Articles tagged as strikeforce
'Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final' ratings: Event draws season-best Showtime audience
This past weekend's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" event drew the organization's best ratings of 2012.
The main-card broadcast scored a 1.38 household rating and averaged 463,000 Showtime viewers, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with an industry source.
Strikeforce's first two shows of 2012 averaged 387,500 viewers, including 431,000 for March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, rating, ratings event, maincard broadcast
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Strikeforce: Daniel Cormier Wants An Opponent With 'Name Value', Suggests Shane Carwin
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier is coming off the biggest win of his career, a five-round dismantling of Josh Barnett. Barnett was ranked #7 in the division in the April USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings.
Unfortunately for Cormier, he's locked into one more fight for Strikeforce before he can migrate to the UFC. He spoke to Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour about who he'd like to face next (Transcribed by MMA Mania):
"I think if there is a plus one and Zuffa's going to send someone over it is going to have to be someone that is very good you know? Maybe Shane Carwin, as he's coming back. He's a guy with a lot of name value and I don't necessarily know if that's a step up (from Josh Barnett) but that is somebody with name value. Or, if one of the guys loses from the card this weekend. But then it really limits because if Frank Mir loses I'm pretty sure he is not going to want to come to Strikeforce to fight me where if he loses he has everything to lose. When Cain Velasquez beats Bigfoot Silva, what are they going to do, send him (Silva) back to Strikeforce to fight me again? Nothing really adds up right now, I don't know, I don't know how to guess what they are going to do. There just is not that many step ups out there better than Josh Barnett. Especially that Josh Barnett. That Josh Barnett was 248 pounds, was in shape, was going hard, we had every intention on getting it down Saturday night, but that dude Saturday night came to fight. There are not too many guys that are a step up from that Josh Barnett that showed up on Saturday."
Cormier (and Barnett who must also fight once more for Strikeforce) are in the same bad bind as Gilbert Melendez, Tim Kennedy and the other fighters stuck in Strikeforce -- with the caveat that all the other fighters in the division have already moved over to the UFC.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, josh, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Josh Barnett, Glibert Melendez Lead Payroll for Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett come up on the losing end of his battle with Daniel Cormier in the finals of the heavyweight grand prix Saturday, but he's also the highest paid athlete on the fight card according to commission-reported salaries.
Barnett took home $200,000 for his efforts. Right behind him is Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, who pocketed $175,000 after besting Josh Thomson by split decision at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Despite winning, the commission did not report Melendez took home a win bonus for his efforts.
At the bottom end of the financial ladder, Yuri Villefort only managed to earn $2,500 in his loss to grappling-centric Quin Mulhern. Virgil Zwicker, Derrick Mehman both took home $3,000 while Guto Inocente earned $4,000 after earning a $2,000 win bonus.
Please note that salaries reported by Strikeforce to the commission do not necessarily reflect a fighter's actual earnings, once other possible bonuses and sponsorship money is factored in.
The list of full payouts from Saturday's event listed below:
James Terry $9,000Bobby Green $12,00 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Quinn Mulhern $12,00 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Yuri Villefort $2,500Gian Villante $24,000 ($12,000, $12,000 bonus)Derrick Mehman $3,000Virgil Zwicker $3,000Guto Inocente $4,000 ($ 2,000, $2,000 bonus)Gesias Cavalcante $18,000Isaac Vallie-Flagg $6,000 ($3,000, $3,000 bonus)Nah-Shon Burrell $7,000Christopher Spang $12,000 ($6,000, $6,000 bonus)Mike Kyle $25,000Rafael Cavalcante $66,000 ($33,000, $33,000 bonus)Josh Thomson $90,000Gilbert Melendez $175,000Josh Barnett $200,000Daniel Cormier $100,000 ($50,000, $50,000 bonus)
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, melendez, cormier
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 167: Diaz/NSAC, Strikeforce Review
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news, including Nick Diaz and Chael Sonnen's appearances in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and how interesting of a situation that has become. We'll have full coverage of that hearing.
We'll also review Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, which featured Daniel Cormier's win over Josh Barnett, and Bellator 69, which featured Maiquel Falcao beating Andreas Spang.
We'll also talk about what's next for Cormier and Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez, who beat Josh Thomson on the card.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
SBN coverage of Bellator 69
Posted in: strikeforce, radio, elbow radio, elbow, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Report: Josh Barnett has one more fight in Strikeforce before possible UFC return
If you can't bring Josh Barnett to the UFC, bring the UFC to Josh Barnett.
That may be the reality of "The Warmaster's" future, following a five round shellacking at the hands of Daniel Cormier last Saturday night (May 19, 2012) in the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, his first defeat in over five years and one that snapped an eight-fight winning streak.
So where does he go from here?
Well, for now, nowhere. That's because USA Today reports that Showtime, as part of their existing deal with Strikeforce prior to the ZUFFA purchase, will exercise its right to hold on to the part-time pro wrestler for one more fight inside the Hexagon before deporting him to the Las Vegas fight club.
But against who?
With concrete plans to dissolve the Strikeforce heavyweight division, both Barnett and Cormier are marooned in San Jose until the S.S. Octagon can send over a dinghy with a pair of 265-pound sailors to rescue them. Not that there's any rush, mind you, as both competitors are recovering from mangled mitts and could be on the shelf for the rest of the year.
No rush.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is once again experiencing a heavyweight boom, detonated by the upcoming UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" pay-per-view (PPV) fight card scheduled for this Saturday night (May 26) at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Memorial Day Weekend event is expected to shake up the 265-pound division and once again draw a line in the sand that separates the contenders from the pretenders. While it's not known as of yet which lane Barnett and Cormier will be running in, we should expect someone with name value to make their way into hostile territory when the pistol eventually fires.
Stay tuned.
For more on Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" click here. To see what else is happening at UFC 146 this weekend in "Sin City" click here.
Posted in: ufc, saturday night, strikeforce, josh barnett, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaReport: Josh Barnett Will Fight One More Time in Strikeforce
Well prior to the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final, it was announced that the eventual victor would have to fight one more time under the promotion's banner before moving over to the UFC.As it turns out, the loser will have to do the same.According to a report in USA Today citing Strikeforce and UFC parent company Zuffa as the source, Josh Barnett's next fight will also be in Strikeforce.
Barnett (31-6) fell to Cormier in a one-sided unanimous decision at last Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event. Given his past history with UFC president Dana White, there had been speculation about what his future might hold given a loss, but now we know that he will be kept in the fold, though for Strikeforce, for at least one fight.
Just days before the final, Barnett said he would take his future as it came, with no concerns about where it may take him.
"My plans are to keep fighting in Strikeforce," he said then. "If I have another fight lined up, if I were to win, when I win this one, and so you know, thinking about all that stuff is enough to give you a headache. Maybes, what ifs, totally unimportant for a fighter’s mind. A manager can go ahead and think about that all they want to, ad nauseum. Let themselves wrack their brains at night all about it. Fans, journalists, by all means. You know, throw it off each other as much as you want, get in arguments, start near riots, burn stuff, all that. Me? I do not care. It does not matter."
As for who he and Cormier might face in their respective future bouts, that question remains unanswered. The UFC has already absorbed all of Strikeforce's heavyweight talent, so either they will have to send two fighters over to challenge them in one-offs, or bring in outside talent.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, usa today, barnett, headache maybes
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Josh Barnett tops Strikeforce Grand Prix Final payroll
Josh Barnett may not have come out with a win inside the ring this past Saturday night but he definitely scored a victory when it came to the size of his paycheck. Despite losing to Daniel Cormier at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final, “The Warmaster” still picked up an event-high $200,000.
Comparably, Cormier earned $100,000 including a $50,000 win bonus, while Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez took home $175,000.
The figures were confirmed by MMAWeekly with the California State Athletic Commission.
Read below for a full rundown of salary information:
• Daniel Cormier: $100,000 (includes $ 50,000 win bonus)
• Josh Barnett: $200,000
• Gilbert Melendez: $ 175,000 (no win bonus)
• Josh Thomson: $90,000
• Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus)
• Mike Kyle: $25,000
• Chris Spang: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)
• Nah-Shon Burrell: $7,000
• Isaac Vallie–Flagg: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus)
• Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante: $18,000
• Carlos Inocente: $4,000 (includes $2,000 win bonus)
• Virgil Zwicker: $3,000
• Gian Villante: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)
• Derrick Mehman: $3,000
• Quinn Mulhern: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)
• Yuri Villefort: $2,500
• Bobby Green: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)
• James Terry: $9,000
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, bonus, cormier
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainZuffa: Josh Barnett also gets one more fight in Strikeforce
Both finalists in the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix will have another fight in the organization.
By winning the heavyweight tournament this past weekend in San Jose, Calif., Daniel Cormier moves to a fight that Strikeforce parent Zuffa previously promised to broadcaster Showtime, to highlight the grand-prix winner.
But it turns out that the other tourney finalist, Josh Barnett, also will have one more bout in Strikeforce, parent company Zuffa told USA TODAY on Monday.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, usa today, zuffa, grandprix winner
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Strikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Medical Suspensions Leave Main Event Fighters Out For Six Months
The war of a five-round heavyweight battle left Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett with 180-day medical suspensions handed down by the California State Athletic Commission. The suspensions were released to MMAWeekly.com on Monday night. Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier went down this past Saturday night, with Cormier securing the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title by defeating [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, suspension, barnett, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Cormier collects $100K for Strikeforce win
Daniel Cormier made $100,000, including a $50,000 win bonus on Saturday in San Jose at the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Posted in: strikeforce, san jose, daniel cormier, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce Medical Suspensions: Cormier, Barnett, Thomson Out For A While
The California State Athletic Commission released the list of medical suspensions on the heels of Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier card, and a lot of guys got hurt. Some of the injuries were either known already or had been long suspected though. Both Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists suffered broken hands in their bout, and Strikeforce lightweight title challenger Josh Thomson had been dealing with rumors of a knee injury going into the bout. Here's the full list of suspensions via MMA Weekly (preliminary card fighters after the jump):
Related: Photo: Daniel Cormier And Josh Barnett Both Broke Their Hands During Strikeforce Bout | Strikeforce's Josh Thomson Voices Frustration With MMA Media
Daniel Cormier was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible right second finger fracture and 60 days unless cleared by a physician for left eyelid laceration.
Josh Barnett was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible left hand fracture and 60 days unless cleared by a physician for multiple facial lacerations.
Josh Thomson was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible left knee fracture and possible right hand fracture.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Isaac Valle-Flagg was suspended for 60 days unless cleared by a physician for a one-inch laceration for right south orbital area.
Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible left shoulder ligament injury.
Virgil Zwicker was suspended 30 days for a hard bout and 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible left middle finger fracture.
Yuri Villefort was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible right knee ligament injury.
Bobby Green was suspended for 180 days unless cleared by a physician for possible third finger fracture on left hand.
James Terry was suspended for 60 days unless cleared by a physician for possible nasal fracture and laceration.
Posted in: strikeforce, day, hand, physician, fracture
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' medical suspensions: Headliners lead way
As expected, Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett have emerged from a
five-roung slugfest with significant medical suspensions following
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final."
Both are suspended for six months - unless cleared by a doctor - for
hand injuries, and both earned additional two-month terms for
lacerations.
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" took place this past
Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and aired live on Showtime
and Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Barnett Tweets Photo of Broken Hand, Will Return to Strikeforce
After watching his opponent, Daniel Cormier, have his hand raised in victory at Saturday night’s Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Barnett, “The War Master” Josh Barnett revealed during his post-fight interview that he broke his left hand early in the bout.
Barnett, who was immediately rushed to the hospital after the event, was unavailable for further comments that night. He has however confirmed via twitter that his hand was indeed broken. “Here’s what happened in the first :30…still threw it though. Of course that might not have so wise,” he tweeted along with the above photo of the X-Ray.
While Barnett was soundly dominated by the former Olympian, the Seattle native continued to fight for over 24 minutes, surviving to see the final bell. It would seem his past unfavorable standing with Zuffa brass is no longer an issue. It was confirmed by USA Today that when his recovery is complete, Barnett will have another fight under the Strikeforce banner .
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: strikeforce, hand, barnett, his interview, zuffa brass
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Salaries - Barnett, Melendez Lead The Way
A lot of people don't understand why a guy like Gilbert Melendez would have ever re-signed with Strikeforce. Well, $175,000 a fight goes a long way I guess. The Strikeforce lightweight champion was second on the $748,500 total payroll for last Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier card, with only Josh Barnett ($200,000) making more. Daniel Cormier picked up a tidy 100k for his victory in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals, and Josh Thomson got 90k for almost dethroning Melendez in the co-main event. All info came from the California State Athletic Commission.
Here are the numbers for the main card guys, and you can catch the preliminary card fighters after the jump.
Daniel Cormier: $100,000 (includes $50,000 win bonus)Josh Barnett: $200,000
Gilbert Melendez: $175,000 (no win bonus)Josh Thomson: $90,000
Rafael Cavalcante: $66,000 ($33,000 bonus)Mike Kyle: $25,000
Chris Spang: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Nah-Shon Burrell: $7,000
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Isaac Vallie-Flagg: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)Gesias Cavalcante: $18,000
Guto Inocente: $4,000 ($2,000 win bonus)Virgil Zwicker: $3,000
Gian Villante: $24,000 ($12,000 win bonus)Derrick Mehmen: $3,000
Quinn Mulhern: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)Yuri Villefort: $2,500
Bobby Green: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)James Terry: $9,000
Posted in: strikeforce, card, barnett, melendez, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce salaries: Josh Barnett leads payouts with $200,000 from Showtime event
Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Barnett vs. Cormier" event this past Saturday night (May 19, 2012), which aired on the Showtime network from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., were released earlier today by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Leading the fiscal charge was mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Josh Barnett, who cleaned nearly a quarter-milliion greenbacks ($200,000) for advancing to the finals of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix. However, the "War Master" didn't get the full job done, losing to tournament replacement Daniel Cormier -- who earned just half of Barnett's salary ($100,00) -- via clear-cut unanimous decision.
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez wasn't far behind, taking home a second-best $175,00 for earning a split decision nod over Josh Thomson ($90,000) after 25 minutes of action in their defining trilogy match.
That's not all.
Check out the complete list of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" salaries and payouts after the jump:
Daniel Cormier -- $100,000 ($50,000 to show, $50,000 to win)Josh Barnett -- $200,000Cormier defeated Barnett via unanimous decision
Gilbert Melendez -- $175,000Josh Thomson -- $90,000Melendez defeated Thomson via split decision
Rafael Cavalcante -- $66,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to win)Mike Kyle -- $25,000Cavalcante defeated Kyle via submission (guillotine) in round one
Lenny Christopher Spang -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Nah-Shon Burrell -- $7,000Spang defeated Burrell via knockout in round one
Isaac Vallie-Flagg -- $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Gesias Cavalcante -- $18,000Vallie-Flagg defeated Cavalcante via split decision
Carlos Inocente -- $4,000 ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)Virgil Zwicker -- $3,000Inocente defeated Zwicker via unanimous decision
Gian Villante -- $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Derrick Mehman -- $3,000Villante defeated Mehmen via unanimous decision
Quinn Mulhern -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Yuri Villefort -- $2,500Mulhern defeated Villefort via split decision
Bobby Green -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)James Terry -- $9,000Green defeated Terry via split decision
The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" was $768,500. The reported gross gate for the event was $226,005. Final ticket sales figures are still pending.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Strikeforce Salaries: Josh Barnett, Gilbert Melendez Lead Payroll
Josh Barnett ($200,000) and Gilbert Melendez ($175,000) were the two big money winners on Saturday's Strikeforce card in San Jose, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, melendez, money winners
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Fighter Salaries: Josh Barnett, Gilbert Melendez, Daniel Cormier Bring Home The Bacon
The main event fighters – Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier – along with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez all made six figures for their performances this past weekend at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. MMA Weekly confirmed the numbers with the California State Athletic Commission. Barnett was the top earner, despite falling to Cormier in the [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, california state, cormier, commission barnett
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJosh Thomson blames himself, not judges, for loss to Gilbert Melendez
It’s common knowledge Josh Thomson is a 33-year old Strikeforce lightweight who has been plagued by injury issues and may only have a limited number of fights left in him as a result. However, nobody knows exactly how important winning the divisional title this past weekend was to Thomson at this stage in his career better than “The Punk” himself.
Thomson took champion Gilbert Melendez to the limit on Saturday night in their co-headlining clash at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final and nearly came away with the belt thanks to a spirited performance highlighted by his success while standing and near finish of “El Nino” in the fourth frame. Though Melendez ultimately won a decision some would label as controversial, Thomson seemed content with the result when asked about it after the fight and had no harsh words to offer up on the scoring or his rival’s victory.
“Everyone keeps telling me I got robbed but I don’t really think on that. I just think it was a good performance by both fighters. We gave the crowd what they wanted to see and it seems like everyone was happy. I mean I’m not happy I lost but it was a great fight,” said Thomson in an interview with Showtime, adding he was also pleased to have turned in an entertaining effort on the heels of his self-labeled “sh*tty” showing in an outpointing of K.J. Noons a few months back.
“It just goes back to the old adage that you can’t leave it in the judges’ hands,” continued the 19-5 Thomson. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left it. I should’ve done it myself. I should’ve finished him in the fourth, to be honest, with the Rear-Naked. Had the opportunity and just couldn’t get it done.”
With Melendez unlikely to accept another match-up against Thomson in favor of focusing on new opponents it’s hard to say who the American Kickboxing Academy staple will step in the cage with next. What is certain, however, is the likelihood of Thomson doing his damndest to keep it exciting even if he comes up short in the end.
Check out the full interview with Thomson below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFalling Action: Best and Worst of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
It took more than a year, but the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally came to an end on Saturday night. If you’d told me at the start of this thing that an alternate would be the one to win it all, I’d have said that it was just Strikeforce’s luck. But actually, it worked out well, all things considered.Cormier is not only a major up-and-comer in the MMA world, he’s also something of a homegrown talent for Strikeforce. He began his career there, working his way up from Challengers undercards to a Saturday night main event, and now he’s the last big man standing in the most ambitious tournament since the demise of Pride. Not bad at all, if you ask me.With Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier now in the books, we turn our attention to the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between.
Biggest Winner: Daniel CormierI’ll just come right out with it: if the former Olympic wrestling team captain is going to turn out to be that good of a kickboxer, then no one is safe. Lock your doors, barricade your windows, and don’t let Cormier get within kicking or shooting distance of you. With the striking skills we saw on display on Saturday night, he’d have little problem picking apart many top heavyweights. Those who could land more strikes than they absorb would no doubt find themselves on their back from a takedown soon enough, maybe after they’ve gone for a fun little ride like the one that upended a 250-pound expert grappler in the Grand Prix finals. It almost doesn’t seem fair for Cormier to have come so far, so fast as a mixed martial artist. It also doesn’t seem fair that he should have to stick around in Strikeforce for one more fight, when the victory over Barnett clearly showed that he’s ready for the best big men the UFC has to offer. At the moment, the only significant weakness in Cormier’s game is his hand. That is to say, the bones in his hand, which keep breaking as a result of him flinging it against the skulls of his opponents. If he can fix that while also continuing to improve along the same trajectory, he’ll be a nightmare of a matchup for anyone in the UFC.Biggest Loser: Mike KyleQuestion: when does it make absolutely no difference whether your fight is for number one contender status? Answer: when you lose in the first minute. When that happens, you might wish you had played it a little cooler before the fight. Kyle’s a talented fighter. When he gets his game working (and when he doesn’t blatantly violate the rules), he’s a problem for a lot of light heavyweights. He also seems like a bit of a head case at times, and going off about Scott Coker’s refusal to promise him a shot at the vacant, essentially non-existent Strikeforce light heavyweight strap is one more example of it. If he felt like MMA almost wasn’t worth the effort before this bout, you have to wonder how he feels now.Most Impressive in Defeat: Josh ThomsonHe came on strong late in his rubber match with Melendez and made things interesting on the judges’ scorecards. Maybe if he’d had a greater sense of urgency earlier in the fight we might be talking about his shocking upset this morning, and it would be Melendez sitting around and complaining about the state of judging in MMA. Instead, Thomson will have to settle for the ‘attaboy’ that comes with putting up more of a fight than many expected out of him. Melendez, meanwhile, gets to go home with the belt.Least Impressive in Victory: Gilbert MelendezIt’s not his fault. Not really. This is what happens when you have to keep defending your title against challengers who are supposed to have no chance. If you don’t absolutely crush them, it looks bad. If you come in as a 5-1 favorite and let it go to the judges, in a way you’ve already lost. That’s the situation Melendez is in, and there’s no easy way out. He’s going to keep on fighting these mostly meaningless battles, and every one that he doesn’t thoroughly dominate will take a little more of the shine off that Strikeforce gold. His only solution is to treat these fights like it’s not enough to simply win. He has to give people the destruction they crave, even if he risks self-destruction in the process. At least it would be better than this slow decline via decision. And at least then his fiance wouldn’t have to face mush her way out of the arena when it’s all over.Making the Most of Unexpected Opportunity: Chris SpangHow a little-known, 4-1 fighter ended up on the televised portion of this card is anybody’s guess, but Spang made it count with his first-round TKO of Nah-Shon Burrell, who was out on his feet for roughly half the fight. It got the Strikeforce broadcast off to an exciting start, and gave fight fans a reason to remember Spang’s name. His nickname, however? "The Kiss"? Yeah, that could use some work.Least Secure Future: Josh BarnettI still think the UFC would be wise to try and make a deal with Barnett when it comes time to talk contracts, but his negotiating position was significantly weakened by the one-sided loss on Saturday night. Yes, he broke his hand in the first round. And yes, he still went the full five with a guy who is probably only a fight or two away from a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. At the same time, Barnett comes with baggage. His history of failed drug tests makes him the wrong kind of risk ad the exact worst time for the UFC, and he also has a tendency to overestimate his value. That’s not to say Barnett wouldn’t be a great pickup for the UFC. Even with the heavyweight division now more flush than it’s ever been, the big show could still use a seasoned self-promoter like "The Warmaster" who can take and deliver beatings with the best of them. Then again, even though the UFC could use him, it doesn’t need him right now. Not as much as he needs it. Hopefully he keeps that in mind when sitting down at the bargaining table.
Most Surprising: Guto Inocente and Virgil ZwickerIf you didn’t tune in to the prelims on ShoExtreme, buddy, you messed up. While the "Rezdog" may have been outmatched against a dynamic fighter like Inocente, he hung tough and made a battle out of it, delivering some of the best action of the card in this three-round slugfest. I’m still not sure how Zwicker survived some of those shots, and I’d wager that Inocente was just as mystified at certain points. Mostly, I’m just grateful that the new Strikeforce has a way of airing great prelim bouts like this one. In the old days, this one wouldn’t have made its way onto any TV broadcast. Then again, in the old days, this bout wouldn’t have happened here at all. It would have been saved for a Friday night Challengers event that no one watched, and its spot on the prelims would have gone to local boys who could guarantee a couple hundred bucks worth of ticket sales to their friends, family, and teammates. Sort of makes you glad it’s no longer "business as usual" in Strikeforce.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGIF: Daniel Cormier slams Josh Barnett at the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Final last...
GIF: Daniel Cormier slams Josh Barnett at the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Final last Saturday night (May 19, 2012) in San Jose. "DC" dominated "The Warmaster" en route to a five round unanimous decision win, capturing the grand prix belt and setting himself up for a very bright future inside the Octagon, whenever it is they can actually get him there. See what else happened last weekend in Strikeforce right here.
Props: Iron Forges Iron
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, prix, strikeforce world, prix heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Josh Thomson Post-Fight Video Interview
Hear what Strikeforce lightweight Josh Thomson had to say after his co-main event title fight split decision loss to Gilbert Melendez on Saturday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, gilbert melendez, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at Heavy MMARafael “Feijao” Cavalcante proclaims he wants Strikeforce light heavyweight title
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante made a statement Saturday night at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final, disposing of former adversary Mike Kyle in prompt fashion. Cavalcante, who was knocked out by Kyle back in 2009, bull-rushed in on his foe, did damage with a knee, and locked in a choke after Kyle tried to power his way out, scoring a 33-second submission victory.
With the Strikeforce light heavyweight title still vacant since Dan Henderson departed for the UFC, the win could have been the perfect way for Cavalcante to proclaim himself a contender. However, in case his bosses weren’t watching, the Brazilian took it a step further.
“I want the belt,” said Cavalcante in the post-fight interview.
“Feijao” has lost only to Kyle and Henderson since 2007, scoring victories over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Antwain Britt among others during that time.
While nothing has been made official, it appears Strikeforce is looking to pair Gegard Mousasi up with another member of the division to crown a champion with that party likely being “Feijao”. Mousasi is currently on the sidelines due to knee surgery.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, light, kyle, cavalcante, feijao
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce results: Good riddance to Mike Kyle following loss to Rafael Cavalcante
It has always troubled me that Strikeforce used Mike Kyle, because he's probably the dirtiest fighter in the history of the game, with a disturbing track record to prove it (you could also make a good case for Gilbert Yvel, who compiled an impressive body of foul-plagued work).
That's why it was a pleasure to see Kyle taken out quickly last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event in San Jose by Rafael Cavalcante via slam-bang choke in the opening seconds of the bout.
Yet Kyle had a regular and recurring place on Strikeforce cards. I often wonder if his brutal and eminently senseless battering of Brian Olsen would've netted him more than a mere 18-month suspension (view the appaling sequence here, with the incident beginning at 2:50 in) if it had happened in the UFC. Or Strikeforce. Or, really, anywhere where the viewing public could've seen the sport at its worst, instead of the WEC in 2006, which was an obscure show at the time. Kyle's soccer kick of the obviously downed Olsen was bad enough, and his battering resulted in long-term injuries that Olsen still deals with to this day. Unlike Kyle's suspension, for Brian, the baggage from that incident has yet to expire.
After the UFC 47 press conference, Kyle's opponent, Wes Sims, lifted his shirt and showed bite marks from Kyle during their fight.
Yes, yes, yes, we know Kyle has "served" his sentence, and there's the argument that he's paid his debt to society, but I wonder how Olsen feels about that. If there were any more need for hypocrisy in giving the rule-breaking Kyle a slot on a Strikeforce card, the program took the time to promote Tyron Woodley vs. Nate Marquardt for the vacant title, despite the fact that Marquardt was released by the UFC for failing to disclose he was on testosterone replacement therapy, at which point UFC president Dana White swore Marquardt would never fight in the UFC again.
Except until they needed someone to fight Woodley. In Strikeforce. Right.
As a result, using fighters like Kyle only reinforces that breaking the rules is a short-term problem. I'd like to see the UFC -- which prides itself on enforcing the rules and drawing a strong line -- raise the bar a little, even if it's Strikeforce.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, rafael cavalcante, kyle, mike kyle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce results: A pleasant end to a heavyweight grand prix tournament plagued by chaos
Given the chaos that plagued the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, the tournament finale that took place last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California, featuring Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett was a pleasantly entertaining capper, if for no other reason than there were so many distracting chapters outside the cage preceding it.
With its kickoff in Feb. 2011, the grand prix marked a kind of all-in move for Strikeforce, which, at the time, was clearly losing the marginal ground it was holding against the overwhelming onslaught of success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Market share being what it is -- an eminently finite commodity not earned easily, nor yielded without a fight -- Strikeforce assembled what was, given the available resources, the most potent programming move they or anyone else could have imagined.
With a lineup of eight heavyweights, including Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem, the grand prix was scheduled to unfold across 2011 and take Strikeforce to the next level as a promotion. It was the kind of move that even the biggest UFC shills -- both in and out of the press -- openly praised.
That was the plan, at least, until it all went to hell, helped in no small part by the UFC's shocking and out-of-the-blue acquisition of Strikeforce back in March 2011, which scuttled any sense of long-term stability the promotion was hoping to build, at least independent of the UFC.
But it would recover.
The February kickoff card saw Emelianenko -- fresh off his shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum the summer previous -- get pounded, dominated and stopped by Antonio Silva. This scuttled the hoped-for showdown of Emelianenko vs. Overeem, as well as the backup plan of Emelianenko taking on Werdum if he managed to best Overeem in their first round match. Overeem vs. Werdum, held in June, was a dreadful affair, punctuated by Werdum's endless guard-flopping and Overeem's woeful inability to land a strike of significance against an opponent who refused to engage. It hardly endeared stateside fans to "The Reem," now the tournament's biggest attraction with Fedor's exit.
Then, Overeem bolted the grand prix after his dubious showing, obviously for the greener pastures of the UFC, which were noticeably so now that Fedor was no longer available.
With Daniel Cormier filling in for him as a semifinalist against Silva last September, Cormier's broken hand put a damper on an otherwise outstanding performance as he battered the massive Brazilian in a rousing knockout victory. Barnett, meanwhile, cruised through Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov in workmanlike fashion. The injury delayed the finals until May.
All said and done, the Strikeforce grand prix ended on a positive note. Cormier's impressive work over five rounds showed the beginnings of what should be a top-flight heavyweight in the years ahead. Given the twists, turns, and chaos that marked the 15-month journey of the tournament, fans took a lot of lumps waiting for the conclusive end.
It was a pretty good one, though, even if it was nowhere near what anyone predicted would happen.
Posted in: ufc, overeem, strikeforce, heavyweight, prix
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRousey-Kaufman Targeted for ‘Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy’
Following last night’s Strikeforce: Grand Prix Finale event, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker revealed the likely return date for women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
Coker told media gathered at the post-fight press conference that it’s probable Rousey will be meeting her next opponent, Sarah Kaufman, at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy this summer.
“I believe she’ll be fighting on that card, but it’s not official yet,” said Coker.
If added to the card, Rousey-Kaufman would be the third title fight on the lineup. Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will be defending his title against Tim Kennedy in the night’s main event, while Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley will do battle for the promotion’s vacant welterweight title.
Rousey captured the Strikeforce belt in just her fifth professional fight, finishing Miesha Tate this past March as she has all of her previous opponents: by first-round armbar. The former judo Olympian will be attempting her first title defense against Kaufman.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine is scheduled to take place on July 14 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: title, strikeforce, rockhold, kennedy, coker
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce results recap: Winners and losers from 'Barnett vs Cormier' in San Jose
It took 16 months to get there, but Strikeforce was finally able to seal the deal on their Heavyweight grand prix tournament last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) in San Jose, California.
Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" marked the end of the tournament, as well as the end of the division as well, with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) absorbing the majority of the 265-pounders from the organization to deepen their own wells. It was an odd scene, seeing Cormier adorned with a belt he will never get to defend.
Hopefully, none of that takes any of the shine away from a moment that will go down in history as when we saw "DC" officially rise to greatness. It was a massive win for the rapidly rising prospect, who showed the world that he is no longer an up-and-comer...he has arrived.
Gilbert Melendez looked to stake his claim as being the number one 155-pounder in the universe when he took on Josh Thomson in a five-round rubber match for the belt. "El Nino" was able to secure a very close split decision win, but don't look for anyone to be placing him at the top of their rankings after Saturday night.Follow me after the jump where we'll analyze the list of big winners and lowly losers from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier."
WINNERS:
Daniel Cormier -- It's official. This kid is for real. Okay, it probably was already official, but this dominant decision victory puts him in the mix with the top heavyweights in the world. He was faster. He had better striking. He had better wrestling. Ready or not, UFC, here "DC" comes!
Josh Thomson -- Nobody expected this guy to win. There was no pressure and no real expectations. If anything, the majority of the experts picked Melendez to dominate him. Credit to "The Punk" for not backing down and even coming close to finishing Melendez at the end of round four.
Rafael Cavalcante -- They say revenge is a dish best served cold. Hot, cold, lukewarm, whatever temperature it was, the dish was in the form of a super tight guillotine that "Feijao" was able to cinch in against Mike Kyle, after nailing him with a big overhand right and a nasty knee in the face. The walkout lasted longer than the fight itself. "Feijao" appears to be back.
Chris Spang -- After his brother Andreas came out short at Bellator 69 on Friday night, Chris came out looking to defend the family name. His mission was accomplished, as he jumped all over Nah-Shon Burrell from the get-go. Burrell was willing to meet in the center and exchange from the opening bell...but he shouldn't have been. The disparity in striking was clear immediately. "The Kiss" was able to secure the muay thai clinch and brutally punish his opponent with knees in the face before Burrell finally went crashing to the canvas in a pile of unconsciousness.
Frank Shamrock -- Did you SEE those pearly whites?! Did you?? Everytime Strikeforce hits the Showtime airwaves, I watch Shamrock with anticipation to see if the braces are still there. They always are. But not last night. They were gone! He's still the worst (and we will get to that later), but good for Frank for finally getting the machinery out of his mouth.
Pat Miletich -- He's not the best, but he's decent, and he's done nothing to deserve being stuck between bottom-dwellers Shamrock and Ranallo. Every broadcast, I think he's finally going to snap and rip Mauro's head off for insulting him or correcting him on some point of minutia. He hasn't done it yet, and for that, I've got to declare him a winner for his exorbitant patience.
LOSERS:
Gilbert Melendez -- I know, I know. What's Melendez doing on the "Losers" list? He may have won the fight, but he lost the war. Thomson is tough, I'll give you that. But you can't convince me that Ben Henderson or Frankie Edgar would have trouble with him. I'm not buying it. I think they both finish him. Maybe Thomson is just the fly in Melendez's ointment, but if you're gonna declare yourself the best lightweight in the world, you better prove it. As far as I'm concerned, he didn't do anything close to that.
Josh Barnett -- Time will bear out just what this loss means. Cormier may go on to crash through the UFC's heavyweight division like a wrecking ball, and then Barnett will get somewhat of a pass. However, it may signal the beginning of the end. Dana White may have gotten over their past "misunderstandings," but I just don't see him doing much fawning over "The War Master" after this five round butt kicking. I think Barnett will get absorbed, because the UFC can use more depth in the 265-pound division, but he's going to be on a short leash.
Mike Kyle -- It's hard to get too in depth with this one. The fight lasted 33 seconds. Kyle got caught, never recovered and was overwhelmed by a much better fighter. Every loss is a bad loss, but this one particularly unfortunate.
Mauro Ranallo -- I'm not going to let go of this. Ranallo is terrible. I appreciate that he helped you through your childhood and adolescence and explained what was going on to you while you watched PRIDE. You have a sentimental attachment to him. That's fine. But he sucks. In the first prelim bout of the night, he said "gluteus maximus" several times when a fighter was taken down. Later in the broadcast, when a fighter was punched in the nose, Mauro referred to it as his "proboscis." It made me want to mute the TV. Unfortunately, I need to hear some of the things being said. If only there was a radio broadcast.
Frank Shamrock -- He's still Frank Shamrock, with or without the braces. He still stares into the camera like a small child who is mesmerized by the device and what it can do. He still fails to finish thoughts and sentences. He still comes in on the tail end of one of the other boneheads and makes their already terrible sentiment even more terrible. He's just brutal.
What does your list of winners and losers from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" look like? Let us know in the comment section below.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, melendez, cormier, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez not interested in fourth fight with Josh Thomson
Entering last night’s Strikeforce event the questions surrounding lightweight Josh Thomson had to do with his health after rumors of a knee injury surfaced a little more than a week ago. Exiting his fight with champion Gilbert Melendez the chatter was not focused on how his leg had held up but rather whether the ringside judges had scored things correctly after awarding “El Nino” was a razor-thin Split Decision.
Thomson looked as strong as any opponent has over the past few years against Melendez with his performance echoing that of a 2008 victory he holds over the company’s 155-pound king. However, as close as their fight was, Melendez is ready to close the chapter of his career titled “Thomson” and move on to new things.
“No, I won the trilogy and it’s supposed to be the end of it,” Melendez explained in a post-fight interview with Showtime after the bout’s conclusion. “I think it was settled once and for all. You guys wanna pay me triple or double, we’ll talk.”
“I just couldn’t let the inner-beast out for some reason,” he added on his inability to do more damage to Thomson, later turning his focus to his future on which he stated, “I’m ready for whoever. I’m proud to be a part of Showtime, proud to be a part of Strikeforce. I’m gonna keep holding the throne and watching the throne.”
Melendez improved his overall record to 21-2 with the successful showing against Thomson and had been very vocal regarding his desire to fight top opponents as a means of helping build his stock instead of being in “lose-lose” situations.
Check out the full interview with Melendez below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce Grand Prix Day After: An Underappreciated Classic
SAN JOSE -- Let's get one thing out of the way at the top: From a strict business perspective, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix was the equivalent of "Tap Across America," the ill-fated tour from the movie "This is Spinal Tap."
In the mythical rock show, Spinal Tap started with full houses and ended with the band billed second to a puppet show at a hotel. The Grand Prix started with a turnout of 11,000 in New Jersey and drew Showtime's biggest-ever MMA audience. Then the crowds shrunk each time out. Last night, as the tourney concluded at the HP Pavilion, the entire upper deck was sectioned off, in addition to reserving one end of the building and much of the floor space for Showtime's excessive stage production.
Anyone who tries to spin the tournament as a business success is deluding themselves.
But if you can separate the action in the cage from the histrionics outside, in time, much like that favorite band of yours that never broke big, the tournament could wind up viewed as an under-appreciated classic.
Nearly every Grand Prix bout offered something compelling. There was only one out-and-out stinker, Alistair Overeem's win over Fabricio Werdum. Antonio Silva's beatdown of Fedor Emelianenko was a stirring affair, as fans hoped for a patented Fedor comeback which never materialized. Andrei Arlovski gave a glimmer of his old self before Sergei Kharitonov knocked him into next week. Josh Barnett's wins over Brett Rogers and Kharitonov showed he still had considerable ground skills. Daniel Cormier's knockout of Silva is still seared into the brains of everyone who saw it.
Then there was Saturday night's magnificent final between Cormier and Barnett. This bout was everything you could hope for in a tournament championship match: An up-and-coming name against a grizzled veteran. Twenty-five minutes of mixed martial arts at its highest level. Cormier justifying his buzz with a transcendent performance. Barnett earning the respect of even his most ardent detractors by gutting his way through several scenarios which would have mentally broken a lesser competitor. And oh yeah, both guys doing it with broken hands suffered early in the fight, but fighting with such spirit that neither injury was apparent.
This was a fight which belonged in front of a packed stadium in Japan, like the great tournaments that inspired the idea of the Grand Prix, not one contested in front of an intimate gathering.
In the end, the Grand Prix was Strikeforce promoter Scott Coker's vision, his baby, and for better or worse, he pulled it off. So we'll let him have the last word.
"When we put this tourney together, if you look at the quality of the guys on the roster, we had champions from UFC, PRIDE, Strikeforce, Pro Elite," said Coker. "These guys were all champions. If you look at this group, for Daniel to come into the tournament and win it, it's something to be proud of."
Strikeforce Grand Prix Notes
*Let's slow the "Daniel Cormier should get the next UFC title shot after Junior dos Santos-Frank Mir" talk just a bit. For one thing, Barnett's long win streak was straight out of the Fedor/M-1 playbook, littered with the likes of Pedro Rizzo, Gilbert Yvel, Mighty Mo, and Geronimo dos Santos. For another, Cormier has yet to face a fighter with dos Santos' boxing skill or Mir's level of jiu-jitsu. And if Cain Velasquez beats Silva as impressively as Cormier did, can you really argue Cormier deserves the shot ahead of his campmate, a former champ whose only loss is to dos Santos? Cormier has proven himself in the top mix at 265 pounds, but at the very least let's see how next weekend's fights pan out before armchair booking Cormier into a UFC title shot.
*There's a tendency in the mixed martial arts media to give free passes to fighters who give good quotes. Blind eyes are turned to everything from drug-test failures to mortgage fraud, so long as the interview is entertaining. This tendency applies to Barnett, who's undeniably funny and engaging. So I'll go ahead say what you won't likely hear from anyone else, which is the Zuffa dodged a bullet by having Barnett lose resoundingly. Barnett's a two-time steroid cheat who has never come clean about his indiscretions. He single-handedly sunk the third Affliction card and caused delays to the Grand Prix. Not to mention, last night's attendance was further proof he isn't a ticket seller on these shores. Is Barnett an ultra-tough fighter? Yes. Is he charismatic? Yes. But Zuffa has enough headaches to deal with right now without having a fighter with Barnett's baggage emerge at Grand Prix champion.
Strikeforce Grand Prix Quotes
"Yeah, sure, whatever." -- Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez, clearly enthused about the idea of a fourth fight with Josh Thomson.
"Now matter how bad things get, eventually the sun is going to shine. If you just keep it at, pursuing your goals, eventually good things happen to decent people. For a person who is set on his goals, good things happen. Everyone deals with adversity. It's how you bounce back from it." -- Cormier, reflecting on getting through a series of tragedies in his personal life.
Stock up
Rafael Cavalcante: There's avenging losses, and then there's what "Feijao" did to Mike Kyle on Saturday night. The Team Nogueira fighter needed less than a minute to demolish Kyle, as Cavalcante leveled him with a vicious knee and then finished the job with a sweet guillotine choke. Coker indicated in the post-fight press conference that Cavalcante, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, would likely meet Gegard Mousasi for the vacant crown.
Stock down
Gilbert Melendez: Last night's fight with Josh Thomson was Exhibit A in why keeping "El Nino" in Strikeforce is a bad idea. It was going to be next-to-impossible for Melendez to come out of the trilogy fight looking good. Not only do these guys have the familiarity with one another you'd expect from a duo who already fought 10 rounds, but they also trained together for more than two years. There were no secrets left, no new weaknesses to exploit. The only way Melendez could have looked good against a competent opponent who knew him so well was with a flash knockout, which didn't happen. The shrill calls for a fourth bout from Showtime types were more the sound of desperation than anything fans want to see.
Fight I want to see next
Cormier vs. Velasquez. Sure, I'll go ahead and stir this pot. You know whatever goes down inside the walls of the American Kickboxing Academy whenever these two bulls lock horns is likely as entertaining as any main event you're plunking down $50 to see. AKA fighters are so loyal to each other that Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch won't fight each other even now, after Koscheck left the camp in a bitter split. So the chances of Cormier-Velasque any time soon is slim. But we can still dream, can't we?
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, prix, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Daniel Cormier, Josh Barnett both break hands in Strikeforce headliner
Last night marked one of final heavyweight fights under Strikeforce’s banner and the evening’s participants certainly lived up to expectations by turning in a fantastic five-rounder featuring blood, brawling, and apparently a few broken bones. After the match-up both Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier came forward to reveal they’d suffered hand injuries in the opening round of their headlining rumble and expected to be out for an undetermined period of time to recovery.
“I stopped throwing it for a while,” said Cormier of his right hand. “In a fight, you must be able to use all your weapons, so I punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed.”
The former Olympian also added he didn’t feel it was as bad as when he’d broken it last September against Antonio Silva and expected to take to the cage two more times in 2012.
Cormier Fueled by Competitive Desire, Memory of Daughter
Meanwhile, Barnett stated he’d broken the “ever-living hell” out of his paw shortly after the conclusion of their bout. His future status was left more uncertain.
Cormier came away with a Unanimous Decision nod over Barnett, improving his record to 10-0 and snapping the veteran’s eight-fight winning streak in the process, to take home the Strikeforce World Grand Prix title.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, hand, barnett, cormier, ’d
Read the full article at Fighters.comFull Strikeforce post-fight press conference video for 'Barnett vs Cormier'
Post-fight reactions and video from newly-crowned Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier, along with main card winners Gilbert Melendez, Rafael Cavalcante, Chris Spang and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who were all on hand for last night's press conference following the "Barnett vs. Cormier" Showtime event on May 19, 2012, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Watch highlights of the top two fights on the card, Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, barnett, cormier, blowbyblow commentary
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Strikeforce Barnett vs Cormier: Rafael Feijao Exacts Revenge (Post Video)
Rafael Feijao was able to exact a little bit of revenge by submitting Mike Kyle on Saturday in Strikeforce, but did he also earn a shot at the vacant light heavyweight title?
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Posted in: strikeforce, revenge, bull, mike kyle, feijao
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Post-Fight Press Conference Hihglights
Highlights from the Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier post-fight press conference. Featured fighters include Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, his opponent, Josh Thomson, and Rafael Feijao, who put on a career-defining performance. Thanks to MMA Weekly for the clips. More clips after the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, clip, cormier, rafael feijao
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Post-Fight Interviews – Cormier, Melendez, Thomson, Feijao, Spang
Interviews with Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix winner Daniel Cormier, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and the man who almost took his title away, Josh Thomson, as well as Feijao and Chris Spang. Thanks to SHOSports for the clips. More clips after the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, spang, josh thomson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNate Marquardt-Tyron Woodley Official For Vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Title In July
Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley made it official Saturday night, as the two welterweights were interviewed during Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. They will meet on July 14 from Portland, Oregon at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy for the title. Marquardt has not fought since 2011, as he was removed from a fight with Rick Story due [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, rick story, tyron woodley, portland oregon, title marquardt
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' results recap: Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson fight review and analysis
While mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have continued to grovel over the status of Gilbert Melendez, bemoaning the fact that he's yet to make his way over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Cesar Gracie trained slugger has continued to run roughshod over the Strikeforce lightweight division.
Save for one opponent -- Josh Thomson.
Indeed, the two have clashed three times now with last night's (Sat., May 19, 2012) sojourn in San Jose representing the third and final chapter in their thrilling trilogy.
And for the second time in as many attempts, it was Melendez who emerged victorious. But, no different than last time, it didn't come without a bit of controversy.
Follow me after the jump for our review of Melendez's split decision victory over Thomson.
It should be pointed out straight from the get-go that the large disparity in Melendez (3) and Thomson's (17) placement in the lightweight rankings is in no way indicative of how they actually match up against each other.
That's not just an indictment on the entire rankings system, but simply a way to suggest that every now and again a fighter comes along who simply brings out the best in another fighter.
Such is the case with these two.
Melendez never quite looked comfortable throughout the 25 minutes he was in the cage. The opposite applies, as well. Thomson never quite found his groove and while he had his big moments, like taking "El Nino's" back and nearly locking in a rear-naked choke, he was often backpedaling and searching for his spots, all too often never finding them.
That's why it was no surprise when the final horn sounded and the reaction on social media sites was split. Realistically, any scorecard could be defended. If you had it 48-47 in favor of Thomson, hey, more power to you. If you thought Melendez took it by the same score, yeah, that's cool.
Ultimately, two judges scored it for Melendez 48-47 while the other said Thomson won by the same score. The Fight Metric report released shortly after the conclusion of the event agreed with the judges, so the statistics back up the decision.
Yet, there is no consensus.
Naturally, this led Thomson to jokingly ask fans at the HP Pavilion if they wanted to see a fourth fight. Put on the spotlight right there in the cage, Melendez said, "Sure, whatever." Later, though, he told media members at the post-fight press conference that no, there will absolutely not be another fight between the two.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker also confirmed as much.
With that out of the way, and their paths never to cross again, it becomes time to look toward the future. For Thomson, he's got plenty of potential fights left in Strikeforce with up-and-coming opponents making themselves available all the time.
But it's a far trickier situation for Melendez.
I won't suggest he move over to the UFC simply because we know that's not going to happen, even if it should. But when you click on over to the Strikeforce website to cruise the list of 155-pound fighters on the roster, you realize rather quickly that there is not one single credible challenger to Melendez's title.
Not one.
That means someone has to come in from the outside and believe it or not, if the stars align just right, there is a man who could be available to step in to fill the void.
Eddie Alvarez.
Bellator will have the right to match any contract offer but, not unlike Hector Lombard, Zuffa can make it happen if they really want to and judging by Alvarez attending a recent UFC event as promotion President Dana White's personal guest, it's safe to say they want him in the fold.
Assuming that doesn't work out, UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva is going to have to part ways with one of his lightweights and send them over to see if they can make some noise in San Jose. Maybe Gray Maynard beats Clay Guida and they offer him a title shot against Melendez. It makes sense, considering he's not likely to be looking at a UFC championship showdown again anytime soon.
You Maniacs got any other ideas?
For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here, and here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCoker: 'Feijao' vs. Mousasi likely for vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title
Following an ACL injury he recently revealed to MMAjunkie.com Radio, Gegard Mousasi won't be back in the cage anytime soon.
And that's just fine with his likely next opponent, who's expected to fight Mousasi for Strikeforce's vacant light-heavyweight title.
Following a grueling training camp, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante - who made quick work of Mike Kyle at Saturday's Strikeforce event - is looking for a little rest and relaxation before his tentative title fight with Mousasi, a fellow ex-champ.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, mousasi, acl injury, mike kyle
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson Fight Highlights Video
Last night, Strikeforce concluded its 8-man Heavyweight Grand-Prix, with a great main event fight between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, as Gilbert Melendez defended his title in a trilogy bout with Josh Thomson. Cormier and Melendez left the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, victorious, both via judges scorecards.
Strikeforce will return on July 14th with a promising Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy fight card in Portland, Oregon.
Further Reading: Full Strikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, josh, cormier
Read the full article at Low KickVideo highlights and interviews from 'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final'
After 15 months, the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix has finally come to an end.
At Saturday's Strikeforce event, Daniel Cormier scored a lopsided points victory over fellow finalist Josh Barnett to win the tourney championship.
Showtime has now released video highlights of the fight, as well as post-fight interviews with other winners from the event's main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, postfight interviews, points victory
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce results recap: Cormier wins heavyweight tournament, Melendez eeks out split decision win
After a long awaited hype period, the finals of Strikeforce's Heavyweight grand prix finally came together, as Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" blasted full throttle through the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., last night (Sat., May 19, 2012).
The main event featured the grand prix championship fight between veteran Josh Barnett and relative newcomer and wrestling aficionado Daniel Cormier. It took all five rounds to determine a winner, but it was never close as "DC" took home the title and showed the world that he is, indeed, for real.
Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez looked to finish off the rubber match and defend his title against Josh Thomson. It wasn't the fight for "El Nino" that mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were hoping for, but it was the fight in front of him.
Melendez was able to secure the win, though the split decision announcement was met with boos from the San Jose crowd who appeared to feel otherwise.
Those are just some of the dynamics that comprised Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier." After the jump, we'll run through the details, top to bottom.
It's hard to say enough just how impressive Daniel Cormier was in his fight versus Josh Barnett. He was better in every regard. I don't think anyone was necessarily counting Cormier out in this fight, but I also don't believe anyone was predicting that he'd totally pick apart one of the best heavyweights of all time.
Either way, it happened, and now Strikeforce has a new heavyweight champion. Will come back to that in just a minute.
Check out a recap of the Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight gran prix championship fight here.
Gilbert Melendez was ostensibly auditioning during his fight opposite Josh Thomson. The bigwigs at Zuffa had to have been watching. So was the entire MMA community.
Everyone wanted to see if Melendez could back up his brash claim of being the clear number one lightweight fighter in the world.
Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition. He won the decision, but it was razor thin and could have gone either way.I have trouble believing that anyone who matters watched this fight and was sold on the fact that Melendez needs to be in the UFC right now. Especially with how stacked the lightweight division currently stands.
With that said, it will probably happen anyway. Be real. Who else is he gonna fight in Strikeforce? Do you wanna see Melendez vs. Thomson, part four? Mauro Ranallo might, but I don't.
For a full review with analysis of Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, click here.
Rafael Cavalcante came into the night looking to prove something. It's been almost a year since he lost to Dan Henderson at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson.
That's a blemish he'll have to wait a while to make right, as "Hendo" has since made his way over to the UFC and will be taking on current Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones, at UFC 151 in "Sin City" on Sept. 1, 2012.
"Feijao" would, however, get the opportunity to right a different wrong, by getting to take on Mike Kyle, who beat Cavalcante in 2009 via a second round KO.
Things went differently this go-round, and dramatically so.
After Kyle rushed in carelessly, he was nailed by a big overhand right and then a knee in the face from "Feijao," who proceeded to pounce on his wounded prey and secure a guillotine choke. It was over in just 33 seconds. If you looked away, you may have missed it.
Read an in-depth summary of Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle here.
In the opening fight of the main card, Swedish-born Chris Spang used impressive striking to silene the often big-mouthed Nah-Shon Burrell.
If you ever want to see what a muay thai clinch clinic looks like, try and find the video of this fight and watch it repeatedly.
For several minutes, Spang mercilessly tied up Burrell in the clinch and bludgeoned him with big knees. Finally, one knee in particular found its home and caused Burrell to go plummeting to the canvas, bringing about the calling of the fight.
If you missed any or all of the action from Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier," click here for detailed blow-by-blow rundowns of each fight from the main card.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, melendez, cormier
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Winners And Losers
After a long year, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally done. And it's the tournament's Cinderella Story Daniel Cormier who stands tall at the end, claiming a unanimous decision victory over Josh Barnett. The card on the whole was a good example of what Strikeforce does best - a pair of fun fights with fast finishes, a 25 minute classic Lightweight fight, and a breakout performance that announces the arrival of a legitimate superstar. There's no doubt Strikeforce has lost some of its shine in the last year, but this show proved that it still can deliver the goods.
On to the winners and losers to see who made the most of the night, and who stumbled.
Winners
Daniel Cormier: What else is there to say? Clearly, a lot of people, myself included, underrated Cormier. Even after his KO of Antonio Silva, he seemed a bit over his head here. How wrong we were. Cormier turned in an absolutely incredible performance, outworking Barnett on his feet and on the mat with a non-stop pace for the full 25 minutes. Barnett is one of the all time great Heavyweights, and Cormier just took him apart. He showed he's not only ready for the big leagues, he's ready for the highest level of the big leagues. Get him inside the Octagon ASAP.
Josh Thomson: After losing all of 2011 due to injuries, Thomson was the definite underdog heading into this rubber match. It almost seemed pointless to actually complete the trilogy, simply because Melendez looked to have moved clearly past his rival. But Thomson pulled off an incredible showing, winning 2 of 5 rounds definitively and coming so close to taking the upset win. It didn't happen, but still, this was his best performance since the last time they fought. In the relatively thin Strikeforce ranks, this probably earned him another title shot and a 4th fight with Melendez.
Rafael Feijao: Great performance from Feijao here who just poured the pressure on Kyle and took him out. Feijao used a knee to take the title from King Mo in 2010, and used the same one again here at the beginning of his fight-ending rally. After getting bombed by Dan Henderson, he's now won back to back fights via nice stoppage. At a time when you know the UFC is watching, those kind of fast-paced fights with exciting finishes are very important. I'm not sure Feijao has what it takes to contend in the UFC division, but he deserves a shot. Though he seems stuck in Strikeforce for now.
Tyron Woodley: No, he didn't fight on the card, but it was officially announced that he will face Nate Marquardt for the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight title on July 14. Woodley is undefeated, but his last fight drew great derision from fans who find Woodley tremendously boring. He's an example of the idea that you need to do more than just win if you want to move up the ladder. Drawing Marquardt is a great plus for him - there will be a lot more attention on that fight just because of Nate, and if Woodley can win impressively, it can help him erase that bad taste.
Losers after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Losers
Josh Barnett: Given his contentious history with Zuffa and Dana White, Barnett needed the win here badly. While Cormier was likely to move quickly into the higher UFC ranks regardless of the outcome in the Grand Prix, Barnett was in a position where he had to prove to Zuffa that they needed to bring him back. And he didn't prove that at all, getting totally dismantled over the course of a grueling 25 minutes. Barnett had a few bright moments, but not nearly enough. The question now - was his tournament performance enough to earn him a spot back in the UFC? I fear the answer may be no.
Gilbert Melendez: Yes he won, and yes, I put Thomson in the winners category, but as Frank Shamrock said in the fight, the pressure was all on Melendez here. Strikeforce is really trying to push the idea that Melendez is the #1 Lightweight in the world, and while that makes sense from a promotional standpoint, it also creates a huge level of expectation on Melendez's shoulders. He's at the point now where just winning isn't enough - he has to win big. That didn't happen last time against Masvidal, and it didn't happen here. So despite his seven fight win streak, Melendez ends up looking like a bit of a let down.
JZ Cavalcante: This was a close fight, and some may argue with the decision, but at the end of the day, JZ came out on the losing end. Again. At one time, JZ was considered by many to be the #1 Lightweight fighter on the planet, period. But a combination of injuries and the decline of Japanese MMA slowed his progress down. Since 2007, JZ has only won 2 out of 8 fights. Both of those were close split decisions, and it's not like he's only facing top level talent. I'll always be a fan of JZ for what he accomplished in Hero's, but it's hard to figure where he fits in to the MMA scene at this point.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, melendez, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRousey-Kaufman targeted for 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy' as third title fight
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The "rock star" is returning.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is targeted to appear at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy," which takes place July 14 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
Rousey is expected to defend her title against former champ Sarah Kaufman.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, rock star
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix: Daniel Cormier Post-Fight Video Interview
Daniel Cormier talks about his Saturday win over Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, josh barnett, prix, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Heavy MMA'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy' officially adds Marquardt vs. Woodley title fight
A long-rumored matchup for Strikeforce's vacant welterweight title is now official.
Strikeforce broadcasters announced during Saturday night's "Strikeforce:
Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" that Nate Marquardt
and Tyron Woodley will meet on July 14 with the belt
on the line.
The card, which also features Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke
Rockhold defending his belt against Tim Kennedy, takes place at Rose
Garden in Portland, Ore. The evening's main card airs on Showtime and
prelims air on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, nate marquardt, prelims air, tyron woodley, longrumored matchup
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Barnett vs Cormier Video: Cormier, Melendez And Thomson Post Fight Interviews
Showtime sports spoke to Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier winners Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez last night following their wins over Josh Barnett and Josh Thomson, respectively. Cormier put on a career best performance, scoring a clear cut unanimous decision over Johs Barnett to become the first (and last) Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner. Gilbert Melendez squeaked past Josh Thomson, defending his Strikeforce Lightweight title with a hard fought decision, and closing the trilogy 2 wins to 1 loss.
After the jump we'll hear from both Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson, as well as main card winners Chris Spang and Rafael Cavalcante. Spang put on a one sided beat down over hyped opponent Nah-Shon Burrell, who withstood the onslaught for as long as he could before being put away over 4 minutes into the first round.
Cavalcante got revenge of Mike Kyle, landing strikes that had Kyle in trouble early, softening him up with ground and pound for sinking in a fight ending guillotine choke from guard.
SBN Coverage of Strikeforce Barnett vs Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, gilbert melendez, cormier, josh thomson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDaniel Cormier vs Josh Barnett full fight video highlights from Strikeforce on May 19 in San Jose
Daniel Cormier defeats Josh Barnett by way of unanimous decision in the main event of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card that took place last night (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The victory made Cormier the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament champion, as evidence by that shiny gold belt they wrapped around his waist after enduring 25 minutes inside the cage with "The WarMaster." The belt is symbolic, really, of the star making turn we witnessed last night, as "DC" became a top contender in the heavyweight division and paved the way for a smooth transition to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), whenever that happens. For more on the Cormier vs. Barnett fight click here and for complete Strikforce: "Barnett vs. Cormirer" results, including blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHand Surgery is Next on Strikeforce Champ Daniel Cormier's Agenda
SAN JOSE -- What's next for Daniel Cormier?
That was the question on everyone's mind after he manhandled veteran Josh Barnett to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament on Saturday night at the HP Pavilion.
Will he go straight to the UFC, where he'd clearly fit in among the division's elite, or will he fight again in Strikeforce?
The answer, for now: Neither. A visit to the surgeon is on deck before anything else goes down in Cormier's career.
Cormier broke his right hand in the opening stanza of his five-round battle with the former UFC heavyweight champion. It was the same hand he broke when he knocked out Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in September in the tournament semifinals.
The former Olympic wrestler decided against surgery the first time around, which made for an eight-month stretch between his fights. This time, he wants to let it properly heal.
"I think this time I'm going to take a different approach," Cormier said. "I think I'm going to have surgery on it and get it fixed, because I don't want it to be recurring and then end up costing me later on later on down the line."
Cormier never bothered telling his corner that he thought his hand was broken. Instead, the early injury forced him to improvise.
"You're in a fight, you have to use all your weapons," said Cormier. "That's why I was kicking, I was punching, I was kneeing him in there. Josh is too good to fight handicapped. I don't think my coaches picked up on [the injury] because I didn't tell them. I just kept fighting."
That approach led to an epiphany for the undefeated American Kickboxing Academy star during the second round, which led to the fight turning to his favor for good.
"The biggest surprise was when I took him down in the second round and just kind of stayed here," Cormier said. "It was very surprising to me how easy it was to stay in his guard, he's such a good leg lock guy that I thought maybe he would let me pass through his half-guard or something.
"I made an adjustment in the fight when I realized he was going to allow me to control him on the bottom. It was a little easier with my strikes when I realized he was going to respect my takedowns. It changed things a little bit."
Still, Cormier was impressed with the toughness displayed by his opponent, who wasn't at the post-fight press conference.
"Josh did a great job," Cormier said. "He fought tough, he fought hard, he was in there in my face the whole time. I couldn't believe some of the shots that I landed in there, especially the two head kicks. I couldn't believe that he stayed up."
Cormier has one fight left on his Strikeforce contract. He hopes to fight again in 2012. No one would speculate as to whom Cormier would meet. After all, who knows what Strikeforce will look like six months down the road? Cormier simply wishes to focus on getting healthy.
"Normally when you get surgery you get it to heal faster," he said. "It's not as bad as it was the first time, because the first time, I could hardly I even move it."
And besides, Cormier has been through far worse predicaments in life than a broken hand, both in competition, where he came up short in several international wrestling meets, and more importantly, in his personal life, where he has coped with quite a bit of tragedy. The heavyweight, who was emotional in the cage after the win, waxed philosophical during the press conference.
"When you think about everyone's trials and tribulations, for me, getting knocked down and getting back up, it made me a stronger person," Cormier said. "Everything's turned back around. Not only is my career going great, but I have two young kids, a great girlfriend, it's just everything is on the up and up right now."
"Now matter how bad things get, eventually the sun is going to shine. "If you just keep it at, pursuing your goals, eventually good things happen to decent people. For a person who is set on his goals, good things happen. Everyone deals with adversity. It's how you bounce back from it."
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, hand, cormier
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce in Tweets: Pros React to Cormier vs. Barnett, Score Melendez vs. Thomson
Eleven months ago Daniel Cormier was just another up-and-coming heavyweight, plucked from the Challengers circuit and fresh off the biggest moment of his career -- a decision victory over 40-year-old Jeff Monson. Now, amazingly, Cormier is the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion and one of the hottest prospects in mixed martial arts.
The former Olympian bulldozed his way through Josh Barnett at Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event, outclassing the veteran with a dizzying display of striking prowess and taking the fight to the ground seemingly at will. Without a doubt, it was a star-making performance that left both fans and professional fighters eager to see how Cormier would fare against his UFC brethren.
Though the night did not solely belong to the heavyweights, as Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson engaged in a contentious rubber match on the card's co-main event. After 25 back-and-forth minutes, Melendez earned a razor-thin split decision win to retain his Strikeforce lightweight title, though the ruling became a polarizing topic for many fighters in the MMA community.
DANIEL CORMIER'S COMING OUT PARTY
What a pace for heavyweights going 5 rds, I cant remember a HWT 5 rnd fight with guys this conditioned, then again how often do heavies go 5
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 20, 2012
Quickly too, only 10 fightsRT @TimKennedyMMA: This "wrestler" @dc_mma got pretty good at kick boxing. #Strikeforce
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 20, 2012
Unreal!!! Congrats @dc_mma !!! Wrestling coach, looking like a K-1 kick boxer. Haha
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) May 20, 2012
Josh is thinking "no one makes me bleed my own blood"
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) May 20, 2012
Someone from the Red Cross should be here to collect all this blood.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) May 20, 2012
Daniel Cormier won this fight in every arena. He has vastly improved every fight and is now a threat to every heavyweight out there.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) May 20, 2012
Congratulation for the winner @dc_mma
— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) May 20, 2012
@JoshLBarnett you have the heart of a lion, way to stay in the fight
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) May 20, 2012
It's hard not to like Josh Barnett. Despite his baggage. #Strikeforce
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) May 20, 2012
Congrats @dc_mma !!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) May 20, 2012
Cormier dominates the fight...but why run for the last 10 sec? #fb
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) May 20, 2012
Dear Coxs cable can you show the Strikeforce live instead 2hrs after everybody else has seen it Otherwise I'll have to write an email & shit
— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) May 20, 2012
SCORING MELENDEZ VS. THOMSON III
Good fight.... Thought @THEREALPUNK had it. Maybe part 4 coming up though!!
— Gray Maynard (@GrayMaynard) May 20, 2012
Thought Gilbert won 1st 3 rnds, Josh 4th, 5th either wayRT @NickJohnCody: @BrianStann How did you have it scored?
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 20, 2012
Was a great fight, had Thompson win'n the last 3 rnds tho. Def could of went either way. Both tuff ass dudes that brought it for 25 min.
— Shane Roller (@shaneroller) May 20, 2012
Very close match. Gil was strong at first. Josh came on strong at end.
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 20, 2012
Meh, coulda went either way. I thought it was a draw. #Strikeforce
— Jason High (@KCBanditMMA) May 20, 2012
Thompson took rd 4&5 for sure but don't think he'll get the decision after the first 3 rds. Great fight! @SHOsports #fb #strikeforce
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) May 20, 2012
Congrats @GilbertMelendez overcoming a nasty back injury in training camp but still pulled out the win
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 20, 2012
3-2rds @THEREALPUNK good job both guys! @Strikeforce @ufc
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 20, 2012
Too tough/close/razor thin to call. What a fight!!!!
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) May 20, 2012
If the fans don't give @GilbertMelendez the respect he deserves after cleaning out every fighter in his division something has to change!
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) May 20, 2012
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, josh, mdash, cormier
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier Results: Daniel Cormier Stands as Champion
When the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix kicked off in 2011 there were eight names in the tournament, but Daniel Cormier wasn't one of them.
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Posted in: strikeforce, daniel, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Results And Post-Fight Analysis
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier wasn't the best card ever, but it was pretty decent. Daniel Cormier truly arrived as a top heavyweight with a mostly one-sided victory over Josh Barnett to claim the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, and it will definitely be interesting to see what they do with him next. On the other hand, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez just barely squeaked by nemesis Josh Thomson in a performance that clearly hurt his stock a bit. Where he goes from here will be just as interesting, and no, it will not be to the UFC.
Let's take a look at the events this evening.
Barnett said in his post-fight interview that he broke his hand in the first round, which clearly affected him a bit. It's no excuse, but I wonder if things would have gone any differently if that didn't happen. I wasn't exactly enamored with Cormier putting it on cruise control in the fifth, just holding Barnett against the cage and circling away a lot without engaging. I get why, but it still irks me a bit when guys do that.
Melendez made it clear in the post-fight interview that he was in a no-win situation by taking this fight, and he was 100% right. A finish would have been the only way to really make a statement. Instead, he barely won and was in clear danger at one point. Thomson is crafty and those trips are truly works of art, but there's no way that anyone can call Melendez the number one lightweight in the world after that fight tonight. And a possible fourth fight would be even worse for him.
Much more after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
The disorganized post-fight interview after Melendez vs. Thomson was all kinds of weird.
I've always been a fan of Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, and I'm not quite sure why. He's a nice guy and a tough fighter, and he absolutely blasted Mike Kyle tonight. That knee was deadly and taking that slam while continuing to hold onto the guillotine was excellent. It's pretty clear that Feijao should meet Gegard Mousasi for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title as soon as possible.
Chris Spang surprised me. After getting handled in his last fight, he took his time early in tonight's bout with Nah-Shon Burrell, then just lit him up when he had him hurt. I couldn't believe how many knees it took to put Burrell down, but it seemed like the ref wasn't going to to stop it until he did. I'm not a big fan of fights getting stopped when a guy is still standing, but that certainly looked like a good time for it.
Gesias Cavalcante started strong and faded badly late once again. I'm a big JZ fan, but it's pretty clear he's not going to be a top lightweight any longer. Isaac Vallie-Flagg looked pretty good and while I don't think he's going to be fighting Gilbert Melendez soon or anything, he definitely raised his stock with that performance.
Guto Inocente looks like someone to watch out for in the future. His striking was on point and he absolutely blasted Virgil Zwicker with everything imaginable. Zwicker showed an absolute iron chin and a ton of heart by taking all that and continuing to fire away with his own offense. They both gassed badly and it was sloppy at the end, but that was definitely my favorite fight of the night.
Gian Villante seems like a natural next opponent for Inocente with his workmanlike win over Derrick Mehmen. He hurt Mehmen twice in the first and looked good in the bout, but it wasn't an overwhelming performance or anything. He didn't really show a lot of killer instinct.
Yuri Villefort frustrated me. He has a wealth of talent and his submission escapes were really crafty, but he just couldn't stop the takedown. The prospect battle fell kind of flat, and neither looked ready to step up onto a bigger stage.
I used to like Heidi Androl. I always thought she did a good job on LA Kings broadcasts, but she's absolutely dreadful at handling interviews in Strikeforce. Trying to create drama between Tim Kennedy and Luke Rockhold was awkward, and Ronda Rousey looked like she wanted to hurt her (again). She's got to go.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, cormier, postfight interview
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCompleted Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament bracket: Daniel Cormier wins
The Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament is finally over.
It started back on Feb. 12, 2011, when Antonio Silva shocked the world by beating Fedor Emelianenko into a pulp to force a stoppage in the quarterfinals. Earlier in the evening, Sergei Kharitonov knocked out Andrei Arlovski in the first round to advance on the other side of the bracket.
Then on June 18, 2011, Alistair Overeem won a bizarre fight against Fabricio Werdum while Josh Barnett ran through Brett Rogers to set up the semifinals. Sadly, "The Reem" was cut from Strikeforce not long after this and headed for the UFC in the winter.
All was well, because his replacement, Daniel Cormier, would go on to become the tournament champion.
He knocked out "Bigfoot" Silva in the first round of their semifinal contest on Sept. 10, 2011, while Barnett submitted his second straight opponent to lead to their showdown that went down earlier tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Cormier dominated the fight, showing off his wide range of skills and silencing any and all remaining doubters. Despite his age and relative lack of experience, this man is a beast who can seriously go once the cage door closes. The future holds one last fight under the Strikeforce banner before a move to the Octagon and the greener pastures of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Allow me to channel Bart Scott while also speaking for everyone when I say -- can't wait.
For a detailed breakdown of Cormier's unanimous decision win over Barnett click here and for complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, fabricio werdum, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Cormier beats Barnett
Daniel (DC) Cormier defeated veteran Josh (The War Master) Barnett to preserve to win the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, strikeforce heavyweight, veteran josh, strikeforce cormier
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCormier beats Barnett to claim Strikeforce GP
Daniel (DC) Cormier defeated veteran Josh (The War Master) Barnett to preserve to win the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, veteran josh
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca
Strikeforce ‘Barnett vs. Cormier’ Live Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., at approximately 8:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Barnett vs. Cormier”, headlined by the heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, and featuring the Strikeforce lightweight title rubber match between champion Gilbert Melendez and challenger Josh Thomson.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, daniel cormier, cormier, playbyplay sherdogcom
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Live Blog: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier
SAN JOSE -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, a heavyweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Barnett, who has won eight straight fights, will face Cormier, who has never lost in his career, in the Strikeforce Heayvweight Grand Prix final.Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Barnett vs. Cormier Results | Strikeforce News
Round 1:
Round 2:Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, heavyweight bout, cormier, prix finalcheck
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' results: Gilbert Melendez survives Josh Thomson
SAN JOSE, Calif. - It may not find itself as one of the most historic
trilogies in MMA history, but Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson
certainly provided one of the more entertaining 15-round matchups in
recent memory.
But in a best of three series, there must always be a winner, and
Strikeforce lightweight champion earned that honor by topping Josh
Thomson via split decision.
The lightweight title bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in
San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the co-main event of
the "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final."
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, gilbert melendez, strikeforce heavyweight, josh thomson
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Results: Barnett vs. Cormier
MMA Fighting has Strikeforce results: Barnett vs. Cormier for Saturday night's fights at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. In the main event, Josh Barnett will battle Daniel Cormier in the Heavyweight Grand Prix final. Also on the main card, Gilbert Melendez will defend his title against Josh Thomson, Rafael Cavalcante faces Mike Pyle and Chris Spang squares off against Nah-Shon Burrell.
Truthfully, Daniel Cormier's progression as a mixed martial artist has been undervalued. Not only is Cormier unbeaten, he's done it in dominant fashion. Of his nine wins, seven have come via stoppage, with six coming in the first round. No one has yet to even be competitive with him. If he had the same resume in the UFC, he'd be buzzed about as the next big thing, a title challenger waiting in the wings. As it is, he's done it mostly under the radar.That might change for good on Saturday night.His Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final opponent Josh Barnett has earned a level of stature and respect that would benefit Cormier if he can pull off the win. If he does, it will put a properly unexpected exclamation point on an utterly unpredictable tournament.
When it began in February 2011, Cormier wasn't even an official entrant. He was an alternate, and not even the first one, as that designation was supposed to go to Shane del Rosario. But fate stepped in. Zuffa bought Strikeforce, del Rosario was badly injured in a car accident, and Alistair Overeem was cut following an issue with his management.That left Cormier with a chance to step right into the semifinal, and he blasted his way into the final, knocking out Antonio Silva in a first-round finish last September.The dominant win put into perspective what a quick study Cormier has been. He came in with a brilliant wrestling resume -- two-time Olympian, international star, and collegiate All-American -- but has done his best work in the standup department.Those offensive numbers are outstanding. The most significant ones show that while he finds his target, he doesn't often take return fire. According to FightMetric, Cormier lands an average of 3.67 strikes per minute, but is only hit .98 times per minute. That is particularly impressive given that at 5-foot-11 and with a 71-inch reach, he is often at a height and reach disadvantage. That will again be the case against Barnett, who is 6-foot-3 with a 78-inch reach. Barnett (31-5) is a very well-rounded fighter. While he's made his bones as a submission artist (he has 17 tapout wins), he's well versed in striking and wrestling as well, skills that have allowed him the versatility to exploit holes in his opponent's game at times.
He has a striking accuracy rate of 48 percent, a tick better than Cormier's. Surprisingly, he's fared far better on takedowns, 58 percent to 27 percent. And he works well in the 50/50 positions.But Barnett knows where his bread is buttered. He believes himself to be superior to any opponent on the ground, so he's usually insistent on putting the fight on the mat at some point. Barnett does that with his own style, favoring a form of Greco-Roman wrestling that is heavily reliant on body locks and trips. While Cormier was primarily a freestyle wrestler by training, he's very well schooled in Greco-Roman as well, so Barnett will have his work cut out for him to take the fight down. As mentioned, Barnett has a 58 percent success rate on takedowns, but on the other hand, Cormier has yet to be taken down even a single time in his pro career. That's a point of pride with him, and so it's going to take something overwhelming to get him down.So a lot of this fight hinges upon whether you believe Barnett can take the fight down. If he can't, then what? One possibility is that Cormier might want to take Barnett down. That though, seems unlikely. Despite his pedigree, he hasn't featured takedowns as a major part of his offense.So we might be left with a standup fight, or some semblance of one. I think Barnett will exchange, but also try to work Cormier against the fence and look for positions for the takedown. Cormier, who strikes well from close range, is eventually going to find a way to free himself. Back in the center of the cage, he's grown comfortable with his striking. That's going to happen training at American Kickboxing Academy. While he doesn't necessarily throw together advanced combinations, he pulls off the basics very well, and he has power. In his last fight over Silva, he also showed he was capable of navigating the distance necessary to land that power. Cormier excels in close distance, and because Barnett likes clinches, that could mean trouble.This is a close fight. Most lines have it as a pick 'em bout for good reason. Barnett knows every trick in the book, but Cormier has a world-class skill, the aptitude to learn, and the ability to put what he's practiced into action. He also has a great training partner in Cain Velasquez, meaning he's been put through the ringer many times, so he won't be overwhelmed by anything Barnett does.If Barnett can get Cormier on his back, he's capable of finishing. I just don't see him getting it there or keeping it there for long. If Cormier dictates the location of the fight, he'll win by landing the more significant strikes. This wacky tournament seems destined to end in some unexpected way, so Cormier by knockout.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, cormier, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier - Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante Guillotines Mike Kyle In 30ish Seconds
In a light heavyweight bout, Feijao made his return to the Strikeforce cage after seven months off. His opponent had also last fought at that very Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov and looked to be hungry to prove his relevance in the LHW division.
Very early in the fight, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante hit Mike Kyle with a punch and then landed an enormous knee strike on a ducking Kyle. The knee stunned Kyle and Feijao applied a standing guillotine to his opponent.
Kyle tried to slam out of it, but to no avail. The tap came at 0:33 of the first round.
Feijao improves to 12-3 and avenges an earlier second round KO loss to Kyle back in 2009 at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields. His knees, clinch work and short range finishing ability looks to be very tight.
Kyle drops to 19-9 and looks to be firmly in the wheelhouse of "Go Big Or Go Home" at this point.
Posted in: strikeforce, knee, kyle, feijao, lhw division
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Barnett vs Cormier Results: Feijao Exacts Revenge on Mike Kyle
Avenging a loss from 2009, Rafael Feijao made short work of Mike Kyle at Strikeforce on Saturday night.
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Posted in: strikeforce, mike, bull, mike kyle, feijao
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Live Blog: Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson
SAN JOSE -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, a lightweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Melendez, who has won six straight fights, will defend his lightweight title against Thomson, who has won his last three Strikeforce fights, on the main card. It will be the third meeting between the two fighters.Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Barnett vs. Cormier Results | Strikeforce News
Round 1: Trilogy fight here. Thomson won the first bout and Melendez the rematch. Thomson got a mixed reaction from the crowd and Melendez a big ovation. Dan Stell is your referee. Thomson counters Melendez's early flurries. Melendez scores a takedown. They scramble back to their feet. Thomson clearly doesn't want a firefight. Brief exchanges. One minute left. Thomson with a combo and a high kick late, Melendez follows with a quick takedown. MMAFighting scores the round for Melendez, 10-9.
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, melendez, thomson, rematch thomson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Results: Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante Submits Mike Kyle
Revenge was short, brutal and sweet for Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante.
The Brazilian, who had lost to Mike Kyle in 2009, avenged the defeat with a swift submission win at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier.
It took him just 33 seconds.
Cavalcante rocked Kyle early in the fight with a knee to the head while Kyle was ducking low. Feijao swarmed for the finish on the ground, but Kyle managed to defend, and as he worked to his feet, Cavalcante snatched his neck and cinched in the guillotine choke.
Kyle held him up for a few seconds, but soon fell to the ground, and Cavalcante turned him over for the tighter, mounted guillotine. Kyle insta-tapped for the win.
The former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ Cavalcante improved to 12-3, and it's possible he will move on to fight for the currently vacant belt.
"If Strikeforce gives me a chance, I want the belt," he said.
Kyle fell to 19-9-1 with 1 no contest.
Posted in: strikeforce, kyle, cavalcante, mike kyle, feet cavalcante
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale' results: 'Feijao' taps Kyle in 33 seconds
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Maybe it was a fluke.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante
needed just 33 seconds to earn a submission win over the man that beat
him in 2009.
The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.,
aired on Showtime and served as the second of four "Strikeforce:
Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" main-card matchups.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, hp pavilion, place saturday, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Results: Chris Spang Knocks Out Nah-Shon Burrell
In a brutal 95 seconds of action, Chris Spang utilized a devastating left hook to knock Nah-Shon Burrell down, and then brutalized him from the clinch with knees and elbows in scoring a first-round knockout at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier.
The 24-year-old Swede rebounded from a unanimous decision loss in his last Strikeforce bout to improve to 5-1.
Burrell barely had a chance to get started before the fight was over.
He started the fight off well, with a mix of strikes as Spang circled from the outside. But the bout's complexion changed completely when Spang dropped him with the hook. Though Burrell quickly rebounded to his feet, Spang's accuracy never let him off the hook. According to stats aired by Showtime, Spang landed 44 of 56 strikes (79 percent).
Spang initiated a Muay Thai clinch and crushed him with a series of knees to the face. It appeared that ref Josh Rosenthal could have stopped the fight sooner, as Burrell looked out of it but somehow managed to stay on his feet. Finally, after elbows and uppercuts, Burrell fell down face-first, and Rosenthal waved the fight off.
Burrell fell to 8-2, suffering his first loss in seven fights.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, spang, nahshon burrell, burrell
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' results: Spang stops Burrell in first
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Prospect Chris Spang made a mark on Strikeforce's
welterweight division, earning an impressive first-round stoppage of
Nah-Shon Burrell.
The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.,
aired on Showtime and served as the first of four "Strikeforce:
Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" main-card matchups.
The action followed the evening's preliminary card, which aired on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, place saturday, strikeforce heavyweight, nahshon burrell, results spang
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Live Blog: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle
SAN JOSE -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle, a light heavyweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Cavalcante, who has won four of his past five fights, will battle Kyle, who has won two of his last three Strikeforce fights, on the main card.Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Barnett vs. Cormier Results | Strikeforce News
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, hp pavilion, blog, strikeforce fights
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Live Blog: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
SAN JOSE -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang, a welterweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Burrell, who has won his last three Strikeforce fights, will compete against Spang, who is 1-1 in his Strikeforce career, on the main card.Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Barnett vs. Cormier Results | Strikeforce News
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, hp pavilion, welterweight bout, strikeforce fights, strikeforce career
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 167: Strikeforce Barnett vs. Cormier Results Review
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and "The DA" Neil Wagner as they review "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier," which is live from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and is headlined by the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier and a Strikeforce lightweight championship bout between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson.
We'll review all the fights on the show while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, elbow radio, elbow, boy, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Main Card Live Blog
Get all your live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final main card here at HeavyMMA starting at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage
Read the full article at Heavy MMA'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale' results: Gian Villante decisions Derrick Mehmen
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Five-time Strikeforce vet Gian Villante earned his third-straight win, scoring a clear-cut decision win over Derrick Mehmen.
The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.,
aired on Showtime Extreme and served as the second of four "Strikeforce:
Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale" preliminary matchups.
The action preceded the evening's main card, which aired on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, hp pavilion, place saturday, strikeforce heavyweight, clearcut decision
Read the full article at MMA Junkie'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale' results: Bobby Green edges James Terry
SAN JOSE, Calif. - It wasn't easy, but Californian Bobby Green earned a
hard-fought split-decision win over Strikeforce lightweight mainstay
James Terry.
The bout, which took place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.,
served as the lone dark match of the "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand
Prix Final" preliminary matchups.
The action preceded the evening's Showtime and Showtime Extreme broadcasts.
Posted in: strikeforce, place saturday, strikeforce heavyweight, californian bobby, evenings showtime
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Preliminary Card Live Blog
Get all your live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final prelims here at HeavyMMA starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Preliminary Card Live Blog
Live round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final preliminary card starts at HeavyMMA at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, fightbyfight coverage
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Grand Prix Final Live Results
After an exciting build the final fight in Strikeforce’s ambitious heavyweight Grand Prix is here with Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett representing the two remaining competitors from an original field featuring the likes of Andrei Arlovski, Sergei Kharitonov, Alistair Overeem, and Fedor Emelianenko. Cormier is undefeated entering tonight’s bout at 9-0 and boasts Olympic-level wrestling credentials, while Barnett has been around MMA for more than a decade while racking up wins over some of the sport’s best including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic.
Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will also defend his title on the show with longtime rival Josh Thomson serving as contender. Melendez is considered to be one of the top three 155ers in MMA with his last loss coming to none other than Thomson in a 2008 meeting.
Strikeforce Grand Prix Final: By the Numbers
As always, Fighters.com will be watching the show as soon as the curtain drops on Showtime Extreme at 8:00 PM EST (with main card action on Showtime at 10:00 PM EST) and relaying live results back to readers as they go down from the arena.
Read below for a full list of winners/losers:
Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort
Gian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen
Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente
Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle
Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson
Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, josh barnett, josh, mirko filipovic
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Live Results And Play-By-Play For Main Card
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Our live coverage will start with the prelim card on Showtime Extreme (8 p.m. ET) through the Showtime main card (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts for the Showtime main card.
The main card features four bouts. The show will kick off with a welterweight bout between Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Spang, and will be followed by a light heavyweight battle between strikers Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante and Mike Kyle. The co-main event is for the Strikeforce lightweight title, which champion Gilbert Melendez meets Josh Thomson for the third time. The main event will decide the winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, ans veteran Josh Barnett meets the undefeated Daniel Cormier.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier -
Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson -
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle -
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang -
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card: Gilbert Melendez hoping to close book on Josh Thomson rivalry
It's almost to the point where you feel like you should feel sorry for Gilbert Melendez. Almost.
The Strikeforce lightweight champion has been languishing in the second tier promotion as one of the most talented 155-pound fighters on Earth. He'll continue to do so for the foreseeable future, too.
Tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012), he defends his title against an old rival, Josh Thomson, in the co-main event of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card set to go down on Showtime from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
That's part of why sympathy seems prudent. This is the third fight between these two and while they've split the first two meetings, their careers have gone on entirely different trajectories since they last met back in Dec. 2009. Melendez has been dominant, destroying Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Jorge Masvidal, respectively.
He's been so good, in fact, that UFC President Dana White started speaking openly about bringing him over to swim with the sharks inside the Octagon. But that talk suddenly stopped, for reasons that were never made apparent, and "El Nino" has been stuck in Strikeforce ever since.
And that means he's at the mercy of the talent pool available outside the UFC, which, in short, is quite shallow.
Thomson is no can, don't mistake that. He's a former Strikeforce lightweight champion and he does own a victory over Melendez, although it came all the way back in 2008.
That said, his 3-1 record since his loss to Melendez in the rematch is a tad misleading.
Sure, he submitted Pat Healy with a rear-naked choke and looked extremely impressive considering the fact that he had broken two ribs early in the contest. But it went downhill from there. He was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Gesias Cavalcante that some would argue should have gone the other way. He followed that up by losing to Tatsuya Kawajiri before turning in an uninspired performance against K.J. Noons. He won a decision in that fight but his win hardly inspired confidence that he was ready to take on Melendez to complete their trilogy.
Nonetheless, because of Strikeforce's dwindling roster, this is what we're left with. Melendez, one of the most talented lightweights in the world, giving out undeserved rematches.
He signed a contract to stay in San Jose, so it's difficult to feel too sorry for the man. But it's difficult not to wonder how well he would do in the UFC if given the opportunity.
A loss tonight could go a long ways toward changing that ... and not in a good way.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, way, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Weigh-in Highlights Video
Check out highlights from Friday's official weigh-in event for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final in San Jose.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, video check
Read the full article at Heavy MMAThe ambituous beginning and disappointing end to the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix odyssey
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, featuring a live finale of Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, finally concludes after a long and tumultuous journey.
Not that anyone still cares.
It's a disappointing end to one of the promotion's most ambitious endeavors, which has now become less about crowning a tournament king and more about padding a resume for prospective employers in Las Vegas. We recently learned that Strikeforce has torched its heavyweight division and most of the valuable parts have already been picked from the burning wreckage.
Look no further than the UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card for proof, where Shane del Rosario, Lavar Johnson and Antonio Silva try to get themselves "into the mix" later this month in "Sin City."
Expect the winner, and perhaps even the loser of "Barnett vs. Cormier," to soon follow.
I called it a disappointment, but I'm not suggesting "The Warmaster" and "DC" won't hold up their end of the bargain and deliver a thrilling finale -- they most likely will -- but it's hard to flash back to the opening brackets and not wonder what could have been, rather than what was.
So what went wrong?
The easy "out" is to blame ZUFFA's inevitable purchase of Strikeforce. While it certainly complicated matters, there's very little evidence the tournament would have unfolded any differently.
Here's why.
In late 2010, when Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker first gave birth to the idea of a heavyweight grand prix, it mattered.
It mattered because the 265-pound division was like the Devil's Island of mixed martial arts (MMA). Name one other weight class at that time, not shackled by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with four fighters ranked in and around the top ten?
That means Strikeforce had an eight-man tournament with half its participants widely considered to be among the world's best.
But most importantly, it had Fedor Emelianenko.
Despite a shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum earlier in the year, the former PRIDE champion was pegged as the tournament favorite from the onset. An eventual showdown with Alistair Overeem, who had recently captured the K-1 World Grand Prix title (to hang alongside his DREAM and Strikeforce belts), was all but a foregone conclusion.
Too bad "Bigfoot" didn't stick to the script.
"The Last Emperor" was smashed by the Brazilian behemoth in the opening round with a performance that turned the grand prix on its head -- but only temporarily -- since we still had another fan favorite to keep the momentum going.
Except we didn't.
That's because Andrei Arlovski was knocked clean out by a Russian paratrooper that most causal fans had never heard of. Popular among the fanatics and Japanese crowds who recognized him from PRIDE, Sergei Kharitonov could barely utter a few words in English, let alone hype a stateside fight.
But hope was not lost.
Down late in the game, "Demolition Man" was prepared to take over and crank out a few innings of relief -- until he bombed against Fabricio Werdum in a fight he nearly lost. Not that it mattered, seeing as how he stubbed his toe and decided to withdraw from the grand prix altogether.
Enter Cormier.
The undefeated (but unheralded) tournament reserve came in and made Emelianenko's loss look even worse by knocking out Silva with relative ease and sashaying his way into the championship final.
And just like that, the entire left side of the original bracket had been eliminated.
Over on the "other" side, embattled free agent and grappling wizard Josh Barnett had it so easy he might as well have earned two byes. His first bout paired him against a former tire mechanic, who could punch your head into the second row, but had the ground game of an overturned turtle.
Tapping Brett Rogers was simply a tune-up for his submission win over the equally mat-challenged Kharitonov.
So here we are, over a year later, thanks in part to Cormier's hand injury and the ZUFFA red tape that came with the Strikeforce acquisition. That kind of thing happens when the two sides (Showtime and the UFC) can't stand the sight of each other.
So what went wrong?
Well, to be fair, nothing. You know the old expression about "The best laid plans." The tournament was a noble idea and it had the best heavyweights that Strikeforce could produce; however, they failed to produce. Emelianenko (Plan A) couldn't get the job done, Overeem (Plan B) proved to be as reliable as his testosterone levels and Arlovski (Plan C) was about as durable as a Faberge egg.
That leaves Barnett vs. Cormier.
Probably not the way anyone expected the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament to finish, but at least this odyssey has a happy ending. After all, within the next year, the remaining heavyweights (at least the ones worth their salt) will be repackaged and later opened inside the Octagon with a new lease on life.
And if UFC 146 is the heavyweight appetizer, I can't wait for the main course.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, prix, cormier
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHow to watch Strikeforce tonight (May 19) for 'Barnett vs Cormier' live video stream/TV details
Strikeforce returns to Showtime tonight (Sat., May 19, 2012) with its "Barnett vs. Cormier" event, which will begin around 8 p.m. ET with its preliminary card broadcast airing LIVE on Showtime Extreme.
Then it's time to kick it on over to the main Showtime channel for the main card portion of the event, headlined by the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament final between Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, beginning promptly at 10 p.m. ET.
Don't get Showtime as part of your subscription package?
You can call up your local cable and/or satellite provider, of course, or you can click here to order it up so you can make sure you're able to tune in for tonight's mixed martial arts (MMA) extravaganza.
However, if you need your Strikeforce results as soon as possible, and don't have a provider that carries the network and have zero desire to order the channel just for tonight's event, MMAmania.com will deliver up-to-the-minute results and live fight coverage, including round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of all the "Barnett vs. Cormier" action before, during and after the event RIGHT HERE.
More details on tonight's Strikeforce fight card and line-up after the jump.
Main Event:
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier
Main Card (Showtime):
155 lbs.: Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson 205 lbs.: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle 170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg 205 lbs.: Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente 205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante 170 lbs.: Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort
For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, lb, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: ‘Barnett vs. Cormier’ Preview
It’s here! It’s finally here! This dreaded Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is finally almost over. 666,720 minutes after it’s beginning, a winner will be crowned tonight. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are the big stars for tonight’s fights, but don’t overlook the undercard, which not only features a Strikeforce lightweight title bout, but also some [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, title bout, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce results live stream and play-by-play TONIGHT (May 18) for 'Barnett vs Cormier' on Showtime
Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier."
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the Strikeforce main card action RIGHT HERE later this evening (May 19, 2012), beginning at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme.
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Read the full article at MMA ManiaBarnett vs. Cormier Fight Card: What's at Stake?
Is there really much at stake in Strikeforce fight cards in 2012? There's certainly something up for grabs. The fighters are prominent enough as is the stage. More often than not, though, the relevancy of the action in today's Strikeforce exists closer to the margins of the fight game, not the center.
There are carved out spaces Strikeforce has held onto that still matter to the larger mixed martial arts world. Mercifully, many of them that escaped UFC gerrymandering are on display tonight. There is a very important heavyweight bout, a top-tier lightweight defending his title and a few others notable figures plying their trade. All of that is worth underscoring and appreciating.
Yet, Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier can't help but be compared to the state of Strikeforce at the beginning of the heavyweight grand prix. Tonight's event and the tournament opener from February of 2011 serve as book ends in the study of Strikeforce's diminished state. This evening and the beginning of the grand prix are supposed to be married in the minds of fight fans as a reminder of the stature and significance of both the moment and what brought us to our present position. I cannot speak for the MMA fan base, but the opening of this heavyweight tournament feels much more like a disconnected footnote in prize fighting history.
There's plenty on the line this evening, particularly in the main and co-main events. We should not lose sight of that. Relative to what could've been or what sixteen months ago Strikeforce was placing at stake and on display, though, it's hard to not notice the difference.
Let's examine the stakes each of today's main card fighter faces in their bouts.
Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier
At stake: a secured future as an elite heavyweight. I suspect (and certainly hope) regardless of outcome both Barnett and Cormier will end up in the UFC heavyweight division. Both are too talented to be anywhere else and their injection into the division creates a host of interesting and very legitimate match-ups. Cormier has stated the winner of this bout deserves to move into the top five in terms of rankings and it's basically impossible to argue otherwise. They need the UFC more than the UFC needs them, but there's mutual gain to be had all the way around.
Truth is, however, no future in MMA is ever secured. The only insurance a fighter has is popularity and wins, neither of which are easy to manufacture or maintain. That said, winning tonight could serve as a crucial springboard for the next chapter in their careers. Barnett is 34 years old. Cormier is 33. Both are still very capable, elite heavyweights, but they are also in a position where they need to maximize the time they have left in the sport. Winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix and transitioning to the UFC's deeper waters presents a huge opportunity for attention, money and big fights. Accomplishing something like that is always important, but as a prize fighter in one's early thirties that task becomes as important as it ever will be.
Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson
At stake: everything and nothing. There's a title on the line in this fight. That makes this fight important by default, at least at this level of the game. Thomson is, in this sense, a very dangerous opponent. Moreover, because Melendez has everything to lose - and does so in a fight against an opponent he is expected to handily defeat - there is a real threat to the Strikeforce champion. Facing opposition you pretty clearly outclass can be a temptation to coast or under prepare. That risk is compounded when there's a physical title on the line.
Yet, there's nothing to gain from this fight for Melendez (although there's plenty for Thomson). If he wins, he earns a check and little more. It does nothing to advance his position in the rankings or earn him a fight against a more worthy adversary. Melendez risks a lot here, but he can only move backwards. There's no true upside to the bout.
All one can hope for Melendez is that he doesn't inventory his circumstances to the point where he no longer cares about the stakes. Then he really will lose everything.
Mike Kyle vs. Rafael Cavalcante
At stake: revenge. Kyle's win over Feijao is arguably his best and most unexpected. With the backing of UFC middleweight Anderson Silva and standout performances in the IFL and EliteXC, Feijao was expected to immediately make waves in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division. Yet, in his first fight - a bout with Kyle - he was stopped by strikes in the second round. This is an opportunity for Feijao to prove his freshman Strikeforce fight's outcome was a fluke and all of the promise that surrounded his career is still worth holding onto for fans and media alike.
This may be a bit of a strained metaphor, but Kyle might be looking for 'revenge', too. Since his win over Feijao, Kyle hasn't lost at light heavyweight. He's suffered a couple of setbacks at heavyweight, but that isn't his natural weight class. Yet, Kyle vs. Feijao tonight won't be named a title eliminator for the light heavyweight strap by Strikeforce brass, something that visibly angered the AKA product at yesterday's presser. For Kyle, beating Feijao twice could serve as a repudiation to the suggestion he doesn't belong in title contention talk and that their first meeting was no accident.
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
At stake: visibility. While I'm not certain this event will draw huge ratings, it's still nevertheless good exposure for two young, athletic and striking-inclined talents. There is reason to believe both Burrell and Spang have upside, so watching their progress tonight and in the future is a worthy exercise. As for tonight, Strikeforce's rosters are thin and a standout performance can presumably do quite a lot for young fighters. Besides, they are on the main card for a reason. Strikeforce believes both in their talent and ability to deliver action. That's opportunity knocking.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, there, stake
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Preliminary Fight Results: all by decision
Every fight on the preliminary card of Saturday's Strikeforce show in San Jose went the distance and had to be decided by the judges. Carlos Innocente's Strikeforce debut resulted in a win, keeping his perfect pro-mma record intact. Isaac Vallie-Flagg continues his unbroken winning streak of 11 back-to-back victories.Lightweight: Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeated Gesias CavalcanteLight-heavyweight: Carlos Inocente defeated Virgil Zwicker by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)Light-heavyweight: Gian
Posted in: strikeforce, san jose, fight results, isaac vallieflagg, virgil zwicker
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce Grand Prix Final: By the Numbers
Strikeforce holds one of its final cards with heavyweight matches tonight with the event marking the conclusion of the end of the Heavyweight Grand Prix. It seems like so long ago that the idea of a gathering of some of the best heavyweights outside of the UFC was a good one. Names like Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko ran our collective imaginations rampant with possibilities. However, few could have predicted what really happened from injuries to upsets to the organization’s heavyweight roster being absorbed by the UFC.
Some fun facts about the Grand Prix dominate this abbreviated edition of By the Numbers:
0 – A bit unrelated to this event, but of Strikeforce’s 59 events none have left the United States. One of the missed opportunities for Strikeforce has been attempting to cater to the globalized Mixed Martial Arts market. While focusing on capturing large American audiences through through numerous broadcasting arrangements (including the CBS events,) Strikeforce has never left American soil to reach out to the International markets. In comparison, fighters from six different countries have held Strikeforce gold in their various divisions.
1 – In the entire Heavyweight Grand Prix, only one fight has gone the distance, and in fact, past the second round. Overeem and Fabricio Werdum battled in an fairly uneventful battle last June. The match saw Overeem overpower Werdum, fighting out of his attempts to take him to the ground and little else. Overeem’s game plan worked, however, as he took the decision win. Circumstances as they were, this fight marked the last Strikeforce appearance of both men as both were in the UFC by year’s end.
2 – The number of submission wins in the Heavyweight Grand Prix, both of which belong to Barnett. Barnett, holder of 19 career submission wins, has submitted three of his last four opponents, and has not gone the distance in a fight since 2008.
3 – This is the third fight between Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez and is the famed “rubber match” between the two. Thomson holds a decision victory over Melendez in 2008, while Melendez defeated him just shy of eighteen months later in their rematch. Oddly, that was also a unification bout. A broken ankle forced Thomson into a year long absence from the cage, resulting in Melendez fighting Rodrigo Damm for an interim title along the way. There have also been three TKO victories in the Heavyweight Grand Prix thus far: Antonio Silva‘s doctor’s stoppage against Emelianenko, Daniel Cormier‘s Round 1 victory over Silva, and Sergei Kharitonov‘s stunning knockout of Andrei Arlovski.
4 – The number of original tournament participants still under contract to Zuffa (Barnett, Werdum, Silva, Overeem.) Only Barnett of these remain with Strikeforce, and Overeem’s contract with the UFC is currently in a purgatory-esque state with his suspension. In comparison, four of the eight original reserves (Chad Griggs, Shane del Rosario, Lavar Johnson and tournament finalist Cormier) are still under contract as well.
5 – Career fights for Chris Spang, the least of any fighter on the card. Spang faces Nah-Shon Burrell in a fight that has come come under scrutiny for the fact that it appears on the main card and nothing else. The consensus amongst many fans and MMA media is that perhaps Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante and Ike Vallie-Flagg should be on the main card. Burrell and Spang, however, have combined for wins in ten of their last eleven bouts, though the one loss was Spang’s last fight against Ricky Legere.
6 – Career fights, and wins in debuting Yuri Villefort‘s career. Villefort’s time with Strikeforce has been tumultuous to say the least. After bursting on the scene at age 18, Villefort rang up six quick victories by his 19th victory. However, has been on the wrong side of injuries as of late. Recurring knee troubles forced him out of his original debut date against Travis Bush, and Villefort now steps into a Strikeforce cage some 11 months after he was first scheduled. He will face former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion Quinn Mulhern.
7 – Career knockout wins by Virgil Zwicker and Bobby Green, the most of any of the prelim fighters coming into the event. Zwicker’s seven knockout victories are more wins than his opponent Carlos Filho (aka Guto Inocente) has in his entire career. Inocente, however, is an undefeated 5-0, having never gone farther than the second round. Green fights James Terry, whom after starting his career winning ten of twelve, has now dropped two of three.
8 – Barnett’s consecutive win streak coming into this fight. The seven stoppages in those eight fights (the only decision is a 2008 victory over Jeff Monson) include KO victories over Pedro Rizzo and Gilbert Yvel, and his two Arm-Triangle Choke tournament victories over Brett Rogers and Kharitonov.
9 – Not to be outdone, Cormier rides a nine fight win streak into his matchup with Barnett. Amongst them, he also holds a decision win over Monson, as well as knockout victories over Soa Palelei and his most recent over Silva which booked his ticket to the finals.
10 – The longest unbeaten streak of anybody on this card, held by Vallie-Flagg. The streak is comprised of nine wins and a single draw. Vallie-Flagg has not lost since July 28th, 2007, but will be in tough when he faces Cavalcante.
12 – This is Melendez’s 12th appearance in Strikeforce, and 10th in a title fight capacity. Melendez has just a single Strikeforce loss, that being the aforementioned decision loss to Thomson.
13 – Not to be outdone, this is appearance number thirteen in Strikeforce for Thomson. This is Thomson’s sixth title related fight under the Strikeforce banner.
14:41 – Between Cormier and Barnett, the elapsed in-tournament time (reserve bouts aside) in which both men have fought to get them to the finals. Barnett’s submission victories over Rogers and Kharitonov total 10:45 total, while Cormier knocked out Silva in a shade under four minutes.
463 – The length of time, in days, this tournament has taken to reach its finals. The first bouts for the Heavyweight GP occurred on February 12 2011. This will officially be the final heavyweight bout in Strikeforce, as Zuffa has committed to moving all applicable contracts over to the UFC.
The Strikeforce Grand Prix Final kicks off its prelim show on Showtime Extreme before transitioning over to the main Showtime network. Canadians can catch the event on Superchannel. Check your local listings for showtimes.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, victory
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce ‘Barnett vs. Cormier’ Pre-Fight Interviews: Barnett, Melendez
Interviews with Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix finalist Josh Barnett and Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez before they step into the cage tonight. Thanks to MMA Weekly for the clips. More clips after the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, melendez, clip, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Gilbert Melendez Vs. Josh Thomson Dissection
With the lightweight strap on the line, 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez will conclude a trilogy with Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Saturday night's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier show. The featured lineup starts at 10:00 p.m. ET on Showtime and includes a light-heavyweight rematch between Rafael Cavalcante and Mike Kyle along with a welterweight clash between Nah-Shon Burrell and Chris Spang.
Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez (20-2) and Josh "The Punk" Thomson (19-4) have carried the Strikeforce lightweight division on their shoulders. Melendez amplified his credibility overseas with a monumental upset of Japanese bruiser Tatsuya Kawajiri and cemented it even further with stateside performances against Mitsuhiro Ishida (effectively avenging his first loss) and submission elitist Shinya Aoki.
Thomson demonstrated his top-level status with a strong 2-3 run in the Octagon right before the UFC liquidated their lightweight division, notched a slick victory by kneebar in Pride and then held down the fort in Strikeforce with legit stoppages over Nam Phan (TKO) and Duane Ludwig (submission). Shortly after, Thomson got a crack at Melendez's championship and, in top form, unreeled 5-rounds of crisp kickboxing and staunch takedown defense to dethrone him.
More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Dissections
Feijao vs. Kyle | Burrell vs. Spang | Preliminary Card Dissection
The pair would trade ownership of the strap in their next encounter, after which Thomson's momentum faltered through a rash of ongoing injuries while Melendez ascended all the way up to the #3 spot in the consensus world lightweight rankings. Since their last match in 2009, Melendez has been flawless (decisions over Aoki and Jorge Masvidal; finished Kawajiri by TKO in the rematch) while Thomson has won 3 of 4 against excellent competition -- but definitely seems to have lost some of the spring in his step.
Continued in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
I don't think Thomson has ever received enough credit. In his prime, he was a downright mean S.O.B. with voracious wrestling and rapid-fire kickboxing. The magic ingredient of his style was the ability to explode offensively and generate velocity on his lightning-fast combinations and powerful takedowns. Additionally, as he did in his win over Melendez, Thomson could uphold a furious pace for a full 5-round fight.
That high level of athleticism, conditioning and explosiveness has been lacking lately, and that's exactly why his past injures are getting so much attention and he's considered a different fighter. Thomson came out like his old, boisterous self in the first round against Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante and K.J. Noons, but fizzled out in the 2nd and 3rd. He's still a risk-taking scrapper, fully competent in all phases of combat and exciting as hell when he's not gassed.
"El Nino" looks better in every performance. He was always a pressure-puncher and overbearing wrestler, but his striking displays against Tatsuya Kawajiri and Jorge Masvidal showed a substantial improvement in boxing technique. Melendez was clipping with short and tight punches that packed a big wallop, and also took complete ownership of the pace with agile, in-and-out footwork and excellent timing.
He and Frankie Edgar are the rare type who almost seem to increase in activity as the fight progresses -- even after 20 minutes of energized combat. He appears to be more confident and dominant than ever before. In his loss to Thomson, he struggled to keep up with Thomson's intelligent phase-shifting. Thomson put leather all over him early and often, threw in beautiful level changes when they were trading in the pocket to take Gil down, mixed up his strike selection and fought tooth and nail for 25 minutes.
That's the strategy Thomson needs to replicate and I just don't think he's got it in him. Neither fighter has ever been finished, so I expect a big gut- and heart-check for Thomson to avoid being overwhelmed when he slows down in later rounds.
My Prediction: Gilbert Melendez by decision.
Poll
Gil Melendez vs. Josh Thomson
Melendez
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jorge masvidal, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWeigh-in Video: Strikeforce ‘Barnett vs. Cormier’
Friday’s Strikeforce “Barnett vs. Cormier” weigh-in event can be viewed following the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, barnett, cormier, weighin
Read the full article at SherdogMelendez-Thomson could upstage Strikeforce GP
A grudge match between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson for the Strikeforce lightweight title could end up stealing the show Saturday in San Jose.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, josh thomson, grudge, show saturday
Read the full article at sportsnet.caMelendez-Thomson could upstage Strikeforce
A grudge match between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson for the Strikeforce lightweight title could end up stealing the show Saturday in San Jose.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, josh thomson, show saturday, upstage strikeforce
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce Barnett vs Cormier Weigh-In Results: Barnett 248, Cormier 238
Everything is official for tonight's Strikeforce event live from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Starting with the prelims on Sho Extreme and Sho Extreme HD at 8pm ET, the main card airs live at 10pm ET on Showtime and Showtime HD.
Stocky Olympian and undefeated AKA hopeful Daniel Cormier weighed in at 238lbs, while former UFC Champion and Pride FC star Josh Barnett came in at a lean looking 248lbs.
Meanwhile the Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson rubber match for the Strikeforce Lightweight title is good to go, with both fighters easily coming in under the limit at 153lbs each.
Check out the full weigh-in gallery at Strikefoce.com
MAIN CARDSTRIKEFORCE HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIX FINAL Daniel Cormier (238) vs. Josh Barnett (248)STRIKEFORCE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPJosh Thomson (153) vs. Gilbert Melendez (153)Mike Kyle (203) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (206)Nah-Shon Burrell (170) vs. Chris Spang (169)PRELIMINARY CARDIsaac Vallie-Flagg (156) vs. Gesias Cavalvcante (156)Carlos ‘Guto’ Inocente (205) vs. Virgil Zwicker (204)Derrick Mehmen (205) vs. Gian Villante (205)Yuri Villefort (170) vs. Quinn Mulhern (170)Bobby Green (155) vs. James Terry (156.25)
video highlights of the weigh-in after the jump
Strikeforce Barnett vs Cormier Weigh-In Video
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, barnett, cormier, weighin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFull Strikeforce weigh in video highlights for 'Barnett vs Cormier' in San Jose
The Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" weigh-in event took place tonight (Fri., May 18, 2012) from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., where all 18 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow night's mixed martial arts (MMA) event on Showtime.
It was a mostly uneventful affair, with main event participants Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier coming in looking slim and trim for their heavyweight grand prix tournament final. Main card participants Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Rafael Cavalcante, Mike Kyle, Nah-Shon Burrell, and Chris Spang are all featured in the video above.
For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" weigh in results click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, cormier, bouts official, tomorrow nights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Preliminary Fighter James Terry Finally Hits the Mark
It took him an hour and four trips to the scale, but Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier preliminary fighter James Terry finally made weight on Friday.
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Posted in: strikeforce, jame, terry, bull, friday retweet
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
Don't forget! The Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament Finals are tomorrow night at 10 Eastern!
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Posted in: strikeforce, tournament, tomorrow night, tomorrow, dont
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Weigh-In Results; Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier Official For Main Event
Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will finally complete the year-long Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Saturday night in San Jose. Both fighters came in well under the heavyweight limit, making their main event fight official. Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier fighters weighed in on Friday. Along with the main event, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, daniel cormier, cormier, heavyweight limit, event strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA Convert‘Strikeforce: Grand Prix Finale’ Weigh-In Results
Today at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, all of the fighters competing on tomorrow night’s Strikeforce: Grand Prix Finale fight card tipped the scales to weigh in for their respective bouts.
All of the fighters made weight without issue.
Tomorrow night’s fight card will also take place from the HP Pavilion and will see Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier do battle to conclude the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Also on the card, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will attempt to defend his belt against Josh Thomson in a rubber match.
You can check out the full weigh-in results below:
Main Card (Showtime)
Josh Barnett (248) vs. Daniel Cormier (238)
Champ Gilbert Melendez (153) vs. Josh Thomson (153)
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (206) vs. Mike Kyle (203)
Nah-Shon Burrell (170) vs. Chris Spang (169)
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme)
Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (156) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (156)
Virgil Zwicker (204) vs. Guto Inocente (205)
Derrick Mehmen (205) vs. Gian Villante (205)
Quinn Mulhern (170) vs. Yuri Villefort (170)
Bobby Green (155) vs. James Terry (156.25)*
*It appears as though a scale calibration issue was the reason for Terry weigh over.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: strikeforce, hp pavilion, card, josh, prix
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card: Josh Barnett vs Daniel Cormier preview
Two of the top heavyweights in the world will be battling for the coveted Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix championship tomorrow night (May 19, 2012) as veteran Josh Barnett takes on undefeated former Olympian Daniel Cormier in the main event of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, California.
Josh Barnett has returned from MMA purgatory to become a prominent player in the heavyweight division again. After cruising past former title challenger Brett Rogers, he manhandled Sergei Kharitonov to advance to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals. If he can get past Cormier, he could be in line for the UFC title picture once the remainder of the division is consolidated.
Daniel Cormier emerged from prospect to powerhouse in 2011, defeating veteran Jeff Monson and then obliterating top 10 ranked heavyweight Antonio Silva via first round knockout to literally punch his ticket to the tournament finals. Cormier exploded from unranked to top 10 talent himself with his performance and the American Kickboxing Academy product is hoping to continue to build on his tremendous momentum.
Will the grizzled "Warmaster" be able to utilize his tremendous experience advantage against Cormier? Will Cormier's Olympic caliber work ethic and athletic ability be the big equalizer? What's the key to victory for both men?
Let's find out:
Josh Barnett
Record: 31-5 overall, 2-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Sergei Kharitonov (Strikeforce: Barnettt vs. Kharitonov), Aleksander Emelianenko (Pride Total Elimination Absolute), Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Final Conflict Absolute)
Key Losses: Mirko Filipovic 3x (Pride 28, Pride 30, Pride Final Conflict Absolute), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Shockwave 2006)
How he got here: Josh Barnett has had a roller coaster of a career. The craziness began back in 2002 when he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 for the UFC heavyweight title. He didn't have long to celebrate as he tested positive for a banned substance and was stripped of his belt.
Barnett has never returned to the UFC and would instead spend the next six years of his career fighting in Japan. He fought nine times in Pride where he mixed results, primarily due to three defeats at the hands of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. His most impressive victory, a split decision over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira would be avenged in his final fight with Pride.
After Pride was bought out by Zuffa, Barnett would fight for World Victory Road's Sengoku Raiden Championships and he then teamed up with the upstart Affliction promotion in the United States. He won his first two fights and was all set up for a "mega-fight" with superstar Fedor Emelianenko before again testing positive for steroids while applying for his license to fight in California. This final steroid test would force him to back out of his fight with "The Last Emperor" and it crippled Affliction, causing the cancellation of its third event and forcing head honcho Tom Atencio to give up on his promotional dreams and return to the role of sponsoring fighters.
He next signed a deal with Strikeforce to participate in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and was grandfathered in when Zuffa purchased the promotion, where he has apparently made peace with Dana White at the Fight Summit earlier this year. "The Warmaster" crushed Brett Rogers in the first round of the grand prix and proceeded to steamroll Sergei Kharitonov in the semifinals, defeating both men easily via submission.
How he gets it done: Josh Barnett is a catchwrestler at heart, even competing in professional wrestling matches in Japan on the side of his mixed martial arts career. While the ground is his home, he's got some underrated striking and don't take that lightly. I wouldn't be surprised one bit to see him stand for a bit with Cormier to at least test the waters and see how he holds his own. If he is indeed the better striker, he'll just keep it there and try to score in the stand-up.
At some point in the fight, however, you should expect Barnett to drop down for a takedown. Even if he doesn't get it right away, he'll push Cormier into the fence, keep a low base and try to lift him up into the air and slam him to the ground with authority.It won't be easy with Cormier's Olympic caliber freestyle wrestling background, but it's likely his best method of victory.
Barnett would likely be completely comfortable just grinding on Cormier against the fence, using his size to wear down the wrestler, mix in some dirty boxing and just frustrate and stifle him.
If and when the fight goes to the ground, Barnett will be patient. Barnett has extremely tight top control and it's very difficult to escape once he has you on the ground. He'll be just as happy to smother Cormier and make the Russian carry his weight forup to five rounds as he would be to give up top position and go for a fight ending submission hold.
Daniel Cormier
Record: 9-0 overall, 6-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Antonio Silva (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Jeff Monson (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Tony Johnson (KOTC: Imminent Danger)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Daniel Cormier was an incredibly accomplished American wrestler. He was a high school All-American, a junior college national champion and after transferring to Oklahoma State, he was also a national runner-up.
Daniel took his wrestling to the international stage, competing on the United States' world team five separate times including twice in the Olympics. He just missed medaling at the 2004 Olympics and after becoming captain of the team in 2008, was forced out of the competition with kidney problems due to cutting weight.
To avoid any further issues with weight cutting, Cormier decided to transition to MMA as a heavyweight. He made his professional fighting debut less than two years ago in Strikeforce, smashing Gary Frazier via TKO. Cormier would fight a very hectic schedule, competing in multiple Strikeforce events and also mixing in fights with other promotions to stay busy.
Upon returning to Strikeforce, he would begin to utilize his striking, outlanding Devin Cole over the course of three rounds to take a decision. He would face his first test in former UFC title challenger Jeff Monson this past June and would pass with flying colors, defeating "The Snowman" primarily with his much-improved kickboxing attack.
Cormier earned an alternate position in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, stepping in for Alistair Overeem and he would take advantage of his opportunity, knocking Antonio Silva senseless in the first round, by far the most impressive performance of his young fighting career. Now he's got an opportunity vault himself to an even higher status against Barnett in the finals.
How he gets it done: I wouldn't have said this before his last performance, but it might be Cormier's striking that could be the difference in this fight. He utilized incredible footwork and it was his speed that was the difference, giving him the ability to get in and out against the bigger, slower Silva.
Cormier also showcased some serious power if he can connect cleanly with his straight punches. I think the best plan of attack in this fight would be to avoid going to the ground completely, use his Olympic wrestling in reverse to keep the fight standing and try to outwork Barnett on the feet.
If the fight goes to the clinch or the ground, Cormier should do everything in his power to either take inside position along the fence or work to get back to his feet. He's got terrific scrambling and position skills on the ground, but it might not be wisest to mess around with someone as dangerous as Barnett on the canvas.
Fight X-Factor: One of the biggest X-Factors for this fight has to be Daniel Cormier's hand. He was supposed to fight at the end of 2012 but he broke his hand in the Silva fight and then broke it again rushing to come back. That's the reason the finals have been delayed as long as they have.
With his hands being so injured, Cormier likely hasn't had as much of an opportunity to improve his stand-up and striking at the same rate that he had been prior to the Silva fight. Also, one has to wonder how much confidence he'll have to throw his fists as hard as possible while hunting for a potential knockout. If he can't threaten to hurt Barnett or if he reinjures his hands during the fight, his biggest strength will be going right out the window.
Bottom Line: This is one of the toughest fights to call of 2012. Both Cormier and Barnett are very talented and they are equally dangerous in different areas. Both are dangerous with their grappling ability and have the skills to stand and trade on the feet. The odds are even in the betting department as well, -115 each last I looked. There's potential that this is one of the best back and forth heavyweight fights of 2012, but there's also potential that Barnett wall-and-stalls or tries to smother Cormier on the ground if he can close the distance. There could be a very exciting finish or there could be a very drawn out and ugly decision. I'm leaning on the excitement side, however.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tomorrow night?
Daniel Cormier
Josh Barnett
3 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at MMA Mania
MMA vet Josh Barnett still fighting at a top-notch level entering Strikeforce heavyweight final (Yahoo! Sports)
Strikeforce's World Grand Prix comes to a head Saturday night when Josh Barnett squares off against Daniel Cormier.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, square, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsNearing 'the deep end,' Mike Kyle almost killed himself in his climb back to the top of Strikeforce
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight contender Mike Kyle has had his ups and downs in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. Lately, however, he's been trending more towards the latter.
On Dec., 4, 2010, at Strikeforce: "Henderson vs. Babalu 2," Kyle lost to Antonio Silva in the second round via technical knockout after dropping "Bigfoot" early in their heavyweight fight. The loss snapped "Mak's" five fight winning streak and to add injury to insult, he suffered a broken hand in the process.
Ready to get back on the horse, Kyle returned to 205-pounds and was penciled in to face Gegard Mousasi four months later, but another broken hand forced him to pull out of the fight. It was re-booked five months later, but this time it was Mousasi who withdrew from the bout.
Kyle went on to defeat Marcos Rogerio de Lima at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" on Sept. 10. 2011 to get himself back in the win column.
Hoping the third time would be the charm, Kyle and Gegard were booked to face off at Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" this past March. Once again, the fight was scratched as Kyle was forced to withdraw due to another injury.
On a recent episode of TheSHOOT!, Kyle talked about his climb up the ranks of the 205-pound division, including a rough patch in his life that he says drove him to the 'deep end' following his suspension after his controversial fight against Brian Olsen at WEC 20 in 2006.
"I've been fighting for a long time, I wasn't always doing the right things to take care of myself. I had a couple staph infections and had to pull out of a couple of fights. I had a broken hand, I broke it three times last year. I tore one of my labrums, it was actually my second tear. If you go into my old fights, the last few years since I got suspended, from that fight on, I go to hip toss a guy or I had to give them my back to get up, every time I would have to keep my legs straight, and I don't know if people would notice it or not, but I couldn't do it. I had that suspension from that illegal kick. I went through a lot. Training in the gym, people didn't want to train with me. I went off almost the deep end. I was drinking a lot every day and partying and I almost killed myself. Now, my girl is picking up bills for several months. I had to hit bottom to start the climb back up. My lady gave birth to a baby healthy girl. It had to be that point where my life really did turn around. It makes me motivated man, I gotta go out there and provide for her."
With new found motivation, Kyle has compiled a 9-3 record since his disqualification loss to Olsen and looks to return to the Hexagon and stake his claim as one of the most dangerous light heavyweights in the game today.
It won't be easy, though, as he's drawn a game former Strikeforce 205-pound champion Rafael Cavalcante at this weekend's (May 19, 2012) Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event, which will mark the second time the two have gone toe-to-toe, with Cavalcante getting the best of the first encounter back in 2009.
Can the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) trained fighter make it two in a row in San Jose? Or will "Feijao" show once again that he has "Mak's" number?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, vs, kyle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEight Ways of Looking at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
After months of waiting, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals are almost here. In preparation, here are eight questions, concerns, and comments, in no particular order.I. Remember how this whole thing started? The Strikeforce Grand Prix, I mean. It seems like so long ago that Strikeforce -- then under different ownership -- put all its eggs in the heavyweight basket, announcing a tournament that many of us in the media described as ‘ambitious.’ What we really meant was, ‘damn near impossible.’ Come on. That many heavyweights, that many egos and potential contractual headaches, and Strikeforce was supposed to be the one to organize them all? There were times when I wouldn’t have trusted Strikeforce to organize an intramural softball league. Now you want me to believe that they can get Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett and all the rest to focus up and finish this thing within a reasonable amount of time? That seemed improbable enough just based on the personalities involved. Factor in the likelihood that one of these behemoths would injure himself in the cage or the gym, and you had yourself a recipe for disaster. To some extent, those fears proved well-founded. Injuries and contract shenanigans did pop up along the way. Plus, the whole company changed hands, so there was that too. And yet, here we are in the finals with a fight between one original participant and one reserve fighter, and it’s a legitimately awesome match-up. Oddsmakers have it almost even. Fans are actually buzzing about it. Whoever wins will have made an excellent case for himself as one of the world’s best heavyweights. Even the loser will probably get a chance to redeem himself in the UFC. It took a little while to get here, but now it seems worth the wait. And let’s face it: this could have turned out so much worse.
II. Daniel Cormier could sure use a win on Saturday, but Barnett needs one. Even though they’re almost the same age, Barnett has a lot more MMA miles on him, not to mention more than a little baggage. From his history of failed drug tests to his adamant refusal to publicly own up to the same, Barnett offers a lot of reasons for a potential employer to be wary. If he wins this Grand Prix (and the ‘just for the hell of it’ fight that follows), the UFC pretty much has to take its chances with him. If he gets knocked out by Cormier, it’s a different story. Cormier, on the other hand, is an attractive prospect no matter what happens. Even if he gets submitted by Barnett you could write it off as a learning experience. It is, after all, only his tenth pro fight. It’s Barnett’s 37th. Cormier obviously still wants to win this, and he has a good shot at it. But as long as he doesn’t look positively awful, he’ll be fine. I don't know if you can say the same about Barnett.
