Bloody Elbow, for MMA and UFC news

Traditionally, one of the least storied in MMA, the middleweight division has enjoyed one of the biggest and best months of its existence. And yet, the impact on the rankings was miniscule.

Bloody Elbow brings you live results and play-by-play of tonight's "War On The Mainland" show in Irvine, CA, where former UFC heavyweights Tim Sylvia and Paul Buentello will square off in a heavyweight bout. Also in action are Jens Pulver, Thales Leites, Tony Lopez and more.

Cross your fingers fight fans, #2 Chael Sonnen has made a lot of promises about his title shot against #1 Anderson Silva at UFC 117, with the most important one being that he's got the skill set to force Silva to fight rather than goof around in the cage.

UFC boss Dana White has painted himself into a corner by threatening to cut his middleweight champion Anderson Silva if Silva doesn't deliver entertaining performances.

The biggest news in the middleweight division in June involved #2 Chael Sonnen's twitter account and whether or not he went too far in smack talking in advance of his UFC 117 bout with #1 Anderson Silva. That explains the conspicuous lack of movement in the rankings this month.

While the MMA world awaits the bout between the prodigal UFC champ #1 Anderson Silva and #2 Chael Sonnen at UFC 117, the biggest intrigue in this division involves #3 Jake Shields and the mystery of how long it will take him to jump to the UFC once his Strikeforce contract expires.

In front of the largest weigh-in crowd in the organization's history, all the fighters hit the scale on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Maximum Fighting Championship's MFC 25: Vindication.

Both KSW XIII and MFC 25 will feature a little bit of something for everyone. If you're interested in what many of the UFC veterans are up to nowadays, MFC 25 will feature former UFC middleweight contender Thales Leites, TUF alums Jesse Taylor and Richie Hightower, and UFC veterans Wilson Gouveia, Luigi Fioravanti, and Pete Spratt.

Thales Leites talks with MMACanada about his MFC 25 main event matchup against Jesse Taylor. In a classic match of wrestling vs. BJJ, Thales plans on his improved striking making the difference in propelling him on to his 3rd consecutive victory.

Maximum Fighting Championship - Vindication Fight Card - Thales Leites meets Jesse "JT Money" Taylor in the main event. Ryan "The Big Deal" Jimmo faces Wilson Gouveia.