Kampmann ready to bounce back on Saturday night.

After a slew of bad luck, injuries and mishaps, there is virtually no fight on UFC 108 that has gone unchanged; including Martin Kampmann’s fight. Initially he was scheduled to fight Rory Markham; however, after Markham was injured training, Kampmann was matched with Jacob Volkmann. Having an opponent switch midway through camp can throw off a lot of fighters, but Kampmann feels he can still come out on top.

“I was originally preparing for Rory Markham,” explained Kampmann. “Of course, stylewise that’s a big change; Volkmann is a wrestler. So I changed it up a little bit and I expect him to try and take the fight to the ground. I’ve been working my takedown defense the last couple of weeks, ever since I’ve known he’s the guy I’m supposed to fight. I’m going to try and keep it standing and beat him up.”

To prepare for the challenge of facing a wrestler, versus the standup fighter in Markham he was originally preparing for, Kampmann has been utilizing his many training partners at Xtreme Couture. Some of the best wrestlers in the game train there, the gym’s namesake, Randy Couture, included.

“I work a lot with Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle, Evan Dunham, Tyson [Griffin], and Gray [Maynard],” said Kampmann.

The Dane continued to list a marquee full of names that all have wrestling accolades. Having recently dropped to the welterweight division, the extra strength he now holds on fight night helps him on the ground. He is now able to keep up with opponents; whereas when he was at middleweight there was little weight to cut and little weight to gain back going into each fight. Before Kampmann dropped to welterweight he would walk at roughly 185 pounds, most middleweights walk somewhere close to 200. After everyone else cut weight, they would be able to gain back roughly 10-15 pounds; since Kampmann had no weight to cut, there was no weight to gain.

“The guys I’m fighting aren’t so big anymore, they are more my size,” said Kampmann. “I was so used to fighting guys that were much bigger than me… I had thought about cutting to 170 for a long time and a lot of people had been telling me to cut to 170 when I was fighting at 185 because I was fighting at the weight I was walking around at. I took a loss to [Nate] Marquardt and thought ‘Okay, I’ll drop to 170 now.’”

After dropping a weight class, Kampmann has been upping his ground game. Though he’s not as versed as some on the ground Kampmann is not counting himself out for lack of skills. The Danish Muay Thai artist would prefer to keep it standing, but when it comes fight time anything can happen.

“I’m not necessarily of his ground game,” said Kampmann. “I think I can hold my own on the ground. But he’s a wrestler and a good grappler too…his top game is probably the best. I don’t mind if it goes to the ground, but I prefer to be the guy on top. Other than that, I’d like to keep the fight standing.”

Five of Kampmann’s fifteen wins are via submission which proves that while he prefers to keep it standing, he is no slouch on the ground. For Volkmann, any where this fight goes is dangerous territory.

Spike TV announces deal to bring more prelims live to fans in 2010.

The first two scheduled events will be on Saturday, January 2 at 9:00pm and  Saturday, February 6 at 9:00pm.  The remaining eight shows will be announced at a later date.

Drawing an impressive average of 1.4 million viewers in 2009, the “UFC Prelims” on Spike TV feature between two and four live undercard bouts prior to the UFC pay-per-view telecast.  Among those featured on previous “UFC Prelims” include former “The Ultimate Fighter” champions Efrain Escudero (Season 8), Kendall Grove (Season 3), and Ryan Bader (Season 8).

Kimbo Slice pounded Houston Alexander at the The Ultimate Fighter Finale.

Spike TV’s telecast of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” live finale on Saturday, December 5 was the most watched final episode in the 10 seasons of the TUF franchise, peaking with 5.2 million viewers and a 5.9 rating with Men 18-34 for the Kimbo Slice-Houston Alexander fight.  The over 5 million viewers were the most to watch a live UFC fight in 2009.

Overall, the three-hour fight card drew 3.7 million viewers, a 2.4 household rating, a 4.6 in Men 18-34 and was the most-watched show on cable with Men 18-34 and Men 18-49 for the day.

“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” live finale was the third most-watched UFC fight card ever.

