UFC 96 Salaries, Strikeforce Presser Thursday, TUF 9, WWE News

The salaries for the fighters on Saturday's UFC 96 card has been released by the Ohio Athletic Commission. Totals were $762,000 and $120,000 in bonuses for the show.

Leading the way was "Rampage" Jackson with a cool $385,000 earned thanks to $200,000 to show up, $125,000 for the win, and $60,000 for Fight of the Night. Keith Jardine was second at $115,000 total, which was accumulated by earning $55,000 to show up and $60,000 for the Fight of the Night.

Matt Hamill earned $100,000, when he received $20,000 to show up, $20,000 for a win, and $60,000 for the Knockout of the Night.

At the bottom end, Ryan Madigan took home just $3000, while Jason Day and Mike Patt each took home $5000. Poor guys. For the rest of the list, here you go.

- If you are in the Hollywood, CA area this Thursday, March 12, you can attend the big Strikeforce press conference at the Avalon Hollywood at 12 p.m. PST.

In attendance will be Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz, who headline the April 11 show. Also scheduled are Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler, and a many of the other fighters that you can try to meet and greet with. Hey, what else are you going to do on your lunch break? If you go, be sure to drop me a line at [e-mail] and let me know how it went.

- Yahoo's Kevin Iole has the full lineup for the ninth season of "The Ultimate Fighter" up now. The show debuts on April 1 following the next Ultimate Fight Night. It has the U.S. vs. U.K. as the running theme featuring welterweights and lightweights. Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping are the coaches and will meet at UFC 100 in July.

- Koko B. Ware was announced Monday night at the latest inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame this year. The ceremony will be taking place the night before Wrestlemania. Great entertainer and certainly one of the most recognizable figures from the 80s to the mainstream wrestling fan, but really? Steve Austin, the Funks, Ricky Steamboat...Koko B. Ware?

- Ryan Braddock and Kaleb O'Neal were both released from WWE. Both were mainly developmental talent with Braddock getting a few cups of coffee on Smackdown in late 2008. Also, Afa The Wild Samoan was released from his role from the company, reported to be somewhat of a consultant role.

- Former WWE Women's Champion and 80s mainstay Wendi Richter may be one of the 25 talents in the women's Battle Royal scheduled for Wrestlemania. The match is going to be more of a who's who of female talent from the past 25 years, so one would assume Trish Stratus, Lita and, oh boy, Mae Young will also be competing.

Josh Nason - josh [at] ropesringandcage [dot com] - has published MMA, wrestling and boxing blog Ropes, Ring and Cage.com since 2007. If you are using any content or recapping from this site, please include a link to www.ropesringandcage.com. Thank you for your support!