According to Brown via Facebook, he tore a ligament in his left hand during the first round of his Fight Night 23 bout and is set for surgery today to repair the damage.

This newest setback caps off a rough run of in-ring adversity the 35-year old has been dealing with since dropping his WEC title to Jose Aldo in November 2009. Post-loss, Brown has gone 2-3 including a pair of decision defeats inside the Octagon stemming from this past month of action. In addition to his stumble against Yahya, Brown was outpointed by Diego Nunes at UFC 125 on January 1 and was a late replacement at last weekend’s “Fight for the Troops” event.

Despite the struggles Brown still holds an overall record of 24-8 with past wins over Leonard Garcia, Yves Edwards, Jeff Curran, Mark Hominick, and Urjiah Faber (twice).

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/WEC

News of the suspension was first reported by MMAJunkie.

In addition to “Meathead”, four other fighters will be sidelined for medical reasons beyond the standard 8-10 day period issued to all the evening’s competitors. Those exceeding the precautionary break include Hague, Willamy Freire, George Roop, and headliner Evan Dunham.

Dunham, like Roop and Hague, will be out of action for at least a month after being TKO’d at the “Fight for the Troops” event. Meanwhile, Freire received a sentence similar to Mitrione’s due to hand and cheek injuries resulting from his bout with takedown-specialist Waylon Lowe and must also receive a physician’s clearance before returning to the ring.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Melvin Guillard defeated Evan Dunham by TKO (Strikes) at 2:58 in Round One

Many wondered whether or not Evan Dunham could handle the power of Melvin Guillard in this fight. It didn’t take long for us to get an answer.

The fight got off to a slow start with both guys trying to find their range. Then Guillard landed a nice right hand that put Dunham into retreat mode. Dunham managed to get a takedown but couldn’t do anything with it as Gullard was quickly to his feet and back on the attack. Guillard landed another right hand that dropped Dunham, blasted him with a knee in the clinch, and then finish him with another knee that looked to be illegal. Even though the final knee was illegal, it made no difference in the fight. Dunham looked out from the first knee and the result would have been the same if Guillard had used punches instead of his knee. Luckily the knee didn’t overshadow Guillard’s performance and victory.

All of a sudden Dunham has lost two straight fights. The potential is still there for him to be a top lightweight but he’s got to get over his bad habit of starting slow. His striking could still use some work but Guillard has always given guys problems with his speed and power. Maybe Dunham came into this fight overconfident or flat because he suffered a mental letdown after Kenny Florian pulled out and if that’s the case, I would hope that he learned that there are no easy fights in the lightweight division and that he needs to take every opponent serious. I still think Dunham can be a top guy in the division because he’s a good grappler and he’s a big guy for the weight class. Right now he could benefit from a fight with a tough well-rounded veteran just to see where he’s at in his game. I’d like to see him fight Yves Edwards because Edwards is a guy with a lot of skills and experience who knows that he only has one more good run in him.

Guillard finally seems like he’s putting it all together and I really think you have to credit Team Greg Jackson for that. I know Jackson and his crew catch a lot of unnecessary heat for, “turning good fighters boring” but no matter what your opinion is of Jackson’s camp, you can’t deny that he makes fighters realize their potential. What impressed me most with Guillard in this fight was his ability to stuff the takedown and when he was taken down, his ability to bounce right back up. He’s always been a handful on his feet thanks to his speed and power but if he can consistently prevent guys from getting him down or keeping him down, he’s a tough draw for anyone in the division. I doubt he’ll get a title shot in 2011 because there are a lot of guys ahead of him on the pecking order but Guillard is someone who has never been short on confidence. I’m sure Guillard wants to get back in the cage as soon as possible and it’s a shame that a lot of top lightweights already have fights booked but Sean Sherk is a guy without a fight right now, he’s a guy that will truly test Guillard’s wrestling and cardio, and he’s a former champion.

Predicted Next Fights: Dunham vs. Edwards – Guillard vs. Sherk

Matt Mitrione defeated Tim Hague via TKO (Strikes) at 2:59 in Round One

Tim Hague was back in the UFC for his third stint and unfortunately for him, the third time was not the charm as Matt Mitrione gave him a thrashing in his return.

As has become his trademark, Mitrione was all smiles before this fight. He seemed to hurt Hague early with some good leg kicks, he was moving well, he stuffed a strong takedown attempt by Hague, and then he dropped Hague with a left straight. After that Hague kept trying for a couple more takedowns to no avail before Mitrione dropped him with another left straight and followed that up with strikes on the ground that forced the referee to stop things. Just like he was before the bout, Mitrione was all smiles after the bout.

With this loss Hague will likely be officially cut from the organization not once, not twice, but thrice. He really looked like he wanted no part of Mitrione on this fight, which was a real shame because you would think that a guy given a third chance in the UFC in the co-main event of a show in front of the troops would fight with a lot more urgency and passion. He’s still relatively young so maybe he’ll improve and be back but he could just never capitalize on his big win over Pat Barry. Luckily he benefits from being Canadian as UFC is always trying to fill cards in Canada with hometown fighters but I would hope that he wants to advance past the level of just being a local guy brought in for a cheap crowd pop. Hague could really benefit from signing with Bellator. They don’t have a great heavyweight division but it is filled with a lot of good tests for him and it would allow him to fight on a consistent basis.

So maybe Mitrione thinks he’s more Dominick Cruz than Anthony Pettis but whichever lighter weight fighter you want to compare him to, you can’t deny that the kid has talent. He once again showed some improvements in his game, mainly in his movement and speed. Hague is a decent grappler and Mitrione easily dealt with Hague’s attempts to get him to the ground. Mitrione is a much better athlete than a lot of people will give him credit for and he’s a guy that just keeps improving with every single fight. Even if Hague was a designed win for Mitrione or not considered top competition, Mitrione still took care of business and made short work of him. That’s the sign of someone who has the potential to be a really good fighter as long as they’re willing to put the work in. Mitrione wants better competition and while I’d like him to be brought along slowly, there’s no doubt that he’s ready for a jump up the ladder. So who does one face when you’re trying to see whether or not they’re ready to enter the heavyweight mansion? Why the ultimate gatekeeper Cheick Kongo of course.

Predicted Next Fights: Hague vs. Unemployment – Mitrione vs. Kongo

Mark Hominick defeated George Roop via TKO (Strikes) at 1:28 in Round One

With a title shot on the line, Mark Hominick proved exactly why he deserves a crack at Jose Aldo by making quick work of George Roop.

Roop was looking good early in this fight. He was moving well, keeping Hominick at bay with kicks, and tagging Hominick was some good combinations. Then Hominick landed a beautiful straight right that stumbled Roop and pretty much took him out of the fight. After that Hominick continued to land the right hand before dropping Roop for good with a left hook. The stoppage looked a little early but when Roop stood after the fight and stumbled around like he had just spent the past 24 hours with Charlie Sheen, I don’t think anyone complained about the ref stopping things. Hominick not only won this fight but he made a strong statement in the direction of Aldo.

There is a dumb MMA saying that applies to Roop in this situation. “He was doing well, and then he lost.” Roop was doing all the right things, then he got hit with a straight right, and that was it for him. He doesn’t have a great record but I still have some faith in Roop simply because of his size at the 145-pound weight class. Maybe he’s just destined to be a mid-level fighter though whose career highlight came when he double tapped “The Korean Zombie.” Since he’s on a string of fighting strikes, it might be time to mix it up with Roop and give him a really good grappler.

