According to an article in the Manchester Evening News, it appears that TUF 9 coaches Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping will fight for a title shot when they meet at UFC 100 in July:

The 30-year-old from Clitheroe has been promised a shot at the mixed martial arts organisation's middleweight crown if he comes through his clash with Dan Henderson in Las Vegas on July 11 and wins again at the M.E.N. Arena.

"Michael will fight Henderson at UFC 100 in Vegas, and the winner will get a world title shot," a UFC spokesman said.

"And if that winner is Michael, we intend to take the fight to Manchester, just down the road from where he lives.

The big winner in all of this has to be Bisping, who has only fought three fights at middleweight. To be awarded a title shot should he beat Henderson has to be considered a huge win for Bisping considering the people he's fought at middleweight (Chris Leben, Jason Day, and Charles McCarthy) to get to this point. In regards to Henderson, he's made it clear that he would rather fight at light heavyweight and he's also already lost to Silva once before in convincing fashion. Should Henderson win I don't see any real upside for the UFC or Henderson at all.

The two biggest losers in all of this? Demian Maia, of course, and Yushin Okami. When will these guys get their due? I understand that Okami has had a big layoff plagued by injuries so he probably needs at least one more win to get back int the picture. But Maia is the most deserving of anyone in the middleweight division right now with convincing wins over better competition than Bisping.

Obviously the UFC does what it wants to do for ratings' sake and I'm sure they'd love for Bisping to take on Anderson Silva in England, but when do the guys who have earned it get their shot?

From an email in my inbox this morning from Nick Palmisciano of Ranger Up:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
Tuesday afternoon I am meeting with National Guard officials who are considering adding Special Forces Operator and top mixed martial arts competitor Tim Kennedy to their elite athlete program.  Those of you that know Tim, or even know of him, can attest to the fact that he is certainly deserving of that honor.
 
The National Guard has two main questions:
 
1) How many people support Tim Kennedy?
 
2) Does the National Guard need an MMA team?
 
I firmly believe that MMA is the only sport that truly tests our resolve to close with and destroy the enemy, and I believe that Tim has more than a few supporters. 
 
I don't think I am alone in feeling that way.
 
As such, I am asking for your help.
 
I have created an email account at email GoTimKennedy@gmail.com.  I am posting this at 4AM Monday morning.  I am going to unfurl the results during our meeting.
 
Please take a moment to shoot an email to that address and tell the National Guard that you support Tim Kennedy.  You have until our meeting Tuesday afternoon (May 2nd) to send one!
 
Thanks so much for your support!

As Nick stated, anyone who knows Tim, has talked with him, or has even watched him fight knows that he is very deserving of this honor. Not only that, but Tim is one of the best representatives that this sport has. I urge everyone to send an email to the above email address and support Tim, whether you know him, have spoken with him, or are just a fan.

Alex Mack, Cleveland's new center and former Cal player, has had some experience staring down the Bengals' newest linebacker:

"He's got a great nose for the ball," Mack said of Maualuga. "He's big player, physical, but he's also not afraid to go through you or around you. He's obviously one of the bigger inside guys, but he also has some speed and some moves.

"He will hit you if he needs to, but he will also just go right around you if he doesn't have to. That's what I mean by a good nose for the ball. He knows exactly where he needs to go to get to the ball."

John Clayton on the Andre Smith pick:

Bengals owner Mike Brown would rather draft a top offensive lineman than a skill-position player. In 2002, Brown drafted left tackle Levi Brown instead of tight end Jeremy Shockey in the first round. So it shouldn't have been a surprise to see the Bengals take offensive tackle Andre Smith over wide receiver Michael Crabtree, despite Cincinnati's need at receiver after the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in free agency.

Levi Brown? Really? Also, did Clayton even watch our team last year? Crabtree is of no use to us if we can't protect Palmer. I usually like Clayton but this is nitpicking at best.