In Hawaii, it’s still morning so temporally, this ‘Sunday Morning Rumor Mill’ is highly appropriate. Throughout the week, nuggets of information pass through MiddleEasy and instead of disregarding these morsels, we occasionally publish them in our weekly rumor mill. It’s the equivalent of two guys talking in a bar about stuff they’ve heard throughout the week, but in this scenario there is no cigarette smoke or readily available beers that can be consumed. It’s just you and your computer. Have fun.
- There is a 0% chance Fedor Emelianenko will fight at DREAM’s NYE event. With that said, I still believe Fedor provides some serious problems for every heavyweight in the UFC.
- One FC will not be co-promoting with DREAM in their NYE event.
- ZUFFA and Spike TV planned for a five-round match between Bisping vs. Mayhem. Logistically, it didn’t go as planned.
- According to the infamous ‘Hammers Hamill,’ ZUFFA and Showtime have further renewed their contract for an additional two years. Showtime believed the Strikeforce product was devalued due to UFC removing fighters from their roster, therefore the contract was renewed at a discounted rate — nearly half of what it was. UFC fighters will migrate to Strikeforce to show that it’s not a ‘b-level feeder’ league.
- Hammers Hamill also states that M-1’s contract with Showtime is finished and will not be renewed after this year.
- More from Hammers Hamill states the Strikeforce HW GP date will be announced this week and the company will plan more events in 2012. Also, it appears that a reality show is planned for Strikeforce in 2012.
- Apparently Ronda Rousey’s emergence in the MMA scene renewed ZUFFA’s belief that Strikeforce and women in MMA is a viable product.
- Immediately after last night’s TUF 14 bout, I heard from a few sources that Michael Bisping’s next opponent will be Brian Stann.
- M-1 Global plans to have a TUF-like reality show based entirely in Russia at some point next year.
- According to Dave Meltzer, the UFC doesn’t plan to have a 125 lb division anytime soon.
- Also according to Meltzer, a Spike.com writer had his credentials pulled just before the TUF 14 finale and was unable to attend the event.
