Bellator continues their shopping spree as they sign Steve Carl.

Carl, 25, a U.S. Army sergeant who served in the Iraq War, took up MMA about five years ago while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and has since compiled a professional record of 10-1. His rear naked choke submission of the previously undefeated Ivan Ivanoff at the M-1 Challenge in Bulgaria earlier this year won him international acclaim and drew the attention of matchmakers from all of the top MMA promotions.

“I was getting offers from the UFC and others, but Bellator was just a better opportunity for me,” Carl said. “I’m really excited about the exposure that Bellator’s TV deal will bring me and the chance to fight against some awesome competition.”

Carl, an Iowa native and recent college graduate, joins fellow top MMA talents Dan Hornbuckle, Jacob McClintock, “Judo” Jim Wallhead and former NCAA wrestling champion and U.S. Olympian Ben Askren in what was recently described by Yahoo! Sports as “a kick-butt welterweight tournament” that offers “good balance of experienced fighters . and up-and-comers with unlimited potential.”

“Steve Carl is yet another tremendous addition to our welterweight tournament,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “In addition to being a talented fighter, he also has an inspirational life story that will make it tough not to root for him once our second season begins April 8th. I’m proud to welcome him to our organization.”

Carl’s signing with Bellator marks the culmination of a harrowing three-year journey that, at one time, put his promising MMA career in jeopardy. In December 2006, he was involved in a horrific car crash on an icy eastern Iowa road that shattered his right leg and left doctors questioning whether he would ever walk again without the use of a cane. His career in fighting, they said, was almost certainly over.

Carl, though, was undeterred, and began a rigorous conditioning and physical therapy regimen that put him back in the cage in roughly 18 months. During his first few bouts after his return, he fought with a titanium rod implanted in his leg.

“After the accident, everyone wanted me to move on from MMA,” Carl said. “But I knew it in my heart beforehand that I had a chance to make it to the top and I didn’t want to give that up. Now I’ve got the chance to show what I can do in front of the whole country on national TV.”

Each of Bellator’s 24 fights during Seasons 2 and 3 will be distributed live in primetime on Thursday nights on FOX Sports Net and its regional sports network affiliates. The top moments from each week’s live events will then be condensed into an action-packed 30-minute highlight show, broadcast every Saturday night, late night, on NBC. A one-hour highlight show will air in Spanish on Telemundo every Saturday night from midnight to 1 a.m.

Blue Chip prospect Ben Askren signs with Bellator Fighting Championship.

Askren is a U.S. Olympian who competed in the 2008 Beijing Games in freestyle wrestling. While wrestling at the collegiate level at the University of Missouri, Askren won two NCAA Division I titles. Since announcing his plans to cross over into professional mixed martial arts after the conclusion of the Beijing Games, Askren has been one of the most sought-after free agents in the sport.

Known for his unorthodox fighting style and world class credentials, Askren, 25, is slated to compete in Bellator’s welterweight (170 lbs.) division tournament. The promotion will kick off its second season on April 8, 2010 and will conduct eight-man tournaments in the featherweight (145 lbs.), lightweight (155 lbs.), welterweight (170 lbs.), and middleweight (185 lbs.) divisions to determine the No. 1 ranked challengers to face Bellator’s current champions.

In February 2009, Askren, who is known as “Funky,” made his professional MMA debut and has since compiled an undefeated record of 3-0. MMAJunkie.com has labeled him as “one of the top prospects in all of mixed martial arts,” while BloodyElbow.com called his abilities “mesmerizing.”

“I am very happy to welcome Ben to Bellator,” said Bjorn Rebney, founder and CEO of Bellator Fighting Championships. “Ben’s an exciting fighter with unlimited potential and an unparalleled list of Olympic and collegiate accomplishments. We believe he can become a true force in this sport. As an MMA fan, I can’t wait for Ben’s first fight in our tournament on FOX Sports Net, NBC and Telemundo this April.”

As the nation’s top MMA prospect, Askren joins a Bellator roster that includes elite fighters such as Eddie Alvarez (155 lbs. champion), Hector Lombard (185 lbs. champion), Lyman Good (170 lbs. champion), Joe Soto (145 lbs. champion) and many others.

Askren’s signing is the latest in a series of major offseason Bellator announcements that include the promotion’s historic new TV distribution alliance with FOX Sports Net, NBC and Telemundo. Bellator Season 2 begins April 8, 2010 and will run for 12 weeks. It will be followed by Bellator Season 3, which is slated to begin on Aug. 12, 2010 and will also run for 12 successive weeks.

Askren said the national TV alliances were a key factor in his decision to sign with Bellator.

“I like that my fights are going to broadcast nationally, I like the tournament-style format and I love the opportunity to be a part of something exciting and new,” he said. “I plan on winning Bellator. My goal, as it always has been, is to be the best in the world.”

