Rosholt’s fifth straight win came with the additional bonus of avenging his last loss, a November 2010 knockout to Matt Horwich. The 12-3 Texan fought off Horwich’s attack for fifteen minutes while getting the better of enough exchanges to earn a Unanimous Decision against the ever-unique master of the “multiverse”. The performance brought Rosholt’s record to 6-1 since parting ways with the UFC and was the first time he’d gone the distance in a fight with eleven finishes to his credit.

The heavyweight “Suave” on the card fared much better than his middleweight brother-in-nickname, as Rodriguez dispatched of opponent Doug Williams in prompt fashion with a Rear-Naked Choke a few minutes into the opening round of their match-up. The win was the twelfth in a row for Rodriguez who hasn’t tasted defeat in over two years.

Here is a full breakdown of Shark Fights 17 results:

Matt Hobar def. Jay Flores via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Victor Hernandez def. Quaint Kempf via Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Alan Jouban def. Andrew Goldthwaite via Knockout Round 3
Erik Perez def. Douglas Frey via Unanimous Decision
Emanuel Newton def. Ilir Latifi via Unanimous Decision
Ricco Rodriguez def. Doug Williams via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Jake Rosholt def. Matt Horwich via Unanimous Decision

PHOTO CREDIT – SHARK FIGHTS

According to an official press release, both Drew McFedries and Rory Markham were forced out of scheduled bouts for unrelated reasons with McFedries being hospitalized for an undisclosed infection and Markham, who is also an actor, flying out of the country in light of being offered what is said to be a “high profile” movie role.

“We were extremely disappointed when the management for Drew and Rory informed us of the news,” Titan Fighting CEO Joe Kelly explained of the situation. “However, this is the fight business and having promoted fights since the age of 24, I’ve dealt with a lot of hurdles in promoting shows. While losing Drew and Rory from the show hurts, we took the news in stride I am very excited that the fans in attendance at Memorial Hall and those watching live on HDNet are going to see two future stars in this sport step up on short notice and test themselves.”

The elder Rosholt, Jake, will be looking for his fifth straight win in 2011 at the event. He will face John Ott who was already booked for a bout on the card. Ott’s name may sound familiar to fans due to his gutsy performance against a much larger Bobby Lashley at Titan FC 17 in March.

Meanwhile, Rosholt’s 24-year old brother Jared will attempt to remain undefeated in his career after having gone 2-0 since turning pro earlier this year and takes on Kirk Grinlinton, another relative newcomer to MMA at 2-2 who will be seeing the ring for the first time this year when he locks horns with the accomplished grappler in Kansas City.

Fans can catch Titan FC 18 live on HDNet starting at 10:00 PM EST. The show is headlined by former UFC lightweight champ Jens Pulver hoping to continue his recent return to success against 6-3 Brian Davidson.

Jake Rosholt

FiveOuncesofPain.com has recently learned of the news of Rosholt’s release from the promotion through a spokesperson from Team Takedown.

A four-time All-American and Big 12 Conference champion out of Oklahoma State University, Rosholt finished his collegiate wrestling career with a more than impressive record of 105–20 competing at the highest level possible.

Since making the transition to mixed martial arts, Jake has compiled a record of 8-2 while notching wins over the likes of Nissen Osternick and Chris Leben, while suffering his only two defeats to Grove and Dan Miller.

Both of Rosholt’s defeats have come by way of submission; with the loss to Miller coming by guillotine, and the Grove bout ending with a triangle choke.

There were many that were skeptical of Rosholt’s decision to make the move to the UFC after only his fifth professional scrap, but there’s no denying the fact that Jake has a ton of potential and time to grow before it’s all said and done.

MMAjunkie.com was first to report the new matchup and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the news with a source close to Rosholt.

Rosholt graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he won the 184-pound NCAA title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he was a four-time All-American and a Big 12 conference champion in 2004 while attending OSU.

After making his pro MMA debut in 2007, Rosholt quickly amassed a 4-0 record before signing a multi-fight agreement with the WEC. Making his debut at WEC 36 on Nov. 5, Rosholt improved to 5-0 with a second round TKO over the previously undefeated Nissen Osterneck.

He sustained the first loss of his career at UFC Fight Night 17 against former IFL middleweight champion Dan Miller when he was forced to tap to a guillotine choke at 1:03 of round 1.

He’ll be taking on an opponent in Leben who has not competed since a unanimous decision loss to Michael Bisping at UFC 89 this past October. A veteran from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Leben was sent to the sidelines by the UFC after the event in response to failing a screening for performance enhancing drugs.

Leben currently operates in own school in Hawaii but has local ties to the Portland area, as he was a long-time member of Matt Lindland’s Team Quest franchise before leaving the camp to become the head instructor at T. Jay Thompson’s ICON Sport gym.

