Season XXXVI of Ultimate Monster Battle Arena has continued in explosive style, with unexpected movement in both Heavy and Lightweight leagues, and a strong start for victorious teams in the Double Team Tournament. Things are certainly heating up, with neither Alpha Division leader maintaining their position at the top spot: things are definitely all to play for!

The full rankings can be viewed here, and past Rankings can be found for the start of the Season and Round 1. The Network reminds loyal readers that the Shuffling moves the top 1/3 of each Division up and the bottom 1/3 down before each League Conference in order to make things interesting. The order is decided by points earned by beating other competitors in the Arena (5pts for wins in the Division above, 3pts for the same Division, and 1pt for the Division below)

• Doomigator (Block) and Volcanosaurus (the late Cinder) move DOWN to Beta from Alpha Division
• The Inertianator (Canon) and Meltinator (Footsie) move UP from Beta to Alpha Division
• Annihilatron (Executioner) and Dark Steel (Blade) move DOWN to Gamma from Beta Division
• Mechagraviton (Crash) and Thorn (Thistle) move UP to Beta from Gamma Division
• Basilica (Angler) and KRYSTALKORPION (KHAOS) move DOWN to Delta from Gamma Division
• Dozer (Suture) and Doomatros (Lungs) move UP to Gamma from Delta Division
• Masked Monster 2 moves DOWN to Epsilon from Delta Division
• Wreckatar (Pennythrift Steeple) moves UP to Delta Division from Epsilon Division. INDESTRUCTOSPHERE (Void) is removed from the League

• Slime Kitty (Bright) and THE TENT (Pennythrift Steeple) move DOWN to Beta from Alpha Division
• Jaws of Defeat (Pluck) and Pepper (Saffron) move UP to Alpha from Beta Division
• Victory Viper (Zephyr) and Gearbox (Dashboard) move DOWN to Gamma from Beta Division
• MonoChrome (Malbec) and Maximus (Gintrap) move UP to Beta from Gamma Division
• THE CAT (Diamond) and Armageddon (Wonder) move DOWN to Delta from Gamma Division
• Diamon (Dr Frost) and Rollerpedes (Morose Progress) move UP to Gamma from Delta Division
• Doughball (Maximum Taste) and Titch (Ash Moon) move DOWN to Epsilon from Delta Division
• Murk (Noggin') and Mycosaurus (Two-Eyes) move UP to Delta from Epsilon Division

Doomstorm lead the Double Team Tournament, tied for number of points with Team Slime, Heavy Metal, Team Legit and Shards Falling. The Network reminds competitors that more points are available for flair at the Umpire's discretion.

The following Monsters (Trainers) came top of their respective divisions during the first round and will receive an additional prize during the League Conference.

In particular, Bulwark is sitting comfortably at the top of the Heavyweight League. How will the Howling Terror respond to this? This next Round will sure be interesting, particularly with the lingering question as to the status of the two returning finalists from Season XXXIII: GROUNDSHAKER and OVERMINER.

• Alpha: Bulwark (Cam)
• Beta: Inertianator (Canon)
• Gamma: Mechagraviton (Crash)
• Delta: Dozer (Suture)
• Epsilon: Wreckatar (Pennythrift Steeple)

• Alpha: Experiment X (Teeth)
• Beta: Jaws of Defeat (Pluck)
• Gamma: MonoChrome (Malbec)
• Delta: Diamon (Dr Frost)
• Epsilon: Murk (Noggin')

In case you didn't spot it, Wreckatar is now classed as a HEAVYWEIGHT Monster under its new trainer, Pennythrift Steeple; and thanks to some serious Rules Lawyering, the Monster Footsie is now classified as a trainer and its Monster, Meltinator, is entered into the HEAVYWEIGHT League!

Owing to technical difficulties during a recent Fight, Maintenance Branch has declared the South Stands out of use until they are sufficiently repaired. Assistance is sought with repairing the Arena wall following the destruction caused by Volcanosaurus's rampage before its disappearance into the Wasteland.

Relatedly, Finance Branch extends a 100R reward for the safe return of a stolen case of Xenon Anaesthetic. The Network would like to remind all stakeholders that Xenon Anaesthetic is essential to ensure the safety of the audience and competitors, and Finance Branch is certain that no stakeholder would consider their own personal gains more important than the safety of the Arena.

Given the recent erratic behaviour of Season XXXV Grand Champion, Volcanosaurus, and the coincidental disappearance of her trainer, Cinder, the Network regrets to inform readers that it has come to the understanding that Cinder has unfortunately been killed. Cinder was a beloved trainer and a star of Season XXXV. Her early days with a smaller Volcanosaurus warmed our hearts to her, and her victory last Season is one of the greatest achievements the Arena has seen. She will be missed, but will live on forever in the annals of Arena History.

As is traditional, the third League Conference of the Season will include announcements authorised by the PRIME EXECUTIVE as to the GRAND PRIZE for the Season as well as mid-season prizes. Creative Branch assure all stakeholders that everything is still to play for.

Any Competitor wishing to partake in multiple League Fights will now be required to pay an administrative fee to ensure the smooth organisation of the Matches. The Network thanks all competitors for their understanding.

In addition, the fee for amending details of a Fight that has already been declared is now increased, and a fee has been introduced for those wishing to enter the Arena as Gladiators, unless priorly cleared with a member of the Executive Branch.

The Network would like to take the opportunity to particularly commend the work of Pennythrift Steeple and THE TENT in the Lightweight Tournament, as well as Crash and Mechagraviton in the Tournament League.

Following a proposal by Yarn, and majority approval of the Executive Committee, Amendment 10,000 is hereby instituted as follows:

“In specific circumstances, the Umpire can be overruled by majority vote of the crowd should they be visibly upset.”