News of Garcia’s status was first reported by MMAWeekly where it mentioned the probability of the UFC finding a new opponent for Zhang given the amount of time left before UFC 144 takes place.

Had it taken place the bout would have featured an excellent clash of styles given Garcia’s love of striking and Zhang’s submission prowess. While both men are coming off losses, Garcia holds an overall record of 15-8-1 with twelve finishes while Zhang has finished all fifteen of the opponents he’s beaten.

The February 26 show is still ripe with talent despite the recent setbacks with a headlining title-fight between lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and surging contender Ben Henderson, as well as match-ups including Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields, and Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

According to the powers that be at Zuffa, the featherweights’ long overdue rematch will take place in Houston on October 8 at UFC 136 with Garcia stepping in for Matt Grice, Phan’s original opponent. Grice was said to have withdrawn from the fight due to injury.

The two had attempted to relive the occasion once before at UFN 24 before a health-related issue got in the way.

Garcia hasn’t fought since March after watching a match-up last month fall apart when he got hurt while training and could definitely use the win with losses in two of his last three outings and the lone triumph being his victory over Phan. “Bad Boy” holds an overall record of 15-7-1 with twelve finishes and past success against Jens Pulver, Hiroyuki Takaya, and Chan Sung Jung.

The 16-9 Phan hasn’t had much luck either after dropping back-to-back bouts including a decision to Mike Brown at UFC 133 meaning the chance to course-correct is important even outside of the disappointing outcome the first time he and Garcia squared off. Seven of Phan’s wins have been the result of a TKO with five others via submission.

UFC 136 takes place at the Toyota Center and is highlighted by dual title-fights with one comprised of 155er Frank Edgar putting his belt up for grabs again against Xtreme Couture’s Gray Maynard and the other involving Jose Aldo’s featherweight belt on the line against well-rounded veteran Ken Florian.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Garcia’s injury and Hettes’ agreement to fill in on late notice were both reported earlier today by the UFC.

Hettes is 8-0 thus far in his career with all of his wins coming by way of tap-out including six first-frame stoppages. Though the match-up against Cacares will be his UFC debut, the scrap will also mark his second bout within a month-long period after having already fought in mid-July.

Adding a bit of intrigue into the newly announced pairing, all three of Caceres’ losses have involved submissions. Also known as “Bruce Leeroy”, the colorful Caceres is 5-3 in his career and, like Hettes, he will be looking for his first win in the Octagon on August 14 when the two meet after falling to Mackens Semerzier at UFN 24.

UFC Live 5 is headlined by British striker Dan Hardy duking it out with habitually hard-to-beat Chris Lytle and also features former WEC champ Ben Henderson in action against top lightweight contender Jim Miller.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

The 4-3 Caceres has only stepped into the Octagon a single time since making a name for himself on the Ultimate Fighter 12. However, his March defeat to Mackens Semerzier was actually the third in his last four fights with the trio of losses all coming on the ground. Comparably, all four of his wins have been the result of a finishing performance with an even split between strike-based and submission victories.

Whether the ever-exciting Garcia, who is known for fearlessness on his feet, will stand and bang it out with Caceres or takes the wiser route in utilizing his underrated ground skills remains to be seen. What is known is the Greg Jackson trained Texan is 3-4-1 in his last eight fights with all three wins involving a Split Decision and owes nine of his fifteen successful showings to tapping an opponent out. “Bad Boy” holds an overall record of 15-7-1 with past victories over Hiroyuki Takaya, Chan Sung Jung, and Jens Pulver.

UFC Live 5 is highlighted by match-ups featuring WEC lightweight champ Ben Henderson taking on top contender Jim Miller, popular Brit Dan Hardy hoping to finally throw hands against an opponent with the always tough Chris Lytle potentially obliging, and ranked 135-pounders Eddie Wineland and Joseph Benavidez mixing it up.