While the UFC has not officially announced UFC 102 or any matches, the event is expected to be headlined by a heavyweight clash featuring former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy Couture taking on former PRIDE heavyweight and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The website MMA Weekly first reported Wednesday night that Miller has been tapped to replace Sakara as the opponent for former NCAA champion Jake Rosholt during the former’s UFC debut on Feb. 7 at UFC Fight Night 17. FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the news with sources close to the bout.

Miller is the brother of UFC lightweight Jim Miller and trains out of the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey. A veteran of 11 professional fights, he is 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the UFC. After winning his Octagon debut against Rob Kimmons at UFC Fight Night 15 this past September, Miller returned to fight a little over a month alter at UFC 90, where he won a unanimous decision over Matt Horwich.

The fight will serve as Rosholt’s first in the UFC in light of sibling promotion World Extreme Cagefighting disbanding its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions following its WEC 37 event on December 3.

Rosholt, 5-0, graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he won the 184-pound NCAA title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he was a four-time All-American and a Big 12 conference champion in 2004 while attending OSU.

After making his pro MMA debut in 2007, Rosholt quickly amassed a 4-0 record before signing a multi-fight agreement with the WEC. Making his debut at WEC 36 on Nov. 5, Rosholt improved to 5-0 with a second round TKO over the previously undefeated Nissen Osterneck.

Sakara, a former professional boxer in Italy who currently trains MMA with Florida’s American Top Team, was forced to pull out of the previously agreed to bout due to an undisclosed injury.

UFN 17 will emanate from the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa with the current card reported to be the following:

• Joe Lauzon vs. Hermes Franca
• Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer
• Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone
• Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic
• Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti
• Jake Rosholt vs. Dan Miller
  
• Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
• Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
• Matt Riddle vs. Steve Bruno
• Matt Grice vs. George Sotiropoulos

Rosholt’s camp is believed to have agreed to the bout with Sakara expected to follow suit once he receives a formal bout agreement.

If the bout is finalized, the fight will mark Rosholt’s debut in the UFC in light of sibling promotion World Extreme Cagefighting disbanding its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions following its WEC 37 event on December 3.

Rosholt graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he won the 184-pound NCAA title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he was a four-time All-American and a Big 12 conference champion in 2004 while attending OSU.

After making his pro MMA debut in 2007, Rosholt quickly amassed a 4-0 record before signing a multi-fight agreement with the WEC. Making his debut at WEC 36 on Nov. 5, Rosholt improved to 5-0 with a second round TKO over the previously undefeated Nissen Osterneck.

Sakara, a former light heavyweight competitor who currently trains out of American Top Team, is coming off a first round knockout at UFC Fight Night 15 back in September. Facing Joe Vedeop, Sakara finished the one-time Extreme Challenge fighter just 1:27 into the fight following a head kick.

UFN 17 is scheduled to air on Spike TV between 9-11 p.m. ET and will emanate from the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. Matchups for the show already officially announced include TUF 5 alum Joe Lauzon vs. former UFC lightweight title challenger Hermes Franca; TUF 6 winner Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer; TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah vs. UFC newcomer Nick Catone, and two-time NCAA All-American Cain Velasquez vs. UFC newcomer Denis “The Menace” Stojnic.

While not yet officially announced by the UFC, FiveOuncesOfPain.com was also the first to report that Gleison Tibau and Rich Clementi will be squaring off in a lightweight encounter.

Rosholt is arguably one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers to have ever made the transition over to mixed martial arts. In high school, Rosholt, won three state titles for the Sandpoint High School Bulldogs and went on to become the 189-pound high school national champion in 2001.

Upon graduation, Rosholt went on to wrestle for Oklahoma State University where the success would continue. At OSU, Rosholt became one of the most decorated wrestler’s in the school’s history, going on to win the 184-pound NCAA Division I wrestling title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. The young standout was also a Big 12 Conference champion in 2004 and would complete his collegiate career as a four-time NCAA All-American.

After college, Rosholt joined Ted Ehrhardt’s Team Takedown and made the trip down to Las Vegas to begin his MMA training with one of the best fight camps in the world at Xtreme Couture. After five pro bouts, the three-time NCAA champ is undefeated, with all of his victories ending inside the distance.

Rosholt represents the latest in a growing list of successful collegiate wrestlers such as Josh Koscheck, Matt Hamill, Rashad Evans, Jon Fitch, and Gray Maynard that has gone on to become successful MMA fighters.

Making his Zuffa debut at WEC 36 vs. Nissen Osterneck, Rosholt showed a strong chin after getting rocked numerous times while still managing to turn the tables and win the fight by TKO at the 3:48 mark of round 2.