Hominick doesn’t lack confidence heading into his fight against Aldo but is there any worse good news in MMA than hearing Joe Silva say, “you’re fighting Jose Aldo next”? Hominick might be the best striker Aldo has ever faced but Aldo is a pretty good striker in his own right. Even if you believe that Hominick doesn’t have a prayer against Aldo, this performance had to make you excited to see the fight. Hominick did win a close and lackluster decision like others fighters have done prior to getting a title shot, he went out there, threw about eight punches, landed all of them, knocked Roop down a couple of times, and finished him. That kind of performance says, “I’m ready to face one of the best fighters in the world.” If I could give any advice to Hominick as he prepares to fight Aldo, it would be to check those leg kicks. Taking clean leg kicks from Leonard Garcia and Roop is one thing, taking them from Aldo just looks like it sucks.

Pat Barry defeated Joey Beltran via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

With their backs against the wall, Pat Barry and Joey Beltran came out swinging in hopes of preserving their UFC careers for at least one more fight.

Beltran said he was going to turn this fight into a dirty brawl and that’s exactly what he did for the better part of two rounds. He pressed Barry with punches, put him up against the cage, roughed him up with dirty boxing and knees in the clinch, and really limited Barry. The first round was a bit dull but it was exactly the kind of fight Beltran needed to fight. Beltran did much of the same in the second round but Barry finally started to unload more with leg kicks, which really took the pep out of Beltran’s step. Beltran hung tough in the round and even pressed the action late despite essentially walking on one leg. Beltran started the third round off just like he fought the first two rounds, putting punches in Barry’s face and pressing him against the cage but Barry continued to survive and when he was able to create space, he unleashed more of his heavy leg kicks. It looked like Beltran gave up in the middle of the round after a vicious leg kick but he was poked in the eye and given time to recover. Beltran continued to hop forward and gut out the fight but Barry kept chopping at him with leg kicks. It looked like Barry had a chance to finish Beltran a couple of times during the third round but Beltran managed to survive to see a decision. At the end of the fight, Barry stood tall while Beltran barely stood.

Beltran once again fought his heart out but he just didn’t have the skill to match Barry. He had a great game plan and he stuck to it but Barry just destroyed him with leg kicks and did more overall damage. Maybe he should have switched stances earlier and more often but Barry was going to continue to attack the legs no matter which one was forward. Beltran isn’t the greatest fighter in the world but he always comes to fight and I really hope he’s given another fight in the UFC. Let him keep fighting guys who will bang it out with him because even if he never advances past the mid-level, at least he’ll continue to put on exciting fights. And before you start feeling sorry for Beltran’s leg, think of poor Barry’s foot. Maybe he can borrow Mike Goldberg’s foot warmers for the next week or so.

There is no denying the talent of Barry but he reminds me a little too much of Brandon Vera. Great talent but there is a mental hurdle that he needs to get over. Barry fights like he expects people to quit when he hits them instead of making them quit. In reality, he should have finished Beltran but he allowed Beltran to stick around to see a decision. Even in his victories, he has a case of premature celebration where he raises his arms in victory before the ref officially steps in to stop things. His grappling and wrestling is still very questionable and I wonder just how much he learned from spending all that time with Brock Lesnar and his camp. He could really benefit from another stint at Lesnar’s camp prior to his next fight. Travis Browne sort of called out Barry on twitter for playing the “sympathy card” with his post-fight speech. Browne has bigger things to worry about with Stefan Struve but that’s a fight I would look out for in the future.

Predicted Next Fights: Beltran vs. Antoni Hardonk – Barry vs. Browne

Matt Wiman defeated Cole Miller via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27

Many expected a back and fourth war when Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman was announced. Instead we got a one sided performance and the best of Wiman’s career.

Even before the bell rang, Wiman meant business in this fight. He and Miller were pacing back and fourth and trash talking during introductions and then when Miller wanted to touch gloves in the first round, Wiman would have none of it. For 15 minutes, Wiman never let up on Miller. He pressured him with leg kicks and combinations and he never let Miller get comfortable and find his range on the feet. Miller had a little success in the first round with knees to the body in the clinch but other than that, it was all Wiman on the feet. Wiman really took over on the ground though. In the first round he slammed Miller down when Miller tried to pull guard, in the second round he got a takedown when Miller went for a knee, and in the third round Wiman ended up on top after narrowly finishing the fight with a guillotine choke after a desperation takedown attempt from Miller. Like on the feet, Wiman never let up on Miller on the ground. Even though he never got past the half guard of Miller, Wiman was relentless on top with short elbows and good punches. He did his best work when he stood in the guard of Miller and rained down a flurry of punches that had Miller covering and just trying to survive. Wiman even paid tribute to Kazushi Sakuraba by throwing a couple of double chops and even trying a cartwheel pass late in the fight. The round result was a dominating decision victory for Wiman and a bunch of happy pets watching at home.

This wasn’t the Miller that we’ve seen in his past few fights. Credit Wiman for never letting him rest on the feet but on the ground Miller never attacked off his back like many expected him to. Instead he just laid on his back and took a pounding like he was auditioning to replace Tori Black in Superwoman XXX 2. I still think Miller has the talent to be a really good fighter and maybe this was just an off night for him but in the crowded lightweight division, he can’t afford too many off nights. Donald Cerrone has an upcoming fight against Paul Kelly but win or lose, Cerrone vs. Miller needs to happen. It would be a great fight to have on a Fight Night card and they would do plenty of trash talking between them.

Wiman turned in an outstanding performance. He never let Miller find his range on the feet, he took him down with explosiveness and power, and he constantly pressured him on the ground. Even though he didn’t finish Miller, he also didn’t just coast his way to a victory. For 15 minutes he let the world know that he was better than Miller and sometimes that’s just as good as a quick finish. Given his unfinished business with Mac Danzig and the fact that Danzig is coming off a huge win over Joe Stevenson, now seems like the perfect time to settle the score.

Predicted Next Fights: Miller vs. Cerrone – Wiman vs. Danzig

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Guillard took home the evening’s “Knockout of the Night”, as well as an attached $30,000 bonus, after damaging favored opponent Evan Dunham with a series of quick, powerful strikes and finally a few deal-sealing knees. The win marked the 27th of the 27-year old’s career and was his fourth straight. After the victory Guillard guaranteed an undefeated 2011 and subsequent title-shot shortly thereafter while boasting he was the best lightweight the world.

“Submission of the Night” – as well as a role in “Fight of the Night” – went to affable veteran Yves Edwards after choking Cody McKenzie unconscious in the second round of their preliminary bout. The result marked Edwards’ second consecutive instance of success in the Octagon since rejoining the promotion last year.

Comparably, the loss was the first of McKenzie’s career, though of course he at least took home thirty grand as a consolation prize for his participation in the “Fight of the Night” selection.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Remember that tonight’s event is serving as a fundraiser for Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a charity that provides support for U.S. families that have lost a loved one during their time of service, for military personnel wounded during battle, and veterans returning home. If you would like to donate to the charity you can do so by visiting FightfortheTroops.com at any point during tonights event.

The preliminary fights are scheduled to kick off around 6 PM EST then at 7 PM EST, streaming live on Facebook.com/UFC, will be four preliminary fights. Finally at 9 PM EST on SpikeTV the main portion of the card gets underway.