PHOTO CREDIT – ZUFFA

UFC Fight Night 24 will mark the Octagon debut for “The Korean Zombie” who is coming off back-to-back losses including the defeat to Garcia. He is 10-3 overall with the bulk of his success coming overseas including a win over Michihiro Omigawa.

The narrow outpointing was Garcia’s third instance of such in his last three wins and the sixth consecutive time scorecards have determined the outcome of his match-ups. However, despite his recent run of going the distance “Bad Boy” has actually finished twelve of the fifteen individuals he’s beaten such as Hiroyuki Takaya and Jens Pulver.

Garcia vs. Jung will be broadcast live on Spike TV along with a number of other notable pairings in Seattle. The March 26 event will feature co-headlining clashes between undefeated Phil Davis and well-rounded veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in addition to brash Brit Dan Hardy mixing it up with potential-laden powerhouse Anthony Johnson.

PHOTO CREDIT – Zuffa

Now, according to MMAWeekly, the men will have a chance to make things right on March 26 in Seattle at Fight Night 24.

Phan was a semi-finalist on TUF 12 but was paired with the WEC veteran based on experience gained prior to the show including fights with Michihiro Omigawa, Josh Thomson, and J.Z. Cavalcante. He holds a 16-8 overall record with seven TKOs and five submissions to his credit.

In Garcia he will face a fearless 15-6-1 former boxer who has seamlessly transitioned into Mixed Martial Arts with nine wins by way of submission. He has only been finished a single time in his career but also hasn’t seen a fight end in less than fifteen minutes since August 2009 (i.e. six in-ring appearances).

Their rematch is rumored to join a number of other notable bouts on the Fight Night 24 card including Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson.

News of the pairing was first reported by MMAJunkie.

Based on both fighters’ previous performances it seems likely the bout should involve a heavy dose of stand-up. Phan is 16-7 in his career with seven TKOs and has shown a willingness to exchange on his feet, as evident in his semi-final bout against Michael Johnson. Garcia, who is 14-6-1 in his career, is also known for throwing caution to the wind where striking is concerned, though interestingly enough has won the bulk of his match-ups by way of submission.

In addition to Phan’s involvement on the card, the UFC has officially announced a bout featuring fellow “Final Four” fighter Kyle Watson against Sako Chivitchian, as well as a scrap between Brit Aaron Wilkinson and scruffy, submission-specialist Cody McKenzie. Also, as revealed on this past week’s two-hour episode, Jonathan Brookins and Johnson will compete for season’s crown in the evening’s headlining bout.

According the card’s updated, official line-up, Garcia will face 11-2 Tyler Toner at the event. Toner went 1-1 during his run in WEC and hadn’t lost since April 2007 before being outpointed by Diego Nunes at WEC 51.

“Bad Boy” Garcia has only been finished a single time in twenty-one professional fights and holds an overall record of 14-6-1. The product of Greg Jackson’s gym in New Mexico is known for his love of throwing caution to the wind against opponents and exchanging strikes with reckless abandon. One of Garcia’s most-memorable examples of such a “strategy” came in his instant-classic against Chan Sung Jung (i.e. “The Korean Zombie”) at WEC 48 last April.

In addition to the 145-pound pairing, the Ultimate Fighter Season 12 Finale is also scheduled to feature Stephan Bonnar mixing it up with Croatian competitor Igor Pokrajac, submission-specialist Demian Maia taking on TUF 3 champ Kendall Grove, and, of course, the season-culminating bout between TUF 12 finalists.

Garcia hopes to find more success in his return to the UFC, in which he previously fought as a lightweight in the UFC going 1-2 in that first run. Toner on the other hand will get his first shot on the biggest stage in MMA. Since joining WEC he has a TKO victory over Brandon Visher, but then lost a decision to Diego Nunes in his most recent bout.

The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale also features a main event light heavyweight bout between Stephan Bonnar and Igor Pokrajac.

