The UFC had made the unexpected decision to bring back old-timer Dennis Hallman after a four-year absence from the organization. Now the UFC has re-signed another hardy veteran, adding a fight between 38-year-old Vladimir Matyushenko and Igor Pokrajac to UFC 103.

A one-time UFC light heavyweight title contender, Matyushenko went 3-2 in the UFC from 2001 to 2003, scoring wins over Yuki Kondo, Travis Wiuff and Pedro Rizzo. Since then, "The Janitor" has gone 9-1, became the IFL Light Heavyweight Champion, and most recently won a decision over Jason Lambert at Call to Arms I in May.

It was also reported that 35-year-old PRIDE and UFC veteran Marcus Aurelio will be returning later this month at UFC 102. Between Matyushenko, Aurelio, Hallman, Ortiz, and the possibility that Chuck Liddell isn't quite retired, it's clear what's going on here: The Ultimate Fighter 11: Last Call. The coaches will be Liddell and Ortiz, the minimum age will be 33, and the winner will receive $100,000 in prescription medication.

Of course, such acquisitions come with a price. UFC middleweight Thales Leites was released from his contract yesterday, following his dull split-decision loss against Alessio Sakara at UFC 101. And to think, he was the number 1 middleweight contender two fights ago; serves him right for trying to use that boring jiu-jitsu stuff. Leites joins Tamdan McCrory, Dan Cramer, and likely George Roop and Danillo Villefort in the sad gentleman's club of UFC fighters who have recently lost their jobs, meaning that every single bout on UFC 101's undercard turned out to be a "win or go home" match.

Former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko will take on fellow UFC veteran Jason "The Punisher" Lambert at "Call to Arms 1" at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on May 16.

Matyushenko in January had an eight-fight win streak snapped by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at Affliction: Day of Reckoning in Anaheim, California. Matyushenko was knocked out with a knee in the second round. He had previously only been knocked out once, against Andrei Arlovski at UFC 44 in September 2003. After leaving the UFC on the loss to Arlovski, the Belarusian mixed martial artist made a comeback by tearing through the competition in the IFL as a member of the Tokyo Sabres.

This will be Lambert's first fight outside of the UFC since September 2005. Lambert made his Octagon debut at UFC 58 in March 2006 and fought until UFC 88 in September 2008, splitting eight fights. Lambert holds TKO win over Terry Martin and KO victory over Renato "Babalu" Sobral.

In the other featured bouts, Tiki Ghosn will take on Brian Warren and Daniel Puder will face Jeff Ford.

What a huge night in Atlanta, Georgia last Saturday night when UFC 88: Breakthrough was held in Philips Arena. Here are the results of the show:

• Rashad Evans def. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell by KO at 1:51 of Round 2

• Rich Franklin def. Matt "The Hammer" Hamill by TKO at 0:39 of Round 3

• Dan Henderson def. Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares by unanimous decision

• Nate "The Great" Marquardt def. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann by TKO (strikes) at 1:22 of Round 1

• "Stun Gun" Kim Dong-hyun def. Matt "The Immortal" Brown by split decision

• Kurt Pellegrino def. Thiago Tavares by unanimous decision

• Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch def. Michael Patt by TKO (strikes) at 2:03 of Round 1

• Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald def. Jason "The Punisher" Lambert by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:20 of Round 2

• Ryo "Piranha" Chonan def. Roan "Jucao" Carneiro by split decision

Sometimes a change of environment can be good for a person. Getting a fresh perspective on things can often stem a tide of bad luck.

This is what the UFC fighter Jason "The Punisher" Lambert hopes to do with his recent move down to middleweight division to face Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald at UFC 88 on September 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Long a dominant force in the smaller shows, Lambert has experienced a mixed bag since making his UFC debut in 2006.

On one hand he's had impressive wins over the likes of top 205-pound Brazilian fighter Renato "Babalu" Sobral, and on the other he's lost three of his last four fights heading into Atlanta (from Rashad Evans, Wilson Gouveia and Luis "Banha" Cane).

With the decision to move down in weight, he looks to recapture past prominence and establish himself as a legitimate title contender.

"I've been training my butt off and getting ready to get down to 185," said Lambert of his recent activities.

"It's been going good. I've been working a lot on strength, endurance and stuff like that, trying to keep a lot of my strength going down in weight class."

Long known for his physicality, he says so far he hasn't experienced a loss in power that some fighters experience when changing weight classes.

"I'm still doing a lot of things that I did at the old weight class," he reiterated. "Just sticking with those routines has been pretty tough when you're cutting back on calories, but it's been going pretty well."

"The whole goal is to move quick and still keep that power. I'm just ready to get out there and get back into the octagon and test my skills."

At UFC 88, Lambert is slated to face MacDonald, a Canadian fighter who is also looking to get back on track after a loss in his last fight.

"I'm expecting a high-paced ground fight," he commented. "Both of us like to fight on the ground, so I think we're both going to be fighting for that top position."

"I'm sure he's going to be looking for some submissions, and I'm going to be looking to ground and pound, so it should be quite a ground war, for sure."

The loser of this fight could very well find himself out of the UFC, but Lambert says he's not feeling any of those anxieties heading into the match-up.

"I kind of try to drop some of the pressure," he admitted. "A lot of people can get sucked into that, but I'm just trying to go out there and have a good performance either way."

"I can't control every aspect, I just know I can control myself, and I want as fight as hard as I possibly can, and whatever happens is gonna happen."

Win or lose, he wants to continue to be active and take full advantage of his formative years in the sport.

"I just want to fight," exclaimed Lambert. "I want to get out there and compete as much as my body will let me."

"I wanna get out there and constantly improve. I think that's where you do it the most – in fights – the more you stay inactive and on the shelf, it doesn't help so much."

In a new weight class with an opportunity to rebuild his career, Lambert knows now is the time if he wants to make the run he's always been capable of, sooner than later.

"I want to thank Sprall fight shots and Cobian footwear, and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," he closed out.

"Thanks to all the people that stick next to me win or lose, because they know I'm gonna bring it. I come to fight hard for them, so I thank them for all their support."