Roy “Big Country” Nelson was named “The Ultimate Fighter” after knocking out Brendan Schaub with a devastating right hand to the head in the first round of their main event bout. Earlier in the night, Slice won a unanimous three-round decision over Alexander for his first victory in the UFC.

Season 10 of Spike TV’s signature franchise, “The Ultimate Fighter,” was the most-watched ever for the series, bucking the common trend of a show’s ratings to erode over time.  The series drew an average of 3.4 million viewers as compared to an average of 2 million viewers for the previous nine seasons.

Will UFC Undisputed 2010 be the next Madden?

Set to air live from Los Angeles on Saturday, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, the awards show will feature the first-ever gameplay footage from UFC Undisputed 2010, interspersed with commentary from top UFC fighters.  In addition, the footage will be introduced through a special UFC guest appearance.

Accompanying the worldwide debut of UFC Undisputed 2010, the franchise’s best-selling and critically acclaimed inaugural release, UFC 2009 Undisputed, is nominated for “Best Individual Sports Game” at the 2009 Spike TV “Video Game Awards.”  Fans can vote for UFC 2009 Undisputed to win this prestigious videogame industry honor by visiting http://vga.spike.com.

In addition to the live broadcast, the 2009 Spike TV “Video Game Awards” will be shown in over 180 territories and countries.  Non-U.S. residents should check their local listings for the date and time of the show.

More information about the UFC Undisputed videogame franchise can be found at www.ufcundisputed.com.

Hendo signs with Strikeforce.

UFC president Dana White conceded numerous times that former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson was going to Strikeforce.

Well, as of Monday, AOL Fanhouse broke the story that Henderson has signed with the San Jose, Calif.-based promotion. .

The move is an immediate upgrade to the entire Strikeforce roster, as Henderson can fight in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Four-time mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion and two-time United States Olympic wrestler Dan Henderson will enter a new chapter in his legendary career after signing a multi-fight agreement with world championship MMA promotion STRIKEFORCE.

Henderson, the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold two titles in two different weight classes – the welterweight (183 pounds) and light heavyweight (205 pounds) crowns – with a major MMA promotion – PRIDE Fighting Championships – will enter the STRIKEFORCE cage after earning “Knockout of the Night” honors with his stunning second round (3:20) KO of Michael “The Count” Bisping at UFC 100 in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 11, 2009.

“I’m very happy to be a part of StrikeForce and their partnership with CBS and SHOWTIME®,” said the 39-year-old Henderson, who represented The United States in Greco-Roman wrestling in both the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

“StrikeForceand its growing roster of world class talent will offer me many exciting fights and has the ability to bring many new fans from all around the world to mixed martial arts. I am grateful to (StrikeForce Founder and CEO) Scott Coker for the opportunity to help make this happen and for treating me with the utmost respect throughout our negotiations.

I’d also like to thank Dana (White) and the UFC for the opportunities they provided me and I wish them ongoing success.  I’ll continue to watch their events and I hope they’ll tune in to my fights in StrikeForce.  After all, I’m a true fan of our fantastic sport and would love only to see MMA continue to grow.”

“We are excited to welcome Dan Henderson to StrikeForce,” said Coker.  “Dan is one of the world’s premiere fighters who has lived out an extraordinary career.  We are looking forward to having him compete for us.”

At both Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State University, Henderson established himself as a force in collegiate wrestling, reaching the NCAA championships in 1993.

In 1997, Henderson entered the world of MMA, winning the Brazil Open, a four-man heavyweight tournament.  One year later, he was the victor of the UFC 17 tournament, defeating both Allan Goes and Carlos Newton in the same night on May 15, 1998.

Following a stellar six plus year career with the now-defunct, Japan-based PRIDE Fighting

Championships where he conquered a number of all-time greats including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva, and Vitor Belfort, Henderson re-entered UFC.  He was selected to serve as coach of Team USA on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series, which premiered on Spike TV on April 1, 2009.

Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander promises to have some exciting fireworks.

Kimbo Slice and Houston Alexander are just a pair of guys, fighting to put food on the table for their families.