Projected Card for the TUF 12 Finale:

Stephan Bonnar vs. Igor Pokrajac
TUF Finalist vs. TUF Finalist
Kendall Grove vs. Demian Maia
Rick Story vs. Johny Hendricks
Rich Attonito vs. Dave Branch
Leonard Garcia vs. Tyler Toner

According to a report on Sherdog.com, both UFC lightweight veterans have verbally agreed to the match up and should be made official soon.

Gamburyan 9-4 was a participant on The Ultimate Fighter Season 5, but came up short in the finale with Nate Diaz. In the second round of the bout, Gamburyan suffered a shoulder injury which ultimately cost him the fight. He went on the win his next two fights, but fell in his final two UFC appearances. Respectively, he decided to move to the WEC where he could compete in his more natural weight class of 145 pounds. Gamburyan made his WEC debut at WEC 41 with a unanimous decision win over John Franchi.

Garcia 13-4 also made a name for himself fighting in the UFC before making the switch to the WEC featherweight division. He ended his UFC lightweight career with a record of 1-2, but is remembered by fans for his hard fought decision loss to Roger Huerta back in UFC 69. His debut as a featherweight was at WEC 32, and has gone 3-1 since joining the organization. His lone loss in the WEC came at the hands of Mike Brown, when lost by submission in his championship title bid.

WEC 44 is expected to be on November 18th in Las Vegas, with a rumored championship bout between Mike Brown and Jose Aldo.

The trek towards Garcia’s home-State of Texas – more specifically Corpus Christi – has been nearly ten years in the making. It is the crowning moment of a professional journey having already seen its fair share of peaks — an eight-fight win streak, a classic brawl against Roger Huerta, and a 72-second knockout of Jens Pulver. It is also an opportunity Garcia nearly lost, along with so many other things, when wrongly accused of involvement in a drug trafficking ring in mid-2008.

However, Garcia is the type of man who isn’t one to give up, and as he himself states in this interview he will always “fight hard until the end”. This attitude has not only helped him overcome adversity in and out of the ring, but also rack up wins in 12-of-15 fights as well be able to boast that he’s never been finished in his career. Read ahead as he discusses, among other things, being on the WEC’s inaugural card, embracing his Latino heritage, a potential bout against WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres, and his understandable excitement in possibly hoisting up some WEC gold of his own come March 1st…

Brendhan Conlan: In the eyes of many fans your career started on April 7th, 2007 when you fought Roger Huerta at UFC 69. That being said, it might shock a few people to find out you’ve actually been competing in MMA since 1999. How were you originally introduced to grappling/striking? Likewise, how did you initially become interested in testing the skills you’d developed at a professional level? Did you ever imagine you would achieve the level of success you have thus far or did you feel fighting would be more of a secondary career?

Leonard Garcia: I started at eighteen. I just fought at a show, then realized that I had natural ability and started training jiujitsu. I am surprised to this day that this is my job.

Conlan: Apparently you are someone who isn’t afraid of challenges, as your debut came in a tournament that saw you submit your opening opponent in less than 90 seconds and then battle to a decision loss over a single round lasting twenty minutes. Going back to that night, what do you remember thinking/feeling as you prepared to enter the ring for the first time in your career? Do you look back on the event as being a negative experience since you weren’t able to fully enjoy your dominant win, or perhaps as a positive instead being that it confirmed your potential for success while also providing some motivation to improve in certain areas?

Leonard Garcia: I remember being nervous. I was shaking – I even forgot to take off my socks so I fought the whole fight with socks on. After the second fight, I felt that I had to train and learn. It made me start training.

Conlan: You are in the unique position of being the only current WEC athlete who also participated in the company’s first show. What do you remember about that night in 2001? Based on your two most-recent fights for the promotion, how far would you say the WEC has come since then?

Leonard Garcia: The WEC has always put on a great show. I’ve enjoyed their production, but they have gotten better as I did, so I feel like we grew together and we are still getting better.

