MMA Marketplace: The Ukulele Fighter? Sure, why not

The majority of MMA gear on the market espouses a more violent, angry feel. That look is not for every fight fan, so for those who like the beach and the cage, check out the Ukulele Fighter.

A hula girl dancers who will punch you in the face, sumo wrestlers fighting over a ukulele and other South Pacific-themed shirts fill their line. They're fun, if not a little Abercrobmie-esque. A variety of colors is available for each shirt, and you can purchase them for less than $20 each.

Thanks to reader Alan Anderson for pointing out these shirts. If you have a suggestion for MMA Marketplace, please contact Cagewriter here.

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New Tyre Regulations for Brno

A tweak to the tyre regulations comes into force this weekend, introduced remarkably quickly during the course of the season. The reg. change is to allow the use of a ‘bonus’ or ‘emergency’ option tyre of a softer specification. Prior regulations allowed for eight front tyres of two compounds, and ten rears of two compounds. [...]

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UFC on Versus 5: Miller ready to prove he?s among the best lightweights

MILWAUKEE -- You can count on Jim Miller to always bring some good facial hair. At today's open workouts for UFC on Versus 5, a red mustache and pointy goatee sprouted from his face. He explained that it's all for the children.

"I'm having a little boy in September, and his name is going to be Wyatt, so I wanted to greet him with the nice Wyatt Earp curled mustache. With my daughter, I grew a nice thick protest beard, once she was born, I shaved it into a celebration mustache," Earp Miller said. (He assured Cagewriter that the protest was just because he was jealous that his wife got to hold the baby throughout the pregnancy, and the celebration was for when his daughter was born.)

You can also count on Miller to win. He has strung together seven straight victories, but still finds himself just short of a title shot in the stacked lightweight division. That doesn't seem to bother him as he prepares for his bout with Ben Henderson.

"It's pretty easy, because I'm here to fight the best, and I know I can beat anybody in the world. The way the title picture has worked out, you can't expect anything. You gotta wait it out and let these guys settle it. And I've been training my butt off so I can beat them."

Miller has been patient about waiting for the title shot, not complaining publicly about how he is often forgotten among the best lightweights. He happily takes the fights assigned to him, but lately has become more confident in speaking out on his own behalf.

He claims it's not an attitude change, but an increase in comfort around media.

"I've pretty much had the same attitude. I knew I could hang with these guys. I feel great, I feel sharp, I'm learning new things every day. It's more just getting comfortable with the mike in my face. It comes out a lot easier than it did three years ago.:

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Better UFC promo video? UFC 134 ?shocked crowd? or Brock ?screwed? with the wrong guy pre-UFC 121?

Not many casual fans know Yushin Okami, so the UFC has wisely put of all of its UFC 134 eggs in the Anderson Silva basket. The commercial currently running for UFC 134 is brilliant. Showing shots of an amazed and dazed crowd following Silva's front knockout of Vitor Belfort is a hit.

The only promo I've enjoyed as much or more was the video produced by a "mystery" source with Cain Velasquez and Co. poking fun at Brock Lesnar before their tilt at UFC 121 (NSFW). Understandably, this one never made it to television.

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Randy Couture interview: Legend pays no mind to Jackson?s ?decrepit old ? ? comment

Good thing Randy Couture has thick skin. Otherwise he shouldn't be in the fight prediction game because inevitably there will be some fighters who get irked when he picks against them. Couture already got an example of that when Quinton "Rampage" Jackson lashed out calling the retired fighter "decrepit."

"I didn't even tune into all of that. I knew where it was coming from. Timing is everything," Couture told "The MMA Insiders" on ESPNRadio1100/98.9 FM (4:30 mark). "There were negotiations between the parent company for Affliction and Rampage for a new contract. [...] He wanted a reason to go with Elite and it coincided with me inadvertently giving a pick on the fight with Matt Hamill."

Couture does a series of picks on video with Affliction and its president Tom Atencio. Before UFC 130, Couture chose Hamill over Jackson. Jackson rolled to an easy three-round victory.

"I try to be as objective as I can. Rampage and I have been friends. for a long time. I was shocked that he was that upset about a stupid pick. I was the first one to say 'I got that one wrong,'" said Couture.

Couture sat down for 45 minutes with the ESPNRadio1100 crew. In this segment, he also spoke about Dan Henderson and his future. Couture gave the latest update on his movie career. You can listen to the entire Friday edition of "The MMA Insiders" here.

