In the Cage – 7.17.12

Each day, The MMA Corner will provide a recap of results, event announcements, fight matchups, and injuries/cancellations from throughout the world of MMA.

Resurrection Fighting Alliance has announced the signings of former UFC fighter Tyson Griffin along with former heavyweight NCAA Division-I wrestling champion Steve Mocco.

Tyson Griffin hasn’t competed since losing to Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137. After missing weight for that featherweight tilt, Griffin is expected to compete at 155 pounds in his next fight.

Mocco won two national titles at the University of Iowa and Oklahoma State University and has competed on the Olympic level in freestyle wrestling.. He also won the Dan Hodge Trophy as the best collegiate wrestler in his junior season. Mocco was a runner up in 2006 to Bellator’s heavyweight champ Cole Konrad.

The Association of Boxing Commission (ABC) has made some changes to the Unified Rules of MMA. The rules mainly concern how a fight is scored and clearing up a few grey issues with scoring criteria.

The highlights are:

1. Effective Defense removed as a criteria.

2. Striking and Grappling are now considered to be given equal weight.

3. The term “damage” will no longer be used as a descriptor when discussing the scoring of a round. It will be replaced by “effective”.

The ABC has also clarified some of the key terms used in scoring bouts.

1. “Effective Striking” – Heavier strikes that have a visible impact on the opponent will be given more weight than the number of strikes landed.

2. “Effective Grappling” – judged by considering the amount of successful executions of a legal takedown, reversals and submission attempts.

3. “Effective Aggression” – moving forward scoring with a legal technique or attacking from the guard with threatening submissions.

4. “Cage/Ring Control” – dictating the pace, place and position of the fight.

John Lineker, who became the first fighter in UFC history to be awarded a performance bonus after missing weight will be making a return to the Octagon at UFC 151.

A bout against Yasuhiro Urushitani is reportedly set to happen.

Lineker lost in his UFC debut to Louis Gaudinot at the UFC on Fox 3 event and Urushitani also lost his UFC debut to flyweight title tournament finalist Joseph Benavidez.

Two more bouts have been added to the CWFC Fight Night 7 card. Ex-UFC fighter Mark Holst will take on BJJ ace Leonardo Santos in a lightweight fight and Liam James will take on Olivier Pastor in a bantamweight bout.

In his post-UFC career Holst has won two-straight fights while Nova Uniao product Santos has gone 9-1 in his past 10 fights. James will be making his bantamweight debut against Pastor with both men looking to stay unbeaten in the promotion.