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 is headlined by lightweight contenders Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard battling it out in hopes of moving up the crowded lightweight ladder. The co-main event features Matt Mitrione trying to remain unbeaten in his MMA career against the very tough Tim Hague. Also on the card is an important featherweight showdown between Mark Hominick, trying to earn a UFC Featherweight Title shot, taking on teammate George Roop.

Here is a complete rundown of UFC Fight for the Troops 2 results as they unfold

PRELIMINARY CARD

Chris Cariaso def. Will Campuzano via Unanimous Decision
Charlie Brenneman def. Amilcar Alves via Unanimous Decision

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Waylon Lowe def. Willamy Freire via Unanimous Decision
Rani Yahya def. Mike Brown via Unanimous Decision
DaMarques Johnson def. Mike Guymon via Submission Round 1 (Body Triangle)
Yves Edwards def. Cody McKenzie via Submission Round 2 (Rear Naked Choke)

MAIN CARD

Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman

Round One: All on the feet early with both men landing some good punches. Wiman had a lot of success with leg kicks and the right uppercut while Miller was constantly looking to land his right hand. Wiman was also the more aggressive on the two. Miller did a nice job tying Wiman up and landing good knees to the body. Miller tried to pull guard but Wiman slammed him down, got on top, and landed some good ground and pound from the half guard. Wiman even landed a Sakuraba double chop when he was standing in the guard of Miller. Good round for Wiman both on the feet and on the ground. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Wiman.

Round Two: Wiman caught a knee early, shoved Miller to the ground, and got on top. Miller ended up scrambling to his feet without taking too much damage though. Wiman continued to push a strong pace on the feet and he even dropped Miller with a knee before landing some big shots on the ground, including another double chop. Miller kept trying to push Wiman away but Wiman stayed on him with strikes. Wiman never made it past half guard but he landed a lot of blows from the guard of Miller while Miller offered very little offense from his back. Dominating round for Wiman. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Wiman.

Round Three: Wiman really pressed the action on the feet and forced Miller into a desperation takedown, which Wiman stuffed by grabbing a guillotine and ending up on top of Miller. Wiman continued to rough up Miller on the ground with elbows and heavy punches while standing in the guard of Miller. Miller’s only offense was to try for a leg lock but Wiman easily pulled out of them before he was in any real danger. Wiman managed to get the back of Miller with about 30 seconds remaining and he tried hard to finish but time ended up running out. Another great round for Wiman and that should be a shut out. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Wiman and the fight 30-27 for Wiman.

Result: Matt Wiman def. Cole Miller via Unanimous Decision

Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran

Round One: A slow start on the feet led to a long clinch situation where Beltran tried for a takedown, couldn’t complete it, but did land some knees to the legs before the ref broke them. Barry landed some nice leg kicks but Beltran pressed forward, landed a nice flurry, and then put Barry up against the cage again where he continued to grind out Barry with dirty boxing and short knees to the legs. Beltran ended up catching Barry with a knee to the groin, which caused a short break but the action did resume but nothing happened as the round ended and the crowd booed. Beltran turned the fight into a clinch contest, where he did well for himself and based on the control in the clinch and short flurries, he took the round. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Beltran.

Round Two: Barry opened up the round with a nice leg kick and then tried some head kicks but Beltran blocked them. Beltran tried to brawl with Barry but Barry showed better movement early and countered with kicks. Beltran managed to catch Barry with another flurry, which he used to clinch, and control Barry against the cage and land some footstomps before the ref broke them. Barry continued to land some big leg kicks that had Beltran limping. Then Barry opened up more on the feet, landed a nice head kicks, and some uppercuts. Beltran hung tough and fired back despite essentially being on one leg and even landed a bunch of nice flurries on Barry, who just tried cruising the rest of the round. Close round. Barry did more damage with kicks but Beltran had more of an output and aggressiveness. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Beltran.

Round Three: Barry again came out strong with leg kicks but Beltran kept taking them and pushing forward with strikes. Beltran landed some good body shots before clinching and putting Barry against the cage to control and rough him up. Beltran did very well with dirty boxing against the cage, landing a lot of uppercuts as Barry tried covering up. Barry tried pushing away and landing kicks but couldn’t connect flush. Barry landed some more sharp leg kicks but accidentally poked Beltran in the eye as he tried pushing away. Beltran took his time to recover and decided to fight on. Beltran caught the kick of Barry but Barry landed a flying knee that dropped Beltran. Barry tried punching the knee of Beltran on the ground, ended up going to full mount, but then got up and allowed Beltran up. Beltran gutted out the final few moments but took some more leg kicks as the round ended. Great round for Barry and he almost had Beltran finished. Really depends on the 2nd round scoring and if any judge gave Barry a 10-8 in the last round. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Barry but the fight 29-28 for Beltran.

Result: Pat Barry def. Joey Beltran via Unanimous Decision

Mark Hominick vs. George Roop

Round One: Roop was moving well early and keeping Hominick at bay with his reach but Hominick clipped and dropped Roop, which really changed the momentum of the fight. Hominick continued to tag Roop with the right straight and then dropped him with a left hook. Hominick landed one punch on the ground before the ref stopped it. It looked to be a little early as Roop didn’t look out but when he stood and tried to walk, he stumbled badly and had to be held up by Hominick.

Result: Mark Hominick def. George Roop via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)

Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague

Round One: Mitrione opened up with some heavy leg kicks and good movement. Hague tried a takedown after catching a kick from Mitrione but Mitrione stuffed it and broke away from the clinch. Mitrione dropped Hague with a left straight but Hague was quickly up. Mitrione dropped Hague with another left straight before pounding Hague out on the ground and forcing the ref to stop the fight.

Result: Matt Mitrione def. Tim Hague via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)

Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard

Round One: Guillard landed a big right hand early that forced Dunham to go for a takedown. Guillard fought it off but Dunham eventually wrestled him down. Guillard took no damage on the ground before working his way up and tagging Dunham with some short punches. Guillard dropped Dunham with another big right, stuffed a desperation takedown, landed a huge knee, followed by another, and forced the referee to stop the fight. The last knee may have been illegal as Dunham had a knee on the ground but Dunham looked out on his feet.

Result: Melvin Guillard def. Evan Dunham by TKO Round 1 (Strikes)

Affable heavyweight Pat Barry measured in at 240 lbs. for his bout with powerful peer Joey Beltran with “The Mexicutioner” coming in at 240 pounds respectively.

Also worth noting, title contender Mark Hominick registered at 145.5 pounds on the scale. If Hominick wins he is guaranteed a shot at UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo. Comparably, his opponent George Roop weighed 145 pounds.

Headliners Melvin Guillard and Evan Dunham both clocked in on target with Guillard being 155 lbs. and Dunham with a slight one-pound advantage for their main-event match-up.

Fans can tune into the festivities live on Spike starting at 9:00 PM EST as well as catch a pair of preliminary bouts starting at 8:00 PM EST through the UFC’s Facebook page courtesy of a streaming broadcast.

