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Video: Brittney Palmer, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey and UFC fighters share Valentines Day stories
Love is in the air with Valentines Day little more than one week away (Feb. 14, 2012). Even tough mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have tender sides, especially the females, taking time away from their fisticuffs to celebrate the Hallmark holiday. MMA:30 recently caught up with several fighters from Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce, as well as a few ring girls (past and present) to find out their Valentines Day plans. Several of them even dished on their personal best and worst gifts and memories. Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Natasha Wicks, Brittney Palmer, Kyle Kingsbury, Tracy Lee, Urijah Faber, Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann and Josh Koscheck, among others, are featured in the video above. Even Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate an Ronda Rousey -- who will collide in the main event of the upcoming MMA event at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 3, 2012 -- got in on the action. And there will certainly be no love lost in that delicious cat fight.

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Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley fight booked for June 9 in Las Vegas
With Floyd Mayweather Jr. accepting a fight against Miguel Cotto on May 5, 2012, the dream fight against Manny Pacquiao was once again dashed. That left "Pac Man" without an opponent; however, it now looks as if Oscar De La Hoya’s prediction about Top Rank promoter Bob Arum matching the Filipino fireball up against Timothy Bradley is about to come to fruition. In fact, the 80-year-old Arum is talking about Bradley being the likely next fight for Pacquiao on June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Arum’s four fighter tournament. Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, via ESPN: "From our end the fight is done. I just got off the phone with (Top Rank's) Bob Arum and Manny, so we're done. I don't assume there will be a problem from the Bradley side. We came to terms with Top Rank on the fight and Manny has approved everything. This morning I had a number of conversations with Bob negotiating the June 9 fight and I relayed everything to Manny and the fight is done from our end." Arum had said earlier on Monday, via the Los Angeles Times: It can be difficult dealing with a guy [Pacquiao] so many time zones away in the Philippines, but I feel very good about this and think I'll be in a position to announce something by [Tuesday]. I just have to get all the ducks in a row. I just need a complete sign-off from Manny. Bradley, an undefeated (28-0) 28-year-old fighter from California has compiled an impressive record, but has just 12 knockouts on his resume. He is a busy fighter, and a great boxer, but lacks that flare and power to really provide for a dangerous fight for the Filipino superstar. One would imagine that if Pacquiao, 33, can get angles on him, confound him with the southpaw stance, and hand him his first loss. Then again perhaps Pacquao has slipped, or more realistically, will underestimate this fight and enable Bradley to shock the combat sports world. Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) and Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) will meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO pay-per-view (PPV). Who's watching it?

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Diego Sanchez: 'Carlos Condit and I are fine with fighting each other'
Never mix business with friendship. In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), that can be related to the fact that fighting, like any other sport, is a business, but friendships are often forged among fighters and training partners throughout their careers. However, what happens, when that same person you have shared your blood, sweat and tears with, reaches the next level, is now the king of the hill? What then? Do you dare compete against the very person who trained countless hours side by side with you to help reach the pinnacle of the sport? Is it worth it to risk your friendship to obtain the very thing he has and you want, which is a world title? Many fighters and MMA camps of today have emphatically stated that they will never, ever, fight against one of their training partners, even if it comes at the expense of never capturing Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold. You need not look further than the whole Jon Jones and Rashad Evans friendship gone bad to see just how quickly a good relationship can turn sour when there is championship glory at stake. Yet, not all fighters seem to share the same sentiments that one should not fight their friends and training partners. Diego Sanchez and Carlos Condit, both members of the famed Jackson-WinkleJohn Mixed Martial Arts gym in Albuquerque, N.M., are two of them. Appearing on The MMA Hour today, Sanchez revealed that should the opportunity arise for he and "The Natural Born Killer" to scrap for Condit's UFC interim welterweight title, they would have no issues doing so: "We've all talked about this, the coaches, me and Carlos, we are absolutely fine fighting each other. It is something that has always been talked bout. We are willing to cross that bridge if that bridge presents itself. We both want UFC gold, that's what we want for our family and have always wanted even as little kids, we have always wanted this. We are willing to do that. This all started with Rashad and Jon Jones. If we have to fight each other we will fight each other. Me and Carlos would be a war, we both know our strengths and weaknesses and it would be a great fight. If it happens it happens." Straying away from the popular believes of such camps as American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), in which top-flight welterweights Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch and Mike Swick have always stated that not even the chance to win UFC gold would make them fight each other, Jackson's camp seems to take the "fighting is a business" approach. Condit became the interim UFC welterweight champion by defeating Nick Diaz this past weekend (Feb. 4, 2012) at UFC 143 via unanimous decision and is expected to take on Georges St. Pierre upon his return from surgery rehab. Sanchez, on the other hand, is penciled in to take on Jake Ellenberger on UFC on Fuel TV on Feb. 15, 2012, in Omaha, Neb., and a win could possibly get him closer to a meeting with Condit should GSP's return be prolonged. What's your take maniacs, do you find it refreshing to see training partners willing to put friendship aside for 25 minutes inside the Octagon? Or do you feel that nothing is worth risking true friendship ties? Opinions, please.

