MMA: Lesnar-Overeem, GSP-Condit, Penn-Diaz and the Week's Biggest News

In what very well could have been the most chaotic week in the history of the UFC, a former champion's return was announced and an upcoming fight card was temporarily blown up, only to be salvaged a day later.

Heavyweight Brock Lesnar will return in December to welcome Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem to the promotion, headlining UFC 141 in Las Vegas.

Another Vegas event, UFC 137, saw its main event and co-main event get swapped as a result of the antics of former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz. Diaz now faces B.J. Penn, while Georges St-Pierre defends his welterweight championship against Carlos Condit.

Additionally, a broken hand forced a former Ultimate Fighter off the UFC 135 co-main event, two former champs will square off for a second time, and an MMA legend steps back into the cage.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Champ Alistair Overeem Signs with UFC, Faces Lesnar

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will return from a second bout with the digestive ailment diverticulitis to welcome Strikeforce and K-1 Grand Prix champ Alistair Overeem to the UFC.

The pair are slated to headline UFC 141 on December 30 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  Due to the New Year's holiday, the event will take place on Friday rather than the usual Saturday time slot.

The fight will be five rounds, although it is not a title fight. It will serve as a number one contender bout with the winner facing the winner of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos title fight, which takes place November 12.

Source: UFC

Diaz Pulled from Title Bout, Now Faces Penn; GSP Fights Condit for Belt

In one of the most bizarre sequence of events in recent UFC history, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz failed to show up for the UFC 137 press conference and was pulled from his title bout against UFC champ Georges St-Pierre.

Taking his place will be rising contender Carlos Condit, who was already slated to face B.J. Penn in the co-main event on October 29 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Following the announcement, which left Diaz in limbo and Penn without an opponent, speculations ran rampant.  Shockingly, UFC President Dana White announced that Diaz would still compete on the card, facing Penn instead.

Source: UFC

Diego Sanchez Breaks Hand; Josh Koscheck Steps in Against Matt Hughes at UFC 135

Another UFC event featured a last-minute shake up, as former Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez broke his hand during training and has been forced out of his UFC 135 welterweight bout with Matt Hughes.

In his place steps another Ultimate Fighter alumnus, Josh Koscheck, who returns to action for the first time since dropping a title bout to Georges St-Pierre in December. 

Koscheck-Hughes remains the co-main event. UFC 135 takes place September 24 from the Pepsi Center in Denver.  The fight card is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Source: UFC

Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II Slated for UFC 140

A rematch nearly three years in the making is in order for the UFC's second visit to Toronto.

Former champions Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira met at UFC 92 in late 2008 following a coaching stint on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter.  Mir scored a second-round TKO victory and claimed the interim UFC heavyweight belt.  In the bout, the Brazilian Nogueira looked like a shell of himself as he was hospitalized just three weeks prior due to a staph infection.

Now, both fighters look to get themselves back into title contention, having both secured victory in their last bouts.  Mir dispatched of Roy Nelson in May, while Nogueira finished Brendan Schaub in August.

UFC 140 takes place from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on December 10.

Source: UFC

Fedor Emelianenko Returns to Action Nov. 12 Against Jeff Monson

After an ill-fated run in Strikeforce, former Pride heavyweight champion and MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko will return to action on November 12 against Jeff Monson.

The fight will take place from Emelianenko's native Russia under the M-1 Global banner.

Following a stretch in which he won 31 of 32 bouts, the Russian has lost his three fights.  He looks to get back to his winning ways against the UFC and Strikeforce veteran Monson.

Source: Twitter

UFC on Fox 1 Gets Henderson-Guida, Yamamoto-Uyenoyama, Swanson-Lamas

While the UFC's first live event on Fox will only feature a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos, the remainder of the card is beginning to take shape.

Rising lightweight contenders Clay "The Carpenter" Guida and Ben "Smooth" Henderson lock horns, looking to use the other as the final step toward a title shot.

Japanese bantamweight superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto returns to the octagon to welcome Darren Uyenoyama to the promotion.

Finally, featherweight Cub Swanson will make his long-awaited UFC debut against Ricardo Lamas.

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

Source: UFC

Former Strikeforce Champ Gegard Mousasi Set to Return Dec. 17

A yet to be announced Strikeforce card planned for for December 17 will feature former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi.

The Dutch-Armenian's last fight in the promotion ended in a draw against UFC veteran Keith Jardine.

No opponent has been announced, as the event is still without a venue and city.

Source: MMAJunkie

UFC 140 Gets MacDonald-Ebersole, Patrick-Attonito, Hallman-Makdessi

The UFC 140 card slated for December 10 in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre will feature a quartet of welterweights, as well as a former welterweight dropping to lightweight,

Highly regarded Canadian prospect Rory MacDonald will take on grizzled veteran Brian Ebersole on the main card.

The preliminary card will feature a battle between former Ultimate Fighter competitor Rich Attonito and Canadian Claude Patrick.

Also on the undercard, Dennis Hallman drops to 155 pounds to take on John Makdessi.

Source: UFC

UFC 136 Features Phan-Garcia II, Catone Forced off Due to Injury

The UFC 136 card has been shuffled due to injury.

Featherweight Matt Grice was forced out his scheduled bout with Nam Phan. Replacing Grice will be Leonard Garcia. The Phan-Garcia fight is a rematch of a fight that took place at the Ultimate Fighter 12 finale in December. Garcia won that fight on a controversial decision.

Additionally, middleweight Nick Catone is out of a planned fight with Aaron Simpson after tearing his Achilles tendon running sprints.  No replacement has been named for the fight.

UFC 136 takes place October 8 from the Toyota Center in Houston.

Source: UFC

UFC Signs Robert Peralta to Face Mike Lullo at UFN 25

Featherweight Robert Peralta, riding a seven-fight winning streak, has signed with the UFC.

Peralta will make his Octagon debut against Mike Lullo on Sept. 17 at Ultimate Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou.

The preliminary card fight takes place from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The main card is set to air on Spike TV.

Source: Twitter