Askren, who was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and grew up outside of Milwaukee, Wis., now lives in Phoenix and trains at the renowned Arizona Combat Sports gym.  In addition to the wrestling techniques he honed at the collegiate and Olympic levels, he holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Askren is also engaged to be married on April 9th, one day after Bellator’s Season 2 premiere.

“My fiancé doesn’t really like the whole getting punched in the face thing, but she accepts it and is excited for me to continue to compete in MMA for Bellator.”

Each of Bellator’s 24 fights during Seasons 2 and 3 will be distributed live in primetime on Thursday nights on FOX Sports Net and its regional sports network affiliates. The top moments from each week’s live events will then be condensed into an action-packed 30-minute highlight show, broadcast every Saturday night, late night, on NBC. A one-hour highlight show will air in Spanish on Telemundo every Saturday night from midnight to 1 a.m. Each of the three broadcasts will be aired in high definition.

Donald Cerrone is set to face Ed Ratcliff at WEC 45.

TAKEYA MIZUGAKI VS. SCOTT JORGENSEN

BART PALASZEWSKI VS. ANTHONY PETTIS

MUHSIN CORBBREY VS. ZACH MICKLEWRIGHT

CHAD GEORGE VS. JOHN HOSMAN

TYLER TONER VS. BRANDON VISHER

BRAD PICKETT VS. KYLE DIETZ

JAMEEL MASSOUH VS. ERIK KOCH

DONALD CERRONE VS. ED RATCLIFF
“This is the perfect way to close out 2009,” WEC General Manager Reed Harris said. “We have stacked this card with some outstanding battles featuring our top contenders. This is truly our holiday gift to fans.”

Cerrone vs. Ratcliff will be televised nationally live on VERSUS beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.  All of the network’s live WEC events are presented in HD and Spanish language SAP where available.
Expect fireworks when free-swinging bantamweights Scott Jorgensen (fighting out of Boise, ID) and Takeya Mizugaki (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) collide on Dec. 19. Fresh off a submission victory over Noah Thomas in October, Jorgensen (7-3) believes he is closing in on a match with 135-pound champion Brian Bowles. A winner of three out of his last four fights, the Boise-based fighter is prepared for an all-out slugfest with Mizugaki at The Palms. With impressive performances in each of his first two fights in the WEC, Japanese star Mizugaki (12-3-2) has proved to be one of the toughest bantamweights in the world. His five-round fight with Miguel Angel Torres in April, coupled with his decision victory over Jeff Curran in August, has many wondering if the clinch-savvy Mizugaki will soon be wearing the WEC championship. Before Mizugaki can garner a world title shot, he must diffuse Jorgensen in a potential “Fight of the Year.”

At just 26 years old, few fighters boast the level of experience offered by the heavy-handed Bart Palaszewski (fighting out of Chicago, IL). With 45 fights in his seven-year career, “Bartimus” believes his MMA seasoning will fuel him past fiery lightweight prospect Anthony Pettis (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI). Unbeaten at 7-0 in his young career, the 22-year-old Pettis scored an impressive submission victory over Mike Campbell is his WEC debut in June. Training out of the same camp that has produced UFC veterans Pat Barry, Ben Rothwell, and Eric Schafer, Pettis thinks he has all of the tools necessary to best Palaszewski (32-13) and climb one step closer to the 155-pound elite.

WEC newcomer Zach Micklewright (fighting out of Davenport, IA) has built a solid reputation as a gritty lightweight fighter willing to trade leather. Micklewright (8-1), who is a training partner of rising featherweight star L.C. Davis, hopes to show WEC fans his exciting standup game when he takes on tested veteran Muhsin Corbbrey (fighting out of Savannah, GA) in Las Vegas. Nicknamed “The Technician,” Corbbrey (13-4-1) is a versatile athlete with strong jiu jitsu and striking. The 31-year-old believes his complete arsenal will help him spoil Micklewright’s debut on Dec. 19.

An intriguing bantamweight bout pits John Hosman (fighting out of Evanston, IL) against WEC rookie Chad George (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.). Holding a record of 17-5-1, the 29-year-old Hosman is a solid wrestler with good submissions. A longtime training partner of UFC star Clay Guida, Hosman looks to pick up his first win in the WEC when he locks horns with the hard-hitting George at The Palms. Considering that nine of his 10 wins have come by way of stoppage, George (10-4) believes he can become an immediate contender in the stacked bantamweight division. What’s more, the fighter nicknamed “Savage” hopes to do so by knocking off the rugged Hosman on Dec. 19.

