UFC 97 “Redemption” set for April 18th, from the Bell Centre in Montreal Quebec, Canada. Headlining the card will be UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva talking on Thales Leites. In the co-main event, “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell will finally get his chance at former PRIDE veteran Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Make sure to check out CageToday.com for the latest UFC 97 results starting at 8 PM EST.

Results After the Jump

MAIN CARD

• Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites
  Result: Anderson Silva defeats Thales Leites via Unanimous Decision. (49-46, 48-47, 50-46)
• Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman
  Result: Sam Stout defeats Matt Wiman via Unanimous Decision. (29-28, x3)
• Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua
  Result: Mauricio Rua defeats Chuck Liddell via TKO (Strikes) at 4:28 of R1.

• Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann
  Result: Krzysztof Soszynski defeats Brian Stann via Submission (Kimura) at 3:53 of R1.

• Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk
  Result: Cheick Kongo defeats Antoni Hardonk via TKO (Strikes) at 2:29 of R2.
• Luis Cane vs. Steve Cantwell
  Result: Luis Cane defeats Steve Cantwell via Unanimous Decision. (29-28, 30-27 x2)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokum
  Result: Denis Kang defeats Xavier Foupa-Pokam via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x3)
• Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry
  Result: Nate Quarry defeats Jason MacDonald via TKO (Strikes) at 2:27 of R1.
• David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman
  Result: Ed Herman defeats David Loiseau via Unanimous Decision. (30-26, 30-27 x2)
• David Bielkheden vs. Mark Bocek
  Result: Mark Bocek defeats David Bielkheden via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:57 of R1.
• Ryo Chonan vs. T.J. Grant
  Result: T.J. Grant defeats Ryo Chonan via Split Decision. (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Eliot Marshall vs. Vinicius Magalhaes
  Result: Eliot Marshall defeats Vinicius Magalhaes via Unanimous Decision, (29-28, 30-27 x2).

UFC Fight Night 18 “Condit vs. Kampmann” live April 1st from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Following the live event will be the debut of The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 on SpikeTV.

UFN 18 starts around 5:30 PM EST with the main card to follow at 8 PM EST on Spike TV.

Results after the jump…

MAIN CARD

• Carlos Condit vs Martin Kampmann
  Result: Martin Kampmann defeats Carlos Condit via Split Decision. (29-28, 28-29 x2 Kampmann)
• Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero
  Result: Ryan Bader defeats Carmelo Marrero via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x3)
• Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael dos Anjos
  Result: Tyson Griffin defeats Rafael Dos Anjos via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x3)
• Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller
  Result: Cole Miller defeats Junie Browning via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:58 of R1.

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Gleison Tibau vs. Jeremy Stephens
  Result: Gleison Tibau defeats Jeremy Stephens via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x2, 29-28)
• Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich
  Result: Ricardo Almeida defeats Matt Horwich via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x3)
• Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders
  Result: Brock Larson defeats Jesse Sanders via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:01 of R1.
• Tim Credeur vs. Nick Catone
  Result: Tim Credeur defeats Nick Catone via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:45 of R2.

• Jorge Rivera vs. Nissen Osterneck
  Result: Jorge Rivera defeats Nissen Osterneck via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29 x2 Rivera).
• Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo
  Result: Rob Kimmons defeats Joe Vedepo via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:54 of R1.
• Tim McKenzie vs. Aaron Simpson
  Result: Aaron Simpson defeats Tim McKenzie via TKO (Strikes) at 1:40 of R1.

Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (6-2) vs. Brandon “The Truth” Vera (10-3) is in the works for UFC 101, according to MMAMadness.

Both light heavyweight fighters secured victories at UFC 96 in Columbus, Ohio. Vera chopped Mike Patt’s legs to win an impressive second round TKO victory. Matt Hamill showed some improved stand-up by knocking out top wrestler Mark Munoz in the first round at UFC 96.

For the latest on UFC 101, check out our UFC Rumors section.

UFC 96 “Jackson vs. Jardine” goes back to Ohio for a UFC light heavyweight contendership bout between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine. With a win at UFC 96, Rampage would be primed to get a chance at Rashad Evans and his lost UFC light heavyweight belt.

