MOORE: UK MMA Blog - Injuries, Bisping, UK Twitter movement, Paul Daley, and more

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Not too much going on this week, other than constant bad news that's just depressing to read. Reports of injuries and fight changes are becoming an everyday occurrence this year. Cards with so much potential are now being decimated beyond recognition. None of these announcements this week disappointed me more than the withdrawal of Michael Bisping from the UFC 149 card, in Calgary. Although the injury isn't thought to be long term, it's inevitably going to have an impact on where Bisping sits in the Middleweight division. Hector Lombard, like it or not, seems a lock to get the next title shot if he beats Tim Boetsch next month. Had Bisping won his originally scheduled fight, he would have had sound justification for a shot of his own. Momentum, and the here and now, counts for everything in the UFC and the momentum is with someone else.

On a brighter note (for the fans anyway), torn miniscus surgery generally doesn't require long term rehabilitation, so there is every chance Bisping could be ready to return before the UFC Nottingham event. Having him as the headliner makes all the sense in the world to me, so as the cliche goes, this cloud could have a silver lining after all. As for speculating on a potential opponent, there are plenty of names who could be in the frame. Brian Stann, Vitor Belfort and Alan Belcher would all be great opponents if they, like Bisping, can recover from injury in time for September. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

**********************************

Leeroy Barnes is a man you want to follow on Twitter right now. Not one for caring what he tweets - or who it offends - he's amusing, very interactive with fans, and a really nice bloke to boot. Dem Marquez has directed a video all about Leeroy that will air on MTV.co.uk very soon so keep an eye out for that, as well as giving the BAMMA middleweight a follow on Twitter. He's also a great talent too, who bounced back from a decision loss to Jack Marshman last year, with a submission win over Team Trojan fighter Matt Ewin in March. Follow his using @LeeroyBarnes

**********************************

No news on the UK TV contract as yet but surely an announcement is forthcoming soon. Zuffa have either already concluded a deal and are just waiting for the right time to announce it, or they are still in the longest negotiations of all time with both Sky Sports and ESPN, and can't get the deal they really want and think they deserve.

**********************************

The UFC missed a trick when they paired Siyar Bahadurzada up with Chris Clements, and not Dan Hardy. I'd have paid big money to see that fight on the Nottingham card, even if it would have probably lasted no longer than two minutes!

**********************************

Loving the MMA Twitter movement that's gaining momentum week by week in the UK. Keeping in touch with like minded fans is the best thing about multi media tools like Twitter and Facebook, and #MMAukChat�is gaining in popularity with every passing event. Unlike the US or Canada, these events aren't broadcast at times suitable for watching fights in a bar, so this is the next best thing and it's good fun. Hopefully many of the fans using it will be present in Nottingham this September, for a non virtual get together to continue the MMA discussion.

**********************************�

This is not really surprise news to any of us, but Paul Daley and Strikeforce have now parted company, and the Nottingham Welterweight is a free agent. Sadly free agency in MMA doesn't leave you with a ton of options, especially when you've burnt a million bridges with the world's biggest organization. Daley fighting for BAMMA again is probably a given, but it's unlikely that deal, like befpre, would be entirely exclusive. If Daley wants to fight with more regularity, it might be an idea to team up with Bellator, whilst continuing to fulfill his obligations to BAMMA once or twice a year. I'd love to see Daley fight in Nottingham in September, but I've got more chance of playing up front for England in EURO 2012.


Feel free to follow me on Twitter @MMATorchDan

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Staff_Editorials_19/article_13571.shtml

Murilo Bustamante  Grant Campbell  Gesias JZ Calvancante  Luiz Cane  Dos Caras Jr