Both men have six children between them, and when the two men collide in the Octagon tonight as part of “The Ultimate Fighter 10” finale, each man will be looking to knock the other out.

“My family got to eat. I’m doing it because of that,” Alexander said. “Win or lose, I get to come home to them.”

The two men are both known for their explosive striking abilities. Slice (3-1) best known for his YouTube clips, while Alexander (9-4-1) owns a win over light heavyweight contender Keith Jardine.

“I want to knock him out. He knock me out or I knock him out,” Slice said. “I’m going to do what I can to defend myself. Whatever it goes, it goes. The cage, street. The hotel. I came here to fight. I’m good on everything. That’s where my mind is at right now.”

Slice is coming off of his stint on The Ultimate Fighter where he was eliminated in the first round of the competition. He was portrayed as a family man who did anything he could do to ensure a proper future for his children.

Slice went from YouTube Street fighter to family man trying to make a living.

“I’m the same way on and off camera,” Slice said. “I didn’t try and pretend to be someone I’m not. I have six kids I take care of. This is me. What you see is what you got.”

Slice has begun training with American Top Team to help improve his ground game. Slice admitted that when he started fighting on the streets, it wasn’t with the intention of one day becoming a mixed martial artist.

He was fighting for money.

“When I started thumping, I wasn’t thumping to fight in the UFC,” Slice said. “I was thumping to make some change. When the opportunity came to make more money, hell yeah, I’m going to do it.”

By training with American Top Team, Slice is making the transition into becoming a trained fighter. He is working endlessly on his ground game, looking to learn how to escape from certain positions and work best to keep the fight on his feet.

Slice was honest with how his game was developed. It’s still a work in progress.

“It takes years to develop any fundamentals,” Slice said. “When you put in a situation to remember and use it in a fight. … My style is pretty much developed a little ground here and there. I like to stand up and knock a guy out or be knocked out. That’s what you get with me.”

Alexander is making his return to the UFC after spending some time away from the Octagon after losing to Eric Schafer.

Alexander is seen as a guy that many expect to stand and trade, meaning he’s a fighter tailor-made for Slice.

Despite people saying he might have been brought in as a stepping stone for the former YouTube sensation, Alexander argues otherwise.

“They (Joe Silva and Dana White) saw two guys with the same style,” Alexander said. “They just pieced it together. I think it’s a perfect match for both of us.

Alexander said he has no ill-will towards Slice, and vice-versa.

The two men will fight at a catchweight of 215 pounds. Alexander does not have to cut any weight for the fight, as he normally walks around that level, and he said that he doesn’t expect a drop in speed or power.

The same can’t be said for Slice, who is cutting weight for the first time in his career.

He admitted that he was moody and it wasn’t a good experience. As of Thursday, he was already at 215 pounds.

“The last time I was at this weight I was in middle school,” Slice said. “You just don’t feel the same. It’s mental. It’s not a good feeling. I’m anxious. Everything is mental.”

Houston Alexander is looking to take advantage of this opportunity.

As he prepares for the biggest fight of his eight-year career this Saturday night against Internet sensation Kimbo Slice (3-1) at The Pearl at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas (SPIKE, 9ET), Alexander (9-4, 1 NC) flashes back to when he entered the organization nearly three years ago. Gearing up for what could be one of the most talked-about fights in UFC history, Alexander realizes that another huge opportunity presents itself this weekend.

“This is a very important fight for me and the people back in my community,” Alexander, a single parent raising six children, said. “I’m putting pressure on myself to do well in this fight. We stepped up the training and it’s got even more intense than ever before. On Saturday night, it’s going to be something people have never even seen of me. I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been.

“When the UFC asked me about this fight, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘wow,’” Alexander continued. “It didn’t take me long to accept this fight. Kimbo and I come from similar fighting backgrounds. We have a lot in common and this could do big things for our careers. This fight means a lot to both of us.”

