News across the mixed martial arts community happens on a daily basis. Here are a few of the most recent news bites that have hit the wires.

Thiago Out

Brazilian welterweight Paulo Thiago has been forced to pull out from his fight with Johny Hendricks. The two were set to face off at UFC on Versus 3 on March 3. An elbow injury is the reported cause of Thiago having to miss the bout.

Thiago’s manager Wallid Ismail has reported that the fighter will have to undergo elbow surgery to remove bone fragments from the joint. The exact date of the surgery was not announced, although it is expected to be sometime by the end of the week.

Melvin Guillard pulled off what many may consider a huge upset at UFC Fight for the Troops 2 at Fort Hood, Texas. He stopped lightweight contender Evan Dunham during the first round of their fight.

The 27-year old Guillard used his blistering speed to stifle Dunham while the two were on their feet. To begin the fight a short right hook caught Dunham who immediately changed his game plan to taking Guillard to the mat. While he was successful in doing so, he couldn’t keep Guillard there. Once back on their feet, the MMA vet pushed the pace and rocked his opponent numerous times.

A left-right combination, followed by a sharp knee had Dunham seriously hurt and in danger. Two more knees, one of which should have been deemed illegal, and a few blows to the head forced the stoppage of the bout at 2:38 seconds into the first round. Guillard proceeded to stake his claim in the 155 pound weight division.

Wednesday brought about a few news items that were released to the mixed martial arts communities. These stories covered the three largest promotions in the United States: the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce.

In Strikeforce news, a fighter with a very high profile last name will step foot in the cage at Strikeforce Challengers 14. Ryan Couture, son of the MMA icon Randy, will make his second professional appearance against fellow MMA newcomer Lee Higgins.

During his amateur career, Couture ran up a 5-1-1 record using his proficient Jiu Jitsu technique. His first professional fight was at Strikeforce Challengers 10, where he defeated Lucas Stark with a triangle choke in just 1:15. Couture trains at his father’s gym Xtreme Couture located in Las Vegas.

Mixed martial arts as a sport that is continuing to grow and expand. Looking around the world, more and more locations are legalizing the sport. While MMA still has its opponents and those that stand in its way, promotions such as the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator and DREAM continue to look for ways to further its change and development.

As the sport continues to grow, I have been asking the question that may be too early to ask, but still worth the thought. Could mixed martial arts function as an Olympic sport? The quick answer to the question is no for various reasons, however looking deeper into the question poses some interesting points.

With an ending so controversial that fans began to spew curses and boos while Joe Rogan went on an attack based rant against MMA judging; the UFC had almost no choice but to set up a rematch with Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan.

Set to take place on March 26 at UFC Fight Night 24, Garcia and Phan will once again lock horns. This match was first reported by MMAWeekly.com and has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.

The duo first met on December 4th at the Ultimate Fighter season 12 Finale. In that bout the fighters went at each other for the full three rounds. An action packed battle that saw Garcia push the pace, as he normally does, with Phan displaying effective striking of his own.

Planning big matchups in the immediate future has never been a problem for the Ultimate Fighting Championship organizers. UFC 130 is proof of that. This event, which hasn’t been officially announced by the UFC, is expected to be laced with many fights that can shake up the rankings of various weight classes.

Currently, the rumored main event may include the third matchup between current UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar and the only man to defeat him, Gray Maynard. At the first MMA event of the year, these two fighters put on a show that people will be talking about all year. Maynard nearly decimated the champion in the first five minutes; however, Edgar displayed a level of heart that few people can ever attain. He was able to battle back during the next 20 minutes and forces the judges to award a split draw. UFC President then awarded an immediate rematch to Maynard.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is making more steps in global expansion with UFC 129 being set in Toronto, Canada. The Canadian province recently legalized the sport and this will be the UFC’s first event in the area. With this being the company’s first time coming, the organization has created a card that is expected to entertain the masses.

The main event has been announced to feature Canadian hero, and perhaps one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre as he faces off what many people believe to be the last hurdle in the welterweight division, Jake Shields.

With the first UFC event of 2011 less than a week away, some potential matchups have been announced for the New Year. Heavyweight prospects Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve will face off while Anthony Johnson and Dan Hardy will touch gloves.

An anticipated matchup against Frank Mir has been nixed for Schaub, but he will instead face the rising Struve during a March UFC event. The matchup has not been announced by the UFC; however it has been confirmed by a number of MMA reporting organizations.

Brendan Schaub is coming off a unanimous decision victory against former UFC contender Gabriel Gonzaga. This three round contest was the first time that Schaub has fought outside the first round. Since his defeat at the hands of Roy Nelson at the Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale in 2009. This is Schaub’s only defeat in eight professional fights.

Some major match announcements came to light on Wednesday as the mixed martial arts worlds prepares to enter 2011. Starting with UFC 126 this weekend, the New Year is set to bring fight fans a large number of exciting matchups and drama filled battles.

Overeem Faces Former UFC Prospect
The Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010 will host an exciting matchup between two big names within the heavyweight division. Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem will face off against former UFC employee, Todd Duffee.

Mixed martial arts is a steadily growing sport within the United States and throughout the country as a whole. Every year more and more individuals find ways to get involved and begin training. As with any other sport, newcomers should take head to particular steps to make sure they have a smooth transition into the world of MMA.

Selecting a School
Selecting a training school is a very important step in the process to becoming a mixed martial artist. Many individuals are starting schools when they themselves do not have a solid background within the sport. Before you sign up at any institution, do some research on the instructors at the facility. You should try to find a school that has teachers who have actively participated in the sport. Schools that have former or active fighters can give you an accurate look into the world of MMA. Also, research the fees required with training as everyone must work within a budget.