Here is a complete list of UFC Fight Night 23 weigh-in results:

Will Campuzano (135 lbs.) vs. Chris Cariaso (135 lbs.)
Amilcar Alves (171 lbs.) vs. Charlie Brenneman (171 lbs.)
Waylon Lowe (156 lbs.) vs. Willamy Freire (155 lbs.)
Rani Yahya (145 lbs.) vs. Mike Thomas Brown (146 lbs.)
Yves Edwards (155 lbs.) vs. Cody McKenzie (155 lbs.)
DaMarques Johnson (170 lbs.) vs. Michael Guymon (170.5 lbs.)
Cole Miller (155.5 lbs.) vs. Matt Wiman (155 lbs.)
Pat Barry (240 lbs.) vs. Joey Beltran (230 lbs.)
Mark Hominick (145.5 lbs.) vs. George Roop (145 lbs.)
Matt Mitrione (256.5 lbs.) vs. Tim Hague (260 lbs.)
Melvin Guillard (155 lbs.) vs. Evan Dunham (156 lbs.)

Lightweight Fight: Melvin Guillard vs. Evan Dunham

Originally scheduled to fight Kenny Florian, Evan Dunham returns to the octagon after suffering his first loss as a professional in his last bout. He tries to get back to his winning ways against the explosive Melvin Guillard, who is on a three fight win streak and has won six of his last seven fights.

While Guillard’s fight against Jeremy Stephens wasn’t the slugfest that many expected it to be, it shouldn’t take away from Guillard’s performance. In that fight we saw a smarter and more technical Guillard. He used his speed and movement to leap in, jab, and then leap out before Stephens could catch up with a counter punch. Every time Stephens tried to land his big right hand, he always fell short because Guillard had already moved away. Along with his jab, Guillard controlled the fight with his lead leg. He would constantly use his lead leg to throw a push kick and feint. When Stephens would react to the feint, Guillard with come in with his right hand. Usually lacking in the cardio department, Guillard fought a controlled pace in his last bout. Rarely did he throw anything more than your basic one-two combination or a winging right hand and he certainly never got into any wild exchanges that he’s been prone to doing in the past. Guillard is a solid wrestler but Sean Sherk had a lot of trouble taking Dunham down and even if he does get Dunham down, he’ll have to worry about Dunham’s submission game. Guillard showed improved submission defense against Ronnys Torres and has seemed a lot more comfortable on the ground now that he’s training at Team Greg Jackson. Despite his wrestling skill and newfound comfort on the ground, it’s not the place he wants to be in this fight. Guillard needs to keep this fight standing, possibly get back to his brawling style, and maybe even mix in a few takedowns. I’m not saying he should try hard for takedowns or even spend any time on the ground should he get the takedown but he should try and mix in some takedown attempts. Not only will they throw Dunham off balance but they’ll also allow him to set up his overhand right. Even if Guillard goes for a takedown immediately, gets stuffed, and spends the rest of the fight just faking takedowns, it’ll get Dunham reacting. Dunham could drop his hands to stuff the takedown or go for a knee, which he loves to do. If he does either of those things, Guillard could make him pay with an overhand right or short left hook. Guillard needs to use his speed and power and keep things on the feet. Work the jab, keep a good distance, mix things up, and try to bait Dunham into a brawl. Guillard has the power to end this fight with one strike or he could win a decision by essentially replicating his performance against Stephens where he picks his shots and displays good defense.

Even though Dunham lost his last fight against Sean Sherk in a controversial decision, many viewed him as the winner just based on his performance. Dunham is know for his wrestling and jiu-jitsu but he’s shown some really improved striking in his last couple of fights. Don’t go overboard with how great his striking though because he’s benefitted from facing short guys like Efrain Escudero, Tyson Griffin, and Sherk where he was really able to use his reach advantage, something he won’t have against Guillard. Dunham is a slightly unorthodox striker. He stands southpaw and instead of utilizing a jab, he uses a reaching uppercut, or as I like to call it, a “jabbercut.” He starts pretty much every single one of his combos with this strike. He’ll throw a jabbercut-left straight, jabbercut-left hook-jabbercut, jabbercut-left hook-right hook-right kick, and so on. Dunham has stated that he’s not looking to get into a brawl with Guillard but that’s his style in a lot of ways. He’s a guy that’s willing to take one in order to get two. Even if he doesn’t want to brawl with Guillard, he needs to be aggressive. Guillard had success against Stephens because he didn’t allow Stephens to get off first but when Stephens was pushing forward, Guillard didn’t like that. So Dunham needs to press forward on the feet and use a lot of leg kicks to slow down Guillard’s movement and power. Of course Dunham will most likely be looking to get this fight to the ground. He’s a very good wrestler and his jiu-jitsu is outstanding. Guillard is a good wrestler in his own right but if Dunham is able to get him down, he shouldn’t have too much trouble. While Guillard seems more comfortable on the ground since training with Team Jackson, he seems more comfortable on top. That doesn’t mean that he’ll be comfortable on his back with a good grappler like Dunham on top of him raining down strikes and trying for submissions. Dunham is very good at ducking under the strikes and getting takedowns so look for him to throw some feints, get Guillard reacting, and then look for the takedown. Dunham just needs to keep the pressure up in this fight. Again, I think leg kicks will be very key for Dunham because Guillard doesn’t check them, it will throw Guillard off his rhythm, and it will take away his movement. Dunham could win by overwhelming Guillard with strikes on the ground, catch him in a submission, or pick up a decision by simply controlling the action in all areas.

It would be easy to write Guillard off in this fight because he’s never done well against top competition while Dunham arguably beat a former UFC Lightweight Champion. That said, this is a good style fight for Guillard if he can keep things standing or if Dunham is overconfident in his striking given his recent performances. Unfortunately for Guillard, I don’t think Dunham will want to keep things standing, he knows his best chance is on the ground, and he’ll eventually get it there. On the ground look for him to soften Guillard up before eventually locking in a choke for the victory.

Prediction: Evan Dunham to defeat Melvin Guillard by Submission in Round Two

Heavyweight Fight: Tim Hague vs. Matt Mitrione

After being released by UFC following three straight losses, Tim Hague is back in the company following two KO victories in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada over Zak Jensen and Travis Wiuff. Welcoming him back is Matt Mitrione, looking to remain unbeaten in his professional career.

Hague is probably best known for being on the receiving end of the fastest recorded knockout in UFC history thanks to the right hand of Todd Duffee. That said, Hague is currently fighting in the UFC while Duffee is currently unemployed. So who really won in the end? Hague is a decent striker with power but doesn’t have the greatest defense in the world. He likes to throw a big overhand right, which he sets up with jabs to the body. If the fight stays on the feet, it might be in Hague’s best interest to try and brawl with Mitrione. Mitrione keeps his hands low and is willing to get into wild exchanges. So it’s possible that in one of the exchanges that Hague could clip Mitrione with a right hand. In the clinch he likes to grab the plum clinch and throw knees. Chances are he’ll want to get this fight in the clinch and then eventually to the ground. He’s a purple belt in jiu-jitsu and even holds a submission victory over Mitrione’s teammate Pat Barry. He likes to grab a guillotine choke on the ground so Mitrione will have to keep his chin tucked, especially when trying to scramble up if he finds himself on his back. If Hague can get Mitrione down, he’ll have to protect his left arm and watch out for the triangle. Mitrione loves to isolate the left arm of his opponents and throw up a triangle. I think he uses each more as a threat to get his opponent to react than an actual submission attempt but it’s effective nonetheless. Of course Hague is the best grappler Mitrione has faced so throwing up a triangle for the sake of trying to get Hague to react could allow Hague to advance to a better position. Look for Hague to push Mitrione against the cage, control him in the clinch, and wear him down with strikes to the body. Mitrione has good cardio so Hague needs to try and take that away from him. Hague has the power to knockout Mitrione, he might catch Mitrione in a submission on the ground, or it’s possible that he wins a grinding decision but the longer the fight goes, the more I’d favor Mitrione.

