Matches in Bunches

Lots of news of fights being signed:

• Rob Emerson vs Keita "K-Taro" Nakamura: UFC 81
  Emerson has been under a cloud since his NC against Gray Maynard due to his history of white boy gang activity coming to light shortly after the TUF 5 finale. I'm excited to see Nakamura cutting weight and moving down to 155. He was undersized at welterweight but still fought respectably in two losses to Brock Larson and Drew Fickett. At one point he almost had Fickett beat but a foul call at a bad time stalled his momentum and he lost the decision.
  
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• Cheick Kongo Vs. Heath Herring: UFC 82
  This is a good matchup much better than the rumors that had Kongo fighting for the interim belt. A perfect matchup that pits a fighter on the rise against a vet whose career is on the ropes. Herring gives Kongo a perfect chance to show he's for real against a well-rounded fighter and Kongo is ready made for Herring to start a comeback.
• Luke Cummo vs Luigi Fioravanti: UFC 82
  
• This pits two journeymen against each other. Cummo has a bit of a hot streak going after wins over Crocota, Von Flue and Josh Haynes. Fioravanti  is 2-2 in the UFC but hasn't won since cutting down to 170. Might be the ATT fighter's last chance in the UFC.
  
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• Richie Hightower and Jordan Radev: Dropped from the UFC
  Radev, an Olympic wrestler who racked up an 11-1 record in Europe was probably too small for the UFC middleweight division. He won't get a chance to cut down after pulling a Sean Salmon and getting KTFO'd by Drew McFedries and then committing the biggest sin of all -- losing a snoozefest to Dean Lister at UFC 79. Hightower was one of the underexperienced welterweights who lost at the last TUF series. He needs several years of seasoning if he'll ever contend.
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