mark Bocek (155.5)

Preliminary Card:
Rafael Natal (185) vs. Jesse Bongfeldt (185.5)
Matthew Riddle (170.5) vs. Sean Pierson (170.5)
Ricardo Almeida (170.5) vs. T.J. Grant (170)
Pat Audinwood (156) vs. John Makdessi (155)

Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale discuss "The Fighter," MMA

TapouTVTC.com caught up with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, the stars of the new movie "The Fighter," and talked to them about their experiences making the movie and about mixed martial arts.

Wahlberg revealed that he had been trying to make "The Fighter" for five years, but it kept falling apart for one reason or another. Since it wouldn't be possible to keep stopping and starting training, Walhberg ended up training boxing for four and a half years. His goal, Walhberg said, was to look like a guy that could win the title.

A huge fan of MMA, Wahlberg also revealed that, while preparing for another boxing movie years ago, his trainer was none other than current UFC president Dana White. Wahlberg also recalled a story where he saw Quinton "Rampage" Jackson walking down the street in Beverly Hills. When he asked Jackson why he was in Beverly Hills, the former UFC champ responded, "What, man, black people can't be in Beverly Hills?"

Bale likened his character in "The Fighter," Dicky, to an elusive cat, whereas Wahlberg's character, Mickey, is more like a dog that will take five punches to land one good one. Despite having martial arts training in the past, Bale dedicated himself to studying boxing for this film, because, as he put it, he wanted to learn to punch like Dicky punches.

Out of all the martial arts styles that Bale has studied for various roles, his favorite is the Keysi Fighting Method (KFM), which he utilized in "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight."

As far as MMA is concerned, Bale believes that some of the moves found in KFM would be too brutal to use in the sport. It was actually Bale's wife who introduced him to MMA, picking out a UFC DVD while the couple was at a video store.

"The Fighter" opens in select theaters on December 10, and make sure to check TapouTVTC.com for more exclusive interviews.

The Perfect Gift with Arianny Celeste

Christmas is right around the corner. Do you have an MMA fan in your family? Maybe someone who wants to get in the best shape of their life? TapouTVTC.com has you covered!

Order your friend or family member a one-year subscription to TapouTVTC.com today, and you'll save 20% as our thanks to you.

With 21-day fitness and nutrition plans, hours of MMA instructional video and the biggest names in the sport, you won't find a gift like this anywhere else.

But don't just take our word for it. Click above to find out what the beautiful Arianny Celeste has to say about TapouTVTC.com.

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Behind the Scenes with Arianny Celeste part II

We have some more exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of our TapouTVTC shoot with Arianny Celeste and TapouT Training Center head coach Shawn Tompkins.

These photos were shot by the immensely talented Tracy Lee. Our hats go off to Arianny, who was still smiling after eight hours of shooting.

There are more exclusive photos after the jump and make sure to sign up on TapouTVTC.com, where we have 50 more photos waiting for you! Remember, the full set of photos are ONLY available on TapouTVTC.com.

Fresh Faces: UFC 124 edition

Georges St. Pierre won't be the only one fighting in front of a home crowd when he defends his UFC welterweight title against challenger Josh Koscheck this Saturday.

UFC 124 will feature three Canadians making their debuts with the organization in Montreal. Meet them in this edition of Fresh Faces.

Name: Jesse Bongfeldt

Weight class: Middleweight

Fighting: Rafael Natal

Record: 21-7 (9 (T)KOs, 12 submissions) for various Canadian promotions

Recent body of work: Submitted Nolan Clark by rear-naked choke in just 37 seconds at "Rumble in the Cage 36" in September

Who he is: Bongfeldt has only gone to decision once in his career, a 2003 loss to Roger Alves. Nicknamed "Water," Bongfeldt is currently on a seven-fight win streak that includes a win over UFC veteran T.J. Grant. Overall, Bongfeldt has gone 12-1 since the beginning of 2006, with the lone loss coming to another UFC veteran, Jonathan Goulet. 