III. With five rounds to beat up on each other, how does the Barnett-Cormier fight end? If you think this one will make it to the judges, you can get +200 odds from a couple online oddsmakers. If, like me, you don’t see it going five full rounds, then you start to ask who will end it and how. Cormier has a dangerous combination of quickness and heavy hands, but Barnett has proven that he can take a thumping. Barnett got to the finals by submitting his way through the first two rounds, but a) he fought two very submittable fighters, and b) if Cormier has a weakness there, we’ve yet to see it. That’s what makes this one so tough to call. Cormier has yet to face anyone with Barnett’s skill and experience in his MMA career, while Barnett has spent the last few years cruising through fights that were, well, one hates to use the word ‘easy’ to describe a professional cage fight, so let’s just say not as challenging as some of his Pride fights. They are, in their own ways, a couple of unknown quantities. That’s why the outcome here is anybody’s guess.IV. Josh Thomson really, really wants you to know that he’s not injured...any more than usual. The Strikeforce lightweight challenger voiced his frustration with "the MMA media" in an interview with Bloody Elbow, blasting earlier reports that he was pulling out of his title fight with Gilbert Melendez and calling it "typical of the low level of MMA media stuff." Turns out he’s not injured (at least not beyond a "tweaked" wrist and some other, unspecified ailments), and he’s none too pleased about someone on Twitter possibly giving his opponent a heads-up as to what parts of his body might be vulnerable. I get that, even if my teeth grind together every time someone launches an assault on that convenient, monolith boogeyman known as The Media. But in Thomson's case, one thing he’s got going for him is his own reputation as one of MMA’s most injury-prone fighters. If you wanted to target an existing injury in a fight with him, your biggest problem would be choosing one -- not discovering one. V. Once again, Gilbert Melendez finds himself in a fight where he has so much more to lose than gain. It was the same in his last Strikeforce title defense against Jorge Masvidal, and arguably also in the one before that, against Tatsuya Kawajiri. He already has a fairly recent win over Thomson, and he’s a 5-1 favorite to notch another. Anything short of a win via destruction would, at best, keep him right where he is in the rankings. You can just imagine what a loss would do. When you think about it in those terms, it seems pretty obvious that no one is getting a worse deal out of the current Strikeforce/Zuffa situation than Melendez. He’s more or less out of fresh challenges at this point, and no one with any better options wants to come to Strikeforce and risk a beating from him. Is he a top five lightweight? Top three? Hell, he could be the best lightweight in the world, but he’s not getting a chance to prove it right now, in what could very well be the prime of his career. There are definitely worse fates than being the top lightweight in Strikeforce, and being paid to prove it over and over again. It’s just that there are also better fates, especially for a man of Melendez’s talents.VI. Mike Kyle may or may not get a title shot if he beats Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, and, somehow, that really pisses him off. Apparently, Kyle thought his current one-fight win streak in Strikeforce ought to set him up for a number one contender spot with a win over Cavalcante. After all, he already beat "Feijao" once, and his only losses in Strikeforce have come at heavyweight. Besides, with Mo Lawal out of the picture, who else does Strikeforce have at 205 pounds? That’s all well and good, but Kyle might want to be careful how he goes about agitating for a title shot. After Scott Coker told members of the media it "hasn’t been determined" yet what will happen to the winner of Saturday’s Kyle-Cavalcante rematch, Kyle went off in an interview with USA Today, saying:"I think it's bullcrap. You heard what he said -- maybe I'll be the No. 1 contender. I haven't lost any 205-pound fights. I definitely believe that I'm the No. 1 contender. I was told before I'd be the No. 1 contender. It is what it is. I'm really upset by it. It makes me really not even want to fight. I don't feel like I'm getting nowhere in the sport. All the changes I've made in my life and the things I'm doing, there's no recognition for it. It really upsets me and it makes me not want to fight."It is at this point that I must address Kyle directly and ask: are you kidding me right now? It’s true that you have no losses at light heavyweight. It’s also true that you have exactly one meaningful win there, and that was when you knocked out "Feijao" three years ago. I agree that the winner here should fight for the belt, if only due to a lack of other options. But let’s not fly into an indignant rage just because Coker wouldn’t scream it from the rooftops. He’s not in a position to decide those things these days. Even when he was, he wasn't one to give a direct answer when a non-committal one was available to him. Chill out, man. This is hardly the time for Strikeforce fighters to suggest that they might rather quit and go home. In case you haven’t noticed, that’s a wish that Zuffa might be all too eager to grant.VII. Speaking of the undercard, this one’s actually pretty decent. I haven’t watched Showtime Extreme since I caught a late-night showing of Bikini Chain Gang -- a far superior film to Bikini Time Machine, which is overrun with historical inaccuracies and completely falls apart in the third act -- but the chance to watch Gesias Cavalcante take on Isaac Vallie-Flag is all the motivation I need. Throw in a couple former Challengers series fighters like Quinn Mulhern and Bobby Green, and you’ve got my attention. After sitting around all afternoon waiting for my chance to lose money on the Preakness, I’m sure I’ll be grateful for some programming that gets right to the point. Actually, now that I think about it, you could say the same thing for Bikini Chain Gang.
VIII. If the Barnett-Cormier clash reminds us of anything, let it be that we don't always need a fake rivalry to sell a fight. Promoters always want to go the 'bad blood' route, because it's easy and because it usually works. You find one barely plausible reason why these guys might hate each other, and boom, you've got yourself a promo. Barnett and Cormier are a couple of gregarious, likable guys who actually get along, and they haven't pretended otherwise. And you know what? It's still a fight that I can't wait to see. Give me a good, honest competition any day, and keep your phony grudge matches.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, cormier, hersquo
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseJosh Barnett, Daniel Cormier on Point for Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final
It has taken more than a year, but the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix has reached its final leg.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, point, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce: Rafael 'Feijao' Cavalcante Vs. Mike Kyle Dissection
In the first of 2 rematches set for the Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier main card, former light-heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante seeks revenge versus Mike Kyle for a 2nd-round TKO loss back in 2009. Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier meet in the show's main attraction, which airs live on Showtime at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Rafael Cavalcante (11-3) is a member of the world renowned Team Nogueira where he trains alongside the Nogueira brothers, Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. He's a sizzling Thai specialist with a black belt in BJJ and currently ranked as the 13th-best light-heavyweight in the consensus world rankings. "Feijao" made his Strikeforce debut against Kyle on the Lawler vs. Shields card with a 7-1 record, his lone loss being a Disqualification for cracking Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz with an illegal kick during his 2-piece stint in the IFL.
After Kyle handed him a crushing knockout for his first real taste of defeat, Cavalcante destroyed Aaron Rosa and Antwain Britt to earn a shot at Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's Strikeforce title. Overcoming slanted betting odds and Lawal's relentless wrestling, Cavalcante exploded with a clinch knee and a follow-up barrage of punches to finish Lawal in the 3rd-round. His title reign would be a short one, as high-profile UFC crossover Dan Henderson would land the infamous "H-Bomb" to overtake the throne. Cavalcante rebounded with a 2nd-round TKO of Yoel Romero in his last, maintaining his reputation as one of the sport's best finishers with his 10th TKO win. Cavalcante has yet to go the distance.
More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Dissections
Burrell vs. Spang | Preliminary Card Dissection
Mike "Mak" Kyle (19-8) deserves a lot of credit for turning his career around. After accruing a bad rep for his unsportsmanlike conduct and a forgettable entrance into Strikeforce (drew with Krzszytof Soszynski, submission loss to Wayne Cole), Kyle has notched wins in 9 of his last 12 with defeats to top-shelfers Antonio Silva (TKO) and Fabricio Werdum (submission) and a No Contest against Travis Wiuff. His tenure with "Crazy" Bob Cook at the American Kickboxing Academy has been evident in his vastly improved, piston-like boxing and enhanced fight I.Q.
Kyle started out as a rugged brawler with huge punching power, but has harnessed that foundation into a more composed and calculating mixed martial artist with fluid deliverance of his striking heft. He's still a bit of a wild card, having lost to most of the top competition he's encountered, but Kyle's gameness and vicious hands present a viable threat to any 205er.
Continued in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Cavalcante is much more diversified than Kyle in every aspect except wrestling, so this confrontation boils down to his ability to avoid Kyle's one-shot power. However, Kyle has added a litany of skills to maximize his striking, giving him more than the typical puncher's chance. His stance and punches are tighter, he uses good footwork and circling to set up his big right hand and he pumps out a busy and snapping jab to control the tempo from the fringe.
Kyle is also a tall (6'3") and long (76" reach) light-heavyweight with a few inches on Cavalcante in each category. The concept of Cavalcante eating another good-night punch is far from incomprehensible -- both of his career losses are by TKO and "Feijao" rarely implements his top-tier submission game because he's comfortable striking and isn't known as a wrestler. His largest advantage lies on the mat, as Kyle has been prone to elite submissionists in the past but does well in protecting the weakness through his striking and takedown defehense.
I would strongly suggest that Cavalcante try to catch him off-guard with a takedown while they're exchanging. He might not have world class wrestling, but Cavalcante definitely has the explosiveness, timing and intelligence to spring a double on Kyle and wreak havoc with submission attempts. Even though he's considerably more technical on the feet -- with roundhouse kicks, boxing and a clinically volatile Thai clinch -- standing with Kyle leaves the door open to taste his power.
There's no question that "Feijao" deserves the nod here for being the more complete fighter, but a single punch can outweigh that in a heartbeat.
My Prediction: Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante by submission.
Poll
Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle
Feijao
Kyle
10 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, kyle, cavalcante, feijao
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce's Cormier skeptical about what's next after tourney, Barnett doesn't care
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Tomorrow, the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix will come to an end.
But then what?
Officially, the winner gets one more fight under the Strikeforce banner before the division is folded. But in reality, there isn't much of a division to fold. Finding the guy who wants to fight the winner of the tourney isn't going to be an easy sell, finalist Daniel Cormier told MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce banner, strikeforce heavyweight, strikeforces cormier, tourney isnt
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBloody Elbow Roundtable: What's Next For The Strikeforce Grand Prix Winner?
Brent Brookhouse: Supposedly, the winner of tomorrow night's Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will have to fight one more time in Strikeforce despite there no longer being a heavyweight division in the promotion. What is the best way to handle the next fight for the winner of the GP?
KJ Gould: Man, this is a bizarre situation. It just seems weird to keep them in Strikeforce, and bring in a heavyweight for one fight before the whole division truly crosses over to the UFC. If it's a close fight with some judging controversy, a rematch is the no brainer. Fedor Emelianenko supposedly still has one fight left with Showtime, but I can see Zuffa being dead against it, plus Fedor has hinted at Pedro Rizzo being his last fight meaning he'd likely hold out for a big pay day to 'come back'.
A complete wildcard would be the winner of James Thompson vs Todd Duffee. It'd be pointless, but then that's what this Grand Prix has ultimately been anyway.
Fraser Coffeen: One word - Fedor. He's really a great choice in that he still has a degree of name recognition, plus they can play up the angle that he's 3-0 since leaving Strikeforce (assuming he beats Rizzo). But in reality, he's not really a threat to either man, so they'll have an extra win heading into the UFC.
The one drawback is his possible price tag. M-1 plays hardball with Fedor, and his cost was a contributing factor in Strikeforce running into financial problems last year. If M-1 perceives that SF needs Fedor, they'll crank that price up and won't budge. In that case, I really don't know what to do. The options become either 1) a Cormier vs. Barnett rematch, 2) tell Showtime to stuff it and don't do one last fight, or 3) find someone like Jeff Monson or Tim Sylvia to step in. None of those sound very good to me, but if 2 isn't a viable option, I guess I'd pick Sylvia over an unnecessary rematch.
KJ Gould: Considering how Strikeforce has been dragging this out, maybe Alistair Overeem fights in Strikeforce again, as a punishment for messing up the fight with Junior dos Santos. He wouldn't be in that much of a bargaining position to do so, considering the dog house he's currently in.
Fraser Coffeen: I considered Reem, and it's a possibility maybe. But I think the best bet is to use this last fight as a way to further boost the GP winner before making his way into the UFC. So give him a softball.
KJ Gould: The paranoid conspiracy theorist in me believes if Cormier wins, he'll be given a softball, but if Barnett wins Zuffa is sending in a 'gunslinger' to try and take him out (like an Overeem).
Tim Burke: I don't think it'll be Fedor. He costs too much, and maybe it's the fanboy in me talking, but I think he presents a credible threat to both men. They need someone with name value, isn't that much of a threat, and isn't going to break the bank. And I know the guy:
Mirko Cro Cop.
Yes, Barnett's faced him three times already. Yes he was released by Zuffa and is a 27-fight losing streak. But if Barnett wins, it gives him another crack at getting a win over Mirko and it's a rematch of the 2006 Pride Openweight GP Final. If Cormier wins, it's another name on his resume before the move. It works.
Ben Thapa: The best way for Strikeforce to handle this after the GP is to shove somebody passable in there for the winner to get a quick payday, while screaming his head off about the people he'd destroy in the UFC - which for either guy would be at least three-quarters of the current UFC roster.
Here's my off the wall idea: Thiago Santos. Yes, the Nutcracker. Or the Really Big Squirrel. I can't decide which is the better nickname. Anyways, Santos actually looked fearsome in his lone Bellator appearance and was then tossed aside like deadwood after missing the heavyweight limit in his schedule bout with Eric Prindle.
To me, Santos presents enough of a challenge that Barnett or Cormier would have to train seriously, but not one that risks taking the shine off the GP winner, whomever it may be.
As an added bonus, poaching Santos from Bellator would send a warning shot across the bow of the upstart promotion. You can't tell me that Coker, White and the other Forza employees wouldn't love to do that.
Dallas Winston: I'm perpetually baffled as to why there isn't an open door between the UFC and Strikeforce, and this is a perfect example for a situation where it makes the most sense.
Since the UFC has plucked all the interesting talent from Strikeforce's roster and heavyweight is the thinnest division overall, the only option is the aforementioned "softball" of an opponent for the Grand Prix winner. Fedor is a great idea -- and I agree that his speed, striking and submissions would still make him a game opponent for either -- but I just don't see it happening.
Overeem and Werdum are legit suggestions because of their history with Strikeforce but, if they're willing to move a UFC heavy over, why not capitalize on the breadth of their talent to make an appealing match up? Big Country, Big Nog and/or Dave Herman would all be interesting potentials, depending, of course, on how the UFC 146 heavyweight extravaganza unfolds. Otherwise we're left with a brand new acquisition or "barely acceptable" choices like Monson, Rizzo, Sylvia, etc.
KJ Gould: I suppose there's always Shane Carwin, if he ever comes back from his various ailments. It's a name Heavyweight with legit stopping power, but beatable by either Barnett or Cormier. I'd definitely prefer that option over the 'Punter of Pereineums', Thiago Santos.
Poll
Who should face the winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix in their next bout?
Thiago Santos
Jeff Monson
Tim Sylvia
Mirko Cro Cop
Fedor Emelianenko
Alistair Overeem
A different UFC heavyweight
12 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, winner
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMike Kyle Seething Mad Heading Into Fight With Rafael Cavalcante At Strikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier
Make sure you don’t get in the way of Mike Kyle in the near future. Following a press conference to promote this Saturday’s Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event, Kyle went off on the words spoken by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker during the event. Coker, when asked if the Kyle-Rafael Cavalcante match would determine a contender [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, press conference, rafael cavalcante, kyle, mike kyle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce ‘Barnett vs. Cormier’ Live Results and Play-by-Play (8 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., at approximately 8:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce “Barnett vs. Cormier”, headlined by the heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, and featuring the Strikeforce lightweight title rubber match between champion Gilbert Melendez and challenger Josh Thomson.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, daniel cormier, cormier, title rubber
Read the full article at SherdogJosh Barnett, Daniel Cormier Will Worry About Strikeforce Futures Later
Though much of the talk is on what will happen to Strikeforce heavyweights Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier after Saturday, the fighters are staying focused.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, daniel cormier, strikeforce futures
Read the full article at Heavy MMAGilbert Melendez knows he is in for a battle with Josh Thomson this weekend
Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez always knew a third fight with Josh Thomson was a possibility. And, while the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter had hoped Zuffa would bring over a fighter from the UFC, Melendez is prepared to go to war with Thomson once again.
Melendez-Thomson will serve as the co-headliner at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final this Saturday night from San Jose, California. The main card will air live on Showtime starting at 10:00 PM EST. “El Nino” and “The Punk” have split their previous two meetings with Melendez winning in 2009 and Thomson in ’08. Both matches went five rounds.
“I know what he’s got and I’ve been through that with him,” said Melendez, in a recent interview with Strikeforce’s website. “We’ve been through two five-round battles, and I feel like I do know him very well. You build a relationship because you respect the guy as well, but more so than anything, I know what he has and the main things I did take from that is I know he has a lot of heart, he has great conditioning, and he’s tough.”
Melendez has not lost since that match with Thomson. He is currently on a six-fight winning streak with three stoppage victories and three decisions during that time.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson, stoppage victories
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce weigh in results LIVE from San Jose for 'Barnett vs Cormier'
The official weigh-in event for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Final is set to take place today (Friday, May 18, 2012) LIVE from the HP Pavilion Concourse in San Jose, California.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide the latest coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
Set to headline the card are tournament finalists Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, who will compete for the grand prix championship and the right to challenge one more fighter under the Strikeforce banner before the promotion eliminates the 265-pound division for good.
Also getting their hands dirty (again) are Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson for "El Nino's" 155-pound belt. Their upcoming rubber match will settle a longstanding feud that began nearly four years ago.
Strikeforce live weigh in results and real-time updates after the jump:
Main Event:
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett ( ) vs. Daniel Cormier ( )
Main Card (Showtime):
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez ( ) vs. Josh Thomson ( ) 205 lbs.: Rafael Cavalcante ( ) vs. Mike Kyle ( ) 170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell ( ) vs. Chris Spang ( )
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante ( ) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg ( ) 205 lbs.: Virgil Zwicker ( ) vs. Guto Inocente ( ) 205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen ( ) vs. Gian Villante ( ) 170 lbs.: Quinn Mulhern ( ) vs. Yuri Villefort ( )
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
For all the latest news and notes on the upcoming Strikeforce event on Showtime check out our comprehensive news archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, josh, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier LowKick.com Staff Predictions
So who will win the Strikeforce Heavywight Grand-Prix? LowKick.com Staff members share their predictions ahead of this weekend's fight card in San Jose, California.
Posted in: strikeforce, san, prediction, staff, lowkickcom
Read the full article at Low KickMorning Report: Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix, or How Everything Went Wrong and Still Ended Up Alright
Rewind to the evening of February 12, 2011, and you'd find Strikeforce on top of the MMA world. In just hours they'd unveil their masterpiece -- an ambitious, star-studded eight-man tourney featuring the most distinguished collection of heavyweight talent money could buy: Emelianenko, Overeem, Barnett, Werdum, Silva, Arlovski and Kharitonov. (And Brett Rogers, but we don't need to bring that up).
In theory, it was genius. If history has proven anything, it's that fight fans love two things -- tournaments and heavyweights. Put them together, and the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix was guaranteed to be commercial gold.
But things didn't quite work out that way, and only now, 16 months later, is the tourney finale within our sights. Never mind that it pits the field's least marketable superstar against an injury replacement. The simple fact that we got here is enough. So here's a brief (and utterly bizarre) rundown of how it all went wrong, but still ended up oh-so-right.
January 2011: Quarterfinal pairings are revealed. Emelianenko vs. Silva. Kharitonov vs. Arlovski. Overeem vs. Werdum. Barnett vs. Rogers. MMA nerds everywhere rejoice.
February 12, 2011: Valentijn Overeem, Chad Griggs and Shane del Rosario blast their way to first-round tourney-reserve victories. Sergei Kharitonov nearly beheads Andrei Arlovski. Then the (expletive) hits the fan. Bigfoot Silva stuns the prohibitive favorite, turning Fedor Emelianenko's face into a bloody mish-mash of Russian regret, and just like that, Strikeforce officials lose their most bankable star. Much hand-wringing ensues.
Early March, 2011: The second leg of the Grand Prix is delayed from April 9 to June 18 in order to give officials "the proper amount of time to promote in one of the country's biggest markets," says CEO Scott Coker.
March 12, 2011: Out of nowhere, Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, stuns the MMA world and purchases Strikeforce. UFC President Dana White ominously declares Strikeforce will "continue to run, business as usual."
May 2011: A tourney-reserve bout between Del Rosario and Daniel Cormier is scrapped when a drunk driver rear-ends Del Rosario's car in Newport Beach, leaving the fighter out of commission. 40-year-old Jeff Monson hastily takes his place.
June 18, 2011: Griggs and Cormier win their respective tourney-reserve bouts to stay in contention. Josh Barnett embarrasses Brett Rogers (who promptly gets cut and doesn't taste victory again until a 2014 fight against Cabbage Correira). Alistair Overeem outpoints Fabricio Werdum in an utterly bizarre fight that actually sees Werdum clasp his hands together and plead for Overeem to follow him to the ground. More hand-wringing ensues.
July 2011: Overeem, the then-Strikeforce heavyweight champion, is inexplicably removed from the tournament and released from the promotion due to a "toe injury" that would prevent him from competing. Cormier is tapped to fill the vacant spot despite having a significantly less impressive résumé than Griggs.
September 6, 2011: Overeem signs with the UFC and is immediately thrown into a blockbuster mega-fight against Brock Lesnar. Giggles can be heard from inside the Zuffa offices.
September 10, 2011: Cormier pulls off the second shocking upset of the tournament, demolishing Silva in less than four minutes. Barnett does what Barnett does, submitting Kharitonov in the first-round. A Cormier-Barnett final is set.
September 13, 2011: Cormier confirms a broken right hand from face-punching. Strikeforce officials push the tourney final to "early 2012."
December 15, 2011: Dana White unleashes the knockout blow, announcing the dissolution of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, effective immediately (sans Barnett and Cormier).
January 2012: Cormier reveals he may have re-broken his hand. A timetable for the finals remains hazy. Scott Coker is seen sobbing into a gallon of Cherry Garcia Ben & Jerry's.
March 3, 2012: Six months after the semifinals, and more than a year after the tournament began, Strikeforce slates the heavyweight grand prix finale for May 19. Fight fans everywhere are reminded that, oh yeah, Strikeforce has a heavyweight grand prix going on.
May 18, 2012: And now we're here. To quote the Grateful Dead, what a long, strange trip it's been.
But guys, you know what's even crazier? I'm actually really excited for Barnett vs. Cormier. So somehow, in a weird way, maybe this all worked out. (It really didn't. But who's keeping track?)
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Preview the long-awaited conclusion to Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix with detailed predictions, undercard dissections and bettings lines.
Mark Hunt injured. A late knee injury forced a devastated Mark Hunt out of his UFC 146 bout against Stefan Struve. Fresh off a victory two weeks ago, upstart bruiser Lavar Johnson jumped at the opportunity to fill the vacant spot.
UFC on FUEL 3 salaries. Donald Cerrone ($60,000) and Amir Sadollah ($48,000) led the charge on the reported payroll from Tuesday's UFC on FUEL 3 fight card.
B.J. Penn not interested in Koscheck. Former UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn shut down rumors of a return bout against Josh Koscheck, instead electing to remain retired.
Bellator 69 weigh-ins. It took a few attempts, but all fighters made weight at Thursday's official Bellator 69 weigh-ins, including middleweight headliners Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang.
MEDIA STEW
Daniel Cormier was a relative unknown when he entered the Strikeforce Grand Prix as an injury replacement for Alistair Overeem. But then he went and did this, and hell, now he might be the next heavyweight star.
For anyone who thinks Josh Thomson has no way to beat Gilbert Melendez tomorrow night, it's worth checking out the first leg of the pair's trilogy from back in 2008. (But really, the biggest takeaway from this fight has to be how awesome Bas Rutten is.)
Honestly, Josh Barnett's dominance has been the only reliable part of this tournament.
Gilbert Melendez may have overlooked Josh Thomson the first time they fought. But the second time -- it was all business.
LEAN AND MEAN
Eating heavy and feeling light. Ready to show what a real championship fight looks like. twitpic.com/9m45b6
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 17, 2012
#RALLYFORMARKHUNTSKNEE
thank u so much for your support u can understand how gutted i am.but i did not want to give a easy fight to struve,if u want to win
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012
from me u going to have to come a take that sh t
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012
thanks alot army i must go cry to my wife about thistalk soon
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012
AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT
@joshkoscheck I know it costs a lot of money to live that lavish lifestyle, big house, fast cars & you need big (cont) tl.gd/hf1d5v
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) May 17, 2012
THE BOSS IS BACK
All good!!! Thanks everyone
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 17, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, May 17, 2012):
- UFC 146: Mark Hunt (8-7) out, Lavar Johnson (17-5) in against Stefan Struve (23-5)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is a surprising theory from hobbie, though the title may give you an aneurism: Nick Diaz is a Genius
Hobbie's finally lost it. I know that's what most of you are thinking after reading that title. Either that, or I'm a dozen puffs in to one of Nick Diaz's pre-fight "supplement" cigarettes.
No, my mind is clear thank you very much. Well, I did sort of black out a tiny bit between my bowl of breakfast paint chips and my post-shower hit of crystal meth this morning, but that happens most mornings so...whatever. Oh, I also had half and half in my coffee because I was feeling crazy.
But back on topic: I hope your brain has a napkin or old gym sock handy to wipe up, because I'm about to blow your mothaf***in' mind!
Here goes - Nick Diaz is MMA's shrewdest businessman.
"Nick Diaz" and "businessman" in the same sentence!? Am I nuts? Aren't I aware that the only time the word "businessman" ever came out of Nick's mouth was when he said "Mind your own business, man!" to the commission doctor asking about the contents of his urine sample.
Before I can explain the genius of Nick Diaz, let me dispel you of a simple notion that is held sacred in the MMA world: acting like a complete tool is bad for your career. This theory goes that if a fighter doesn't keep obligations, fails drug tests, engages in criminal behaviour, courts as much controversy as possible and generally acts as selfishly as possible, this results in damage to his career.
History - and MMA history especially - shows what hogwash this really is.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Grand Prix Finale' preview: Scenarios abound in Barnett-Cormier headliner
Fifteen months after it blasted out of the gate with an impressive array of talent, the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix is nearly at an end.
And while a number of circumstances outside the cage have robbed the competition of much luster, the finals promise an exciting clash between two of the best big men outside the UFC.
The winner, of course, takes one step closer to that promotion. Before that, the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix title serves as the final belt handed out before the Zuffa sister promotion shutters its big-man division completely.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce heavyweight, prix title, bigman division, barnettcormier headliner
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce's Mike Kyle angered at perceived title-shot snub
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mike Kyle couldn't leave the building fast enough
after hearing Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker's carefully worded view of the
205-pound division.
"I'm really upset by it," Kyle said as he stood outside the HP Pavilion
in San Jose, Calif., following Strikeforce's press conference on
Thursday.
"It makes me really not even want to fight. I don't feel like
I'm getting nowhere in the sport. All the changes I've made in my life
and the things I'm doing, there's no recognition for it."
Posted in: strikeforce, im, kyle, things im, changes ive
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card: Josh Thomson vs Gilbert Melendez 3 preview
The Strikeforce lightweight title is on the line with two warriors gear up for their trilogy fight this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) as 155 pound champion Gilbert Melendez looks to defend his belt against Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, California.
Josh Thomson came back from a long layoff to defeat former welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons in his last bout, a performance he wasn't particularly proud of, but he got the title shot anyways due to the lack of depth in the promotion. He has a very interesting history, having spent 50 minutes thus far in the cage against Melendez, splitting their first two bouts and he'd love to win the rubber match.
Gilbert Melendez is widely regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world. He's unbeaten in nearly four years and has avenged both of his losses. He still wants to be the number one ranked 155-er and he'll need to have a dominant showing against Thomson, the last man to beat him, if he wants to prove it.
Will "El Nino" bring the heat against Thomson on Saturday night? Can Thomson gut through his nagging injuries and pull off the upset? What's the key to victory for both men this weekend?
Let's find out:
Josh Thomson
Record: 19-4 (1 no contest) overall, 10-2 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson), Pat Healy (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum), K.J. Noons (Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey)
Key Losses: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Evolution), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Dynamite!! 2010), Yves Edwards (UFC 49)
How he got here: Josh Thomson, now 33 years old, has been competing in mixed martial arts professionally since 2001. After just six fights, he was already making his UFC debut in 2003, which was right before the promotion shut down the division for a few years.
"The Punk" went 2-1 in the UFC before transitioning to Strikeforce where, after losing a title fight against Clay Guida in his debut, he was able to take over the division with an eight fight winning streak which included capturing the title and defending it twice, even defeating Gilbert Melendez in a thrilling five round battle.
Unfortunately for the American Kickboxing Academy product, Thomson would suffer a series of leg injuries which forced Strikeforce to create an interim championship, and he would lose his title to Gilbert Melendez in his return. Since losing hit belt, Thomson has narrowly squeaked past Pat Healy and JZ Cavalcante and was defeated by Tatsuya Kawajiri.
He's had his Strikeforce return delayed by another long string of injuries but was finally healthy and ground out an ugly decision in his last bout against Noons to earn his shot.
How he gets it done: Josh Thomson is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He's got a very well-rounded game and, when healthy, he's one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world.
In the stand-up department, he should really focus on bringing back those brutal push kicks which were so effective in the first fight with Gilbert Melendez. He got away from them in the rematch and he hasn't really gone back to them much, but they are really powerful and can keep "El Nino" off-balance.
I'd highly recommend he not stand and trade punches with Melendez in the pocket as he'll just be asking for trouble.
Thomson likely has a short window in this fight so if he wants to make something happen, he needs to do it early. I don't know what his cardio will be like, but his best round the last time against Melendez was the first and he'll likely only have 10 minutes tops before Melendez completely takes over so he has to make the most of it.
Gilbert Melendez
Record: 20-2 overall, 10-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Shinya Aoki (Strikeforce: Nashville), Clay Guida (Strikeforce: Revenge), Tatsuya Kawajiri 2x (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, Pride Shockwave 2006)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Gilbert Melendez had his first professional fight in the WEC, actually becoming the first Strikeforce lightweight champion in just his fourth professional bout. After a terrific run in Shooto, Melendez would debut in Strikeforce, eventually defeating Clay Guida to capture the Strikeforce lightweight title.
After losing his Strikeforce title to Josh Thomson in the middle of 2008, Gilbert would go on to win the interim title and then avenge both of his career losses to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Thomson, unifying the belts in the process. The Cesar Gracie fighter handily defeated consensus number two-ranked lightweight (at the time), Shinya Aoki, on national television at Strikeforce in Nashville last April.
Melendez accepted a title defense against Kawajiri on relatively late notice last year and then absolutely thrashed him with a first round technical knockout victory. He made great use of the new unified rules Strikeforce employed, blasting "Crusher" with a series of elbows to the head. There were rumors of him joining many of his fellow champions in the UFC, but instead he defended his belt against Jorge Masvidal in a rather lackluster affair.
After Nate Diaz gave him a tremendous shoutout on national television, calling him the best in the world at lightweight, Melendez will have a shot to prove it on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Where he once stood a sloppy, brawling wrestler, now stands as a very aggressive and technically sound striker. Melendez can pick his opponents apart with his jab or he can lunge inside and go to work with his powerful and precise hooks. He's got a multitude of weapons at his disposal and don't be surprised one bit to see him really utilize his elbows, even standing if the fight enters the clinch or gets up close and personal.
Melendez still has the wrestling base to fall back on, but I don't expect him to go to the ground unless he hurts Thomson standing. He's going to be using his footwork to create an opening to pounce inside and land big strikes. He wants to prove he's the best lightweight in the world and he can't afford to slip here.
Expect Melendez to be very aggressive, perhaps even leaving himself open to counters simply because he wants to continue making statements. After having gone the distance against Thomson the last two times around, there would be no bigger statement than if he can finish "The Punk" early in the first.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight has to be the injuries, age and the wear and tear on Josh Thomson. He looked great the first time he faced Melendez but that seems like an eternity ago now. He's gone through so many leg, foot and knee injuries since that he is not going to have the same hop in his step, the same conditioning, the same power or the same anything.
Melendez, however, is still very much in his prime and has looked solid in his last few fights. If Thomson isn't 100 percent, he might be on the receiving end of a serious beatdown, especially as this fight moves into the later rounds
Bottom Line: I expect both men to come out of the gate on fire. The first round of the last Melendez-Thomson fight was one of my favorite rounds of 2010. Both guys can still bring it and they've got a strong history with each other. I expect them to exit their comfort zones in a hurry and get right down to slugging it out and trying to take each other's heads off. However long this fight lasts, it should be entertaining, much more entertaining than Thomson's last bout against Noons.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will be the Strikeforce lightweight champion when it is all said and done on Saturday night?
Gilbert Melendez
Josh Thomson
2 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Press Conference Video
On Thursday, the fighters leading the card for this weekend's Strikeforce show in San Jose met in the pre fight press conference.
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Posted in: strikeforce, conference, san jose, press, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier - Josh Thomson Talks Time As 'Legit World Champion,' Melendez Rematch
Josh Thomson holds a win over Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, something only one other man on Earth can say. With that 2008 win, Thomson won the Strikeforce title, a belt that Gilbert won back in their rematch the following year.
Thomson will face Melendez for a third time this Saturday in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier and he spoke to "TheSHOOT" about the fight and what it means for him:
Quote after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Here's the quote as transcribed by MMA Mania:
If there's one thing people can never take away from me, it's that I've been a world champion. There's only a handful of people in the world that can say they've been a mixed martial arts world champion and I'm a legit world champion. At the time I beat Gilbert Melendez, he was ranked number three in the world, I believe, and there was a lot of talk about him being even higher than that. Now he's basically considered to be number one and I'm sittin' in the same spot as when I beat him the first time. Gettin' no respect and no one cared and it's gonna end up bein' the same type of fight.
Posted in: world, strikeforce, champion, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCristiane Santos coming back as a bantamweight
When former featherweight champion Cristiane Santos makes her way back into the Strikeforce cage it seems she’ll be focused on an eventual face-off with current bantamweight title-holder Ronda Rousey rather than reclaiming the belt she once held at 145 pounds. Santos was stripped of her strap after testing positive for steroid use and is currently serving a suspension until December.
However, when her time on the sidelines expires she’ll be ready to go again but at 135 pounds this time around.
Santos revealed her intention on Twitter when asked about the slimmed-down physique she exhibited on a few pictures she’d posted.
“Cyborg” Explains Her Side of Failed Drug Test
The Strikeforce bantamweight division is relatively solid as is the weight-class in general, especially by comparison to the talent pool at featherweight. Among the notable 135ers available for Santos outside of Rousey, Sarah Kaufman and Miesha Tate also both currently call the promotion home.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, bantamweight, strikeforce cage, drug test, talent pool
Read the full article at Fighters.comBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 166: Cole Konrad, Strikeforce HWGP Final, Bellator 69 Previews
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in MMA, including all the fallout from UFC on FUEL TV 3 and more.
We'll preview this weekend's MMA cards, including Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Final, which features, as it states, the final of the company's heavyweight tournament between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, plus a Strikeforce lightweight championship fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. The card also features a critical light-heavyweight bout between Mike Kyle and Rafael Cavalcante.
We'll also preview Friday's Bellator 69 card, which features the middleweight tournament final between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang and a welterweight tournament semifinal between Karl Amoussou and David Rickels.
We'll break down all the fights on those cards while taking your calls, emails, tweets and more.
We'll also welcome Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad to the show to preview his title fight with Eric Prindle next week at Bellator 70. We'll chat with him about the fight, the hoops they jumped through to get to this point and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 69
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: fight, bellator, strikeforce, preview, elbow
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Barnett Vs Cormier - Josh Barnett Gets A Crash Course In Stunt Fighting
As part of Showtime's promotional efforts for this weekend's Strikeforce: Josh Barnett vs Daniel Cormier event, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett gets a crash course in stunt fighting for the movies, with martial arts master / actor Ernie Reyes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1&2, Rush Hour 2, Avatar).
Barnett soon finds out that making the 'unreal seem real' is more difficult than it first appears, despite his history as a pro wrestler. Once Barnett works out the choreography and its relation to the cameras, we're greeted to the finished sequence; an amusing combination that wouldn't be out of place in a Hollywood action movie.
Related Stories:
Josh Barnett Talks Pro Wrestling, Catch Wrestling And Fighting | Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale Fight Card | Scott Coker Claims Strikeforce Will Be On Showtime 'For Many Years To Come' | Plans For Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner Still Unknown
Youtube: Josh Barnett Gets a Crash Course in Stunt Fighting
We're unlikely to see any of these exaggerated moves this Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, though if Barnett manages to pull off the caught-kick-into-a-rolling-kneebar, it may become a prime candidate for Submission Of The Year.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, strikeforce heavyweight, crash course
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGilbert Melendez Admits Motivation for Josh Thomson Fight Is ‘Not the Easiest’
Being a big fish in a small pond can be a frustrating endeavor in the subjective, insulated world of mixed martial arts. Fairly or unfairly, a fighter is often only as good as his résumé, and when that résumé begins lacking the flashier names of his counterparts, regaining momentum to climb up the divisional rankings can seem like an impossible task.
It's an inherently skewed system, but it's the only one we've got, and it's the one the Gilbert Melendez has been struggling with for years. Despite being universally heralded as one of the top-three lightweights in the world, Melendez has drifted into divisional limbo as the Strikeforce lightweight champion. With a roster devoid of any glitzy names or world-ranked opponents, the 30-year-old fighter has found himself fighting a parade of barely top-20 opposition, from last year's bout against Jorge Masvidal to this week's rubber match against Josh Thomson.
For Melendez, the lukewarm reception to his fights is a tough hurdle to clear.
"It's not the easiest to be motivated for," he conceded on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.
"Part of being the champ is just defending the belt a little bit, and that's just what I've got to do. It's tough, but the paychecks, my family, my team, and just my fans, that motivates me. It's what I do. Regardless of being motivated, there's no question if I'm going to train or not."
Making matters more frustrating, as Melendez prepares for a third fight against Thomson, rumors of an injury to Thomson's knee have seemingly tempered public anticipation for the match, which unfortunately already bordered on tepid.
To his credit, Thomson has refuted all claims of a significant injury, instead voicing frustration with certain members of the MMA media for irresponsible reporting. While Melendez isn't quite sure what to believe, he'd be a fool to overlook an opponent who has already beaten him once.
"To be honest, if you're 100-percent walking into the cage, you probably didn't train hard enough," Melendez explained.
"Maybe some guys have to do whatever they have to do to get motivated, make it easy for themselves -- I'm not saying that's what he's doing -- but I'm definitely not anticipating an injured Josh Thomson. That'd be stupid of me. I'm anticipating a 100-percent guy ready to bang it out with me and take advantage of the great opportunity he's been given."
Even as Melendez says the right things, it's clear the frustration of fighting another non-big name is starting to boil over. More so than usual, in fact, because for a while it looked like a headline-worthy superfight was headed his way.
Earlier this year, word spread that Zuffa was looking to tap the services of legendary UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn to come over to Strikeforce and challenge "El Nino" for his belt. It would have been one of stiffest tests of Melendez's career, but ultimately, plans were scrapped and Penn later referred to a move to Strikeforce as a "downgrade."
"I was having some high hopes, and I think even Dana (White) had high hopes," Melendez admitted. "It was looking positive. I don't know the politics behind-the-scenes and I don't know exactly what happened, but it just never came to.
"I understand why no one (will come). I think Strikeforce and Showtime is a great promotion, and they've done great things, but it's no secret that the main stage is the UFC. Some people don't want to go into Strikeforce, and maybe, they don't want to get stuck there. I understand where they're coming from."
Truthfully, Melendez also understands that the public doesn't have much sympathy for his plight after the fighter elected to re-sign a lucrative, long-term deal with Strikeforce early last year. And besides, he knows he has a life that many would envy, so for now, Melendez is focusing on the positives and hoping everything will work itself out.
"I've got to be optimistic and look at the glass half full right now," he said resolutely. "I'm doing what I love. I'm getting paid well, and I never imagined I'd be here. I was fighting barnyards deep down for $200. I'm old-school in this sport. I'd never thought I'd see it come this far, and I'm appreciative of what I've got."
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, im, thomson
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Strikeforce Grand Prix Betting Picks: Josh Barnett vs Daniel Cormier
Finally the long awaited Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final will get underway this Saturday, May 19th at 10 PM ET/PT. This sold out event, also known as Strikeforce 40, is taking place in San Jose, California from the HP Pavilion. This marks the 60th Strikeforce event and as Strikeforce hasn’t listed any future events, this [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, event, strikeforce event, strikeforce heavyweight, future events
Read the full article at Fighthub TVStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card: Rafael Cavalcante vs Mike Kyle preview
Two of the top-ranked light heavyweights in Strikeforce will have a rematch this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) as former Strikeforce 205 pound champion Rafael Cavalcante challenges American Kickboxing Academy big man Mike Kyle on the main card of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier in San Jose.
Cavalcante lost to Kyle in 2008, having his title aspirations delayed for two years by "Mak" although he would eventually claim the Strikeforce championship. Now, "Feijao" is looking to remove one of the dark marks on his record by avenging his first loss under the Strikeforce banner.
Mike Kyle has looked terrific at light heavyweight in the last few years, only losing twice at heavyweight against current top big men Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. Kyle has consistently handled everyone at 205 pounds and could be in line for a vacant title shot if he can beat "Feijao" again this weekend.
Can Cavalcante finally right the biggest wrong on his current resume? Will Mike Kyle be able to repeat history on Saturday night with another knockout? What's the key to victory for both light heavyweights?
Let's find out:
Rafael Cavalcante
Record: 11-3 overall, 4-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Muhammed Lawal (Strikeforce: Houston), Yoel Romero (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Antwain Britt (Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery)
Key Losses: Dan Henderson (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson), Mike Kyle (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields)
How he got here: Rafael Cavalcante has been a highly touted Brazilian prospect for a long time. Training alongside Anderson Silva at Black House, "Feijao" was all set to work his way towards a Strikeforce light heavyweight title shot in 2008 before an injury forced then-champion "Babalu" Sobral off the card.
In his place stepped American Kickboxing Academy's Mike Kyle, who pulled off a shocking upset, clipping Cavalcante and finishing him with heavy strikes on the ground which was shocking to many.
Since that loss, Cavalcante bounced back with a trio of huge knockout victories, including a monumental third round finish of champion "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal in the main event of Strikeforce: Houston in 2010.
Unfortunately, "Feijao" would not be able to successfully defend his title, losing via knockout to Dan Henderson last year to drop his belt, but he bounced back again, scoring a late second round victory over Yoel Romero last September. He'll likely have an opportunity to fight for the vacant title if he can avenge his prior loss to Kyle.
How he gets it done: Cavalcante has some very nasty elbows, knees and a ground game. If he wants to avenge his loss to Kyle, I'd expect to see him close the distance, get in the clinch and start pounding away on "Mak" with his joints.
If Cavalcante can drag Kyle to the ground, he definitely should. Kyle has some respectable ground striking, but he's far from accomplished in the grappling department and he could be prone to some serious guard passing, ground and pound and potentially even submissions.
What Cavalcante doesn't want to do is stand in the pocket and trade strikes with Kyle. He can match the American Kickboxing Academy fighter with power, but he's susceptible to getting rocked on the feet and doesn't have the greatest ability to take big strikes.
The clinch and ground are where Cavalcante will likely be most comfortable.
Mike Kyle
Record: 19-8-1 (1 no contest) overall, 3-3-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields), Tony Lopez (KOTC: Honor), Marcos Rogerio de Lima (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov)
Key Losses: Antonio Silva (Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu), Fabricio Werdum (Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg)
How he got here: Mike Kyle has had a very strange career arc. He stepped up and faced some very difficult opposition early in his career, losing bouts to the likes of Dan Bobish, Paul Buentello and Justin Eilers in his first 11 fights.
He had a very difficult 0-3-1 stretch from 2006-2008, most notably his incredibly bizarre actions in a WEC title fight against Brian Olsen where he refused to quit attacking his opponent after the referee tried to pull him off and he was disqualified and suspended for an extended period of time.
Since then, he's gone 8-2 with one no contest and his only losses have been when he stepped up to take on Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva at heavyweight. He nearly pulled off a huge upset against Silva, rocking "Bigfoot" on the feet early but failing to finish the big man on the ground.
Kyle has looked very strong at 205 pounds, but has been plagued by injuries as of late. only fighting once in the last year and a half. He's hoping to get more active and become a contender if he can repeat history against Feijao.
How he gets it done: Kyle doesn't have an advantage over Cavalcante on the ground or in the clinch, but he does have some serious power in both hands and has a better chin.
If Kyle wants to score another victory over "Feijao" he's got to utilize his fast hands and crack Cavalcante on the chin. Kyle has fight-ending power as evidenced by his multiple knockouts and his ability to drop even Antonio Silva.
Footwork will be key for Kyle to find an opening against Feijao. Perhaps he can take advantage lunging in if Cavalcante backs away straight as he's been prone to do on occasion. The one thing that's most important of all is if he hurts "Feijao" he can't let him off the hook. He has to aggressively attack and put him away as he might not get another opportunity.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is Mike Kyle's health. The man has suffered a series of really bad injuries and hasn't been able to train like he'd like to in recent bouts, also being sidelined for extended periods with hand injuries.
If he breaks his hand against Cavalcante, he could be in for a world of trouble as his power decreases drastically after hurting his fist, as evidenced by his inability to finish Antonio Silva after breaking his hand throwing hammer fists on the canvas. If he stays healthy, he's got a shot, but once you start breaking your hand consistently, it's not something that just gets better overnight.
Bottom Line: Both of these men have history with each other and both are capable of finishing a fight on a moment's notice with their power on the feet. Mike Kyle has really had some entertaining fights in the last few years and "Feijao" always brings it. I expect these guys to go toe-to-toe and throw down for extended periods and the likelihood of a finish is extremely high whether it's submission or knockout. This should be very fun.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who could potentially earn a shot at the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title on Saturday night?
Rafael Cavalcante
Mike Kyle
3 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, mike, kyle, cavalcante
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNah-Shon Burrell looking to make a statement for Philly against Chris Spang at Strikeforce show
Nah-Shon Burrell plays the role of Philly spot-on. Burrell, who will face Chris Spang on the main card for this Saturday night’s Strikeforce event in San Jose, California, plans on making his family and friends proud back home in Philadelphia.
The welterweight was originally set to face Bobby Voelker but an injury forced Voekler out. Of course, the opponent doesn’t really matter to Burrell – he just wants to fight.
“We got a chip on our shoulder out here,” said Burrell of Philadelphia in a recent interview with Strikeforce’s website. “Not a lot of people take us seriously. We don’t have a lot of good wrestling gyms or big MMA gyms out here, so when you hear that you’re fighting somebody from Philly, you think, ‘What’s out there, who do they have, he must by corny.’ That’s how I feel about it, so every time I leave Philly, I’m putting Philly on my back.”
Burrell-Spang will be part of the Showtime card also featuring the final of the Heavyweight Grand Prix and Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez defending his title against Josh Thomson.
In Melendez, Burrell sees someone who has what he wants for himself – championship gold.
“I see myself always getting better and I see myself as a future champion,” Burrell said. “Sometime soon.”
PHOTO CREDIT – ALLELBOWS.COM
Posted in: strikeforce, burrell, chris spang, philly, showtime card
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCristiane Santos confirms she will return to the ring as a bantamweight
When former Strikeforce featherweight champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos makes her next appearance inside the cage after serving a yearlong suspension for steroid use she will do so in a new division and with her sights clearly set on undefeated bantamweight Ronda Rousey.
According to Santos, she is using her time away to polish up her ground-game as well as to slim down and come back at 135 pounds where Rousey holds the Strikeforce title.
“Surprise,” Santos responded via Twitter when asked by Five Ounces of Pain about the possibility based on some recent photos she’d posted.
In addition to holding divisional gold, “Rowdy Ronda” has been extremely critical of Santos since coming on the scene, even going so far as to question her gender. The move also makes sense beyond their personal issues based on the relatively low number of legitimate contenders competing at 145 pounds.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: pound, strikeforce, photo, ronda ”, gold “
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce Grand Prix Finale: Looking Back At A Fractured Tournament
I heard a quote once about entertainment that went something like this: "If you give them a great start and a great finish, they'll forgive a lot of what happened in the middle."
That seems apropos with this Saturday's Strikeforce Grand Prix heavyweight final with Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier -- not exactly the match many would have expected when this kicked off 15 months ago, considering Cormier wasn't initially in the tournament to begin with.
Last week, I saw the picture above of the initial Grand Prix lineup and was amazed at how different things are today. Zuffa now owns Strikeforce. We never did get Fedor vs. Alistair Overeem. Five of the original eight fighters are no longer in Zuffa, while two others are now in the UFC.
15 months later, the Grand Prix comes to a close without a focus on what impact the winner will have in Strikeforce but rather about what impact they will make in the UFC. Saturday, both men will be charged with giving everyone a great finish and helping fans forget what has been a mainly hellacious road to get there.
February 2011
The tourney opened up in East Rutherford, NJ, with Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva and Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov. The tourney brackets were designed to get Emelianenko vs. Overeem in the semifinals instead of tempting fate and having them meet in the finals. What's that saying about best laid plans?
The dream fight evaporated at the hands of Silva, who destroyed Emelianenko in a second round TKO win that shocked everyone. It was his second straight defeat and the tourney's most well-known fighter was suddenly out. Silva got a little bit of respect for the win, but the focus was mainly on the Russian's loss.
To no one's surprise, Kharitonov knocked out Arlovski in the first round, the latter's fourth straight loss and last Strikeforce appearance. The event did great numbers for Showtime, averaging nearly 750,000 viewers with a 1.1 million peak for the Fedor fight.
Based on the success, CEO Scott Coker said he was going to delay the next two quarterfinal fights two months to June in order to capitalize on the buzz. That buzz would die off pretty quickly.
March 2011
Zuffa announces the purchase of Strikeforce. The organization would continue to run "business as usual" and the Grand Prix would keep on keepin' on.
June 2011
A lot was made of how then-Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Overeem was entering the tourney but not defending his title along the way. He certainly didn't have much of a championship performance in slogging through a unanimous decision win over Fabricio Werdum, a rather bland main event in Dallas, Texas. Josh Barnett did his part in defeating an overmatched Brett Rogers by second round submission.
For three of the four fighters, it would be their final fight in Strikeforce. Werdum would eventually move to the UFC as a free agent, Rogers was fired two weeks later for a slew of legal and personal issues and Overeem was released in July after an attempt to renegotiate his deal -- amidst claiming he was recovering from an injury -- went down a bad path.
Viewership dipped, but not by a large margin at 624,000 viewers.
July 2011
After Overeem's release, tournament alternate Cormier was given his slot and a date with Silva, while Barnett drew Kharitonov. Both fights were set for September in Cincinatti, OH. Cormier earned the nod with a one-sided decision win over Jeff Monson, running his undefeated record to 8-0.
September 2011
In an upset, Cormier violently knocked out Silva in the first round, while Barnett handily defeated Kharitonov by first round submission to advance to a wrestler-friendly finals. However, Cormier broke his hand smashing Silva's face and along with the up-and-down relationship Zuffa shares with Showtime, there would be an eight month gap from the semifinals to the finals.
Unfortunately, the show drew just 274,000 viewers which was nearly the worst in the Strikeforce/Showtime partnership. Along with a paltry 2000 in attendance, the Grand Prix was losing steam without names that casual MMA fans knew.
At last word, Kharitonov hadn't officially been released but he is preparing for a United Glory MMA bout after competing in a kickboxing fight for the same promotion, so take that for what you will.
This Week
That brings us to Saturday night in San Jose, CA. Given the once-again unstable Zuffa/Showtime relationship, the original plan to have the Grand Prix winner fight once more in Strikeforce could be moot. Win or lose, the undefeated Cormier will get his shot in the UFC and likely Barnett will as well, given the amount of shows and his repaired relationship with Dana White.
With a beginning no one expected and a middle many have forgot, here's hoping the finish will at least be memorable.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, prix, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Daniel Cormier - MMA's Great Success Story
Who is the Strikeforce success story?Posed with this question, fight fans will scour their memories of the rich history of athletes who have made their mark in the promotion, and most will likely answer Nick Diaz followed by Cung Le. The former went 6-0 inside the Strikeforce cage, fought and won in two different weight divisions, and left the organization as the undefeated and three-time defending welterweight champion. The latter’s four-year stretch saw Le go 7-1, including winning the middleweight belt, having all his in-cage performances happen in the company’s home of San Jose, California, while his lone defeat against Scott Smith was avenged in Le’s final outing before joining the UFC. It is difficult to argue with either claim of being the quintessential Strikeforce sensation, but, with a possible victory in the May 19th main event against Josh Barnett to declare the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner, the unparalleled Cinderella story of the organization’s mighty tenure could be Daniel Cormier.“A lot of people have talked to me about the fight, but they've kind of missed that point,” says Cormier. “It means a lot to me. My very first fight was in Strikeforce on the Challengers series. The opportunity to finish with this Grand Prix and as the number one heavyweight in this organization, it is something that I could not have guessed or even imagined. It means so much to me that at the end of this thing I could be the Strikeforce Grand Prix Champion. That really means so much to me because I really appreciate Scott Coker and everyone at Strikeforce for even believing in me and giving me the original opportunity that they did. It's awesome for me to be a guy who started in the Challengers series and, if I'm good enough, I could win this championship. It's an unbelievable achievement for a guy that sat at my friend's house two and a half to three years ago in the Summer of 2009 watching Jon Fitch fight at UFC 100 after watching Georges St-Pierre and Brock Lesnar and saying, ‘Next week I'm heading up to [American Kickboxing Academy] to visit.’ To think in three years time I'm about to fight Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals, it's unbelievable how far this journey has taken me in such a short period of time. That's the thing that I think makes mixed martial arts so special.”It’s not shocking that Cormier has won, and only won, in his adopted sport, but it is surprising how he has won, how he has evolved, how quickly this has all happened, and how eerily similar Cormier’s fighting style resembles that of one of the greatest MMA heavyweights ever: Fedor Emelianenko. As an All-American wrestler from Oklahoma State University who devoured medals in international wrestling tournaments throughout the 2000s and who was a two-time member of the US Olympic Freestyle wrestling team, Cormier seemed like a natural fit to make the transition to caged combat, even when he did it at 30 years old. Again, Cormier’s ability to use his obvious athletic talent and wrestling experience to defeat opponents is only part of it. The real story is that Cormier doesn’t fight like a wrestler in flux; Cormier looks like a polished veteran who has been cagefighting his whole life.In two years, Cormier won all nine of his fights, with four by knockout, three by submission, and two by decision. A couple W’s on Strikeforce’s unofficial developmental shows were followed by winning back-to-back heavyweight belts in smaller organizations, and he punctuated 2010 with two first round drubbings of opponents who submitted due to punches. A microcosm of his already abbreviated MMA career can be seen in Cormier’s three masterful wins in 2011 in Strikeforce, with the latter two happening in the Grand Prix tournament. “I think athletically 2011 would probably be the first or second most successful year of my career,” asserts Cormier. “I think 2004 when I made my first Olympic team was probably the most successful year competitively. But 2011 ranks right up there. I fought some very tough guys. You have to remember I fought Jeff Monson who had 50 some odd fights, I fought Devin Cole who had almost 40 some odd fights, and ‘Bigfoot’ Silva has roughly 20 fights, so I fought guys who in total have 100 fights and I was fighting them at my 7, 8, and 9th fights. Just that in itself. The amount of respect I have for those guys, the amount of success they have had, and the amount of fights they have had, so each win was huge for me.”The Lafayette, Louisiana native began 2011 with two dominant decisions over battle-hardened and well-traveled opponents: Devin Cole and Jeff Monson. In January, Cormier threw everything including the kitchen sink at Cole in the first round, put on a wrestling clinic in the second, and cruise controlled his way to a 30-27 victory in the third. In June, Cormier put a striking showcase on Monson with leg, body, and head kicks as well as punching combinations which left “The Snowman” bloody. The win over Monson set up Cormier for easily his toughest test, a Grand Prix semi-finals showdown with the then 18-2 Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.“I had a whole bunch of nerves and a whole bunch of excitement for the chance to compete at such a high level,” remembers Cormier. “I have so much respect for Antonio Silva that when I found out we were fighting, I put myself through the ringer. I trained harder than I ever had until that point because I had so much respect for him and I knew I had to train my ass off for him. I was excited and nipping at the bud. I have a pretty solid routine come fight day. I'm in bed all day, I'm listening to my music, I have my iPad, I have the room all dark, and I try to take naps. But I was so nervous. I had to have my manager Bob Cook come into my room and have to stop me from shadow boxing. He was saying to me, ‘You have to calm down. You need to relax.’ He had to come into my room and settle me down because I was so excited at the opportunity to fight at a high level. It was crazy. It was a challenge the whole day to control myself and control my emotions.”Change in his daily routine aside, once in the cage that night, Cormier looked to be on another level than his highly regarded Brazilian opponent. Cormier deftly landed punch after punch on Silva like his fists were magnetically drawn to the chin of “Bigfoot” and he easily dismissed a takedown attempt from Silva for good measure. All told, Cormier literally punched his own ticket to the Grand Prix finals by knocking out Silva in just shy of four minutes. “I felt good,” humbly admits Cormier. “Not only did I feel confident in myself, but I gained a whole new level of confidence in my training, my partners, my coaches, and everybody who was supportive and confident that I could do it. Figuratively and literally, I was looking at a tall task, but they did not question at any point whether or not I could win that fight. For the fight to go the way it did, it did really exceed all expectations. I was really expecting a long, drawn out, hard fight, but it didn't turn out that way. It really is a testament to all the work I put in at the gym.”Up next for Cormier is a battle with catch-wrestling poster boy Barnett on Saturday in sunny San Jose. As mentioned, this bout is not only special for its main event status and it being the culmination of the Strikeforce Grand Prix heavyweight tournament, but this is also expected to be the penultimate heavyweight fight in Strikeforce history, as the rest of the division has been consolidated into the UFC. One could easily draw comparisons from this high stakes finale of Barnett versus Cormier and the ultimate WEC bout between Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and Benson “Smooth” Henderson for the WEC lightweight championship. Besides those surrounding details, Cormier knows without a doubt he is facing about the most dangerous opponent he could ever choose in the 31-5, perennially top 10 ranked Barnett.“I think Josh is a great opponent,” affirms Cormier. “He's very durable. He's very crafty. He's fought at the top of this sport for a very longtime. He was a UFC champ, he was in the finals of the PRIDE Grand Prix, on top of countless accomplishments he's had over his career. I think it's time. I started doing MMA to compete at the highest levels like I did at wrestling. Standing across the cage from Josh Barnett shows me that I have arrived. There are not many guys in the room who have a resume like Josh Barnett. I think he's one of the best of all time and it's an honor to fight him. When you see a guy like that you know you need to focus on your wrestling. Not only is it about your takedown defense in the moment, but being in wrestling shape and ready to defend takedowns for 25 minutes if you need to, while you're getting punched and while you're getting kicked.”To prepare for the 6’4” and 260 pound battler dubbed “The Warmaster”, Cormier is busy training with the same group of guys at the same gym that got him to the dance: American Kickboxing Academy. “All of my training partners are in-house from AKA and I do the majority of my stuff with Cain Velasquez - we spar, we wrestle, and we do jiu-jitsu,” explains Cormier, who hones his MMA game day-in-and-day-out against the former UFC heavyweight champion Velasquez, who is preparing for his own tussle with “Bigfoot” Silva. “I also fight Mike Kyle, Kyle Kingsbury, and Todd Duffee. I've had the best training camp I ever could have possibly imagined. I have had great partners and my coaches are there for me wholeheartedly.”Although he is completely concentrating on his date with Barnett, it’s difficult to not picture what the future holds for Cormier in terms of a seemingly eventual move to the UFC’s Octagon. “There's really no mystery to it anymore because if everyone else is there you would assume that me stepping into this tournament and making it to the finals, I'm 6-0 in Strikeforce, and with a win I'm 7-0 in Strikeforce, so you would think I would get a chance,” estimates Cormier, who would be a welcome addition to the renaissance the weight class is currently having in the UFC. “Logic tells me I am going to and I'm really excited for it, but it just depends on where. If I win this fight, then I go into the UFC a lot closer to the top of the division. But it's really hard to think about that when you have someone as good as Josh Barnett in front of you, so I'm not getting too excited for it because I don't want to lose focus on the task at hand.”On May 19th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, Cormier will tangle with Barnett to crown the Grand Prix champion. “I know that when that cage door closes, I'm going to bring it hard for 25 minutes if I have to and I know he's going to do the same thing,” states Cormier, who entered Strikeforce with only his status as a two-time Olympian and a dozen plus wrestling titles to his name. Now he has the chance to leave as the best in the company. “When you put something so valuable on the line, like the Strikeforce Grand Prix championship on the line and possibly going into the UFC as a top five ranked heavyweight in the world, that's like hanging a deer in front of two lions. If you have that great of an opportunity and you don't attack it then you'll never be able to live with yourself afterward. My feet can't get me there fast enough.”That’s not only the Strikeforce success story, Cormier is the MMA success story.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, prix, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at UFC
UFC on Fuel: The Korean Zombie digs a proverbial grave for Dustin Poirier
Three more fight cards from UFC this month (plus one Strikeforce card).
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, korean zombie, card, fight cards
Read the full article at Fight OpinionStrikeforce 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card: Nah-Shon Burrell vs Chris Spang preview
Two exciting young welterweight strikers will battle this Saturday night (May 19, 2012) as Nah-Shon Burrell takes on Chris Spang in the opening bout of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" main card in San Jose, California.
Burrell has quietly gone 3-0 under the Strikeforce banner and has been one of the young welterweights pegged to potentially make a big splash in the promotion. This is his first high profile opportunity and he's really hoping to make the most of it on the national stage.
Spang is coming off a tough loss, but he's got heart and took this fight on short notice. He's got a family history of terrific performance as his brother Andreas will be fighting for the Bellator season six middleweight tournament championship the day before. Spang has terrific kickboxing and will have the potential to land some very big strikes from a distance at any moment.
Will Burrell be able to "Rock-N-Roll" the short-notice Spang? Will Spang's powerful kickboxing be the equalizer on the feet? What's the key to victory for both young welterweights on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Nah-Shon Burrell
Record: 8-1 overall, 3-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: James Terry (Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine), Joe Ray (Strikeforce Challengers 20)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Nah-Shon Burrell has not been fighting professionally long, not even two years in total. After losing his third professional fight in 2010, he hasn't looked back since. The Pennsylvania native tore up the local scene on the east coast and was already fighting in Strikeforce before he'd even been a professional for a full calender year.
He defeated Joe Ray in his Strikeforce debut via unanimous decision but his coming out party was against Lukasz Les where he finished the Polish fighter in the second round via leg kicks and punches.
In his last bout against James Terry, he did not look particularly impressive, especially considering Terry normally competes at lightweight, winning a split decision which was relatively controversial and put a damper on his rise through the ranks. He was originally slated to take on Bobby Voelker, but an injury allowed Spang to step in.
How he gets it done: Burrell doesn't have the same technique as Spang at least in the kicking department, but he's just a powerful and he's very aggressive. Expect to see him try to crowd Spang in the stand-up department and try to swarm the Swede with combinations and flurries of punches.
Burrell is very powerful and he's got what takes to hurt Spang with his punches as long as he can land a big shot.
Something else going for Burrell is perhaps the ground. He's not well-versed in submissions, but he's got some decent wrestling ability and the potential to take Spang down and really beat on him on the canvas. If he gets in any trouble on the feet, look for Burrell to close the distance and shoot for takedowns. He's got some heavy ground and pound and if he can keep Spang on his back, he could put a real hurting on him.
Chris Spang
Record: 4-1 overall, 0-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Joe Ray (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum)
Key Losses: Ricky Legere (Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine)
How he got here: The younger brother of Bellator middleweight alternate finalist Andreas Spang, Chris Spang also possesses some terrific striking skills. "The Kiss" got his start in his native Sweden, winning via first round TKO.
He followed that first win up with a pair of dominant first minute knockouts which earned him an opportunity to compete in Strikeforce where he would make his debut in the final Challengers show, defeating Joe Ray in his first career fight to go to the judges.
In his last bout, Spang would drop a decision to Ricky Legere but when Bobby Voelker went down with an injury, he was game enough to step up on short notice and take on Burrell.
How he gets it done: Spang needs to utilize what works best for him, which is his kicks and knees. He's got some very powerful strikes from a distance, so that's where he needs to keep it.
I'd prefer to see Spang avoid the pocket, instead really peppering Burrell with kicks to the legs and body at first and once Burrell starts to get concerned about the lower kicks, that's when he goes high. If Burrell leaves an opening or drops his hands, Spang needs to give him a kiss of death with a head kick to the face.
It doesn't matter how great someone's chin is, if he lands one of his big kicks to the head, that person is going down.
If the fights gets up close, expect to see Spang throw some brutal knees. He's finished men with knees before so that will always be a threat. He should be cautious if the fight gets too close, however, because he really wants to avoid the ground.
Fight X-Factor: The X-Factor for this fight has to be the short notice that Spang took for the fight. He's coming off a loss to a less notable fighter than Burrell and is taking this fight with very little time to prepare.
Spang is going to need everything he's got to win and if he's not fully prepared to take on Burrell, this one could get ugly in a hurry. One also has to wonder just how much he's stayed in shape between fights because he didn't give himself enough time to get into "fight shape" with the short notice. Burrell is a very dangerous fighter and it's going to be a very tough draw for Spang even if he'd had a full fight camp to prepare considering his overall lack of experience.
Bottom Line: Both of these guys are exciting fighters, they hit hard and they have the potential to finish a fight at any moment if they can connect with power. Spang has the full package in the striking department while Burrell is extremely aggressive and capable of swarming even the most technical opponents and overwhelming them. I expect this fight to be finished and if it's not, then I expect it to be a three round striking war.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which talented welterweight striker will land the deciding blow in victory on Saturday night?
Nah-Shon Burrell
Chris Spang
0 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, he, spang, burrell
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce weigh in results, information and details for 'Barnett vs Cormier' on May 18 in San Jose
The official weigh-in event for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Final is set to take place on Friday, May 18, 2012, at the HP Pavilion Concourse in San Jose, California.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 4 p.m. PT.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide the latest coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
Set to headline the card are tournament finalists Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, who will compete for the grand prix championship and the right to challenge one more fighter under the Strikeforce banner before the promotion eliminates the 265-pound division for good.
Also getting their hands dirty (again) are Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson for "El Nino's" 155-pound belt. Their upcoming rubber match will settle a longstanding feud that began nearly four years ago.
That's not all.
Here is the current Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card and line up:
Main Event:
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier for the Heavyweight World Grand Prix Championship
Main Card (Showtime):
155 lbs.: Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson205 lbs.: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg205 lbs.: Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante170 lbs.: Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle.
For all the latest news and notes on the upcoming Strikeforce event on Showtime check out our comprehensive news archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, card, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Quick Quote: Gilbert Melendez wants to 'destroy' Josh Thomson
"My goal was to become the UFC champ and that might be put on hold for a little bit so now my goal is to do my best, become a better mixed martial artist, and put on a show for the fans, and represent my team well. That's what motivates me and so does the paycheck, so let's do it... Of course I want to finish Josh. I want bad intentions towards him; I want to destroy this guy. I want to make a statement but if a great fighter shows up and it's a war, then it's a war. I don't plan on sitting back and cruising through a victory, sitting on a lead or something like that. I want to take some risks and I plan on it."
-- Gilbert Melendez has had to put his dreams of being the number one lightweight in the world and the UFC champion on the backburner ever since the Ultimate Fighting Championship stopped signing over its talent. Speaking to MMA Weekly, the Strikeforce lightweight champion discusses taking out his frustrations on a man he's had some major history with in former Strikeforce 155 pound champion Josh Thomson. Melendez and Thomson split their first two meetings in a pair of five round wars which were two of the best fights of their respective years. Will history repeat itself or can "El Nino's" dream of a big finish against "The Punk" come true this Saturday night (May 19. 2012) at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier?"
Posted in: strikeforce, champion, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGegard Mousasi out until at least November with torn ACL, has 6-7 fights left for Strikeforce
It looks like former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi won’t be joining the UFC anytime soon. The 26-year old, who holds an overall record of 32-3 and has only lost a single time since 2006, recently revealed he’s in the process of recovering from a serious knee injury and is also contracted to Strikeforce for enough fights to keep him busy for a couple of years.
“The operation was successful. The recovery is doing very well. I will be back 100 percent again, but it will just take time,” said Mousasi in an interview on MMAJunkie Radio, adding he hadn’t spoken about his status before because “no one asked”. The talented light heavyweight didn’t go into detail on how the injury occurred but mentioned he would fight before the end of the year assuming his rehabilitation went as planned.
With Mousasi out for another six months it’s difficult to know exactly what type of promotion he’ll be returning to given Strikeforce’s issues drawing attendance and relative lack of overall depth. However, Mousasi plans to honor the deal he signed and will continue competing under their banner until told otherwise.
“I had one fight left. Then I was hoping maybe to go to the UFC after that, but then they offered me – they said we’re going to give you a new contract. So I signed for another six fights. Now I have a six (or) seven-fight deal, I believe, in Strikeforce,” explained Mousasi. “(Zuffa) said the Strikeforce fighters were going to stay with Strikeforce. And that’s the thing that it was, so we signed again.”
For reference, Mousasi has only fought for Strikeforce five times since initially inking a contract in 2009. However, when he makes his way back to the organization his presence will certainly be welcome as often as possible given his success in the ring including past victories over Mark Hunt, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Ronaldo Souza, Renato Sobral, and Hector Lombard.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, year, mousasi
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPlans For Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner Still Unknown
When Zuffa decided to move Strikeforce's heavyweight division over into the UFC, it was stated that the winner of the long-running Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix would fight once more in the organization against a big-name opponent. The bout was referred to as a "plus-one" bout. With the GP Final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier finally set for May 19th, what will happen afterwards? On a recent conference call to hype the event, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker admitted that he doesn't know what the deal is yet:
"There have been some preliminary conversations, but as you can imagine, it depends on who wins and if there are any injuries, (or) any injuries to other fighters that we might be looking to come fight the winner." That's something that we could probably have a better picture of once the fight's over and see if there are any injuries."
Both GP finals fighters had the right things to say about the situation. First Barnett:
"Me? I do not care. It does not matter. I've got to beat Daniel Cormier, and then after that I'm sure there will be somebody else, and whatever they're doing someplace else, more power to them."
Then Cormier:
"Scott Coker, everybody at Zuffa's done a great job of letting us know that after this fight you aren't going over. You know that you have to fight in Strikeforce, so my idea that I have this fight and another one in Strikeforce. Whatever happens after that happens. Because in reality, that's not till probably next year, so what's the point in talking seven, eight months in advance when you've got a guy like Josh Barnett standing in front of you? I'm not doing myself that disservice."
Still though, it has to be frustrating for both fighters. By doing well in the tournament, they've actually hindered their own careers to a degree by getting stuck in Strikeforce while former GP competitors like Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum are set to fight on UFC pay-per-view main cards. Both men would be contenders in the UFC heavyweight division, so I hope they scrap this "plus-one" idea and just bring them over ASAP.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, josh barnett, barnett, daniel cormier
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Not even TV Guide wants you to believe Gilbert Melendez is fighting Josh Thomson
Today is Mother’s Day. Luckily for me this year, my mom made it guilt-free and convenient to forget sending her flowers by leaving for vacation in the Caribbean two days ago. Flowers in NYC are expensive, so a big “Thanks Mom” goes out to her for saving me a few bucks to use on pizza and Mountain Dew later this week. Even when she’s not here, she’s always looking out for me and that’s why she’s the best.
Seriously though, I love my mom. Happy Mother's Day to her, and all the mothers out there.
I’m also thankful to my mom for paying the cable bill this month so that I could find out that Strikeforce Challengers’ James Terry is replacing Josh Thomson to fight Gilbert Melendez according to TV Guide. There has been a rumor floating around that Josh Thomson sustained a mysterious injury and won’t be fighting Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce on May 19th. Josh Thomson denies the rumor, Strikeforce denies the rumor, and the totality of the media has no reason to believe that whatever injury was (or wasn’t) sustained will cost Josh Thomson his rubber match with the Strikeforce lightweight champion, but TV Guide obviously knows something the rest of us don’t. Props to AllElbows for the banner photo.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, tv guide, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at Middle EasyRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Fighters.comInterview: Announcer Mauro Ranallo On The Future Of Strikeforce
One year ago, Strikeforce was a company who looked to be on the verge of something big. After growing from an extremely popular regional show into a national player in the MMA scene, they seemed poised to make a huge impact in 2011 with their Heavyweight Grand Prix. A year later, that Grand Prix is finally ready to wrap up next weekend with the big Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier final. And for Strikeforce, what a difference that year has made.
Since the Zuffa buyout in 2011, it's been a rocky time for Strikeforce. They've seen their champions moved to the UFC, the Grand Prix limp along, big names forced to the sidelines for various reasons - it's been tough. But with this show, they look to remind fans that they are still a viable force in the MMA landscape.
Heading into the show, I spoke to longtime Strikeforce announcer Mauro Ranallo about Barnett vs. Cormier, the changes since the Zuffa buyout, and how Strikeforce can succeed in the future.
On the state of Strikeforce a year ago:
Mauro: There was a palpable buzz about Strikeforce, especially the Heavyweight division compared to the UFC and it seemed like it was beginning to pick up momentum. But with the Fedor costs, I think they [owners Silicon Valley Entertainment] were more in interested in bringing an NBA franchise to San Jose and they just didn't want to cut the checks anymore, so they were forced to sell.
On how things have changed since the buyout:
Mauro: The UFC being the parent company, they've been able to purloin some of the major names like Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, and we know what happened with Alistair Overeem. But the fact is with Strikeforce there aren't as many events this year. I know that all of us probably would like to see more Strikeforce events. All of us want to keep working and the fighters want to fight. There's a roster of fighters that are just biding their time right now and there aren't enough events, but it's better than nothing. So the biggest change has been less events. Now with losing King Mo and Cyborg to the drug tests and whatnot it's not maybe as much of a buzz with the fans as it was a year ago, but when you watch Strikeforce for what it is, the quality of the fights I would put up against anything in the sport.
More in the complete entry.
On the future of Strikeforce:
Mauro: Strikeforce wants to maintain its own identity, but it's hard to do with fewer events and the fact that a lot of the top tier talent has gone to the UFC. That doesn't mean there's not a lot of amazing talent still in Strikeforce because there is, and I just think like anything else it's all about promoting the events and getting the word out there that this is still high quality MMA and for as long as its on Showtime I know the commitment is there to putting on the best cards possible.
The UFC brand is omnipotent, but at the end of the day it is about the sport of mixed martial arts and there are some great athletes all over the world. The biggest congregation of them find themselves under the UFC banner, but I truly believe in a perfect world, and I know there may be some contractual roadblocks because of the deal with Fox, but if the UFC was really serious about keeping Strikeforce as a vibrant brand, they would send guys who were maybe just a step below where they used to be to give Strikeforce a bit of a shot in the arm in terms of talent. But I don't see that happening because of contracts. Strikeforce has now acquired Nate Marquardt, but we need to have more injection of prospects and talent and try to maintain the fact that Strikeforce and the UFC are on an even keel in terms of the quality of fighters.
If you got the best of the rest so to speak - the top tier prospects - and focused on the women and focused on the weight classes that may need a shot in the arm overall, I think Strikeforce can really put itself on the map.
On the idea of bringing Strikeforce champions into the UFC:
Mauro: A guy like Gilbert Melendez has earned the right to fight for the best championship in the world, whatever that may be. Maybe it's the Strikeforce title.
On Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier:
Mauro: It comes down to the amount of experience Josh Barnett brings to the table, but you contrast that with the hunger and the natural ability that Daniel Cormier has shown as a world class wrestler and two time Olympian really sharpening his striking skills at American Kickboxing Academy. Josh Barnett is one of the only people I think who has tested positive 3 times for steroids and yet is still a commodity and someone who I think is one of the top 5 Heavyweights in the world. When you break it down it probably tends to favor Barnett, but Cormier is not showing up on May 19 just to be an opponent. I think he has his designs set on not only winning the Grand Prix, but going to the UFC with a big bang. And despite the past with Zuffa, Dana, and Josh Barnett, I think a great showing by both athletes means an opportunity to get into the UFC.
In addition to serving as commentator for Strikeforce and numerous other organizations, Mauro Ranallo is the host of the MMA Show. He is also currently working on recording the audiobook version of MMA memoir Caged by Cameron Conaway. More on all of his projects at MauroRanallo.com.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, year, barnett, mauro
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all [...]
Posted in: ufc, bellator, strikeforce, ufc grace, bryan levick
Read the full article at MMA ConvertScott Coker: No set plans for Strikeforce grand-prix winner or 'plus-one' fight
So what happens to next week's winner of the Strikeforce world heavyweight grand prix?
It's a good question, but it's still one without an answer.
In a recent media call, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said there are no definite plans for the winner of the May 19 headliner between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. But whatever happens next, it'll be in Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, winner, josh barnett, daniel cormier, plusone fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGilbert Melendez: “I wish some of these guys in the UFC would take the risk…”
In a week Gilbert Melendez will put his Strikeforce title on the line against Josh Thomson, the latest in a line of talented foes “El Nino” has faced lacking elite status. While a win over Thomson is an accomplishment to be proud of, it’s also one doing little to cement Melendez’s place at the top of the 155-pound division.
Melendez is all too familiar with the unfortunate truth that the world’s best lightweights do their work inside the Octagon, even going so far as to ask Zuffa to bring one or two over for him to tackle given that the company owns both Strikeforce and the UFC. The 30-year old Californian recently addressed his current reality where his attitude seemed to be one of mild acceptance mixed with understandable disappointment.
“I think the common fan still hears my name and says, ‘Who the hell is that? I think the reason is because they haven’t seen me fight or that I’m not in the UFC,” explained Melendez in an interview with Heavy.com. “I get respect from my fellow fighters, but the common fan doesn’t know who I am because they don’t follow Strikeforce the way they follow the UFC.”
“I wish some of these guys in the UFC would take the risk,” Melendez continued on his frustration with seemingly being bogged down in the prime of his career. “At the end of the day I understand the business moves. I’m sure their managers tell them fighting me in Strikeforce isn’t the best business move, and I understand.”
At one time, both B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were named as possible options according to Melendez’s camp with some confirmation coming from UFC President Dana White as well.
Though the future of Strikeforce remains uncertain, and he may not necessarily be happy about his circumstances, Melendez still seems intent on finishing out his deal with the organization before moving on (or moving over to the UFC’s roster as the case may be).
“I’m going to be with Strikeforce for a while, or at least until my contract is up. I have this fight plus three more, and I respect that,” said Melendez, showing he’s a man of honor above all else.
If Melendez gets by Thomson there appear to be slim pickings in terms of future contenders to the crown. First in line is likely Pat Healy who is on a four-fight winning streak or possibly Eddie Alvarez if Zuffa decides to sign him away from Bellator when he becomes a free agent in a few months.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ’t, ’m, melendez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Kennedy Fight Card Shaping Up
Strikeforce will return to the Pacific Northwest on July 14th. The card will take place in the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, and will feature two title bouts. The first sees Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against Tim Kennedy. The other is a battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title, pitting undefeated Tyron Woodley against veteran Nate Marquardt. Also added to the card so far are two solid middleweight bouts. Grappling phenom Roger Gracie will make his middleweight debut against Keith Jardine, and Robbie Lawler will face off with Lorenz Larkin. Here's a rundown of how things look at the moment:
July 14th, live on Showtime from Portland, OR:
Luke Rockhold (10-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3) [MW Title]
Tyron Woodley (10-0) vs. Nate Marquardt (31-10-2) [WW Title]
Roger Gracie (4-1) vs. Keith Jardine (17-10-2)
Robbie Lawler (19-8, 1 NC) vs. Lorenz Larkin (12-0, 1 NC)
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy
Posted in: title, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, kennedy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Thomson Injured, Bout With Melendez in Jeopardy
According to a report by underground journalist Front Row Brian, Josh “The Punk” Thomson has injured his knee and now his scheduled Strikeforce lightweight title fight against Gilbert Melendez is now in jeopardy.
The two are scheduled to meet on the main card of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Cormier event, which is slated to take place on May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
FRB reports that Thomson blew the posterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees, a major injury that would make it very difficult for Thomson to compete next weekend.
Melendez and Thomson are bound for their third meeting at what will be Strikeforce’s 40th event. In their first encounter, Thomson defeated Melendez by unanimous decision to take El Niño’s Strikeforce title back in 2008. In the 2009 rematch, Melendez avenged the loss and reclaimed his title by handing Thomson a unanimous decision loss.
No official word yet on Thomson’s injury or any planned replacement opponents.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: title, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyScott Coker Claims Strikeforce Will Be On Showtime 'For Many Years To Come'
submitted by Levit0 [link] [6 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, claim, scott, levit
Read the full article at RedditFriday Link Club: Yes, Strikeforce Still Exists
Not to overlook tonight’s Bellator 68, or UFC on FUEL 3 next week, but the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will FINALLY wrap up next weekend. Reports Circulating That Josh Thomson Has Torn PCL, Bout With Melendez Likely Off | FightLine Strikeforce: ‘Rockhold vs Kennedy’ fight card and rumors for July 14 in Portland | MMA [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce heavyweight, josh thomson, weekend reports, pcl bout
Read the full article at MMA ConvertScott Coker Claims Strikeforce Will Be On Showtime 'For Many Years To Come'
Strikeforce held a conference call yesterday for their upcoming May 19th event, and CEO Scott Coker had a few things to say about his organization. After months of negotiations late last year, Zuffa/Forza was able to secure an eight-card, one year extension with Showtime. At that time it was decided that the heavyweight division would move over to the UFC at the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and one more "big heavyweight bout". Coker claims that it was a mutual decision to move the heavys over (transcribed by 5thRound.com):
"The heavyweight division, they all agreed that there wasn’t going to be enough athletes to support both [UFC and Strikeforce] and they wanted to bring some of the fights over there at that time," Coker shared during Thursday’s conference call. "But now that the Showtime relationship has been renewed and it’s been solid, I think you’re going to see those great fights on the lighter weights – starting with light heavyweight on down in Strikeforce."
And he believes that Strikeforce will be able to stay on Showtime for a lot longer than the rest of this year:
"We have a great relationship with Showtime, I think we have provided great fights with great ratings. I think you’ll continue to see Strikeforce on Showtime for many years to come."
I'm probably the biggest Strikeforce mark you're going to find and even I don't believe this. The ratings for their three cards in 2012 have not been good, and while I commend them for trimming down the roster, getting their website back up, and promoting the heck out of Ronda Rousey, it still seems clear that SF is dying. Either way, I'll enjoy them while they're around because they usually put on good cards, and the May 19th show (Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier in the main event) looks like one of them.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, showtime, year, heavyweight division
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Quick Quote: Josh Barnett is getting annoyed by your 'unavoidable' UFC questions
"It’s really unimportant. I think all the speculation is good for the people that enjoy the sport and they want to watch, and they want to be a part of that guessing game ‘what’s next.' You read a comic book and you’re always waiting for the next issue, but you’re always thinking about what happens if some of the X-Men end up fighting The Avengers, or if Iron Man left the team. That part is unavoidable. For me, it’s actually starting to become annoying, but I understand the reason to ask it because who wouldn’t want to fight in the UFC? I’d love to go over there and beat everybody up and sit on top of that pile too. I believe I’m the best heavyweight out there in the world, so what better way to prove it than to punch everybody else in the face first."
Strikeforce World Grand Prix Tournament finalist Josh Barnett (via MMA Weekly), who faces undefeated wrestling phenom Daniel Cormier at the upcoming Showtime event on May 19, 2012 in San Jose, Calif., would "love" to go to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and prove himself to be worthy of the title of world's greatest heavyweight. Unfortunately, any talk of Barnett being numero uno -- or heading to Las Vegas to prove it -- is premature, as "The Baby-faced Assassin Warmaster" must first conquer the 265-pound ranks in Strikeforce, starting with "DC." Anyone out there in the mixed martial arts (MMA) blogosphere think he can get it done?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, barnett, numero uno, xmen end
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWith UFC Fighters Not Available, Gilbert Melendez Trying to Find 'Different Motivations' for Career
It's difficult to find an elite fighter in a more unenviable position than Gilbert Melendez. The Strikeforce lightweight champion is caught in some sort of negotiated space where he can't be poached for the UFC's needs, yet UFC is seemingly unable to find anyone from its considerable roster to take the up the Strikeforce challenge against him.
At this point, Melendez knows he's stuck. That doesn't mean, however, he's got a negative attitude about it all. At least not right now.
"Obviously to be the number one fighter in the world you got to be the UFC champ. It's just the way it is," Melendez told the media on conference call on Thursday to promote his co-main event bout at the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. "And right now I'm just trying to put on shows and get better in the sport. It's just to get better and take some risk out there."
Translation: I can't advance my career, so I might as well focus on being an entertainer who takes risks in fights I should be able to win rather handily.
This is the position Melendez occupies today. He's facing Josh Thomson for the third time on May 19th in a fight that's very winnable and does nothing to advance his position as one of MMA's three top-ranked lightweights. Thomson is no pushover, but if Melendez is as focused on winning as he is winning with flash and style, maybe it's not the appropriate fight for someone at his level.
Melendez's limbo didn't always seem hopeless. UFC President Dana White once suggested Melendez would be welcomed into the UFC lightweight division. Top UFC lightweights were also rumored to be going to Strikeforce to give Melendez the fights he merited. "Well, I initially had those discussions and there was some hope of maybe fighting BJ. [Penn]. Even some talk of maybe Gray [Maynard]," Melendez confirmed during the call.
Those discussions, however, never amounted to any change and Melendez's situation is unchanged. "But, that's all it was, talk. It never became inked in paper or nothing like that." With neither possibility likely to ever happen, the Strikeforce champion is forcing himself to not dwell on dreams deferred.
"I'm not worried about [becoming the top lightweight in the world] no more," said Melendez. "I'm just going to keep doing my thing and performing and I'm trying not to look at that anymore. I'm just trying to find different motivations like the paycheck and my team and my family."
Is there really an upside to Melendez's predicament? Maybe. It can't be all bad, right? Without the challenges that come with facing the world's absolute best, Melendez suggests there is a good side to be had. Specifically, he believes training is more fun, his stress levels lower and he can focus camps around generally getting better as a fighter without too much attention being paid to a particular opponent.
"It's actually been good. It's been fun," Melendez suggested. "I'm going to be doing this for a long time. I hear Josh Barnett talking about he's been fighting for 15 years. If I'm going to do this, I'm going to have fun and not be stressed going out to every practice and just do the best I can do."
You have to hand it to Melendez. His situation would drive a lesser man to the point of frustrated madness. Yet, the 30-year-old champion seems intent to not let the limits of his Strikeforce predicament dictate whether he's able to be fulfilled. For now, there's nothing he can reasonably do except win and improve, so Melendez is forcing himself to dwell only on the portions of his life that can be changed or improved.
"And, that's what I've been doing. Just training my butt off and the stress is there but not so bad. And, it is what it is. I just got to roll with the punches on this."
Posted in: melendez, im, ufc, strikeforce, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseShowtime Offers Four Nights of Strikeforce Replays Leading to May 19 Card
Showtime and Showtime Extreme will offer four nights of Strikeforce replays next week leading into the May 19 live heavyweight tournament finale, plus full fight replays online.
Posted in: strikeforce, replay, showtime, strikeforce replays, fight replays
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: 'Rockhold vs Kennedy' fight card and rumors for July 14 in Portland
Event: Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Kennedy"Date: Sat., July 14, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on ShowtimeLocation: Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon
Main Event:
185 lbs.: Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy
Other scheduled match-ups:
185 lbs.: Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler170 lbs.: Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley185 lbs.: Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine
For all the latest news and notes on the upcoming Strikeforce event on Showtime check out our comprehensive news archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, showtime check, portland oregon
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: King Mo Double Dips For Spike, Sonnen Cooks Pizza on the Mean Streets of West Linn
It's pretty rare to see a fighter turn his back on the UFC in his prime. If anything, it's usually the other way around.
But that's exactly what Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal did yesterday, eschewing a likely contract from Zuffa in favor of a double-pronged deal with Spike TV, which will allow the affable light heavyweight to compete in both Bellator (starting in 2013) and TNA Impact Wrestling (starting this summer).
While news of the signing was somewhat surprising at first -- it's not often a world-class fighter flips the bird at the big leagues and signs a deal to fight in an organization whose world champion is Christian freakin' M'Pumbu -- it does offer an intriguing upside that could (eventually) make it the right call.
Ultimately, in the UFC, there's a very real chance Lawal would have just been another top-10 205-pounder. Good enough to stay relevant, but not quite at the level of a Jon Jones. But with Spike, King Mo can become something more. With his supreme combination of talent and charisma, Lawal has the potential to be the posterchild for a network that, like it or not, is still widely associated with mixed martial arts to the general public.
It's a bold move, but one that could pay dividends for both parties. By hitting the TNA circuit this summer, Lawal can become the star of Spike, and eventually serve as a transitional face to introduce a new audience to Bellator in 2013.
It's not quite UFC glory. In fact, I'm not exactly sure what it is. But regardless, it's something we have yet to see in the modern era of western MMA, so it'll probably be an fascinating experiment.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
"King Mo" signs with Bellator, TNA. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal signed side-by-side deals to simultaneously fight and wrestle professionally. Lawal is set to begin competing for Bellator Fighting Championships in 2013, and will join TNA's Impact Wrestling as early as this summer.
The Ultimate Fighter: U.K. vs Australia. UFC President Dana White officially announced the next international season of The Ultimate Fighter, which will feature a country vs. country battle between the United Kingdom and Australia. Nicknamed "The Smashes," the show is set to open tryouts in Sydney on June 12, and London on June 15, for all fighters between the flyweight and welterweight classes.
Kazushi Sakuraba to fight retirement match against Shinya Aoki. Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba has agreed to fight top lightweight Shinya Aoki an at upcoming DREAM event. Sakuraba will reportedly retire following the match.
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy. Luke Rockhold is slated to defend his Strikeforce middleweight belt against former Army special forces operator Tim Kennedy at a Strikeforce show in Portland, Oregon on July 14th, 2012.
Bellator 68 weigh-in results. All fighters met their required weight at Thursday's official Bellator 68 weigh-ins, included featherweight finalists Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus.
MEDIA STEW
If you've ever had a strange fantasy about Chael Sonnen cooking you a personal pizza on the mean streets of West Linn, Orgeon -- well, you definitely need better fantasies, but you're also in luck. (HT: MiddleEasy)
We're setting the over/under of hurling your phone into the wall at roughly 3 minutes for Rampage Jackson's new iPhone app. (HT: Reddit)
To commemorate the end of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Showtime has uploaded every single tournament fight for our viewing pleasure. And what better way to start off than with the one that broke all of our hearts.
If you're itching to get hyped for Saturday's Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima superfight, look no further than this official countdown film by Stuart Cooper.
IGNITING A RIVALRY
It's official!!! Ultimate Fighter is going to Australia. TUF Australia vs TUF UK "The Smaches" in Fall 2012 :)
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 11, 2012
HOLY CRAP LOOK AT HIGH-SCHOOL RASHAD
Senior yr 98'.. I thought I was the cats meow!Lol #throwbackthursday instagr.am/p/Kd2Ronk1PL/
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) May 11, 2012
CHECKING IN
Good to be home in Montreal for a few weeks. Almost 5 months since my surgery, rehab continues but I see light at the end of the tunnel!
— Georges St-Pierre(@GeorgesStPierre) May 9, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, May 10, 2012):
- UFC 148: John Alessio (34-15) vs. Shane Roller (10-6)
- Strikeforce: Luke Rockhold (9-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3) announced for July 14
- Strikeforce: Lorenz Larkin (12-0, 1 NC) vs. Robbie Lawler (19-8, 1 NC) announced for July 14
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from Sweet Scientist, who offers a encyclopedic videosplosion you could easily sink 45 minutes into: Traditional striking arts
KYOKUSHIN:
Kyokushin Karate was founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama. It was the first Jissen style of Karate.
Rules: 1x2 minute round (3 minutes in the semifinals and finals of a tournament) with a possibility for 2 extra 2 minutes rounds in case of a draw. Full contact (KO allowed). Punches and elbows to the chest allowed, kicks and knees allowed on all striking levels. If a contestant is knocked down for more than three seconds, his opponent scores an Ippon and wins the fight. If a contestant is knocked down for less than 3 seconds, his opponent scores a Waza Ari (half point), if a contestant scores 2 Waza Ari, he wins the fight.
So, what does it look like?:
Notable fighters: Ryu Narushima (that lead high kick), Lechi Kurbanov (P4P best spinning shit thrower in the world), Andy Hug (RIP, incredible Kakato geri), Francisco Filho (one of the few to have completed the Hyakunin Kumite, 100 man kumite), Glaube Feitosa (popularized the Brazilian Kick), Kenji Midori, Ewerton Teixeira, Nicholas Pettas.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: fight, bellator, strikeforce, fighter, vs
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce announces July 14 show in Portland, OR; two title fights rumored
Yesterday it was announced that former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal had signed with Bellator. Shortly thereafter, Strikeforce came out with news of their own, announcing a July 14 show to take place in Portland, OR. There are a number of good match-ups on the card, with the main event set to feature Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against top contender Tim Kennedy. Luke Rockhold's win streak stands at 8 in a row after his stoppage of
Posted in: strikeforce, show, rockhold, title fights, portland
Read the full article at Low KickLuke Rockhold-Tim Kennedy Official For July 14 From Portland
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed Luke Rockhold’s next defense of his Strikeforce middleweight title, as Rockhold will face Tim Kennedy at the next Strikeforce event in July. Rockhold-Kennedy will be the main event from Portland, Oregon, with the main card likely airing on Showtime. Rockhold secured the belt from Ronaldo Souza last year, defending it [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, strikeforce event, ronaldo souza, portland oregon
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale Fight Card
Strikeforce will kick off their biggest event of the year so far in just over a week. The long-running Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will finally be decided when Josh Barnett faces off with Daniel Cormier in the finals. The winner will apparently fight once more against a "big-name opponent" in Strikeforce, then move over to the UFC. In addition to that, Gilbert Melendez will be defending his Strikeforce lightweight belt against Josh Thomson in the third meeting between the two, and Rafael Cavalcante will face off in a hard-hitting battle with Mike Kyle. I have zero idea why Burrell vs. Spang is on the main card over some of the undercard choices, but I'm sure Mr. Coker has his reasons. Here's the current card:
May 19th, live on Showtime (from San Jose, CA):
Main Card:
Josh Barnett (31-5) vs. Daniel Cormier(9-0) [HWGP Final]
Gilbert Melendez (20-2) vs. Josh Thomson (19-4, 1 NC) [LW Title]
Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3) vs. Mike Kyle (19-8-1, 1 NC)
Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1) vs. Chris Spang (4-1)
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale
Preliminary Card:
Gesias Cavalcante (16-4-1, 2 NC) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (12-3)
Guto Inocente (5-0) vs. Virgil Zwicker (10-2)
Derrick Mehmen (12-4) vs. Gian Villante (9-3)
Quinn Mulhern (17-2) vs. Yuri Villefort (6-0)
James Terry (11-4) vs. Bobby Green (17-5)
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, josh, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRobbie Lawler locking horns with Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce show in July
Two of Strikeforce’s most scintillating stand-up artists are set to collide this summer at an event in Portland, Oregon in the form of a bout between middleweights Robbie Lawler (19-8) and Lorenz Larkin (12-0). Of their 31 combined victories 24 of the wins have involved some form of strike-based stoppage.
The July 14 match-up was announced earlier today by Strikeforce officials along with confirmation of two previously rumored pairings featuring a headlining title-fight between 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold and top contender Tim Kennedy as well as Keith Jardine-Roger Gracie. A rumble between Nate Marquardt-Tyron Woodley, also linked to the show, was not.
Lawler, who is coming off a win over Adlan Amagov, has long been considered one of the hardest hitting middleweights in MMA though he has struggled in the past against grapplers.
Fortunately for him, Larkin likely won’t be trying to take him down at any point given his past performances. The 25-year old was last seen suffering a TKO loss to Muhammed Lawal but saw the outcome overturned after “King Mo” tested positive for steroid use.
A Closer Look at Larkin-Lawal
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce officials, robbie lawler, strikeforce show, strikebased stoppage
Read the full article at Fighters.comRockhold to Defend Title Against Tim Kennedy at July Strikeforce Event
During today’s Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Cormier media conference call, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker revealed that the promotion’s middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will be making his next title defense against Tim Kennedy at the next Strikeforce event, which will take place this summer in Portland.
In addition to Rockhold vs. Kennedy, the promotion announced two middleweight contests that have scheduled for the card: Robbie Lawler vs Lorenz Larkin, and Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine.
Coker said nothing of Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley, a fight for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title which has been rumored for the event.
The 27-year-old Rockhold won the title from Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza last year and defended at the beginning of this one with a TKO of Keith Jardine. 9-1 as a pro, Rockhold has not been defeated in eight fights. Tim Kennedy was beaten by Jacare in a fight for the vacant Strikeforce title in 2010, but has gone on a two-fight run since, defeating both Melvin Manhoef and Robbie Lawler.
What will be Strikeforce’s forty-first event is scheduled to go down on July 14 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: title, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, kennedy
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChamp unimpressed with matchup? So be it, says Strikeforce's Josh Thomson
Josh Thomson said today that he's not bothered by the lukewarm feelings Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has toward their rubber match.
The promotion makes the decisions, and he follows them.
"If that's the way he feels, that's the way he feels," Thomson impassively told MMAjunkie.com during a teleconference in support of "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale."
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, strikeforce heavyweight, thomson, feelings strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy Fight Card Rumors
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy fight card, rumors, and start times for July 14, 2012, in Portland, Oregon.
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Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, card, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyShowtime is offering every Strikeforce HW GP fight for free, and we REALLY want to see this again...
If you've made it this far in the week without stabbing someone with a number two pencil, then I have a little present for you. MiddleEasy.com, the only site that rewards you for not killing your fellow human beings. I wish I could give you guys something tangible that you can sit on top of your computer desk whenever you need a reminder to not murder. The best I can do is show you this full fight between Fedor and Bigfoot Silva which went down in the first round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix.
On a conference call this morning, a Showtime executive stated the company will release every fight from the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix leading up to the finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. Minutes ago we checked Sports.Sho.com and it appears they've held up to their end of the bargain. Now as you remember, some YouTuber believed he discovered the reason why Fedor lost his bout against Bigfoot Silva, and it had to do with his legs 'getting a rest.' Perhaps it's been a thought that has been weighing heavily on your conscious, but you just didn't know how to eloquently express it. Fortunately, that's why we have the entire bout below so you can relive one of the most depressing moments in your MMA fanboy/fangirl career.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guys something, bigfoot silva, computer desk
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce to Feature Rockhold-Kennedy, Jardine-Gracie, Lawler-Larkin July 14 in Portland
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will defend his title against Tim Kennedy in a July 14 headliner at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
Posted in: strikeforce, tim kennedy, july, portland, lawlerlarkin
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Set For July 14th in Portland, Lorenz Larkin Vs. Robbie Lawler Added
Strikeforce's July card has a date, a location, and a new fight. The card will take place on July 14th in the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, and the new fight is another middleweight bout. MMA Weekly has the news:
The next major Strikeforce card will be headed to the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. on July 14, and two more fights have been confirmed for the show.
In addition the main event pitting Luke Rockhold against Tim Kennedy with the Strikeforce middleweight title on the line, two more middleweight bouts will also take place.
First up, heavy hitter Robbie Lawler will get back in action as he faces former light heavyweight contender Lorenz Larkin.
The other fight mentioned in the article is the previously-confirmed bout between Roger Gracie and Keith Jardine.
Lawler (19-8, 1 NC) is coming off a win over Adlan Amagov in January after dropping his two previous bouts to Kennedy and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. Larkin (12-0, 1 NC) was handed the first defeat of his career by Muhammed Lawal back in January, but the result was overturned when Mo tested positive for a banned substance.
So far, the only bouts announced for the card are the three middleweight fights above and a bout between Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, bout, middleweight, july
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFormer Strikeforce champ “King Mo” Lawal signs with Bellator, TNA Wrestling
It looks like Brock Lesnar is not the only former MMA champion with legitimate grappling credentials who has aspirations of drawing a paycheck from work as a professional wrestler.
According to multiple reports, Muhammed Lawal has inked a deal with TNA Wrestling. However, “King Mo” will not forgo a career in Mixed Martial Arts to focus purely on sports entertainment and has also signed to fight under the Bellator banner. Both companies have broadcasting deals with Viacom meaning it is likely Lawal will work for both organizations simultaneously.
The official announcement is set for this afternoon with Sherdog initially reporting the news.
Lawal holds an overall record of 8-1 in MMA and held the Strikeforce light heavyweight title for a time. Owning past wins over stand-out competitors such as Roger Gracie and Gegard Mousasi, the 31-year old was last seen taking out Lorenz Larkin in January but failed a post-fight drug test and had the victory changed to a No Contest.
The result stemmed from Lawal’s use of a since-banned over-the-counter supplement. He was released from Strikeforce in the wake of the controversy in addition to having called one of the NSAC officials a “racist bitch”.
“King Mo” Apologizes for Behavior Relating to Inappropriate Tweet
No word has surfaced on when he will debut in either organization though he is suspended on the MMA front until early September.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: mma, strikeforce, mo, king, lawal
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Announces Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy for Portland in July
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said Thursday that Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will defend his title against former Army special forces operator Tim Kennedy in Portland, Oregon on July 14th of this year. Coker made the announcement on a media conference call to promote the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
The event will be held at the Rose Garden venue. Other main card fights include a pair of middleweight bouts between Robbie Lawler and Lorenz Larkin and Roger Gracie taking on Keith Jardine. MMA Fighting reported the signing of the Gracie vs. Jardine bout earlier this week.
Rockhold, 27, last competed on January 7th, 2012 at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, where he defeated UFC veteran Keith Jardine by first-round TKO stoppage. However, he injured his hand during the bout and has been sidelined since then.
Kennedy, 32, last fought on July 30th, 2011 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson where he defeated UFC veteran Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision.
The main card for this event will air on Showtime while the preliminary card will be broadcast on Showtime Extreme.
This marks the second time the promotion has held an event in the city of Portland. Strikeforce Challengers: Lindland vs. Casey was also held at the Rose Garden on May 21st, 2010. Former UFC middleweight contender Matt Lindland defeated Kevin Casey in the third round via TKO in the night's main event.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy' slated for July 14 in Portland, Larkin-Lawler added
A middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy will headline a major Strikeforce show in Oregon.
Strikeforce officials today announced the event, which takes place July 14 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
Other announced bouts include middleweights Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler and middleweights Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, middleweight, strikeforce show, portland ore
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Barnett vs Cormier' on May 19 in San Jose
What a long, strange trip it's been.
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, which started well over a year ago and lost Alistair Overeem somewhere along the way, will finally wrap things up on May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live via the Showtime network.
Set to headline the card are tournament finalists Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, who will compete for the grand prix championship and the right to challenge one more fighter under the Strikeforce banner before the promotion eliminates the 265-pound division for good.
Also getting their hands dirty (again) are Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson for "El Nino's" 155-pound belt. Their upcoming rubber match will settle a longstanding feud that began nearly four years ago.
That's not all.
Here is the current Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" fight card and line up:
Main Event:
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier for the Heavyweight World Grand Prix Championship
Main Card (Showtime):
155 lbs.: Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson205 lbs.: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg205 lbs.: Virgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante170 lbs.: Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., May 19, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme.
For all the latest news and notes on the upcoming Strikeforce event on Showtime check out our comprehensive news archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson Strikeforce Lightweight Title Preview Video
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson collide next week for the third time. Catch a preview of that fight and highlights from their first two meetings.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, melendez, gilbert, thomson
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce conference call LIVE updates today (May 10) for 'Barnett vs Cormier'
Strikeforce will today (May 10, 2012) hold a media conference call to promote next Saturday's (May 19, 2012) Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" event, which will air live on the Showtime.
The conference call will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the main and co-main event fighters of the evening: Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson.
Barnett is a former UFC heavyweight champion and after years of exile, returned to America and has dominated the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. He used his catchwrestling to submit both of his first two opponents, Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov to advance to the finals. Daniel Cormier is a former Olympic wrestler out of Oklahoma State. He was a hotshot undefeated prospect who exploded onto the scene when he stepped in as an alternate for Alistair Overeem and knocked Antonio Silva out cold in the first round of the semifinals.
Melendez is the current Strikeforce lightweight champion and one of the top ranked 155-ers on the planet. He last defended his title against Jorge Masvidal and has battled Josh Thomson twice before, splitting a pair of very entertaining decisions. Josh Thomson is the former Strikeforce lightweight champion but injuries have plagued his recent career. He returned from a long layoff to decision K.J. Noons this past March and earn his shot, even if he wasn't pleased with his performance.
We'll have complete updates of the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" conference call after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Posted in: strikeforce, conference, josh, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMuhammed Lawal reportedly headed to Bellator, professional wrestling
It looks like former Strikeforce champion Muhammed Lawal won’t be fighting inside the Octagon anytime soon, if ever, after entering discussions with Bellator to join the organization.
Interestingly enough, Lawal is also apparently on the cusp of joining TNA Wrestling to test his skills as a professional wrestler. The 31-year old has never shied away from his love of the sports-entertainment industry, paying homage in the past by walking down to fights while wearing a crown, holding an umbrella, and being accompanied by a group of dancing girls.
Sherdog was first to report the ongoing negotiations, citing sources “close to the situation” and also mentioning he is expected to compete in both companies simultaneously. TNA is currently broadcast on Spike TV while, as chance would have it, Bellator will move to the network next year.
“King Mo” found himself a free agent a few months ago was released from his Strikeforce contract after labeling a NSAC official as a “racist bitch” in the wake of his nine-month suspension for steroid use. His punishment runs out in September although it remains unknown how healthy he’ll be after recently dealing with a life threatening infection.
If Lawal does indeed sign with Bellator he will add some much-needed credibility/depth to their light heavyweight division.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: bellator, strikeforce, muhammed lawal, strikeforce contract, lawal
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGilbert Melendez on Strikeforce vs. UFC, 'I have changed my goals'
On a conference call today concerning the Strikeforce® Heavyweight Grand Prix Final scheduled for May 19, fighters Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez fielded questions from the media.
Melendez answered the burning question of his future as a fighter. Specifically his multi-year contract with Strikeforce® and his one-time goal of being the number one Lightweight in the world: "Obviously, to be the number one guy in the world, you've got to be a champion in the UFC. I have changed my goals.
Posted in: strikeforce, goal, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc i
Read the full article at Low KickLightweight Rankings: Where Does Melendez Really Rate?
When Nate Diaz was interviewed in the Octagon following his tour-de-force win over Jim Miller at last weekend's UFC on FOX 3 card in New Jersey, he left no doubt who he considered the number-one lightweight in the world: Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.
You'd expect him to say this, of course, since the two are training partners. But figuring out where Melendez should rank, exactly, isn't so cut and dried.
With six straight wins, the 20-2 Melendez has the second-longest current win streak of any top-10 lightweight, trailing only unbeaten Bellator champ Michael Chandler (10). During that run, "El Nino" avenged his only two career losses, to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida.
But can Strikeforce provide the quality of competition necessary to make a case for Melendez as No. 1?
Strikeforce has put together Melendez and Josh Thomson in San Jose on May 19 in what might be the least-anticipated trilogy fight of recent times.
If Melendez wins that matchup, as most expect, then what? Strikeforce's 155-pound division is running pretty thin these days.
As is its stable of bankable headline talent. With Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson all back in the UFC; Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos suspended due to steroids, and the seemingly interminable heavyweight tournament finally winding down next week.
Showtime isn't about to let go of one of the few remaining television draws it has at its disposal, which means Melendez might fritter away his prime against less-than-elite competition.
Diaz could very well be correct in calling Melendez the best in the world. But as long as Melendez is in Strikeforce, we'll never find out.
(Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)
1. Benson Henderson (4) If you want to find something to nitpick about the champion, he hasn't finished an opponent since submitting Donald Cerrone back in 2010. Beyond that, there's not much to criticize about the current king of the hill.
2. Gilbert Melendez (2) It's probably not fair that Melendez is being judged for a situation that's out of his control. But at the same time, the situation puts more pressure on the champ to look impressive in each outing, beginning with his bout against Thomson.
3. Frankie Edgar (1) When undersized fighters who take a lot of damage hit their career turning point, it happens in the blink of an eye. I'm not saying Edgar is there yet, but he's taken beatings in his past several fights and he's only won one of his past three.
4. Nate Diaz (10) The hottest fighter at 155 pounds not wearing major-promotion gold at the moment. Will a long wait for the winner of the Henderson-Edgar rematch serve to cool him off.
5. Gray Maynard (3) Yes, I'm aware Maynard beat Diaz on a split decision two-and-a-half years ago and that I'm ranking Diaz ahead of Maynard anyway. But Maynard hasn't won a fight in 21 months, while Diaz has blazed his way through the weight class. The good news for "The Bully" is that he can rectify this next month when he meets the next fighter on the list.
6, Clay Guida (5) The only loss on his record in this decade was his Fight of the Year-candidate decision against Ben Henderson in November. But he's hardly the only one to lose to Bendo, and a win over Maynard would put him right back into the Top 5.
7. Anthony Pettis (6) Still nothing on the docket for "Showtime," who has won seven of his past eight fights. Highly unlikely it will be a UFC title shot, though.
8. Jim Miller (7) Miller had a strong run in winning seven consecutive UFC fights form 2009-11. But he's also 0-4 against guys ranked ahead of him on this list. He will need a strong win in his next outing to stay ranked.
9. Michael Chandler (NR) The unbeaten Bellator champ KOd Japanese legend Akihiro Gono directly into retirement.
10. Eddie Alvarez (NR) The Philly phenom rebounded from his Bellator title loss to Chandler with a convincing TKO of Shinya Aoki, avenging a previous loss.
Want more? Then check out Bloody Elbow's consensus rankings for each weight class from bantamweight to heavyweight.
Posted in: fight, diaz, strikeforce, melendez, maynard
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVIDEO: Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Recap
Next week, we finally get the culmination of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament. Take a look back at how we got to the finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.
Posted in: strikeforce, week, heavyweight, josh barnett, prix recap
Read the full article at Heavy MMAGilbert Melendez: “I’m coming for all the 155-pounders.”
At one point in time Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez felt like he was headed to the UFC, following the footsteps of his fellow Strikeforce fighters such as Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, and Alistair Overeem.
However, today he still calls Strikeforce his home, remaining as the promotion’s main star.
Now, as he prepares for a third bout with Josh Thomson, “El Nino” understands why UFC President Dana White left him to carry the flag of Strikeforce. Of course, that doesn’t mean Melendez doesn’t want to face the likes of UFC lightweight title-holder Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and his other highly-touted peers who do their business inside the Octagon.
“I’m coming for all the 155-pounders and I really want to prove I’m No. 1,” said Melendez in a recent interview with MMAWeekly. “Part of being No. 1 is beating everyone, every match-up. I think I can beat every style out there.”
Melendez and Thomson have split their previous two meetings. Their bout will be the co-main event on May 19 on Showtime.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, time strikeforce, highlytouted peers
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainZUFFA has finally unveiled the completely overhauled Strikeforce.com website, featuring a dazzling...
ZUFFA has finally unveiled the completely overhauled Strikeforce.com website, featuring a dazzling new look that is both unique in its presentation and groundbreaking in its design. Look no further than UFC.com to see just how far Strikeforce has come in today's digital landscape.
Posted in: strikeforce, zuffa, website, strikeforcecom website, strikeforcecom
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLet's get ready for the finale of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix with a recap video
I don't know about the rest of you but this Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix seems like it should have been done a very long time ago. It's dragged on longer than an affair between a politican and his wife's sister on a really bad day time soap opera. I just wish the entire thing would have been completed in one weekend. It could have been single elimination multiple fight grueling warrior style weekend of fighting. Overeem would have been able to complete his spot in the tournament before getting scooped up by the UFC and there would have been no chance of training injuries or having to call in replacements.
That didn't happen though and after nearly a year and a half later we are finally going to witness the completion of this tournament. The first round featured a dramatic heartcrushing upset for all of the Fedor fiends via Antonio Silva and then Daniel Cormier had to step in to replace Overeem in the second round. Next Saturday, we can finally end all the heavyweight style teasing foreplay and achieve ultimate climax via the finale fight between Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett. Here's a new Strikeforce recap video to help get you worked up for the event that starts at 10pm EST live on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, tournament the, dramatic heartcrushing
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideos: Strikeforce heavyweight-grand-prix semis with Cormier-Silva, Barnett-Kharitonov
The Strikeforce world heavyweight grand prix concludes next week, and in anticipation of the finale, Showtime has released videos of both of the tournament's semifinals fights.
They took place this past September at "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov," which U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati hosted.
The bouts included Daniel Cormier vs. Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, finale showtime, bank arena, cormiersilva barnettkharitonov
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBJ almost fought Gilbert Melendez, but he thought Strikeforce was too much of a downgrade
The BJ Penn Vs. Gilbert Melendez fight that never came to be is the hot hypothetical topic to everyone in the MMA world right now, but the MiddleEasy staff was discussing this (at one point very real) matchup in our super secret MiddleEasy email client half a year ago. Yeah, that's right: we have a super secret MiddleEasy email client in which we discuss super secret things. Things like Gilbert Melendez and BJ Penn scrapping for the Strikeforce lightweight title, space plans and why synthetic vitamins aren't good for you (don't eat synthetic vitamins).
You can ask Cat Von C: our super secret MiddleEasy email conversations would probably do triple the traffic of MiddleEasy.com, but a lot of that is due to the discussion of things that shall not be discussed publicly. To put it in wizard terms: MiddleEasy email = The Order of the Phoenix. Things talked about in said emails = Voldemort.
Many may think the two preceding paragraphs are meant to puff our feathers and display how cool we are. Not true. I guess what I'm trying to get to is this: we were bummed about this fight not happening months ago, and we wanted to share the pain with you - but we couldn't - so now we're kind of over it just as the general public is hearing about it...So yeah.
BJ Penn showed his apathy over the Gilbert Melendez situation in an appearance on The MMA Hour.
"I guess being a competitor, you always have that itch. But what it is is...it's tough," "The training camps are tough, going through that. I've been with the UFC for ten years going through different things. All the different personalities you gotta deal with. I still look at some of the guys up there and of course being a competitor 'You know, I could beat that guy or I could do well with that guy.' It's just a tough question."
"[White] offered a fight against Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce. We sat down and we thought about it for a little while. We talked back and forth. It was kind of one of those things where I guess at the end of the day we thought about it a thousand different ways and we were like 'Is that downgrading yourself fighting in Strikeforce? If you win the Strikeforce title are people going to say you did it because you couldn't win the UFC title?'" "At the end of the day, it just didn't make sense to us,"
Hopefully at the end of the day, BJ will decide to come back and make us happy while licking his opponent's blood of his gloves.
[Source]
Posted in: strikeforce, thing, middleeasy, gilbert melendez, gilbert
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce releases highlights package recapping road to Heavyweight Grand Prix Final
Though the journey has been a long one and featured the occasional speed-bump, the home stretch has finally arrived for Strikeforce as the promotion is less than two weeks away from crowning a winner in their ambitious Heavyweight Grand Prix. The original field of eight has been whittled down to Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, two talented grapplers with striking to boot.
Cormier is undefeated since transitioning to MMA from a decorated career on the mat, racking up a 9-0 mark including wins over Jeff Monson and Antonio Silva to earn his crack at Barnett. The American Kickboxing Academy product has been out since September with a broken hand he suffered in his knockout victory over the big Brazilian.
Comparably, Barnett is 31-5 in his fifteen-year career featuring stops in the UFC and PRIDE. Among his numerous instances of impressive success are wins against Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The 34-year old has also exited the ring with his hand raised in his last eight outings.
Strikeforce recently released a recap of the Grand Prix allowing fans to re-live some of the highlights leading up to next week’s show including the destruction of Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski being rendered into a puddle of goo, and of course the performances of Barnett-Cormier.
Check it out below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, prix, barnett, home stretch, barnettcormier check
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainReport: Ronda Rousey Defends Strikeforce Title vs. Sarah Kaufman in August
According to a report, Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will defend her title against top contender Sarah Kaufman in August.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, ronda, kaufman, sarah
Read the full article at Heavy MMARonda Rousey rumbling with Sarah Kaufman in August
The remarkable Ronda Rousey will return to the ring against Sarah Kaufman as expected though unfortunately it appears the two won’t tussle for Rousey’s Strikeforce championship until August. Rousey won the belt in March by beating Miesha Tate in memorable fashion, twisting her arm awkwardly during an Armbar to earn the submission win.
No date/location has been attached to the bout though it will likely take place in the latter half of August given the UFC’s schedule, as the two Zuffa-owned organizations are not likely to book cards on a conflicting date. Strikeforce currently has a show set for July but the featured portion has already been linked to a trio of tilts leaving little room for Rousey-Kaufman.
MMAFighting was first to report the bout/month.
Rousey has established herself as a legitimate star in the sport despite only having five professional fights. The bantamweight queen has emerged victorious in all of them by way of first-frame submission, adding to her profile by playing up her sex appeal while also speaking her mind regardless of what others think.
Rousey Says She’s the Most Dangerous Unarmed Woman on Earth
Meanwhile, Kaufman is a seasoned veteran at 15-1 and is on a three-fight winning streak including an exciting clash with Alexis Davis earlier this year. Ten of her victories have involved a strike-based stoppage.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, ronda rousey, rousey, sarah kaufman, rouseykaufman mmafighting
Read the full article at Fighters.comRonda Rousey defending her bantamweight title in August against Sarah Kaufman
It looks like fans will have to wait a few more months before Strikeforce bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey returns to the ring to defend the belt she won in highlight-reel fashion by shredding Miesha Tate’s arm with a submission. Though the victory came in March and Rousey escaped the bout injury-free, Strikeforce’s scheduled show in July already has a pair of title-fights attached to it leaving little room for the Olympic medaling judoka’s presence.
As such, Rousey will face top contender Sarah Kaufman in August though the event does not have a specific date/location yet. The UFC, also owned by Zuffa, currently has cards lined up for August 4 and August 11 making the second-half of the month the most obvious landing spot for the two talented 135ers’ tilt.
News of the match-up was confirmed by MMAFighting while citing sources close to Strikeforce.
Kaufman is a former champion whose only career loss involved dropping the strap to Marloes Coenen. The 15-1 Canadian has won three straight since including success against Liz Carmouche and most recently Alexis Davis.
By comparison, Rousey is 5-0 with all five of her victories involving an opening round Armbar finish.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, career loss, bantamweight title, rousey, kaufman
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainReport: Ronda Rousey vs Sarah Kaufman Strikeforce title fight planned for August
No arm, no foul.
Newly-crowned Strikeforce Women's Champion Ronda Rousey has her first 135-pound title defense lined up for August 2012, where she's expected to face off against former division straphanger Sarah Kaufman at a location to be named, according to a report from MMA Fighting.
Sounds like Marloes Coenen's recent call-out fell on deaf ears.
While promotion officials were hastily assembling a secret summer showdown between Rousey and Cristiane Santos Justino, one torpedoed by the latter's failed drug test, Kaufman has been calling for another crack at the division crown after proving she was still worthy of the throne by defeating fellow Canadian Alexis Davis at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event last March in Columbus, Ohio.
The same Strikeforce event that saw the "Rowdy" one usurp the belt from fellow Showtime headliner Miesha Tate -- and mangle her arm in the process.
The majority decision victory was Kaufman's third win in a row and a strong statement for getting the next shot at the division title; however, it should be noted that in 16 professional fights, Kaufman has just one loss.
And it came by armbar.
That's a recipe for disaster against Rousey, a former Olympian, who is not only undefeated but also has eight straight armbar submission finishes, dating back to her three amateur fights in 2010-11.
Anyone think Kaufman has a chance?
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates to Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman, as well as the unnamed Strikeforce event in August, as they become available.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce event, rousey, kaufman, sarah
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Lineup Finalized for May 19 Card
The lineup for the next Strikeforce show, May 19 in San Jose, Calif., has been finalized with 10 bouts – including the heavyweight tournament final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, heavyweight tournament, strikeforce heavyweight, strikeforce show
Read the full article at Heavy MMARonda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman Slated for August
Ronda Rousey will defend her Strikeforce bantamweight title for the first time later this summer. According to sources close to Strikeforce, Rousey will meet top contender Sarah Kaufman at a yet-to-be announced Strikeforce card in August. No date or location has been finalized yet. Rousey (5-0) defeated Miesha Tate in March to capture the Strikeforce women's 135-pound belt. The win capped off an impressive year which saw her win her first five fights in a combined time of 7:15. Kaufman (15-1) secured her spot as the No. 1 contender when she defeated Alexis Davis on the same card in March. The Canadian has won three in a row since losing the 135-pound belt to Marloes Coenen in Oct. 2010. The card will air on Showtime. Strikeforce returns on May 19 with an event headlined by Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett and Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, ronda rousey, rousey, kaufman
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseIt hurts, but here's Ryan Couture talking about his win over MiddleEasy sponsored fighter Conor Heun
Since Strikeforce fights are so few and far between, we like to talk about them as if they just happened less than a week ago. We also like to pretend Jason High fights, but despite being undefeated in his last six bouts, the guy can't even buy a fight. You can follow him on Twitter and express your extreme disappointment that Strikeforce fails to book him for fights, or you can watch this video of Ryan Couture talking about his win over Conor Heun at Strikeforce's last event. You can also follow Jason High on Twitter and watch this video, but at some point you have to make important decisions -- and this is one of them. Fine, go ahead and do both, but we'll remember this.
Sure it's unpleasant to have a fighter you sponsored be defeated via TKO and then interview the fighter that defeated your branded fighter -- but sometimes these things happen in MMA. We're cool with it. It's the ebb and flow of the sport we all love. Taoism dictates that one must not disrupt the natural order of the planet, and just align ourselves with the forever-moving wave of nature. At least that's what I told LayzieTheSavage just before he filmed this interview with Ryan Couture this month.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, fighter, ryan, heres ryan
Read the full article at Middle EasyTyron Woodley-Nate Marquardt facing off this summer for vacant Strikeforce welterweight title
The long-rumored Nate Marquardt-Tyron Woodley match for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title seems on with the two apparently headed towards a July meeting with Portland serving as a probable home. No date has been announced but with the UFC holding events on July 7 and July 21 it seems likely the show will take place on 7/14 or 7/28.
Along with Marquardt-Woodley, submission-specialist Roger Gracie is expected to face Keith Jardine on the card in addition to the Strikeforce middleweight title being featured with champion Luke Rockhold putting his gold up for grabs against Tim Kennedy.
MMAWeekly confirmed the report with officials close Strikeforce.
Marquardt (31-10-2) was released by the UFC after having his medicals denied for a planned fight with Rick Story. He has not competed since early 2011 despite signing with BAMMA but never actually fighting for them. The fight against Woodley will mark his welterweight debut.
Woodley is a perfect 10-0 in his MMA career since a stellar run at the University of Missouri as a wrestler. He has downed such opponents as Paul Daley and Tarec Saffiedine in his Strikeforce career.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: title, strikeforce, rick story, tarec saffiedine, july meeting
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBJ Penn: 'Downgrading' to Strikeforce not an option, UFC return still uncertain
Should he stay or should he go now? Always tease, tease, tease ...
Those are the questions that have lately surrounded former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight and Lightweight champion of the world, B.J. Penn.
After calling it quits last October in the wake of his one-side loss at the hands of Nick Diaz at UFC 137, "The Prodigy" has been laying low in Hawaii, in no hurry to even attempt a comeback. That hasn't stopped UFC President Dana White to get one of the all-time great mixed martial arts (MMA) legends to reconsider his retirement and get back into the Octagon ... or even the Strikeforce Hexagon, for that matter.
A few days ago, White explained that he tried to book a fight between the current Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez and Penn to take place in Strikeforce. In what truly would have been a very intriguing fight, and would prove to be a step up in competition for "El Nino," the proposed bout was not to be as White stated, "The whole thing fell apart."
Appearing on todays' (May 7, 2012) episode of The MMA Hour, Penn explained the reason(s) a fight between he and Melendez didn't come to pass, as well as cleared up his position on making a possible comeback once and for all.
Check it out:
"It was right after the Nick Diaz fight. He offered me a fight against Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce. We sat down, we thought about it for a little while and we fought back and forth and it was kind of one of those things where I guess at the end of the day we just thought about it a thousand different ways and we were like, is it downgrading yourself fighting in Strikeforce and if you win the Strikeforce title people are going to say you did it because you couldn't win the UFC title? We just kind of thought about it a thousand different ways and at the end of the day it just didn't make sense to us."
"The Prodigy" has spent the majority of his career competing for the UFC, so it wouldn't indeed make much sense for the former champion and future hall of famer to make a comeback, only to be relegated to a smaller promotion, nothing against Strikeforce, of course.
However, what about a comeback into the UFC's Octagon?
