Time to work off that turkey. This week Josh Lanier is back to choking Chris Sutton as the Cage Academy duo demonstrate the Gogoplata from Mount. So grab your turkey leg, take a seat, place your shin, and lean forward for a tapping good time.

Roufusport grappling instructor Joao “The Brazilian Samurai” Zeferino capped off a magical week in his Brazilian homeland on Saturday night with a first round TKO victory over Fabio Indio. The win was Zeferino’s second in just seven days after he subbed Sean Salmon a week earlier at NAFC “Unleashed”.

The BJJ black belt avoided an early lunging strike from Indio that he transitioned into a takedown. From there, Zeferino pounded his opponent with vicious strikes before the referee stopped the fight just 52-seconds into round one. The rapid victory increased Zeferino’s record to 8-4.

Within a week-stretch Zeferino earned two victories in just 77 seconds.  The 25-year-old grappling expert has now won seven of his last eight fights and looks to be well on his way to becoming a well-rounded force in the welterweight division. Watch Zeferino’s victory over Indio below.   

The rough stretch continues for Morgan Sickinger following a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Mike Richman in Minnesota over the weekend. Aside from a near submission finish for Sickinger at the end of round two, Richman was able to stuff his opponent’s takedown offense en route to the victory.

The loss drops Sickinger’s record to 8-5 and increases his recent winless streak to five fights. “Captain” last secured a victory over Ken Sitsler in June of 2010, but has since fallen victim to Javi Vega, Nick Agallar, Jimmy Zidek, and Richman. A matchup with David Rhoads in 2010 was classified a No Contest due to miscommunication on the length of rounds.

Amateur mixed martial arts is finally making its way back to Wisconsin. Following near extinction in the post-regulation era, the Wisconsin Fighting Championship has announced its much-anticipated return in 2012.

Devoted to returning the sport to its once prominent stature, promoters Duke Roufus and Scott Joffe aim to hold four events next year with the first tentatively scheduled for Milwaukee in mid-February.

“This isn’t something we want to do, but rather something we need to do in order to make sure MMA doesn’t fail in Wisconsin,” Roufus told US Combat Sports. “Without a constant amount of amateur fights the sport is going to die. These new shows should aid in the growth of the sport.”

Thanksgiving - that time of year where we stuff our faces full of turkey and cranberry sauce while reflecting on all the things for that we are thankful.

As fans of mixed martial arts there are many things to be thankful for and many of them occurred in this current calendar year that is still one month shy of conclusion.

Let’s take a closer look at five reasons we as fans should be thankful this year.

US Combat Sports would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank each and every one of you for making USCS the number one location for local combat sports coverage. Have a happy and safe holiday with your family. Go Packers. 

After his proposed fight against Dennis Anderson at North American Fighting Championship “Unleashed” fell through Morgan Sickinger was understandably upset.

But following news that Josh Kasee has pulled out of an upcoming matchup with Michael Richman in Minnesota on November 26, Sickinger has found a new challenge.

Filling in for Kasee on Saturday night at “Downton Showdown” against The Ultimate Fighter 12 contestant, Sickinger said he was just happy that his recent training camp won’t be going to waste.

Bellator 56 saw Ben Askren successfully defend his championship against longtime veteran Jay Hieron. And while some have openly disagreed with the judge’s decision on that night, Askren is certain he won the fight and is now gearing up for a future contest with Douglas Lima.

“I felt like I definitely won the fight,” Askren told US Combat Sport about the recent battle with Hieron. “All of my corners felt like I won the fight. They felt like I won rounds one, two, and four for sure and they thought three probably and round five I didn’t win. Definitely I felt I won.”

Despite the grumblings of agitated fans over the lack of recent shows, Wisconsin MMA is not dead. In fact, rumors have it that a ton of new promotions are on schedule to invade the state in 2012, especially early in the year.

The increase in production couldn’t have come at a better time after Saturday’s North American Fighting Championship “Unleashed” card forecasted a bunch of new matchups to be created for Sergio Pettis, Will Dicke, Andrew Trace, and Rick Glenn.

Fans in attendance at Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee on Friday were treated to an exciting night of mixed martial arts action. Check out the best photos of the victories from Sergio Pettis, Joao Zeferino, Andrew Trace, Will Dicke and many more.