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UFC on Versus 5 postfight: Lytle wins bonuses, WEC fighters entertain and Hardy keeps his job

MILWAUKEE  -- Some notes from the UFC on Versus 5 post-fight press conference:

-- UFC president Dana White announced the bonuses on Twitter before the press conference. Chris Lytle won both Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night, netting him $130,000 and a Harley-Davidson. Dan Hardy picked up $65,000 for his half of the Fight of the Night performance, and Donald Cerrone won $65,000 for his Knockout of the Night of Charles Oliveira.

-- UFC chairman Lorenzo Fertitta tweeted that he has no plans to cut Hardy, despite his four-fight losing skid. He said, "I like guys that WAR."

"It's a nice vote of confidence from the boss. I love being a part of the organization. If they are going to give me one more fight, I need to come back reinvented," Hardy said.

-- Lytle admitted that he was surprised that Hardy shot in on him during the final minutes of the fight. He said it was an instinct to reach for the guillotine.

"He's one of the toughest guys I've been in there with. I threw a lot of hard shots on him and it didn't stop him," Lytle said of Hardy.

-- Ben Henderson doesn't know where he would rank in the very crowded UFC lightweight title picture.

"It's not my place to say I'm no. 7, no. 21. You guys tell me. What does Dana think? What does Sean Shelby think?" Henderson said.

-- Though his job is safe, Dan Hardy plans to give himself some time away from fights to improve.

"I think my head is elsewhere right now. I think I'm going to step away and clear my mind a bit. I had quickest rise and quickest fall in the UFC," Hardy said.

-- Henderson paid tribute to his teammates by getting on his knees and begging UFC brass to take a look at the other fighters in the gym, a completely selfless act for a fighter who could reasonably be using his post-fight speech to ask for a title shot. Henderson was predictably humble when asked about it.

"We're not alone in that cage. We have training partners who bleed with us. They're our brothers. If not for those guys, I wouldn't be where I'm at. Life like a fighter is life like a starving artist, and I just want them to get a shot. I will stand behind them."

-- Jim Miller had questioned the readiness of WEC fighters when the UFC first merged with the organization. Donald Cerrone and Henderson, both WEC vets, smiled at that fact.

"I think the little brothers just beat up the big brothers!" Cerrone said.

Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:
? Will Power flips off IndyCar officials after crash
? Mares beats Agbeko with controversy in tow
? Bradley's amazing comeback caps PGA Championship

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Hardy misses, then makes weight at UFC on Versus 5 weigh-ins

MILWAUKEE -- Dan Hardy, one of the main eventers for Sunday night's UFC on Versus 5 card, missed weight by a half-pound on his first try during weigh-ins outside the Harley Davidson Museum. He made weight an hour later.

The rest of the fighters made weight:

MAIN CARD (Versus)
?    Dan Hardy (171.5)* vs. Chris Lytle (170.5)
?    Ben Henderson (156) vs. Jim Miller (155.5)
?    Donald Cerrone (156) vs. Charles Oliveira (155)
?    Duane Ludwig (170.5) vs. Amir Sadollah (170)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
?    C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Jared Hamman (185)
?    Joseph Benavidez (135.5) vs. Eddie Wineland (136)
?    Ed Herman (186) vs. Kyle Noke (185)
?    Ronny Markes (205) vs. Karlos Vemola (205.5)
?    Alex Caceres (146) vs. Jim Hettes (145.5)
?    Cole Miller (155) vs. T.J. O'Brien (155.5)
?    Danny Castillo (156) vs. Jacob Volkmann (156)
?    Edwin Figueroa (136) vs. Jason Reinhardt (135)
* - Missed weight on first attempt

Other notes from the weigh-in:

-- T.J. O'Brien and Cole Miller got in each other's face and jawed, continuing even as Miller walked off the stage. UFC president Dana White told the two to save it for tomorrow night.

-- Charles Oliveira and Donald Cerrone also appeared to engage in smack talk while facing off, which is interesting considering that Oliveira speaks Portugese and Cerrone speaks English.

-- Jacob Volkmann started his campaign today, wearing a "Volkmann for President" shirt. I wonder what the Secret Service will have to say about that.

-- Several fighters tried to earn the award for best weigh-in wear. Eddie Wineland wore underwear that resembled denim shorts for a Tobias Bluth Funke look, while Amir Sadollah wore brightly colored shorts that caused UFC commentator to quip, "I hope no one is on acid out there." [Ed. note -- an earlier version messed up the joke on one of my favorite shows of all time. All apologies.]

Thanks to MMA Junkie for results, and Combat Lifestyle for pictures.

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