Brooklyn’s Phillipe Nover lost his second consecutive fight at UFC 98 to Kyle Bradley in controversial fashion. Nover believes it was an early stoppage and is adamant about a re-match.

Nonetheless, I found the Carnarsie Kid in good spirits last week after he logged a serious workout at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. No, he has not moved gym’s but noted it was helpful to spar with the talent at 4055 W. Sunset Rd. in Las Vegas. Listen to our chat below.

I am out in the 110 degree Las Vegas heat to take in the festivities and hit the local gyms for interviews. The billboards are up, UFC Fan Expo will be huge, and the local hype is in full force. As with every UFC event, some questions get answered while new ones are generated. As the big night approaches, here are a few of the larger pre-fight questions buzzing through the media and MMA fans at large.

*Can Lesnar impose his massive size on the more well rounded tool kit of Frank Mir?

*Can Thiago Alves find an opening in GSP’s defense?

*Will Bisbing have enough power to hang with Henderson?

*Will Henderson have enough stamina for Bisbing?

*Is Mac Danzig in need of a win to save his UFC job?

The Fox Fight Game panel recently talked about the two biggest fights on the card. Take a look.

UFC 100 is now hours away … It has been a long time in the making - the biggest MMA event in history, arguably. Will Saturday night be the tipping point for this sport?

Let’s face it, the UFC is responsible for the growth of Mixed Martial Arts the past five years. Love or hate the UFC, Saturday will be a crowning achievement, a milestone, a big ‘I told you so’ to all the early detractors. Congratulations to Frank & Lorenzo Ferttita, Dana White and all the folks that believed when profits were scarce, broadcast options were nil, and Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar had yet to engage in the fight that saved MMA.

To all fans: enjoy Saturday night and take a minute to reflect how far this sport has come and yet how far it still has to go.

Oh - I am picking Lesnar, GSP, and Bisbing in the marquee bouts. And Jimmy Miller will hand Mac Danzig his third loss in a row.

Click through for a good full size pic of the UFC 100 billboard in Times Square.

The MMA world at large has UFC 100 on the brain right now, however fans in the Northeast also have one eye looking ahead to UFC 101 on August 8. Dana White and crew will be heading to Philadelphia for the first time. One of the ‘fight of the night’ candidates will be the 155lb clash between New Jersey’s Kurt Pellegrino and and Iowa’s Josh Neer. TriStaterFighter.com contributer Dan Holzhauer filed this report.

-By Dan Holzhauer

The MMA paths of New Jersey native Kurt “Batman” Pellegrino and Iowa’s Josh “The Dentist” Neer have crossed many times. Finally, they will collide on August 8th at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA. The road to UFC 101 has been long, but both fighters expect an exciting performance, and a bonus check, as a reward for their performances.

“My gameplan is to grind you out for 15 minutes,” says Pellegrino leading up to this matchup. “I want to see who can get me tired.” But stamina may not be an issue for either Neer or Pellegrino. Of their 49 combined professional fights, just ten have gone to a decision.

Both fighters began their journey to the UFC in 2002. Pellegrino took his first pro fight in August of 2002 in the then-upstart WEC promotion where he won a unanimous decision over future ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ winner Mac Danzig. Josh Neer started his career as an amateur at the Toad Holler Fight Club, a famous showcase for young Midwestern MMA fighters in Des Moines, Iowa that no longer exists. Neer was a staple of the Toad Holler shows, chasing down every opportunity to fight.

(Click “Read More” to go to full article)

Berlin, N.J – July 1, 2009 – New Breed Fighters (NBF) and Caffeine Culture Inc., announce a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) event for fighters committed to NBF to be held at the Resorts Casino Hotel on Saturday, December 12, 2009 providing the MMA community and fan base with another opportunity to become “ONE STEP CLOSER.”

New Breed Fighters will provide a select group of loyal fighters and teams with the opportunity to make their long anticipated debut on NBF’s professional show on December 12th 2009.

New Breed Fighters was formed in 2007 to professionally promote amateur mixed martial artists in an environment that lends to the maximization of a fighter’s development. Providing the ultimate opportunity to prepare for what the future holds, while creating a dynamic event for the fans to enjoy.

MMA is the fastest-growing sport and New Breed Fighters has amassed a huge following in the region including fighters, their teams and a wide-range of fans.

Click through to read the complete press release.

Jim Miller from Sparta, New Jersey lost his last fight to Gray Maynard. He does not plan on a repeat result at UFC 100 against Maynard’s XTreme Couture teammate, Mac Danzig. He recently sat down with yours truly and the Fox Fight Game panel to talk about the big fight.

From the better late than never bin. Here is an interview I conducted shortly after Edgar beat Sherk.

Frankie Edgar so thoroughly defeated Sean Sherk at UFC 98 in Las Vegas that he has changed the way the MMA world perceives him and quite possibly inserted himself smack dab into title contention. I spoke with Frankie recently to reflect on the big win and what may lie ahead. Listen to this audio interview.