Penn speculates:
"I'm not really excited to jump right into a training camp right now. Me and Dana sat down and Dana said, "I see a lot of stuff and you saying you don't want to fight anymore." Me and him just kind of talked and just did a bunch of kind of hypothetical back-and-forth and that was it. I know Dana wants me to fight again a when I go to a lot of different places, I think subconsciously maybe sometimes, fighters, we only seize to fight to regain energy to fight again. I do get pumped up about it when I go to different places and people say, "Come on you got to fight again, you gotta fight again." I don't know, I'm enjoying training right now and you never know what the future holds. I mean if Dana put something together and says, "Hey, you want to do this?" You never know what could happen. Being a competitor, you always have that itch. What it is, is that it's tough. The training camps are tough going and through that and going through the different things and all the different personalities you gotta deal with over time. I mean, I still look at some of the guys up there and, of course, being a competitor I think to myself, "I can beat that guy or I can do well with that guy." It's just a tough question and I can't give any solid question (answer) either way right now."
After more than 11 years competing in the sport and capturing title in two weight classes (lightweight and welterweight), and competing against many of the top fighters in the world, Penn can truly say he has accomplished what many aspiring fighters may never get close to.
But, is a return to action necessary?
With a record of 1-3-1 in his last five bouts, are "The Prodigy's" best days behind him? Or would you like to see one of the best to ever compete return to action to see if he can still compete at the highest level against some of the toughest fighters around?
Perhaps the fan in many would just like to see an MMA legend in action a few more times for mere nostalgic purposes.
Either way, Penn has no immediate plans to return to a sport he dominated for many years. Let's see how long that lasts.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, right, penn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRoger Gracie to Debut at Middleweight Against Keith Jardine
Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout Roger Gracie will be making his middleweight debut in Strikeforce against MMA veteran Keith Jardine.
MMAFighting first reported the match up, which is likely to take place at a currently unscheduled Strikeforce event in July; rumors place the bout in Portland, Oregon on the fourteenth.
Considered to be one of the world’s best grapplers, Gracie (4-1) suffered his first loss in mixed martial arts competition in September of last year, when Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal knocked him out in one round at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov. Prior to that, the thirty year old had submitted all of his MMA opponents. This bout against Jardine will be his first contested at 185lbs.
Seasoned MMA competitor Keith Jardine (17-10-2) found his way into Strikeforce after suffering a five-fight losing streak that saw him cut from the UFC. The Dean of Mean put together couple of wins before taking a short-notice fight against Gegard Mousasi in the promotion. A draw in that effort led (somewhat confusingly) into a title shot against Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold, which Jardine lost by first-round TKO. That was his most recent appearance and it came in early January.
Rockhold is expected to defend his title against Tim Kennedy at the event. Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley are also likely to dispute the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title on the card.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: strikeforce, jardine, middleweight, middleweight debut, shortnotice fight
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyTyron Woodley To Meet Nate Marquardt For Strikeforce Welterweight Title In July
Former top UFC fighter Nate Marquardt will finally make his Strikeforce and welterweight debut in July, and it will be in a title matchup. He will compete for Nick Diaz's old Strikeforce welterweight championship against a SF veteran, Tyron Woodley. MMA Weekly has it:
The main event for the upcoming Strikeforce event in July is almost set as Nate Marquardt will make his promotional debut against Tyron Woodley with the vacant welterweight title on the line.
Sources close to the match-up confirmed the fight to MMA Weekly on Monday with verbal agreements in place for the July showdown.
Marquardt (31-10-2) was released from the UFC last June after a TRT issue prevented him from fighting Rick Story. He then signed with BAMMA, but never competed under their banner and was let out of his contract a few months later. Strikeforce signed him a couple of months ago, and this bout had been rumored ever since.
Woodley is undefeated at 10-0 in his career, eight of those wins coming in Strikeforce. His last bout was a split decision win over Jordan Mein in January.
The card will apparently either take place in Portland, Oregon or Indianapolis, Indiana. It was thought that a Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy middleweight title bout would headline the card, but we'll have to wait and see.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, welterweight, marquardt, woodley
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Welterweight Title Match Set For July Between Nate Marquardt, Tyron Woodley
What has been rumored for several months now appears set, as MMA Weekly is reporting that Nate Marquardt and Tyron Woodley will do battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. The card, which will take place in Portland, Oregon in July, will also feature Tim Kennedy-Luke Rockhold for Rockhold’s Strikeforce middleweight title, and a match [...]
Posted in: title, strikeforce, nate marquardt, tyron woodley, portland oregon
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRoger Gracie vs Keith Jardine middleweight fight booked for July Strikeforce event
Why kill the promotion when you can still get exciting match-ups like this?
According to MMAFighting.com, Roger Gracie will make his middleweight debut later this year against Keith Jardine at a July Strikeforce event that is still without a date or location, though Portland, Oregon is apparently a leading contender.
A 185-pound championship bout pitting titleholder Luke Rockhold against Tim Kennedy is expected to headline the event.
Gracie makes the drop down in weight following his first career loss in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition last September, a knockout defeat at the hands of Muhammed Lawal at the "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" event in Cincinnati.
Jardine, meanwhile, has had little luck since making his way back into the fold under the Zuffa banner. He fought Gegard Mousasi to a draw in his Strikeforce debut before being awarded a middleweight title shot against the previously mentioned Rockhold for reasons that are still unclear.
As expected, he was knocked out in the first round.
Now he gets to welcome Gracie to the 185-pound weight class later this summer. Joy.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for any future updates to the pending July Strikeforce event. And for all the latest Strikeforce news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, jardine, gracie, tim kennedy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaKeith Jardine-Roger Gracie inked for July battle in Strikeforce
Roger Gracie will make his debut at middleweight against Keith Jardine in July at a yet-to-be-announced Strikeforce event.
While nothing has been made official by the promotion, Strikeforce is expected to announce a date and location for the show soon. Rumors have Portland, Oregon as the host site with a middleweight title-fight between Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy serving as the main event.
MMAFighting confirmed the news of the Gracie-Jardine bout and event location with several sources.
Gracie (4-1) lost his last match at light heavyweight to Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, pushing him to make the drop to the ranks of the middleweights after starting out strong at 205 pounds. As his last name might indicate, Gracie is a widely respected BJJer with numerous awards at the highest level relating to his chosen discipline.
Meanwhile, Jardine (17-10-2) is a UFC veteran who made his 185-pound debut in Rockhold’s first and only title-defense, losing in the opening round of action. Regardless of the stumble, Jardine has racked up a number of impressive wins in his career including those of Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: strikeforce, event, jardine, middleweight, gracie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainKeith Jardine-Roger Gracie Set For July Strikeforce Event
Roger Gracie and Keith Jardine are being penciled in for a planned July Strikeforce card from Portland, according to a report by MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta. The card does not have a date, but the main event is rumored to feature Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his title against Tim Kennedy. Rockhold defeated Jardine [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, event, keith jardine, gracie, july
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRoger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine Set for July Strikeforce Event
Roger Gracie will officially make his middleweight debut against another former light-heavyweight who shifted to the lighter division when he takes on Keith Jardine during a July Strikeforce event that is still in the planning stages.
Two sources confirmed the fight pairing to MMA Fighting.
Though the event is not officially announced, it is tentatively penciled in for Portland, Oregon, the sources said.
A date has not yet been finalized either.
The matchup though, is locked in, with Gracie (4-1) preparing to dip his toe into the middleweight waters. He made the decision to drop weight after his last fight, in which he suffered the first loss of his pro MMA career, a first-round knockout at the hands of "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal.
Jardine doesn't have much more time at 185 under his belt than Gracie. He made his maiden voyage in the division in January, unsuccessfully challenging Strikeforce's middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.
Jardine (17-10-2) lost in a first-round TKO in that fight.
Rockhold is likely to headline the July Strikeforce event. The AKA product recently told MMA Fighting that he had been informed he was likely to defend the belt against Tim Kennedy, a pairing that sources say still holds true.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, jardine, gracie, july
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBJ Penn turned down comeback fight against Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight and Welterweight Champion B.J. Penn fighting under the Strikeforce banner on Showtime?
Hawaii don't play dat.
Despite an abysmal 1-3-1 record over his last five fights,"The Prodigy" wanted nothing to do with a superfight against reigning Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who's riding out his current contract in the bowels of San Jose.
Penn wasn't scared, just retired.
UFC President Dana White (via MMA Fighting) explains what happened, after the jump.
"Gilbert Melendez is a Strikeforce fighter and he's been great dealing with it. He wants to come over [to the UFC] and he wants to challenge himself against the best and I know a lot of other people want to see it too, but he's in that Strikeforce deal. I tried to do [Melendez vs. Penn], but it was at a time when BJ was like 'Yeah, I'm not fighting for awhile.' The thing that sucks for Gilbert is that I was 100 percent fired up and gung ho to go over there and work on Strikeforce, but the whole thing fell apart."
Penn came up short as the main event headliner for UFC 137 back on Oct. 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The unanimous decision win for Nick Diaz, which left Penn battered and bruised, sent him straight into an Interim title bout against Carlos Condit at UFC 143.
And sent "The Prodigy" straight into retirement.
Penn said he'll be back "if he ever feels it again," which could lead White to move forward with plans to bring his mixed martial arts (MMA) brand to Hawaii.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, penn, melendez, gilbert
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Tried To Book B.J. Penn Against Strikeforce Champ Gilbert Melendez
Sometimes the rumors, no matter how vociferously denied. are true. A few months back there was a little bit of commotion to the effect that Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez wanted to face one of the top names from the UFC, someone like B.J. Penn.
And Melendez certainly has a right to call out anyone in the Lightweight division. He's currently the #3 ranked LW in the world according to the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings. He's cleaned out the Strikeforce 155lb division.
At the time UFC president Dana White had to shoot those rumors down. Now the truth can be told. Dana wanted to book Melendez vs. B.J. Penn but couldn't talk the mercurial Penn into taking the fight.
Instead Melendez will face Josh Thomson for the third time. He lost to Thomson in 2008 but won a rematch in 2009.
More after the jump...More Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier coverage from SBN
White spoke to MMA Junkie and here's what he said:
"I tried to do [Melendez vs. Penn], but it was at the time when B.J. was like, 'Yeah, I'm not fighting for a while.'"
It's good to know that White is at least trying to secure better opponents for Melendez and presumably the other Strikeforce champions. It's not clear what exactly is the issue, but it is clear that the alliance between Showtime and the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce is not working for the fighters under contract to Strikeforce.
Penn has indicated he might be interested in fighting at 170lbs again soon. I would love to see Penn fight for the vacant Strikeforce title against Tyron Woodley, Kazuo Misaki or even Paul Daley.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, penn, bj, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTim Kennedy: Strikeforce middleweights can compete with the UFC’s top 10 any night
Ten months without work would drive anyone crazy, especially for a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) who is healthy and eager to return to action.
Strikeforce Middleweight contender Tim Kennedy knows all this too well, having competed last on July 30, 2011, at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Henderson" against Robbie Lawler, whom he defeated via unanimous decision, marking his second straight victory after failing to capture gold against Ronaldo Souza on Aug. 21, 2010.
So what's the hold up? He's not injured, but the man he is set to face next, current Strikeforce Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, is on the mend. Rockhold suffered a broken hand when he defended his strap against Keith Jardine on Jan. 7, 2012, and he has been riding the pine ever since.
Not only has the injury delayed Rockhold's second title defense, it has also caused Kennedy to play the waiting game, too. So why doesn't Kennedy just step into the hexagon against someone else? Well, he wants to, but Strikeforce matchmakers are set in having him face Rockhold next.
Kennedy, who was awarded of the Army's Bronze Star medal for his valor under fire, clears up his current status to Tapout Radio, after the jump:
"Luke broke his hand in his last fight against Keith Jardine. They won't let me fight anybody else. I said I'd fight anybody, but they're like, 'No, you're going to fight Luke', which is awesome, and now, I'm just waiting. I've been waiting for a while and I'm just going to keep waiting and keep training, as if I have a fight in two months. When they finally say, 'Here it is', I'll be ready to go."
After he does get his long awaited title shot against Rockhold, Kennedy still sees few challenges left for him in Strikeforce and says its time they get some new blood for him to compete against:
"When you see guys that are vacating other organizations like Hector Lombard, you know, is there an opportunity for him to be brought over to us? Absolutely not. Nobody has even considered it. Of course he's going to go straight to the UFC, and that leaves us with Jacare, Luke, and myself. The three of us, I'm pretty sure, we could fight, on any given night, with any of the top 10 UFC guys, and it would be a very, very competitive fight. As it stands, it's the three of us. If I beat Luke, in the summer, and I have the title, what's left for me? I guess I'll fight Jacare again. Whether I beat Jacare, or he beats me, then what? They'll have me fight Luke again? It's just this painful cycle, and I want fresh blood. I want to fight. I don't even think they're better fighters. I just think they're more well known because they fight for a promotion that wants to push their athletes. Again, I have to wait. I want that title. I'm whatever, 5-1 or 6-1 in Strikeforce, with a close loss for my last title fight. I think I deserve that title, and once I have that title, I really want to push to bring in some fresh fighters for all of us, not just for me."
A born fighter, Tim not only misses fighting inside the cage, but says he also misses fighting out in the battle fields with his brothers and sisters of the United States Army and is ready to go back, as soon as he has accomplished the MMA goals he has set for himself:
"I wish I was fighting more, without a doubt. I kind of put my military career on pause so I could fight, and since I've done that, I've only fought three times in two years. That's not ideal. I would like to be in there three or four times a year. I don't get paid to not fight. I get paid to fight. Every day that I'm not getting ready to get in the cage, I feel guilty, because I'm not with my brothers and sisters in uniform, doing a pretty important job. I would like to get back to either getting in a cage, or get back to fighting. I love fighting. I've always loved fighting. I always wish that I was overseas when I'm here, and when I'm overseas, I always wish that I'm in a cage. My mindset is that I have some very clear things that I want to achieve in fighting, and as soon as I get those done, then I'm done fighting. I'm getting very close to that. If I get this title, and then maybe a couple more fights later, I'll have the opportunity to fight for another title. That pretty much wraps up what I wanted to do, which is be the best fighter in my weight class in the world, so they just need to give me the opportunity to show that."
Currently, there is no timetable for Rockhold's return, which means Kennedy will be playing the waiting game just a little while longer.
But, will he grow even more restless?
Should the scrappy 185-pounder not get more fights soon, he could be returning back to serving our country sooner rather than later.
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, kennedy, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Bobby Green Stepping in Against James Terry
Billy Evangelista is out against James Terry. Bobby Green is taking his place at Strikeforce on May 19.
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Posted in: strikeforce, bobby, terry, bull, strikeforce bobby
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyTim Kennedy: “It’s just this painful cycle, and I want fresh blood.”
The classic film Alien came with a tagline stating, “In space, no one can hear you scream.” It turns out the same thing also applies to fighters signed to compete under the Strikeforce banner.
Middleweight Tim Kennedy has been publicly lobbying for action, as well as an increased amount of depth in the division, for more than a year and has yet to see either endeavor bear fruit. In fact, Strikeforce has actually slowed their production schedule down and hasn’t even allowed him to fight some of the competitors already signed to the company’s roster.
Kennedy recently addressed his frustration in an interview with TapouT Radio where remained respectful but was clearly upset with the way things have been, and are still being, handled.
“When you see guys that are vacating other organizations like Hector Lombard, you know, is there an opportunity for him to be brought over to us? Absolutely not. Nobody has even considered it. Of course he’s going to go straight to the UFC, and that leaves us with Jacare, Luke, and myself,” said Kennedy when asked about the possibility of Zuffa bringing over new talent to challenge him and other top middleweights in Strikeforce like Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo Souza. “The three of us, I’m pretty sure, we could fight, on any given night, with any of the Top 10 UFC guys, and it would be a very, very competitive fight.”
“As it stands, it’s the three of us. If I beat Luke, in the summer, and I have the title, what’s left for me? I guess I’ll fight Jacare again. Whether I beat Jacare, or he beats me, then what? They’ll have me fight Luke again,” asked Kennedy rhetorically. “It’s just this painful cycle, and I want fresh blood. I want to fight. I don’t even think they’re better fighters. I just think they’re more well known because they fight for a promotion that wants to push their athletes. Again, I have to wait. I want that title. I’m whatever, 5-1 or 6-1 in Strikeforce, with a close loss for my last title fight. I think I deserve that title, and once I have that title, I really want to push to bring in some fresh fighters for all of us, not just for me.”
With a reduced number of events in 2012 it’s even more important to get into the cage sooner than later, yet a perfectly healthy Kennedy has been forced to wait for Rockhold to return instead of being given an opportunity to earn a paycheck in the interim while the middleweight champion heals up from a broken hand.
“They won’t let me fight anybody else. I said I’d fight anybody, but they’re like, ‘No, you’re going to fight Luke’, which is awesome, and now, I’m just waiting. I’ve been waiting for a while and I’m just going to keep waiting and keep training, as if I have a fight in two months. When they finally say, ‘Here it is’, I’ll be ready to go.”
Still no date has been set for Kennedy’s eventual showdown with Rockhold though rumors have placed it as going down in July. Assuming neither man suffers a setback it will be the 32-year old’s first fight since beating Robbie Lawler in mid-2011.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, luke, kennedy
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC May 2012 fight cards
Three more fight cards from UFC this month (plus one Strikeforce card).
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, card, fight cards
Read the full article at Fight OpinionStrikeforce Finalist Daniel Cormier Talks Stymied Olympic Dreams
MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas spoke with Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix alternate-turned-finalist Daniel Cormier in advance of his May 19th bout with Josh Barnett. Cormier KO'd Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov in September of last year. He injured his hand in that bout and the final against Barnett has been waiting on his recovery.Cormier talked about the difference in his style and ability in wrestling and Josh Barnett's catch wrestling style. Thomas also got Cormier to open up about his failure to win and Olympic gold medal in wrestling. An effort that failed when his kidneys gave out during a grueling weight cut. Cormier tells Thomas that had he won the medal, he likely would never have competed in professional MMA. Cormier also talks about the American Kickboxing Academy gym after the departures of trainer Dave Camarillo and UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck.
Video is after the jump...
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, barnett, thoma, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowJosh Barnett: I Am a Fighter (Video)
After a long spring hiatus, the MMA action is back to running full-steam, with an absolutely packed May schedule laying before us.
In addition to UFC on Fox 3, UFC on Fuel 3, and UFC 146, the month will also feature the long overdue conclusion to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. At Strikeforce 40 on May 19, tournament finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will meet in the cage to conclude what began last summer.
Having defeated Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov to advance to the finals, the seasoned Barnett (31-5) is now tasked with defeating an undefeated former Olympic wrestler to take the tournament.
Cormier (9-0), got his big break when he was called in as a tournament alternate to take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. The American Kickboxing Academy representative knocked out Bigfoot with ease and is now poised to parlay a win over Barnett into a career with the UFC.
Strikeforce 40 will take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, tournament, barnett, daniel cormier
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyLuke Rockhold Prepares for Tim Kennedy, With Hope of Anderson Silva 'Dream Match'
For Luke Rockhold, it's back to punching, back to kicking, back to making new believers. Though he hasn't gotten the official word quite yet, the Strikeforce middleweight champion has been informally told that his next title defense will come against Tim Kennedy, likely in July. Coming on the heels of his title win over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souze and a successful first defense in an opening-round knockout of Keith Jardine, Rockhold is hoping to cement his place among the world's top middleweights.In his mind, he's already gotten there. Now, it's just a matter of convincing the rest of us.
"I’m trying to do what I can, and I think Tim Kennedy is another huge step in that direction," he told MMA Fighting. "By no means is he a stepping stone, because he’s a very tough guy. It will take a lot to beat him and it would mean a lot to beat him. He’s a very underrated fighter, and I’m looking forward to keep proving my status, if that’s what I have to do. But I feel I can compete with anyone in the world at my weight class, and I’m going to prove that by keeping on winning."Rockhold's rise to the top was sudden yet slow-developing. He showed himself to be a quality prospect early on in his Strikeforce career, which dates back to 2008. The promotion slowed-played him, giving him matchups against opponents with increasing experience levels as he went. By the time he beat Paul Bradley, he was 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Strikeforce. After that, injuries put him on the shelf for more than a year, so when he was ready to return, it came as a surprise when Strikeforce jumped him to the front of the line, and right into a title match with Souza.As it turned out, the match was close, a five-rounder that he won on points. His matchup with Jardine, though, was not so close. He needed less than one round to finish Jardine, who was coming off a strong performance in a draw against the vaunted Gegard Mousasi at a higher weight class.During the win, Rockhold broke a bone in his right hand, but escaped without needing surgery. With it completely healed, he's ready to get back to work against anyone Zuffa puts in front of him, but he's expecting Kennedy, a rugged former No. 1 contender who's won consecutive bouts against Melvin Manhoef and Robbie Lawler."He’s a tough guy, so tenacious, and just doesn’t want to give up," he said. "He’s going to keep coming for the takedown. He’s not going to quit but I’ve got to break him. My wrestling defense is one of my best attributes, so I feel very comfortable in that. I’m just going to try to break him on the takedown the whole time, and I’m going to try to play my range on the feet. If we get to the ground, I’m confident in my jiu-jitsu. I just don’t want to be on bottom. He's a beast on top, so I ain't going to have that."Kennedy's best attribute might well be his tenacity. The longtime Army Special Forces soldier has seen combat in danger zones like Afghanistan and Iraq, so it's surprising to hear Rockhold mention the possibility of "breaking" someone like that. Then again, fighters who reach the championship level are used to beating the odds."He’s so tough mentally, we've seen it in all his fights," he said. "I think everybody has a breaking point, and I just have to find it. That’s the key. Even if it's just to make him change his game plan."The Jardine fight was a difficult one to prepare for, largely because of timing. Because of ongoing negotiations between Strikeforce and Showtime over a contract extension, Rockhold didn't get official notice for his title defense until five weeks beforehand. That situation starkly different from his fight with Jacare, which started with a 15-week camp and then was delayed six more weeks, giving him 21 weeks to prepare. Given the intensity of camp, Rockhold would settle for a happy medium, somewhere between 8-10 weeks."I want to be able to peak at the right time," he said.That holds true for the fight, it also holds true for his career. While most rankings have him firmly in the top 10 -- some have him as high as No. 5 -- Rockhold has his personal sights set on No. 1. That means that like many others who fight at middleweight, he'd like the chance to test himself against long-reigning UFC champ Anderson Silva."It’s the dream fight," he said. "I’m here to fight the best in the world, and it’d be a dream to fight Anderson Silva. If I didn’t fight him before his career was over, it would be a disappointment to me. I want to fight the best in the world, and fighting him would be amazing. And getting him while he’s champion? Everyone wants to be that guy to beat him. I want to go down in the books. I hope he keeps going, because I want that fight."I am the Strikeforce champ," he continued, "But I feel like I’m in contention for his belt. That’s how I look at it sometimes. I am the champion of Strikeforce, but I’m looking to be the best in the world, and I can’t prove that without fighting the guys in the UFC. So, eventually, that’s what I’m going to need to do."
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, tim kennedy, irsquom
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseJosh Barnett Unconcerned With What Strikeforce Grand Prix Could Have Been
Former UFC heavyweight champion and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett spoke to MMA Fighting before UFC 145 about his impending bout with Daniel Cormier in May. Barnett discussed the need for fighters and fans to know more about MMA history, his brotherly dynamic with Cormier, the state of his relationship with UFC President Dana White and why he isn't concerned with 'what could have been' in the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Heavyweight GP Finale: Josh Barnett - I'm a fighter
MMA veteran Josh Barnett will return to action on May 19th, facing Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Heavyweight GP Finale. Barnett, 31-5 in MMA, will look for an impressive finish against Cormier, with sights on finding his way back into the UFC Octagon. Strikeforce HW GP Finale will also feature the Strikeforce Lightweight Title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh
Posted in: strikeforce, title fight, gp, gilbert melendez, daniel cormier
Read the full article at Low KickJosh Barnett 'I am a Fighter' video for Strikeforce Grand Prix Final against Daniel Cormier
Strikeforce heavyweight attraction and former PRIDE FC star Josh Barnett is featured in the latest installment of Showtime's "I am a Fighter" video series in advance of his upcoming bout against Daniel Cormier, which takes place on May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Barnett's road to the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Final began with a first round arm-triangle choke submission win over promotion castaway Brett Rogers, followed by an identical performance over Soviet slugger Sergei Kharitonov last September.
The win over the former Russian paratrooper pushed his record to 31-5 and "The Warmaster" is currently riding an eight-fight winning streak, dating back to his epic battle against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at PRIDE "Shockwave 2006," his last appearance for the now-defunct mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.
Anyone think he gives Cormier the first loss of his career?
Get up to speed on their upcoming 265-pound tilt by clicking here.
Posted in: strikeforce, daniel cormier, cormier, showtimes i, round armtriangle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHey, we still care about the Strikeforce HW GP so you should watch this new promo
It's been over a year since I slaved over my pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop and created the MiddleEasy variation of the official Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix bracket when the tournament was announced back in January 2011. This was a time when Strikeforce was not a part of ZUFFA, Sengoku still existed and FORM Athletics essentially ran MMA apparel. Boy, have things changed in a year -- including the roster of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix.
After Alistair Overeem was exiled from Strikeforce due to the confusing Golden Glory vs. ZUFFA beef only to be hired by UFC weeks later, Daniel Cormier stepped in for The Reem to face Bigfoot Silva in the semi-final of the grand-prix. We all witnessed Cormier apply the one-two piece (without any sides) directly to Silva's chin, resulting in a remarkable TKO and a place in the grand-prix finals. Josh Barnett is the only fighter in the entire tourney that successfully completed two victories within the grand-prix, yielding a shot at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix belt that everyone forgot existed.
We care about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix because everyone else seemed to have turned their back on the MMA tournament that had people on the edge of their cheap computer chair when it was announced. That's why we still will promote the hell out of the finals, which include showing you this fan-made video hyping Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett next month in San Jose, California. Also, I'm just kidding about the pirated copy of Adobe Photoshop -- relax, government authorities.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, grandprix, adobe photoshop, i slaved
Read the full article at Middle EasyNate Marquardt expects vacant welterweight title to be on the line in Strikeforce debut fight against Tyron Woodley
The past 12 months have been a roller coaster for Nate Marquardt.
In March of 2011, "The Great" had just won a unanimous decision victory over Dan Miller at UFC 128. It appeared as though he was getting his career back on track, and he was re-energized by a move down to Welterweight, where he was set to fight Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4 in the main event of the evening. Everything was coming together nicely.
And then it happened.
The day before the Story fight, Marquardt was pulled from the match because of elevated testosterone levels. The withdrawal sent the entire card into disarray and caused Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White to immediately fire Marquardt and declare he'd never fight in the UFC again.
Fast forward one year later.
In the interim, Marquardt signed with the BAMMA, but never actually stepped foot in the cage for the British-based promotion. After being granted his release from the promotion earlier this year, there was speculation of Marquardt signing with Bellator, as well as a few other smaller promotions, before it was finally made official that he'd be signing with Zuffa-owned Strikeforce.
In February, it was announced that Marquardt's first fight for Strikeforce would be opposite welterweight contender Tyron Woodley. According to a recent interview Marquardt had with "Inside MMA," the fight will be for the vacant 170-pound belt:
"It's the best outcome I could have imagined, with all this. Like I said. Back with Zuffa. Back in a title fight for my first fight back, it's amazing. From what I understand, that's who I'll be fighting is Tyron Woodley. I also understand it's gonna be a five round title fight for the 170 pound title. You know, he's a smart fighter, but at the same time, I have a lot more experience than him. It's gonna be my fight to dictate where it goes."
It certainly makes for a dramatic twist.
Now, Marquardt -- who appeared to be banished for life by Dana White for life -- will not only make his debut for a promotion that is, for all intents and purposes, run by White, but his return will be welcomed with an immediate title shot.
Interesting to say the very least, no?
The fight has not been confirmed by Strikeforce officials as being a title fight, but it is officially scheduled to take place on the May 19, 2012, card that will feature a main event fight between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier for the heavyweight grand prix championship. The card will also showcasesanother title fight when Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez defends his strap in a rubber match versus Josh Thomson.
For the latest news notes on Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here.
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, nate marquardt, marquardt
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez was “hoping for something better” than Josh Thomson as an opponent
Despite an initial flirtation with the idea of taking a different route, UFC President Dana White made it clear a few months back Gilbert Melendez would be sticking with Strikeforce for the immediate future. However, the lightweight champion remained hopeful White might bring the UFC to him if not the other way around, injecting Strikeforce’s solid but not spectacular 155-pound division with some top-level talent.
Names like B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were even mentioned as opponents Melendez would love to mix it up with. Instead he got Josh Thomson, a former rival he split a pair of previous bouts with that also happens to be 1-1 in his last two fights including a recent outpointing of K.J. Noons.
Melendez addressed the situation while serving as a guest on MMAJunkie Radio where the 30-year old’s less-than enthusiastic attitude was evident.
“I was hoping for something better, for some top talent, and it didn’t work out,” admitted the genuinely disappointed Melendez, adding he wanted, “Something to raise my stock.”
“You want to be the #1 guy, and right now, it seems like it’s put on hold for a minute,” he continued, trying to stay positive throughout the process.
“I’ve just got to have fun, do what I do, and stay focused on kicking butt.”
Just because he may not seem motivated to match up with Thomson doesn’t mean he won’t be ready, labeling his upcoming adversary as “tough”, but clearly Melendez is not necessarily satisfied with his career’s direction. “El Nino” holds an overall record of 20-2 with six straight wins including those over Thomson, Jorge Masvidal, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki.
Thomson and Melendez face off on May 19 at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White praises Muhammed Lawal for reaching out to NSAC official
It appears the door is not completely closed on former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed Lawal competing for Zuffa again. Lawal was recently suspended and released in the past few weeks. Initially he was dealt a nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for failing a post-fight drug test. After the hearing, Lawal went off on Twitter against NSAC official Pat Lundvall, calling her a “racist bitch” after she’d questioned his ability to comprehend English.
UFC President Dana White quickly cut Lawal from his contract after the remarks, but it appears the emotional executive has already envisioned the possibility of “King Mo” rejoining the organization.
“We’ll see how this whole thing goes down,” said White in an interview with MMAJunkie. “The fact that he called her and reached out to her, I mean, that’s what he should have done. It’s respectable. I respect that.”
The 8-1 Lawal’s personality and aggressive style of grappling made him a quick fan-favorite, positioning him among the group of fighters at the head of the Strikeforce pack. He will be eligible for reinstatement in September but is currently recovering from a serious staph infection with the process possibly keeping him out beyond the fall.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, muhammed lawal, lawal, i respect, nsac official
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRafael Cavalcante hoping win over Mike Kyle puts him in the UFC, not a title-fight
The contendership picture for the Strikeforce light heavyweight division seemed to be coming back into focus after a bout between Rafael Cavalcante-Mike Kyle was announced for the company’s May 19 event. Each is among the dwindling group of upper-echelon talent remaining on the organization’s roster and riding momentum from a series of in-ring successes, factors likely leading to a title-shot for the fighter emerging victorious in next month’s match-up.
However, if Cavalcante comes away with his hand raised his plan doesn’t involve Strikeforce gold or the promotion in general for that matter. While he wouldn’t necessarily turn down a crack at the belt, his preference pertains to testing his talents inside the Octagon.
“I’m hoping for (a title-shot) or, if possible, going to the UFC. Let’s see what they’ll say about it,” stated Cavalcante on his future in an interview with TATAME. “My game matches many light heavyweight fighters. I would like to see how it turns out. I’m not pointing out names, but I want a chance to show my work in the UFC. My fighting style sells, it’s what people like to see.”
His more immediate focus is, of course, Kyle who beat him by way of TKO in 2009. “Feijao” is confident things will go much differently this time around based on some changes in his life and camp in comparison to their initial encounter.
“Training in the United States, away from my team and people…That was what made me weak. I got there, exceeded the weight limit…Now I’m with my team, at home, doing my prep with (Rogerio) Camoes, training with (Josuel) Distak and all the guys here. It’s just another story,” the 31-year old explained. “Present ‘Feijao’ is much more mature, both technical and physically. I wanted it for a long time. It’s a completely different fight. We have unfinished business and we’re gonna solve them all now.
“He’s very complete, man, has heavy hands. I gotta be smart with him, move a lot,” Cavalcante continued on his impending collision with Kyle. “I have a really good game, I did a good preparation. My evolution on the stand-up is notable, so I hope to let loose and get the win by knockout once again.”
The 11-3 Cavalcante has won four of his last five fights with the lone exception being a loss to Dan Henderson. All eleven of his victories have involved some form of stoppage.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ’m, kyle, cavalcante
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGilbert Melendez wanted a big UFC name next, but doesn’t see the same eagerness from them
One of the best Lightweight fighters in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) today, Gilbert Melendez, has long desired to get his chance to enter the world-famous Octagon and test his skills against the best of the best in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ranks to prove that he is deserving of being called the best 155-pound fighter in the world.
Rumors ran rampant last year that "El Nino" was set to take his talents to the eight-walled cage, but were quickly shot down as he was matched up with Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" on Dec. 17, 2011.
Gilbert's training partners, Jake Shields and Nick Diaz, made the jump from Strikeforce to the UFC in 2010 and 2011, respectively, but he was left to hold the fort down with the San Jose based promotion as its poster boy Lightweight champion. Though a move over the world's largest MMA promotion to join his Cesar Gracie trained companions isn't in his near future, he would settle for Zuffa to send down some of the best Lightweights currently in the UFC to challenge him for his Strikforce throne.
Those pleas, unfortunately, have fallen on deaf ears and everyone, for the time being, is staying put with their respective organizations.
Now, Melendez will take on Josh Thomson for the third time after the two split their first two previous meetings under the Strikeforce banner. Though he isn't too thrilled about a third meeting with "The Punk," he says he will look to make a statement.
Make the jump to see what he told Middle Easy:
"Dude, probably the females (will be in the UFC first) the way things are looking right now. That's not even nice. I was hoping for something big. I was hoping I would get a higher profile person from the UFC, something to help my stock go up. But you know what, I'm going to try and make a statement with Thomson and I am going to show him there is a big difference between the guy he fought in 2006, 2009 and now 2012. I really want to display my skills so I am going to get pumped for this."
When asked what it would take to get Zuffa to bend a little bit and send him some 155-pound sharks from the UFC his way, "El Nino" says he is trying, but he doesn't see the same eagerness from those Lightweights:
"You're asking the wrong guy bro, you know what I mean? I want to make it happen, I'm asking for it, I don't hear them really asking for me. I don't know, it's tough; it's a tough situation for everybody."
Currently riding a six-fight win streak with his last loss coming at the hands of his next opponent, Melendez definitely has made a case for his status as one of the elite Lightweights in the world. But will never having competed inside the Octagon hinder his climb up the ladder?
Maybe, just maybe, a decisive win over Thomson on May 19, 2012, at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs Cormier" will get him closer to finally making his Octagon debut. Though the chances will still be very slim, one can always hope.
Anyone think Melendez will ever make his way to the UFC and put his skills on full display against the likes of Frankie Edgar, Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis? Or is he destined to stay with Strikeforce for as long as the organization clings to life?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, melendez, i dont
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCyborg Santos steroids suspension upheld, secret summer Strikeforce showdown with Ronda Rousey scrapped
Former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane Santos had her long-awaited day in "court" this afternoon (April 9, 2012), pleading her case before the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Her story, which hinged on unknowingly ingesting a "dietary supplement" that contained steroids (Stanzolol metabolites) on the advice of a "trusted individual," simply didn't hold up, which essentially means that the 145-pound female mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter will have to sit on the sidelines until Dec. 2012.
That's a year-long suspension that dates back to her 16-second knockout win over Hiroko Yamanaka back on Dec. 17, 2011, in San Diego, Calif., which was later ruled a "No Contest" because of the banned substance detected in her post-fight urinalysis.
"Cyborg," unsuccessfully, requested to have the suspension, which also included a $2,500 fine, trimmed to just six months. The result was a bitter pill to swallow, but one that the Brazilian already seems to trying to put in the rear-view mirror.
She posted this forward-thinking message on her Facebook page (via Yahoo!Sports) shortly after the ruling:
"I want to thank all my fans, friends, coaches, legal counsel, and sponsors who are with me. Unfortunately, we could not reduce my penalty. I'm sad. But, after a storm in the morning, see the sun shine. Nothing like a day after another day. Soon I will come back better than ever, I promise. Thank my God, always keep praising You."
Prior to the setback, Santos steamrolled through her competition under the Strikeforce banner since making her way over in 2009, with wins over notable female fighters like Gina Carano and Marloes Coenen. Those victories, even if she was clean at the time, will now likely be forever tainted in the eyes of the public.
There's a lot of that going around lately.
Regardless, Strikeforce has a new Queen Bee to keep the Strikeforce female hive, as well as its fans, buzzing until Santos' return ... if the promotion is even interested in retaining her services after this fiasco, of course.
Her name is Ronda Rousey. And the 135-pound champion -- who just scored an arm-popping submission (see the pic here) over Miesha Tate earlier this year to earn the crown -- has "no respect" for a "cheater" like Santos.
Nonetheless, "Rowdy" and "Cyborg," who are 10 pounds apart, were apparently penciled in to collide this summer had the suspension been reduced. At least that was the plan, according to an affidavit that Santos' legal team submitted to CSAC prior to the hearing.
Looks like it's Sarah Kaufman's lucky day.
Posted in: strikeforce, day, suspension, cyborg, ronda rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCSAC Upholds Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos One-Year Suspension For Steroids
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) met to hear from Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos regarding her failed drug test after last year's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal bout with Hiroko Yamanaka. The CSAC voted to uphold her one year's suspension.
Related Stories 'Cyborg' Tests Positive for Anabolic Steroids | 'Cyborg' Stripped of Strikeforce Title | 'Cyborg' Releases Statement | Cris 'Cyborg' Separates From Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos | 'Cyborg' Blames 'Someone In Camp' For Positive Steroids Test | Drug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy Post-Zuffa Purchase
Santos was also cut from Strikeforce and stripped of her 145lb women's title.
Mike Chiappetta reports for MMA Fighting:
In her remarks, Cyborg said she didn't condone the use of performance-enhancing drugs in MMA, and her attorney noted that they have taken steps to have her tested monthly and make sure the supplements she will take in the future won't contain any banned substances.
Their arguments, however, didn't lead to any leniency from CSAC in confirming their original one-year penalty and a $2,500 fine, which her lawyer said she has already paid. A motion by commissioner John Frierson to reduce the suspension to six months was denied.
Santos, 27, will have only fought once in the 30 months preceding the end of her suspension in December of this year. She was tangled in a contract dispute with Strikeforce for a number of months before the Yamanaka bout, which has been ruled a no-contest.
Posted in: strikeforce, suspension, cyborg, cristiane cyborg, csac
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTop 10 Bellator Knockouts Video – Can These Fighters Compete in the UFC or Strikeforce?
This video not only gives us a peek at some of Bellator’s top KO artists, but a potential look at some stars who may be able to really bring it to Strikeforce or UFC contenders. The UFC acquired the contracts for Pride fighters, merged WEC fighters into the UFC and now has bought Strikeforce. But [...]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, wec fighters, ufc contenders
Read the full article at Fighthub TVGesias 'JZ' Cavalcante Meets Isaac-Vallie-Flag At May Strikeforce Event
Gesias Cavalcante will look to regain a top spot in the Strikeforce lightweight division when he faces off with Isaac Vallie-Flagg on the preliminary card of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier next month. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker tweeted about it earlier:
@cokersfScott Coker An exciting matchup between LWs @Gesias Cavalcante and @ikevallieflagg has been added to the May 19 show @hppavilionsj Apr 04 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Cavalcante (16-4-1, 2 NC) has had a weird Strikeforce tenure thus far. He made his debut against Josh Thomson and seemingly beat him, but the judges inexplicably gave the decision to Thomson instead. His next bout against Justin Wilcox went to a No Contest due to an accidental eye poke from JZ. He finally got in the win column with a close split decision win over Bobby Green last July.
Vallie-Flagg (12-3-1) made his Strikeforce debut with a split-decision win over Brian Melancon last June at a 175 pound catchweight. This will be his lightweight debut.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, debut, strikeforce debut, cavalcante, gesia
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce lightweight Gesias Cavalcante headed for May match-up with Isaac Vallie-Flagg
This summer, talented lightweight Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante will continue his quest to achieve status as one of the division’s best after holding the distinction a few years back prior to injury issues hampering his efforts inside the ring. Cavalcante’s next outing will come on May 19 at a Strikeforce event in San Jose and feature apt adversary Isaac Vallie-Flagg standing across from him in the cage.
Strikeforce confirmed the match-up this week. In addition to the lightweights’ bout, the card is also highlighted by fights including Mike Kyle-Rafael Cavalcante, Gilbert Melendez-Josh Thomson, and Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett.
Strikeforce Announces Major May Event
Cavalcante was last seen picking up a Split Decision this past July, putting him back on the winning track after a slide seeing him lost three of four fights. The American Top Teamer holds an overall record of 16-4 with success against some solid opposition including Caol Uno, Michihiro Omigawa, and Vitor Ribeiro.
The 12-3 Vallie-Flag is 1-0 since joining Strikeforce and is backed by the momentum of a three-fight winning streak and victories in nine of his last ten tussles (the lone exception being a Draw). Eight of his triumphs have involved some form of finish.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce event, split decision, isaac vallieflagg, cavalcante
Read the full article at Fighters.comDrug Issues Taint Strikeforce Legacy Post-Zuffa Purchase
Man, Strikeforce is making a hell of an accounting of itself these days, isn't it?
As I read the news Wednesday about Alistair Overeem's drug test failure, it set in just how bad a few months it's been for some of the top Strikeforce talent that either moved over to the UFC or that were among their top remaining stars.
While the WEC transplants have exceeded expectations, its uglier cousin via acquisition hasn't exactly done the Zuffa bosses proud.
Here's a few highlights:
Alistair Overeem
I'm not sure what else to say on this whole mess other than I'm glad people didn't pretend to be surprised. The debacle Overeem took the Nevada State Athletic Commission through before his December bout with Brock Lesnar should have been foreshadowing, but apparently Overeem thought he could beat the law -- even when he knew he would be randomly tested as part of his December agreement.
Dana White is mad and justifiably so. Putting aside the comments about lying to his face, White now has to shuffle around the upper part of UFC 146 and may have lost a potential big star in the process. Not only did he lose Lesnar to retirement, but the other half of the equation could be out for a very long time too? That's the ultimate lose-lose.
"King" Mo Lawal
I understand there's been a strong sympathy play since Lawal was released from his Zuffa contract last week following his own positive drug test suspension and subsequent social media outburst, but when you're not fully over as a star to the mainstream MMA fan, you lose protection privileges.
For Lawal, it's been a horrendous few months with his myriad of medical issues and the loss of an opportunity to keep building up his star power in an organization that desperately needs it. The smart money is that he'll eventually get a shot again, but he's out for most of this year and at age 31, the clock is ticking at how much of an impact player he'll be upon his return.
Cris "Cyborg" Santos
The now former and likely final 145-pound women's champion is awaiting her April 9th hearing to appeal her drug test failure. (Note a recurring theme, anyone?) Women's MMA needs all the help it can get and having one of its most notable fighters on the shelf for a long, long time is a killer, likely eliminating the division from Strikeforce altogether. There's still some semblance of money to be made from a Santos/Ronda Rousey fight but that's a long way off, if it ever happens.
Nick Diaz
Ah, Mr. Diaz. Is there anything else to say at this point about him? He had two fights since being brought back to the UFC and is now out indefinitely after testing positive for marijuana metabolites, putting one of the biggest money fights the promotion has on ice. He awaits a May hearing and is already preparing his defense, while getting ready to hit the competitive BJJ mats again.
I understand that not every Strikeforce fighter can be painted with the same brush and that for every Diaz, there's a Dan Henderson and for every Lawal, there's a Cung Le. But given Overeem's situation exploding on Wednesday, it's pretty incredible to look at the consistency of various drug related issues with some of Strikeforce's biggest names.
Posted in: overeem, strikeforce, drug, lawal, there
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGesias Cavalcante vs. Issac Vallie-Flagg added to upcoming Strikeforce event
The fight card for the Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final event continues to fill up, as officials announced another bout late Wednesday involving lightweights Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (16-4) and Issac Vallie-Flagg (12-3).
The May 19 event featuring both the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix between Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez defending his lightweight title against Josh Thomson will be televised live on Showtime. The prelims are scheduled for Showtime Extreme.
The 28-year old Cavalcante was once at the top of the division before running into some injury issues, going just 2-3 with two No Contests in his last seven fights. In his latest outing Cavalcante defeated Bobby Green via decision. Comparably, Vallie-Flagg was lsast seen winning his Strikeforce debut over Brian Melancon last year after dropping down from the welterweight ranks.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce event, cavalcante, vallieflagg, injury issues
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSan Jose Fighters Billy Evangelista and James Terry Face Off in Strikeforce May 19 (MMAWeekly.com)
A pair of lightweights looking to bounce back from recent losses will square off in Strikeforce on May 19 as James Terry faces Billy Evangeslista in a proverbial “Battle of San Jose.” The new bout was announced by Strikeforce officials on Wednesday. Terry and Evangelista train out of the San Jose, Calif., area, so the home crowd should be in full force for this preliminary match-up. James Terry, who works under former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le, will look to rebound from a loss to Nah-Shon Burrell in his last bout.
Posted in: strikeforce, jose, san, jame, terry
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsStrikeforce Update: JZ Cavalcante Matched Against Isaac Vallie-Flagg for May 19 Card in San Jose
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced Wednesday that Gesias Cavalcante will face Issac Vallie-Flagg at Strikeforce’s May 19 event in San Jose, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, jz cavalcante, isaac vallieflagg, gesias cavalcante, issac vallieflagg
Read the full article at SherdogCalifornians Billy Evangelista, James Terry to Scrap at May 19 Strikeforce in San Jose
Billy Evangelista and James Terry are slated to square off on May 19, Strikeforce officials announced Wednesday.
Posted in: strikeforce, james terry, jame, billy, evangelista
Read the full article at SherdogJames Terry vs. Billy Evangelista added to 'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale'
A lightweight bout between James Terry and Billy Evangelista is the latest addition to the "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" event.
Strikeforce officials today announced the fight.
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final," which features a tournament finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, daniel cormier, billy evangelista, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMMA Roundtable: Lesnar's Legacy, Bellator's Reality Show, More
Hey, did you guys hear that Brock Lesnar is back ... in the WWE? Of course you did. You have to give the man credit: when he steps outside, it's news. While his return to pro wrestling basically ensures that his octagon career is over for good, it's also raised some questions about what exactly his legacy was when it comes to MMA.
Was Brock overrated, undervalued, or simply a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that defies rational explanation? I invited Luke Thomas down to the MMA Roundtable to discuss Brock, MMA's next reality TV show, Gilbert Melendez's recent fight announcement and more.
1) Now that he's moved back to pro wrestling, what is Brock Lesnar's MMA legacy?Mike Chiappetta: Lesnar deserves a great deal of credit for his accomplishments. For all of his shortcomings as a fighter, he was incredibly game simply for choosing to take on the challenge of competing on MMA's biggest stage against the best available talent. You can point to Lesnar's collegiate background as a great base, but he hadn't wrestled in seven years when he decided to make a run at No. 1. At the time, he was bluntly honest in his own personal assessment, saying either he would compete at that high level or be quickly weeded out.The crazy thing is, on limited training, he made it to the top. Sure, he had a short cut to a title shot, but beating Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin consecutively is a legitimate run that validated his championship. Unfortunately, we'll never know just how good Lesnar could have been due to his late start in the sport along with his recurring diverticulitis issues. He won mostly on brute strength and raw talent, and when his health began to erode, he left. I respect him for declining to stick around and make a big paycheck when that would have been the easy thing to do.In the end, Lesnar won't be ranked among the all-time heavyweight greats; his run at the top was just too brief. But he used the tools he had to become a pay-per-view phenomenon and a champion, and that's a legacy that few can match.Thomas: I agree with Mike. Lesnar deserved more credit than he often received, but I also think the criticism of him late was fairly on target.Let's be clear about the terms here: it is highly unlikely we'll ever see another Brock Lensar in MMA. And by that, I mean someone who can come into the sport with virtually no experience and beat the top guys in the world in his division all while being a hugely popular figure among mainstream masses. It's possible an Olympian like Henry Cejudo could do it, especially since he has a small but notable background in boxing and like Muhammad Ali, has injected himself into political issues by speaking out on immigration policy. But even then that seems like a stretch. A lot of planets have to align to get the magic Lesnar brought to the table. I don't know if we'll see it again in our lifetime, especially with collegiate wrestlers going into professional MMA directly out of college.However, critics were right to dismiss him at the end of his run. Lesnar's battle with diverticulitis snatched his soul and hampered his ability to keep pace with the growth of MMA heavyweight talent. Dealing with his own mortality was bad enough, to say nothing of how much time he lost not training and developing. By the time he tried his hand at defending his title, it was clear the road ahead was not going to get any easier. Against Alistair Overeem, it was even clearer Lesnar could not compete with the sport's top heavyweights anymore. And that, in all actuality, is a good thing for MMA. Someone shouldn't be able to march into the UFC and wreck shop. Lesnar certainly couldn't do it in the NFL. Why should the UFC be any different? Let's thank Lesnar for what he did for MMA. He sold pay-per-views, accomplished some really incredible feats, energized the mainstream media to cover MMA and more. But he also was on borrowed time and needed to leave when he did. His legacy is important, but part of that is examining his exit and what that said about the state of the sport.2) Strikeforce recently announced Melendez-Thomson III. Is this the right call?Thomas: Unequivocally, no. There are a few ways to parse this situation, but let's look at the rankings for a clear illustration on why this "keep Melendez in Strikeforce" policy is madness. According to the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings, Melendez is currently the third best lightweight in the world. But since he's in Strikeforce and can only face Strikeforce fighters, that means the next closest contender is....? If you guessed, Pat Healy at number 20, you are correct. In other words, not only is Thomson not even the best possible contender Melendez could face, but the best possible contender Melendez could face isn't even in the top 15 of all MMA lightweights.What is going on here? Does it not seem far more rational to remove Melendez from the organization and let him fight people closer to his skill level? That's obviously better for Melendez, but it's better for the Strikeforce lightweights. Short of some miraculous punch or accident, none of them have any shot of ever beating Melendez. And that's not the same as a Yushin Okami vs. Anderson Silva situation where at least Okami, at the time they fought, was clearly deserving above most of his others peers (Sonnen, notwithstanding). Healy or Thomson or Masvidal are all contenders by default, not by hierarchy. Melendez may be in Strikeforce with fighters he absurdly outclasses, but he's in a league of his own. That's a lonely and deeply unfair place to be.Chiappetta: No, it's not the right call, but for different reasons than Luke mentioned. Melendez re-signed with Strikeforce only about one year ago, when the division wasn't much different than it is today. Yes, I know Zuffa didn't own Strikeforce at the time, but that's the decision he made. He probably made it because a) Strikeforce promised to build around him, and b) he felt he received a good financial deal. That's a deal he made in good faith, so he should honor it as he is doing. But that also means that Strikeforce needs to honor their side, and that's trying to bring him an opponent worthy of his talent. No knock on Josh Thomson, but his last performance didn't beg for a title match.There are plenty of UFC lightweights that Zuffa could bring over to challenge Melendez. They certainly entertained the idea before settling on a third fight with Thomson. The bottom line here is that Dana White constantly reminds fans that he tries to set up the matchups that people want to see, and there's no question that fans want to see Melendez fight a top five lightweight, even if it meant bringing him someone from the UFC. White also said he was going to find a way to keep the Strikeforce fighters happy. Who's happy about Melendez-Thomson III? Well, I tell you who's not happy about it: Melendez and the fans.3) What can Bellator do with their recently announced reality show that will differentiate them from TUF?Mike Chiappetta: I thought long and hard about this one, and it's tricky because everyone in the world is going to be quick to compare it to TUF. That means one thing is for certain: they need a fresh angle. This is obviously a good opportunity for Bellator to build some familiarity with their roster. If I was part of the team, I would insist that the series have some focus on the champions. The tournament format almost ensures that the champion has to sit around and wait while a No. 1 contender moves through the process. That means the champion can be highlighted while he awaits a challenger to emerge.The scheduling might be tough, but I would feature a format where each episode is split. Half would be dedicated to the champion, and the other half would feature tournament contestants working their way towards him. That makes for an easy-to-follow narrative, and as the tourney advances and fighters are eliminated, more time can be devoted to each entrants' story and getting viewers emotionally invested in the eventual title bout.In that way, it would be sort of a hybrid of Primetime and TUF, with the all-access behind the scenes of the former, and the tournament format of the latter.Thomas: This is a really tough one. I've long been a critic of the 'The Ultimate Fighter' and said there was a poverty of imagination when it came to improving the show's content. It could very well be (and I'm sure is) that doing so is a lot more difficult than it looks.Really, this show will forever live in TUF's shadow. So many other kinds of MMA programming have come and gone, but TUF is iconic. This show will have to have a core concept that's distinct from TUF. TUF has gone through a ton of iterative development, but at it's core is still the same show: fighters live in a house and compete to earn a six-figure contract in the UFC.And much of what TUF has done is based on how all reality shows operate. The contestants live in a house, each week one person 'goes home', their personal rivalries and bickering are played up for ratings and so on. Some in MMA often decry these aspects of TUF, but in truth, it's simply what all of reality television offers with very little differentiation.I certainly wouldn't go live. I admit I enjoy TUF Live, but satellite time is expensive and based on the ratings, I'm not sure FX is getting the right kind of bang for their buck. I'd also change up the prize at the end of the show and to what extent coaches are involved. But really, and some might call me crazy, I'd question the very premise of using prospects rather than established fighters. Bellator needs to create stars, but there's a reciprocal relationship here: they need all the existing star power they can muster for the show. I don't know what the perfect solution is, but watching a bunch of completely unknown names duke it out for dubious rewards is not something MMA fans really care about in great numbers. I say make the show about what you've already got and worry about making that bigger and better. The prospects will come. We want to see your best, not your maybes, also-rans or John Does.4) UFC action finally returns next week, with Alexander Gustafsson fighting Thiago Silva. Is this the fight in which Gustafsson makes himself a legit 205 contender?Thomas: I believe so. At the end of 2011, I told CSN Washington Gustafsson was my breakout fighter for 2012. Alexander has so much of the raw material critical for success: good athleticism, technical skills, high fight IQ and the capacity to add skills quickly to his game with a high level of proficiency. I'm constantly amazed at not just how he augments his existing skills, but adds entirely (and seemingly) foreign techniques to his arsenal yet implements them with aplomb.Thiago Silva is certainly a tough test and the appropriate type for Gustafsson at this juncture in his career. He needs to work against someone who has faced championship caliber fighters, has legitimate offensive ability in two dimensions of the game, and is an aggressive and potent power puncher. But what we're looking for is not just for Gustafsson to beat him, but to see how he beats him. Can the Swede get by him in the way other elite fighters have? Eventual superiority in a relatively tough fight is what I'm expecting/hoping to see.I certainly don't think he's ready for a title shot. He needs to beat several more established, high-ranking talents before talk of that is even merited. Without a shadow of a doubt, though, he is the sort of fighter that with more seasoning in a cauldron of world-class preparation and resources, can be the next-level talent everyone suspects that he is.Chiappetta: Gustafsson certainly looks ready to make the leap from prospect to contender. As Luke notes, he's got a well-rounded skill set to work with, and his 6-foot-5 frame makes him a difficult physical matchup for many. His best attribute is clearly his striking, as he has a great idea of how to use his length to his advantage. Since his lone loss came via submission, it will be interesting to see what happens if BJJ black belt Silva can get him to the ground. That's not likely though, as wrestlers Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill had trouble bringing the fight to the mat against him. Silva is a great opponent for him because he'll be willing to bang with him on the feet but certainly won't shy away from any ground work. In the past, some of Gustafsson's opponents have been a bit one-dimensional. Even coming off a one-year suspension, Silva presents more problems than Gustafsson's seen in a while, and if the Swede solves them, we can conclude that he's just as legitimate a prospect as we originally guessed.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, fighter, lesnar, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Adds Zwicker vs. Guto to May 19 Card (MMAWeekly.com)
The Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier fight card slated for May 19 in San Jose, Calif., is coming together quickly. After several bouts were announced on Monday, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Tuesday added a light heavyweight preliminary bout pitting Virgil Zwicker against Carlos Augusto “Guto” Inocente Filho. Zwicker (10-2) is making his third start for Strikeforce with the bout. He’s 1-1 fighting for the promotion, losing to Lavar Johnson in his promotional debut before bouncing back against Brett Albee.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, light heavyweight, virgil zwicker, zwicker
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsStrikeforce Adds Zwicker vs. Guto to May 19 Card
The Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier fight card slated for May 19 in San Jose, Calif., is coming together quickly, adding Virgil Zwicker vs. Carlos Augusto “Guto” Inocente Filho.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, guto, zwicker
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVirgil Zwicker vs. Guto Inocente added to 'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final'
A light-heavyweight bout between Virgil Zwicker and Guto Inocente has been added to next month's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" event.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today tweeted news of the bout.
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final," which features a tournament finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, virgil zwicker
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC Quick Quote: Josh Barnett can return to the UFC if he keeps 'playing nice' with Dana White
"The way that Showtime wants to do it is when that fight finally happens, whoever wins it, they wanna do another fight on Showtime, so that guy would probably come to the UFC. We'll see what happens, you know? Josh and I have been playing nice with each other for a little while, since he got into the UFC. It's more than just, 'Does he win? Does he do this?' You gotta be able to come to terms with the guy and be able to deal with him. If he wins the fight, I can't see why he wouldn't come here, unless we weren't able to make a deal with him."
-- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White discussed the future of the organization's heavyweight division with HDNet's Ron Kruck. The point of emphasis revolved around the new faces that the UFC has imported from Strikeforce within the last few months. The only two heavyweights who are technically still on the Strikeforce roster are Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, who will face each other in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012. Presumably, both fighters would head over to the UFC when all is said and done, but Barnett's sketchy history with White and his promotion leaves some wondering if it's a sure thing that he will make the transition. Stranger things have certainly happened, and if we know one thing, it's that Dana White finds ways to forgive those who he can make a profit on. Money makes the world go, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, josh barnett, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce and Bellator bouts the latest matches to be matched for May (Cagewriter)
Yente, yente, yente! The matchmakers from Strikeforce and Bellator have a few new bouts for you to enjoy this spring.
-- On May 19, Josh Thomson will challenge Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce lightweight belt. This fight will be their third meeting; Each man has one decision win. The fight will happen the same night Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier meet for the final of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. Also on that card, former light heavyweight champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante will meet Mike Kyle.
-- Bellator announced the bout between Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar will take place on May 18. Both women have losses to Zoila Gurgel. Fujii has three wins in Japan since the close decision loss to Gurgel, while Aguilar won her last four. The bout will take place at 115 lbs.
Posted in: bellator, strikeforce, bout, strikeforce heavyweight, yente
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsWhat the fuck is up with Strikeforce's website?
submitted by Rory_B_Bellows [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, website, strikeforces website, rorybbellow
Read the full article at RedditRafael Cavalcante-Mike Kyle slated for May 19 Strikeforce event
With Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson already booked to face off for the Strikeforce lightweight title, another bout with championship implications was also signed in the form of Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante-Mike Kyle.
Cavalcante-Kyle will take place May 19 from San Jose at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Final where Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett battle it out to lay claim to the last heavyweight standing in the organization’s yearlong tournament. These two have met before, with Kyle scoring an upset knockout in the second round back in 2009. While the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt remains vacant, the match is not expected to be for the gold though it’s likely the winner will end up in a title-bout against Gegard Mousasi with a decisive victory.
“Feijao” held the crown after defeating Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, but was upended by Dan Henderson in his first defense. Kyle, meanwhile, has hit a rough patch health-wise despite being one of the hottest fighters in the division. He has won six of his last seven fights with the only exception being a defeat to heavyweight Antonio Silva.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, gilbert melendez, kyle, defense kyle
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: 'Barnett vs Cormier' fight card and rumors for May 19 in San Jose
Event: Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" Date: Sat., May 19, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on ShowtimeLocation: HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Final:
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier
Current fight card and rumors:
155 lbs.: Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson170 lbs.: Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley205 lbs.: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Bobby Voelker205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante
For all the latest news and notes on the upcoming Strikeforce event on Showtime check out our comprehensive news archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, fight card, vs, lb, prix tournament
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCormier facing Barnett in Strikeforce GP
The finale of Strikeforce's Grand Prix heavyweight tournament will take place May 19 in San Jose when Josh Barnett faces Daniel Cormier.
Posted in: strikeforce, san jose, josh barnett, barnett, strikeforce gp
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce heavyweight GP set for San Jose
The finale of Strikeforce's Grand Prix heavyweight tournament will take place May 19 in San Jose when Josh Barnett faces Daniel Cormier.
Posted in: strikeforce, san jose, jose, san, josh barnett
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' tickets on sale this week for May 19 show
Tickets for Strikeforce's next event go on sale this week.
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final," which features a tournament finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Tickets for the show, which range from $45 to $175, go on sale later this week.
Posted in: strikeforce, week, sale, ticket, josh barnett
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGilbert Melendez matched with Josh Thomson for May title-defense
Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson may have thought his previous performance was akin to excrement but it was apparently good enough in the eyes of some to earn “The Punk” a crack at current title-holder Gilbert Melendez’s belt. Thomson outpointed opponent K.J. Noons in a convincing though not particularly exciting effort a month ago at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.
Strikeforce officials have confirmed the match-up’s addition to a May 19 card in San Jose also featuring Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier facing off in the Grand Prix final. The bout marks the third fight in a series between Thomson-Melendez with things currently tied at one apiece.
The 19-4 Thomson is 3-0 in his last three appearances under the Strikeforce banner including victories over Pat Healy and Gesias Cavalcante. However, prior to the win over Noons the 33-year old lost a Unanimous Decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri in Japan and sat out for more than a year afterward due to injury.
Melendez hasn’t tasted defeat since falling to his friendly rival on the scorecards four years ago, racking up six consecutive wins with one involving success against Thomson in late 2009. “El Nino” holds other past triumphs over Kawajiri, Clay Guida, Shinya Aoki, and Jorge Masvidal.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, year, gilbert melendez, thomson, tatsuya kawajiri
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Barnett Vs. Cormier Official, Tickets On Sale This Week
Strikeforce’s return to San Jose is official.
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier will return to the HP Pavilion on May 19, with the main event to feature the finals in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier have been waiting for months to square off, as Cormier has been recovering from a broken hand.
Other matches recently made official for the card include Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez against Josh Thomson, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante against Mike Kyle, and Bobby Voelker vs. Nah-Shon Burrell. The main card will air on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET, while the prelims air on Showtime Extreme beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
“Strikeforce is coming back to where it all started – San Jose,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker in a press release. “The Bay Area has some of the best fans in the world and we can’t wait to get back with an event like this.”
Ticket info below:
• UFC Fight Club Presale: Thursday, April 5, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET
• UFC Newsletter Presale/Strikeforce Insider: Thursday, April 5, 3 p.m. ET
• Public On-Sale Date: Friday, April 6, 1 p.m. ET
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster. Prices range from $45 to $175.
Photo credit: Twitter.com/Strikeforce
Posted in: strikeforce, pm, daniel cormier, cormier, mike kyle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRafael Cavalcante vs Mike Kyle rematch set for Strikeforce event on May 19 in San Jose
Let's run it back.
Almost three years removed from their first encounter, Rafael Cavalcante and Mike Kyle will collide in a Light Heavyweight rematch at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012.
The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion announced the bout this evening, which will be featured on the televised Showtime main card that will begin at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
"Feijao" and "MAK" first traded leather at Strikeforce: "Lawler vs. Shields" back in June 2009, with Kyle scoring a devastating upset knockout finish in round two. Up until that point, Cavalcante was among the hottest 205-pound prospects in the sport and was being groomed for a title shot after an impressive run under the Elite XC banner.
Cavalcante would rebound, winning his next three fights, including the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship with a technical knockout over Muhammed Lawal in Aug. 2010. Dan Henderson would ultimately upset his apple cart in his first title defense, but then bolt for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) immediately thereafter.
Revenge is likely on Cavalcante's mind, but it wouldn't be surprising if the winner of this match gets a crack at the now vacant division title.
Kyle went on to win six of his last eight fights since the initial showdown with Cavalcante, including one "No Contest." He hasn't prevailed over anyone significantly notable during that stretch; however, he did win two titles elsewhere: King of the Cage and XMMA.
He took several fights in the Heavyweight division during that stretch, which were against two very talented competitors, Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. Kyle was finished in both bouts and will no doubt be out to prove that he can hang with tougher competition, as well demonstrate that the win over Cavalcante was not a fluke.
The main event of this Strikeforce show will feature a showdown between Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, which is the final fight of the promotion's Heavyweight grand prix. In the co-featured fight of the night between Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson, the winner will look to score the defining victory in their 155-pound trilogy.
For all the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" news be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, kyle, cavalcante
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson Rubber Match Confirmed for May 19
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is set to defend his belt against top contender Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament Final, slated for May 19, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Strikeforce officials confirmed the booking on Monday.
Heavyweight grand prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier headline the night's main card, which airs live on Showtime. All undercard bouts are expected to broadcast live on Showtime Extreme.
UFC imports B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis were at one time linked to Melendez for his next title defense, and Melendez himself recently revealed he was expecting a name other than Thomson to be given the shot. However both sentiments eventually failed to come to fruition.
Melendez and Thomson have met twice before, with each man taking home a win. Thomson struck first blood back in 2008, stealing the lightweight strap away via a five-round unanimous decision. However 17 months later "El Nino" exacted his revenge, taking the judges' scorecards in another 25-minute decision.
Melendez (20-2) has yet to stumble since his initial loss to Thomson, ripping through six straight victories, capped by a hard-fought win over Jorge Masvidal.
Thomson (19-4, 1 NC), on the other hand, struggled with injuries for much of the last two years, before returning from a 15-month layoff to defeat K.J. Noons in a lethargic unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Following his win, "The Punk" was heavily critical of his own performance, boldly stating, "It was s***."
In addition, a light heavyweight rematch between former Strikeforce champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3) and Mike Kyle (19-8-1), and a welterweight bout between Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1) and Bobby Voelker (24-8) have been confirmed for the night's fight card.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, josh, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGilbert Melendez-Josh Thomson Rubber Match Added to May 19 Strikeforce Bill
The dance card for the next Strikeforce event is beginning to take shape.
Posted in: strikeforce, dance card, strikeforce event, bill, thomson
Read the full article at SherdogGilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson 3 title fight set for Strikeforce show on May 19
Old friends and familiar foes, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and former 155-pound kingpin, Josh Thomson, will collide for the third and likely final time at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on May 19, 2012.
The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion tonight (April 2, 2012) announced that the rubbermatch will serve as the co main event of the evening, which is scheduled to air on SHOWTIME with a 10 p.m. ET start time.
Melendez has ripped through the competition since his loss to "Punk" in their initial encounter way back in 2008, stringing together six consecutive victories and establishing himself as one of the top-ranked fighters in the division in the world. After his most recent win over Jorge Masvidal, a unanimous decision, "El Nino" lobbied for a move to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which undoubtedly has stiffer competition and more big-money fights.
In fact, UFC President Dana White declared not too long ago that Melendez would see this inside of the Octagon "as soon as possible." Perhaps a win over Thomson, the last real meaningful fight remaining for him under the Strikeforce banner, will finally do the trick.
Thomson, meanwhile, has been plagued with various injuries over the years, which have seemingly prevented him from achieving his full potential. He was not 100 percent when he dropped a decision to Melendez in their rematch in Dec. 2009 and has struggled to regain top form ever since.
Nonetheless, he has won three of four fights since that time, including an impressive performance his last time out against K.J. Noons just last month, which ended with a decision in his favor.
With such a quick turnaround time between fights, perhaps Thomson's injury issues are resolved once and for all and the outcome of the defining trilogy fight with Melendez will be asterisk-free.
The main event of this Strikeforce show will feature a showdown between Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier, which is the final fight of the promotion's Heavyweight grand prix. In addition, a clash between former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle and a Welterweight tilt between Bobby Voelker vs. Nah-Shon Burrell are also on tap.
For all the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" news be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, vs, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez defending Strikeforce title against Josh Thomson in May
Despite rumors of a UFC lightweight being brought in as his next opponent, Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez will instead defend his divisional gold against former title-holder Josh Thomson. The fight will mark the third in a trilogy between the two with each taking home a decision win in the previous offerings.
Strikeforce confirmed the match-up today along with two other fights for the May 19 card: Bobby Voelker vs. Nah-Shon Burrell and Mike Kyle vs. Rafael Cavalcante. The San Jose show will be headlined by the already-announced Grand Prix final featuring Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett.
The 20-2 Melendez is on a six-fight winning streak with his last loss, interestingly enough, coming at the hands of Thomson when the two met in June 2008. “El Nino” avenged the defeat in 2009 and has looked incredibly sharp since, dominating Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and most recently Jorge Masvidal.
Melendez Feels He’s Ready for a Shot at the UFC Title
Comparably, Thomson has split his last two bouts but holds consecutive victories over Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante, and KJ Noons in his last three Strikeforce appearances. He holds an overall record of 19-4 with thirteen stoppages including nine submissions.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, ufc title, thomson, offerings strikeforce
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Makes Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Official; Adds Additional Bouts (MMAWeekly.com)
Strikeforce on Monday finally made official the conclusion of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix . It will take place May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. MMAWeekly.com has already reported the main event showdown between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, the co-main event with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his title against Josh Thomson, and a light heavyweight feature bout pitting former champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, josh thomson
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsStrikeforce Makes Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Official; Adds Additional Bouts
Strikeforce on Monday finally made official the conclusion of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, adding additional bouts to the line-up.
Posted in: strikeforce, official, prix, strikeforce heavyweight, bouts strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final' official for May 19, Burrell vs. Voelker added
Strikeforce's return to its longtime home of San Jose, Calif., is official, and so are four main-card matchups.
Strikeforce officials today announced that, as expected, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will meet on May 19 at HP Pavilion.
Additionally, previously reported matchups of champ Gilbert Melendez vs.
Josh Thomson and Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante were also announced, as was
a new welterweight fight between Naj-Shon Burrell and Bobby Voelker.
Posted in: strikeforce, official, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, strikeforces return
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGian Villante Vs. Derek Mehmen Set For Strikeforce In May
Light heavyweight Gian Villante will look to continue his recent winning streak in Strikeforce when he faces off with Derrick Mehmen on the Grand Prix Finals card in May. The bout is expected to take place on the preliminary card. Newsday has the info:
Gian Villante of Levittown said Saturday that there's a bout agreement in place for his fifth bout with Strikeforce. While at the one-year anniversary of East Coast MMA in Rockville Centre, Villante said he signed the paperwork on Friday.
The former All-American football player at Hofstra said he will fight Derrick Mehmen on May 19 in San Jose, Calif.
Villante (9-3) rebounded from two successive losses in early 2011 with a decision win over Keith Berry at a Challengers card in August and an impressive 65-second TKO win over Trevor Smith in January. Mehmen (12-4) has fought once and won once in Strikeforce, defeating Roy Jones on a Challengers card in August of last year. He competed again this past Saturday night at WMMA 1, but lost a decision to Rodney Wallace.
The May 19th card will be headlined by the Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. Gilbert Melendez is also expected to defend his Strikeforce lightweight title on the card against an Josh Thomson.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, card, villante, derrick mehmen, mehmen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Melendez-Thomson 3 set for May
It appears Josh Thomson will face Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez at the upcoming May event to settle their score.
Posted in: strikeforce, champion, josh, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at sportsnet.caMelendez, Thomson get rubber match in May
It appears Josh Thomson will face Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez at the upcoming May event to settle their score.
Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson, melendez thomson
Read the full article at sportsnet.caGilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson III Headed to Strikeforce May 19
Trilogies seem to be the theme of 2012 so add one more to the list. On May 19, Gilbert Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against old foe Josh Thomson as part of the upcoming even headed to San Jose.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh, melendez, gilbert, thomson
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGilbert Melendez To Defend Strikeforce Lightweight Title Against Josh Thomson
According to multiple reports, including MMA Junkie, Gilbert Melendez has agreed to defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against Josh Thomson.
The third fight between the two will take place May 19 at May 19 from San Jose, California at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. The bout is likely to serve as the co-main event, with the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier holding down the main headline.
Melendez (20-2) has lost just once in 11 Strikeforce fights, dropping the title to Thomson back in 2008. “El Nino,” however, took back the crown 17 months later. Thomson (19-4) has won 10 of his 12 fights in Strikeforce, including a recent victory over K.J. Noons to secure the shot at Melendez.
Several reports had Strikeforce and the UFC trying to work out a deal to bring in a major-name lightweight from the Octagon to Strikeforce. Instead, it will be Thomson, which should offer at least a strong story for the fight promotion to present.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGian Villante-Derrick Mehmen scheduled to meet at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Gian Villante and Derrick Mehmen appear to be on track to compete May 19 from San Jose at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier.
The card, set to take place inside the HP Pavilion and air live on Showtime, will feature the final in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will meet for the title in the event, as the two have been waiting several months to finish off the tournament after Cormier suffered a broken hand. Villante (9-3) and Mehmen (12-4) are likely headed to the prelims for the show.
Villante told Newsday that he had signed on to fight Mehmen. The former football and wrestling standout at Hofstra University holds a 2-2 mark for Strikeforce, falling to Chad Griggs and Lorenz Larkin.
Mehmen, meanwhile, was defeated this past weekend against former UFC fighter Rodney Wallace at WMMA 1. He won his Strikeforce debut last year over Roy Jones.
PHOTO CREDIT – VILLANTEMMA.COM/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, cormier, villante, mehmen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGilbert Melendez Vs. Josh Thomson 3 Added To May 19th Strikeforce Card
Some people were hoping to see it again, other wanted something new. It's hard to deny that the first two fights were very exciting, so Strikeforce decided to set up round three. Gilbert Melendez will be defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Josh Thomson on May 19th at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. My Canadian brethren Mauro Ranallo tweeted the info a little while ago:
@mauroranalloMauro Ranallo Just as I had heard but wasn't allowed to say.Melendez vs Thomson 3 for the Strikeforce Lightweight title May 19 in San Jose. Rubber match. Apr 02 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
Melendez (20-2) and Thomson (19-4, 1 NC) first met back in 2008 in a title unification bout, which Thomson won by unanimous decision. Melendez avenged the loss in late 2009 at Strikeforce: Evolution, again by decision. Melendez has won all three of his bouts since then, while Thomson has gone 3-1 in that time period.
As I stated above, their first two bouts were awesome and while some fans are going to complain about Melendez not getting new challengers, I doubt they'll be complaining on May 19th. The bout is expected to be the co-main event of the night.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, melendez, thomson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMultiple Fights Added to Strikeforce’s May Card, Including Melendez vs. Thomson III
Although it has not been the most highly anticipated possible rubber match, the trilogy between Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson is near, as the two will square off again on May 19th. The event, which is headlined by the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, will take place at the HP Pavillion in Strikeforce’s hometown of San Jose, California.
Melendez (20-2) last fought in December, defeating Jorge Masvidal by decision in San Diego, for his third consecutive defense of the Strikeforce lightweight title. Interestingly enough, his last fight in San Jose was against Thomson, whom he defeated in 2009 after losing to “The Punk” the year before. The Cesar Gracie product has not lost since losing that first matchup with Thomson, winning six consecutive fights in the four years since.
Thomson (19-4-1NC) earned the title shot and third matchup after defeating KJ Noons in March via unanimous decision. Although he was not happy with his performance, Thomson will certainly relish the opportunity to determine the winner of he and Melendez’s series, after being even after ten minutes of cage time. The longtime American Kickboxing Academy member has just one loss since losing to Melendez in their rematch, and that took place under the Dream promotion in 2010. With a 10-2 record in Strikeforce, Thomson has had a strong showing since leaving the UFC in 2004.
Also added to the card is a light heavyweight matchup between Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and Mike Kyle. “Feijao” (11-3), has not fought since defeating Yoel Romero Palacio in September in Cincinnati, his first fight since losing the light heavyweight title to Dan Henderson earlier in 2011. He will take on Kyle (19-8-1NC), who has struggled with injuries over the last few years. He has been scheduled to take on Gegard Mousasi on multiple occasions, but the matchup has never taken place due to Kyle and Mousasi both withdrawing due to injury issues.
Those two fights will take place on the main card that will be headlined by the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, along with a welterweight matchup between Naj-Shon Burrell and Bobby Voelker.
For complete coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, melendez, matchup, thomson
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyGian Villante vs Derrick Mehmen on tap for Strikeforce event on May 19 in San Jose
Strikeforce light heavyweight hopeful Gian Villante is looking to notch his third consecutive win under the Strikeforce banner when he trades blows with Derrick Mehmen at the May 19 Showtime event from the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Newsday.com brought word of the pending bout over the weekend.
After Chad Griggs dug him a heavyweight grave in early 2011, Villante (9-3) shed some skin and tried his luck at 205-pounds. He wasn't able to convince the judges he was better than Lorenz Larkin, but has since won back-to-back fights over Keith Berry and Trevor Smith.
Mehmen (12-4) saw his two-fight win streak go up in smoke at the hands of Rodney Wallace last Saturday night in Texas; however, the "Caveman" was victorious in his last fight under the Strikeforce banner, outpointing Roy Jones at "Challengers 18" back in August.
Here are the current fight card and rumors for Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier:"
265 lbs.: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier 155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. TBA 170 lbs.: Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley 205 lbs.: Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante
For all the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" news that's fit to print click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, villante, mehmen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSTRIKEFORCE Returns to San Jose on May 19th
LAS VEGAS – The much-anticipated conclusion of the STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT has been announced for Saturday, May 19, as STRIKEFORCE® returns to HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Former UFC® title holder Josh Barnett will meet two-time Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), to determine the eight-man tournament champion.The fight card will also feature a rubber match for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight championship between two long-time rivals when champion Gilbert Melendez defends his title against number one contender Josh Thomson. Additionally, former STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champion Rafael ‘Feijão’ Cavalcante takes on the heavy-handed Mike Kyle and Bobby Voelker clashes with Nah-Shon Burrell in a welterweight tilt.STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.“STRIKEFORCE is coming back to where it all started – San Jose,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “The Bay Area has some of the best fight fans in the world and we can’t wait to get back with an event like this on May 19. With the Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, along with Gilbert Melendez’s lightweight title defense against longtime rival Josh Thomson, you don’t want to miss this card!”Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE® GRAND PRIX HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT FINAL go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 6 at 10 a.m. PT and are priced at $175, $125, $75 and $45. Tickets will be available at the HP Pavilion ticket office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, April 5 at 10 a.m. PT until 12 p.m. PT, via the website www.UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter and STRIKEFORCE Insider subscribers Thursday, April 5, starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.UFC.com.Currently riding an eight-fight win streak that includes tournament victories over Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, Josh Barnett (fighting out of Fullerton, Calif.) is hoping to conclude his run in the heavyweight tournament with an exclamation point by finishing his third opponent and claiming the trophy belt. At 31-5, the catch wrestling expert has proven he possesses a complete MMA skill set to compete with anyone he stands across the cage from. Now known as “The Warmaster”, Barnett owns career wins over legendary veterans including Randy Couture, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo and Dan Severn, and will look to add Daniel Cormier to his long list of conquests. Daniel Cormier (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) has experienced an incredible ascension through the heavyweight ranks since he began his professional MMA career in September 2009, after representing the U.S. at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics as a member of the freestyle wrestling team. Training at the famed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Cormier has had the advantage of training with some of the sport’s best athletes. The Oklahoma State University All-American wrestler earned his way into the tournament as an alternate after defeating experienced veteran Jeff Monson last summer in a reserve bout and went on to knock out Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in dramatic fashion in his semi-final matchup. With a record of 9-0, “DC” looks to stay undefeated and make the most of this opportunity that will surely catapult him to the top of the heavyweight division. Considered by most to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA today, current STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif. by way of Santa Ana, Calif.) is looking to continue his dominance and extend his six-fight unbeaten streak with a successful title defense in the finale of this exciting fight trilogy. In addition to splitting wins with Thomson, “El Niño” also owns victories over Jorge Masvidal, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shinya Aoki and Clay Guida, bringing his overall record to an impressive 20-2. Former STRIKEFORCE lightweight champ and UFC veteran Josh Thomson (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) steps back into the cage looking to reclaim what he feels is his and to earn his spot back atop the division. With a record of 19-4, 1 NC, “The Punk” recently outpointed KJ Noons in a number one contender’s match, and has defeated top stars such as Melendez, Duane Ludwig, Nam Phan and Pat Healy. Fans can expect these fighters to leave it all in the cage and pull out all the stops in this historic all-Bay Area championship matchup.In what many considered a huge upset at the time, Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante (fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil) was defeated by the always dangerous Kyle in June 2009 in his STRIKEFORCE debut. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would rebound nicely and go on to defeat “King Mo” Lawal for the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight championship, and more recently he knocked out Olympic wrestler Yoel Romero. At 11-3, he will look to even the score when he gets his rematch with American Kickboxing Academy powerhouse Mike Kyle (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.). Never one to settle for an easy fight, “MAK”’s wars with fighters like “Bigfoot” Silva and Fabricio Werdum are well noted throughout his career. This matchup seems tailor-made for the 19-8-1, 1 NC kickboxing pro who is looking to build off his win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima in September and firmly establish himself in the division. Bobby Voelker (fighting out of Kansas City, Mo.) steps back into the cage for the first time since defeating Roger Bowling in back-to-back welterweight battles. With a current record of 24-8, “Vicious” has developed a reputation for being an exciting fighter who never likes it to go to the judges, as evidenced by his 19 finishes. He meets Nah-Shon Burrell (fighting out of Philadelphia, Pa.) who owns an 8-1 overall record and is currently riding a six-fight win streak, including a victory over James Terry. At only 22, “The Rock-N-Rolla” is looking to make a name for himself in the welterweight division with an impressive performance over an MMA veteran. For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit the STRIKEFORCE Twitter page. All bouts live and subject to change.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, san
Read the full article at UFCReport: Gian Villante vs. Derek Mehmen at Strikeforce on May 19
Strikeforce fighter Gian Villante says he has a signed bout agreement to face Derrick Mehmen at Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout agreement, villante, mehmen, gian
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen slated for 'Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier'
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, tekprodfx, vs, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at RedditGian Villante vs. Derrick Mehmen slated for 'Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier'
A light-heavyweight bout between Gian Villante and Derrick Mehmen is slated for next month's "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier" event.
Villante, a New Yorker, recently alerted newsday.com of the matchup.
However, Strikeforce executives haven't formally the bout, which takes place May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, lightheavyweight bout, villante, gian villante, derrick mehmen
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMuhammed Lawal admits his mistake in outburst against NSAC
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal seems to be going on the defensive as of late after his remarks concerning the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Pat Sundvall.
The brunt of Lawal’s outrage came after Sundvall asked him during a recent hearing if he could read and understand the English language. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion took that to heart, especially being a college graduate, and labeled her a “racist bitch”. However, it seems that Sundvall was trying to get to the root of why Lawal declared himself health if suffering from a knee injury.
After a few days to think about it, Lawal issued a formal apology in an interview with CSN Bay Area News, Lawal issued a formal apology for his remarks towards Sundvall.
“The thing is, when it comes down to it, I’m gonna be real; I was out of line for calling the woman the b-word,” Lawal said. “I was wrong for that. I was kinda mad by the comments, I was offended by the comments made towards me, and I was outta line. I was too emotional. But, you know, I apologize for that.”
Lawal’s comments are what likely lead to his release from Strikeforce shortly after making them. Despite the apology, Lawal still seems a little upset, adding, “I still feel I was offended, but I’m in the wrong for what I said.”
“King Mo” was handed a fine and a nine-month suspension, along with having a win over Lorenz Larkin changed to a No Contest, due to his positive hit for steroid use. It remains to be seen what is in store for Lawal going forward organization-wise though in the immediate future he will be recovering from a life-threatening staph infection in his knee.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, muhammed lawal, lawal, apology, sundvall
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainElaina Maxwell Not Sitting Idle, Returns to 145
No matter what Strikeforce does with the women's 145-pound division, Elaina Maxwell plans to keep busy at 145 starting at Friday night's Resurrection FA.
Posted in: strikeforce, return, maxwell, elaina maxwell, elaina
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyOpponent For Strikeforce Heavyweight GP Winner Still An Unknown
If Josh Barnett takes care of Daniel Cormier and wins the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, who would you like to see Barnett face in the “final” Strikeforce heavyweight match.
How about if Cormier, an Olympian, takes care of Barnett and wins the title, who would you prefer to see him face?
Well, if you are UFC president Dana White, that answer still remains a mystery. White, in a recent interview with Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie, explained they are unsure who that final opponent will be.
Who knows. We could bring somebody else in. There’s probably another heavyweight. I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I can’t even think about that yet. We’ve got to get that tournament done first.
Barnett and Cormier will finally end the year-plus grand prix when they face off on May 19 from San Jose, California. The bout, which will be the main card for the night, will be televised by Strikeforce.
Photo credit: Twitter.com/Strikeforce
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, face, barnett, daniel cormier
Read the full article at MMA Convert
King Mo ousted by Zuffa
Tuesday was a bad day for “King” Mo Lawal as he was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission 9 months and fined $39,000 for using Performance Enhancing Drugs. To compound the suspension, Lawal took to twitter to vent which lead to Zuffa cutting Lawal.
As you may recall, Lawal tested positive for PEDs after his last fight in Strikeforce in January. The hearing before the Nevada State Athletic took place on Tuesday and it didn’t go well. Lawal was fined a total of $39,000 and suspended 9 months by the NSAC. Also, his KO of Lorenz Larkin was ruled a No Contest.
MMA Fighting reports that Strikeforce’s Scott Coker stated that the release was based upon the “subsequent reaction” by Lawal. This is in reference to Lawal’s twitter rant after the hearing. The tweets railed against a female member of the NSAC questioning Lawal as she asked if he could read and if he spoke English. Lawal took offense and some of his tweets reflected his disdain. As a result, Zuffa notified Lawal’s management that the fighter had been let go.
With Lawal’s termination came the uproar as to the lack of symmetry in doling out punishments by Zuffa. But there is a code of conduct in fighters’ contracts.
MMA Junkie provides the section in a Zuffa fighter’s contract regarding code of conduct:
Section 9.1 of the Zuffa (or Forza, LLC for Strikeforce fighters) contract states:
“Fighter shall conduct himself in accordance with commonly accepted standards of decency, social conventions and morals, and Fighter will not commit any act or become involved in any situation or occurrence or make any statement which will reflect negatively upon or bring disrepute, contempt, scandal, ridicule, or disdain to Fighter, the Identity of Fighter or any of Fighter’s Affiliates, FORZA or any of its officers, managers, members, employees, or agents.
“Fighter’s conduct shall not be such as to shock, insult or offend the public or any organized group therein, or reflect unfavorably upon any current or proposed sponsor or such sponsor’s advertising agency, or any network or station over which a Bout is to be broadcast.”
Payout Perspective:
The termination issue here is based on Lawal’s tweets, something that has gotten UFC fighters in trouble in the past. Recent memory will point us to Miguel Torres and his brief expulsion due to an off color tweet. Also, Torres was taken back into the good graces of Zuffa less than a month after he was terminated. But Forrest Griffin had a controversial tweet about rape and was not punished. Rashad Griffin made a topical, yet off-color remark about Phil Davis’ alma mater, Penn State in promoting their fight and was not punished either.
As for the reason for the tweets, it’s certainly understandable for Lawal to be upset for the line of questioning about whether he could read and/or speak English. As an attorney that’s actually been in situations like this, feelings are hurt and it’s unfortunate that this happens in the profession. After listening to the audio, it seems like Pat Lundvall was asking a line of questioning which would segue into further questioning. Definitely, she could have asked different questions to get to the same point. But, it appears that she may have been upset with the fact that Lawal did not actually fill out the questionnaire which she questioned Lawal about preceding the read and speak questions. Honestly, I’m not even sure if she realized that the questions were condescending. But that’s only speculation.
The termination gives cause to pause about whether there should be a need to inform Zuffa fighters about its twitter policy (maybe implement one if one does not exist). Zuffa could amend its code of conduct to specifically include social media use to spell it out to its fighters too. For a tool it wishes, and in fact awards, its fighters for using, there needs to be some ground rules. While it doesn’t want to restrict tweeting, fighters need to be smart about what they are tweeting. Lawal has been through a difficult time and the tweets reflect his frustration. But, he should have self-imposed a cooling period. Stay off of twitter for a day so your tweets don’t get you into trouble. It’s one of the reasons why the media is not let into locker rooms immediately after a football/basketball game. Players need to calm down lest they say something they regret.
In the end, Lawal may still have a chance to comeback to Zuffa. If he shows contrition for his tweets and accepts the suspension, Lawal still may land back in Strikeforce or even the UFC. One need only look to Miguel Torres. You could even point to Nate Marquardt as a fighter exiled by the company only to return.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, zuffa, lawal, tweet
Read the full article at MMA PayoutFormer Strikeforce Champ Jake Shields Moving Up to UFC’s Middleweight Division
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields will return to the division he once called home. After going 2-2 as a UFC welterweight, Shields will move back to 185 pounds later this year.
Posted in: ufc, shield, jake, strikeforce, division
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 146 vs. Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix: Which Roster Is Stronger?
UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card isn't a declared tournament, but it is the closest relative to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix the UFC has ever produced.
In fact, one can barely consider the novelty of the UFC card without acknowledging the obvious Strikeforce influence. While there are obvious differences between the two events, the two rosters between the organizations can be meaningfully compared. And given that comparisons have to be limited but not out of bounds, the most pressing question is which event had the stronger roster of heavyweights?
It's true the UFC's absolute and comparative advantages here are hard to overstate. However, it's also true the deck is stacked slightly in Strikeforce's favor. We are not measuring or comparing what kind of tournament or what the best possible all-heavyweight main card is the UFC can put together. We are merely comparing Strikeforce's best historical heavyweight event against an excellent but not resource-draining creation by UFC.
There are a few methods to compare rosters, but the most obvious is rankings. Despite debate among the community as to the accuracy or value of fighter rankings, they are the best if very imperfect method of evaluating status and accomplishment.
The first leg of the Grand Prix kicked off in February of 2011. Therefore, let's take at the rankings of the Strikeforce heavyweights on the cusp of the tournament's beginning. According to the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings (a measure of the MMA rankings community aggregate view), they were as follows:
Fedor Emelianenko - #3Fabricio Werdum - #4Alistair Overeem - #7Antonio Silva - #10Josh Barnett - #11Brett Rogers - #12Andrei Arlovski - #17Sergei Kharitontov - unranked
By comparison, here's where the top eight of UFC 146's ten main card fighters rank as of the time of this writing:
Junior dos Santos - #1Alistair Overeem - #2Cain Velasquez - #2 (tied with Overeem, there is no #3)Frank Mir - #4Antonio Silva - #10Roy Nelson - #14Stefan Struve - #20Mark Hunt - #22
What's the major takeaway? The Strikeforce roster is very competitive, but not as top heavy or deep as the upcoming UFC 146 main card. There are more, higher-ranked fighters on UFC 146 than there were at any point in the Grand Prix. That's also true in terms of top ten talent.
One could argue several of the Strikeforce fighters were underrated. But several of them bottomed out in the course of the tourney. Those that succeeded have climbed the ranks. The case for a major recalibration of the February 2011 rankings is a tough sell.
The Strikeforce top eight are competitive, though. Like the top eight of the UFC's main card, Strikeforce's tournament featured four fighters who at some point held a major heavyweight title in MMA (Emelianenko for PRIDE, Overeem for Strikeforce, Barnett and Arlovski for UFC). And two of the UFC main card fighters - Alistair Overeem and Antonio Silva (del Rosario was an alternate) - were a part of the Strikeforce tournament. Due to Overeem's victory over Werdum in the tournament and dominating performance of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, today they're in an accumulatively improved rankings position than they were before the tournament started.
It's true and regrettable the Strikeforce tournament is limping to an end. And as aforementioned, it's also true several participants have fallen on hard times. Emelianenko would lose first round to Silva and subsequently to Dan Henderson, ultimately resulting in his dismissal from Strikeforce. Arlovski would lose first round to Kharitonov - his fourth in a row - and would also leave the organization. Brett Rogers, too, would be cut due to his run-in with the law on charges of domestic abuse after being easily bested by Barnett. Given Golden Glory's poor relationship with Zuffa, Kharitonov's MMA future remains uncertain.
Hindsight is always 20/20, though. It's easy today to dismiss Arlovski's or even Emelianenko's inclusion in the tournament as evidence of strong competition. We've witnessed their decline. Trying to appreciate the original February 2011 context is psychically impossible. There were reasons to be skeptical of their merit then, yes, but decline in fight sport is precipitous. And given Strikeforce's limited resources, what they were able to cobble together at the time was rather remarkable. That, too, is a benefit of retrospection.
The tournament's legacy will not be that the best heavyweight in MMA was crowned. Nor will it be a positive referendum on Strikeforce's ability execute on a vision. Instead, it's that permutations on the sort of fights and format Strikeforce lined up are very promotable at the highest level. That's not the success Strikeforce sought in February of 2011, but a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
All of this also suggests UFC 146's main card deserves some extra acknowledgement for what it says about those staging the event.
Strikeforce's collection of tournament fight cards relied on the best their division had to offer. It's not as nimble or elegant a feat as constructing a single fight card that can more than rival the tournament's talent. Also consider several ranked UFC heavyweights - Fabricio Werdum, Shane Carwin, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - are not even part of this upcoming card. There is a disconnect between what the UFC is capable of and what they're doing. Given how well they're doing, it's staggering to consider how much better it could be.
The UFC is significantly more powerful than Strikeforce both then and especially now. Appreciating or acknowledging as isn't a particularly difficult task. One can naturally infer even with a more limited platform they'd be able to create a product to surpass any of their competitors.
As we look back on the Strikeforce experiment, though, we can recognize the UFC 146 card succeeds by poaching several Strikeforce stars and aping what's alluring about the heavyweight tournament: a night(s) of top talent in bouts of both significance and slugging and the promise of more to come. UFC 146 feels as if Zuffa capitalized on what was right about the Strikeforce tournament while shrinking or eliminating that which held the tournament back.
The May 26 fight card is the single best showcase of ranked, heavyweight talent in a single night in MMA history. For that, UFC deserves credit both for having the resources and executing on them. But credit, too, goes to Strikeforce. Although they stumbled along they way, they birthed a clever idea. In more capable hands, that idea turns out to be fun for fans, record-setting for the sport and excellent for the UFC's financial bottom line.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, card
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMo Lawal released by Strikeforce after inflammatory comments on Twitter
Few fighters have ever had a stretch as rough as light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal over the past two months. Not only has “King Mo” been dealing with a recurring staph infection in one of his recently repaired knees nearly costing him life and limb, literally, but the former Strikeforce champion was fined $39,000 and suspended for nine months as the result of a failed drug test in January.
If things weren’t bad enough, Lawal now finds himself without a professional home after calling a Nevada State Athletic Commission official a “racist bitch” on Twitter based on his displeasure with remarks made during his recent hearing. The error in judgement on such a public level was followed by his prompt release from Zuffa-owned Strikeforce.
Lawal’s statements stemmed from the official questioning his ability to read/speak English properly. While condescending in tone, the assessment came while discussing Lawal’s failure to disclose his health issues on a NSAC questionnaire prior to fighting Lorenz Larkin earlier this year.
“King Mo” Reveals How Serious Health Issues Really Were
The 31-year old’s free agent status was confirmed by MMAJunkie as well as by Lawal who, in an interview with Bloody Elbow, stated, “Zuffa made a decision just off what was said on Twitter. I don’t know if they care what happened. I’m pretty sure they didn’t hear any of the audio. They just made a decision off what went down on Twitter. I’m pretty sure (NSAC Executive) Keith Kizer and certain people at the commission are mad and I didn’t mean any disrespect to Keith or the rest of the people in the commission. I just felt disrespected by that one person that asked if I could speak or read English. To me, that was a blatant insult.”
Up next for Lawal is a continued recovery process after losing thirty pounds from his bout with staph with an inability to fight until at least September based on his suspension. Landing spots for Lawal once he is eligible to compete again include ONE FC, SFL, Bellator, or, as has been the case in similar situations, it always remains possible Zuffa could come calling if he apologizes properly.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Tweet
Posted in: strikeforce, twitter, commission, lawal, health issues
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce cuts King Mo after 'racist' tweet
Muhammed Lawal has been released from his Strikeforce contract after he posted a comment on Twitter calling an athletic commissioner racist.
Posted in: strikeforce, twitter, cut, strikeforce contract, king
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca‘King Mo’ Talks About His Release From Strikeforce Following Twitter Rant
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal had a very interesting day on Tuesday. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion stepped in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, was dealt a nine-month suspension and fined a large sum of money, and, eventually found out he had been released from Strikeforce by UFC president Dana White.
In between all that, Lawal went on an Twitter outburst that likely helped in forcing Zuffa’s hand in releasing the talented fighter from the company.
Following all of the exciting action, Lawal gave Stephie “Crooklyn” Daniels an exclusive interview where he talked about what went down with the NSAC and his eventual release from Strikeforce.
It is what it is. Of course, I want to fight for Strikeforce and fight for Zuffa, but if they want to cut me for what I said, then I can’t take it back because it already happened. I have never been asked in such a condescending way if I could read or speak English like that. I did something wrong, so I can’t really say I’m being treated unfairly. I don’t know if it was excessive to cut me. Zuffa made a decision just off what was said on Twitter. I don’t know if they care what happened. I’m pretty sure they didn’t hear any of the audio. They just made a decision off what went down on Twitter. I’m pretty sure Keith Kizer and certain people at the commission are mad and I didn’t mean any disrespect to Keith or the rest of the people in the commission. I just felt disrespected by that one person that asked if I could speak or read English. To me, that was a blatant insult.
This story has plenty of feedback already circulating around the MMA internet community. Was Zuffa right in releasing Lawal? Was “King Mo” out of line for his Twitter rants? Everyone seems to be picking a side and sticking to it.
To hear Lawal’s NSAC hearing, follow this link courtesy of MMA Weekly. The official release information by the UFC can be viewed here, while Lawal’s manager, Mike Kogan, gives MMA Fighting an interview in regards to everything that went on here.
Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog
Posted in: strikeforce, twitter, zuffa, lawal, keith kizer
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLive Chat: King Mo's Cut, UFC 146, Bellator's Tournament Model Discussion
Quite an interesting day yesterday. Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem gets sentenced to community service for (allegedly) shoving a woman in the face in a Las Vegas nightclub. Then the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspends (former) Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal for nine months as well as fines him roughly $40,000. Of course, all of this is before Zuffa cut Lawal from his Strikeforce contract for controversial remarks he made about a member of the NSAC.
Naturally, there's a lot to talk about. So, join me at 1 p.m. ET today as we discuss it all: should Lawal have been cut? Does Bellator's tournament model deserve to be changed?
Remember, you can login to the awesome Scribblelive service using Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. Or you can just register with Scribblelive. Either way, all I ask is you show up at 1 p.m. ET for the banter.
Talk to you then.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce contract, lawal, media platforms, scribblelive service
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMuhammed Lawal punished for positive steroid test, released by Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal had a rough Tuesday after first being handed his punishment by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his positive steroid test following a win over Lorenz Larkin earlier this year and then being cut by Strikeforce based on some inflammatory follow-up comments the 31-year old made on Twitter regarding a NSAC official.
Along with having the victory changed to a No Contest, Lawal was dealt a nine-month suspension and fined 30 percent of his salary for competing and his entire win bonus of $15,000 for a grand total of thirty-nine grand.
Lawal tested positive for an over-the-counter supplement he purchased at a nutrition/fitness store. However, the NSAC did not feel like that was a good enough reason to let Lawal slide, informing him he needed to be more careful of what he puts in his body.
While the suspension will run out in September, it remains unknown when Lawal will be anywhere near healthy enough to return to training and active competition inside the cage. He was likely set to compete for the vacant divisional title prior to the situation, but that will not happen anytime soon, especially in light of his sudden release.
After one of the NSAC members asked him if he understood English after failing to disclose his full medical condition on a pre-fight questionnaire which prompted Lawal to call her a “racist bitch” on Twitter. Clearly the reaction struck a chord with his employers at Zuffa who severed professional ties with him shortly thereafter (as confirmed by MMAJunkie).
Currently, Lawal is battling his way back from a nasty staph infection nearly taking his leg and ultimately life. Lawal has been in and out of the hospital following knee surgery as a result and lost thirty pounds.
(Brendhan Conlan Contributed to This Report)
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, lawal, nsac, overthecounter supplement
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainKing Mo Released From Strikeforce
“King” Mo Lawal’s day just went from bad to truly awful. After being fined and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a hearing on Tuesday afternoon, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion has been released from the organization. The news was first reported by MMAJunkie.com, and confirmed by Lawal’s manager, Mike Kogan, to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.In a brief statement over email, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker wrote only, "Following the outcome of today's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, STRIKEFORCE has released Muhammad Lawal from his contract."
When reached for comment on Tuesday evening, Lawal told MMA Fighting that he thought his comments on Twitter aimed at NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall were the root cause of his release.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Lawal referred to Lundvall as a “racist b--ch” for asking him if he could speak and read English when he filled out the pre-fight questionnaire. The commission suggested that Lawal hadn’t been forthcoming in his answers about injuries and medications he’d taken before the fight, and the accusation bothered him, as he told MMA Fighting earlier today. On Tuesday evening Lawal explained his Twitter reaction, saying, “When I showed up to the hearing, I proved that I can speak and I can read. I don’t know when, but she got mad at me, got irritated, and was like, ‘Look, can you speak and read English?’ Now to me, that’s an insult.”He added, “Growing up through high school and college, I’d get asked, ‘Do you speak English instead of jive? Do you speak English instead of ebonics?’ For a grown woman to talk to me like that, knowing I’m a college graduate, born in America? I grew up in the south, in Tennessee, went to Oklahoma State, traveled the world, and for her to talk to me like that, that’s disrespectful.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the NSAC voted to suspend Lawal for nine months and fine him a total of $39,000 for his positive drug test for the steroid drostanolone following his win over Lorenz Larkin in a Strikeforce event on Jan. 7. The suspension is retroactive to the date of the fight, leaving him eligible to re-apply for licensing in September of 2012.
Posted in: strikeforce, nevada state, state, tuesday, lawal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseKing Mo Lawal Released from Strikeforce
Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal's day on Tuesday went from bad to worse after receiving his punishment from the Nevada Athletic Commission as he was then released from his Strikeforce contract.
Posted in: strikeforce, mo, king, lawal, muhammed
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce cuts King Mo for taking steroids and branding NSAC Chairperson a 'racist bitch'
It hasn't been a banner year for former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal.
Not at all.
"King Mo" tested positive for steroids following a knockout win over Lorenz Larkin earlier this year, then contracted such a serious staph infection that he didn't care if he died, was fined $39,000 and suspended for nine months from mixed martial arts (MMA) competition for "taking his punishment like a man" and now has been handed his official walking papers.
That's right, Zuffa -- the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce -- has released Lawal from his contract because of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) ruling this afternoon, as well as Lawal's immediate reaction to hearing the news.
Strikeforce Scott Coker issued the following statement via MMAFighting.com:
"Following the outcome of today's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, STRIKEFORCE has released Muhammad Lawal from his contract."
The "reaction" refers to Lawal branding NSAC Chairperson Pat Lundvall a "racist bitch" for her line of questioning during the hearing, who inquired whether or not the former Oklahoma State University wrestling standout could "read or speak English." It clearly rubbed Lawal, who was born and bred in the southern United States, the wrong way and "reminded him of negative past experiences."
Lawal has since removed the controversial rant on Twitter, which is the wrong place to vent frustrations and make outrageous statements. Just ask Miguel Torres, who was notoriously cut -- and then re-hired -- for his tasteless "rape van" joke.
On the flip side, the good news is that Torres, as well as Nate Marquardt, are living (and recent) examples that a Zuffa release is not the end of the line. He'll have more than enough time to get healthy, return to form and ply his trade elsewhere.
Let's also remember that Lawal is a fan-favorite in Japan. So, too, is Quinton Jackson, who recently requested -- and was granted -- his UFC release once he satisfies one more fight for the promotion.
Perhaps the pair, who can't stand each other, are now on a collision course to throwdown in the "Land of the Rising Sun" in early 2013. Sometimes these things happen for a reason.
Posted in: strikeforce, nevada state, state, lawal, reaction
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFormer Light Heavyweight Champion ‘King Mo’ Lawal Released from Strikeforce Contract
Sherdog.com confirmed with Lawal and his manager, Mike Kogan, that the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion was today released from his contract. MMAJunkie.com first reported the news on Tuesday evening, citing UFC President Dana White.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, champion, tuesday evening, contract mmajunkiecom
Read the full article at SherdogMo Lawal Cut From Strikeforce, NSAC Hearing and Lawal's 'Reaction' to Blame, Says Scott Coker
“King” Mo Lawal’s day just went from bad to truly awful. After being fined and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a hearing on Tuesday afternoon, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion has been released from the organization. The news was first reported by MMAJunkie.com, and confirmed by Lawal’s manager, Mike Kogan, to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.In a brief statement over email, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker wrote only, "Following the outcome of today's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, STRIKEFORCE has released Muhammad Lawal from his contract."
When reached for comment on Tuesday evening, Lawal told MMA Fighting that he thought his comments on Twitter aimed at NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall were the root cause of his release.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, Lawal referred to Lundvall as a “racist b--ch” for asking him if he could speak and read English when he filled out the pre-fight questionnaire. The commission suggested that Lawal hadn’t been forthcoming in his answers about injuries and medications he’d taken before the fight, and the accusation bothered him, as he told MMA Fighting earlier today. On Tuesday evening Lawal explained his Twitter reaction, saying, “When I showed up to the hearing, I proved that I can speak and I can read. I don’t know when, but she got mad at me, got irritated, and was like, ‘Look, can you speak and read English?’ Now to me, that’s an insult.”He added, “Growing up through high school and college, I’d get asked, ‘Do you speak English instead of jive? Do you speak English instead of ebonics?’ For a grown woman to talk to me like that, knowing I’m a college graduate, born in America? I grew up in the south, in Tennessee, went to Oklahoma State, traveled the world, and for her to talk to me like that, that’s disrespectful.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the NSAC voted to suspend Lawal for nine months and fine him a total of $39,000 for his positive drug test for the steroid drostanolone following his win over Lorenz Larkin in a Strikeforce event on Jan. 7. The suspension is retroactive to the date of the fight, leaving him eligible to re-apply for licensing in September of 2012.
Posted in: strikeforce, nevada state, tuesday, lawal, hearing
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White has cut King Mo from Strikeforce
Damn
In a perfect world, that would be the end of this article. However, in a perfect world we wouldn't have to write about King Mo being cut from Strikeforce. If you think you've been burned this year, let's do a brief recap of King Mo's 2012.
We learn that the heavily rumored King Mo vs. Rampage Jackson fight for UFC in Japan won't happen due to King Mo's Strikeforce contract.
King Mo tests positive for a banned substance. He claims it was from a supplement and gives the canister to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
While he awaits his NSAC punishment, Mo succumbs to a life-threatening staph infection. In an interview after the ordeal, he accepted death as a possibility.
NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall asks if King Mo can 'speak and read English' despite King Mo being college educated.
King Mo received a nine-month suspension, fined 30% of his $80,000 purse, forced to fork over his $15,000 win bonus and his bout with Lorenz Larkin was turned to a no-contest.
Mo goes on somewhat of a Twitter tirade, calling Pat Lundvall racist
Hours after his suspension and his statements on Twitter, Steven Marrocco from MMAJunkie reports that Dana White has cut King Mo Lawal
Well, look on the bright side. King Mo vs. Fedor Emelianenko is now a tangible possibility. Let's get it done ONE FC. We wish King Mo the best in his future MMA career.
Posted in: strikeforce, king mo, mo, king, ninemonth suspension
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideo: Strikeforce Champ Ronda Rousey Handles 3 Japanese Comics In Judo Contest
We showed you former Strikeforce women's champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos taking on a Japanese comedian in an MMA bout on Japanese game show "Honoo No Taiikukai TV" and now here comes current Strikeforce women's 135lb champ Ronda Rousey to one up Cyborg by taking on 3 Japanese comedians in a Judo match on that same show.
Rousey, a former member of the Team USA Olympic Judo squad, took the Strikeforce title from Miesha Tate at Strikeforce's March 3 event in Columbus, Ohio. Santos is serving a year's suspension for failing a steroid test after her last defense of her Strikeforce 145lb women's title last fall. She was cut by Zuffa after the test results were announced so it's uncertain whether or not Rousey and Cyborg will ever get to face off.
The two are not mutual admirers and there is no doubt that a bout between Rousey and Santos would be the biggest fight in women's MMA since Cyborg defeated Gina Carano in 2009.
HT MMA Mania
Posted in: strikeforce, japanese, women, cyborg, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNSAC Hands ‘King Mo’ Lawal A Hefty Fine, Nine-Month Suspension For Positive Drug Test
The Nevada State Athletic Commission handed down a steep punishment for Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal on Tuesday, fining him $39,000 and dealing him a nine-month suspension.
Lawal appeared before the commission in hopes of receiving a less sentence after testing positive for steroids following his win over Lorenz Larkin in Strikeforce earlier this year.
The fight – which Lawal won – was changed to a no-contest. The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion will have to complete a pre-fight drug test once his suspension is up in September before he can compete in the state of Nevada and gain back his fight license.
Currently, Lawal is battling back from a serious Staph infection that came about following knee surgery. Thanks to MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin for all the insight on what went down in the proceedings.
Lawal was very supportive in the decision by NSAC, appearing before them and offering up these words.
I appreciate you letting me come and tell my side of the story, and whatever punishment you all took for me, I’m a man, and I’ll take it like a man.
Lawal admitted to taking the banned substance, but said he purchased it at a general fitness store and assumed it was legal. The commissioners suggested that he be more responsible for what he puts in his body.
This seems like a sound suspension for Lawal, as he has admitted his mistake and seems ready to move on. Considering it is his first offense, expect Strikeforce to remain high on him as long as his knees hold up and the infections remain under control.
Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, suspension, lawal, fight license
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNSAC suspends Strikeforce's 'King Mo' Lawal nine months, victory overturned
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today voted unanimously to suspend and fine former Strikeforce champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal for a failed drug test following his appearance at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine."
Lawal was suspended nine months from the date of the fight, fined 30 percent of an $80,000 "show" purse, and he must surrender his $15,000 win bonus.
Additionally, his win has been changed to a no-contest, and he must provide a clean drug test when he reapplies for a fight license in Nevada.
Posted in: strikeforce, drug test, commission today, fight license, months victory
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Issues Statement on Muhammed Lawal
STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker released the following statement today regarding Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and the recent findings of the Nevada State Athletic Commission:“Following the outcome of today’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his subsequent reaction, STRIKEFORCE has released Muhammed Lawal from his contract.”
Posted in: strikeforce, nevada state, lawal, reaction strikeforce, statement today
Read the full article at UFCSarah Kaufman Lays Out a Plan to Build Women’s MMA in Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce women's bantamweight titleholder Sarah Kaufman lays out out a blueprint to build women's mixed martial arts in the Strikeforce promotion.
Posted in: strikeforce, women, sarah kaufman, kaufman, sarah
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier' tickets on sale next week
Tickets for Strikeforce's next event event go on sale next week.
With a heavyweight grand-prix finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel
Cormier official for the card, Strikeforce returns to its longtime home
at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., for the May 19 event.
The event, which takes place at Ohio's Nationwide Arena in Columbus,
features a title fight between women's bantamweight champ Miesha Tate
and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, week tickets, columbus features, event event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRonda Rousey Adds the Diaz Brothers to Her Training Routine
The next time Ronda Rousey defends her Strikeforce bantamweight title, she may have developed a new way to mean mug her opponent.
Posted in: strikeforce, diaz brothers, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce tickets for heavyweight grand prix final on May 19 in San Jose, Calif., on sale soon
Tickets for Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" which was recently made official for May 19, 2012, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., will go on sale to the general public on Fri., April 6, 2012, at 10 a.m. PT.
UFC Fight Club members and Strikeforce Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.
The Showtime-televised event will feature the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix tournament, as Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier collide for all the proverbial marbles.
No other bouts have been confirmed for the card at this time though Gilbert Melendez's next title defense is strongly rumored to take place at the event as well as a match-up pitting Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley for the vacant welterweight championship.
Here is the Strikeforce tickets sales schedule (All times PT):
UFC Fight Club presale: Weds., April 4, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Strikeforce Newsletter presale: Thurs., April 5, 2012, at 10 a.m.
General tickets sale: Fri., April 6, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Strikeforce tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
For more on the "Barnett vs. Cormier" Strikeforce heavyweight tournament final click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, sale, ticket, april, strikeforce tickets
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Tickets Go On Sale Soon For Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier GP Final
Strikeforce’s return to San Jose is official.
Strikeforce will return to the HP Pavilion on May 19, with the main event planned to feature the finals in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier have been waiting for months to square off, as Cormier has been recovering from a broken hand.
To date, Barnett-Cormier is the only bout that has been announced, but, Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is also expected to compete on the card.
Ticket info below:
• UFC Fight Club Presale: Thursday, April 5, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET
• UFC Newsletter Presale/Strikeforce Insider: Thursday, April 5, 3 p.m. ET
• Public On-Sale Date: Friday, April 6, 1 p.m. ET
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.
Photo credit: Twitter.com/Strikeforce
Posted in: strikeforce, pm, ticket, april, date barnettcormier
Read the full article at MMA ConvertTickets to Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Final On Sale April 6
Strikeforce has set the date for its next event, May 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Now the date is set for ticket sales, April 6.
Posted in: strikeforce, hp pavilion, sale, strikeforce heavyweight, april
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBAMMA middleweight champ Tom Watson possibly headed to Strikeforce
There’s little question that Strikeforce’s middleweight roster could use an injection of talent. While the promotion boasts a number of talented competitors such as champion Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza, and Tim Kennedy, the overall skill-level takes a severe slide after going through the first 5-6 fighters.
Fortunately it appears that could change in the immediate future, at least as long as 14-4 BAMMA champion Tom Watson comes away with a victory this weekend when he faces Jack Marshman at BAMMA 9 for the divisional gold.
According to Watson, he’s already discussed the possibility of heading over to Strikeforce with Zuffa officials and, though he isn’t counting his chickens before they hatch, the 29-year old Brit definitely appears to be interested in the idea.
“After (my) last fight I had quite a bit of contact with Sean Shelby of Strikeforce,” explained Watson in an interview with Fightline. “Everything is about timing in this business and the best thing that I can do is go out and win this fight against Marshman on March 24. The more I win the more in demand I will be and from there I can negotiate and see what’s next.”
“If the opportunity presents itself I will have to take it into consideration and see what is in the best interests of my career,” Watson continued, leaving the door open for a variety of scenarios.
It also appears Watson wouldn’t mind a boost up in the level of his opponent as well after struggling to find widely-respected adversaries at his weight outside of Strikeforce/UFC.
“The most difficult thing for me is if you look at the middleweight ranking the top 20-30 guys are all in the UFC. It’s very difficult to find good opponents. My last fight against Murilo “Ninja” Rua was met with a lot of criticism because people believed he wasn’t a tough enough opponent. It’s difficult to find a guy who isn’t contracted to the UFC,” Watson concluded on the subject.
PHOTO CREDIT – BAMMA
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, opponent, watson, bamma
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBam vs. Wild: Wrapping Up
Pat Healy here, checking in once more for the final edition of this chapter of the Bam vs. Wild series. In it I’ll talk a little bit about my fight with Caros Fodor, then update you on where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing since the fight.
Caros was a really powerful and strong, compacted puncher, and his ground and pound showed that too. That surprised me, but I probably should have known it after the Justin Wilcox knockout. Still, you never really know what it feels like until you’re in there with an opponent. He was just so compact and stout and could definitely throw some leather. He caught me with a good shot and I got a bit of a head buzz in the first round, but I was never dazed or in danger of the fight getting stopped or close to getting KO’d. Man, that win felt good!
I got six stitches after my fight, and I feel like I’m getting to know the doctor pretty well since he stitched me up after the last fight. Feels like we’re building some good rapport. The swelling in my nose has gone down, but it looks pretty crooked, at least a bit more than I’m used to. I took a hard knee in training around five weeks before the fight, and I’m pretty sure I’d broken it then. I had to sit out a lot from sparring, and when I got back into it I had to wear some headgear with a metal bar across the nose to protect it. I don’t know if I did it in training, or if it just got worse in the fight, but it looks pretty crooked and my breathing out of it isn’t very good. The first time I broke my nose was when I was 17, and I’ve never really been able to breathe out of it that well since, but it might be time to get it looked at, so I might go see somebody soon to see what they can tell me. I’ve never had anything done to it. I don’t know what they’ll say. I’m sure I’ve got a deviated septum, as I’ve never been able to breathe out of it properly after that first time it broke.
Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate were amazing. They both looked tough, and if there was any question of Ronda being able to go, well, she looked fit and in control enough to go onto the other rounds. She looked very impressive. Miesha impressed me too when she managed to take Ronda’s back in the middle of the round. It was much more than I was expecting, and both of them looked so impressive. You’ve got to think Ronda is right up there with some of the top fighters in the world. I don’t know about “Cyborg” Santos but that fight would be fun. “Cyborg” looks like she’s on a different level, but Ronda is too with her strength and the way she was moving around. I don’t know if that match-up will ever happen, but it’d definitely be cool if it does. However, Sarah Kaufman is next for Ronda. I think Sarah’s hands looked superb, and if she can keep the fight standing I think she’ll do great. That being said, I think Ronda might be a little too much for her on the ground and may get her there if it makes the difference in the fight. Kudos to Alexis Davis too. She definitely won a lot of fans that night on her toughness as far as coming back and giving Kaufman a good beating in the third round. She definitely impressed a lot of people, that’s for sure, myself included.
I was thinking about something. You know, I feel I’ve been the underdog every time I’ve gone out there for Strikeforce. From my very first fight, I think Strikeforce brought me in to lose to Bryan Travers because he was a rising star on a good streak. So I’ve felt a bit like they’ve had me against up and comers the whole time, but I’m okay with that you know? I think might make me a “gatekeeper” or whatever you want to call it, but I’m 5-1 in Strikeforce now, and six times I’ve been the underdog. I’ve proved the doubters wrong in every single fight but one. I don’t know what the future holds after this. It’s hard to argue Josh Thomson for the next title shot since he’s already beaten me, but I’d sure like to see what happens. If they feel like I need to fight somebody else I’d be happy to do that again. I’d love a rematch with Josh, especially if they have Gilbert Melendez fight someone else. In that scenario it seems like Josh and I would be the logical fight to make.
There have been some rumors of a crossover fight where somebody from the UFC comes and challenges Melendez. I think it would be really good for Strikeforce in general because people still look at us as a “second tier” organization. There is a large segment of “hardcore” fans that still don’t know a lot about us or if we even fight with the same rules as the UFC. It’s something that I get asked quite often actually – “Is Strikeforce the same rules as the UFC?” So I think anything that will bring some star power and eyes on Strikeforce would be good, especially to let people know that we’re legit. A crossover fight would be interesting for sure and I’m excited to see what might come of that.
Myself personally, I’m overall a different fighter than I used to be. I’d love if people could look at my career after I went to 155. That was a huge change for me. I think that’s the weight I should’ve been at the whole time. I was lazy and undisciplined with my diet. I would just eat whatever. I didn’t know what to eat or how to eat. I think a lot of it also changed when I moved back to Team Quest. When the IFL crumbled and I moved back to Quest, it really felt like home with coaches and teammates that cared about me. It was there that I really settled in and made some serious choices, like the days I’d start working short days and could get off to practice at 3:00. It was things like making choices not to work long hours and make sure I was in the gym five days a week. It might have been shortly after the first Ryan Ford fight now that I think about it.
Back to the present, after my win over Fodor all I was looking forward to after the fight was eating and Chicago, but all I did when I got back to the hotel was have a quick meal and went to bed. I knew I had to get up early to drive to Chicago which I did the next morning with my friend and corner man.
However, I definitely ate when I got to Chicago! From the North Side to the South Side to the West Side to everywhere and all different food spots. I definitely became a pig when it came to food. I was in Greek Town, Harold’s Chicken, Giovanni’s, you name it! I hit all the big spots. I wasn’t disappointed on that end of the trip for sure. If they call me for a fight tomorrow, I may definitely be a welterweight again, but hopefully I’ll have plenty of time to get back down before the bout.
I also got to see the Chicago Bulls play live and I’ve never sat closer. It was basically front row, but there were a couple of boundaries and a divider in front of that so I guess technically it was the third row? Regardless, it was awesome to be that close. We were right behind the bench, and I was close to give the players some tips if they needed it. Truly, it was good fun.
I then drove up to the St. Louis area to visit some of my old friends. It’s actually a town called Collinsville just outside of St. Louis. Anyways, I’ve got some friends from college and one of my regional coaches Steve Berger is still here. I went in and trained and rolled with him. It was great to see how far we’ve both come and to see some of the old guys and see how much they’ve improved. It was great, nearly being five years since the last time we’d gotten together.
That’s all from me for this final edition of Bam vs. Wild. Before I go, I’d like to thank A.C.T. Sports Drink and Dr. Steve at Mentaltrainingprogram.com – I worked a lot with him leading up to the fight. He became a good friend and helped me get my mental game ready for the fight, and I look forward to continue working for him in the future. Thanks for Five Ounces of Pain for letting me do this again. I had a lot of fun! Until next time catch up with me on Twitter at @bambamhealy.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, lot, ronda
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainShannon Knapp Talks Invicta FC, Plans To Stream First Show Live And Free In HD
This is a guest post by Stephie "Crooklyn" Daniels. Follow Crooklyn on Twitter @CrooklynMMA
Women's MMA has always been a bit of a delicate situation, never really gaining a strong foothold in the industry until 2007 with the entry of the first incarnation of Pro Elite. Their inaugural event, co-promoted with Strikeforce, did something extraordinary for WMMA. For the first time ever, a female bout was put onto a large cable TV network (Showtime). Since then, promotions have come and gone, leaving only Strikeforce, and to some smaller extent, Bellator, to provide the best platform for large scale exposure. After the ZUFFA buyout, Strikeforce's future became opaque, leaving many to wonder if this once safe haven will be able to provide a stable home for the world's brightest female stars.
Enter Shannon Knapp, a staple in the MMA industry for the last 12 years, having worked for several promotions, including the UFC and the aforementioned Strikeforce. Shannon's new promotion, Invicta FC is not the first all women's promotion, but she hopes to give it the one quality the others lacked, longevity. Invicta's first event will be in Kansas City at Memorial Hall, and features a 12 fight card, stacked with some of the best names in WMMA. Marloes Coenen will be headlining the card, facing off against Romy Ruyssen. In a recent interview, Knapp details some of the finer points of the Invicta infrastructure, as well as plans to provide free streaming of their first event.
TR: Tell me about Invicta FC, and are you feeling the pressure of getting this first event in the books?
SK: I've worked in this business forever and this is definitely something new, but it's also something I feel extremely passionate about. I've worked for the past 12 years with the boys, and I've always been a huge advocate for the sport and the athletes, and to be very honest, to the detriment of my own job. I've been threatened so many times, or reminded of who I worked for.When I parted ways with Strikeforce, I looked at what I wanted to do, and decided that I wanted to make a difference.
I'm definitely not that cookie cutter kind of person. I like to fight the fight. I started getting calls from girls that were scared, because nobody knew what was going to happen to Strikeforce. Were they going to stay around? Were they going to disappear? These girls were looking for some help. 12 years ago, for the men, it was not as much of a mess as it is today for the females. There is so much disorganization and lack of opportunity, so I looked at that, aligned myself with a good business partner and decided to roll up my sleeves and get in there to make a difference.
We're really excited, but we know it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's not going to be easy. You've got to build that awareness, that platform. You've got to make people want to watch. We're definitely in this for the long haul, though.
TR: Several of the girls featured on your card are currently on the Strikeforce roster. Is that an open ended arrangement or do you intend to eventually become the mecca for female MMA?
SK: A lot of the girls are still signed with Strikeforce. Strikeforce is in a unique position right now. With a limited amount of shows, they aren't able to keep all of their athletes active. What they've done, and I think it's a great thing, is they're allowing those girls to participate on our card. I think it's a great gesture, letting these girls stay active.
