Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Frank Mir and Roy Nelson pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Bleacher Report catches up with Strikeforce lightweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal, Fight Opinion shares thoughts on UFC start time experiment and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes gets Rich Franklin to open up about his first fight.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn - Road to UFC 137 (video) (LowKick)Multi-time UFC Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn takes us behind the scenes of his preparations for UFC 137 bout with the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. Penn will look to cement his status as #1 contender for the UFC Welterweight title, which will be defended at UFC 137 by George St. Pierre against Prodigy's original opponent - Carlos Condit.
- What's Next?: UFC 136 edition (NBC Sports MMA)
Another week, another UFC event in the books. That means it's time to once again play fantasy matchmaker and predict who's next for UFC 136's big winners and losers.
- Exclusive: Identity of Joe Son's alleged murder victim revealed (Cage Potato)
The Kern County Sheriff's Office Coroner today released the name of the deceased and the details surrounding the death of Joe Son's cellmate in Wasco State Prison this week.
- Grappling with Issues - 10/12/11 (Five Ounces of Pain)
Was Frankie Edgar‘s win over Gray Maynard at UFC 136 the best performance by a UFC champion so far this year? Do Chael Sonnen‘s antics rub you the wrong way? Will Rashad Evans get his elusive title-shot in 2012? What's next for Kenny Florian?
- My First Fight: Rich Franklin (MMA Fighting)
By the time most fight fans so much as heard his name, Rich Franklin was already somebody. He had a successful UFC debut with a first-round TKO of Evan Tanner, then went on to shine at the very first Ultimate Fighter Finale, where he knocked out Ken Shamrock on Spike TV before claiming the UFC middleweight title in his next fight.
- Jon Jones won't train with GSP, Machida will prepare with Anderson Silva (5thRound)
One of the most important aspects of a fighter's camp is who they are able to recruit as training partners. While UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones has access to a stable of studs over at Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts, Jones will stand clear of the team's biggest welterweight stars.
- Former K-1 fighter Hong Man Choi booked for assaulting a woman in Korea (MiddleEasy)
Former K-1 and DREAM fighter Hong Man Choi (Choi Hong-Man in Korea) has apparently found himself in some legal trouble this week after a report came out that he purportedly assaulted her in his bar on October 8th while arguing over a bill.
- WWE Superstar Vladimir Kozlov trains MMA - Video (TheFightNerd)
Training at Zealous Nation MMA with head coach Oleg Savitsky, Vladimir Kozlov comes through to his old friend's gym to keep his Sambo skills up to par by hitting some mitts and practicing some submissions. Is a transition into the world of MMA in the future for Kozlov? Sounds like it, as both he and Savitsky voice their interest in competing in the sport!
- Takeaways from UFC shifting PPV start times back to 10 PM (Fight Opinion)
There seems to be mass panic right now about the low rating the UFC 136 prelims on Spike drew for ratings last weekend, given the two fights on the card that hardcores were interested in. It's just proof that what excites the hardcores and the announcing team isn't always what draws. (Ask Bellator all about that phenomena.)
- Payout analysis: The Strikeforce death knell? (MMA Payout)
Zuffa created a subsidiary called Forza LLC to control Strikeforce who was taken over from Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment in March of this year. Since then, there's been much debate as too whether Zuffa/Forza will continue to operate the promotion or just kill it off.
- Interview with Jorge Masvidal on his upcoming fight with Gilbert Melendez (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
"Most of the time when I enter a fight, I'm not looking to stop a guy, but rather win a solid decision, but in this fight, I'm going for the stoppage. I'm going to put the pressure on him and make him break. I don't want to leave it in the judges hands, especially with all the f*cked up decisions these days. This is my title shot and I have to take full advantage. I don't know if I'll ever get another one. Who knows what's gonna happen in life?"
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