Name: Sean Pierson

Weight class: Welterweight

Fighting: Matt Riddle

Record: 10-4 (6 (T)KOs, 4 submissions) for various Canadian promotions

Recent body of work: TKO'd Ricky Goodall at "W-1 New Ground" in October

Who he is: Pierson will make his UFC debut on short notice, replacing an injured T.J. Waldburger. The Ontario native is riding a five-fight win streak since the beginning of 2008, with all five fights ending in the first round. A powerful striker, Pierson has only seen one career fight make it to the third round, and two of his submission wins are submissions due to punches.

Name: John Makdessi

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Pat Audinwood

Record: 7-0 (6 (T)KOs) for various Canadian promotions

Recent body of work: Defeated Bendy Casimir by unanimous decision at "Mixed Fight League 3" in September

Who he is: Makdessi is a student of George St. Pierre head trainer Firas Zahabi out of the Tristar Gym in Montreal. A former kickboxer, Makdessi opened his career with six straight TKO victories before his decision win over WEC veteran Casimir.

Behind the Scenes with Brittney Palmer

TapouTVTC.com finished up a busy day of shooting yesterday with the lovely Brittney Palmer. Fans of the WEC are well aware of Palmer, who has been the main ring girl at the UFC sister promotion's events. When the UFC absorbed the WEC, fans gave a collective sigh of relief when it was announced that Palmer would also be making the transition over.

Check out more exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from our shoot with Palmer after the jump, and stay tuned to TapouTVTC.com to find out exactly what we were shooting!

Behind the Scenes with Arianny Celeste

Playboy cover girl and UFC star Arianny Celeste joined TapouTVTC.com for a great day of shooting in Las Vegas.

Celeste was joined by TapouT Training Center head coach Shawn Tompkins, Frank Trigg, TapouTVTC dietitian PR Cole and fitness expert James Ellis.

Check out some more exclusive behind-the-scenes photos after the jump, and stay tuned to TapouTVTC.com to see what Celeste and the rest of the crew were shooting!

Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II post-right thoughts and analysis

- Dan Henderson's return to light heavyweight was quick and violent. Talking to members of Henderson's team, the plan going into the fight was to put Renato "Babalu" Sobral against the cage on the ground and inflict damage. The fight didn't last long enough to see that plan implemented. "Babalu" lost a scramble and Henderson turned his lights out with some fast punches. While some were quick to write Henderson off as over the hill following his decision loss to Jake Shields, Henderson still possesses one-punch knockout power. Next up for Hendo, a shot at the Strikeforce light-heavyweight title against champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante.

- The most spectacular knockout of the night belonged to Paul Daley, who blasted Scott Smith with a counter-right hook that put Smith out before he even hit the mat. Smith, who is a notoriously slow starter, lunged in with his hands low and Daley feinted back and delivered a pinpoint knockout blow. Daley has campaigned for a match against fellow striker KJ Noons next, which would certainly provide some fireworks.

- Robbie Lawler rebounded from a decision loss to Sobral in June, making quick work of veteran Matt Lindland with a 50-second knockout. Lindland, who is 1-3 in his last four fights, has historically had troubles with left-handed opponents, with David Terrell, Vitor Belfort and now Lawler all scoring first-round knockouts. Lawlor is undefeated at middleweight since October 2006, and should continue to be a force in Strikeforce as long as he avoids more catchweight bouts.

- Mike Kyle almost pulled off the upset of the night. After taking a fight against Antonio Silva on short notice and being outweighed by over 40 pounds, Kyle dropped "Bigfoot" with a straight right early in the first round. After pouncing on Silva, Kyle delivered over 100 strikes from top position, but was not able to put away his larger opponent. Silva righted the ship in the second round, though, taking Kyle down and threatening with an anaconda choke before eventually finishing the fight with some vicious ground and pound. 

The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale results

Main Card:
Jonathan Brookins def. Michael Johnson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) to become the Season 12 Lightweight Ultimate Fighter winner
Stephan Bonnar def. Igor Pokrajac by unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-26)
Demian Maia def. Kendall Grove by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rick Story def. Johny Hendricks by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Leonard Garcia def. Nam Phan by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

Preliminary Card:
Cody McKenzie def. Aaron Wilkinson by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:03 of round 1
Ian Loveland def. Tyler Toner by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-28)
Kyle Watson def. Sako Chivitchian by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Nick Pace def. Will Campuzano by submission (Pace choke) at 4:32 of round 3
Pablo Garza def. Fredson Paixao by KO (knee) at 0:51 of round 1
Dave Branch def. Rich Attonito by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

