Recently in American Top Team Category

Ben Askren, a collegiate wrestling star at the University of Missouri and a 2008 Olympic competitor, will be making his debut in MMA next month, probably as a welterweight. Here's what his wikipedia entry says: "He is known for his incredible pinning ability (he holds the single-season NCAA pin record); his massive afro, and his "funky", or unorthodox, wrestling style." And here's the latest entry from Askren's Web site:

So if you haven't heard by now and you likely have I am debuting in the cage on February 7. I don't know who my opponent is yet, I just had one back out. I think we have another one locked in but nothing is for sure yet. The fights are on Feb 7 at the Holiday Inn Expo center in Columbia, MO.

I have been training very hard for my debut, my jiu jitsu is going to new levels and I keep getting better everyday. Great news is we now have a striking coach at ATTMO his name is Lucas Lopes and he is great so far. His English isn't the best but I am learning some Portugese and we communicate what we need to, plus Kiko helps with the language barrier.

Also fighting on the card are my BJJ coach Kiko France, Training Partner Zach Lenon, Former teammate at Mizzou Tyron Woodley and UFC Vet Din Thomas. If you want more info about that you can check www.headhunterevents.com

from five ounces of pain:
Ben Askren, who represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the Beijing Olympics this past summer, is scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut on February 7 in Columbia, Missouri.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com confirmed the news with Dan Lambert, the president of American Top Team, where Askren is currently preparing for his pro debut.

Askren, who will compete at welterweight, is one of the most decorated amateur wrestlers in U.S. history. He was the 2006 and 2007 winner of the Danny Hodge Trophy, an annual award given to the top collegiate wrestler.

The 24-year old was also a two-time NCAA champion while competing for the University of Missouri, where he posted an amazing record of 153-8 during his four-year amateur career. He is also fourth on the all-time NCAA list for pins with 91, trailing only Gene Mills (107), Wade Schalles (106), and Larry Bielenberg (94).

Askren is also scheduled to fight on February 26 in Miami. Already viewed as one of the top unsigned prospects in the sport, it's likely Askren is already attracting interest from major national promotions. However, his asking price will no doubt increase if he's able to begin his career 2-0.

Now that's a photo: Three fighters in UFC 92's triple main event, training together: Wanderlei Silva, who fights Rampage Jackson in the sport's biggest grudge match, Forrest Griffin, who defends his LHW title against Rashad Evans and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, who defends his interim HW belt against Frank Mir.

from Wand's Web site:
Along with coaches Amaury Bitetti and Rodrigo Artilheiro, Rodrigo Minotauro set off this Friday (December 12) for Las Vegas, where the final of the eighth season of the The Ultimate Fighter reality show will take place. In the USA, Minota will only return after his December 27 challenge against Frank Mir. And for this UFC fight to determine who will challenge Brock Lesnar for the definitive UFC heavyweight belt, the Brazilian will count on a big-name buddy: Wanderlei Silva.

In the past the news would be hard to believe, since the two fighters belonged to teams with a fierce rivalry - BTT and Chute Boxe, - but the current MMA panorama makes it clear those days are gone. These days professionalism comes first and, as the two will go to battle on the same day (Wanderlei faces Quinton Jackson), so they decided nothing could be better than making a union between compatriots.

"We're going to be in the corners for the final fights of the TUF house. After the event, we'll stick around till Minotauro's fight," said coach Amaury Bitetti, who added:

"We should train at Wanderlei's gym, in Las Vegas, and use the structure he has set up there. Rafael Alejarra, who's a really cool guy, and Wanderlei himself invited us. We'll train together and put together a strategy. We'll be mostly swapping information," said Bitetti, who, when asked if Nog and Wand would be training together, responded:

"That's right. United we stand!"

By John Joe O'Regan of Fighters Only magazine and Web site:
Chuck Liddell is training with American Top Team in a bid to get back on track after his knockout loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 88.

The news was revealed by his coach John Hackleman, who trains and manages Liddell at The Pit, the gym he represents when he fights.

Hackleman appeared on FightHype to answer questions from fans, one of which was whether Liddell was trying to round his skills out by training with ATT.

"Yeah, you learn something new wherever you train. He's always cross-trained and had people come in. He will definitely learn from Liborio and Matt," replied Hackleman.

Hackleman also said that, given the choice, he would take a fight with Randy Couture over a fight with Anderson Silva at this point.

"As far as names, I can't really talk about names. I would rather fight Randy I guess because of the relationship with Silva and his management, but I don't see either fight being productive for anybody involved," he said.

Speaking to Fighters Only earlier this week, Liddell said he had not been approached about fighting either man and stated that he does not see the point of fighting Couture for a fourth time.