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UFC 143 medical suspensions and injuries for 'Diaz vs Condit' in Las Vegas
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today issued its list of medical suspensions for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," which took place on Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. With several violent bouts on the under card, as well as Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson kicking the crap out of each other for 15 minutes on the pay-per-view (PPV) portion of the mixed martial arts (MMA) event, there were quite a few fighters who were flagged for follow up visits to their doctors. Cheif among them is Werdum, who must be cleared by a physician for a leg injury -- one that most likely occurred kneeing Nelson in the face repeatedly -- or he won't be allowed to return until Aug. 3, 2012. And he's the guy who won. Ed Herman, Clifford Starks, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez, Michael Kuiper and even poor Edwin Figueroa -- who got his balls smashed by Alex Caceres in their bantamweight bout -- also got slapped with six-month suspensions. Nick Diaz, who chased Carlos Condit for essentially 25 minutes, unsurprisingly, did not make an appearance on the final post-fight trauma report. Here is the complete list of UFC 143 injuries and their medical instructions: Carlos Condit -- Suspended until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, because of a right cheek lacerationFabricio Werdum -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of a right quadriceps contusion; Minimum suspension until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, if he is cleared to return sooner.Roy Nelson -- Suspended and no contact until April 5, 2012, because of a forehead lacerationMike Pierce -- Suspended until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, because of a right eye lacerationScott Jorgensen -- Suspended until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012Ed Herman -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of potential injuries to both hands; Minimum suspension until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, if he is cleared to return sooner.Clifford Starks -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of potential left hand injury to his fourth digitMax Holloway -- Suspended until Feb. 26, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 19, 2012, because of a right eye contusionMatt Riddle -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of a broken right index finger; Minimum suspension until March 21, 2012, and no contact until March 6, 2012, because of a left eye laceration.Henry Martinez -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of a potential right foot injury; Minimum suspension until March 21, 2012, and no contact until March 6, 2012, because of a left nasal laceration.Alex Caceres -- Suspended until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012Edwin Figueroa -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of a groin injury; Minimum suspension until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, if he is cleared to return sooner.Chris Cope -- Suspended until April 5, 2012, and no contact until March 21, 2012Michael Kuiper -- Suspended until Aug. 3, 2012, because of potential left foot injury; Minimum suspension until March 6, 2012, and no contact until Feb. 26, 2012, if he is cleared to return sooner.Dan Stittgen -- Suspended until March 21, 2012, and no contact until March 6, 2012 Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. For a complete wrap up of all the UFC 143 fight weekend festivities click here and here.

