Props: Crave Online (via Cage Potato)

Quoteworthy:

"I think they're using James as a way to say MMA fighters are better than boxers. If he fights a quality ground guy, once he goes to the ground he's gonna get killed. But If a guy chooses to stand up with James, James is gonna destroy him. That’s why they call him 'Lights Out.' I really don’t think there’s one fighter in MMA that could stand with James."

Famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach doesn't think the UFC has any intention of using Toney for anything other than a shining example of the difference between boxing and mixed martial arts. Despite the world class hands of the aging pugilist, there isn't much hope for him against a top level wrestler with ground and pound skills. Can "Lights Out" shock the world with a flash KO? Or will the UFC send him packing with his tail between his legs? His first opponent may be the deciding factor...

Miami, FL ( USA ): Shine Fights is excited to announce the official signing of a bout between former Bodog Welterweight Champion Nick "The Goat" Thompson (38-12-1) and Brazilian veteran Eduardo Pamplona (12-2).

The bout will take place on the main card at "Worlds Collide: Mayorga vs. Thomas," which will be held at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville , North Carolina on May 15, 2010. "Worlds Collide" will be broadcast live on Pay Per View.

Known as two of the most exciting welterweights in the world, both fighters will be making their debut with Shine Fights, and each fighter is looking to secure a place in the title picture with a victory.

Thompson, one of the most respected fighters in the sport, has fought all over the world, including in organizations such as the UFC, Bodog, Sengoku, EliteXC, and Strikeforce.

Having compiled an impressive 22-2 record as a welterweight from 2005-2009, including victories over UFC veterans Josh Neer, Keith Wisnewski, Chris Wilson, Ansar Chalangov, Paul Daley, current Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez, and Cage Rage veteran Mark Weir, Thompson found it difficult to find challengers at welterweight and was forced to make the move to middleweight to face a tough opponent in Tim Kennedy in Strikeforce.

Thompson lost that fight and immediately sought out an opportunity to fight at welterweight for an organization on the rise. His willingness to fight and an attractive offer from a growing promotion like Shine made Thompson aware that it was time to sign on the dotted line: "I couldn't get a fight. It was really frustrating," Thompson said in January when agreeing with Shine.

Now with an opponent in hand and a fight on the horizon, the 28-year-old has moved on to his next goal: Shine Fights gold. "I am happy to be with Shine and I look forward to earning the first shot at their welterweight title," said the former three-time Bodog champion. "Eduardo is a tough and exciting fighter," Thompson said about his upcoming opponent.

"He is the kind of fighter you like to fight because there will be fireworks...while he has not had a loss in the last three years, I am confident that I am the better fighter and will stand victorious when the night is over."

One of the top welterweights in Brazil , Pamplona is now on a mission to prove that he is also one of the best 170-pound fighters in the world. Already a veteran of organizations like Pancrase, Shooto, the IFL, and M-1 Challenge, Pamplona will now bring his aggressive striking and world-class ground game to Shine Fights.

Having earned victories over MMA legends Jorge "Macaco" Patino, Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons, and fellow Shine signee Daniel Acacio, Pamplona made his U.S. debut in 2007 at "IFL: Atlanta" in an exciting three round war with former EliteXC champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler.

Pamplona lost a hotly contested bout that night, but the 34-year-old has reeled off seven straight victories since, bringing his record to 12-2 overall. "This fight with Thompson is a big fight for me," Pamplona said. "He has many great victories on his record, and I believe it will be a great fight between us. I believe this fight will have a lot of movement. We both like to stand up and exchange. I believe we will stay on our feet."

"I'm excited to see these two tough fighters slug it out inside the Shine cage," Shine Fights matchmaker Ron Foster said. "The winner will definitely be at the top of the list when I look for guys to put in a title fight."

This highly anticipated bout in the Shine welterweight division joins the previously announced main event between former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga and MMA veteran Din Thomas on the May 15 card. Available on pay-per-view in North America , the event will start at 9 PM EST and will be available for $29.95. Tickets for the event will go on sale soon via Ticketmaster.

For more information on Shine Fights, please visit www.ShineFights.com, or follow us on Twitter @ShineFights, MySpace (myspace.com/ShineFights), or become a fan on Facebook.