Conlan: It’s been almost two years since your “Fight of the Night” performance against Roger Huerta at UFC 69. The match-up between you two was definitely one of the top clashes of 2007 if not in the UFC’s history. How would you compare your first experience in the Octagon to other fights you were involved in prior to it? Did you feel any butterflies before the bout simply because of it being in the UFC? What are your overall thoughts on the Huerta bout now that you’ve had some time to look back on it and reflect?

Leonard Garcia: I was so nervous I threw up in my mouth! The UFC makes your legs like JELL-O. It’s overwhelming. I look back at the fight and I wish I was in better shape. I was gassed in the second, but I stuck it out. I think that’s what makes fighters – people who are willing to fight through fatigue and keep going. I remember saying to myself, “You can still win this fight,” even though I had nothing left to give

Conlan: How long have you been working out in New Mexico with Greg Jackson’s group? How beneficial do you think it is to train alongside the likes of talented fighters such as Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, Nate Marquardt, and others who call Jackson’s Submission Fighting their home? Are there any up-and-coming Mixed Martial Artists at the academy who fans may not have heard about yet but who you think they should keep an eye out for?

Leonard Garcia: I’ve been with the team two years (on March 1st). It’s a dream come true. I learn from the best. Keep an eye on Hector Munoz outta Texas. He is slick on the ground and scrappy as hell on his feet. He will be in the WEC soon. He’s fun to watch and he’s a great training partner.

Conlan: People seem to view you as primarily being a striker, especially after your recent knockouts of Jens Pulver and Hiroyuki Takaya, but your record actually shows you’ve submitted nearly three times as many guys as you’ve rendered unconscious. Do you feel your grappling skills are often underappreciated? Would you say your most recent WEC performances represent an improvement in your stand-up or are simply a result of how each particular fight unfolded?

Leonard Garcia: I’m becoming well-rounded. I will showcase my ground game as soon as someone takes me down. I’m getting better all around.

Conlan: At WEC 39 you’ll be facing current featherweight champion Mike Brown for his belt. Without giving away your entire gameplan, how are you approaching the tough-as-nails champion from a strategic standpoint? What do you think about Brown as an opponent in general?

Leonard Garcia: I think Brown is a great fighter. He’s definitely the #1 guy in our division. He’s tough. I’m gonna be in for a hell of a fight, but those are the kind that bring out the best of me, so if I fight to my ability we’ve both got a serious fight ahead.

Conlan: Have you changed your training any based on the possibility the scrap could go a full five rounds? In your opinion, why should fans NOT expect to see this fight left to the judges’ scorecards?

Leonard Garcia: To the fans – I try and finish every round. I don’t hold back. I train for a [five-round] fight so expect fireworks for twenty-five minutes.

Conlan: How incredible does it feel for a young Mixed Martial Artist from Longview to be headlining a nationally televised card taking place in his home-State of Texas? Do you feel any extra pressure to perform since you’ll essentially be facing Mike Brown in your own backyard?

Leonard Garcia: I love pressure. Like I said, it brings out the best in me. Coming from a small Texas town and being showcased in Texas is a honor. I can’t wait!

Conlan: There is little doubt Urijah Faber will face the winner of your March 1st title-fight. Have you ever given any thought to Faber as an opponent? What are your overall feelings on what “The California Kid” brings to the table?

Leonard Garcia: I’m really worried about Mike, but I will fight Urijah any time, date, or place. I think he’s a great fighter. Also, it’s a fight I’ve wanted since coming to the WEC.

Conlan: Beyond Faber and Brown, the WEC also boasts skilled featherweights like Jose Aldo, Jens Pulver, Joseph Bendavidez, and Wagnney Fabiano. What are your thoughts on your division as a whole? Is it safe to say the WEC has the top grouping of 145-pound talent in all of MMA?

Leonard Garcia: We have a great pool. All of those fights could be for titles anywhere in the world and we are all shooting for one title. I love it. Every fight is a threat [so] it makes for tough training.