MAIN CARD

• Keith Jardine vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
  Result: Quinton Jackson defeats Keith Jardine via Unanimous Decision. (29-28 x2, 30-27)
• Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane Carwin
  Result: Shane Carwin defeats Gabriel Gonzaga via KO (Punch) at 1:09 of R1.
• Pete Sell vs. Matt Brown
  Result: Matt Brown defeats Pete Sell via TKO (Strikes) at 1:32 of R1.
• Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz
  Result: Matt Hamill defeats Mark Munoz via KO (Head Kick) at 3:53 of R1.
• Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller
  Result: Gray Maynard defeats Jim Miller via Unanimous Decision. (30-27 x3)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Tamdan McCrory vs. Ryan Madigan
  Result: Tamdan McCrory defeats Ryan Madigan via TKO (Strikes) at 3:35 of R1.

• Kendall Grove vs. Jason Day
  Result: Kendall Grove defeats Jason Day via TKO (Strikes) at 1:32 of R1.
• Tim Boetsch vs. Jason Brilz
  Result: Jason Brilz defeats Tim Boetsch via Unanimous Decision. (29-28 x3)
• Brandon Vera vs. Mike Patt
  Result: Brandon Vera defeats Michael Patt via TKO (Strikes) at 1:27 of R1.
• Aaron Riley vs. Shane Nelson
  Result: Shane Nelson defeats Aaron Riley via TKO (Strikes) at 0:44 of R1.
  

It now looks like the proposed headline fight between UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn (13-5-1) and top contender Kenny Florian (11-3) at UFC 99 might just have to wait till the end of summer. Penn, who became a father in with the birth of his daughter Aeva last October, wants some family time before defending his lightweight title, according to Sherdog.

BJ Penn’s older brother and manager JD Penn:

“No, it’s too close to BJ’s last fight … He wants to spend time with his baby.”

“We are still negotiating the fight … No date [is] scheduled, but we are thinking late July or early August.”

Kenny’s not to happy:

“I talked to my manager Joe Cavallaro today and [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva told him June 13, … That was the date they wanted because they wanted it to be the main event and the only main event. That’s what fight made the most amount of sense for June 13. July [11, UFC 100] apparently is backed up, so July’s probably out of the question, and August…”

“For me, it’s the fight that I want and it’s the fight he wants and we both need to come to terms on it, so if that’s what I need to do to make it happen, if I have to wait, then I have no choice,”

“Schedule-wise it makes it a little difficult because money-wise, you expect a certain amount to come in and I’ve been trying to budget things accordingly … It might be a little tougher now.”

LOS ANGELES, CA. — In a transaction signaling the dawn of a new era in the world’s fastest growing sport, world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) organization Strikeforce®, has acquired certain fighter contracts from ProElite, Inc, the parent company of former Strikeforce ® co-promoter, Elite Xtreme Combat (EliteXC).

Strikeforce® also acquired other specific assets of ProElite, including a library of EliteXC events, which were distributed live on either CBS or Showtime Networks.

“This is a tremendous development that will bolster the Strikeforce® roster and allow us to produce even more competitive matchups between top fighters,” said Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of Strikeforce®. “Some of these athletes have been on the sidelines for a while now and are eagerly waiting to return to competition. We look forward to providing them with the opportunity to do so in the next few months.”

Strikeforce® and EliteXC joined forces to deliver the first live SHOWTIME PPV® MMA event, “Shamrock vs. Baroni,” on June 22, 2007. In the headlining contest, former UFC middleweight champion and MMA legend Frank Shamrock submitted knockout artist Phil “The New York Badass” Baroni in the second round, where upon Shamrock became the first Strikeforce® World Middleweight Champion.

On March 29, 2008, the two promotions collaborated once more to deliver a live telecast on SHOWTIME® featuring one of the sport’s most anticipated showdowns – Shamrock versus undefeated world kickboxing champion Cung Le. In a battle that has since been proclaimed “Fight Of The Year” by critics, Le seized the Strikeforce® middleweight crown by pouring on a relentless offensive and fending off Shamrock’s counter attacks before breaking the defending champion’s arm with a hard roundhouse kick. Shamrock retired from the bout after the third round of a five round match.

