MMA News: Big Bellator Release Confirmed, Jon Jones' Next Fight Official, UFC 167 Viewing Party

- Make sure to join us this Saturday for our UFC 167: St-Pierre vs. Hendricks viewing party. We will be providing full round-by-round live coverage of the main card, as well as quick results for the preliminary fights. I will also be chiming in with my thoughts and scores for each round in our "Comments" section during the viewing party.

- Bellator announced today that they have released Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, who is now an unrestricted free agent. Douglas Lima will face the winner of the Season 9 Welterweight Tournament later this winter to determine the new Bellator Welterweight Champion.

"I've said it many times, Ben's a completely one-dimensional fighter who is utterly dominant in that dimension," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "I had a number of discussions with Ben and it became clear it was time for both parties to move in different directions. We've relinquished any right to match here and Ben can sign with whoever he chooses to sign with. Ben's been at Bellator since the start of his career, I respect him and what he's accomplished and wish him the best wherever he goes."

- The UFC confirmed that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will defend his title against Glover Teixeira at UFC 170 in Las Vegas on February 22, 2014. The fight was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 169 during Super Bowl weekend, but that event will now be headlined by Jose Aldo defending the UFC Featherweight Championship against Ricardo Lamas, and Dominick Cruz vs. Renan Barao to unify the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Tickets for UFC 170 go on sale on Wednesday, December 11.