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Miesha Tate is motivated to bring the fight to 'delusional' Ronda Rousey
Fight fans who have watched Strikeforce fighter Ronda Rousey do her thing in the cage have certainly felt compelled to give her a hand for her efforts to this point in her combat sports career. Harmless enough, but what you don't want to do is give her an arm. If you do, she's likely to break it -- out of habit if for no other reason. Rousey has taken the women's mixed martial arts (WMMA) scene by storm, winning all four of her professional fights by way of first round armbar submissions. Accordingly, one wouldn't think there would be a long line of ladies who are dying to get into the cage with her, after seeing the havoc she has wreaked on the limbs of those gone before them. That might ring true for most female fighters, but not Strikeforce's Miesha Tate, who will take on Rousey at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Sat., March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, for the Women's Bantamweight Championship. Tate was a guest tonight (Feb. 6, 2012) on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss her upcoming fight, in which she confidently believes she should be favored: Rousey essentially got her title match by calling out the champion and getting the attention of the Strikeforce matchmakers with her bravado and aggressive tweeting. She's made it known that she thinks she can beat Tate and has even sounded a little cocky at points. According to Tate, she's not bothered by the banter. It just adds more fuel to her fire: "I don't really listen to much of anything that Ronda says. I don't watch her interviews. I get a little bit of that drift that comes through Twitter. When people say, 'Oh, you know she said this, she said that.' Half the time, I honestly think it just makes her sound like an idiot. I mean, that's just being brutally honest. I think she's pretty delusional. I have yet to see Ronda actually fight. I've seen her go out there and do her Judo and whatnot. But she hasn't ever actually brought a fight and that's what I'm gonna make her do...fight. Anything that she says is motivation, definitely." Everyone knows Rousey has ridiculous judo, jiu-jitsu and submission skills. Tate comes from a wrestling background, but she believes it's more than just her wrestling that gives her the edge: "That's why this fight makes for an interesting match up, because our strengths are in similar areas. We're both really great on the ground. I have wrestling, she has judo. I also feel like I have the edge on the feet and the experience overall. I've been doing this a lot longer. I feel like I'll be able to put it together better. When it comes to mixing everything and meshing it, it's gonna make for an awesome fight. I think people are really gonna enjoy and be entertained." On top of what she believes is a skill set advantage, "Takedown" also sees problems for Rousey that will be caused by her having to make the weight cut to 135 pounds; a reduction she's never had to make before in her MMA career: "Yeah and not to mention the weight cut. This is her first drop to 135. Also, no pound allowance. That's gonna change her body dynamics, the way she's used to throwing people around, having that weight behind her is gonna change. So it could even affect her in her training camp. The people she used to throw around...she's gonna be smaller. So, a lot of things are gonna be changing for her, this fight. We're gonna see how that works for her. I just wanna frustrate her. Push her outside that minute and make her second guess and make her wish she never wanted to take this fight." Of course she wants to win for herself and for the sake of successfully defending her recently acquired belt, but she also realizes that this fight is bigger than just her. It's bigger than Ronda Rousey. It's bigger than any of that. It's about putting WMMA on the map and maybe sending a message to UFC President Dana White in the process: "It's a huge opportunity. If the women can deliver, like I believe we're going to, it can say big things for our future -- not only in Strikeforce, but hopefully, eventually in the UFC." White has long said that there will never be WMMA in the Octagon, citing the lack of diversity and the amount of high-level female fighters in the sport as his reason for not wanting to promote it. Even if Tate and Rousey put on an amazing show, it still does not remedy the issue of the need for depth on the roster of really talented female fighters. Let's enjoy this female fight, and all others, while they last.

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UFC on FX 2 fight card and rumors for 'Alves vs Kampmann' on March 3 in Australia
Event: UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann"Date: Sat., March 3, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET on FXLocation: Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia Main event: 170 lbs.: Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann Main card (FX): 125 lbs.: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall125 lbs.: Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani185 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou Preliminary card (FUEL): 145 lbs.: Mackens Semerzier vs. Daniel Pineda205 lbs.: James Te Huna vs. Aaron Rosa185 lbs.: Andrew Craig vs. Kyle Noke170 lbs.: Jake Hecht vs. T.J. Waldburger265 lbs.: Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan205 lbs.: Anthony Perosh vs. Nick Penner145 lbs.: Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler *Fight card and line-up subject to change. For all the latest and greatest news and notes on UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" click here.