A martial arts promoter for over 23 years, Coker has gained widespread acclaim among industry colleagues and the media, including Rolling Stone magazine, Yahoo! Sports, and The San Jose Mercury News. Coker elevated his 14-year-old Strikeforce® organization to become a major player in the World’s fastest growing sport. Strikeforce’s® inaugural MMA event hosted a capacity crowd of 18,265 at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on March 10, 2006. The live gate figure also broke the then all-time record for attendance at an MMA event held in North America.

EliteXC burst onto the MMA scene with “Destiny,” the first live, SHOWTIME®-televised MMA fight card in history, on February 10, 2007. Held at Southaven Mississippi’s DeSoto Civic Center, the main event pitted Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, Renzo Gracie.

The promotion made history again by bringing, for the first time, a live MMA event to the CBS Television Network on May 31, 2008.

UFC 94 “St-Pierre vs Penn 2″ on January 31st, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The card features a UFC superfight between the UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and the UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn.

Check back with CageToday.com on fight night for live results, starting with the undercards at 8 pm EST.

Live Results after the JUMP…

MAIN CARD

• Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn [T]
  Result: Georges St. Pierre defeats BJ Penn by TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 5:00 of R4.
• Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva
  Result: Lyoto Machida defeats Thiago Silva by KO (Punches) at 4:59 of R1.
• Stephan Bonnar and Jon Jones
  Result: Jon Jones defeats Stephan Bonnar by Unanimous Decision. (29-28 x2 and 30-37)
• Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim
  Result: Karo Parisyan defeats Dong Hyun Kim by Split Decision. (29-28 Kim, 29-28 x2 Parisyan)
• Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida
  Result: Clay Guida defeats Nate Diaz by Split Decision. (29-28 Diaz, 29-28 x2 Guida)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono
  Result: Jon Fitch defeats Akihiro Gono by Unanimous Decision. (30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 Fitch)
• Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
  Result: Thiago Tavares defeats Manny Gamburyan by Unanimous Decision. (29-28 x3 Thiago Tavares)
• Chris Wilson vs. John Howard
  Result: John Howard defeats Chris Wilson by Split Decision. (29-28 Howard x3, 29-28 Wilson)
• Jake O’Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
  Result: Jake O’Brien defeats Christian Wellisch by Split Decision. (29-28 Wellisch, 29-28 O’Brien x2)
• Matt Arroyo vs Dan Cramer
  Result: Dan Cramer defeats Matt Arroyo by Split Decision. (29-28 x2 Cramer , 29-28 Arroyo)
  

Former EliteXC president and boxing promoter Gary Shaw and family look to be making a new reality show dubbed “Blood Sweat -n- Bling”.

Elite XC’s mainstream ride came to a permanent and unceremonious halt several weeks ago. The once promising upstart-mixed-martial-arts promotion declared bankruptcy, thus, joining the likes of failed fight companies like Pride and the IFL.

The organization had received increasing criticism for resembling the circus like WWE, rather than a respectable sports promotion. By pushing undeserving and over the hill stars, compounded with a lack of fighter depth, their demise was not surprising.

Amidst the chaos though, several talented and intriguing fighters remain in search of new homes. Some of these future free agents are world-class talents, others provide ratings, and a select few find their careers in jeopardy.

In order to decipher the best possible free agents, I have made a comprehensive list of the most viable Elite XC options.
 

Robbie Lawler

Elite Exec’s incumbent middleweight champion is an entirely different fighter than he was in the UFC. Gone is the undisciplined, one-dimensional brawler. A calculating, precise and well-rounded mixed martial artist has replaced him. Lawler’s game has evolved and combines lethal striking with solid wrestling. Still young at 26, Lawler’s career is on the rise. With an array of skills and a flair for dramatic fights, Big Rob will be a serious addition to any roster.
 

