The Weekly Wrap: Nov. 8 - Nov. 14

Newsworthy

• News came this week that one of the sternest and most controversial athletic commission officials has resigned. Armando Garcia, head of the California State Athletic Commission, vacated the post last week, which will be formally accepted at a commission hearing on Nov. 18. The exact reasons for Garcia’s departure are unclear.

Garcia was known for taking a hard line on drug failure suspensions, showmanship in fights and licensure requirements. UFC lightweight Sean Sherk, who pledged never to fight in California after the commission did not overturn his suspension for a positive steroid test last year, said Garcia "had some issues" in an interview with MMA Rated and that his exit was "just a matter of time." Several shows in California have been shut down due to promoter's failure to meet cash deposit requirements. The commission pulled Pro Elite's license to promote in the state after they hit the skids financially, though The Wrestling Observer reported this week that those licenses have been restored. Garcia ushered MMA into California in 2006, when the first event in the state was held in San Jose -- a Strikeforce card headlined by Frank Shamrock vs. Cesar Gracie.

• Another pivotal state looking to regulate MMA, New York, recently appointed a new athletic commissioner, Melvina Lathan, who favors legalizing the sport. The state’s legislature actually passed a law in 1997 banning the sport, and thus has proved one of the toughest nuts to crack in the UFC's push to get regulations in place. The UFC conducted a conference call this week to pitch the economic gains MMA could bring to New York, projecting that an event in Madison Square Garden could mean an $11.3 million take for the state. The sport was discussed at an informational meeting in New York this week as well.

• While an auction to sell the assets of Pro Elite Inc. next week were “adjourned” on Friday, Showtime's involvement in the sport does not appear over. The network, which aired all but three EliteXC events as well as ShoXC cards, will be distributing the next pay-per-view offering from Affliction, "Day of Reckoning," on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif., according to SI.com. The event will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski. It is unclear if the deal has implications for CBS, the parent network of Showtime, which reportedly is still interested in broadcasting MMA in primetime. An official announcement is expected Monday.

• In a match with much more significance for longtime Japanese pro wrestling fans than stateside MMA fans, Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kiyoshi Tamura has been added to the K-1/Dream "Dynamite" network television special on New Year’s Eve. Tension between the two combat sports legends dates back a rivalry between the UWFI and RINGS pro wrestling promotions that were patterned after catch wrestling, a fighting form espoused these days by Josh Barnett. PRIDE matchmakers attempted to put Sakuraba vs. Tamura together for several years, but Tamura never accepted. The fight takes place several years after interest in the match would have been at its peak, but still should draw a rating. In addition to that fight, Joachim Hansen vs. Gesias Cavalcante (non-title) and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Alistair Overeem, who recently submitted Gary Goodridge in the Netherlands, is also set for the event from Saitama Super Arena.

• Light heavyweight Krzysztof Soszynski dispatched Kyle Kingsbury to advance to the semifinals on this week's edition of “The Ultimate Fighter”. Soszynski, who Frank Mir said has the best standup in the house, injured his thumb in training. After flurries on the feet, Soszynski notched a textbook armbar from the bottom for the verbal submission in the first round. Coach Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira called Kingsbury the team leader and pledged to help him improve his ground game after the show. This week's episode also featured a coach's challenge, where Nogueira defeated Mir in a soccer shootout, earning each member of his team $1,000.

Pranks of an infinitely less disgusting nature were also on this week, though a scene where Dave Kaplan drank urine was said to be edited out. A drunken Kaplan did convince friend Tom Lawlor to punch him in the face to prove the strength of his chin. It was one of the hardest knockouts in TUF history. Lightweights George Roop and John Polakowski face off next week, and semifinal matches will also be made.

• Strikeforce lost the main event of its next big card on Nov. 21 this week, as lightweight champion Josh Thomson pulled out of his rematch with Yves Edwards due to an injured toe. Thomson will be replaced by Duane Ludwig, who avenged a loss to Sam Morgan on the last Strikeforce show in October. The Nov. 21 “Destruction” card, which also features Bobby Southworth vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral for the light heavyweight title, will air on HDNet.

• Word of several upcoming UFC and WEC fights emerged this week. The UFC confirmed Jan. 31 as the date for UFC 94, headlined by the Georges St. Pierre-B.J. Penn superfight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, punctuating what should be a very lucrative three-event stretch for the UFC starting Saturday. The UFC also confirmed Josh Koscheck will bounce back from a bruising loss to Thiago Alves on Oct. 25 to face Yoshiyuki Yoshida atop the Dec. 10 Spike TV charity event from Fayetteville, North Carolina. The card will also include Mike Swick vs. Jonathan Goulet and Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Wiman.

In addition, sources told Sherdog.com that new UFC acquisition Denis Kang will face Alan Belcher in his debut at UFC 93 on Jan. 17, and that Hiroyuki Takaya will face Cub Swanson in a featherweight clash at WEC 37 on Dec. 3. BloodyElbow.com reported that Joseph Benavidez, a 9-0 Dream veteran and a featherweight that training partner Urijah Faber speaks highly of, will face 11-2 Danny Martinez in both fighters’ WEC debut on Dec. 3. The card will be headlined by Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia for the bantamweight title in Las Vegas.