With the fight being contested at a catchweight of 215 pounds, Alexander believes the bout with Slice is a perfect chance to show new dimensions to his mixed martial arts attack. Originally considered a pure striker, Alexander has worked hard to improve his wrestling and grappling over the past two years. While he wouldn’t mind standing and banging with the 35-year-old Slice, Alexander admitted that he is a more refined fighter than ever before.

“This is going to be a great fight,” Alexander said, flashing his usual, contagious grin. “But it may not just be an all-out brawl. We’ve both worked on becoming more complete fighters and I honestly don’t think it’s going to be just a brawl. Both camps are coming in with game plans and both of us are ready to make a mark on Saturday night. I’m getting fired up just thinking about it.”

Madness 'New Breed' prospect Brendan Schaub has made a name for himself earning his chance to be The Ultimate Fighter.

The finals have been set for “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” as Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Brendan Schaub emerged last night from a cast of former NFLers, UFC veterans and the world’s most popular street fighter, Kimbo Slice, to compete for a six-figure contract with the preeminent mixed martial arts organization in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship. 

Emanating from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV, the finale will be telecast LIVE on Spike TV Saturday, December 5 at 9:00 PM ET, 

The Heavyweight title holder for the now-defunct IFL, Roy “Big Country” Nelson compiled a 14-4 mixed martial arts record before entering the house. 

Featuring a devastating mixture of striking, ground and pound, and submission skills, Nelson rolled to the finals by defeating Kimbo Slice via TKO in the second round during episode 3 and next, outlasted Justin Wren in episode 9 earning a majority decision after two rounds.

In last night’s semifinal he finished off James McSweeney with strikes to earn a referee stoppage.

A former football player at the University of Colorado and the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, Brendan Schaub outclassed his opponents this season with his rare combination of athleticism and technique. 

The Grudge Training Center fighter has been highlighted in MMAMadness.com’s ‘New Breed’ series this past year

 The Aurora, CO product’s road to the finals matched him up against Demico Rogers in episode 4 where he recorded a first round victory by anaconda choke.

Next, Schaub dropped Jon Madsen in episode 9 earning a 2nd round knockout, and last night, he defeated Marcus Jones by referee stoppage via strikes to earn his spot in the finals.

Headlining the Spike TV card will be the previously announced battle of UFC light heavyweights Jon Jones and “The Ultimate Fighter” alum Matt Hamill, as well as a lightweight clash between Frankie Edgar and MattVeach.

Internet Sensation fuels speculation on his UFC Fate

The subject of much debate since joining The Ultimate Fighter in September, Slice has attracted audiences far and wide, all eager to learn more about the bearded 35-year-old. Most are asking the same question of tonight’s broadcast: will Slice get another opportunity to fight on the show?

With the sports world buzzing about the Miami, FL resident’s future inside the Octagon(tm), Slice spoke Tuesday and offered brief insight about his time on the show, as well as what lies ahead.

“If I had to do the show again, I would,” Slice said. “I learned a lot about myself and got to work with some great fighters. Now it’s time for the next step in my career. Everyone will see what that is tonight on Spike.”

When asked to elaborate, the man who owns wins over UFC veteran Tank Abbott and former PRIDE fighter James Thompson, was a little more revealing.

“It’s gonna be good,” Slice said with a grin. “Watch the show tonight. You’ll see what’s next for me. All I can say is that somebody’s getting knocked out.

“Everybody knows what my stronghold is,” Slice continued, clenching his fist. “People will be able to see me and judge for themselves.”

Kimbo Slice prepares for his UFC debut at the The Ultimate Fighter Finale.

Slice will appear in a bout on “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” finale fight card emanating from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

Slice’s opponent will be announced at a later date, pending on what transpires on the special two-hour “The Ultimate Fighter” episode on Wednesday, December 2 (9:00-11:00pm ET/PT).  Despite suffering a loss in episode 3 to Roy Nelson, Slice has the opportunity to return to fight on the show if a cast mate is injured and compete for the coveted title of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV is the highest-rated in the franchise history, averaging 3.6 million viewers and a 4.7 rating with Men 18-34 and a 3.8 rating with Men 18-49.  It is currently one of the highest-rated shows with Men 18-34 on all of television.