Two hard-hitting featherweight newcomers meet when Tyler Toner (fighting out of Denver, CO) wages war with Brandon Visher (fighting out of Maui, Hawaii) at The Pearl at the Palms. One look at each fighter’s stats leads many to believe that this could steal “Fight of the Night” honors. In nine pro victories, Toner (9-1) has scored an impressive five knockouts and two submissions. He’ll look to take the next step in his MMA career against his Hawaiian-born opponent. Nicknamed “The Viper,” Visher is unbeaten at 13-0 in his five-year career and owns finishes in 10 of those bouts. An aggressive striker with a slick ground game, the highly-touted Maui resident promises an explosive contest when he debuts next month.

A winner of his last seven fights, England’s Brad “One Punch” Pickett (now fighting out of Coconut Creek, FL) makes his highly-anticipated WEC debut when he takes on Kyle Dietz (fighting out of Davenport, IA) in an exciting bantamweight bout. A close friend and teammate of former featherweight champion Mike Brown, Pickett (17-4) enters the WEC with heavy momentum. With submissions wins in three out of his last four fights, the outspoken Brit wants to make an immediate mark by besting Dietz. A 23-year-old protégé of UFC vet Spencer Fisher, Dietz (13-1) is hungry for his first victory inside the Octagon(tm). He hopes to use his vicious Muay Thai and slick grappling to overpower Pickett at The Palms.

A battle of the Badger State pits Milwaukee residents Jameel Massouh (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI) and Erik Koch (fighting out of Milwaukee, WI) against one another in featherweight action. A top star in the Pancrase organization, Massouh (21-6) has fought some of the top competition in the world, including Leonard Garcia and Raphael Assuncao. The 25-year-old looks to jump into the mix at 145-pounds with a win over the unbeaten Koch. Boasting an unblemished record of 8-0, the 21-year-old Koch is a tremendous grappler who has only been to a decision once in his career. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter believes he has the potential to one day wear WEC gold and hopes to pave his way to the title with a win over Massouh on Dec. 19.

Courtesy XtremeCoutureClothing.com

Over the weekend AdrenalineMMA announced the completed card for thier September 18, show to take place in Council Bluffs, IA.The completed card is riddled with both UFC veterans and newcomers.

Headlining the card is former UFC heavyweight title holder, Tim Sylvia vs. 6-1 Jason Riley. Sylvia (24-6) is coming off a nine-second knock out punch against Ray Mercer at AdrenalineMMA 3 in June. Also on this card, as the co-main event, is one-time-KO-artist Houston Alexander facing lopsided 11-14 Sherman Pendergarst. After three consecutive losses -all in the first round- Alexander was released from his UFC contract in September.

AMMA 4 will be held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, IA, Friday, September 18. The event will also air live on HDNet, check local listings.

MAIN CARD
Tim Sylvia (24-6) vs. Jason Riley (6-1)
Houston Alexander (8-4) vs. Sherman Pendergarst (11-13)
Chad Reiner (19-8) vs. Forrest Petz (13-7)
Alonzo Martinez (23-10) vs. Ryan Williams (10-4)
Jeremy Lang (15-1) vs. Matt Delanoit (13-6)
Joe Vedepo (9-2) vs. Webster Farris (1-0)
Jimmy Seipel (1-0) vs. Bob Tuttle (1-0)

PRELIMINARIES
Todd Meneely (0-0) vs. Corey McDonald (1-1)
Dustin Smith (5-0) vs. Marcos Marquez (3-0)
Matt Bentley (4-2) vs. Danny Black (7-5)
John Hansen (10-2) vs. Gregg Van der Creek (4-1)
Dakota Cochrane (6-0) vs. Bill Holcombe (12-4)
Ryan Shell (15-4) vs. Robert Rojas (13-1)

Source: Sherdog.com

TUF Winner Efrain Escudero will be featured on Spike TV at UFC 103

Providing an action-packed UFC pay-per-view, live and commercial free, to our viewers on both coasts, further illustrates Spike TV and the UFC’s commitment to its fans,” said Kevin Kay, president, Spike TV.

Emanating from the American Airlines Center, the undercard features high-action battles with some top rising stars in the UFC lightweight division.

“The Ultimate Fighter 8″ winner Efrain Escudero (12-0), an All American collegiate wrestler fighting out of Tempe, AZ puts his undefeated record on the line against “The Ultimate Fighter 5″ alum Cole Miller (15-3).

Fighting with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL, Miller won four out of five fights in the Octagon including a victory over the controversial “The Ultimate Fighter 8″ Junie Browning last April.  

Also on the undercard, hard-hitting veteran Drew McFedries (8-5) fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa, is coming off an impressive victory (TKO in the 1st) in his last fight against Xavier Foupa-Pokam. 

His opponent is Polish native Tomasz Drwal (16-2), training currently in San Diego who has won his last two contests in the Octagon, including a victory over Mike Ciesnolevicz in June.