MMA Bits & Pieces

Strikeforce has announced a MMA event for February in Washington featuring the return of Bob "The Beast" Sapp vs TBA. Big Bob hasn't fought in two years since he beat Kim Jong Wang. The event will also feature the debut of Kickboxing and K-1 legend Rick Rufus against former kickboxing rival and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith.

Sean Sherk has been stripped of his UFC Lightweight Title after the California Athletic Commission upheld their finding him guilty of steroid use though they did reduce his suspension from 1 year to 6 months and he will be able to fight again in February 2008. BJ Penn vs Joe Stevenson is now for the legit UFC Lightweight Title and not the interim title as was noted before. Dana White has already said the winner will face Sean Sherk for their 1st title defense. Sean was very upset at being stripped of the title and still claims he never took steroids and will never fight in California ever again. He also had kind words for BJ saying, "I think BJ Penn is a punk. Who the hell is he? He’s won one fight in a couple of years now and it’s just whatever man. He wants to make all of these rules and regulations, but who the hell is he? I’m the champ in my eyes so I don’t care if he fights me or not, there’s a whole bunch of guys that could fight me right now. It’s his loss, not mine. He needs me more than I need him." Let the love begin.

Rich "Ace" Franklin 22-3 has signed a new 6-fight contract with the UFC following his rematch loss to "2007 Fighter Of The Year" Anderson Silva. Despite the problems with the Middleweight Champion, Rich has only lost to one other man (undefeated Lyoto Machida) and has amassed a brilliant MMA record. His next rumored opponent may be Travis Lutter whose last fight was also a loss to Silva.

Randy Couture has turned down a UFC Heavyweight Title Fight against Antonio Nogueira and still claims he wants no association with the UFC. It is rumored that the now vacant title will be between "Big Nog" and Tim Sylvia in early February.

Finally, Forrest Griffin and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will be the coaches for the upcoming 7th season of the Ultimate Fighter. The show is supposed to be completely revamped and in the end the two coaches will fight for the title. When the show is shot and all is said and done it will have been near 10 months since Rampage has had to defend his title which is just ridiculous. There are a lot of people questioning whether Forrest deserves the title shot or is just receiving it via his star power/popularity. It should make for an interesting season none the less for a cast of Middleweight fighters.