$30,000 Bonuses:
Fight of the Night: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Knockout of the Night: Pablo Garza
Submission of the Night: Cody McKenzie

Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II results

Main Card:
Dan Henderson def. Renato "Babalu" Sobral by KO (punches) at 1:53 of round 1
Paul Daley def. Scott Smith by KO (punch) at 2:09 of round 1
Robbie Lawler def. Matt Lindland by KO (punches) at 0:50 of round 1
Antonio Silva def. Mike Kyle by TKO (punches) at 2:49 of round 2
Ovince St. Preux def. Benji Radach by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)

Preliminary Card:
Wayne Phillips def. Fernando Bettega by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Justin Lawrence def. Max Martytniouk by technical unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Patrick Cummins def. Terrell Brown by TKO (strikes) at 2:44 of round 1
Cortez Coleman def. Lucas Lopes by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:04 of round 1
Matt Ricehouse def. Tom Aaron by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Mike Glenn def. Lee Brousseau by TKO (strikes) at 2:00 of round 1
Booker DeRousse def. Coltin Cole by TKO (strikes) at 3:04 of round 2
J.W. Wright def. Josh Epps by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:29 of round 1

Pro Training preview: Pat Barry

Pat Barry is one of the most ferocious strikers in MMA today. A former K-1 kickboxer, Barry already has a Knockout of the Night bonus to his credit and you can learn his secrets at TapouTVTC.com.

If you are a shorter fighter, Barry's modules will be especially helpful. At just 5'11, Barry has succeeded fighting -- and knocking out -- heavyweights that are much taller than he is. Barry accomplishes this through technique, angles and more than a couple of tricks that he has up his sleeves.

Pat Barry's pro training modules go live on TapouTVTC.com next week, sign up now!

Fresh Faces: Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale edition

"The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale" kicks off this Saturday in historic fashion. Not only will the night crown the next Ultimate Fighter, but it will also mark the first card that the lower weight classes from the WEC will fight under the UFC banner.

In preparation, we introduce you to six bantamweights and featherweights that will make history Saturday night.

Name: Will Campuzano

Weight class: Bantamweight

Fighting: Nick Pace

Record: 7-2 (4 (T)KOs, 2 submissions) for the WEC and other regional promotions in Louisiana and Texas

Recent body of work: Defeated Steve Garcia by split decision at "King of Kombat 9: Resurrection."

Who he is: Campuzano entered the WEC with a perfect 6-0 record, but went 1-2 in the promotion with losses to Damacio Page and former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland. The decision win over Garcia put Campuzano back on the winning track, and he will now get a second chance with the Zuffa organization.

Name: Nick Pace

Weight class: Bantamweight

Fighting: Will Campuzano

Record: 5-1 (1 (T)KO, 2 submissions) for the WEC, Bellator and Ring of Combat

Recent body of work: Dropped a unanimous decision to Demetrious Johnson at WEC 51 in September.

Who he is: The inaugural Ring of Combat bantamweight champion, Pace garnered some media attention with a spectacular flying knee KO over Collin Tebo at Bellator 11. Now, Pace will enter the UFC looking to bounce back from his first career defeat.

Name: Fredson Paixao

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Pablo Garza

Record: 10-3 (1 NC) (1 (T)KO, 4 submissions) for the WEC and various promotions in Brazil, Japan and the U.S.

Recent body of work: Defeated Bryan Caraway by split decision at WEC 50 in August.

Who he is: Paixao is a three-time gold medalist at the Mundials, one of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world. After losing his first two WEC contests to Wagnney Fabiano and Cole Province (the latter was later ruled a no contest when Province tested positive for banned substances), Paixao has rebounded with two straight wins over Courtney Buck and Caraway.

Name: Pablo Garza

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Fredson Paixao

Record: 9-1 (1 (T)KO, 6 submissions) for the WEC and various promotions in North Dakota and Minnesota

Recent body of work: Lost by submission to Zhang Tie Quan at WEC 51 in September.

Who he is: Garza appeared on the "Ultimate Fighter 12," losing to top pick Michael Johnson in the debut episode, then went 2-0 for smaller promotions. Nicknamed "the Scarecrow," Garza then signed with the WEC, but lost his debut to Zhang Tie Quan by first-round submission.

