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Erik Koch and Dustin Poirier have each been on the cusp of competing for the UFC featherweight title over the past year.

Now, Koch believes is a perfect time for the two to square off inside the Octagon.

“I want to fight Dustin Poirier,” said Koch, during a recent interview with Cage Fanatic. “That’s just the fight I think makese sense, and it’s the fight I want to happen. Hopefully that’ll be my next one.”

Koch (13-2) has 10 finishes in his MMA career, but is coming off a TKO loss to Ricardo Lamas that halted a four-fight win streak. Poirier (13-3) has gone 1-2 in his last three, dropping bouts to Cub Swanson and Chan Sung Jung.

The two were scheduled to meet back last year at UFC 143, but Koch was forced out with an injury.

UPDATE: According to MMAWeekly.com, the two have agreed to fight at UFC 164 later this year. The card goes down from Milwaukee and the Bradley Center, and is one of two PPVs set for that month.

UFC officials confirmed a pair of previously reported bouts for the August show in Brazil, as Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title against Anthony Pettis.

Also, Josh Koscheck will try to get back on track in the welterweight division when he faces Demian Maia. The card takes place August 3 from Rio de Janerio, Brazil and will serve as UFC 163.

Aldo accepted the fight with Pettis after “Showtime” asked to move down from 155 pounds and face the long-time champion.

The card will mark the fourth UFC event in Brazil in 2013, as the promotion recently held UFC on FX 8 with a headliner fight between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold.

Do you think Pettis can stop the run of Aldo, or will the ex-WEC champ just become another victim of “Scarface?”

Bryan Caraway has come under heavy scrutiny for his comments concerning drug use in MMA.

Caraway, however, seems to have a basis for his argument.

The former Ultimate Fighter competitor was given Pat Healy’s fight-night bonus after Healy failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana. Caraway picked up the $65,000 check and was promptly ripped by Nate Diaz.

Well, the fighter took to Twitter late Thursday night to defend his previous statements:

My oldest sister is heavily involved in drugs an has caused many hardships on my fam And she started w weed Dnt judge me u dnt know my story

— Bryan Caraway (@BryanCaraway) May 17, 2013

Nate Diaz sounded off via Twitter towards Bryan Caraway on Thursday – and the former No. 1 contender could feel the brunt of some intense punishment for it.

Diaz decided to speak up in support of Pat Healy, who was fined and suspended for failing his recent drug test. He tested positive for marijuana and the UFC took both of his fight-night bonuses away from him.

The “Submission of the Night” award – and $65,000 check – went to Caraway, who himself spoke out against fighters using marijuana.

Well, it appears he struck a nerve with Diaz, who posted the following.

I feel bad for pat Healy that they took a innocent mans money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest Fag in the world ..

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 16, 2013

Just hours later, MMAjunkie.com reported that UFC president Dana White informed the site that they would either fine and suspend Diaz, or cut the fighter outright.

UPDATE: Diaz has been suspended, according to confirmation by MMAjunkie.com. No further punishment has been made public by the promotion.

Former WEC champion Urijah Faber isn’t sure what his next career move will be.

Faber, coming off a pair of wins over Ivan Menjivar and Scott Jorgensen, remains atop the rankings as a contender to the UFC bantamweight championship.

However, that belt is currently held by both Dominick Cruz and Renan Barao – both fighters who hold championship wins over “The California Kid.”

“I’m in a weird spot in the sport being one of the biggest names in the lighter weight division, but not having a bunch of guys with big names to fight,” said Faber to The New York Post. “It’s kind of a weird predicament. I want to do the ones that count, the ones that people care about.”

Faber is 5-3 over his last eight fights, with all three defeats being title matches.

Is there a bantamweight, or even a featherweight, that you feel would make for an interesting opponent for Faber? I’d love to see him go one-on-one with Frankie Edgar somewhere down the line.

Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UFC president Dana White made it known several months ago that if fighters do not pass their mandatory drug tests, they will be not awarded fight-night bonuses.

Well, with Pat Healy failing his recent test at UFC 159 for marijuana, White has taken away both of his $65,000 checks.

Bryan Caraway was awarded one of those, earning the “Submission of the Night.” It is interesting that Caraway won it, as he pushed White to increase the bonuses by $15,000 the night of the event.

@_royy it’s known up front that checks are held until everyone passes the drug test. Brian Caraway get the SON now. Healy did himself dirty.

— Dana White (@danawhite) May 15, 2013

Do you think it was right of the UFC to take Healy’s bonuses away?

