Ultimate Fighter 7 cycle begins
Griffin and Jackson sat with Dana White between them as contestants battled for a place in The Ultimate Fighter series shown on Wednesday. It was quite a diversion from previous seasons where 16 contestants automatically had a place. This time 32 fighters had to fight their way in.

The rascally Jackson serves as a great contrast to Griffin’s placidity outside of the Octagon demeanor. Both fighters are southern bred and have that down-home hospitality.

“I’m a horrible coach,” Griffin said on Spike’s telecast. “You guys see Quinton, he’s mean. I’m definitely the underdog.”

Jackson told NBCSports.com to keep on eye for one guy in particular who kept putting his foot in his mouth during the show.

“This one guy is really funny and easy to make fun of everyday,” Jackson said. “He put himself in that situation every time.”

UFC Tickets on sale April 12
Griffin’s challenge to Jackson for the undisputed light heavyweight championship takes place on July 5, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 12.

Women fight card in L.A. on Thursday
Jackie Kallen, the famous fight manager whose life was portrayed in the movie Against the Ropes starring Meg Ryan, is backing the Fatal Femmes Fighting championship promotion now.

Though she’s been associated with another MMA fight card in the past, she’s now behind FFF in a show called “Call of the Wild” that takes place Thursday April 3, at the Shrine Expo in downtown L.A.

Vanessa Porto of Brazil tangles with Roxanne Modafferi in the main event. Doing the commentating for the television broadcast will be Mia St. John, the boxer-MMA fighter.

For more information call (877) 333-9381.

IFL on Friday
A healthy fight card takes place on Friday April 4 for the International Fight League. Jay Hieron (14-4-1) tangles with Mark Miller (8-2) in a welterweight title bout at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The fight card will be televised on HDNet.

Also on the card will be Wagnney Fabiano (9-1) meeting Shad Lierley ((2-1) in a featherweight shootout. There are more than a half dozen other great fighters participating including Chris Horodecki.

For information call (201) 935-8500.

ShoXC Saturday
Undefeated Jared Hamman of San Bernardino faces Hawaii’s Poai Suganuma (8-1) at Table Mountain Casino in Friant, California on Saturday in an EliteXC event that will be televised on Showtime.

In Hanman’s last bout against formerly undefeated Aaron Rosa he used a rear naked choke to keep his own record spotless.

“That was definitely the biggest and most important win of my career,” said Hamman (9-0) who’s a football coach at University of Redlands. “It was cool that all of my players were able to see me fight.”

For information (800) 541-3637.

Dan Henderson
Ran into Dan “Hendo” Henderson at the recent Los Angeles Dodger game on Tuesday. He just returned from a trip to France and is ready to go back to work.

Henderson was invited to stay at ace Dodger pitcher Brad Penny’s house and then take in the game against the hated San Francisco Giants who the team eventually beat 3-2.

Stephan Bonnar
Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonnar was limping around with a bad leg last week at the World Extreme Cagefighting championships in Las Vegas. He's coming off surgery to repair torn ligaments that will have him sidelined up to six months.

Other fights coming up
Sat. April 5 – Combat X: Motorcity Mayhem at Veterans Memorial Ice Arena in River Rouge, Michigan. (313) 585-6564.

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