Conlan: What are your thoughts on the recent controversy surrounding the job Greg Jackson and Phil Nurse did cornering St. Pierre at UFC 94? Do you think the entire thing has been blown out of proportion? As someone with 3/4 of his wins via submission, have you ever faced an opponent you felt was “greased up”, and if so, how did it affect your performance against him?

Leonard Garcia: It’s bullsh*t. I like [B.J. Penn] a lot, but Georges is not a cheater and neither is coach. I’ve fought people with Vaseline on them before, but it hurt them more then it helped them. I was able to sink a choke because of the grease so it helped my situation.

Conlan: From 2003-2006 there is a three-year gap in your career. What was that period away from MMA a result of? How did you end up diving back into professional competition after such a long layoff?

Leonard Garcia: I was able to get back in after making an attempt to become a pro boxer. I just didn’t like boxing so I went back to MMA because that is what made me happy.

Conlan: A little less than a year ago you were arrested and alleged to be involved with drug trafficking, but were fortunately cleared of the charges and have been able to move forward since then. Still, knowing your innocence in the matter, how were you originally able to cope with the possibility of facing significant jail time or having your MMA career taken away from you? Did the incident ultimately have any affect on your approach to training, fighting, and/or life in general? If so, how?

Leonard Garcia: It sucked to be in trouble for nothing. I hung out with people that were in the wrong. I never said anything even though I knew what they were doing, but I figured that if I wasnt involved I couldn’t be in trouble. Boy, was I wrong! I was facing three years at the max for obstruction of justice. It would have ended my career, but I was cleared later and I was able to get my life back. My advice to people is stay away from any wrong. It made me value life and family. It made me a better person, [and] I am glad I went through it.

Conlan: There is no denying the impact Hispanic fighters have had on the Latino community. How important is it to you to represent your heritage each time you step into the ring? Do you envision a day where Hispanic Mixed Martial Artists will receive the same adulation from their community as boxing legends like Roberto Duran, Oscar DeLaHoya, and Hector Camacho?

Leonard Garcia: I think it’s part of my fighting style. Being Hispanic, I love it when my fans get behind me. MMA fighters are gonna get praise in Mexico as long as they fight hard everytime. I can’t wait to head down there after my fight with Brown. Win, lose, or draw – they know I will fight hard till the end!

Conlan: While on the subject of talented Latinos, there tends to be a lot of talk about a potential superfight one day between Urijah Faber and WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres. Removing Faber from the picture, is a bout against Torres something YOU would ever be interested in being part of? What do you think about Torres as a fighter?

Leonard Garcia: I think he’s a great fighter. He also fights hard, as I do [too]. The thought of fighting a guy that tough is a great thought, but we are both Hispanics – we would have to make a lot of money to fight…but I can only imagine the ups and downs we would have!

Conlan: I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to offer your thoughts in this interview. Any final messages you’d like to deliver to friends, fans, fighters, or even Mike Brown?

Leonard Garcia: I’d like to start with GOD. Without him, none of this would be possible, but also my family and Team TapouT, Vandel Eye, DynaPep, Full Tilt and my manager Sven “Boogie” Bean.

Morgan indicates that the proposed bout is expected to take place sometime in March at a venue yet to be determined, However, because of Brown’s affiliation with American Top Team, there are strong signs that the bout could anchor a show to be possibly be held in Florida.

Thus far, Brown has only made a verbal agreement but signed bout agreements from both fighters are expected to be signed in the very near future.

Brown won the title from former champion Urijah Faber at WEC 36 in November following a TKO courtesy of repeated punches at just 2:23 into the bout. The victory improved Brown’s WEC record to 2-0, which includes a unanimous decision victory over former WEC featherweight title contender Jeff Curran during Brown’s WEC debut at WEC 34 in June.

His opponent, Garcia, is a former UFC lightweight competitor who is 2-0 since dropping to the WEC’s 145-pound weight class. Showing fast and powerful hands in wins over Hiroyuki Takaya at WEC 32 in February and Jens Pulver at WEC 36 in November, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter will pose a dangerous threat to Brown’s current eight fight winning streak.

