Stockton Calif.'s Nick Diaz (Pictures) returns from a six-month suspension to enter the cage on EliteXC's Sept. 15 card in Honolulu against B.J. Penn (Pictures) affiliated fighter Mike Aina (Pictures).

The Nevada State Athletic Commission levied the suspension and a fine of $3,000, a sum equivalent to 20 percent of his purse, after Diaz submitted PRIDE 161-pound champion Takanori Gomi (Pictures) in Las Vegas on Feb. 24.

A NSAC administered post-fight urinalysis returned results showing an extremely high reading of Delta-9-THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Diaz's win was overturned and ruled a rare no-decision.

"I just pushed through that, kept training," lamented the 24-year-old Cesar Gracie (Pictures) BJJ black belt during an interview on the Sherdog Radio Network. "I've trained harder for this fight than I've trained for any other fight ever before, especially considering I basically just pushed through what would have been a fight three months ago."

Headlining the Showtime-televised bill (10 p.m. ET/PT) will be a middleweight showdown between EliteXC champion Murilo "Ninja" Rua and ICON Sport ace Robbie Lawler (Pictures).

"I'm [excited] about the fight," said Lawler, 25, during a teleconference last week. "I'm in good shape, ready to put on a good show and knock ‘Ninja' out."

"It's definitely going to start on the feet and I think we're going to exchange," declared the Iowan. "He's not scared to exchange, but he'll be quick to take it to the ground if he thinks there's an opportunity and I'll be ready to defend him and keep it on our feet."

Rua, of the legendary Chute Boxe camp in Curitiba, Brazil, feels comfortable that if a stand-up war arises he will be up for the task.

"I have a lot of respect for Robbie. I watched the fight and he's a very aggressive guy and finished the fight very quick," commented Rua, 27, of Lawler's bout with Frank Trigg (Pictures) on March 31. "But on Sept. 15, it will be a little different."

"I am going to win on stand-up or on the ground. No matter, I'm going to be victorious."

EliteXC undercard:
Joey Villasenor (Pictures) vs. Riki Fukuda (Pictures)
Jake Shields (Pictures) vs. Renato Verissimo (Pictures)
Gina Carano (Pictures) vs. Tonya Evinger (Pictures)
Albert Manners vs. Tyson Nam
Kala Kolohe Hose (Pictures) vs. Jeff Cox
Mark Kurano vs. Jose Diaz
Mark Oshiro vs. Nui Wheeler
Brandon Wolfe vs. Chad Klingensmith
Chico Cantiberos vs. Elias Delos Ruyes
Kolo Koka (Pictures) vs. Justin Buchholz

"Diesel" looking to score big at Playboy Mansion

Former UFC fighters Joe Riggs (Pictures) and Eugene Jackson (Pictures) will clash during Sep. 29's Strikeforce event at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif.

"It's going to be a classic case of new school versus old school," stated Riggs, 24, of Phoenix, Ariz. "I'm too talented of a fighter for [Jackson] to compete with me. I'm just more technical and I'm quicker and I hit harder. Everything that he's good at, I'm better."

Riggs, once considered a promising fighter with unlimited potential, has seen mixed results of late, winning just six of his last 10 bouts.

"[Riggs'] strengths aren't necessarily my weaknesses," said the 40-year-old Jackson. "I think the man with the bigger heart is gonna win this fight."

The seasoned fighter's career has rebounded nicely since chaining together victories over Jorge Ortiz (Pictures), Mike Seal (Pictures) and Ronald Jhun (Pictures) following a two and a half year hiatus from the sport starting in 2003.

Joining the middleweights on the card, Josh Thomson (Pictures) takes on Adam Lynn (Pictures), while Gilbert Melendez (Pictures), Daniel Puder (Pictures), and Bobby Southworth (Pictures) tangle with undecided opponents.

Healy in, McKee out of IFL GP

St. Louis's Pat Healy (Pictures) will replace Antonio McKee (Pictures) in the welterweight division for the opening round of the International Fight League's 2007 World Grand Prix on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Sears Centre in Chicago, Ill.

"Antonio made a decision regarding competition for another organization that was unacceptable based on his contract with the IFL," said IFL co-founder Kurt Otto in a statement to the media. "We feel that in the best interests of the league, these actions preclude him from competing on the IFL World Grand Prix card."

