This week we'll take a look at Sam Stout (Pictures) and Jason MacDonald (Pictures), each fighting in separate UFC events just four days apart. Jason Day and Jonathon Goulet look to the future following TKO bouts. And we round out the column catching up with the MFC, RITC, and GSP.
This Tuesday night we'll see the latest installment of live UFC-promoted fights on SpikeTV and Canadian fans should be happy. In the main event, Team Tompkins lightweight Sam Stout (Pictures) rematches Spencer Fisher (Pictures) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
This bout will be somewhat of a grudge-match, with both fighters openly claiming their dislike for one another other. In March of last year Stout claimed a split decision victory over Fisher. This result may not have been as satisfying for Stout as he would have liked, due to the nature of Fisher's readiness.
Two days before their first fight in March of last year, Fisher was sitting on his porch drinking a beer, when his manager, Monte Cox, called him and told him that Stout's original opponent, Kenny Florian (Pictures), had to withdraw due to injury.
Fisher was offered the role of last minute replacement, and although he weighed roughly 20 pounds over the 155 allowed for lightweight, he accepted.
Their fight that night was a terrific back-and-forth brawl that saw neither fighter back down -- strikes and kicks flew with accuracy and speed that didn't let up until the fight was over.
However over time talk of this fight has not been about the skill displayed by both men in the cage that night, but about how Fisher wasn't able to fight to his potential, and how the result of the fight may have differed if he had time to get ready.
This has obviously grated on Stout, and this Tuesday night in Hollywood, Fla. he'll try to prove to MMA fans around the world that his first win was no fluke.
MacDonald set to face Singer in Ireland
Call him "The Athlete" or call him "TUF Killer." Either way, Jason MacDonald (Pictures) will show up in Belfast, Ireland this Saturday, to meet yet another The Ultimate Fighter veteran, Rory Singer (Pictures), in the middle of the Octagon.
MacDonald told "MM-Eh!" that by defeating Singer he'd take another step forward after losing to former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (Pictures) in March.
"I'm going to use Rory to show everybody that I belong in the mix of the middleweight division, and I'm certainly not going anywhere," said MacDonald. "I want to be considered one of the contenders over this coming year."
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled to Sherdog.com later this week, when we'll give you the full interview with Jason, who talks about his success in the UFC so far as well as more on his upcoming fight with Singer.
Day vs. Goulet at UCW
Neither Jason Day nor Jonathan Goulet (Pictures) appear to want any time off this summer, as the two busy fighters are scheduled to square off at UCW 8 on June 23, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
UCW co-promoter and member of the International Fight League's Los Angeles Anacondas, Krzysztof Soszynski (Pictures) confirmed to MM-Eh! that the Day-Goulet fight will be the main event.
The last fight for both fighters was a few weekends ago at TKO 29, where Goulet shocked the crowd with his eight-second high kick knockout of Travis Axworthy (Pictures), and Day lost a hard-fought battle against Patrick Cote (Pictures).
This fight will be the second for each fighter at middleweight, with Day formerly fighting at light heavyweight, and Goulet formerly at welterweight. Day has confirmed that 185 pounds is where he'll be staying from now on, but Goulet said that it's his love of barbeque in the summer months that prompted the temporary move up in weight.
MFC 12 News
MFC President Mark Pavelich is used to being a busy man. Running western Canada's largest MMA organization you'd expect him to be. But even he must not have expected to be quite so busy getting ready for his organization's next event, MFC 12, scheduled for June 22 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Every fight card is bound to have a change or two, as fighters get injured or have a change of heart, but MFC 12 has had more than its fair share.
The main event was originally scheduled to feature Scott Junk (Pictures) and Wade Shipp (Pictures) for the MFC heavyweight title. Shipp, fighting out of North County Fight Club, claimed an injury forced him to withdraw.
To replace Shipp, they've found a fighter who dwarves even the 280-pound Junk in stature, in six-foot 325-pound Jimmy Ambriz (Pictures).
Roger Hollett (Pictures) is someone else who's getting used to not knowing who his opponent will be. The popular Nova Scotian was set to meet Tom Lawlor, but Lawlor has very recently had to withdraw, also due to injury. No word yet on his replacement.
Rumble in the Cage 24 results
This past weekend saw yet another installment of one of Canada's most frequent MMA events, the RITC in Lethbridge, Alberta.
A very busy 15 amateur and professional fights took place, with Nabil Khatib (Pictures) defeating Dan Chambers (Pictures) by rear-naked choke in the first round of the main event.
Other winning fighters include Tim Tamaki, Brad Cardinal, Travis Briere, Tim Cammelli, Jarett Evans, Cody Petrovic, Tony Cridland, Jordan Fuder, Josh Machan, Chad Klatt, Ryan Brigham, Rio Gillis, Matt Walker, and Dustin Gillard.
Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) update
An announcement on the Web site of Fabio Holanda (Pictures), leader of Brazilian Top Team Canada, states:
"Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) has [re-] joined BTT/Canada. His first training at BTT/Canada's HQ, GAMMA Academy, was on Monday, June 4th. We welcome him back.
Fabio Holanda (Pictures) is looking forward to helping Georges find the training environment that will best suit his needs for the future.
This is good news for GSP fans. Holanda is known as the Brazilian jiu-jitsu "Mastermind" and bringing "Rush" back into his fold will definitely help him get back on track, as he prepares to face Josh Koscheck (Pictures) at 74.