Five Ounces of Pain spoke to a third source close to Brown who indicated that while the matchup is considered likely, it has yet to be finalized. However, bout agreements from both fighters could be secured within the next 1-2 two weeks.

It is believed that sources originally wanted Brown to defend his title on the January show to be held in San Diego but that a torn rib cartilage injury sustained by the American Top Team product during his title victory against Faber earlier this month will prevent him from being ready in time. Instead, it is believed that Brown’s next bout could take place at a tentatively scheduled WEC event in March.

Brown TKO’d Faber at WEC 36 to win the title on Nov. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. at 2:23 of round 1. The TKO allowed Brown to improve his streak to eight consecutive victories and gave him his second win while competing under the WEC banner. He was victorious in his debut for the promotion at WEC 34 in June when he defeated Jeff Curran via unanimous decision.

Garcia, 12-3, was also victorious at WEC 36 by way of first round TKO. Facing former UFC lightweight champion and WEC featherweight title challenger Jens Pulver, Garcia finished the lighter weight pioneer with punches at 1:12 of round 1.

After a nine month lay off and recently being cleared of federal charges that had been hanging over his head like a dark cloud, Garcia told fiveouncesofpain.com in an exclusive interview that he feels like it was all just a part of his destiny to become one of the best fighters in the sport. It’s almost as if he needed the time off to reinvent himself and reinvent himself he has. Garcia looked amazing in his destruction of a future hall of famer at WEC 36 and seems to have found new life in his mixed martial arts career.

After his big win over Pulver, the featherweight slugger has wasted no time in making it known that he wants a shot at the 145 pound title. The title that Mike Brown recently acquired by shocking Urijah Faber when he knocked him out in the first round. From the looks of things that fight could be in the not so distant future.

Whether he fights for the belt in his next fight or not, Garcia just wants to fight. After a nine month layoff that left him “agitated” and hungry to fight, he’s eager to show the world the new and improved Leonard Garcia.

Cory Brady: What are your thoughts looking back on the fight between you and Pulver. Were you surprised you were able to catch him so early?

Leonard Garcia: As far as my training camp went it didn’t surprise me at all. The initial shock of it being over so quickly just recently started setting in.

Cory Brady: What was your game plan going into that fight?

Leonard Garcia: I seriously thought after the Hiroyuki Takaya fight that he was going to try to take me down. I was kind of hoping that his pride would make him stand up and I think that’s what did it. He made a comment that I only had one knockout or something like that. I’ve never trained at a kickboxing academy or a mixed martial arts place ever before I came to Greg Jackson’s. If you watch the Roger Huerta fight and then you watch the Hiroyuki Takaya fight there’s an obvious big change in my kickboxing. He should have watched my tapes and studied that but I guess his pride got the best of him.

Cory Brady: So you feel like Pulver was underestimating your punching power because you only had the one knockout listed on your record?

Leonard Garcia: For sure, that’s exactly what it was. If he would have watched any of my earlier fights he would have seen that I have a lot of submissions but it was because I rocked a lot of people standing up and they would take me down right into a submission. I was able to drop people and get on top of them and get a choke in. I’ve always had the punching power, it’s always been there, but now I’m quicker and stronger at 145 so everything’s coming along a lot better.

Cory Brady: Did you get some good advice from Duane Ludwig going into this fight being that he already had the previous stoppage over Pulver?

Leonard Garcia: Duane’s the man. It doesn’t really matter who I fight. As long as I can do my stand up training with Duane I feel confident with anybody standing up.If you can last one round with Duane when he’s really turning it on then you’ll be alright in a twenty five minute fight.

Cory Brady: This is a huge win for you. Do you feel like you have kind of turned a new page in your mixed martial arts career with your win over Pulver?

Leonard Garcia: Yeah, I think this cements me into the weight class and makes me a force to be reckoned with at 145. Any time you beat somebody with such a big name it just does things for your career. I can already tell a huge difference and it’s been less than a week. I worked really hard to beat Pulver and I definitely pushed it to another level during training camp. I’m doing a lot of things different now. I’m starting to take supplements, vitamins, I’m dieting. I’m doing a lot of different things that Greg Jackson has me doing and I think I’m coming together perfectly so this is a huge step for me.

Cory Brady: How happy were you to return to action after that nine month layoff?

Leonard Garcia: With everything that happened with me and all of that crap that went on and then also with the hurricane it just felt like it was never going to happen. I was like “What’s going on? I can’t catch a break”. Every time something would happen. I would always say “When we’re under those lights and we’re across from each other and the referee says go, that’s when I’ll know it’s real” and that’s exactly how it felt.

Cory Brady: It’s like everything happens for a reason and maybe the reason you hadn’t fought before was because it was just waiting on everything to line up right against Pulver.

Leonard Garcia: Everything worked out in my favor, I mean everything. I feel like this fight wouldn’t have happened had I not had those legal problems. You just hit the nail right on the head. You said “Everything happens for a reason” and that’s the way I take it. I try to take everything in stride and try to make the best out of everything and that’s exactly what happened in this situation.

Cory Brady: Do you expect to fight Mike Brown for his first title defense?

Leonard Garcia: Yeah, I am. I don’t know how quickly he’s going to be able to get back in there. I heard he had some torn cartilage in his ribs. There’s a couple of things that we really need to sit down and talk about but yeah, I’d love to fight him. I can’t speak for the WEC and I can’t make matches that haven’t been signed yet but I truly feel like I’m the #1 contender.

Cory Brady: So if that fight was to go down, how do you feel you guys match up?

Leonard Garcia: Me and Mike are both really big 145′ers. I think he’s a better wrestler than me and I think that I’m a better striker than he is. I’m not too sure on the jiu-jitsu. I know he trains out of a great camp.I have a brown belt, it’s about to be a black, from what I understand, that’s what they’re telling me. I think stylistically it can be a really exciting fight or it can be a really boring fight if he tries to hold me down. Whatever it is. Roger Huerta tried to hold me down so we’ll see. I was out of shape when I fought him so let’s see if anybody can hold down an in shape Leonard Garcia.

Cory Brady: If you are offered the fight for the belt but Mike Brown’s injury keeps him out of action for a while, will you be looking to fight again before Brown just to stay active?

Leonard Garcia: Yeah. I don’t sit around and wait for anything. My family is first and foremost and this is how I take care of my family. If there’s another fight that comes up and I can do it and he’s saying that he’s still injured then I’m going to do it. I’m not going to sit around and wait. I took nine months off this year and that had me highly agitated so next year I want to fight as much as I can.

Cory Brady: In your last couple fights for the WEC you’ve gone 2-0 with 2 first round knockouts. Have you been looking for the KO lately?

Leonard Garcia: I’m a naturally aggressive person, even in training. When I throw a jab they laugh. They tell me “Man, you throw a jab like you’re trying to mimic a right hand”. Every punch I throw I’m trying to let it all go. I think that makes me an exciting fighter and I think that’s what people want to see so it’s not so much that I’m really looking for anything, I’m just trying to let it go at all times. I’m one of those guys that even in training I have a couple guys that are dodging me in practice so it just works out that way. That’s just how I am. I’m not looking for knockouts, I’m not trying to get knockouts, they’re just coming so it’s working out.

Cory Brady: How do you feel fighting at 145 compared to 155?

Leonard Garcia: I feel stronger at 145 than I did at 155. I went down and trained with Roger Huerta since our fight and he was telling me that it’s like night and day now. He’s like “You feel stronger, you’re faster, everything”. He was like “It’s crazy. You look smaller but you feel like a bigger person”. At 155, I can’t lie and say that I wasn’t cutting anything to get there but I was cutting maybe two or three pounds. Cutting to 145 is just like cutting for everybody else, it sucks. I hate cutting weight. I know it’s a hard cut for me but it’s not unreachable. It’s really easy for me to get there but I just hate to do it. Either way, it’s a better weight class for me and I love it.

