In the Cage – Riddle Retires, Wilcox Returns, Fight for the Troops 3

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.

Matt Riddle called it a career after a Sept. 20 date with Bellator welterweight tournament competitor Luis “Sergio Junior” Melo fell through. Citing cracked ribs and an inability to find an opponent, Riddle stated that without another fight in 2013, he could not afford to tend to his injury, and that he would decline the option to wait until the next welterweight tournament to fight. The TUF 7 competitor will ring a bell to most for his exciting style which led him to memorable encounters with the likes of Chris Clements, Henry Martinez, and Sean Pierson.

Shahbulat Shamhalaev’s quest to earn another crack at the Bellator featherweight crown will remain on hold, as the former title contender’s desire to tend to his ailing father will see him sit out this season’s featherweight tournament. Shamhalaev planned on meeting Akop Stepanyan at the event, but now Stepanyan will see Strikeforce veteran Justin Wilcox on the card. Wilcox will look to return to the winner’s circle, while Stepanyan looks to build on a recent win over one Chris Saunders.

Amanada Nunes and Germaine de Randamie both scored rather clear-cut wins in their first UFC bouts, and now the ladies will do business in Kentucky’s Fort Campbell, the site of UFC Fight for The Troops 3, which airs live on Nov. 6 with the bulk of the card on Fox Sports 1. Whether or not Nunes vs. de Randamie will air on Fox Sports 1 remains unknown. Nevertheless, de Randamie looks to  improve he current streak to 3-0, while Nunes looks to improve to a 2-0 run with a win over the touted kickboxer.

Anthony Perosh won’t call out anyone specifically, but he will state that if the UFC plans to do UFC Fight Night 33 in Brisbane on Dec. 7, he would love the opportunity to fight in his home country, especially in the area in which he made his pro debut. No official decision exists as to whether Perosh will see action on the card, but the UFC is expected to stack the card with Australian athletes, so it remains likely. Although Glover Teixeira seemed penciled in to face the winner of UFC 165’s light-heavyweight headliner, a number of higher ranked opponents stand to present Perosh with the challenge he needs.

Thiago Tavares returns from a nine-month suspension to face former Strikeforce welterweight Quinn Mulhern. The bout marks Mulhern’s lightweight debut, as well as his first fight since losing to Rick Story earlier this year. Tavares rode a two-fight streak into his bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC on FX 7, but came out on the losing end before testing positive for drostanolone.