Name: Ian Loveland

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Tyler Toner

Record: 13-7 (6 (T)KOs, 6 submissions) for the IFL, Ring of Combat and various other promotions

Recent body of work: TKO'd Xavier Desrochers in 41 seconds at "Wreck MMA."

Who he is: A 20-fight veteran of the sport, Loveland enters the UFC as an injury replacement for Leonard Garcia on two weeks' notice. Loveland is riding a six-fight win streak, and has not lost a bout since 2007.

Name: Tyler Toner

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Ian Loveland

Record: 10-2 (1 NC) (6 (T)KOs, 2 submisions) for the WEC, Strikeforce, Ring of Fire and Battlequest

Recent body of work: Lost a unanimous decision to Diego Nunes at WEC 51 in September.

Who he is: A native of Colorado, Toner entered the WEC with a first-round TKO knockout of Brandon Visher at WEC 48, but then saw his three-fight winning streak snapped by Nunes. Toner was originally scheduled to face Leonard Garcia, but an injury forced Garcia off of the card.

Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi in the works for UFC 127

A middleweight bout between "Ultimate Fighter 11" alums Chris Camozzi and Kyle Noke is in the works for UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia.

Camozzi (14-3, 2-0 UFC) was forced off the reality show after breaking his jaw during his prelim win in the first episode. Since then, he has earned decision victories over James Hammortree and Dong Yi Yang.

Noke (18-4-1, 2-0 UFC) was the second overall pick in the competition, but lost in the quarter-finals to eventual finalist Kris McCray. He has since earned back-to-back finishes over Josh Bryant (TKO) and Rob Kimmons (rear-naked choke).

Camozzi last three fights:
Win (Split Decision) Dong Yi Yang - UFC 121
Win (Unanimous Decision) James Hammortree - Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
Win (Submission - Anaconda Choke) Chad Reiner - King of Champions: Rage

Noke last three fights:
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Rob Kimmons - UFC 122
Win (TKO - Punches) Josh Bryant - Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
Win (Unanimous Decision) Kyacey Uscola - Top Combat Championship

Alexander Gustafsson vs. James Te-Huna in the works for UFC 127

A light-heavyweight bout between New Zealander James Te-Huna and Alexander Gustafsson is in the works for UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia.

Te-Huna (12-4, 1-0 UFC) made a successful UFC debut last February, knocking out Igor Pokrajac at UFC 110. An injury forced Te-Huna out of his next scheduled fight against Tom Blackledge at UFC 120, and he will have been out of action for a year when he faces Gustafsson.

Gustafsson (10-1, 2-1 UFC) is coming off of a dominant performance over Cyrille Diabate at UFC 120, outstriking the kickboxer on the feet before finishing the fight on the ground with a rear-naked choke.

Te-Huna last three fights:
Win (TKO - Strikes) Igor Pokrajac - UFC 110
Win (KO - Punches) Anthony Perosh - CFC 10
Win (TKO - Punches) Priscus Fogagnola - CFC 9


Gustafsson last three fights:
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Cyrille Diabate - UFC 120
Loss (Submission - Anaconda Choke) Phil Davis - UFC 112
Win (KO - Punches) Jared Haman - UFC 105

Props: Fighters Only

George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver in the works for UFC 127

A lightweight bout between George Sotiropoulos and Dennis Siver is in the works for UFC 127 in Sotiropoulos' home country of Australia.

UFC president Dana White revealed the match-up after the UFC 123 press conference.

Sotiropoulous (14-2, 7-0 UFC) actively campaigned earlier in the week for a slot on his home country's card. The Aussie then went on to defeat Joe Lauzon by second-round kimura to run his UFC-unbeaten streak to seven.

Siver (17-7, 6-4 UFC) has reversed his UFC fortunes of late, going 5-1 for the promotion in the last two years after a 1-3 start. Most recently, Siver submitted Andre Winner by first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 122.