Leonard Garcia appears to be taking his UFC release in stride, as he talked about his future during a recent interview with MMA Sentinel.

Garcia has already made one change, joining his cousin Duane Ludwig in California at Team Alpha Male. He previously worked with Greg Jackson in New Mexico.

This had to happen for me to make some type of change. Of course, I’ve got my cousin, Duane Ludwig, out there with Team Alpha Male, and he’s been texting me like crazy. He’s like, ‘Hey man, the problem is that guys can take you down and hold you down. I’ve got a room full of people that can take you down and hold you down. You need to get up here and do what you’ve got to do to get back to the UFC.’ Greg (Jackson) agreed. He said, ‘Yeah, let’s send you out there for a little while and see how that fits. Maybe do half your camp up there and half your camp down here, and we’ll figure it out.’

As for where he fights next, Garcia said that with the issues between the UFC and Bellator MMA, that isn’t a realistic option. He is hoping to work quickly back to the Octagon.

The organizations that seem to be the right ones for me are Legacy, WSOF or ONE FC; something that won’t try to bind me into a long contract. I want to go omewhere that will give me a couple fights and then see what happens.

Do you think Garcia will be a quick return for the UFC? They gave him plenty of chances, and seemed to embrace his willingness to stand and trade.

A total of seven fighters have been released by the UFC, according to a report by BloodyElbow.com and subsequent follow-ups via Twitter.

Leonard Garcia, Bart Palaszewski, Issei Tamura, Justin Lawrence, Reuben Duran, Sam Sicilia and Kurt Holobaugh have all been given their releases.

Garcia and Palaszewski each confirmed the news on social media.

Got let go by @ufc thanks for everything! Ill be back better then ever! @seanshelby @danawhite

— Leonard Garcia (@badboygarcia) May 8, 2013

I have been let go by the @ufc. I would like to thank them & @seanshelby for all the opportunities and great times. We shall see whats next.

— Bart Palaszewski (@Bartimus7) May 8, 2013

These are just the latest in a growing list of fighters sent backing. More releases are expected, as well, but there is always the possibility that a couple of regional circuit wins allows some of the aforementioned to return.

Pablo Garza has been released by the UFC. The fighter confirmed the news himself via Facebook on Monday.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
First off I would like to say thank you to Dana White, Joe Silva and the entire UFC for the entirety of my UFC career.
Second I would like to thank all my coaches that have helped my get to where I am and to where I have been. Greg Nelson, Dylan Spicer (Toshiro HotFire Mifune), Nat Macintyr, Andy Grahn, Andrew Kappell, Saul Mitchell, Tanner Grosz, Joe Trottier. I especially want to thank my head coach Dylan Spicer for being with me from the start and for always believing in me. I am truly thankful for all that you have taught me!
My training partners that bleed with me; Jeremy Stetz who was with me before the lights shined, Cameron Ramberg, Tyler Larson, Cody Lincoln Jos “The Kid” Eichelberger and all my Academy of Combat Arts jiu Jitsu and Mauy Thai training partners along with the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy! Last but not least, I want to thank ALL my loyal fans that have been cheering me on and feeding me then energy to keep moving forward.

In life’s journey we can walk many paths and while some may close there are others that will open. I am sad to say, that I have been released from the UFC roster. But I will take this time to focus on another passion of mine; competing in Jiu Jitsu and coaching. And who knows, I might be back in the Octagon again one day… Once again thank you all!

Garza went 3-3 in his UFC career, but was just 1-3 in his last four fights. He is currently 12-4 overall.

Bellator MMA will dip into the world of reality series television in June with “Fight Master: Bellator MMA.”

The program, which will feature welterweights competing for a spot in an upcoming Bellator tournament, will include legendary fighters and trainers Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Joe Warren and Greg Jackson as coaches.

The series begins June 19 at 10 p.m. ET on Spike TV and the list of fighters scheduled to be part of it was announced on Monday.

Those selected include: Marcus Aurelio, Nick Barnes, Eric Bradley, Mike Bronzoulis, Frank Carrillo, Darryl Cobb, Christopher Curtis, Evan Cutts, Mike Dubois, Tom Gallicchio, Ismael Gonzalez, Gareth Joseph, Chris Lozano, AJ Matthews, Rob Mills, Steve Montgomery, Chip Moraza-Pollard, Brett Nakamura, Jason Norwood, Dom O’Grady, Jacob Ortiz, Josh Quayhagen, Joe Riggs, Eric Scallan, Cristiano Souza, Brendan Tierney, Bryan Travers, Andy Uhrich, Tim Welch, Cole Williams, Joe Williams and Artenas Young.