Schaub vs Mitrione and Makdessi vs Forte added to UFC 165

UFC 165 adds Schaub vs Mitrione and Makdessi vs Forte

by Tommy Strong @Strong_tea

UFC 165 will now see the rescheduled match up between two heavyweights Brendan Schaub vs Matt Mitrione in Toronto on September 21st 2013. The original bout between the two had been set for the last weeks UFC on Fox 8 card in Seattle, which saw Demetrious Johnson retain his Flyweight belt to John Moraga in a stunning 5th round submission.
Though two weeks out from the event, Mitrione had to pull out citing an injury forcing the fight to be pulled from the card. Luckily the injury for Mitrione wasn't as bad as first thought and the UFC have taken the initiative to reschedule the fight between former TUF cast members.

Matt Mitrione (6-2) maybe counts himself a little fortunate to still have a job after his comments made about transgender fighter Fallon Fox, which earned the American a suspension for his comments. After losing back to back fights against Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson, Mitrione had it all on the line going in against Britain's Phil De Fries who he easily dispatched within 19 seconds.

Brendan Schaub (9-3) also rebounded from consecutive losses inside the first round via knockout first against Antionio Rodrigo Nogueria and then too Ben Rothwell. Schaub went onto fight Lavar Johnson at UFC 157 in February where he grinded out a unanimous decision win.

Also confirmed for UFC 165, we have a lightweight bout between John Makdessi and Renne Forte.
Makdessi (11-2) is currently on a two fight win streak after defeating Sam Stout and Daron Cruickshank via decision will be looking to get himself in the top 10 of the lightweight division with a win over Forte.

Renne Forte (8-2) competed on season 1 of TUF Brazil, where he fought at Middleweight. Having made it into the house, he lost his first round fight to Daniel Sarafian via submission.

Forte made his UFC debut in the Welterweight division in October 2012 at UFC 153 when he took on fellow Brazilian Sergio Moraes in which he lost via submission. After his defeat to Moraes, Forte decided to drop another 155lbs to make his lightweight debut in London England, when he fought and defeated the highly rated Terry Etim at UFC on Fuel 7 at Wembley Arena taking a very impressive unanimous decision win. 

UFC 165 will be headlined by the much anticipated match up between Light heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Number 1 contender Alexander Gustafsson, Jon Jones will be looking to defend his belt for a UFC Light Heavyweight record sixth consecutive time.

UFC on Fox 8 card gets a shape up due to injuries

More injuries force a mix up to the Fox card

by Jack Broadey @J3cK_b

UFC on Fox 8 has had a bit of a shape up due to injuries. UFC on Fox takes place in Washington on July 27th. A spate of injuries this week had matchmakers scratching there heads.

On the main card Siyar Bahadurzada, who was originally an injury replacement for Tarec Saffedeine, had to pull out of his bout with Robbie Lawler. So now Bobby Voelker has stepped in to take the fight.

Voelker was originally scheduled to take on James Head in late August so it will be interesting to see how that effects his preparations. Not only in regard to the fact that his camp was design to peak a month after the new date for his fight but also, meaning no disrespect to James Head but Robbie Lawler is in a different league and is a massive step up in competition. A win for Voekler on short notice however could change the route for his career.

Matt Mitrione v Brendan Schaub has also been scratched from the card due to an injury suffered by Mitrione in the buildup. This fight will likely be held at a later event and had been brewing along nicely with tweets back and forth between the two.  

Bobby Green also suffered an injury and has been replaced by Tim Means for his fight with Danny Castillo.

Lastly Yves Edwards also got a change of opponent as Spencer Fisher was forced off the card. Daron Cruickshank will be his replacement.

Matt Mitrione returns to work

Matt Mitrione Returns From Suspension to Face Brendan Schaub at UFC on Fox 8

 by John Haigh @JohnBjayHaigh

On Wednesday several bouts were added to UFC on Fox 8, in one Matt Mitrione returns from suspension to fight another former NFL player in Brendan Schaub.

After an impressive 19 second KO of Phil De Fries in his last fight, Mitrione quickly landed himself in trouble with UFC officials over comments he made about the transgender fighter Fallon Fox on Ariel Helwani's The MMA Hour. He was suspended for breach of contract and was hit with a heavy fine. However just two weeks after the incident Mitrione is back from suspension and booked to fight.

The two fighters both made there way to the octagon by the way of TUF 10: The Heavyweights, as part of Team Evans they never fought on the show but that changes on July 27th in Seattle.

Both fighters won there last fight after back to back losses in the cage and both will be keen to turn it in to back to back wins come fight night.