Heavyweights Joey Beltran (11-3) and Chad Corvin (6-0) have agreed to head north to throw leather at the upcoming UFC 113 event, which is scheduled for the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on May 8.

The UFC announced the match-up earlier today.

In addition to his destruction of Houston Alexander earlier this year, Beltran embarrased Octagon newcomer Rolles Gracie at last month's UFC 109: "Relentless" event in Las Vegas.

"The Mexicutioner" has won seven of his last eight, with a decision loss to Tony Lopez at KOTC: "Distorted" being the lone defeat during the nearly 15-month span.

He'll look to keep that momentum going against Corvin, who joins the Zuffa roster after compiling a perfect record through six fights on the regional scene.

The Kentucky native started his mixed martial arts career with Warrior MMA. After a torrid run from 2007-09 that saw him finish all four victims in less than four minutes combined, he graduated to Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) in December 2008.

Unfortunately for his opponents, the results weren't much different, as Corvin plowed his way through two opponents, ending both contests in the first round by way of (T)KO.

Now it's time for the big leagues.

UFC 113 will be headlined by a rematch between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The card's co-main event is set to feature an exciting welterweight match up between perennial top contender, Josh Koscheck, and the explosive Paul Daley.

Kimbo Slice will also make his pay-per-view (PPV) debut against fellow TUF 10 cast member, Matt Mitrione.

For the latest UFC 113 fight card click here.

Click here if you're having trouble seeing the video.

CHICAGO, Ill. (March 11, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships made two more noteworthy additions to its upcoming Season 2 middleweight tournament today with the signings of 9-1-1 Bellator Season 1 tournament finalist Jared Hess and 18-4 MMA veteran Sean "The Destroyer" Loeffler.

Hess and Loeffler are the fourth and fifth confirmed participants in the eight-man middleweight tournament, joining Bryan "The Beast" Baker, Matt Major and Eric Schambari. Overall, the group boasts a combined winning percentage of .859 (55 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw).

"Jared's potential is unlimited," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "When his striking catches up to his strength on the ground, he could be one of the most dangerous 185 pounders in the business.

On the other hand, Sean has established a great record, has earned this opportunity to fight his way to a title shot and doesn't have a reverse gear. Perhaps more importantly, both Jared and Sean come to fight every time they step into the cage."

Hess, 26, a former NCAA All-American wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma, took a 6-0-1 record into Bellator Season 1 where he notched two quick victories over Daniel Tabera (rear naked choke submission) and Yosmany Cabezas (TKO) before meeting Hector Lombard in Bellator's first-ever Middleweight Championship bout this past June.

Hess took the heavily favored Lombard into the fourth round in a brutal fight that ended by doctor's stoppage when Lombard opened a cut above Hess' right eye.

In the 9 months since, Hess scored a first round submission win over Keith Johnson at a local show in Oklahoma City and has continued to hone his stand-up game in preparation for Bellator Season 2.

"I'm looking forward to winning the tournament and getting a chance to face Hector again," Hess said. "I think it would be a much different outcome this time. My standup has improved by leaps and bounds since then. Add that to my wrestling and I think I'd have a distinct edge this time."

Loeffler, 27, began training in traditional martial arts at the age of five and made his pro debut 10 years ago at the age of 17. Since then, in 22 career fights, he has gone to the second round only three times and has seen the third only once.

He enters Bellator riding a five-fight win streak that includes a first-round armbar submission of former TUF participant Christian Fulgium and a 30-second TKO of local fighter Sam Salas in San Jacinto, Calif., late last month.

"I watch fights on TV and the guys are dancing around and throwing jabs. That's not for me ... that's not MMA," Loeffler said. "This is not ballet. It's combat sports, so you won't see me stalling and circling. If there's one word to describe my fighting style, it's violent. Win or lose, if you fight me, you're not gonna leave looking pretty."

Both fighters said they are also looking forward to fighting in front of a national TV audience thanks to Bellator's historic TV distribution alliance with FOX Sports Net, NBC and Telemundo.

"Bellator's TV deal is really second to none and something that every fighter dreams of," Loeffler said. "I'm proud to be a part of it and excited to put on a good show for all the fans."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.