Four more Women sign with UFC, Velasquez re-signs, Riddle released for 2nd failed test, Tank returns, Bellator 93 pelims

*All Rankings taken from Fight Matrix at time of writing. NR-I indicates Inactive fighter

UFC Women's divisions
The UFC signed four more women to contracts with a few interesting but key points to consider. The first and most important is that they signed fighters that will appear for another promotion prior to their UFC debut, which is very rare indeed. Sarah Kaufman and Amanda Nunes will both star on the Invicta 5 card on April 5th in respective bouts which would lead us to assume that regardless of the outcome they would still UFC employees. Another interesting signing is that of de Randamie, who previously fought in the 145 class for Strikeforce. I may have missed the news that she would be dropping to 135, but if she isn't, is there a precedent here for a future 145 division in the UFC? Will she drop to 135, or fight in Invicta until the UFC develops the 145 class?

Old Timer's Leagues
In a previous issue I mentioned, with a bit of surprise, that Japanese promotion U-Spirits would be putting on an all-graybeard's card. Now Tank Abbott returns to face Ruben Villareal at a KOTC event in April. Abbott is 47 and hasn't fought in a legitimate MMA bout in four years (if you could call Wargods legitimate). There is also an upcoming card featuring 42 year old Ian Freeman, who also hasn't fought in 4+ years. While it's not altogether surprising to see the pioneers of the sport still attempting to ply their trade a la Dan Severn, I am seeing these names pop up more frequently en mass. Or maybe I'm just paying more attention lately, I don't know.

Reefer Madness
Not surprisingly, Matt Riddle was cut from the UFC for failing a second test in less than a year. I can sympathize with both sides of this issue. It is patently absurd to think marijuana metabolites are a PED while TRT can be allowed with a simple exemption from a doctor. On the other side, marijuana is federally illegal and the UFC is a business that must adhere to the law considering they ply their trade both inter-state and internationally. Fighters failing multiple times in a short period reflects badly on a promotion and sport that are just now gaining a foothold in the sports world's consciousness. Keith Kizer had mentioned that the Nevada state commission would look into the possibility of granting TUE's for registered medical marijuana users, but either no one has taken him up on that offer, or it was a smoke screen...pun intended. And what does this mean to someone like Nick Diaz? Will he be cut if he tests positive again or is this an issue of Riddle being singled out? Could Riddle have a case if he takes NSAC or the UFC to court on the grounds of wrongful termination for a prescribed medical clearance?

Upcoming Regional/International Bouts

Derrick Lewis: 8-2-0 (81-HW) vs Ricky Shivers 12-6-1 (57-LHW) at Legacy FC 18, Houston, TX – Mar 1
Jorge Patino: 28-13-1 (107-LW) vs Derrick Krantz 14-6-0 (205-WW) at Legacy FC 18, Houston, TX – Mar 1
Antonio Banuelos: 20-9-0 (8-FLY) vs Rafael de Freitas: 5-0-0 (UR) at Legacy FC 18, Houston, TX – Mar 1
Akbarh Arreola: 19-7-1 (463-WW) vs Mehdi Baghdad: 5-3-0 (UR) at UWCM 13, Tijuana, Mexico – Mar 2
James McSweeney: 10-10-0 (100-LHW) vs Dion Staring: 28-8-0 (53-HW) at CFA 10, Coral Gables, FL – Mar 2
Shah Bobonis: 15-8-0(273-FW) vs Joey Rodriguez: 5-1-0 (UR) at CFA 10, Coral Gables, FL - Mar 2
Ian Freeman 19-7-1 (NR-I) vs Ricco Rodriguez: 49-19-0 (120-HW) at UWC 21, Newcastle, England – Mar 2
Jeff Monson: 48-13-1 (23-HW) vs Drazen Forgac: 8-8-0 (UR) at SHC 7, Geneva, SWI – Mar 9
Chaban Ka: 4-1-1 (89-HW) vs Haris Reiz: 8-1-0 (157-HW) at SHC 7, Geneva, SWI – Mar 9

Regional/International Results

Former Zuffa fighters
Trevor Prangley: 28-9-1 (29-LHW) def Brandon Anderson: 8-2-0 (194) by kimura (R1) at KOTC-Free Fall 2, Feb 22
LC Davis: 18-5-0 (56-BW) def Jacob Akin: 3-2-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R1) at Cageside Promotions, Feb 22
Satoshi Ishii: 6-2-1 (27-HW) def Sean McCorkle: 16-5-0 (208) by kimura (R1) at IGF-Genome 24, Feb 23
Former/current Bellator fighters
Dan Spohn: 7-3-0 (86-LHW) def Robert Morrow: 8-13-0 (UR) by RNC (R2) at UVC 22, Feb 16
Nazareno Malegarie: 24-3-0 (104-FW) def Danilo Santos: 2-1-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R1) at Tavares Combat 5, Feb 16
Eric Marriott: 22-6-0 (268-WW) def Andrew Keehn: 4-4-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R1) at Cageside Promotions, Feb 22
Paul Daley: 31-12-2 (29-WW) def Patrick Vallee: 9-5-1 (217-MW) by KO flying knee (R1) at CC 16, Feb 23
Ruslan Magomedov: 10-1-0 (76-HW) def Mike Hayes 18-7-1 (37-HW) by UD (3) at BoM 10, Feb 23
Isidro Gonzalez: 18-14-0 (UR-MW) def Jeremy Hart: 6-2-0 (205-MW) by armbar (R1) at SCL-Rivals, Feb 23
Nick Mamalis: 24-8-0 (NR-I) def Nick Honstein: 12-7-0 (247-BW) by UD (3) at SCL-Rivals, Feb 23
Other Notables
Mike Kent: 9-1-0 (191-LHW) def Cody Krahn: 11-7-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R4) at ECC 15, Feb 16
Drew Brokenshire: 9-3-0 (101-FW) def Enoch Wilson: 16-9-2 (242) by SUB punches (R4) at CageSport 23, Feb 16
Will Chope: 15-5-0 (151-FW) def Tanaphong Khunhankaew: 1-2-0 (UR) by RNC (R1) at FNFN 2, Feb 22
Kalindra Faria: 8-3-1 (F-18-FLY) def Aline Sattelmayer: 2-1-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R2) at Detonic Fight, Feb 23
Julio Cesar Neves: 18-0-0 (186-FW) def Kelvin Kuster: 0-2-0 (UR) by TKO punches (R2) at Sparta 3 (BRA), Feb 23

Please check out past issues

MMA Transaction Wire: Feb 14 - 20

MMA Transaction Wire: February 11 - 14

MMA Transaction Wire: February 5 - 11

MMA Transaction Wire: February 1 - 5

MMA Transaction Wire: January 23-Feb 1