MMA Odds and Ends for Friday: Legacy FC Takes Chance With Riddle

Matt Riddle Texas-based Legacy FC is taking a gamble, signing UFC flameout Matt Riddle to a four-fight contract according to MMAjunkie.com‘s John Morgan. Riddle was released by the UFC last week after failing a drug test (he tested positive for marijuana metabolites) following his UFC on FUEL TV 7 victory over Che Mills, his second positive drug test in the last nine months. It’s also likely that Riddle’s wrestling-heavy style, which UFC president Dana White has openly criticized, was part of the reason why he was cut. Either way, Riddle has a new home now in Legacy FC, which is one of the top promotions on AXS TV. It’s possible that with a few victories Riddle gets the call back to the UFC, but it’s possible he’ll be stuck in lower promotions like Legacy for the rest of his career if he continues to fail drug tests for pot. TUF Brazil 2 Cast Revealed The UFC last night announced the 28 fighters that will form the cast of “The Ultimate Fighter” Brazil 2, and the list includes a ton of welterweight talent. Perhaps the most notable name is Yan Cabral, the DREAM veteran who is an undefeated 10-0 so far in his career. Cabral hasn’t fought since DREAM 17 in September 2011, when he defeated legend Kazushi Sakuraba via submission. The Nova Uniao product is definitely one of the best prospects on the free-agent market and it was smart of the UFC to snatch him up for the show. TUF Brazil 2 will begin airing on March 17 in Brazil and it’s likely the show will be available to watch online for North American fans, just like TUF Brazil 1 was. The coaches for the show are heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria and Fabricio Werdum, who will meet in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 10 this June, where the final two men from the list below will fight to become “The Ultimate Fighter.” Below is the full cast: Bruno “Jacare” Dias (11-3-1) Cleiton “Foguete” Duarte (12-1) Daniel “Gelo” Oliveira de Azeredo (4-1) David Vieira (4-0) Felipe Olivieri (11-4) Gil Freitas (14-5) Henrique “Sucuri” Batista (4-0) Juliano “Ninja” Wandalen (7-3) Leandro “Buscape” Silva (5-0) Leonardo Santos (11-3) Luciano Contini (8-1) Luiz Jorge “Besouro” Dutra Jr. (11-2-1) Marcio “Pedra” Santos (4-0) Neilson Gomes (14-2) Pedro Irie (9-5-0) Roberto Barros “Corvo” Martins Amorim (6-1) Robson “Negao” Ferreira (4-0) Ronaldo “Rony Silva” Oliveira Silva (3-0) Santiago “El Rasta” Ponzinibbio (18-1) Thiago “Bel” Silva (9-3-1) Thiago “Marreta” de Lima Santos (8-1) Thiago “Jambo” Goncalves (15-3) Tiago “Unstoppable” Alves (3-0) Viscardi Andrade (13-5) Wande Lopes Santana (6-0) Weguimar “Big Big” de Lucena Xavier (17-5-1) William “Patolino” Macario (6-0) Yan Cabral (10-0) World Series of Fighting Signs Fitch, Santiago The World Series of Fighting continued to add to its roster this week, signing UFC veterans Jon Fitch and Jorge Santiago, both who were cut by the UFC in recent weeks. The promotion confirmed both signings via Twitter. Fitch will debut at WSOF 3 this June, although his opponent has yet to be named. It’s rumored it could be one of Gerald Harris, Aaron Simpson, or Josh Burkman, all of whom are UFC vets under the Strikeforce banner. It’s also possible that WSOF matches up Fitch against Santiago, who was cut following a close decision loss to Gunnar Nelson at UFC on FUEL TV 7. Having signed Jacob Volkmann just last week, it’s clear that WSOF has no problem signing fighters let go by the UFC if they’re talented and are willing to fight for the promotion. WSOF’s next show takes place March 28, when Andrei Arlovski meets Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the heavyweight headliner of WSOF 2.

Written by Adam Martin.

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