Cage Gossip: MMA Rumors for UFC, WEC, Bellator and Shine Fights Rumors

Your weekly source for MMA rumors

5. Silva Will Have to Vacate the Middleweight Title

That’s what Dana White says Anderson Silva will have to do if he moves up to 205 to take on the likes of Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson, and Shogun Rua.

White says that Silva has only two more fights left at 185 before he’s officially cleaned out the division. Those two fights are versus Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort. If he can get by them, White believes there is no one left to fight at middleweight for Silva to fight, having already defeated Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami, and most recently Demian Maia. The case could be made for Jake Shields when/if he signs with the UFC, but it’s possible White wants Shields to fight only at 170.

Here’s what White said: "What he wants to do I think is keep his 185-pound title and fight at 205, which you can't do. You have to vacate that title and move up."

I’m surprised to hear White so adamant about Silva vacating his middleweight title if he peruses the light heavyweight strap, considering only a month ago BJ Penn was ready to move up to 170 and White seemed willing to let Penn hold onto his lightweight title.

I wonder if it’s to create room for another star to be born at 185 or because Silva and White are on bad terms following Siva’s embarrassing performance in Dubai.

4. Three WEC PPVs A Year

In an interview with MMAJunkie.com, WEC’s General Manager Reed Harris stated that he expects to hold one more PPV this year, and in the future, would like to have three pay-per-views a year.

Three pay-per-views a year doesn’t sound like much, but considering that until recently, the only big draws in the WEC were Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres, three PPVs could stretch the roster, which consists of only the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions, thin. However, if the UFC continues to work with WEC in promoting the PPVs, it’s not that far-fetched to believe that the PPVs might not only make money, but stars as well.

3. Don King Can’t Stop Ricardo Mayorga and Din Thomas

Ricardo Mayorga and Din Thomas are expected to fight at the Shine Fights’ “Worlds Collide: Mayorga vs. Thomas” event on May 15. However, last Tuesday famed boxing promoter Don King issued a cease-and-desist order citing that, "Shine Fight Promotions' conduct constitutes tortious interference with Don King Productions' agreement with Ricardo Mayorga.”

Shine Fights CEO Devin Price spoke about the allegations, saying that Shine Fights “has a valid and exclusive promotional contract with Ricardo Mayorga for mixed martial arts" and went on to ease fight fans’ fears by stating that the fight between the former boxing champ Mayorga and the UFC veteran Thomas will happen "without a doubt."

This fight has become hotly anticipated by boxing and MMA enthusiasts alike as it will mark the first time a top-level boxer relatively in his prime competes against a top level mixed martial artist. The fight will serve as a precursor for the rumored Randy Couture/James Toney bout that is rumored to take place at UFC 118 in August.

2. Paulo Filho Still Expected to Fight Hector Lombard at Bellator 18

Over the past week, reports out of Brazil were that former WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho would not be fighting this coming Thursday at Bellator 18 against current Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard due to visa issues.

MMAJunkie.com spoke with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney who said, "I've been on the phone with all the appropriate people and we've got everything in line." According to the Brazilian representatives Rebney spoke with, Filho was expected to arrive in the U.S. on Monday and have his pre-fight paperwork completed Tuesday.

If Filho doesn’t’ show, Rebney assures Bellator fans that a replacement, known to MMA fans, is on call.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens with Filho. Ever since his bizarre fight with Chael Sonnen at WEC 36 in November of 2008, Filho, according to manager Ed Soares, has been fighting through issues.

Paulo Filho has lost only one fight, to Chael Sonnen, in his 20-fight career, let’s hope his second loss isn’t to himself.

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1. Roy Nelson vs. Junior Dos Santos at UFC 117

What’s Cage Gossip without another rumor about a potential Roy Nelson fight? This now marks the third straight week we’ve featured Nelson in the article, albeit each time with a different opponent.

First it was Kongo, then it was Mir, now it’s Junior dos Santos. According to MMAJunkie.com, their sources tell them that at least one of the fighters, Nelson or Santos, has already agreed to the fight, which is expected to take place August 7 in Oakland on the UFC 117 fight card.

There had been rumors prior to Nelson’s fight with Stefan Stuve that he would be fighting Dos Santos if he won, and sure enough, it seems to be happening.

Nelson certainly has showed the power to trade with Santos, but Santos’ hand speed is on another level. This could be the first fight where Santos’ ground game is tested in the Octagon. Nelson is a smart fighter who fights to his strengths, and I fully expect him to try and take Santos to the ground and work for a submission. Whether or not he can succeed on the ground will determine Nelson’s fate, and ultimately, Santos’ run at the UFC Heavyweight Title.

That’s it for this week’s edition of Cage Gossip, be sure to check back next Tuesday for the latest rumors in MMA universe!

By Jeffrey Concerto
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer