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It seems newly-crowned UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar got a well-deserved hero’s welcome upon his return to Tom’s River on Sunday (link here: http://www.app.com/article/20100411/NEWS/100411047/Sirens-fanfare-as-UFC-champ-returns-home ).

Well, that’s what most people think. (And what Frankie Edgar is hoping for, probably…)

Once again, BJ Penn is putting his UFC lightweight title up for grabs as he defends his belt again this time against Frankie Edgar in UFC 112. However, there are rumors that claim Penn is gearing up for another run at the welterweight title, leading most to believe that the reigning lightweight champ is not taking his challenger seriously.

However, while BJ Penn hasn’t denied the rumors of him moving up to welterweight, he says he’s not looking past Frankie Edgar. He knows how good of a fighter Edgar is and he can’t afford to take a guy of Edgar’s caliber lightly.

”Yeah, I think there is a possibility of that,” BJ Penn said in an interview, referring to a possible move to the welterweight division.

”I don’t in no way want to look past Frankie Edgar, he’s a good fighter. You never know what could happen. But if I go back to welterweight, maybe I’ll try to give it a run, maybe fight a couple of fights there, we’ll see how it goes.”

Oh yeah, and just when he said in his interview that he’s in no way looking past Frankie Edgar, he immediately went on about his chances against the large 170-pound fighters in the welterweight division like…

With two huge championship matches on the card featuring two of the very best stars in MMA today, you can’t afford to miss this one.

That’s right, UFC 112: Invincible will feature two of the best the sport of MMA has to offer as UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn defend their respective championship belts this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

It doesn’t get any better than that and when it comes to who is the best pound for pound fighter in the UFC is concerned, nobody, AB-SO-LUTE-LY nobody, can compare to ”The Spider” Anderson Silva.

The Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist will defend his UFC middleweight title against Demian Maia in what should be one fantastic showdown. Silva has been plowing down on all comers for years. Can Maia be that one guy who can finally put an end to Silva’s reign as the king of the octagon?

Other matches to watch out for and of course, bet on, is the UFC lightweight championship match between the champion BJ Penn and his challenger, Frankie Edgar. This could be Penn’s last match as the UFC lightweight champion as he is heavily rumored to making a move to the welterweight division to have another crack at the title.

Ever since Penn dedicated himself to conditioning with…

The UFC in Abu Dhabi!

• Pitting Randy Couture against Mark Coleman was about as awesome as when the IFL had that faded fighter take on that has-been in a superfight.
• It took Matt Serra less time to knock Frank Trigg out than it did Robbie Lawler. Is it time for Serra vs. BJ Penn at 170? It was damn close when they fought at 155.
• Congrats to Chael Sonnen for utterly dominating Nate Marquardt, and a huge congrats to Sonnen for actually proving himself to be a viable contender for the 185-pound title. The dude went from zero to hero in the span of two flawless fights.
• Demian Maia… meh.
• Paulo Thiago is legit. Or Mike Swick has started to suck.
• Mac Danzig was tossed a softball and came ridiculously close to striking out.
• Is it me or was Melvin Guillard the recipient of a gift decision?
• One more loss for Brian Stann and he’s going to lose that GI Joe action figure modeled after him.
• Did Rolles Gracie not know he was supposed to fight in the UFC this past weekend? Was his Octagon debut some sort of prank? Dude, do some cardio.

• There’s something strangely satisfying about seeing an Ultimate Fighter winner lose.

• Apparently Paul Buentello needs American Kickboxing Academy for cardio.
• Of all the fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida loses the best.
• Dear God, please, no more Mike Pierce.
• Has no one told Alan Belcher that white guys simply look foolish with cornrows?
• Frank Julio Fontez Ebenezer “El Jefe” Mir. Ariba!
• BJ Penn is without a doubt some kind of fighting deity, but I definitely think Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar and Jim Miller can beat him. However, they have to coordinate it so they all attacking him at once, i.e., Maynard comes in low, Edgar comes in high and Miller blasts him with a shotgun. Otherwise, they’re doomed.

• Apparently Paul Buentello needs American Kickboxing Academy for cardio.
• Of all the fighters in the UFC, Clay Guida loses the best.
• Dear God, please, no more Mike Pierce.
• Has no one told Alan Belcher that white guys simply look foolish with cornrows?
• Frank Julio Fontez Ebenezer “El Jefe” Mir. Ariba!
• BJ Penn is without a doubt some kind of fighting deity, but I definitely think Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar and Jim Miller can beat him. However, they have to coordinate it so they all attacking him at once, i.e., Maynard comes in low, Edgar comes in high and Miller blasts him with a shotgun. Otherwise, they’re doomed.

Oh right, Brett Favre already did that.

But seriously, Quinton Rampage Jackson is returning to the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) probably to pacify Rashad Evans and UFC president Dana White.

That’s right, Jackson stated in his website that he’s returning to the organization to finish out his UFC contract, though he gave no timetable for his potential return.

Jackson outlined a series of events that began with his signing with the UFC, carried on until his recent decision to play B.A. Baracus in a feature version of ”The A-Team,” and ended with a decision to walk away from MMA.

Jackson recently coached opposite Rashad Evans on the ”The Ultimate Fighter 10.” Team Rashad advanced seven of eight fighters past the first round, and both finalists came from his team. Evans came across as the mature, team-driven coach while Jackson was often portrayed is immature and aloof.

UFC president Dana White made no secret of his despise over Jackson’s decision to take ”The A-Team” gig and hold up what was supposed to be a post - ”TUF” coach vs. coach fight with Evans at UFC 107.

The event, which now features a headliner of lightweight champion BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, was booked in Jackson’s hometown of Memphis, Tenn., and takes place next weekend without Jackson.

Jackson (30-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC), a former UFC light heavyweight champion…

Finally, Diego ”the Nightmare” Sanchez gets a title shot this weekend.

You read it folks, Diego Sanchez will get his first shot at a title this Saturday in UFC 107 in Memphis, Tennessee where he will go after BJ Penn and the UFC lightweight championship belt wrapped around his waist.

And while BJ Penn is arguably one of the best cage fighters the UFC has ever seen, the defending lightweight champion is probably facing his toughest test at 155 pounds. Diego ”Nightmare” Sanchez is one mean and deranged individual and when he’s inside the Octagon with you, be prepared for everything.

Some find it weird and amusing but there is no doubt that Diego ”Nightmare” Sanchez possesses a high level of intensity in the ring. Known for his focused chant of ”yes!” while walking towards the Octagon, Diego is known for his superb wrestling takedowns and high level of conditioning.

The Ultimate Fighter season one winner reinvented himself as an unstoppable cardio machine that won’t quit, moving forward until he wears a UFC championship belt around his waist. The 27-year-old Albuquerque, N.M. Native, with the 23-2 professional record, is on a four-fight win streak and is 2-0 since dropping down to lightweight with exciting wins over Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida.

This will mark Sanchez’s first title fight, and if the former…