I think it would be great if the girls had one platform, instead of being so scattered. When Dana (White) said that there was a lack of depth with the women, he was absolutely correct, but the rebuttal to that is that he's only seeing four or five girls active. How do you gauge the depth when they're so spread out? I think with us coming in and building a solid foundation to bring all these girls together, we can solidify these weight classes. I think we're going to be able to make a difference.
TR: Tell us a little about your infrastructure and how Invicta came into existence.
SK: To start, we've kept it low key. It's been eight or nine months in the making, and it's just myself and my business partner. We're in control of our product, and as far as sponsors go, we are aligning ourselves with different ones, and working on that every day. To say that we have one sponsor that's footing the bill on this...that's not true. This comes down to just myself and my partner (Janet Martin). We haven't really gone out and aggressively pursued sponsors because this is our first event. Our main goal is to have an event, put our product out there, and show people what we want to do with it. We want to show our vision.
We haven't told anybody else this yet, but what we're going to do is have the show blacked out in Kansas City. We have a film crew coming in to film in HD, and we're going to stream it live, for free, to everyone, no matter where you're at, excluding Kansas City, right from our website. It's kind of Marketing 101, but we're going to give the product away. I think that's the best way to do it. One of the things that I learned from the UFC, is that maintaining control of your product is way more advantageous to us as a company.
TR: How many shows do you have planned for 2012?
SK: We're committing to 3 shows this year, because we're starting a little late. Our goal is to put on four shows a year going forward. Could that change? Yes it could, but for now, we're committed to three shows at this point.
Thanks to strong relationships with Sean Shelby, Sam Caplan and Joe Silva, the fighter exchange program will be moving full steam ahead on April 28, with the debut of Invicta FC. Having over a decade of experience in the MMA industry, and a solid understanding of the intricacies of promoting, Shannon Knapp may not only be breathing financial life into the careers of some hungry female fighters, she might just be providing them with a home for the future.
Follow Shannon via her Twitter @shanknapp
Posted in: strikeforce, event, year, girl, invicta
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier Fight Card Rumors
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier fight card and rumors and start times for May 19, 2012, in San Jose, California.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, rumor, barnett
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce News: Roger Gracie Officially Drops To Middleweight, Joins Black House
In an interview with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, Ed Soares has confirmed that Roger Gracie is signing with Black House management and more importantly, he is dropping to the 185 pound Middleweight Division.
This is not the most shocking news as it has been rumored Gracie had been mulling a weight drop for some time and he has reportedly being working members of Black House, including UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on Tatame.com a few months ago.
Roger's run at Light Heavyweight sparked some hope for the resurgence of the Gracie family legend, but his biggest wins were over an aged Kevin Randleman and Trevor Prangley. In his most recent fight with Muhammed Lawal, Gracie was knocked out within the first round.
For Gracie, this move makes a great deal of sense, for while he is long and tall, he lacks the heft and mass that the majority of elite Light Heavyweights enjoy. It is likely in any major fight Gracie entered at 205 lbs he would have been at a serious strength and size disadvantage. Furthermore, the top of the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight division is populated by strong wrestlers, who would likely be able to stop the Brazilian's attempts to take him down and win the striking battle decisively, as Lawal did.
At Middleweight, Gracie will be on the tallest fighters in the division at 6'4" and be on more equal footing in terms of physical strength. Throw in that the talent pool is a bit shallower at Middleweight and Gracie's grappling abilities could make him a real contender at that weight.
As of right now, Gracie is still in Strikeforce which is searching for new Middleweight talent to challenge current champion Luke Rockhold after the likely Tim Kennedy title shot. The arrival of Gracie opens up the possibility of a rematch of sorts with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, one of the handful of men to beat Gracie in a Brazilian jiu jitsu match. The match at the 2004 Mundials was a controversial one though, as Gracie broke Jacare's arm in the match only to see Jacare, who was up on points, stall out the rest of the time limit to claim the "win". It is a fight that could be an excellent and exciting title eliminator for a promotion looking for any way to generate excitement amongst a fan base that may have written certain divisions of Strikeforce off as dead.
Posted in: strikeforce, jacare, division, middleweight, gracie
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCesar Gracie wants Gilbert Melendez to fight BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis
Is Cesar Gracie trying to "Punk" Josh Thomson?
The longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer, who keeps charge over current and former Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez, is already ruling out a trilogy between "El Nino" and Thomson.
According to Gracie, the reigning 155-pound champion (and winner of six straight) has bigger fish to fry.
Namely former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn, or if "The Prodigy" is not available, the last man to hold the World Extreme Cagefighting title, Anthony Pettis.
Gracie breaks it all down for Tatame.com, after the jump.
"Melendez’s situation is complex right now. We still don’t have an opponent, date or place set. They said he could fight in San Jose but it’ll probably change. They mentioned Josh Thomson but then said it was not going to happen. It depends on the relationship between Dana White (UFC president) and Showtime (TV channel that broadcasts and managers Strikeforce). That’s the problem. I spoke to Joe Silva (UFC’s matchmaker) and he told me maybe some UFC fighters will go to Strikeforce. We would really like to see him fighting Pettis or BJ, but we are still not sure about what’s going to happen."
With the Showtime network calling most of the shots in Strikeforce, it may be difficult to snatch Melendez from the 155-pound ranks and insert him into the division title chase under the UFC banner. However, if his star pupil can't go to the UFC, perhaps the UFC can come to him.
B.J. Penn inside the Hexagon?
Stranger things have happened. Then again, Gracie is known for his politics and ability to talk his way into favorable situations. The MMA fanbase isn't exactly screaming for Melendez vs. Thomson II, despite "The Punk's" victory over K.J. Noons earlier this month.
It may just be a question of striking while the iron is hot.
We know how Gracie feels, but who do you, as a fan, want to see Melendez fight next?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gracie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMarloes Coenen Was 'Really, Deeply Hurt' After Loss to Miesha Tate
Former Strikeforce champ Marloes Coenen has been through a lot in the last year and a half. First she won the women’s 135-pound title, then lost it to Miesha Tate after defending it once. She was released from her Strikeforce contract during a time of frosty relations between Zuffa and her Golden Glory management team, then verbally committed to BlackEye Promotions, only to later sign an exclusive North American deal with the upstart all-female organization Invicta.Through it all, Coenen told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, she had her mettle thoroughly tested yet again, and now believes she’s emerged stronger for the experience."It never really crossed my mind to quit MMA [after the loss to Tate], but I was hurt," Coenen told Helwani. "I was really, deeply hurt. I really needed some time to be away from my family, from my friends, from my training camp, from the Netherlands. I really recovered in Kansas."
Kansas, oddly enough, is where Coenen stayed for three months in the aftermath of the Tate loss and the Strikeforce release. While there, she said, she worked on her wrestling a great deal, but also got a chance to reflect on a career that’s spanned more than a decade, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.At 19, she won the ReMix: World Cup 2000 championship in Japan, fighting three times in one night. She’d come into the event with only one pro MMA fight to her credit, and returned to her home in the Netherlands with a title she wasn’t sure what to do with."I had just started studying at the university," she said. "...It wasn’t that interesting. [MMA] wasn’t my world at the time. Then all of a sudden I became a champion in Japan and I said, well, I’ll quit university and focus on fighting."Shortly thereafter, the women’s MMA scene in Japan began to decline, and Coenen’s family pressured her to go back to school. They also encouraged her to give up fighting and focus on something resembling a more normal career for a Dutch woman."There were so many points in my life where my parents told me I had to quit. Come on, Marloes, focus on something else, because it will not work out with fighting. At a certain point I started to believe that as well, then Strikeforce came and my world changed again."After splitting her first two fights in Strikeforce -- a submission win over Roxanne Modafferi in her debut, followed by a TKO loss to 145-pound champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos in her next fight -- she became the 135-pound champion with a submission win over the previously unbeaten Sarah Kaufman. Coenen couldn’t have known then that she’d be out of a job after just two more fights."I made a lot of sacrifices in my life, prior to when I went to Strikeforce," Coenen said. "Those things really helped build who I am."Women’s MMA is in a very different place now than it was when she found it, Coenen admitted, but she thinks the time is right for Invicta’s all-female approach, and expects that she’ll be proven right when the organization rolls out its debut event in Kansas City on April 28 -- a card that Coenen will headline in a rematch with Romy Ruyssen.Though Coenen said she’s always tried to be a role model for young girls in and out of the cage, a recent run-in with a different type of fan convinced her that the demographic for women’s MMA might be bigger than many realize."In the supermarket this woman came up to me, like a mom with three kids. ...She said to me, ‘Oh, I saw your TV show, and you really inspired me.’ I was like, huh? I inspired you? That proves to me that there’s this audience we do not hear of, they don’t go onto the forums, but they do want watch female fighting because it’s a big empowerment for women."For now, the 30-year-old Coenen will only say that she has "a few more years" left in MMA, but before she goes she has one specific goal in mind."I want to end my career fighting Cyborg," she said. "All my fights up to that will lead up to that."And even after news of Santos’ positive steroid test and subsequent suspension, Coenen refused to pile on the criticism of the recently stripped champion, explaining "that when an opponent is down, you don’t kick them."Then again, after feeling Santos’ strength, it’s not as if she was surprised to hear the news, Coenen added."I was in the cage with her, and believe me, I couldn’t understand that she really could hit that hard. I always thought that I really hit hard and I’m tough, but when I was in the cage with her, it was on another level."While many people might be upset to learn that the hard blows they took might have been the result of a juiced up physique, Coenen offered another, somewhat surprising take."I really like Cyborg, and I deeply respect her as well. Even after she got caught, it tells also that she really wants to do everything she can to win. That says something about her mindset, and that sort of mindset I can respect."
Posted in: mma, time, strikeforce, loss, coenen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMelendez Returns May 19, Thomson Trilogy Not On Tap
Gilbert Melendez
Strikeforce Lightweight Champ Returns In May
Strikeforce lightweight champion is set to return to action on May 19, though an opponent has yet to be announced.
The promotion announced the event and the news on Melendez, who will fight in the main event of the card.
Melendez last fought last December against Jorge Masvidal, earning a fairly one-sided unanimous decision win. The victory was his sixth in a row, as he has not lost since June of 2008 when he was defeated by former champion Josh Thomson. Melendez would redeem himself against his rival in December of 2009, earning a unanimous decision and the 155 lb. Strikeforce title.
Talk of the rivalry resurfaced at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” earlier this month, leading to speculation the Melendez and Thomson would complete their trilogy in late Spring or early Summer. Melendez joined Frank Shamrock, Mauro Ranallo, and Pat Miletich to call Thomson’s fight against K.J. Noons cageside. Thomson earned a unanimous decision win, though the fight was hardly the exciting contest he and Noons predicted.
Throughout the three-round fight, Melendez was asked who he thought his next opponent would be, saying that either guy could earn the title shot. However, he was not direct in his responses, stating that there were several fighters that were in the title mix. Predicting the next opponent for Melendez became even more difficult after Thomson’s post-fight interview. The contender, clearly disappointed in his performance, said to Ranallo, “It was (expletive). It was (expletive).” He went on to discuss how a staph infection hindered his training camp, while he also claimed that he tried something new for the eight-week preparation, though he plans to get back to his old training regiment for his next contest.
However, that contest will not likely be against Melendez, putting their trilogy off until late 2012 at the earliest. According to MiddleEasy.com, Melendez has been made aware of his next opponent, but did not disclose that information. Still, he made it clear that Thomson will likely not be the next in line, which does not come as a complete surprise considering the American Kickboxing Academy product’s last fight and post-fight remarks.
The likelihood that Melendez and Thomson will not likely meet makes predicting his next challenger a bit difficult, considering how shallow the Strikeforce lightweight division is and the fact that Melendez has basically run through any and all challengers with ease. Pat Healy, who earned a submission victory at the March 3 event, is one name in the title mix, as he is on a four-fight winning streak, and Melendez mentioned him as a contender during the Showtime broadcast, impressed with his performance.
Heavy.com will reveal more information about Melendez’s next fight and the May 19 event as a whole as it becomes available.
Posted in: melendez, thomson, fight, strikeforce, title mix
Read the full article at Heavy MMAHow does Strikeforce keep track of strikes/takedowns etc? Why doesn't the UFC do this?
I was reading over the stuff about the Diaz Condit fight (never saw it, if I am honest) and remembering all that about the controversy. I have almost never seen a really bad decision in Strikeforce, and I feel like it is because the judges have more information available to them. Am I wrong? Either way, that should be a thing. submitted by BantamBasher135 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, information, doesnt, controversy i, bantambasher
Read the full article at RedditCesar Gracie Wants BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis For Gilbert Melendez’s May 19 Fight
Gilbert Melendez is fighting May 19. That much he does know. Who his opponent will be however is still the big mystery.
Melendez’s trainer/manager Cesar Gracie confirmed on Twitter today that Melendez is fighting on the May 19 Strikeforce card which will feature the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. More interesting though is what he tweeted after.
@ufc Gil is fighting May 19th. I hope Penn or Pettis
Both BJ Penn and Anthony Pettis would make great match-ups for Melendez. Better than any match-up Strikeforce could make for him. But the question is are they actually on the table as potential opponents or is Gracie just giving his wishlist?
That remains to be seen, however Melendez did tell MiddleEasy in a recent video interview that he didn’t think it would be Josh Thomson who seemed to emerge as the frontrunner to fight for the Strikeforce lightweight title next when he beat KJ Noons earlier this month at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.”
Anyone want to see Melendez vs. Penn or Melendez vs. Pettis?
Posted in: strikeforce, anthony pettis, petti, penn, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCesar Gracie says Gilbert Melendez will fight in May, wants “Penn or Pettis”
Strikeforce’s May 19 card, currently rumored for San Jose and expected to feature the Grand Prix final between heavyweights Daniel Cormier-Josh Barnett, will apparently host a title-fight too featuring lightweight king Gilbert Melendez. While nothing official has been announced, Melendez’s trainer Cesar Gracie revealed the likelihood of the bout taking place via Twitter where he also had a few opponents in mind for “El Nino”.
“Gil is fighting May 19,” wrote Gracie on the social networking outlet before adding his interest in Zuffa bringing over someone with UFC ties rather than giving Melendez an opponent currently on Strikeforce’s roster.
“I hope BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis,” stated Gracie in terms of a potential opponent for his star student.
Melendez Content with Strikeforce but Keeping Eye on the Octagon
Penn, a former lightweight champion himself, has not fought since losing to Gracie-trained Nick Diaz at UFC 137 this past October, opting to retire from MMA after the loss. The Hawaiian has yet to back off his status as a former fighter and is unlikely to return outside of the UFC. Comparably, Pettis is coming off a February knockout over Joe Lauzon and is a former WEC title-holder. While he may be a more realistic choice based on current activity the UFC has previously stood firm in terms of avoiding any transfer of talent over to Strikeforce.
If neither man surfaces as an opponent and Melendez is indeed relegated to one of his promotional peers it will likely be Josh Thomson. Thomson and Melendez have split a pair of previous fights, plus “The Punk” has won his last three bouts under the Strikeforce banner including victories over Gesias Cavalcante, Pat Healy, and most recently KJ Noons.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, opponent, melendez, gracie
Read the full article at Fighters.comZuffa Purchases Strikeforce - One Year Later
Time flies in MMA, and it's hard to believe that the biggest news story of March 12th, 2011 was that Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, effectively bought off their largest competitor by purchasing Strikeforce. UFC president Dana White announced the deal to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, and the MMA blogosphere blew up with speculation about what it meant. Dana created a catchphrase that day, "business as usual", which people still dig out of mothballs to throw in Whte's face whenever Strikeforce doesn't live up to their expectations. So what has happened over the last year since the purchase? Let's take a trip down memory lane.
March 12th, 2011 - The announcement. While the exact numbers weren't confirmed, the purchase price was around 40 million dollars with some of that going to debt repayment. Scott Coker's partner, Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, was focused on bringing another pro sports team to San Jose and wanted out of the MMA business. Coker stayed on as GM of Strikeforce, but was now a Zuffa employee. I wrote an angry article about it over at HKL.
April 1st - The first SF card under Zuffa ownership went down in Stockton. It was a Challengers card.
April 8th - Strikeforce GM Scott Coker thought the organization would have it's first pay-per-view event by July.
April 9th - The first major Strikeforce card under Zuffa saw Nick Diaz defend his Strikeforce welterweight title against Paul Daley in one of the best fights of 2011. Coker talked about Strikeforce-UFC crossover fights "within a year".
May 18th - Zuffa completed their takeover and laid off most Strikeforce employees, putting former WEC employees in charge of the company.
June 1st - Nick Diaz blows "business as usual" out of the water and moves over to the UFC to challenge Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title. Obviously, this still hasn't happened yet.
June 9th - Diaz officially vacates his Strikeforce welterweight title. To date, it remains vacant.
June 18th - The semi-finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix began, with Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum competing in a dull bout that Overeem won.
July 30th - Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson headlined a Strikeforce event in suburban Chicago. Henderson won. In addition, Alistair Overeem was released by the organization after apparently refusing to accept a booking due to injuries. Within days, he was snapped up by the UFC.
August 4th - Emelianenko was released by Strikeforce.
August 12th - Ronda Rousey made her Strikeforce debut.
September 10th - Luke Rockhold won the Strikeforce middleweight title from Ronaldo Souza. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier (Overeem's replacement) advanced to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals.
September 19th - Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson signs with the UFC and vacates his belt. The belt is still vacant as of today.
October 13th - Ken Hershman leaves Showtime, the channel that Strikeforce is aired on. Showtime held an option to renew Strikeforce's TV contract in early 2012 at the time, and Hershman's departure was viewed by some as the final nail in the coffin for Strikeforce on the network.
November 18th - Strikeforce holds their last Challengers card to date.
December 15th - Strikeforce and Showtime officially come to an agreement to extend their contract until 2014. Dana White announces that the SF heavyweight division will move over the UFC, barring the GP Final and "one more fight" for the winner.
January 6th, 2012 - Women's 145 pound champion Cristiane Santos tests positive for anabolic steroids.
January 7th - Cyborg is stripped of her title, and her division is put on hold. This leaves three of the six Strikeforce championships vacant.
February 21st - Nate Marquardt signs with Strikeforce.
March 3rd - Ronda Rousey defeats Miesha Tate for the SF Women's 135 pound title.
March 12th - Business as usual? I think not.
Posted in: ufc, title, strikeforce, zuffa, march
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGilbert Melendez to Fight on May 19 Strikeforce Card
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend his title on the May 19 Strikeforce card and it will not be against Josh Thomson. Melendez will be looking to extend his six fight win streak. According to MiddleEasy, Melendez knows who his opponent is but cannot reveal it yet.
A likely opponent for Melendez could be Pat Healy. Healy has won four straight and was more impressive in his victory over Caros Fodor at Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” than Josh Thomson was in his victory over KJ Noons.
The May 19 card is expected to be headlined by the heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. A lightweight title fight would make a fitting co-headlining fight for the unnamed May card.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, card, melendez, caros fodor
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyWomen's MMA Report: Rousey captures Strikeforce title, sets up likely Kaufman fight
In just her fifth pro fight, Olympic bronze medalist "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey ascended to the top of MMA's most competitive women's division
Rousey used her signature armbar to submit former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha "Takedown" Tate earlier this month at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey."
In our latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses that bout, a likely next fight with ex-champ Sarah Kaufman, and other news and notes from across the globe.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, women, rousey, signature armbar
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEvangelista â
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos has gone 1-3 during his tenure with Strikeforce with his last two fights ending early, falling by TKO to Jordan Mein and tapping out to a Nick Diaz armbar.
The Brazilian striker recently addressed his hopes for his next opponent in Strikeforce’s Welterweight division, Paul Daley. Daley is also 1-3 in his Strikeforce career, dropping his last three fights, with his latest loss coming at the hands of Kazuo Misaki on March 3.
“My results are going to be
Posted in: strikeforce, kazuo misaki, jordan mein, strikeforce career, brazilian striker
Read the full article at Low KickLatest Win Proves Ryan Couture is His Own Man
Knowing he'd be compared to his more famous father, Ryan Couture proved with his latest Strikeforce victory that he's got the tools to stand on his own merits.
Posted in: strikeforce, ryan, tool, father ryan, strikeforce victory
Read the full article at MMA Weekly“Cyborg” Santos sets his sights on Paul Daley
Brazilian brawler Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos has been out of action since September, healing up from a handful of injuries while waiting for a call from Strikeforce to let him know who he’ll face next. While the decision will ultimately be made by the organization’s brass, if given the choice to pick an opponent the 34-year old already has someone in mind who he’d like to face – Paul Daley.
The two nearly met last year in the Strikeforce cage but Santos had to withdraw for health-related reasons.
It would make me happy fighting him. He would be a good opponent. I owe this fight to the fans,” said Santos of “Semtex” in a conversation with TATAME.
Daley and Santos are two of the hardest-hitting welterweights in MMA with each having a number of highlight-reel knockouts to their credit. Like Santos, Daley is also coming off of a losing performance meaning a match-up between the two would not only be guaranteed to entertain but evenly-matched as well from a divisional perspective.
According to Santos he’ll be ready to fight in May when Strikeforce is expected to hold a card in California hosting the final of the promotion’s Heavyweight Grand Prix.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, daley, fans ”, performance meaning, hardesthitting welterweights
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDaniel Cormier says second training injury to blame for delay in Strikeforce GP
Daniel Cormier was set to begin training to complete the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix when he felt a similar sting.
Cormier, who broke his hand in his semifinal round win over Antonio Silva, delivered an uppercut to the chin of Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and re-inured his mitt. Now, after rehabbing the bum hand, “DC” is finally ready to face Josh Barnett.
The match is set for May 19 on Showtime with the likely venue being Cormier’s professional home of San Jose, California. Barnett was recently granted a temporary fight license in California, clearing the way for the match to take place in Strikeforce’s place of origin.
“The biggest issue for me was that I didn’t improve as much as I usually do in between fights because of the injury,” said Cormier, in a recent interview with MMAJunkie. “I’m normally improving constantly because I’m so young in the game. I haven’t been able to do that.”
Cormier knows he headed to the UFC following this fight – and one more if he is victorious, as there will be a heavyweight send-off between the tournament’s winner and an unknown fighter – but the ex-Olympian is aiming to enter the Octagon with a perfect record saying, “To go over into the UFC with the belt, undefeated, it would be a pretty good situation.”
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, cormier, training injury, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainWith twice-broken hand, Cormier hopes he's 'good enough' for Strikeforce tourney finale
Apparently, American Kickboxing Academy fighters hit opponents too hard.
Standing at a sponsor booth amid bronzed bodybuilders at this past weekend's Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, Daniel Cormier and teammate Luke Rockhold both were nursing broken hands from previous fights.
In fact, it's because of Rockhold that Cormier was not fighting at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey."
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, hand, cormier, sponsor booth
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Ratings: Tate Vs. Rousey Averages 431,000 Viewers
It could be better, and it could be worse. That's a pretty vague statement, but almost everything about Strikeforce is hard to pin down these days and their ratings are no different. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey averaged 431,000 viewers on Showtime, and peaked at 506,000 for the start of the main event between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
The numbers are a definite improvement over the first SF show of 2012, Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on January 7th, which averaged just 344,000 viewers. And that was on a free preview weekend. Is this a good thing for women's MMA? It could be. The downside is that 431,000 lower than the average of the eight regular SF shows in 2011, and it remains unclear if Strikeforce still has the starpower to maintain high ratings after the contract extension.
The ratings for the undercard on Showtime Extreme aren't available at this time.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rating, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowKazuo Misaki cut suffered in Paul Daley fight on March 3 in Strikeforce
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, daley, march, kazuo misaki, mattyblayze link
Read the full article at RedditJacare’ Souza Rakes Biggest Payday at Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’
Former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza walked away from Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” with an event-high $92,000, as “Jacare” took home a $22,000 win bonus following his submission victory over injury replacement Bristol Marunde ($10,000) on Saturday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jacare, tate, submission victory
Read the full article at SherdogRonda Rousey Is the Greatest Thing for Women’s MMA Since Sliced Limbs
After appearing in the cage for 4:27 in her championship win against Miesha Tate this past Saturday, Ronda Rousey now has been in the cage for 8 minutes and 29 seconds during her amateur and professional mixed martial arts career. But given her personality both inside and outside of the cage, she is certainly not nearing the end of her 15 minutes of fame.
Prior to earning a title shot against then-champion Miesha Tate, Rousey had yet to even appear on a regular Strikeforce card. She had two Strikeforce Challengers wins to her name, but her MMA career still did not lengthen her resume by much.
Rousey, a bronze medalist in Judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the first American woman to ever earn a medal in Judo at the Olympics. But it did not take her long to realize that there was not much money to be earned if she continued her current career. She then set her sights on a career in MMA, making her amateur debut just two years after earning the Olympic medal.
With her strong pedigree and Judo background, Rousey quickly acclimated to the new art, as she defeated all three of her opponents during her amateur career in under a minute. That continued as she transitioned to fighting as a professional, defeating her first four opponents in a combined 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Following her win in November against Julia Budd, Rousey began to become more vocal, immediately calling out Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. The champion was quick to dismiss Rousey, touting her as inexperienced and not worthy of fighting for the title.
But that did not deter Rousey, as she continued to state her case why she should fight for the title. She agreed that she lacked experience, but that the division needed a kick in the ass. She was here to provide that, and Strikeforce agreed.
After Gina Carano left MMA, women’s MMA has suffered in popularity and in marquee fights. Cris “Cyborg” Santos was dominant as champion, but never appealed to fans anywhere near as much as Carano. Other champions like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman suffered from the same ordeal.
While Miesha Tate brought more notoriety than any of those fighters, Rousey has brought more than any of those women combined.
Rousey brings a bravado and attitude that has been sorely lacking over the last few years. Carano never had the sense of confidence that Rousey displays, instead appealing fans with her looks. Rousey certainly is appealing in that way, but the always reliable ‘it’ factor applies to her as well.
Women’s MMA has needed a spokeswoman to take over. No one had stepped up to give you a reason to watch the women fight. More importantly, Rousey is demanding you watch, and it is a mistake if you do not.
But just as important with her attitude outside of the cage, her demeanor carries inside to the cage, as well. She had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but was unable to force her to tap. Once the fight was standing again, Rousey was tagged a few times by Tate. But she stood her ground and was able to pull her into her game again, and finished yet another fight with an armbar submission.
Now women’s MMA, and just as importantly, Strikeforce, has a model fighter to build the organization around. As the marquee organization that holds women’s fights, Strikeforce has an opportunity to take advantage of this. As long as they continue to develop challengers for Rousey, the story will only continue to grow. As Rousey grows as a fighter, she will only grow as a spokeswoman, as well.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyRonda Rousey Arrived at the Perfect Time for Women’s MMA and Strikeforce
After appearing in the cage for 4:27 in her championship win against Miesha Tate this past Saturday, Ronda Rousey now has been in the cage for 8 minutes and 29 seconds during her amateur and professional mixed martial arts career. But given her personality both inside and outside of the cage, she is certainly not nearing the end of her 15 minutes of fame.
Prior to earning a title shot against then-champion Miesha Tate, Rousey had yet to even appear on a regular Strikeforce card. She had two Strikeforce Challengers wins to her name, but her MMA career still did not lengthen her resume by much.
Rousey, a bronze medalist in Judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the first American woman to ever earn a medal in Judo at the Olympics. But it did not take her long to realize that there was not much money to be earned if she continued her current career. She then set her sights on a career in MMA, making her amateur debut just two years after earning the Olympic medal.
With her strong pedigree and Judo background, Rousey quickly acclimated to the new art, as she defeated all three of her opponents during her amateur career in under a minute. That continued as she transitioned to fighting as a professional, defeating her first four opponents in a combined 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Following her win in November against Julia Budd, Rousey began to become more vocal, immediately calling out Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. The champion was quick to dismiss Rousey, touting her as inexperienced and not worthy of fighting for the title.
But that did not deter Rousey, as she continued to state her case why she should fight for the title. She agreed that she lacked experience, but that the division needed a kick in the ass. She was here to provide that, and Strikeforce agreed.
After Gina Carano left MMA, women’s MMA has suffered in popularity and in marquee fights. Cris “Cyborg” Santos was dominant as champion, but never appealed to fans anywhere near as much as Carano. Other champions like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman suffered from the same ordeal.
While Miesha Tate brought more notoriety than any of those fighters, Rousey has brought more than any of those women combined.
Rousey brings a bravado and attitude that has been sorely lacking over the last few years. Carano never had the sense of confidence that Rousey displays, instead appealing fans with her looks. Rousey certainly is appealing in that way, but the always reliable ‘it’ factor applies to her as well.
Women’s MMA has needed a spokeswoman to take over. No one had stepped up to give you a reason to watch the women fight. More importantly, Rousey is demanding you watch, and it is a mistake if you do not.
But just as important with her attitude outside of the cage, her demeanor carries inside to the cage, as well. She had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but was unable to force her to tap. Once the fight was standing again, Rousey was tagged a few times by Tate. But she stood her ground and was able to pull her into her game again, and finished yet another fight with an armbar submission.
Now women’s MMA, and just as importantly, Strikeforce, has a model fighter to build the organization around. As the marquee organization that holds women’s fights, Strikeforce has an opportunity to take advantage of this. As long as they continue to develop challengers for Rousey, the story will only continue to grow. As Rousey grows as a fighter, she will only grow as a spokeswoman, as well.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyLook, but don't touch: Showtime blows it by refusing Dana White's creative input for Strikeforce
One week from today, it will have been one year since the shocking news that Zuffa -- the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- purchased its biggest competitor in Strikeforce. The announcement was sudden and took most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans by total surprise.
Much like when Zuffa purchased Pride Fighting Championships -- coincidentally around this time of year half a decade ago -- the back and forth between pundits and fans was of cross-promotional title unification bouts, mergers and even super cards.
It became apparent, after being used around 78 times during the video, almost none of those hopes would come to fruition and the meme "business as usual" was etched into the MMA lexicon.
It hasn't been "business as usual," per se. For example, Strikeforce is without a heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight champion after Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz all signed contracts to bring their talents to the Octagon. Aside from those deviations, the company Scott Coker founded as a kickboxing organization plugged along with the only huge difference being UFC pay-per-view commercials during the Showtime telecasts.
The company did indeed stay on the premium cable channel, although the future of their relationship was murky. The contract was set to expire in early 2012 and many expected the promotion to move stations or be absorbed -- a la World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) -- into the UFC. Neither happened as an extension through the end of this year was announced last December.
It seemed as if Showtime and Dana White -- a pair with no love lost in the past -- had found a way to play nice.
Whoa, pump the breaks. I spoke too soon.
It was long expected that this past Saturday's (Mar. 3) event, Strikeforce: 'Tate vs. Rousey', would be the first to have the Dana White touch to it. He was even set to miss the UFC on FX event -- held a world away in Australia -- to be in Columbus for the Strikeforce show, marking the first time in over a decade the foul-mouthed President wouldn't be sitting next to the Octagon.
But things didn't quite turn out that way.
According to an interview today at the UFC on Fox press conference hyping the May 5 event headlined by Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, White revealed he received a call a week before he was set to fly out to Ohio and was told his presence wasn't needed.
"It's quite simple. We had four meetings ... and obviously there's some creative differences between me and the producer of the show. And this guy's not a bad guy. ... Creatively, we have some differences ... and we're always gonna. ... While he has that type of power, I guess I ... won't be in the mix."
If this is the case and White's input on Strikeforce has been flat out refused, I can only wonder what is going through the mind of Showtime Sports head honcho Stephen Espinoza.
Sure, White can often be obnoxious. Okay, that's putting it lightly. The UFC President can be a straight pain in the butt from time to time. He engages in Twitter flamewars with D-level MMA personalities, uses a four-letter word every 10 seconds and doesn't go to bed at night before he's said at least one negative thing about Fedor Emelianenko.
But there's absolutely no one on the planet who has done his job -- running a fight promotion -- longer and better than he has. Coker only recently branched outside of southern California while the UFC has been breaking ground in the Middle East, Australia and will do so in Sweden next month. Bellator bigwig Bjorn Rebney has only be in the game a few years and all the power players in Japan are either in jail or in hiding.
There's a wealth of knowledge White has which Showtime is squandering. Here, they have the man who has helped MMA become one of the fastest growing sports in the world and the man who partly owns the promotion on their own network and what do they say?
Thanks, but no thanks.
The decision is baffling and could potentially lead to Strikeforce's demise. Zuffa bought a new toy in Strikeforce but Showtime isn't letting them play with it. If White and company came into the deal thinking they would have some input only to instead get shut out, will there be any incentive to renew the contract once the time comes?
No, there won't be.
And that will lead to a mountain of uncertainty. Will Strikeforce go to a different network? Or will it close its doors and get absorbed into the UFC? Where would that leave fighters like Nate Marquardt, Paul Daley and the bevy of women fighters under Coker's employ?
The small act of Showtime refusing White's help could have major ramifications.
Posted in: ufc, time, strikeforce, showtime, year
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Dana White On Rampage's UFC Comments, Strikeforce, Brandon Saling, Tons More
Dana White was in New York Tuesday to promote May's UFC on Fox 2 in New Jersey and caught up with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani for an interesting chat about a slew of topics. Everything from Quinton Jackson's claims about UFC doctors suggesting TRT use to Brandon Saling's situation to Ronda Rousey and more were discussed.
Some highlights from the 14-minute clip:
Why he made Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller the main event of UFC on Fox 2 and the latest on MMA being legalized in New York.
Having "no clue" on who the next lightweight title challenger will be.
His frustrations at not having the fourth round for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall.
Defining his position and views on Strikeforce and how a story on another MMA site was supposed to be a private conversation. He actually apologized to Strikeforce for some of the quotes used. He did mention, "Creatively, we have some differences." Interesting bit of dialogue here.
He talked about conversations he had with Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate leading up to the fight. "Ronda Rousey is going to be a big star," he said.
He clarified the Saling situation and how he fought on the Strikeforce show Saturday. MMA Fighting Senior Editor and BE founder Luke Thomas broke some information on Saling's situation Tuesday.
His reaction to Jackson's Twitter comments and some important comments on the TRT claims he recently made.
His side of the Dakota Cochrane controversy from last week.
The really interesting 14 minute interview with Helwani can be seen after the jump.
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, saling, ronda rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Medical Suspensions – Tate Among Those Out Indefinitely
Nine fighters were issued medical suspensions after Saturday's Strikeforce card in Ohio, including main event former champ Miesha Tate, who is out indefinitely after tapping to an armbar from new...
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, suspension, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Medical Suspensions: Miesha Tate, ‘Jacare’ Souza, 7 More Placed On Shelf
Nine fighters were medically suspended following Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” on Saturday night, including former champions Miesha Tate and Ronaldo Souza.
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, tate, souza, miesha
Read the full article at SherdogBrandon Saling's Fighter License Revoked For Failure To Disclose Past Sex Crime, Domestic Violence Charges
In a major update to a story we've been following since uncovering the information during the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event, Brandon Saling, a convicted sex offender with a tattoo featuring Neo-Nazi symbolism, has had his fighter license suspended. In our original coverage we touched on how Saling's "88" tattoo is symbolic for "Hiel Hitler" (H being the 8th letter of the alphabet) and followed that up with information about Saling being convicted in the sexual assault of a girl under 13 and a domestic violence conviction some years later.
It appears that Saling failed to disclose those convictions when applying for his license and, thus, is in a good deal of trouble with the state and it is unlikely he ever fights again Luke Thomas broke the news over at MMA Fighting a short time ago:
After causing a stir on Saturday at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, welterweight Brandon Saling's tenure in Strikeforce was short-lived. It turns out there may also not be much time left in his mixed martial arts career. According to commissioner Bernie Profato of the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC), Saling's fighter license has been revoked.
Profato told MMA Fighting Saling falsified information on his application for a license by failing to disclose he had "ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic offense". The ommission puts Saling in violation of Administrative Code 3773-1-09, clause F, of the bylaws governing MMA in Ohio, which states a fighter's license can be suspended or revoked if he or she "has violated any law with respect to any sports regulated by the commission or any rule or order of the commission or has been convicted of a felony."
...
"Obviously this guy is never going to fight for us again," UFC President Dana White told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani. "For this guy to ever get licensed again he'd have to go before a hearing for the athletic commissions and I find it hard to believe that this guy will ever be licensed again. He better go find another job."
This should put an end to any of the debate over the "he served his time, let him fight" vs. "convicted sex offenders with Nazi symbolism aren't good for promotions or TV" nonsense. Saling was clearly covering up his past in an attempt to build a fighting career and thus was putting promotions in jeopardy of significant damage to their reputation.
You don't just "forget" that you spent time in jail for rape and domestic violence.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, commission, license, saling
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Rousey vs. Tate: 431,000 viewers
MMA Weekly reports that Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey received only 431,000 viewers Saturday night. The ratings are indicative of previous Strikeforce shows on Showtime.
Via MMA Weekly:
That number is fairly typical for a Strikeforce event on Showtime. The promotion hit its peak viewership with Fedor vs. Silva early in 2011, drawing 741,000 viewers. Other more common showings for Strikeforce were the likes of Henderson vs. Feijao at 412,000, Diaz vs. Daley at 528,000, and Melendez vs. Masvidal at 460,000.
Payout Perspective:
The numbers could be good or bad depending what you think of a women’s bout as the main event. The last time Showtime featured a women’s main event with this much hype was Gina Carano facing Cyborg Santos back in August 2009 where that show received 576,000 viewers. Still, 431,000 viewers is low and considering Dana White is stepping back from providing input could mean that we’ll see the product whither away. Let’s hope that its not the case as Rousey and Tate proved that there should be some platform for women’s MMA. We shall se
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, viewer, time showtime
Read the full article at MMA PayoutStrikeforce TV Ratings Continue to Flounder; Can it Survive Dana White’s Exodus?
Strikeforce continues to flounder in TV ratings, at least compared to its elder sibling. Now that UFC president Dana White has withdrawn his support, can Strikeforce survive?
Posted in: strikeforce, dana, rating, tv, tv ratings
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyRonda Rousey earns $32,000 for title-win over Miesha Tate
The growth of women’s MMA is still a work in progress but with fighters like Ronda Rousey leading the charge it appears things should continue in a positive direction. Not only was Rousey part of a much-anticipated Strikeforce headliner against Miesha Tate this past weekend but she, along with Tate and fellow female Sarah Kaufman, out-earned a number of their male counterparts in terms of both base pay and total take-home.
The list of salaries from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey was released on Monday, and though the rundown was topped by Ronaldo Souza, it appeared to indicate good things could be in store for the sport as long as the bevy of talented women continues to impress.
Rousey made $32,000 for her title-winning tap-out of Tate including a $17,000 win bonus while Tate in turn was paid $19,000. Meanwhile, Kaufman exited the arena with a $25,000 check in tow.
Souza and Josh Thomson were the card’s highest earners with $92,000 and $80,000 a piece.
A Rundown of Medical Suspensions from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Read below for a full list of payouts:
Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Conor Heun: $8,000
Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Caros Fodor: $12,000
Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Saling: $5,000
Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Alexis Davis: $4,000
Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus) def. Bristol Marunde: $10,000
Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Smith: $65,000
Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley: $45,000
Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) def. K.J. Noons: $38,000
Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Miesha Tate: $19,000
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, tate, bonus, ronda rousey, rousey
Read the full article at Fighters.comJosh Barnett granted license to fight in California
Embattled MMA promotion Strikeforce got a dose of good news this week when it was determined that heavyweight Josh Barnett would be free compete in California after his license to fight was reinstated. The California State Athletic Commission gave Barnett the green-light on Monday after a two-year battle following a failed drug test back in 2009. However, Barnett must still submit to random testing by the CSAC prior to any event in the State.
Barnett’s positive hit sent Affliction’s attempt at promoting MMA events into a nosedive as the company had been promoting a fight between “The Warmaster” and Fedor Emelianenko.
The PRIDE veteran’s next fight is set for May 19 against Daniel Cormier in the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. A location has not been set for their bout but clearly the card appears destined for California with San Jose, the organization’s home-base, being attached to the card.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, california, twoyear battle
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainWhite not pleased with Showtime after denying changes
MMA Junkie reports that Dana White will step away from working with Strikeforce and focus on the UFC. White said this after Saturday night’s Strikeforce event in which Showtime execs turned down suggestions provided by White.
White planned to skip the UFC on FX 2 event in order to head to the Strikeforce event in Columbus, Ohio but when he heard that Showtime would not implement certain changes to the production of the card, he skipped the Strikeforce event.
Via MMA Junkie:
But at the last minute, things changed. According to White, new Showtime boss Stephen Espinoza decided maybe not all of the changes the UFC boss proposed would find their way into the event.
And, White said, he didn’t have the courtesy to even make a direct call, instead preferring contact with fellow Zuffa exec Pete Dropick.
“I almost missed the first UFC fight in 11 years, and then I get the phone call from Pete Dropick when I’m in Japan,” White said. “‘Yeah, listen, they’re not going to change pretty much any of the stuff you wanted.’ So I said, ‘[Expletive] them.’
Payout Perspective:
Hard to say if this is good or bad for Strikeforce. Based on the initial reviews and estimates, the Strikeforce event was well-received. It would be interesting to see what changes White wanted and why Showtime turned down the changes. With White hands off on Strikeforce, it will be interesting to see how Strikeforce will do assuming Scott Coker takes over. Also, what support will it receive from Zuffa?
Posted in: strikeforce, event, showtime, strikeforce event, change
Read the full article at MMA PayoutJosh Barnett receives conditional license to fight again California
It’s been more than two years since Strikeforce heavyweight Josh Barnett had his license to fight suspended by the California after failing a drug test for PED use prior to a scheduled scrap against Fedor Emelianenko. While it’s been a long and arduous road for the 31-5 PRIDE veteran, it looks like it should be smooth sailing for him from here on out after the CSAC voted to reinstate his license under the condition he would submit to random drug testing prior to any upcoming fights in the State.
Though Strikeforce has yet to announce a location for the match-up, Barnett’s next bout will come on May 19 against Daniel Cormier in the finals of the organization’s long-running Grand Prix. With Barnett back in business in California it would open the door for the fight to take place in the promotion’s home-base of San Jose.
Cormier Finally Ready to Fight After Broken Hand Heals
Barnett is currently on an eight-fight winning streak including wins in the tournament against Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov. Comparably, Cormier is 9-0 thus far since transitioning to MMA from a successful run as a wrestler including back-to-back victories against Jeff Monson and Antonio Silva.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: fight, strikeforce, barnett, california, cormier
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Results: Four Fighters Receive Indefinite Medical Suspensions
Four fighters were handed indefinite medical suspensions by the Ohio Athletic Commission following Saturday's Strikeforce Tate vs. Rousey card. Former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate obviously leads the list after her left elbow was mangled by new champ Ronda Rousey. In addition to that, three fighters have suspected broken hands - Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (Kid Nate posted about that earlier), Conor Heun, and Roger Bowling. All four can have their suspensions lifted in cleared by doctors. Here are the other fighters that received longer suspensions from the commission:
Kazuo Misaki: Suspended 45 days to due a facial lacerationAlexis Davis: Suspended 30 days to due a facial lacerationPat Healy: Suspended 30 days to due a head lacerationBrandon Saling: Suspended 30 days for precautionary reasons
Every other fighter on the card was given a seven day suspension, which is standard practice by the Ohio Athletic Commission.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, day, suspension, day suspension
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Josh Barnett is finally cleared to fight in California again
Last Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey event was originally supposed to be Strikeforce: Barnett vs Cormier, but Daniel Cormier's broken hand scuttled that plan. The new goal, as above's shrieky promo shows, is to have the finals on May 19th, venue TBA. When you're dealing with Josh Barnett, that TBA can be a pretty big deal as he's still got unfinished commission bizniz in California over that positive steroid test from back in the Affliction days.That all went down during the salad days of 2009, when Fedor was still king of the world and before I started finding depressing grey hairs on my ballsack. Almost three years later, Barnett has finally taken the necessary steps to move forward with his career:
The California State Athletic Commission on Monday agreed to grant Barnett a license as long as he submits to random drug testing before his May 19 bout with Daniel Cormier in the final of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix. The decision clears the way for Strikeforce to hold Barnett-Cormier in California, although a venue hasn't been confirmed yet....Barnett never went through a hearing to appeal his positive test, although dates were scheduled multiple times. He eventually abandoned the notion of an appeal and simply tried to apply for a license again in December 2010; that hearing ended inconclusively when Barnett asked for a continuance when the commission told him they would ask "probing" questions.Some commissioners on Monday expressed doubts about the honesty of Barnett, who maintains that he did not knowingly take a steroid in 2009. But with Barnett passing multiple drug tests in California and other states since then, regulators opted to give him the benefit of the doubt this time.
The commissioners popping boners at the prospect of forcing Josh to admit to his steroid usage didn't end up getting what they wanted. Instead, Josh insisted "I didn't knowingly or intentionally ingest steroids," which is his general position on all three of his positive incidents. His theory involves tainted supplements, and considering how often that excuse is used I think I'm gonna go hit up a GNC and ask for some of 'the good stuff.' And then wink at them until they give me something with a name like ANABOLIC MUSCLE FUEL 5000.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, josh, barnett, california
Read the full article at FightlinkerRonaldo Souza tops list of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey salaries
Not only did former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza depart Columbus, Ohio with a victory under his belt at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey but did so with the largest check of any of the evening’s competitors.
According to a list of salaries provided by the Ohio Athletic Commission, “Jacare” earned $92,000 for his success against Bristol Marunde.
However, Souza did not have the night’s largest base pay, as his total take-home was assisted by a bonus for winning. Receiving that honor was Josh Thomson who made $80,000 for beating K.J. Noons in co-headlining action without any additional money for bringing home the “W”.
Meanwhile, new bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey was paid $32,000 for her exciting clash with former title-holder Miesha Tate who earned $19,000 in defeat.
Also standing out, albeit for perhaps the wrong reasons, Scott Smith earned $65,000 for his lackluster showing against Lumumba Sayers.
Read below for a complete list of salaries from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey:
Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Conor Heun: $8,000
Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Caros Fodor: $12,000
Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Saling: $5,000
Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Alexis Davis: $4,000
Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000) win bonus) def. Bristol Marunde: $10,000
Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Smith: $65,000
Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Paul Daley: $45,000
Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus) def. K.J. Noons: $38,000
Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Miesha Tate: $19,000
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, bonus, souza, rousey
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGilbert Melendez Says He’s Fighting May 19, But Doesn’t Know Who His Opponent Is
According to Gilbert Melendez, his next title defense is scheduled for Strikeforce’s upcoming Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals show on May 19. Don’t ask him who he’s fighting though, because he doesn’t know.
What he does know however is that he doesn’t think it should be a rubber match with Josh Thomson. In fact, from what he told Heavy.com in a recent interview, he thinks Pat Healy is more deserving of a title shot based on their performances at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.”
“I know that’s what he said, and he can try,” Melendez told HeavyMMA after the event. “I think he was trying to make me laugh. It was a good fight, but I wasn’t super impressed. Josh Thomson said it himself – that he looked like sh*t, and I don’t know if he was complete sh*t, but those were his words and I’ll let him be the one to say it.”
“I thought (Pat) ‘Bam Bam’ Healy looked really good, and he might be more deserving of a title shot than Josh, in my opinion,” Melendez said. “Josh was losing in his fight against Healy, and he got a Hail Mary rear naked choke at the end. But it’s whatever to me. K.J. and Josh both lost to the last two guys I beat. I just smashed (Tatsuya) Kawajiri, and he beat Josh Thomson in his fight before this and (Jorge) Masvidal beat Noons. It is what it is, and I’ll fight whoever they bring me.”
Ultimately though, Melendez says he really doesn’t care who Strikeforce matches him up against. He is holding out hope however that Dana White brings him a top five opponent.
“I’m fighting May 19,” Melendez said. “I don’t know against who yet but I don’t care – I’m fighting May 19 in San Jose (Calif.). I need to stay busy and I’m going to be on that card. We’ll see, and I have to keep faith they will deliver. It would be nice if they could bring over some Top 5 competition, and hopefully there is something in the works. I talked to (UFC president) Dana (White), and he told me he would do me justice – and I have to have faith in what he says.”
But did Melendez talk to Dana before or after he basically washed his hands of everything Strikeforce? Because prior to Saturday Dana was all gung-ho about getting his hands on Strikeforce and turning it into a promotion that would be loved by fans and fighters alike, but basically did a 180° once Showtime decided they didn’t want his input after all. Dana may have had every intention of bringing over a top five opponent for Melendez before, but is that still the case now that he wants nothing to do with Strikeforce? Dana has surprised me before so maybe so, but I can’t say I’m not skeptical.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: strikeforce, dana, josh, melendez, josh thomson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJosh Barnett Granted Conditional License by CSAC, Heavyweight Final Likely in California
Josh Barnett met with the California State Athletic Commission today in the hopes of regaining his license prior to Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament final on May 19.
Barnett was granted a conditional license requiring random drug screening, which will likely pave the way for the Grand Prix final to take place in California.
The commission grilled Barnett regarding his past failed drug tests and Barnett still denied ever knowingly taking steroids. The denial was something the commissioners believed was unlikely. Still, Barnett was granted a conditional license by a vote of 4-2.
Barnett will face Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Grand Prix final on May 19.
Also of note, Strikeforce Scott Coker confirmed California as the likely destination for the event and is aiming for Strikeforce’s preferred home, the HP Pavilion. The venue will depend on the NHL’s San Jose Sharks performance.
The Sharks currently sit in 8th place in the Western Conference with a one-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings. Meaning there is a chance the Sharks could miss the playoffs all together, and even if they did, they would face the top team in the West.
Posted in: strikeforce, barnett, license, california, daniel cormier
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce salaries: 'Jacare' leads payouts with $92,000 from Showtime event
Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Tate vs. Rousey" event this past Saturday night (March 3, 2012), which aired on the Showtime network from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, were released earlier today by the Ohio Athletic Commission.
Former Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza was the chief check casher on Monday morning, with 92,000 reasons to hit the drive-up window at his local financial institution. Not far behind him was lightweight "Punk" Josh Thomson, who somehow turned shit into salad with his $80,000 payday.
Showtime's leading lady and new 135-pound champion Ronday Rousey took home $32,000, which she can probably double by raffling off Miesha Tate's arm at a Columbus tricky tray. "Takedown" was beatdown, but still got a pretty penny with $19,000 simoleons.
That's not all.
The complete list of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" salaries and payouts (via MMA Fighting) after the jump:
Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus)Miesha Tate: $19,000Rousey def. Tate via submission (armbar)
Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus)K.J. Noons: $38,000Thomson def. Noons via unanimous decision
Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus)Paul Daley: $45,000Misaki def. Daley via unanimous decision
Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Scott Smith: $65,000Sayers def. Smith via submission (guillotine choke)
Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus)Bristol Marunde: $10,000Souza def. Marunde via submission (arm-triangle choke)
Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Alexis Davis: $4,000Kaufman def. Davis via majority decision
Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Brandon Saling: $5,000Bowling def. Saling via technical knockout
Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Caros Fodor: $12,000Healy def. Fodor via submission (arm-triangle choke)
Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus)Conor Heun: $8,000Couture def. Heun via technical knockout
The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" was $543,500.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, submission, tate, rousey, submission armtriangle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTate vs. Rousey Medical Suspensions: Miesha Tate Out Indefinitely With Elbow Injury
Miesha Tate and three others received indefinite medical suspensions in the aftermath of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, the Ohio Athletic Commission confirmed to MMAFighting.com on Monday.
Tate, the former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion, appeared to injure her left arm while defending two grisly armbar attempts during her headlining loss to Ronda Rousey. "Takedown" later revealed to MMAFighting.com that her arm was not broken, miraculously, and she was awaiting further MRI results to discover the extent of the damage.
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and undercard participants Roger Bowling and Conor Heun also received indefinite suspensions for various hand injuries.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey took place Saturday, March 3, 2012 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and aired live on Showtime and Showtime Extreme.
Additionally, PRIDE veteran Kazuo Misaki received a 45-day suspension due to minor facial damage, and Pat Healy, Alexis Davis, and Brandon Saling each received 30-day suspensions for assorted injuries.
The official Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey medical suspension report can be read below:
Miesha Tate: Indefinite suspension - elbow injuryRonaldo Souza: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryRoger Bowling: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryConor Heun: Indefinite suspension - hand injuryKazuo Misaki: 45 days - facial lacerationPat Healy: 30 days - head lacerationAlexis Davis: 30 days - facial lacerationBrandon Saling: 30 days - precautionary reasons
Posted in: strikeforce, day, suspension, tate, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Fighter Salaries
The OAC has released the fighter payouts for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza led the pack with a $92,000 payday. Josh Thomson was close behind with $80,000 followed by Scott Smith with $65,000 and Kazuo Misaki with $50,000. Meanwhile, Strikeforce certainly got a lot of bang for their buck in the main event. Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, who did a great job selling the show, only made off with disclosed $19,000 and $32,000 paydays. Hopefully they got a little extra in the form of undisclosed bonuses for their stellar performances both in and out of the cage.
Payouts
Courtesy of MMA Junkie:
Ronda Rousey: $32,000 ($15k + $17k win bonus)
Miesha Tate: $19,000
Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus)
K.J. Noons: $38,000
Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus)
Paul Daley: $45,000
Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 ($5k + $5k)
Scott Smith: $65,000
Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 ($70k + $22k)
Bristol Marunde: $10,000
Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 ($15k + $10k)
Alexis Davis: $4,000
Roger Bowling: $16,000 ($8k + $8k)
Brandon Saling: $5,000
Pat Healy: $22,500 ($17.5k + $5k)
Carlos Fodor: $12,000
Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus)
Conor Heun: $8,000
Total Payout
A disclosed total of $543,500 was paid out to the fighters.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, tate, bonus, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJacare Sits Atop Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Fighter Salaries
Former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza sits atop the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fighter salaries and payroll from Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, tate, salary, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Tate vs Rousey Medical Suspensions; Miesha Tate Suspended Indefinitely
A nasty armbar submission courtesy of new Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey has landed former title holder Miesha Tate on indefinite suspension from the Ohio Athletic Commission.
Posted in: strikeforce, suspension, tate, miesha, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyJacare, Josh Thomson and Scott Smith Lead Tate vs. Rousey Payouts
Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey was the star attraction of the night, but former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza received the night's highest disclosed payout at $92,000.
Behind Souza, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson took home a flat $80,000 for his hard-earned win over K.J. Noons. Strikeforce middleweight Scott Smith pulled in the third-highest payout of the night with $65,000 for his first-round submission loss to Lumumba Sayers. Including his win bonus, Sayers earned $10,000 for the biggest win of his career.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey took place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and was headlined by a bantamweight title clash between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. The event aired on Showtime and Showtime Extreme.
MMA Fighting requested and received the disclosed payouts from the Ohio Athletic Commission. They are as follows:
Ronda Rousey $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus) vs. Miesha Tate $19,000K.J. Noons $38,000 vs. Josh Thomson $80,000 (no win bonus)Kasou Masaki $50,000 (no win bonus) vs. Paul Daley $45,000 Lumumba Sayers $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) vs. Scott Smith $65,000Bristol Marunde $10,000 vs. Jacare Souza $92,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus)Alexis Davis $4,000 vs. Sara Kaufman $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Brandon Saling $5,000 vs. Roger Bowling $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Pat Healy $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus) vs. Caros Fodor $12,000Conor Heun $8,000 vs. Ryan Couture $10,000 (no win bonus)
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, bonus, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White is "100% UFC," has nothing to do with "D-Level Strikeforce Production"
After hinting that he would soon be taking an increased role in the production of Strikeforce, it appears UFC President Dana White has had a change of heart.In fact, White says he wants nothing to do with the number-two promotion in the world.During this past weekend's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event, a displeased fan questioned White about the quality of commentating during the broadcast, insisting that the UFC President "needs to fix this asap."In response, White made his his interest in the feedback
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ufc president, asapin response, heartin fact
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce Results: Miesha Tate's Arm Not Broken By Ronda Rousey
submitted by ArghZombies [link] [16 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, ronda, arghzombie
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Tate vs Rousey Photo: Jacare Souza's Broken Hand
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza broke his left hand against Bristol Marunde at Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card seen on Showtime. Jacare beat Marunde handily -- landing a ton of hard overhand rights. This x-ray photograph published by Tatame goes a long way towards explaining why Jacare wasn't following up the right hands with many combinations.
Jacare won the fight by submission in the third round, but it was really his wrestling and striking that won him the fight. He repeatedly tagged Marunde with hard punches, even dropping him in the first round. Combined with that dominant striking was a very nice series of take downs, several using the fence for leverage.
This was Souza's first fight back since losing his Strikeforce middleweight belt to Luke Rockhold last September. Hopefully the injury won't require a tremendously long lay-off before he is able to return to action.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, jacare, souza, showtime jacare
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Zuffa's Wild Weekend
Less than three months ago, UFC president Dana White was all positivity and enthusiasm in discussing the future of Strikeforce."I'm getting involved in this thing and I'm excited about it," he said then. "I'm going to get behind it 100 percent."But on the same weekend that Ronda Rousey completed her lightning quick rise to the top, giving women's MMA its best moment in years, White essentially said he is done caring about Strikeforce. Those two events weren't connected, except in the fact that one day in the future, they might be.With limited options for women try to ply their MMA trade -- and Strikeforce the biggest -- that means that if a frustrated White and the Zuffa ownership group part ways with Showtime at the end of their current deal, Rousey might soon have no place to hang her star.
Let's remember that just a few months ago, Strikeforce's future was tenuous at best, negotiations going down to the wire before a deal was struck. At the time, White acknowledged that the extension wouldn't have been possible without a regime change at Showtime sports that would make it possible for him to provide input and make adjustments to the production. But the new relationship has apparently soured faster than the old one did, and White is no longer interested in a partnership with the Showtime sports staff.That will leave other executives like Lorenzo Fertitta and Peter Dropick to run things in his place on behalf of Zuffa. It's certainly a competent group, but the point is that if White is frustrated with Showtime, the rest of the Zuffa team probably is, too. If White envisioned changes, they all envisioned changes. Those apparently won't be coming, and you don't have to be a business insider to know that unmet expectations lead to discontent.The relationship might ultimately still be salvageable but this can't be considered a good sign coming so early after a contract was inked. And if it isn't salvageable, Strikeforce might be extinct when its deal is up, unless Zuffa tries to find another TV outlet. White likes to say that every day he wakes up, something bad is bound to happen, and for proof, just look at his weekend. Aside from the relationship with Showtime showing its first signs of fracturing, there was plenty more to raise his blood-pressure. On Saturday in Australia, a scoring error during a flyweight tournament bout declared Demetrious Johnson the winner when in fact, his fight with Ian McCall was a draw after three rounds. For the first time, Zuffa had specifically contracted the fighters for a fourth, sudden-death round in case of a draw for such situations, but the simple math error was not discovered until after the event concluded, making it impossible. Instead, their best-laid plans were laid to waste. That will leave McCall and Johnson forced to rematch, while sending tournament semifinalist Joseph Benavidez to the sidelines to wait for the winner.At least that was a somewhat innocent mistake. The man in charge of the scorecards, Craig Waller of New South Wales, Australia's department of sport and recreation, quickly accepted responsibility, standing at a podium at the post-fight press conference and publicly apologizing to fighters, fans and the promotion. As frustrating as the situation was, it's hard to stay mad when someone comes forward and offers himself as a remorseful target of blame. After all, anyone who's ever balanced a checkbook has made a simple math error at some point of their lives, and while the mistake isn't harmless, it's hardly a brazen offense.But what of the other issue of the weekend? Getting airtime during the Strikeforce undercard was a fighter named Brandon Saling, who has Neo-Nazi tattoos on his body and is a registered sex offender. The latter is bad enough, even though rehabilitated former criminals have the right to earn a living. But the former suggests that he is not rehabilitated at all, the tattoos a symbol of discriminatory attitudes and hate that don't deserve a public viewing. Freedom of speech is an inalienable right, but Strikeforce and Showtime have no obligation to offer him a forum for his viewpoints, and in fact, Zuffa in the past has said that they would prohibit fighters with that kind of tattoo art from their shows.It appears unlikely that any kind of background search was done on Saling, as his bout with Roger Bowling was a late signing, getting added about 10 days before the event. And it should also be noted that Strikeforce isn't the first bigtime promotion to feature Saling, who once fought for Bellator as well.But two wrongs don't make a right, and the fallout from his appearance took some luster off an evening that otherwise belonged to Rousey and Miesha Tate. All in all, it was a good, bad and ugly weekend for Zuffa. The flyweights will eventually get their second chance, and Saling is already facing the court of public opinion to go with the increased scrutiny on his personal and professional lives. Both of those situations will eventually reach conclusions. But Rousey, Tate and the rest of Strikeforce's female fighters have a future that isn't quite so clear. Because of White's public stance, the best night women's MMA has seen in years may also have been its worst.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, showtime, weekend, zuffa
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Results: Miesha Tate's Arm Not Broken By Ronda Rousey
Following her fantastic submission win over Miesha Tate in the main event of Saturday's Strikeforce show, new 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey was dismissive when asked if she was going to make nice with her heated rival.
Tate, however, does have one thing to hold over Rousey: she didn't break her arm.
In a text to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani Sunday, Tate gave an update on her condition:
"I had X-Rays last night," Tate told MMAFighting.com via text message. "No bones are broken, which I already knew. Other than that, I have to get an MRI to find out anything further."
For anyone that saw the severe torque on her left arm, that news will come as a shock. The MRI could reveal other issues (ligament/muscle tears, dislocation, etc), but not having a broken arm must come as somewhat of a relief to Tate.
Rousey's armbar finish was one that BE writer Ben Thapa opined might be the most brutal in MMA history. Incredibly, she has finished all of her amateur and pro fights by first round armbar submission. Now at 5-0, the 2008 Olympian will look to extend that mark in her next fight, likely to be against former champion Sarah Kaufman.
For Tate (12-3), the loss was her first in three years and marks the first time she's ever been submitted. Due to a lack of divisional depth, fellow Saturday night loser Alexis Vila could make sense as her next opponent.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, arm, text message, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White is done with Strikeforce
Dana White has been talking about 'fixing Strikeforce' since that terrible Rockhold vs Jardine event and recently it sounded like Showtime had finally given him the mysterious control he was demanding. But when it was finally time for the things White asked for to be incorporated into last Saturday's Tate vs Rousey event, Showtime suddenly decided they'd rather keep things the way they've always been. Now Dana's pissed:
"I almost missed the first UFC fight in 11 years, and then I get the phone call from Pete Dropick when I'm in Japan," White said. "'Yeah, listen, they're not going to change pretty much any of the stuff you wanted.' So I said, '[Expletive] them.'"You flew out to Las Vegas and wasted my time. Go talk your boxing [expletive] to somebody else."White declined to specifically address what changes were proposed and/or nixed beyond "a few minor tweaks that we thought would make the live show better."However, he did make it clear he thinks Showtime is making a very poor decision."These guys are letting a D-level producer run their organization, and that's exactly what I told Espinoza," White said. "You want to let a D-level producer run your organization? Go for it brother. Knock yourself out. I've got [expletive] to do. I've got another job."
While Strikeforce is usually pretty solid in the fights department, the production side of things is consistently terrible. Cringe-worthy interviews and detracting commentary are two big problems that stand out the most. Add in the dozen or so other problems with the broadcast and you have a product that ends up being unpleasant to watch in spite of the enjoyable matches it's providing. Considering this nearly universal opinion, it seems pretty silly that Showtime would reject suggestions from the slightly more experienced and successful UFC on how to run events properly.This situation goes much further than a couple of tweaks that may or may not have helped Strikeforce do something something. MMA Caesar has decided he's not going to bother with the promotion any more. Remember how long PRIDE lasted after that happened? While Zuffa will still provide the services they're contractually obligated to provide, there's a world of difference between trying to make sh*t work and doing the bare minimum. If this is more than a tiff between partners and more like the beginning of a serious rift, it could easily turn the future of Strikeforce on it's head ... and the women's divisions it contains. Which would suck.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, thing, expletive, dlevel producer
Read the full article at FightlinkerMorning Report: Ronda Rousey's Grisly Armbar, Johnson-McCall and the Fourth Round That Never Was
Who could have guessed the debut of a new UFC division would be overshadowed by a women's title fight, in Strikeforce, no less.
But it was, and at least for now, the landscape of mixed martial arts appears to have evolved dramatically. Ronda Rousey's gruesome victory over Miesha Tate was a performance that captivated the MMA community unlike any women's match since 2009, and now "Rowdy" Ronda has become what Gina Carano was supposed to be.
Though lets not overstate the situation. WMMA obviously has a long road ahead of it. But with the help of a bona fide star -- a 25-year-old with Olympic pedigree, unquestionable ferocity, and Sonnen-esque skills on the mic -- the horizon suddenly looks a whole lot brighter. Catch up with the entire Rousey-Tate aftermath, as well as the UFC's flyweight tourney fallout with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Ronda Rousey calls title win 'big deal' for women's MMA. Ronda Rousey spoke to Ariel Helwani about her championship performance over Miesha Tate, her trademark armbar, and what her sudden rise means for women's MMA. And if you missed out, do yourself a favor and check out all the electrifying Strikeforce video highlights.
A short list of the most savage armbars in MMA history. Following Rousey's dramatic victory on Saturday night, Ben Thapa put together a GIF-fest of a feature, asking whether we just witnessed the greatest MMA armbar of all time.
Strikeforce fighter Brandon Saling in question for Neo-Nazi tattoos and criminal past. Internet detectives discovered the rather unsavory past of Strikeforce undercard fighter Brandon Saling, including Neo-Nazi tattoos and a police charge "in connection with an alleged rape of a person under 13."
Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson a ruled a draw. The UFC's flyweight tournament hit a snag when Australian commission representative Craig Waller incorrectly totaled the scores for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall. According to Dana White, a rematch is currently in the works.
Strikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier set for May 19. Over a year after its inception, the end is finally in sight for Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix.
MEDIA STEW
On August 6, 2010, at a quiet show in Oxnard, California, Ronda Rousey made her MMA debut fighting against Hayden Munoz. I think you know how the story goes from there.
If you were spacing out during Friday's UFC on FX 2 broadcast, you probably missed out on this goosebump-inducing Jon Jones promo that had everyone talking. (HT: Middle Easy)
And just as we enter the UFC's upcoming six-week vacation, Bellator graciously steps in to fill our violence void. If you weren't excited for Season 6, I dare you to watch this Michael Chandler teaser and not change your mind.
MMA Fighting's own Luke Thomas stopped by MMA Uncensored Live to drop some knowledge on the Dakota Cochrane and Rampage Jackson situations.
IAN MCCALL, DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON AND THE WONDERFUL AUSTRALIAN ATHLETIC COMMISSION
Mcall loss via having awesome mustache, robbed could at least do a sudden death, way to be screwed, love judges?
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 3, 2012
How was the last round not a 10-8? Mighty mouse was finished if the bell didnt ring
— Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) March 3, 2012
What a crazy roller coaster of emotions. Thank you to all the people who helped me I love you all. FOTN bonus helps take the sting off a bit
— ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) March 3, 2012
ROY NELSON WILL DROP TO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT IF YOU FRIEND HIM ON FACEBOOK
Bet is I will try to get to 205 if I can add 100k to Facebook.com/RoyNelsonUFC in two weeks. I love to win bets.... fb.me/16yMoPVPm
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 5, 2012
@seanmcc87 45lbs pounds
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 5, 2012
THE WEEKEND WITH SASQUATCH HERMAN
Started my new diet today. I had 10 toaster strudels for lunch.
— Dave Herman (@davehermanmma) March 3, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 2, 2012 - Sunday, March 4, 2012):
- Strikeforce: Josh Barnett (31-5) vs. Daniel Cormier (9-0) confirmed for May 19
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's fightbot: 5 reasons Tate/Rousey was a perfect fight
1. It didn't kill the tension with Tate
After the fight you could see Mauro fishing for the 'It was all for marketing' line from Ronda. I'm glad she didn't oblige him. Before the fight I wrote that I didn't want Ronda to kill the tension between her and Miesha should she win, and why that was so important. She didn't disappoint. She has great storytelling instincts. The shortline is that by not saying it was all for show/hype/marketing, it doesn't kill the tension between them. Which is good because Tate is bound to get a rematch one day. And if Ronda had said it was all for show after the first fight, it'd be a tough sell to get us amped for the rematch.
But this way there's still unfinished business, there's still a lot of issues between them that can make for a great story in the inevitable rematch.
She's gonna catch a lot of flack for it from some people, but I feel those people are shortsighted. It's not like she rubbed Miesha's face in it (well within her right to do), she just refused to apologize for her actions. Own that s***.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, mdash, march, ronda
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce releases highlights from epic encounter between Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate
While the finish may be burned into the minds of MMA fans for years to come there’s no doubt the four-plus minutes leading up to Ronda Rousey’s grotesque finish of Miesha Tate to claim the Strikeforce bantamweight title were equally excellent, featuring more technique in the limited ticks than the majority of fights display in twice as much time.
As a service to fans Strikeforce/Showtime have since released a highlight reel from the entertaining affair featuring Tate’s early brush with an Armbar, her valiant recovery, and of course the fight-ending submission the MMA world is still buzzing about today.
Rousey Opens Up on Title-Win Against Tate
Check out the video below for all the good stuff (and there’s a lot of it):
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma world, epic encounter, fightending submission
Read the full article at Fighters.comMonday Water Cooler: UFC on FX, Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
With back-to-back shows from the UFC and Strikeforce in the books after the weekend, HeavyMMA's Duane Finley looks back at both in the Monday Water Cooler.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, monday, water, monday water
Read the full article at Heavy MMADana White no longer involved with Strikeforce, now '100-percent UFC'
This past Saturday night's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card that aired on Showtime was supposed to be the first event featuring added input from UFC President Dana White.
In fact, the Octagon boss was even going to skip his first UFC event in roughly a decade in order to attend the show in Columbus, Ohio. Instead of watching Martin Kampmann pull off a crazy last minute submission finish of Thiago Alves at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia, White was going to be at the Nationwide Arena to see Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey settle their differences.
Then, at the eleventh hour, it all fell apart.
When asked on Twitter why he doesn't find some new announcers for Strikeforce broadcasts, White responded rather succinctly by saying, "Tell Showtime, they run that shit, not me. I'm out. I'm 100-percent UFC."
That sent the media into a frenzy in an attempt to figure out exactly what went wrong. In a shocker, Showtime and White simply found themselves at odds once again.
As it turns out, White made quite a few suggestions to Showtime on varying ways to improve both the look and feel of their mixed martial arts (MMA) broadcasts, something he's well versed in having done such a bang up job with the production at UFC.
But basically all his suggestions were ignored.
It was originally thought that once former Showtime Sports Executive Ken Hershman left, White would find a way to dip his toes in the Strikforce waters and turn it into a far more successful promotion than it had been otherwise.
Instead he ran into the same issues with Stephen Espinoza, Hershman's replacement. And merry-go-round keeps on spinning.
Anyone think this means that Strikeforce will no longer be in the Showtime business once the current deal comes up? And when that happens, will Zuffa still be in the Strikeforce business?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, ronda rousey, octagon boss
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGracie Breakdown: Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Edition
Rener and Ryron Gracie break down the jiu-jitsu techniques Ronda Rousey used to dislocate Miesha Tate’s elbow and win her the Strikeforce bantamweight championship at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” As always, it’s an excellent technical analysis for anyone interested in learning about the jiu-jitsu techniques the top fighters use in the cage.
Gracie breakdown archive
HT: Gracie University
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, gracie, fighters use, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Fighter Salaries: "Jacare" Souza, Josh Thomson lead payroll
The Ohio State Athletic Commission has released the final salary figures for fighters competing on Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OhioTopping the payroll with $92,000 was Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, who bounced back from his title-losing defeat against Luke Rockhold with a third-round arm-triangle submission victory over promotional newcomer Bristol Marunde. The win marks his fifth with the
Posted in: strikeforce, salary figures, titlelosing defeat, columbus ohiotopping, ohio state
Read the full article at Low KickDear Strikeforce: No more Nazi sex offenders, please
As soon as I saw the lightning bolts and "88" tatted on Brandon Saling's trapezoid, it was obvious that someone at Strikeforce had dropped the ball.
"I can't believe this," I said to myself. "They actually brought in a dude with white power tattoos to fight." It was surreal.
"88" stands for the eighth letter of the alphabet twice, a.k.a. "Heil Hitler."
Adding further evidence to the conclusion -- just in case Saling happened to be drunk and in the midst of a History Channel binge when he got those particular tats -- he also had "White Steel" in big lettering across his stomach. That particular one wasn't filled in. Perhaps that's why he was willing to brawl with Roger Bowling on last-minute notice on Strikeforce's card last night (Sat., March 3, 2012) in Columbus, Ohio.
Inking can be very expensive.
Either way, the libertarian streak in me would rather allow someone with politically unpalatable views to fight then to keep them from making a living. It's part of being a democratic society, and tolerance goes both ways. I'm not saying the UFC or Strikeforce or anyone has an obligation to allow anyone to compete; but I think it's better to allow them to do so to they don't get to wear a martyr label, especially when most guys in white power and Nazi-themed tattoos eventually get their asses kicked anyway. It's certainly a rallying point for the rest of the sane fan base.
Saling gave Bowling one helluva brawl before succumbing. But the final blow against Saling being plugged in was the fact that he's listed as a high-risk sex offender in Ohio.
That's simply too much. I've seen promoters desperate to fill last-minute cards do unbelievably shady things, but whether they were ignorant or simply decided to hope this slot would be filled and the rest of the world would look the other way, that's simply not happening.
Somebody at Strikeforce dropped the ball on bringing in Saling as a last-minute substitute Saturday night.
Just imagine if he'd won. Non-MMA media would potentially have a field day with it, causing irrevocable damage to our sport's brand and image. When the UFC rightfully decided to jettison the controversial Hoelzer Reich sponsor in 2009, it averted a mushrooming public relations problem it could ill-afford to sustain.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that they will be doing an "investigation" of Saling's situation. This is nonsense. It would have taken a seventh grader with a vague knowledge of World War II and access to The Google about two minutes to "investigate" what the potential problems were with giving Saling a slot on the card. Shame on you, Strikeforce, for putting the sport, its fans and everyone involved in what could have been a colossally horrific public relations nightmare. And we all ought to thank Roger Bowling for nipping it in the bud with his win.
Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.
Posted in: strikeforce, way, card, saling, roger bowling
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Video: Miesha Tate Vs. Ronda Rousey Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights
During the post-fight press conference, Ronda Rousey, Josh Thomson, and Sarah Kaufman talk about their victories at last night's Strikeforce event. Here are the highlights brought to us by E. Casey Leydon, of MMA Fighting:
Quick quotes after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Ronda Rousey:I didn't feel in danger at any time. I knew that if Miesha got in any position like on top or the back, that she would just stall out. I didn't feel in danger from any of her submissions at all.
...I'm not wearing short shorts again. That crossed my mind in the middle of the match, and I'm like "Oh my god! These damn shorts!". And I can't have that in my mind.
Josh Thomson:I can tell you now, you guys will never see me fight like that again... I wasn't happy with my performance. I was very emotional after. Disturbed. I don't like being booed. People don't pay hard earned money to watch that. I felt like I dominated the fight, won every round. But to me, that's not what people spend their hard earned money for.
This is the entertainment business, not the boring business. I was almost in tears in the back, cause I don't like being booed.
Sarah Kaufman:Clearly I like to strike. Based on my face, I also like to get hit. But Ronda hasn't been challenged by someone who can strike the way I strike. But uhm, I trained a lot of ground. I'm working towards my yellow belt in Judo, so look out Ronda, that Judo is coming for you.
Posted in: strikeforce, entertainment business, im, dont, ronda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMania Matchmaker: Possible pairings for the winners at UFC on FX 2 and Strikeforce: 'Tate vs. Rousey'
This past weekend was full of mixed martial arts (MMA) madness as UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" and Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" kept fans glued to the tube on March 2 and 3, 2012, respectively.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) unleashed the 125-pounders, as the first leg of the Flyweight tournament completed in epic fashion. The fans in Sydney, Australia were also treated to an exciting Welterweight showdown between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann, a fight that ended in somewhat surprising fashion.
The following evening, Columbus, Ohio played host to another full and thrilling fight card as Strikeforce rolled through town with its "Tate vs. Rousey" event.
The result was a new Women's Bantamweight Champion and a full head of steam for women's MMA.
Out with the old, in with the new, folks, we're moving forward. After the jump, we'll take a look at some potential match-ups for the big winners from this past weekend:
If you read my "What's Next" post from earlier (and if you didn't, get on that!), you already know that I think Martin Kampmann should either face Stephen Thompson or Dong Hyun Kim.
You also probably already know that it's a virtual lock that Ronda Rousey will defend her belt for the first time against former champion Sarah Kaufman.
We've addressed that. Let's discuss who the other main card winners may have in store in the way of future opponents.
Let's start off on the UFC side of things and talk about the flyweights.
Joseph Benavidez defeated Yasuhiro Urushitani with a fantastic early second round knockout. Benavidez looked amazing in the fight, and I think it's clear that he belongs at 125 pounds.
For a moment, it looked as though he'd be fighting Demetrious Johnson, who had his hand raised as the winner over Ian McCall. Later, it was announced the score had been reported erroneously, meaning Johnson and McCall will have to do it all over again.
There's no word yet on when that will take place, but fans will be glad to get to witness a sequel to what ended up being a very fun fight.
Personally, I think Benavidez beats either one of them. He looks very much like a guy who could win the flyweight belt and keep it for a while.
We'll have to wait and see.
Also on the main card was a middleweight mash up between former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) competitor Court McGee and Constantinos Philippou.
Philippou was looking to extend his win streak to three after scoring a great first round knockout win over Jared Hamman at UFC 140 on Dec. 10, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Serra-Longo Fight Team product looked great during his three round unanimous decision victory over McGee. He seems to just keep getting better with each fight, which is the goal anyway, right?
So what's up next for Philippou?
How about Tim Boetsch? "The Barbarian" is on a three-fight win streak of his own, notably winning his last fight in a tremendous comeback effort with a knockout win over Yushin Okami at UFC 144 on Feb. 25, 2012 in Saitama, Japan.
They've both been making noise in the 185-pound division. They've both got a good deal of momentum. It makes for an exciting fight.
Set it up, Joe Silva.
At Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey," lightweight contenders K.J. Noons and Josh Thomson took part in a three round decision affair that had the Ohio crowd standing and booing at multiple points of the fight.
It wasn't exciting -- not by a long shot -- but Thomson did what he had to do to neutralize Noons' boxing and secure the win.
What's next?
If you ask him, I'm sure he'd tell you he wants and deserves a rubber match against current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Truthfully, he might get it, just because of an utter lack of other options on the Strikeforce end.
But, should he?
I don't think so. It's not a fight that interests me. Sure, Thomson beat "El Nino" back in 2008, but that was a long time ago. Melendez is a much better fighter these days, as was exhibited when he beat Thomson at Strikeforce: "Evolution" on Dec. 19, 2009 in San Jose, Calif.
If Strikeforce doesn't give Thomson the title shot, it may be an option to pair him up against Jorge Masvidal. I actually think this fight makes more sense, but, as previously stated, Strikeforce doesn't have a whole lot of options for other contenders to take on Melendez.
(Aside: Can someone remind me why is Melendez still on the Strikeforce roster? I'm sure there was an awesome reason, I just forgot what it was. Thanks.)
In summary, I think Thomson should fight Masvidal. He'll probably get Melendez.
The main card also featured a welterweight bout between Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki. The fight saw "Semtex" continue his slide down into the bowels of mediocrity and was witness to Misaki introducing himself in a big way to stateside fans.
Though Misaki's win was not a knockout or submission, he did massively outstrike (41 power strikes to Daley's nine) a fighter who has a strong reputation for his hands and feet.
So who should he get in his next fight?
Roger Bowling was victorious in his welterweight debut on the same card, when he scored a second round TKO win over Brandon Saling.
Throw them in there together. They're both fresh faces and both are coming off wins. It makes sense to me. Get it done.
Lumumba Sayers looked really good in his submission win over veteran Scott Smith. It was only his third fight on the Strikeforce roster, and he's still fairly new to the promotion.
He already fought Derek Brunson and lost, so we'll probably not see that match up again real soon.
Robbie Lawler got himself back in the game recently with a win over Adlan Amagov at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" on Jan. 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lawler vs. Sayers is no headliner fight, but it doesn't need to be. They both need an opponent and have something to prove.
If Lawler can beat him, it puts him one step further to getting back to where he used to be (if that's possible). If Sayers can get the win, it's one more "name" to put on his resume and makes him look that much more like a legitimate contender.
Do it.
Lastly, former Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza righted his ship with an arm triangle choke submission win over Bristol Marunde in the third round of their fight.
So who should be on deck to fight "Jacare" next?
It's another situation like that of Josh Thomson. Should Souza get a title fight against Luke Rockhold? Absolutely not. It was one win and while it was a nice victory, it wasn't anything that had people on their feet screaming for him to get another crack at the belt.
The problem is that, just like in Strikeforce's lightweight division, the middleweight division is also absent of many exciting match-ups for current champion Luke Rockhold.
There is a chance that Rockhold will take on Tim Kennedy for his next title defense. If this happens, it'll change the landscape a bit.
Here's where I weigh in.
If "Jacare" doesn't get a title rematch aganinst Rockhold, I say have him fight Derek Brunson, like he was originally supposed to before Brunson had to withdraw from their fight.
It's really the only other fight out there that makes a lot of sense.
That's my list of potential future matches for this past weekend's winners. But don't let me hog all the fun playing matchmaker. In the comment section below, feel free to leave your list of possible pairings.
Do it now!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, vs, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights Video
Hear from new women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, Josh Thomson, Lumumba Sayers and Sarah Kaufman following their fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday in Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, sarah kaufman
Read the full article at Heavy MMABrydon on Strikeforce: Pretty impressive
Ronda Rousey won another fight by brutal armbar but in dethroning Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate she proved she's more than a one-trick pony.
Posted in: strikeforce, brydon, ronda rousey, dethroning, pony
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBrydon on Strikeforce: Brutally impressive
Ronda Rousey won another fight by brutal armbar but in dethroning Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate she proved she's more than a one-trick pony.
Posted in: strikeforce, brydon, ronda rousey, dethroning, pony
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBrydon on Rousey: Brutally impressive
Ronda Rousey won another fight by brutal armbar but in dethroning Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate she proved she's more than a one-trick pony.
Posted in: strikeforce, brydon, ronda rousey, rousey, pony
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Post-Fight News & Notes: Dana White No Longer Involved With Strikeforce
Rundown of Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” post-fight news and notes…
— Following recent proclamations that he was going to personally take control of Strikeforce and turn it into a UFC-level promotion, Dana White has completely stepped away from the organization and declared himself “100% UFC.” And no, he doesn’t sound happy about it. In response to a fan request on Twitter to make changes to the Strikeforce announcing team, Dana sounded more like a rival promoter than a partial owner exclaiming that Showtime “runs that shit” and he’s “out.”
So what happened? Well, according to Dana, Showtime decided not to implement the tweaks to the production that he suggested and they didn’t even have the courtesy to call him directly to tell him.
“I almost missed the first UFC fight in 11 years, and then I get the phone call from Pete Dropick when I’m in Japan,” White said. “‘Yeah, listen, they’re not going to change pretty much any of the stuff you wanted.’ So I said, ‘[Expletive] them.’ You flew out to Las Vegas and wasted my time. Go talk your boxing [expletive] to somebody else.”
“These guys are letting a D-level producer run their organization, and that’s exactly what I told Espinoza,” White said. “You want to let a D-level producer run your organization? Go for it brother. Knock yourself out. I’ve got [expletive] to do. I’ve got another job.”
Despite his animosity towards Showtime at the moment, Dana says they still have every intention of honoring their contractual obligations to Showtime. He also says Strikeforce will “never suck” as long they own it, so while Dana won’t be personally involved with Strikeforce, the promotion isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
— It seems Miesha Tate and her boyfriend Bryan Caraway took all the pre-fight trash talk a little more personally that Ronda Rousey did. After the weigh-ins Friday night, Caraway got a little carried away on Twitter saying that if Ronda “wants to challenge a man I’ll knock her teeth dwn her throat the break her arm!” Predictably, Caraway was then bombarded by the angry Twitter mob and spent the rest of night trying to explain that he wasn’t advocating inter-gender violence and was merely trying to say that women can’t compete with men athletically. Nevertheless, it was a dumb thing to say and ended up blowing up in his face.
Moreover, it didn’t even have it’s intended effect on Rousey. She explained at the post-fight press conference that she found the whole thing quite humorous.
“[Caraway] and Miesha were up all night tweeting and trying to defend themselves, and it was all over the front page of MMA.tv, and me and my friend and my mom were just sitting there laughing that they’re stressed out and tweeting all night, and we’re like, eating trail mix and watching ‘The Fifth Element.’”
“People have to realize about Twitter, it’s not just chatter,” she said. “You’re constantly releasing written statements that even if you delete it right away, it’s out there.
“So people (such as Caraway) have to think a little bit more before they say something sexist like that. Because I was like, ‘Dude, you ever heard of (tennis player) Billy Jean King?’ I mean, who says that? That’s my comment. Tweet it.”
While it’s doubtful that Rousey and Tate will ever become BFF’s, Rousey did give Tate props after she broke her arm for being a “tough chick.”
“She’s a tough chick,” Rousey said of the former champ. “That hurts. I’ve had my elbow dislocated before, and that’s no fun. But the rule is in judo that even if it’s dislocated, and they don’t tap, you’ve got to keep going. I don’t think the referee should be criticized for not stopping it because those are the rules I’m used to.”
— With the Strikeforce bantamweight title in hand and the Tate rivalry behind her, it’s time to look towards her next challenge. Who that will be isn’t set in stone, but it could be former bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman. Kaufman made it clear in her post-fight interview that she wants the title shot, but realizes that she may not get it.
“I’ve been told before my next fight is a title fight and it didn’t happen,” Kaufman told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after the bout. “At this stage of the game, it is saying what I believe and making sure the fans know what I know, and that they want the same things I do.”
I would say the chances are pretty good mainly do to a lack of depth in the division. If not Kaufman, who else would Rousey fight?
— Josh Thomson was pretty down on himself following his win over KJ Noons last night. It wasn’t the most exciting performance of his career and that really bothered him. He made it clear after the fight that he wants to entertain the fans first and foremost.
“People don’t pay hard-earned money to watch that, especially in this economy,” an emotional Thomson said following “Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey.” “They pay for people to go out there and show their talent.”
“We got the ‘W’ – that was the important thing,” Thomson said. “But I can tell you know you guys will never see me fight like that again.”
“This is the entertainment business, not the boring business,” he said.
It’s unclear what’s next for Thomson, but it could very well be a rubber match against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
— A little controversy erupted online last night when it discovered that preliminary fighter Brandon Saling had neo-Nazi tattoos and an criminal record as a sex offender. Strikeforce said they were unaware of either when they signed Saling and only learned of it last night during the show. They do however find the tattoos to be unacceptable and said the Ohio commission will be launching an investigation into Saling this week.
“We had no knowledge about that until someone brought it up to us this evening,” Coker said of Saling’s background. “It came to our attention during the course of the fights.”
“They’re going to launch a full investigation on Monday,” he said. “So that’s where that’s at. As far as you guys know, the policy for Strikeforce and the UFC is that kind of body art, offensive behavior, (and) offensive art is not going to be allowed.
“So that’s something we went to the athlete (with). He responded, and we’re going to investigate further and see what the truth is.”
According to the OAC’s Bernie Profato, Saling could face a potential suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
Image via Rey Del Rio for FOXSports.com
Posted in: fight, night, strikeforce, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce fighter Brandon Saling in question for Neo-Nazi tattoos and criminal past, investigation forthcoming
Last night's (Sat., March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, featured all kinds of violence, mostly in the main event of the evening.
But an ugly criminal record in an undercard fighter's past, not to mention offensive tattoos, have cast a shadow over the proceedings.
The boys at Bloody Elbow did some digging on Brandon Saling, a mostly unheard of lightweight who lost to Roger Bowling in the second round on Showtime Extreme last night, and found some seriously disturbing information.
For starters, he was indicted back on Oct. 8, 2004, for engaging in unlawful sexual conduct, which is a first degree felony. Not only that, he was also indicted "in connection with an alleged rape of a person under 13."
To cap it all off, he also served a small stint in the big house for a domestic violence charge.
If it seems odd that a criminal of this magnitude would get licensed to compete, that's because it is. When the issue of the criminal past and the obviously offensive tattoo's was brought to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker's attention at the post-fight press conference, he had this to say:
"That was something that was brought up this evening. We had no knowledge of that until this evening. It came to our attention during the course of the fights. The fighter was licensed not only in this state but several other states. What I can say is Bernie from the State Athletic Commission, which we talked to before we came into this room, is going to launch a full investigation on Monday. So that's where that's at."
Coker would go on to say that it is the policy of both Strikeforce and UFC is offensive body art is not allowed. He said he had a talk with Saling but it was a private conversation and they'll let us know more after the investigation.
All told, it's clear far too many folks failed in the process of due diligence. A simple Google search would have turned up all the information in question here.
Time to get with the Internet age, huh?
As noted, Saling was defeated last night on the "Tate vs. Rousey" undercard. Read more on that right here. And stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this story as it becomes available.
For complete Strikeforce results and blow-by-blow coverage of all of last night's action click here and here.
Posted in: night, strikeforce, investigation, that, saling
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Preliminary Card Post-Fight Video Interviews
Hear from preliminary card winners Ryan Couture, Pat Healy, and Roger Bowling following their fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday in Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, roger bowling
Read the full article at Heavy MMAJosh Thomson Strikeforce Post-Fight Video Interview
Josh Thomson was highly critical of his performance in a Strikeforce win over K.J. Noons that had the fans in Columbus booing. He gives his thoughts on the bout.
Posted in: strikeforce, fan, josh, kj noons, thomson
Read the full article at Heavy MMALumumba Sayers Strikeforce Post-Fight Video Interview
Lumumba Sayers was devastating on Saturday night in his Strikeforce fight against Scott Smith. Hear what he has to say about his victory and what's next on the horizon for him in the middleweight...
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, strikeforce fight, scott smith, lumumba
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce 'Tate vs Rousey' results recap: Josh Thomson vs KJ Noons fight review and analysis
When it was announced that exciting lightweights Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons were going to battle it out in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey last night (March 3, 2012), no one would expect that their bout would end up being the most boring match of the night.
But that's exactly what ended up happening.
The promotion had even flown out current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Milendez just to get his opinion during the bout as it was expected to create his next title challenger.
So why was the victorious Thomson comparing his performance and everything that had to do with his performance to human excrement during his post-fight interview? Also, where do both men go from here?Follow me after the jump for our Josh Thomson vs. K.J. Noons Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" post-fight review and analysis:
Early on, things looked like they might actually be entertaining as Thomson quickly went to work with his patented push kicks, even blasting "King Karl" with a jumping front kick which connected square on the boxer's chin and stunned him. He even tried a flying scissor heel hook, which would have stole the show had he pulled it off.
With Noons now concerned about "The Punk's" striking, it opened up the possibility for a takedown and Thomson was able to get inside, grab a single leg and trip his opponent to the canvas. Noons attempted to scramble back to his feet but to no avail as Thomson remained in control on top.
In the second stanza, Thomson was much more aggressive early in his efforts to take the fight to the ground and he was able to put Noons on his back after securing a body lock against the fence within the first minute. Again, he wasn't able to do much other than secure top position and after two minutes, the referee had seen enough, standing them both up.
Once back to standing, it was apparent just how tired both men were, especially Thomson, and Noons came forward aggressively swinging heavily and somewhat sloppily in a 40 second spurt of violence which may have stolen the round for him despite Thomson scoring another takedown for the final minute.
For round three, Noons needed to land offense standing and keep Thomson from getting inside, but he failed in a big way as the American Kickboxing Academy fighter easily scored a trip takedown in the opening 30 seconds and this time, he actually threatened with an arm triangle submission. Thomson remained on top throughout the round and was awarded a unanimous decision when it was all said and done.
While his fight wasn't very crowd-pleasing, Thomson may have won back the crowd with his honesty in his post-fight interview with Mauro Ranallo, explaining that he hadn't fought in 15 months, had tried something different in his training camp which ruined his conditioning and had suffered not one but two bouts of staph infection as well in a moment of pure candidness.
For K.J. Noons, he really just can't put it together. His boxing-centric attack has not been enough to win fights against the better lightweights in the division and again he was unable to adapt to what Thomson was bringing on fight night. His takedown defense simply wasn't there and when he needed to land big damage during the brief striking exchanges, he couldn't score even close to enough to balance out the takedowns and positioning of "The Punk." It simply seems that Noons has been relegated to gatekeeper status in the division until he can figure out what is going wrong.
I'd like to see Noons face someone along the lines of Justin Wilcox, Caros Fodor or perhaps Gesias Cavalcante next. There are plenty of fish in the sea who are coming off disappointing performances in the Strikeforce lightweight division.
For Josh Thomson, this wasn't his ideal fight by any means, but he did get the job done. He was the first to admit that his conditioning was lousy and he had a horrible camp in the lead-up to the fight and if he gets the next title shot against Melendez, he's going to go back to his old ways of training like a madman, even if that risks more injury in the process. He knows what he did which wasn't pretty and he'll likely be looking to fix that for future bouts.
The only fight that makes sense for Thomson is a title shot against Gilbert Melendez, even if his performance wasn't very head-turning. He's on a three fight winning streak in Strikeforce and there's some unfinished business between himself and "El Nino" as both men have split a pair of wild and extremely entertaining five round wars in their prior meetings. A rubber match is needed.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you turned off during this fight as well? Would you rather have Thomson or fellow lightweight winner Pat Healy get the next crack at Melendez and his title?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, noon, wasnt, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Post-Fight Press Conference Video Highlights
Video highlights from the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” post-fight press conference via MMA Fighting and Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, conference, press, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce’s Brandon Saling is a white supremacist AND a registered sex offender
When I saw the first shot of Strikeforce’s Brandon Saling last night as he was about to meander down the walkway to fight Roger Bowling, they only showed his face. Just based on that, I thought to myself, “Gee, he sure does look an awful lot like the white supremacists in those MSNBC prison shows.” I convinced myself that I was being unduly harsh because there are plenty of trailer park residents out there who can’t help the way they look and were essentially born into their white trash status. Even when they showed his huge “White Steel” tattoo, I told myself, “That’s OK, it’s just his nickname... ‘Black Steel’ would be a cool, non-racist nickname for a black fighter too! Besides, is that any worse than Brown Pride?” But evidently, my Mr.-Rogers-like attitude was a bit naive and I really should have gone with my gut on this one. Some endeavoring Sherlocks out there with HD-DVRs (or Sherdog, or weighin photos, whatever) discovered that he has an “88” shoulder tattoo surrounded by lightning bolts. For those who aren’t well-versed in neo-Nazism (most of you, I hope), Bloody Elbow has some info on these groups’ use of 88 as a pro-Hitler symbol from Wikipedia. I won’t bore you with a sociology lesson, but suffice it to say, if you have an “88” tattoo that’s not something along the lines of “RIP grandma, 1912-1988,” you’re probably a scumbag. Dana White says he's "looking into it," but really, it seems pretty black-and-white to me. Also, it seems that while Zuffa/Forza was busy implementing useless pre-contract drug tests, they forgot to add criminal background checks and simple google searches into the mix as well. Oops! Saling now marks another entry in the growing list of pervs in MMA: in addition to a 2008 domestic violence issue, Saling is a registered sex offender because of a 2004 case in which he allegedly raped a child under 13 years old:
Two Noble County men are facing first-degree felony rape charges following an investigation by the Noble County Sheriff's Office into the weekend disappearance of a 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister. According to Noble County Sheriff Landon T. Smith, the girls parents had allowed them to go to an all-night birthday party at a friend's house in Monroe County last Friday. According to reports, the girls left the party with the suspects. Brandon C. Saling, 18, Summerfield, and James T. Allen, 18, Sarahsville were each charged with rape of a person under 13 years old, a first-degree felony.
There are multiple easily-googlable perv alerts available with his mugshot on them. Zuffa/Forza didn’t take the five minutes to look those up. But at least we’ll still know if a prospective Strikeforce fighter has been smoking pot. Therefore, the REAL miscreants will still be weeded out. So how did Strikeforce General Manager Scott Coker react to getting caught with his (thankfully figurative) pants down? And where is the athletic commission in all of this? MMAJunkie has news on what will happen next:
(More after the jump)
read more
Posted in: strikeforce, ’t, saling, sex offender, county
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Video Highlights: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey
Video highlights of the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” main event between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, miesha tate
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC President Dana White withdraws interest in assisting Strikeforce after snub from Showtime
UFC President Dana White nearly missed his first UFC show in eleven years to help push Saturday night’s Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey lineup further towards perfection. However, after finding out many of his ideas and plans had been nixed, White decided to end any future work with the promotion and remain 100% behind the UFC.
According to the outspoken White, he was planning on skipping Friday’s UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann card in Australia to help make sure things went smoothly in the states.
“I’ll never make that mistake again,” said White, in an interview with MMAJunkie. “UFC is what I am and where I should have been.”
White added that he didn’t even get the respect of a call from Showtime executives shooting his suggestions down, saying one of his underlings instead received notice his ideas would not be implemented at last night’s event.
“So I said, ‘F*ck them,’” White concluded, criticizing the company’s choice to take advice from someone with less experience than him in the MMA business.
It remains unclear what White had in mind in terms of changes, but he was very critical of the production that Showtime put forth for the event. He did say that as long as Zuffa owned Strikeforce they would continue putting together high-caliber fights but that he would no longer offer his own input in production decisions.
PHOTO CREDIT – TRIUMPH UNITED
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, ufc show, mma business
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJosh Barnett battling Daniel Cormier in May for Grand Prix crown
Strikeforce has finally set the date for the conclusion to the organization’s entertaining albeit slightly ill-fated Heavyweight Grand Prix. Announced more than a year ago, the Grand Prix pitted a number of the top heavyweights in the world against each other including Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum, as well as eventual finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.
According to Strikeforce, Barnett and Cormier will collide on May 19 at still-developing event. No location was revealed in relation to the bout.
Barnett is a longtime veteran of the sport with both experience in the UFC and PRIDE. The 31-5 catch-wrestler earned his spot in the final by taking out Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov. He has won his last eight fights and also holds past wins over Pedro Rizzo, Jeff Monson, and Randy Couture.
Comparably, Cormier lacks Barnett’s in-ring experience though is an accomplished grappler with ever-improving hands. The former Olympian is 9-0 thus far since transitioning to MMA, picking up notable victories over Monson and Antonio Silva.
Cormier Calls Broken Hand “Worst Case Scenario”
The fight will mark one of the final heavyweight tilts under the Strikeforce banner with the bulk of the group already having been absorbed by the UFC.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, barnett, daniel cormier, cormier
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey Results: Winners, Losers, And Other Thoughts
Strikeforce's second show of 2012 is in the books with another great performance from the women. In the main event Ronda Rousey continued her streak of breaking bones when she snapped Miesha Tate's arm and forced the former champion to tap. The night wasn't without controversy as it was discovered that prelim fighter Brandon Saling has an extremely questionable past including but not limited to: neo-nazi tattoos and a history of sexual misconduct. There will obviously be more on this topic later today and this upcoming week but for now let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.
WINNERS
Ronda Rousey: Ronda Rousey is a beast. The fact that she tells you to your face what she's going to do and then does it is the craziest thing. She talked a lot to hype of the fight which can put her in an awkward situation had she lost. She didn't though. Instead she added another arm to her trophy case. Also coming out to Joan Jett "Bad Reputation" was in the top five best walk outs. I'd shake her hand and congratulate her but I'm afraid she'll just armbar me. Super impressive win.
Kazuo Misaki: Dropping down to welterweight was a great decision for Misaki. He made Paul Daley look like an amateur striker and kept pressuring. If there is a knock against him, it's that he gave up the takedown easily when Daley's entire game plan was to try and lay and pray to a decision. I wouldn't mind seeing Misaki vs Jason High in the future.
Lumumba Sayers: I was pretty hard on Lumumba Sayers because I just didn't think he had the overall skills to compete at the top level. Up until the Antwain Britt fight he never demonstrated punching power and just seemed to be a guy who was on his way to washing out of Strikeforce. Instead he does a pro wrestling style suplex and finished Scott Smith with a beautiful guillotine. I'm not sure if Lumumba Sayers "is for real" but he sure is entertaining.
Sarah Kaufman: Sarah entered the cage and fought like a woman who wanted to prove that she deserved a shot at the title. I can't remember her ever having that kind of output when striking but she was throwing combinations for the entire fight. The only negative was the last round when Davis had her in trouble but a win is a win and Kaufman will be getting the next shot at Rousey.
Alexis Davis: I know what you're thinking, how can she be a winner when she lost her fight? Easily if you saw the gutsy performance she put on. She could have cracked mentally in the first and second round when the doctors inspected her cut but she stayed in the fight and almost pulled off the win in the third. Maybe a fight with Tate when her arm finally heals?
Losers and other thoughts after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
LOSERS
Miesha Tate: On the flip side, Miesha Tate tried playing a promotional game at the weigh ins when she got in Ronda's face. Then when Ronda responded she asked for her to get fined. Add to that her boyfriend's misogynistic tweets and Tate had a lot to prove. Unfortunately, the only thing she proved is that her arm breaks just like everyone else's and that she really should have trained for the armbar.
Josh Thomson: Well at least he knows that was an awful fight.
K.J. Noons: See Josh Thomson.
Paul Daley: Paul Daley's performance last night was a first for MMA. It was the first time that a striker fell in love with his wrestling. Fans often complain about wrestlers showing off their awful stand up and they got to see what happens when a striker tried to wrestle. I'm sure the losses in his career made him think "If Tyron Woodley and Josh Koscheck can do it, so can I" but that wasn't the case. Because Paul Daley lost. Also, a Brit winning with wrestling? That'll be the day.
Scott Smith: Am I the only one that is now getting really depressed watching Scott Smith fight? I can't be the only one. I don't know what he's going to do but at this point he shouldn't be fighting. His mechanics are slowed to a crawl and he's essentially getting paid to lose. If you're a fighter you shouldn't want to be in that role. Stop fighting and find something else because your career is depressing me.
Brandon Saling: You're a fucking loser. I'm not even talking about your loss to Roger Bowling. I'm saying you, Brandon Saling, are a loser. That you were even given the opportunity to fight shows that someone either at Showtime, Strikeforce, or the Ohio Commission really screwed up. I don't ever want to see this guy fight again and he didn't deserve that referee stoppage. What an awful human.
Strikeforce/Showtime/Ohio Athletic Commission: I said it above but who the hell made the decision to allow Brandon Saling to fight? I'm not only disgusted that he's a neo-nazi with an 88 tattoo surrounded by SS bolts but he and a friend allegedly raped a 13 year old girl. How the hell does no one do a google search and say "no fucking way"? All three parties need to rectify this situation because they've allowed a legitimate scumbag to fight on a national card.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Pat Healy was very impressive. I know that Strikeforce is dead set on Melendez/Thomson III but if we're basing the title shots on performances, Healy should be fighting for the title. In my opinion he creates an interesting match up with Gilbert Melendez based on his grinding style and toughness. Hopefully he's get a shot soon because I enjoy watching him fight.
Jacare did what he needed to do. Bristol Marunde wasn't brought in to win. Nice win by Jacare, it's obvious he used the fight to test out his stand up.
Ryan Couture continues to develop and I was impressed with him last night. Conor Heun was a huge step up in competition and Couture passed the test with flying colors. His stand up looked solid and he's active on the mat when looking for submissions. I doubt he becomes the next Randy but that's okay. He should just be the best Ryan Couture.
The booth of Pat, Mauro, and Frank was awful last night. Showtime is responsible for the production and it is their call to put these three in the booth. In a perfect world Pat Miletich would be working with a more professional commentary team and though this would be unpopular with many of you, I wouldn't be opposed to a Pat Miletich/Gus Johnson team. It would be Strikeforce's answer to Anik/Florian and Rogan/Goldie.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, loser, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce’s Scott Coker Says Investigation into Brandon Saling’s Background Underway
There seemed to be an upsetting discovery during the event at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday as undercard fighter Brandon Saling's background came into question.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, brandon, saling, background
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Post Fight: Jacare Souza Made His Statement for Title Shot
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza had a change of opponents just a week out from his bout in Strikeforce, but he still made the most of his opportunity, stating his case for a title shot.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, jacare, shot, souza
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza Post-Fight Video Interview
Ronald "Jacare" Souza discusses his Strikeforce third-round submission win over newcomer Bristol Marunde to open Saturday's main card in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, jacare, souza, marunde
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce results: Ronda Rousey has the title and Sarah Kaufman is going to 'beat it back from her'
Newly-crowned Strikeforce Women's Champion Ronda Rousey may get a little time off from training camp, but there are no reprieves in the world of pre-fight trash talk.
Picking up where Miesha Tate left off, former 135-pound titleholder Sarah Kaufman is calling for another crack at the division crown after proving she was (still) championship material by defeating fellow Canadian Alexis Davis at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event last night (March 3, 2012) in Columbus, Ohio.
"The fans, they wanna see fighters. They wanna see two people get in there, swing, hit each other and get a little bloody. It's the first time I've been cut and I love it! It's my belt, I want it! It's my fault I lost it and no one else should have it. If Ronda Rousey wins that title, it will be sweet satisfaction to beat it back from her."
Last night's majority decision victory was Kaufman's third win in a row and a strong statement for getting the next shot at the "Rowdy" one. Now, I don't want to sound overly pessimistic, but it should be noted that in 16 professional fights, Kaufman has just one loss.
And it came by armbar.
Video of Kaufman's post-fight interview, where she breaks down her performance against her fellow Canadian (and a whole lot more), after the jump.
For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, kaufman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaObservations from My Couch: Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’
A few observations from Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey”:
-I don’t know what’s more depressing: the fact that Bristol Marunde was inadequate as an opponent for Ronaldo Souza, or the fact that a win over Marunde puts Souza on track for a shot at the belt.
-No, wait, I know. It’s the fact that Strikeforce’s middleweight division sucks.
-Sure, Lumumba Sayers looked good, but how hard is it to dominate someone who apparently stopped giving a shit about fighting over a year ago?
-Scott Smith’s last win was a come-from-behind thriller against Cung Le back in 2009. Please, no more.
-Kazuo Misaki was better at being Paul Daley than Paul Daley was. Hooray for dangerous Japanese strikers!
-He may have been down on his own performance, but Josh Thomson at the very least proved that there’s still someone in Strikeforce who can legitimately challenge champ Gilbert Melendez.
-Give credit to Miesha Tate, who managed to last far longer against Ronda Rousey than anyone else the judoka has faced.
-Give Rousey your arm if she wants it. She’s getting it whether you resist or not!
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, paul daley, fact, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Sarah Kaufman Post-Fight Video Interview
Sarah Kaufman talks about her Strikeforce win over Alexis Davis and what she hopes is going to be a title shot against new champion Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: title shot, strikeforce, kaufman, alexis davis, sarah
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce post-fight press conference video highlights for 'Tate vs Rousey'
Post-fight reactions and video from newly-crowned women's champion Ronda Rousey, along with main card winners Ronaldo Souza, Josh Thomson, Lumumba Sayers, Sarah Kaufman and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who were all on hand for last night's press conference following the "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime event on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, columbus ohio, undercard recap
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” Commentary
MMAFrenzy’s own Steve Barnes was in attendance on Saturday night at Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” to help cover the event. While in attendance, he compiled his fight-by-fight notes including observations on the crowd, the fights, the post-fight conference, and more.
Strikeforce bantamweight title fight – Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
As I said in the podcast preview, that is why you don’t do clinch work with a judoka, especially an Olympic level one. The koshi garuma that led to the ending armbar was gorgeous and that will be the bane of many future opponents.
At the press conference, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker mentioned a dislocated elbow for Tate, but nothing more specific than that. Judging by what we saw in the cage, though, if that’s all the damage, Tate should consider herself a bit fortunate.
Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons
We can probably assume Josh Thomson is probably the second best lightweight in Strikeforce. He’s probably the best jiujitsu practitioner in the division as well. These two things made this fight kind of come out of the “Bizarro World.” I certainly didn’t expect Josh Thomson to play the wrestling control game with Noons, and I don’t think many other people did either. I understand wanting to play a ground game with KJ Noons. He’s a very good striker, I know, but still. The biggest reason I could guess he played that game was because he was trying to wear Noons out for the third round. And judging by his interview afterwards, he wasn’t real happy. It will be curious to see what he looks like his next time out.
Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley
Oh, what a difference a year and a half makes. Then, Paul Daley was running rampant over guys with his trademark left hook. KO after TKO after KO were running onto his record and he had a title shot with Nick Diaz. Now, though, I don’t want to say he’s a shadow of himself, but he’s not the same fighter. I’m not going to pretend to know what’s in his head or in his training camp but it looks like he’s so gun shy about his wrestling and ground game that he’s overcompensating to the detriment of what got him where he is.
I think this was the first time I’ve ever seen Misaki and I was pretty impressed. He said he was disappointed to not finish the fight, but hey, you can’t finish them all. More interesting, though, was the scoring. Someone in the pressroom mentioned that usually during a fight, one of the fighters will be the stalker, the other will be the stalked but during this fight, they switched several times during the same round. It was a really odd fight to try to score. Paul Daley thought he won (and played the third round like he thought he was winning), and Misaki certainly thought he won. I had it for Misaki, but as I said on Twitter, any combination of scores would not have surprised me.
Lumumba Sayers vs. Scott Smith
I wrote down right as the fight started that “Scott Smith looks soft around the middle.” He didn’t look good and I mean he really didn’t look good. If he’s still in Strikeforce when you read this, it will be a mild surprise. If he’s still in Strikeforce a week after you read this, I will be absolutely stunned. Props to Sayers, he looked good and he did what he had to get a dominant win.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Bristol Marunde
I train in judo and jiujitsu. From that point of view, it really sucks competing against someone who is that much better than you are. It really does. There’s a feeling of helplessness, frustration, and “awe” of feeling the power and speed of someone who is in there basically doing whatever he (or she) wants and the best you can do is defend and try to do your best. That’s what Bristol Marunde did for the first five minutes and he survived. Which is better than I usually do, but that’s beside the point.
From where I was sitting, it looked like in between the first and second rounds Marunde loosened up and good for him. He had nothing to lose. He was coming in to fight a guy who before his last fight was the Strikeforce middleweight champ. Why not, as our British friends would say, go out there and have a go at it? I am giving a huge amount of credit for his job.
Jacare was never really in any danger in that fight but still went out there and did what he does. Good for him.
Preliminary Card:
It was a fun watch. There was a little for everyone. There was the technical submission grappling in Healy/Fodor. There were two guys standing and slugging. There was an awesome women’s fight. And while the crowd was booing at the end, I don’t think it was that they were booing the women, as Mauro Ranallo kind of intimated they were; rather, I believe they were booing that one judge saw the fight as a draw and that was a little interesting, but I can also see why (but for the record, I disagree).
Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman
Alexis Davis is tough. I mean, really tough. She also doesn’t have any head movement. Both of which meant that she got a special visit by the ring doctor in the furst round for a nasty looking cut over her left eye. Of course, Kaufman came out looking like she had something to prove. Which she did and she should be commended for controlling the fight from the opening bell. It annoyed her that she should have had Rousey’s spot in the main event.
That said, and nothing against Alexis Davis, but Davis is someone that if you’re complaining about not getting a title shot, you should be putting away. To be fair, I typed all that before the third round and wow, I’m not sure what else to say. A better grappler likely could have taken advantage of the way Kaufman left her arms out there. Maybe it was the let down of not having the title shot, but she certainly didn’t look impressive enough to make me complain about it.
Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling*
After the crowd was less than pleased with the grappling of the Healy match, they got their red meat with the first round. Both guys were legitimately stunned at points but Bowling showed better ground work to win the round. Bowling is a legitimately interesting welterweight prospect. He’s got solid standing work and it appears he has some good positional grappling skills (haven’t seen much, if anything, about his submission grappling). Keep an eye out. He could challenge what passes for the big boys in Strikeforce’s welterweight division.
Pat Healy vs. Caros Fodor
Solid win for Healy. Fodor showed really good promise on his feet and even showed some reasonably good takedown defense, but it wasn’t enough. Healy kept going for that arm triangle, but couldn’t get his legs free until the end.
This clearly isn’t the end for Fodor; he has a future here. Fodor looks like he just needs reps on the ground. I think he had Jorge Gurgel in his corner (or at least someone who looked a lot like him), so he’s likely in good hands. To be fair, he was going against a crafty veteran who kind of worked him over. We’ve seen that story before, we’ll see it again.
Conor Heun vs. Ryan Couture
Heun looked good in the first round. He looked strong and showed good wrestling, securing a couple big takedowns, but nothing really devastating. I gave him the first round, but at the same time, I wouldn’t have complained at all if a judge had given that to Couture. In fact, all three judges did.
It appeared, though, that Heun tired his arms out going for a big D’arce choke in the second, which ultimately ended his night. Not directly, but he wasn’t the same afterwards.
Ryan did a good job securing a finish.
*Viewers noticed during the fight that Saling was sporting some body art that was neo-Nazi in appearance. Scott Coker said that they did not know prior to the event, but he had been licensed in several states including Ohio.
The official Strikeforce/Zuffa policy on the matter states that offensive body art is prohibited. Coker and Saling (and/or his management) have had a conversation about it and the state of Ohio’s Athletic Commission will be launching a formal investigation into the matter Monday.
[Editor's note: the tattoos in question were an "88" tattoo and lightning bolts in the style of the Schutzstaffel, or SS, that served as Adolph Hitler's private military force. The tattoos are common prison tattoos representing Aryan Brotherhood gang. Strikeforce has also asked the commission to review whether or not he had properly documented his criminal record, and standing as a sex offender, on his licensing application. If Saling failed to do so, it could amount to perjury.]
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, ’t, vs
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyDana White '100% UFC', Apparently Done With Strikeforce Involvement
Since the day it was announced that Zuffa was purchasing Strikeforce, their relationship with the UFC has been an odd one. Are they competitors? Are they business entities designed to help each other? Are they simply undefinable relatives?
When UFC president Dana White appeared on a Strikeforce broadcast earlier this year, it was an odd moment but seemed to signify that he was taking a much deeper interest in the promotion. He said as much, claiming that he was going to look to get more control over Strikeforce with production, something he admits he's a bit obsessive about.
That apparently was nothing more than a pipe dream as on Saturday, White responded to a fan on Twitter about his role in the world's No. 2 fight promotion:
BenShuffain Ben Shuffain
@Strikeforce has the worst commentators in sports. @danawhite needs to fix this asap #TateRousey
Mar 04 Favorite Retweet Reply
in reply to @BenShuffain↑
@danawhiteDana White @BenShuffain @strikeforce tell Showtime, they run that shit not me. I'm out. I'm 100% UFC Mar 04 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
White didn't go into any more specifics, but the statement I'm "100% UFC" is a fairly strong one. With Strikeforce set to be on Showtime through 2012, fans could be in for another round of questions about the future of the promotion near the end of the year, especially with the most influential figure in the sport having washed his hands of it.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, im, reply, retweet reply
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce results recap from last night (March 3) for 'Tate vs Rousey' in Columbus
Strikeforce returned to the Showtime airwaves last night (March 3, 2012) with "Tate vs. Rousey," broadcasting live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
In the main event of the evening, Miesha Tate put her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated contender Ronda Rousey, who secured her shot at the division crown by winning four straight contests via first round armbar.
Make it five.
The "Rowdy" one, who not only talked the talk heading into last night's main event, but also proved she could walk the walk, got all she could handle from Tate, who shrugged off an initial arm-lock right out of the gate. In fact, "Takedown" was able to rattle off a few submission attempts of her own, proving her ground game was on par with that of the former Olympian.
Well, at least for a little while.
Rousey was able to once again secure a dominant position and lock up a limb with just over 30 seconds left in their frenetic opening frame, but this time, there was no giving it back. Tate showed an incredibly high tolerance for pain, grimacing and squirming as the clock ticked away, but the inevitable tap -- and horrific still shot of her broken wing -- came at the 4:27 mark of round one.
Snap, crackle, pop.
While one champion was being crowned, another was in the broadcast booth, keeping a keen eye on the 155-pound affair between Josh Thomson and Karl James Noons. It's been said that "heavy is the head that wears the crown." Well, even heavier is the eyelids that watched that fight.
Because Thomson fought "like shit."
That's according to "The Punk," who was visibly upset with his unanimous decision win over "King" Karl. The former lightweight champion attributed his poor performance, one that had the Columbus boo-birds harmonizing by the start of the second stanza, to a pair of Staph infections during training camp.
Not that it stopped him from demanding a trilogy with Gilbert Melendez.
Thomson stifled Noons with his wrestling-based attack and even had the former EliteXC straphanger gasping for air from an arm-triangle choke, but their inability to keep the fans in the game makes it difficult to generate any kind of excitement for a rematch against "El Nino."
Especially with so many terrific (and fresh) match-ups awaiting Melendez in the UFC.
One person who knows a thing or two about mixing it up inside the Octagon is Paul Daley. The British bomb-dropper made a name for himself under the ZUFFA banner by pasting more than a few careless welterweights.
Kazuo Misaki would not become one of them.
The Japanese import made a successful debut not just in Strikeforce, but in the 170-pound weight division as well. And he did it by beating "Semtex" at his own game. Daley, who's been criticized for having the ground game of a cigar store Indian, made a concerted effort to continually take the former PRIDE middleweight to the floor.
Because he just couldn't hang on the feet.
Misaki was quicker to the punch, lighter on his feet and simply out-struck his bewildered foe, who seemed more concerned with landing the knockout punch than finding his range and working his jab. Daley also allowed the "Hitman" to control the center of the cage, busted up nose and all.
In the end, it cost him the fight.
But it may not have cost him his job, which unfortunately can't be said for Scott Smith, who dropped his fourth straight fight under the Strikeforce banner when Lumumba Sayers strangled him en route to a first-round submission win. The Coloradan needed just over 90 seconds to melt the "Hands of Steel" with a lightning-fast takedown that Smith tried to convert into a guillotine choke.
Instead, it got him scooped and slammed.
In fact, Sayers used the gorilla press and subsequent canvas-crash to lock in a choke of his own. Smith pawed and clawed at the offending arm, but in the end he chose to tap, rather than nap. Based on his recent struggles, that tap may as well have served as his resignation.
See you in Bellator.
In the opening fight of the night, Ronaldo Souza wanted to prove he was still at the top of the very short list of 185-pound title contenders by finishing Strikeforce debutante Bristol Marunde.
Mission accomplished.
"Jacare" came out like a man possessed and despite his vaunted jiu-jitsu prowess, controlled the first three rounds of action through crisp striking and calculated aggression. Students of the ground game, however, did not go home disappointed.
The Brazilian took advantage of his late replacement in the third and final frame, dragging his weary foe to the ground and sinking in an arm-triangle choke. While the win in "Discovery City" still leaves him one spot behind Tim Kennedy in the line of eligible contenders, it unquestionably put the remainder of the division on notice.
Mr. Rockhold, take us to DEFCON 3.
That's a wrap from Columbus. Now it's your turn to discuss Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in the comments section below. And after last night's main event, there's certainly plenty to talk about.
Have at it.
For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, game, ground game, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Ronda Rousey Post-Fight Video Interview
New Strikeforce women's bantawmeight champion Ronda Rousey talks about her Saturday victory over Miesha Tate in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, rousey, ronda, miesha tate, saturday victory
Read the full article at Heavy MMADaniel Cormier meets Josh Barnett in Grand Prix final on May 19
After an extended wait for health-related reasons Strikeforce has finally booked a bout between Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett. While no location has been revealed, if all goes according to plan the two talented fighters will meet on May 19 to determine who the last man standing will be.
Strikeforce announced the match-up during last night’s broadcast of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.
Cormier earned his slot after outpointing Jeff Monson last June, then being offered an opportunity to replace the since-departed Alistair Overeem in the tournament’s field. The 9-0 former Olympian took advantage of the situation by knocking out Antonio Silva in the opening round of their semifinal scrap. However, he suffered a broken hand in the fight and has been sidelined ever since.
Though Barnett may not be undefeated he’s emerged with his hand raised the last eight times he’s fought including wins over Monson, Pedro Rizzo, and Gilbert Yvel, as well as Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov in Grand Prix pairings. The affable veteran holds an overall record of 31-5 with three of his losses coming to Mirko Filipovic during the Croatian’s prime in PRIDE.
No other fights were revealed for the upcoming card.
Check out a preview of the upcoming bout below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, brett rogers, daniel cormier, cormier
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce results: Josh Thomson 'got the win' but 'disappointed' that people boo
A win is a win.
Many people like to live by that motto, believing it doesn't matter how you earned the victory, but rather, the important thing is that you got it. Apparently, Strikeforce lightweight number one contender Josh Thomson doesn't live by that saying.
"The Punk" got back into the win column as he defeated K.J. Noons via unanimous decision in what was a lackluster affair at last night's (Mar., 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Thomson, who hadn't seen action in 15 months, entered the Hexagon looking to prove his bout with Noons should have been the headliner ahead of women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey. His actions didn't speak louder than his words, however, as Thomson failed to get off any major offense and spent the majority of the contest using his wrestling skills to control the pace on the ground, which prompted some boos from the crowd.
Much to his disappointment.
"I was disappointed in my performance. We tried something new for this camp and I had a long camp, 12 weeks, plenty of time to get in shape. The 15 months off, coming back, I got staph (infection) twice so that was two weeks of my camp gone, I also got sick in the middle of that and I just couldn't train as hard as I needed to and we were trying to switch up the camp and make it different to ease the pain of maybe getting hurt, since I've been getting hurt. Obviously, you saw tonight that it didn't work. I got the win, I hate fighting like that, disappoints me that people boo. It's the entertainment business and that's not the way I like to win."
Though the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) trained fighter wasn't pleased with his performance, he's (likely) earned the right to face the promotion's 155-pound champion, Gilbert Melendez. The contest will be the third time the two have met, having split wins in their first two contests. With plenty of time to improve his health, and possibly his overall mixed marital arts (MMA) game, it will be interesting to see what kind of outing "The Punk" has against one of the best lightweights in the world when he, once again, battles "El Nino."
Hear Thomson's post-fight remarks, after the jump:
For complete Strikeforce results from last night's "Tate vs. Rousey" event click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, camp, thomson, staph infection, performance hes
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Morning After: A Great Night for Women's MMA
When Cris Cyborg beat Gina Carano on August 15, 2009, it was the biggest night in the history of women's mixed martial arts. But as great a night as that was, there was one clear and immediate problem: What else could top it?
We found out on Saturday night: What could top that night was not another great fight for Cyborg (she's only been in mismatches since then and is currently suspended for using steroids) and not another great fight for Carano (she's making movies and unlikely to fight again). What could top that night was the feeling that there might really be a legitimate division with multiple impressive fighters able to compete in a series of great fights. And that's what the Strikeforce 135-pound women's division gave us on Saturday night.
Ronda Rousey stole the show by submitting Miesha Tate in the main event and winning the Strikeforce women's 135-pound title. But Sarah Kaufman also put together perhaps the best performance on the undercard in her victory over Alexis Davis. Now we'll see a Rousey-Kaufman title fight, and we're starting to see what it looks like when a promotion has a deep women's weight class and can put together multiple high-quality fights in that weight class.
UFC President Dana White's stated opposition to having women in the UFC has always been that there aren't enough good female fighters to put together an entire women's division. And he's had a fair point on that score: As much fan interest as there was in the 145-pound title fight between Cyborg and Carano, Strikeforce never had a deep 145-pound division.
But the 135-pound division in Strikeforce right now really does have enough talent to assemble a full weight class. In addition to Rousey, Kaufman, Tate and Davis, Strikeforce has Amanda Nunes, Julie Kedzie, Germaine de Randamie, Liz Carmouche and the ability to bring in women from other promotions who want to show they're the best in the world at 135 pounds. (I remain hopeful that former champ Marloes Coenen will find herself back in Strikeforce.)
I'm more interested in the Strikeforce women's 135-pound division than I am in the Strikeforce men's 155-pound division, where one fighter stands so far above the rest that there really aren't any good fights for the champion. (More on that in a minute.)