Kimbo Slice

The face of the defunct organization is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Youtube’s most famous street brawler elicits massive fan reaction and attracts quite a following, but he has been exposed as an inexperienced and pedestrian fighter. It appears as though Slice is too old to ever be a top contender, yet is still marketable enough so that he is a profitable commodity. While the UFC could exploit his popularity, it would hurt its credibility in the process. More likely, the Kimbo Slice show will be taken overseas to Japan, where less skilled fighters with a menacing look have been successful in the past (Bob Sapp). Either way, it seems for now as though Slice’s 15 minutes of fame are almost up.
 

Jake Shields

The Gracie trained jiu-jitsu fighter is a highly sought after free agent. His impressive 11-fight winning streak and slick ground game make him one of the best welterweights in the world. Shields has also voiced interest in competing at 185, which allows organization flexibility in crafting the best possible fights. Although receiving decent exposure from Elite XC, his fights lacked real excitement so his drawing power is still relatively low. But, his talent is too great to ignore and the UFC is the most logical destination for him.
 

Gina Carano

The woman who thrust female MMA onto a national platform is in a precarious position. There are few organization that have a steady women’s division, fewer with notable opponents, and even fewer with deep enough pockets to pay Carano her proper due. Yet, she is one of the most popular athletes in the sport, is easily one of the most marketable and attracts an entirely new demographic. That kind of ratings power is a valuable asset for any company and should be enough to get her signed. Additionally, Carano can truly fight and has taken part in fan-pleasing bouts. A potential showdown against rival Cyborg Santos was quickly becoming a highly anticipated main event. It would be a shame for her fighting prowess to go to waste because nobody wants to invest in the development of women’s MMA. Dana White, step your game up! Can anybody say, Ultimate Fighter, Women’s Edition?
 

The Heavyweights

Elite XC truly began to cultivate three up and coming heavyweights that are deserving of recognition amongst the crop of free agents. Antonio Silva is an established presence and Brett Rogers and Dave Herman are rising stars.

Silva is a giant serving one-year steroids suspension, but Rogers and Herman are young and ready. Rogers gained notoriety for calling out Kimbo Slice and for his propensity for first round TKO’s (see James Thompson and Jon Murphy). He appears increasingly more polished with experience and would be a nice talent to cultivate for a thin UFC division.

I attended Indiana University with Herman where he was a dominant wrestler. With no consistent formal training, Herman is a very raw prospect. Still, the guy is incredibly agile for his size and can really move. He is very limber and extremely powerful. The 23-year-old is an infant in the sport and should be brought along slowly.

All three fighters would provide quality depth for any organization.
 

Other Notables

Nick Diaz, KJ Noons, Joey Villasenor and Rafel Cavalcante.
 
Diaz is a MMA veteran who has fought across the globe. Noons is a younger fighter more recognized for his controversial relationship with Elite XC than his actual fighting. Villasenor is an exciting middleweight who is well rounded, but not exceptional.
 
The real prize here is Cavalcante. Hailing from Brazil, the 28-year-old is a BJJ fighter who trains with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Anderson Silva. At 6’2, the former heavyweight is a massive specimen at 205. His striking has continually improved, which compliments a grappling background and established ground game. If he catches on with a major promotion, look for him to turn some heads.

In a surprising turn in the EliteXC saga, Lawyers for EliteXC have responded to fighters 30 day breach of contract notices, stating they are not done and will be holding a fight in 2009, according to GracieFighter.com.

EliteXC representatives have vowed that they will continue operations and will be planning a show in early 2009. Most of the major EliteXC fighters under contract have been notified.

Lead counsel for the organization has informed us that contrary to popular beleif, EliteXC has not filed for bankruptcy and has merely scaled down their staff.

This will be a setback for all EliteXC fighters currently under contract as they will be unable to fight in other organizations without the express written permission of EliteXC. Barring a judicial ruling, EliteXC fighters could be hampered from signing with another organization.

However, Nick Diaz will be able to fight in Japan if terms are agreed upon with a Japanese organization due to a previous agreement with EliteXC. It is assumed that Eddie Alvarez will also be able to fight in the Far East without any EliteXC restrictions due to his previous contract with Dream.

This is likely a stall tactic by EliteXC officials to sell off the company or possibly gain some additional funding. Whatever it is, EliteXC better figure it out soon so their fighters don’t have to sit on the shelf.