MMA News: The Week in Review 8/28-9/2

Looking back at the week from Aug. 27 through Sept. 2, it was a busy week for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as numerous injuries shuffled multiple upcoming events, and the promotion announced the headlining bout for its upcoming Fox debut on Nov. 12.

Making waves as the first UFC fight to be televised on network television will be a heavyweight title tilt between returning champion Cain Velasquez and No. 1 contender, Junior dos Santos.

Additionally, changes have been made to the Ultimate Fight Night 25, UFC 135, UFC 137 and UFC 138 cards as injuries have forced a number of fighters out of action.

Outside of the UFC, former Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Paul Daley will be back in the cage soon, and rising promotion Bellator recently announced it will finally be broadcast in high definition.

Ultimate Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou Takes a Hit with Multiple Injuries

The UFC's foray into New Orleans will feature two new matchups, as featherweight Mackens Semerzier and welterweight DaMarques Johnson have been forced off the card due to injuries.  The event takes place Sept. 17 from the New Orleans Convention Center, and the main card airs on Spike TV.

In the place of Johnson will be Seth Baczynski, a veteran of Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.  He faces fellow TUF alum Clay Harvison on the night's preliminary card.

As of now, a replacement for Semerzier has yet to be announced.  His scheduled opponent, Mike Lullo, is expected to remain on the card.

Also on the card, a welterweight bout between Justin Edwards and promotional newcomer Jorge Lopez has been made official.

Source: UFC

UFC 135 Loses Two Bouts, Adds One

UFC 135, which takes places on Sept. 24 from the Pepsi Center in Denver has lost two preliminary card bouts while adding another.

Bantamweights Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Damacio Page were both injured during their respective training camps and were forced to abandon their planned matchup.

Also, featherweight Diego Nunes has been removed from the card.  Nunes was expected to battle Manny Gamburyan, but an injury to the Armenian fighter left the Brazilian without an opponent.  Now, Nunes has suffered an injury of his own and the fight will be booked for a later date.

On the positive side, featherweights Junior Assuncao and Eddie Yagin have been added to the card.  Assuncao returns to the Octagon after four years away from the promotion.  During that time he complied a record of 7-1. Yagin, meanwhile, will make his promotional debut after recently capturing the Tachi Palace Fighting featherweight strap.

Source: UFC

UFC 137 Lightweight Shakeup

UFC 137 was slated to feature an international lightweight collision between Canada's Sam Stout and German-based Dennis Siver.  Unfortunately, Stout was forced off the Oct. 29 card which hails from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

In his place will be fellow striking specialist Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.  The former WEC contender has reeled off five straight victories, with three coming since the promotional merger.

Siver holds a streak of four straight wins, and the lethal kickboxer looks to continue his ascension up the divisional ranks with a victory over the Colorado native.

Source: UFC

Krauss Injured, Brown in against Hathaway at UFC 138

Undefeated welterweight Pascal Krauss has suffered an injury and has pulled out of a scheduled fight with John Hathaway at UFC 138.  The German fighter injured his shoulder during training.

Stepping in against the dangerous Brit will be Matt "The Immortal" Brown.  Brown's UFC career looked to be in danger until a recent unanimous decision victory over John Howard in March.

The pair will square off from the LG Arena in Birmingham, England on Nov. 5.  The night's main card will be broadcast on Spike TV.

Source: UFC

UFC Live on Fox Gets Velasquez vs. dos Santos

It's official.  The UFC's first broadcast live on Fox now has a showcase.

The Nov. 12 card will feature heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez's first title defense as he battles Brazilian Junior dos Santos. 

UFC President Dana White announced the fight during a media conference call on Friday, Sept. 2.  The five-round title affair will be the only fight scheduled during the broadcast, however, White assured that the remainder of the card would be broadcast in another form.

UFC Live on Fox takes place on Nov. 12 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Source: UFC

Jake Shields Loses Father, Remains on UFN 25 Card

Former UFC welterweight title challenger and Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields lost his father on Monday, Aug. 29.

Jack Shields served as Jake's manager throughout his MMA career.  Jack was 67.

Despite the loss, Shields opted to remain on the Sept. 17 Ultimate Fight Night card.  Shields will headline the card against rising contender Jake Ellenberger.

Source: Sherdog

Michael Bisping Signs 8-Fight Contract with the UFC

British middleweight Michael Bisping has signed a new contract with the UFC.  The deal is for eight fights.

The controversial fighter will square away against Jason "Mayhem" Miller on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.  The two coaches are slated to headline the Dec. 3 Ultimate Fighter finale which takes place in Las Vegas.

The TUF alum has won seven of his last nine fights within the promotion.

Source: MMAJunkie

Paul Daley Returns to Action at Ringside 12

British striker Paul "Semtex" Daley has signed to face American Top Team fighter Luigi Fioravanti in the main event of Ringside 12 in Montreal on Oct. 21

The former UFC welterweight contender and Strikeforce title challenger is also committed to fight at BAMMA 7 on Sept. 10.

Daley's last trip to Montreal led to his release from the UFC after he punched opponent Josh Koscheck after the final bell at UFC 113.

Source: MMAWeekly

Strikeforce Replaces Injured Josh Thomson with Pat Healy

Lightweight contender Josh Thomson will no longer face promotional newcomer Maximo Blanco at the Sept. 10 Strikeforce Grand Prix event in Cincinnati after suffering an injury in training.

The former King of Pancrase and Sengoku veteran Blanco will now meet former MFC kingpin Pat Healy.  Healy was in action at Strikeforce Challengers 18, defeating Eric Wisely.

The lightweight bout will be shown on the Showtime broadcast which airs lives from the U.S. Bank Arena.

Source: MMAJunkie

Bellator Find HD Partner with EPIX

Bellator Fighting Championships has secured a broadcast deal with EPIX that will allow the promotion's fifth season to be shown in high definition.  Bellator’s premiere on the network will be Bellator 49 from Caesar’s in Atlantic City, N.J.

The promotion has been broadcasting on MTV2, but the channel is not in HD.  With the EPIX deal, viewers will now have the opportunity to watch the fights in HD.

Unfortunately for Bellator, the channel is not carried by all major providers.  Notably missing from the channel's provider list are DirecTV and Comcast.

Source: Bellator