Sotiropoulos last three fights:
Win (Submission - Kimura) Joe Lauzon - UFC 123
Win (Unanimous Decision) Kurt Pellegrino - UFC 116
Win (Unanimous Decision) Joe Stevenson - UFC 110

Siver last three fights:
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Andre Winner - UFC 122
Win (Unanimous Decision) Spencer Fisher - Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Ross Pearson - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi

UFC 123 post-fight thoughts and analysis

- In order to beat Lyoto Machida, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson needed to fight smart, disciplined and not play into Machida's game. For the most part, that is exactly what he did, cutting off Machida's angles and working in to the clinch position. It wasn't a dominant performance, but Jackson did enough to win the first two rounds, at least in some people's eyes.

- After getting blitzed with punches and mounted in the third round, it's no wonder that Jackson felt like he lost the fight. However, the 10-point must system employed by the UFC is a round-by-round account. If looked at in a totalitarian sense, did Jackson lose that fight? Absolutely. But did he lose it under the 10-point must system? Well...

- I personally scored the bout 29-28 Machida, with the second round going to Jackson. But while I thought that Machida landed the better strikes in the first round, it's hard to fault the judges for giving it to Jackson based on his aggression and ring control. Fair or not, perception is the law when it comes to judging. If you continue to move backwards, like Machida did, and your opponent is able to mount any sort of offense, the perception is that you lost that round.

- There was a lot of talk about Jackson bringing back the 'old Rampage,' the feared knockout artist from the PRIDE days. What I would rather see is a new Jackson, one that uses leg kicks and threatens with more takedowns. Right now, Jackson is a lethal boxer who occasionally mixes in takedowns. A more well-rounded Jackson could be lethal.

- Speaking of lethal, Saturday night proved that a focused, motivated B.J. Penn is one of the most dangerous fighters in the world. While we knew that Matt Hughes' three-fight winning streak was not exactly as advertised, no one expected Penn to drop Hughes in under 30 seconds. We seem to forget that Penn is only 31 and still a very relevant force in the UFC. He will face a much stiffer test next, as UFC president Dana White already announced that Penn will face perennial contender Jon Fitch at UFC 127.

- Fun fact: Penn became the second person to finish Hughes twice in the first round. The other? Dennis Hallman, who also scored a first-round KO at UFC 123 over Karo Parisyan.

- For two rounds, Maiquel Falcao dominated Gerald Harris, almost finishing by rear-naked choke on two separate occasions, before coasting his way to a unanimous decision. Falcao didn't make many fans by putting it on cruise control in round three, but the offense that he did display shows that he could be a serious force in the middleweight division.

- Phil Davis is an incredibly strong and explosive fighter. Davis controlled Tim Boetsch on the ground before eventually submitting him with a kimura best described as, "Big brother picking on little brother." The win extended Davis' perfect record to 8-0 and proved that he is ready for a step up in competition.

- George Sotiropoulos ran his UFC record to 7-0, surviving a strong start from Joe Lauzon before eventually submitting Lauzon in the second round. Sotiropoulos is a serious threat whenever the fight hits the ground, and should be looking for a title shot sometime in mid-to-late 2011.

- If you turned off the TV right after Jackson vs. Machida, you missed Brazilian lightweight Edson Barboza systematically destroy Mike Lullo's leg en route to a third-round TKO. Barboza is a large and powerful 155'er and his striking reminds me a little of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Keep your eye on him, he seems poised for a breakout year.

B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch in the works for UFC 127

A number-one contender's match between B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch is set to be the main event of UFC 127 in Australia.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the match-up after the UFC 123 press conference.

Penn (16-7-1, 12-6-1 UFC) is fresh off of his first-round demolition of former welterweight champion Matt Hughes at UFC 123. The former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion is 3-3 as a welterweight in the UFC, with his losses coming to current champion Georges St. Pierre (twice) and Hughes.

Fitch (23-3 (1 NC), 13-1 UFC) had originally been scheduled to face Jake Ellenberger at UFC 126. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, dating back to a 2008 loss to St. Pierre. That loss to St. Pierre is Fitch's only loss in the UFC.