Mitrione went from the guy no one liked with no MMA experience on The Ultimate Fighter 10 to a likable guy who has taken big strides in his game since the show has ended. He’s primarily a striker and he’s a really good offensive striker. He keeps his hands far too low but he moves well so he’s getting away with it, for now. He’s not flashy, he throws a good one-two or swats with his lead hand and throws the straight. He has good leg kicks as well. Don’t be shocked if Mitrione works a knee or an uppercut into his arsenal in this fight to combat Hague’s jab to the body. He doesn’t throw many hooks and I’m still not sure on just how much power he has given his competition but he’s very overwhelming on the feet. From the first round to the third, his output of strikes doesn’t drop off. His takedown defense is a bit questionable, especially early, but he makes guys fight for takedowns, which gasses them out a bit. Mitrione is active off his back but isn’t all that polished. He goes for things more as a decoy to get to his feet rather than believing he’ll finish with the submission. Mitrione won’t want to spend much time on the ground in this fight though because Hague is the better grappler. Mitrione needs to keep the fight standing, use his movement, work his jab, and counter Hague’s wild hooks with straight punches. The leg kicks might get him in trouble in this fight because it’ll allow Hague to get easier takedowns but I think Mitrione is so comfortable with his cardio and ability to get up that he won’t think twice about unleashing his kicks. I’m probably a little premature in saying this but Mitrione really reminds me of a less polished and less flashy Anthony Pettis. I make that comparison because not only do they both train under Duke Roufus but they’re largely similar in what they do. They throw straight punches, have good leg kicks, love the triangle off the back, are active in all areas, and seem to pick up the sport of MMA very quick. Again, don’t expect to see Mitrione throw a cartwheel kick or anything like that but I think like Pettis, you’ll always see noticeable improvements in his game with each passing fight. Mitrione could overwhelm Hague with strikes en route to a stoppage or just out-strike him on the feet en route to a decision.

I’ll admit it, I’m on the “Meathead Mobile” and this really is his fight to lose. Hague isn’t a bad fighter and this isn’t a bad style fight for him but Mitrione’s growth over such a short period of time has really impressed me. I think Mitrione is able to keep the fight standing and out-strike Hague for the majority of the fight, possibly finishing him late but at least doing enough to win the decision.

Prediction: Matt Mitrione to defeat Tim Hague by Decision

Featherweight Fight: George Roop vs. Mark Hominick

Mark Hominick tries to earn a UFC Featherweight Title shot against current champion Jose Aldo by defeating “The Korean Zombie Killer” George Roop.

After an up and down career, Roop had his breakout performance in his last fight. Even before he double tapped Chan Sung Jung, Roop was doing well for himself on the feet. Of course Jung’s style lent himself for a lot of openings but credit Roop for capitalizing on those openings. He’s a decent striker and uses a good pawing jab. He likes to throw a switch kick and also a one-two head kick. Has a good overhand right and he likes to use that to get inside and get takedowns. Even though he’s labeled a striker, he seems to do his best work when he’s on the ground, specifically on top. He’s a solid wrestler who does a good job ducking under strikes and getting takedowns. He’s controlling and active on top with strikes. The problem is, his submission defense isn’t all that great. It’s sort of a weird situation for Roop because his best chance to finish Hominick is to put him down and work for a submission but Hominick’s ground game is improving and he’s looking more and more comfortable off his back in recent fights so it’s possible that he catches Roop in an armbar. Of course, Roop doesn’t need to finish Hominick, he just needs to win, and he could do that by keeping things on the feet. Roop could outstrike Hominick but he’ll need to use his reach advantage. That means use a lot of jabs and even throw that switch kick to keep Hominick off balance. Roop can’t let Hominick get close to him unless it’s on his terms. Roop. When Hominick is getting too close for Roop’s comfort, he needs to put him down and immediately look to pass to half guard. Hominick can’t throw up his legs from half guard so if Roop can get to there, he should be in the clear. If Hominick regains guard, he’s best off getting to his feet, standing over Hominick, and kicking at his legs to show that he’s in control. Roop might be able to submit Hominick on the ground but if he’s going to win, chances are it’ll be by controlling decision.

Looking for his fifth straight win and a chance to challenge for UFC gold, Hominick really needs to be on his game in this fight. He’s an excellent technical striker. He has a quick jab, throws nice straight punches, and has very good defense. He has a tendency to jab and duck to his right, which Roop could make him pay for with a head kick so he’ll have to be careful of not doing that in this fight. One thing he does well is push a very controlled pace. In the first round he makes his opponents wear themselves out by constantly getting them to miss with their counter strikes. Then in the second and third rounds, he starts pushing a strong pace and attacking the body. What I like about Hominick is that he shows good ring generalship, something he’ll need in this fight. Roop doesn’t seem to do well when he’s pressed and given that Hominick and Roop have trained together, I’m sure this is something Hominick knows. So Hominick needs to press Roop and gets him uncomfortable on the feet. He’s going to be at a reach disadvantage and the best way to combat that is with leg kicks. So look for Hominick to unleash a lot of leg kicks in this fight to cut off the movement of Roop. Hominick needs to avoid the takedown in this fight. Even though Roop’s submission defense is questionable and Hominick is willing to go for submissions off his back, he’s not going to win this fight if he spends most of the fight on his back. Again, they’ve trained together so I have to believe that Roop knows Hominick’s tricks off his back and given that Hominick isn’t an excellent grappler like say Demian Maia, where you might know what he’s going for but he’s so good that you can’t stop it, I think Roop will be able to shut down whatever Hominick attempts. Hominick needs to use leg kicks and pressure Roop in this fight. When Roop goes for takedowns, make him pay with an uppercut or a knee or elbows if he can stuff the takedown. Then in the later rounds start putting combinations together and attacking the body of Roop. Roop has never been finished with strikes but Hominick has the power and skill to be the first, if not he can win a decision but out-striking Roop on the feet.

A lot of people have already crowned Hominick as the next challenger for Aldo’s title but we were all saying the same thing about Josh Grispi and look what happened there. Of course the circumstances are different as Hominick was never scheduled to fight Aldo like Grispi was and didn’t suffer the mental letdown of going from a title shot in the co-main event of a PPV to a prelim fight on ION TV. This is a trap fight for Hominick though and it’s very possible that he could be looking past Roop and towards Aldo. This is a tough fight to call but I’m going to go with Roop because I think this is a good style fight for him and I do think Hominick is already thinking gold. I think Roop will be able to keep a good distance, make Hominick pay for leg kicks, and grind out a decision on the ground.

Prediction: George Roop to defeat Mark Hominick by Decision

Heavyweight Fight: Joey Beltran vs. Pat Barry

Pat Barry and Joey Beltran try to avoid back-to-back losses in a heavyweight clash of strikers.