Women's MMA still has a ways to go before it's accepted as broadly as men's MMA, and even though Strikeforce and Showtime deserve all the credit in the world for bringing women's MMA this far, they can do more. (For starters, Showtime announcers Pat Miletich and Frank Shamrock can stop calling the grown women who fight in the cage "girls.") I'd like to see at least one fight in the women's 135-pound division on every single Strikeforce show, until it no longer feels like a big deal when we get big female fights.
But Saturday night did feel like a big deal, and I'm glad it did. Rousey, Tate, Kaufman and Davis stepped up in a big way.
Strikeforce Notes
--Strikeforce simply has no lightweight challengers for Gilbert Melendez. The idea that Josh Thomson, who was loudly booed after winning an uninspiring decision on Saturday, and who hadn't won a fight in a year and a half before that, is now the No. 1 contender to Melendez's title is crazy. It's time for Zuffa to either move Melendez to the UFC or move a Top 10 UFC lightweight like Gray Maynard or Clay Guida to Strikeforce so that the best years of Melendez's career aren't wasted on sub-par opponents.
-- I loved the arm-triangle choke that Pat Healy used to submit Caros Fodor. I don't think people realize how good Healy is. He's on a four-fight winning streak and has won seven of his last eight, and over the course of his career he's beaten good fighters like Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, Dan Hardy and Maximo Blanco. I like Healy a lot.
--Jacare Souza offered up a perfectly fine performance against Bristol Marunde, but really, this fight just shouldn't have been booked. Marunde is a 12-7 fighter who had never fought for a major promotion before, and he just didn't belong in the same cage against Jacare. I realize Strikeforce didn't have many options when Jacare's original opponent, Derek Brunson, had to drop out because his vision wasn't good enough, but Zuffa needs to be able to find better late replacements than Marunde.
Strikeforce Quotes
Mauro Ranallo: "What did you think about your performance tonight?"
Josh Thomson: "It was s--t."
Ranallo: "OK, elaborate. Why do you think it was that bad?"
Thomson: "How else do you explain it was s--t?"
(This may have been my all-time favorite post-fight interview.)
Good Call
Referee Mark Matheny's second-round stoppage in the Roger Bowling-Brandon Saling fight came at just the right time: In the first round, when Bowling got into a crucifix position and pounded away on Saling, Matheny gave Saling every opportunity to try to defend himself, and eventually Saling got a hold of Bowling around the back of the head and earned the opportunity to finish the round. But at the start of the second round, when Bowling got a crucifix on Saling again, it was clear that Saling was just taking too much punishment to make it through the round, and so Matheny stepped in and stopped it to protect Saling.
Bad Call
There were multiple instances on Saturday night, most notably in the Ryan Couture-Conor Heun fight, when the referees allowed some blatant fence grabs to go by without so much as a warning. Grabbing the fence is a foul, and it needs to be enforced as a foul. MMA referees let it go way, way too much.
Stock Up
Ryan Couture's victory over Conor Heun was by far the best performance of his MMA career. Prior to Saturday night Couture had a record of 3-1, and the three opponents he had beaten had a combined record of 8-8. But Heun is a legitimate opponent who entered the fight with a 9-4 record, and Couture took the fight to Heun, controlling him easily. This was a positive sign that Couture can be a good fighter, and not just a fighter who gets booked because he has a recognizable name.
Stock Down
Scott Smith has been in some of my all-time favorite fights, but he just doesn't have it anymore. Since his great 2009 comeback knockout over Cung Le in 2009, he's gone 0-4 and has looked progressively less impressive with each passing fight. If I were advising Smith I'd tell him he's had a great career, and should bring that great career to an end.
Fight I Want to See Next
Sarah Kaufman vs. Ronda Rousey. Of course.
Posted in: fight, night, pound, strikeforce, women
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce 'Tate vs Rousey' results recap: Kazuo Misaki vs Paul Daley fight review and analysis
Two dangerous welterweights were hoping to either contend or return to contention last night (March 3, 2012) as Pride and Sengoku veteran Kazuo Misaki took on former Strikeforce title contender Paul Daley in what was expected to be an action-packed showdown on the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" main card.
While the powerful Daley, having earned his "Semtex" nickname for his explosive style and knockout power, was expecting a cakewalk against an aging Japanese veteran, he perhaps bit off more than he could chew.
A rejuvenated Misaki, cutting down to welterweight for the first time looked like a new man and had his British opponent on the defensive early and often en route to winning a split decision victory.
So how did Misaki pull off the major upset? And what happens next for both fighters?Follow me after the jump for our Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" post-fight review and analysis:
From the onset, the normally aggressive Daley was extremely tentative, not throwing any of his punches with bad intentions as Misaki grew more and more comfortable. After two minutes, Misaki had had enough and he showed initiative, lunging forward and putting "Semtex" on the defensive, securing a solid takedown, however brief, which may have messed with Daley's head.
Daley never found his groove in the fight. In perhaps the biggest surprise of all, while his striking was going nowhere, he actually would occasionally change levels and shoot for takedowns, putting Misaki on his back at least three separate times throughout the fight, although his offensive attack mainly ended with the takedowns.
One exception to that was a slicing elbow from top position which Daley connected solidly against Misaki's brow and opened up a nasty cut and threatened to have the fight stopped by the doctor.
However, Misaki was allowed to continue and he went right back to work in putting on a show. On the feet, he was lighter than Daley, had better balance, movement and his strikes were significantly more diverse. He threw everything from wild looping hooks to short jabs, elbows, kicks and knees. He was very hard to predict for the Brit.
Daley never got going in the stand-up. The only strike that was doing anything for him all night was his lead left hand, but he could never follow up and despite Misaki having been stopped via strikes in his prior two high profile bouts, "Semtex" was never able to even stun him with a major blow.
Thus, when the scores were announced, Misaki was granted the victory to a stunned Daley, who must have felt his takedowns had been enough. In my opinion, it was pretty embarrassing that one judges sided with Daley in the first place. Misaki's victory should have been unanimous.
For Paul Daley, he's now lost three straight in the Strikeforce welterweight division. While he's had some exciting moments, his last two fights have left quite a bit to be desired and he really doesn't look like he's improving at all. For this fight, it appeared that he seemed so intent on trying to improve his wrestling that his striking was allowed to stagnate and even though he scored some takedowns, he wasn't able to pass guard or do much with them.
Daley can talk a mean game, but his ability to contend is going straight down the toilet. It's unlikely that he'll be returning to Strikeforce but if he does, I doubt he faces anyone other than a fighter on a losing streak or perhaps a prospect Strikeforce is hoping to build up. If he fights again, maybe Jordan Mein would make sense, or maybe someone like Tyler Stinson.
For Kazuo Misaki, he looked like a new man out there. I'll be the first to admit that I completely underestimated him heading into this fight, writing off the weight cut as an act of desperation to extend his career, but I'll eat gladly eat some crow. The Japanese journeyman looked in tip-top shape, was diverse with his attack and actually put on a pretty darn good show for the fans. He may have been disappointed in his performance for not getting a finish as he stated in his post-fight interview, but this was a breath of fresh air and perhaps he could earn a big fight in the promotion or even a title shot. The only cause for concern was his lack of defensive wrestling as he was taken down on multiple occasions by a fighter who doesn't exactly have the reputation of a man who's got great takedowns.
I'd like to see Misaki face someone along the lines of Tarec Saffiedine next. If that doesn't work, the promotion could always throw him into a rematch with recently resigned Nate Marquardt where he would have an opportunity to avenge a 2004 decision loss. Lastly, with a dearth of fresh challengers, he could always get a shot at the vacant title against Tyron Woodley, although his takedown defense would absolutely need to improve.
Either way, welcome to America and congratulations for a success debut are in order for "Hitman."
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you surprised that Misaki was not only able to stand toe-to-toe with Daley, but he also forced "Semtex" to try to take the fight to the ground? Do you think the Japanese veteran can be a factor in the Strikeforce welterweight division?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, takedown, strikeforce, daley, misaki
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Full Fight Video Highlights
In case you missed the Strikeforce event which hosted what is probably the most important bout in the history of Women's MMA in Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, here are official highlights from Showtime to get you up to date.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Since the video probably won't be enough, here's how the play-by-play from the live blog of the event:
Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship: Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey - Round 1 - They don't touch gloves and Tate wails away with punches. Rousey with a quick takedown and she moves to side control. Rousey steps over to get side control again. Armbar by Rousey and Tate survives! It looked bad but she survived. Tate was on top but Rousey stood up. Tate has the back now as she takes her down. Rousey gets free and stands. Rousey almost spikes her on her head but Tate is still on her back on the ground. Tate escapes and is on top now. Punch by Rousey and a few leg kicks. Rousey takes her back down. They trade punches as they stand. Hip toss by Rousey! Rousey moves to mount and lands some punches now to back control, punches and takes the arm bar. Tate's arm is all kinds of broken and this fight is over and so is Miesha Tate's time as champion. Ronda Rousey wins by technical submission (armbar/broken arm), Round 1.
More coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey:
- Photo: Ronda Rousey Breaks Miesha Tate's Arm- Strikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Ronda Rousey By Armbar - Josh Thomson Wins Lackluster Decision Over KJ Noons - Kazuo Misaki Takes Decision Over Paul Daley - Lumumba Sayers Submits Scott Smith - Jacare Chokes Out Bristol Marunde
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce CEO says Ohio commission to launch Brandon Saling investigation
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tattoos linked to Neo-Nazi culture and a criminal record have prompted the Ohio Athletic Commission to launch a "full investigation" into fighter Brandon Saling.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made the announcement after "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey," which took place Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
"We had no knowledge about that until someone brought it up to us this evening," Coker said of Saling's background. "It came to our attention during the course of the fights."
Posted in: strikeforce, saling, columbus ohio, ohio, salings background
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMore Details On Strikeforce Fighter Brandon Saling's Rape And Domestic Violence Convictions
Earlier tonight we discussed a bit of disturbing news about Brandon Saling, a lightweight who fought on the Showtime Extreme undercard at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Initially the story was that Saling had a rather ugly Neo-Nazi related tattoo. The story took a bit a bit of a turn when it was pointed out that Saling was also a registered sex offender.
A little bit of digging on the internet turned up some of the details. It appears that this all stems from an issue in October of 2004. First, the indictment info via The Daily Jeffersonian:
Brandon C. Saling, 18, of 24536 Route 146, Summerfield was indicted on one count of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct, a first-degree felony. Saling was indicted in connection with an alleged rape of a person under 13 on Oct. 8
So rape of a person under the age of thirteen. The Daily Jeffersonian also had details back when the charges were first filed:
Two Noble County men are facing first-degree felony rape charges following an investigation by the Noble County Sheriff's Office into the weekend disappearance of a 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister. According to Noble County Sheriff Landon T. Smith, the girls parents had allowed them to go to an all-night birthday party at a friend's house in Monroe County last Friday. According to reports, the girls left the party with the suspects. Brandon C. Saling, 18, Summerfield, and James T. Allen, 18, Sarahsville were each charged with rape of a person under 13 years old, a first-degree felony.
To make matters worse, Saling also picked up a domestic violence charge in 2008 and had to serve another 40 days in jail.
The combination of Neo-Nazi tattoos, domestic violence and rape of a child under the age of 13 should have been enough to have raised some red flags for Strikeforce and Showtime. That they didn't catch any of this, which took no more than a few Google searches, is pretty inexcusable.
Scott Coker did say they were "unaware" of Saling's background and suggested that the commission would be launching an investigation on Monday. The only way an investigation makes sense is if he didn't disclose his history. But, having hired for large and small businesses in the past, it's pretty standard practice to also just run people's names through Google to see if anything pops up.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, bit, saling, rape, county
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Results And Post-Fight Analysis
I'm still in shock over the ending of the main event of tonight's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card. I always favored Rousey to take the fight and a lot of us joked about her ripping Tate's arm off, but I don't know that I legitimately believed that it would end so violently.
Ronda is an incredible fighter and she showed that she can deal with a fight that takes place in different areas in rapid succession. Tate came out hard and was landing some punches, Rousey got on top, worked for the finish, ended up on her back, got out of several bad spots including having her back taken, and still found a way to get on top and ruin Rousey's arm.
Some people seem to be upset that Rousey didn't squash the beef between the two after the fight and instead said that she "didn't feel bad" about breaking (or dislocating) Tate's arm. I'm not sure why two people who have a grudge should suddenly bury it because one of them won the fight. Rousey backed up her talk and it was Miesha who chose not to tap when she was clearly beat. Why should Ronda feel bad about it?
Rousey is a star. I'm curious how many people tuned in for the fight tonight, but no one who watched is going to avoid the next Rousey fight...unless they're squeamish.
I'm glad Josh Thomson admitted his performance was lame (in, slightly more "mature" language) following his win over KJ Noons. In looking for a good fight for Gilbert Melendez, the last thing that Strikeforce could have wanted to see was Thomson spend the majority of the fight literally only holding Noons down. He deserved the win, but it was a bad, boring fight.
Kazuo Misaki outstruck Paul Daley so Daley worked takedowns to try to get a decision via his top game. That really happened. It was like we were watching this fight on Htrae (Bizarro World for you non-nerds). Misaki's toughness really worked out well for him as he did have his nose crushed and face busted open but did enough to deserve the win.
Much more after the jump..
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Scott Smith will always hold a special place for me as a guy who was always exciting and had some incredible moments in his career. But the guy is done. He looked as bad as ever against Lumumba Sayers and he has looked pretty bad on other recent occasions. I don't want to tell a guy to retire, but I wouldn't be sad to see him gracefully hang 'em up.
Ronaldo Souza getting the win is...whatever. He did what he had to do against a late replacement, but it wasn't really much of a fight for him.
Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis put on one hell of a fight. Davis would have been smarter to try to get it on the floor sooner than the third round, when she had her best success of the fight, but her decision to go to war with Kaufman on the feet was certainly a win for all of us watching. Those two ladies gave everything they had and deserve all the credit in the world for their performances.
Roger Bowling's win over Brandon Saling will be lost in the shuffle over Saling's neo-nazi tattoos and sex offender conviction. Someone in charge of this stuff at both Strikeforce and Showtime dropped the ball badly in putting this kid on TV. I get that he has the right to compete, but I have the right as a consumer to say that I want the money I spend on the programming, tickets and other things related to the network and promotion to not go into his pocket.
Pat Healy is experiencing quite the run right now. Caros Fodor is no joke and Healy did very, very well in disposing of him by his usual method of grinding away and taking advantage of mistakes.
Ryan Couture has improved considerably but I still don't think too highly of him as a fighter. Conor Heun also looked miserable in that fight. Still, credit to Couture who is looking to get better and certainly isn't trying to cost on his dad's name. And, hey, it's not like he's picking up DUI's like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, im, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPic: Miesha Tate's broken arm after submission loss to Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce in Ohio
This is what it looks like when you think wrestling trumps judo nine times out of 10 and when you don't worry about getting armbarred when fighting Ronda Rousey.
At tonight's (Sat., March 3, 2012) Strikeforce event in Columbus, Ohio, now former Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate found out the hard way that having pride and waiting until the last minute to tap means getting your limb snapped.
Especially when a "Rowdy" lady like Rousey has you in her grasp.
The victory caps an insanely awesome run through the 135-pound division for Ronda, who talked her way into a title shot with no previous experience in the weight class and delivered on everything she promised ... and more.
War women's MMA!
For a more detailed look at the Rousey vs. Tate fight click here and for complete Strikeforce results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Check out another sick pic of Tate's arm after the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals Announced For May 19
Well it’s about time.
Strikeforce and Showtime announced earlier tonight that the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will finally reach its conclusion on May 19 when Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier meet in the show’s main event.
It wasn’t announced where the show will take place but MMA Junkie is hearing that it could go down at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, prix finals, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Well, that's interesting. I tweeted Dana angrily about the racist jagoff they had on Strikeforce...
Well, that's interesting. I tweeted Dana angrily about the racist jagoff they had on Strikeforce tonight, Brandon Saling, and he tweeted me back. As it turns out, he's also convicted sex offender. Lotta fail in SF's direction. Props to Dana for responding, though.
Full size of the image is at http://i39.tinypic.com/24mhtv9.jpg
Posted in: strikeforce, dana, that, tweeted, brandon saling
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce results: Ronda Rousey breaks Miesha Tate's arm to win bantamweight title
The highly anticipated main event of tonight's (Sat., March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event in Ohio featured Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate putting her title on the line for the very first time against fast-rising superstar challenger Ronda Rousey.
Both ladies talked a lot of trash in the long lead up to tonight, especially Rousey. Tate tried to stay cool but looked flustered at times, including the weigh-ins when the two went forehead-to-forehead. But the time for talking ended tonight and they got busy in the cage to show us who the real deal Holyfield is.
Turns out, Rousey wasn't playing around with that judo and did exactly like she said she would do by grabbing a hold of Tate's arm and breaking it inside the first round.
At least Tate took her into deeper water than anyone else before. But now that we know Rousey can get past the first minute and still take a limb home with her, can anyone stop this woman?
Does anyone even want to try?
They came out fast and furious, as expected, with Rousey jumping in for that arm and getting a hold of it, just like she said she would. But Tate, like she said she would, battled through and got up to take Rousey's back a short time later.
Whew.
Ronda escaped, too, and back up to the feet they went. After a trip from Rousey, they battled back to their feet again and Tate started letting her hands go a bit. Of course, Rousey went back to the bread and butter and hit a judo trip.
She transitioned quick to mount and worked hard punches. It wasn't long again before she grabbed a hold of Tate's arm and did just like she said she would and BROKE IT OFF.
Ronda Rousey is the new Strikeforce Women's bantamweight champion.
Get some.
For a complete rundown of the entire Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, arm, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Live Blog: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Updates
This is the Strikeforce live blog for Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey, a female bantamweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Tate (12-2) is out to make her first defense after winning the title from Marloes Coenen in July 2011. Rousey (4-0) made her professional MMA debut in March 2011 and has won all her fights by armbar.
Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Round 2:Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, blog, tate, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Live Blog: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson Updates
This is the Strikeforce live blog for K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, a lightweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce event from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Noons (11-4) snapped a two-fight losing streak in December when he defeated Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision. Thomson (18-4) last fought on New Year's Eve 2010, losing to Tatsuya Kawajiri in a decision.
Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Round 2:Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, vs, billy evangelista, decision check
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' results: Misaki arrives at welterweight with Daley win
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Kazuo Misaki's welterweight debut was a successful one.
And following a split-decision victory over slugger Paul Daley, it could be an eye-opening one for the rest of Strikeforce's 170-pound fighters.
The fight kick off the main card of "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It aired on Showime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, splitdecision victory, columbus ohio, fight kick
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Results: ‘Jacare’ Souza Wins With Late Sub
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion dominated the contest from beginning to end, submitting his opponent at 2:43 of the final round.
Posted in: strikeforce, champion, opponent, end, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Live Blog: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki Updates
This is the Strikeforce live blog for Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, a welterweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce card from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Daley (29-11-2) last fought for Strikeforce in July 2011, losing to Tyron Woodley. He's since won two straight against Jordan Radev and Luigi Fioravanti in outside promotions. Misaki (24-11-2) is coming off wins against Mike Seal and Akira Shoji in Japan.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Round 2:Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, welterweight bout, luigi fioravanti, mike seal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals Set
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will finally come to a conclusion on May 19, with Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier squaring off in the final.
Posted in: strikeforce, josh barnett, prix finals, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' results: 'Jacare' Souza submits Bristol Marunde
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ronald "Jacare" Souza is one step closer to reclaiming his belt.
The former Strikeforce middleweight champion picked up his first victory since losing the belt to Luke Rockhold and tapped out late replacement Bristol Marunde.
The fight kick off the main card of "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It aired on Showime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, luke rockhold, marunde, columbus ohio, fight kick
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Post Fight: Pat Healy Looking for Respect in the Lightweight Division
Don't let Pat Healy's entire record fool you because he's 6-1 at lightweight and after finishing previously undefeated Caros Fodor, he's putting the Strikeforce lightweight division on notice.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, record fool, healy, division dont
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Live Blog: Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde Updates
This is the Strikeforce live blog for Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde, a middleweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce card from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Souza (14-3) is coming off a fight where he lost his Strikeforce middleweight title to Luke Rockhold. Marunde (12-6), who is making his Strikeforce debut, has won his last four fights.
The live blog of this fight is below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Both fighters open orthodox with Jacare taking center cage. The two clinch and exchange hard body strikes and uppercuts, but nothing lands cleanly. Jacare clinches, lands a knee up the middle, a hard right hand and manages to take Marunde's back standing. Jacare now working the back while Marunde is on all fours. Jacare peppering Marunde with shots while referee Keith Peterson stands them up. He warns Jacare for punches to the back of the head. As they resume, Marunde eats a monster right hand that sends him crashing to the mat. Jacare attempts a guillotine from on top, but can't get it. Jacare is back on Marunde's back, though for now with no hooks in. Marunde stands, pummels in and now the two are clinched against the fence with Marunde pressing in.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 SouzaRound 2:Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, jacare, marunde, nothing lands
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier Set For May 19
Over a year since its inception, the end is in sight for Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix.
Tournament finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier are scheduled to meet in main event of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier on May 19. The long-awaited finale will air live on Showtime.
Strikeforce's eight-man tournament debuted to heavy fanfare last February, drawing record ratings with a field that included Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
However, the competition ultimately lost steam after Emelianenko's stunning loss and the removal of Overeem. Mired by an underwhelming promotional push and wavering contract negotiations, the semifinals aired seven months later to Strikeforce's lowest ratings of the year.
Considered by many to be the tourney's premier dark horse, the 34-year-old Barnett (31-5) strolled in on a six-fight win streak and wasted little time making his presence felt. "The Warmaster" opened festivities by storming through Brett Rogers en route to a second-round submission victory, before one-upping the performance with a dominant first-round submission of Sergei Kharitonov.
A perennial top-ten heavyweight throughout his career, Barnett's last loss came over half-a-decade ago at PRIDE Shockwave 2006, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Across the cage, surprise challenger Cormier (9-0) traversed a far different road to reach the tournament finals. The 32-year-old former Olympian initially found himself on the outside looking in, before besting former UFC contender Jeff Monson in a tourney-reserve match.
Upon Overeem's controversial exit, Cormier jumped at his opportunity and shocked a heavily-favored Silva, catching the vertically-gifted Brazilian with an overhand shot to the jaw early in the opening round. A pair of hammer-fists later and "DC" had punched his ticket to the finals, but not before breaking his hand on Silva's skull.
Cormier's injury was originally expected to heal quickly, however several complications have risen to delay his match-up with Barnett.
In the meantime, Strikeforce dissolved the rest of their heavyweight division and announced that the grand-prix winner will fight one as-of-yet unnamed top opponent to determine the final Strikeforce heavyweight champion. Following the bout, Strikeforce plans to disband the division completely.
Showtime's official trailer for Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier can be viewed below.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, tournament, barnett, cormier
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 143: Strikeforce 'Tate Vs. Rousey' Results Review
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as they review tonight's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey," which is headlined by a Strikeforce bantamweight championship bout between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Also on the card is a lightweight bout between Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons.
We'll review all the bouts while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, elbow, boy, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFollow Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results
Follow live Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey results as women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate faces (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at sportsnet.caRousey take's Tate's arm, Strikeforce title
Ronda Rousey snapped Miesha Tate's in the first round Saturday, becoming the new Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion. Get full results
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, round saturday, miesha tates
Read the full article at sportsnet.caRousey takes Tate's arm, Strikeforce title
Ronda Rousey snapped Miesha Tate's in the first round Saturday, becoming the new Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion. Get full results
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, round saturday, miesha tates
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce Live Blog: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers Updates
This is the Strikeforce live blog for Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers, a middleweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce card from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Smith (17-9) lost his third straight fight last July in a decision loss to Tarec Saffiedine. Sayers (5-2) lost his Strikeforce debut to Derek Brunson but bounced back with a knockout win over Antwain Britt.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Round 2:Round 3:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, blog, smith, sayer
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Tate vs Rousey chat is up!
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, chat, rousey
Read the full article at FightlinkerWe finally have a date for the end of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament
This was going to be my lead-in item for tomorrow's Sunday Morning Rumor Mill, but since Strikeforce just cut a promo tonight for the event , there's no real reason for me to even create a Rumor Mill tomorrow. Whew, now I can sleep in knowing that the entire MMA world isn't eagerly anticipating our weekly feature filled to the brim with bizarre (and mostly accurate rumors). I think I'll celebrate by sitting cross-legged in a computer chair for an extended amount of time. That's how we party on a Saturday night in Hollywood, CA.
It's been over a year since we witnessed Fedor step into the cage against Bigfoot Silva to kick off the start of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament. Now that Strikeforce has finally nailed down May 19th 2012 for the end of the highly touted grand prix, we can only assume the winner will receive an instant contract to the UFC. At least, we can only hope.
Check out the newly sliced promo for the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament which will feature Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier in a death match. Just kidding about the death match part. It's just one of those ordinary unified rules sanctioned bouts. [Source]
Posted in: strikeforce, rumor, prix, prix tournament, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Prelims: Sarah Kaufman Victorious in Slugfest
xSarah Kaufman has staked her claim as the top contender for the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship.
Posted in: strikeforce, slugfest, rousey, kaufman, sarah
Read the full article at SherdogVideo: Strikeforce Announces Josh Barnett Vs. Daniel Cormier For May 19
16 months after it started, the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix tournament will finally commence as the promotion announced that Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier will happen on Saturday, May 19, expected for the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.
Barnett (31-5) submitted Brett Rogers last June and Sergei Kharitonov last September on his way to the finals. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion is riding an eight fight win streak with his last defeat coming in December 2006.
The undefeated Cormier (9-0) was originally a tournament alternate with a decision win over Jeff Monson last June. When Alistair Overeem was dumped from the tourney, the U.S. Olympic wrestler took his place and knocked out Antonio Silva in the first round last September to advance to the finals. In that fight, Cormier broke his hand which caused the fight to be delayed until it fully healed.
Showtime released a video preview for the May 19th event on YouTube, expected to be formally announced during the main card broadcast of Saturday's Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate event.
Watch the :30 preview after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, barnett, olympic wrestler, cormier
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' results: Kaufman narrowly edges Davis in bloodbath
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sarah Kaufman should get a shot to reclaim her belt, but she had to survive a bloodbath to get it.
Strikeforce's former women's bantamweight champion engaged in a bloody slugfest and then fended off a late rally from Alexis Davis to pick up a majority-decision victory.
The fight was the featured preliminary-card attraction of "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It aired on Showime Extreme prior to the Showtime-televised main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, alexis davis, columbus ohio, preliminarycard attraction, edges davis
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC President Dana White Had No Input in Tate vs. Rousey
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dana White isn't in charge of Strikeforce after all. Less than a month after telling MMAJunkie.com that he was going to be "very involved with Strikeforce" and was "happy about the Columbus show" the UFC president told MMAFighting.com on Saturday night that wasn't the case anymore.According to White, after a series of talks with Showtime, things didn't work out between the premium cable network and himself. White said he will not be attending tonight's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event and had no input in the show. As of now, he will not have the kind of input in future Strikeforce shows that he wanted. The buzz surrounding Saturday night's Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey title fight seemed to legitimately excite White about Strikeforce for the first time since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce last year and he had teased major changes beginning with this show, but after things apparently didn't work out with Showtime, the product looks the same on television and in the arena. White wouldn't specify why he was unable to gain control over the promotion or what kind of changes he was hoping to make.
Posted in: strikeforce, gain control, future strikeforce, didnt work, columbus show
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Main Card Live Blog
Round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey main card starts at 10 p.m. Eastern here at HeavyMMA, including the women's bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate...
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, fightbyfight coverage, blog roundbyround
Read the full article at Heavy MMA'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' results: Pat Healy sumbmits Caros Fodor in third round
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Caros Fodor's impressive Strikeforce win streak is no more.
Fellow lightweight Pat Healy survived some early damage and then took
the fight to the mat, where a relentless top game ultimately carried him
to a late-bout submission victory.
The preliminary-card fight was part "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" at
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It aired on Showime Extreme prior to
the Showtime-televised main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, healy, preliminarycard fight, columbus ohio
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce - Tate vs. Rousey tinychat
submitted by i_am_not_a_robot [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, iamnotarobot link, iamnotarobot
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Undercard Live Blog: Kaufman vs. Davis, Couture vs. Heun, More
This is the Strikeforce live blog for all four preliminary bouts on tonight's Strikeforce card from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The undercard features Sarah Kaufman taking on Alexis Davis to determine who will next challenge for the Strikeforce 135-pound title against the winner of Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.
Check out the live blog below.
More Coverage: Tate vs. Rousey Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis
Round 1:
Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy
Round 1:
Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling
Round 1:
Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun
Heun of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is inside the cage. Couture of Xtreme Couture is making his way down the ramp ...
Round 1:
Posted in: strikeforce, round, vs, planet jiujitsu, vs heun
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Live Results and Play-by-Play
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey live results and play-by-play on Saturday, March 3. The main event features Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, playbyplay, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Quick Results
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey quick results on Saturday, March 3. The main event features Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Real Time Results
One of the most anticipated female fights in years is only hours away from taking place with Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate putting her title on the line against brash judoka Ronda Rousey in the main event tonight at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. The bad blood between the two talented 135ers has been well-documented and nearly spilled over during weigh-ins after Tate decided to go face-to-face with her unbeaten challenger.
Were the bout not enough, the card also features former middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza in action against Bristol Marunde, hard-hitting Brit Paul Daley duking it out with Kazuo Misaki, and a battle for top contendership in the lightweight division between K.J. Noons and Josh Thomson.
The prelims, also ripe with potential from an entertainment standpoint, start up at 8:00 PM EST on Showtime Extreme with the featured fights firing up two hours later on Showtime. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from start to finish relaying real time results back to readers as things unfold from the arena.
Read below for a full list of winners/losers from Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey:
Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling
Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun
Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy
Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis
Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers
K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson
Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki
Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, time results, rousey
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Live Results
Two of the baddest bantamweights on the planet are poised to face off for Strikeforce gold tonight in Columbus, Ohio, as divisional champion Miesha Tate puts her gold up for grabs against undefeated Olympian Ronda Rousey in headlining action at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Beyond the professional stakes at play, both women have been open about their utter disdain for one another making tonight’s tussle personal as well.
Other scheduled match-ups include Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki and Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons.
The prelims start at 8:00 PM EST on Showtime Extreme with the featured fights firing up two hours later on Showtime. As always, Fighters.com will be glued to the set while delivering live outcomes to our readers.
Check below for a full rundown of results:
Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling
Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun
Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy
Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis
Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers
KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson
Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki
Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Preliminary Card Live Blog
Round-by-round and fight-by-fight coverage of the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey preliminary card starts at 8 p.m. Eastern here at HeavyMMA, including a women's bantamweight contenders bout between...
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, fightbyfight coverage, blog roundbyround
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey – Sneak Peek of Tonight’s Showtime Promo Video
Get a look at tonight's Showtime preview video for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey – before it airs on the broadcast! Miesha Tate! Ronday Rousey! The Strikeforce women's bantamweight title! Who ya got?
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey: Miesha and Ronda Main Event Preview
Like the swallows of Capistrano, faithful sports fans converge upon Columbus, Ohio every year to take part in the general festivities. In great numbers, these curiously bipedal and featherless migratory beings that call ourselves "humans" agree with each other that early March is the perfect time to see some fine feats of athletic strength, skill and competition - which makes Columbus a perfect place to have mixed martial arts events. The UFC has brought its show to town many times in the past and this year, Strikeforce is bringing the first title defense of the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion against a fiery upstart challenger.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey will feature Miesha Tate (12-2, 5-1 in Strikeforce) and Ronda Rousey (4-0, 2-0 in Strikeforce) as the five round main event in the battle for the women's 135 pound title. The nationwide broadcast on Showtime begins on March 3rd at 10 PM Eastern Time (9 PM CT) and possibly extending up to 12:30 AM ET (depending on how the five main card bouts unfold throughout the night).
By now, the esteemed reader may have grasped that this event is hyped as the battle of the two hottest stars in women's MMA. The hype is actually right. With the sidelining of Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, the meteoric rise of Ronda Rousey and the decisive method by which Miesha Tate became the champion, these are the two best fighters in the bantamweight division. Both are athletic, skilled, tough and attractive women. Both have the ability to talk some heat, stir up controversy and get inside the heads of their opponents. Only one will walk out as the champion, but women's MMA should benefit from both being fiercely passionate examples to emulate for current and future fighters.
Hit the jump for a brief look at the last fights of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, their styles and the likelihood of success for both fighters.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Miesha Tate won the bantamweight belt by submitting Marloes Coenen with an arm triangle midway through the fourth round of their bout at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson. The title bout between Tate and Coenen was relatively even, as Miesha looked to push Coenen up against the cage and then take her down to begin her ground and pound progressions. Coenen attempted several submissions and even had Tate's back during the second round, but both fighters spent significant time in advantageous positions during those battles on the ground. The stand-up/striking portions were fairly limited due to Tate's success in evading Coenen's strikes and dragging Coenen to the ground.
Throughout her career, Tate has had five wins by submission and two by knockout. The remaining five wins in her professional career were all unanimous decisions. Her last loss was back in 2009 to Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina. Miesha has made significant strides in her game since then and now enjoys a wrestling advantage over just about everybody in the division as well as competent stand-up. Tate will want to plant her opponents onto the mat and swing her fists at their head and body until they give up position or submissions in every fight she takes. Lately, Miesha and her support team have been vocal about dismissing Rousey's worthiness as a title challenger and even going as far as tweeting some very provocative words on the eve of the fight. The weigh-in "headbutt" was really nothing more than a slightly more than normally intense stare-off and even reminded me of an Australian cockatoo gently confroting a Meyer parrot that has encroached upon its space.
The big story of this event is how Ronda Rousey armbarred and trash-talked her way to the title. That simplistic telling of things does little credit to the years of hard work sunk into a world class judo career and the stunning swiftness with which Rousey has applied that judo success into MMA. None of Ronda's four professional opponents have managed to avoid being submitted by an armbar within a minute. This woman is blasting her opponents out of the cage and occasionally leaving them with mangled limbs. The list of fighters in MMA who have done things like this include names like Jon Jones, Junior Dos Santos and Rousimar Palhares. These are the bonebreakers, soulcrushers and legendmakers of MMA. Julia Budd, Ronda's last opponent, lasted forty seconds before having her elbow dislocated at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers.
However, the knock on Rousey is that she has not fought someone yet who can hold her off, make her play the stand-up game or plant her on the mat and unveil her defenses. Winning fights inside a minute with little to no damage taken is exactly the kind of career a professional fighter wants, but to be fighting for a title belt in a major MMA organization on a national title stage is a big step up for such a young prospect. The stand-up skills have been employed mostly as feints and blocks for Rousey to get within the clinch and then use her diverse array of trips and throws to gain side control or mount. From these positions, Ronda harvests arms with excellent technique and quickly - perhaps too quickly - applies the coup de grace that is her armbar. Rousey has been training all phases of the MMA game, as befits a professional, but time in the cage is a valuable learning tool and she just doesn't have it yet.
Will that precociousness matter? Will Miesha Tate retain her belt by fending off Ronda Rousey's onslaught and dealing out damage in return? All signs seem pointed towards another Ronda armbar, but Miesha's coaches and team are smart people and probably have been drilling her in keeping her arms clenched inwards like the quasi-avian T-rex while on the ground. This is an interesting one and the later rounds could expose Rousey's conditioning to Tate's delight.
This fight is the upstart judo hotshot facing an experienced wrestler/submission grappler in the most anticipated fight in recent women's MMA and it is the headlining bout of a Strikeforce show in Columbus, Ohio and televised on Showtime. Check this main event out. If the signs are right, we should be in for one very entertaining fight between two "birds".
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Main Card
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Our live coverage will start with the prelim card on Showtime Extreme (8 p.m. ET) through the Showtime main card (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts for the Showtime main card.
The evening's main event sees Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate put her title on the line against challenger Ronda Rousey in what has become a major grudge match. The co-headlining bout on the evening sees K.J. Noons square off with Josh Thomson in a lightweight fight. Welterweights Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki meet on the broadcast in a fight that promises fireworks. Rounding out the main card is a pair of middleweight bouts as Ronaldo Souza faces Bristol Marunde and Scott Smith takes on Lumumba Sayers.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, event, card, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAmazing Strikeforce Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Fight Hype Fan Video
Burnt out by the over-all great UFC on FX card from Sydney, Australia last night? Maybe you are fairly indifferent to tonight's Strikeforce event and have considered giving it a miss and will check the results and other sources for the fights on Sunday morning?
Fear not, and prepare to get hyped by this amazing fan made fight promo video for the Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Bantamweight Championship main event.
Using a collection of promotional footage most should be familiar with by now, this fan made video is really well edited and synchs excellently with the Trent Reznor / Karen O cover of "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, that features as the main theme for the American adaptation of the wildly successful "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" novel / movie.
Unlike a lot of high quality promo videos released on Youtube the week of a fight, this hasn't been tweeted by Dana White and the account seems to belong to a genuine user, making me believe it's not a Zuffa-pretending-to-be-fan-made video.
Strikeforce Tate vs Rousey airs tonight at 10pm ET on Showtime
Strikeforce Tate vs Rousey Coverage on SBN
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Strikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey: Staff Picks and Predictions
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Preview: Josh Thomson Vs. K.J. Noons
In the co-main event at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (18-4, 1 NC, 9-2 SF) takes on former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons 911-4, 3-2 SF). The bout could decide who will be stepping up next to challenge current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. This will be Thomson's first fight in over 14 months due to a variety of injuries, while Noons fought just three months ago.
Thomson is one of Strikeforce's homegrown stars and probably has more fights in the organization than anyone else. He made it to the UFC after just 6 career fights way back in 2003 and won his first two bouts, but an infamous head kick loss to Yves Edwards (and the death of the UFC lightweight division at the time) ushered "The Punk" out of the organization. After one fight and one win the Pride Bushido series, he was off to Strikeforce.
His first bout there was a controversial decision loss to Clay Guida in a Strikeforce lightweight title bout. He rebounded from that with a few wins and a run with the Strikeforce US lightweight title (Melendez had the real belt but was fighting in Japan - it was basically an interim title). Eventually the two squared off for the "undisputed" title, and Thomson fought the fight of his life and defeated Melendez 50-45 on all three cards. Injuries sidelined him for a while though, and it was Gil's turn to hold an interim title for a while. Eventually they met once again to unify the titles, but this time it was Melendez that was the victor in an excellent fight. Thomson has fought three times since, going 2-1 with a loss to Tatsuya Kawajiri in his last fight 14 months ago.
Noons is a kickboxer and boxer along with being an MMA fighter, and first rose to prominence in EliteXC when he stopped Nick Diaz via cuts and won their lightweight title. A huge in-cage brawl featuring the Diaz brothers and KJ's dad in Hawaii was EliteXC at it's cheesiest, but when they went under he was one of the prized possessions picked up by Strikeforce. After two quick wins, he moved up to 170 to rematch Diaz, this time for Nick's Strikeforce welterweight title. He lost, but put in a valiant effort. A loss to Jorge Masvidal back at 155 damaged his title aspirations, but he rebounded with a win over Billy Evangelista and will now look to take out the former champ.
It goes without saying that this bout will probably be contested on the feet. Thomson has the ability to take it down, but prefers to engage in crowd-pleasing brawls even if it's to his detriment. And crowd-pleasing is likely what this will be. KJ has the better technical boxing, but Thomson has a more well-rounded striking arsenal. Thomson is a marginal favorite going into the bout, but the long layoff and the injuries add intrigue to the fight. Should be pretty good.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, bout, thomson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce 'Tate vs. Rousey' fight card: K.J. Noons vs Josh Thomson prediction, preview and breakdown
Two tough 155-pound battlers with a nice style complement will square off tonight (March 3, 2012) in the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" co main event on Showtime from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
K.J. Noons, who is sliding backward toward middle-of-the-pack status in Strikeforce's relatively modest lightweight ranks, will take on former Lightweight champion Josh Thomson, a tough customer with hard-nosed wrestling who can dominate most foes.
The winner of the bout is expected to next contend for the lightweight belt that Gilbert Melendez has held firmly since April 2009. And one that he beat "The Punk" in a rematch to capture in the first place.
Is a future trilogy match between Melendez and Thomson brewing here? Absolutely. But, "King Karl" will have a thing or two to say about that later this evening before the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion can even think about making that fight happen later this year.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the Strikeforce fight between K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson:
The Breakdown
Noons needs to keep this on the feet, plain and simple.
Thomson can almost surely win it with a handful of takedowns, closing the gap, avoiding damage, and simply making Noons work to stay upright could also tire out Noons. Thomson's on a different level than Noons, who'll have to execute a perfect fight to win, here.
Thomson will also be able to work leg kicks as Noons tries to counter and pick spots from midrange -- Thomson's kickboxing is very good and he uses it to set up clinch and takedown attempts quite nicely.
The Pick
Noons is tough and has waged some memorable battles, with a game that's probably as good as it's going to get. Earlier in his career, I thought Thomson was a lock to develop into one of the game's best lightweights. Injuries and mileage have hampered that, but he's still an outstanding fighter, and in a different class than Noons. One good thing about Thomson is that he's always looking to play to his own strengths, and if that means wrasslin' a guy down and risking some boos from the crowd while he sets himself up to beat you silly, that's perfectly fine with him.
He is great at taking the initiative away from lower-level opponents and simply running them out of gas.
Looking back at Noons' five-round decision loss to Nick Diaz in their rematch, it's impressive that Noons was able to stand in front of Diaz that much and not get flustered. His ability to box and use angles is fantastic. But, Thomson's not going to be having any more of that than he needs, and his wrestling will force Noons to temper his own striking in anticipation of Thomson's tie-ups and takedown attempts.
Noons is tough and will probably pop back up and fight off several of these. But Thomson will simply keep pressing, and will win this one big, pounding on and working K.J. over in a bloody, one-sided stoppage in the third.
Thomson via technical knockout
Be sure to join MMAmania.com later this evening for LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the Strikeforce main card action, which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme.
See you then!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, noon, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey - Live Results And Play-By-Play For Undercard Bouts
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Our live coverage will start with the prelim card on Showtime Extreme (8 p.m. ET) through the Showtime main card (10 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts for the Showtime Extreme prelims.
The "featured prelim" bout sees Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis meet in a fight that should determine the next challenger for the Strikeforce women's bantamweight championship. Two of the promotion's top up-and-coming lightweights meet when Caros Fodor clashes with Pat Healy. The card is rounded out by a lightweight bout between Ryan Couture and Conor Heun and a welterweight fight featuring Roger Bowling and Brandon Saling.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, card, rousey, welterweight fight, alexis davis
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Miesha Tate Pre-Fight Video Interview
Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate says she has the edge mentally in her title fight with Ronda Rousey on Showtime on Saturday in Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, title fight, tate, ronda rousey, miesha
Read the full article at Heavy MMAYou guys think the Strikeforce card tonight will be more exciting than the UFC last night?
submitted by xyphonic [link] [5 comments]
Posted in: ufc, night, strikeforce, xyphonic, strikeforce card
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Ronda Rousey Pre-Fight Video Interview
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey says she deserves her Strikeforce women's title shot, and if you don't believe her, look at the odds – she's the favorite.
Posted in: strikeforce, shot, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey Preview: Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza Vs. Bristol Marunde
In the second fight of the Showtime portion of Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey, Ronaldo Souza (14-3, 4-1 Strikeforce) meets Bristol Marunde (12-6, 0-0 Strikeforce). Originally Souza was scheduled to face Derek Brunson, but Brunson was unable to pass his pre-fight medicals. Brunson requires corrective (contact) lenses in order to fight. Stepping up on short notice is IFL veteran and Reign Promotions owner, Bristol Marunde.
Jacare has long been considered on of the top middleweights in the world outside of the UFC. A world-class grappler, Souza has made the proper adjustments recently to add explosive striking to his overall game. The former Strikeforce middleweight champion defended his belt once in a submission victory over Robbie Lawler before dropping the strap to Luke Rockhold at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov. As one of the top grapplers in the world, Jacare possesses the type of skills to create problems for any of his opponents whenever the fight hits the mat.
If there is one knock against Jacare it's that in MMA he often looks to maintain position instead of looking to finish. Against Robbie Lawler it was incredibly frustrating watching Jacare struggle to put Lawler away on the ground. As one of the top grapplers in the world, there is an expectation (unfair or not) that once the fight is on the mat, there will be submission finishes. It may be a case that Jacare has fallen in love with his striking and isn't training as a grappler as often as he was before, but it's something to note whenever Jacare fights.
His opponent Bristol Marunde is relatively unknown to event the most hardcore of fans. An IFL veteran, Marunde didn't set the MMA world on fire, going 1-3 in the promotion. Since his return to the regional scene, Marunde has recorded a 9-1 record with his latest win over Jay Silva at SCC 3 in November. Marunde may be best known for his exploits outside of the cage when he used his MMA training to apprehend a wanted rapist who was hiding in his neighbor's house.
Bristol is a fairly well rounded fighter training out of the Throwdown Training Center in Las Vegas. He doesn't really do anything great but he does everything well enough to remain competitive. If he has a clear advantage it may be in wrestling but taking the fight to the ground would be a huge mistake.
If we're being honest with ourselves, Jacare is the clear favorite in the fight. There's a different between fighting Jay Silva and fighting Jacare Souza and we'll see that tonight. Expect Jacare to outwork Marunde on the feet before getting the fight to the ground and setting up a submission finish. While Marunde will have a puncher's chance, the odds say that Jacare wins this fight without much trouble. Jacare should win the fight by submission sometime in the second round after putting on a grappling clinic.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, jacare, souza, marunde
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRousey looks to shine in Strikeforce title bout
Ronda Rousey has a chance to lift judo into the MMA spotlight in her Strikeforce women's title bout Saturday night against champion Miesha
Posted in: title, strikeforce, bout, rousey, mma spotlight
Read the full article at sportsnet.caWrestling vs. judo in Strikeforce women's title bout
Ronda Rousey has a chance to lift judo into the MMA spotlight in her Strikeforce women's title bout Saturday against champion Miesha Tate.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, judo, mma spotlight, vs judo
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce results live stream and play-by-play TONIGHT (March 3) for 'Tate vs Rousey' on Showtime
Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey."
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the Strikeforce main card action RIGHT HERE later this evening (March 3, 2012), beginning at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the "Prelims" bouts on Showtime Extreme.
If you're going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.
Enjoy the show, Maniacs!
Posted in: strikeforce, blowbyblow coverage, rousey, uptotheminute results, showtime click
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Live Results and Coverage
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey kicks off tonight at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. MMAFrenzy will have live coverage beginning with the Showtime Extreme aired Preliminary Card beginning at 8PM ET and will continue through the Showtime aired main card starting at 10PM ET.
MMAFrenzy will have live results, twitter updates, and play-by-play for tonight’s main event battle between Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Meisha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
Quick Results:
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons
Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Bristol Marunde
Scott Smith vs. Lamumba Sayers
PRELIMINARY CARD (Showtime Extreme)
Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis
Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy
Ryan Couture vs. Conor Huen
Roger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling
Play-By-Play:
Miesha Tate (c) vs. Ronda Rousey
Round 1 -
Twitter Coverage:
<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php?option=com_altcaster&task=siteviewaltcast&altcast_code=75e1eae8d5&height=550&width=470″ target=”_blank” >Click Here</a>
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBreaking It Down: Strikeforce – Tate vs. Rousey
After an exciting UFC card on Friday night, the UFC’s sister promotion, Strikeforce, takes center stage with Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey. Featuring a women’s 135 pound championship bout between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, as well as an intriguing lightweight bout between K.J. Noons and Josh Thomson, this card could very well outshine Friday’s UFC card. With four preliminary bouts on Showtime: Extreme, and a five fight main card live on Showtime, fights fans will have no shortage of fights to watch this Saturday night.
Let’s get down to business and take a look at the card:
Roger Bowling (10-2) vs. Brandon Saling (8-5)
Longtime Strikeforce fighter Roger Bowling welcomes newcomer Brandon Saling to the promotion to open up the Showtime Extreme portion of the card. Bowling is coming off a quick knockout of Jerron Peoples in December, and looks to make it two in a row here. A Chuck Liddell lookalike, Saling already has two knockout victories this year. Unfortunately for Saling, Bowling is just a better fighter, and will likely overwhelm him.
Winner – Roger Bowling defeats Brandon Saling via TKO Round 1
Ryan Couture (3-1) vs. Conor Heun (9-4)
The son of “The Natural” Randy Couture, Ryan, steps into the Strikeforce cage for the fifth time looking for his first victory over mid-tier competition. The test he must pass is that of one Conor Heun. “Hurricane” hasn’t had much luck in Strikeforce, and looks to build his first win streak inside the Strikeforce cage. Let’s be real here, Couture just isn’t very good, at least not yet. Heun will beat Ryan on the feet and on the ground, en route to a unanimous decision win.
Winner – Conor Heun defeats Ryan Couture via Unanimous Decision
Caros Fodor (7-1) vs. Pat Healy (26-16)
An exciting prospect, Caros Fodor enters the cage on Saturday on the strength of a five fight win streak, and most recently blasted Justin Wilcox in 13 seconds. “Bam Bam” Healy has done it all. With victories over Dan Hardy, Paul Daley, Carlos Condit, and most recently Maximo Blanco, Healy looks for his fourth straight win. While Fodor may be “The Future”, I think the crafty veteran Healy gets the win here, but it will be a very close fight.
Winner – Pat Healy defeats Caros Fodor via Split Decision
Sarah Kaufman (14-1) vs. Alexis Davis (11-4)
In the main event of the preliminary card, we’ll find out who gets the next shot the the champion. The former champ Sarah Kaufman looks to prove that she was overlooked for the title shot after dominating Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce Challengers 17. Davis looks for her fourth straight win and looks to earn her first Strikeforce title shot with a win over Kaufman. Although it was nearly five years ago, Kaufman has already defeated Davis. While they’ve both grown since, I believe Kaufman is the better fighter, and will have an easy night here, taking a decision and being first in line for the winner of the main event.
Winner – Sarah Kaufman defeats Alexis Davis via Unanimous Decision
Scott Smith (17-9) vs. Lumumba Sayers (5-2)
Scott Smith needs to win, badly. Coming off of three straight losses to Cung Le, Paul Daley, and Tarec Saffiedine, the heavy handed Smith is likely fighting for his job. Smith can just about knock out anyone, and he tends to make these miraculous comebacks that are the stuff of legend. Smith returns to middleweight for this bout.
Sayers, who made short work of Antwain Britt in November, looks to build off of that win and get his second straight victory. Known for his submissions above all, Sayers has heavy hands and may very well be ready to to make the move from mid-tier to upper-tier middleweights with a victory here.
Smith doesn’t have much of a chin, but Sayers has suffered a quick knockout in his career as well. While most seem to favor Sayers in this fight, I feel as if he’ll get pulled into a brawl here. Someone will likely go to sleep, and I have a feeling that Smith will be the one landing a big counter that ends the fight.
Winner – Scott Smith defeats Lamumba Sayers via Knockout Round 1
Ronaldo Souza (14-3) vs. Bristol Marunde (12-6)
Jacare! The former middleweight champion looks to bounce back from his loss to Luke Rockhold. The grappling ace has victories over Jason Miller, Tim Kennedy, and Robbie Lawler, and undoubtedly wants his belt back. A victory here would be a step in the right direction, however, a loss would be devastating, and “Jacare” has a lot to lose here.
Making his Strikeforce debut, Bristole Marunde, the IFL veteran, looks for his fifth straight win. The biggest challenge of his career, a victory over Souza would be a huge statement, and Marunde has absolutely nothing to lose in this fight. With nine wins in his last ten fights, Marunde is more than capable of taking home the W, and his well-rounded fighting style could take him far.
I expect a very aggressive Marunde in this fight. I imagine him throwing leather with blatant disregard for his, or Jacare’s safety. Unfortunately for him, Souza outclasses him on the feet, likely hurts him, and follows up on the ground with his speciality.
Winner – Ronaldo Souza defeats Bristol Marunde via Submission Round 1
Paul Daley (29-11-2) vs. Kazuo Misaki (24-11-2)
Returning to Strikeforce for the first time since July of last year. “Semtex” looks for the third straight victory, and looks to get back into title contention in Strikeforce. The heavy handed striker has worked hard on improving his ground game, as we’ve seen in his last few fights, but his bread and butter is still, and always will be, his sledgehammer fists.
The Japanese Misaki returns to Strikeforce for the first time in three years. The Pride, Sengoku, and Pancrase veteran has fought some of the best in the world including Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, and Jorge Santiago. With 15 finishes to his credit, the Haleo Top Team fighter looks for his third straight victory, and is more than capable of getting it on Saturday night.
This has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. While Misaki may not be the fighter he used to be, he still can hold his own against anybody. The most likely scenario sees the veteran Misaki engaging Daley on the feet, but that will likely be as far as he gets. His desire to engage in a brawl will be his downfall as Daley lands one or two huge shots and puts Misaki away within the distance.
Winner – Paul Daley defeats Kazuo Misaki via TKO Round 2
K.J. Noons (11-4) vs. Josh Thomson (18-4)
The fast-moving boxer, K.J. Noons returns to the cage less than three months removed from his decision victory over Billy Evangelista. With victories over much of the lightweight division, Noons is a handful for anybody, and his striking, movement, and speed, can cause a lot of problems for his opponents.
Looking for his second straight victory following two losses, Noons faces a tough challenge in Thomson. “The Punk” returns after over a year away from the sport due to injuries. The lightweight standout undoubtedly wants a rubber match with champ Gilbert Melendez, and a victory over Noons could be the start of his climb back to the top. The former champion believes he should be in the main event, and he’ll look to put on a great showing in the co-main event on Saturday.
The possibility of ring rust aside, Thomson is a versatile fighter with a fantastic skillset. If Thomson can stay out of a slugfest and work the fight to where he is stronger, which is everywhere else, he should be able to overwhelm and confuse Noons. One of the closest fights on the card, this could go either way, but I give the slight edge to Thomson.
Winner – Josh Thomson defeats K.J. Noons via Unanimous Decision
Miesha Tate (12-2) vs. Ronda Rousey (4-0)
The main event pits the 135 pound champion Miesha Tate against fast-rising challenger Ronda Rousey. Tate, who defeated Marloes Coenen to take the belt home last summer, makes her first defense of the title in the headlining contest on Saturday. The Team Alpha Male fighter, Tate tends to use her powerful wrestling and excellent submissions to dictate the pace of fights. She has the gas tank to go for five rounds, and is proficient in the ground and pound.
The undefeated Rousey fights for not only a title, but also, respect. While many within the division have criticized Rousey for essentially talking her way into a title fight, she has the experience in combat sports, the athleticism, and the technical prowess to make short work of anyone. Having not had a fight get out of the first minute, Rousey is clearly a fast starter and a great finisher, who will look to continue her streak of collecting limbs.
It goes without saying that we could very well have a new champion here. While Rousey lacks experience in MMA, she has been grappling her whole life, and that may play into her favor. Both fighters want this fight to hit the ground, as that’s where their strengths are, but Rousey may have the edge in that regard. Tate’s striking isn’t anything spectacular, and she can’t win the fight just standing with “Rowdy” Ronda. She does have dominate top control, and if she can score takedown after takedown, she could dominate the fight, especially in the later rounds. In the beginning of the fight, I heavily favor Rousey, but if the fight gets out of the first one or two rounds, Tate will continuously take Ronda down and grind out a decision. I like Rousey a lot, but I believe Tate retains the belt here.
Winner – Miesha Tate defeats Ronda Rousey via Unanimous Decision
No matter how the fights play out, Saturday’s Strikeforce card will round out an awesome weekend of fights, and features perhaps the best fight of the weekend in Tate vs Rousey. After this event, hopefully we’ll have a better idea of how Strikeforce’s divisions will progress, and have a better idea of the future of women’s MMA.
Enjoy the fights! Things start on Showtime Extreme at 8:00 PM EST with the main card firing up at 10:00 PM EST.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, victory, rousey
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce - Tate vs. Rousey Weigh-Ins
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, newuploader, rousey
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce K.J. Noons Pre-Fight Video Interview
Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons talks about changing up his training and preparing for his fight with Josh Thomson on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, training, noon, kj, josh thomson
Read the full article at Heavy MMA'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' weigh-in photos: An MMAjunkie.com image gallery
COLUMBUS, Ohio - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for Friday's official "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" weigh-ins,
where all 18 competitors made weight.
The festivities took place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Held in conjunction with the annual Arnold Sports Festival, the weigh-ins built up to an intense staredown between two bitter rivals: Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate and fellow headliner Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, columbu, weighin, rousey
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Josh Thomson Pre-Fight Video Interview
Strikeforce lightweight Josh Thomson talks about his fight against K.J. Noons at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, josh, kj noons, thomson
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Weigh-In Highlights Video
Missed the fireworks at Friday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio? Relive the heated action in this highlights video before tonight's card.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Heavy MMARousey: No Way Tate Will Be Prepared
Miesha Tate is the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion, but Ronda Rousey doesn’t think she’ll be ready when they meet in the main event of Strikeforce’s March 3 card in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, miesha tate, way tate
Read the full article at SherdogFull Strikeforce weigh in video highlights for 'Tate vs Rousey' in Ohio
The Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" weigh-in event took place this afternoon (Fri., March 2, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, where all 18 competitors tipped the scale to make their respective bouts official for tomorrow night's mixed martial arts (MMA) event on Showtime.
Of course, Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate and her angry counterpart, Ronda Rousey, stole the show with a pre-fight scuffle on the stage. Main card participants K.J. Noons, Josh Thomson, Paul Daley, Kazuo Misaki, Ronaldo Souza, Bristol Marunde, Scott Smith and Lumumba Sayers are all featured in the video above.
For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" weigh in results click here and for the intense haed-butt staredown pic click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, lumumba sayers, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-in results and preview videos
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-in resultsColumbus, OHMiesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186)Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo Souza (184.5)Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155)Miesha Tate (12-2) vs. Ronda Rousey (4-0)
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at UltMMATate vs. Rousey Weigh-In Highlights
All 18 Strikeforce fighters took to the scale Friday afternoon to make official their fights for Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event in Columbus, Ohio.
Watch highlights from the weigh-ins in the video below.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Weigh-In Results
The Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” weigh-ins took place earlier today at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
All fighters made weight.
The weigh-in results:
Miesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)
K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)
Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186)
Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (184.5)
Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)
Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)
Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” will take place tomorrow, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air live on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The prelims will air live on Showtime Extreme.
More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, weighin, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Weigh-In Results
All fighters were on weight for their Saturday fights at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey were each 134.5 pounds for their main event.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, saturday fights
Read the full article at Heavy MMATate, Rousey Given Green Light for Strikeforce Women’s Title Bout
Miesha Tate tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds for her women’s bantamweight title defense against Olympic bronze medalist Ronda Rousey (134.5) in the Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” headliner on Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, tate, rousey, tate rousey
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Weigh-In Results: Miesha Tate 134.5, Ronda Rousey 134.5
One of the biggest women's MMA fights in the modern era was made official Friday afternoon in Columbus, OH, as Strikeforce 135-pound champion Miesha Tate and her opponent Ronda Rousey both made weight. The two are set to clash in the main event set to air on Showtime Saturday night.
The 25-year-old Tate (12-2, 5-1 Strikeforce) is looking to make the first defense of the title she won by submitting Marloes Coenen last summer. In the 25-year-old Rousey (4-0, 2-0 Strikeforce), she'll face a challenger that she feels isn't the No. 1 contender, but one that has submitted every opponent in her way in both the amateurs and pros.
All fighters made weight for what should be an entertaining show, set to air at 10 PM EST Saturday.
Showtime Main Card
Tate (134.5) (c) vs. Rousey (134.5)
K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)
Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186)
Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo Souza (184.5)
Prelims (Showtime Extreme)
Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)
Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)
Ryan Couture (154.5) vs. Conor Heun (155)
Bloody Elbow will provide live play-by-play coverage all night long on Saturday, along with the usual analysis/commentary you expect throughout the weekend.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, saturday, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce 'Tate vs Rousey' fight card: Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey preview
Two of the most talented female 135 pound fighters in the world will meet tomorrow night (March 3, 2012) as Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate takes on "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey in the main event of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in Columbus, Ohio.
Tate rose up through the ranks and earned her title shot after defeating too women in one night, then dethroned the champion last summer to claim the women's 135 pound championship. She feels incredibly disrespected to be heading into this fight as a major underdog and she's out to prove herself all over again.
Ronda Rousey, despite just four career fights, has the looks, the swagger and the talent to be a superstar in women's MMA. She's not only finished every opponent from amateur to professional, she's done it all in the first round, in the first minute by the same maneuver, the juji-gatame or better known as the armbar. Rousey confidently talked her way into a title shot and now she gets to prove that she's legit against by far her most credible opposition.
Will Tate be talented enough to retain her title? Can Rousey back up her talk with some ferocious technique as well? What's the key to victory for both talented young ladies tomorrow night?
Let's find out:
Miesha Tate
Record: 12-2 overall, 5-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Marloes Coenen (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Zoila Gurgel (Strikeforce Challengers 7), Hitomi Akano (Strikeforce Challengers 10)
Key Losses: Sarah Kaufman (Strikeforce Challengers 1)
How she got here: Miesha "Takedown" Tate got her professional career started in 2007, fighting in the Bodog women's one night bantamweight tournament. She would defeat eventual Strikeforce title challenger Jan Finney in her first fight via decision but would be brutally knocked out by a much sharper and more dangerous Kaitlin Young.
Undeterred, she would win her next five bouts, four by stoppage before earning a fight against future Strikeforce women's 135-pound champion Sarah Kaufman. Tate would eventually lose the bout, but she was competitive and forced Kaufman to go to decision for the first time in her career.
After reeling off three straight victories, including a very impressive submission against Zoila Gurgel, Tate was invited to the one night Strikeforce women's welterweight grand prix to determine the number one contender. The strong grappler would dominate the tournament with her wrestling and top control, winning a pair of decisions to earn a shot at the belt.
After a delay due to a knee injury, she finally got her shot at Marloes Coenen last July and she capitalized, using her wrestling offensively and surprising the Golden Glory fighter with an arm triangle which forced Coenen to tap out for the first time in her illustrious career.
Now, after a long waiting period, Tate is set to defend her title again against a brash, young challenger.
How she gets it done: When your nickname is "Takedown," don't expect much less when it comes to your most reliable method of victory, but that might not be what she wants to do tomorrow night, at least not right away.
While Tate doesn't have the most dangerous stand-up abilities, she also doesn't really have an opportunity to showcase them. Most of her opposition has been decent strikers so why would she risk standing and trading with them like she did early in her career when she got knocked out by the kickboxer Kaitlin Young?
This time, she should keep her distance, try to work a jab and just stay away from Rousey's bullrush attack early. She should avoid any close-quarters fighting in the first round entirely and try to drag this fight into deeper waters.
Tate has never had a problem with conditioning, so that would likely be her best plan of attack here, wait for Rousey to tire out a bit in the second or third (if she does) and then pounce with a more aggressive striking and wrestling attack.
If Rousey begins to fade, Tate can definitely take over with her wrestling and it will be easier to defend against her submission game but she should try to avoid it at all costs in the first round.
Ronda Rousey
Record: 4-0 overall, 2-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Julia Budd (Strikeforce Challengers 20)
Key Losses: none
How she got here: Ronda Rousey had world class athleticism in her blood. Her mother was a world class judo player and Ronda followed her in footsteps. Starting early in judo, Rousey made it to the Olympics by the time she was just 17 years old at the 2004 games in Athens.
In 2008, she not only qualified, but this time she medaled, earning a bronze in Beijing but when it was all over, she was done with judo and wanted to try something else. She began training in mixed martial arts and made her amateur debut in 2010, crushing all three of her opponents inside the first minute with her go-to move, the armbar.
Upon switching to a professional in 2010, she didn't slow down, crushing all four of her opponents via first minute armbar, even Strikeforce fighters Julia Budd and Sarah D'Alelio at 145 pounds. With talk that she could be the one to dethrone the champion, "Cyborg" Santos.
Instead, she announced she was first going to drop to 135 pounds and challenge for the title there, and she confidently talked her way into a title shot this weekend against Miesha Tate.
How she gets it done: Rousey is so big, strong, powerful and skilled, she just needs to keep doing what she's been doing and that is rush in, overwhelm her opposition and force them to tap out.
Dropping down to 135, her strength advantage could be even more severe in the cage against Tate and she could seriously turn some heads if she could do to the champ what she's been doing to all her competition prior.
Rousey has been working hard to round out her game, but why not stick to what got her here? I'd like to see her close the distance early, wade right through Tate's punches and get in the clinch. From there, she needs to try to use her years of judo experience to leverage Tate onto the canvas and immediately transition to an armbar.
If she can put Tate on the ground, she needs to take that arm home with her, even snap it because Tate won't be giving up without a fight.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is experience and time. Ronda Rousey has been so good thus far in her career, she hasn't even had to go past the first minute of a fight against even the best of her opposition. That's a sign of how good she is, but this is a five round fight. What happens if Miesha Tate proves to be resilient and this fight actually goes into the second, third or even the championship rounds? It's all a gigantic question mark.
Lastly, while she's had experience against world class judo players, Rousey has yet to really face anyone of significance in MMA. Her biggest career win was against Julia Budd, who has a 2-2 record in MMA right now. Miesha Tate has a ton more experience in actual MMA and that could potentially be a factor here.
Bottom Line: This fight has just about everything MMA fans have come to love, skilled athletes, the threat of a finish at any moment and hell, both ladies are pretty easy on the eyes. There's a very high chance of some serious grappling getting showcased in this fight and maybe even some striking, although that all depends on if Rousey can close the distance early or not. The fact that there's a strong possibility that Rousey blitzes Tate with a first minute submission again is enough to warrant that you keep your eyes glued to the television at all times and if Tate survives the early onslaught, it will be extremely interesting to see what happens next as no one has done that before against the judo Olympian. This should be a good one.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will exit the cage tomorrow night as the Strikeforce women's 135 pound champion?
Ronda Rousey
Miesha Tate
5 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs Rousey Weigh-Ins
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, weighin, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTate vs. Rousey Weigh-In Results
The decade's most-anticipated women's bout has been cleared for launch.
Reigning Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey both made weight at Friday afternoon's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio, rendering their heavy-hyped title tilt official.
Despite a steep drop from featherweight, Rousey found her mark easily, weighing-in at a trim 134.5 pounds. Likewise, Tate successfully tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds.
In the co-main event, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson hit the stage at 155 pounds after a torturous 15-month injury layoff. His opponent, perennial ‘Fight of the Night' contender K.J. Noons, edged in at 156 pounds.
Full weigh-in results are below.
Main card (Showtime):Miesha Tate (134.5) vs. Ronda Rousey (134.5)K.J. Noons (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)Paul Daley (171) vs. Kazuo Misaki (169.5)Bristol Marunde (184) vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (184.5)Lumumba Sayers (185) vs. Scott Smith (186)
Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme):Alexis Davis (135.5) vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.5)Caros Fodor (155.5) vs. Pat Healy (155)Ryan Couture (154) vs. Conor Heun (155)Roger Bowling (170) vs. Brandon Saling (170.5)
Posted in: pound, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce’s Ryan Couture: More Than Randy’s Kid
I knew going into this that I was going to be opening myself up to that kind of criticism. – Ryan Couture
Posted in: strikeforce, kind, ryan, opening, criticism
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey Preview: Scott Smith Vs. Lumumba Sayers
In the opening fight of the Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey Showtime broadcast, Scott Smith (17-9, 3-4 Strikeforce) takes on Lumumba Sayers (5-2, 1-1 Strikeforce) in a middleweight bout. Taking place in Columbus, Ohio on March 3rd, Strikeforce will share the weekend with the Arnold Classic. The card goes live on the premium cable network at 10 p.m ET/ 10 p.m. PT (sorry West Coast) with five great fights. This card marks Scott Smith's return to the middleweight division after an unsuccessful stint at Welterweight.
Scott Smith's MMA career has been defined by highlight reel knockouts and come from behind finishes when the cards were stacked against him. A UFC veteran who got a second chance to fight at the top level thanks to the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Smith's knockout over Pete Sell forever cemented his spot in the discussion of gutsiest performances. After being released by the UFC following a 1-2 run in the promotion, Scott Coker and Rich Chou picked Smith up to round out their Middleweight division.
Smith continued to amaze fans with his ability to seemingly come back from the most desperate situations with stunning wins over Benji Radach and Cung Le. Unfortunately the damage had accumulated and his drop to welterweight was unsuccessful, being knocked out by Paul Daley and brutalized by Tarec Saffiedine to a unanimous decision loss. Smith still possesses knockout power in his hands but his ability to take a shot to give one has faded to the point that he was essentially a walking heavy bag in his last outing.
Smith's opponent, Lumumba Sayers is still very young in his MMA career. A mover by trade, Sayers has only been fighting professionally for four years. Not much is known about Sayers as he has only competed twice on the national stage. His submission grappling ability is the strongest aspect of his game as four of his five wins have come by choke. Unfortunately, he's not a strong defensive grappler and has been submitted twice as well. The last time fans saw him, he took on Antwain Britt at Strikeforce: Challengers 20 in Las Vegas. Sayers has never displayed any significant punching power but was able to knock Britt out within :28 seconds in the first round.
This fight should provide excitement to open up the broadcast. Scott Smith has rarely been in a boring fight and was a decently successful middleweight. Lumumba Sayers doesn't possess the punching power to knock Smith out but could pose a significant threat should the fight end up on the ground. I expect for us to see vintage Scott Smith with a stunning highlight reel win.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, scott, smith, sayer
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Weigh-in Results
Full results from Friday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey weigh-ins in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyReady for Return, Josh Thomson Set for Strikeforce Lightweight Push
It's been more than a year since Josh Thomson's last fight. But he says he's more than ready for Saturday's Strikeforce return against K.J. Noons.
Posted in: strikeforce, return, josh, thomson, josh thomsons
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Fight Card Preview: Can Miesha Tate Stop Ronda Rousey?
The main event of this Saturday's Strikeforce show sees Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion Miesha Tate (12-2) defending her belt against the undefeated Ronda Rousey (4-0). It's one of the most compelling fights we've seen from women's MMA in some time, and with Gina Carano quite possibly retired and Cris Cyborg's recent drug test failure, it's up to fighters like Tate and Rousey to carry the division.
One of the things that makes this fight interesting is Rousey's record. 4-0 is an impressive start to your career, especially when 2 of those wins come in Strikeforce, but what's really impressive is how she wins. Four fights, four finishes, four armbars, all under one minute. Add in an additional four amateur bouts, all with the exact same sub-1 minute armbar victory. Whatever you may think of her level of competition, that is a scary degree of domination right there. So the obvious questions:
Can Rousey do the same to Miesha Tate?
And can the judoka's dominant run be stopped?
Despite these impressive performances (and make no mistake, they are impressive), Rousey is vulnerable, particularly in her stand-up game. Once she has a hold of you, she has used her superb Judo skills to secure the takedown and quickly transition to an armbar. Where she leaves openings is in her ability to secure the clinch. Rousey's striking is predictable - she throws the left jab, often doubling it up, then grabs the head in a greco-roman style one arm clinch. But as she throws those jabs, she has two dangerous tendencies. First, she reaches out too much, leaving her defenses open for a counter. Second, she drops her head as she comes in, opening herself up for an uppercut. These are holes that can be exploited.
More in the full entry...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
What's tricky is that, while Rousey leaves these openings, they're also very small. So can someone find these openings? Absolutely. But it will need to be a precise technical striker. And in Miesha Tate, that's not what I see. Tate has improved her striking over the years, but she remains a slow puncher who is a bit flat footed. She also does not respond well to being hit, and has a tendency to go into pure defensive mode. Because of this, she has a tough time countering her opponent's strikes, and that is the exact skill needed to stop the Rousey clinch and takedown.
In the end, Rousey can be beaten, but Tate is not the woman to do it. For that, you need a focused striker. And it just so happens that woman is also fighting this weekend. Sarah Kaufman has the power and she has the technique to put a stop to Rousey.
So while Tate vs. Rousey is indeed a good fight, and one that holds my interest, it's not the women's fight I am most interested in. With a little luck, we'll soon see Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman in a true test of Rousey's stand-up, and the best women's MMA fight out there today.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, opening, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowScott Smith hoping to emulate Chris Lytle in his fight against Lumumba Sayers on Showtime (Video)
"Strikeforce does what the fans want. I've had a few tough losses in a row and the fans are still there supporting me, wanting to watch me fight and that's a great feeling. A guy like Anderson Silva has been accused of having some boring fights. Even Georges St. Pierre has had some boring fights. That's not my style, that's not how I fight, but on the other hand, I'm not a world champion like those guys too, so they're smart, they're at the top. I'm out there to fight and have fun. The way I fight is fun for me so I'm gonna keep doing it. Guys like Chris Lytle and Chris Leben, those are the guys I look up to, those are the guys I wanna fight like."
Strikeforce Middleweight slugger Scott Smith, who damned near drowned while testing the waters at 170-pounds, is back in his natural weight class and ready to put on a show against Lumumba Sayers at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime event scheduled for tomorrow night (March 3, 2012) at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. "Hands of Steel" wants to keep his fight game similar to that of UFC fan favorites Chris Leben and Chris Lytle, but does Smith have anything left in the tank at this stage of his career? Or will Saturday night be the last time we see him under the Strikeforce banner?
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, chri, chris lytle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMAjunkie.com Radio: Strikeforce's 'JZ' Cavalcante and Mauro Ranallo
MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show Strikeforce veteran Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante.
He and fellow guest and Strikeforce broadcaster Mauro Ranallo, who's on site in Ohio, help us preview Saturday's big "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
Posted in: strikeforce, las vegas, video stream, twohour show, fellow guest
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSarah Kaufman: I Feel Like I Should Be Fighting for the Title (Video)
Former Strikeforce bantamweight women's champion Sarah Kaufman believes that Saturday, March 3 should be her day to recapture her title from Miesha Tate.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, kaufman, sarah, title video
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Tate Vs. Rousey Preview: Preliminary Bouts
On March 3rd, Strikeforce will hold its second event of 2012 during the weekend of the Arnold Classic. Headlining the card is a title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey for the Strikeforce women's bantamweight title. The card was originally scheduled to host the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix but Daniel Cormier's hand injury prevented the fight from coming together. The event will also be the second on a renewed deal with Showtime that sees the premium cable network airing every fight across its stable of channels. The night of fights begins with the prelims airing on Showtime Extreme.
Sarah Kaufman vs Alexis Davis
In the final fight of the Showtime Extreme portion of the card, Sarah Kaufman (14-1, 5-1 Strikeforce) takes on fellow Canadian Alexis Davis (11-4, 2-0 Strikeforce). Sarah Kaufman is the former bantamweight champion who feels overlooked with the arrival of Ronda Rousey. A talented grappler, Kaufman's sole defeat is to Marloes Coenen by armbar at Strikeforce: San Jose. She was last seen against Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce: Voelker vs Bowling III this past summer. A grinder by nature, the biggest knock against her is that she doesn't look to finish fights or put opponents in dangerous situations.
Alexis Davis made her Strikeforce debut with a unanimous decisions over Julie Kedzie at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Henderson. She followed up her successful debut with a TKO win over highly touted Amanda Nunes at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov. Davis holds a black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and used her ground skills to keep pressure on her opponents while on the ground. Alexis is a former flyweight and is one of the smaller bantamweights in the division. The one big criticism against her is that she's never been victorious when faced with a tough opponent.
This is actually a rematch of a fight that took place in 2007. It was Alexis' debut against a then 3-0 Sarah Kaufman. Sarah Kaufman finished Alexis Davis in the third round. Since the fight both fighters have made improvements but the more obvious is Alexis Davis who has grown into a well rounded fighter. As far as match ups go this is as even as we've seen booked in WMMA. A slight advantage on the ground would go to Davis but the wrestling and punching power are in Kaufman's favor. Expect Sarah Kaufman to use top positional control to cruise to a Unanimous Decision victory.
More after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Caros Fodor vs Pat Healy
In lightweight action, Caros Fodor (7-1, 5-0 Strikeforce) faces Pat Healy (26-16, 4-1 Strikeforce) in the third fight of the evening. This fight has cruised under the radar as most fans and media are focusing on the KJ Noons/Josh Thompson bout. Caros Fodor made waves when he knocked out top lightweight contender Justin Wilcox in just :13 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvildal. Fodor has found a balance between his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai that has made him a nightmare match up for many of his opponents. His sole career loss is surrounded with controversey as Fodor tapped out after the bell in the second round.
Pat Healy, like Heun, has played spoiler in his past Strikeforce bouts. A member of team quest, Healy has used his obvious size advantage to bully opponents around the cage and beat them up with a grinding style. He was last seen at Strikeforce: Barnett vs Kharitonov where he faced debuting Maximo Blanco. Fans noted that Healy looked two weight classes bigger than Blanco, so it came as no surprise when he forced Maximo to tap to a rear naked choke in the second round.
This is one of the most even lightweight bouts booked in 2012 as both fighters have looked dominant in their previous wins. There is a known path to victory for both which means that fans should expect Healy to try and grind out a win while Heun is expected to use his Muay Thai to finish Pat. The slight advantage goes to Pat Healy due to experience and his ability spoil Strikeforce's best laid plans. He'll likely defeat Connon Heun by decision.
Ryan Couture vs Conor Heun
Ryan Couture (3-1, 3-1 Strikeforce) was never given a fair shot to develop slowly in MMA. Sharing the last name that his father made famous, it was expected that he would follow in his father's footsteps towards MMA greatness. After going 5-1-1 as an amateur, Couture was signed by Strikeforce to fight on their Challenger's shows. Learning from his father and Neil Melanson, Ryan developed into a solid submission grappler, winning his first two professional fights by submission. It was in his sole loss that his lack of well-roundedness became apparent as Matt Ricehouse beat Couture in the clinch and striking from range.
Conor Heun (9-4, 1-2 Strikeforce) was long considered one of the top lightweight prospects in the promotion. A 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu fighter, Heun possesses the the ability to constantly threaten a fight ending submission off his back. Heun has been able to compliment his ground game with functional stand up to stay out of trouble when the fight is on the feet. The one knock against Heun is that he has never been able to pick up the victory when faced with a "name" opponent, getting outworked by LC Davis, Jorge Gurgle, and KJ Noons in defeat.
He should be the favorite against Couture as he has more experience and has demonstrated mental toughness when caught in a deep armbar against Magno Almeida last summer at Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum. Heun gutted out a deep armbar to walk away with victory. Expect Heun to outwork Couture on the feet and stay out of danger should the fight go to the ground earning a decision victory.
Roger Bowling vs Brandon Saling
The preliminary fights kick off with a welterweight bout between Roger Bowling (10-2, 3-2 Strikeforce) and Brandon Saling (8-5, 0-0 Strikeforce). Bowling is best known for his trio of fights with Bobby Voelker in the Strikeforce Challengers series of events. A well rounded fighter, Bowling holds wins over two current UFC fighters in Shamar Bailey and Seth Baczynski. Of his ten wins, only two have gone to decision with the majority of his opponents being finished by TKO. His two career losses are at the hands of Bobby Voelker who finished Bowling by TKO in the second round of their last two fights. He finished his last opponent in :42 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal.
His opponent Brandon Saling is making his Strikeforce debut after an active start to 2012. Fighting out of Team Gurgel, Saling has only fought once at the national level in a losing effort to Gregory Milliard at Bellator 59. A Jorge Gurgel student, Saling has relied on grappling to get the fight back to standing where he is most dangerous. A tough fighter, his one weakness has been his submission defense, losing by rear naked choke in three of his five career losses.
Roger Bowling is a huge step up in competition for Saling who has never faced a fighter as well rounded as the Strikeforce veteran. His best path to victory is keeping the fight standing but he'll likely be constantly on the defensive as Bowling is a solid tactical fighter. Expect Bowling to finish Saling by TKO late in the third round.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, heun, bowling
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey – Miesha Tate’s Five Keys to Victory
Scott Neumyer breaks down Saturday's Strikeforce main event between women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and favored challenger Ronda Rousey to see how Tate can keep her title.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, miesha, rousey, saturdays strikeforce
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce weigh in results LIVE from Columbus for 'Tate vs Rousey'
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" is set to take place today (March 2, 2012) LIVE from the Greater Columbus Convention Center (as part of the Arnold Sports Festival) in Columbus, Ohio.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 5 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
"Tate vs. Rousey" will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey. Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki.
Complete Strikeforce weigh in results after the jump.
Main Event:
135 lbs.: Miesha Tate ( ) vs. Ronda Rousey ( )
Main card (Showtime):
155 lbs.: K.J. Noons ( ) vs. Josh Thomson ( )170 lbs.: Paul Daley ( ) vs. Kazuo Misaki ( )185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza ( ) vs. Bristol Marunde ( )185 lbs.: Scott Smith ( ) vs. Lumumba Sayers ( )
Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme):
135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman ( ) vs. Alexis Davis ( )155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Pat Healy ( )155 lbs.: Ryan Couture ( ) vs. Conor Heun ( )170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Brandon Saling ( )
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., March 3, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8:00 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle
For the latest Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Quick Quote: Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey shouldn't be the Strikeforce main event this weekend
"We've got to make sure we're trying to outdo the main event. There's a lot of hype around the main event so I think [we're] two males who really want to try to prove to ourselves and to everybody else that we should have been the main event. I think that's what we're trying to do."
-- According to Josh Thomson, his Strikeforce Lightweight fight against K.J. Noons should have been the headliner at this weekend's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" mixed martial arts (MMA) event, at least that's what he told Sherdog.com. The event ,which takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, is headlined by a female Bantamweight title fight between current champ Miesha Tate taking on Olympic Judo medalist Ronda Rousey. Feeling snubbed by the woman's title fight, "The Punk" is going to do his best to put on a show Saturday night and prove to the MMA world the reason(s) his bout should have received topped billing. The winner of the Thompson vs. Noons bout is expected to receive a title shot against Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez. The event also includes an exciting welterweight scrap between Paul Daley and Kazuo Misaki. Anyone feel Thompsons' beef? Or did Strikeforce get the main event correct by letting the women get top billing?
Posted in: title shot, strikeforce, event, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Preview
The reports of female MMA’s demise have been greatly exaggerated (wait, have I used that lede before?). This Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us the biggest, most compelling pairing of femme fighters since Cris “Cyborg” Santos stepped into the cage to take on Gina Carano. That’s right, I’m talking about Miesha Tate versus Ronda Rousey, a matchup that pits the organization’s 135-pound champ against an Olympic judo bronze medalist who rips off arms like you and I rip off pieces of toilet paper from the rolls hanging beside our respective crappers. There are, of course, other things on the card that will get the blood flowing, like former champ Josh Thomson’s return, Brit slugger Paul Daley’s collision course with Japanese warrior Kazuo Misaki, and Ronaldo Souza and Scott Smith’s impending handling of young upstarts. But what’s motivating me to tune in to Showtime this weekend is that marquee bout involving the fairer sex, and yes, it has everything to do with the violence one is surely going to be visiting upon the other – particularly, that other fighter’s limb. Preview time!
-Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey – Let me start off by saying some good things about Tate. She hasn’t tasted defeat since a decision loss to Sarah Kaufman back in May of 2009; she’s experienced; she won the Strikeforce belt by tapping out Marloes Coenen, so she’s no slouch when it comes to submissions; and, she’s a solid wrestler. Okay, with that out of the way, let’s state the obvious: Rousey is going to throw her down and transition into the kind of armbar that requires rehab and physical therapy to recover from. In just four pro fights and three amateur ones, the judoka has finished all who stood before her, all via armlock, all in under a minute. That’s the kind of feat that more than warrants her title shot. Heck, with that kind of streak going, Rousey deserves credit for turning a run-of-the-mill Meisha Tate title defense into “Oh man is that lady going to get her arm broken for sure” fight. And folks, that kind of hype, though morbid, is just what female MMA needs to make it more than just “two attractive chicks fighting”. I see Rousey coming away with the belt (obviously), but the question remains: Can Tate last longer than a minute?
-Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons – Miraculously, Thomson’s body has held together enough for him to face Noons (note: Thomson has had to drop out of about a thousand fights due to injuries, and he spent all of 2011 suspended in a nutrient tank a la Luke Skywalker in the Rebel base on Hoth). But here he is now, a former champ and perennial badass, taking on someone who possesses some of the best hands in the business. For Noons, the keys to victory are to keep Thomson from taking him down, and keep him at the end of his fists. This is very doable, especially if the duct tape holding Thomson together spontaneously comes undone. However, Thomson could just as easily be the one pushing the pace and imposing his will, so it could go either way. I predict a decision here, but I can’t decide which way the decision will go.
-Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki – As one of the most exciting British fighters in the game, and, despite his extracurricular actions against Josh Koscheck (which got him banished from the UFC), one of the most likeable Brits in the game, Daley is right up there among the best welterweight properties Strikeforce has under contract. But signing Misaki, and pairing him up against Daley… that’s a stroke of genius, so let’s all give Strikeforce a little golf clap. *Claps effetely* Twice Misaki went to the well with Jorge Santiago in Sengoku, and twice it was an epic Braveheart-esque battle replete with carnage and heads being lopped off. Therefore, putting Daley and Misaki together should be a sure-fire recipe for thrills, and honestly, I haven’t the faintest clue how it’s going to end. It won’t be boring, though!
-Ronalda Souza vs. Bristol Marunde – Souza was the Strikeforce middleweight champ until he laid an egg against Luke Rockhold, but his road back to title contention looks to be paved with cans of the tomato variety. First it was to be against wrestler Derek Brunson. Unfortunately, the athletic commission took issue with Brunson’s imitation of Mr. Magoo, so now it’s going to be Bristol Marunde who faces the vaunted jiu-jitsu of “Jacare”, and the common denominator between the Brazilian’s two opponents is that they both pose the same amount of threat – nil. Souza is going back to basics and getting the submission, and soon Strikeforce will once more have someone legitimate to fight for Rockhold’s crown.
-Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers – The clock is ticking on Smith and his time in the cage, and that’s a shame because he brings it, win or lose. However, although Sayers put away Antwain Britt in impressive, hard-hitting fashion, he’s still got a ways to go before he can step to the likes of Smith, who’s managed to score knockouts even after being knocked out and/or gravely wounded himself. Smith is taking this one via TKO after doing his best “Walking Dead” imitation.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Tate vs Rousey' fight card: Josh Thomson vs K.J. Noons preview
Two former lightweight champions will duke it out this Saturday night (March 3, 2012) as former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson battles former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in Columbus, Ohio.
Josh Thomson has been completely off the map as of late, having suffered significant leg injuries which have kept him sidelined for a significant portion of his recent Strikeforce career. He's finally healed up and hoping to earn a trilogy fight with Gilbert Melendez if he can defeat Noons convincingly.
K.J. Noons had a very up and down run in Strikeforce thus far, winning most of his lightweights fights but then losing a welterweight title shot against Nick Diaz and then getting thrashed by Jorge Masvidal. He bounced back last December and needs a strong showing against Thomson if he wants to earn another title shot.
Can Noons bring back his boxing and put on a solid striking display against "The Punk?" Will Thomson overcome his injuries and get back into Strikeforce lightweight contention? What's the key to victory for both men on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Josh Thomson
Record: 18-4 (1 no contest) overall, 9-2 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson), Pat Healy (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum), Nam Phan (Strikeforce: Triple Threat)
Key Losses: Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce: Evolution), Tatsuya Kawajiri (Dynamite!! 2010), Yves Edwards (UFC 49)
How he got here: Josh Thomson, now 33 years old, has been competing in mixed martial arts professionally since 2001. After just six fights, he was already making his UFC debut in 2003, which was right before the promotion shut down the division for a few years.
"The Punk" went 2-1 in the UFC before transitioning to Strikeforce where, after losing a title fight against Clay Guida in his debut, he was able to take over the division with an eight fight winning streak which included capturing the title and defending it twice, even defeating Gilbert Melendez in a thrilling five round battle.
Unfortunately for the American Kickboxing Academy product, Thomson would suffer a series of leg injuries which forced Strikeforce to create an interim championship, and he would lose his title to Gilbert Melendez in his return. Since losing hit belt, Thomson has narrowly squeaked past Pat Healy and JZ Cavalcante and was defeated by Tatsuya Kawajiri.
He's had his Strikeforce return delayed by another long string of injuries but is finally healthy and hoping to get back on track against Noons.
How he gets it done: Josh Thomson is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. He's got a very well-rounded game and, when healthy, he's one of the most dangerous lightweights in the world.
In the stand-up department, he should really focus on bringing back those brutal push kicks which were so effective in the first fight with Gilbert Melendez. He got away from them in the rematch and he hasn't really gone back to them much, but they are really powerful and can keep Noons off-balance.
I'd highly recommend he not stand and trade punches with Noons as he'll just be asking for trouble.
Thomson would be wisest of all to work his clinch game and eventually try to score some takedowns, perhaps after wearing "King Karl" down a bit in the stand-up or after getting up close and personal. He's got a terrific gas tank and has been known to take over fights late if need be. I don't think this fight will be any different if cardio becomes a factor.
K.J. Noons
Record: 11-4 overall, 3-2 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Nick Diaz (EliteXC: Renegade), Yves Edwards (EliteXC: Return of the King), Billy Evangelista (Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal)
Key Losses: Nick Diaz (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2), Jorge Masvidal (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum)
How he got here: Karl James Noons is one of the few fighters who has been successful at both boxing and MMA. Originally getting into combat sports as a kickboxer near the turn of the century, he got submitted in less than 30 seconds in his second MMA fight back in 2002.
After that, K.J. focused primarily on boxing for awhile but would make his return to mixed martial arts, achieving the highlight of his career thus far by defeating Nick Diaz via TKO (cuts) to become EliteXC's inaugural lightweight champion. After defending his title against Yves Edwards, Noons would be stripped of his belt for refusing to give Nick Diaz a rematch.
Noons would then sign with Strikeforce two years later and after winning his first two fights in the promotion, he was given a title shot against welterweight champion Nick Diaz in a much anticipated grudge match. The fight with Diaz was electric and both men hurt each other on several occasions but Diaz would go on to outstrike Noons and win the later rounds to take a unanimous decision victory and retain his title.
Noons dropped back down to the lightweight division to battle Jorge Masvidal for a lightweight title shot, but Masvidal had his way with him, beating him soundly in all areas and earning the title shot. Noons ended his two-fight skid by squeaking past Billy Evangelista this past December.
How he gets it done: Despite years of training in MMA, it would still be best for Noons to stick to his roots which is his pure boxing. Whether it's at a distance working his jab or in the pocket where he can land his crosses and hooks, that's where he's most comfortable. What he needs to be careful about this time, however, is not to simply use boxing head movement. All that juking and ducking could have him lean right into a head kick some flashy strike to the face that he normally wouldn't see in the squared circle.
Noons have developed some decent defensive countermeasures over the years so look for him to be prepared to sprawl or push off if Thomson tries to clinch or shoot for a takedown. He needs to avoid getting tied up at all costs and then get right back to work with his striking. If he gets bogged down in anything else, he could be in trouble.
He also has to watch his conditioning. Thomson pushes a pretty hard pace and he does his best work when fighters are tiring out, taking over against the likes of Pat Healy and even Gesias Cavalcante due to fatigue.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight has to be age and injuries for Josh Thomson. He's been delayed time and time again by repeated leg injuries throughout his career in Strikeforce and they really seem to be accumulating badly as of late. He didn't even fight in 2011 due to the setbacks.
This could affect his movement, his ability to avoid Noons' power strikes and perhaps even his conditioning. Noons could very easily push a strong pace early and try to overwhelm "The Punk" before he can shake the cage rust off. Also, at 33 years old, Thomson is nearing the age when skills really begin to deteriorate for the lower weight classes. His days could be numbers as a top lightweight.
Bottom Line: I expect a competitive affair between two of the most high profile lightweights in the Strikeforce 155 pound division. Noons is the former EliteXC champ and Thomson is a former Strikeforce champ and both would love a crack against Gilbert Melendez, Thomson in particular. "The Punk" would like nothing more than an opportunity to earn a rubber match with his big rival, who he's split two fights with prior. Both Noons and Thomson are capable of putting on extremely entertaining bouts when healthy and in shape so I expect nothing less than an exciting back-and-forth battle. There's a lot on the line as if the winner of this fight doesn't put on a strong enough showing, the Pat Healy - Caros Fodor winner could swoop and and take the title shot so they have plenty of motivation so bring it.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which lightweight could potentially earn a title shot with a strong showing on Saturday night at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey?
Josh Thomson
K.J. Noons
3 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, noon, thomson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaYou may get a concussion from the verbal sparring at today's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey press conference
If I get another text from my grandmother asking me what time this weekend's Strikeforce fight is airing, I'm going to -- call her up and tell her because she's elderly. The only reason why she knows GSP is because her favorite fighter, Nick Diaz, talks about him. Her second favorite fighter is Waachiim Spiritwolf. I don't understand it either, but she also followed NFL Europe like it was an ancient religion. Coincidentally she's also a fan of Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, so it's going to be interesting when I tell her about this newly released MMAFighting video of today's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey press conference filmed somewhere in Ohio. Don't tell her I'm giving you guys first dibs on the video. She may get angry and swing her cane towards the general direction of my head, again. [Source]
{iframe}http://mmafighting.vid.io/v/40b60c46-63fc-11e1-9ecc-123139282fa5{/iframe}
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, miesha tate
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey Betting Odds
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is going down this Saturday night, and the betting odds for the card are now out. Strikeforce odds are always interesting because you generally don't see a lot of close fights. In the main event, I almost never touch a fighter that's above -250 unless it seems like a mortal lock. Well, to me Ronda Rousey is a mortal lock and I'm dropping some coin on her at -285. I think the line should be waaay wider than that. I also like Josh Thomson at -150. I'm sure a lot of people will be all over Pat Healy at +150, and they're right to be. Even though I picked Caros Fodor to win the fight, it's about dead even to me. +150 is a steal.
The rest of the card is full of hail mary longshots, and Scott Smith. I don't advise betting on Hands of Steel, but I hope he wins anyway. Scott Smith rules. Anyway, here are your lines (undercard after the jump).
Lines via BestFightOdds.com. These lines represent the best price you can get each fighter at from a wide variety of betting sites, and update in real time. Pretty cool, eh?
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, i hope, line, ronda rousey, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAfter Misaki, Strikeforce's Daley wants to fight Marquardt for title
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Onetime Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Paul Daley assumes that he'll get past Kazuo Misaki at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
And Daley also assumes that recent signee Nate Marquardt will get past Tyron Woodley when they meet, likely for the title, as he's heard from people within Strikeforce.
That leaves him in prime position.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, daley, kazuo misaki, tyron woodley
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMiesha Tate: “I’m Done with All the Drama” (Video)
For all the talk that's led to the main event for Strikeforce this weekend, Miesha Tate is glad to put all the drama to bed and just punch Ronda Rousey in the face.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ’m, miesha, drama
Read the full article at MMA Weekly[LIVE NOW!] Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 141: UFC On FX, Strikeforce 'Tate vs. Rousey' Roundtable
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as we are joined by Gals Guide to MMA contributor and Bloody Elbow commenter Nolan "mountaineers101" Howell for a preview of this weekend's two big shows.
We'll preview tomorrow's UFC on FX card, which is headlined by a welterweight bout between Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves and also will feature the semifinals of the company's first flyweight tournament.
We'll also preview Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, which is headlined by a Strikeforce bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and a lightweight bout between Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons.
We'll preview all the fights while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki tonight at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, preview, tate, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWhat's at Stake? UFC on FX 2/Tate vs. Rousey Edition
There was always a great deal on the line between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate and I don't just mean the bantamweight title. If that isn't a fight for bragging rights, nothing is. But across the world just a day before, four flyweights begin a tournament to crown a new champion in a new UFC division. Whatever you think of the women's bantamweight or UFC flyweight divisions, both are at least offering the best they have to showcase over the next 48 hours. That means there's blood to spill and treasure to collect. Let's take a closer look and examine what's on the line in Sydney, Australia tomorrow night and Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.
UFC on FX 2
Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann
At stake: the proverbial 'mix'. 'The mix' is not the worst place to be. After all, Alves and Kampmann are on the rebound. Both dropped several tough fights to respected competitors, but they also righted their own ships recently. Alves smashed Papy Abedi at UFC 138 while Kampmann decisioned Rick Story at UFC 139.
At the moment, the UFC welterweight division is in a bit of a logjam. A victory for either fighter is a legitimate accomplishment, but it's hard to predict what it could mean in terms of the upper end of possibilities. What we can say with certainty, however, is that it returns both Kampmann and Alves to the short list of possible contenders who could earn title shots in 2012 or early 2013. They have to win Saturday and likely thereafter. But two in a row at welterweight and against the competition they've faced means quite a bit.
The bad news about welterweight is it's a place where success can be hard to maintain. The good news is you also get a lot of opportunities to make some noise.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani / Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall
At stake: a spot in the finals. There's no mystery here. The winners of both fights move onto the finals in this four-man flyweight tournament. Each fighter, though, is in a different stage of their career. McCall re-enters the big leagues, this time in the right weight class, but needs to justify his high ranking with a strong performance against the upper echelon of the division. Benavidez and Johnson dropping down to this weight also carries significant expectations. Urushitani, the long-time member of the flyweight class, needs to prove he still belongs among top-end flyweights despite being 35 years of age.
Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou
At stake: resume booster. McGee and Philippou are still prospects, but they've each strung together some decent wins in the UFC middleweight divsion. McGee has won three straight, most recently besting Dongi Yang at UFC Fight Night 25. Philippou has won two in a row including a very respectable KO of Jared Hamman at UFC 140. A win over either gentleman continues their streaks and adds a further touch of legitimacy to their burgeoning careers. And given how even this fight is in terms of competitiveness, it's also an opportunity to give the MMA community a greater sense of the complexion of their games.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey
At stake: the whole 9 yards. That the Strikeforce women's bantamweight title is up for grabs almost seems like a bonus at this point. These fighters have spent months hurling invective at one another, questioning the others ability, skill, background, placement in the division and existence, generally. The truth is that a tough but noble loss wouldn't be the worst thing and obviously victory is preferred. What they desperately need to avoid, however, is convincing defeat. Nothing would sting worse and grant more ammunition to their foe than proof they were right about them all along. And even if a clear victory in the cage doesn't prove it, the winner will say it does. That's enough to make it stick.
K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson
At stake: Glibert's gold. The Strikeforce lightweight division is thin. How thin? Thin enough where all a fighter may need for a title shot is two consecutive wins. Or just a recent win. Noons bested Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal (after losing two straight). Thomson, on the other hand, didn't fight at all in 2011. He did manage to go 2-1 in 2010, beating both Gesias Cavalcante and Pat Healy, but that was quite some time ago. Yet, looking at the roster, not many other known names exist as potential contenders for Gilbert Melendez. Caros Fodor is surging up the ranks and Masvidal may get another shot, but it's slim pickings. If Noons or Thomson have a strong showing this weekend, a title shot is by no means out of the question.
Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki
At stake: Marquardt vs. Woodley winner. No date is set, but Marquardt is slated to face Tyron Woodley for what is expected to be the Strikeforce welterweight title. With a depleted roster, a name like Daley - despite so far being 1-2 in his Strikeforce career - has to be on the short list of potential contenders. Misaki might be further away, both literally and figuratively, but even he has to be in the running if he can get past the British striker on Saturday night.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Bristol Marunde
At stake: Jacare's scalp. Jacare is in a bad spot here. He's admittedly not facing the toughest threat of his career, but anything short of a decision, relatively speedy victory makes Jacare's future look dubious at best. Souza was originally slated to face Derek Brunson, but that match was scratched because of Brunson's eye issues. Jacare's best hope is to make a the night quick work. Marunde, on the other hand, can notch what would easily be the biggest win of his career.
Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers
At stake: physical health. As he proved against Antwain Britt, Sayers is capable of clobberin' time. Smith is not new to that process either. Of all Strikeforce's divisions, middleweight is arguably the thickest. Smith and Sayers aren't near the top or even middle. That's not to say they can't get there (or for Smith, return there), but it's not like a win here realistically pushes them close.
From the preliminary card(s):
-- Caros Fodor is on a tear. He's undefeated in Strikeforce and on a five-fight win streak. He faces the very durable, submission grappling savvy Pat Healy in what is a tough test for a rising prospect. If Fodor can pass this with flying colors, Gilbert Melendez may have a new contender on his hands.
-- Sarah Kaufmann, who was passed over by Ronda Rousey for the title shot, faces Alexis Davis. This is a rematch of their 2007 bout, which Kaufman won by unanimous decision. If Kaufman prevails here, she won't be far from facing the winner of Saturday night's main event.
Posted in: ufc, title, strikeforce, vs, stake
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Breakdown: Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey
Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey’s trash talk coupled with 4 win streaks that ended via armbar in under a minute landed her a fight for the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Her opponent, Miesha “Takedown” Tate, aims to teach this rookie a lesson and expose that Ronda’s talk is cheap. Don’t miss out on what will probably be [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, miesha, ronda, ronda ’s
Read the full article at Fighthub TVThomson Hopes to Prove Bout Against Noons Should Have Been Strikeforce Main Event
Josh Thomson’s lightweight bout against K.J. Noons will be the co-headliner Saturday at Strikeforce’s card in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, kj noons, noon, thomson, coheadliner saturday
Read the full article at SherdogJosh Thomson - The Punk's Not Dead
When it comes to bad luck, Josh Thomson has endured more than his share. He once was one of the top lightweights in the UFC, at least until the organization dropped the weight class for nearly two years. Then he became one of Strikeforce’s bright lights and that promotion’s champion, but then injuries had him sitting more than fighting. It’s enough to make a young man want to ask ‘what in the world am I doing this for?’“I’ve gotten to that point several times, but then it’s a fire thing,” said Thomson. “As soon as you step away from the sport for a while, you get that itch and it’s hard for people to walk away. I am at the point in my career where I am starting to look and focus on opening my own gym, starting my own career, and starting my own businesses and stuff. So those are things you start to think about; it’s like how much more can your body take? And you start looking towards your future. That’s realistically what you start doing.”But like anyone with a fighter’s heart steeled in battle, Thomson isn’t ready to give up yet. This Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, nearly 15 months after his last fight against Tatsuya Kawajiri in December of 2010, “The Punk” returns to Strikeforce to face KJ Noons. It’s a fight that Thomson sounds like he’s looking forward to as much as diehard MMA fans are. “He’s a very talented, very athletic kid,” said Thomson. “He’s very explosive, and he’s becoming more well-rounded. If you notice in the last fight, he took Billy Evangelista down two or three times, he shot three or four times, and he’s definitely trying to open up his game. And not only did he do that, but he was able to avoid getting submitted in the third round and he’s going to be a dangerous fighter. He’s opening up his kickboxing, you can tell he’s working his kickboxing more instead of just being a flat-footed boxer, and we’ll see what happens. He’s really trying to open his game right now, and I think with the time off, he’s just getting back to his true MMA form. I told everybody this, I’m gonna end up getting the best KJ that you guys have seen since he’s returned.”But the question most have is whether everyone will get the best Thomson. And the scouting report there is ‘so far, so good.’ And that’s welcome news considering all he’s been through, not just in the last few years, but throughout his 11 year pro career. A shooting star who always showed great potential, Thomson flew out of the gate in 2001, and by the end of his first year as a pro, he was fighting Japanese superstar “Kid” Yamamoto. Four fights later, he was in the UFC, and after back-to-back wins over Gerald Strebendt and Hermes Franca, he was knocked out by Yves Edwards at UFC 49 in August of 2004. It was to be the last lightweight fight in the UFC until 2006.Undaunted, Thomson fought and beat Daisuke Sugie in PRIDE Bushido and then fought in the first Strikeforce event against Clay Guida in 2006. He lost to Guida that night, but it began a long relationship between the San Jose native and the promotion, particularly CEO Scott Coker. To date, Thomson has competed 11 times in Strikeforce, winning and losing the lightweight belt against Gilbert Melendez, and if the 33-year old has one wish, it’s to get back to the form he showed during the 2006-08 stretch where he won eight in a row.“I was able to stay healthy and go on a good run, like an eight fight win streak, and then I beat Gilbert and then I ended up breaking my ankle,” said Thomson. “That whole year I just spent re-breaking my ankle over and over. I broke the same bone in the same ankle three times in a year. I noticed that my game never got back to that level. And I’m still, at this moment, trying to get it back to that level. I know my conditioning and all that stuff has been spectacular, but my technique and everything else has kinda dwindled a little bit. I have been working a lot more on trying to get back to that and focusing on that, but we’ll see what happens.”Winner of two of his three bouts in his last active year in 2010, Thomson now returns to an organization that looks a lot different than it did then. Zuffa is now in control of the promotion, giving it the behind the scenes muscle to take Strikeforce in an even bigger and better direction. And Thomson’s eager to get started.“Scott Coker is still the CEO, and I’m a huge fan of Coker,” he said. “He brought me up from taking me over from PRIDE in Japan and bringing me here, and fighting in Strikeforce. I also have a lot of respect for Dana (White) and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and those guys at the UFC because back in the day Dana took a chance on me and signed me against some of the other guys that said I wasn’t quite ready. But the UFC signed me in Japan after I fought Kid Yamamoto, he loved the way I fought, and I owe a lot of my career to him as well. So honestly, I’m fighting in the best and the biggest promotion in my eyes because I helped build Strikeforce to the level where it is. Honestly, the benefit of it all is that it doesn’t matter if Dana is the promoter or Scott’s the promoter – it doesn’t change the way I fight. I’m gonna fight my ass off and train my ass off and go out there and give the best show I can.”And if he can recapture his prime form and get past the dangerous Noons, Thomson will be in a prime spot in the weight class, as it won’t take too much to promote a rubber match between him and Melendez. It may even be the biggest match Strikeforce can make at 155 pounds. Thomson agrees, and after all the ups and downs, what sweeter ending would there be than a title fight in which he regains the title? That may just make all the aches and pains from over the years worth it.“I definitely think I’m the one that poses the biggest threat against Gilbert, and I’ve proven it before,” said Thomson. “I’ve beaten him and beaten him convincingly all five rounds, and I was beating him in the second fight in the first round and three quarters of the second round, but I got a little arrogant and cocky and got dropped at the end of the second round. I look at it as if the fight was actually mine and it was going the way I wanted it to go, but I think my confidence got the better of me, and it ended up costing me. The tide turned after that. Had we finished out those last 15-20 seconds of the round, I would have been up two rounds to none in a five round fight and all I would have needed to do was win just one more round. So yeah, I’d say I pose the biggest threat in Strikeforce right now to beat him. And the person that’s gonna beat him is somebody who’s well-rounded like myself – someone who can wrestle, someone who can stand, and there is a submission threat there. I haven’t really seen a whole lot of guys in the sport right now that can do that to him.”
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, year, thomson
Read the full article at UFCStrikeforce 'Tate vs Rousey' fight card: Paul Daley vs Kazuo Misaki preview
An established welterweight will take on an established middleweight who's dropping a division this Saturday night (March 3, 2012) as British bomber Paul Daley takes on Sengoku and Pride veteran Kazuo Misaki on the main card of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" in Columbus, Ohio.
Daley dropped two tough fights to Nick Diaz and Tyron Woodley in 2011, but has bounced back with consecutive victories outside the promotion. He's determined to climb his way back up to the top of the division and potentially challenge for the vacant welterweight title and he's going to need a strong showing against Misaki to prove it.
Kazuo Misaki has been one of the most exciting Japanese fighters for a long time and his fighting experience against top-level competition is difficult to match. He's been in some of the best fights as a middleweight in the last few years and he's hoping to make a similar impact after dropping to 170 pounds.
Will Daley's explosive power be too much for Misaki on Saturday night? Can Misaki's technique and overall grappling skill diffuse Semtex? What's the key to victory for both men on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Paul Daley
Record: 29-11-2 overall, 2-2 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Martin Kampmann (UFC 103), Scott Smith (Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu), Dustin Hazelett (UFC 108)
Key Losses: Nick Diaz (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley), Josh Koscheck (UFC 113), Tyron Woodley (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson)
How he got here: Paul Daley is and has always been one of the hardest-hitting strikers in MMA. He cut his teeth in England's Cage Rage promotion, becoming its welterweight champion and defending the title three times. He then headed over to the States and after a solid start in EliteXC, he was offered a title shot against Jake Shields.
Daley would be overwhelmed by Shields' wrestling and dominating submission attack and after a year of floundering around smaller promotions, he stepped up to fight Martin Kampmann at UFC 103 on short notice. "Semtex" made an incredible impact, crushing Kampmann in just two and a half minutes and after blasting Dustin Hazelett at UFC 108, Daley himself was offered a number one contender fight against Josh Koscheck where he would not only fall short but would completely lose his cool with a post-fight sucker punch that cost him his job with the promotion.
After four straight wins outside the UFC, Daley was offered a title shot against Nick Diaz and his war with the Strikeforce champion was one of 2011's finest fights. Daley would be finished with just three seconds left in the first round after both men traded several knockdowns and wild strikes. The Brit was hoping to redeem himself against Tyron Woodley just three months later, but he would be outwrestled over the course of three rounds.
"Semtex" scored two decision wins since and he's getting another shot against top Pride and Sengoku veteran Kazuo Misaki, who's dropping down to welterweight.
How he gets it done: Paul Daley is all about the strikes. He's got dynamite in both hands as evidenced by his massive knockout of Scott Smith in late 2010. He's also improved his kicks and knees to the point where they are effective weapons as well.
The goal here is for Daley to keep the fight standing and punish Misaki in that area. Misaki can bang with the best of them, but I doubt he can afford to stand and exchange bombs with someone as powerful as Daley.
Daley will have to be a little more cautious with his punches and kicks as anything too aggressive or overcommitting one single blow could result in Misaki closing the distance in the clinch or with a takedown attempt. While Misaki is not the wrestler that Koscheck or Woodley were, he is strong enough to potentially pull it off.
The smartest thing for Daley to do is keep his distance and work his jab, maybe mix in a few low leg kicks to wear Misaki down. Once he gets comfortable, that's when he can explode forward and go for the kill with the big power strikes.
Kazuo Misaki
Record: 24-11-2 (1 no contest) overall, 1-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Dan Henderson (Pride Bushido 12), Siyar Bahadurzada (Sengoku 1), Joe Riggs (Strikeforce: At the Mansion II)
Key Losses: Jorge Santiago 2x (Sengoku 14, Sengoku no Ran 2009), Melvin Manhoef (Dynamite!! 2009), Dan Henderson (Pride Bushido 10)
How he got here: Kazuo Misaki has been fighting professionally for over 10 years now, and that includes nearly 40 bouts. He started his career in Pancrase where he faced the likes of Chris Lytle, Nate Marquardt, Ed Herman and Jake Shields in competitive battles before transitioning to Pride.
Once in Pride, he was thrown against some of the best in the world at the time, trading wins with Dan Henderson and beating the likes of Phil Baroni and Dennis Kang while losing to Paulo Filho and Frank Trigg. When Pride shut it's doors, Misaki took a fight in America, defeating Joe Riggs in Strikeforce as well as heading to Sengoku where he had some terrific battles.
His pair of five round wars with Jorge Santiago were some of the best fights of the year each time out, especially the rematch which was voted the 2010 Fight of the Year according to Sherdog.
He earned two more wins overseas before signing with Strikeforce again and dropping down to 170 pounds.
How he gets it done: Misaki loves to brawl, but with the weight cut, being 35 years old and the fact that he's taken some significant damage in his recent losses, it would be highly recommended that he not trade big blows with a bomber like Paul Daley.
If he actually does stand with Daley, I would recommend he be much more cautious and if he throws any big strikes, they should be used more for distraction so he can close the distance to initiate a clinch or a takedown attempt.
Dropping down to welterweight, he should be able to at least match Daley's size if not be slightly bigger so if he can put Daley on the canvas, he can go to work with his superior grappling game. One thing he can't afford to do is let "Semtex" get too comfortable in the stand-up or get enough space to throw a really powerful blow.
If he eats something heavy, he'll have to hang on for dear life in the clinch or with takedown attempts if he wants to persevere.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest factor for this fight to me has to be the fact that Misaki is dropping down to welterweight for the first time. His age, combined with cutting a relatively significant amount of weight plus the damage he's taken in fights like his knockout at the hands of Melvin Manhoef or his TKO loss to Jorge Santiago have to be a cause for concern in terms of his ability to take a big shot.
We've seen time and time again that especially the first time or two that a fighter drops a weight class that they might not have the same chin as before (Ex: Kenny Florian, Scott Smith). If Misaki's chin deteriorates due to the weight cut, it could be a short night if Daley can land anything clean.
Bottom Line: This fight is intriguing as it's a talented grappler/brawler in Misaki against a reputable and very powerful striker in Daley. The battle of Misaki trying to put Daley on the ground and Daley trying to knock Misaki back to Japan should be very interesting. There is a high probability that a finish occurs in this fight so keep your eyes peeled.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will score a vital victory on Saturday night in the wide open Strikeforce welterweight division?
Paul Daley
Kazuo Misaki
6 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, daley, he, misaki
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPaul Daley: My 2012 Focus Is Getting a Strikeforce Belt
2011 was not the kindest of years to British welterweight Paul Daley. At least not in Strikeforce. Of the five fights he took in those twelve months, he lost the two that took place within the Strikeforce cage. Yes, the other three wins in smaller shows were against respected competitors. But when it counted the most - and when the Strikeforce title was on the line against Nick Diaz - everything fell apart.
Talking to Daley now, he's still smoldering. He still wants to compete and knows he can against the best, but this time he wants the bigger bouts to go his way. "I've had [title] opportunities and I just haven't taken them. I'd like to work my way towards another opportunity at fighting for a belt," a thoughtful Daley told Ariel Helwani today on The MMA Hour. "My main focus in 2012 is getting a belt here at Strikeforce."
He's not making demands, of course. These days, Daley understands the value of right timing, and perhaps most importantly, right place. Being part of a bigger show is not something to take for granted. "I'm just happy to be here with Strikeforce and still competing," Daley humbly admitted. "Since Zuffa has taken over Strikeforce there's a lot more organization to the whole promotion. I'm just happy to be part of it."
That's Daley today: a fighter alternating between gratitude for opportunity and an unfailing desire to prove he can best his contemporaries as the top welterweight around.
The road back starts this Saturday. Daley is set to face Japanese import Kazuo Misaki on the main card of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Daley is cognizant of the challenges in front of him. He calls Misaki 'a proper fighter' and touts his knowledge of his opponent via the help he gave Melvin Manhoef before the Dutch striker's bout with him in 2009.
(Editor's note: The show begins around the five-minute mark.)
But while Daley acknowledges Misaki's legitimacy, he's more excited to just be fighting in Strikeforce. "I was just happy to fight. I was just happy to be fighting. I'm a fighter. I like to stay active," Daley matter-of-factly noted. Beating Misaki is important for Daley - his career can't go forward without it - but the real priority on Saturday is "a chance to get some more wins together and get another shot at the championship belt."
Daley knows he'll have to wait in line. He's lost two in a row in Strikeforce and their welterweight roster has a new, important addition: the UFC-estranged Nate Marquardt. Daley sees him as an asset and potential opponent.
"I appreciate the level that Nate [Marquardt] has fought at and the interesting match-ups that he brings for Strikeforce," Daley confesses. "The fact that I was supposed to fight him before and hopefully now it can materialize in Strikeforce it's a motivating factor for me also."
To hear Daley play matchmaker, he's betting Strikeforce will likely pit Marquardt against the surging if uninspiring Tyron Woodley first to crown a champion. Given Marquardt's name value and the lackluster action in Daley's first bout with Woodley, it's no mystery to the British striker he'll have to wait his turn. "I can see why they'll give Nate the title shot straight away and it's something me and my team was discussing earlier on today," Daley confessed. "A rematch with me and [Tyron] Woodley...wasn't really an exciting fight the first time around. I can see why it'd be hard for the promoters to make something of that fight whereas Nate has a big name. It would be a real test for Tyron Woodley as well. See if he can escape with another victory."
Daley's angle, though, is no matter who wins between Woodley and Marquardt, he's not going to be too far behind. "I figure after Nate beats Woodley, then I get the shot for the championship belt having defeated Misaki. It's interesting."
Whatever happens to Daley this Saturday or in 2012, he still cannot seem to escape the impact of his falling out with UFC President Dana White. After sucker punching Josh Koscheck after the final bell in their fight at UFC 113, Daley's been out of the UFC and seemingly without any hope of return. It's cast a shadow on his career and with the two additional loses in 2011, an issue that follows him wherever he goes.
Yet, it's not something he wants to talk about. This time there's reluctance and that may be to his benefit. Daley doesn't want to get mired in what is an intractable situation when only words are involved. Once and for all, the British striker would prefer to let his fighting do the talking for him.
Round by round, fight by fight, Daley wants to prove his accomplishments can carry him where he wants to go. On Saturday, it's a win over Misaki. In 2012, it's the Strikeforce belt. Beyond that? It's as far as his fighting can take him.
"I don't really wanna harp on about [my situation with Dana White]. I just want to keep going forward, keep training hard, keep getting good wins, keep entertaining and just doing my thing. And I think that is enough to show I'm an asset to whatever organization I'm at."
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, belt, daley, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce releases "Greatest Hits" video for Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate
This weekend will mark the most-hyped women’s bout in MMA since Gina Carano clashed with Cristiane Santos in 2009, as Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey will meet in the main event to settle their personal score with the divisional belt adding yet another layer of intrigue to the match-up.
In their continuing quest to hype the fight Strikeforce has released a clip featuring career highlights from both of the bad-ass beauties, again showing the organization has stepped its own game up in terms of creating well-produced video packages.
Rousey is 4-0 in her career with four first round finishes while Tate holds an overall mark of 12-2 including six straight wins. Each has been very critical of the other leading up to their scrap this Saturday night, a factor likely resulting in fireworks when the two lock horns inside the ring.
“Rowdy” Ronda Takes Tate to Task for Calling Her Pampered
Fans can catch Rousey-Tate on Showtime at 10:00 PM EST with other featured fights like KJ Noons-Josh Thomson and Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki. Bouts being shown on the prelims, set to air on Showtime Extreme starting at 8:00 PM EST, include Conor Heun-Ryan Couture, Sarah Kaufman-Alexis Davis, and Pat Healy-Caros Fodor.
Check out the full Tate-Rousey “Greatest Hits” package below:
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Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda, conor heunryan, strikeforce releases
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Highlights Video
Get geared up for Friday's Strikeforce card in Columbus, Ohio, with these highlights of main event bantamweight title fighters Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce’s Scott Smith, ‘This Guy’s Not Going to End My Career’
Scott Smith has been on a rough road of late, but he's not about to let Lumumba Sayers end his career at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Saturday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, end, scott, smith, guy ’s
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Video Preview - Ronda Rousey in "The Righteous Wrath of an Honorable...
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Video Preview - Ronda Rousey in "The Righteous Wrath of an Honorable Man" by Colin Stetson
HT: Damon O.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMiesha Tate-Ronda Rousey highlight video adds to hype for Saturday night’s scrap
Strikeforce is banking on Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey to carry their show this Saturday night when the two women serve as the main event in Columbus, Ohio. The show features Tate defending her bantamweight crown against Rousey, an undefeated former Olympian. To help the cause, both talented females have been putting on a show during the media tour to promote the card, taking several shots at one another along the way.
The card also boasts K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson and stars Paul Daley, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Scott Smith, and numerous other notable competitors in action..
To add to the mix, Strikeforce has now put together a highlight reel of Tate and Rousey’s greatest moments inside the cage as a reminder of exactly how able each is.
Check out the video below and make sure to tune in Saturday night on Showtime:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: night, saturday night, strikeforce, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce 'Greatest Hits' video highlights for 'Tate vs Rousey' on March 3
Strikeforce breaks out the highlight reel in advance of its Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey 135-pound title fight on Showtime this Saturday night (March 3, 2012) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Who's sticking around to watch this one and who's firing up the DVR?
More on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, hits video
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Tate vs. Rousey
Get all of your Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey information here. Play by Play, results, videos, news, fight card, start times, and more!
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, information, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce’s Sarah Kaufman is Angry and Wants Her Title Back
Former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman is angry and motivated to get the title back. She plans on taking out her anger on Alexis Davis.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, champion, kaufman, sarah
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Greatest Hits Promo
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” takes place this Saturday, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Ronda Rousey Training Diary, Part II
Strikeforce women’s bantamweight top contender Ronda Rousey talks about champion Miesha Tate's allegations she was "pampered and protected." Rousey challenges Tate on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: rousey, tate, ronda, strikeforce, contender
Read the full article at Heavy MMARonaldo Souza expects title-shot with win on Saturday night
Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo Souza is on a quest to re-claim the belt he once wore around his waist. The first step on his path towards contendership comes this weekend at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey where he’ll take on Bristol Marunde, a late replacement for original opponent Derek Brunson who was scratched last week for medical reasons.
While Souza’s adversary may have changed his focus remains the same, making sure to avoid overlooking Marunde simply because the 12-6 competitor is not well-known by fans.
“They’ve replaced my opponent but I did not change my training,” said Souza in an interview with TATAME. “I kept training Jiu-Jitsu a lot, boxing on its proper amount, and intense cardio training. Now I gotta get there and cut weight. That’s my greatest difficulty now.”
That challenge will soon change from hitting 185 pounds on the scale to attempting to stop Marunde who has had his hand raised in four straight and nine of his last ten tilts.
“I’ve seen his last four wins, which were good over tough guys,” explained Souza, showing respect for Marunde based on what he’s observed on tape. “You only need to look for him and you’ll see he has fought tough guys. He has beaten former UFC fighters. He is an excellent athlete. I gotta be smart about this fight. I could tell he has strong hands and that he’s a good wrestler…complete.”
“Fighting is all about the game plan. I gotta know my opponent. I’m trying to get to know him so I can find a way to fight him,” the 14-3 Brazilian continued before offering up a warning to his adversary. “He said he wants to stand-up against me… He better be careful with what he wishes for because he can go down.”
While Souza had hoped for a Top 10 foe to cement another crack at champion Luke Rockhold, “Jacare” still feels a victory of Marunde should do the trick as long as he receives the same consideration the current title-holder did before earning his opportunity at gold.
“I guess any win will put me on the line for the title, even because I didn’t wait for Luke Rockhold to have a (good) win to fight him. I guess the event should do the same about me.”
Rockhold took Souza’s strap via Unanimous Decision. He earned his title-shot by beating six straight opponents including Jesse Taylor and Paul Bradley.
