EliteXC Signs Andrei Arlovski for Oct. 4th Event

EliteXC is looking to deepen it's talent pool and that they did by signing Andrei Arlovski to face Roy Nelson in the October 4th event. This certainly solidifies this card and should help CBS event drastically.

Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com reported the news on Wednesday.

Arlovski (13-5), a former UFC heavyweight champion, was victorious in his Affliction debut in July, punishing Ben Rothwell en route to a third-round technical knockout.

Nelson (13-2) was the last reigning IFL heavyweight titleholder whose only loss under the International Fight League banner was a split decision to Rothwell in April 2007.

Nelson hopes to do what Rothwell couldn't, to beat Arlovski.

EliteXC: Heat is only weeks away and it takes place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The featured bout pits former street brawler Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson against MMA pioneer Ken Shamrock. The action will air live on CBS.

Live Chat log from UFC Confernece Call

4:12 Dana white has two heavyweights on the phone
4:12 Saturday, November 15th
4:12 MGM Grand
4:12 Brock Lesnar
4:13 vs.
4:13 Randy Couture
4:13 "randy has always been the heavyweight champ in the ufc. it took some time to get it straight but he is back to fight again"
4:13 question time.
4:13 is this a one-fight deal?
4:14 Dana: "No matter the outcome, Randy will be in the UFC..."
4:14 Dana: If Fedor becomes available or if something can be done with his promotion we will make the Fedor fight
4:14 Ariel: Seems like he is softening his stance
4:15 Dana announces that Lesnar vs. Couture is for the title
4:15 Dana: Portland is not happening
4:15 not yet
4:16 Dana says that he always liked Randy and always has
4:16 Dana is chatting with Todd Martin from CBS. Just asking about all the details
...
4:17 Dana: some business issues but its all under the bridge
4:17 NY Times is on the line
4:17 What does this mean fro Mir and Nog?
4:17 Winner of the Brock and Randy fight will be the heavyweight champion
4:17 Nog and Mir will fight for the interim title and then it will be champion vs. champion
4:18 Finally someone asks Randy a question. But no one is asking why he came back!
4:18 It was just about his thoughts on Brock
4:19 Dana: Everything between Randy and I are kool moe dee
...
4:20 Brock is talking about Randy posing all kinds of threats but is confident
4:20 Here comes Kevin Iole.
4:20 "How did this come about"
...
4:21 Dana: We spoke everyday and never went to court. We were happy to resolve it
4:21 Randy: There were some compromises made on both sides. The UFC is trying to make the Fedor fight happen.
4:22 "I think we are both happy and want to move forward in a positive way"
4:22 Randy: We have cleared the air and have addressed some of the issues we had. We understand each other now
4:22 Again, Randy vs. Lesnar for the title on 11/15 at the MGM Grand
4:23 Winner fights winner of Nog/Mir to unify titles
4:23 Dana said fans weren't interested in Kongo vs. Lesnar
4:24 Dana: "Mark my words, Couture vs. Lesnar will be the biggest fight in UFC history"
4:25 Brock is saying that he really wanted to fight Randy.
4:25 Randy says he has no ring rust
4:26 Randy: "Yesterday after practice I weight 224.5 lbs..."
4:26 Couture says he hopes to stay around that weight for the fight.
4:28 Randy: I still want to fight Fedor. I can't speak for him. I don't know what's important for him but if he wants to be the #1 fighter in the world he needs to come fight me.
4:29 Dana: I don't know if Fedor cares about his legacy but we are going to offer him a fair deal. If it means something to him to beat Randy let's do this.
4:29 Dana then says he will never interfere with someone else's contract (i.e. Affliction)
4:30 Q: Are you willing to bend the longstanding UFC rules to split the promotion to have Fedor fight?
4:30 Dana. No
4:31 Randy is trying to justify the Lesnar fight. He has faith that the UFC is hoping to sign Fedor
4:32 Dana: We wanna know who the #1 fighter is. If you wanna be the best in the world you gotta beat the best in the world.
4:32 Q: "Why won't you bend your co-promotion stance?"
4:33 Dana: I am not going to do anything...He's under contract. These guys are dying on the vine. They will be gone in a couple of months. (Affliction)
4:33 Dana: Randy vs. Lesnar will have over 1 million PPV buys
4:33 Dana: I will be f-----g horrified if Affliction is around come January
4:34 Q: "Randy, is this the outcome you wanted?"
4:34 A: "It's a step in the right direction. I would rather be fighting Fedor in November but hopefully we will get there."
4:36 Dana said that Nog is thrilled that the Randy Couture is back.
4:38 Q: Why keep the interim title around?
4:38 A: Because he won it
4:39 Randy: "I would never disrespect Nog. I am just choosing a path of least resistance. We are finding a way of making that fight sooner rather than later."

Randy Couture return to UFC probable!

Stories are breaking all over the net today about what looks like an all but confirmed return of the legend of Randy Couture to the UFC for a single last fight. Opponents are not confirmed as well but all hints point to heavyweight wrestler Brock Lesnar.

thefightnetwork.com POSTED: August 30, 2008 - 7:13 pm
Various online reports in recent days have surfaced claiming that disgruntled UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has been involved in negotiations with Zuffa about a possible return to the promotion.

Adding additional fuel to those reports is Michael Rome of BloodyElbow.com, who reported Friday that he had confirmed negotiations are indeed taking place between Couture and the UFC. And as first mentioned by FiveOuncesOfPain.com on Thursday, Rome also adds that Couture’s first fight back with the company could take place at UFC 91 on November 15 in Portland, Oregon against Brock Lesnar. It is unclear whether the Couture vs. Lesnar fight would have a title at stake.

According to Rome, the deal currently on the table would not be a settlement that would bring Couture back under the terms of his old deal, but an entirely new deal that would offer an increase in compensation over his old agreement.

Five Ounces of Pain was first informed of the possibility of a Couture return earlier this week but was unable to report the story with complete confidence. However, it is obvious at this point that Couture’s return is more than just a rumor and at some point soon it could become a reality.

In addition to Bloody Elbow, MMAjunkie.com was the first to report earlier this week about the possibility of a Couture return. And after Bloody Elbow published its report last night, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer issued a report of his own as well.

According Meltzer’s report, the terms of Couture’s new deal would be for three fights. After re-debuting vs. Lesnar, future opponents discussed include current UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, and even currentWAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko.

Expectations about a possible Fedor vs. Couture bout under the UFC banner should be tempered, as Meltzer also stated in his report that many of the past issues that have prevented Fedor from signing with the UFC still exist.

While a deal making a Couture return to the UFC possible is still not yet official, Ariel Helwani of MMARated.com is reporting that the deal could be finalized as early as this Tuesday. Helwani is also reporting that the UFC has received a formal proposal from M-1 to co-promote the much-anticipated Fedor vs. Couture fight as the second fight in Couture’s new proposed UFC contract.