Vitor Belfort is back, TKOs Rich Franklin in first round

Martin Kampmann upset by Paul Daley; Dos Santos stops ‘Cro Cop’

Sep 19, 2009 (5:30 p.m.)

By Andy Samuelson

Vitor Belfort's return to the UFC became official just three minutes into his bout with Rich Franklin. The Brazilian clipped Ace with a big left and finished the former middleweight champ with three powerful punches on the ground. "Jesus I love you!" screamed the former light heavyweight champ moments after his first-round TKO.

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  Vitor Belfort puts on phenomenal performance in UFC return

  September 20, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  It took four and a half years for Vitor Belfort to get back in the Octagon, but it took him just three minutes and two seconds Saturday night to prove that “The Phenom" had truly returned. The former light heavyweight champ recorded his first UFC win since January of 2004 when he scored a first-round technical knockout of former middleweight champ Rich Franklin in front of 17,428 fans at the American Airlines Center.

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  UFC’s Dana White not impressed with Floyd Mayweather’s comeback fight

  September 20, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  While technical knockouts were happening all around him in Big D, UFC boss Dana White, a longtime boxing fan, was keeping tabs on a bout back in Las Vegas. But much like he predicted, Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return to the ring was not must see TV.

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  Breaking down UFC 103: Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort

  September 19, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  Too bad they tore the top of Reunion Arena here in Big D. Dallas’ long home for sporting events and concerts would have been the perfect setting for the reunion storylines that are sprinkled across the UFC 103 card. Headliner Rich Franklin is making his first appearance on U.S. soil in more than a year as the former middleweight champ takes on former UFC star Vitor Belfort, who is making his return to the UFC, at the state-of-the-art American Airlines Center tonight.

• Photogallery

  UFC 103 Weigh-ins

  All 26 fighters weighed in for the UFC record 13 fights that will take place at UFC 103 Saturday night in Dallas.

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  Vitor Belfort, Efrain Escudero miss mark at UFC 103 weigh-ins

  September 18, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  UFC 103 fighters were a little on the heavy side today. Main event fighter Vitor Belfort weighed in at a quarter pound over the 196-pound weight limit for his headling bout against Rich Franklin at the catchweight of 195 pounds tomorrow night at the American Airlines Center. The Ultimate Fighter No. 8 winner Efrain Escudero also missed his mark coming in at 157 pounds, two pounds over the lightweight mark of 155. Much like Belfort he had an hour to get to 156.

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  Naturally UFC 103 event is larger in Lonestar State

  September 18, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  You know the saying: “Everything is bigger in Texas.” So apparently does the UFC. The world’s premier mixed martial arts organization decided their second show in the Lone Star state would feature a promotion record 13 fights. “It’s always great to have UFC back in Texas and we know they’re gonna put on one hell of a good show,” Dickie Cole, the state’s combative sport program manager, said in a deep Texas twang.

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  The Return of "the Phenom"

  

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  Vitor Belfort makes his return to the UFC Saturday night to face Rich Franklin in the main event of UFC 103 in Dallas.

• Photogallery

  Vitor Belfort Workout
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  Dana White livid over Rampage Jackson’s Hollywood dream

  September 17, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  The latest edition of "Fireside Chats" — the best moments from UFC President Dana White's conversation with media members at Thursday's UFC 103 pre-fight press conference in Dallas.

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  Frank Trigg eyeing one last title run

  September 17, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  Frank Trigg knows he’s good at running his mouth. The veteran fighter made a secondary career as a fight broadcaster for PRIDE Fighting Championship. But at 37-years old, the former wrestler at Oklahoma University knows his fighting days are numbered. That’s why Trigg is looking at his comeback with the UFC has a final opportunity to claim the welterweight title that has so narrowly eluded him.

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  Bonus machine Tyson Griffin not worried about cash award in bout with Hermes Franca

  September 18, 2009

  By Andy Samuelson

  For the first time he can remember, Tyson Griffin wasn’t immediately back in the Octagon after his win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 18 in April. Instead the Xtreme Couture fighter was soaking in the sun on his boat at Lake Mead.

• Video

  UFC 103: Prepare for the Unexpected

  

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  Local fighters Frank Trigg and Martin Kampmann talk about their upcoming fights at UFC 103. Trigg returns to the Octagon to face Josh Koscheck, while Kampmann fights Paul Daly.

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  Rich Franklin not thinking about title shots

  September 8, 2009

  By Brett Okamoto

  Rich Franklin understands that he’ll never get a title shot at 195 pounds. According to the 34-year-old fighter, he’s okay with that.

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  Mirko Filipovic back for good, happy with UFC deal

  September 8, 2009

  By Brett Okamoto

  Former PRIDE star Mirko ‘Cro Crop’ Filipovic’s return to the UFC in June wasn’t exactly a huge success. The international mixed martial arts star won his fight over Mostapha Al Turk at UFC 99 in Germany when the referee missed an accidental eye-poke that put Al Turk on the defensive.