Rate it!

0 votes

Check out our new feature, Fight Buzz, where you can keep up to date with all the latest fight rumours from the frankly dizzying world of the UFC...

There is a veritable ocean of rumours out there in internet-land; it would be easy to flap, flutter and flounder amid all the gossip and reports about who is fighting who, where and when.

Which is where Eurosport-Yahoo! come to your rescue, with our weekly Fight Buzz round-up. Think of it as a big red-and-white lifeboat full of chit-chat and tittle-tattle.

Our dedicated team of MMA freaks will scour the internet for all the latest fight rumours, presenting our findings here in a disorderly and occasionally impertinent fashion. We'll also tap-up our high-level sources at the UFC for confirmation and / or denials when appropriate.

And don't forget, you can have your say on the messageboards below. Why not start your own rumour; see how far it snowballs?

Wow your friends! Amaze your family! Win the respect of your peers! Just follow the Eurosport-Yahoo! MMA Fight Buzz...

This week's fight chat (Potential ratings are out of five stars):

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED (ALMOST)

Melvin Guillard has rather mysteriously been withdrawn off the card for UFC 90, which takes place October 25 in Chicago. Without expanding on reasons, the UFC have replaced "The Young Assassin" with UFC newcomer Shannon Gugerty for the lightweight bout against Spencer Fisher. Gugerty scored a first-round submission victory over the previously undefeated Dale Hartt on his UFC debut in July.

Potential: *****

Meanwhile, two promising welterweights are currently scrawling their John Hancock's on a contract to meet in November at UFC 91; Dustin Hazelett and Tamdan McCrory are expected to announce their fight shortly.

POSSIBLES, PROBABLES AND PLAUSIBLES

The 205-pound light-heavyweight division is easily the most competitive in the UFC right now, and the organisation have a lot of fights to schedule before the picture becomes any clearer.

A reported former-champ-versus-former-champ clash between former Pride title holder Wanderlei Silva and former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would be a move towards clarity. It would be the third meeting between Silva and Jackson following the Brazilian's two victories in PRIDE in 2003 and 2004 - although the winner of the rumoured UFC 91 fight on November 15 might still be a step away from a title-fight.

Potential: ***

Even after a Silva v Rampage bout, the next challenger to Forrest Griffin's belt would not be entirely clear. Rashad Evan's stunning knockout victory over Chuck Liddell catapults him into the picture, while Lyoto Machida could be a further candidate if he beats Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in a reported December fight, Shogun being the rumoured candidate to replace the injured Thiago Silva.

Potential: ***

Everyone's favourite beanpole Corey Hill is one of the first fights rumoured for the scheduled December 10 Ultimate Fight Night event. His reported opponent, suitably for an event provisionally slated to be held at an unnamed US military base - is former Navy veteran Dale Hartt.

Potential: ****

OUT ON A LIMB

Happily, quotes from M-1 Director of Operations Joost Raimond suggest that the long-awaited clash between UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko might be closer than thought.

Raimond said that Emelianenko's current contracts with M-1 and Affliction would not prevent a potential bout against Couture from taking place in the UFC, Randy having last week agreed on a new three-fight contract with the organisation.

Potential: **

Finally, Italian light-heavyweight Ivan Serati will soon find out his opponent for his UFC debut (probably some time in December) after his recent signing from UK promoter Cage Rage.

We have no idea who the UFC have got lined up for the explosive knockout specialist - but we're going to take three wild stabs-in-the-dark and see if one of them comes up trumps.

Stephan Bonner (Potential: **); Keith Jardine (Potential: ***); Houston Alexander (Potential: *).

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport