Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com

See how everything shake’s out tonight at UFC 117 live on ATO when Dana White and the winners from tonight’s show appear before the media immediately following the event tonight live in Oakland.

Fighters Only, the world’s biggest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) magazine, announces the launch of its 3rd annual awards today. Devised to celebrate success and achievement within the MMA industry, the World Mixed Martial Arts Awards gives fans across the globe the chance to cast their vote on which athletes, brands, and industry professionals have made the greatest impact on the sport in the last 12 months. Voting will take place across 20 different award categories including Fighter of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and Best Lifestyle Apparel.

“The anticipation for the 2010 awards has been a little overwhelming,” says Rob Hewitt, President and CEO of Fighters Only. “I couldn’t be more thrilled by the potential of this year’s event. Last year’s ceremony opened many people’s eyes: ‘seeing is believing’ so more and more people want to get behind the awards. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who’s supported us in making the World MMA Awards a landmark occasion in the industry’s calendar, and appeal to the fans to let their voices be heard. ”

2009’s incredibly successful event saw a who’s who of MMA walk up the red carpet. The Fighters Only World MMA Awards is set to return even bigger and better with a live ceremony held on Wednesday December 1st 2010 in the exclusive Pearl Concert Theatre inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. This black-tie event will be sponsored by Bodybuilding.com, the global leader in online sports nutrition.“Bodybuilding.com is extremely excited to be the presenting sponsor for the 2010 Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards. MMA is growing at a tremendous rate and involves some of the top athletes in the world. Proper training, nutrition and supplementation is key in gaining a competitive edge for these athletes, so Bodybuilding.com’s partnership with Fighter’s Only is a natural fit. We look forward to partnering with Fighter’s Only not only on the Awards Show but also in the future,” says Bodybuilding.com CEO Ryan DeLuca.

The website www.worldmmawards.com is now open and ready to take nominations from fans. It gives details on the live event, voting processes, and includes photo galleries from last year’s spectacular ceremony.

For information on tickets to the live ceremony, sponsorship opportunities, the Pearl Concert Theatre and other essential information, please see below.

I imagine that it’s been a tough couple of months for Dana White. Hell, it’s been a tough couple of months for MMA fans.
The mystique and the allure of MMA has drawn many new viewers, and brought the sport great success - so much so, that UFC has earned its very own reality TV show and documentary. And yet this season has tested fans’ loyalty and faith in strange new ways: Just consider the following fights…

Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia
Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber
Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans

Even the reality series, the Ultimate Fighter, hasn’t been immune to the illness. The Josh Bryant vs. Jamie Yager fight suffered from symptoms of the same condition: The Vanishing Art of Finishing.

This is, of course, a new breed of sport that will undoubtedly have growing pains, and we must keep in mind that there are many categories of fighters with different approaches and methodologies with their respective strengths and weaknesses… There are athletes like Faber; Brawlers like Chuck Liddell… and then there are Martial Artists like Anderson Silva that seem to bring an unquantifiable skill to the octagon that few can contend with. Such a variety of styles is also what has raised our expectations, and has made the sport such a refreshing novelty, compared to the vanilla monotony of the Sports Center score report.
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UFC Undisputed 2010 will be available May 25th and MMA fans are clamoring for their chance to get their hands on the game. This year there is a new feature called “Online Fight Camps”. Fans can train with each other in exhibition against other fans to work on areas of their game they want to improve. You can even start your own camp.

After an injured shoulder forced Vitor Belfort off of UFC 112 Demian Maia has stepped up to face Anderson Silva at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi April 10th.

Belfort pulled out of the fight yesterday and the UFC quickly plugged in Maia because the UFC wants to have Silva defend his belt on the show. Chael Sonnen, the new #1 contender is unable to compete due to a medical suspension he received at UFC 109.

Maia is an interesting opponent for Silva. Maia is a jiu jitsu ace and could pose some serious problems for Silva should the fight go to the ground.

After all the controversy of whether or not Vitor Belfort deserved to face Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight belt a shoulder injury has forced Belfort off of UFC 112 according to Yahoo Sports..

Belfort walked right through Rich Frankin last September at 195 and was deemed the #1 contender by Dana White despite arguements by Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt. Now with the injury it is unclear who will step into face Silva. Chael Sonnen has been chomping at the bit to get a piece of “The Spider” but a 30 day medical suspension could throw a wrench into his training camp.

If Sonnen can’t go it’s not clear who could challenge Silva for the belt. Marquardt lost and is also serving a medical suspension. Demian Maia would be an intriguing fight but it’s not a given that Ed Soares would sign off on it.

The UFC could ask Silva to step up and fight at 205 where there are lucrative fights such as Randy Couture or Thiago Silva await

Chael Sonnen has been telling people he hopes Anderson Silva defeats Vitor Belfort so he can fight Silva. Now Ed Soares, Silva’s manager is starting to get in on the talk. Soares addresse Sonnen in an interview with sportsnet.ca

“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 him up easily, by submission, so why not make them fight first, to determine who gets a shot at the title?”

“There’s not much to say about that (Sonnen referring to himself as the “alpha male”). 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.”

If Silva defeats Belfort you can expect this kind of stuff to go on for months leading up the fight.

Chael Sonnen shook up the middleweight rankings Saturday night. Sonnen wasn’t even considered to be a Top Ten 185er and now with a win over Nate Marquardt he will now receive the next shot at the belt.

Sonnen is an interesting character. He speaks his mind. The stuff he says about screaming “Yes” and Anthony Robbins is a dig at Diego Sanchez. Now he is publicly stating he would rather fight Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort/ But according to Sonnen there is a new bully in the dressing room and he likes country music.