More details were released on Monday concerning THQ’s upcoming video game release of “UFC 2010 Undisputed”, the follow-up to the critically and commercially acclaimed debut video game based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The game will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as Sony’s PlayStation3 and PSP (PlayStationPortable) systems. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are scheduled for release on May 25, 2010, while the PSP system version is scheduled for release later this year.

“UFC Undisputed 2010 will deliver the most advanced and superior virtual MMA action based on the world’s most prominent and respected organization in mixed martial arts, Ultimate Fighting Championship,” said Brian Coleman, Vice President of Global Brand Management, THQ. “Through enriched game play and extensive new options, players will understand and appreciate what it takes to be a real UFC fighter.”

“Brock Lesnar’s intensity and relentless commitment to the sport of mixed martial arts, as well as to the UFC, make him a perfect candidate to be the cover athlete for UFC Undisputed 2010,” said UFC president Dana White. “You want to be a fighter? Videogamers and fight fans around the world need to step up to Brock’s level when they enter the virtual Octagon in UFC Undisputed 2010!”

A brief list of some of the updated features for the game include:

- Full cage support
- A fighter’s position on the cage can affect striking power
- Cage can be used to help or defend from takedowns
- Twice the number of available submissions from 2009
- Ability to transition from one submission attempt to another
- Quarter and half-circle analog stick transitions used on the ground last year will be used in the clinch
- Sway system in the clinch used to deliver more powerful strikes or avoid them
- Positions on the ground will have sub-positions
- A knockout blow can be delivered from any position in the game
- When in mount the player won’t have to manually block a transition attempt from opponent
- T-shirts, hats and other gear to unlock
- The “Buffer 180″ is in the game
- New refs including Yves Lavigne

A larger list can be found at MMAConvert.com

More “in-game” images like the ones above can be found at ign.com.

Quote source MMAWeekly.com

Chael Sonnen is only interested in facing top fighters and he feels that one can only find them in the UFC and not Strikeforce.

“At the end of the day, if you want to get to the top of the card in the UFC, you gotta fight tough guys. If you want to be a fighter and get in the cage and be a big deal at your local strip club, go to Showtime. If you want to fight real guys this is the place to be.”

HT: Yahoo! Cagewriter

Former Olympic Judo Gold medalist and Pride Fighter, Japanese fighter Hidehiko Yoshida (9-7-1) announced the date for his final bout before retirement on Monday.

The end of Yoshida’s MMA career is set for April 25th at “ASTRA” at the Nippon Budokan in Japan. “ASTRA” is an event through J-ROCK, the management company of Yoshida Dojo.

Yoshida retires at the age of 40 recording a professional record of nine victories, seven losses and one draw in MMA. He’s beaten the likes of Don Frye, Mark Hunt and Maurice Smith, as well as another gold medal-winning judoka, Satoshi Ishii, in his last outing. He has lost to fighters of the caliber of Wanderlei Silva, Josh Barnett and Mirko Cro Cop. The lone draw on his record came as a result of his fight with Royce Gracie at Pride Shockwave in 2003.

The official website of the Japanese organization is www.astra-official.com.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down 11 suspensions to fighters who competed on this past Saturday’s “UFC 109 Relentless” event in Las Vegas.

UFC 109 took place Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and aired on Spike TV (two preliminary-card fights) and then pay-per-view (main card).

The most serious suspensions wee handed down to Mike Swick (left elbow inury), Demian Maia (upper eyelid cut) and Mac Danzig (possible knee sprain), all three are required to receive medical clearance to compete before August 6.

The complete list of UFC 109 medical suspensions are as follows:

- Mark Coleman: Suspended until March 9 with no contact until Feb. 28 for precautionary reasons
- Nate Marquardt: Suspended until March 9 with no contact until Feb. 28 for precautionary reasons
- Chael Sonnen: Suspended until March 24 with no contact until March 9 due to forehead and nasal-bridge lacerations
- Frank Trigg: Suspended until March 24 with no contact until March 9 for precautionary reasons
- Mike Swick: Suspended until Aug. 6 due to a possible left elbow injury, suspended until March 24 with no contact until March 9 for precautionary reasons
- Demian Maia: Suspended until Aug. 6 due to an left vertical upper eyelid laceration
- Dan Miller: Suspended until March 9 with no contact until Feb. 28 for precautionary reasons
- Mac Danzig: Suspended until Aug. 6 due to a possible left knee sprain, though can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor
- Justin Buchholz: Suspended until March 9 with no contact until Feb. 28 for precautionary reasons
- Melvin Guillard: Must have ophthalmologic exam by March 26 or could be suspended indefinitely
- Rolles Gracie: Suspended until March 9 with no contact until Feb. 28 for precautionary reasons

No suspensions were given to Randy Couture, Joey Beltran, Tim Hague, Chris Tuchscherer, Phil Davis, Brian Stann, Rob Emerson, Phillipe Nover, Ronys Torres, Matt Serra and Paulo Thiago.

