Morning Report: CM Punk says he "would fight Anderson Silva tomorrow" for "the correct amount of money"

On a media blitz in New York City Thursday, professional wrestling’s CM Punk began opening up a bit more on the early conversations held with UFC president Dana White prior to his joining the promotion earlier in December.

The WWE star has taken a mountain of flak for his choice to cannonball into MMA’s grandest stage at 36 with no resume to speak of, but Punk says he was willing to endure the entry level tournament that is ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

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Morning Report: CM Punk says he "would fight Anderson Silva tomorrow" for "the correct amount of money"

Bibiano Fernandes rips ‘insolent’ Dae Hwan Kim for illegal elbows

For the first time in his MMA career, Bibiano Fernandes finished a fight after going past the first round, but there’s a reason why Dae Hwan Kim survived that long at ONE FC 23.

The ONE FC bantamweight champion, who improved his winning streak to nine on Dec. 5, submitted Kim with a second-round rear-naked choke. However, he had to overcome a tough situation when Kim landed several illegal elbows to the back of his head in the opening round.

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Bibiano Fernandes rips ‘insolent’ Dae Hwan Kim for illegal elbows

Ultimate Fighter 20 Ending in Tweets: Experts respond to Carla Esparza being crowned UFC strawweight winner

History was produced in Las Vegas Friday night as the UFC crowned its first strawweight winner. Following the remaining TUF 20 cast fought each other in the undercard, the show’s finalists tangled for the crown. Former Invicta FC strawweight winner Carla Esparza survived a scrappy opening round from Rose Namajunas, but would use her wrestling to fix a third-round rear-naked choke to become UFC champ.

See in what way the experts responded to every one of the night’s activity.

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Ultimate Fighter 20 Ending in Tweets: Experts respond to Carla Esparza being crowned UFC strawweight winner

UFC 181 results: Tony Ferguson rallies past Abel Trujillo in second round

LAS VEGAS – In the opening seconds of the UFC 181 lightweight fight, Abel Trujillo dropped Tony Ferguson straight to the mat using a strong right hand.

For a split second, it seemed like it might be short work for Trujillo in the Mandalay Bay Events Center. But not only did Ferguson survive the opening onslaught, the TUF 13 winner summoned for the largest win of his career.

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UFC 181 results: Tony Ferguson rallies past Abel Trujillo in second round

Remembering why Gilbert Melendez has a title shot at UFC 181

Gilbert Melendez is confronting UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis for that division’s most esteemed title on Saturday. Melendez is definitely a winner in other organizations or highly rated in the UFC. Yet, his present position is one which did not occur organically or by chance. It turned out to be a unified attempt just made possible by contractual openings, the fiscal readiness and skill of some other suitor, and maybe above all, efficient direction.

let us fast piece together the timeline of the important parts of Melendez’s mixed martial arts profession to aid us better comprehend these facts.

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Remembering why Gilbert Melendez has a title shot at UFC 181

Bellator notes: Once a homeless teen, Ian Butler ready for San Diego homecoming

SAN DIEGO – When Ian Butler grew up on the streets of this city, he couldn’t have imagined himself sitting in the stands for an event at the Valley View Casino Center, much less have people buy tickets to watch him perform.

“I couldn’t afford a ticket to go to anything here,” Butler (1-0), who meets Joao Faria (0-1) in the opening bout of Bellator 131 on Saturday night, told MMAFighting.com on Thursday. “Not here, not to a Chargers game, a Padres game, not anything.”

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Bellator notes: Once a homeless teen, Ian Butler ready for San Diego homecoming

Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann set for UFC 183

A long-simmering match-up between women’s bantamweight contenders Miesha Tate and Sara McMann was made official for UFC 183 on Wednesday’s episode of UFC Tonight.

Tate (15-5), the No. 2 ranked female 135-pounder on the UFC’s media-generated rankings, looks to string together her third consecutive win in her quest for a trilogy bout against champion Ronda Rousey. Since her title loss, Tate has rebounded to pick up back-to-back decisions against Rin Nakai and Liz Carmouche, although her win against the former came in a relatively sluggish affair, while her win against the latter came in the form of a furious rally after dropping the bout’s opening round.

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Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann set for UFC 183

Carlos Diego Ferreira replaces injured Alan Patrick at UFC 179

Alan Patrick was forced from UFC 179 having a fractured jaw, as well as the UFC called another undefeated Brazilian to replace him about the pay per view card.

Beneil Dariush will now confront Carlos Diego Ferreira, who scored notable successes underneath the UFC banner before in 2013, in the main card’s opening fight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25. UFC declared the replacement on Monday night.

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Carlos Diego Ferreira replaces injured Alan Patrick at UFC 179

UFC targeting Ronda Rousey fights in both January and March

LAS VEGAS — Ronda Rousey defended her UFC women’s bantamweight twice within two months in the opening stages of 2014, and when all goes well, the UFC is expecting she will do exactly the same in 2015.

“She Is completely, 100-percentage fighting January,” UFC President Dana White disclosed at a Friday press conference to advertise UFC 181. “She will fight in January, 100-percentage. She will fight in January, and then she is going to film a picture, and then I am expecting for her to come back again in March.”

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UFC targeting Ronda Rousey fights in both January and March

UFC expert Pedro Nobre gets new competitor two days before Titan FC 30

Titan Fighting Championship returns Friday night to CBS Sports Network, as well as the promotion needed to work quick to get Pedro Nobre a fresh competition for Titan FC 30.

Nobre, a UFC veteran who had been initially scheduled to take on Nick Mamalis in the main card’s opening bout, now takes Nick Honstein in a 130-pound catchweight fight, Titan FC president and CEO Jeff Aronson told MMAFighting.com.

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UFC expert Pedro Nobre gets new competitor two days before Titan FC 30

Following stunning triumph, Liam McGeary vows to take belt from Bellator champion Emanuel Newton

In a Bellator light heavyweight office overrun by retread matchups, maturing stars, and made-for-TV feuds, Liam McGeary is above all else a welcome breath of fresh air. For the greater part of two years, the six-foot-six Englishman has fashioned the Bellator cage into his personal playground, perfecting the skill of the walkoff knockout while wriggling his foes into knots when those fistic flares of his neglect to suffice.

But when the opening action of McGeary’s Bellator run was remarkable, it is culmination was no less dramatic. McGeary’s sealed up his sixth straight first-round finish (and a cool $100,000) this past Friday, when out of nowhere he slapped on a Bellator Special — the seldom seen inverted triangle — coaxing a fast tapout from Kelly Anundson and promising himself the next shot against 205-pound champ Emanuel Newton.

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Following stunning triumph, Liam McGeary vows to take belt from Bellator champion Emanuel Newton