Beltran is a guy that comes to fight. He’s not the most technical fighter in the world but technique don’t mean crap on the streets because guys got knives. Unfortunately for Beltran, technique does mean something in a MMA fight. He’s a guy that just puts his head down, presses forward with big hooks, and is willing to just brawl. He doesn’t throw many straight punches and he has a horrible habit of leaning to his right. He’s not a terrible wrestler and he showed in the Mitrione fight that he’s willing to go to the ground if it’s to his benefit. It would certainly be to his benefit in this fight because Barry’s ground game is dreadful. Beltran isn’t a submission expert but neither was Mirko “Cro Cop” and he managed to lock in a rather ugly rear naked choke to submit Barry. Beltran doesn’t need to submit Barry though, he just needs to get him down and work his ground and pound. Beltran can’t get into a pure striking contest with Barry because he’s going to lose that battle. Beltran needs to brawl with Barry as Barry doesn’t seem to do well when guys put punches in his face. Beltran needs to constantly pressure Barry, put him against the cage, wear him out, get him down, pound on him, and never let him rest. Both guys have questionable cardio but I’d slightly favor Beltran in the conditioning department simply because I don’t question his heart. Barry isn’t a mentally weak fighter with no heart or anything like that but Beltran has been in 15 minute wars before and he’s fought through fatigue simply because his heart won’t allow him to quit. On the other hand, Barry has never been to a decision and the one time he went to a third round, he was badly gassed and ended up getting finished. Beltran has to get this fight into deep water and he can’t let Barry get into any kind of rhythm on the feet. Beltran could finish Barry late with strikes, maybe catch Barry in a submission if Barry’s submission defense is even worse than we think, or win a decision by grinding out Barry on the ground.

Given all the talk surrounding Barry, you would think that he’s had a lot of success in his UFC career. On the contrary, Barry is only 3-2 in his UFC career and is really in a must-win fight. He’s a very charismatic fighter and one of the best strikers in the division but he just hasn’t put it all together in the cage. In a technical kickboxing contest, Barry beats Beltran 9 out of 10 times. He’s an excellent technical striker with plenty of speed. He normally stands orthodox but he’s been known to switch stances during the fight. He likes to lead with his right hand, no matter which stance he’s in. Barry’s biggest asset is his leg kicks. He throws some of the most powerful leg kicks in MMA today and you can expect him to unleash them in this fight. For as good as his striking his, his ground game is equally as bad. He seems lost in the clinch, he gets overpowered far too easily, and off his back his game plan is to just hold on for dear life. Simply put, Barry cannot let Beltran get him to the ground or even get close to him unless he’s significantly improved his grappling defense over the past half year. I would hope that, even if he’s not going to be surprising people with an armbar off his back, he’s at least learned how to spin out of the clinch or use an underhook to get up because he was lacking both of those things against “Cro Cop.” Barry needs to keep a good distance in this fight and he can do that by establishing his jab and using an uppercut when Beltran recklessly comes in with his head down. The jab of course keeps the distance and the uppercut makes Beltran pay for coming in and thinking twice about doing so. Also leg kicks will be key as they’re another good way to keep the distance and he’s so quick with his kicks that I don’t think Beltran will be able to get a takedown off of them. If Barry is going to win this fight, I think it’ll be by knockout. I don’t think he has the submission game to catch Beltran and the longer this fight goes, the more it favors Beltran.

This is almost a designed win for Barry. It’s clear that UFC is very high on him because he’s a charismatic guy but sooner or later, he has to string together some wins in the octagon. Beltran is a tough guy and if Barry thinks he’s going to walk through him, he’s setting himself up for a loss. But if Barry fights like he has something to prove, he should be able to win this fight. I expect Barry to use a lot of leg kicks early and then unleash a nasty head kick to the right side of Beltran, since Beltran has a habit of leaning too much to that side.

Prediction: Pat Barry to defeat Joey Beltran by TKO in Round One

Lightweight Fight: Matt Wiman vs. Cole Miller

Matt Wiman and Cole Miller look to move up the lightweight ladder in a showdown between aggressive competitors.

Wiman didn’t show too much in his last fight except for his BJ Penn-like ability to troll the referee into stopping the fight when he said Mac Danzig was out from a guillotine choke when Danzig was still perfectly conscious. Wiman is a very aggressive fighter. He’s known as a wrestler but he really likes to strike. He throws a good number of legs kicks and usually sets them up with a double jab, he also throws a lot of feints, and he likes to duck under, throw a left hook, and then come back with a right hook. He’s a good wrestler and when he goes for takedowns, he does a nice job setting them up with his punches. He likes to go for the single leg and then drag his opponents down. On top he mainly uses elbows to soften up his opponents and he seems pretty content just staying in guard to inflict damage. On the ground, whether he’s on top or bottom, he’s always looking for the guillotine. Expect Wiman to push a strong pace in this fight, duck under the straight punches of Miller, counter with an overhand right, and get takedowns. If he’s on top, Wiman can’t get reckless with his strikes and he’ll need to show good posture in order to avoid the submissions of Miller. I think Wiman will take this fight how it comes. If he’s having success on the feet and tagging Miller, then he’ll keep the fight standing. But if he’s having problems with Miller’s reach or eating too many leg kicks, then he’ll go for a takedown and trust his submission defense. Being the superior wrestler allows him to dictate where the fight takes place and I’m sure Wiman will use that fact to his advantage. Wiman has the power to finish Miller with strikes or he could win a decision by sprawling and brawling or grinding him out on the ground.

Even though he only fought twice in 2010, Miller really opened some eyes with his performances. He finished Dan Lauzon with a beautiful modified kimura early in the year and then upset Ross Pearson later in the year. He’s primarily a grappler but he showed a lot of improvement in his striking in his last fight. He’s a lanky guy and he uses his reach really well with his jab and push kick. He pumps a nice jab and puts a good right straight behind it. He also throws a good counter right straight, which Wiman will have to look out for given Wiman’s tendency to throw hooks. One bad habit Miller has on his feet is that he stays in the pocket a little too long. Instead of leaping in and leaping out with great quickness, Miller throws his combination, and then sticks around for a counter punch. He got tagged a couple of times against Pearson but I’m sure that it’s not something that he wants to make a habit out of. Miller isn’t a great wrestler and he’ll probably have a tough time getting Wiman down but he’s a guy who is very willing to pull guard because he’s so confident in his jiu-jitsu. He’s only a brown belt in jiu-jitsu but he’s submitted black belts and he’s active with his submissions. Of his back he loves to go for the triangle choke and he usually attacks the left arm of his opponents to set up the choke. If Wiman puts Miller on his back, don’t expect Miller to try and fight his way up. Instead he’ll be looking to attack and forcing Wiman to defend. Sadly, that’s an easy way to lose a fight unless he does lock on a submission since most judges feel that if you’re on the bottom, you’re losing. Miller will need to use his reach on the feet and not get into a wild exchange with Wiman. Wiman has a good chin and power while Miller’s chin is a bit questionable. Look for Miller to throw a lot of leg kicks, not only to take away from the movement of Wiman but to also bait Wiman into going for takedowns. Miller will probably look for some takedowns but if he doesn’t get them, he should look to put Wiman against the cage and rough him up in the clinch. I’m not sure Miller can finish Wiman with strikes but he could easily submit him either on top or off his back or he could win a decision by winning the fight on the feet and neutralizing Wiman’s wrestling either with his takedown defense or active ground game.

I’m really looking forward to this fight because both guys are relatively well rounded and they both bring it in the cage. I think it’s a tough fight to call because both guys are evenly matched but I slightly favor Miller simply because he seems to be on more of a roll right now and he’s improving with each passing fight while Wiman hasn’t shown as much, although a lot of that has to do with how his last fight went. I think Miller does enough on the feet and is active enough on the ground to win the decision.