Souza-Marunde will fight as part of a card headlined by Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate putting her belt on the line against unbeaten judoka Ronda Rousey. The main card starts on Showtime at 10:00 PM EST with prelims on Showtime Extreme two hours earlier. Other featured fights include Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki and K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, opponent, souza, marunde
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainHidden No Longer, Davis is Smashing Her Way to The Top
Since the beginning of 2012, fight fans have been nearly frothing at the mouth for arguably the most anticipated throwdown in women’s MMA history: “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha “Takedown” Tate for the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship. It feels like this titanic twosome’s tussle for the title is about all the MMA media can talk about, but waiting in the wings on March 3rd’s undercard are a highly talented Canadian duo who are preparing to derail this hype-train with a show-stealing rematch to determine the next number one contender: Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis. The title elimination bout will pit the first and former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Kaufman against the highly-ranked in the 135-pound division Davis. If there’s truly a forgotten face on this Columbus, Ohio fight card, it would be Davis, as some believe Kaufman should be in the main event scrapping over the belt with Tate. But with a possible third win in Strikeforce in just as many fights, Davis could rewrite a loss on her record, claim a shot at bantamweight gold, teach a lesson to any overlooking her, and accomplish it all in well under a year’s time. Not too bad for the juggernaut from Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. “I always feel like I'm constantly underestimated,” asserts Davis. “I think with every fight in Strikeforce I've been the underdog. I think my good luck charm in there is being the underdog. But after this fight, I'm definitely going to come more into the spotlight. Everyone is focused on the Tate-Rousey fight, but I think Sarah and I will put on a show that will represent women's MMA well regardless of what happens in their fight. I'm sure I'll be coming up a lot more in the future.”At 27 years old, Davis has proven she’s a strong-jawed grappler who certainly doesn’t shy away from contact, doesn’t wilt under pressure, and is getting used to getting her hand raised inside the Strikeforce cage. In 2011, Davis scored back-to-back victories in Strikeforce, starting with her debut unanimous decision grinder over veteran Julie Kedzie in July. Less than two months later, Davis squared off in an action packed slugfest with the then 6-1 (all wins by knockout), power punching “Lioness of the Ring,” Amanda Nunes. “I knew she was going to try and finish it earlier,” says Davis. “She's notorious for first round knockouts. I knew she was going to come in guns blazing, looking for that one shot knockout. That was my whole gameplan going in there to close the distance because I didn't want to be on the end of those punches and to kind of keep the pressure on. Things didn't go as planned. She's also a brown belt in judo as well. She's tall. She's taller than me and with a longer reach. I wanted to make sure to keep the pressure on her and keep the cage control and work her legs more to kill that power. She's tough.”The first five minutes were nearly all back and forth striking, with neither fighter giving the other an inch of breathing room. That may not have been what Davis’ coach and mentor Dave Dayboll wanted from his four stripe Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, but it sent a message to her counterparts that Davis can more than hold her own with a feared knockout artist. The second round was more standup fisticuffs, but with a minute remaining it was Nunes who pulled the trigger and tried to bring the fight to the floor. After the well-executed throw from Nunes, Davis immediately reversed positions and took control for the eventual win. “I have a great, positive coach in there and he was telling me that I have to push the pace more and try to practice slipping punches more in there,” tells Davis. “I'm kind of hard headed and I like to just drive forward in there. It's a constant progress there, trying to work my way in there with striking. I'm kind of stubborn. If you watch my fights you can kind of tell that. I figured if it went to the ground that that was something for my strong point in there. I was fortunate enough in the second round that she went for that judo throw and it's something in jiu-jitsu that we always try to work on: hips and capitalizing and reversing off of that.”Once in top position and knowing there was only a short time remaining, Davis rained down punches any which way she could to get the fight stopped at 4:53 of round two. “I did hear the ‘knock knocks’ and I just thought I can't stop moving,” remembers Davis of her second TKO victory. “I tried to muster up all the energy I had and I was going to keep swinging until the ref pulled me off or the time was called. In the past, I've tried to pick my punches more, but watching a lot of UFC fights, some of the guys in there just can't stop swinging, so that was going through my head.”Davis’ final thoughts on her September stoppage of Nunes are precisely why she will be a fan favorite and a tough test for Kaufman. “I like fighters that are aggressive; those are my favorite fighters to fight,” admits Davis, who knows from experience she won’t have to worry about Kaufman not coming forward swinging. “I like them to come out, like me, and you just want to strike and just want to smash each other. It makes it exciting for the fans and it makes it exciting for me as a fighter. I think that's what makes me better as a fighter is having someone who is pushing me constantly.”At the Nationwide Arena, Davis will get a chance for some nearly five years in the making revenge against Kaufman, who served Davis her first loss in her first professional fight. The 26-year old KO queen from Victoria, British Colombia, Canada is an impressive 14-1, with her lone loss coming in her second Strikeforce title defense via third round armbar to Marloes Coenen. This bout will double as the biggest opportunity in Davis’ career, with a belt looming as well as competing in a perfect litmus test for her evolved abilities as a cagefighter against her first opponent, who just so happens to be one of the pound-for-pound best female fighters on the planet. “She's a great fighter in there, obviously, anyone can tell that,” affirms Davis. “She's got incredible boxing standup and she's adding more and more kicks into her game. She's one of those fighters who is constantly pushing forward too. It is going to be who can manipulate their game more or change the angles, so they will be able to capitalize on that with their strengths. Being that she was a past title holder, it is going to see how far I am up those rankings. Personally for me, it will be good to see how much I have progressed as a fighter. Not even that we're just fighting for number 1 contendership, but I'm almost more excited to see how I have progressed technique wise.”To prepare for the rematch, Davis has been splitting time between the Great White North and a couple very reputable establishments in the Sunshine State. Davis’ main gym is in her home Port Colborne with Master Dayboll, who is a highly decorated martial artist and a BJJ black belt under Royler Gracie. For her past few camps, Davis has been in Florida training her ground with world renowned BJJ black belt Pablo Popovitch, as well as her standup with the pro fighters at The Armory, including UFC lightweight star Edson Barboza. It’s an illustrious cast and crew of trainers that in every way are making Davis a top contender at bantamweight.“It’s been great, especially when you have such strong opponents coming up with great standup,” says Davis. “A lot of these guys from Brazil have incredible kickboxing, Muay Thai and have incredible cage control. It's so funny how they can fine tune you out there. You don't realize, maybe I can shift my weight this way or step a little more to the outside - I love it. I even try to work my wrestling out there. I’m working a lot off my back. You want to be on top doing ground and pound, but we are constantly working on transitioning and working on my positioning. With these guys they can put you in those positions that you don't want to be in, but working on those bad positions is how you get better. It's always been a main focus for me, my Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and I think I will be stronger in that area. It's something I'm definitely going to try and exploit.”This Saturday, a number one contender will emerge from a battle between two bantamweight bulls: Kaufman and Davis. “I see this fight ending by ground and pound,” estimates Davis, who wouldn't get overshadowed in 2012 again with a ferocious finish over a former foe. “Maybe that's because that's how I want to win because that's how she got me. She got me in mount position with ground and pound, so that's how I want to be in the top control position - and just smash.”
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, fighter, davi, she
Read the full article at UFCAs 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' nears, Pat Healy stumps for fight-night bonuses
Pat Healy is happy being a Strikeforce fighter and said he now has the financial freedom to travel and train in different locations.
But there's one little incentive that would be nice to have in the promotion: bonuses.
"Strikeforce guys have been asking about it since the (fighters) summit," Healy told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "I know it's a hot topic on a lot of people's minds. I really could see them doing it this fight."
Posted in: strikeforce, healy, strikeforce fighter, healy stumps, fightnight bonuses
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Media Call (Audio)
Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey, as well as fighters Josh Thomson and KJ Noons field questions from the media, leading up to their respective fights.
Posted in: strikeforce, question, media, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAfter Ben Henderson's Win, How Can The UFC Use Strikeforce As A New WEC?
Yesterday, I broke down how Ben Henderson's UFC Lightweight title win at UFC 144 was not just a victory for Henderson, but for the entire WEC. Along with Carlos Condit, Henderson proved that the former WEC champions are indeed among the sport's elite, and in my opinion, much of the credit for their successes goes to their WEC tenures. But now with WEC gone, are the UFC missing an opportunity to build future champions? They may be, but the answer to solving that problem is already in front of them.
This weekend, the now Zuffa owned Strikeforce returns with an event headlined by Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey. Since the Zuffa buyout last year, there has been much discussion over how Strikeforce should be used. To me, the answer is clear, especially after UFC 144.
Strikeforce should become the new WEC.
This is already the general direction Zuffa seems to be heading, but there are a few steps they need to follow to best emulate the WEC model:
Keep the company separate. By folding the WEC, the UFC gained some valuable new names and divisions, but it also lost a development system. Let Strikeforce stay alive in that role as long as it is economically viable.
Focus on only the divisions that can deliver. It was a good choice to abandon the Heavyweight division, as the talent is just not there for a rich UFC and Strikeforce division. I also vote to do away with Welterweight, which also lacks a full talent pool. Focus instead on Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, and Lightweight - 3 divisions where Strikeforce has nice depth.
Lock the roster down. No more switching champs over to the UFC - decide who stays, and keep them there.
Keep Women's MMA alive - for now. In the WEC, there were the Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions that were unique. Both divisions eventually flourished, and are now a good asset to the UFC. In Strikeforce, women's MMA can play that same role. Keep it alive, let it develop. If it takes off to the degree that it can be a part of the UFC, bring it in. If it doesn't, let it go.
Focus on new prospects, not old veterans. No more Keith Jardine or Robbie Lawler. Both are talented, but they won't be in the UFC again, so why bother? Use your resources to build up possible future UFC contenders and champions. And they have plenty of those - Tim Kennedy, Luke Rockhold, Jacare, Ovince St. Preux... these are the men to build up.
With these plans in place, Strikeforce can become a great tool for the UFC. Like the WEC before it, Strikeforce can give younger fighters a chance to test themselves against fighters at their same level while gaining valuable experience dealing with the added pressure of television, PPV, title fights, and so much more.
On the one hand, it looks like this is the direction that Zuffa is headed, which gives me hope. On the other, if you visit Strikeforce's website today, less than one week before their next show, you see a shocking lack of content, which does not bode well for Zuffa's commitment to the company. If the do indeed shut Strikeforce down, they will gain more fighters to the UFC roster, which is a good short term positive. But in the long-run, a developmental league can be a valuable tool, and it's one the UFC should continue to use.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, division, wec, zuffa
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGilbert Melendez Staying in Strikeforce But Dana White Promises He’ll Be Happy
Gilbert Melendez will get a top notch opponent for his next fight, but he will be remaining in Strikeforce for the foreseeable future.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, notch opponent
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyRonda Rousey blog: My pampered life?
In her latest blog, Strikeforce women's challenger Ronda Rousey echoes the words her mother told her when she was 11 about fighting injured.
Posted in: strikeforce, life, blog, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at sportsnet.caRonda Rousey blog: My pampered life?
In her latest blog, Strikeforce women's challenger Ronda Rousey echoes the words her mother told her when she was 11 about fighting injured.
Posted in: strikeforce, life, blog, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 138: Pat Healy, Alexis Davis, UFC 144 Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview this weekend's UFC 144, which is headlined by a UFC lightweight championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson, a light-heavyweight clash between Quinton Jackson and Ryan Bader and a welterweight fight between Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama.
We'll preview the entire card while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
We'll be joined by Strikeforce lightweight Pat Healy, who is preparing to fight Caros Fodor next week at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. We'll chat with him about that fight, where the winner should be in the Strikeforce lightweight division and much more.
We'll also welcome Strikeforce bantamweight Alexis Davis to show for the first time in advance of her fight with Sarah Kaufman on that same show. We'll chat with her about what this fight means to her career, where the winner should land and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on both Chris Weidman and Demian Maia at UFC on FOX, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, radio, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC Quick Quote: Dana White puts Nate Marquardt in Strikeforce, tells him to get his (expletive) together
"Right when he was first exiled, or kicked out of the UFC, whatever you want to call it, cut from the UFC, MC Hammer is in his team. He called me up and asked me if we could meet in [Los Angeles], so I met him there, we had dinner. He was lobbying to get Marquardt back in and I said, 'Ya know, I love you man, but he's gotta get out there and fight in other shows.' He opted to not fight in any other shows. He wanted to sit out and he wanted to be back in the UFC. So we talked, we're putting him back in Strikeforce and we'll see what happens. I like Nate Marquardt, he's a really good guy. But professionally, he needs to get his shit together. He needs to come into Strikeforce and he needs to make weight, he needs to pass all the tests and do all the other shit, so we'll see how it goes."
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White updates Millad Salehivand on the status of former UFC Middleweight number one contender Nate Marquardt, who was re-signed to compete in Strikeforce after getting cut by the world's largest fight promotion last June. Despite flirting with BAMMA, "The Great" never competed outside of the Octagon and was able to wait for the right opportunity to prove to his former boss that he deserves a second chance. He'll get one as a 170-pounder, but only if he makes weight and passes his medicals, which cost him his job once already. Anyone think he's here to stay? Or one and done?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, he, marquardt, right opportunity
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNate Marquardt joins Strikeforce roster as a welterweight
It looks like Strikeforce finally has a plan in place regarding their vacant welterweight title. According to a report on this week’s episode of UFC Tonight, Nate Marquardt has been signed to fight at 170 pounds in Strikeforce and will likely make his debut later this year in a championship clash with unbeaten contender Tyron Woodley.
No specific or even general date was mentioned for the match-up.
Marquardt made a name for himself in the UFC where he even competed on the organization’s first Fight Night in 2005. He was last seen in the Octagon a little less than a year ago where he beat Dan Miller. However, Marquardt was cut a few months later after showing an elevated level of testosterone leading up to a scheduled bout. He has not fought since despite signing a deal with BAMMA.
Marquardt Explains his Side of the Story Pertaining to UFC Release
Among the numerous instances of notable success for Marquardt are wins over Martin Kampmann, Rousimar Palhares, Kazuo Misaki, and Demian Maia. “Nate the Great” holds an overall record of 31-10 with 23 stoppages including ten TKOs and thirteen submissions.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, nate, nate marquardt, marquardt
Read the full article at Fighters.comBristol Marunde in for Brunson Against Jacare
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza was expected to face Derek Brunson next weekend at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, but Brunson was forced out of their bout this week for failing a pre-fight eye exam with the Ohio Athletic Commission.
Luckily for Jacare, it was revealed today that Bristol Marunde will step up in Brunson’s place to take on the former Strikeforce middleweight champ in what will be his promotional debut.
Hailing from Fairbanks, Alaska and fighting out of Las Vegas with the Throwdown Training Center, the relatively unknown Marunde (12-6) will be riding a four-fight winning streak into his battle with Souza. The 29-year-old last appeared in action at Superior Cage Combat 3 in November, taking out Jay Silva via unanimous decision.
Recently deposed Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (14-3, 1 NC) will be looking to rebound from his title-relinquishing loss to Luke Rockhold and put one back in the win column when he faces Marunde. Jacare dropped a unanimous decision to Rockhold when they met in the Strikeforce cage this past September to dispute the belt.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey goes down on March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will feature a title fight between Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, jacare, brunson, bristol marunde, marunde
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBristol Marunde Steps In to Face Jacare Souza At Strikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey
With Derek Brunson failing his medicals yesterday due to not meeting the minimum eyesight requirements spelled out by the Ohio Athletic Commission, Strikeforce had to find a replacement to face Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza as soon as possible. And they've found one in IFL veteran and current SCC middleweight champion Bristol Marunde (15-6). Marunde tweeted about it a little while ago:
@BristolMarundeBristol Marunde Its public, I'm fighting Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza on Showtime in Strikeforce! Looking forward to a tough fight! Feb 22 via Twitter for BlackBerry® Favorite Retweet Reply
The 29-year-old Marunde is currently on a four-fight winning streak and holds wins over UFC veterans Rich Attonito and Jay Silva. He fights out of the Throwdown Training Center in Las Vegas. With just 12 days to prepare for a former Strikeforce middleweight champion and ADCC winner, he'll have his work cut out for him in Columbus.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, marunde, retweet reply, commission strikeforce, bristolmarundebristol marunde
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSources: Strikeforce event targeted for May 19 in San Jose
Strikeforce's next major event could land in the promotion's birthplace.
Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that San Jose, Calif.'s HP Pavilion is targeted for a Strikeforce event on May 19, though the location has yet to be finalized.
No matchups have been confirmed for the event's fight lineup, which would include a main card on Showtime and prelims on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, san, strikeforce event, event today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Marquardt is BACK... in Strikeforce
Nate Marquardt is an enigma. He has an unshakable faith in Jesus, but he doesn’t hesitate to bend the rules a bit in order to try to break his opponent’s neck. He is the sweetest, meekest, most soft-spoken guy in the world, but he is juiced out his ass AND his balls. Now, adding further to the enigma, Dana White believes that Nate Marquardt is “disgusting and has no business fighting” for Zuffa, but he will be returning to the Zuffa-Forza promotional umbrella, likely fighting for the Strikeforce welterweight title against Tyron Woodley later this year. This is a very good development for Marquardt, who is probably itching for a paycheck. He was cock teased by BAMMA for several months without ever actually fighting for them, and he is a pretty generous guy (when I went to his gym as a guest, he refused to even charge me a drop-in fee,) so he deserves to be able to make some money fighting. It remains to be seen how Marquardt will withstand the cut to 170 pounds, but he really had nowhere to go in the UFC middleweight division. Ergo, Strikeforce is not a bad place for him to end up. This move also lends Strikeforce some much-needed talent. Maybe this was Dana White’s grand plan for Strikeforce once it “handed over the reigns”: to turn it into Australia. If you’re “disgusting”, have bad BO, got hit with your second steroid suspension, or throw sucker punches, they can send you to the promotion where all the misfits earn their bread. Some pretty good fighters are misfits, so I would watch this. They could invite Renato “The Asshole” Sobral back under these auspices (David Heath shouldn’t have called him “motherf*cker” anyway.) Heck, they could even decorate the venues like Mos Eisley Cantina and invite Amanda Lucas over for the party.
Posted in: strikeforce, nate, doesn ’t, nate marquardt, marquardt
Read the full article at FightlinkerRonaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza Gets Replacement Bristol Marunde for March 3 Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza has a new opponent for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey,” as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced Wednesday that International Fight League veteran Bristol Marunde has agreed to face “Jacare” at the March 3 event.
Posted in: strikeforce, jacare, souza, march, marunde
Read the full article at SherdogBristol Marunde Replaces Derek Brunson Against 'Jacare' Souza at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Superior Cage Combat middleweight champion Bristol Marunde has signed with Strikeforce and will replace Derek Brunson against former Strikeforce titleholder Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at next Saturday's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the signing on Wednesday via Twitter.
Brunson was scratched from the contest after failing his pre-fight medicals by testing below the commission's minimum vision threshold without his contact lenses. Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato revealed that Brunson's vision is 20/400, which fails to meet the state standard of "uncorrected visual acuity."
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is slated for March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate defends her title against former Olympian Ronda Rousey in the night's main event.
The late match-up switch marks an enormous leap in competition for Marunde (15-6), whose biggest previous wins came against UFC veterans Jay Silva and Rich Attonito. Training out of West Coast Fight Team, the 29-year-old journeyman recovered from early turbulence to amass nine victories in his last ten appearances, including three first-round stoppages, with his only stumble arriving via a submission loss to Jordan Smith in 2009.
Souza (14-3, 1 NC), meanwhile, looks to rebound after dropping his Strikeforce middleweight title in a unanimous decision loss to Luke Rockhold last September. The setback snapped a four-fight win streak for the Black House fighter, which included dramatic wins over Tim Kennedy, Robbie Lawler, and Matt Lindland.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, brunson, derek brunson, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBristol Marunde Steps in to Face Jacare in Strikeforce
Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza has a new opponent for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3, in Columbus, OH.
Posted in: strikeforce, jacare, march, rousey, face jacare
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBristol Marunde agrees to fight 'Jacare' at 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey'
Current Super Cage Combat middleweight champion Bristol Marunde has agreed to fight ex-Strikeforce titleholder Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at next week's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today announced the new booking.
Souza's original opponent, undefeated Derek Brunson, was forced off the card on Tuesday after failing a pre-event vision test.
Posted in: strikeforce, derek brunson, bristol marunde, fight jacare, booking souzas
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Marquardt Returns to Zuffa Fold, Inks Strikeforce Contract
Only eight months after receiving his UFC walking papers, Nate Marquardt has become a member of the Strikeforce roster.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, nate, member, marquardt
Read the full article at SherdogNate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley rumored to go down in Strikeforce on May
Imagine this scenario. You move in to a new apartment and instantly start to discover odd things. First, the previous tenants have left behind an Elvis mug. Who knows why? Next, taking the pictures off the wall you notice they have also sellotaped pictures of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the back. Finally, you find Mormon pamphlets in one of the cupboards. The feeling of living in someone else’s house is strong and unsettling but hey, don’t let that stop you drinking out of an idolater’s Elvis mug.
That’s the best metaphor I can come up with to describe the situation that Nate Marquardt is now in as he moves into Tyron Woodley’s house, the Strikeforce 170lb division, where Woodley has declared himself the unofficial champion. As reported on Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight show last night, Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce and has verbally agreed to face Woodley in a bout one would expect to be for the vacant welterweight belt, rumored to do down in May. For those that do not know, after his fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida, along with the whole BAMMA 9 event was pulled from a February 11th date, Nate and his manager Lex McMahon negotiated an amicable split with the British promotion in order to find fights elsewhere. This Strikeforce contract comes eight months after losing his job with the UFC and ten months after his last fight, a unanimous decision win over Dan Miller. Credit to Obilo Nwokogba for the banner image.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, nate, marquardt, woodley
Read the full article at Middle EasyNate Marquardt returns to ZUFFA, will fight for Strikeforce
Good news for Nate Marquardt fans.
Former UFC Middleweight title challenger returns to fight under ZUFFA umbrella, only that this time he will do so for Strikeforce. The news were announced on FuelTV's "UFC Tonight" show.
Further rumors suggest that Marquardt's first opponent could be the 10-0 Tyrone Woodley, in a fight for the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight title. The belt was vacated by Nick Diaz's departure to the UFC back in 2011, after defending his title for the last time against another UFC
Posted in: ufc, title, strikeforce, fueltvs ufc, zuffa umbrella
Read the full article at Low KickMarloes Coenen set to return in April at IFC 1
Marloes Coenen, a former Strikeforce bantamweight champ, will make her return to the cage for Invicta Fighting Championships on April 28 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Coenen was released from Strikeforce following her loss to Miesha Tate based largely on problems between her team (Golden Glory) and Zuffa hitting a fever pitch.
Coenen (19-5) will be competing at 145 pounds against Romy Ruyssen (5-1) in the main event of the show. The card is set to feature all females, a rarity when it comes to MMA events.
Liz Carmouche and Sarah D’Alelio are also slated to compete at the show, as are Kaitlin Young, Lisa Ellis-Ward, and Jessica Penne. Currently there are no broadcast plans for the show though plenty of time remains for something to develop
Here is the entire lineup for IFC 1:
Jessica Philippus vs. Meghan Wright
Sofia Bagherdai vs. Ashley Cummins
Amy Davis vs. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc
Michele Gutierrez vs. Sarah Maloy
Mollie Ahlers-Estes vs. Randi Miller
Sally Krumdiack vs. Sarah Schneider
Sarah D’Alelio vs. Shana Nelson
Leslie Smith vs. Kaitlin Young
Liz Carmouche vs. Ashleigh Curry
Lisa Ellis-Ward vs. Jessica Penne
Marloes Coenen vs. Romy Ruyssen
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, sarah, marloe, coenen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNate Marquardt Returns to Zuffa, Signs With Strikeforce
After being released from the UFC last summer, and a failed stint with BAMMA that never saw him fight, Nate Marquardt has returned to Zuffa – with Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, zuffa, marquardt, zuffa signs, zuffa –
Read the full article at Heavy MMANate Marquardt to Strikeforce, verbal agreements in place for fight with Tyron Woodley
Onetime UFC middleweight challenger Nate Marquardt is back in the fold, under the Zuffa banner.
Eight months after he was released from his UFC contract, Marquardt has
signed with the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce, as announced on the Tuesday
edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV.
Additional MMAjunkie.com sources indicated that
Marquardt will likely make his Strikeforce debut
as a welterweight against contender Tyron Woodley.
Verbal agreements are in place for the matchup, though a date has yet to
be set.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, nate marquardt, marquardt, tyron woodley
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNate Marquardt Signs With Strikeforce
#BREAKING: @arielhelwani announced on #UFCTONIGHT - former #UFC Middleweight @NathanMarquardt has signed to @Strikeforce.about 4 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@FUELTVFUEL TV
Dana White has had a change of heart about Nate Marquardt. Well, sorta. Marquardt is officially back in the Zuffa fold, just not in the UFC.
Ariel Helwani reported earlier this evening on FUEL TV’s UFC Tonight that Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce to compete in their welterweight division. The news was confirmed by Dana White. Shortly after the announcement, Marquardt thanked Dana and Lorenzo Fertitta for giving him another chance.
@danawhite @lorenzofertitta thanks so much for the opportunity to prove myself!! I can’t wait!!!
Marquardt signed with the UK BAMMA organization shortly after his controversial UFC firing, but eventually got his release after his first two fights were delayed. Marquardt hasn’t fought since he defeated Dan Miller at UFC 128 nearly a year ago.
Marquardt’s signing will undoubtedly beef up Strikeforce’s welterweight roster that includes the likes of Paul Daley, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, Kazou Misaki and Roger Bowling. Interestingly, Daley just recently proclaimed that he would have the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title belt over his shoulder in six months time. Unfortunately for him, his competition for that title just got much stiffer.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, welterweight, marquardt, lorenzo fertitta
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNate Marquardt Signs With Strikeforce, Likely to Face Tyron Woodley for Welterweight Title
Nate Marquardt is finally making his return to MMA. After being released by the UFC last June, Marquardt was set to return to action with England’s BAMMA organization. However, after multiple delays, Marquardt was released from the organization. Now he is set to return to Zuffa, but this time under the Strikeforce banner.
Marquardt was released last June just hours before he was set to make his welterweight debut at UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marquardt was unable to gain clearance to fight due to his hormone replacement therapy use. After the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission announced the decision, UFC President Dana White released Marquardt from the organization.
He last fought at UFC 128 in March 2011, defeating Dan Miller via unanimous decision.
The veteran of 14 UFC fights, Marquardt debuted for the organization at Ultimate Fight Night in August 2005. His UFC career got off to a rocky start, with Marquardt testing positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, following his debut. But he never failed another drug test following his first issue, and did not run into any problems until his release from the UFC.
Marquardt is expected to make his Strikeforce debut against Tyron Woodley, with the matchup expected to be for the currently vacant Strikeforce welterweight championship.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com regarding the full announcement of Marquardt’s signing with Strikeforce.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, return, organization, marquardt
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMiddleweight Marquardt signs with Strikeforce
Middleweight mixed martial arts fighter Nate Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, middleweight, art, marquardt, strikeforce middleweight
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce signs former UFC star Marquardt
Middleweight mixed martial arts fighter Nate Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, star, marquardt, strikeforce signs
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce Signs Nate "The Great" Marquardt
Well, Dana did say he would never fight in the UFC again so we can't call him a liar!
This could be a good addition to the Strikeforce roster assuming he can stay out of the troubles that have plagued him in the past. I am hopeful because Luke Rockhold could use a solid challenge.
Posted in: strikeforce, luke rockhold, roster, strikeforce roster, liar
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendNate Marquardt Signs With Strikeforce
Former UFC middleweight Nate Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce. The move was announced by Ariel Helwani on tonight's episode of UFC Tonight on Fuel. Fuel TV's twitter account verified the news as well:
@FUELTVFUEL TV #BREAKING: @arielhelwani announced on #UFCTONIGHT - former #UFC Middleweight @NathanMarquardt has signed to @Strikeforce. Feb 22 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Marquardt, who went 10-4 in his middleweight run in the UFC, was released by the promotion shortly before UFC on Versus 4, where he was going to make his welterweight debut against Rick Story. Marquardt had issues with his testosterone replacement therapy and couldn't get his levels under the Pennsyvlania Athletic Commission's set limit, which forced Dana White to remove him from the fight (and the company) and replace him with Charlie Brenneman.
Nate had signed with BAMMA a few months ago, but card delays led to him never fighting for the organization. He was released from his contract with them a few weeks ago, and will now join Strikeforce. It is unclear at this point if he will be competing at 185 or 170.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, nate, middleweight, marquardt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNate Marquardt Signs with Strikeforce
Nate Marquardt is back in the Zuffa family. Less than a year after his departure from UFC, Marquardt has signed a new deal with Strikeforce to compete in their welterweight division.
Posted in: strikeforce, nate, marquardt, zuffa family, ufc marquardt
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyRumor: Nate Marquardt to compete in StrikeForce's 170lbs. Division.
submitted by sutmy [link] [7 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, division, lb, marquardt, sutmy
Read the full article at RedditDerek Brunson ‘Eyes’ Lasik Surgery and Future Showdown with Luke Rockhold
Derek Brunson discusses why he was pulled from his upcoming bout against Jacare in Strikeforce, and how badly he wants to punch Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold in the face.
Posted in: strikeforce, luke, brunson, derek, future showdown
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDerek Brunson Pulled From Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” Due to Failed Physical
During today’s conference call for the upcoming Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey” event, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that undefeated middleweight Derek Brunson has been scratched from his scheduled matchup with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Coker announced that Strikeforce officials are now looking for a replacement opponent for Souza.
Brunson (9-0) announced that he failed an eye exam during his state-ordered physical. He mentioned that in the past, he was allowed to wear contact lenses during his fights, but the Ohio State Athletic Commission refused to clear him for the fight scheduled for March 3rd.
With his current state of vision, Brunson announced that he will likely undergo Lasik eye surgery sometime in the near future, and he plans to return as soon as possible.
Souza (14-3-1), the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, was scheduled to make his return to the organization for the first time since losing his belt to current champion Luke Rockhold last September. While an opponent has yet to be announced, Coker mentioned that he is confident they will find an opponent and that Souza will remain on the card.
Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey’ is headlined by the biggest female MMA fight in years, with current Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate defending her belt for the first time against the undefeated Ronda Rousey.
For complete coverage of Strikeforce: “Tate vs. Rousey”, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, souza, rousey
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyK.J. Noons: 'My Fight Is Always Fight of the Night'
K.J. Noons is well aware of your expectations. Win or lose, the mixed martial arts industry is fundamentally about entertainment, and few in Strikeforce have entertained as consistently as the polarizing 29-year-old.
So as he prepares to battle former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3rd, it shouldn't surprise that Noons is willing to channel the spirit of Macho Man Randy Savage to get that point across.
"My fight is always the fight of the night," he boasted on Tuesday's Strikeforce conference call. "K.J. Noons is definitely stealing the show. Always. Look at my track record."
Strikeforce doesn't award Fight of Night bonuses, and if they did, Noons' bankroll probably would feel the difference. But by all accounts, this isn't an act. His high-pressure, blitzing style just comes naturally, and he would be doing this even if it wasn't expected of him.
"It's just something that's in your blood," Noons explained.
"I've had almost 45 pro fights in boxing, kickboxing, MMA. Every single fight I've had has always been fight of the night. So I know Josh is ready. This is the most I've ever trained. And it's not whether I'm trying to make it the fight of the night. It's just going to be the fight of the night."
Though don't mistake his confidence for something it's not. The last time Noons was this close to the title picture, he fell victim to MMA's key death knell, calling out Gilbert Melendez before stepping into the cage to take care of prior business in the form of Jorge Masvidal.
Everybody knows the story that came next. A surprisingly game Masvidal pulled the upset in decisive fashion, Strikeforce was left to market a headlining tilt that became the third least-watched Showtime event of last year, and Noons was relegated back to the drawing board. After all that, it's hard to blame the Hawaiian if his talk scaled back for Thomson.
"I kind of put my foot in my mouth," he admitted. "Last time I said I was pushing to get a title shot, I lost. So I'm kind of superstitious.
"I just want to concentrate on the fight ahead of me."
Posted in: fight, night, strikeforce, kj noons, noon
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBrunson fails medical, off Strikeforce card
Derek Brunson has been scratched from next month's Strikeforce MMA card because he failed his medical exam.
Posted in: strikeforce, month, card, brunson, exam
Read the full article at sportsnet.caDerek Brunson details reason behind failed medical
When Strikeforce announced earlier today that Derek Brunson had been pulled from a bout with Ronaldo Souza at the organization’s upcoming show on March 3 due to a failed medical it seemed like another instance of bad luck for an already embattled promotion. However, as it turns out Brunson’s situation did not stem from an injury or substance issue but rather an Ohio Athletic Commission’s policy about contact lenses.
Wrote Brunson on his Twitter account, “Ok here’s the deal … I’ve been fighting with contacts for eleven fights (and it) never was an issue. Ohio won’t pass my eye exam.”
“And by the way, I’m bummed,” the 28-year old continued. “I had a month to prepare for the Jacare fight. Was working a lot of stand-up and takedown defense. Was certain to TKO or KO (him).”
Brunson is 9-0 as a professional with seven stoppages. His last outing came in November where he won a Unanimous Decision over Nate James, his third victory as a Strikeforce middleweight.
Strikeforce has said it is seeking a replacement for Brunson though it remains unclear whether or not they’ll be able to find one given the short amount of time involved.
PHOTO CREDIT – TWITTER/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, brunson, nate james, ” brunson, contact lenses
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDerek Brunson Off March 3 Strikeforce Card; Replacement Sought to Face ‘Jacare’
Middleweight prospect Derek Brunson will not compete as expected against former champion Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey,” according to promotion CEO Scott Coker.
Posted in: strikeforce, prospect, brunson, derek brunson, derek
Read the full article at SherdogDerek Brunson out of Strikeforce fight with 'Jacare' Souza after failing eye exam
Stop the presses.
Earlier today (Feb. 21, 2012) during the media conference call for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced the planned middleweight bout between former champion Ronaldo Souza and undefeated prospect Derek Brunson had been cancelled due to the latter failing his medicals.
Coker stated that they're looking for a late replacement opponent for Souza and still plan on featuring him on the main card.
The Strikeforce head honcho would not elaborate on what particular issue forced Brunson out of the fight, only stating that Brunson's problem was not severe.
However, Brunson himself took to Twitter to explain the situation. And it's not at all what you would think.
Immediately after the announcement, Brunson explained that it was a failed eye exam which cost him an opportunity to compete in what would be, by far, the biggest fight of his burgeoning career.
"Failed medicals = eye exam lol. I'm blind mf-ers.....Ok here's the deal ... I've been fighting with contacts for 11 fights (9pro,2ams) never was an issue. Ohio won't pass my eye exam.... and btw im bummed. I had a month to prepare for the Jacare fight. Was working a lot of stand up & td defense. Was certain to tko or ko...Stevie Wonder can play a piano blind & blind people can drive cars , but i can't fight with contacts #doesntmakesense"
Brunso also stated that he's immediately scheduling some corrective laser surgery
"FYI I'm working on getting lasik this week, I'll be back in no time!!!"
As an added bonus, apparently Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold decided to kick Brunson while he was down.
"SO SURPRISING! The only male cheerleader in MMA backs out of his toughest fight! @DerekBrunsonMMA put down the gloves and pick ur pom pom's!"
Brunson, as expected, didn't take the insult lying down.
"@rockholdMMA 100% I'd ko you, you're to weak and slow. my style trumps yours ... Karate kid. You're the champ by default."
Do you feel this delayed opportunity will be good or bad for Brunson's career?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, brunson, eye exam, exam
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDerek Brunson's Contact Lenses Have Strikeforce Seeking New Opponent for Jacare
Just 10 days before its next event, Strikeforce is scrambling to find a new opponent for former middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.
Derek Brunson, who was slated to fight Jacare on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, has dropped out of the card because he did not pass his pre-fight medicals, Strikeforce has announced. So what was the medical issue? According to Brunson, it's that the Ohio athletic commission won't let him fight wearing contact lenses.
"Ok here's the deal," Brunson wrote on Twitter. "I've been fighting with contacts for 11 fights ... never was an issue. Ohio won't pass my eye exam. ... Stevie Wonder can play a piano blind & blind people can drive cars, but i can't fight with contacts."
I'm not sure who those blind people driving cars are, but Brunson says he's getting Lasik soon. Unfortunately, it won't be soon enough to fight Jacare in a week and a half.
Losing Brunson vs. Jacare makes an already thin Strikeforce fight card even thinner. The card had already lost a planned fight between Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle when Kyle dropped out with an injury. One option for Strikeforce could be to put Jacare and Mousasi in the cage together in a rematch of the 2008 Dream middleweight tournament final, which Mousasi won with an upkick knockout. But that's probably not realistic, as Mousasi has since moved up to light heavyweight.
Strikeforce's shallow middleweight division doesn't have many other potential opponents for Jacare, but as of Tuesday afternoon the promotion is working on finding someone who can step in and take on one of the best Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioners in the world on 10 days' notice.
The March 3 Strikeforce card is headlined by a women's 135-pound title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, jacare, contact, brunson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDerek Brunson out of Strikeforce fight with “Jacare” due to injury
Strikeforce’s March 3 event took another hit after it was revealed earlier today surging middleweight prospect Derek Brunson had been pulled from the lineup after an inability to pass a set of required medicals. Though no specifics were given on his condition it was revealed the injury was minimal in nature.
Though the card recently lost a co-headlining clash between Mike Kyle-Gegard Mousasi, CEO Scott Coker explained the organization is seeking a replacement for Brunson meaning they’re hopeful his opponent, Ronaldo Souza, will still compete at the show.
Brunson holds a 9-0 mark including three wins under the Strikeforce banner. He was last seen outpointing Nate James in November, only the second decision win in his young career.
Brunson Addresses Removal from Strikeforce Card
Even absent Souza-Brunson the card is still relatively strong with a headlining title-fight between champion Miesha Tate and contender Ronda Rousey as well as match-ups such as K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, Ryan Couture-Conor Heun, and Kazuo Misaki-Paul Daley.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, card, brunson, strikeforce fight, brunson meaning
Read the full article at Fighters.comRoger Bowling vs. Brandon Saling a late addition to 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey'
A welterweight bout between Ohio natives Roger Bowling and Brandon Saling is a late addition to next week's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
Event sources today confirmed the matchup with MMAjunkie.com.
"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena
in Columbus, Ohio, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports Festival.
The main card airs on Showtime, and prelims air on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, welterweight bout, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDerek Brunson Out Of Strikeforce Fight With Jacare Souza
On today's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey conference call, Scott Coker announced that Derek Brunson did not pass his medicals and thus has been removed from his scheduled bout with Ronaldo Souza. Coker did not give any details beyond saying that it was "not severe" and he "couldn't get into it."
The search is on for a new opponent for Jacare, but it's going to be interesting to see if the promotion can land anyone up to Souza's level with only a little more than a week's notice.
For Brunson, this is a disappointing setback. He had upped his professional record to 9-0 with a one sided (but lackluster) decision win over Nate James at Strikeforce Challengers 20. Despite having some technical flaws in his striking, he still has a lot of upside and many expect big things.
Then again, maybe it's not all that disappointing for Brunson fans given that he would have entered the cage as a significant underdog for the bout.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, souza, brunson, derek brunson, brunson fans
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDerek Brunson scratches from 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey,' replacement sought
Undefeated Derek Brunson has been forced out a "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" fight with fellow middleweight Ronald "Jacare" Souza.
Officials today announced that Brunson failed his medicals for the fight, though the undisclosed ailment is "not severe" in nature, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
A replacement is being sought for next week's card.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, brunson, derek brunson
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce conference call LIVE updates today (Feb. 21) for 'Tate vs Rousey'
Strikeforce will today (Feb. 21, 2012) hold a media conference call to promote next Saturday's (March 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event which will air live on Showtime.
The conference call will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the main event fighters of the evening: Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey as well as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
Tate is the current Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion, having defeated veteran Marloes Coenen to capture the title late last summer. "Takedown" is one of the strongest female wrestlers in MMA and will be looking to legitimize herself as champ with her first title defense.
Her challenger, Ronda Rousey, is a reigning Judo Olympic bronze medalist. She transitioned to mixed martial arts after Beijing and hasn't looked back, winning all four of her professional fights (and all three amateur bouts) inside the first minute via armbar. She talked her way to the title and has become an MMA media darling in the process.
Rousey talking her way to the title doesn't sit well with Tate, who was hoping to defend her belt against former champion Sarah Kaufman, the last woman to defeat her. This should make things interesting on today's call.
We'll have complete updates of the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" conference call after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, conference, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Real Time Conference Call Highlights
The biggest bout in recent years featuring a pair of female fighters is less than two weeks from taking place and both participants have been on fire as of late, taking shots at each other through the media while showing a level of intensity/desire unmatched by many of their peers.
With March 3 looming, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and unbeaten contender Ronda Rousey will face off over the phone today before things get physical as part of a conference call with media where they’ll discuss their headlining title-fight. They will also be joined by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and lightweights K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, also set to scrap on the Showtime broadcast.
As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be on the line when things start up at 1:00 PM EST and reporting highlights/soundbytes back to readers as they unfold in real time.
See what all of the involved parties had to say below…
Ronda Rousey:
Miesha Tate:
Josh Thomson:
K.J. Noons:
Scott Coker:
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, time conference, showtime broadcast
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPaul Daley: In 6-months time, I will be the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion
Former UFC Welterweight contender, Paul Daley, who will face Kazuo Misaki at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, reflects on his post-fight cheap shot against Josh Koscheck, and gives fans an inside look at his training and preparation at Tiger Muay Thai. Daley expresses remorse for the actions that led to his release from the UFC, but insists that in six-months time, he will be the Strikeforce 170-pound champion.
Posted in: strikeforce, paul daley, daley, kazuo misaki, sixmonths time
Read the full article at Low KickCdn Kaufman in the shadow of MMA fight
Canadian Sarah Kaufman left on outside looking in the Strikeforce title fight between Miesha (Takedown) Tate and (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, kaufman, sarah, cdn kaufman
Read the full article at sportsnet.caMiesha Tate pics training for Ronda Rousey title fight at Strikeforce on March 3
Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate is less than one month away from defending her title against the loudest dog in the 135-pound yard, Ronda Rousey.
The two will square off in the main event of the Strikeforce event on March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. And according to Strikeforce General Manager Scott Coker, it's the biggest women's fight of all time.
In keeping with that, and her desires to drown Rousey while taking great pleasure in it, Tate is in the training rooms preparing herself for a war. Scott Hirano of LowKick.com was recently on the scene snapping pics and you can check out a few after the jump.
Head on over to LowKick.com to check out more photos.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, training rooms, jump head
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Ronda Rousey Training Diary, Part I
Strikeforce women’s bantamweight top contender Ronda Rousey talks about her judo background and what she thinks about champion Miesha Tate. Rousey challenges Tate on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, judo background
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Quick Quote: Miesha Tate is going to drag Ronda Rousey into deep waters and drown her
All four of her MMA wins so far have arrived inside the first minute, and she has yet to face anybody that has so much as tested her, let alone come close to disfiguring her face and beating her. She's been carefully matched, she's been pampered and she's been protected. The truth is, going into this world title fight with me, Ronda is still to discover whether she is even a real fighter. However, on March 3rd, the night we meet for my Strikeforce world bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of mixed martial arts can be. I will take great pleasure in dragging her into deep waters for the first time in her life and then drowning her there.
-- Miesha Tate blogs for Strikeforce leading up to her March 3, 2012, bantamweight title defense against Ronda Rousey at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The feud between these two lethal ladies has served a wide ranging purpose for women's MMA in the sense that it's reignited interested not just with fans but with executives at the Zuffa offices. Indeed, UFC President Dana White is now promoting the fight himself, telling anyone who will listen how pumped he is to see what should be an explosive match-up. He'll also have more control over the entire Strikeforce promotion for the March 3 card, and with Showtime pulling out all the stops with unique video promos leading up to the fight, all signs point to a smashing success for all involved. Oh, and it helps that Tate and Rousey are verbally sparring before climbing inside the cage to rip each others heads off (or arms, as it were). For her part "Takedown" is looking forward to dragging "Rowdy" into deep waters for the first time and says she'll take great pleasure in watching her drown. Sick sadism aside, who's predicting that as the outcome of the bout? Anyone? Or will Rousey do what she's always done and take Tate's arm home with her, along with the 135-pound title?
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, ronda, she
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMiesha Tate: “Ronda Rousey will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of MMA can be.”
Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate has no doubts that she is a fighter, though not simply because she draws a paycheck as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Tate has weathered numerous storms inside the cage, coming out on top in twelve of her fourteen fights. However, she isn’t so sure about the heart of her upcoming opponent, unbeaten Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey.
Tate questioned Rousey’s fortitude in a recent blog entry where she made it clear she plans to test “Rowdy” Ronda’s will when they meet on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
“My March 3 challenger and opponent, Ronda Rousey, has never faced this type of make or break moment during her 4-0 mixed martial arts career,” Tate wrote on Rousey’s experience. “Yes, she was very accomplished as a judo player, winning a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics, but she has yet to taste her own blood in a grueling MMA bout. She’s yet to prove she can battle back from any adversity at all. Questions have never been asked of her.”
“All four of her MMA wins so far have arrived inside the first minute, and she has yet to face anybody that has so much as tested her, let alone come close to disfiguring her face and beating her,” Tate continued, her venom spilling over onto the page. “She’s been carefully matched, she’s been pampered and she’s been protected. The truth is, going into this world title fight with me, Ronda is still to discover whether she is even a real fighter.”
In closing, “Takedown” Tate pulled no punches in saying she expects to introduce Rousey to the type of adversity she’s already overcome inside the cage.
“On March 3rd, the night we meet for my Strikeforce world bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey will learn just how hard and horrible the sport of mixed martial arts can be. I will take great pleasure in dragging her into deep waters for the first time in her life and then drowning her there.”
Strikeforce Releases Preview for Rousey vs. Tate
Fans can catch Rousey-Tate on Showtime along with a number of other featured bouts including KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson and Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, tate, march, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey: Miesha Tate Training Diary, Part I
Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate talks about her first MMA bout and how she knew she was going down the right path in her first blog entry. Tate defends her title against Ronda...
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma bout, miesha, right path
Read the full article at Heavy MMACheck out this amazing Strikeforce promo. Yes, Strikeforce!
Perhaps slightly insulted by Dana White's insinuation that they don't know how to promote MMA very well, Showtime has really pulled out the stops for this Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey promo. I really don't see any way this could be improved on. Well, maybe if there was some jello wrestling shots included.
Posted in: strikeforce, promo, dont, strikeforce promo, insinuation
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce Rousey v Tate Video Promo
Showtime gets you ready for the main event of their March 3 Strikeforce card with this amazing promo featuring Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, promo, rousey, miesha tate
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Promo
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” takes place next Saturday, March 3, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, columbus ohio
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSmith vs. Sayers takes vacant 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' main-card slot
With a light-heavyweight bout between Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi scratched, a middleweight fight between Lumumba Sayers and Scott Smith has taken its main-card slot.
The bout is now slated to air on Showtime as part of next month's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the plans with event sources. Strikeforce broadcaster Mauro Ranallo first tweeted the news.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, gegard mousasi, middleweight fight, maincard slot
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMarch meeting between Mike Kyle-Gegard Mousasi removed from Strikeforce card
Embattled MMA promotion Strikeforce suffered another cruel blow this week when it was revealed a light heavyweight co-headliner featuring former champ Gegard Mousasi mixing it up with heavy-handed Mike Kyle had been scrapped from a March 3 Strikeforce event.
Kyle was apparently injured while training for the fight and unable to compete. The timing of his withdrawal apparently resulted in the organization determining a suitable replacement could not be found before the show.
News of the change was first reported by MMAJunkie.
The situation is particularly difficult given Strikeforce’s difficulty in crowning a new divisional champion after Dan Henderson forfeited the title after departing to the UFC last year. Mousasi-Kyle was likely to determine a top contender for the belt.
The vacancy created by the bout’s removal has been filled by Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is headlined by bantamweight title-holder Miesha Tate‘s defense against unbeaten grappler Ronda Rousey, also featuring Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, and Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, strikeforce card, year mousasikyle, show news
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Fight Card Rumors
Strikeforce Columbus fight card and rumors for March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, card, rumor, columbu
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyInjury knocks Mike Kyle from bout at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
The co-main event for March’s Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card has hit a snag, as it appears Mike Kyle will not be able to face Gegard Mousasi due to damage sustained while training for the fight. Kyle (19-8-1) and Mousasi (32-3-2) were first expected to face off against one another last April before a hand injury knocked Kyle out of that bout too.
MMAJunkie was the first to report Kyle’s status.
A replacement for for the hard-hitting light heavyweight was not revealed nor is it known whether Strikeforce will seek a new opponent at all. The fight promotion is still without a champion at 205 pounds with Dan Henderson vacating the title last year to sign with the UFC.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main event pits champion Miesha Tate against unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey for the bantamweight title.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, kyle, mike kyle
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainReport: Mike Kyle injured, withdraws from March 3 fight against Gegard Mousasi
Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi appears to be no more.
According to a report from MMA Weekly, "MAK" has been injured and forced to withdraw from his Light Heavyweight fight against "The Dreamcatcher" at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event on March 3, 2012, from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The nature of the injury has not been disclosed and Strikeforce has yet to confirm the change, but an announcement is expected shortly. This is the second time the promotion has tried -- and failed -- to put this fight together.
Third time's a charm?
The Showtime-televised event will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey.
Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki.
For all the latest news and notes on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" click here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMike Kyle Injured, Forced Out of Fight Againt Gegard Mousasi at Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’
It’s beginning to look like Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle just isn’t meant to be.
Mousasi and Kyle were originally scheduled to fight last year at Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Daley” however a broken hand forced Kyle out of the fight. The fight was booked once again for next month’s Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” card, but has been derailed once again due to another injury.
An undisclosed injury has forced Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) to withdraw from a co-headliner at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey,” sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
At this time, it’s unknown whether a replacement has been found to fight Mousasi, though one source said it’s likely to be scrapped altogether. Strikeforce officials haven’t formally announced the scratch.
Bummer. If the fight is scrapped, there are at least some good match-ups in the prelims that would be worthy of promoting to the main card, which was something you could never say before Zuffa bought the promotion. Strikeforce may not have much depth, but at least they have some flexibility now.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, mousasi, kyle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMike Kyle Injured and Out of Strikeforce Fight with Gegard Mousasi
Mike Kyle's hope to secure a Strikeforce light heavyweight title shot will have to wait a little longer.
Posted in: strikeforce, mike, strikeforce fight, kyle, mike kyle
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyInjured Mike Kyle scratches from 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' co-headliner
An undisclosed injury has forced Mike Kyle to withdraw from a co-headliner at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey," sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com.
It's the second time an injury has scrapped a matchup with former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi.
At this time, it's unknown whether a replacement has been found to fight Mousasi, though one source said it's likely to be scrapped altogether.
Posted in: strikeforce, event today, mike kyle, mmajunkiecom nbsp, fight mousasi
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRoger Gracie reportedly signs with the UFC
The UFC continues to pluck talent from the Strikeforce roster as Roger Gracie was recently announced as having signed to compete inside the Octagon. An opponent for the 30 year old Gracie was not announced and a date for his debut is still unknown as well.
Gracie suffered the first loss of his MMA career in his most recent bout with former Strikeforce champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal earning a knockout victory over him this past September. Along with a 4-1 mark in MMA, Gracie is also 65-7 while competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling events during his career.
“Roger Gracie signs with UFC, might train with Anderson Silva before his first bout,” GRACIEMAG posted on its Twitter site late Friday night.
Gracie had recently been linked to a move down in divisions though nothing was mentioned in terms of whether or not his change to the UFC will affect those plans.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, roger, gracie, roger gracie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRoger Gracie Reportedly Coming to UFC
While this has yet to be confirmed by the UFC or Roger Gracie, GracieMag has reported that the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight has signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championships:
@graciemagGRACIEMAG Roger Gracie (93kg) signs with #UFC, might train with @SpiderAnderson before his first bout. #JiuJitsu Feb 10 via Mobile Web Favorite Retweet Reply
If this is true, Roger Gracie would be the most decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter to ever enter the Octagon with 10 IBJJF World Championships and two ADCC gold medals. Many consider Roger Gracie the best living grappler on the planet.
Gracie signed with Strikeforce in 2010 and had three fights with the San Jose based promotion.
Muhammed Lawal - Loss - KO - Round 1 - Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov
Trevor Prangley - Win - Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 1 - Strikeforce: Diaz vs Cyborg
Kevin Randleman - Win - Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 2 - Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery
While the loss to Lawal was a serious set back to Gracie, he has recently stated that has refocused his efforts on MMA. Earlier this week it was reported by Tatame that Gracie is also close to signing with the Blackhouse management group and, as suggested by the GracieMag tweet, training with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
Additionally it was reported by Tatame that one thing Gracie's new manager would consider is dropping him to Middleweight. While the Brazilian started his career at Heavyweight, he has a very lean body type and heavy weight cuts are not part BJJ competitions, so it is possible Gracie could make the cut.
"To me, he has all the tools to build up a great MMA career, he just need some work, focused. I’m sure he’ll be a tough one to fight in MMA", compliments the manager, revealing the possibility of Roger dropping to the middleweight division. "He’s considering dropping, but it’s not set in stone yet".
He would be an interesting addition to the UFC Middleweight division. Gracie would very tall for the division at 6'4", he brings elite ground skills and solid takedown game to a division searching for new contenders.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, roger, gracie, roger gracie
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTim Kennedy & Mayhem Miller Want Fights
Strikeforce may have survived a contract renegotiation with Showtime after it’s top stars left last year, but the once emerging promotion has just been puttering along ever since.
It’s a fact that hasn’t been lost on Dana White. He believes he can turn it around if and when he convinces Showtime to give him full control over it.
He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying, “why not the UFC’s level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There’s a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We’ll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. [laughter] I’m looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what’s going on in the UFC.”
Well, one Strikeforce fighter who would probably love to see Dana get his hands on it is Tim Kennedy. He told MiddleEasy recently that he’s sick and tired of waiting around for fights.
I’m getting real sick of this MMA scene right now. Waiting around for fights and the politics between Strikeforce and Showtime and the UFC and Zuffa. I’m just kind of getting over it, man. I miss the simplicity of life as a soldier. So, I don’t know. I don’t know what I want to do. I have some extreme survival and athlete type shows possibly going and, so, I don’t know, man, I don’t know. It’s going to be a curious year. I haven’t fought in… months. Now it will be a year before my next fight. A year lay off, and not by choice. I was out two weeks with an injury in a twelve month time frame? It’s shenanigans. If my job is to fight and I only get a fight once every twelve months I can’t afford to keep fighting. I gotta do something else, I have to figure it out.
Kennedy has grown so discouraged over the situation that he’s actually thinking about retiring. He’s expected to fight Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold next and says that even if he were to beat Rockhold, he would probably call it a career after that unless he were to be offered a big fight in the UFC. Yeah, so much for all the Strikeforce fighters being pumped about staying in Strikeforce.
Tim Kennedy isn’t the only middleweight looking for a fight. Jason “Mayhem” Miller, fresh off one of the more disappointing performances of his career at the TUF 14 Finale, wants to get back in action as well.
Mayhem’s problem is quite different than Kennedy’s dilemma though. He’s in the UFC where there are plenty of cards to fight on, but the problem is Dana White was so disappointed in his performance against Michael Bisping he was actually thinking about letting him go.
On The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani yesterday, Miller said that he was given a “nod” that he would be given another chance, but they haven’t offered him another fight as of yet. To fix that, he implored fans to bomb Dana White’s Twitter feed with requests to give him a fight.
“You guys tweet Dana that you want to see me fight,” Miller said. “I want to fight as soon as possible. So the more pressure that anybody who wants to see me fight, the more pressure they put on the brass, well, guess what? I’ll fight sooner.”
“Whenever — I’ll fight next weekend,” Miller said. “I’m sick of sitting on the couch,” he said. “I’m a fighter. I need to fight.”
Fighters need to fight. Hopefully both Kennedy and Mayhem gets fights sooner than later.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, fighter, dana, kennedy
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDana will make Strikeforce good
MMA bloggers love Dana White because every time he opens his mouth several posts worth of news items fall out. Lost in the shuffle of all the Diaz vs Condit craziness was Dana's spontaneous declaration at a press conference that he wants to fix Strikeforce. This isn't the first time he's brought it up, and you gotta wonder what Dana's angle is sitting down with a scrum of reporters and saying he's not impressed with Showtime's performance.
"I'm working on Melendez. Melendez is all over my ass." He added, "I think he's a great fighter and I've said this a million times and I want to say it again. I want to get my hands on Strikeforce. I want to dive into this thing and I want to do it the way that it should be done. And the way that I think it should be done. We'll see what happens."He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying, "why not the UFC's level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There's a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We'll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. [laughter] I'm looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what's going on in the UFC."
OMG HE WANTS TO LOBOTOMIZE STRIKEFORCE FIGHTERS! What else is going to make them magically forget about that much more prestigious and financially lucrative promotion under Zuffa's ownership? Tickle me intrigued as to how Dana would turn Strikeforce around. Considering it's worrisome ratings / tickets / existential crisis, it might not even be possible. Which is why I wonder if this kinda talk is a prelude to the UFC pulling the plug on Strikeforce all together. If only they had been able to get the control they needed!
Posted in: time, strikeforce, fighter, dana, thing
Read the full article at FightlinkerMiesha Tate: “This bitch is not going to beat me.”
Strikeforce bantamweight contender Ronda Rousey has done an excellent job drawing attention from fans and media based on her outspokenness on a number of topics including fellow female fighters Cristiane Santos and Miesha Tate, the latter of whom she faces in headlining action at a Strikeforce event on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. The organization’s divisional champion, Tate has been tuned in since the beginning and even fired back a few times, criticizing Rousey’s selection for a title-shot while pointing to the judoka’s lack of experience inside the cage.
However, in the end it appears Tate has been more appreciative than upset regarding Rousey’s trash-talk, as it has lit a fire in her she hadn’t felt burning for some time.
“I think it’s just what I need, actually. I think that I’ve been fighting for long enough that sometimes I get a little bit comfortable, that’s the truth of the matter. And when you don’t like someone, the idea of losing to them is just unbearable,” said Tate in an interview with MMA Heat. “I cannot think of losing to this girl, it cannot happen. My pride is on the line here, people. You don’t understand. It’s not just winning the fight or keeping my title, it’s like, this bitch is not going to beat me, there’s no way this is going to happen.”
“I think, for me, it’s just going to make it that much more exciting because you’re going to see a much more exhilarated me, you’re going to see a much more pumped and vicious,” she continued. “I don’t want to just fight this girl, I don’t want to just beat her, I want to really hurt her. I really do, I want to mar her face if at all possible, that’d be nice.”
Tate-Rousey Talk Future Match-Up
The 12-2 Tate has won her last six fights while Rousey is 4-0 with four first round finishes, all by way of Armbar. Other bouts scheduled for the March event include Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle, Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson, and Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, hadn ’t, rousey
Read the full article at Fighters.comMiesha Tate is motivated to bring the fight to 'delusional' Ronda Rousey
Fight fans who have watched Strikeforce fighter Ronda Rousey do her thing in the cage have certainly felt compelled to give her a hand for her efforts to this point in her combat sports career. Harmless enough, but what you don't want to do is give her an arm.
If you do, she's likely to break it -- out of habit if for no other reason.
Rousey has taken the women's mixed martial arts (WMMA) scene by storm, winning all four of her professional fights by way of first round armbar submissions. Accordingly, one wouldn't think there would be a long line of ladies who are dying to get into the cage with her, after seeing the havoc she has wreaked on the limbs of those gone before them.
That might ring true for most female fighters, but not Strikeforce's Miesha Tate, who will take on Rousey at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on Sat., March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio, for the Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Tate was a guest tonight (Feb. 6, 2012) on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss her upcoming fight, in which she confidently believes she should be favored:
Rousey essentially got her title match by calling out the champion and getting the attention of the Strikeforce matchmakers with her bravado and aggressive tweeting.
She's made it known that she thinks she can beat Tate and has even sounded a little cocky at points.
According to Tate, she's not bothered by the banter. It just adds more fuel to her fire:
"I don't really listen to much of anything that Ronda says. I don't watch her interviews. I get a little bit of that drift that comes through Twitter. When people say, 'Oh, you know she said this, she said that.' Half the time, I honestly think it just makes her sound like an idiot. I mean, that's just being brutally honest. I think she's pretty delusional. I have yet to see Ronda actually fight. I've seen her go out there and do her Judo and whatnot. But she hasn't ever actually brought a fight and that's what I'm gonna make her do...fight. Anything that she says is motivation, definitely."
Everyone knows Rousey has ridiculous judo, jiu-jitsu and submission skills. Tate comes from a wrestling background, but she believes it's more than just her wrestling that gives her the edge:
"That's why this fight makes for an interesting match up, because our strengths are in similar areas. We're both really great on the ground. I have wrestling, she has judo. I also feel like I have the edge on the feet and the experience overall. I've been doing this a lot longer. I feel like I'll be able to put it together better. When it comes to mixing everything and meshing it, it's gonna make for an awesome fight. I think people are really gonna enjoy and be entertained."
On top of what she believes is a skill set advantage, "Takedown" also sees problems for Rousey that will be caused by her having to make the weight cut to 135 pounds; a reduction she's never had to make before in her MMA career:
"Yeah and not to mention the weight cut. This is her first drop to 135. Also, no pound allowance. That's gonna change her body dynamics, the way she's used to throwing people around, having that weight behind her is gonna change. So it could even affect her in her training camp. The people she used to throw around...she's gonna be smaller. So, a lot of things are gonna be changing for her, this fight. We're gonna see how that works for her. I just wanna frustrate her. Push her outside that minute and make her second guess and make her wish she never wanted to take this fight."
Of course she wants to win for herself and for the sake of successfully defending her recently acquired belt, but she also realizes that this fight is bigger than just her. It's bigger than Ronda Rousey. It's bigger than any of that.
It's about putting WMMA on the map and maybe sending a message to UFC President Dana White in the process:
"It's a huge opportunity. If the women can deliver, like I believe we're going to, it can say big things for our future -- not only in Strikeforce, but hopefully, eventually in the UFC."
White has long said that there will never be WMMA in the Octagon, citing the lack of diversity and the amount of high-level female fighters in the sport as his reason for not wanting to promote it.
Even if Tate and Rousey put on an amazing show, it still does not remedy the issue of the need for depth on the roster of really talented female fighters.
Let's enjoy this female fight, and all others, while they last.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, tate, rousey, she
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRonda Rousey: “If I wanted to see a man run for 25 minutes I’d go to a track meet.”
One of the 10,000+ people packing the seats last night at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit was unbeaten Strikeforce bantamweight Ronda Rousey, a vicious grappler with a tendency to share her opinion on subjects regardless of how the public may react to them. Her honesty and sharp tongue have endeared her to many fans and ostracized her from others, both factors playing into the 25-year old’s surging popularity as the new face of women’s MMA and immediate title-contender despite only having four professional fights under her belt.
As might be expected, Rousey had an opinion on the result in last night’s main event where she, like many, felt the judges took a lead from this weekend’s Super Bowl and “fumbled the ball” as it were.
“If I wanted to see a man run for 25 minutes I’d go to a track meet,” wrote the riled up Rousey on her Twitter account. “Diaz is the real champ, what a bullsh*t fight.”
Octagon control should count for way more than it does,” she continued in a later post. The judges shouldn’t encourage point fighters.”
In terms of how she scored things, Rousey explained she had the first, second, and fifth round for Diaz and felt there was a fairly convincing case for all in comparison to that for Condit taking any of the frames.
Needless to say Rousey will no doubt be more motivated than ever to finish Strikeforce 135-pound champion Miesha Tate when the two face off on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio on a stacked Strikeforce card.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, rousey, columbus ohio, ball ”, things rousey
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain9 Fights Complete Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” Bill
The dance card for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is now set, as promotion officials Friday announced the nine-fight bill.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, dance card, bill, rousey
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce fighters struggle with stigma of inferiority to UFC
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, mattyblayze, inferiority
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Fighters Talk About Living In The Shadow Of The UFC
Tonight may be UFC 143, but there is never a bad time to talk about the debate over the placement of Strikeforce fighters relative to their UFC counterparts. In a recent article at Sports Illustrated, Loretta Hunt covers a variety of reasons people may underrate Strikeforce fighters and talks to guys like Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy about the stigma that comes with fighting in the "B promotion."
From the article:
UFC fighters haven't exactly helped that cause. Answering a challenge made by Strikeforce light heavyweight Mohammed "King Mo" Lawal earlier this month, former UFC champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson said fighting in Strikeforce would be a "step down" in his career. In another interview, UFC middleweight Michael Bisping feigned ignorance when asked about critical comments Strikeforce's Kennedy had recently made about him.
"Who's he?" asked Bisping. "I've never heard of him."
...
"Between Jacare, Luke and myself, I think that we could take on seven out of the top 10 guys in the UFC in our respective weight class, but almost all of the media and the fans disagree with us," said Kennedy, who's won back-to-back fights in Strikeforce. "I've said it my entire career that I just want to fight the best guys. Now I add the caveat that now I want to fight the guys that everyone else thinks are the best fighters."
Kennedy said it was frustrating to watch Demian Maia (15-4), who's been recognized on all three rankings lists in the past, lose to unranked newcomer Chris Weidman during the UFC's second FOX broadcast last Saturday. Weidman took the bout on 11 days notice and cut a whopping 30 pounds to make weight for it. Kennedy, who said he's been training to fight at Strikeforce's next event on March 3 should an opening arise, vigorously campaigned for the vacancy and was disappointed that he was "never seriously considered" for it.
Depth is always going to be the issue that holds a fighter back from being elevated too highly in the eyes of many. When Rockhold is having to defend his title against a guy who has never fought at middleweight and has lost every fight of any note recently, it's hard to think of Strikeforce as having the depth to really elevate a fighter. That leaves fans and the media to try to judge relative abilities and we can see that a guy like Rockhold is talented. But, of course, it's difficult to consider him an absolute top tier talent until we see how he fares against other guys on that level.
It is interesting to see Kennedy say that he was campaigning for the shot on Fox against Maia. I have to think he'd have put a hurting on Demian given how bad he looked that night.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, guy, fighter, kennedy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce confirms bout lineup for “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey”
With the event just a little less than a month away, Strikeforce officials have confirmed the bout arraignment for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, which goes down March 3 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The main event features Miesha Tate defending her bantamweight title against Ronda Rousey. Tate is 12-2 in her career and 5-1 in Strikeforce, while Rousey is a perfect 4-0 and a former Olympian.
In other main card bouts, Mike Kyle will square off with Gegard Mousasi in the co-main event, while K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson, Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza-Derek Brunson complete the Showtime-televised card.
The prelims for the evening, scheduled to be televised by Showtime Extreme, feature Alexis Davis-Sarah Kaufman, Caros Fodor-Pat Healy, Lumumba Sayers-Scott Smith, and Ryan Couture-Conor Heun.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, rousey, showtimetelevised card, bout lineup
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 143: Dana White - 'There's No Truth To BJ Penn Vs. Gilbert Melendez'
Following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, February 2nd, Dana White held a scrum for the attending MMA media. In what can only be described as a mosh pit styled interview. During this time Dana will answer any questions that he is asked. One of the big topics of conversation was the UFC's return to Japan and the status of Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
On February 24th, Fankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson in Tokyo, Japan. While fans and media have been outspoke that this is merely a vanity project for the UFC, White was adamant that this was important for Zuffa's Asian expansion. He stated, "As far as I know everything is going well over there. You don't know how successful it's going to be until you go. When we pull that event off and we do it and we see how it goes. It's very important. It's a very important show for our intro into Asia. Not just Japan but China and all the other markets we want to go to over there."
The UFC President was also asked about the rumors that B.J. Penn would be making his way over to Strikeforce to challenge Gilbert Melendez. It turns out that there was no truth to the rumor. In his own words. "That's not true. That's absolutely not true. But I have been talking to B.J. Penn. I talked to B.J. Penn last week and it was the first time that B.J. and I talked since his fight. He's just chilling right now. He wants to relax and figure out what he wants to do with his career. I'm working on Melendez. Melendez is all over my ass." He added, "I think he's a great fighter and I've said this a million times and I want to say it again. I want to get my hands on Strikeforce. I want to dive into this thing and I want to do it the way that it should be done. And the way that I think it should be done. We'll see what happens."
He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying "why not the UFC's level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There's a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We'll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. I'm looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what's going on in the UFC."
Two more videos after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, thing, bj, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRonaldo Souza set to battle Derek Brunson in March
Strikeforce has stepped up to establish a top contender for middleweight champion Luke Rockhold by booking a fight between former title-holder Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and hard-hitting, unbeaten grappler Derek Brunson for the company’s March 3 visit to Columbus, Ohio.
While not confirmed through an official announcement, Brunson revealed the deal was in place on Twitter.
Brunson has racked up nine consecutive wins in his eighteen months as a professional fighter including three under the Strikeforce banner. He was last seen outpointing Nate James in November at Strikeforce Challengers 20 to cap off a 4-0 year. However, Souza will easily represent the best opponent he’s faced to date and will be a major step up in competition compared to Brunson’s relatively unknown adversaries to date.
“Jacare”, seen as one of the elite BJJers in MMA, is coming off his championship loss to Rockhold where he was outpointed in a competitive five-rounder last September. The 32-year old Brazilian holds an overall record of 14-3 with three submissions and past success against Matt Lindland, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Tate is headlined by bantamweight queen Miesha Tate defending her belt against undefeated judoka Ronda Rousey and also features fights such as K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson and Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, souza, brunson, features fights
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMain Card and Prelims Announced for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
The main card for the upcoming Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card has been announced, as well as the preliminary card set to air on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyRonaldo Souza draws Derek Brunson at Strikeforce event in March
This March, former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo Souza will take the first step of his journey back towards the title he lost to Luke Rockhold when he sees action in Columbus, Ohio against unbeaten finisher Derek Brunson. Though not officially announced by the organization, Brunson took to Twitter on Thursday night to reveal he’d been booked to battle the widely respected submission specialist.
Brunson currently holds a 9-0 mark including seven opening round stoppages and a fairly even split between TKOs/tap-outs. The 28-year old, who spends much of his time training with Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico, last fought in November where he outpointed Nate James at Strikeforce Challengers 20.
In “Jacare” Brunson will face the stiffest test of his career, a 14-3 BJJ blackbelt with past victories over Matt Lindland, Jason Miller, Robbie Lawler, and Tim Kennedy. The March 3 fight will come nearly six months to the day Souza dropped his belt to Rockhold after a hotly contested five round affair.
Souza Retires from BJJ Competitions to Focus 100% on MMA
Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Tate is headlined by Miesha Tate’s defense of her bantamweight belt against Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey with other match-ups including Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle, and KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, souza, brunson, march
Read the full article at Fighters.comBrunson vs. 'Jacare,' Sayers vs. Smith added to 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey'
The fight card for Strikeforce's March 3 event in Ohio continues to
fill, and a pair of middleweight contests were today added to the schedule.
MMAjunkie.com confirmed with sources close to the
event that Derek Brunson faces former Strikeforce champ Ronaldo 'Jacare'
Souza, and Lumumba Sayers meets Scott Smith.
"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place at Nationwide Arena
in Columbus, Ohio, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports
Festival. The main card airs on Showtime, and prelims air on Showtime
Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, card airs, vs, derek brunson, prelims air
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRonaldo ‘Jacare Souza Meets Derek Brunson at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Undefeated prospect Derek Brunson will jump into the deep end of Strikeforce's middleweight division on March 3 as he faces former champion Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, derek brunson, derek
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFormer Strikeforce champ Diaz content with himself
As far as former Strikeforce welterweight Nick Diaz is concerned, he's the normal one, and his UFC brethren are the crazy ones.
Posted in: diaz, strikeforce, brethren, ufc brethren, content
Read the full article at sportsnet.caEx-Strikeforce champ Diaz content with himself
As far as former Strikeforce welterweight Nick Diaz is concerned, he's the normal one, and his UFC brethren are the crazy ones.
Posted in: ufc, diaz, strikeforce, brethren, ufc brethren
Read the full article at sportsnet.caFTC Closes Investigation Into Zuffa Purchase of Strikeforce
The Federal Trade Commission's probe into Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce has come to a close with no further action being warranted.
Posted in: strikeforce, zuffa, purchase, zuffas purchase, zuffa purchase
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC Strikeforce Merger: FTC Closes Probe Of Zuffa
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has posted notice on its web site today stating that its Bureau of Competition has closed its investigation of the UFC's acquisition of Strikeforce.
Technically the FTC was investigating the purchase of Explosion Entertainment, LLC for $34 million by the UFC's parent company Zuffa LLC in March, 2011. They were looking to see if the purchase violated Section 7 of the Clayton Act or Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The purchase was first reported by MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.
In the PDF posted on the FTC site, Donald S. Clark, FTC Secretary wrote, "Upon further review of this matter, it now appears that no further action is warranted by the Commission at this time. Accordingly, the investigation has been closed."
Strikeforce was put on the market when its major financial partner, Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment elected to get out of the MMA business. SVSE owns the San Jose Sharks of the NHL and are seeking to bring another major sports franchise to San Jose.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, commission, purchase, ftc
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce prospect Lorenz Larkin noncommittal about dropping to middleweight (MMAmania exclusive)
No longer undefeated, Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Lorenz Larkin has remained positive.
The Riverside native had his spotless record snapped by former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal earlier this month at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, although the result will now have a permanent asterisk next to it after "King Mo" tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone.
Believe it or not, this was the second consecutive opponent of Larkin's that failed a drug screening following a bout with him as Nick Rossborough slipped under the radar, testing positive for elevated testosterone after their Strikeforce Challengers 19 headlining fight last fall.
Larkin released a statement following the test result, claiming he's accepted the loss no matter what the official ruling is and he spoke to MMAmania.com to clarify his position on the fight result, what he could have done better and what his future plans are in this exclusive interview.
Check it out.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's start with the statement you and your management put out. You were supporting King Mo and weren't making an excuses. I think a lot of people respected that you didn't hide behind the test result.
Lorenz Larkin: Yeah, I looked at the tape and I looked at it like, as far as my technique, I did things wrong. Things like that, they still wouldn't come into play regardless of if he was or wasn't on anything. It was me not doing what I was supposed to do when I was on the ground. I still take it as a loss and I'm not too sure. I don't know the verdict yet, just that he's appealing it. if everything does come back and he was on something, then that does leave a bad taste in my mouth because it leaves things in the air. Coming into the fight, I knew Mo was strong, nothing to do with steroids, he was just a strong 205-er and if the test results came back and after the appeal and he was suspended for using it, just me being a fighter, like any fighter, I'm sure I'll be thinking, "Could I have stopped the takedowns?" Regardless, there were still things I messed up on that led to that loss.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Were you intimidated at all heading into the fight?
Lorenz Larkin: No. Even before the fight, I'm not really a trash talker. To me, there's no point. Don't get me wrong, I understand the business of fighting and I understand that that makes fights and it makes it exciting but I just really choose not to take that route when I fight. To me, it's funny because I think, it's ridiculous, but there's a need for it in the sport because new fans find it exciting and they want to watch it but to me, nobody in my profession is scared. Nobody is frightened of the other guy. We get contracts if we're lucky like a month and a half before the fight, maybe longer to know who we're fighting and we have to sign it. To me, it doesn't make sense because no one's scared and anybody I fight is not scared of me. They signed the contract too.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Now looking back, was four weeks enough time to prepare for a guy with his elite wrestling skills?
Lorenz Larkin: No, you know, it was a short camp and I wish that Strikeforce would have given me a little more time than that. I don't like short camps like that but it was also really up to me and I made the decision to take the fight. If it was my choice, i would have a longer camp for anybody, even someone who's a lesser caliber. I just like having longer camps than that.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You also really stepped up your training for this fight. You worked with Phil Davis and you worked with Kenny Johnson, the wrestling coach of Black House, so are you going to keep that relationship in place moving forward?
Lorenz Larkin: Oh yeah, I'm going to always be cross-training now. We developed a good relationship with those guys and the door's always open for us and to them so that's an opportunity I plan on taking.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Now this is something that's been talked about the most other than Mo's test result, but you've said multiple times that you would never consider dropping to middleweight until someone was physically manhandling you. Do you have any ideas about dropping to middleweight now after what happened in your last fight?
Lorenz Larkin: To me, it was something I wasn't really interested in but I had an open mind for it. I'm still trying to weigh out my options right now. I want to see who Strikeforce is interested in having me fight next and we'll go from there. It's just something that I wouldn't consider not doing. I guess it matters on the timing or the situation if I was to switch over.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): So what's next for Lorenz Larkin moving forward?
Lorenz Larkin: I'm hoping Strikeforce gives me a call and tells me who I'm fighting next. I had a little bit of red in my eye but that was it from my fight. I'm back to normal. I'm healed up and I'm ready to get back in the gym and start going hard again. My next fight will be better than the last.
Lorenz would like to thank everybody who helped him for his camp, everyone who's behind him. Also, he'd like to thank his sponsors Ion Me and Splat Hair Color. You can follow him on Twitter @da_Monsoon.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Should Larkin drop down to middleweight despite the fact that the loss was removed from his record? Have you tempered your expectations or does he still have a bright future?
Opinions please.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, larkin, lorenz, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 results: Johnson makes splash in debut, knocks out Beltran
CHICAGO - Maybe there's something to these Strikeforce heavyweights after all.
Less than one month after former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem
retired Brock Lesnar, UFC newcomer and former Strikeforce product Lavar
Johnson notched an impressive first-round finish of the durable Joey
Beltran.
The bout served as the evening's first of six UFC on FOX 2 preliminary
card contests to air on FUEL TV and took place at Chicago's United
Center.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fuel tv, theres something, beltran chicago
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Adds Scott Smith vs. Lamumba Sayers
A middleweight bout between Scott Smith and Lumumba Sayers is on tap for Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey slated for March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, middleweight bout, lumumba sayers, smith, scott smith
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce's Lorenz Larkin Makes Move Down to Middleweight Division
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsFollowing his first professional loss -- a decision likely to be changed to a no contest due to a positive drug test by his opponent -- Strikeforce's Lorenz Larkin will move down a division to compete as a middleweight.
Larkin's manager Arnold DeWitt told MMA Fighting on Thursday that the decision has been made by Larkin's team and approved by Strikeforce officials.
"Eventually we were looking at 185, but we wanted to test the waters at 205 first," DeWitt said. "He came into Strikeforce at 205 and we got a chance to see how things played out. If he had beat 'King' Mo [Lawal], there would have been no point talking about it. But we think Lorenz is going to be a monster at 185, and there are a lot of fighters there who should be concerned."
The 25-year-old Larkin had won his first 12 pro fights, including a 3-0 start in Strikeforce before running into Lawal at the promotion's January 7 event. In that fight, the former light-heavyweight champion Lawal controlled the action with takedowns and eventually finished Larkin via second-round TKO due to ground strikes.
Afterward, however, the Nevada state athletic commission revealed that Lawal had failed a drug screening, testing positive for the steroid Drostanalone. Since then, Lawal has said he would not appeal the positive result, making it a lock that the fight's outcome will be changed to a no contest.
Still, Larkin learned enough from the bout to decide that a downward move to 185 would be the best course for his career.
"Even with the fact that we got the fight on four weeks' notice and with the positive steroid test, Lorenz never came out and made excuses," DeWitt said. "The thing was, at the end of the day, this is simply the best move, the right move. Lorenz feels comfortable doing it. He's the one who has to cut weight and get in the cage. So it came down to his comfort level with it."
In order to help the transition, DeWitt says the 5-foot-11 Larkin is aiming to lower his walk-around weight from about 220-225 pounds to 200-205. The creative striker who has won eight of his fight by way of knockout hopes to be back in the cage in his new division as early as April.
"At 205, he had a great speed advantage, but at 185, we think he's going to have huge power to go with his speed," DeWitt said. "You have to understand, he was knocking out 250-pounders in amateurs with either hand. Now that he's coming down to a smaller weight class, that's not going to abandon him. His power and speed aren't going to go away." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, larkin, lorenz, dewitt
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFedor Emelianenko's Management Throws Cold Water On Bobby Lashley Rumors
We posted earlier this week about a report that former pro-wrestler and Strikeforce veteran Bobby Lashley might be the next opponent for Fedor Emelianenko. Apparently there's not a lot to those rumors. Evgeni Kogan, director of operations for M-1 Global spoke to USA TODAY and threw cold water on the Lashley story:
"There are currently no concrete conversations about Bobby being the next opponent for Fedor," Kogan wrote, adding that Emelianenko probably will fight two or three times this year. Possible locations for the summer fight include Monaco and Russia, according to Kogan.
The 35-year-old Lashley (7-1, 1-1 Strikeforce) is the current Shark Fights heavyweight champion and went 2-0 since leaving Strikeforce. He's a far cry from the world beaters that Fedor once faced in Rings, Pride, Affliction and Strikeforce but he's actually quite comparable to Fedor's last two opponents: the 41-year-old Jeff Monson (43-13) and Satoshi Ishii. (4-2-1).
Bloody Elbow will continue to report on this story as it develops.
Posted in: strikeforce, lashley, fedor, fedor emelianenko, fedor kogan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRafael Cavalcante says he was supposed to fight Mo Lawal for the title
Another angle has surfaced pertaining to Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal failing a drug test after an outing earlier this month, as it appears “King Mo” was being targeted to take on Rafael Cavalcante on March 3 as the main event of a card in Columbus, Ohio. The two fought before in 2010 where “Feijao” came away with Lawal’s divisional title after stopping him with strikes in the third round of their bout.
Though Strikeforce was never able to enact their plan due to Lawal’s licensing limbo, Cavalcante recently revealed how things were playing out behind the scenes while also expressing disappointment in his adversary’s actions.
“I was surprised that an athlete at his level was caught doing steroids,” the 11-3 Brazilian explained while speaking to TATAME.
“It wasn’t official yet, but that was the talk, but he was caught using steroids and things got complicated…Now he was caught and I don’t know what happens next,” concluded Cavalcante while voicing some frustration about the complication Lawal’s drug test created.
Lawal has denied knowingly using steroids but admitted to taking an over-the-counter supplement that has since been taken off the market based on the presence of Drostanolone in it (the very drug Lawal tested positive for).
Interestingly, Strikeforce did announce a fight between top 205ers Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle for the very event Cavalcante stated he was supposed to fight at. However, their bout is not for the championship as Cavalcante implies his match-up with Lawal would have been.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, rafael cavalcante, lawal, cavalcante, mike kyle
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRyan Couture returns to action to face Conor Heun at March 3 Strikeforce event
The March 3 Strikeforce card continues to grow as the event draws closer. Already stacked top to bottom, the lineup has added a lightweight bout between Ryan Couture and Conor Heun sure to get fans that much more excited for the upcoming event. The fight will likely take place on the preliminary portion of the card, scheduled to air on ShowtimeExtreme prior to the main card on Showtime.
After suffering the first loss of his professional career in June 2011 to Matt Ricehouse, Couture rebounded to pick up a majority decision win over Maka Watson this past September. The son of MMA legend Randy Couture, Ryan is 3-1 as a pro with two of his three victories coming by way of submission.
Couture will have his toughest fight to date in March when he meets Heun, a 32-year-old veteran with thirteen bouts under his belt. Following back-to-back decision losses to Jorge Gurgel and K.J. Noons, Heun rebounded in June to defeat Magno Almeida by unanimous decision. Despite the victory, “Hurricane” suffered a dislocated arm in the bout which has kept him out of action since his win.
News of the bout was first reported by MMAFighting.com.
Scheduled for March 3 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey will be headlined by a title-fight between 135- pound champ Miesha Tate, looking to make the first defense of her strap, against the undefeated top contender Ronda Rousey. Also on the card is a light heavyweight title eliminator bout bnetween Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, card, march, heun
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White is disappointed with latest Strikeforce event, wants Showtime to "hand over the reigns"
For those of you who felt the latest Strikeforce event left something to be desired, you're not alone. It appears Dana White shares your sentiment, and according to the UFC President, that "something" is him...
Posted in: strikeforce, event, ufc president, strikeforce event, something
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce champ Tate on Rousey: 'She better keep that pretty little chin tucked'
Strikeforce women's bantamweight champ Miesha Tate readily admits she
doesn't think Ronda Rousey is deserving of a shot at her belt.
That said, she also realizes Rousey does possess legitimate grappling
skills that must be addressed in their March 3 headlining contest.
But Tate also believes her own skillset is being greatly underestimated
by many MMA fans and pundits, not to mention Rousey. And while
"Takedown" earned her fighting nickname due to her wrestling pedigree,
she thinks "Rowdy" best be ready to throw hands.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, mma fans, ronda rousey, rousey
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRonda Rousey - Attack of the Show talks Gina Carano strikeforce March 3 fight vs Miesha Tate
submitted by jonbuchan [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, show, march, ronda, jonbuchan
Read the full article at RedditMike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi tapped as “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” co-main event
It might be happening a year later than expected, but Mike Kyle is set to square off with Gegard Mousasi once again. The light heavyweight battle, which could determine who fights next for the vacant Strikeforce 205 strap, will take place in Columbus, Ohio and serve as the co-headliner for the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event.
News of the bout was confirmed by Kyle on his Twitter account.
Kyle spent the majority of 2011 on the sidelines nursing a broken hand, but he returned in September to defeat Marcos Rogerio de Lima by unanimous decision. Since dropping to light heavyweight in 2009, “Mac” has won the King of the Cage and XMMA light heavyweight belts and defeated former Strikeforce 205 champion Rafael Cavalcante. In 10 bouts since 2009, the only time Kyle has suffered defeat was at the hands of Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, which were both contested at heavyweight.
When Kyle was just moving to 205, Mousasi was ruling the division in Strikeforce, having captured the title from then champion Renato Sobral. After losing the belt to Muhammad Lawal in April 2010, “The Dreamcatcher” has gone 4-0-1 in the fight fights since, winning the DREAM light heavyweight championship in the process. His most recent victory came this past December when he defeated Ovince St. Preux by unanimous decision.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is scheduled for March 3 at the Nationwide Area in Columbus, Ohio. The night will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Miesha Tate and top contender Ronda Rousey.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, tate, kyle
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGegard Mousasi matched with Mike Kyle at March 3 Strikeforce event
The Strikeforce light heavyweight championship scene was left on life support after Dan Henderson departed the organization with the title in tow and top 205-pound contender Muhammed Lawal tested positive for steroid use. However, the company appears to be doing its best to fix the mess that’s been made by booking a bout between Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle.
According to Strikeforce the two will meet on March 3 at an event in Columbus, Ohio currently headlined by bantamweight queen Miesha Tate defending her belt against unbeaten Olympian Ronda Rousey.
Highlights of Mousasi vs. OSP
Mousasi is coming off a one-sided victory over Ovince St. Preux in December and has won four of his last five fights with the lone exception being a questionable Draw to Keith Jardine. The 26-year old has only lost a single time since November 2006, holding an overall record of 32-3-2 with 28 stoppages.
Though Kyle may not have Mousasi’s buzz he’s been on a hot streak at 205 over the past few years with his only losses coming to top heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. Twelve of his nineteen total wins have come via TKO including knockouts of Wes Sims, James Irvin, and Rafael Cavalcante.
Other match-ups at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey include Pat Healy vs. Caros Fodor, KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson, and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, gegard mousasi, mousasi, mike kyle
Read the full article at Fighters.comGegard Mousasi Vs. Mike Kyle, Conor Heun Vs. Ryan Couture Set For Strikeforce Ohio
Strikeforce has added a pair of bouts to their Columbus card currently scheduled for March 3rd, and one of them is likely to serve as the main event. AKA's Mike Kyle is set to face off with former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, and Conor Heun will meet Ryan Couture. Kyle tweeted about his bout today:
@Mak4afightMikekyle @danawhite @Strikeforce it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Jan 23 via Echofon Favorite Retweet Reply
Kyle is coming off a decision win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima last September, while Mousasi is 4-0-1 in his last five outings. With King Mo out for a while due to his positive steroid test, it's possible that this bout could decide the new LHW champion. It's more likely that the winner will face someone else for the title down the road though.
Heun picked up a grueling win his last outing, managing to defeat Magno Almeida by decision despite dislocating his elbow. Couture is 3-1, with all of his prior bouts coming on Strikeforce Challengers cards. The bout is expected to take place on the preliminary portion of the card.
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, card, kyle, lhw champion
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle, Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun Added To Strikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’
@danawhite @Strikeforce it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!about 3 hours ago via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite@Mak4afightMikekyle
Strikeforce’s March 3 card got two new additions today.
The first lucky pair is Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi. MMA Junkie confirmed the bout will serve as the co-main event after Kyle announced the fight on Twitter. It’s unclear if the fight will be for the vacant light heavyweight title, but with King Mo likely out for the next year, it remains a possibility.
As for the other match-up, MMA Fighting is reporting that Ryan Couture will take on Conor Heun in a lightweight bout. It’s unclear it will serve as a main card bout or a preliminary bout, but the latter seems more likely.
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and will feature other match-ups such as Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, tate, kyle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi Booked for ‘Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey’
Strikeforce light heavyweight contenders Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi will meet in a featured bout at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey” on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, Kyle announced today on Twitter.
It has not yet been announced whether the fight will be for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title that was previously held by Dan Henderson.
Kyle (19-8-1) rebounded from a heavyweight loss to Antonio Silva with a decision win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima back at 205-pounds in September, while Mousasi (32-2-2) is 4-0-1 since dropping the title for “King” Mo Lawal in 2010, including a decision victory over Ovince St. Preux in December.
A lightweight matchup between Ryan Couture and Conor Huen has also been added to the March 3rd card, according to MMAFighting, while The Strikeforce heavyweight grand pix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier is no longer expected to take place at the event.
The Showtime-televised event is headlined by Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate vs. Romda Rousey and also includes Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, vs, gegard mousasi, kyle
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce's Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal Says Over The Counter Supplement Caused Steroid Test Failure
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, who failed a post-fight drug test after beating Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, was a guest on today's MMA Hour and told Ariel Helwani that he had taken an over-the-counter supplement.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced on January 17th that Lawal tested positive for Drostanolone after the Larkin bout. Lawal faces a suspension of up to one year and a fine.
Lawal told Helwani he purchased a supplment called S-Mass "Lean Gainer" at Muscle Max. Here's the description of that product:
S-Mass is the most powerful designer anabolic ever created and is probably the least expensive on the market. S-Mass represents a quality designer anabolic and an affordable price. S-Mass was designed to produce lean hard bodies. If you want t he lean hard look S-Mass is the product for you.
Lawal's manager Mike Kogan Tweeted after the show:
@Mike Kogan: not blaming just pointing out their lack of responsibility, accountability and malicious and intentional misguidence of consumers
@Mike Kogan: just pointing out the uphill battle that any athlete faces. They rename, relabel and hide shit on purpose to turn $ someone needs to start paying attention to it
Posted in: strikeforce, mike, lawal, kogan, smas
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowConor Heun vs. Ryan Couture slated for 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey'
A lightweight bout between Conor Heun and Ryan Couture has been added to March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the bout with event sources.
"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Columbus, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports Festival.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, conor heun, rousey
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMousasi-Kyle Slated for March 3 Strikeforce Card in Ohio
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight titleholder Gegard Mousasi and UFC veteran Mike Kyle are set to square off as part of Strikeforce’s March 3 event in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, mike, march, square, ohio
Read the full article at SherdogMike Kyle: I'm fighting Gegard Mousasi at Strikeforce event on March 3
Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi?
According to "MAK's" official Twitter account, he's been paired off with "The Dreamcatcher" for the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime-televised event on March 3, 2012, from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
it's on march 3 Ohio baby. Mak Kyle and mossasi beast mode gerrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Strikeforce has yet to confirm the potential match-up.
With Muhammed Lawal on the shelf following a positive test for steroids, every light heavyweight fight under the Strikeforce banner can now be considered a title eliminator.
That's because the promotion's 205-pound roster is as thin as it has ever been, especially now that Dan Henderson abandoned ship for the shores of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) late last year.
In addition, Lorenz Larkin's stock has dropped following his loss to "King Mo" (which may be reversed to a "no contest" pending Lawal's appeal) and Ovince St. Preux was recently defeated by Mousasi.
Could one of these two men become the next Strikeforce light heavyweight champion? Or will Raphael Cavalcante have something to say about that?
The Showtime-televised event will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey.
Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki.
For all the latest news and notes on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, mousasi, march
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' fighter weigh-ins slated for March 2 in Columbus
As with with past WEC and Strikeforce events, official fighter weigh-ins for March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event will coincide with the Arnold Sports Festival in Ohio.
The weigh-ins take place March 2 at Hall C in the Greater Columbus Convention Center beginning at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
The following day's Showtime- and Showtime Extreme-televised event takes place at nearby Nationwide Arena.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, march, weighin, days showtime
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle Set for Co-Main Event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsRumors of a bout between Gegard Mousasi and Mike Kyle have spread at various times over the last year. In fact, the duo seemed destined to meet in both April and September of 2011 before various issues sidetracked the pairing from being made.
Now, it's on again.
Sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the Mousasi-Kyle matchup has been agreed to as the co-main event of March 3's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event.
Mousasi (32-3-2) was last seen just over one month ago, showing improved takedown defense to go with his usual aggressive striking game en route to a unanimous decision over Ovince St. Preux.
Meanwhile, Kyle (19-8-1, 1 no contest) is coming off a unanimous decision victory of his own, this one coming against Marcos Rogerio de Lima in September.
The winner of the bout may eventually earn a chance to fight for the vacant Strikeforce light-heavyweight title.
Mousasi-Kyle is the co-headliner just underneath a women's bantamweight title bout with Miesha Tate against Ronda Rousey. As MMA Fighting reported earlier Monday, a lightweight fight between Conor Heun and Ryan Couture was just added to the event as well. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, event, comain event, rousey, kyle
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRyan Couture vs. Conor Heun Added to March Strikeforce Event
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsA lightweight fight pitting Ryan Couture against Conor Heun has been added to March 3's Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event in Columbus, Ohio, MMA Fighting has learned.
Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
Couture (3-1) is coming off a majority decision win over Maka Watson at a September Challengers series event. That victory followed the first loss of his pro career.
In accepting the bout with Heun, Couture will face the most experienced opponent he's yet to encounter. Heun (9-4) snapped a two-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Magno Almeida last June, but hasn't fought since then. In that bout, he suffered an elbow injury that sidelined him.
Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. As the name implies, the headlining bout will be a women's bantamweight title fight with champ Miesha Tate looking to defend against unbeaten Ronda Rousey. Other confirmed bouts include Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, event, heun
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseJZ Cavalcante Wants to Earn His Shot at Strikeforce Champ Gilbert Melendez
JZ Cavalcante wants to prove he deserves a shot at Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, but the problem is he needs a fight in order to do that.
Posted in: strikeforce, shot, jz cavalcante, cavalcante, jz
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyLightweight battle between Pat Healy-Caros Fodor added to March Strikeforce card
A lightweight contest between Caros Fodor and Pat Healy has been added to the March 3 Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event in Columbus, Ohio.
Fodor has been on a hot streak since entering Strikeforce, winning five straight to improve to 7-1 overall in his career. His most recent victories have come over James Terry and Justin Wilcox.
Comparanly, Healy is a seasoned veteran of the cage, carrying a 26-16 overall record with him. “Bam Bam” is on a three-fight win streak since falling to former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson and holds past victories over the likes of Paul Daley, Dan Hardy, and Carlos Condit.
In the evening’s main event, Miesha Tate will defend her women’s championship against Olympian Ronda Rousey. The Fodor-Healy bout is likely slated for the Showtime-televised main card. If not it will, of course, be part of the newly added Showtime Extreme prelims.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, carlos condit, james terry, caros fodor, fodor
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJim Miller not interested in a shot at the Strikeforce title
When Zuffa revealed Strikeforce lightweight king Gilbert Melendez would continue to compete under the embattled organization’s banner rather than bring his talents to the Octagon the question quickly turned to one of contendership. With no clear cut challengers in place the public’s speculation on the situation often involved the possibility of a top level UFC fighter switching over to Strikeforce to give Melendez the “Top 10” opponent he deserves to defend his title against. However, critics of such a scenario argued any 155ers within sniffing distance of the UFC’s divisional championship would likely prefer to remain where they were rather than deal with the dwindling stability of Strikeforce.
In the case of stand-out scrapper Jim Miller, a 20-3 lightweight who headlines tonight’s UFC on FX event, it appears the latter group is onto something. Miller spoke with Five Ounces of Pain during the lead up to this evening’s affair where he offered a frank assessment when asked about his interest in moving over to Strikeforce if it meant an immediate crack at Melendez’s strap.
“Melendez is a great fighter and could come over to the UFC and jump right into the mix without a doubt. I don’t know what’s left for him over there, but I am sure they will find him some quality opponents,” Miller began on the widely respected 155-pounder before talk turned to fighting in Strikeforce.
“Even if the money was comparable I don’t think I would make the move over there,” said Miller. “Once you have been in the UFC you don’t want to go backwards. This is the major leagues of MMA. Nothing against Strikeforce, but the opportunities here are far better. More exposure, more sponsors, bigger crowds and obviously more challenging fights.”
What the future holds for Miller remains to be seen though his present focus is clearly on beating Melvin Guillard tonight in Nashville. Action starts on FX at 9:00 PM EST with prelims coming on Fuel TV a few hours earlier.
It is likely Melendez will eventually face the winner of a scheduled bout between K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson who face off in early March.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, miller, melendez, mma nothing
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJames Terry talks controversial Loss at Strikeforce: “Nah-Shon was just as shocked as I was”
by Monta Wiley Controversial wins, bad officiating, and poor judging are common occurrences fighters may encounter while competing in the sport of mixed martial arts. On the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine event, the night featured an exciting under card match-up between American Kickboxing Academy Fighter James Terry squaring off against Nah-Shon Burrell. In what seemed [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, monta wiley, nahshon burrell, card matchup, occurrences fighters
Read the full article at Fighthub TVStrikeforce's 'King Mo' maintains innocence, looks for cause of failed drug test
In hopes of finding the cause of a positive test for an anabolic steroid, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's manager, Mike Kogan, today sent to the Nevada attorney general's office a full list of the supplements and medications the fighter took.
After reviewing the list, the attorney general may ask Lawal to appear before the NSAC in March.
The former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ continues to maintain his innocence two days after the NSAC said his post-fight drug test revealed the presence of the steroid Drostanlone.
Posted in: strikeforce, test, drug test, attorney, cause
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCaros Fodor vs. Pat Healy added to 'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey'
A lightweight bout between Caros Fodor and Pat Healy has been added to March's "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" event.
Strikeforce officials today announced the matchup.
"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Columbus, and coincides with the annual Arnold Sports Festival.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, caros fodor, rousey, columbus columbus
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Adds Fodor vs. Healy to Ohio Card
Strikeforce officials on Thursday added a lightweight bout pitting Caros Fodor and Pat "Bam Bam" Healy to the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, caros fodor, fodor, healy
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Adds Fodor vs. Healy to Ohio Card
Strikeforce officials on Thursday added a lightweight bout pitting Caros Fodor and Pat "Bam Bam" Healy to the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, caros fodor, fodor, healy
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySergei Kharitonov will sign with the UFC if the price is right
Show him the money!
After a short and mediocre kickboxing career in K-1, Sergei Kharitonov spent most of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career competing overseas in "The Land of the Rising Sun" in PRIDE FC before making his way stateside to tangle with the big boys in Strikeforce.
The Russian heavyweight made a successful debut against Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Silva" but was last seen tapping to Josh Barnett at the Strikeforce: "Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals" on Sept. 10, 2011, eliminating him from the heavyweight tournament.
Soon after announcing the dissolution of the Strikeforce heavyweight division, it was widely considered that all, if not most of the top heavyweights would make a smooth transition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster.
However, there still is a small matter of coming to a financial agreement
As the former Pride and Strikeforce heavyweight tells Fighters Only, he has no problems fighting inside the Octagon, but only if the money is right.
See for yourself:
"I don't know what the situation is right now. Strikeforce heavyweight [division] is finished very soon I think. Maybe one more fight for me, I don't know. If the UFC contract is for the right money then yes of course it's good, it's no problem. But the problem with UFC, it's exclusive. So no DREAM, no K-1, it means not so many fights and not so much money. For K-1, I am very hopeful, actually I was offered a new contract for K-1. There is some news coming soon."
It's important to note that Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), the parent company of K-1, has been reported to be suffering from financial woes lately, as evidenced by the cancellation of this year’s K-1 World Grand Prix.
With "exclusivity" always being a sticking point with fighters and the UFC, would it would be wise for the former Russian Airborne Trooper to take a decent offer from the promotion, considering the options are very slim nowadays and soon the UFC will have all of the top heavyweights in the world under its roster?
DREAM is always an option, of course. Then again, they are owned and operated by FEG as well.
"The Russian Mercenary" holds notable wins over Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo.
What do you say, Maniacs, can Kharitonov make a name for himself against the big boys of a revamped UFC heavyweight division should he decide to sign on the dotted line?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, right, heavyweight, money
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey Official for March 3; Tickets On Sale Friday
Strikeforce returns March 3 to Columbus, Ohio, with a women's bantamweight title fight – and grudge match – between Miesha Tate and unbeaten Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, march, miesha tate, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Draws 1,992 Fans
Strikeforce's first card of 2012 drew 1,992 fans to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for a gate of $68,805.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, fan, las vegas, la
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Quick Quote: Steroids or not, Lorenz Larkin still lost to 'King Mo' Lawal
"It is disappointing to hear of this news since this is now the second opponent in a row that has tested positive after fighting me. I respect Mo and wish him the best. If he says that he didn't take anything then I will take his word for it and it's up to him and his team to prove otherwise. At this point, it's up to the Nevada State Athletic Commission how they will deal with this situation. Regardless of steroid use or not, I don't look at this as a win on my record, because it's not. I have watched tape and I am back in the gym improving how I lost that fight. I will be ready for whatever Strikeforce wants to do regarding who I am fighting next and the light heavyweight division."
Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Lorenz Larkin tells Sherdog.com that even though he was bummed at the news that Muhammed Lawal tested positive for steroids after their fight on Jan. 7, 2012, at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," he lost the fight anyway. A classy Larkin, who suffered his first career mixed martial arts (MMA) loss to Lawal, isn't taking the time to trash "King Mo," which speaks volumes for "The Monsoon's" character. Lawal has since denied ever taking any banned substances and his manager, Mike Kogan, also stands by his client, denying any wrongdoing on his part. Whether the Lawal camp files for an appeal with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) remains to be seen. You Maniacs surprised -- or appreciative -- of the high road Larkin chose to take when it's so easy to bash the guy who just ruined his perfect record by testing positive for steroids?
Posted in: strikeforce, larkin, nevada state, fight i, lawal
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce gate totals $68,805 with 927 tickets sold for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas
Strikeforce recorded a live gate of just $68,805 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7, 2012, according to official figures released today from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
The final attendance of 1,992 was a result of 927 tickets sold and 1,065 "comps." A total of 727 seats at "The Joint" remained unfilled.
More tickets were given away than actually purchased, which means that if you bought a ticket for the Showtime-televised event, there's a pretty good chance the guy next to you didn't.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" featured Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his 185-pound title by beating the brakes off UFC veteran Keith Jardine.
A genetically engineered Muhammad Lawal blew the doors off Lorenz Larkin while Robbie Lawler landed a "Ruthless" flying knee to paste ProFC import Adlan Amagov.
Good times.
For complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, ticket
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Draws $68,805 Live Gate
Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” earned a live gate of $68,805 and was attended by 1,992 spectators, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced Wednesday.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, nevada state
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce sells less than 1,000 tickets to January 7 event
If you tuned in earlier this month to watch Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine and wondered why the crowd appeared to be underwhelming at best it turns out you had a good reason to feel that way.
According to official numbers released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the promotion only sold 927 tickets for the event while giving away 1,065 and having another 727 left collecting dust. Also concerning, the total gate for the show was $68,805 while more than $400,000 was paid out to main card winners at the event (not to mention the money earned by preliminary competitors and losing fighters).
December Strikeforce Show Bombs at Box Office
The less-than impressive number was on par with the type of attendance at the company’s past Strikeforce Challengers shows and easily the lowest in the organization’s history in terms of major shows.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine featured middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his title against UFC veteran Keith Jardine as well as match-ups including Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin, Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, and Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein.
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, strikeforce challengers, company ’s
Read the full article at Fighters.com'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' officially draws 1,992 attendance and $68,805 gate
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" officially drew 1,992 attendees for a $68,805 live gate.
Nevada State Athletic Commission officials today emailed the figures to MMAjunkie.com.
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" took place Jan. 7 at The Joint at
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The night's five-fight main
card aired on Showtime, and four preliminary bouts aired on Showtime
Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, las vegas, nights fivefight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Draws $68,805 Live Gate
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce gave away more tickets than sold at its Jan. 7 "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
According to figures released Wednesday by the Nevada athletic commission, the event sold 927 tickets for a live gate of $68,805. A total of 1,992 were in attendance, 1,065 of which were papered. Meanwhile, 727 tickets were left unsold. The total fighter payroll was $566,000.
The previous event, "Melendez vs. Masvidal," fared better, drawing an attendance of 2,995 for a $154,075 gate. Tickets sold/papered at the Dec. 17 event in San Diego were undisclosed.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" was the first Strikeforce card under its new deal with Showtime. The main card was televised on Showtime and the preliminary card aired on Showtime Extreme. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: gate, strikeforce, vs, event, ticket
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce's Daniel Cormier still unsure of timetable for return
Seven months after he broke his right hand, Strikeforce heavyweight
Daniel Cormier is still unsure of when he'll be ready
to fight Josh Barnett.
"I would imagine they would wait, and I think they should," Cormier told
MMAjunkie.com. "I think Strikeforce needs some
closure to that division."
Cormier is today scheduled for an MRI, and he expects to get a final
word on when and if he can fight. Until then, he can't commit to any
timetable for return.
Posted in: strikeforce, daniel, cormier, mmajunkiecom i, division cormier
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMo Lawal responds to criticism after failing recent drug test
The MMA community found itself in a state of collective shock yesterday when the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed Lawal had tested positive for steroids after his January 7 fight against Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. And, as it turns out, “King Mo” was also apparently among the group whose jaw dropped at the news.
Lawal addressed the situation in a conversation with ESPN where he never actually denied using PEDs but relayed his intention to investigate the issue further to figure out what happened.
“I’m very surprised about this,” said Lawal. “I am very careful about what I put into my body. I’ve never tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. I’ve gone through, and still welcome, Olympic-style testing.”
“I will do whatever is necessary to get to the bottom of this,” Lawal continued. “I’m not a cheater. I might cheat at video games, but I never cheat at fighting.”
Though no official sentence has come down from the NSAC it’s likely Lawal will have to serve some sort of suspension and be fined a percentage of his winnings from the match-up in question unless his forthcoming appeal holds up.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, mma community, nevada state, lawal
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce ‘Tate vs. Rousey’ Tickets On Sale This Week
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is official.
Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” is scheduled to take place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, March 3, and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT.
The card will be headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey.
“The energy in the city of Columbus is always incredible during the weekend of the Arnold and we can’t wait to get back there with this championship fight,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey is the title fight fans wanted and we were happy to give it to them. Miesha made a big statement when she submitted Marloes Coenen for the title last year. Now she meets one of the fastest-rising stars in all of mixed martial arts, unbeaten judo ace Ronda Rousey. Columbus, get ready, because we’re bringing a great night of fights to your city once again.”
“I feel like Ronda will definitely be a challenge for me, but not one that I can’t handle,” said Tate. “Her Olympic experience is great, but this is MMA and her MMA career has been short. She hasn’t truly been tested yet and I plan on doing just that when we meet in Columbus.”
“Miesha is a seasoned and respectable fighter, but she’s not a dangerous fighter,” said Rousey. “If she thinks she’s going to submit me, she’s got another thing coming. She’ll have her chance on March 3 and we’ll all find out who the best female MMA fighter in the world is.”
A Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final bout between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier was expected to headline the card, however Strikeforce officials had been waiting on Cormier’s medical clearance before they could make it official. Apparently they didn’t get it in time.
Other bouts announced for the card include Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, Kazuo Misaki vs. Paul Daley and Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.
Ticket release dates:
UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 10am ET
Public On-Sale Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 10am ET
Tickets will be priced at $125, $75, $45 and $25. They can be purchased at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000.
The latest Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMiesha Tate And The Strikeforce Bantamweight Division
With the women's bantamweight title fight this March, Miesha Tate will either cement her place at the top of the division, or the increasingly popular Ronda Rousey, moving down from featherweight, will make a big splash at 135. Perhaps just as important as the identity of the champion, however, is the line of challengers she has to contend with. Let's take a look at the field...
The Top Four
As a former champion with a record of 14-1-0 and a relatively lengthy Strikeforce career, Sarah Kaufman is a burgeoning contender. Unfortunately, much of the story surrounding Kaufman recently has had to do with her bitterness over being denied a title shot in favor of Rousey. Really, though, Kaufman's remarkable grittiness, steely demeanor, and ten victories by (T)KO ought to be what defines her the most.
Alexis Davis, who's racked up two wins in Strikeforce and improved her record to 11-4-0, will get a chance to not only announce herself as a force in the division, but avenge her first career loss as well when she faces off against Kaufman this March.
Though she stumbled in her sophomore Strikeforce effort, Amanda Nunes should nevertheless be considered a potential title contender. With a record of 6-2-0, all victories by (T)KO, and a win over Brazilian Ediane Gomes (whose only other loss is to Rousey), Nunes ought to be prominent feature of the division.
Liz Carmouche's 2-2-0 run in Strikeforce might not turn any heads, but a closer look at her record makes it clear that she isn't to be dismissed. Her two losses have come to former champ Kaufman and then-champion Marloes Coenen and, what's more, Carmouche was presented with a shot at Coenen's belt on short notice. That Carmouche had that fight in hand until her fourth-round submission loss is further to her credit.
The Best of the Rest
Though neither have made a huge impact in Strikeforce, Julie Kedzie and Hitomi Akano are both fair assets given their lengthy in-cage experience (16-9-0 and 18-8-0, respectively). By contrast, Kerry Vera, though undefeated and with one win in Strikeforce, hasn't fought for that or any MMA promotion since 2009. Germaine de Randamie, meanwhile, with a slim record of 2-2-0, is an as-yet unproven commodity. Beyond these four, there isn't anyone to speak of.
And so...
In general, the 135-pound division has some fair depth to it, which makes the skeleton crew currently running the Strikeforce bantamweight class a little strange. If it wants to keep the division dynamic and relevant, as I think it should, Strikeforce must consider injecting some new, or returning, talent into the roster. Sara McCann, who's scheduled to face Akano in ProElite later this month, would be an excellent addition. An upcoming fight in CFX between Shayna Baszler and Kelly Kobold should likewise be of interest
Posted in: strikeforce, loss, division, record, kaufman
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce tickets for 'Tate vs Rousey' on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, on sale soon
Tickets for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey," which was recently made official for March 3, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, will go on sale to the general public this Friday (Jan. 20) at 10 a.m. ET.
UFC Fight Club members and Strikeforce Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.
The Showtime-televised event will feature newly-minted women's champion Miesha Tate putting her 135-pound title on the line against undefeated Judo specialist Ronda Rousey.
Other match-ups booked for "The Discovery City" include K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, former women's champion Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis and Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki.
Here is the Strikeforce tickets sales schedule (All times ET):
UFC Fight Club presale: Weds., Jan. 18, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Strikeforce Newsletter presale: Thurs., Jan. 19, 2012, at 10 a.m.
General tickets sale: Fri., Jan. 20, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Strikeforce tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
For all the latest news and notes on Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, ticket, rousey, strikeforce tickets
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC, Strikeforce To Test New Fighters for Performance Enhancing Drugs
The UFC and Strikeforce will now test all incoming fighters for performance enhancing drugs before a contract can be signed with either promotion, their parent company Zuffa announced today.
The news comes on the heels of positive steroids tests by Strikeforce’s “King” Mo Lawal and women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.
“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”
The testing will also include competitors on The Ultimate Fighter, which moves to FX for its 15th season in March, while current fighters will continue to be screened by athletic commissions at their fights and at random.
For the latest UFC news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: UFC President Dana White
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, drug, ufc news
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC & Strikeforce Announce Pre-Contract PED Testing Policy
Hot on the heels of news that “King Mo” Lawal tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone comes an announcement from Zuffa that all new UFC and Strikeforce fighters will be tested for performance-enhancing drugs before finalizing their contracts.
Excerpts from the official press release:
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
“We’re committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we’re taking it one step further. We’re going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don’t want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport.”
“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”
I’m not convinced this new policy will help eradicate the sport of PED’s, but it won’t hurt the cause either.
What I’m more curious about is if Zuffa is going to reject fighters who don’t pass the initial pre-contract screening, are they also going to release fighters they already have under contract who test positive like Cris Cyborg and King Mo? They haven’t in the past, but with this new policy and their commitment to “do everything [they] can to keep [PED's] out of the UFC and Strikeforce” that would only make sense.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, athlete, drug, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Firms Up Tate vs. Rousey Fight Card
Strikeforce on Tuesday made its March 3 event for Columbus, Ohio, official. Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey takes place at the Nationwide Arena the same weekend as the Arnold Sports Festival.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, rousey, strikeforce firms
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC And Strikeforce To Test Fighters For PEDs Prior To Signing Contracts
The UFC released a very interesting bit of information this afternoon, all new UFC and Strikeforce fighters will have to pass a performance-enhancing drug screening. This news came out very shortly after news that "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal had tested positive for steroids after his last Strikeforce fight.
Here's the official press release:
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world's premier mixed martial arts organization. UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television. All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations. "We're committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously," UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. "We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we're taking it one step further. We're going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don't want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport." This pre-contract screening policy further cements the organization's dedication to the well-being of its athletes. In May, the organization announced that nearly 350 UFC and STRIKEFORCE independent contractor athletes would be eligible for customized accident insurance coverage, an unprecedented policy that covers accidental injuries suffered by athletes while training, as well as non-training incidents such as automobile accidents. "The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority," UFC President Dana White said. "We've seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we're going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field."
There is a lot to say both on the positive and negative side of things here. But we'll be breaking all that down over this week so stay tuned.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, athlete, drug, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMilton Vieira Signs With The UFC
Another Strikeforce fighter has made the jump over to the UFC, but this time it's not a heavyweight, but rather a featherweight: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-standout, Milton Vieira. Vieira's management revealed the signing to MMA Fighting:
His manager Nima Safapour of Alchemist Management confirmed the signing to MMA Fighting on Tuesday morning.
Vieira holds a second degree black belt in BJJ under Murilo Bustamente, head coach at Brazilian Top Team where Vieira trains alongside the UFC's resident leg-mangler, Rousimar Palhares. Vieira is perhaps best known as being credited with inventing the Anaconda Choke, which he has used to great success, winning four MMA fights with it. Although the choke was made popular by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, it was Vieira who taught him the move back when Nogueira was still training at BTT. "Miltinho" has fought all over the world, including for Asian promotions like Pride, DEEP, and Shoot, in Russia for M-1, and most recently, for Strikeforce in the lightweight division, but he will cut down to 145 lbs. for his UFC debut. No date or opponent has been determined for Vieira's first fight, but we'll keep you updated when that information becomes available.
Milton "Miltinho" Vieira (13-7-1)W Sterling Ford (technical submission - brabo choke) - Strikeforce ChallengersW Bruno Lobato (submission - anaconda choke) - Bitetti Combat 9W David Cubas (submission - armbar) - Bitetti Combat 7
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, submission, vieira
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC announces PED policy same day news of Lawal’s positive test
The UFC announced that it will institute a pre-contract performance enhancing drug (PED) screening for fighters that will compete in the UFC (and Strikeforce). The news comes on the heels of numerous outlets including MMA Weekly reporting that Strikeforce’s King Mo Lawal tested positive for an anabolic steroid, Drostanolone.
Via UFC press release:
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.
All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.
“We’re committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we’re taking it one step further. We’re going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don’t want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport.”
This pre-contract screening policy further cements the organization’s dedication to the well-being of its athletes. In May, the organization announced that nearly 350 UFC and STRIKEFORCE independent contractor athletes would be eligible for customized accident insurance coverage, an unprecedented policy that covers accidental injuries suffered by athletes while training, as well as non-training incidents such as automobile accidents.
“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”
Payout Perspective:
The policy is a step in the right direction for the UFC and Strikeforce as it adds greater transparency and shows the public that it wants drug-free competition. However, as we see with the Lawal news, there is still the issue of existing fighters and regulating testing. Lawal has denied using Drostanolone. So, we’ll see how this is explained in the coming days. What we see here is the fact that the UFC/Strikeforce will have to take more of a proactive role if it wants to ensure that “health and safety” is a “top priority” for its athletes. Does this mean it has to work closely with athletic commissions or offer up its own random testing? We shall see, but the timing of the announcement and the Lawal news reminds us that there is still work to be done when it comes to drug regulation.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, athlete, drug, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at MMA PayoutUFC announces pre-contract drug testing for performance enhancing drugs
This is certainly interesting timing.
On the heels of Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammed Lawa failing a drug test for anabolic steroids for his Jan. 7 bout against Lorenz Larkin, the UFC has issued a press release today announcing a new policy effective immediately that dictates pre-contract drug testing for all newcomers to Zuffa promotions.
From the release:
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world's premier mixed martial arts organization.
UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.
All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.
This is, of course, a necessary step for the world's largest fight promotion and frankly, something it should have been doing all along. Then again, it's fair to question to what point and purpose there is to giving away the fact that if the UFC comes calling with a contract offer, a drug test is coming right alongside it.
After all, only a truly random drug test is going to turn up offenders.
With Lawal and Cristiane Santos, two prominent Strikeforce fighters, both having failed drug tests within the span of a month, the need to do something about steroid use in MMA is obvious. The UFC will undoubtedly garner some solid PR with this press release but will it truly help weed out those who are looking to gain a competitive edge?
Maniacs, what's your take on the matter?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, drug, drug test, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey' tickets on sale this week for Ohio return
Tickets for the next Strikeforce event go on sale this week.
With a heavyweight grand-prix finale between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier still in doubt and not currently slotted for the March 3 card, the show now has been dubbed "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey."
The event, which takes place at Ohio's Nationwide Arena in Columbus, features a title fight between women's flyweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, daniel cormier, rousey, columbus features
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMo Lawal tests positive for steroids after win over Lorenz Larkin
The hits keep coming for embattled MMA promotion Strikeforce after the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed former light heavyweight champ Muhammed Lawal had tested positive for Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid. Lawal’s result stemmed from his bout against previously unbeaten Lorenz Larkin earlier this month at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
According to NSAC executive Keith Kizer, while a specific sentence has not been imposed yet, it’s likely Lawal will face a 9-12 month suspension and be fined 30-50% of his purse (possibly more). It’s also probable his win over Larkin will be overturned and labeled as a “No Contest”.
Lawal is the second athlete from the card to test positive for PED use with Cristiane Santos being the other. Santos was suspended for a year, fined $2500, and stripped of her featherweight title.
Particularly tricky for Lawal is the fact he will be a free agent in February as the bout against Larkin was the last on his Strikeforce contract. The fight was his second appearance in the ring since suffering a serious knee injury in 2010 that kept him out of action for a year.
No official comment on the situation has surfaced from Lawal, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, or UFC President Dana White as of this report.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, larkin, nevada state, lawal
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMuhammed “King Mo” Lawal Tests Positive for Steroids
As if Strikeforce needed more bad news, Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Keith Kizer has announced that former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone, following his fight on January 7th against Lorenz Larkin.
Lawal, 31, was making his Nevada MMA debut at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine”. He defeated Larkin in the second round via TKO.
Drostanolone is a prescribed medication, but can be used by athletes as a way to maintain strength while going through a weight cutting process.
This news comes just weeks after it was announced that Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos was stripped of her title and suspended for one year following her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka, which was ruled a no-contest by the California State Athletic Commission.
Santos tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol.
Kizer did not announce how Lawal will be disciplined, although a similar suspension and fight result is expected.
He did however go on to announce that all other fighters at the event passed their drug tests.
For the very latest on this breaking news, stay tuned to mmafrenzy.com
Posted in: strikeforce, news, california state, lawal, stanozolol kizer
Read the full article at MMA Frenzy'King' Mo Lawal Tests Positive For Steroids After Strikeforce Bout
The drug tests for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine are back and a surprising name tested positive for PEDs: Muhammed Lawal. Of the 15 fighters tested, only Lawal's came back positive. The steroid of choice? Drostanolone, an expensive 'designer' anabolic steroid which has unique qualities. Drostanolone is part of the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) family and has varios medical uses, mainly for lowering cholesterol and in chemotherapy. One of the most unique qualities is that it allows an athlete to add strength without adding mass, which makes it a perfect steroid for athletes in sports that require weight cutting.
Lawal faced Lorenz Larkin in a fight that many considered to be a jump off for another shot at the Strikeforce light heavyweight title. He stopped the fight in the second round by TKO. The fight was already surrounded by controversy as referee Kim Winslow was late to stop Lawal's assault on Larkin, causing the fighter from Riverside, California to take a lot of unnecessary damage.
Lawal has denied that he has taken any steroids and it is expected that he'll challenge the drug test in an appeal.
Full list of fighters tested after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
The following athletes were tested: Luke Rockhold, Keith Jardine, Robbie Lawler, Muhammed Lawal, Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, Tyler Stinson, Nah-Shon Burrell, James Terry, Gian Villante, Trevor Smith, Ricky Legere, Chris Spang, Estevan Payan and Alonzo Martinez.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, lawal, hell challenge, qualities drostanolone
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce star 'King Mo' fails drug test
Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed (King Mo) Lawal has tested positive for an anabolic steroid.
Posted in: strikeforce, star, drug test, mo, king
Read the full article at sportsnet.caKing Mo tests positive for steroids following knockout win over Lorenz Larkin
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammal Lawal has tested positive for anabolic steroids (Drostanolone) following his Jan. 7, 2012, technical knockout (TKO) win over Lorenz Larkin at the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer today alerted MMAmania.com to the results of Lawal's drug test.
Also screened for performance enhancing drugs, as well as drugs of abuse were Luke Rockhold, Keith Jardine, Robbie Lawler, Muhammed Lawal, Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, Tyler Stinson, Nah-Shon Burrell, James Terry, Gian Villante, Trevor Smith, Ricky Legere, Chris Spang, Estevan Payan and Alonzo Martinez.
Those fighters all passed with flying colors.
"King Mo" becomes the second high-profile Strikeforce fighter to test positive for steroids in recent weeks. Former women's champion Cristiane Santos was popped for Stanozolol following her Dec. 17, 2011, win over Hiroko Yamanaka.
More on this breaking news in just a bit.
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, drug, steroid, lawal
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce's 'King Mo' Lawal tests positive for anabolic steroid, fighter denies use
Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone at the Jan. 7 "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event.
That's according to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer, who today emailed the event's drug-testing results to MMAjunkie.com.
When today contacted by MMAjunkie.com, Lawal denied using any banned substances.
Posted in: strikeforce, nevada state, lawal, today emailed, mmajunkiecom lawal
Read the full article at MMA JunkieReport: Cyborg Santos to appeal steroid suspension at April 6 hearing with CSAC
Former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane Santos wants her day in court. Or at least her day in front of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
"Cyborg" was fined $2,500 and suspended for one year after testing positive for steroids (Stanzolol metabolites) following her 16-second knockout win over Hiroko Yamanaka back on Dec. 17, 2011, in San Diego, California.
Strikeforce subsequently stripped her of her 145-pound title.
The Brazilian issued a statement shortly after learning of her suspension, indicating that she was having a difficult time cutting weight for last month's fight and used a dietary supplement that she "was assured was safe and not prohibited from use in sports competition."
Could that be the crux of her upcoming appeal?
SI.com has the report:
Santos' manager, who asked not to be identified by name, said a response letter was mailed to the CSAC on Monday requesting a hearing in front of the seven-member commission.
CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd said Santos' appeal would likely be heard at an April 6 meeting with the venue to be determined.
Santos' manager said its believed that the supplement in question was given to the fighter by a "trusted individual" in her camp to take orally, but that all the supplements she took are currently being reviewed.
Cyborg's technical knockout (TKO) win over Yamanaka was overturned by the CSAC and ruled a "no contest."
Santos has run through her competition under the Strikeforce banner since making her way over in 2009, with wins over notable female fighters like Gina Carano and Marloes Coenen. Those victories, even if she was clean at the time, will likely be forever tainted in the eyes of the public.
Strikeforce released a statement just last week indicating a neutral position; however, the 145-pound division is undoubtedly in peril, as evidenced by UFC President Dana White telling ESPN that Santos getting popped "pretty much kills" the division.
Unless by some miracle the CSAC clears her of any wrongdoing.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: strikeforce, cyborg, appeal, csac, months fight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPotential UFC, Strikeforce Signees Now Subject to PED Testing
Filed under: UFC, NewsFighters from now on will be screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to signing with the UFC or Strikeforce, Zuffa announced Tuesday.
This announcement comes off the heels of two straight Strikeforce events with drug test failures from major Strikeforce players. In the last 11 days, athletic commissions have named both former women's 145-lb. champ Cris Cyborg and former 205-lb. champ Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal for testing positive for steroids.
"The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority," UFC president Dana White said in a press release. "We've seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we're going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and Strikeforce. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field."
Current UFC and Strikeforce fighters will continue to be drug tested before and after fights as well as randomly in accordance with respective athletic commissions.
The policy of screening potential signees for PEDs prior to finalizing a contract officially came into effect Jan. 1. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, drug, testing, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSaving Strikeforce's Female Featherweights
While Strikeforce’s train rolls through the year 2012, they’ve left a car at the railyard and it isn’t known whether it will be connected again. Any progress in the Strikeforce women’s featherweight division came to a screeching halt with the announcement of Cristiane Santos‘ failed drug test. Not only is the news disappointing, but the situations will cripple, if not end, the women’s 145 pound division in Strikeforce. However, that doesn’t HAVE to be case as there are still ways the division can be sustained, even with the news that Ronda Rousey is officially dropping down to 135 to fight Miesha Tate. Here are a few thoughts from my end on how to keep it going.