UFC president Dana White talked with GamerLive.TV about the upcoming release of THQ’s “UFC 2010 Undisputed” video game. White also provides his opinion of video game giant EA Sports.

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has been the subject of several negative “hype inducing” comments from recent Octagon winner Chael Sonnen(for those that aren’t in the loop he just beat Nate Marquardt at UFC 109. Silva’s manager, Ed Soares doesn’t seem to have any problems with responding in kind, saying:

We are fine if this is what the UFC wants, but if you look at this logistically, Sonnen should fight Demian Maia first. Demian beat up easily, by submission, so why not make them fight first, to determine who gets a shot at the title…It’s funny, but really, who actually listens to what Chael Sonnen has to say? The only time people listen is when he talks about Anderson. Who is he, really? If you walk down the street and you mention his name, does anyone really know who this guy is? Likely not, but if you mention Anderson Silva, people know the name…Chael’s also said a few things about Anderson’s choice of clothes and that he wears earrings, didn’t he? Sounds to us like he may have a crush on Anderson.”

UFC had said previous to the UFC 109 bout that the winner of Sonnen and Marquardt would be the number one contender in the division but perhaps Sonnen will look to avenge his first round submission loss to Demian Maia(UFC 95). In any case Silva will first take on uber dangerous opponent Vitor Belfort at UFC 112, with Sonnen having to wait for word of his title shot. (quote via SportsNet)

Tito Ortiz is all over the MMA blogosphere for his comments at UFC 109 towards Mark Coleman, but it seems that his earlier remarks about Chuck Liddell have also hit the mark. Liddell talked to Fanhouse, and its easy to see that he wasn’t the least happy about Ortiz’s insinuations about alcoholism. Here’s the video:

Sometimes you just have to get something off your chest. UFC hall of famer, Randy “The Natural” Couture does not deserve a title shot at 205. Plain and simple. That UFC is even considering it tends to make me think that UFC doesn’t have a foot to stand on when complaining about Strikeforce’s Media friendly fights.

Couture is, without a doubt, one of the greatest fighters ever in MMA history, and he looks great for any age. Without Couture many stereotypes would still exist in the world of mixed martial arts, and people would still consider age to be the major defining factor in determining a decline in athletism. With that said, Couture hasn’t done anywhere near enough to earn a title shot, regardless of what he’s done in the past.

Names like Lyoto Machida, Mauricio Rua, Quentin Jackson, and Rashad Evans easily deserve to be pushed for a chance of the title first. Even mid-tier names like Keith Jardine, Forrest Griffin and Jon Jones seem to be higher in line than Couture. The UFC light heavyweight division deserves more respect, as do its fighters.

Couture could certainly win a few more fights and then have a legitimate shot at the light heavyweight title, but UFC seems to be thinking about a quicker timeline for a Couture title shot.

Randy Couture does not deserve a title shot. Let the hate mail begin.

(The MMA News Opinion, MP).

UFC 110 is next up, and Michael Bisping continues his blog leading up to his bout with Wandelei Silva. UFC 110 will feature a main event fight between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez on Saturday, February 21, 2010 from the Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia.

Randy “The Natural” Couture talks about his submission victory, only the third of his career, against Mark Coleman. Couture also discusses the UFC light-heavyweight division and what he needs to do to stay near the top.

HT: MMAFighting.com

PRESS RELEASE 5 Feb. 2010

TFC World Welterweight Champion Ryan Ford (11-2) will make his first title defense against TUF 6 finalist Tom Speer March 19th in Edmonton.

Growing up on a crop and dairy farm in Minnesota, Tommy Speer has spent most of his life helping out his father and brother with the family business. He appeared as one of the competing fighters in the Dpike TV network’s MMA contest reality series The Ultimate Fighter 6: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra. Speer, who was taken under the wing of Matt Hughes, would make it to the finals with wins over George Sotiropoulos and Ben Saunders, but in the finale he was submitted in the first round by the vastly more experienced Mac Danzig.

It will be Speer’s first fight since Oct. 3, when he defeated Travis Perzynski in Rochester, MN.

Speer, who has a career record of 13-4, is anxious to return to the cage. On the matchup with Ford, Tom had this to say;

“I’ve seen plenty of video on him. He’s explosive and athletic,” Speer said. “I might be a little bigger than him, but not much. It looks like he has a wrestling background, and he’s definitely a hard hitter. He swings hard, but he’s wild, and I don’t see a lot of technique behind it.” Read more »

UFC on Versus is set for March 24 and Paul Buentello will have his hands full with Cheick Kongo. The card is seriously stacked with Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera as the main event and also featuring a heavyweight bout between Junior Dos Santos and Gabriel Gonzaga. Here’s Buentello showing where he’s training for the fight.