Thomson claims to be healthy now, refuting rumours of a major knee injury suffered during training camp, and is ready to reclaim the Strikeforce lightweight title that was once his. He will certainly be a crowd favourite, as the card is being held in San Jose, where Thomson trains with the crew from the American Kickboxing Academy. Thomson relishes the opportunity to take on Melendez in front of a roaring crowd, and describes the advantages of not traveling:

It’s always nice when you can sleep in your own bed all the way up to the fight, you don’t have to travel or do anything like that. Forrest Griffin gave me a good analogy about how fighters train for 8-10 weeks and then that week where you have to travel and go somewhere else for a fight, it’s like throwing it all out the door. You’re trying to find a place where you can get your food and eat. For guys that cut a lot of weight it’s not the easiest thing in the world, like trying to find a place where you can get distilled water or any type of diuretic food. It’s difficult, you normally can’t cook inside a hotel, so it’s hard and I’ve been blessed to be able to fight here in San Jose and like I’ve said there is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed.

They say familiarity breeds contempt. Despite the years-long rivalry, with all of its stops and starts and twists and turns, things between Thomson and Melendez have remained mostly civil. That doesn’t mean to say that Thomson isn’t focused directly on defeating Melendez nor that he hasn’t found some holes in Melendez’s game that he can exploit however.

Oh yeah, there are definitely going to be holes in everyone’s game that you can exploit. It’s just a matter of getting there and getting it done. Relatively, he hasn’t changed a lot since the second fight. There is no secret to the way he fights. He changed his style after i beat him the first time, he used to come forward, kind of chase after you and make you break mentally and in the first fight he paid the price for that. I just picked him apart and side step and move. He now changed his game to standing and counter punching a little bit and it’s been working for him. I think he’s going to stay with that.

There is an old Latin proverb that says “victory loves preparation”. It has been quoted by military leaders and sports coaches throughout history as a rallying cry. There is perhaps no more fitting place for those words than the sport of mixed martial arts, where a great training camp can make you the next champion, and a bad training camp can have disastrous, Quinton Jackson-like results. Thomson is well aware of this, having dealt with a litany of injuries that may have caused another fighter to hang up the gloves. But he insists that his preparation for this fight will make him the victor.

Camp’s been good, honestly it’s been one of the best I’ve had in a long time. I don’t think I’ve had a camp this good since the second time I fought Gil. Even though the fight didn’t go my way the second time, the camp was a great camp that fight. The camp was a great one the first fight as well, but a couple bumps and bruises in that first fight. All in all I feel I’ve had a good camp.

Styles make fights, and Thomson’s style proved to be effective against Melendez the first time, and at the very least incredibly entertaining the second time. Thomson feels he has the tools to defeat Melendez and bring closure to one of the sport’s simmering rivalries once and for all.

 I feel the one thing that I do well and I do better than everybody else is I match up very well with Gilbert Melendez. The first two fights have proven that. Everyone says you can’t do the MMA math when it comes to fighters, like there are guys in the top 20 that i feel would give me a hard time, but there are guys in the top 5 that i would do well with. It’s hard to really say who is the best, until we all fight each other. In this situation, I match up very well with Gil.

We’ll see if the match-up indeed favours the challenger on Saturday night.

Listen to the entire interview below.

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Hunt had been having a career resurgence, riding a wave of momentum that saw him win three straight in the UFC, the latest being a victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 144 in Japan. He had also been the subject of a twitter campaign to replace Alistair Overeem against Junior dos Santos, the ultimately unsuccessful #RallyforMarkHunt.

Johnson is fresh off a TKO victory over Pat Barry at the last UFC on Fox card, a victory that is listed on Wikipedia as a “40 punch combo”. Johnson rides a two “KO of the night” streak into the fight against Struve, who has won two straight and has two “Submission of the night” bonuses along with one “KO of the night” to his credit.

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Maquel Falcao weighed in at 188lbs and was give an additional two hours to make the 186lbs weight limit.

The weigh ins took place at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. Which is the same venue as tomorrow nights Bellator 69 event.

Full Bellator 69 weigh-in results below

MAIN CARD (MTV2)
• Maiquel Falcao (188) vs. Andreas Spang (185.8) * middleweight-tourney finale
• Karl Amoussou (170) vs. David Rickels (170.6) – welterweight-tourney semifinal
• Jessica Aguilar (115.6) vs. Megumi Fujii (116)
• Kevin Asplund (239) vs. Ron Sparks (264.6)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com)
• Josh Quayhagen (158.2) vs. Cliff Wright (155.6)**
• Emanuel “E.J.” Brooks (156.6) vs. Kalvin Hackney (156)***
• Booker Arthur (145.4) vs. Shanon Slack (146)
• Andrey Koreshkov (170.8) vs. Derrick Krantz (170.8)
• Josh Burns (206) vs. Richard Hale (205.5)
• Mark Holata (250.6) vs. Abe Wagner (248.8)

* Falcao has been given additional time to lose an additional 2 pounds
** Quayhagen has been given additional time to lose an additional 2.2 pounds
*** Brooks has been given additional time to lose an additional 0.6 pounds

The main event was a war between Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier, with Jung eventually pulling off a submission victory.

