My MMA Resource

Mike “Joker” Guymon apparently has avoided his walking papers for now.

Fellow welterweight DaMarques Johnson recently posted news of an upcoming fight with the veteran at a currently unannounced Jan. 22 UFC event.

As MMAjunkie.com previously reported, the event is expected to take place in conjunction with Fort Hood in Texas, likely as a “UFC Fight for the Troops” event as UFC Fight Night 23.

Mike “Joker” Guymon apparently has avoided his walking papers for now.

Fellow welterweight DaMarques Johnson recently posted news of an upcoming fight with the veteran at a currently unannounced Jan. 22 UFC event.

As MMAjunkie.com previously reported, the event is expected to take place in conjunction with Fort Hood in Texas, likely as a “UFC Fight for the Troops” event as UFC Fight Night 23.

This past week’s UFC-WEC merger announcement is one of the biggest stories of 2010, and MMA fans discussed all aspects of it in today’s edition of The Sunday Junkie, our weekly reader-feedback feature.

While it seems to be a positive for fans, can the same be said for fighters? Will they struggle to get booked fights? And why is the WEC lightweight title going to be unified instead of simply eliminated like the WEC’s previously merged weight classes?

Additionally, could the merger open the door for women’s MMA, and does it now make sense to make WEC star Urijah Faber a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series?

Struggling fighters looking to re-invent themselves often eye a move
down in weight as they seek a potential advantage against future foes.

But when 25-year-old scrapper Nate Diaz was looking to right the ship
following a 1-3 stint at 155 pounds, he did exactly the opposite.

Now competing in the welterweight class, Diaz is currently prepping for a
UFC 125 clash with Dong Hyun Kim, but he’s considering the future, as
well. And as far as Diaz is concerned, he can fight in two weight
classes – just bring on the big-name opponents.

While the WEC will officially fold into the UFC beginning in 2011, the
world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion apparently isn’t wasting any time to start playing with its new toys.

The UFC is looking to kick off its new featherweight division at The Ultimate
Fighter 12 Finale with a contest between Leonard Garcia and Tyler
Toner.

MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to the event that Garcia’s camp has
verbally agreed to the proposed contest, which was first reported by
MMAWeekly.com, though bout agreements have not yet been distributed.

Maybe there’s something to these Bellator vs. Strikeforce superfights, after all.

While Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has openly lobbied for a matchup between
his company’s lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, and Strikeforce’s
155-pound kingpin Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has yet
to commit to a potential superfight.

But with Rebney now publicly pushing for his champions Hector Lombard
and Ben Askren to face their Strikeforce counterparts – Ronaldo “Jacare”
Souza and Nick Diaz, respectively – Coker says it’s time for the
Bellator CEO to get serious if he’s ready to deal.

With the UFC’s announcement Thursday that the WEC’s talent is octagon bound, a separate announcement is warranted.

Miguel Torres’ mullet is on its way, too.

“It just gives me a bigger audience to show how much of a badass I am and what a cool haircut looks like,” Torres told MMAjunkie.com Radio shortly after the huge news.

T.J. O’Brien’s second shot at UFC glory is now official.

Despite falling short in the elimination round of “The Ultimate Fighter
12,” O’Brien will still get his shot in the UFC’s
octagon.

UFC officials recently announced O’Brien will replace and injured Gabe
Ruediger and face lightweight Paul Kelly at UFC 123.