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Breathing easy: Dave Herman UFC on Fuel interview exclusive with MMAmania.com
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Dave Herman is one of the most laid-back fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA). Look no further than his Facebook profile, which features him at a lake drinking a beer. That's just the type of person he is. But, he also happens to be one of the most talented young heavyweights in the sport today. You don't start out your career at 15-0 without any formal mixed martial arts training without having some natural gifts. Now working out of Dan Henderson's Team Quest gym in Temecula, California, Herman is beginning to realize his potential, although he'll never admit whether he's working hard or not. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see with the results. After winning "Fight of the Night" in his UFC debut, "Pee-Wee" will be battling Stefan Struve in the co-main event of next week's (February 15, 2012) inaugural UFC on Fuel show in Omaha, Nebraska. It's a fight that could launch him into the upper echelon of the division should he win. Herman was recently a guest on The Verbal Submission where he discussed his frustration with the cancellation of his last fight, his random in-fight behavior and why he won't have a gameplan to deal with Stefan Struve next Wednesday. Check it out: Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You had some personal drama from your last fight. It sucked, from UFC 136. I know people have already talked about that, but to update everyone, they lost one of your tests, then when you went and took it again, you tested positive for marijuana and then you took another one after they'd already cancelled the fight and you came back clean. How frustrating was that whole ordeal? Dave Herman: Well, the day it happened, it was rough, but once I finally came to accept it like, "Well, there's nothing I can do," it was fine. It was just a big letdown to be training that hard and then realize, "Wait a minute, I did all this for nothing." I just tried to make the most of it. I was in shape so I just kept training and just focused on getting better. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): That's what you have to do. The Texas commission has a pretty bad reputation for screwing some things up, so do you have any reservations about fighting in Texas again if given the opportunity? Dave Herman: No. I fought in Texas a couple of times and it's a great crowd and good fights. I'd love to go back. It was just kind of a thing, I think part of the problem is it had never been done before because it was the commission so with anything you do the first time, there's some bugs you've got to work out. I'd look forward to fighting in Texas again. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You've partially answered this, but I heard you were in the absolute best shape of your life for that fight with Mike Russow that got cancelled, so you just kept training? It's gotta be tough to try and stay at that same level for so long. Dave Herman: Well, it wasn't hard for me to be in the best shape of my life. (laughs) I've never traditionally been in that great of shape before. I was already in shape so I just kept going to practice, I kept working hard but I also wasn't in training mode anymore either. I just tried to make the most of already being in shape. I did go out and had a couple drinks, having a good time, but I was still in good enough shape that I could still go through practice as if I were training. It just makes it a lot easier to learn and get better when you're already in shape. Otherwise, you're battling two things instead of one. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Plus, it was like you were already in fight shape, but you just didn't have any injuries afterwards from a fight so you could just keep going. Did you use a lot of this extra time to really improve your technique and just round out your game a little bit? Dave Herman: I tried to. Hopefully it helped and it'll show, but that's not always the case. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You're one of the fighters that people just love to watch because you're so random. There's things you do that are just completely unexpected like crazy spinning back fists and crazy kicks. I think you threw an ax kick against Jon Olav Einemo out of nowhere so where does some of this motivation to throw these unexpected techniques come from? Dave Herman: I'm not real sure. Part of it, I had never thrown an ax kick before, nor was I even thinking about throwing one but somehow it happened. I don't know. I was trying to hit the guy and I was like, "Well bringing the kick from underneath is not working, maybe if I bring it from above. I'll give it a shot. Why not?" but it wasn't that effective but it was surprising for sure. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about this upcoming fight with Stefan Struve. You're 6'5, you're 235 pounds or so. You're a big guy but Stefan Struve, he's 6'11 and he's gonna be coming in at the heavyweight limit, might even have to cut weight, so what are your thoughts on facing a guy who's so much bigger than you? Dave Herman: I don't think he's at the top of the weight class, he's definitely taller than me that's for sure and I've never faced anyone that tall. I've had one fight with a guy that was taller than me like significantly and a reach advantage but it was one of my first fights and I didn't even really know what I was doing so that'll be something that I'll have to deal with when I get in there. Honestly, it seems like, Struve's beat a lot of guys that are good, that are ranked higher than him, but he's also lost to some guys that aren't, that are below him so it seems like it's kind of a stylistic, "can you deal with his height and his length or not?" type of deal so that's gonna be something I find out that day. Can I deal with this or not? If I do, I think I'll do real well. If not, anything can happen. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I don't know if you've ever seen the famous picture of Roy Nelson preparing for Stefan Struve, but he had his trainer stand on top of a chair holding two broomsticks, one in each arm which I think it hilarious, but have you tried to do things specific to help you get ready for this guy? Dave Herman: No, not really. I usually just get ready how I get ready and deal with the other stuff on the day. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): People were really harping on a comment you made that Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the most ineffective martial arts and Stefan Struve is a really good Brazilian jiu-jitsu-using heavyweight. What are your concerns with his submission game? Dave Herman: Well his submissions are decent. Are they better than the last guy I fought? Probably not but I don't really worry about it. It's only jiu-jitsu, right? Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You took some of the hardest shots and just kept going against Einemo and Stefan Struve is a guy, he takes those kind of punches and he goes down. He doesn't have the same type of chin that you have. Would you be confident just standing in the pocket and trading blow-for-blow with this guy? Dave Herman: Hopefully. I feel, sometimes when I get in a little bit of meathead-mode, I have a tendency to get like that with anybody. It just depends on how I'm feeling that day but that's what makes for an exciting fight and they're always fun to watch when it happens. Gerry Rodriguez: Were you a little bit disappointed when Brock Lesnar retired? Were you kind of licking your chops hoping to get a shot at him? Dave Herman: I wasn't really worried about it. I think that's a pretty good match-up for me but I don't really get to pick so whoever I'm told to fight is who I'm gonna show up to fight. But yeah, it really doesn't make a difference. If anything, it makes the division a little easier for me. Ben Thapa: In your last fight with Einemo, in the beginning when he came charging at you, you were like, "Say hello to my knee." What was your attitude in that fight towards his grappling? Dave Herman: Well I knew he was a good grappler, obviously a world champion in jiu-jitsu. Especially after having talked crap, it would have looked really bad if I had lost from jiu-jitsu but I wasn't really, well I'm pretty comfortable there. I guess I wasn't worried about it and even the one time I was on the ground, I was real comfortable, calm, ready to go and I ended up getting out real quick. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): When you picture this fight with Struve, what do you see? How do you see victory? Dave Herman: I don't know. I don't really do that so much. Actually, I don't think about it at all. I just try to go in. People ask me, "How do you think you're going to win?" and I never have a clue. My one fight, I was fighting a striker and I won by omaplata. I never would have guessed that in a million years. I actually would have bet money against it but it happens. I just kind of go in and have fun, see where it ends up. That's part of it, I don't care where it ends up. I just try to go in and try to win it no matter where you're at. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You definitely have fun because you have the biggest smile on y our face throughout the whole fight and that's something the fans love. Dave Herman: Yeah, people were asking about that in my last fight and I didn't even realize I was smiling 'til afterwards. Dave would like to thank Team Quest for having him out to work out and helping him out. He'd also like to thank his sponsors Affliction, Trampoline Cage Ball. You can follow him on Twitter @DaveHermanMMA. So what do you think, Maniacs? Will Herman's laid-back attitude help or hinder him against a dangerous heavyweight like Struve? If he can find the motivation to properly train, can he enter the upper echelon of the division? Sound off! To listen to the full audio of our interview with Dave Herman click here.

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UFC on FX 4 is 'penciled in' for Atlantic City, N.J., on June 22, 2012, according to Lorenzo...
UFC on FX 4 is 'penciled in' for Atlantic City, N.J., on June 22, 2012, according to Lorenzo Fertitta in a recent ESPN.com report. No bouts or a potential venue are known at this time. That's only about six weeks after the promotion stages an event, UFC on FOX 3, hours up the road in East Rutherford on May 5. UFC 53: "Heavy Hitters" in June 2005 was the last time the organization held an event in South Jersey.

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