The figures below are based on the fighter salaries that the organization is required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including bonuses.

UFC on Fuel TV 3 Fighter Salaries – Disclosed payroll $481,000

Chan Sung Jung: $34,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Poirier: $14,000

Amir Sadollah: $48,000 (includes $24,000 win bonus) def. Jorge Lopez: $6,000

Donald Cerrone: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Jeremy Stephens: $24,000

Yves Jabouin: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Jeff Hougland: $8,000

Igor Pokrajac: $34,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Fabio Maldonado: $11,000

Tom Lawlor: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Jason MacDonald: $19,000

Brad Tavares: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Dongi Yang: $12,000

Cody McKenzie: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Marcus LeVesseur: $6,000

T.J. Grant: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Carlo Prater: $10,000

Rafael Dos Anjos: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus) def. Kamal Shalorus: $11,000

Johnny Eduardo: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Jeff Curran: $8,000

Francisco Rivera: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Alex Soto: $6,000

Though I spent the last couple of weeks fighting a nasty cold, I feel it has been a blessing in disguise. I feel recovered, heeled and full of energy. I had my last sparring session Tuesday and everything was where I wanted it. The timing was great, the speed was excessive, and techniques were sharp. Now I just need to deprive myself of hitting anyone and take it all out on Friday. Earlier this week I did an interview with Top MMA News, that was neat. I was trying hard not to sound like a meathead and that was very difficult. I want to do another one, because I felt cool and hopefully everyone agrees. I also got to look at all the comments about the matchups in the event. there are some interesting people out there. My favorite is when people like to preach about how they don’t preach. There is at least one on every page. I have weigh ins this afternoon, so I’m gonna cuddle up with my girlfriend for the next little while (because she is still sleeping) and relax. I will then go show Fort Mac who Mike “The Honey Badger” Hackert is. A big thanks to Comox Valley boxing club, Comox Valley Fitness, Impact MMA, Knockout Martial Arts, Island MMA, and Adam Zugec. Also to all of you following my blog. The journey doesn’t stop Friday night.

Read Mike’s previous blogs here… 1|2|3|4|5|6|7 

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#UFC just offered me to fight BJ Penn…I said YES!!!!! Just waiting on him!!!!!! Let’s scrap bra?

Koscheck returned to action following a broken orbital bone at the hands of Georges St-Pierre and went on a two fight win streak. His last bout he lost to Johny Hendricks by Unanimous Decision. Koscheck definitely seemed stoked to welcome Penn back to the cage.

Penn hasn’t seen action inside the octagon since his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 in October. Following the fight he said “I don’t want to go home looking like this.” He then posted a message to his fans on his website, “I want to thank all the fans for their love and support. I have decided to take some time off to enjoy life, train and teach. I will keep you guys posted with what’s next.”

Whether or not this fight will go down is a question that needs to be asked. Koscheck has accepted the fight and he is now just waiting for Penn’s response.

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UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and challenger Frank Mir will participate along with co-main event stars Cain Velasquez and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

In the main event of UFC 146, reigning UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will defend his crown against former two-time champion Frank Mir and former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez – now fully healed from his knee injury – returns to action against the dangerous Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

Plus, in the first-ever all heavyweight UFC card, Roy Nelson takes on Dave Herman, unbeaten heavies Stipe Miocic and Shane Del Rosario collide and Mark Hunt battles Stefan Struve in a battle of the UFC’s shortest and tallest heavyweights.

Highlights below thanks to MMAmania.com.

Junior Dos Santos

• I don’t promote fights by talking trash. I feel that Frank Mir lacks heart and can’t get through rough spots in a fight. i don’t say things just to sell fights. If I say something, it’s because that’s what I believe.
•  I had to make a few adjustments in my training camp including the people I brought into spar. They are very different fighters. Overeem is right handed and keeps it standing while Mir is left handed and may take it to the ground. They are both great fighters and I’ll be ready.
• I want to always have a strategy to go all five rounds. You don’t walk in thinking you’ll finish the fight right away. I hit him so hard and I was surprised, it took me a second to swarm him because I was surprised. Seeing the moment and being ready to capitalize on the moment, that’s what matters.
• Minotauro is not the sole source of information. Obviously I have my trainers and watching Frank Mir’s fights and preparing myself in that way.
• When Minotauro lost to Frank Mir, I was very upset  and all of Brazil was upset to see that loss but what motivates me is to defend my belt. I’m in a good phase of my life and my only motivation in my life is to defend my title. Revenge doesn’t cross my mind and doesn’t do me any favors in helping me win.

