Undefeated heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee will make his long-awaited UFC debut against Mustapha Al Turk at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany. The Duffee-Al Turk fight will likely end up on the night's un-aired preliminary card.

Duffee (4-0) is currently training with the American Top Team in Florida and the Hardcore Gym in Georgia. His last fought in September 2008 against UFC veteran Assuerio Silva at a Jungle Fight event.

Al Turk (6-4) is a Cage Rage veteran who fought exclusively in the UK until his UFC debut last December. He will return to the octagon for the first time since he was stopped by brutal ground and pound punches by Cheick Kongo in his UFC debut at UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008.

Japan's DREAM organization announced on Friday that top ranked lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri (picture) will take on BJ Penn trained fighter Ross Ebanez at DREAM 7 on March 8 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Kawajiri (22-5-2) made an impressive kickboxing debut at Dynamite!! 2008 after his MMA loss to Eddie Alvarez at the semifinals of the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix.

Ross Ebanez (19-6) last competed in October, defeating Waachiim SpiritWolf at Rumble on the Rock: Beatdown 9.

DREAM 7 also features the opening round of the organization's featherweight tournament with fighters such as Masakazu Imanari, Chase Beebe, Atsushi Yamamoto, Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura, Micah Miller and more competing in the tournament.

While most fighters try to get out of coaching "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show on Spike, UFC middleweight fighter Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva is trying to get on the show.

Silva recently told Setanta Sports that he has spoken with UFC President Dana White about appearing as a coach in future series.

"I've spoken to Dana and he's spoken to me about future opportunities for working as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter," Silva said.

The Brazilian MMA star went on to say he would not put up with the kind of behavior he has seen in past shows.

"I saw the last series and man, I've got Brazilian blood. I'm so hot-headed. I would want to (gestures to clip them) smack them."

"It's so interesting though, the reality show is incredible, I love it. You watch the guys training and fighting, it's incredible," he said.

Silva currently owns a 1-2 record in his return to the Octagon, but there's no doubt that he has already become one of the UFC's most popular fighters.

HARRISBURG — Coming soon: a mixed martial arts fight near you.

The State Athletic Commission has sanctioned the bouts, sometimes called "extreme fighting," which mix kickboxing, boxing, wrestling and martial arts. They're featured on Spike TV through the Ultimate Fighting Championship series.

Rules governing the sport take effect Friday, lifting a ban on such contests in Pennsylvania.

Drawing from a base of older boxing fans and a younger generation that grew up after boxing's heyday, such fights might surpass pugilism's popularity, said Joe Pritzi, 31, of Mt. Washington.

"This type of fighting shows a range of ability," said Pritzi, a black belt in tae kwan do.

"Once they approve the regulations, you'll probably see promoters coming out of the woodwork," predicted Karen Latta, who manages fighters at a Montgomery County academy.

Pennsylvania joins a growing number of states that permit mixed martial arts, including Nevada, New Jersey, Maryland, California, Florida and Ohio.

The State Athletic Commission expects four to five events a month.

Greg Sirb, the commission's executive director, said the fights can be held in small and large arenas. He expects facilities such as Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh and Bryce Jordan Center in State College to stage them.

Fighters typically square off in octagon-shaped cages. Winners knock out opponents, or gain a submission where the opponent concedes by "tapping out." Referees sometimes call bouts because fighters are too battered to continue.

Fighters wear light gloves but no headgear or shin guards in professional contests. In amateur bouts, they must wear shin guards, under the regulations, Sirb said.

Shows can mix amateur and pro bouts, but each show must have two pro bouts on the card, Sirb said.

Gov. Ed Rendell is ready to fight in the octagon, his spokesman quipped Monday.

"After six years of rough-and-tumble politics in Harrisburg, we believe (he) may be the most qualified to fight for the championship in this extreme sport," said Chuck Ardo, the governor's press secretary.

Santino Achille, owner of Steel City Martial Arts in Castle Shannon, said Pennsylvania's approval of the sport is exciting.

"I don't think there's a sport in the world that's growing faster," he said.

In the televised sport's early days, people would boo if combatants grappled on the ground longer than 30 seconds, as Achille's students learn to do.

"Now, when somebody changes on the ground, improves their position, they cheer," Achille said. "It's a very educated crowd."

Source: pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib

The now former DREAM middleweight fighter, Yoshihiro Akiyama, has signed with the UFC. Akiyama may most be known for his "greasing" tactic against Japanese hero Kazushi Sakuraba but should also be known for his impressive record as well.

Akiyama holds a victory over another recent UFC middleweight signee in Denis Kang, before Kang began his current slide.

The signing of Akiyama is a big one in the sense that he could be the guy who ends up truly challenging Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at some point down the road.

UFC President Dana White had this to say about Akiyama on UFC.com, "I can see him making an immediate impact in the middleweight division."

It has just been announced that the current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem has been offered another K-1 match by K-1's governing body, the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG). The proposed opponent is fellow Dutchman, K-1 Champion Remy Bonjasky. Overeem and his management (Golden Glory) have already accepted the offer, the ball is now in Bonjasky's court according to some sources. At the end of 2008, Overeem shocked the world of martial arts by knocking out K-1 star Badr Hari under the K-1 rules at Dynamite!!. On March 28, Overeem will continue his K-1 career and with a victory over Bonjasky, he could become the world's most feared striker.