98, 99, 100... FINALLY!

CONFIRMED
Finally, the UFC has announced UFC 100: Making History. The event, as previously rumored, will be held July 11 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. Ticket information and card details will be announced at a later date. As of now it is rumored that GSP v Thiago Alves will be the co-main event accompanied by Mir-Lesnar II. Other bouts should be Hendo-Bisping, Tyson Griffin-Rafael Dos Anjos, Matt Grice-Shannon Gugerty & Mark Coleman-Stephan Bonnar. None of these have been officially; however, the Mir-Lesnar was mentioned in Dana's Vlog after word of Mir's surgery left him unable to compete at 98.

DREAM8
Some of the DEAM8 WelterWeight Grand Prix names have been announced.
Zelg Galesic v Andrews Nakahara
Ikuhisa Minowa v Katsuyori Shibata
Hideo Tokoro v Daiki Hata as part of the first round of the featherweight Grand Prix that took place last week at DREAM7.
Those competing in the Grand Prix will be: Shinya Aoki, Hayato Sakurai, Seichi Ikemoto & the winner of Yuya Shirai vs Yoon Young Kim

UPDATE
As reported Wednesday, Rampage Jackson will not be facing Rashad Evans at UFC 98. He will undergo surgery to correct an injury sustained while training for Wanderlei Silva last year. After the surgery he is supposed to have no contact for five (5) weeks. This would put his next possible fight -at earliest- at the end of June. That is if he has surgery Monday and if the doctors clear him for a full training camp as soon as the 5 weeks are over. All of that is highly unlikely.

INJURY REPORT
Six (6) fighters have been medically suspended after Saturday's UFC 96:
Mark Munoz - 60 days
Gabriel Gonzaga - 60 days
Mike Patt - 30 days, was also released from his UFC contract
Pete Sell - 30 days
Jason Day - 30 days
Ryan Madigan - suspended indefinitely due to an eye injury, will have to be cleared by a doctor to compete again.
*As with all medical suspensions, the above fighters can be cleared by a licensed doctor before their suspension dates and have the suspensions immediately lifted.

RUMOR MILL
Tito Ortiz may be fighting in Afflictions next event. He confirmed at 96 that he will be fighting in August, and Affliction 3 is rumored to be in August. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if he was signed by the clothing-company-turned-MMA-promotion, they are the one organization that has been most likely to pick him up.

Matt Hughes has let it slip recently that he would "toy with the idea of moving up to 185 to face Silva." WHAT?! Don't get me wrong, I like Matt Hughes, I think he's a great fighter and will def be in the Hall of Fame... I just don't think a fight with Silva would be best. Maybe after we see how he looks against Serra -I'm picking Hughes to win-, but not until then.

The TUF 9 Finale may have Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida as the headliner. Also reported to be on the card is Joe Stevenson vs Nate Diaz. I think a fight between Diego and Clay would be incredibly exciting! Along with the Stevenson-Diaz fight it's perfect for a TUF Finale.

UFC 100 May be Brazilian Paulo Thiago's next appearance. Tatame recently reported he will face Jon Fitch at the historic event.

Shamrock on 'roids?
The California State Athletic Commission has suspended and fined Ken Shamrock for a positive steroid result. This may come as no surprise to some; Frank Shamrock stated in a 2008 interview with MMAMadness that "...Ken did them [steroids] his whole life..."

But, the two have fueded for years so Frank may not be the most trustworthy source. The commission dropped a fine of $2,500 along with a suspension that will run through Feb. 1, 2010 due to a positive test result showing: 19-Norandrosterone, 19-Noretiocholananolone and -made famous by Baby Fedor, Stanozolol. Shamrock's manager, Rod Donohoo, in a statement regarding the result said, "Ken is willing to submit to an immediate testing in Sacramento to prove his-innocence." As with Sidelnikov's response, "Ken was taking legal over-the-counter products." Aren't we all...


INKED
Last Thursday's rumor mill featured the rumored bouts of UFC 99. It has been confirmed Swick will face Saunders as well as Davis-Hardy, Siver-Hartt and Struve-Stojnic. Added to the card is Paul Kelly who will be dropping to 155 for the first time to fight Roli Delgado.

Jake Shields is off the April 11 Strikeforce card, instead he will face "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler at the promotions May event in Seattle.

Jason Guida (brother to the UFC's Clay Guida) will step in for the recently suspended Frank Shamrock against Bobby Lashly at this month's "March Badness". Badness is put on by Square Ring, Inc and will consist of a "hybrid" model, fusing boxing bouts with MMA fights. The event is being held in Pensacola, FL, March 21 for anyone that is interested. It could be interesting the card has some good guys lined up.

Miss something? Questions? Comments? E-mail me: samantha.lynn.johnson@gmail.com