Frank Curreri, UFC – “Going into the Benavidez fight I never had any intention of being in this situation.” — Jeff CurranWhen it comes to litmus tests for championship contenders, three seems to be the magic number. As in: Lose three straight fights and the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against you winning a world title down the road.

The return of Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort highlighted an eventful UFC press conference.

UFC couldn’t land MMA’s most prized free agent. The blame rests with one man.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – It was said that the bad blood between UFC President Dana White and former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz ran so deep that reconciliation wasn’t even a remote possibility. But after a twitter exchange between the two surfaced recently, fans began speculating that a return to the Octagon wouldn’t be too far off for ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy.’ On Friday, White made it official, announcing Ortiz’ re-signing with the UFC during a media teleconference.

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC – It’s a staple on the list of most longtime UFC fans’ favorite images – Vitor Belfort, just 20 years old, blasting through his opponents with blistering hand speed and power. These displays rightfully earned him the nickname of ‘The Phenom’, and even as he matured into a man who eventually held the UFC light heavyweight title in 2004, the fans never left his side. On September 19th, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, Belfort returns to the Octagon for the first time in over four years to take on former middleweight champion Rich Franklin in the light heavyweight main event of UFC 103.

London, England – ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, is the new home of the UFC(R) in the UK and Ireland, the Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) organisation and ESPN announced today.