Faye coached noted MMA trainers Greg Nelson and Erik Paulson early in their careers, and he will be at Hackney’s Combat in Roselle for a two-day seminar on February 25 & 26. Charles is the lead JKD/Kali instructor at Hackney’s.

Registration information is on the poster below. We caught up with Rick last time he was here in Chicago, and you can check out LJ Tabano’s interview with Rick Faye.

The UFC held its first event at the home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks last Saturday, and Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz was there for the action.

In this interview for ESPN Chicago, Wirtz offers his thoughts on what he thinks about the UFC, what was most exciting about the event and if he’d like the UFC back in the United Center.

How long has UFC fighter Brian Ebersole been in the game? He fought Stephan Bonnar at Ironheart Crown back in 2001. A veteran of over 60 professional MMA fights and undefeated in UFC competition, Ebersole will give a seminar at Z’s Martial Arts in Huntley on Tuesday, February 7, presented by MMA Sports Federation.

Ebersole will teach striking, Muay Thai and grappling moves, and he will stay after the seminar for questions and photos. The cost is $50.00 to participate in the seminar, which will include some one on one instruction with Brian as well as the group teaching. It is $60.oo at the door and $25.00 to watch class and meet Brian after the seminar.

The seminar runs from 6:30 to 9pm. For  tickets call 847-669-7833.

Z’s Martial Arts Academy

11320 Kiley Drive

Huntley, IL

Herzog or ‘Zog’, is a leg lock master, and he’s the head of Team Empire and also 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Rochester. He is a well-decorated martial artist in Judo, Sambo, submission grappling and he’s also a 10th Planet Brown Belt under Eddie Bravo.

Elite Fight Systems is located in Crest Hill, and you can follow them on Facebook. However, this seminar will take place in Joliet. All the registration info is on the poster below, so come out to the seminar if you want to learn the 10th Planet way!

So get ready. I might need a new exercise program before I go to this seminar.

Just a few weeks ago, Midwest Training Center fighter Dan Stittgen got the call of a lifetime. The call was from the UFC, asking Stittgen to fight at UFC 143. Oddly enough, Stittgen was being asked to replace the only fighter to ever beat him in MMA.

The dream of fighting in the UFC will come true for Stittgen when he fights Stephen Thompson in Las Vegas this Saturday night. Thompson will also be making his UFC debut.

Stittgen is replacing Justin Edwards, who had to withdraw due to injury. Edwards submitted Stittgen back in January of 2010 in Wisconsin, the only blemish on his career record.

Since then he has rattled off four straight victories, including wins locally in Rockford and at XFO 39, where he tapped out Jason Graves just over a minute into the bout. Stittgen has also fought locally at TFC and Fight Club One. He made his amateur debut back at XFO 23.

Stittgen is coming of a majority decision win against Mark Stoddard at King of the Cage in Wisconsin, but he is best known as a submission specialist. Five of his seven pro wins have come by submission.

You can see Stittgen’s fight on Facebook this Saturday.

The UFC brings the Octagon to the United Center on Saturday night for UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis, and there are a ton of things going on all week. Check out our UFC in Chicago section for more news and interviews.

Main Card (Live on FOX)

Weidman vs. Maia
: Chris Weidman def. Demian Maia via unanimous decision
Evans vs. Davis

Sonnen vs. Bisping Chael Sonnen def. Michael Bisping via unanimous decision

LIVE RESULTS: PRELIMS

Camozzi vs. Jacoby: Camozzi wins via guillotine, 1:08, round 3

Beltran vs. Johnson: Lavar Johnson def. Joey Beltran via TKO-ref stoppage, 4:24 Rd. 1

Roller vs. Johnson: Michael Johnson def. Shane Roller via unanimous decision

Oliveira vs. Wisely: Charles Oliveira def. Eric Wisely 1:43, round 1, calf slicer

Swanson vs. RoopCub Swanson def. George Roop at 2:22, rd 2 TKO-Strikes

Russow vs. Einemo Mike Russow def. John Olav Einemo via unanimous decision

Dunham vs. LentzEvan Dunham def. Nik Lentz- TKO rd.2 5:00

Michael Bisping broke out the double-bird salute for his ‘fans’ at the UFC on Fox weigh-ins.

Bisping was announced by UFC commentator Joe Rogan, and he came out on the stage to a roar of boos and catcalls. Bisping slipped off his clothes, got on the scale and gave the fans this response:

Does Bisping really mean that or is he just having some fun with the UFC fans here in Chicago? It’s probably a bit of both.

Here’s the video of how it went down.

It’s hard to steal the show from Chael Sonnen at a UFC press conference, but Rashad Evans and Phil Davis might have pulled off the feat yesterday at the UFC on FOX presser downtown.

Rashad ranted rapidly about Davis’ wrestling technique being ‘trash’, and Phil Davis used some ‘Chappelle’s Show’ quotes to jibe the former light heavyweight champion.

Evans and Davis will fight in the main event Saturday night from the United Center when the UFC on FOX airs at 7 CT.

Matt Giancarlo is an amateur fighter out of Gilbert Grappling, who has competed at Brawl at Bourbon Street and G2 Fight Night. He got the smack-talk rolling at the press conference yesterday with this exchange with Michael Bisping. In true Bisping form, he gives it right back.

Giancarlo has trained with Sonnen at Team Quest in Portland, and he’ll fight again locally in March or April. He’ll eventually turn pro, and maybe we’ll even see him on the same UFC card with Bisping some day.