Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 22, 2011

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 Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Din Thomas and B.J. Penn 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, The FIght Nerd reviews Jim Genia's new book on the New York underground fighting scene, Lowkick catches up with current Ultimate Fighter season 14 fighter Akira Corassani and Fight Opinion investigates some causes for the UFC's recent downturn in pay-per-view buyrates.

The full list of links is after the jump.

- Interview with TUF 14's Akira Corassani (LowKick)

"There isn't a right or wrong team. You see very early, it's not a team sport. People are selling each other out and eventually, when it goes down, everybody is going to fight each other. So, the whole thing was just a matter of what kind of fighter you are yourself. "

- Penn is mighty, but what's the point? (NBC Sports MMA)

No matter what BJ Penn does in his UFC 137 main event match with Nick Diaz, it's not likely to help him get another title shot.

- Video Timeline: MMA's greatest techniques of the year, 1993-2011 (Cage Potato)

Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents - while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil' spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport's modern inception.

- GUFC 137 breakdown: The undercard (Five Ounces of Pain)

Losing a marquee main event is a substantial blow for any card, let alone one headlined by a title fight featuring one of the sport's biggest stars. Luckily, this weekend's card had an equally compelling co-main event (which has now been promoted to main event status) and a potentially action-packed undercard, making UFC 137 a can't-miss show for MMA hardcores.

- Covering the bases with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting)

Dana White discusses UFC 137, Showtime talks, Bellator sale and more

- Jake Shields signs with Authentic Sports Management (5thRound)

"This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management," said Shields. "ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters."

- If you think you can out swim Nick Diaz, you're clearly delusional (video) (MiddleEasy)

Our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, was under the belief that he 'almost' beat Nick Diaz in a pool race the night he arrived in Las Vegas for UFC 137. Granted everyone's definition of 'almost' varies, but fortunately we have documentation of this swimming contest. If almost means he didn't even finish the second lap, then sure, LayzieTheSavage 'almost' beat Nick Diaz.

- Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene (TheFightNerd)

"New York doesn't allow MMA right now, so fighters have to go to New Jersey to fight where its sanctioned or they have to go underground in New York city... but the book isn't just about the underground fight scene in New York, it's also about the development of sanctioned MMA in the east coast... In New Jersey, there was a show called BAMA Fight Night run by Big Dan Miragliotta. His show was the only show for the longest time, there weren't sanctioned events in the North East, so Big Dan would hold these shows and people like Matt Serra, Nick Serra, Phil Baroni, they had their first fights at these events." - Author Jim Genia

- Dave Meltzer: Piracy is a major factor in why UFC PPV buy rates are declining (Fight Opinion)

Injuries & too many shows are the main reasons why UFC PPV buys are down this year. Those underlying causes are the reason for a reported spike in piracy of UFC PPV events being streamed online. Dave elaborated on this conundrum for the UFC during his interview with Jack.

- CageHero rebrands itself (MMA Payout)

MMA Payout had the opportunity to speak with the owners of CageHero, Mark Mastrandrea and Ian Parker as it recently re-branded itself focusing its business to target kids. Once a sponsor of fighters in the octagon, it has a new web site, a new clothing line and its CageHero Kid

- UFC 137 fight card: Which fighter has the most to lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

UFC 137 houses a lot of names that have a lot riding on their fights. BJ Penn , Nick Diaz and Mirko Cro Cop all have a lot riding on their fights. But there is one guy who has more riding on his shoulders then these guys, Hatsu Hioki.

- Bellator 56 preview - Get ready for the man blanket! (MMA Convert)

It is a sad state of affairs when the most common thing said about an organization's champ is that he's a "work in progress". But such is the case with Bellator welterweight grandmaster Ben Askren, who is shockingly weak in the striking and submissions department, yet un-freakin'-stoppable when it comes to wrestling.