FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Josh Thomson

After pulling out of his title defense at Strikeforce: Destruction because of an injury, Josh "The Punk" Thomson is apparently healthy enough to request a fight with the big guns. In speaking with MMAJunkie.com, Thomson said:

"I'm looking for big fights I'd love to fight Ralph Gracie. I'd love to fight Frank Shamrock. I'd like to fight Eddie Alvarez. I'd like to fight those guys. And those to me, and (Joachim) Hansen, they warrant coming in off the street to get an automatic title shot -- or like a union fight or superfight."

Thomson broke his toe while training for his rematch with Yves Edwards. (Thomson matter-of-factly said he did everything in his power to work through the injury, in case you were wondering.) Though his next fight hasn't been scheduled, the 30-year-old free agent said he's open to returning to Strikeforce, especially if he can take on Shamrock.

The some 10-20-pound weight difference? Not a concern for Thomson, because ...

"It really comes down to whether Frank wants to fight."

• Josh Thomson seeks big fight in return, targets Frank Shamrock (MMAJunkie.com)

The UFC isn't giving up on pushing controversial contracts in front of its fighters.

As first reported by MMAmania.com and confirmed by SI.com, Dana White & Co. told Jon Fitch and Christian Wellisch to hit the pavement after the two refused to sign a licensing agreement for the promotion's THQ video game - an agreement that would hand Zuffa rights to the fighters' names and likenesses in perpetuity.

The agreement is similar to the one the UFC asked its fighters to sign for clothing deals and the JAKKS Pacific action figures. Many managers and fighters expressed concern over "deal-breaker" clauses in those, such as undefined terms of compensation, the loss of likeness rights in perpetuity and the inability to audit how much Zuffa is making in individual licensing agreements.

The exact terms of the video game licensing agreement were not disclosed, how ever it makes you wonder: could Fitch and Wellisch be just the first of many UFC fighters to be on the chopping block?

Stay tuned to SI.com for further details.

• Jon Fitch, Christian Wellisch and possibly others cut by UFC (MMAmania.com)
  
• UFC's merchandise agreement: good in theory, not on paper (SI.com)
  

Marcus Aurelio (left) lost to Hermes Franca, Courtesy of Zuffa

Following the dismissal of Paulo Filho, Fabricio Werdum and Jason Lambert, lightweight Marcus Aurelio is the latest to be booted from the Zuffa organization, reports FiveOuncesOfPain.com's Sam Caplan.

The American Top Team member was released from his UFC contract after losing by unanimous decision to Hermes Franca at UFC 90. The loss marked the second straight unanimous-decision defeat for Aurelio (Tyson Griffin, UFC 86).

A former PRIDE fighter with notables wins over Takanori Gomi and Daisuke Nakamura, Aurelio was expected to be one of the UFC's top fighters upon entering the organization in 2007. He leaves with a 2-3 record in the UFC and 16-7 overall.

• Marcus Aurelio joins lists of recent fighters cut by the UFC (FiveOuncesOfPain.com)

Ricky Hatton, John Gichigi/Getty Images

Someone made a new friend at UFC 91.

According to The Sun, lightweight champion B.J. Penn played nice with British boxing sensation Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton while sitting Octagon-side at last Saturday's showdown. Hatton is set to defend his IBO & IBF light welterweight title Nov. 22 against American Paul Maglinaggi.

Hatton spoke to the British tabloid about his interaction with "The Prodigy," his friendship with UFC President Dana White:

When I was training out in Las Vegas I wasn't comfortable with the gym I was using and we texted Dana, who we'd met before, asking if he could help and he gave us the UFC gym

How he and Penn are similar:

I totally understand him wanting to fight GSP again. It's exactly how I feel wanting to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. again. 

And how boxing can learn from mixed martial arts. That's right, a champion boxer admitting his sport can take pointers from MMA. Hatton's words:

Boxing can learn so much from MMA. The presentation really is first class. The UFC do so much more to build the atmosphere up for the fans in the arena before the fights. By the time the fight comes on you are really ready for it - you can't wait.

The whole of UFC 91 was great - not just the main event - and rather than boxing ignore it or pretend it isn't as big as it is, it should take a leaf out of the UFC's book and start getting the crowd more involved with the show. The UFC has big screens all around the arena with pre-fight interviews on before the fight - why can't boxing promoters in the UK do something like that?

• The Hitman meets The Prodigy (The Sun)

Gina Carano, Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Has Dana White had a change of heart? As first reported by Fox News' Fight Game Panel, White said he would like to bring Gina Carano, the female star of the now-defunct EliteXC, under Zuffa's umbrella. When asked the chances of him bringing Carano to the WEC, White said:

They're good. I like Gina Carano ... people think I'm against women in MMA. That's not true. The reality is there aren't enough good women out there to start a division. That was the same problem that women's boxing had.

While a multi-fight contract may not be attractive to White, he did acknowledge that an occasional mega-fight with Gina would be of value:

Absolutely. I like Gina Carano. I think Gina Carano's an incredible athlete, I think she's a pretty girl, she's definitely got a fan base. There aren't enough Gina Caranos out there, though, to start a whole division.

And it appears this was not just a "soften-my-stance-once" kind of deal. White reiterated his thoughts on Carano joining the WEC to the Canadian Press as he said:

... what I'm willing to do is bring Gina into the WEC. We could do fights whenever there's a challenger for Gina. That's how I'll test the waters and see how it goes." In the past, White has dismissed talk of having women fight in his organization, saying there wasn't enough talent out there.

• Fox Fight Game: Will New York Be Open to Legislation? (Foxnews.com)
• Penn says technique will be ticket to success when he fights GSP at UFC 94 (660 News)