The Weekly Wrap: Jan. 16 - Jan. 22

Odds and Ends

• After a sound defeat at the hands of lightweight champion B.J. Penn, Diego Sanchez announced he plans to return to welterweight. Sanchez targeted Nate Diaz, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch via Twitter as potential opponents. Diaz has said conflicting things about moving up, though MMAJunkie.com reported he will face Rory Markham at UFC 111 on March 27.

• The governor of New York proposed legalizing MMA in his budget presentation. David Patterson recommended the move as a way to generate new revenue for the cash-strapped state. The move puts the state’s top official behind the UFC’s years-long push to bring a show to New York. A UFC event in New York in 1997 was followed by the state legislature passing a law to ban the sport. Because it’s part of the budget process, MMA legalization has until April 1 to pass in the state. If it passes by then, the UFC would look to stage a show in New York in the fourth quarter, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner told Sherdog.com.

• Spike TV premiered a new series, “Best of Pride Fighting Championships,” on Jan. 15, airing in their entirety a series of bouts from the Japanese organization’s library; the fights featured impressive performances by stars currently under UFC contract. The fights that aired were Wanderlei Silva’s knockout of Quinton Jackson from 2004, Chuck Liddell’s defeat of Alistair Overeem in 2003, Takanori Gomi’s 2004 submission of Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett, Anderson Silva’s 2003 knockout of Carlos Newton and Mauricio Rua’s 2006 submission of Kevin Randleman. The bouts aired unedited with original commentary and represent the most significant use the UFC has put to the library it purchased in 2007.

• Bellator Fighting Championships continued its rapid-fire announcements of new signings. The promotion has inked undefeated Canadian Mike Ricci to fight in the lightweight tournament that starts in April. Ricci, 23, trains at the Tri-Star gym in Montreal, alongside Georges St. Pierre. Also signed was Ferrid Kheder, 34, a 2000 Olympian in judo who trains with Shawn Tompkins in Las Vegas. Kheder will compete in Bellator’s lightweight tournament, alongside Jorge Masvidal and Toby Imada.

• A card from the 5150 Combat League and the Xtreme Fighting League on Jan. 16 in Tulsa, Okla. featured several prominent names. Houston Alexander failed to bounce back from his panned loss to Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson. He dropped a fight to Joey Beltran, who finished Alexander with strikes in the second round. Jeff Monson picked up a split decision win over John Brown in the main event, and UFC veterans Rich Clementi, Tim Boetsch and Jeremy Horn also notched victories.

• Kyle Bradley and Jay Silva announced they were released from the UFC following their losses at UFC Fight Night 20 on Jan. 11.

• Chad Corvin, an undefeated heavyweight prospect out of Kentucky, has signed a UFC contract, according to ProMMA.info. Corvin, 23, was a standout high school wrestler but could not compete in college due to academic eligibility. He has finished all of his fights in the first round.

• FiveOuncesofPain.com reported several cast members of Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” They are Kris McCray, a Virginia-based UWC veteran; Charles Blanchard, an American Top Team product; Warren Thompson, an undefeated Atlanta-based fighter; the Minnesota-based Charlie Lynch; Cleburn Walker, who trains with Travis Lutter and Justin Wren; and Victor O'Donnell, an unbeaten Cincinnati-based competitor. The season will feature 28 middleweights and a new format. Season 11, coached by Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, premieres March 31 on Spike TV. Several reports indicate former World Extreme Cagefighting champion “Razor” Rob McCullough will be a coach for Ortiz’s team, as will jiu-jitsu great Cleber Luciano. Strikeforce champion Jake Shields will serve as a coach for Liddell’s team. Production began for the show on Friday.