In the Cage – 9.5.12

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

Dubbed The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs UK – The Smashes, 16  competitors will represent Australia and the UK in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.

George Sotiropoulos, a semi-finalist on TUF season 6 heads the Australian team with:

Lightweights:
Grant Blackler, 23, Sunshine Coast
Patrick Iodice, 18, Goldcoast
Richie Vaculik, 29, Sydney
Ben Wall, 23, Brisbane
Welterweights:
Ben Alloway, 31, Goldoast
Xavier Lucas, 31, Perth
Manuel Rodriguez, 27, Sydney
Robert Whitaker, 21, Sydney

Coaching for the UK is winner of TUF season 9, Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson. His team includes:

Lightweights:
Colin Fletcher, 29, Sunderland
Norman Parke, 25, Bushmills, Nth Ireland
Michael Pastou, 30, Essex
Mike Wilkinson, 24, Leigh
Welterweights:
Luke Newman, 22, London
Bola Omoyele, 30, London
Valentino Petrescu, 30, Essex
Brad Scott, 23, Melksham

The show premiers Sept. 19 on FX in Australia and will have a 13-episode run. The coaches are expected to fight at the live finale.

The UFC has announced a casting call for the next The Ultimate Fighter series in the 185- and 205-pound divisions.

Tryouts will be held on Monday, Sept. 17 at the Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas.

Applications can be found at http://www.ufc.com/tuf17

Main Card:
Main Event: (205 lbs) Virgil Zwicker vs. Mike Cook
Co-Main Event (135 lbs) Chris Beal vs. Shad Smith
(145 lbs) Steve Magdaleno vs. TBA
(185 lbs) Mike Jasper vs. TBA
(145 lbs) Chris Culley vs. Tom Gloudeman
(155 lbs) Scott Catlin vs. Harold Lucambio
Preliminary Card:
(155 lbs) Eric Brown vs. Jorge Valdez
(145 lbs) Eric Winston vs. Emilo Chavez
(205 lbs) Mike Smith vs. John Hernandez
(135 lbs) Max Ceniceros vs. Marvin Madariage
(155 lbs) Gil Guardado vs. TBA
(170 lbs) Tony Stweard vs. Daniel McWilliams
(135 lbs) Ron Scolesdang vs. Mike Hansen
(205 lbs) Christopher Schommer vs. Nick Piecuch

The event takes place in Commerce, Calif. at the Commerce Casino on Friday, Oct. 12. Fights begin at 7:30 PST.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has partnered with Roy Englebrecht in debuting a new California-based promotion “Fight Club MMA”. Their goal is to create events for amateur fighters looking to go professional.

The debut event for the promotion will take place Oct. 6 in Costa Mesa, Calif. at the OC Fair and Event Center. A date for a second event on Dec. 7 has also been announced.