Cory Brady: Do you think this is where you will stay for a long time to come?

Leonard Garcia: The good thing is that the 145 pound weight class is so stacked right now, there’s so many fights that I want to do. If I win the title and have two or three defenses then I’m going to jump up to 155 and keep testing myself. For me, that’s what fighting is, you’re just testing yourself. I want to be known as one of the best, if not the best. If it takes two weight classes like De La Hoya and all those guys that have done it in boxing then I’ll do it in MMA.

Cory Brady: How good does it feel to have put all of your legal problems behind you and have your entire MMA career in front of you?

Leonard Garcia: It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s funny that you asked that. My Mom was asking me that question just the other day. I was talking to he and she just started crying. It just feels great getting everything cleared away and now I’m just ripping away. I’m going 100% full steam ahead. I appreciate this career so much more now because of that. I’m not taking it for granted so you guys are going to be seeing a lot of exciting fights coming from me.

Cory Brady: Hey Leonard, thanks so much for your time. Are there any sponsors you’d like to thank before I let you go?

Leonard Garcia: Yeah, I want to thank Tapout first and foremost. I want to thank Nutritox. Those guy’s really helped me out with my nutrition level and a lot of things so any fighters coming up, Nutritox is the real deal. Also Killer Clothing and MTX Audio. Any new sponsors out there that want a fighter that’s guaranteed TV time, look up my manager and hit me up.

Buentello, 25-10, also currently competes for Strikeforce and has also fought for the UFC in the past. The Texas native is looking to come back from a loss in his last fight, a submission due to knees to the body by Alistair Overeem last November. The bout was for the then-vacant Strikeforce heavyweight title.

Emelianenko, who is 13-3 in his MMA career, last fought on April 3 during the M-1 Challenge, where he recorded a first round TKO over Silvao Santos. Prior to the win over Santos, he had last competed for the now-defunct Hardcore Championship Fighting promotion last October. In that fight he submitted Dan Bobish with a guillotine choke at 1:09 of round 1.

The July show will be headlined by Emelianenko’s older brother, former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, who will be taking on former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia.

Other announced bouts include Josh Barnett vs. Pedro Rizzo, Renato “Babalu” Sobral vs. Mike Whitehead, Matt Lindland vs. Fabio Negao. Ben Rothwell will be appearing on the card as well, against a yet-to-be-announced opponent. Many news outlets have speculated that Rothwell’s opponent could be former UFC heayweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

Buentello was a recent guest on MMAWeekly radio and said the following:

People want to see it. I think everybody wants to see it. Me and Kimbo should lace up the gloves. Everybody wants to see it and I think it’s time. He’s fighting all the guys I’ve already knocked out and I’ve already exposed. He needs to get off that buffet line I put out there and come over to my Paul Buentello taco shop and see if we can get to work.

I give him much respect. He stepped up. He went from street fighting to MMA and everybody thought he couldn’t produce, but he’s doing it

A fight between Buentello and Slice is probably a little too soon for Gary Shaw’s liking but it is a definitely an option for the future once Kimbo gets some wins over lesser opponents. I for one would definitely like to see this fight as it would show everyone what level of striking Kimbo actually has and let’s face it, it would be a slug-fest.

Buentello last fought at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives for the vacant Strikeforce heavyweight title and was demolished by Alistair Overeem. He is scheduled to fight on the March 29th, Strikeforce card but an opponent has not yet been named.

Read more Kimbo Slice and Paul Buentellocontent on FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

The news was first reported by Brian Knapp of The Fight Network.

According to the report, an opponent for Buentello has yet to be finalized.

Buentello last fought on November 16 in San Jose. He lost to Alistair Overeem in a match to decide the winner of the vacant Strikeforce heavyweight title when he submitted to knees to the body at 3:42 of round 2.

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