Penn last three fights:
Win (KO - Punches) Matt Hughes - UFC 123
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Frankie Edgar - UFC 118
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Frankie Edgar - UFC 112

Fight last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Thiago Alves - UFC 117
Win (Unanimous Decision) Ben Saunders - UFC 111
Win (Unanimous Decision) Mike Pierce - UFC 107

UFC 123 results

Main card:
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson def. Lyoto Machida by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
BJ Penn def. Matt Hughes by KO (punches) at 0:21 of round 1
Maiquel Falcao def. Gerald Harris by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Phil Davis def. Tim Boetsch by submission (kimura) at 2:55 of round 2
George Sotiropoulos def. Joe Lauzon by submission (kimura) at 2:43 of round 2

Spike TV card:
Brian Foster def. Matt Brown by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:11 of round 2
Mark Munoz def. Aaron Simpson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary card:
Dennis Hallman def. Karo Parisyan by TKO (punches) at 1:47 of round 1
Edson Barboza def. Mike Lullo by TKO (leg kicks) at 0:26 of round 3
Paul Kelly def. TJ O'Brien by TKO (elbows) at 3:16 of round 2
Nik Lentz def. Tyson Griffin by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

$80,000 bonuses:
Fight of the Night: George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon
Knockout of the Night: BJ Penn
Submission of the Night: Phil Davis

UFC 123 preview: Lyoto Machida vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Lyoto Machida (16-1) vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8)

How we got here:

Former UFC light-heavyweight champions Lyoto Machida and Quinton "Rampage"

Jackson will square off in the main event of UFC 123 in a matchup of conflicting styles.

Machida entered his first title match against Rashad Evans with an undefeated mark of 14-0, including a 6-0 run in the UFC. Fans had been critical of Machida's elusive style of fighting -- he had won four of his first five UFC fights by decision -- but a highlight-reel first-round knockout of Thiago Silva earned Machida a shot at the gold.

In a battle of undefeated fighters, Machida didn't disappoint, knocking Evans out in the second round to claim the belt and causing announcer Joe Rogan to famously welcome fans to, "the Machida era."

That era came under duress immediately in Machida's first title defense, against fellow Brazilian Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. In that fight, Rua had seemingly solved the puzzle of Machida's elusiveness, forcing the champion to engage first, then blasting him with leg and body kicks. In one of the most controversial decisions of the year, all three judges scored the fight 48-47 Machida, a decision that few fans or media pundits agreed with. UFC president Dana White granted Rua an immediate rematch, which took place at UFC 113.

Rua would not let the rematch reach a decision, scoring a first-round knockout and handing Machida his first career loss. Now, we will see how Machida rebounds after tasting defeat for the first time.

However, this could have been a much different story arc. Jackson was originally in line to fight Evans for the title, but injuries kept him from competing. The UFC opted to give the next chance to Machida, who took full opportunity.

When Jackson returned, he was offered a title shot against Machida. Rather than take the fight, though, Jackson elected to coach on "The Ultimate Fighter 10" opposite Evans. Taking Jackson's place in that title fight was Rua.

After a bizarre series of events that saw Jackson briefly retire to star in the movie "The A-Team," "Rampage" finally faced off against Evans at UFC 114. Evans controlled much of the fight to earn a unanimous decision victory, leaving Jackson 2-2 in his last four fights.

Now, Jackson and Machida will face off in a match that could have been for the title a year earlier.

After the jump, find out the keys to success for both fighters...

Pro Training preview: Matt Mitrione

"Ultimate Fighter 10" alum Matt Mitrione is 3-0 in his young MMA career, with all of those wins coming in the UFC. Now, Mitrione is here to show you the skills that helped earn him "Fight of the Night" honors at UFC 119.

Matt Mitrione's pro training modules will be live next week, so sign up on TapouTVTC.com today to ensure you don't miss them!

Dana White UFC 123 Video Blog Episode 2

Go behind the scenes at the UFC 123 pre-fight press conference.

UFC 123 preview: Matt Hughes vs. BJ Penn

BJ Penn (15-7-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) vs. Matt Hughes (45-7 MMA, 18-5 UFC)

How we got here:

When Matt Hughes and BJ Penn square off in UFC 123's co-main event on Saturday night, they will do so with almost seven years of history.

The pair first met at UFC 46 in Jan. 2004. At the time, Hughes was riding a 13-fight winning streak and had successfully defended his UFC welterweight title five times. Penn was moving up to welterweight for the first time in his career after two unsuccessful bids at UFC lightweight gold. Hughes had 38 career fights going into the bout, Penn had eight. Many people, including Hughes, expected it to be a squash match.

