In the Cage – UFC Fight Night 26 Complete, WSOF 4, ABC Re-Examimes Rules

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

The UFC Fight Night 26 card, airing live on Sept. 4 and only on Fox Sports 1 (with prelims on Facebook), will proceed with 12 bouts, including a six-bout main card which concludes with Ryan Bader against Glover Teixeira. The main card, as expected, will see a co-main event of Yushin Okami vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, as well as Joseph Benavidez vs. Jussier Formiga, and the respective debuts of lightweight Piotr Hallman and flyweight Ali Baugatinov. The Facebook prelims feature the likes of Sean Spencer, Lucas Martins, and Marcelo Guimares, as well as veteran Yuri Villefort and debutant Ramiro Hernandez.

For the longest time, MMA fans and experts debated over what constituted a “downed” opponent, often refuting the notion that it counts when an athlete. Now the Association of Boxing Commissions will look to redefine the term “downed opponent”, noting that the referee may use discretion and consider an opponent still standing, even with a finger or a hand on the canvas. The ABC will present their case Wednesday with hopes of amending the term once and for all

Jared Papazian will step in for an injured Joe Murphy to combat highly-regarded John Robles at WSOF 4 on Aug. 10 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. . Papazian looks to snap a recent 1-4 skid, while Robles looks to score yet another impressive finish. Incidentally, despite facing each other next month, the two consider each other friends outside the cage.

The overnight ratings came for UFC on Fox 8 and while they show nothing to balk at, the 2.04 overnight rating does suggest the lowest rating in the history of the UFC on Fox series. Nevertheless, these initial numbers do not reflect the final numbers for the event, nor do they reflect the event’s success in the company’s 18-49 male demographic. While the event itself featured a much-criticized welterweight co-headliner of Rory MacDonald vs. Jake Ellenberger, it also featured the first finish of UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson’s stint in the UFC against touted challenger John Moraga.

Ian Freeman ended a five-year layoff by facing Ricco Rodriguez at UCFC 5, and subsequently, scoring a first-round finish over the former UFC heavyweight champion. With the win, “The Machine” went up to 20-7-2, while Rodriguez went to 51-21 professionally. Whether this win means a full-on comeback for Freeman remains in question.