MMA Nation Round-Up provides you with daily coverage of the latest in news, multimedia, and analysis throughout the world of combat sports. This morning we update you on the various happens of the mixed martial arts world, from Junior dos Santos' boxing ambitions to Antonio Silva's surgery (and UFC dreams). Plus, Tito Ortiz offers to "break you off some," if you're interested.
- Prior to the UFC 139 weigh-ins, perennial UFC contender Josh Koscheck partook in a question and answer session with fans. Among the many anecdotes was this tidbit about his controversial fight with Paul Daley: "I was in his ear the whole time, saying 'man, you get up I'm going to knock you out.'"
- In case you haven't seen, the behind-the-scenes issues in the Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto 2 lead-up have become entirely bizarre. Brent Brookhouse explains: "While it is admirable for the NYSAC to look out for the health of a fighter, it's the way which they went about the situation that has many people upset."
- Tito Ortiz is anything but shy. When asked about the prospect of fighting former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" responded with this gem, "Rich Franklin, you wanna get broken off some? I'll break you off some."
- Every since the UFC announced their early-2012 trip to Japan, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has lobbied to be on the card. On Tuesday his dreams were crushed, and he wasn't too happy about it.
- Is it possible Cain Velasquez knew about Junior dos Santos' knee injury at UFC on Fox? Dos Santos seems to think so.
- Phil Davis dropped by with this little nugget about the UFC bantamweight champion.
- Junior dos Santos has become the most feared striker in the heavyweight division. Now the UFC champion could have his sights sets on shot at the 2016 Olympic games.
- Antonio Silva underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a shoulder injury suffered against Daniel Cormier. "Bigfoot" hopes to recover within six weeks, after which an Octagon appearance could be next on the docket. Said Silva's manager: "I hope that, meanwhile, Strikeforce decides its future and that Bigfoot can come with all his power to the UFC," (photo via Tatame).
- The UFC 139 drug tests came back and all fighters passed with flying colors.
- When Jon Jones squares off with Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, there's a zero-percent chance the young champion will be taking his opponent lightly. Greg Jackson explains why: "(Machida) will be very motivated because once somebody supposedly has that stature that Jon has now of this invincible machine, everybody trains really, really hard -- partly out of fear, partly out of ambition -- to take you down. I fully expect us to fight the best Machida that has ever fought."
- Following his brutal return to form at UFC 139, Wanderlei Silva sat down with Sherdog's TJ De Santis to discuss his future in mixed martial arts.