Marcus Davis

("Bones" and "Osteoporosis" warm up before UFC 100. Photo courtesy of CombatLifestyle.)

According to reports on MMA Madness and The Garv, UFC light-heavyweights Jon Jones and Matt Hamill have agreed to face each other on the main card of the TUF 10 Finale (December 5th, Las Vegas). One of MMA's most exciting prospects, Jones (9-0) most recently submitted Jake O'Brien at UFC 100, following decision wins over Andre Gusmao and Stephan Bonnar. Hamill (6-2) could be Bones's toughest test yet. The TUF 3 vet has won back-to-back fights since his loss to Rich Franklin at UFC 88, scoring a TKO over Reese Andy at UFC 92 and a devastating head kick KO of Mark Munoz at UFC 96. It will be the first of a new four-fight deal for Jon Jones, who's now splitting his time between Tristar Gym and Greg Jackson's camp.

(Davis continues to deftly straddle the fence between being an "American Fighter" and an "Irish Hand Grenade," but how long can his loyalties remain divided?)

It’s funny, Dan Hardy was the one who started the war of words prior to UFC 99, but now that the fight’s over it’s Marcus Davis who won’t let it die.  After refusing to shake Hardy’s hand in the Octagon and fuming over the split decision loss as he stormed out of the arena, Davis claimed that Hardy admitted backstage that he lost the fight (which Hardy naturally denied, because that’s just what you do in that situation).  Now Davis is basically demanding a rematch before the year is out, on the grounds that he won 12 of the 15 minutes in their fight:

Far be it from us to suggest that the animosity between Dan Hardy and Marcus Davis is anything but 100% genuine – just listen to Davis digging deep into the lessons of his childhood to assert that he really does hate Hardy – but does anyone else feel like we’re really getting the old hard sell on this one?  This nearly ten-minute video from the UFC details the history and relevant talking points of the rivalry between the two, and while it’s fun to hear two men who are actually going to fight talk about the intensity of their dislike for one another, it's getting to be a pretty familiar story.

(Props: MMA Mania)

Rivalry is the over-arching theme in this in-depth video preview for UFC 99 (Cologne, Germany; June 13th). First we have Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva, with much being made of Franklin's decision to train with Wandy's anti-BFF, Anderson Silva. Ace considers the Axe Murderer to be just as dangerous now as he was in PRIDE, and looks forward to a stand-up war. Wanderlei just wants to get past Franklin so he can settle up with Anderson once and for all.

In a card that's moderately stacked with names like Mirko Cro Cop, Cain Velasquez, Cheick Kongo, and Caol Uno, it's suprising that Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy is being treated like the co-main event here. But these two got beef. Hardy thinks Davis is a fake Irishman, and Davis thinks Hardy is a douchebag with a stupid red mohawk. Will their combined hatred produce a Fight of the Night?

After the jump: Some vintage California Kid from December 2005, in honor of his rematch with Mike Brown being just nine days away...

(Forrest Griffin's entrance at UFC 72)

(Marcus Davis's entrance at UFC 93)

No, we can't all be cool enough to party with Dana and Everlast at the Roxy tonight — but that doesn't mean we can't still have a good time. Holler at us in the comments section if you have anything special planned for St. Patrick's Day. As for me, it's looking like the usual — drink for six hours, release some festive-colored vomit at some point, and end the night getting slapped by a strange colleen. Celebrate semi-responsibly, and watch out for Leprechauns!