Of course, the expected and what actually transpires can vary greatly in MMA, and thus was the case that Saturday night. Penn blasted Hughes with an overhand right from guard, then took back mount and submitted the champion with a rear-naked choke. In just 4:39, Penn had stunned the world.

After winning the title, Penn left the UFC for other challenges, going 3-1 outside the organization while fighting twice at middleweight and once at light heavyweight. Hughes, meanwhile, rebounded from the loss with a unanimous decision victory over Renato Verissimo, then submitted Georges St. Pierre to reclaim the welterweight belt that Penn had vacated.

Penn returned to the UFC two years later and lost a close split decision to St. Pierre for another shot at the title. When St. Pierre was forced to withdraw from the title bout with an injury, Penn stepped in, setting up the rematch that Hughes had been looking for.

Hughes was nearly defeated by Penn again, giving up his back at one point and nearly getting submitted in a triangle/ armbar combination. By the third round, though, Penn's cardio was failing him, and Hughes was able to pound Penn out on the ground to avenge his loss.

The career trajectories of these two champions seemed to go in opposite directions at thas point. Penn dropped back down to lightweight and went 5-1 over the next three years, claiming the lightweight title and successfully defending it three times. Hughes went 1-3 after the bout, losing twice to St. Pierre and once to Thiago Alves. When Hughes finally fought longtime rival Matt Serra at UFC 98, many were questioning how much the former champion had left.

However, recent history has seen another reversal of fortunes. Penn lost back-to-back decisions to now-champion Frankie Edgar, leading some to question his team and training camps. Hughes has seen a resurgence, winning three straight bouts over Brazilin jiu-jitsu black belts Serra, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida.

The stage has now been set for two of the UFC's most storied champions to see who will claim the rubber match.

After the jump, find out the keys for each fighter's success...

Dana White UFC 123 Video Blog Episode 1

Go behind the scenes with Joe Rogan and Dana White at the UFC 122 Q&A session, then sit cage-side with White for UFC 122.

Props: Youtube.com/UFC

Fresh Faces: UFC 123 edition

For every UFC event, TapouTVTC.com introduces you to the fighters making their UFC debuts.


Name: Maiquel Falcao

Weight class: Middleweight

Fighting: Gerald Harris

Record: 25-3 (1 NC) (21 (T)KOs, 3 submissions) for various Brazilian promotions

Recent body of work: Scored a first-round TKO victory over Wendres Carlos da Silva at "Arena Gold Fights 2) in July

Who he is: Fighting out of the Chute Boxe camp, Falcao has only seen one fight go to decision in his career, a span that has lasted 26 fights and six years. The Brazilian is currently riding a seven-fight win streak, with all of those fights ending in the first round.

Name: Edson Barboza

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Mike Lullo

Record: 6-0 (5 (T)KOs, 1 submission) for various promotions in Florida, Louisiana and New Jersey

Recent body of work: TKO'd Marcelo Guidici with kicks to win the Ring of Combat lightweight title in June.

Who he is: A Muay Thai black belt with 28 professional kickboxing fights, Barboza has seamlessly made the transition into MMA. Only one of Barboza's six MMA fights have lasted past the first round.

Name: Mike Lullo

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Edson Barboza

Record: 8-1 (1 (T)KO, 6 submissions) for various U.S. promotions

Recent body of work: Submitted Tyler Combs by armbar at "Chicago Cagefighting Championship" in October

Who he is: Lullo steps in as an injury replacement after Barboza's original opponent, Darren Elkins was forced to withdraw with a knee injury. Based out of the Midwest Training Center in Illinois, Lullo has won eight straight fights since losing his professional debut back in 2008.

Name: T.J. O'Brien

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Paul Kelly

Record: 16-3 (15 submissions) for various U.S. promotions

Recent body of work: Defeated Josh Henry by rear-naked choke at "Midwest Cage Championships 29" in October

Who he is: O'Brien will get a second shot at the UFC after getting knocked out in the elimination round of "The Ultimate Fighter 12" by Team Koscheck first-round pick Marc Stevens. An injury to Gabe Ruediger opened the door to O'Brien, who has won his last six fights and 11 overall by triangle choke.