Here are a few humble suggestions on what Scott Coker and crew can do to dig the female featherweight division out of the hole it’s currently in:
Santos Apologizes for Failed Drug Test
1.) Keep and utilize Hiroko Yamanaka.
If Yamanaka is truly the #2 ranked featherweight in the world, as Strikeforce claimed, she’s obviously a major piece to the featherweight puzzle. Just because she lost to “Cyborg” so quickly and decisively does not discount what she can bring to the table. With Santos shelved for the next year, somebody of Yamanaka’s presence can help attract attention from all corners of the MMA world.
2.) At least TRY to build the division.
As I sat pondering who was in the women’s featherweight division, I counted four eligible fighters (Yamanaka, Julia Budd, Germaine de Randamie, Sarah D’Alelio) though I’m not sure how many of them are still under contract. For example, it sounds like D’Alelio may already be with Janet Martin‘s new Invicta promotion. In contrast, with Santos’ ongoing contract dispute, the featherweight division cranked only cranked out five fights all year involving seven total fighters. Within that period none occurred between the January 7 event and the June 24 Challengers card. Five public displays don’t bode well for any business in general, moreso for one struggling to stay afloat like this one.
It may even be worth seeing if any of the bantamweights are willing to move up to compete as well. Liz Carmouche, for example, cuts between 20-30 pounds to make 135 and could probably compete at 145, not to mention that she’s got a good backstory to her that hasn’t been utilized enough. Martin’s aforementioned Invicta has already got Marloes Coenen, so if Zuffa actually cares, they may want to act fast before Martin signs all the best talent.
3.) Send Amanda Nunes back to 145.
When Nunes debuted against Budd her KO of the Canadian sent shockwaves around the MMA world and brought a new presence/energy to the featherweight division bringing a bunch of eyes on it again. She then promptly dropped down to bantamweight, and following a foot injury,\ lost to Alexis Davis. Nunes is young, talented, and can gift a hurting division with her knockout power and developing ground game.
4.) Crown a new champion as soon as possible.
Strikeforce and Zuffa will never know whether or not they can sustain the 145ers without giving the division a bit of legitimacy. Building it around somebody they see as a flagbearer is the most obvious way to create it. Announce a tournament, or something along those lines ASAP, and build momentum right away.
These all appear to be a pipe dream, because in the long run I expect that the featherweight division will be disbanded soo and all fighters under contract will either be released or expected to drop down. Still, it would be nice for Strikeforce to give it a final run over the course of a few events in 2012 to attempt to keep the weight-class alive. Just because Santos may have killed her career doesn’t mean they should let her take the division down as well.
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Posted in: strikeforce, division, featherweight, yamanaka, featherweight division
Read the full article at Fighters.comKing Mo Lawal Tests Positive for Steroid Drostanalone
Filed under: StrikeforceMuhammed "King Mo" Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who returned to the cage on January 7, may not be back in the cage any time soon after testing positive for a banned steroid.
Lawal tested positive for Drostanalone, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced today.
Drostanalone can be used as a medication for lowering cholesterol and is sometimes prescribed to cancer patients, but it is also used as a performance-enhancing substance. It is particularly known as a steroid that athletes and bodybuilders use when they are attempting to maintain strength and muscle mass while cutting weight.
The Nevada Commission did not say what discipline Lawal will face, but fighters who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs typically have their license suspended for anywhere from six months to a year. Lawal's TKO victory was viewed as likely to earn him another shot at the Strikeforce light heavyweight title, but that apparently won't happen now.
Lawal is the second well-known Strikeforce fighter to fail a performance-enhancing drug test recently. Cris Cyborg, the promotion's 145-pound female champion, also tested positive for steroids at her most recent fight.
The Nevada Commission announced that all the other fighters who took part in the January 7 Strikeforce show tested negative for all banned substances. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, lawal, nevada, nevada commission, performanceenhancing substance
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMilton Vieira, Inventor of Anaconda Choke, Signs with UFC
Filed under: UFC, NewsMilton Vieira, a 33-year-old Brazilian who is widely credited as the creator of the anaconda choke, has signed with the UFC after a single fight in Strikeforce. Vieira, who fought as a lightweight in Strikeforce, will move down to 145 when he makes his octagon debut sometime in 2012.
His manager Nima Safapour of Alchemist Management confirmed the signing to MMA Fighting on Tuesday morning.
Vieira is 13-7-1 in a career that dates back to 2001. Nine of his wins have come by submission, including three by anaconda choke.
Vieira has long been considered a key member of the famed Brazilian Top Team and taught the anaconda hold to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who popularized it in a pair of 2004 PRIDE wins.
He fought most recently at a Strikeforce Challengers show last August, defeating Sterling Ford in a first-round technical submission. That victory stretched his win streak to three straight. Overall, he's won five of his last six bouts. During his career, he's also fought in PRIDE and M-1.
Safapour told MMA Fighting that Vieira does not yet have his octagon debut scheduled, but that the contract to move him from Strikeforce to UFC has been signed by all parties. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, octagon debut, anaconda, vieira
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Announces Pre-Contract Screening Policy for PEDs
Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.“We’re committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we’re taking it one step further. We’re going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don’t want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport.”This pre-contract screening policy further cements the organization’s dedication to the well-being of its athletes. In May, the organization announced that nearly 350 UFC and STRIKEFORCE independent contractor athletes would be eligible for customized accident insurance coverage, an unprecedented policy that covers accidental injuries suffered by athletes while training, as well as non-training incidents such as automobile accidents.“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, athlete, drug, performanceenhancing drugs
Read the full article at UFCRonda Rousey: Cris Cyborg is an idiot with a penis
From the files of "Them fightin' words" comes this latest gem from fearless female fighter Ronda Rousey, who wasn't too pleased that former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane Santos was posting photos of Gina Carano's battered face in an attempt to intimidate her.
Santos was recently popped for using steroids in adavance of her 145-pound title defense against Hiroko Yamanaka, who crumbled under the juice of the Brazilian "Cyborg" just last month.
Following her suspension, the "Rowdy" one was vocal about the damage Santos did to the state of women's MMA by "cheating" to get a competitive edge.
Cyborg was not amused.
What followed was a war of words on Twitter, with Rousey dropping today's bomb:
@criscyborg you don't just have a dick, you are a dick for posting that picture of Gina, you cheater. Wow Cris Cyborg aka Lou Feriggno has no fucking class. I can't believe this idiot, after they prove she cheats and that she's half man she still talks shit.
That's hitting below the belt. Literally!
Rousey (4-0) burst onto the scene with four straight armbar finishes and has yet to see any bout go longer than 49 seconds. In her spare time, she makes a mockery of the male ego by no-selling balls to the stomach.
The former Olympian will try to prove she can walk the walk in less than two months at the Strikeforce event booked for March 3, 2012, in Columbus Ohio, opposite women's 135-pound champion Miesha Tate.
And if Cyborg ever makes her way back to Strikeforce following her suspension, expect an epic grudge match to be waiting for her.
Posted in: strikeforce, cyborg, womens mma, rousey, edge cyborg
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGrappling with Issues – 1/13/11
Will Jose Aldo still be a featherweight a year from today? How should Strikeforce handle the fallout from Cris Santos‘ positive drug test? Is Anthony Johnson going to be a better middleweight than he was a welterweight? How much life does Strikeforce have left in it?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
Will Strikeforce last past 2012?
Conlan: No. More and more I keep hearing Strikeforce may only put on six shows in 2012 rather than eight, a bad sign in itself. With the abysmal ticket sales and general lack of buzz about shows I don’t see Showtime wanting them back or the UFC wanting to continue floating them financially. Hell, every star on the Strikeforce roster wants to go to the UFC, so there’s no reason to keep playing games by pretending the organization isn’t nose-diving towards being dismantled.
Lambert: I have to echo Bren on this one. I’m no body language expert, but I got the feeling that Dana White really regretted keeping the company around during his interview at this past weekends Strikeforce event. They actually did a fair amount of promotion for Saturday’s event and it was during a Showtime free preview weekend, and it still only drew 344,000 people. Dana doesn’t appear to be behind the promotion, fighters would rather be in the UFC, and fans would rather watch something else.
What should Strikeforce do with the featherweight division now that “Cyborg” Santos has been suspended for a year?
Conlan: They actually *have* a featherweight division?!? When did this happen? The truth is there aren’t enough quality 145-pound females in MMA or else we would have heard about more of them by now. I’d wager 90+ percent of the audience had no idea who Hiroko Yamanaka was prior to her being named as a challenger and that in itself is all you need to know when it comes to the 145ers. There was never a real effort to build a division to begin with so why start now?
Lambert: Just award Gina Carano the vacant title and hope to God she thinks it’s valuable enough to defend this year. They’ll pop a rating if she decides to fight and if she doesn’t, maybe she’ll be kind enough to show up and drunkenly dance. Scrapping the division is obviously the way to go. The whole appeal of the division was, “Watch Cyborg beat up some poor girl” and now that’s gone. They haven’t built up any other fighters and I guess that’s because they have no fighters to build up.
How many rounds will Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes go this weekend?
Conlan: Five. I don’t think either man will finish the other barring a perfectly placed “one punch” knockout. Mendes is likely to control a lot of the action while on top of Aldo, scoring points and fending off elbows/submission attempts but not necessarily pounding the Brazilian champ out. Likewise, Aldo will clearly dominate the striking department but was unable to finish a one-legged Urijah Faber or the tag-team of Mark Hominick and his hematoma. Someone’s winning a decision. I’m just not sure who.
Lambert: I think Aldo will finish Mendes in the second round. Sure he didn’t finish Faber and Hominick, but that’s only because he was fighting them in their hometown and didn’t want to completely embarrass them. And he didn’t finish Florian because he felt bad that he had to stand in the way of Kenny failing to win another title. Things are different this time though. He’s in the UFC main event and fighting in his home country of Brazil. There will be no sympathy for Mendes this Saturday.
Should Zuffa bring in a UFC middleweight for Luke Rockhold’s next fight?
Lambert: No. First off, Zuffa doesn’t have many UFC middleweights to spare as it’s not a real deep division. I guess a guy like Brian Stann could move down to Strikeforce, but here’s the problem – no UFC fighter wants to move down to Strikeforce. Really though, Rockhold has two good fights at 185 in Strikeforce those being Tim Kennedy and a rematch with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. I know Rockhold wants better competition, but he should really slow his role a bit. He won a close decision against Souza in the first fight and beat Keith Jardine in 2012. He doesn’t really have the resume to be calling out UFC guys just yet. If he beats Kennedy and Souza, both of whom are UFC caliber middleweights, then move him to the Octagon.
Conlan: Agreed for the most part. Kennedy should be definitely be Rockhold’s next opponent and Souza is a legitimate option assuming “Jacare” can pick up a win beforehand, as their first fight wasn’t close enough to dictate an immediate rematch). If those two things play out, that scenario should keep Rockhold busy until the latter part of the year when things can be reassessed based on Strikeforce’s future or lack thereof.
However, I do differ with Jeremy in terms of assuming there isn’t a legitimate middleweight on the UFC roster willing to go to Strikeforce for a 6-9 month stint if it meant the same pay day and the possibility of a title-shot if/when the UFC absorbs the company. Why wouldn’t a guy like Yushin Okami prefer a scenario with Rockhold/Kennedy/Souza to the road he’d have to travel in the UFC to earn another crack at the belt?
Anthony Johnson will do better/worse at 185 pounds than he did at 170.
Lambert: Better, because as I just mentioned, middleweight isn’t deep, especially compared to welterweight. It’s not like Johnson lit up his fellow 170ers. He faltered in his biggest test against Josh Koscheck, missed significant time, and then won back-to-back fights against mid-level opponents but now he’s at 185. If he beats Vitor Belfort, he’s legitimately one fight away from a title fight.
Conlan: I’m going to cheat and say “the same”. As Jeremy pointed out, Johnson’s run at 170-pounds wasn’t anything to brag about. He beat some solid opposition but also lost a few fights despite having a huge size advantage. I see the same situation carrying over to middleweight where he’ll be healthier but also face guys of a similar physical stature. Ultimately, “Rumble” will take out some quality opponents but also lose a few times, maybe even against guys he should beat on paper, and remain as much a top contender to the middleweight title as he is to the welterweight one, i.e. a long-shot.
Will Jose Aldo still be a featherweight in January 2013?
Lambert: This is a tough one, but I think he’ll end up moving to 155 sometime this year. Even though a drawn out Aldo still beats the majority of the division, there’s no point in him continuing to cut the weight when Frankie Edgar has proven that smaller guys can get it done at lightweight. Aldo obviously has the skills to compete in the division and he’ll have a nice speed advantage as well. Plus, assuming the weight cut is the reason for his questionable cardio at 145, those issues should be eliminated at 155.
Conlan: The only person who truly knows the answer is Andre Pederneiras, Aldo’s coach at Nova Uniao. The 145-pound champ has never waivered from his stance that he would do what he was told to whether it meant staying at featherweight or moving up. I will say that I’m confident Aldo’s recent training time with Gray Maynard probably gave him a better feel for how he’d fare at 155 and, at least from the footage the UFC released, it would definitely be more than decent.
If forced to pick “yes” or “no” on this topic I’ll go with the former since I think his camp will want him to truly cement his legacy at featherweight before moving up. With fights on the horizon against some solid scrappers, as well as a continuous stream of 155ers moving down, as long as he can get his weight-cutting in check he’ll be terrorizing the division for at least another year (which is really only 2-3 more fights max).
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, ’t, aldo
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSteve Mazzagatti and Cecil Peoples join UFC 143 cast and crew on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas
U Mazz?
Veteran mixed martial arts (MMA) referee Steve Mazzagatti has been asked to step up and officiate the UFC 143 main event fight between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, set to go down on Feb. 4, 2012, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joining him will be the oft-maligned Cecil Peoples, who will assume the position of judge alongside Patricia Morse-Jarman and Junichiro Kamijo.
Sherdog compiled some recent stats:
Mazzagatti has refereed more than 250 fights in the UFC, Strikeforce, WEC and EliteXC, according to FightMetric.com. Most recently, he oversaw the Robbie Lawler-Adlan Amagov and Tarec Saffiedine-Tyler Stinson bouts at Strikeforce "Rockhold vs. Jardine" on Jan. 7.
Peoples, who judged 19 events in 2011, last worked the Strikeforce "Melendez vs. Masvidal" card on Dec. 17, producing a 50-45 scorecard in favor of Melendez in the main event as well as a 29-28 card for K.J. Noons over Billy Evangelista in a lightweight affair.
Anyone rolling their eyes at the addition of MMA's dynamic duo? Or is all well that ends well?
More on the UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) event here.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, vs, event, people
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTyron Woodley 'frustrated' that Strikeforce won't commit to giving him a title shot
Pretty? No. Effective? Yes.
That might be the best way to describe Tyron Woodley's win over top 170-pound prospect Jordan Mein at the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event that took place last Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He got the job done.
The undefeated wrestling phenom did exactly what he's done in his last three fights, also decision wins, and that's control the pace with effective grappling and position. While he failed to secure a stoppage, it shouldn't take away from the fights he has finished, including five submissions and one technical knockout across his short but impressive career.
At least, that's "T-Wood's" argument (via Sherdog's Savage Dog Show), one he's making after Strikeforce executives failed to guarantee him a 170-pound title shot.
"To me, it should be, ‘Tyron’s fighting for the belt next.’ That’s the only answer I was looking forward to hearing. Yeah, it concerns me and it kind of really frustrated me that -- what are we guessing about? Did I guess when [Strikeforce] called me and said, ‘Hey, you want to fight this tough kid in three and a half weeks?’ When I was just told basically I was going to fight in February 24 hours before then? Those are my thoughts. I’m just being honest. I’ve knocked guys out. I’ve submitted guys. I’ve made people stop through strikes. I’ve had different kinds of submissions. My response is going to be not very good, number one. Number two, they announced something at the press conference that caught me and several others by surprise: Paul Daley and [Kazuo] Misaki fighting … which draws a huge problem because obviously Misaki would be the most legitimate person to match me up with for a world title. So now it’s like, once again, I’m a victim of circumstances. My world title, me fighting for the belt, is dependent on somebody else. What if Paul Daley beats him? We’re going to rematch for the title? Are they going to have me fight immediately after March? I just fought in January. Are these guys going to fight in March and then turn around and fight in April? I don’t think so."
Woodley's best argument is that no other fighter in the welterweight division, at least in Strikeforce, can be ranked higher than him at 10-0. Two possible contenders, Paul Daley and Tarec Saffiedine, were already victimized by him in previous fights.
So what now?
If the UFC is adamant about keeping the divisions separate, Woodley could become the Robinson Crusoe of the 170-pound island. However, if he does get a cross-town transfer, it could set off an entirely new career trajectory.
Any Maniacs out there have an opinion for (or against) him?
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, world title, woodley
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBroken Hand Benches Strikeforce’s Luke Rockhold
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold may have spent less than 5 minutes in the cage with Keith Jardine, but he did some damage, both to Jardine’s career and to his own hand.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke, keith jardine, jardine
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Champ Rockhold Sidelined with Broken Right Hand
Luke Rockhold walked away from his bout against Keith Jardine with his Strikeforce middleweight title intact, but the champ did not escape unscathed.
Posted in: strikeforce, right, rockhold, champ, keith jardine
Read the full article at SherdogRampage Jackson: Fighting "King Mo" Lawal in Strikeforce is a step down from where I'm sitting
While making an appearance on HDNet's "Inside MMA," former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, responds to a recent challenge extended by Strikeforce 205'er, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. Jackson says that he finds Lawal's suggestion that he move to Strikeforce humorous, insisting that, from where he's sitting, that would be a "step down" in his MMA career.
Posted in: strikeforce, jackson, rampage jackson, lawal, lawals suggestion
Read the full article at Low KickCyborg Santos and the Strikeforce Featherweight Division
With the news that Cristiane Santos had tested positive for steroids, many assumed that Strikeforce would simply scrap the entire women's 145-pound division. Scott Coker, however, has since recommitted himself to the class, insisting that there's still potential amongst the featherweights. Let's take a look for ourselves...
The Top Four
Former Strikeforce women's featherweight champion and all around terror, Cristiane Santos needs no introduction. She will however, need to serve a year-long suspension before she can figure into Strikeforce's plans.
Ronda Rousey has been noted by many as the next big star in women's MMA. With a big smile, charismatic persona, and an MMA career consisting of four first-round armbar finishes, it's easy to see why. That all of Rousey's victories in Strikeforce have come as a 145 pounds further suggests that she might have a future in this division. However, an upcoming title fight against Miesha Tate suggests a commitment to bantamweight.
Despite being blown out of the water in her title bid against Santos, Hiroko Yamanaka is still has one of the best records of anyone in the division at 12-1-0. She should figure heavily into Strikeforce's plans if they want to keep developing the featherweights.
Julia Budd has only managed a 2-2-0 record in her career, but that all of those fights have been contested in Strikeforce should put that fact in a slightly better light. That she debuted in the promotion with a victory over then-undefeated Shana Nelson is greatly to her credit.
After the jump, the best of the rest and some concluding thoughts...
Best of the Rest
Strikeforce's website suggests that it has other featherweights on its roster, but that simply isn't true. Two of them, Gina Carano and Shana Nelson, aren't actively competing with the organization, while the likes of Germaine de Randamie and Amanda Nunes have actually contended most of their careers at bantamweight. As such, the organization will definitely start wanting to ring up some new talent...
Kelly Kobold spent the first five and a half years of her career compiling an eye-opening record of 17-0-1, with fourteen of those victories coming by way of submission or (T)KO. A three-fight skid, culminating in a loss to Gina Carano, saw Kobold take her leave of the sport until last spring, when she returned with a submission victory over Pipi Taylor, who was then undefeated at 5-0-0.
Once considered a strong challenger for Santos' belt, Erin Toughill would still make a good addition to Strikeforce, but the organization may also want to consider Ashley Sanchez, who took an upset win over Toughill last April.
Sau Paulo, Brazil's Ediane Gomes would also make a strong addition to Strikeforce, with six of her eight victories coming by way of submission (and five of those by armbar).
And so...
Julia Budd is an exciting, game fighter, but you know you're in trouble when someone with a 2-2-0 record is figuring into the top five of your division You're in even bigger trouble when that "top five" was scaled back to "top four."
I'm simply not convinced that WMMA has grown enough in the last few years to sustain this weight class. And while there are a few other additions I could have made to this list, such as Elaina Maxwell and the undefeated Rin Nakai, they don't compete at featherweight proper, and are more likely to drop a few pounds to make a home at 135. Given the above list Strikeforce could put on a decent four-woman tournament to determine a number-one contender for Santos' return, but then what?
There may well be a future for featherweights, but it's not an immediate future. Strikeforce, if it wants to grow, would be better served by focusing on its bantamweight class and adding flyweights to the mix, both of which are far more replete with fighting talent.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, featherweight, record, victory
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendChamp Luke Rockhold Breaks Hand in Strikeforce Win over Keith Jardine
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold broke his right hand in his first title defense, a win over Keith Jardine on Saturday.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, title defense, keith jardine, right hand
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Showtime ratings and salaries
MMA Junkie reports that the ratings for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine earned an average of 344,000 viewers on Showtime. In addtion, Strikeforce salaries were released with Robbie Lawler topping the salary roster.
Strikeforce Saturday night earned a 0.93 household rating. It is the second-lowest rated Showtime-Strikeforce show for 2011-2012 out of 9 shows during the period. The low ratings occurred despite a free preview weekend on Showtime. It did compete with the NFL’s Saints vs. Lions game. But, its a disappointing 2012 debut for Strikeforce under the new Zuffa-Strikeforce contract.
The salary payroll totaled $566,000 with Lawler receiving $150,000 with no win bonus. Main event winner Luke Rockhold received $90,000.
Via MMA Junkie:
Luke Rockhold: $90,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus)
def. Keith Jardine: $30,000
Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (no win bonus)
def. Adlan Amagov: $10,000
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal: $95,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Lorenz Larkin: $17,000
Tyron Woodley: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus)
def. Jordan Mein: $9,000
Tarec Saffiedine: $31,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus)
def. Tyler Stinson: $4,000
Nah-Shon Burrell: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus)
def. James Terry: $9,000
Gian Villante: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)
def. Trevor Smith: $4,000
Ricky Legere: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)
def. Chris Spang: $6,000
Estevan Payan: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus)
def. Alonzo Martinez: $5,000
Payout Perspective:
It will be interesting what Showtime will do to attract more viewers to its product. The ratings are disappointing considering the free preview allowed more viewers the opportunity to watch. A Tate-Rousey fight will be huge for the promotion (on many levels) in March. Unless we missed it, there were no Fight of the Night, Sub or KO of the Night bonuses. We’ll see if salaries will escalate for Strikeforce stars like Lawal and Melendez to compensate for not being able to jump to the UFC. Zuffa could offer its “locker room” bonuses to those stars as its form of compensation.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, rating, bonus, salary
Read the full article at MMA PayoutRonda Rousey has no respect for a 'cheater' like Cyborg Santos
If you were surprised to hear that former Strikeforce women's champion Cristiane Santos was popped for steroids, then you're functioning with less than half a brain.
That's according to female fighting sensation Ronda Rousey, who has done such a good job of promoting herself and staying in the spotlight, even Chael Sonnen is at home taking notes.
That includes her recent appearance on "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo," where she got a lil' "Rowdy" when it came to the subject of "Cyborg's" failed drug test.
Here's what she said:
"I feel like anyone with half a brain isn’t surprised. I have mixed emotions of Cyborg being caught cheating because I know everyone knew she was cheating and I wanted to make an example of her because you don’t need to take steroids to win. I think her getting caught is a great thing too. I don’t have the least bit respect for her because I always knew she was a cheater, and now everyone else knows too. If she ever comes back to fight again, she won’t be the same beast she was before. She might even try doing different things like HGH that are harder to get caught for. Who knows if Strikeforce even wants her back?"
Rousey (4-0) burst onto the scene with four straight armbar finishes and has yet to see any bout go longer than 49 seconds. In her spare time, she makes a mockery of the male ego by no-selling balls to the stomach.
The former Olympian will try to prove she can walk the walk in less than two months at the Strikeforce event booked for March 3, 2012, in Columbus Ohio, opposite women's 135-pound champion Miesha Tate.
And if Cyborg ever makes her way back to Strikeforce following her suspension, expect an epic grudge match to be waiting for her.
Posted in: strikeforce, cyborg, ronda rousey, rousey, brain isnrsquot
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' ratings: Event draws 344,000 viewers
This past weekend's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event drew a 0.93 household rating and an average audience of 344,000 viewers.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with an industry source.
Despite the Jan. 7 event taking place on Showtime's "free-preview" weekend, the total viewership was short of the 522,000 viewers Strikeforce averaged for its eight "Arena Series" event in 2011.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, rating, viewer, industry source
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFive Ounces of Podcast: Episode 15
It’s the Five Ounces of Podcast with Samer Kadi and Jeremy Lambert and if you like the burial of companies, referees, and fighters, this is the podcast for you. First we start with a review of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine and why this event, like seemingly every Strikeforce event nowadays, felt secondary. We’ll run down all the fights and talk about the performances of Luke Rockhold and Muhammed Lawal and why it’s good for them to stay in Strikeforce, we’ll blame Keith Jardine for everything that’s ever gone wrong in MMA, and we’ll discuss the rest of the bouts. Then we’ll preview this weekends UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes card and why it feels a little bit secondary as well. We’ll preview the whole card and tell you why Chad Mendes can’t win, but Jose Aldo can lose and discuss the accuracy of Vitor Belfort‘s punching. All that *and* Samer goes off on a rant on B.J. Penn and his legacy!
It’s nearly two hours of MMA talk, so check it out…
Podcast Powered By Podbean
Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes
Posted in: strikeforce, muhammed lawal, keith jardine, podcast, companies referees
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFCs Quinton Jackson doesn't like King Mo, refuses to 'step down' to Strikeforce
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, jackson, king mo, king, mattyblayze link
Read the full article at RedditLuke Rockhold possibly out six months with injured hand
Moments after stopping veteran competitor Keith Jardine at this past weekend’s Strikeforce event, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was asked who he hoped his next opponent would be. Rockhold went on to explain he wanted to face one of the UFC’s middleweights in hopes of testing himself against a “Top 10” adversary. While it’s unknown whether or not he’ll get his wish, one thing is certain – Rockhold’s next appearance in the cage may not take place until summertime depending on how severe an undisclosed injury to his right hand is.
Rockhold’s name was among four fighters from the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine lineup listed on the NSAC’s list of medical suspensions with a July date attached to their possible recovery time. While nothing specific was mentioned as far as what might have happened to his hand, some light was left at the end of the tunnel as Rockhold can be cleared by a doctor at an earlier time.
A More Detailed Look at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Outcomes
Other fighters potentially out for six months include James Terry (shoulder), Tyler Stinson (left thumb and right knee), and Tarec Saffiedine (left elbow).
Read below for a complete list of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine medical suspensions:
Alonzo Martinez: Suspended until 2/22 with no contact until 2/7 due to a bridge-of-nose laceration
Estevan Payan: Suspended until 2/7 with no contact until 1/29 due to a right-eye laceration
Trevor Smith: Suspended until 1/29 with no contact until 1/22 for precautionary reasons
James Terry: Suspended until 7/6 due to shoulder injuries, though an orthopedic doctor can clear him early
Tyler Stinson: Suspended until 7/6 due to left-thumb and right-knee injuries, though a doctor can clear him early; regardless, suspended until 2/22 with no contact until 2/7 due to a right-eye laceration
Tarec Saffiedine: Suspended until 7/6 due to a left-elbow injury, though a doctor (with an MRI and X-rays) can clear him early; regardless, suspended until 1/22 with no contact until 2/7 due to a left-eye laceration
Lorenz Larkin: Suspended until 2/7 with no contact until 1/29 for precautionary reasons
Adlan Amigov: Suspended until 2/7 with no contact until 1/29 for precautionary reasons
Keith Jardine: Suspended until 3/8 with no contact until 2/22 for precautionary reasons
Luke Rockhold: Suspended until 7/6 due to a right-hand injury, though a doctor can clear him early
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, injury, contact, doctor
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine: 10 Fighters Given Medical Suspensions
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold could be out for as long as six months unless his right hand is cleared by a doctor after his win over Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, right, rockhold, jardine, right hand
Read the full article at Heavy MMAMain event for March 3 Strikeforce event still undetermined
For the second year in a row, Strikeforce will return to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio to run an event in conjunction with the annual Arnold Sports Festival. During last night’s broadcast of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, the organization officially confirmed four bouts for the card, including the previously rumored women’s bantamweight title fight between champion Miesha Tate and challenger Ronda Rousey.
Along with the title fight will be a lightweight bout between former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons, a welterweight showdown between Kazuo Misaki and Paul Daley, and a women’s #1 contender bout as former title holder Sarah Kaufman battles Alexis Davis.
Howeverm despite the four fight card featuring a title-bout, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAJunkie.com that, “(The main event has) not been determined. We’re still booking fights.”
Coker hopes that the Heavyweight Grand Prix final between Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett will headline the show but that it will clearly depend on whether or not Cormier is cleared by doctors from his broken hand, an injury he suffered in his semifinal victory against Antonio Silva. No other options were mentioned as possibilities.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, event, kj noons, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Medical Suspensions; Four Out Up to Six Months
Both main event fighters, Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine, were medically suspended following Saturday night's Strikeforce event in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, rockhold, keith jardine, jardine
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFCs Quinton Jackson doesn't like King Mo, refuses to 'step down' to Strikeforce
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight contender (and former champion) Quinton Jackson has had several epic "beefs" with some well known mixed martial arts (MMA) competitors.
He's locked horns with the likes of Rashad Evans. He's traded barbs with current champion Jon Jones. He's even exchanged unpleasantries with bad guys as "B.A. Baracus" in the 2010 movie remake of "The A-Team."
But, his most recent verbal sparring partner is none other than Strikeforce's own Muhammed Lawal, who recently called out "Rampage" after his win over Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7, 2012.
Jackson heard the comments from "King Mo." And it should come as a surprise to no one that he wasn't amused and hurled a few words of his own for his fellow loudmouthed 205-pounder.
Here's what he had to say during an interview on HDNet's "Inside MMA:"
"I don't like the guy. He's a hater. He's a big time hater, you know what I'm sayin'? He's been calling me out on Twitter and stuff. He's just hatin' big time. He, uh, he told me a while ago that he wanted to fight me when I'm on my way out. When I'm over the hill. Like most fighters, we get old and the time comes to retire. He said that's when he wants to fight me, years ago. Now he's comin' at me like I'm on my way out."
Apparently, Jackson watched Lawal's fight against Larkin. He was not impressed by his performance:
"I wasn't impressed with Mo's fight at all. He beat some guy and knocked some guy out on the ground, but the guy has no wrestling experience at all. I can look at Mo, I'm a fighter -- I could tell he was gettin' tired. If it woulda went to the next round, homeboy probably woulda come back. Cuz Mo looked like he was gettin' tired. I don't think Mo's been in the cage with the best in the world. He thinks I'm a bum now? Cuz I lost a fight with Jon Jones, one of the best light heavyweights in my weight class right now? So, I lost a fight to that guy, so now I'm a bum? Well, he can say that all he wants, but that guy has never fought anybody close to the caliber of the guys I've fought."
"Rampage" went on to address comments Lawal made about Jackson coming over to the Strikeforce promotion to challenge him there, as opposed to vice versa.
According to Jackson, he's insulted by the idea and would never consider it:
"It's funny that he gotta talk about me after his fight and say I should move down to the Strikeforce and fight him. I'm sorry, but from where I'm sittin', that's a step down. You know what I'm sayin'? Why would I wanna step down to the Strikeforce and fight him when I'm fightin' in the biggest organization in the world?"
Hard to argue otherwise ... at least for now. Strikeforce vs. UFC, loser leaves town match, anyone?
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, he, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Talks Strikeforce’s Future on Showtime
Zuffa president Dana White talked with Showtime play-by-play man Mauro Ranallo on Saturday about the future of Strikeforce on the premium cable channel.
Posted in: strikeforce, dana, showtime, future, playbyplay
Read the full article at Heavy MMA2011 World MMA Scouting Report Review - Welterweights
This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy)
A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunities, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects.
1. Yuri Villefort (6-0)
Yuri Villefort was signed to a Strikeforce contract in 2011 along with his brother Danillo, and they were supposed to debut on the same Strikeforce Challengers card. But training injuries forced Yuri to withdraw from his scheduled debut against Travis Bush (5-2-1). No subsequent make-up date was set for the fight. Factoring in Danillo's defeat at the hands of Nate James in his Strikeforce debut, 2011 was a lost year for the Villeforts. At just 20 years of age, Yuri can afford the delay, but he needs to get back in the cage soon.
2. Alex Garcia (7-1)
As a member of the famed Tristar gym in Montreal, Alex Garcia was on the fast track to the world stage. That is, until his momentum was halted at the hands of jumbo-sized UFC welterweight Seth Baczynski in April. "The Dominican Nightmare" scored a big slam on Baczynski early, but appeared to tire quickly in the grappling exchanges, losing dominant position about midway through the first round. Garcia succumbed to ground and pound in the second round for his first career loss. He came back in October to take on Canadian circuit regular Matt McGrath (10-7) at Ringside MMA 12: Daley vs. Fioravanti. It was a return to form for Alex, winning by knockout early for his sixth career first round stoppage victory, lifting his Ringside MMA record to 5-1.
3. Erick Silva (13-1)
As expected, Erick Silva was able to parlay his 2010 Jungle Fight welterweight tournament championship run into a contract with the UFC. His debut came against then-Shooto Brazil welterweight champion Luis Ramos (19-7) at UFC 134 in Rio. Erick made it look easy, dropping Ramos with an overhand bomb early in the first. The flashy knockout finish in his debut has garnered Silva a lot of buzz among UFC fans. Next up for Erick is a UFC 142 clash with journeyman debutant Carlo Prater (29-10-1).
4. Douglas Lima (21-4)
If you want an example of a fighter who jumped from prospect to champion, look no further than Douglas Lima. He already held the Maximum Fighting Championship title when he chose to trade up for a spot in the season five Bellator welterweight tournament. Douglas got off to a rocky start, but recovered from a first round knockdown to take a decision from tournament veteran Steve Carl (15-3) in the quarterfinal. The semifinal and final rounds were a different matter, however; Lima found range with his counter boxing attack, scoring one punch knockouts over Chris Lozano (9-2) and Ben Saunders (12-4-2) to take the tournament. Next up is a shot at the Bellator world 170lb. title against immovable Champion Ben Askren (9-0).
5. Luis Santos (50-7-1)
The Scouting Report committee of two were anxiously hoping for an all-report Bellator welterweight tournament final between Luis Santos and Douglas Lima, and it seemed like it might actually happen. Santos outgunned Bellator mainstay Dan Hornbuckle (22-5) in the quarterfinal round with a superior mix of speed, footwork and power roundhouse kicks. In the semfinals, Luis got off to a good start early against UFC veteran Ben Saunders with punches and a takedown, but found himself stuck for much of the fight in an unusual high guard attack from "Killah B" that prevented Santos from mounting any offense. The recurring position eventually led to a keylock submission win for Saunders in the third round. Sadly, "Sapo" has not been invited back for the upcoming Season 6 welterweight tournament.
6. Jesse Juarez (17-7)
Jesse Juarez suffered a broken arm and and broken leg in his third round submission loss to Douglas Lima for the Maximum Fighting Championship welterweight championship last December. To add insult to injury, there was a dispute with MFC promoter Mark Pavelich over reimbursement for medical bills accrued as a result of the bout. Jesse parted ways with MFC in favor of a June main event against UFC regular Josh Neer (32-10-1) at Shark Fights 16 in Texas. It was another setback, as Juarez's corner stopped the fight after the first round due to an injury. Jesse finished the year in style though, successfully defending his Cage Fighting Championship strap against Manuel Rodriguez (8-2) in August, then making his Russian MMA debut in a winning effort over Gadji Zaipulaev (16-6) in December.
7. Gunnar Nelson (8-0-1)
With a nine fight unbeaten streak to kick off his career, grappling sensation Gunnar Nelson was tabbed for a quick transition to the upper echelon of MMA. But Gunnar defied expectations by opting to take a sabbatical from pro competition in order to give himself time to perfect all aspects of his fighting style. He stuck to the plan, staying off the radar for the entirety of 2011. Nelson has declared his intention to return in 2012, however, and the first match in his return is scheduled for February 25 as the main event of Cage Contenders 12 in Ireland.
8. Quinn Mulhern (17-2)
After multiple defenses of the King of the Cage welterweight championship, Quinn Mulhern was picked up by Strikeforce and placed in their Challengers Series, debuting at the 16th edition of the program in June. It was an inauspicious debut for Mulhern, dropping a unanimous decision to UFC veteran Jason High (15-3). But since then Mulhern has been solid, notching Challengers victories over Danny Davis Jr. (6-5-1) and David Hulett (18-10) to close out 2011. As the Challengers Series comes to a close, Mulhern is expected to join the main Strikeforce welterweight division.
9. Alberto Mina (8-0)
Though Alberto Mina won the Ultimate Challenge UK (now Cage Rage UK) welterweight championship and defended it in 2010 against The Ultimate Fighter 9 veteran Dean Amasinger, he languished on the shelf for 16 months without a fight due to shoddy representation by his management and the shambolic state of the UCUK promotion. A fed-up Mina abandoned the title and moved to join Gracie Barra's Greece affiliate academy in 2011. The Brazilian-born grappler returned to the cage in Greece against Dutchman Boy Eggels (3-1) in August, snatching a first round submission win via armbar. Alberto is currently in negotiations that could see him make his major organization debut early in 2012.
10. Joe Ray (6-3)
One step forward and two steps back seems to be the prevailing pattern in Joe Ray's campaign to get his breakthrough opportunity. He came up on the short end of a dubious decision to South Africa's Jeremy Smith (6-0) in last December. He rebounded with a submission over fellow Floridian John Kelly (5-4) in June. He was called up for a slot on the prelims of July's Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum card, but was stifled by fellow newcomer Nah-Shon Burrell (8-1). Another defeat followed at the hands of Chris Spang (4-1) in September at Strikeforce Challengers 19. He returned to Florida in December, easily winning a tuneup over local Levi LaLonde (2-5). With his Strikeforce stint apparently over, Ray needs to continue to improve his grappling if he intends to consistently win fights.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, welterweight, debut
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTitle Writing: Mopping the Mats 6 "Strikeforce Rockhold vs Jardine"
Hello,
Mopping the Mats is a weekly Monday feature meant to wrap up the weekend that was in Mixed Martial Arts. Last week I focused on the final UFC event of 2011, which saw heavyweight superstars Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar do battle. Today's edition is all about Strikeforce, as their Saturday night event was accompanied a day earlier by the news that Cristiane Santos, the female 145 pound champion better known as "Cyborg", had tested positive for banned substances following her bout on December 17th and would be suspended for one year.
THE EVENT: Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine
The first Zuffa event of 2012 was a Strikeforce joint, featuring a fighter that is quickly becoming one of the top middleweights in the world, in Luke Rockhold. Don't believe me? That's fine, but I'll be saying I told you so soon enough. Rockhold burst onto the scene last fall when he defeated Jacare Souza to become the Strikeforce middleweight champion. Not many people gave him a chance against Souza, long considered one of the top 10 grapplers in the world at any weight class. Why would they have? Rockhold grew up training wrestling and jiu jitsu, ultimately leaving the wrestling behind to focus on the gentle art. If grappling was his strong suit, surely he would be eaten up by the man they call "Crocodile"? This would not be the case, as Rockhold not only out-struck the champion, he also out-grappled him en route to a five round decision victory. Rockhold has a lot going for him: He is a large middleweight, standing at 6'3. He is young, having just turned 27 years old and he trains with a great camp in American Kickboxing Academy. Ironically the only thing holding him back from the bigtime might just be his championship belt, which he defended against Keith Jardine on Saturday.
Follow the jump for the event results and some takeaways from the weekend, including my thoughts on Cyborg's positive drug test.
THE RESULTS: AKA gets back on track and vacant title pictures start to clear up.
Rockhold got a quick win over Jardine, stopping the former UFC light heavyweight via strikes in the very first round. For the second straight main event I felt like I was watching two men headed in vastly different directions. Rockhold, like Overeem, moving towards the top of the fighting world while Jardine, like Lesnar, moving towards the end of the line. In my opinion, the most under-reported storyline currently flowing through MMA is the lack of fights at the highest level between two fighters from the next generation. Jon Jones' entire 2011, which has been trumpeted as the greatest year of all time by many (including our own David Castillo), consisted of beating three fighters whose glory days were firmly in the rear view by the time he took them out. Yes, Lyoto Machida, Quinton Jackson and Shogun Rua are still considered upper echelon fighters but that is largely because no one else has been allowed to move them along.
I can understand why Zuffa is reticent to put two young guys in together: They don't move the needle nearly as much as the Pride era stars do. We had Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard combine for two spectacular title fights last year but, according to the MMAPayout.com Blue Book, the cards they headlined were the two lowest buy rates of the year. Contrast that to the cards featuring Jones and the old lions, which had the 4th, 5th and 6th highest buy rates, behind cards featuring GSP, Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar. Until they signed the seven year deal with Fox, the UFC had been dependant on the revenue stream coming from pay per view events, so they had to make fights that sold. At the same time though, it's frustrating to see two fighters at such different points in their careers competing together. The way to build stars and make rivalries is to have young champions face young challengers! The stars of yesterday were all older when they started, but when Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell fought each other for the first time they both had less than 15 fights. There is reason to be optimistic on the horizon though: Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes are both new generation fighters and they'll face off for the 145 lb title this weekend. The star power of Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz will never have been higher for either man when they meet at UFC 143. Those are the kind of fights I want to see and I hope we get more like them this year.
Back to Rockhold and Strikeforce though. His victory over Jardine did little for him other than give him a little boost in recognition. He wants to fight someone in the top 10, which means someone in the UFC and he said so after the victory. He should fight Tim Kennedy first though, as Kennedy has far more to offer than Jardine did and Tim has actually beaten a Strikeforce middleweight. If Rockhold gets past him, which I expect he will, then we can hear his argument for moving to the number one promotion.
As for the rest of the big names on the card, Rockhold's stablemate at AKA King Mo Lawal dispatched Lorenz Larkin with a second round TKO in a light heavyweight bout, while Tyron Woodley won a close but somewhat lackluster decision over Jordan Mein in the welterweight division. Both divisions are currently without a champion and Mo and Woodley are front runners for the vacant titles. I'd like to see Strikeforce work a little bit at building up the legitimacy of their championships before they put on those title fights. At 205, Gegard Mousasi, Feijao and Mike Kyle join Lawal as the best of the bunch. I'd like to see those four square off in some combination of matches before a championship fight is made. As for the welterweight division, Woodley looks like he is in a class by himself. There was talk of him facing Tarec Saffiedine (who was also on the card, defeating Tyler Stinson by decision) for the strap but he already beat Saffiedine just one year ago. He's already beaten Paul Daley too. A fight with Jason High makes some sense, but not for a title. Woodley and Melendez are probably the two Strikeforce fighters that deserve to me in the UFC the most right now both because of their accomplishments and the lack of competition for them. I'll be following their next moves very closely.
THE TAKEAWAYS: Strikeforce is the home of fun, if not particularly relevant, fights. Out of competition testing is a must for mainstream legitimacy.
The main card featured three knockouts: Joining Rockhold and King Mo was Robbie Lawler, who finished main card newcomer Adlan Amagov in just under two minutes. Amagov took Lawler down early in the fight and proceeded to hit him with an illegal knee to the face while Lawler was in the process of getting back to his feet. Lawler responded with a flying knee of his own, clipping the Russian on the top of the head and finishing him with precision strikes. All in all it was a pretty exciting event, which is something I've come to expect from Strikeforce going back to the days of Nick Diaz throwing middle fingers at anyone and everyone who crossed his path. The promotion seems to be quite good at making matches that produce knockouts. Numbers for Nerds, my Wednesday feature, will be looking at this in the near future. As long as they keep making fights with exciting finishes they'll keep their head above water, which is why I don't mind them taking some time to find new champions. This exciting style of matchmaking is what (to me) led them to be purchased by Zuffa in the first place, so I would say keep doing what you are doing.
As for Cyborg, I don't want to rehash what others have said about it, but I liked these three articles the most:
Cory Braiterman looks at the positive aspect.
Ben Thapa gives an insightful look at the reality of the situation.
Female fighter Rosi Sexton pleads for higher testing standards
To me, the only answer to the performance enhancing drug issue is out of competition testing. Currently the testing is mostly limited to pre and post fight testing. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has a random drug testing program, but they barely have enough funding to keep it running at all times. It's far too easy for fighters to use drugs during their off time. Most of the drugs will be out of their system by the time their fight roles around. If the state athletic commissions can't afford to test year round I'd love to see the UFC institute a testing system of their own. I'm thinking three tests per year, at random, in order to get a license to fight for the promotion would be just fine. This would be the type of forward thinking that Dana White and Zuffa have become known for. They are already ahead of the other pro sports leagues in terms of social media and using it to their benefit. Why not lead the way in the field of drug testing? Alas, I'm not sure that it's really on the Zuffa agenda. As Thapa notes, sports are focused on the here and now, and drug cheats are usually welcomed back once they have served their time. Thiago Silva is just up off suspension. Anyone not excited for his next fight? I hate to admit that I am, but the 205 pound division needs contenders and he fits the bill. So unfortunately I think it'll be business as usual on this front.
Thanks for reading. As always, any comments or criticisms are welcome.
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, rockhold, year
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendWomen's MMA Report: Strikeforce's Santos suspended, Fujii dominant in DREAM debut
The future of the Strikeforce 145-pound women's division changed drastically this past week with news that champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos had tested positive for a steroid metabolite.
The Brazilian knockout artist is expected to be stripped of her Strikeforce title, and her division may be phased out of the promotion entirely.
In the latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses the failed test, Megumi "Mega Megu" Fujii's successful DREAM debut, two big Strikeforce bookings, and a busy Jan. 21 night for women's MMA.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, women, dream debut, megu fujiis
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThis March Strikeforce event is looking pretty sweet
Strikeforce's next show isn't until March but they've already got a nice portion of the card booked up and it's looking good. I think we can all agree the matchmaking for last weekend's event wasn't the best we've ever seen but if the March card is any indicator then maybe we'll be able to chill out on the Strikeforce hate and start giving it some tentative love:
Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey for Women's 135 pound title
K.J. Noons vs Josh Thomson
Paul Daley vs Kazuo Misaki
Alexis Davis vs Sarah Kaufman
I don't think I need to upsell you Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey. We blab about Ronda Rousey enough on here that I'm sure you're excited. I'm so hyped I'm already wearing my Ronda shirt, Ronda wig, and Ronda panties in anticipation. WAR RONDA!Noons vs Thomson is a legit contender match for a shot at Gilbert Melendez and should be a great fight. Plus Scott Coker's brain seems to be stuck on Thomson / Melendez 3 so getting that out of the way should allow us to tell if his obsession is the sign of an earlier stress related stroke. What's next for Gil now, Scott? "Thomson / Melendez 4!" Uh-oh.Misaki has technically been a Strikeforce fighter since 2008 but only fought once because mumble mumble awkward shrug Strikeforce whaddaya gonna do. He's fighting at a much saner weight of 170 pounds now and it should be interesting to see if Paul Daley has finally escaped the first dimension. Can he keep on his feet against his wily Japanese opponent? Booking Sarah Kaufman in a fight ASAP is probably a good idea - it'll give her something to do other than go on press tours complaining about how unfair it is that Ronda Rousey got a title shot. Alexis Davis was on my list of potential opponents for Cris Cyborg - low low low down on that list, but it was on the strength of her quiet work(wo)manlike abilities. She's won against a lot of people who were supposed to beat her handily, so Kaufman better keep her eye on the ball here.Adding to the intrigue of the card, Scott Coker said Tate vs Rousey may not even be the main event, implying that maybe ... just maybe ... they'll finally be wrapping up the SFHWGP with the Barnett vs Cormier finals. That fight is still not official, but considering the event has already been labeled STRIKEFORCE: BARNETT VS CORMIER, I'd say it's a possibility. Oh, and that thing Dana White said about the 145 pound division being folded? Scott's got opinions on that as well:
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda
Read the full article at FightlinkerCanadian Mein earns $9,000 for loss in bout
Canadian fighter Jordan Mein earned US$9,000 for his loss to unbeaten welterweight Tyron Woodley at last weekend's Strikeforce event.
Posted in: strikeforce, loss, canadian, mein, canadian mein
Read the full article at sportsnet.caCdn Mein earns $9K for Strikeforce loss
Canadian fighter Jordan Mein earned US$9,000 for his loss to unbeaten welterweight Tyron Woodley at last weekend's Strikeforce event.
Posted in: strikeforce, loss, tyron, mein, cdn mein
Read the full article at sportsnet.caIs teammate-vs.-teammate fight on horizon for Strikeforce's 'King Mo' Lawal?
With Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's emphatic win over Lorenz Larkin this past Saturday, Strikeforce's field of viable contenders further dwindled.
A light-heavyweight title is up for grabs, and all signs point to a rematch between former champs Lawal and Gegard Mousasi in the second quarter of this year.
Lawal, who knocked out Larkin at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine," isn't exactly excited about the fight, but he doesn't have much choice.
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, gegard mousasi, lawal, signs point
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLuke Rockhold: “This thing is here to stay. I’m not letting it go.”
Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold successfully defended his title for the first time this past weekend against UFC veteran Keith Jardine. Now, Rockhold has plans to climb his way up the MMA ladder in his division.
Rockhold scored with several quick and effective strikes before dropping “The Dean of Mean” for good early in the fight during the main event of the Showtime-televised Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card from Las Vegas.
“This thing is here to stay. I’m not letting it go,” said Rockhold of his title in an interview with Strikeforce’s Heidi Androl following the event.
As for his next competitor, Rockhold reiterated what he said inside the cage following the win, saying, “The best is the best. The UFC owns both organizations, and they say they want to do huge things for Strikeforce. So, load up this year, bring over a top contender (from the UFC).”
Check out the entire interview in the video below:
Posted in: strikeforce, i ’m, rockhold, thing, competitor rockhold
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRobbie Lawler earns event-high for win at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
The running theme of last weekend’s Strikeforce event involved veteran competitors taking on up-and-coming talent, while the running theme of the salaries attached to Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine appears to be financial disparity rather than that related to experience.
According to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Robbie Lawler topped the list of paydays from this past Saturday night, earning $150,000 in comparison to opponent Adlan Amagov’s $10,000. Coming in second, albeit barely, was Muhammed Lawal who made $95,000 for his TKO victory over rising star Lorenz Larkin ($17,000). And, neck-and-neck with Lawal, Luke Rockhold made $90,000 for successfully defending his belt against Keith Jardine who himself was the highest paid “loser” at $30,000.
Lawler Talks About Win over Amagov
Read below for a complete list of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine salaries:
Estevan Payan: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Alonzo Martinez: $5,000
Ricky Legere: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Chris Spang: $6,000
Gian Villante: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Trevor Smith: $4,000
Nah-Shon Burrell: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. James Terry: $9,000
Tarec Saffiedine: $31,000 (includes $15,500 win bonus) def. Tyler Stinson: $4,000
Tyron Woodley: $60,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Jordan Mein: $9,000
Muhammed Lawal: $95,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Lorenz Larkin: $17,000
Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Adlan Amagov: $10,000
Luke Rockhold: $90,000 (includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Keith Jardine: $30,000
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, lawler, bonus
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce salaries: Robbie Lawler leads the payday way for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' event with $150,000
Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event this past Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012), which aired on Showtime from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released to MMAmania.com earlier this morning by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Hard-hitting middleweight brawler Robbie Lawler was the top earner of the night, bagging a "Ruthless" $150,000 for beating the brakes off Adlan Amagov in the night's co-main event.
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold didn't fare too badly himself, giving Keith Jardine 90,000 reasons to go back to light heavyweight. Speaking of the 205-pound class, former division "King" Muhammed Lawal can buy himself a fancy new umbrella for his next walkout, thanks to the $95,000 check he received for grounding and pounding Lorenz Larkin.
That's not all.
Here is the complete list of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" salaries and payouts:
Luke Rockhold: $90,000 ($65,000 to show, $25,000 to win)Keith Jardine: $30,000Rockhold def. Jardine via TKO
Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (flat rate, no win bonus)Adlan Amagov: $10,000Lawler def. Amagov via TKO
Muhammed Lawal: $95,000 ($80,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Lorenz Larkin: $17,000Lawal def. Larkin via KO
Tyron Woodley: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)Jordan Mein: $9,000Woodley def. Mein via split decision
Tarec Saffiedine: $31,000 ($15,500 to show, $15,500 to win)Tyler Stinson: $4,000Saffiedine def. Stinson via split decision
Na-Shon Burrell: $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)James Terry: $9,000Burell def. Terry via split decision
Gian Villante: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Trevor Smith: $4,000Villante def. Smith via TKO
Ricky Legere: $10,000 ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win)Chris Spang: $6,000Legere def. Sprang via unanimous decision
Estevan Payan: $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Alonzo Martinez: $5,000Payan def. Sprang via unanimous decision
The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" was $571,000.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Payroll: Lawler Banks $150,000 to Lead Jan. 7 Lineup
Middleweight veteran Robbie Lawler took home the largest paycheck from last Saturday’s Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine,” earning a flat rate of $150,000 for his first-round stoppage of Adlan Amagov ($10,000).
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lawler, rate, amagov
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Salaries: Robbie Lawler, ‘King’ Mo Lawal Lead Paydays
Co-main event middleweight Robbie Lawler snapped a two-fight skid on Saturday and made $150,000 to lead all fighters at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, twofight skid
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine fight card medical suspensions
On Saturday, January 7, Strikeforce presented their first fight card of 2012. The main event saw Luke Rockhold successfully defend his Strikeforce Middleweight crown against Keith Jardine. In the co-main event, Robbie Lawler recovered from an illegal knee, ending his fight against Adlan Amagov with a knee of his own.
In all, there were nine fights on the card. Of the eighteen competitors, eight escaped without a medical suspension, ten other fighters weren’t so lucky.
Strikeforce Medical
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, keith jardine, card, adlan amagov
Read the full article at Low KickThe Scorecard – “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine”
The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA. Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math.
It was a free preview weekend on Showtime, and if you only watched one show on the network to make your decision on whether or not to subscribe, I hope it was Shameless or House of Lies. But if it happened to be Strikeforce, well, then, I’m sorry. You could have been watching Emmy Rossum or Kristen Bell, instead you chose Mauro Ranallo and Frank Shamrock. At least you got to see some violence and blood.
Lets go to the scorecard:
*Strikeforce and Showtime are finally airing preliminary fights, so I have to give them credit, even though the NFL playoffs are on, my Colorado Avalanche are playing, and there’s a new episode of iCarly. PLUS FOUR
*I still hate the opening Strikeforce video that features a bunch of fighters no longer in the promotion. MINUS TWO
*Once again, Frank Shamrock’s braces. MINUS TWO
*“Dan Henderson made the 205 title, the belt to hold,” says Shamrock. Yup, he cared so much about that belt that he fought Fedor Emelianenko instead of defending it and then bolted for the UFC. MINUS TWO
*You can never go wrong with the ”Ruff Ryders Anthem” as your walk out. Good on you Alonzo Martinez. PLUS TWO
*Martinez is taking the “human chess” thing a bit too literal with his hair design. MINUS ONE
*Estevan Payan chooses wisely as well, going with “Monster” by Kanye West. He’s clearly looking for a job at DONDA. PLUS ONE
*That said, points docked for having headphones around your neck during your walk out. MINUS ONE
*I laughed at the corner of Payan calling Martinez, “a punching bag” during the third round. It was obviously true, but that has to be a tough thing for Martinez and his corner to hear in the middle of the fight. PLUS THREE
*Dominate performance by Payan. It would have been nice if he turned it up seeing as Martinez couldn’t do anything, but he got the victory and looked good in doing so. PLUS FOUR
*Why hello there Miesha Tate. PLUS THREE
*”We Made It” by Linkin Park and Busta Rhymes is a pretty underrated song and one I haven’t heard as a walk out, so good on you Ricky Legere. PLUS ONE
*If your nickname is “The Kiss” as it is for Chris Spang, your walk out song should be “Kiss on my List” by Hall and Oates, not that overplayed LMFAO crap. MINUS TWO
*Anytime someone owns Mauro Ranallo on commentary as Shamrock did with the whole “he was going to tap” exchange, I’m giving positive points. PLUS THREE
*Spang vs. Legere was decent. Legere did a nice job with his wrestling, even though he didn’t do much on top, and Spang looked impressive with his striking, even though he couldn’t keep it standing long enough. PLUS THREE
*I’m still convinced that Pat Miletich doesn’t know how to score fights. MINUS ONE
*Guys are on fire with the walk outs tonight as Gian Villante comes out to “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” by Johnny Cash. PLUS TWO
*Great performance by Villante against Trevor Smith. Say what you will about the stoppage, but you can’t blame Villante for that. He did what he needed to do and looked impressive in doing so. PLUS FOUR
*The stoppage was early though and not only that, but Kim Winslow allowed Smith to take a bunch of punches to the back of the head. Bad job by her. MINUS THREE
*Nah-Shon Burrell earns points for singing his walk out music, even though I don’t know what it was. PLUS TWO
*But then loses points for having headphones around his neck. MINUS TWO
*Burrell vs. James Terry was a lot like Spang vs. Legere to me. One guy had good wrestling and that was enough to beat the guy who only had good striking. They both looked impressive in their one area of expertise. PLUS THREE
*Terrible judging in Burrell vs. Terry. It was competitive, but Terry clearly won rounds one and two. MINUS THREE
*And Jimmy Lennon Jr. killing the anticipation of the split decision by announcing it beforehand was lame. MINUS TWO
*Of course Mauro has to say, “hurky jerky” when describing Jardine’s style. I was hoping that we could avoid that with no Mike Goldberg, but I should have never doubted Mauro. MINUS TWO
*Props to Tyler Stinson for coming out to OutKast. PLUS TWO
*If Stinston’s hair was a shout out to Shonuff, the “Shogun of Harlem”, then I approve. PLUS ONE
*Great first round between Stinson and Tarec Saffiedine. Back and fourth action with Saffiedine looking strong early but Stinson turning the tide with a nice elbow. PLUS FIVE
*Nice of Miesha to say how she really feels about fighting Ronda Rousey. No knock on Rousey, who is obviously talented, but Tate should be fighting Sarah Kaufman. PLUS THREE
*Good job by Saffiedine changing up his strategy after a rough first round. It might not have been pretty in rounds two and three compared to round one, but he got the job done, which is all that matters to Saffiedine. PLUS FIVE
*The only UFC star (Frank Mir) shown during the little camera run got the biggest reaction. While it’s not shocking, I thought it was funny. PLUS ONE
*”Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is pretty overused as a walk out song, but it’s still a great song. So points to Jordan Mein. PLUS ONE
*Another fighter wearing headphones during their walk out? Come on Tyron Woodley. MINUS TWO
*The less said about Woodley vs. Mein, the better. The fight was very boring. I give credit to Woodley for his wrestling, but man, try and do a little something on the ground. MINUS SIX
*And the judges made it worse by having it a split decision when it was pretty obvious that Woodley won. MINUS FOUR
*Wait, didn’t Spang already use “Sexy and I Know It” as his walk out? How could Strikeforce allow Lorenz Larkin to use it as well? Recycling walk out songs is a huge foul. MINUS FOUR
*Muhammed Lawal comes out singing his walk out song, which always earns points from me. PLUS TWO
*See guys, wrestling doesn’t have to be boring when you throwdown on the ground like King Mo does. Brutally effective performance by King Mo. PLUS SIX
*I don’t care what Winslow’s explanation was, that stoppage was late. Give a guy a chance in a title fight or a main event, not if he’s an undefeated prospect who was in over his head in the first place. MINUS FOUR
*Robbie Lawler might not have much of a personality, but I approve “No Love” by Lil Wayne and Eminem as his walk out music. PLUS TWO
*What was Adlan Amagov thinking with that illegal knee? Lawler was clearly on both knees. MINUS THREE
*”Beautiful knee to the head, but illegal.” “Right up your alley.” Great exchange between Frank and Pat. PLUS THREE
*Great finish by Lawler. If nothing else, he has some of the best killer instinct in the sport. PLUS FOUR
*Dana White looked pretty upset that he had to be interviewed by Mauro. He didn’t yell, barely smiled, and wore a sweater. Strikeforce Dana sucks. MINUS THREE
*Sorry Keith Jardine, the Rocky music doesn’t work for you. MINUS TWO
*I like Luke Rockhold’s walk out music. I don’t know the name of it, but I like it. PLUS ONE
*Shocker, Jardine got KO’d. Great performance by Rockhold, but KO’ing Jardine in 2012 isn’t anything special. PLUS THREE
*Jardine should strongly consider retirement. He’s been KO’d clean way too many times in the past few years. Now he’s cutting a bunch of weight as well. MMA just isn’t good for his health anymore. EVEN
*I have no problem with Rockhold wanting to be in the UFC, obviously I don’t blame him, but he has two good fights in Strikeforce. First against Tim Kennedy and then a rematch against Ronaldo Souza. Gilbert Melendez has no competition and has a legit claim to wanting better competition, Rockhold doesn’t. MINUS FIVE
*Shame on Strikeforce for not mentioning the failed drug test of Cristiane Santos. I didn’t expect it, but it would have been nice. MINUS THREE
*Overall, Strikefoce was a decent show, albeit a rather predictable one. No offense to the organization, but things continue to feel secondary. PLUS FOUR
Official Score: 19
For a more in-depth look at this Strikeforce event, along with a preview of this weekends UFC 143 card, remember to check out tomorrow’s Five Ounces of Podcast with Samer Kadi and myself.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, vs, point
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPaul Daley draws Kazuo Misaki for March return to Strikeforce
British brawler Paul Daley is set to make his way back to Strikeforce after a little less than a year away from the promotion when he fights in March as part of the organization’s show in Columbus, Ohio. Daley was last seen under the Strikeforce banner in July 2011 where he lost a decision to undefeated wrestler Tyron Woodley.
According to an official announcement the 29-11-2 welterweight will face PRIDE/SRC veteran Kazuo Misaki on a lineup already set to feature KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson and Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey.
Dana White Says Daley Could Eventually be Welcomed Back to the UFC
Misaki, who holds an overall record of 24-11-2 with fifteen finishes, is 1-0 in Strikeforce courtesy of a 2008 TKO over Joe Riggs but hasn’t been seen inside the company’s cage since. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak with both victories coming by way of a strike-based stoppage.
Similarly, Daley has also won back-to-back bouts with his most recent rumble resulting in an outpointing of Luigi Fioravanti. The bulk of his success has been the result of his notoriously powerful stand-up and is highlighted by past TKOs over Duane Ludwig and Martin Kampmann.
Strikeforce also revealed bantamweight contender Sarah Kaufman will face Alexis Davis in other main card action at the March 3 event.
PHOTO CREDIT – SHARK FIGHTS
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Posted in: strikeforce, daley, march, kazuo misaki, misaki
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Fighter Salaries: Robbie Lawler Banks $150K
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMiddleweight Robbie Lawler was the highest earner at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, banking a flat purse of $150,000 in his fight against Adlan Amagov.
The next highest paid were Muhammed Lawal and Luke Rockhold at $95,000 and $90,000, respectively, at this past Saturday's Showtime-televised card in Las Vegas.
Below are the Strikeforce fighter salaries, reported by Strikeforce to the Nevada state commission.
Showtime Main Card
Luke Rockhold: $65,000 + $25,000 (win bonus) = $90,000 def. Keith Jardine: $30,000
Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Adlan Amagov: $10,000
King Mo: $80,000 + $15,000 (win) = $95,000 def. Lorenz Larkin: $17,000
Tyron Woodley: $30,000 + $30,000 (win) = $60,000 def. Jordan Mein: $9,000
Tarec Saffiedine: $15,000 + $15,000 (win) = $30,000 def. Tyler Stinson: $4,000
Showtime Extreme Preliminary Card
Na-Shon Burrell: $4,000 + $4,000 (win) = $8,000 def. James Terry: $9,000
Gian Villante: $10,000 + $10,000 (win) = $20,000 def. Trevor Smith: $4,000
Ricky Legere: $5,000 + $5,000 (win) = $10,000 def. Chris Sprang: $6,000
Estevan Payan: $4,000 + $4,000 (win) = $8,000 def. Alonzo Martinez: $5,000 Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke rockhold, card, robbie
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFalling Action: Best and Worst of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Filed under: StrikeforceHope you enjoyed your free preview weekend of Showtime in all its MMA-tastic glory. Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine went down more or less exactly as expected on Saturday night, with every favorite notching a victory and every underdog taking a beating that was almost perfectly in line with how long their odds of success were.
With the event over and the Showtime preview curtain drawn closed, it's time once again to sort through the action in search of the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between.
Biggest Winner: Luke Rockhold
He took a tough situation and made it look easy. Granted, a win over Keith Jardine doesn't mean what it did five years ago, but you can't complain about a first-round knockout. Rockhold was calm when he needed to be and ruthlessly aggressive when he saw his opening. He looked like a champion, in other words. His appeal for the UFC to send him some challengers was also a pretty savvy move. Zuffa won't bring him over to the big show? Then let the big show come to him. Framing it that way lets the fans know that he wants bigger challenges just as badly as they want to see him challenged, but without alienating his employers in the process. For now, Strikeforce could match him against either Tim Kennedy or Robbie Lawler without eliciting too many groans, but if Rockhold keeps winning that talent pool is going to become a puddle very quickly.
Biggest Loser: Adlan Amagov
It looks bad enough when you wind up and hit a guy with a very illegal knee early in the first round. It looks even worse when that same guy comes right back at you with a very legal knee that floors you en route to a quick finish. Amagov seemed to be doing well against Lawler in the opening seconds, but that flagrant foul halted his momentum and only made Lawler mad. Then Amagov found out for himself what it's like to be on the business end of a Lawler blitz. Strikeforce seemed hot on the young Russian coming into this bout, and that enthusiasm was not entirely unfounded. But this loss shows that he's still in need of a little more seasoning -- and maybe a primer on the unified rules -- before he's ready for the big fights.
Most Predictable: Keith Jardine
Again, you can't blame Jardine for stepping up and taking his shot when Strikeforce offered -- what's he supposed to say, 'Thanks, but I don't deserve it'? -- but the rest of us saw this coming. Jardine's toughness has never been a question, but his skills have eroded with age. So has his chin. As nice a guy as Jardine is, we've got to be honest and admit that he'd done nothing to justify a title shot. Yes, he's had a full, interesting career. And sure, anything can happen in a fight. At least, theoretically. At the same time, just because a given outcome is not impossible that does not make it likely. 'Anything can happen' is what you tell yourself when you're about to do something that you know is a bad idea. It's a way of reassuring yourself that while failure may be likely, it's not guaranteed. That's fine for some pursuits, like buying a lottery ticket. But maybe it's not the right way to go about booking title fights.
Most Impressive in Defeat: Tyler Stinson
When the fight stayed standing, he had Tarec Saffiedine looking worried and confused. It was just when it hit the mat that Stinson seemed woefully out of his element. If he had better takedown defense or even just more of a sense of urgency about getting off his back, maybe this one would have gone a different way. Instead, he came off looking like a decent prospect with some obvious holes in his game. That's not the worst thing that can happen. Saffiedine is a good fighter who's struggled less with bigger names, so Stinson can take some minor solace in that. He can also get back in the gym and improve his wrestling, and then maybe the next time he gets a shot like this he'll earn more than just a moral victory.
Least Impressive in Victory: Tyron Woodley
If you've been waiting for Woodley to develop into something more than just a wrestler with perfunctory ground-and-pound, your wait continues. He had little trouble taking Jordan Mein down and keeping him there, but once on top he seemed to put it in cruise control. Woodley's ground attack appears designed solely to avoid stand-ups and submissions. Anything else -- say, I don't know, damaging his opponent in search of a finish -- is a bonus. There were very few bonuses to be had against Mein, and so Woodley contented himself with staying on top and out of harm's way. That's smart, in a way, and it resulted in a decision victory. But as far as career advancement goes, it's maybe not the best strategy. Woodley is 10-0 in his three years as a pro, which means he ought to be able to do a little more than just wrestle at this point. This fight was a great opportunity for him to show off a more well-rounded game, or at least a little more aggression once he had the fight where he wanted it. He took the cautious approach instead, and fans surely took note.
Most Passionately Compassionate: Mo Lawal
After knocking out Lorenz Larkin with a torrent of rapid-fire right hands, Lawal's biggest concern seemed to be the lack of concern displayed by referee Kim Winslow. He seemed disgusted with how long she allowed the beating to continue and could even be heard on the broadcast chiding her for it as they stood awaiting the official announcement. Winslow claimed she wanted to give Larkin the chance to show he was still in it, but this was after he'd already been knocked out of it and then briefly back in again. Apparently Lawal doesn't like being forced to hurt his fellow man more than is absolutely necessary, which is strange, considering his stated goal of ending "Feijao" Cavalcante's career in a rematch. Let's hope Winslow isn't the ref for that one.
Strangest Sight: Mauro Ranallo interviewing Dana White
A year ago it would have been difficult to imagine a Strikeforce broadcast punctuated by a cageside interview with the UFC president. And now there he is, standing alongside the voice of MMA on Showtime, doing an interview that is noticeably less enthusiastic than the screaming pre-fight pitches he's used to doing with Joe Rogan. In fairness, this time White didn't have a pay-per-view to sell, but neither did he look terribly happy about his camera time. I guess some things you do because you want to, and other things you do because you have to. For White, all things Strikeforce seem to fall into the latter category. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, way, jardine, woodley
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Columbus Fight Card Rumors
Strikeforce Columbus fight card and rumors for March 3, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, card, rumor, columbu
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce results recap: What's next for Luke Rockhold?
On Sept. 10, 2011, Luke Rockhold won a hard-fought, five-round victory over Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" in Cincinnati, Ohio, to become the Strikeforce middleweight champion.
Coming into last night's (Jan. 7, 2012) headlining fight against "The Dean of Mean," Keith Jardine, at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," Rockhold was perfect (7-0) in the Strikeforce organization.
Before his victory over "Jacare," Rockhold wasn't garnering a ton of media attention, due in large part to the fact he hadn't really fought any big mixed martial arts (MMA) names.
Last night in "Sin City," Rockhold made short work of Jardine, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, showing fans and pundits alike that he's for real.
After the jump, we'll take a look at what may be next for one of the few remaining Strikeforce belt holders, Luke Rockhold:
"Business as usual."
The phrase, uttered by UFC President Dana White after the Zuffa purchase of Strikeforce, will forever go down in mixed martial arts (MMA) infamy. The inference was that everything would stay the same, more or less. The UFC would do its thing and Strikeforce would do theirs.
Fair enough. But, a few months later, things feel anything but "usual."
Former Strikeforce champions Alistair Overeem, Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson have all crossed over to the UFC fold. Other Strikeforce contenders Jason Miller, Fabricio Werdum and Chad Griggs have also made the transition.
The truth is that MMA fans thought Strikeforce would be gone by now. However, Strikeforce's recent contract extension with Showtime has a lot of folks scratching their heads and wondering what the future may hold for the promotion.
So the question becomes: Will Rockhold want to stay put or will he join the mass exodus over to the Octagon?
Before his fight with Jardine, Rockhold made waves by publicly calling out UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. It's highly unlikely that Rockhold would be able to garner a fight of that magnitude, even if he did sign with the UFC. In the event that the "acquisition" did occur, it's probable that Rockhold would be a few fights away from a title bout.
After his win, Rockhold told Mauro Ranallo in his post-victory interview that he wants to fight the best middleweights in the world. He went on to say that he believes the best competition currently exists in the UFC.
With somewhat of a curveball, Rockhold, then, went on to say he believes they need to bring some of those guys over from the UFC to fight him in the Strikeforce promotion.That's not happening.
The truth is that there really aren't many compelling match ups left for Rockhold in Strikeforce. A rematch with "Jacare" could be fun, but there isn't much beyond that in the way of fights that Scott Coker is going to be able to sell.
Let's be honest, he had a hard enough time selling Jardine as a worthy opponent.
At this point, the options seem to be for Strikeforce to either bring in new talent for Rockhold to face or bid him farewell. Only time will tell how he and his contract are handled.Were you Maniacs impressed with Rockhold's performance? When you look into your crystal ball, what do you see as the future for Strikeforce's current 185-pound champion?
Comments, please!
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce results: Luke Rockhold vs Keith Jardine video event highlights
Strikeforce kicked off its 2012 fight campaign with the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event that took place last night (Sat., Jan. 7) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The show featured Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold successfully defending his title with a first round knockout win over longtime veteran Keith Jardine. He then proceeded to call out any of the 185-pound fighters in the UFC and challenged them to come on over to the Hexagon to get busy.
In other action, Robbie Lawler knocked out Adlan Amagov with a flying knee that looked as though it hardly landed. Nonetheless, it did enough to let Robbie follow up with some "Ruthless" punches that finished the job.
Muhammed Lawal also earned a knockout victory, as he ran through rising prospect Lorenz Larkin on his way back to the light heavyweight crown. "King Mo" went on a "rampage" at the post-fight press conference, calling everyone out from Quinton Jackon to Gegard Mousasi to referee Kim Winslow, who Lawal felt failed to uphold her duties last night.
With the ink having just dried on his new four-fight contract, we can expect more of the same throughout the rest of the year.
For complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, gegard mousasi, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaObservations from My Couch: Strikeforce’s ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’
A few observations from Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs. Jardine”:
-James Terry was robbed. That said, Nah-Shon Burrell has got a world of potential – the right kind of potential, the explosive entertaining kind – so a win for him hopefully means we’ll get to see him in the cage with someone who will go toe to toe.
-Now that’s the Gian Villante I know.
-Tyler Stinson looked like a scary dude, and I could totally see him starching opponents with the way he hits. His brand of ass-kickery made me appreciate the considerable skill and pluck of Tarec Saffiedine way more.
-Does Tyron Woodley know his style of fighting sucks? Has he not seen where it got Jon Fitch? If he keeps it up, no one is ever going to want to see him fight.
-Now King Mo’s destruction of Lorenz Larkin, that’s how you ground and pound someone. Is there a way we could arrange for him to give Woodley some lessons?
-For a second there, I thought Adlan Amagov wasn’t going to follow the script and let Robbie Lawler strike with him. But then he did, and now Strikeforce has one more viable middleweight contender.
-At UFC 27, Pedro Rizzo was put in the cage to face Dan Severn. Everyone knew Severn didn’t belong in there, he was past his prime and Rizzo was just reaching his. But the match went down, and it ended ugly, with Severn TKO’d by Rizzo’s leg-kicks in the first round. Luke Rockhold’s squash match against Keith Jardine was like watching that old bout all over again. The accumulation of years of competition have taken their sudden and unyielding toll on “The Dean of Mean”, and watching him struggle to keep up – when it wasn’t too long ago that he could keep up, and even get meaningful wins – isn’t even remotely worth watching. Please, Strikeforce, put him against a scrub or untested up-and-comer, or don’t put him in at all.
Posted in: strikeforce, ’t, rizzo, nahshon burrell, starching opponents
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSarah Kaufman draws Alexis Davis at Strikeforce in March
Sarah Kaufman will be fighting on the same night as current Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate, but she won’t be fighting for the belt that she previously held or many felt she was in line to compete for again. Instead the former title-holder will take on Alexis Davis in a fight likely to determine the next contender to the division’s strap. The bout takes place at the March 3 Strikeforce event and will be part of the night’s main card.
Strikeforce officials confirmed the bout last night during the Showtime airing of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
After losing the first bout of her professional career and her Strikeforce title to Marloes Coenen, Kaufman has bounced back with two straight victories over Megumi Yabushita and Liz Carmouche. The Canada native won the first 12 fights of her career, including victories over current champion Tate, Shayna Baszler, and Roxanne Modafferi. She also holds a 2007 TKO win over Davis, who she rematches in March.
Davis will not only be looking to add to her three fight win streak, but she’ll also try to avenge that 2007 loss, which was her first bout as a pro, when she meets Kaufman in the Strikeforce cage. Davis has knocked off Tonya Evinger, Julie Kedzie, and Amanda Nunes during her winning streak.
The March 3 Strikeforce event takes place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Also on the card is a lightweight showdown between former champion Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, davi, march, alexis davis
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White: Fans can expect the same from Strikeforce that they get from the UFC (Video)
After a few decidedly tumultuous months, Strikeforce re-upped with Showtime and presented its first fight card of the year last night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) with its "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas.
During the show, UFC President Dana White stopped by for an interview and when asked by Mauro Ranallo what can fans expect from Strikeforce in the coming year, replied with the following:
"I think (the fans) can expect the same thing (from Strikeforce) that they get from the UFC. We're going to put on great shows, live shows, television shows, exciting fights -- everything you've come to expect from the UFC, you will see here on Showtime and Strikeforce."
They didn't exactly get off to a hot start last night, as the crowd at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino seemed as alive as a cemetery and most of the action on the card left a lot to be desired.
The broadcast was aesthetically pleasing, sure, but good production doesn't replace exciting fights between legitimate contenders. Name value also matters and the sad fact of the matter is Strikeforce doesn't have it.
Which is why Keith Jardine fought for the promotion's middleweight title. He was obliterated, as expected.
Of course, we're talking about just one event and there will be at least seven more this year, so perhaps it's best to hold off complete judgement of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner. There are improvements to be made, but we're being assured that we'll happen so let's let it happen, right Maniacs?
Speaking of upcoming events, the Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey fight was finally booked for March 3 in Ohio and White talks about how much he's looking forward to it in the full entry.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, year, fan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Books Four Fights for March 3rd Card In Columbus
Strikeforce kicked off their 2012 with a good card last night in Las Vegas, and they've already made plans for their next card. While they were unable to confirm a main event, the bouts that were announced ranged from expected to potentially explosive. Here are the fights confirmed for the card, currently scheduled for March 3rd in the Nationwide Arena in Columbis, OH:
Miesha Tate (12-2) vs. Ronda Rousey (4-0) for Women's 135 pound titleK.J. Noons (11-4) vs. Josh Thomson (18-4)Paul Daley (29-11-2) vs. Kazuo Misaki (24-11-2)Alexis Davis (11-4) vs. Sarah Kaufman (14-1)
The expected main event of the card was to be the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals bout between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, however there are concerns that Cormier's broken hand won't be healed up in time for March 3rd. If Cormier isn't ready to go, Tate vs. Rousey would likely fill the main event slot. Even without Barnett vs. Cormier though, the card looks quite interesting with Misaki's return to Strikeforce and a probable women's number one contenders bout in addition to the title fight.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' results recap: Tyron Woodley vs Jordan Mein fight review and analysis
It was a bout that was hopefully going to be a starmaking performance for either man when top welterweight contenders Tyron Woodley and Jordan Mein waged war on the main card of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" last night (January 7, 2011).
Woodley entered the cage with an undefeated record and a small wave of hype while Mein had defeated four notable opponents in 2011 alone to enter contender status in Strikeforce.
It was a bout which was supposed to get fans excited about the next potential future Strikeforce welterweight champion.
So why were fans booing both men out of the cage? Find out inside as well as what's next for both fighters.
Mein looked cautious early, wary of Woodley's takedown, but when it came, he could do nothing to stop it. There was a slight resistance along the cage, but it was only delaying the inevitable. Woodley gained top position and remained there for the rest of the round.
The problem? His inactivity. Woodley didn't try to pass guard. He didn't try to posture up and drop big punches or elbows after perhaps the first initial strikes immediately following the takedown and he didn't try to go for a submission after the initial takedown when he threatened with an arm triangle.
Once Mein regained full guard, he was simply content to bury his head into the Canadian's chest, not even looking at his foe, and drop random punches to Mein's sides. Mein was actually more effective throwing elbows to the top of Woodley's exposed head than anything else, although the top position should have been enough to win the round.
Woodley wasn't the only one to blame, however. Mein was completely ineffective off his back as well. Elbows from bottom simply aren't enough when you aren't capable of either getting back to your feet or trying to submit your opponent off your back.
This went on for three straight rounds and despite there being plenty of opportunities to stand the fight up, the referee actually chose when Mein was threatening with a keylock to bring them to their feet. It was just a bad night for referees all around.
In the end, Woodley top-controlled his way to the judges scorecards where, surprisingly, two of the judges not only gave Mein a round off his back, but one of the judges gave Mein the fight, despite spending about 2 minutes standing out of 15 tops. Regardless, Woodley won a snoozer of a split decision.
For Jordan Mein, this was simply a frustrating fight. He didn't put up nearly enough resistance that would have been necessary to tire Woodley out and take over in the later rounds. Also, he didn't do hardly anything off his back to concern the American Top Team fighter. He's a dangerous striker, but he was almost entirely shut down by a fighter who was almost completely relying on one skill to defeat him. Hopefully this was a wake-up call for him to either get better at popping back to his feet, being more active off of his back or improve his takedown defense. He's gonna need it against the elite welterweights anyways.
Expect to see Mein against some other top Strikeforce welterweights coming off a loss like James Terry, Eduardo Pamplona or perhaps fellow main card welterweight loser Tyler Stinson.
For Tyron Woodley, he won, but there's a big difference between winning and impressing. He did not impress hardly anyone with that victory. He wasn't aggressive, he didn't look to do damage or pass guard or finish the fight. He looked like a fighter who didn't want to take any risks whatsoever or try to improve his position. It's almost like he's regressing, although that can't possibly be true after all the time he's been putting in with great fighters at ATT. This wasn't the performance of someone that Strikeforce would potentially want to have headline fights. There's Georges St. Pierre's recent performances, there's Jon Fitch and then there's Tyron Woodley last night. It was that bad.
Unfortunately for Strikeforce, they're pretty much out of options. Woodley is likely going to be fighting for the title with his next bout against either Bobby Voelker or in a rematch against fellow main card winner Tarec Saffiedine, although "The Sponge" apparently broke his arm in his fight. One wildcard option suggested by some fans could be if Jon Fitch heads over to Strikeforce and challenges for the title there because he's clearly not going to be doing so in the UFC for many years.
At least that's an intriguing possibility.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Did you feel the same way about Woodley's performance as most everyone else did? Does he deserve a title shot after his victory?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, didnt, woodley, mein
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce targeting March 3 for lightweight bout between K.J. Noons-Josh Thomson
Lightweights Josh Thomson and K.J. Noons appear to be on a collision course for March, as reports have the two Strikeforce fighters set to meet at the company’s Columbus, Ohio event. Given the 155-pound division’s landscape it’s likely the winner of Thomson-Noons would likely become the #1 contender to Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez.
Thomson (18-4) has been on the sidelines for over a year due to an injury but won his last two fights inside the Strikeforce cage against Gesias Cavalcante and Pat Healy. He also is 1-1 with Melendez, meaning a rubber match could be store, while holding on overall record of 9-2 inside the organization.
Noons is coming off a victory over Billy Evangelista that ended a two-fight losing skid with decision defeats to Nick Diaz and recent lightweight contender Jorge Masvidal. He holds an overall record of 11-4 with eight TKOs.
News of the potential pairing was first reported by MMAJunkie.
The finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix are also slated for the event, along with title-fight between bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey and a battle between Paul Daley-Kazuo Misaki.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce fighters, kj noons, melendez meaning, organization noons
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMuhammed Lawal: 'Rampage' is a bum, Gegard Mousasi is boring, and referee Kim Winslow should fight 'Cyborg'
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Muhammed Lawal made it two in a row last night (Jan. 7, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" as he defeated rising prospect Lorenz Larkin with relative ease in the second round, and in the process, handed "The Monsoon" his first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) loss.
The former NCAA Division-II national wrestling champion rag-dolled Larkin for both rounds and ultimately finished the fight with some vicious ground-and-pound that forced referee Kim Winslow to step in and stop the fight in what appeared to be a late stoppage.
After losing his Strikeforce light heavyweight title to Rafael Cavalcante, which subsequently saw his undefeated streak come to an end in Sept. 2010, Lawal has started a new win streak and perhaps likely set himself up to compete for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title that Dan Henderson left behind when he bolted for greener pastures over in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Never at a loss for words, "King Mo," sounded off at the post-fight press conference (via MMADieHards.com) on everything from his win over Larkin to what the commission should do to punish referee Kim Winslow for the late stoppage to his ongoing feud with a certain former UFC champion.
Check it out:
"From now on, in this press conference, don't say Mousasi's name or I'm going to fall asleep. He is the most boring person in MMA you know what I'm saying? If they want me to beat Mousasi up, or my bad, Kermit, up, then I'll do it. He is just so boring I hate thinking about him. The dude is boring though, to support my band-wagon lets boycott Gegard. "
"King Mo" also wasn't too thrilled when asked about a match-up with Quinton Jackson:
"Why you have to bring up that bums name man? It's like this: if he wants to come to Strikeforce and get beat up, he can. To me, he should just stick to acting and just doing movies cuz to me, in my mind and in my eyes, man he ain't got it no more. And he can hit me up on Twitter and talk trash trying to get me out of my game, but, really we all know the truth. Man he's an actor, a sub par actor. He should be on the B-team and not the "A-Team."
When asked if he felt his fight should have been stopped much sooner:
"The commission, they need to do something with her. Let her take a fight or something and give her a bad ref. Let her fight Cyborg or something. Let her fight 'Cyborg' and then let's do a late stoppage of her. Because I watched her almost get Jan Finney killed by 'Cyborg.' I think the tables need to be turned. Put me in there as a ref and I'll just do a terrible job like her. I heard people from the crowd yelling to stop it and she jumps in all late. I told her, 'Hey you should have stopped the fight earlier.' And she's like, 'Well, I wanted to give him every opportunity to bounce back, so if it takes for him to be asleep. That's what it is.' She never took a punch before so it's easy for her to say that."
Tell us how you really feel, Muhammad.
Perhaps a rematch against "Feijao," the only man to ever best Lawal, could be in order for the wrestling powerhouse.
Then again, much to "King Mo's" chagrin, Gegard Mousasi is also a top candidate to compete for the 205-pound strap after four straight victories including his most recent win over another rising prospect, Ovince St. Preux at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" back on Dec. 17, 2011.
What's your take, Maniacs, was the fight stopped too late? And who should be Lawal's next opponent under the Strikeforce banner?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, mousasi, lawal, fight cyborg
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCristiane Santos accepts responsibility for failed drug test
Fallen featherweight Cristiane Santos has come forward to face allegations of steroid use and, as it turns out, express complete accountability for her actions.
Last week Santos’ name came up in connection with a failed drug test attached to her December destruction of Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. As a result she was not only suspended by the CSAC for a year but fined $2,500, handed a “No Contest” instead of a win, and ultimately stripped of her Strikeforce belt.
Strikeforce/UFC Bosses Comment on Santos’ Failed Drug Test
“While I was preparing myself for my last fight I was having a difficult time cutting weight and used a dietary supplement that I was assured was safe and not prohibited from use in sports competition,” wrote Santos in a statement through MMAPrime. “It was never my intention to obtain an unfair advantage over Hiroko, mislead Strikeforce, the Commission or my fans. I train harder than any fighter in MMA and do not need drugs to win in the cage, and I have proven this time and time again! My only mistake is not verifying the diet aid with my doctor beforehand, and understanding that it was not approved for use in the ring.”
“I am ultimately responsible for everything I put in my body, and at the end of the day, there is no excuse for having a prohibited substance in my system,” the disgraced fighter continued. “I do not condone the use of any performance enhancing drugs by myself or any other professional athlete, and willingly accept the penalties and fines that have been handed down to me by the California State Athletic Commission and those of the Strikeforce/Zuffa organization.”
Santos closed by vowing to come back and prove it was a one-time error and not habitual use, saying, “I will do everything I can to show my fans that I can still compete at the professional level without the use of any prohibited substances, and ask God’s forgiveness for my mistake.”
“Cyborg” holds an overall record of 10-1 with 8 TKOs. Due to the suspension she will now spend another year on the sidelines after already missing seventeen months prior to last month’s match-up with the break stemming from contractual issues and an overall lack of challengers for Santos’ featherweight belt.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, drug, everything i, drug test, use
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Official for March 3 Return to Columbus, Ohio
Strikeforce has made official its return to Columbus for March 3. Aside from the Miesha Tate-Ronda Rousey fight, Paul Daley, KJ Noons and Sarah Kaufan will fight.
Posted in: strikeforce, return, march, strikeforce official, sarah kaufan
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Post-Fight News & Notes: Tate-Rousey, More Announced For March 3
Rundown of Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” post-fight news and notes…
— Like Gilbert Melendez and other fighters, it seems Luke Rockhold is getting restless in Strikeforce. Immediately after he crushed Keith Jardine last night, Rockhold made it crystal clear that he wants to prove himself against top competition.
“I like fighting, I like getting paid, but I love competition and striving to be the best,” he said. “Right now, all the best guys are in the UFC, at least the top-10 guys. … Those are the guys I want. I want to climb to the top and fight the best in the world. I think they should bring over some top contenders. Let’s see who the true No. 1 contender is. I believe I am, and I’d love the chance to prove it.”
Realistically though, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. With the exception of the heavyweights, Strikeforce fighters are going to remain Strikeforce fighters for the foreseeable future, as Scott Coker reiterated last night.
“They’d just like to be in a position where they can fight anybody in any other league,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said following the news conference. “But you know, it’s already been decided that these are going to be separate leagues. We’re going to provide them great fights and we’ll still have some great fights ahead of them. But these guys have a lot to prove.”
With that in mind Rockhold says he’s content facing the quality opponents that are available.
“If that’s the plan, that’s the plan,” Rockhold told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’ll make the most of what we’ve got here. Me and Tim Kennedy was supposed to happen quite a few times, and it doesn’t seem to come to happening. I always look to bigger and better things, and if the UFC wants to bring in some top contenders, I’m more than welcome to welcome them in our hexagon, like Gilbert would say.”
“I’m more than willing to fight anybody here – Tim Kennedy or even a rematch with ‘Jacare,’” Rockhold said. “If they want to bring guys over, let’s bring guys over, but I’m content and I’m happy in Strikeforce. Eventually I think we’ll get the matchups, so I just want to fight the guys that have earned their spot in here. No offense to Keith Jardine. He’s a tough guy, and he’s a veteran opponent, but I want to fight guys that have really earned their spot. Tim Kennedy I’d say is the most valid challenger right now, no doubt. We’ll see if we can make that fight happen. I’m more than willing to take that fight.”
It’s unclear if and when Rockhold and Kennedy might fight, but if it that doesn’t work out, Robbie Lawler looked pretty good last night. Considering the lack of depth in the division that’s probably a fight that will happen sooner or later.
—One Strikeforce fighter who didn’t want to talk about the UFC last night was King Mo. He just re-signed with Strikeforce and knows full well that talking about fighting in the UFC is pointless, which is why he was less than pleased when someone asked him about Rampage Jackson.
“Why’d you bring up that bum’s name?” Lawal said when asked about Jackson. “It’s like this: If he wants to come to Strikeforce and get beat, he can. To me, he should stick to acting and doing movies. To me, in my mind, in my eyes, he ain’t got it no more. He can hit me up on Twitter and talk trash and try to get me off my game, but we all know the truth. He’s an actor; a sub-par actor. He should be on ‘The B-Team,’ not ‘The A-Team’.”
“I’m in Strikeforce,” Lawal said. “The fans who are asking me about the UFC, they’re stupid, man. I’m in Strikeforce. What can I say about the UFC? I’m in Strikeforce. The UFC has their own thing and Strikeforce has their own thing. I can’t be concerned with what they’re saying.”
— Strikeforce finally confirmed their long-rumored March 3 card last night along with several fights including Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey. Other fights announced include KJ Noons vs. Josh Thomson, Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki and Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman. Strikeforce still hopes to headline the card with the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, however they’re still waiting for Cormier to be medically cleared before they can make it official.
— Speaking of the HWGP, the winner is still expected to fight one more time on Showtime. The only problem is all the other Strikeforce heavyweights are moving over to the UFC, which doesn’t leave them many options for opponents. When asked if Fedor Emelianenko could be a possibility, Scott Coker didn’t rule it out.
“That’s interesting,” Coker said. “I’m not sure what Fedor has planned. I haven’t spoken to M-1. I know (M-1 executive) Steve Bash was in the audience tonight, but we haven’t had that conversation yet.”
— And last but not least, Scott Coker is much more optimistic about the future of the women’s 145 lbs weight division following Cris Cyborg’s failed steroid test than Dana White is.
“The 145-pound weight class, I don’t think it’s time to throw that out to the garbage,” Coker said. “I feel we still have some great fighters at 145, and a lot of girls who maybe haven’t been around for a while are going to be motivated to come back because ‘Cyborg’ isn’t going to be there.
“I heard that [White] had said something to the fact of, ‘Well, with her out, what’s the division?’ But there are girls out there … we can bring in to fight at 145. If that’s not the case, I’m sure we’ll evaluate it and make a business decision. But I don’t think that determination has been made.”
Coker is still holding out hope that Gina Carano will return to action this year, but that remains to be seen.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, guy, rockhold
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce results recap: Winners and losers from 'Rockhold vs. Jardine' event on Jan. 7
Strikeforce kicked off the New Year last night (Jan. 7, 2012) as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, played host to Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine."
The event featured a preliminary card that aired on Showtime (Showtime Extreme, to be exact) for the first time. According to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, mixed martial arts (MMA) fans can expect to see more of the same in the coming year.
On the main card, we saw a couple of very close (and not terribly enthralling) fights that ended via split decision. There were also several fights marred by controversy when the respective referees in charge failed to step in and stop the fight before too much damage was doled out.
It was an interesting night for the "other MMA promotion" under the Zuffa banner. Like any card, it had its highs and lows.
Let's peruse the list of big winners and lowly losers from Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine:"
WINNERS
Luke Rockhold -- After beating Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sept. 10, 2011, the MMA world sat up and took notice of Rockhold, possibly for the first time. Tonight, he beat up "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine in a quick, first-round TKO victory -- and he made it look easy. I'm not trying to sell you on the idea that Jardine is still a top contender. He isn't, but that's not Rockhold's fault. All the guy can do is fight who they put in front of him. I, for one, am excited to see what happens next in his career and to see who he fights next.
Robbie Lawler -- If you're an old school MMA fan, you gotta love seeing Lawler come out on top; especially in the way that it went down. After being hit with a blatantly illegal knee, Lawler shook it off, got back up and quickly ended his opponent, Adlan Amagov, after flooring him with a big flying knee. Coming in to the fight, Amagov was being hyped in a big way. A lot of people thought Lawler was being fed to the wolves. Don't write his retirement speech for him just yet.
Muhammed Lawal -- "King Mo" did what he had to do to take care of business against an adversary in Lorenz Larkin who has the power to put a man to sleep with one well-placed strike. Lawal took him down, controlled him and finally pounded him out after referee Kim Winslow finally called a stop to the onslaught in the second round. He fought a smart fight and didn't deviate from the gameplan. If all goes according to plan, he should find himself fighting for the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt again very soon.
LOSERS
Frank Shamrock -- Because I had to listen to him. Because he's had braces for 17 years. Because every time one of the other "esteemed" Strikeforce announcers asks him a question, you can plan on an awkward pause that's long enough for you to fire off a few emails, followed by an answer that makes you wonder if he was even listening. Truth is: he probably wasn't.
Mauro Ranallo -- Again, I had to listen to him. I guess that makes me (and everyone else who tuned in) the real loser(s) in the situation. Look, if Mauro is your guy -- good for you. I just can't get into his style. It's all over the top. There are no dynamics. He says things just to be controversial. He argues with Pat Miletich, who has forgotten more about fighting than Mauro may ever learn. It's 2012. He's like the awkward guy at the party that no one invited. Why is he still here?
Lorenz Larkin -- I like "Monsoon." I like him a lot. But it's time for him to make a decision. Do you want to be a "pretty good" light heavyweight who beats lesser opponents and makes a paycheck, but never really makes a run at a title? Or do you want to be the best mixed martial artist you can be and show that you belong at the top. If the answer is the latter, then Larkin needs to drop down to middleweight. I know that it's the "sexy" answer these days, but the truth is that Larkin carries unnecessary "baggage" as a 205-pounder. He also just doesn't have the strength to compete with the top light heavyweights. "King Mo" won't be the last man to throw him around and overpower him if he stays at this weight class. Disagree. That's fine. But you're wrong.Keith Jardine -- It was fun while it lasted, big guy. We loved your crazy beard and your "Soda Popinski" style persona. You beat Chuck Liddell when that was an accomplishment that still meant something. I'm not mad at you. But it's over. I've never been a professional fighter, so I can't possibly know what it's like to try and quell that fire and call it a day. I admit that. But if it's a matter of contending for a title, that ship has sailed far off into the distance.
The Referees -- Being an official in any sport is difficult. I wouldn't want to do it. That said, there were a few super late stoppages on this card. It just can't happen. When a fighter takes four or five unnecessary punches, is just tarnishes the whole sport. It's fine line. I get that. But these kind of errors are a big deal and need to be closely evaluated.
Alright, Maniacs. Your turn. Who would you list as the big winners and lowly losers from Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine?"
Sound off!
To check out complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results and detailed blow-by-blow coverage click here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Sunday Junkie: Jan. 8 edition
A new Strikeforce era kicked off on Saturday, and the organization's 2012 season is underway with the recent "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event.
While the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal kept the promotion alive, contributors to this week's edition of The Sunday Junkie have some obvious concerns.
The winner of our weekly reader-feedback feature, Canada's Alex Giardini, thinks main-event winner and champion Luke Rockhold did the right thing by expressing some of his own concerns about the future of Strikeforce and has ability to move up the middleweight rankings.
Posted in: strikeforce, sunday junkie, weeks edition, right thing, strikeforce era
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDana White – Expect UFC Action from Strikeforce
"Everything you've come to expect from the UFC, you can expect from Strikeforce on Showtime," says UFC president Dana White in an exclusive interview with Mauro Ranallo.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, dana, showtime, ufc action
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPaul Daley-Kazuo Misaki set to meet at March 3 Strikeforce event
It appears Paul Daley’s time under the Zuffa banner has not in fact ended as some felt may have been the case when “Semtex” took two fights outside of Strikeforce after back-to-back losses in the organization. Instead, according to Strikeforce officials, the 28-year old British brawler will face seasoned competitor Kazuo Misaki on March 3 as part of a lineup in Columbus, Ohio featuring Miesha Tate-Ronda Rousey and the conclusion of the company’s heavyweight Grand Prix.
The bout will mark Misaki’s first in Strikeforce in more than three years with his only bout in the promotion resulting in a September 2008 TKO over Joe Riggs. The 24-11-2 Misaki is currently on a two-fight winning streak and last fought in April where he stopped Akira Shoji with strikes in the second round of their bout.
Daley has also emerged with his hand raised the last two times he’s fought though both came via decision, uncharacteristic for the 29-11-2 striker who has 20 TKOs to his credit. Among his notable past wins are instances of success against Jorge Masvidal, Jordan Radev, Duane Ludwig, and Martin Kampmann.
The March 3 event is scheduled to take place as part of the annual Arnold Sports Festival. Tate vs. Rousey will be for Tate’s bantamweight championship.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/FEG
Posted in: strikeforce, march, zuffa banner, misaki, bout daley
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' results recap: Robbie Lawler vs Adlan Amagov fight review and analysis
Robbie Lawler was expected to face a firm test from a rising prospect last night (January 7, 2012) in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, when wily Russian striker Adlan Amagov challenged his place in the middleweight division.
Instead Lawler, who apparently had been battling medical issues in some of his recent fights, showcased exactly why he's considered one of the most dangerous and powerful middleweights on the planet.
Amagov was known for his trademark flashy stand-up, but he was completely unable to score with any major significant blows in the stand-up portion of the fight.
So what was the key factor which allowed Lawler to do his damage? And where do both men go from here?
Lawler is a fighter who typically fights more aggressive when he has less respect for his opponents. He came out guns blazing against Amagov, pushing forward and throwing with very bad intentions. To Amagov's credit, he wisely ducked a reckless Lawler haymaker and put him on his back.
Everything seemed to be going well for the Russian. He was controlling Lawler, they were scrambling on the ground, working back to the feet and canvas but then he screwed up big time. While Lawler was clearly grounded, Amagov threw a knee to the top of his head which not only gave "Ruthless" a free trip back to his feet, but a brief break as well.
To make matters worse, he was deducted a point.
Not content to rest on being up a point, Lawler took the initiative. Despite Amagov being the fighter known for his wild and crazy striking style, it was Lawler who ducked down, then exploded forwards with a huge flying knee.
The knee grazed the top of Amagov's skull and in the scramble, Lawler quickly turned and proceeded to rain down huge left and right hands from behind. When the Russian's head dropped to the canvas, the referee put a halt to the action.
For Adlan Amagov, he seemed to be doing fine until the illegal knee. His ground skills were neutralizing Lawler's offense but after he had a point taken away, it seemed he lost his direction. He seemed much more hesitant and indecisive when he was standing with Lawler and that allowed his opponent to gain confidence and go on the attack again. He's still a very talented fighter, but he should get another lower level opponent next to build up his self esteem.
Perhaps someone like Antwain Britt, Benji Radach or Nate James would be an appropriate next opponent for him, it all depends where the Strikeforce execs feel he stands right now.
For Robbie Lawler, this was the type of performance fans had been hoping to see out of him against Tim Kennedy. He's capable of incredible violence, but against fighters who can take him down, he takes considerably less risk. Hopefully he can try something equally crazy or entertaining against someone at the top of the division. The problem with Lawler is he's already fought both Jacare and Tim Kennedy and lost. The only other guy at the very top of the division is Luke Rockhold, but that likely won't happen until he scores at least another win. Perhaps someone like Lamumba Sayers or if Strikeforce can sign a top middleweight from somewhere else. There aren't many options for him at the moment.
Perhaps this will all be sorted out in due time, but for now, Lawler is left grasping at straws.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you impressed by Lawler's killer instinct? Do you think he can earn another Strikeforce title shot in 2012?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, opponent, lawler, amagov
Read the full article at MMA ManiaShowdown on MMA: Strikeforce's latest
Strikeforce in Las Vegas was highlighted by Rockhold's win vs. Jardine, Lawal's mental fortitude and some unfortunate officiating.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, las vegas, la, mma strikeforces
Read the full article at sportsnet.caFedor Emelianenko possible as Strikeforce's 'plus-one' heavyweight for new champ
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, mattyblayze, fedor emelianenko, emelianenko
Read the full article at RedditFedor Emelianenko possible as Strikeforce's 'plus-one' heavyweight for new champ
LAS VEGAS - Soon, the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix will come to a conclusion, and the entire division then will be sent to the UFC.
But first, the tournament champion - either Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier - will get one more Strikeforce fight against an opponent to be determined.
While Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said some of those options were eliminated when the UFC gobbled up a handful of Strikeforce fighters for upcoming cards, one famous Russian remains a possibility.
Posted in: strikeforce, fedor emelianenko, daniel cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, strikeforce fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Video Highlights
Video highlights of Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” via Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Post-Fight Interviews: Dana White, Luke Rockhold, King Mo, Robbie Lawler, More
Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ post-fight interviews via Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, interview, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' results recap: Muhammed Lawal vs Lorenz Larkin fight review and analysis
In one of the most predictable match-ups of last night (January 7, 2012), undefeated and undersized prospect Lorenz Larkin stepped up his competition level to an extreme by taking on former champion and world class wrestler Muhammed Lawal on the main card of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately for "The Monsoon," Lawal never really gave him the opportunity to unleash his torrent of attacks.
The flashy striker was completely neutralized en route to a second round technical knockout for "King Mo" Lawal.
So what went wrong for Larkin? And where do both men go from here?
From the onset, Larkin looked conservative, perhaps intimidated by the American Kickboxing Academy fighter and he wasn't able to get off with any of his flashy attacks which had become his trademark. Instead, after a very brief feeling-out period, Lawal shoot in and took the Riverside native down with ease.
On the ground, "King Mo" showcased an extremely powerful base, posturing up and dropping some ground and pound and shutting down all of Larkin's bottom game. Larkin attempted a half guard sweep which was neutralized before it even got started and his attempt to post and pop to his feet was quickly stifled as well as Mo closed the gap with a body lock and kept him down.
The only saving grace for Larkin was the horrific refereeing by Kim Winslow, who stood them up as Lawal was really getting going with his ground and pound. Referee stand-ups are there to prevent stalling or stalemated positions but Lawal was clearly getting the better of his opponent and was forcing Larkin to wilt under his pressure and powerful punches.
Once back to standing, Larkin flashed a jab and showcased some of his speed in his strikes, but he couldn't do nearly enough to make up for the punishment he took from his back.
In round two, Lawal quickly grabbed a leg and lifted it high, first attempting to kick Larkin's free leg out from under him but was content to drop down and power "The Monsoon" to the canvas. This time, Lawal postured up and began dropping down some seriously powerful right hands and Larkin had no response other than to eat them. It didn't take long for Larkin to flail about, unable to properly defend himself but Winslow allowed him to eat several unnecessary shots for good measure before stepping in.
For Lorenz Larkin, this fight was likely a wake-up call. He's stepped in against men considerably larger and stronger than him in his last three fights and Lawal was way too much for him at this point in his career. There's been plenty of talk from outsiders about him dropping down to middleweight, but sometimes, a fighter won't listen until they're forced to listen. He's still got tremendous talent, but he looked intimidated out there and it showed with his performance. Hopefully Strikeforce actually allows him to continue to develop should he drop down to middleweight before throwing him to the sharks again.
If Larkin remains at light heavyweight, perhaps someone along the lines of Abongo Humphry would be a good match-up. If he drops to middleweight, someone along the lines of Benji Radach or Antwain Britt would be a logical next step for him to continue to grow.
For Muhammed Lawal, he is who we thought he was. He's a powerful wrestler with terrific top control and the ability to unleash hell on his opponents. He took Larkin down at will and put a hurting on him. It appeared he had a specific strategy to neutralize "The Monsoon's" flashy striking and it worked perfectly. He attacked Larkin's body repeatedly to slow him down and he actually postured up while on the ground, which allowed him to throw heavier shots than the typical fighter.
Expect to see him fight for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title next in a rematch either against recent winner Gegard Mousasi or if that somehow doesn't pan out, against September winner and fellow former champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. Either way, Lawal is staying in Strikeforce for the time being.
WIth his skill-set, that's a damn shame.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you unsurprised with the result between Lawal and Larkin? What do you think should be the next logical step for both men?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ground, larkin, lawal
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Quick Quote: Luke Rockhold just wants to show you who the number one contender really is
"The best is the best, I think he UFC owns both organizations and I think it would do huge things for Strikfeforce. They say they want to build it and load up this year, well let's bring over a top contender and I'll show you who the true number one contender is."
-- Step aside Gilbert Melendez, there is another Strikeforce champion calling out the best of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fresh off of defending his Strikeforce middleweight title for the first time against Keith Jardine last night (Jan., 7, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," Luke Rockhold stated in his post-fight interview that it's high time the UFC bring over some of the top185-pound pound fighters from its roster to challenge him to see who the best really is. The American Kickboxing Academy product (AKA) finished "The Dean of Mean" in the first round using his nasty stand up skills, delivering plenty of shots to the dome of Jardine before Herb Dean put a halt to the fight. Unfortunately for Rockhold, he will have to keep holding his breath if he ever hopes that Zuffa will co-promote even if its owns both mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations. He is now one of the faces of Strikeforce and will have to make do with the competition there, seeing as how UFC President Dana White said the rest of the Strikeforce roster will stay in tact for the foreseeable future. Being undefeated (8-0) with the San Jose-based promotion and as dominant as his win was over Jardine, did Rockhold speak a little too prematurely? Did anything in his performance last night show you that he is ready for UFC's elite?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, show, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCould Santos' failed test actually save Strikeforce's women's 145-pound division?
LAS VEGAS - In MMA, especially with smaller promotions, an entire division can be propped up by a single dominant fighter.
However, with Strikeforce's women's 145-pound division, could the loss of its champion and pound-for-pound queenpin actually save it?
On Saturday Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos' yearlong suspension for a failed drug test could actually result in an influx of talent and perhaps event a brighter future for the division.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, drug test, cristiane cyborg, poundforpound queenpin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLuke Rockhold: I want to fight a top contender from the UFC
Luke Rockhold followed the footsteps of Gilbert Melendez, calling out the current top contenders in the UFC to prove their worth in Strikeforce. Following the victory over Keith Jardine at last night's Strikeforce event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rockhold improved his MMA record to 9-1, also solidifying his place as one of the Top 10 Middleweights on the planet.
Further Reading: Strikeforce Results: Luke Rockhold TKO's Keith
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke, keith jardine, gilbert melendez
Read the full article at Low KickIf you missed the Strikeforce Card Last Night
submitted by Sheggzz [link] [comment]
Posted in: night, strikeforce, strikeforce card, sheggzz link, sheggzz
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce results recap from last night (Jan. 7) for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' in Las Vegas
Boy, Strikeforce in 2012 is going to be really fun, right?
If last night's (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event is any indication, the fresh outlook for the promotion after it re-upped with Showtime has quickly flown out the window and been replaced with that same old feeling. You know, like when a funnel cloud is forming in the distance and you're getting pelted with rain and hail awaiting the tornado that is undoubtedly on its way.
But it's slow forming and taking its sweet time.
The funnel cloud took its form last night in a clear mismatch of a main event between Luke Rockhold, the promotion's middleweight champion and budding superstar, and Keith Jardine, an old war hog whose best days were behind him about two years ago.
"The Dean of Mean" is a veteran of the game, sure, and he's feisty as all hell, yeah, but Rockhold was a -600 favorite come fight night and no well-informed mixed martial arts (MMA) fan was picking an upset here. The fight was a foregone conclusion, and that's a problem when trying to sell a legitimate contest.
So it was no surprise, then, that Luke used the force and blasted Jardine to smithereens in the very first round, bullying him around the cage and flash knocking him out a few times before the referee saved whatever brain cells are left floating around in Keith's head.
Jardine said he wanted to make it a gritty, ugly fight but not like this. Not another instance of the Greg Jackson pupil getting separated from his senses yet again.
The funnel cloud continued to take shape when Rockhold was given some mic time in his post-fight interview with Mauro Ranallo. When asked what his thoughts are on Tim Kennedy as a potential next challenger to his title, Rockhold was noncommittal and acted as though that fight was the furthest thing from his mind.
What is on his mind, you say? Why the UFC, of course. Fighting inside the Octagon, "where all the best fighters in the world are."
That's the perception Dana White and company created and that's what they'll have to contend with regarding Strikeforce going forward, not just with the fans, but with the fighters, as well. There's a storm brewing, folks, and it's not going to be pretty when it hits.
The co-main event of the evening featured Robbie Lawler picking up what had to be the most astonishing knockout victory of his career when he landed what looked to be a flying knee but may have actually been a flying cup.
Or actually, the "Ruthless" hitman from Illinois may have put Adlan Amagov out with a flying teabag.
Really, it didn't matter. Amagov landed an illegal knee just moments prior that set the stage for Lawler to get his revenge via knee, cup, whatever you want it to be. Truth be told, his follow up shots on the ground were far more effective than anything that came before it.
After all these years, we can always count on Lawler to keep it interesting.
That's not necessarily the case for Tyron Woodley, who's earned himself the moniker of a darker skinned version of Jon Fitch. In many ways, that's not a bad thing, as "T-Wood" took Jordan Mein down at will and had his way with him.
It was a winning strategy and likely a necessary one if he wants to contest for the vacant 170-pound title that Nick Diaz left behind when he bolted for the UFC.
But, not unlike Fitch, there likely aren't many in the world of MMA who will be clamoring to see Woodley carrying a title anytime soon. Is he talented? Most definitely. One of the best fighters in the division? He may very well be.
Is he also boring as all get out? Survey says ...
100 - Yes.
Nonetheless, Woodley has done enough in Strikeforce to earn a title shot and at some point winning has to hold up on its own, right?
That's the word coming out of the Tarec Saffiedine camp, or at least it should be, following his split decision victory over Tyler Stinson. "The Sponge" soaked up all of Stinson's offense by stifling him for three rounds via the tried and true strategy of takedown-top control, takedown-top control, takedown-top control.
Even then, one judge -- though they were wacky much of the night -- scored the bout for Stinson, who was far superior striking and stayed relatively busy off his back.
All this would look far worse for Saffiedine if a certain little nugget of information didn't come out shortly after the event concluded. Tarec, you see, suffered a broken arm in the first round. And that's what led to his ground heavy approach the next two frames.
Kind of hard to throw punches when your bones are clicking together.
Perhaps that gives him the pass Woodley won't get and he's positioned himself for a rematch against Tyron later this year with the welterweight strap up for grabs. Neither man sold the fight well with their performances last night but it's impossible to argue with the results.
Even the one bout that featured a violent knockout had its issues. Muhammed Lawal was looking to impress in his return to action against rising contender Lorenz Larkin and that's exactly what he did.
In the form of about 20 punches to the grill, eight of which were entirely unnecessary.
Indeed, "King Mo" used his strong wrestling to take the fight to the mat and overwhelm Larkin, who was simply in over his head and quickly found himself without a clear path to victory. When Lawal started throwing bombs and they were landing on the sweet spot, it was clear to everyone watching, the fight was done.
Except referee Kim Winslow, who let Larkin take far too many extra blows to the head. Even Lawal told her as much when he was being announced the victor.
Nonetheless, he made a big statement. Now that he's signed to a new four-fight deal that will keep him with the promotion, it will be a surprise if he's not fighting for the vacant light heavyweight title in his next bout.
Stay tuned.
That's enough from us. Now it's your turn to discuss Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in the comments section below. Anyone else feeling like the promotion isn't nearly as fun now that the Zuffa overlords have made their mark? Or is there much more to look forward to than I'm giving credit?
Let's hear it, Maniacs.
Be sure to also check out our complete Strikeforce blow-by-blow coverage of the entire "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event right here.
While you're at it, check out our fight-by-fight recaps and immediate reactions for the Showtime action:
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Strikeforce results: Luke Rockhold knocks out Keith Jardine to defend middleweight championship (Article here)
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Strikeforce results: Robbie Lawler flying knee (?) knocks out Adlan Amagov (Article here)
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Strikeforce results: Tyron Woodley wrestles his way past Jordan Mein (Article here)
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Strikeforce results: Tarec Saffiedine outworks Tyler Stinson for split decision win (Article here)
Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Strikforce results: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal knocks out Lorenz Larkin (Article here)
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, that
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' notebook: Woodley demands title shot
LAS VEGAS - Earlier this week, undefeated Strikeforce prospect Tyron
Woodley made some waves by calling himself "the
uncrowned champion of Strikeforce's welterweight division."
Following his decision win over Jordan Mein at Saturday's "Strikeforce:
Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas, Woodley took it a step
further, demanding a title shot in his next event.
In this "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" post-event notebook, read
what "T-Wood" had to say and get further updates on winners Robbie
Lawler, Tarec Saffiedine and Nah-Shon Burrell.
Posted in: title shot, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, woodley
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce confirms four bouts for March event, says main event still undetermined
LAS VEGAS - With Strikeforce's first 2012 show in the books, the promotion now looks ahead to its next event, and the promotion on Saturday confirmed four bouts for a previously rumored March 3 event.
As expected Strikeforce female bantamweight champion Miesha Tate meets undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey in one of the night's featured contests, but Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it's not necessarily the evening's featured bout.
K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson, Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki and Alexis Davis vs. Sarah Kaufman were also made official for the card, which takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, las vegas, march event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThe Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
Sunday mornings are nothing if you don't spend the first 15 minutes uncontrollably vomiting. My days of eating Hooters wings are over after reading this Holy Taco article. A former employee claims whenever the company had spoiled and rotten wings, the manager would instruct the employees to toss them in a bucket of water, add bleach and stir for a few minutes. The manager stated the bleach gets rid of the smell, and frying the wings gets rid of 'everything else.' Disgusting.
Enjoy your Sunday Morning Rumor Mill.
After last night's Strikeforce card, someone very close to Luke Rockhold (younger brother, cousin...etc) stood outside the arena at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and repeatedly yelled 'Keith Jardine sucks!' Within seconds, an older lady approached the guy from behind and started pummeling him in the back of his head and right shoulder. The security guards rushed to break up the unexpected altercation. Bewildered, the guy asked who started attacking him for no apparent reason. A security guard simply responds with 'That was Keith Jardine's mom.'
Lorenz Larkin vs. Ovince St. Preux is on tap for Spring 2012. You heard it first.
After BJ Penn made his statements against Cesar Gracie and Nick Diaz on Twitter, another statement was made on his Facebook that seemed to deescalate the entire beef. Within minutes, Penn got on his Facebook and essentially admitted that a PR person accessed his account, and that people need to understand that he's really angry with Cesar Gracie. On a sidenote, this past Friday I had a phone conversation that 100% confirms this is not a PR stunt. BJ Penn really has beef with Cesar Gracie.
Judging from the lack of Rockstar promotion at Strikeforce, it's safe to say the energy drink company was not renewed going into 2012. Personally, I will still 'party like a Rockstar' since their sugar-free drinks are the best in the market. It's in a white can. Try it out.
A guy heckling Strikeforce ring girl, Kelli Hutcherson, was punched in the face by a fan during last night's Strikeforce card. The puncher was thrown out of the arena. Overall, tons of random punching last night. Wild stuff.
ONE FC sees Strikeforce removing their female featherweight division as a 'great opportunity' to sign top women talent for their Asian promotion.
Don't be surprised if Gilbert Melendez vs. BJ Penn goes down in Strikeforce at some point this year.
It's heavily rumored that Josh Koscheck will move to Strikeforce after his UFC contract is up.
In a recent interview, Dana White suggested Jon Jones will face Dan Henderson in his next bout.
It appears that Ben Askren will join the ranks of Shinya Aoki and make Evolve MMA his new home this year.
Now that Sergio Pettis (Showtime's little brother) has racked up his second professional MMA win, it's rumored that Bellator looks to sign the 18-year-old prospect.
Posted in: strikeforce, penn, sunday, cesar gracie, wing
Read the full article at Middle EasyDespite UFC challenge, Rockhold says he's comfortable with Strikeforce options
LAS VEGAS - For Strikeforce champions, it's becoming an increasingly common practice: Win a fight, call out the UFC roster.
And so it was for Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold, who moments after scoring a first-round TKO over Keith
Jardine at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event
challenged the UFC's best fighters to a showdown.
But with the adrenaline worn off and Rockhold under scrutiny from the
media at the evening's post-event press conference, the champ admitted
there are still a few worthy challenges in his current promotion.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, rockhold, ufc roster, strikeforce champions
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce's Lawal rips on 'Kermit' Mousasi, sub-par actor Jackson, bad ref Winslow
LAS VEGAS - Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King
Mo" Lawal has never been one to hold back when it
comes to expressing his opinion, and Saturday night was no different.
Following his win over the previously undefeated Lorenz Larkin at
Saturday's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas, Lawal
railed on fellow light heavyweights Gegard Mousasi and Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson.
Oh, and the gloves really came off when it came to referee Kim Winslow.
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, lorenz larkin, lawal, kermit mousasi
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRockhold shows little appreciation for Strikeforce after win (Yahoo! Sports)
After his impressive win over Keith Jardine, Luke Rockhold slighted his Strikeforce brethren and called out UFC foes.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, yahoo sports, strikeforce brethren, brethren
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsStrikeforce Morning After: Luke Rockhold Says UFC Fighters Are Needed
Filed under: StrikeforceSaturday's Strikeforce card, headlined by a main event of Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine was a perfectly good night of fights. And yet something was missing -- something that Rockhold himself put his finger on in his post-fight interview.
What's missing from Strikeforce these days is enough talented, recognizable fighters to fill up a full fight card, and enough talented, recognizable fighters to put together a complete weight class. And so it was no surprise that when Rockhold was asked after the fight who he'd like to defend his middleweight title against next, Rockhold said he'd like to fight someone from the UFC.
"I like fighting, I like getting paid, but I love competition and striving to be the best," Rockhold said. "Right now all the best guys are in the UFC, at least the Top 10 ranked -- besides myself, maybe, in some rankings. Those are the guys I want. I want to climb to the top, I want to fight the best in the world, and I think they should bring over some top contenders. Let's see who the true No. 1 contender is, because I believe I am, and I'd love the chance to prove it."
Showtime executives probably gulped hard when they heard those words -- here's the guy who just won the main event on the first card of the new Showtime-Strikeforce partnership, and he's basically saying Strikeforce isn't good enough.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
But Rockhold is largely correct: The best guys are in the UFC, and if Rockhold wants to prove that he's one of the best guys, there's really no way for him to do it until he's fighting opponents from the UFC. If Zuffa won't either move Rockhold into the UFC or move UFC fighters into Strikeforce, there's just no way for Rockhold to show where he stacks up.
Unfortunately for Rockhold, all indications are that it's simply not going to happen: The UFC is going to keep its best fighters in the Octagon, and Strikeforce will have to make do with what it has. Don't expect a Top 10 fighter from the UFC to be challenging for Rockhold's Strikeforce belt.
That's too bad for Rockhold, but that's the reality: Strikeforce is capable of putting together entertaining fight cards, but if you want to see the best you have to watch the UFC.
Strikeforce Notes
-- Starting with this card, all of Strikeforce's preliminary card fights will air on Showtime Extreme, which is a welcome development -- at least for people who get Showtime Extreme. Unfortunately, the level of talent on display in some of the undercard fights was lacking. About the only thing Alonzo Martinez showed in his unanimous decision loss to Estevan Payan is that he can take a punch, and Martinez took a whole lot of punches for 15 solid minutes. Martinez really didn't look like he belonged in a televised fight. And Ricky Legere's unanimous decision victory over Chris Spang was a ho-hum affair. I realize Strikeforce preliminary cards aren't exactly going to have Top 10 fighters, but they need to improve the matchmaking on the prelims to give the fans a reason to tune in a couple hours before the main card starts.
-- Seeing UFC President Dana White interviewed during a Strikeforce broadcast was a surprise, and another indication that the UFC's ownership of Strikeforce is not, contrary to what White says, "business as usual." White looked a little uncomfortable in the role, but the bottom line is that White -- not Scott Coker -- is the promoter the fans want to hear from, and it just makes sense that White would be the promoter to appear on television during a Strikeforce show.
Strikeforce Quotes
"She explained to me that she wants to give us a fair chance to keep continuing, and I respect that. Because if that was me, I would rather be put to sleep than her jump in and me still be awake." -- King Mo Lawal, saying he understood why referee Kim Winslow stopped his win over Lorenz Larkin when she did. It's to Lawal's credit that he was concerned enough about his opponent that he wanted the fight stopped sooner, and it's also to Lawal's credit that he acknowledged that the referee has a hard job knowing exactly when to step in.
Having said that, I thought the stoppage was a little slow -- Winslow let Larkin take a couple punches too many.
Good Call
The judges for that Payan-Martinez fight all got the scores right -- 30-27 for Payan -- which gave me some hope that we'd see a night of good judging. Unfortunately, there were some highly questionable scorecards in the three split decisions later in the night, including ...
Bad Call
The scores were all over the map on the Tarec Saffiedine-Tyler Stinson fight. Only one judge got it right, 29-28 for Saffiedine. One judge scored it 30-27 for Saffiedine, which was highly questionable given Stinson's performance in the first round, and another scored it 29-28 for Stinson, which was highly questionable given Saffiedine's performance in the second and third rounds.
Stock Up
Gian Villante is an athletic young light heavyweight with potential, and it was good to see him turn in an impressive first-round TKO win over Trevor Smith. Villante did a phenomenal job of ground and pound, grabbing Smith's leg with one hand and battering Smith in the face with his other hand.
Stock Down
Keith Jardine is a fighter I've always liked, but it's hard to see why he should keep fighting. Jardine is just 2-6-1 in his last nine fights, and he's now been brutally knocked out several times in his career. For the sake of his long-term health, Jardine needs to seriously consider hanging up the gloves.