Many questions were answered during the Osterneck fight but some still remain, most notably whether Rosholt’s striking is polished enough to allow him to make a successful transition from the WEC’s 185 lbs. division to the UFC’s. Critics were quick to pan Rosholt’s striking display at WEC 36 but conveniently overlooked the fact that Rosholt hasn’t even been training MMA for two full years.

But Rosholt is not making any excuses. During a recent interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, the for OSU Cowboy acknowledged his striking was an aspect of his game that could stand to improve.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Thanks for taking this time with us Jake and congratulations on your big win over Nissen Osterneck at WEC 36. Did the fight go down the way you thought it would?

Jake Rosholt: Not at all. I really wasn’t expecting Osterneck to have such good stand up. I was wanting to use some of my stand up and try to get more comfortable there. I went out there and I was getting beat up pretty good on my feet but I feel like I was able to dominate the ground game whenever I was able to take it there. When the fight was standing he was taking it to me so I was not doing a very good job on my feet.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Have you had a chance to watch the fight and what are your thoughts on your performance?

Jake Rosholt: The main thing I can take away from it is that it was a pretty gutsy performance. I got hit pretty hard several times and it just reiterates that I have to go back and keep working on my stand up and get comfortable so I can go out there and be comfortable in the ring. I just feel I need some more experience and I need to keep working on that part of my fight game.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: There was one moment in the fight it looked as if Osterneck had wobbled you just a little. How hurt were you?

Jake Rosholt: I definitely took a couple good shots that caught me on the temple and left me a little bit dazed. There was a couple times in the fight that I was definitely seeing some stars out there.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Would you credit being able to bounce back and recover so quickly to anything?

Jake Rosholt: I don’t know if I can credit it to anything. I’ve been hit a few times in sparring where I was seeing some stars but it’s definitely different when you get out there and you have those little five ounce gloves on and your blocking punches with your face instead of your hands.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: You have amazing wrestling credentials. Some of the best MMA has ever seen. How difficult of a transition into MMA has it been for you?

Jake Rosholt: It’s been pretty good. I pick up on stuff pretty easy and I like to learn technique and things like that but for sure the stand up and boxing has been the hardest for me. That’s easy to tell in my fights when I get out there it’s pretty easy to tell that I’m not that comfortable on my feet yet but it will get there. It’s just going to take some time. I just started fighting a year and a half ago so I’m still really young and really green in the sport.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Can you tell me a little bit about the team you train with and some of the guys you were training with for Osterneck?

Jake Rosholt: I do a lot of my training down at Cobra Kai with a bunch of people down there and then I do most of my stand up and sparring at Xtreme Couture. I’m in the gym every day with some of the best fighters in the world so I’m very privileged in that way. I think that that’s more than anything why it’s so frustrating looking back on the fight and getting beat up so bad on my feet. I feel like I’m such a better fighter than that and it just didn’t show at all.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: So what’s next for you. Are you expecting your next fight to be with the UFC?

Jake Rosholt: You know I don’t know. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I’ll know but I’ll just kind of wait and see.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: What do you think about UFC’s middleweight division. Is that a jump that you are welcoming with open arms?

Jake Rosholt: I’m definitely ready but I just want to get the right fights. I just don’t want to get over my head before I’m ready but I’m ready to fight there. If they’re ready for me and they want me then that’s where I’ll be. There’s really no other place I’d want to fight. I definitely think there’s lots of people in the UFC for me to fight and progress along the way.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: How long do you see yourself competing in mixed martial arts?

Jake Rosholt: I’ll be doing it as long as I can keep being successful and my body will hold up. I’m 26 years old right now and I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I have potential to be a lot better and I have many years ahead of me.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Hey Jake, thanks so much for your time. Are there any sponsors you would like to thank before I let you go?

Jake Rosholt: Ecko, MMA Warehouse, Tapout, Hitman and Primos Hunting Calls.

Guida has gone 2-3 in the UFC against very tough opponents, with his latest appearance being a 3rd round submission loss to Roger Huerta at the Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale.

Schiavo fights outs of French Top Team and is riding a 6 fight win streak.

This fight will be another entertaining match up on what is looking to be a very stacked UFC Fight Night. Other rumored bouts for the card include.

• Kenny Florian vs. Joe Lauzon -Confirmed
• Stephan Bonnar vs. Matt Hamill – Confirmed
• Spencer Fisher vs. Marcus Aurelio
• Karo Parisyan vs. Thiago Alves
• Din Thomas vs. Josh Neer
• Tommy Speer vs. Anthony Johnson
• Clay Guida vs. Samy Schiavo