UFC 129 will be headlined by a welterweight title clash between dominant champion Georges St. Pierre and top contender Jake Shields. The show is expected to host 11 fights when the final card is released, as UFC President Dana White has previously stated that two more bouts --Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida and Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick -- were in the works.
Patrick rides a 12-fight winning streak heading into UFC 129 and has gone a perfect 2-0 while competing in the Octagon. The 30-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt submitted Ricardo Funch in his UFC debut in June and followed that victory with a unanimous decision win over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 winner James Wilks at UFC 120 in London.
In Roberts, he faces a dangerous submission artist who has won his last three fights. After suffering a brutal knockout in his UFC debut, courtesy of John Howard, Roberts edged Forrest Petz in a split decision victory at UFC 116. The Cesar Gracie product finished his next two opponents, using his jiu-jitsu skills to submit Michael Guymon with an anaconda choke and Greg Soto with a kimura at UFC 121 and 125.
A 10-year veteran of the sport, Menjivar has competed against some of the best in the world. Recently, however, the Canadian has dropped three of his last four bouts. In his last fight, Menjivar put on an exciting performance in his WEC debut against game Brit Brad Pickett, but it was not enough to earn a victory. The 28-year-old will be making his first appearance in the Octagon since UFC 48 in 2004.
Though he has won three of his last four, Valencia’s last trip inside the cage was not a pleasant one, as he was picked apart and submitted in the second round by former bantamweight champion Miguel Torres at WEC 51 in September. Valencia is a nine-time WEC veteran and holds five of his 12 career victories by submission.
Source: sherdog.com
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will compete at UFC 129, the promotion confirmed Thursday.
The 24-year-old, who was forced out of a scheduled New Year's Day match with a neck injury, is set to go for the UFC's April 30 debut in Toronto, though his opponent won't be known for at least a few more days.
Canadian Mark Hominick has been promised the title shot if he can defeat George Roop at Saturday night's Fight for the Troops 2 event at Ford Hood, Texas.
The UFC gave no indication of who might step in and face Aldo if Roop upsets Hominick.
One potential candidate, Josh Grispi, is off the table after losing to Aldo's UFC 125 replacement, Dustin Poirier.
Another possibility is the UFC waiting to see if the winner of the upcoming UFC 126 fight between Chad Mendes and Michihiro Omigawa emerges healthy. Either one would be considered a worthy challenger. A win over the respected veteran Omigawa would make Mendes a perfect 10-0, while Omigawa is in the midst of a five-fight win streak as he readies for his UFC debut.
Aldo's fight would serve as the co-main event. Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre's title defense against Jake Shields will headline the Rogers Centre spectacle.
Source: mmafighting.com
According to a press release, "They felt they had a different vision for the future of Georges' career and it was best to remain close personally but dissolve their business relationship."
St-Pierre signed with Spencer in 2007 and has since become one of the most recognizable MMA athletes in the world, signing endorsement deals with blue-chip sponsors Gatorade Canada and Under Armour.
"Shari has been very valuable to me and my career over the last several years. We broke through a lot of barriers together and so I will always be grateful to her and call her my friend," St-Pierre stated.
Spencer, who also represents UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, is one of the few female managers in MMA. She runs her own boutique management group, The Spencer Firm.
"I am extremely proud of the representation I provided to Georges and the incredible opportunity to have partnered with an athlete of his caliber. I am thankful for the trust that he displayed in me in managing his career since mid 2007 and I wish him the best going forward," she stated.
St-Pierre will remain a part of the Creative Arts Agency Sports team, who he signed with in 2008, but will also hire a new manager shortly. No word just yet on who that person will be.
The UFC welterweight champion will defend his title next against Jake Shields at UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto.
Source: mmafighting.com