Prediction: Cole Miller to defeat Matt Wiman by Decision

Preliminary Predictions:

*Yves Edwards to defeat Cody McKenzie by TKO in Round Three
*Mike Guymon to defeat DaMarques Johnson by Submission in Round Two
*Mike Brown to defeat Rani Yahya by Decision
*Willamy Freire to defeat Waylon Lowe by Submission in Round Two
*Charlie Brenneman to defeat Amilcar Alves by Decision
*Chris Cariaso to defeat Will Campuzano by Decision

“I’m always looking for ways to give fans fights for free and this is just another example of that,” explained Dana White of the decision. “Facebook is such a great tool for people to stay connected and we’re excited to put two live fights on our UFC page for free.”

The stream will begin at 8:00 PM EST.

On top of McKenzie vs. Edwards and Guymon vs. Johnson, Mixed Martial Arts’ enthusiasts can tune in to Saturday night’s “Fight for the Troops” event on Spike TV and also catch heavyweights’ Pat Barry and Joey Beltran facing off, in addition to Matt Mitrione and Tim Hague, as well as Mark Hominick’s bid to become top featherweight contender against George Roop and a headlining clash between heavy-handed Melvin Guillard and 11-1 contender Evan Dunham.

January 17 – January 23
All Times Eastern

Monday (1/17)

MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm
Dynamite!! 2010 Part 1 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
UFC Unleashed: St. Pierre vs. Hughes (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm
UFC Unleashed: Silva vs. Lutter (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm
UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares (Replay) on 7pm

Tuesday (1/18)

Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2pm
Dynamite!! 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm

Wednesday (1/19)

UFC Unleashed: Nogueira vs. Herring (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
WEC WrekCage: Palaszewski vs. Karalexis (Replay) on VS. at 12am
UFC Unleashed: Royce Gracie Special (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30pm

Thursday (1/20)

UFC Unleashed: Liddell vs. Silva Special (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
UFC Unleashed: Bisping vs. Day (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4am
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30am
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm
Sengoku 15 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm
WEC WrekCage: Benavidez vs. Torres (Replay) on VS. at 8pm
WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki (Replay) on VS. at 9pm

Friday (1/21)

WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki (Replay) on VS. at 12am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm
Dynamite!! 2010 Part 1 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Fight Vault: Melendez vs. Thomson (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm
Fighting Words: Brian Stann (Premiere) on HDNet at 8:30pm
Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm
Sengoku: Soul of Fight Part 2 (Premiere) on HDNet at 10pm

Saturday (1/22)

Fighting Words: Brian Stann (Replay) on HDNet at 1am
Fight Vault: Melendez vs. Thomson (Replay) on HDNet at 1:30am
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am
Sengoku: Soul of Fight Part 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm
UFC Unleashed: Silva vs. Griffin (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1pm
UFC Unleashed: Jackson vs. Jardine (Replay) on SpikeTV at 2pm
UFC Unleashed: Guillard vs. Neer (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm
UFC Unelashed: St. Pierre vs. Penn (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm
Dynamite!! 2010 Part 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
UFC Unleashed: Jackson vs. Silva (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm
UFC Unleashed: Jackson vs. Jardine (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm
UFC Ultimate Submissions (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 8pm
UFC Fight for the Troops: Dunham vs. Guillard (Live Event) on SpikeTV at 9pm

Sunday (1/23)

UFC Fight for the Troops: Dunham vs. Guillard (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
Bellator Highlights (Replay) on NBC at 3am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

White’s statements on the matter confirmed a recent report of the possible scenario from Canadian outlet SportsNet.

However, it’s doubtful Hominick is looking beyond his challenge at this month’s “Fight for the Troops” event scheduled for January 22, as Roop is no pushover in the ring and is coming off a devastating knockout head-kick of “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung last September. He is 11-6-1 overall with a draw against Leonard Garcia and the bulk of his wins assisted by a solid grappling base.

If Hominick loses, according to White, it’s “back to the drawing board.” However, “The Machine” has emerged with his hands raised in four straight appearances and six of his last seven. The 28-year old most recently outpointed Garcia at WEC 51 and holds past victories over Jorge Gurgel and Yves Edwards. He will also be fighting for more than a title-shot when he faces Roop, as Hominick is an Ontario native meaning he’d earn the opportunity to potentially win gold in front of friends, family, and countrymen at UFC 129.

Aldo will undoubtedly be anxiously awaiting their Fight Night 23 result as well. Sidelined with a neck injury since late last year, the dynamic Brazilian champion watched an expected match-up with Josh Grispi slip away when Grispi was soundly beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 125 and is likely looking forward to having a set opponent to prepare for.

PHOTO CREDIT – WEC/UFC

According to a report on MMAJunkie, TUF 12 stand-out Cody McKenzie will now serve as Edwards’ adversary at the event.

McKenzie’s unique personality and expertise at procuring Guillotine Chokes made him one of the season’s more-memorable contestants. The Alaskan is undefeated in twelve professional fights, ten of which have been won in the first round using the afore-mentioned method including his most recent victory at the Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale last weekend over Aaron Wilkinson.

The creator of “Thugjitsu” should prove to be a significant test for the impressively-groomed lightweight based on experience and overall polish. Edwards has more than 5X McKenzie’s experience with an overall record of 39-16-1 and has finished thirty of his past opponents with a near-even split between TKOs and submissions. He has won five of his last six fights, including a recent appearance in the Octagon this past September.

Florian made the following statement on his website website in relation to the ordeal:

“It is with deep regret that I will not be able to compete in my scheduled fight against Evan Dunham on January 22nd, due to a knee injury I sustained during training this morning. Although I have not had an MRI as of yet; the doctors are cautiously optimistic that it will not require surgery.

I want to express my sincere apologies to the fans, the UFC and Evan for not being able to compete at (the event). Since early September, I have been training for this fight. Evan is a great fighter and has undoubtedly been working very hard towards this fight as well. Plus, it is a big disappointment that I will not be able to fight in the octagon for the brave soldiers that fight for us.

I am determined to return to the Octagon in the first half on 2011. Accordingly, I will keep you all updated.”

As mentioned, the 155-pound contender was scheduled to face 11-1 Dunham (5 Oz. #10 lightweight) at the event. However, though “Ken Flo” has been pulled from the show, the XTreme Couture standout will remain on the line-up and instead fight powerful striker Melvin Guillard.

News of the replacement was reported by HeavyMMA. Guillard was originally set to face Yves Edwards in a separate main card bout. “The Young Assassin” has won six of his previous seven fights including victories in his last three contests.

It now appears one of the first 145-pounders from outside of WEC to join the UFC’s freshly-updated roster could be rising star Chas Skelly.

The organization’s interest in Skelly, who is close to signing with the organization and could see action as soon as January, was confirmed by Five Ounces of Pain from a contact involved in the process.

If inked, it is believed Skelly, a Dallas-based competitor and former State wrestling champion, will likely debut at the “UFC Fight for the Troops” event scheduled for 1/22 at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.

The 24-year old has finished six of the seven opponents he’s faced with a lone split-decision victory coming at Bellator 9 in May 2009 less than three weeks after he’d fought at a different event. He last competed under the Bellator banner as well, winning a second-round match-up against Daniel Pineada via Kneebar at Bellator 19.