The Nov. 3 victors will advance to the tournament finals on Dec. 29 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Lightweight:
Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) vs. John Gunderson (Pictures)
Chris Horodecki (Pictures) vs. Bart Palaszewski (Pictures)
Alternate: Shad Lierley (Pictures)

Welterweight:
Delson Heleno (Pictures) vs. Pat Healy (Pictures)
Jay Hieron (Pictures) vs. Mark Miller
Alternate: Brad Blackburn (Pictures)

Middleweight:
Benji Radach (Pictures) vs. Brent Beauparlant (Pictures)
Matt Horwich (Pictures) vs. Brian Foster (Pictures)
Alternate: Fabio Leopoldo (Pictures)

Light heavyweight:
Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) vs. Alex Schoenauer (Pictures)
Mike Whitehead (Pictures) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures)
Alternate: Jamal Patterson (Pictures)

Heavyweight:
Ben Rothwell (Pictures), vs. Roy Nelson (Pictures)
Antoine Jaoude (Pictures) vs. Reese Andy (Pictures)
Alternate: Bryan Vetell (Pictures)

UFC, PRIDE veterans slated for Columbus FightFest

Northern Ohio-based mixed martial arts promotion FightFest will make its Columbus debut on Sep. 29 at Battelle Hall, with a card featuring UFC veterans Wes Sims (Pictures) and Josh Shockman.

Headlining the card is PRIDE and K-1 vet Eric "Butterbean" Esch, who has racked up a record of 10-4-1 in mostly modified-rules bouts. He last saw action in a disappointing loss to Tengiz Tedoradze (Pictures) at Cage Rage 22 back on July 14.

Esch's opponent was scheduled to be Lancaster, Ohio heavyweight Daryl Wise, but FightFest promoter Corey Fischer informed Sherdog.com Tuesday afternoon that the Ohio Athletic Commission had nixed the bout due to Wise's limited experience.

The late September bout will mark the return of Indiana native Shockman, who has dropped a unanimous decision to UFC heavyweight contender Jake O'Brien. The Hoosier will square off with local fighter Jason Riley.

Adam DiSabato (Pictures), a former Ohio State University wrestler, will do battle with Billy Vaughn, while the aforementioned Sims, a training partner of Mark Coleman (Pictures) and Kevin Randleman (Pictures), will face a yet-to-be-decided foe.

Post-UFC 75 mailbag

I would first like to say that I submit the following as an avid fan of your website. I have been surfing on Sherdog for years and am consistently pleased with your MMA coverage in terms of news, interviews, and opinion articles. My issue is that of spoilers on the front page of this site.

Earlier today, as I was going through my normal news websites, I clicked on Sherdog.com and the first thing to catch my eye was the headline "Jackson defeats Henderson." I had forgotten that the show was on tape delay from England, so I admit my own fault in checking the site, but a significant degree of my excitement for the evening's fights was lost, especially considering the significance of the main event.

I know that I am partly to blame, and I do not write this in anger, but I humbly suggest that, in the case of a tape delayed show, a more generic headline be used. For example, instead of a headline which spoils a fight, something like "UFC 75 in the books" or some such thing would be appropriate, followed by a link to results for those who wish to know. I am also certain that you have received similar e-mails from some of the more uncouth members of the Sherdog community, so I apologize for any redundancy.

Again, this is not a huge deal and I give this suggestion as a true fan of the work you all do for the MMA community. If you've managed to make it this far into this admittedly long-winded e-mail, thank you for your time and keep up the good work. -- Respectfully, Brian Genna

Thanks for the e-mail Brian. While I understand your frustration, it has long been our policy to deliver the news in an up-to-the-second manner, and that starts with the headline and photo.

Like our colleagues at ESPN.com, who offered no spoiler "warnings" in their links to Sherdog's UFC 75 coverage -- or the Olympic Games for that matter -- we feel that it is imperative to give the reader the news they visited us for in as much of an upfront format as possible.

Sorry if we ruined your viewing experience, but we hope you'll be back to read the latest on event day for the next big fight. You won't be disappointed.

I've watched the UFC faithfully, and never questioned a decision until tonight. Hamill clearly won all three rounds and Bisping was terrible! This fight should go to review and give it to the true winner, Hamill.

Bisping fights will be boycotted in our house until this decision is reversed! - Keenan

I, like two of the judges who scored the fight, felt that Bisping edged the Ohioan in the second and third rounds. While I believe Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan are solid commentators, try re-watching the contest without the broadcast team drooling over how improved and powerful Hamill has become. Your take might change after another pass on that hotly contested duel.

Voice your opinion to Mike Fridley via Mike@Sherdog.com.