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“Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2″ event preview: Diaz and Noons rekindle rivarly

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz didn’t perform up to snuff
when he first met K.J. Noons at 160 pounds nearly three years ago.

Now, the champ has an opportunity to right that wrong under better
circumstances when he again meets Noons in his second welterweight
title defense at “Strikeforce: Diaz

Matthew Riddle vs. T.J. Waldburger set for UFC 124 in Montreal

The UFC’s return to Canada continues to take shape, and a welterweight
contest between Matthew Riddle and Anthony “T.J.”
Waldburger is the latest addition to the card.

MMAjunkie.com confirmed with sources close to the
event that verbal agreements are in place for the fight, which was first
reported by MMAFighting.com.

Evan Dunham vs. Kenny Florian in the works for UFC 127 in February

A key matchup in the lightweight division is in the works for February.

Two-time UFC title contender Kenny Florian revealed
on the latest episode of ESPN’s “MMA Live” that a UFC 127 bout with
lightweight prospect Evan Dunham is currently in the works.

“We’ve verbally agreed to fight Evan Dunham,

“Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2″ live weigh-in results

SAN JOSE, Calif. – MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting live from
today’s “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2″ official fighter weigh-ins.

Today’s festivities, which are free and open to the public, take place
at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., the same venue that hosts
Saturday’s Showtime-televised event.

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As a reminder, submissions for the upcoming edition of “The Sunday Junkie” are due Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.

All topics, including this weekend’s “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II” event, are open for
discussion. The person who sends in the submission we deem the best -
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Middleweight Mario Miranda signs new four-fight deal with UFC

The UFC believes Mario Miranda can get back on the right track.

The Brazilian middleweight recently signed a new four-fight contract with the promotion and is aiming to return in the first quarter of 2011, his co-manager, Shy Sadis, told MMAjunkie.com.

In the meantime, Miranda plans to return to his

“The Ultimate Fighter 12″ ratings dip, episode No. 4 draws 1.6 million

The fourth episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck” scored a 1.3 household rating and an average audience of 1.6 million viewers.

Spike TV officials today emailed the ratings information to MMAjunkie.com.

The ratings took a slight dip; with three consecutive increases, a season-high 1.8 million

Strikeforce champ Sarah Kaufman sees cardio edge at “Diaz vs. Noons II”

Strikeforce women’s welterweight champion Sarah Kaufman cuts around 12 pounds to make the 135-pound limit required to defend her belt.

Her next opponent, Marloes Coenen, likely will have a much tougher road to the scale since she’s fought the bulk of her MMA career at 145 pounds.

And that could

Lightweights Dustin Hazelett vs. Mark Bocek official for UFC 124 in Montreal

As expected, former welterweight Dustin Hazelett is dropping to 155 pounds to fight Mark Bocek at December’s UFC 124 event.

MMAjunkie.com passed along news of the bout this past month, and UFC executives recently made it official.

UFC 124 takes place Dec. 11 at the Bell Centre in Montreal and

UFC 124 tickets on sale next week

Tickets for the UFC’s return trip to Montreal’s Bell Centre go on sale beginning next week.

The event, UFC 124, takes place Dec. 11 with a headliner between UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and “The Ultimate Fighter 12″ rival coach Josh Koscheck.

Tickets for the pay-per-view event range from $75

Benavidez replaces injured Bowles, meets Fabiano at WEC 52

Joseph Benavidez has replaced an injured Brian Bowles and meets fellow bantamweight Wagnney Fabiano next month at WEC 52.

MMAjunkie.com first passed along news of Bowles’ injury and withdrawal from the card on Thursday, and Sherdog.com subsequently confirmed Benavidez as a likely replacement.

MMAjunkie.com has confirmed the switch with sources

Roger Gracie’s next Strikeforce date and opponent uncertain

While word of Roger Gracie’s next Strikeforce obligations hit the Web this morning, sources close to the fighter say the standout grappler’s future is all but certain.

A rumored matchup between Gracie and the hard-hitting Mike Kyle is possible for “Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu,” though it could also take place

Eric Lawson out, Josh McDonald in at Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons” II

A cracked rib has sidelined Eric Lawson, who’s been forced out of Saturday’s preliminary-card bout with Ron Keslar at “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II.”

In his place steps fellow middleweight Josh McDonald.

Lawson on Wednesday confirmed the injury with MMAjunkie.com.

Masanori Kanehara vs. Doo Ho Choi added to Sengoku Raiden Championship 15

Former Sengoku featherweight champion Masanori Kanehara has been added to this month’s World Victory Road Sengoku Raiden Championship 15 event.

He takes on Doo Ho Choi, officials today announced.

Sengoku Raiden Championship 15 takes place Oct. 30 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and airs via HDNet in North America.

MMAjunkie.com Radio: Eddie Alvarez, Bjorn Rebney and Kyle Watson

On a rare Bellator dark week, MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show the company’s CEO, Bjorn Rebney, and its lightweight champ, Eddie Alvarez, who meets Roger Huerta later this month in the Bellator 33 headliner.

Additionally, Kyle Watson, “The Ultimate Fighter 12″ radio correspondent for MMAjunkie.com Radio, helps us

Executive: UFC 120 expected to set European attendance and gate records

This month’s UFC 120 event will be the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most successful European show to date.

That’s the word from UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik, who today hosted a media conference call in anticipation of the Oct. 16 event.

UFC 120 takes place at The 02 in London, England,

Njokuani vs. Faaloloto, Jabouin vs. Visher slated for WEC 52 prelims

Featherweights fights of Anthony Njokuani vs. Edward Faaloloto and Yves Jabouin vs. Brandon Visher are set for next month’s WEC 52 event.

WEC 52 takes place Nov. 11 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the night’s main card airs on Versus.

Njokuani vs. Faaloloto

Johnson vs. Zwicker, Olsen vs. Budd official for Strikeforce Challengers 11

A heavyweight bout between Lavar Johnson and Virgil Zwicker is set for this month’s Strikeforce Challengers 11 event.

So, too, is a women’s 145-pound matchup between unbeaten Shana Olsen and Canadian Muay Thai champion Julia Budd, officials recently announced.

Strikeforce Challengers 11 takes place Oct. 22 at the Save Mart

Welterweights Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim targeted for UFC 125

A welterweight bout between “The Ultimate Fighter 5″ winner Nate Diaz and undefeated Dong Hyun Kim is in the works for UFC 125.

Sources close to the negotiations told MMAjunkie.com verbal agreements are in place for the fight.

UFC 125 takes place Jan. 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena

Middleweights Dan Miller vs. Joe Doerksen likely for UFC 124 in Montreal

In life as in fighting, brothers stick together.

Middleweight Dan Miller joins brother Jim Miller on UFC 124’s fast-filling fight card when he meets Joe Doerksen at UFC 124.

Although sources close to the event on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com that the fight is not a done deal, at least one