PHOTO CREDIT – ESPN

As expected, the card will be headlined by a clash between highly-ranked lightweights Ken Florian and Evan Dunham, as well as feature action from Mike Swick, Matt Mitrione, Melvin Guillard, and DaMarques Johnson (who previously served in the Army and the National Guard).

“It’s always a great honor for us to entertain the men and women of the military by bringing them some great fights while raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement to media. “It’s the least we can do for the people who are defending this country and making so many sacrifices for our freedom, and this is a cause the UFC will always support.”

The event will be broadcast live on Spike starting at 9:00 PM EST.

Here are the official match-ups announced for “Fight for the Troops”:

Melvin Guillard vs. Yves Edwards
DaMarques Johnson vs. Mike Guymon
Mike Swick vs. David Mitchell
Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague
Ken Florian vs. Evan Dunham

The hard-hitting Louisianan announced today via his Twitter page that he will be fighting fellow striker Joey Beltran on January 22nd at the UFC’s upcoming “Fight for the Troops” event scheduled to take place at Fort Hood in Texas.

Based on both individuals’ previous performances it seems safe to assume grappling should be a non-existent discipline when Barry and Beltran battle in the cage, as the 12-4 “Mexicutioner” has earned ten of his wins by way of TKO with Barry notching all five of his career victories in the same manner.

Their fight rounds out what should be an excellent line-up come showtime, as a headlining bout between lightweight contenders Ken Florian and Evan Dunham is scheduled for the card, as is a scrap between Melvin Guillard and Yves Edwards in addition to match-ups featuring Mike Swick and Matt Mitrione.

According to multiple sources, including those close to the camps, a match-up between Ken Florian and Evan Dunham has been bumped up in date from February’s UFC 126 and will now headline a “UFC Fight for the Troops” event scheduled for January 22nd at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.

News of the switch was originally reported by HeavyMMA.

Though both men are coming off defeats in their previous bouts, Florian and Dunham are still considered near the top of the UFC’s talent-packed lightweight division and are each well-rounded competitors who have found in-ring success whether standing or on the mat.

Florian is 14-5 in his career and has beaten the likes of Roger Huerta, Takanori Gomi, Clay Guida, and Joe Stevenson, while XTreme Couture’s Dunham lost for the first time in twelve total fights to Sean Sherk via split-decision last September at UFC 119 but has past victories over Tyson Griffin, Efrain Escudero, and Marcus Aurelio.

Other fights rumored for the yet-to-be-officially-announced show include Mike Swick’s return to the Octagon against newcomer David Mitchell, Texan Yves Edwards facing the hard-hitting Melvin Guillard, and Ultimate Fighter Season 10 alumnus Matt Mitrione looking to go 4-0 when he faces 12-4 Tim Hague at the event.

Undefeated TUF 10 heavyweight Matt Mitrione and returning UFC veteran Tim Hague are expected to square off at the event. Mitrione is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joey Beltran in September, while Hague will be hoping for a return to success after fighting outside the UFC, and picking up two wins, in an effort to get back to the grandest cage of them all.

Although the show has yet to be announced, another unofficial match-up rumored for the evening is a welterweight fight featuring DaMarques Johnson and Mike Guymon. Johnson confirmed the bout over the weekend via Twitter. With both men potentially fighting for their respective spot on the UFC roster based on recent losses, the fighters should leave it all in the cage come showtime!

The anticipated card will also will also feature a lightweight battle between Melvin Guillard and Texan Yves Edwards. Each man is coming off a win in his previous outing and will no doubt be looking to make a statement with the scheduled influx of talent on the horizon thanks to the UFC recent absorption of sister-promotion, WEC.

Also, as reported recently on Five Ounces of Pain, Mike Swick has fueled the rumors that he would be making his return on this card after being sidelined due to injury/illness. It has since been revealed by MMAWeekly Swick will fight relative UFC newcomer David Mitchell (11-1) at the event.

With the continued support of the Zuffa LLC, to the U.S. Armed Forces this card is mutually beneficial for the troops, the fans and the promotion alike.

The AKA-trained competitor, who won his first four bouts at welterweight after dropping down from 185-pounds, has been out of action since a loss to Paulo Thiago last February left him with an injured elbow requiring surgery to have it “scoped” and fix possible nerve damage.

Word of the potential performance came via the Ultimate Fighter OG’s Twitter page, where he playfully wrote, “So there is a UFC Fight for the Troops event in Texas on January 22nd huh? Wonder who will fight on that card? Hmmm…”

The show Swick is referring to is scheduled to take place at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. The base, one of the largest in the nation, houses more than 30,000 people and may be familiar to the public based on a tragic shooting last November that left thirteen individuals dead and a military psychologist in custody.

Already rumored for the event is a match-up between 155-pound strikers Melvin Guillard and Yves Edwards, as well as a clash between heavyweights Matt Mitrione and Tim Hague.

Swick is 14-4 in his career with wins over Josh Burkman, Joe Riggs, Ben Saunders, and Marcus Davis. If he does indeed compete on the January card he will be looking to avoid a three-fight losing streak including the Thiago defeat, as well as a decision loss to Dan Hardy in November 2009.

PHOTO CREDIT – GETTY IMAGES

The telecast, which emanated from the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was planned with the goal of raising charitable contributions for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF).

IFHF provides assistance to our nation’s military heroes and their families who have been critically injured in the performance of their duty. The Fund is currently seeking to raise a total of $65 million for a new medical facility in Bethesda, Maryland to be named the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE).

NICoE will be a 75,000 square foot, state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center to provide leading edge services and support for soldiers with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The center will also conduct research, test new protocols and provide comprehensive training and education to patients, providers and families while maintaining ongoing tele-health follow-up care.

In the release, IFHF President Bill White commended the UFC and Spike TV for the success of the event.

“We are profoundly grateful to the UFC and Spike TV for their extraordinary support of our nation’s Wounded Warriors,” White said. “Their efforts have moved us that much closer to complete the traumatic brain injury center in Bethesda for the service members that are fighting for our freedom overseas.”

Weigh-ins took place at the Sports USA Bar, which is located on federal ground at the Fort Bragg army base.

Official weights for the 10-bout card are as follows:

• Heavyweight: Justin McCully (228 lbs.) vs. Eddie Sanchez (246 lbs.)
• Lightweight: Dale Hartt (156 lbs.) vs. Corey Hill (155 lbs.)
• Welterweight: Ben Saunders (170 lbs.) vs. Brandon Wolff (170 lbs.)
• Welterweight: Steve Bruno (170 lbs.) vs. Johnny Rees (169 lbs.)
• *Welterweight: Luigi Fioravanti (173 lbs.) vs. Brodie Farber (174 lbs.)
• Lightweight: Jim Miller (156 lbs.) vs. Matt Wiman (156 lbs.)
• Middleweight: Tim Credeur (186 lbs.) vs. Nate Loughran (185 lbs.)
• Light Heavyweight: Steve Cantwell (206 lbs.) Razak Al-Hussan (205 lbs.)
• Welterweight: Mike Swick (171 lbs.) vs. Jonathan Goulet (171 lbs.)
• Welterweight: Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171 lbs.) vs. Josh Koscehck (171 lbs.)

With both Fioravanti and Farber weighing in over the welterweight limit, the fight was converted into a 173 lbs. catchweight bout.