One of the up-and-comers on the scene is UCC Fights, who have put on two quality events up in Jersey City. This third event, which will put the UCC back in our field of view in time for a proposed October title fight between Dante Rivera and Moreno, features a solid card. Most prominent is the return of PrideFC and Shooto veteran Luiz Azeredo. Azeredo will be facing fellow journeyman Brandon Adamson. Both guys have nearly 20 fights on their CV. Should be a great fight to main event for the UCC.
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Popularity: 1% [?]

In April, NJSACB levied nearly a thousand dollars in missed-weight penalties for the first M-1 Global show at Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City. The intrigue continued at weigh-ins for M-1′s rerack, scheduled for tomorrow night. Mike Conners was fined $500 and suspended for 100 days for failing to appear at this evening’s weigh-ins. Conner was booked to fight Mike Foster at 205 pounds. Josh Key was slapped with the other $500 penalty for failing to make 155 pounds for his lightweight dance with Josh Bacallo. Key came in at 160.4 pounds, 4.4 over the 156 allotment.

Wesley Welch also failed to make weight, but was a lot closer to his target, missing weight by only four ounces. Shane Primm showed a lot of heart by taking the match despite the crushing six ounce weight difference between the two men.

M-1 shows this year have been marred not only by missed weights, but intrigue. First Brian DeMura did everything he could to avoid fighting on the April card (DeMura came in 7 pounds overweight, resulting in what would have been upwards of $640 in fines, then complained of what some consider phantom injuries during the prefight physical). Now, this show is already shadowed already with Conners’ no-show.

Of the situation, M-1 Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan said, “Even though this is a marked improvement over the first M-1 Selection event in April. As professional athletes, fighters need to prepare themselves professionally – respecting their opponents, fans, promotion and the State Athletic Control Boards for enabling these opportunities.”
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Popularity: 55% [?]

The Ultimate Fighter: Season 11 cast member, Woody Weatherby was among a handful of fighters not in attendance at tonight’s Matrix 2 weigh-ins. From what I overheard, Woody did check in to his hotel room, but did not make it to the Zee Bar in Philadelphia for official weigh-ins. His opponent, South Jersey’s Tim Williams was at the weigh-ins and was on weight. Weatherby will be allowed to weigh-in tomorrow.

Kentucky’s Matt Troyer, who was scheduled to fight Brazil’s Alexandre PoPo Bezerra apparently never got on his flight. Bezerra is a former Golden Gloves champion who trains now with Brad Daddis and Wilson Reis.

And in the womens’ 135 pound fight, if what I heard is true, Jennifer Martin was “unable to get a ride” to either one of her medical appointments, or to the show. Its unclear which. Martin was scheduled to face Andria Caplan, wife of Matrix & Bellator matchmaker Sam Caplan. Don’t get that twisted, as Phil Migliarese said on an interview which will be available here tomorrow, Andria can fight. This is confirmed by guys who train with Andria at Daddis FC.

All these issues aside, Matrix 2 will go down tomorrow night at the former ECW Arena in South Philadelphia. It will be an awesome show, and a handful of tickets will be sold at the door.

Get your asses out to support regional mixed martial arts.

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Its looking like tonight’s Moosin: God of Martial Arts show in Worcester MA will rest squarely on the well prepared shoulders of two ladies. Roxy Modafferi looks to rebound from a loss to Marloes Coenen in Strikeforce last fall, while Tara LaRosa is riding an epic fifteen fight win streak including a decision victory against Roxy in 2006 down in Atlantic City. That fight was two years into her current win streak, by the way. Our buddy, The Fight Nerd has a nice pre-fight interview with our girl, Roxy. Roxy and Tara have taken the anti-Rampage vs Rashad route. Last night Roxy was helping Tara set up a Twitter account (She’s here, by the way). And this afternoon, Tara told me that she’s “kinda cheering for her, too” (her = Roxy). Look for some photos and videos from TFN and Roxy coming up sometime this weekend.

Anyway, the reason everyone’s looking to the ladies? Tim Sylvia. He showed up at a put-a-saddle-on-him-and-ride-him-home weight of 305 pounds for his fight with The World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski. Fortunately, Sylvia & Pudzianowski were booked in the “super heavyweight” division, which is basically 266 to whatever a DC-10 weighs. The other good news is that Butterbean Eric Esche‘s fight seems to have been cancelled, as he’s not listed in the weigh-in results.

Speaking of…hit the jump for the official weights.
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Popularity: 26% [?]

Weigh ins for tomorrow’s UCC 2 are over, and one fight has been scratched. Jimmie Rivera came in 3.9 pounds overweight (2.9 with the one pound allowance). Joey Camacho took the option to decline the fight and receive his show money since Rivera wasn’t able to scale in at 135 pounds. Rivera was 1.7 pounds overweight in March for the first UCC show. This time the NJSACB levied a 90 day suspension on Rivera, who might want to consider moving up to Featherweight. But, the fight we’re all waiting for, Ryan Contaldi vs Dante Rivera is all set with Contaldi maxing the scale at 186, and Rivera right behind at 185.8.

Official weigh in results:
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Popularity: 27% [?]

All fighters have made weight for tomorrow night’s Bellator XV from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville CT. Local rookie Brylan VanArtsdalen and Rich De Los Reyes will lead the charge on the preliminary card. VAD came in a pound and a quarter under De Los Reyes. There are eight professional bouts on the card with four tournament (3 welterweight and 1 feathweight) bouts on the televised card and four non-tournament bouts on the preliminary card. Bellator 15 is on the idiot box sometime tomorrow night. Check your Guide channel (or local illegal download website) for broadcast time.
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Popularity: 8% [?]

I really thought I posted this bout sheet, which is proof that I’m not getting enough sleep at night. Anyway, quickly so I can go to bed. Ring of Combat will be in Atlantic City tomorrow night. Demetrius Richards will put his light heavyweight title on the line against current heavyweight champion Gian Villante. You can watch Ring of Combat 29 on gofightlive.tv tomorrow night.
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Popularity: 12% [?]