Odds and Ends

• A month out from the UFC's return to the state for the first time in two years, the California State Athletic Commission is in the throes of political turmoil, according to reports from The Los Angeles Times.

Chairman Timothy Noonan resigned from the commission after he said a candidate he endorsed for executive officer was not approved. In addition, state oversight officials are investigating whether members of the commission, including Noonan, unethically accepted free tickets to fight shows for themselves, their families and friends. The commission has been without a permanent executive officer since embattled head Armando Garcia resigned last year amid sexual harassment and other allegations.

• The former head striking trainer at the famed Chute Boxe Academy, Sergio Cunha, will be helping Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers prepare for his Nov. 7 against Fedor Emelianenko on CBS. Cunha has relocated his family from Brazil to Minnesota to work with the undefeated power-puncher. He’s worked with names like Anderson Silva, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and B.J. Penn.

• Two American MMA teams had to go to Russia to decide who would make it to the finals of this year's M-1 Challenge tournament. Team USA East took four of five fights against Team USA West on Sept. 26. USA East winners were IFL veteran Delson Heleno, WEC vet Chuck Grisby, Ivan Jorge and Gerson Cordeiro. The team faces Team Russia Legion in the finals of the 2009 tournament, which will air on HDNet. A date has not yet been announced.

• The "Art of War" promotion held the first major MMA card in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macau on Sept. 26. The card saw Rolles Gracie Jr. notch his third pro win by submitting K-1 fighter Peter Graham via an arm triangle. In the main event, former "Ultimate Fighter" cast member Andy Wang went to a decision -- which in Art of War means an automatic draw -- with Atsuhiro Tsuobi.

• The Round 5 action figure manufacturer, who recently reached a licensing deal with the UFC, announced this week its first set of UFC collectible figures. The line includes figures of Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian, Clay Guida and Lyoto Machida. The company had locked up exclusive rights to market figures of several UFC fighters before the promotion got into the toy game, leading to the deal.

• Chuck Liddell stayed alive on the highly rated ABC series “Dancing With The Stars” this week, edging some of his competitors in the tango with his partner Anna Trebunskaya. By week’s end, the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s team was in 11th place out 16 teams.