The Weekly Wrap: Sept. 4 - Sept. 10

Odds and Ends

• One of the most decorated collegiate wrestlers to step into MMA picked up a forceful victory in the most recent offering from the Bellator Fighting Championships on Sept. 9 in New Orleans.

Eric Larkin, the 2003 NCAA national champion and Hodge Trophy winner obtained All-American status in all four of his years at Arizona State University, stopped Marcus Andrusia with a first-round guillotine.

The lightweight, who coached notables like Cain Velasquez and Ryan Bader in college, came out looking to change levels but fired off a surprise left head kick that put Andrusia down. Larkin seized a rough guillotine choke that he narrowly lost, dropped a massive punch standing on a downed Andrusia and eventually got the guillotine back from top position to get the tap.

Bellator is interested in using Larkin, now 3-0 in MMA, in a planned 155-pound tournament in its fourth season. Also in play for the bracket is wrestler Carey Vanier, who edged grizzled veteran Rich Clementi via split decision on the Sept. 10 card.

Also picking up wins at Bellator’s latest card, broadcast nationally on Fox Sports Net, were Georgi Karakhanyan (unanimous decision over Anthony Leone) and Eric Schambari (split decision over Matt Horwich).

The card did not feature any tournament bouts. Those resume next week with the semifinals in the heavyweight tournament.

• Despite talk that his next fight would be against B.J. Penn or Kenny Florian for a shot at the lightweight title, Australian lightweight star George Sotiropoulos has instead been booked to face Joe Lauzon at UFC 123 in Michigan, MMAJunkie.com reported. The Sydney Morning Herald reported Sotiropolous is one fight away from a title shot in a fight in Sydney next February, and would either face Penn or Florian next.

• In his first high-profile fight since infamously shattering his leg in the UFC cage in 2008, Corey Hill dropped a unanimous decision to fellow Zuffa veteran Rob McCullough via unanimous decision at the latest offering from Lemoore, Calif.-based Tachi Palace Fights on Sept. 9. In the main event, “Ultimate Fighter 12” cast member Kyacey Uscola knocked out former WEC titleholder Doug Marshall in the first round.

• The UFC is looking to recruit fans on college campuses, putting out want ads this week for “UFC College Reps” who would build networks of fans and hold UFC viewing parties on campus in exchange for perks and free merchandise.

• Bellator Fighting Championships has signed 2004 Olympic judoka Rick Hawn, who is 8-0 in his pro MMA campaign. The welterweight will compete in a tournament the promotion is planning on holding at that weight in its fourth season.