Hawaii and Indiana have both begun to regulate mixed martial arts this week, boosting the number of states which officially sanction the sport to 39.

Pennsylvania also began regulating MMA in recent months, with Pittsburgh's first event taking place last weekend and the UFC's "Keystone State" debut slated for August 8 with UFC 101 in Philadelphia.

One of the last major holdouts on the list of 11 states which have yet to legalize the sport is New York. Though a bill to regulate MMA is making progress in the state's legislature, it won't be until next year at the earliest until it could be approved with the first UFC event in the state unlikely until 2011.

A UFC event in Indianapolis, Indiana appears most-likely with the new regulation now in place, with an event in Hawaii, the home state of UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn (picture), likely on hold for the time being due to steep taxes and fees that accompany the state's regulation.

Un-sanctioned MMA events have been frequently held in both Indiana and Hawaii in the past, but the official regulation of MMA opens the doors for major promotions such as the UFC and Strikeforce to hold events in the states.

Despite giving up 66.8 pounds in the super-heavyweight bout, former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (picture) ground and pounded his way to victory over former Chicago Bears lineman Bob "The Beast" Sapp at "Ultimate Chaos" Saturday night at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Lashley right away went for the takedown to wear down his 322-pound opponent with punches from Sapp's half guard. Sapp grabbed Lashley's arm to limit Lashley's punches but never attempted to escape to a better position.

Lashley continued working on punches to Sapp's head. A flurry of punches hurt Sapp and the former PRIDE Fighting Championships competitor had to tap in pain. Sapp actually had to tap on two occasions because the referee did not notice it the first time.

Sapp, who once received a broken orbital bone fighting kickboxer Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, received enough punches to impair his vision.

"I got a good shot in the eye and was unable to see," Sapp said. "He got me in the eye. No excuses, He got me down today and controlled it. Give it up to Bobby Lashley."

The fight was called at three minutes and 17 seconds of the opening round.

Lashley explained afterwards why he went against his word that he would stand and box with Sapp.

"The first thing is to win," Lashley said. "Ground and pound to wear the big man down. He has a big punch. I used my ground and pound and got out of there."

In the night's co-main event, Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel won a shot at Paul Buentello at the August 1 Affliction: Trilogy card by defeating Pedro "The Rock" Rizzo. Yvel punished Rizzo for a failed takedown attempt and knocked Rizzo unconscious with right hands to finish the fight.

Here are quick results from the event:

• James Orso def. Danny Abbadi by unanimous decision

• Brandon Harder def. James Harris by submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:31 of Round 2

• Tom Atencio def. Randy Hedderick by TKO (stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2

• Waachiim Spiritwolf def. Brett Cooper by KO at 3:41 of Round 1

• Chris Horodecki def. William Sriyapai by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:02 of Round 1

• Javier Vazquez def. Mark Kergosien by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:59 of Round 1

• Gilbert Yvel def. Pedro Rizzo by KO (punches) at 2:10 of Round 1

• Bobby Lashley def. Bob Sapp by submission (punches) at 3:17 of Round 1

UFC President Dana White recently made news by announcing that he was working to re-sign former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort and instantly speculation began to run rampant in regards to a possible first opponent for Belfort if the signing comes to fruition.

One name that keeps popping up is no stranger to Belfort as Vitor's lightning quick knockout victory over Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil back in 1998 is among the biggest wins of his career.

According to Silva (picture) in a recent interview with Sensei Sport TV, Belfort was seriously stressing out before his first fight with "The Axe Murderer". If that was the case it would definitely work in Wanderlei's favor if Belfort came into the potential rematch much more relaxed.

"That sequence of punches, I don't know whether that was technique or anxiety," speculated Silva. "Many people told me he was dying of fear to face me so that must have been anxiety (that drove him)."

Both men formerly made their home at 205 pounds before recently making the mutual decision to drop down to middleweight so a potential bout between the two would likely come at 185 pounds. Although Silva knows nothing is set in stone at this time, if the call comes, he'll be ready, as usual.

"Sooner or later (the rematch) is going to happen," said Silva. "I'm ready to face anyone, including him."

One loss was all it took for the UFC to hand Mike Ciesnolevicz a.k.a. Mike C his walking papers.

The 29-year-old out of Team Miletich has been let go after a four-month stint with UFC. Ciesnolevicz (17-4) compiled a 1-1 record as a member of the UFC organization.

Ciesnolevicz in February received a call to move up to heavyweight on short notice to fight Neil Grove at UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson in London. Ciesnolevicz submitted Grove in 63 seconds with a heel hook and it appeared the former International Fight League fighter found a new home with the UFC. But his loss in a light heavyweight bout to Tomasz Drwal last Saturday at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale and perhaps his failure to make weight -- he was the only fighter on the card to not make weight -- was apparently enough to bring about his release.

Mike C was the light heavyweight for the Pat Miletich's Quad Cities Silverbacks squad in the IFL from 2006 through 2008.