Frank Mir

• Any time you go in as the underdog, it takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders. When not a lot is expected of you, you can concentrate on the task at hand.
•  Nobody likes to hear anything negative said about them. I have no issues with him trying to sell the fight and stir the pot. Dos Santos has done better fighting in the Octagon as selling the fight but that’s a thing he’s getting more successful with.
• I think most people get stuck in how I fought one guy and they didn’t realize that who does well sometimes come down to style. With my style, I’ve done better against people who have striking or submission games. I’ve had more difficulty dealing with wrestling and top control guys than with submission guys.
• Cain Velasquez is more of a multi-faceted threat. He can lull you into a striking match and take you down or he can punch you in the face if you’re worried about the takedown. With Dos Santos, he basically concentrates on his best asset which is boxing but it’s hard to argue, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
• After the Nogueira fight I had a share of e-mails that I had to translate with google translate that weren’t very flattering. It wasn’t until the video game release where I was supposed to play Junior dos Santos that I realized that the Brazilian fans really disliked me and they put pressure on him not to face me.
• I’ll be closer to 255 for this fight. What taught me a lesson was Cain. I watched Cain Velasquez toss Brock Lesnar around like a rag doll and I realized that while Brock Lesnar could probably beat Cain in the weight room, there’s more to it than just being strong. I toned down my weight training and it’s more a supplement than the mainstay of my workout.
• You don’t have to worry about the weight class being divided up amongst promotions. There were times before where it was really stacked but I do think the heavyweight division is as deep as its ever been.
• When I first heard about the outcome of the drug test, I knew I was likely the first person in line to jump up. I actually started training for a five round fight when I signed up to fight Velasquez because his most dangerous skill is his motor. You saw that in the Cheick Kongo fight where he got hurt on the feet and was able to grind through. I knew if something were going to happen to the main event, I was likely going to step in to replace the main event fighter or if the fight got scrapped, I’d likely be facing Cain in a five round fight instead so I had to be ready.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva

•  Things are going really well. For the first time I’m 270 pounds three weeks before the fight. I feel very fast and light and I’ve been working with Mike Dolce.
• I’m a part of Team Nogueira from Rio de Janeiro and American Top Team helped me by bringing in big wrestlers from Holland and it’s made things easier here so I don’t have to be away from my family during the camp.
• You only lose if you get up into the ring and fight. I probably will not be watching the Heavyweight Grand Prix finals because I’m focusing on Cain Velasquez but I’ll be rooting for Daniel Cormier.
•  I faced three great opponents in Strikeforce, Werdum, Fedor and Arlovski and now I get to fight guys like Cain Velasquez. They’re all great fighters. I think in the UFC right now, all the best fighters in the world are in my category.
• It’s a dream come true. It’s a dream that any athlete in our sport wants to live out and everybody can be sure on the 26th of May that I will give out a great fight. I’m very relaxed and very well prepared. It’s a great opportunity the UFC is giving me for my first fight in the UFC against one of the tops in the world. I’m very comfortable.
• Cain Velasquez is a lighter and much faster fighter and I tried to come in a little bit lighter. I needed to increase my speed to counter his lightness.
• The real issue was that Overeem came to the Blackzilian camp and first of all he was going to fight Junior dos Santos who is a good friend of mine. Also, with us being in the same division, we were on a collision course and that was uncomfortable to me. With American top team they had nice strikers and wrestlers.

The main event is the middleweight tourney final between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang, also on the card is a welterweight-tourney semifinal between Karl Amoussou and David Rickels.

The first fighter is expected to take the scale at 11am PT/2pm ET and you can catch the action live here on MMASucka.com.

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In a way to make fans tune in to the episode, UFC President Dana White has announced that he will announce Faber’s opponent live on this Friday’s The Ultimate Fighter: Live. Over the past few weeks many critics have complained about the ratings of this seasons show.

The bout between Faber and his unnamed opponent will be for the Interim UFC Bantamweight championship.

The short list of possible candidates is Renan Barao, Michael McDonald and Ivan Menjivar.

Faber has shown a preference in facing off with Barao and believes that he is the most worthy opponent. Michael McDonald would definitely be next on the list with his recent KO victory over former Bantamweight champion, Miguel Torres. Finally Ivan Menjivar is not a complete long shot, as he is coming off of three straight victories and his most recent over John Albert won him submission of the night honours.

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