Fight I Want to See Next
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy. Bringing in a middleweight from the UFC would be great for Rockhold, but the reality is that it's not going to happen. Kennedy is the Strikeforce middleweight who makes the most sense for Rockhold. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, rockhold, card
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLuke Rockhold Wants to Welcome the UFC’s Best in The Strikeforce Hexagon
Luke Rockhold made the first successful defense of his Strikeforce middleweight title, and now he's ready for the next challenge.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke, luke rockhold, ufc ’s
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Ohio Adds Daley vs. Misaki, Noons vs. Thomson
The Strikeforce main card appears almost set for March 3 in Ohio after the promotion announced two more major bouts on Saturday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, saturday, ohio, strikeforce ohio
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Live Results and Play-by-Play (8 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas at approximately 8:45 p.m. ET with live results and play-by-play of Strikeforce's
“Rockhold vs. Jardine”, headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight title bout between champion Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, las vegas, rock hotel
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Live Results and Play-by-Play (8 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas at approximately 8:45 p.m. ET with live results and play-by-play of Strikeforce's
“Rockhold vs. Jardine”, headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight title bout between champion Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, las vegas, rock hotel
Read the full article at SherdogTarec Saffeidine Wins Split Decision With Broken Arm
Shortly after tonight's event Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, Dan Henderson took to twitter to console Tarec Saffeidine for a broken arm he suffered in the 1st round of his fight with Tyler Stinson. I'm not sure when in the round the injury happened, but for Tarec to persevere through that and being rocked late in the first to secure the split decision win is even more of an accomplishment now.
The question now is what this means for the Strikeforce Welterweight title. Nick Diaz vacated the championship back in July when he signed with the UFC. It's been widely speculated going in to tonight's event that the winners of Saffeidine/Stinson and Tyrone Woodley/Jordan Mein would compete for the vacant title. Will Tarec's injury change these plans? Or will Strikeforce put the championship on hold until Saffeidine is ready to compete?
Posted in: strikeforce, split decision, tarec, tarec saffeidine, saffeidine
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce Confirms Tate vs. Rousey for Ohio
It will be a grudge match in Ohio when Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate faces Ronda Rousey on March 3rd at the promotion's next major event.
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, ronda rousey, rousey, ohio
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Results: Rockhold Blasts Through Jardine, Calls Out UFC Middleweights
Just after winning the Strikeforce middleweight title in September, Luke Rockhold wasn't even sure he'd get a chance to defend the belt with the promotion's future in question for almost the rest of 2011.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, middleweight, ufc middleweights, promotions future
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results and Post-Fight Analysis
People with common sense knew that Keith Jardine stood little chance against Luke Rockhold in their Strikeforce main event tonight. Jardine's only two wins since the start of 2009 were against Francisco France and Aron Lofton, going 2-5-1 in that span. To make matters worse, this was also his first ever fight at middleweight.
So why did he get the shot? That's a simple question to answer. Depth.
Once Tim Kennedy was hurt and unable to fight Jardine there just weren't any other options. And that makes Rockhold's post-fight interview all the more telling. In the cage, after stopping Jardine with a brutal assault of punches in the first round, Rockhold pointed out that all the top ten talent is in the UFC and that those are the guys he wants to face. And rightfully so. Rockhold is a talented, young fighter with tons of upside.
So we have Gilbert Melendez wanting to prove he's the top lightweight in the world with no one who can really challenge him on the Strikeforce roster, no heavyweight division anymore, no light heavyweight champion, a middleweight champion talking about wanting to fight UFC fighters, and no welterweight champion (more on that shortly). Then Cyborg tests positive and the women's 145 division is basically disolved. It's hard to see the long-term viability of Strikeforce in it's current form.
To go back to the fight itself, Jardine's strategy was fine. He was looking to pick his spots and get in with straight shots and avoid return fire, but it still felt like countdown to when the shot that finished him off would land.
Again, Luke Rockhold is a phenomenal fighter with a tremendously bright future.
In the co-main event, Robbie Lawler proved that he still has his best asset, tremendous one-punch power. Amagov looked fine early but Lawler reacted with fierceness to an illegal knee by Amagov and blitzed him with a flying knee and series of punches.
"King Mo" Muhammed Lawal against Lorenz Larkin was another common sense outcome. Larkin is a guy who is still developing and, again, lack of depth meant that he was forced into a fight he simply wasn't ready for. Lawal took him down and brutalized him. There's not much more to say about this at all.
Much more after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Tyron Woodley is actually flaming out as a prospect despite still not having lost a fight. His bout with Jordan Mein was almost unbearable to watch. He stuck to getting takedowns and then doing nothing but look to hold position. He did so little with top position, in fact, that one judge actually scored the fight for Mein on the strength of his elbows off his back.
The Woodley/Mein fight is the exact reason that people need to stop saying "a win is a win" or "winning is all that matters." Those simply aren't true in a sport like mixed martial arts. There is no set-up to the sport like a league where winning means that you have to be given shots at the title. Woodley's style is not going to make a promotion any money, hardly anyone is going to demand to see him fight, so Zuffa has no reason to push him at all. He's absolutely unmarketable and tonight's fight was horrible. This isn't a guy that you want on top of the welterweight division, you can't put him in a main event and you need to be able to main event your champions.
Tarec Saffiedine made the correct adjustment against Tyler Stinson when Stinson beat him in the stand-up in the first round. Going forward Saffiedine focused on working takedowns. And before someone says "why aren't you criticizing him the same way you did Woodley?" Saffiedine used strikes on the ground and cut up Stinson. He also outlanded him on the ground by a significant margine whereas Woodley was outlanded despite having top position.
Nah-Shon Burrell was gifted a decision on the undercard, having been seemingly clearly beaten by James Terry. Burrell has some work to do on his wrestling and ground game, he also fell into the trap of looking to single shot and abandoned combination striking far too often.
Gian Villante beat Trevor Smith and...I don't know what to say about it.
Ricky Legere took down Chris Spang a lot and won a decision. So, that happened.
Estevan Payan looked like he had some real upside on the opening bout. He was far too wild in the early part of round one, but once he settled down and used technique he just busted up Alonzo Martinez. I'm very interested in seeing him in Strikeforce again.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, shot
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMiesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Among Four Fights Confirmed for Strikeforce on March 3
Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate will face undefeated contender Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce’s March 3 event in Columbus, Ohio, the promotion announced during Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” broadcast on Showtime.
Also confirmed for the Showtime-televised card were welterweights Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki, former lightweight champion Josh Thomson vs. KJ Noons, and former women’s bantamweight champ Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis.
For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Meisha Tate
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, tate, columbus ohio, showtimetelevised card
Read the full article at MMA FrenzySarah Kaufman Draws Alexis Davis at Strikeforce in Ohio
A possible No. 1 contender's bout is on deck for the upcoming Strikeforce show in March as former champion Sarah Kaufman will meet Alexis Davis.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce show, sarah kaufman, alexis davis, sarah
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
Complete Strikeforce - Rockhold vs. Jardine Official FightMetric Statistics
Check out all the stats from Strikeforce - Rockhold vs. Jardine:http://hosteddb.fightmetric.com/events/details/576
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, stat
Read the full article at Fight MetricStrikeForce: Rockhold v. Jardine - Post Fight Recap
Say what you want about Strikeforce, more often than not they deliver exciting and fun fight nights. And with the sole exception of Tyrone Woodley vs. Jordan Mein, tonight was no different.
Going in to the main event, I wanted Keith Jardine to score the upset against Luke Rockhold for absolutely no logical reason. However, I was not at all disappointed in the way Rockhold tore apart The Dean of Mean. From the opening bell, Rockhold had no problem dealing with Jardine's unorthodox striking. He neutralized him from the start and managed to land some flashy and effective kicks en route to a TKO victory off a strong counter to Keith's questionable chin. It looks like Luke's next challenge will be Tim Kennedy and after tonight I'm excited to see the fight.
For Keith Jardine, there's really not a lot that interests me. I doubt he retires of this fight, which he should probably think about doing. So, we'll likely see him try to force a couple more slugfests in the Strikeforce Middleweight division.
Robbie Lawlor made me smile when he came out like a berserker, it was almost his downfall though, when Adlan Amagov scored a takedown. I think Lawlor, milked the knee that Amagov landed while he was down, but I don't fault him as it was a smart move. Lawlor followed by taking full advantage of the restart with a huge flying knee that felled Amagov and finished him with some vicious ground and pound. Because it's Strikeforce and excitement is typically more important than "sensible" matchmaking, we could see Lawlor in a title fight in the future. But that doesn't really matter to me. He'll be matched up against whoever they decide to put him against and he's going to swing for the fences. There's no way not to cheer for that.
Great work work by "King" Mo Lawal tonight against Lorenz Larkin tonight. As many suspected King Mo came out looking to wrestle and wrestle he did. He followed his takedowns up by establishing a dominant position and brutalizing Larking with ground and pound. It's time to crown a new StrikeForce Light Heavyweight Champion and Gegard Mousasi is the man to contend with Lawal for the vacant title. After seeing Mousasi dominate Ovince St. Preux at the last Strikeforce event, I'm looking forward to the rematch.
Tarec Saffiedine was able to pull off a split decision in an ugly fight against Tyler Stinson. With the Welterweight title abandoned by Nick Diaz, look for Saffiedine to get a shot at the vacant title against Tyrone Woodley. Chances are it will look just like the fight tonight against Mein and I don't look forward to it.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
I'm writing this immediately after the prelims, while it's fresh and I'm sober, so bear with me. Overall, the preliminary fights were pretty good with Gian Villante being the stand out. He came out strong and seemed to laugh off Trevor Smith's lazy strikes and low kicks before earning the quick TKO victory. I'd like to see him step up to fight Mike Kyle next. Mostly because Kyle is infamous for those late hits against Brian Olsen and I'd be happy if Villante is able to hurt him. A lot.
For the rest of the fights, I didn't see any one that truly impressed me. I did really like Estevan Payan's striking against Alonzo Martinez, but his inability or lack of desire to force the finish concerned me. He very obviously had Martinez out matched but he was content to take the decision. This will work against lesser competition, but probably not as he moves up the ranks.
Despite giving up the unanimous decision to Ricky Legere, I still have some hope for Chris Spang. His striking was on point even if it was a little reckless. If he can shore up his takedown defense and take a more measure approach, I think he'll see some success. Legere, on the other hand, is going to have a lot of problems with any one that can stop the takedown and he didn't have a lot of offense once he got it to the ground. It got him the win here, but I don't see him going very far. I have the same feelings about James Terry. He's was able to exploit Burrell's TDD weakness, but had a lot of trouble controlling him and wasn't really able to inflict any damage when he got it to the ground. Nah Shon Burrell's striking looked pretty sharp and he liked to throw with power. I doubt he'll ever be a world beater, but he should be able to fill out some cards with fun fights.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, lot
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce Rockhold Vs. Jardine Results: Luke Rockhold Defends Middleweight Belt
Luke Rockhold defeats Keith Jardine by Knockout at 4:26 in the first round.
Luke Rockhold entered the cage without his Strikeforce middleweight title, almost saying that he wasn't losing the fight as Jardine was undeserving of the title shot. There was a lot of criticism as most assumed that Rockhold's first defense would be against Tim Kennedy. However, an undisclosed injury kept Kennedy sidelined. Announcer Mauro Renallo called Jardine's stand up "herky-jerky" throughout much of the fight while Rockhold attempted to cut the cage off.
Luke Rockhold landed several punches which stunned Jardine. He collapsed Jardine against the cage before raining down punches. It got to the point that the announcers were asking outloud when the referee would stop the fight. It would come to an end with under a minute left in the first round. Herb Dean stepped in at 4:26 to save Jardine from more damage.
Rockhold is undefeated in Strikeforce and has successfully defended his title in ninth career victory. Keith Jardine was an underdog. He is now 17-10-2 in his career.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke, jardine, tim kennedy
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' results: Champ Rockhold defends, TKOs Jardine
LAS VEGAS - Luke Rockhold's first title defense proved a rather quick and efficient one.
The Strikeforce middleweight champion used a late-first-round onslaught to batter UFC vet Keith Jardine - a former light heavyweight making his middleweight debut - and claim a TKO victory.
The title fight headlined "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" and aired on Showtime. It took place at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, title defense, jardine, latefirstround onslaught
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce results: Luke Rockhold knocks out Keith Jardine to defend middleweight championship
The main event of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" tonight (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, featured, well, Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine. It was the first title defense for the former, as he put his middleweight strap on the line against an opponent many felt unworthy.
That's because "The Dean of Mean" had never even fought at 185-pounds before tonight and failed to establish himself in his one fight under the Strikeforce banner. Nonetheless, he was the guy to get the shot.
Those who made the case that he never should have only had it bolstered when Rockhold landed multiple punches that put Jardine on his butt and sent him off to la-la land. The younger, better fighter won tonight.
Rockhold may or may not be ready for Anderson Silva but having him knock out Keith Jardine likely didn't bring us any closer to answering that question. Then again, he was expected to win by blowout and that's exactly what he did.
Rockhold had the early edge, as he was clearly the faster of the two. Word around the water cooler all week was that Jardine had struggled greatly to get down to the 185-pound limit, despite the fact that he weighed in wearing a hat and his fight shorts.
The Greg Jackson trained fighter was loose and bouncing around the cage but he was showing little in the way of offense. Luke, on the other hand, was landing some of those "cute" kicks Jardine said he didn't want to let him get off with.
It wasn't long after that Rockhold proved most of the pundits in the game right when he started finding a home for both his right and left hand. Jardine's shaky chin once again failed to hold up and he was knocked out multiple times before the referee finally, mercifully stepped in to call it.
Nothing to see here, folks, move along.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke, keith jardine, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce results: Muhammed 'King Mo' Lawal knocks out Lorenz Larkin
A light heavyweight battle took place on the main card of the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event tonight (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) live on Showtime, as Muhammed Lawal took on rising prospect Lorenz Larkin.
It was a big bump up in competition for Larkin, who looked every bit ready to take the next step. But was he really?
No. Not really. Not at all, actually. That's because "King Mo" used his superior takedowns and ground-n-pound to just put a beating on Larkin, to the point that referee Kim Winslow is again under fire for not stopping the fight sooner.
Indeed, Larkin was laid up against the cage and eating shot after shot to the grill, clearly defenseless. Even Lawal told Winslow right in the cage that she let him get hit with too many punches.
Oh well. Lawal won by knockout in the second frame and looked damn good doing it.
Lawal wasted no time at all grabbing a takedown and unloading with his trademark ground-n-pound. The entire first frame featured the wrestler plying his craft, putting Larkin on his back and frustrating him.
The second saw much of the same except this time, the power punches on the floor were finding their mark with deadly precision. CompuStrike pegged Lawal with landing 32 power strikes.
Larkin? Just two.
The Strikeforce light heavyweight is vacant now that Dan Henderson has bailed to the UFC and Lawal, who just signed a new four-fight contract, seems as good a candidate as any to fight for the belt.
Anyone disagree?
Posted in: strikeforce, dan henderson, larkin, lawal, fourfight contract
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Results: Tyron Woodley Tops Jordan Mein
Tyrone Woodley defeated Jordan Mein in their main card fight at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, jordan mein, woodley, mein, card fight
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Results: Saffiedine Edges Stinson
Tarec Saffiedine had to go to plan B to get the job done, but his mission was accomplished as he defeated Tyler Stinson to kick off Strikeforce on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, plan b, saffiedine, tyler stinson
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 120: Strikeforce 'Rockhold vs. Jardine' Results Review
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, Forrest Lynn and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they review tonight's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine," which is headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight championship bout between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine. Also on the card, former light-heayweight champion Muhammed Lawal returns to face rising prospect Lorenz Larkin.
We'll review all the bouts that make air while taking you calls, emails, tweets and comments here in the show thread.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, elbow radio, elbow
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' results: Burrell edges Terry via split decision
LAS VEGAS - James Terry's quiet but steady ascent up Strikeforce's welterweight ranks hit a snag - in controversial fashion - against Nah-Shon Burrell.
While Burrell was the more dangerous fighter, Terry was more complete and scored frequently with takedowns. However, Burrell ultimately earned a controversial split-decision win.
The preliminary-card fight was part of "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" and aired on Showtime Extreme.
Posted in: strikeforce, terry, preliminarycard fight, nahshon burrell, burrell
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Chat is now open!
Come on in and pretend to care about these fights with us!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, chat, care, strikeforce chat
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Main Card Live Blog
HeavyMMA.com will have live coverage of Saturday’s Strikeforce card, which takes place at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The main card of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs....
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, las vegas, blog heavymmacom
Read the full article at Heavy MMATinychat - Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
submitted by combatpicks [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, tinychat, combatpicks link
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine results
Follow live results for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Luke Rockhold defends his middleweight belt.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Real Time Results
Strikeforce is ready to kick off 2012 on a high note with not only a card full of solid match-ups but live preliminary bouts on Showtime for the first time in promotional history. Headlined by middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against crafty cagefighter Keith Jardine, the show starts up on Showtime Extreme at 8:00 PM EST with main card action heading over to Showtime two hours later.
Other bouts on the lineup include former light heavyweight title-holder Mo Lawal taking on undefeated striker Lorenz Larkin, hard-hitting fan-favorite Robbie Lawler duking it out with Adlan Amagov, and a battle sure to determine a top contender to the vacant welterweight championship involving Tyron Woodley and Jordan Mein.
Woodley Feels He Should Be Fighting for a Title
As always Fighters.com will be tuned in throughout the event and relaying live results back to readers as they unfold in real time.
Check out a complete rundown of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine outcomes below:
Estevan Payan vs. Alonzo Martinez
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
Gian Villante vs. Trevor Smith
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry
Tyler Stinson vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, woodley
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Preliminary Card Live Blog
HeavyMMA will bring you live coverage of tonight's preliminary card fights at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, card fights, blog heavymma
Read the full article at Heavy MMA“Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” Live Results and Coverage
It’s the first MMA event of 2012 and Strikeforce has the floor all to themselves tonight. Coming to us live from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino from Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. As always, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will provide complete results including a round by round recap of all the live televised action.
Things kick off at 8PM EST on Showtime Extreme with the preliminary card and then the event switches over to Showtime at 10PM EST for the main card. Remember that this is a free preview weekend for Showtime, which means that you could have the chance to watch even if you don’t subscribe to the network.
The event is headlined by a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine. Plus Muhammad Lawal battles Lorenz Larkin in a light heavyweight showdown and a pair of important welterweight clashes take place as well, as Tyron Woodley takes on Jordan Mein while Tarec Saffiedine squares off again Tyler Stinson.
Read below for complete results:
PRELIMINARY CARD (ShowtimeExtreme)
Estevan Payan vs. Alonzo Martinez
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
Gian Villante vs. Trevor Smith
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Tyler Stinson vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
*PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE*
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, showtime, card
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCyborg Stripped of Strikeforce Title; Future of Division in Doubt
Strikeforce champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will lose her 145-pound title after testing positive for a banned substance on Dec. 16, UFC President Dana White said during a radio interview on Friday.
Posted in: pound, title, strikeforce, cyborg, radio interview
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Live Blog: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine, the main event of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Rockhold (8-1) is putting his Strikeforce middleweight belt on the line for the first time after beating Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza last September by way of unanimous decision. Jardine (17-9-2) made his Strikeforce debut last April, battling Gegard Mousasi to a majority draw. Jardine will be making his middleweight debut.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Herb Dean the referee.
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine - Live Results and Play-By-Play for Showtime Main Card
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Our live coverage will start with the Showtime Extreme coverage of the undercard fights at 8 p.m. ET and continue through the main card on Showtime starting at 10 p.m. ET. so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
This post will cover live results and thoughts for the main card on Showtime.
The main event of the evening sees Luke Rockhold put his Strikeforce middleweight title on the line against former UFC star Keith Jardine. In the co-main event it's Robbie Lawler taking on Adlan Amagov in a middleweight fight. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed Lawal squares off with Lorenz Larkin in a bout with serious implications at 205. Rounding out the main card is a great welterweight fight between up-and-comers Tyron Woodley and Jordan Mein and a welterweight bout between Tyler Stinson and Tarec Saffiedine.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, event, rockhold, showtime, jardine
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Live Blog: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, a middleweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Lawler (18-8), who lost both his fights in 2011 against Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Tim Kennedy, is looking to prevent the first three-fight skid of his career. Russia's Amagov (9-1-1) is taking a step up in competition after winning twice on Strikeforce Challengers shows in 2011.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: Lawler aggressively moves forward only to have Amagov dump him down with a quick double-leg. Lawler tries to get up and Amagov holds a front headlock. Amagov lands an illegal knee and loses a point. Lawler lands a flying knee and finishes with left hands.
Robbie Lawler wins via TKO (flying knee followed by punches) - Round 1,
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, lawler, amagov, showtime event
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: 'Rockhold vs. Jardine' results recap: What's next for Luke Rockhold?
On Sept. 10, 2011, Luke Rockhold won a hard-fought, five-round victory over Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov in Cincinnati, Ohio, to become the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.
Coming into last night's (Jan. 7, 2012) headline fight versus "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine, Rockhold was a perfect 7-0 in the Strikeforce organization.
Before his victory over "Jacare," Rockhold wasn't garnering a ton of media attention, largely in part to the fact he hadn't really fought any big mixed martial arts (MMA) names.
Last night in "Sin City," Rockhold made short work of Jardine, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) standout, showing fans and pundits alike that he's for real.
After the jump, we'll take a look at what may be next for one of the few remaining Strikeforce belt holders, Luke Rockhold:
"Business as usual."
It's a phrase that will forever go down in mixed martial arts (MMA) infamy.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke rockhold, strikeforce world, cincinnati ohio
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Live Blog: King Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin, a light heavyweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Lawal (8-1), a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion scored a knockout against Roger Gracie in September. Larkin (12-0) earned this spot on the card by winning three times last year on Strikeforce Challengers cards.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
King Mo's entrance is rather mellow, as he makes his way towards the cage with his crown on.
Kim Winslow is the referee.
Round 1: Lawal throws first, a jab that comes up short. Lawal follows with a takedown and he's on top 30 seconds into the round. Lawal pounds away with Larkin trapped against the cage. Larkin tries to scoot out but Lawal steps over into Larkin's halfguard. Larkin turns towards Lawal and eats shots. Larkin tries to sit up only to have Lawal return him to his back. Lawal carefully scores with punches.
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, larkin, lawal, lawal return
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Live Blog: Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein, a welterweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Woodley (9-0) is coming off a win over Paul Daley by unanimous decision. Mein (23-7) is a Canadian prospect who scored a TKO win over Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos last September in his Strikeforce debut.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Both fighters are inside the cage ...
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, blog, evangelista cyborg, strikeforce news, strikeforce debut
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMiesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Official for March
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsContrary to what Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman may think, Ronda Rousey is officially Strikeforce's No. 1 contender female bantamweight contender.
During Saturday night's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine telecast on Showtime, it was announced that Rousey will meet current 135-pound champion Tate on March 3. News of the fight was first reported by MMAWeekly.com earlier in the week.
The announcement comes after weeks of debate from all corners of the MMA world about who Strikeforce should match Tate up against next. In the end, matchmaker Sean Shelby chose Rousey, the former Olympic judo bronze medalist who's 4-0 as a professional and has undeniably breathed new life into women's MMA due to her bravado.
Tate (12-2) won the Strikeforce title in July when she submitted Marloes Coenen in the fourth round via arm-triangle choke. She enters the bout riding a six-fight winning streak.
While not officially announced, the fight is expected to take place in Columbus, OH.
Both Rousey and Tate appeared together on a recent episode of The MMA Hour to discuss who truly deserved a shot at the title. You can relive the episode here. As for Kaufman, she spoke to MMAFighting.com earlier this week about being passed over for Rousey. You can read her side of the story here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey, miesha tate
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'King' Mo Lawal Re-Signs With Strikeforce
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal had one fight left on his contract going into this weekend's fight with Lorenz Larkin, but he was able to do something about that. Mo has re-signed with the organization for another four fights, according to MMA Fighting (via Mo's manager):
Muhammed Lawal, who meets Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Saturday night, has signed a new four-fight contract with Strikeforce, according to Lawal's manager Mike Kogan.
It appears, at least according to Mo himself, that he didn't have much choice in the matter:
@KingMoFHKing Mo Some of y'all mutha*****z is stupid!! We can't leave SF!! If u don't believe me....ask Dana u dumb mutha*****z!!!Jan 07 via TweetCaster for AndroidFavoriteRetweetReply
He also stated that he wasn't mad though, because he was "bout to get paid". If Mo is able to get by Larkin tonight, he'd definitely be in contention for a shot at the vacant LHW title he once held. And it looks like he'll be a staple of the Strikeforce 205 division for quite a while.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, lorenz larkin, mo, lawal
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Live Blog: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson, a welterweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Saffiedine (11-3) out of Team Quest is coming off a decision win over Scott Smith last July. At the same event, Stinson (22-7) made an immediate impact in his Strikeforce debut when he scored a 15-second knockout over respected veteran Eduardo Pamplona.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Both fighters are in the cage.
Round 1: Stinson with his five-inch reach advantage stalks Saffiedine. Saffiedine remains light on his feet as he looks for an opening. Saffiedine, switching into a southpaw stance, lands a nice inside leg kick. A Saffiedine head kick is blocked. Stinson scores on a leg kick. Stinson charges in and Saffiedine avoids. Another roundhouse kick to the head by Saffiedine is blocked. Saffiedine lands an inside leg kick and circles away. Saffiedine scores on a front kick to the face. They clinch with two minutes and 10 seconds remaining. Stinson lands a left elbow from clinch that stumbles Saffiedine. Stinson charges and the fight goes to the ground. Stinson attempts an armbar, but Saffiedine escapes. Stinson connects on a flurry that should steal him the round. Stinson turned the fight around starting with the elbow strike. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 for Stinson.
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, kick, stinson, saffiedine
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' fight card: Luke Rockhold vs Keith Jardine preview
The Strikeforce middleweight title will be on the line tonight (January 7, 2012) as champion Luke Rockhold takes on UFC veteran Keith Jardine in the main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine in Las Vegas.
Luke Rockhold shocked the world last year when he stepped up his competition level for the first time and took the Strikeforce middleweight title from Ronaldo Souza. He's healthy, young and is hoping to become a superstar by defeating an established veteran of the sport.
Keith Jardine experienced a rough five fight losing streak which induced his exodus from the UFC, but has since gone unbeaten in three straight fights, including a controversial majority draw against former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi last year. He's dropping down to middleweight for the first time and is hoping to make a big splash.
Will Rockhold's youthful exuberance be enough to overwhelm Jardine? Will "The Dean of Mean" be rejuvenated at middleweight? How does each man earn a victory tonight?
Let's find out:
Luke Rockhold
Record: 8-1 overall, 7-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Ronaldo Souza (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Jesse Taylor (Strikeforce Challengers 4), Paul Bradley (Strikeforce Challengers 6)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Luke Rockhold transitioned to MMA after competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. While most of his professional wins in the sport have come by way of submission, he's still a brown belt in BJJ.
Rockhold signed on with Strikeforce for his third professional fight, quickly becoming a local favorite due to his propensity of having exciting fights that ended early. Rockhold continued to fight progressively more difficult opponents under the Strikeforce banner and continued to finish them in the first round.
Veteran Cory Devela couldn't last 30 seconds against Rockhold, quickly being overwhelmed with punches before succumbing to submission. Former Ultimate Fighter castout, Jesse Taylor, was choked out in less than four minutes as well.
Rockhold defeated UFC veteran Paul Bradley, twice dropping the Minnesota fighter standing and finished him off with some gruesome knees to the body that completely sucked out Bradley's will. He was expected to fight several of the top fighters in the promotion but was repeatedly delayed due to injuries suffered in training. He finally got his shot at the big time when he challenged "Jacare" Souza for the Strikeforce middleweight title this past September and he walked away with a decision victory.
When a scheduled title defense against Tim Kennedy fell through, veteran Keith Jardine's name was called upon.
How he gets it done: Rockhold actually has an inch in both height and reach on Jardine, a fighter cutting from 205 pounds for the first time. At 6'3, he's long and lanky enough to be successful with some of his flashy kicking attacks that he utilized against "Jacare" when he won the title. In the stand-up department, expect to see lots of body kicks with the occasional head kick or spinning back kick thrown in if he feels the time is right. If Rockhold can catch Jardine with an unexpected kick, it could be all over for "The Dean of Mean."
Jardine made middleweight easy and has never been plagued with cardio issues before, but Rockhold should try and test the TUF veteran's cardio here. If he can push a high pace early in the fight, Jardine could very easily wilt or slow down.
Also, we've heard great things about Jardine's unheralded ground game and takedown defense, but honestly, who has he fought in the last five years with a great takedown and submission game? Ryan Bader was content to stand and trade with him. If Jardine gets overly ambitious with his striking, don't be surprised one bit to see Rockhold shoot in and take him down. He's got a very strong and aggressive jiu-jitsu style and he could not only pass Jardine's guard, but potentially submit him for the first time in his professional career.
Keith Jardine
Record: 17-9-2 overall, 0-0-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Chuck Liddell (UFC 76) Forrest Griffin (UFC 66), Brandon Vera (UFC 89)
Key Losses: Trevor Prangley (Shark Fights 13), Houston Alexander (UFC 71), Ryan Bader (UFC 110)
How he got here: Keith Jardine was a cast member of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and competed as a heavyweight, although he fell short against future friend and teammate Rashad Evans in the semifinals. "The Dean of Mean" exploded into relevance in the UFC after a TKO victory over Forrest Griffin as well as decision wins against top light heavyweights Chuck Liddell and Brandon Vera.
Just over two years removed from headlining UFC 96 against Rampage Jackson, Jardine was in the midst of a five fight losing streak and found himself on the outs with the UFC. However, "The Dean of Mean" remained a fan favorite and continued to headline fight cards after his release from the promotion.
After initially stumbling out of the gate with a split decision loss to Trevor Prangley, the unconventional fighter finally got back on track with back-to-back victories for the first time in four and a half years including his first TKO win since Forrest Griffin at UFC 66. When Mike Kyle broke his hand in training, Jardine didn't hesitate to step in on late notice against the former champion.
How he gets it done: Training out of the famed Jackson's Submission Fighting gym, Jardine likely has a whole team of coaches preparing a gameplan for Rockhold. Jardine has some of the best leg kicks in the business, so expect to see them early and often. If he can find a home for repeated kicks at the end of his combinations, he could slow down the 27 year old champ.
Simply put, though, Jardine needs to come out of the gate aggressively. Rockhold could be caught off guard and if he blitzes across the cage and takes the fight to him. Does anyone remember the third round of Jardine's fight with Trevor Prangley? He had lost the first two and fought with a sense of urgency, knowing he either needed a finish or a 10-8 round to save face. If he can go balls to the wall, he has the striking skills and power to beat Rockhold, who might be looking past him right now.
Another important factor is his defense. Jardine has been susceptible to the right hook and if he gets clipped, his defense usually goes straight down the toilet. He has to keep his left hand up and defend that shot or he could be put in a situation he can't recover from.
Fight X-Factor: There are two key X-Factors for this fight. The first, obviously, is Keith Jardine's weight cut. This is his first time dropping down to 185 and while he apparently made weight pretty easily yesterday, could it have adverse effects on him? Jardine has a reputation as a cardio machine but cutting a significant amount of weight has been known to effect a fighter's conditioning as well as his ability to take a punch. If either of those attributes are weakened for Jardine, he could be in some trouble against the young gun.
Also, for Luke Rockhold, there's a very real possibility that he could be looking past Keith Jardine. Sure, "The Dean of Mean" is 2-5-1 in his past eight fights, but that doesn't mean he's not a threat. Rockhold also said he doesn't think Jardine has earned his shot. If he comes in overconfident, he could be in for a big surprise when Jardine proves to be a worthy challenger. People seem to forget how close Rockhold's last fight with "Jacare" Souza was for the title. Many felt "Jacare" had won, and the ones that picked Rockhold primarily scored it 48-47. It's not like he blew the champ out of the water. If Rockhold overlooks Jardine, this could be the recipe for an upset.
Bottom Line: This is a fight between two men who are proven to be exciting fighters. Sure, Keith Jardine hasn't had the most success as of late, but he's never in a boring fight. He's got that unorthodox style and is always pressing the action. Rockhold has been known to just blitz his opponents and overwhelm them. It's almost a guarantee he's going to try to do the same against Jardine, so it should be interesting to see how the veteran responds. This has all the makings of a thriller whether it last 25 minutes or 25 seconds.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will win the Strikeforce middleweight title tonight in the main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine?
Luke Rockhold
Keith Jardine
10 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Undercard Live Blog: Terry vs. Burrell, Villante vs. Smith, More
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for the four preliminary bouts in support of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The undercard bouts are Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry, Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante, Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang and Alonzo Martinez vs. Estevan Payan.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Alonzo Martinez vs. Estevan Payan
Martinez is making his way out ...
Round 1:
James Terry vs. Nah-Shon Burrell
Round 1:
Gian Villante vs. Trevor Smith
Round 1:
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
Round 1:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, vs, martinez, villante
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Results
MMAFrenzy.com will have live results from tonight’s “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” event starting at 10m ET for the Showtime-televised main card, which is headlined by middleweight champion Luke Rockhold vs. challenger Keith Jardine.
The Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine results are below:
Luke Rockhold (C) vs. Keith Jardine
Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
“King” Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Pictured: Luke Rockhold
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce champ Cris Santos apologizes for failed drug test, blames supplement
Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos has apologized for a failed drug test, but she's blaming a dietary supplement for it.
As MMAjunkie.com reported on Friday, Santos was suspended one year and fined $2,500 after failing a test at a Dec. 17 Strikeforce event.
Today, the 26-year-old Brazilian fighter issued a statement, though she denies she knowingly took any banned substances.
Posted in: strikeforce, test, supplement, drug, drug test
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Rockhold vs. Jardine Quick Results
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine quick results on Saturday, Jan. 7, in Las Vegas. The main event features Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, las vegas
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Pre-Fight Interviews
Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ pre-fight interview compilation via Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, interview, jardine, prefight
Read the full article at MMA ConvertKJ Noons likely locking horns with Josh Thomson in March
Shortly after Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez beat Jorge Masvidal in December people began wondering who “El Nino” would defend his belt against next. The two opponents most often mentioned were KJ Noons and Josh Thomson, both former title-holders in their own right. However, it appears the two talented 155ers will instead face each other with top contendership likely on the line.
A bout between Noons-Thomson has been attached to Strikeforce’s March 3 event in Columbus, Ohio with verbal agreements already in place.
News of the expected match-up was first reported by MMAJunkie.
Noons is coming off an entertaining decision win over Billy Evangelista and also holds Strikeforce victories over Conor Heun and Jorge Gurgel. Comparably, Thomson hasn’t fought in more than a year due to injury but is 2-0 in his last two Strikeforce appearances with success against JZ Cavalcante and Pat Healy. He also holds a victory over Melendez, as does the champ over Thomson, meaning an eventual bout in 2012 between the two would mark a rubber match.
A Closer Look at Noons’ Win Over Evangelista
The March 3 card is also expected to feature the final of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as well as a title-fight between bantamweight belt-holder Miesha Tate and undefeated contender Ronda Rousey.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, kj noons, noon, thomson, josh thomson
Read the full article at Fighters.comScott Coker, Dana White comment on Cris Santos’ suspension
It didn’t take long for the MMA community to start weighing in with opinions once news broke yesterday regarding Strikeforce featherweight champion Cristiane Santos’ testing positive for PED use prior to her December bout against Hiroko Yamanaka. And, as might be expected, her employers were among the group with something to say.
CEO Scott Coker released an official statement on the matter where he remained relatively neutral, not expressing any disappointment per say but rather focusing on the legal process and the organization’s willingness to work with the CSAC to come to a resolution.
“Strikeforce has not seen the test results regarding Ms. Santos,” wrote Coker. “However, we have a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies. Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights.”
However, UFC President Dana White had a different take altogether and one that more or less spelled doom for 145-pound female fighters in Strikeforce.
“We were going to hold that division and just do fights with Cyborg whenever there was a new contender,” said White on ESPN Radio. “She’s getting stripped of the title. This pretty much kills the division.”
Santos herself has not commented on the matter publicly to explain her actions or dispute the CSAC’s findings. Currently she is subject to a year-long suspension and $2500 fine.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, drug testing, california state, ped use, test results
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMMA Life: Strikeforce’s Lorenz Larkin and His Custom Lowrider
In the lastest installment of MMAWeekly.com's MMA Life, Strikeforce light heavyweight Lorenz Larkin takes some time to talk about his 1973 Chevrolet Impala.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, life, lorenz, custom lowrider
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyOhio commission receives request for March 3 Strikeforce event in Columbus
Although not yet announced by the promotion, Strikeforce's second trip to the popular Arnold Sports Festival is all but official.
Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato today confirmed to MMAjunkie.com that the promotion has filed an event request for March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
While a list of bouts has yet to be submitted for commission approval, the event is expected to feature the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, commission, strikeforce heavyweight, ohio
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSeven Ways of Looking at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce returns on Showtime tonight, and thanks to the free preview weekend it's available even for you non-subscribers out there. So what are you going to be looking at when you accidentally stumble onto the channel that you usually breeze right past on your way to Nat Geo Wild? Here are just a few of the major storylines and pressing concerns heading into Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.
I. For the sake of argument, let's try and justify the decision to give Keith Jardine a middleweight title shot:
a) For starters, there's Scott Coker's 'anything can happen' defense, which suggests that because it's not impossible for Jardine to win, it must therefore be reasonable for him to get the chance. That has a certain simplistic beauty to it, but if you accept that you must also accept that any fight would, by that logic, be acceptable. Rockhold vs. a bloated Tyron Woodley? Yep, that works. Rockhold vs. a dangerously emaciated Bobby Lashley? That too. As long as we're at it, I could make 185 pounds no problem. So why didn't my phone ring with an offer, forcing me to immediately fake a staph infection? You get the point.
b) Then there's what I like to call the cumulative effect defense. This argues that when you look at Jardine's entire history as a fighter -- from his 2006 TKO of Forrest Griffin to his recent draw with Gegard Mousasi -- it's not too shabby. And that's true. Taken as a whole, Jardine's career is pretty solid. It's just the last few years -- including the 2-5-1 record his last eight bouts -- that have been pretty dismal. But hey, if we're giving out title shots as lifetime achievement awards now, I assume Wanderlei Silva's shot at Anderson Silva must be coming up any day now.
c) Finally, the old 'he was the best we could find on short notice' defense. What it lacks in poetic flourish, it makes up for with cold, hard pragmatism. Tim Kennedy was hurt, according to Coker. Robbie Lawler was coming off two straight losses. 'Mayhem' Miller, Jake Shields, and Dan Henderson had all fled the organization, and 'Jacare' Souza just fought Rockhold back in September. Who else is left to take this fight? The answer, apparently, is Jardine. And so here we are.
II. But no matter what you think of the matchmaking, don't blame Jardine. He's been saying he wants to drop down to middleweight for a while now, and from his perspective, why not say yes to a title shot in his first fight there? He's got nothing to lose. If he wins, he's the Strikeforce champ and his career is revitalized. Even if he loses he can still earn some brownie points for making a fight out of it. Really, the only way he comes off looking bad is if he gets knocked out or submitted in the first two minutes. That's always a possibility -- the old 'anything can happen' saw cuts both ways -- but let's just say the bar is set very low for him here. He made the weight, which is a good start. Now it's up to him to see if he can't justify this bizarre matchmaking and get his name back in the news for the right reasons.
III. Luke Rockhold summed up his reaction to the Jardine fight in one word: "dumbfounded." At least he's honest. It's the kind of fight a rising young champ absolutely cannot lose. It's also the kind where he can't afford to be anything but totally and completely dominant. Basically, it's a bad fight for Rockhold, and he knows it. But hey, what could he do besides sign on the dotted line and make the best of it? As his management no doubt told him, now is not the time to be making waves in Strikeforce.
IV. Number that will continue to blow my mind every time I'm given a reason to look it up: 29. That's how old Robbie Lawler is heading into his 28th professional bout. How is that even possible? The guy's been a pro fighter since 2001. He debuted in the UFC in 2002. He's been doing this since back when Dana White had hair, and you're telling me he's not even 30 years old yet? If he were a Cuban Little League pitcher, no one would believe it. Lawler seems like he was born with a thousand-yard stare and a laconic nonchalance about his own ability to knock people stiff with one punch, and not much has changed over the years. He's still more or less the same fighter he's always been. His game plan for his 28th fight will probably be roughly the same as it was for his tenth. He still makes interviews more difficult than they have to be, and still has the same general disdain for all the non-fighting aspects of the fight game. At least Adlan Amagov knows what he's up against. But then, so have a lot of people who ended up flat on their backs at the end of the night.
V. Only one person can beat Mo Lawal on Saturday night, and it's Mo Lawal. I know, I know -- anything can happen -- but let's stick to what's likely to happen. He's a good enough striker that he doesn't have to dive in for a takedown right away, and yet his takedowns are such a constant threat that Lorenz Larkin will have to worry about them every time he opens up with an attack. Lawal's best chance to lose this fight is to decide to keep it standing for too long in some misguided attempt to prove a point. That would be dumb, but it also might be the kind of thing a guy with an oversized ego would do. From the outside Lawal might seem like a Ric Flair-esque narcissist, but he's actually a pretty savvy student of the game. At least, most of the time. Like most pro fighters, no matter how sober his analysis is when he's watching others, his vision gets a little hazy when he turns his focus upon himself. The only way he doesn't win this fight is if he gets to thinking too highly of his own striking skills and not highly enough of Larkin's. Even the best wrestler is going to have trouble scoring takedowns if he only shoots after he's been stung on the feet.
VI. Fun fact about Jordan Mein: seven fights into his pro career, he had a losing record. He began his pro career with a loss, in fact, to Rory MacDonald. That one must have started to look better as time went by, but Mein also dropped fights to several guys who didn't go on to become UFC standouts. After back-to-back losses at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, he was a very mediocre 3-4 as a pro. A lot of guys might have quit then, maybe decided to take their family's advice and finally entered that management trainee program at the rental car place. Mein kept at it, and just a few years later he's poised to take the leap from Strikeforce prelim fighter to solid undercard performer. It's almost fitting that he should take on Tyron Woodley, the former Mizzou wrestler who seemed destined for big things in MMA right off the bat, and has been groomed as such in his time with Strikeforce. You never know from its beginning what a guy's career will look like by the end. Sometimes those early struggles prove helpful later on.
VII. Know where to find Showtime Extreme in the premium cable labyrinth? If so, then you can watch the prelim bouts before the main card gets underway. While the old Strikeforce used to treat those fights as if they weren't even worth turning the cameras on for, the new Strikeforce seems to realize that you might as well do something with them, even if probably not a whole lot of people will be ignoring the Lions-Saints NFL playoff game to watch Trevor Smith and Gian Villante go at it. Still, it's a step in the right direction, as is the decision to time this event to coincide with a Showtime free preview weekend. If Showtime wants to be in the MMA business, it needs to get all the way in. Just like I first made the decision to pony up for HBO so I could watch the last season of The Wire in real time, I'll admit that I never felt the urge to get Showtime until they had Strikeforce. I can't be the only MMA fan who feels that way, so why not get behind it and push it as the asset that it is? Besides, with the avalanche of commercials that accompany any NFL playoff game, we'll have plenty of chances to switch back and forth and check on how Villante is doing. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, jardine, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White: Cris Cyborg Stripped of Title, Future of Division in Question
Filed under: StrikeforceCris Cyborg is no longer the champion of the Strikeforce women's 145-pound division. And there may not even be a Strikeforce women's 145-pound division.
UFC President Dana White confirmed on ESPN 1100 in Las Vegas on Friday night that Cyborg has been stripped of her title because she tested positive for steroids following her most recent fight, a 16-second knockout of Hiroko Yamanaka. And there may not be any more fights in the 145-pound weight class because Cyborg was the 145-pound weight class.
"We were going to hold that division and just do fights with 'Cyborg' whenever there was a new contender," White said, via USA Today. "She's getting stripped of the title. I don't know. We'll see what happens."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker also issued a statement on the situation.
"Strikeforce has not seen the test results regarding Ms. Santos," Coker said. "However, we have a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies. Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights."
In the past, when champions have been suspended for positive drug tests, the division carried on without them, usually with a title fight between two top contenders while the previous champion sat out. But the Strikeforce women's 145-pound weight class is fundamentally different. Cyborg dominates her entire weight class in a way that no other champion, male or female, does. There just aren't enough good 145-pound women on the Strikeforce roster for the division to keep going without her.
And so Cyborg's drug test has cost her the belt. And no one else may ever get the belt. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: pound, title, strikeforce, division, cyborg
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLIVE Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Chat and Discussion (Starting 10PM EST)
Newly-crowned Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold defends his belt against "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine, headlining a promising Strikeforce card in Columbus, Ohio. The event is co-headlined by King Mo's return to the cage against the undefeated Lorenz Larkin.
Don't forget to join us tonight at 10PM EST for LIVE Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Chat and Discussion.LIVE Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, keith jardine, jardine, columbus ohio
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce: 'Rockhold vs Jardine' weigh-in photos gallery from Las Vegas
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine is all set to pop off tonight (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Showtime televised event, the first of the new year, features Luke Rockhold defending his middleweight championship for the very first time against longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and former UFC light heavyweight Keith Jardine.
Also on tap is a 205-pound top contender bout pitting Muhammed Lawal against Lorenz Larkin, while Robbie Lawler battles Adlan Amagov in 185-pound action. And don't forget Tyron Woodley continuing his quest for welterweight gold as he looks to take the next step at the expense of Jordan Mein.
A complete photos gallery (courtesy of Tracy Lee at CombatLifestyle.com) is after the jump. For complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" weigh-in results click here and to watch the festivities click here.
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine official as all fighters make weight
Strikeforce kicks off the new year with the first major MMA card of 2012 featuring a title fight and established fighters taking on up-and-comers. Tomorrow night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine goes down with the company hoping to start the year right after signing a new deal with Showtime. The night will be headlined by a middleweight title fight featuring champion Luke Rockhold defending his title against MMA veteran Keith Jardine. Also on the card is former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal battling the undefeated Lorenz Larkin. Plus top welterweight Tyron Woodley looks to move up the ladder, but must first get by Jordan Mein.
The event begins tomorrow night at 8PM EST on Showtime Extreme with a handful of preliminary fights, with the main card going live at 10PM EST.
Before the fighters can step into the cage though, they first had to step on the scale to make things official.
Check out video of the weigh-ins with attached results listed below:
Nah-Shon Burrell (171 lbs) vs. James Terry (171 lbs)
Gian Villante (206 lbs) vs. Trevor Smith (205 lbs)
Ricky Legere (171 lbs) vs. Chris Spang (171 lbs)
Estevan Payan (160 lbs) vs. Alonzo Martinez (160.5 lbs)
Robbie Lawler (186 lbs) vs. Adlan Amagov (186 lbs)
Mo Lawal (205 lbs) vs. Lorenz Larkin (206 lbs)
Tyron Woodley (171 lbs) vs. Jordan Mein (169 lbs)
Tyler Stinson (170 lbs) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (170 lbs)
Luke Rockhold (185 lbs) vs. Keith Jardine (185 lbs)
*PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE*
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, lb
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAll Fighters On Weight for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
All fighters successfully made weight for their bouts at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, including main eventers Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, weight
Read the full article at Heavy MMAWeigh-in Video: Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’
Watch Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine hit their marks ahead of their Saturday showdown in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, showdown, jardine, saturday showdown
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Champ Cris Cyborg Tests Positive for Steroids
Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos has tested positive for steroids following her 16-second TKO of Hiroko Yamanaka in December, resulting in a one year suspension, $2,500 fine, and the win being changed to a no decision.
The California State Athletic Commission announced the positive test for stanozolol metabolites on Friday. Santos can appeal the drug test, but it’s not yet clear if she will.
“Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters,” CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd said in a press release. “Anabolic agents and other banned substances put not only the users of those agents at risk, but their opponents as well. The commission simply will not tolerate their use.”
UFC President Dana White said Santos has been stripped of the title in an appearance on ESPN Radio and the future of the 145-pound division in Strikeforce now appears to be in jeopardy.
“We were going to hold that division and just do fights with ‘Cyborg’ whenever there was a new contender,” White said. “She’s getting stripped of the title. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said in his own statement on Strikeforce.com that the promotion has a strong stance against performance enhancing drugs, but reminded fans that Santos still has the right to appeal.
“[Strikeforce has] a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies. Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights,” Coker said.
Cyborg (10-1) won the title with a first-round TKO of Gina Carano in 2009 and defended it over Marloes Coenen and Jan Finney in 2010 before sitting out for 18 months due to contract issues before knocking out Yamanaka in just 16-seconds on the Showtime-televised card in December.
For the latest Strikeforce news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: strikeforce, right, drug, california state, cyborg
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Weigh-in Video
Check out Friday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine weigh-ins from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, weighin
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Cyborg' Santos Stripped of Strikeforce Title After Steroid Test, 145 Pound Division Put on Hold
Following the news of the positive steroid test of Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos earlier today there was some questioning of what it meant for Strikeforce and the women's 145 pound division. Dana White was on ESPN Radio in Las Vegas this evening to say that Cyborg would be stripped and it sounds like 145 is being shut down.
From the radio show (via USA Today):
"We were going to hold that division and just do fights with 'Cyborg' whenever there was a new contender," White told ESPN Radio on Friday. "She's getting stripped of the title. I don't know. We'll see what happens."
Scott Coker had his own statement released in a more prepared fashion:
"Strikeforce has not seen the test results regarding Ms. Santos. However, we have a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies.
"Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights."
Speaking personally, as someone who has never been a fan of women's MMA, shutting down 145 seems like the best option. Given the lack of depth across WMMA, it would seem to make the most sense to get everyone into one division and force depth that way.
Cyborg's positive test may actually turn out to be the best possible thing for WMMA if it creates more depth in a single division and more competitive fights that fans actually want to see.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, division, test, cyborg, espn radio
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce releases statement on 'Cyborg' Santos testing positive for steroids
Earlier today (Fri., Jan. 6, 2012), the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) issued a press release that stated Cristiane Santos had tested positive for anabolic steroids following her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka on Dec. 16 in San Diego, California.
As a condition of her punishment, "Cyborg," who is the current Strikeforce women's featherweight champion, was fined $2,500 and suspended for one year. She was also stripped of her title, though that was a decision that came down from Zuffa.
Now, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has released a statement (via Strikeforce.com) that plays it right down the middle:
"STRIKEFORCE has not seen the test results regarding Ms. Santos. However, we have a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies. Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights."
Indeed, Santos has the right to appeal if she so chooses. She has yet to release a statement and has not commented on her having failed her drug test.
"Cyborg" has run through her competition under the Strikeforce banner since making her way over in 2009, with wins over notable women like Gina Carano and Marloes Coenen. Those victories, even if she was clean at the time, will now forever be tainted in the eyes of the public.
For now, Strikeforce is staying neutral. That could change in a hurry and the state of the 145-pound division is undoubtedly in peril, as evidenced by UFC President Dana White telling ESPN that Santos getting popped "pretty much kills" the division.
Stay tuned, Maniacs.
Posted in: strikeforce, right, california, california state, process rights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce noncommittal on Cris Santos' future; White says belt will be stripped
Strikeforce officials today issued a statement regarding Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos' failed drug test but offered few clues about what's next for the beleaguered titleholder.
In a statement posted on Strikeforce.com, CEO Scott Coker said the
organization will allow the California State Athletic Commission's
process to play out.
UFC president Dana White, though, painted a much bleaker future.
Posted in: strikeforce, drug test, california state, statement, commissions process
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMuhammed 'King Mo' Lawal signs four-fight deal with Strikeforce
That beef with Quinton Jackson is going to have to wait a while longer, I guess.
Muhammed Lawal, who will battle Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" tomorrow night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) on Showtime, has signed a new four-fight deal with the promotion.
That's according to MMAFighting.com, who also have the following quote from "King Mo" on a recent appearance on the MMA Hour:
"I've got one more fight on my contract and then my contract ends in February. King Mo just wants to go where he can get paid and get paid without the check bouncing."
And now he's paid.
Lawal would have made for a rather interesting addition to the UFC's light heavyweight division but the reality is that he's far more likely to earn a crack at gold if he sticks around in Strikeforce. In fact, if he wins tomorrow night, he's likely in line for a title shot.
That, and a check that won't bounce, is hard to pass up. Even if it puts his feud with "Rampage" on hold once again. Still, is anyone feeling like complaining at the news that Lawal is back in Strikeforce instead of the UFC?
Posted in: strikeforce, king, lawal, he, anyone feeling
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWith Santos Suspended, Strikeforce Should Scuttle the Women's Featherweight Division
The women's featherweight division has, for the last five years, been a white elephant-a gift, an attraction, a sensational feature that is almost impossible to maintain. Beginning with Gina Carano in EliteXC and extending through Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos' Strikeforce title reign, the weight class has demanded that the promoter hobble along through botched weigh-ins and undersized, paper-thin title challengers. In exchange, an organization like Strikeforce received a pair of stars (Carano first, then Santos) who, despite competing in the sport's shallowest weight class managed to electrify fans and boost ratings. A tenuous balance, but there you have it. The news out from the CSAC changes all that. Now, in light of Santos' suspension for steroid use, Strikeforce should just scrap the entire women's featherweight division.
With some rare exception, Santos is the only fighter in Strikeforce who's competed more than once in the featherweight division. The weight class exists for her. That's a huge privilege and responsibility, a dubious proposition made acceptable only so long as Santos draws an audience and can be depended upon to do her job. When it comes to the latter, of course, Santos has failed.
Strikeforce now has to ask itself whether or not it wants to keep bending over backwards to promote an anemic weight class, in service of a fighter popped for steroids, who did so in a championship fight. And if not for her, then who? Only Julia Budd and Ronda Rousey have competed with any regularity at featherweight, and Budd has only managed a 2-2 record while Rousey is prepared to drop to 135. With that in mind, there's simply no good or dependable reason to keep the division around.
Strikeforce must stay committed to the promotion of WMMA. As Dana White himself suggested in a media call last month, it's one of the few things that makes Strikeforce a unique, vital organization. However, it mustn't waste any more time or resources on so stagnant and insubstantial a proposition as the featherweight class, not when their star attraction cannot be relied upon, not when there's so much talent elsewhere.
The future of WMMA lies in the bantam and flyweight divisions. These are talent-rich weight classes replete with fighters both effective and charismatic who have worked too long in the shadow of Carano and Santos. Bring them to the fore--build on Miesha Tate and Rousey's magnetism, on Sarah Kaufman's slam KO, on all the women of the Japanese circuit with a flair for the submission hold--and let the featherweight division, like Strikeforce's heavyweight class and the UFC's lightweights circa 2002, remain dormant until a swell of contenders demands otherwise.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, class, featherweight, weight
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce champion Cris Santos tests positive for PED use, suspended for a year
A crushing blow was dealt to Strikeforce earlier today when ferocious, fan-favorite featherweight champion Cristiane Santos was revealed to have tested positive for anabolic steroid use (stanozolol) after her most recent fight and will be relegated to the sidelines until late 2012 as a result.
In addition to the year-long suspension Santos will also be fined $2,500 and has had the result of her win over Hiroko Yamanaka changed to a “No Contest”.
Santos Considering Move to Bantamweight Prior to Suspension
According to a statement from the California State Athletic Commission, “Our primary concern is for the health and safety of fighters. Anabolic agents and other banned substances put not only the users of those agents at risk, but their opponents as well. The commission simply will not tolerate their use.”
No official word has come from Santos relating to the allegations but, as all suspended fighters do, she does reserve the right to appeal the decision.
Santos’ return to the ring in December came after a seventeen month break from MMA based on a contractual dispute and Strikeforce’s inability to find her a legitimate contender. Given that the promotion only has seven more guaranteed events on Showtime today’s news could very well mark the last fans see of Santos in the Strikeforce cage.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: strikeforce, official word, use, commission “, use stanozolol
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Weigh-In Results
The Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” weigh-ins took place earlier today at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Keith Jardine made 185 without a problem. The only fighter on the card who didn’t make weight was Nah-Shon Burrell. He came in one pound over the 171 limit and was given an hour to drop the weight.
The weigh-in results:
Luke Rockhold (185) vs. Keith Jardine (185)
Adlan Amagov (186) vs. Robbie Lawler (186)
Lorenz Larkin (206) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (205)
Jordan Mein (169) vs. Tyron Woodley (171)
Tarec Saffiedine (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (170)
Nah-Shon Burrell (172) vs. James Terry (171)
Trevor Smith (205) vs. Gian Villante (206)
Ricky Legere (171) vs. Chris Spang (171)
Alonzo Martinez (160.5) vs. Estevan Payan (160
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” will take place tomorrow, Jan. 7, at the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air live (tape delayed on West coast) on Showtime at 10:00pm ET/PT.
More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Weigh-in Results
Full, official weigh-in results from Friday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine festivities at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: rockhold, jardine, strikeforce, vs, result
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCSAC: Strikeforce champ Cris 'Cyborg' Santos tests positive for anabolic steroid
The California State Athletic Commission has suspended and fined Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos due to a failed drug test.
CSAC officials today announced the fighter tested positive for stanozolol metabolites following a Dec. 17 title defense at "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal."
She's been suspended one year and fined $2,500. Her win also over Hiroko Yamanaka has been overturned to a no-contest.
Posted in: strikeforce, hiroko yamanaka, california state, csac, stanozolol metabolites
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLuke Rockhold: “I can’t say I think he deserves a title shot.”
If you’re amongst the group who cringed when Strikeforce named Keith Jardine as the middleweight division’s top contender you may have more in common with 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold than you think. Based on some recent comments from the 8-1 fighter it seems he too was put off when Jardine’s name surfaced even though he acknowledges the veteran’s past accomplishments and overall ability.
According to Rockhold, the real problem stems from the organization’s lack of deserving options to begin with.
“All the guys that are rated the highest are in the UFC right now,” the American Kickboxing Academy product explained to USA Today. “It’d be nice if we could get some of those guys in our division over here in Strikeforce, because it doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere. If they could bring them in to challenge, I’d be more than (willing) to welcome those guys into Strikeforce and put my belt on the line for them.”
As far as “The Dean of Mean”, Rockhold believes he was given the title-shot based on marketability rather than merit.
“They saw Keith Jardine — maybe he’s a big name. He’s a tough opponent. He’s been in there with all the best guys. It’s a fight that’s going to turn some eyes and some ears, I guess, and maybe attract some people to the card, having a bigger name.”
However, just because Rockhold respects Jardine as a fighter doesn’t mean he feels he should be facing him tomorrow night with his belt on the line.
“I can’t say I think he deserves a title shot, but at the same time, I think it’s a tough fight and I’m not taking him lightly,” Rockhold continued before again referring to the lack of divisional depth. “I don’t think many people could say he deserves a title shot, but given the current roster with Strikeforce and the middleweights and contenders and whatnot – Tim Kennedy says he’s having some problems with his body, from what I hear, so he’s not ready to step up. I don’t believe (Ronaldo Souza is) ready for a rematch; I was ready for that, if that were to come.”
Instead, as fate would have it, Rockhold will indeed face Jardine regardless of his feelings on how deserving his opponent may be of the opportunity, and like many fans, the 27-year old will keep his fingers crossed 2012 results in respectable challengers rather than questionable contenders.
Catch Rockhold-Jardine in the main event of Saturday night’s Showtime broadcast, set to start at 10:00 PM EST.
Posted in: title shot, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, ” rockhold
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainNot Deserving of a Strikeforce Title Shot? Keith Jardine Says ‘We’ll See’
A reinvigorated Keith Jardine returns to the place where he picked up his first UFC win over 6 years ago, and now plans on taking home the Strikeforce title.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, jardine, shot, keith
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGrappling with Issues – 1/6/11
What was your reaction to Brock Lesnar‘s retirement? Should any hope remain where Fedor Emelianenko signing with the UFC is concerned? Will “King Mo” fight in Strikeforce again after tomorrow night’s bout against Lorenz Larkin? Is Jake Ellenberger more likely to earn a title-shot in 2012 than Johny Hendricks?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
Who will Tyron Woodley face for the Strikeforce welterweight belt if he beats Jordan Mein tomorrow night?
Lambert: Logic says he’ll face the winner of the other welterweight fight on the card; Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson, especially since Stinson has already come out and said he’s going to ask for a title shot if he wins. Then again, you can never count on Strikeforce to be logical, and honestly, does it matter? No offense to any of the 170 pounders in Strikeforce, some of whom could make it in the UFC, but we all know the welterweight title is completely secondary when all the best welterweights are in the UFC.
Conlan: Jon Fitch. Okay, I know it’s a relatively insane prediction but bear with me for a second while I attempt to explain the source of my delusion. For starters, there is zero public interest in seeing Woodley face Saffiedine (again) or Stinson and in fact I’d wager good money that most fans have no idea who either man is. However, as is the case with Keith Jardine, average MMA enthusiasts know who Fitch is and (unlike Jardine) understand he has been a top contender for the past few years. The UFC could easily transfer Fitch’s deal over to Strikeforce as they have in reverse with Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem, etc. and book him to face Woodley for the belt. Plus, it’s not like Fitch would have to go to Strikeforce for more than a year since the company only has seven events left on its 2012 deal (not counting tomorrow night’s show).
He’s coming off a loss, sure, but quick KOs happen – just ask Georges St. Pierre – and I suspect most of you would agree Fitch is still better than 95% of the Strikeforce welterweight division. Why let the defeat set him back two years in the UFC when he could come in to Strikeforce for a year, possibly pick up a belt along with a few wins, and then return in a year with more momentum? It’s not as though he’s a money-making draw in comparison to some of his peers so harness his dwindling spotlight and direct it at a promotion in desperate need of a respectable, well-known contender.
True/False – Saturday night will mark Muhammed Lawal’s last fight in Strikeforce.
Lambert: I hope so. Once again, Strikeforce is filled with guys who could likely be competitive in the UFC, but we don’t know until we actually see it. There’s no one else for The King of Mo to fight in Strikeforce, and while I think he’d do fine in the UFC, I want to see it before I believe it. No knock on the guy, who I’m a particular fan of, but while he has all the talent in the world, it’s not like he’s beaten a ton of great competition. He out-wrestled Gegard Mousasi, lost to Rafael Cavalcante, and then beat a bunch of mediocre guys. There’s no one else for him to fight in Strikeforce, so let’s see how good he really is in the Octagon.
Conlan: I hope not. Lawal would be lost in the UFC’s light heavyweight division and wouldn’t have nearly the impact on the organization that he could in regards to Strikeforce. The promotion needs to hold on to a few fighters, like Gilbert Melendez, with a solid profile and skills to boot while things unfold over the next year. By staying in Strikeforce and potentially picking up 2-3 more wins in 2012 Lawal could enter the UFC as an immediate contender instead of a guy who was 2-1 in his last three. Again, Strikeforce is almost certainly going to be folded into the UFC after their current contract runs out so Lawal is destined for a date there at some point anyways. It’s all a matter of how he’s used beforehand that matters. A rematch with “Feijao” could be done to erase the lone loss of his career, then maybe a fall date with a well-known UFC castoff, and he could truly debut in the Octagon as more than a paper king.
Fill in the Blank: Brock Lesnar deciding to retire was ______.
Lambert: Unfortunate. Although he’s been through a lot with his illness and he never reacted well to pain or punishment, possibly proving that he wasn’t long for the MMA world, no one can deny that when Lesnar fought, you got excited. I won’t say that the heavyweight division is now boring because Brock is gone, but it definitely loses some “big fight feel” luster without him. It’s also unfortunate for the UFC, because Brock was guaranteed to pop a buyrate, and now they don’t have that.
Conlan: A welcome sight. I respect Lesnar’s accomplishments but I also think they’re overrated by most. To say the division loses some “big fight feel” by watching a 34-year old with a 5-3 record walk is beyond revealing in how successful the UFC’s marketing machine is. As such, the only people who should genuinely be missing Lesnar’s presence are the higher-ups at Zuffa who no longer have his PPV appeal to promote with.
Did he cut a great promo? Yes. Was he a great fighter? No. His decision to retire before the Overeem bout showed at UFC 141 and indicated to me the world had been duped by guy who thought he wanted to be a Mixed Martial Artist just like he thought he wanted to play football or be a professional wrestler. Shane Carwin snapped him into reality, Cain Velasquez sealed the notion, and Overeem put a stamp on it. Lesnar’s retirement was a GOOD thing for him, his family, and the sport of MMA as a whole. There’s no need for a mediocre guy making $400,000 win/lose when some of the sport’s best don’t make 1/10 of that.
BUY/SELL: Fedor Emelianenko will compete in the UFC in 2012.
Conlan: SELL. Dana White wants nothing to do with M-1 or Emelianenko and let’s face it, does anyone actually believe Fedor can contend against the UFC’s brightest based on victories over Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii? The Emelianenko Express has departed the station where hopes of seeing him in the Octagon are concerned, and in fact I’m not even sure he’ll ever fight in North America again.
Lambert: BUY. Call me crazy or laugh at me (both would be acceptable responses to what I’m about to write), but I believe that we’re going to see Fedor in the UFC on July 4th weekend fighting Lesnar. Why do I believe this? Well, I have a gut feeling, and we all know how well those usually turn out. Honestly, I realize it’s an outlandish prediction and extremely wishful thinking that Fedor will even fight in the UFC, but if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in 2012 because this will probably be the last year of his career.
Which former Strikeforce champion had the most impressive debut/re-debut in the UFC this past year?
Conlan: Nick Diaz. Overeem’s win over Lesnar was solid, and Dan Henderson’s dance with Mauricio Rua was a classic, but Diaz came in and beat B.J. Penn soundly (and who has ever done that before other than maybe GSP or Matt Hughes via Crucifix). Lesnar was a bit shaky coming into last weekend’s loss after having been out with illness for a year, while Henderson-Rua was as much a draw as it was a victory for “Hendo”.
Lambert: I’m actually going to go with Overeem, since he actually finished his opponent and did so in very impressive fashion. Say what you will about Lesnar being out for a year and being affected by the illness, and while it’s true, it’s also a bit of revisionist history since all the talk leading up to the fight was that Lesnar was now 100% and the best he’s ever been in his fighting career. Plus, it’s not like Lesnar was a cakewalk opponent for “The Reem” given their styles. Overeem showed an aggressiveness, put Brock on his heels, made him pay for closing the distance with knees, and then finished him quickly.
More likely to get a title shot in 2012: Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger or Mike Pierce?
Conlan: Jake Ellenberger. He’s got a devastating knockout win over Jake Shields, a former top contender and decorated champ in his own right, and a winnable opponent in the form of Diego Sanchez. If he comes away with his hand raised against Sanchez he’ll be a single victory away from a title-shot while Hendricks/Pierce aren’t quite as close (especially Pierce).
Lambert: If Ellenberger gets by Sanchez, I think we’re going to see Ellenberger vs. Hendricks in a #1 contenders bout down the line. There’s no way Ellenberger will sit out most of 2012 after he theoretically beats Sanchez, and that’s what he’ll likely have to do if he waits to challenge the winner of St. Pierre vs. Diaz/Condit. I’ll go with Ellenberger as well since I think he beats Hendricks, but I wouldn’t sleep on Sanchez beating him, setting up Sanchez vs. Hendricks and knowing Jake out of contention for the time being.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, year, lesnar
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJ-Mac on MMA: The Athlete’s submissions
J-Mac gives his Strikeforce picks and explains an obvious tell as to why he believes Donald Cerrone had an off-night against Nate Diaz.
Posted in: strikeforce, submission, athlete, donald cerrone, jmac
Read the full article at sportsnet.caJ-Mac on MMA: The Athlete's submissions
J-Mac gives his Strikeforce picks and explains an obvious tell as to why he believes Donald Cerrone had an off-night against Nate Diaz.
Posted in: strikeforce, submission, athlete, donald cerrone, jmac
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLuke Rockhold & Keith Jardine Get Vocal Prior To Strikeforce Title Fight
This weekend’s Strikeforce middleweight title fight between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine has been flying under the radar for a variety of reasons. It seems both Rockhold and Jardine set out to change that this week though by making some rather uncharacteristically bold statements when the media finally turned their attention to this weekend’s Strikeforce show. For instance, Rockhold said he’s gunning for Anderson Silva while notorious nice guy Keith Jardine said “screw you” to anybody who thinks he doesn’t deserve a shot at Rockhold.
Here’s a rundown of quotes via Yahoo! Sports, MMA Fighting, Heavy.com, LowKick, StudioMMA and USA Today:
Luke Rockhold on Brock Lesnar:
“Did you see him singing the rap country? When he started rapping along to the country song I was like ‘ what the hell is this guy doing?’ I almost saw his lip quivering as he was walking into the cage. He just looked like he was playing a role. He was kind of believing his own hype that people were putting in his ear. I saw true confidence out of Overeem and a true fighter… I think he brought a whole new audience to the sport. So I can’t exactly say it’s a negative. People really need to see who the true fighters are. Lesnar’s not the best in the world. He just got the right matchups and the right fights.”
Rockhold on the lack of depth in the Strikeforce roster:
“All the guys that are rated the highest are in the UFC right now. It’d be nice if we could get some of those guys in our division over here in Strikeforce, because it doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere. If they could bring them in to challenge, I’d be more than (willing) to welcome those guys into Strikeforce and put my belt on the line for them.”
Rockhold on Anderson Silva:
UFC-wise — anybody over there. I don’t care; I’d fight anybody in the top 10. They say Anderson Silva’s only got four fights left; I want to be one of those four fights. I want to get on that track. Whoever I’ve got to go through to get there, that’s what I want…. It’s always been a dream to fight the best in the world; that’s what I live for. I hate second place. I hate being second best. I want to challenge myself against the best in the world, and right now, all the highest-rated guys are in the UFC. I think me, Kennedy and Jacare are very underrated in this sport and in our divisions. I think we could possibly beat any of those guys in the top 10. I think we’re all tough.
Keith Jardine on critics who say he shouldn’t be fighting for the Strikeforce middleweight title:
“I say ‘Screw you, whoever says that.’ It’s been a long trip to get to this point. I’m just so thrilled and honored to be here. I’m glad that Luke took this fight. I’m grateful for that.”
…
“Honestly, since I knew that would happen, I haven’t looked at any MMA media, I haven’t turned on my Twitter, I haven’t done any of that stuff, because I knew there would be a lot of negative energy out there. But, you know what? To all of those people out there, we’ll see on Saturday. I’m very confident about the way it’s going to look. I’m not even worried about it. I don’t care. I know in my heart that I’m a new person at Middleweight, and I’m going to shock the world. I’m going to climb to the top of the ranks. This here is just the beginning for me. I’m confident in myself, I don’t care what anybody else says.”
Rockhold’s take on Jardine fighting for the title:
No. I can’t say I think he deserves a title shot, but at the same time, I think it’s a tough fight and I’m not taking him lightly. I don’t think many people could say he deserves a title shot, but given the current roster with Strikeforce and the middleweights and contenders and whatnot — Tim Kennedy says he’s having some problems with his body, from what I hear, so he’s not ready to step up. I don’t believe Jacare’s ready for a rematch; I was ready for that, if that were to come. They saw Keith Jardine — maybe he’s a big name. He’s a tough opponent. He’s been in there with all the best guys.
…
“I want to fight guys who have earned their spot. Keith Jardine is more of a last-minute replacement – a short-notice fight, and it is what it is. In the future, I want to fight top guys that will move me up in the divisional rankings. Most of the top-ranked guys are all in the UFC. In most of the rankings, I’m the only guy in the Top 10 who isn’t in the UFC. I hope they can bring in new blood, some new contenders, because we need to find out who the true No. 1 contender is in this sport. Anderson Silva is the best, no doubt, but I believe I can compete and beat anyone in this division.”
Jardine on cutting to 185 for the first time:
“I’ve never been down to 185, since my freshman year of high school probably… I’m big.”
Rockhold on Jardine’s weight cut:
“I think it’s going to be an issue with him coming down weight to 185 pounds. I think his cardio has been questionable, and coming down to 185 pounds I believe should hurt him a little bit. My cardio is off the charts, and I’m looking to expose him in every area. I’m going to really put the pressure on him and this fight will be in my favor the longer it goes.”
Reminder: Showtime is kicking off a free preview weekend tonight, so if you’re capable of getting Showtime, you should be able to watch this weekend’s Strikeforce card for free.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMuhammed Lawal Re-Signs With Strikeforce
"The King" will continue to reign in Strikeforce after all.
Muhammed Lawal, who meets Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Saturday night, has signed a new four-fight contract with Strikeforce, according to Lawal's manager Mike Kogan.
Lawal had one fight left on his current contract, so this assures that he will fight in Strikeforce for at least five more fights. This also means that Lawal won't be moving over to the UFC any time soon.
Lawal (8-1) is 3-1 in Strikeforce. He recently defeated Roger Gracie in September to get back on track following his light heavyweight title loss to Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante in Aug. 2010.
He recently retracted his "cancer patient" comments about Strikeforce on a recent episode of The MMA Hour and left the door open for a return to the organization.
"I've got one more fight on my contract and then my contract ends in February," Lawal said. "King Mo just wants to go where he can get paid and get paid without the check bouncing."
Done and done. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, muhammed lawal, contract, lawal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTyron Woodley: "I should be fighting for the title."
Tyron Woodley has taken the welterweight division in Strikeforce by storm, defeating some very tough and highly respected opposition. While he is happy to step into the cage to stop the rise of Canadian standout Jordan Mein at tomorrow night’s Strikeforce: Jardine vs. Rockhold event, he believes he personally should be fighting for the vacant title.
“I should be fighting for the title. I don’t know about him,” said Woodley in a conversation with Fighters.com. “I don’t think he has the kind of recognition and been on the scene long enough. He’s only got one Strikeforce fight, and has beat a guy that’s lost a couple fights. I think (Evangelista Santos) is a tough opponent, but he’s not the type of guy who he should beat and be fighting for a title afterward.”
Those may sound like harsh words, but Woodley says that he respects Mein’s talents, which was what brought him to taking the fight.
“It’s hard, because (Strikeforce) didn’t have anybody ready (for a title fight,) and I thought, ‘You know what? I should fight somebody I obviously respect and I think is an awesome fighter and brings a lot to the table. I remember when being in (Mein’s) shoes when I was trying to get myself on the map. He’s got the skills, and you saw that against ‘Cyborg’. So I mean, the threat is really there.”
In the end, regardless of the outcome, Woodley believes there is a title shot in his future.
“I think I should be fighting for the world title no matter what. Woodley blankly stated. “I mean, there are only so many fights in the world you can be (told) ‘Your next fight can be for the title.’ We’ve done that three or four times already, so at this point, it’s time to go ahead and do it. I mean, me and Paul Daley went at it, and I thought that could’ve definitely been for the belt.”
Woodley closed by saying it did not matter to him whom his opponent would be for a potential title fight.
Woodley meets Mein on the main card of tomorrow’s show at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be broadcast live on Showtime in the United States, and Superchannel in Canada.
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Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, woodley, mein
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Weigh-In Results
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMMA Fighting will have Friday's Strikeforce weigh-in results for the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event taking place Saturday at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
In the main event, Luke Rockhold puts his Strikeforce middleweight title on the line against veteran Keith Jardine.
The weigh-ins will begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Main Card
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Undercard
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry
Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
Alonzo Martinez vs. Estevan Payan Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, weighin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFriday Link Club: Gina Carano GQ Pics, Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Preview
‘GQ’ Releases Four More Fantastic Photos From Gina Carano Shoot | Cage Potato
Strikeforce Main Event Breakdown: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine | MMA Fighting
Why Keith Jardine is a Perfect Fit for Strikeforce | Bleacher Report
Luke Rockhold calls out Anderson Silva | MMA Mania
Luke Rockhold thinks that a few key wins can put him in a position for Anderson Silva’s belt | MiddleEasy
Tyron Woodley: “I’m going into this fight with some steam.” | Five Ounces of Pain
Scott Coker Hopes To Have Strikeforce Titles Filled By Mid-Year | FightLine
Jon Jones: I want to fight four times in 2012 and finish every opponent | LowKick
WWE Champion CM Punk to accompany Chael Sonnen to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2 | MMA Payout
Is the pro-wrestling influence in UFC unattractive to female sports fans? | Fight Opinion
Top 10 Best Fights From the UFC in 2011
| TheFightNerd
Mackens Semerzier vs. Robert Peralta Rematch Set for “UFC on FX” in Australia | 5thRound
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, rockhold, gina carano
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov Dissection
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine will showcase yet another up and coming talent in Adlan Amagov, who faces the venerable Robbie Lawler in a middleweight bout.
Adlan Amagov (9-1-1) is a Chechen martial artist who has the kind of upbringing that will make you think twice about saying you've had a rough day. From his bio on the Strikeforce website:
"Back in 2000 during the first Chechen war our school was destroyed by air strikes and there was no means for me to continue my education. We had to study by sharing books in a small tent. I am taking courses now in order to complete my college degree."
Amagov also comes off as a very down-to-earth guy with infectious humility. He reminisced with Thomas Gerbasi on Strikeforce.com about his first loss to Alexey Olenik in Russia, who he now trains with on the KDojo team in New Jersey.
"The first fight was a tough one for me," said Amagov through translator / co-manager Sam Kardan. "I practically had no experience in the ring. I just started training in martial arts and the opportunity presented itself. I think my opponent had about 18 pro fights and lost to guys like Chael Sonnen. When they were announcing his accomplishments I asked the ring girl ‘am I fighting this guy?' (Laughs) I was planning to ground and pound, but I awoke a few minutes later from an Ezekiel choke."
Fitting the bill for this card's lineup, Amagov is a quickly ascending fighter with unorthodox and searing kickboxing. He fancies the spinning back kick (see the gif after the jump) and has left six of his nine opponents snoozing on the canvas, all in the first frame. Amagov has not tasted defeat since his initial foray against Olenik, though his ten matches since include one draw and narrowly escaping Ronald Stallings in his Strikeforce debut by split decision. Amagov crushed Anthony Smith in his second appearance under the Strikeforce banner, elevating him to a crack at an established pioneer in Lawler.
"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (18-8) garnered attention in his first two brawls in the Octagon against Aaron Riley and Steve Berger. The young Miletich product was a relentlessly aggressive southpaw and a devastating boxer, drawing comparisons to Roy Jones Jr. for the way he led exchanges with a leaping right hook.
Lawler was on an impressive tear with three straight wins after starching Tiki Ghosn at UFC 40, but would next encounter the fine-tuned Muay Thai of Pete Spratt and succumb to a series of crippling leg kicks. Lawler rebounded with a decision victory while welcoming the game Chris Lytle to the Octagon, but was then finished consecutively by Nick Diaz (TKO) and the late Evan Tanner (triangle choke).
Bouncing around in EliteXC (where he became the middleweight champion),the ICON promotion (where he was a two-time middleweight champ), Pride FC, the IFL and eventually Strikeforce, Lawler retained his reputation outside of the UFC. In the twelve fights that followed his release, Lawler won nine with one draw and losses to top-shelfers in Jason Miller and Jake Shields (both by submission). His latest four-piece stretch has been rough, dropping fights to Renato Sobral, Ronaldo Souza and Tim Kennedy, but scoring a smashing KO over Matt Lindland.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Unleashing his preferred strike, Amagov shows his scary striking acumen in the sequence to the right.
Not only is the kick executed beautifully, but notice Amagov's head and his subtle feint with the right hand to set things up. You can see his unfortunate adversary raise his guard to defend the right hand. A moment of confused hesitation follows and the poor soul switches his defensive guard to protect his body from the kick, which is the wrong choice as it sails high in a nasty arc instead. Amagov's premiere knockouts resulted in Russian legends Fedor and Aleksander Emelianenko inviting him to train, where Amagov picked up some Combat Sambo experience.
Already an unruly striker, Amagov developed a stout clinch game replete with a variety of throws and trips.
To the left, Amagov locks up with Ronald Stallings in the clinch and takes him for a ride with a hip throw in duplicate. Having such a well rounded style and feisty clinch game opens up more opportunities for the fight-ending heft of his striking. His ground game seems to be continually improving under the watchful eye of AMA Fight Club's Mike Contantino, a respected team and trainer that Amagov works with when he's not at KDojo under Murat Keshtov.
Much like fellow Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine cast member Lorenz Larkin, Amagov's creative kickboxing is much more than just pretty to watch.
His kicks are searingly effective, they cover a lot of range and are concisely adapted to MMA. He backs up the magic in his feet with a fully functional set of hands. Another notably unique aspect of his striking is the slightly detectable shades of Russian boxing in the way he "casts" his punches out, torquing hard at the waist and generating a lot of whip while turning his corkscrew-like punches over.
Ah, the old Robbie Lawler. He's been fighting long enough to get a good bead on his approach: wicked boxing combinations unleashed with pinpoint accuracy and garish intentions.
Lawler delivered a slice of nostalgia in his destruction of Matt Lindland (left), artfully dodging the left straight to plunge a vicious right hook downstairs and following up with two ungodly punches that beeline directly to Lindland's chin. Even the closing right hand that Lawler pounces with lands dead-center even though "The Law" is attempting to roll into guard.
The speed and precision of his hands in the animation above are downright poetic.
Lawler was handed losses in his last two by the stratosphere BJJ of "Jacare" and the overwhelming, gorilla-like wrestling of Tim Kennedy. Against the latter, Lawler's takedown defense was still on-point. Having greats like Pat Miletich and Jeremy Horn in his corner for years has shaped him into a technically sound machine in every aspect. Lawler now trains under Marc Fiore in Granite City, IL., at the reputable Finney's H.I.T. Squad academy.
He started off in the Kennedy fight bouncing light on his toes and seemingly poised to explode with his thunderous boxing.
The gif to the left shows uncanny composure in his ability to let his hands go while still being able to react quickly enough to defend Kennedy's shot. This is a very crucial and under-rated skill for a striker that Lawler does well with.
I'm sure I'm not alone in observing that Lawler's killer instinct was amiss in the late rounds against Kennedy.
He'd apparently created an ideal scenario by shucking off the grappler's incessant takedowns to keep the fight in the location he desired, so it was somewhat of a shock that Lawler barely squeezed trigger on the feet, especially since he had to realize he was down on the score cards. It's always convenient for us to criticize from the couch, but I was left with the feeling that Lawler wasted a prime opportunity with his uncharacteristic third-round hesitancy.
That makes his pairing with Amagov a little tougher to call. Despite the obvious talent and skill of Amagov, I would normally side with a high-level and vastly experienced striker like Lawler in a heartbeat over a newcomer who prefers to stand. His hiccups against Kennedy and the way he's struggled with technically adept kickers in the past are causes for concern.
Amagov might wreak havoc by targeting Lawler's heavy lead leg with low kicks; a tactic that Melvin Manhoef proved was not fully remedied after Pete Spratt used a series of them to nearly dislocated Lawler's hip. Plus, Robbie has been in the game for over a decade now and training and competing at the elite level for that long just eventually takes it toll on the mind, body and spirit.
This is another bout in which I'm tempted to call for an upset, but will settle for stating a cautionary warning to watch out for Amagov while leaning towards the trusty veteran.
My Prediction: Robbie Lawler by TKO.
Amagov spinning back kick gif via Caposa
All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Poll
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Lawler
Amagov
13 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, lawler, robbie, amagov
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLawal wants to break through Strikeforce ceiling
submitted by captaincaveman [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, ceiling, strikeforce ceiling, captaincaveman link, captaincaveman
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Showtime Video Preview
Take a look at Showtime's "sizzle reel" video preview for Saturday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card, which is part of the channel's free preview weekend.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, showtime, jardine, preview
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Weigh-In Results
Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” event took place today in Las Vegas, where Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and challenger Keith Jardine will weigh-in for the main event of the Showtime-televised card.
However, you don’t have to be a subscriber to the premium channel to watch the event, as it is part of Showtime’s free preview weekend on most cable and satellite providers.
MMAFrenzy.com will have Strikeforce weigh-in results below after the fighters hit the scale at 7pm ET:
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Luke Rockhold (c) vs. Keith Jardine
Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
“King” Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
PRELIMINARY CARD (Showtime Extreme)
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry
Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
Estevan Payan vs. Alonzo Martinez
Pictured: Keith Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, weighin
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyThe card no one is talking about this Saturday: Strikeforce - Rockhold vs. Jardine
submitted by combatpicks [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, combatpick
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce weigh in results LIVE from Las Vegas for 'Rockhold vs Jardine'
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" is set to take place today (Fri., Jan. 6, 2012) LIVE from the HRH Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" will feature newly-minted middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, defending his 185-pound belt for the first time against long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, Keith Jardine, in the main event of the evening.
Other main card match ups booked for the "Sin City" event, which will begin to air live on Showtime on Jan. 7, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET, include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
Complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs Jardine" weigh in results, after the jump.
Main Event:
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold ( ) vs. Keith Jardine ( )
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Robbie Lawler ( ) vs. Adlan Amagov ( )205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal ( ) vs. Lorenz Larkin ( )170 lbs.: Jordan Mein ( ) vs. Tyron Woodley ( )170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine ( ) vs. Tyler Stinson ( )
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell ( ) vs. James Terry ( )205 lbs.: Trevor Smith ( ) vs. Gian Villante ( )170 lbs.: Ricky Legere ( ) vs. Chris Spang ( )170 lbs.: Estevan Payan ( ) vs. Alonzo Martinez ( )
For those fortunate enough to be in Las Vegas this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh in will open at 3:00 p.m. local time.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
Note: Showtime is offering a FREE preview weekend to start the New Year, which means that cable, as well as satellite subscribers, will be able to watch the network, including "Rockhold vs. Jardine," from Friday to Sunday at absolutely no charge.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle
For the latest Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine - Pre-Fight Press Conference Video
With Strikeforce set for their next show Saturday night on Showtime, the fighters and Scott Coker sat down on Thursday for the pre-fight press conference. The event takes place from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Main event fighters Keith Jardine and Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold were on hand to discuss their fight as well as co-main event fighters Robbie Lawler and Adlan Amagov. The always outspoken "King" Muhammed Lawal was also there to discuss his bout with Lorenz Larkin.
As a reminder, while the main card will be shown on Showtime starting at 10 p.m. ET, the preliminary fights will start at 8 p.m. ET on Showtime Extreme.
We'll have plenty more coverage as the event nears with today's weigh-ins, our staff predictions, live coverage, reactions and much more. So keep your browser locked in to Bloody Elbow.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, lorenz larkin, event, todays weighins
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Pre-Fight Press Conference
Strikeforce: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine participants shared their thoughts ahead of tomorrow's MMA action, which will take place at the Nationwide Arena in Colombus, Ohio. The event is headlined by Luke Rockhold's first Strikeforce Middleweight title defense against "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine, as the former 205 champ King Mo will look to make a statement against the undefeated Lorenz Larkin.
Further Reading: Submit your picks for Strikeforce Rockhold vs.
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at Low Kick'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' preview: Fighters jockey for position in new era
In bout after main-card bout, proven Strikeforce commodities meet their
lesser-tested counterparts at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas.
The event's headliner features middleweight champ Luke Rockhold's first
title defense, and it comes against longtime UFC veteran Keith Jardine,
who's attempting to reinvent himself in a new division.
The co-main draw has the well-traveled Strikeforce veteran Robbie Lawler meeting middleweight Adlan Amagov.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, title defense, jardine, lessertested counterparts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieOoh look at this it's a Strikeforce promo!
•❤• Jordan Mein •❤•
Posted in: strikeforce, promo, jordan, mein, ooh
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine LowKick.com Staff Predictions
LowKick.com Staff and Contributors predict the outcome of this weekend's Strikeforce Middleweight Title fight between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke rockhold, jardine, lowkickcom
Read the full article at Low KickLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 1, 2012
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Five Ounces of Pain speaks with Phil Davis, MMA Fighting gets Sarah Kaufman's thoughts on Ronda Rousey getting a title shot before her and Bleacher Report speaks with former Strikeforce champ Muhammed Lawal.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Keith Jardine doesn't care what the critics say (LowKick)
UFC veteran and Strikeforce Middleweight title challenger, Keith Jardine, who will look to dethrone division Champion Luke Rockhold this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as the critics who say he doesn't deserve the title shot. Jardine admits that he's avoided the negativity surrounding the match-up, and says that he plans to make it a "real fight."
- 10 most forgettable fights of 2011 (Cage Potato)
- Phil Davis wants a title shot with a victory over Rashad Evans (Five Ounces of Pain)
Much has been made of Rashad Evans wrestling credentials and how he used them during his mixed martial arts career, but what some fail to realize is that his collegiate record is a mediocre 48-34 during his three years at Michigan State. Davis on the other hand has a superb record of 116-17. Will that translate for Davis when the two meet on January 28? "Mr. Wonderful" certainly thinks so.
- Sarah Kaufman feels Ronda Rousey title fight is 'ridiculous' (MMA Fighting)
Sarah Kaufman saw the internet reports of a Miesha Tate-Ronda Rousey title at about the same time the rest of the MMA world did. She wasn't terribly surprised, she told MMA Fighting on Thursday, but neither was she particularly pleased.
"I think it's terrible news," the former Strikeforce 135-pound women's champ said, and you can probably guess why.
- Dana White Eyes Summer Slugfest for Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem (5thRound)
Alistair Overeem secured his date with destiny by viciously disposed of Brock Lesnar last weekend at UFC 141. Now that he's solidified his top contender status, the only question remaining is when will his shootout with heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos take place?
- Luke Rockhold thinks that a few key wins can put him in a position for Anderson Silva's belt (MiddleEasy)
Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC.
- Top 10 best fights of 2011 (The Fight Nerd)
In a sport with the sheer variety of outcomes that MMA has, there's no specific formula for what makes a great fight. Instead, truly great matches are made when some or all of the elements of MMA come together in two fighters to make something that is both a highly competitive bout and a dramatic story told through action.
2011 served as a flagship year in the world's largest MMA organization when it came to great fights. To put a bow on this passing age, below are the top ten greatest fights in the UFC for 2011.See who earned the top spot!
- Five big items of fallout from the two NYE shows (Fight Opinion)
Very sad & discouraging to hear the news about 30-year old DEEP fighter Tomoya Miyashita dying on New Year's Eve. He had fought one round of cancer (seminoma) and then was diagnosed with leukemia and lost the battle. He had a personal blog online at Ameba where he commented on his struggles and also posted pictures of those in the fight community who came to visit with him.
- UFC 141: Payout Perspective (MMA Payout)
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we look at a special Friday night event from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada which featured Brock Lesnar versus Alistair Overeem.
- King Mo: It's time to give Larkin his first loss (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
"I can deal with anybody. With Gracie, I could have taken him down a bunch of times and made him just stand back up. The thing is with Larkin is yea I can take him down, but we will see where the fight goes. I'm confident in my hands. Who has (Larkin) knocked out with his kicks? Nobody. I'm prepared for whatever he has. I'm not worried. I've been training with a great camp. I've trained with everybody. I've seen everything I can see. I know flash. I can defeat flash easy."
- What Strikeforce needs to be great (MMA Convert)
Sure, Scott Coker and his baby are beholden to their masters, and as such, the UFC has now laid claim to all of the Strikeforce heavyweights plus assorted other top talent. But gosh darn it, when Lorenzo Fertitta and company ponied up the cheddar and bought the whole thing, the number two MMA organization in the world was something to behold. Rockhold vs. Jardine is whole ‘lotta "not so much". So what, then, does Strikeforce need to be great? I am glad you asked...
- Full interview with Karo Parisyan (Fightline)
Karo Parisyan is tired, you can hear it in his voice. Tired like he's just waking up from a years-long nightmare in which someone else was living in his body, fighting and making his decisions for him. What makes it all worse is that there was no dream, that Parisyan has been the pilot all along, the reason for his own derailment. Now, frustrated but attaining clarity, he's just hoping it's not too late to fix his mistakes.
Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, title, strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' live and official weigh-in results
LAS VEGAS - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and reporting
live from today's official "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" fighter
weigh-ins, where all 18 contestants on the card will look to weight.
Included among the participants are Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke
Rockhold and longtime MMA veteran Keith Jardine, who challenges the
title holder in the evening's main event.
Today's festivities take place at HRH Lounge at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, title holder, hrh lounge
Read the full article at MMA JunkieKeith Jardine Gets Strikeforce Title Shot, but Weight Cut Not Easy
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsKeith Jardine will fight Luke Rockhold for the Strikeforce middleweight title on Saturday night, which is surprising for two reasons: One, Jardine's recent record wouldn't seem to warrant a title shot. And two, Jardine is not a middleweight.
But while Jardine admits that having to get down to 185 pounds at the weigh-in on Friday afternoon makes him uneasy, he's adamant that he's a worthy opponent for Rockhold.
"I've never been down to 185, since my freshman year of high school probably," Jardine said at Thursday's pre-fight press conference.
Asked how much he weighed right then, about 24 hours before the weigh-in, Jardine wouldn't give a number but said, "I'm big."
Jardine has only fought in Strikeforce once, a draw with Gegard Mousasi last year, and his record over the last three years is 2-5-1, with the two wins coming against lightly regarded opponents on small shows. So a lot of MMA fans are questioning why Jardine is fighting for a belt. Jardine said he anticipated that reaction, but he's frustrated by those who believe he's unworthy of a fight against Rockhold.
More Coverage: Strikeforce Fight Card | Rockhold vs. Jardine Results
"I say 'Screw you, whoever says that,'" Jardine said. "It's been a long trip to get to this point. I'm just so thrilled and honored to be here. I'm glad that Luke took this fight. I'm grateful for that."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker defended the promotion's decision to make Jardine the first challenger to Rockhold, who won the Strikeforce middleweight belt by defeating Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in September.
"The thing about a veteran like Keith Jardine is he's already been in all the wars, he's already seen all the fights, and the battles that he's been through, to me, justify and warrant the title fight with Luke Rockhold," Coker said. "In MMA anything can happen."
Perhaps Coker is right: If Keith Jardine becomes the Strikeforce middleweight champion on Saturday night, that really would show that anything can happen in MMA. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Pre-Fight Press Conference Video Highlights
Video highlights of the Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” pre-fight press conference.
Posted in: strikeforce, conference, rockhold, jardine, prefight
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGet hype for Strikeforce by watching this fresh new compilation
Every morning when I get into work, I settle in with my gallon of espresso and start my day off by opening up my facebook message inbox or watching videos on WorldStarHipHop.com or perusing the internet for MMA news. Watching or reading as people cross the line and step into psycho is the best way to ensure my day will turn out great. It's motivating to me to know that despite my peon low paying office cubicle flunkie job-at least I'm not the crazy lady that got caught on video taking a dump in the grocery store aisle. I'm also thankful to not be a creepy guy sending facebook messages asking if he can eat mashed potatoes from in between my toes or asking how much it would cost to get pictures of me windexing my boobs and using them as a window squeegee.
After I've been inundated with my morning dose of psycho creeper, I like to move on to something even more satisfying--visions of ass-kicking dancing across my computer screen. Todays initial dose begins with this fresh new compilation of 'greatest hits' from all of the guys headlining Saturday's Strikeforce. Check out this video of Rockhold, Jardine, Lawal, Larkin, and Lawler doing a little face smashing and a little body slamming. It should be just what you need to really get going this Friday morning and get you hype for tomorrow's Strikeforce!
Posted in: strikeforce, morning, facebook messages, work i, asskicking dancing
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce pre-fight press conference video highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine'
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today (Jan. 5, 2012) joined the mixed martial arts (MMA) stars who are set to compete this weekend (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to promote the Showtime-televised event.
Main event participants Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine, as well as co main event brawlers Robbie Lawler and Adlan Amagov, were all on hand at the HRH Lounge to discuss their respective fights.
Former 205-pound champion "King" Muhammed Lawal also dished on his light heavyweight showdown with Lorenz Larkin on the main card.
For all the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" news, notes, previews and analysis you can handle be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, rockhold, jardine, showtimetelevised event
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' fight card: Robbie Lawler vs Adlan Amagov preview
Two of Strikeforce's most lethal stand up fighters will collide this Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012) as "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler takes on flashy Russian striker Adlan Amagov in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lawler, one of the most feared and powerful punchers in the promotion, is currently reeling from two consecutive losses against Ronaldo Souza and Tim Kennedy, two of the best middleweights in the promotion. He does not want to be a stepping stone for the Russian prospect, so expect him to give it his all.
Amagov's highlight reel is as entertaining as anyones, and he's capable of dishing out pain from any direction. Whether he's jumping, spinning or firmly planted, expect something flashy and amazing when he steps into the cage. He's gearing up to legitimize himself in the Strikeforce middleweight division, and there's no better way than to score a big victory over a UFC veteran and former Strikeforce title challenger.
Will Lawler's experience and power be too much for the rising prospect? Does Amagov have anything in his bag of tricks to catch "Ruthless" Robbie off guard? What does each man have to do to secure victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Robbie LawlerRecord: 18-8 (1 No Contest) overall, 2-4 in StrikeforceKey Wins: Matt Lindland (Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu), Melvin Manhoef (Strikeforce: Miami), Scott Smith (Elite XC: Unfinished Business)Key Losses: Ronaldo Souza (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg), Tim Kennedy (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Jake Shields (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields)
How he got here: After first getting scouted at a Hawaiian MMA event in his fourth professional fight, Lawler was pegged as the next golden boy of the UFC. He got off to a great start with the Ultimate Fighting Championships with three straight wins but a tough stretch of three losses out of four fights would end his time with the world's largest promotion.
Lawler would spend the next two years building himself back up, eventually fighting for and winning the EliteXC middleweight title from Murilo Rua in 2007. He would successfully defend his title once before the promotion folded.
The H.I.T. Squad fighter would lose his Strikeforce promotional debut to Jake Shields but would rebound in an incredible comeback performance against Melvin Manhoef. After losing a very close decision to former light heavyweight Ranato Sobral at a 195 lb. catchweight, Lawler would go on to absolutely destroy Matt Lindland in another of 2010's nastiest knockouts.
The victory would earn him a title shot against Strikeforce middleweight champion "Jacare" Souza and Lawler would hold his own with the incredibly gifted fighter for over two rounds but would eventually be overwhelmed by the Brazilian's strength on the ground, succumbing to a third round submission.
Lawler accepted a bout with Tim Kennedy which had middleweight title contendership on the line. In that fight, the "Ruthless" fighter was tentative and didn't do nearly enough to impress the judges as he would go on to lose a unanimous decision. Now, he'll have to test his mettle against one of the most exciting rising prospects in the promotion.
How he gets it done: Robbie Lawler is a decent wrestler but it's the power in both of his fists that make him deadly. No matter if he's down on the cards, he'll always have that threat of the one-punch knockout.
Lawler will have to try and keep the proper distance with Amagov. While he's got insane power in both hands, he's primarily limited to punches and that means that he can't get too far away from Amagov or he'll be eating kick after kick with no way to counter.
Expect the former EliteXC champion to pressure Amagov with footwork, cutting off escape routes and hopefully forcing him to make a mistake that he can capitalize on. Something that shouldn't surprise fans one bit is if Lawler dips back into his wrestling roots. He's put time in both at Power MMA and H.I.T. Squad in the past year, and while Amagov has a pretty solid judo base, he could be susceptible to takedowns and top control.
Lawler will need to use all his tricks to win this fight.
Adlan AmagovRecord: 9-1-1 overall, 2-0 in StrikeforceKey Wins: Anthony Smith (Strikeforce Challengers 20), Ronald Stallings (Strikeforce Challengers 17)Key Losses: Alexey Oleinik (PRMF: Professional Cup)
How he got here: Adlan Amagov hails from Mother Russia and jumped into mixed martial arts with both feet, taking on top Russian heavyweight submission specialist Alexei Oleinik in his first career bout. Oleinik was simply too big, too experienced and too technically sound in the submission department and he was quickly overwhelmed via first round Ezekial choke.
Nearly a year later, Amagov returned as a light heavyweight and got back on track, winning his next five straight including a brutal spinning hook kick knockout of Maskhat Akhmetov. He finished 2010 with two straight knockouts to punch his ticket to Strikeforce.
Upon his arrival, he easily defeated Ronald Stallings via decision, but somehow was only awarded a split due to suspect judging. Regardless, he soldiered on, slaughtering Anthony Smith with a right haymaker from hell, followed by the knockout blow with a single punch on the ground. Strikeforce felt it was time to quit babying him and he's getting a shot at one of the promotions biggest middleweight stars in Robbie Lawler on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Amagov is a wildcard. He's got a ton of different kicking attacks in his arsenal and he's not afraid to use them, whether they are hook kicks, spinning back kicks, axe kicks, you name it. The kick that would likely work wonders for him against Lawler would be the simple inside leg kick. Melvin Manhoef destroyed Lawler's lead leg with repeated inside leg kicks in the first quarter of 2010, and it's highly unlikely that Lawler's improved his defense since then.
If he can slow Lawler down to a hobble, then it will be time to pounce with everything else. The wily Russian proved in his last fight that he also has some serious power in his hands if he can actually land his wild attacks. They Key for Amagov will be to get his strikes off without eating any major blows from Lawler. "Ruthless" Robbie may be limited, but he's still incredibly dangerous.
Expect to see Amagov pick Lawler apart from the outside and only come in hard and heavy once he feels it's a lock for him.
Fight X-Factor: The X-Factor for this fight is Robbie Lawler's mindset as a fighter. If he comes out as the confident destroyer of worlds that smashed Matt Lindland, he could put the pressure on Amagov and score a big knockout victory. If he comes out tentative like his last fight, he's going to get eaten alive. Against Tim Kennedy, he looked like a completely different fighter, looking merely to survive the full 15 minutes rather than win. He needs to channel his old school Lawler style if he wants to be victorious.
Bottom Line: Any fight with Adlan Amagov is going to be exciting. This guy is capable of literally anything in the striking department whether it's wild spinning kicks, punches or any other form of doing damage with flailing limbs. If Robbie Lawler comes to fight, this has potential to be one of the most entertaining and diverse slugfests of 2012. As long as this fight is standing, there's potential that it's going to be incredible. Neither is the most active on the ground, so it could slow down if either man takes it to the canvas, but don't blink when they're trading blows.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which middleweight knockout artist will be victorious in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine on Saturday night?
Robbie Lawler
Adlan Amagov
6 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, lawler, he, amagov
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce eyes new champs by mid-year but Woodley, Kennedy no lock
LAS VEGAS - With the defection of former Strikeforce champs Alistair
Overeem, Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson, the UFC's sister promotion finds
itself a little short in the titleholder department.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today said he hopes to rectify that by mid-2012.
However, perhaps as part of the "business as usual" mantra of the
promotion, Coker declined to speculate on whether or not a few key names
could be expected to figure into the picture.
Posted in: strikeforce, dan henderson, las vegas, promotion coker, woodley kennedy
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce delivers highlight video for Luke Rockhold-Keith Jardine
Strikeforce has posted a highlight reel for Saturday night’s upcoming Luke Rockhold-Keith Jardine main event fight from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rockhold will make his first title defense against Jardine, a former UFC fighter who has worked his way back into contention through a handful of solid showings at 205 pounds.
Rockhold, the AKA-trained fighter, claimed the title in 2011 by outpointing Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and sports a career record of 8-1. He is a perfect 7-0 since joining Strikeforce, including wins over Paul Bradley and Jesse Taylor.
Jardine is 17-9-2 overall, including a 2-0-1 mark since 2010. He holds past victories over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin.
Also set for Saturday night’s lineup, Robbie Lawler takes on Adlan Amagov, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal meets Lorenz Larkin, Tyron Woodley battles Jordan Mein, and Tarec Saffiedine locks horns with Tyler Stinson. The main card will take place on Showtime while the four-fight preliminary portion will be seen on Showtime Extreme.
Check out the video below to enjoy Rockhold and Jardine’s highlights:
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, ufc fighter, tyler stinson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLuke Rockhold thinks that a few key wins can put him in a position for Anderson's belt
Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC.
You know what? They should just make an entirely new reality show focusing around the Strikeforce fighters. It can focus on all of the fighters that the general public doesn't know about and build the brand and the fighters like TUF did. There can even be built in rules, like if you win the title and defend it twice then you are granted the next possible title shot in your weight division in the UFC. Fighters from the UFC will be calling out the fighters from Strikeforce, there will be cross promotional fights and all the while human stories could be told outside the training and cage. Hopefully at the very least this show could get Tim Kennedy and Jacare more fights. Zuffa, you can email me Jason@MiddleEasy.com if you want to flesh out this sure fire hit show.
Now I will get off my TV show pitching soapbox. Watch this interview with Luke Rockhold explaining to LayzieTheSavage what he thinks his future looks like in the Strikeforce middleweight division, and what a good run of wins can do for his chance at Anderson.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, show, fighter, luke rockhold
Read the full article at Middle EasyLuke Rockhold thinks that a few key wins can put him in a position for Anderson Silva's belt
Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC.
You know what? They should just make an entirely new reality show focusing around the Strikeforce fighters. It can focus on all of the fighters that the general public doesn't know about and build the brand and the fighters like TUF did. There can even be built in rules, like if you win the title and defend it twice then you are granted the next possible title shot in your weight division in the UFC. Fighters from the UFC will be calling out the fighters from Strikeforce, there will be cross promotional fights and all the while human stories could be told outside the training and cage. Hopefully at the very least this show could get Tim Kennedy and Jacare more fights. Zuffa, you can email me Jason@MiddleEasy.com if you want to flesh out this sure fire hit show.
Now I will get off my TV show pitching soapbox. Watch this interview with Luke Rockhold explaining to LayzieTheSavage what he thinks his future looks like in the Strikeforce middleweight division, and what a good run of wins can do for his chance at Anderson Silva.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, show, fighter, luke rockhold
Read the full article at Middle EasyTyron Woodley: “I’m going into this fight with some steam.”
Tyron Woodley has his sights set on becoming a star in MMA. To do that, the former University of Missouri wrestling standout must stop rising star Jordan Mein Saturday night.
Despite being the less experienced fighter, Woodley understands that much of the pressure is squarely on his shoulders for the bout with Mein. Woodley is 9-0 in his young MMA career, while Mein sports a mark of 23-7.
“This fight is important and my mental game has to be there,” said Woodley in a recent interview on Strikeforce’s website. “This is a young kid that would like nothing more than to knock me off and take my place in line and possibly throw himself into title contention. I’m not gonna act like it wasn’t a test and wasn’t a trial, because it was, but I think at the end of the day I learned a lesson early and I think I’m going into this fight with some steam.”
Woodley recently opened a gym in Rock Hill, Missouri called ATT Evolution Gym. It has taken away from time he would normally have spent training himself for the Mein bout, but the businessman in Woodley understands how important this decision was.
“I think it’s a test of having to find balance,” Woodley said. “My gym’s not going anywhere, my family’s not going anywhere, and I’m sure as heck not going anywhere when it comes to MMA, so I’ve learned a real good lesson about delegation and believing in my staff and my team and separating myself when I have to.”
With a win, Woodley would likely position himself to compete for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title later in 2012, as the title remains unclaimed since Nick Diaz left for the UFC.
Woodley-Mein will be part of the main card for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, which airs live on Showtime from Las Vegas.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, i ’m, wasn ’t, woodley, mein
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMMAWeekly Radio Thursday: Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Georgi Karakhanyan and The Sixth Round
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Tachi Palace Fights champion Georgi Karakhanyan join MMAWeekly Radio on Thursday, as well as the Sixth Round talking CM Punk, Brock Lesnar and Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, mmaweekly radio, radio, coker, georgi
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Promo
Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” takes place this Saturday, Jan. 7, at the The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Greatest Hits' video highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 7
Strikeforce breaks out the highlight reel in advance of its "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event on Showtime this Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012) from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who's sticking around to watch this one and who's firing up the DVR?
More on Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, hits video
Read the full article at MMA ManiaScott Coker: Don't underestimate Strikeforce middleweight Adlan Amagov
The name Adlan Amagov doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but for those mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who never heard of the Russian destroyer, take a look at this video to see what Robbie Lawler is up against when they collide this Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012) on the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Scary stuff.
That's what Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker was talking about when he told MMA Fighting not to underestimate Amagov simply because he's not a recognizable name.
"The Robbie Lawler fight, against Adlan, that's gonna be a barnburner and I think people underestimate Adlan because they really don't know him. He's been fighting on Challengers, but that's kinda how Luke (Rockhold) got brought up, he came from the Challengers series."
Hear more from Coker on this weekend's Showtime event, after the jump.
For more on Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," part of Showtime's free preview weekend, click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, robbie lawler, adlan, stuff thats, russian destroyer
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 119: Strikeforce 'Rockhold vs. Jardine' Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, Forrest Lynn and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview Saturday's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" which is headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight championship bout between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine and a light-heavyweight clash between former champion "King" Mo Lawal and Lorenz Larkin.
We'll preview the evening's five fight main card while taking your calls, emails and comments on the event.
We'll also discuss the latest news in mixed martial arts along with a discussion on the depth of UFC cards in 2012.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowEstevan Payan replaces Bobby Green, faces Alonzo Martinez at this weekends Strikeforce event
This weekend’s Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card is complete once again as Estevan Payan has stepped up to take on Alonzo Martinez, replacing the injured Bobby Green. The bout will remain on the preliminary card of the event, which is scheduled to air on ShowtimeExtreme.
Strikeforce officials have confirmed the new bout.
Payan is unbeaten in his last six fights and has finished his last three opponents via (T)KO. “El Terrible” was a competitor in the first season of the Bellator featherweight tournament, losing in the second round to Yahir Reyes after defeating Luis Palomino in the opening round to advance.
Martinez also competed in the first season of Bellator as part of the lightweight tournament field. He was knocked off in the first round by eventual finalist Toby Imada. “Zo Diddy” has won eight of his last nine contests and has 35 vitories overall, with 21 coming by way of submission.
The show is scheduled for January 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be headlined by a Strikeforce middleweight title bout as champion Luke Rockhold defends his title against UFC veteran Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, alonzo martinez, estevan payan, tournament field, payan
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainKing Mo: Gegard Mousasi is boring, and should be boycotted by the media
Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion King Mo will return to the cage this weekend, facing the undefeated up-and-comer Lorenz Larkin in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Lawal also related his arch-nemesis Gegad Mousasi, claiming that "The Dreamcatcher" is a boring fighter, and should be boycotted by the media.
Further Reading: Submit your picks ffor Strikeforce Rockhold vs.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, media, comain event
Read the full article at Low KickKing Mo Plans to Avoid Larkin’s Traps
Muhammed Lawal (Pictured) returns to the cage Jan. 7 in Strikeforce, where he’ll take on undefeated up-and-comer Lorenz Larkin.
Posted in: strikeforce, larkin, return, king, muhammed
Read the full article at SherdogLuke Rockhold Discusses Surprising Keith Jardine Title Fight, Silencing Critics
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosWatch below as Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold talks about his unexpected title fight against Keith Jardine on Jan. 7, earning the respect of the MMA world, staying with Strikeforce, and much more.
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Posted in: strikeforce, luke rockhold, keith jardine, mma world, strikeforce mma
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseReport: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Targeted For March Strikeforce Event
It’s looking like a much-anticipated Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship bout between champion Miesha Tate and rising star Ronda Rousey is going to happen sooner rather than later.
MMA Weekly reported earlier this evening that the bout is set for a March 3 Strikeforce event, however Rousey responded on Twitter claiming she hasn’t signed anything yet. Nevertheless, MMA Junkie is reporting that although it’s not finalized, Strikeforce has the bout is in the works.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed with multiple sources that Rousey and Strikeforce 135-pound female champion Miesha Tate (12-2 MMA, 5-1 SF) are in ongoing discussions to meet at an as-yet-unannounced event expected to take place March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
However, at this time bout agreements have not been finalized and the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Assuming it comes together, it would mark the most hyped women’s bout in quite some time. Tate recently stated that Rousey doesn’t deserve the shot with only four professional wins, however women’s MMA needs all the big fights it can get these days and this is certainly one of them. Rousey may not deserve it on record alone, but you can’t dismiss the buzz she’s generated by winning each of those four fights in under a minute via violent armbars.
I’ll admit it. I’ve struggled to get excited for women’s MMA in the past year, but this is definitely one fight I’m looking forward to.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, bout, tate, rousey
Read the full article at MMA ConvertReport: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Set For Strikeforce's March Event
The most discussed women's MMA match since Gina Carano vs. Cristiane Santos has been booked for Strikeforce's March event in Columbus, OH, as 135-pound champion Miesha Tate will defend against Ronda Rousey. MMA Weekly reported the news Wednesday night, but there have been no confirmations from either side as of this writing.
Rousey (4-0) has risen to prominence by finishing all of her opponents by armbar in less than three minutes combined. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo asked for the Tate fight following her 39 second victory over Julia Budd in November, setting off a slew of social medial discussion on whether Rousey was ready and the state of women's MMA.
Tate (12-2) has won six in a row, but hasn't fought since defeating Marloes Coenen by fourth round submission in July 2011. It was expected at one point that Tate would defend her title against former champion Sarah Kaufman, but that fight never materialized. Kaufman (14-1) hasn't competed since winning a decision over Liz Carmouche in July.
On Twitter Wednesday night, Rousey said, "I haven't signed anything nothing is official everybody calm down" Wednesday while Tate alluded to the fight in some conversations with fans without any confirmation. The March event is expected to be on Saturday, March 3rd -- the same night as the Strikeforce Grand Prix Finals. With Strikeforce set to return to action this Saturday, a formal announcement could come this week.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, tate, march, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWhat Strikeforce Needs to be Great
Strikeforce returns on Saturday night with an event headlined by middleweight champ Luke Rockhold, who will be defending his title against Keith Jardine. This matchup moves me not at all. In fact, for an organization that could just as easily be a carcass lying putrid and rotten on the side of the highway of MMA, picked clean of its meat by Zuffa and left unburied out in the sun by Showtime, a Rockhold/Jardine pairing is a slap in the face to all the fans who rejoiced at Strikeforce’s second lease on life. Sure, Scott Coker and his baby are beholden to their masters, and as such, the UFC has now laid claim to all of the Strikeforce heavyweights plus assorted other top talent. But gosh darn it, when Lorenzo Fertitta and company ponied up the cheddar and bought the whole thing, the number two MMA organization in the world was something to behold. Rockhold vs. Jardine is whole ‘lotta “not so much”. So what, then, does Strikeforce need to be great? I am glad you asked…
-Lots of Female Fights – In 2011, there were sixteen Strikeforce events broadcasting a total of 76 main card bouts on television. Of those main cards bouts, a mere eight featured females. While some of that bespeaks of a more shallow talent pool for the fairer sex, it also points towards an oversight by the Matchmaking Powers That Be. For there are plenty of skilled and capable female mixed martial artists out there throughout the world, wondering if all the hours they’ve devoted to the sport will ever amount to a decent paycheck (or even just a paycheck). Some of them are in Brazil, some are in Japan, some are in Canada and the States. Strikeforce, meanwhile, is sitting on one rising star in Ronda Rousey, two underutilized champs in Miesha Tate and Cris “Cyborg” Santos, and a number of ladies they recycle as if Coker owes them favors. Leaving the other femme fatales of the world untouched goes beyond the label of “wasted talent”. No, that treads more towards the realm of “folly”. Strikeforce, you need more females!
-More Relevant Matchups – The Strikeforce middleweight champ faces “The Dean of Mean” on Saturday night because… because why? Because Jardine has a pulse? It wasn’t too long ago that the TUF 2 veteran flamed out on a five-fight losing streak – a streak he only broke when he began facing low-level competitors in smalltime shows in the Dominican Republic and New Mexico (and if I recall correctly, he wasn’t even paid for his fight in the Dominican Republic!). The man’s recent Strikeforce debut even ended in a draw. Again, why does he get a shot at the belt? Strikeforce needs to be a least a little more relevant in their matchmaking. Otherwise, people like me hear these maddening matchups announced and in fits of rage we kick our dog.
-More Freakshow Matchups – At first blush, this runs contrary to the above “relevancy” suggestion. But whenever I think of Dan Henderson’s mauling of Fedor Emelianenko on a Strikeforce installment from this past July, my mouth starts watering. That matchup had zero relevancy to anything, yet it was delicious – delicious when it was announced and yummy as all hell when it transpired. Japan elevated freakshow matchups into an art form (remember when CroCop fought a Silverback gorilla? No? Well if the fans had wanted it, you better believe it would’ve happened.). Strikeforce tapped into that by having Henderson and Fedor scrap. More of the same would do wonders. (And Rockhold/Jardine is not a freakshow matchup. It’s just sad.)
-A Tournament That Bears Fruit – When the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix was announced, I was gleeful. Now it’s eleven months after the opening quarterfinal bracket and there’s still no resolution to it, and when the two finalists do eventually meet, the winner (and every other heavyweight on the Strikeforce roster) gets to go directly to the UFC. Can you say “worst tournament ever”? A tournament should bear fruit. Bellator seems to have no problem making them work. Besides, who would you rather see face Gilbert Melendez next? Some unworthy mook sure to get slaughtered, or some badass who fought his way through a field of eight lightweights to earn the honor of standing in the cage against Melendez? The fruit from a 155-pound tournament such as that would taste sweet.
-Cast a Wider Net for Prospects – Right now Bellator is killing it in terms of rustling up prospects, culling experienced guys from fight circuits in Brazil and the States like nobody’s business. With Strikeforce prelims set to air live on Showtime Extreme, that’s a lot of televised slots for up-and-comers to vie for, and ample opportunity for Strikeforce to take the best from nearly every major regional promotion out there and give them some love. The organization just needs to do the legwork. As Bellator can attest to, it will pay off in the long run.
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, tournament, wasn ’t, matchup
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChamp Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey in the works for March Strikeforce event
With just four professional fights under her belt, it appears Ronda Rousey will compete for Strikeforce gold.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with multiple sources
that Rousey and Strikeforce 135-pound female champion Miesha Tate are in ongoing discussions to meet at an as-yet-unannounced event expected to
take place March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
However, at this time bout agreements have not been finalized and the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Posted in: strikeforce, ronda rousey, rousey, columbus ohio, asyetunannounced event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce weigh in results, information and details for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 6 in Las Vegas
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs Jardine" is set to take place in the HRH Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Fri., Jan. 6, 2011.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" will feature newly-minted middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, defending his 185-pound belt for the first time against long-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, Keith Jardine, in the main event of the evening.
Other main card match ups booked for the "Sin City" event, which will begin to air live on Showtime on Jan. 7, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET, include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
That's not all.
Check out the current Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card and line up after the jump:
Main Event (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov 205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin 170 lbs.: Jordan Mein vs. Tyron Woodley 170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry205 lbs.: Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante 170 lbs.: Estevan Payan vs. Alonzo Martinez
For those fortunate enough to be in Las Vegas this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh in will open at 3:00 p.m. local time.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
Note: Showtime is offering a FREE preview weekend to start the New Year, which means that cable, as well as satellite subscribers, will be able to watch the network, including "Rockhold vs. Jardine," from Friday to Sunday at absolutely no charge.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle
For the latest Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' fight card: Muhammed Lawal vs Lorenz Larkin preview
Two of the most exciting young light heavyweights on the Strikeforce roster will meet this Saturday night as former champion Muhammed Lawal takes on undefeated rising prospect Lorenz Larkin on the main card of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine in Las Vegas.
Lawal proved he'd put a debilitating knee injury behind him in his last fight, a first round knockout of Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Roger Gracie this past September. In Larkin, he's hoping to hand his second consecutive undefeated prospect their first career loss en route to winning back his title.
Lorenz Larkin has feasted on local MMA products and had his way with the Strikeforce Challengers fighters in his young professional career. He feels that now is finally his time to make a mark in Strikeforce and he's going to have to get through one of the most talented 205 pound fighters in the world to do it.
Will "King Mo" experience against elite competition be too much for Larkin? Can "The Monsoon" rain on Lawal's parade with a huge upset victory? How does each talented light heavyweight secure a victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Muhammed Lawal
Record: 8-1 overall, 3-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Gegard Mousasi (Strikeforce: Nashville), Roger Gracie (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Mike Whitehead (Strikeforce: Evolution)
Key Losses: Rafael Cavalcante (Strikeforce: Houston)
How he got here: The story of Muhammed Lawal's wrestling career is truly a throwback to the motto, "hard work pays off." He began his collegiate career at the University of Central Oklahoma, becoming a Division II runner up in 2001 before winning the D2 college championship in 2002. He then transferred to Oklahoma State, winning the Big 12 championship and All-America honors. With his collegiate wrestling career behind him, Lawal began wrestling nationally and internationally. He won multiple tournaments world-wide and medaled in several others, including winning the United States Senior Freestyle national championship three times in 2005, 2006 and 2008.
"King Mo" began his mixed martial arts career after winning his last Senior national title in wrestling, competing in four consecutive Sengoku events in Japan at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. Lawal crushed the likes of Travis Wiuff, Mark Kerr and Yukiya Naito, compiling a 5-0 record before Strikeforce beckoned.
He made his Strikeforce debut in 2009, destroying Mike Whitehead in the first round which earned him a title shot against champion Gegard Mousasi, a fighter ranked in the top 10 worldwide at light heavyweight. Lawal blasted Mousasi with his wrestling, repeatedly taking the Dutch fighter down and being completely unafraid of "The Dreamcatcher's" submission game off his back over the course of five rounds to win the title.
He attempted to defend his belt against Rafael Cavalcante with an injured knee and it showed. Lawal looked sluggish and didn't have much on his takedown attempts, eating multiple elbows and knees when he got too close. Eventually, "Feijao" hurt him badly and finished "King Mo" with strikes in the third round, handing Lawal his first career loss in MMA.
After recovering from a knee injury, Lawal returned to the cage this past September and handed Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Roger Gracie his first MMA loss, knocking him out in the first round. The victory put him right back into top contender status and he'll battle Larkin for a crack at the belt again.
How he gets it done: While Lawal is an accomplished wrestler, he's also got devastating power in both hands. He smashed the likes of Travis Wiuff and Mike Whitehead with his hands standing and also blasted Mark Kerr with ground and pound after a takedown. His fists are just as dangerous as his ability to take the fight to the ground.
Lawal constantly changes his stance in the stand-up, trying to confuse his opponent and he's even been known to drop his hands and bait strikes. He utilizes strong footwork and is lightning quick with his movements which allows him to capitalize on the mistakes of his opposition. He's got a strong left jab and he can mix in a powerful right and left hook as well, the right hook especially has some knockout power.
Unlike Larkin, Lawal does not use many flashy attacks. He's relies more on the basic fundamental strikes and he can be patient if need be. His fight with Roger Gracie was a bit of a staring contest before he exploded forward and knocked him out..
The thing that will be on everyone's mind for this fight is not if, but when Lawal shoots in for a takedown. Larkin hasn't shown much off his back thus far and he could be in for some serious trouble if Lawal can get him down early in a round. Lawal can lay the wood if he can posture up and create an avenue for ground and pound. Don't be surprised to see him stand long enough for Larkin to drop his defenses.
If Larkin refuses to drop his defenses for the takedown, Lawal is likely confident enough in his stand-up to go toe-to-toe with "The Monsoon."
Lorenz Larkin:
Record: 12-0 overall, 3-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Gian Villante (Strikeforce Challengers), Scott Lighty (Strikeforce Challengers), Nick Rossborough (Strikeforce Challengers)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Lorenz Larkin has been one of the most active fighters out there. He began his amateur mixed martial arts career at the end of 2008 and went 7-0 with six stoppage victories in a matter of six months. He had turned pro by the middle of 2009.
Despite being very undersized, Larkin spent the majority of the start of his professional career fighting at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. From February 2010-February 2011, he fought eight times professionally and finished strong with six straight knockouts.
"The Monsoon" got the call to the big leagues when Satoshi Ishii went down with an injury and he not only stepped up on short notice, but destroyed K-1 kickboxing veteran Scott Lighty on the feet, scoring a second round technical knockout. He followed up his victory with two decisions against significantly larger fighters Nick Rossborough and Gian Villante, the former being his first Strikeforce Challengers main event.
After three straight wins on the Challengers series, the Riverside native felt he was ready to be tested against the big dogs in the Strikeforce light heavyweight division.
How he gets it done: Larkin has spent a significant portion of his camp working with Blackhouse wrestling coach Kenny Johnson, who he says has been helping him gain confidence in his striking while stepping into the cage against someone with an elite wrestling background.
"The Monsoon" is going to need all the confidence he can get against Lawal and he's going to have to fight smart. If he's too timid out there, afraid of the takedown, "King Mo" will simply outstrike him. If he's too aggressive with his attack, Lawal will likely put him on his back. It's a very fine line that he has to find early and he has to find it before the former champion gets comfortable.
Larkin won't be throwing the flash head kicks, but don't be surprised to see him go to work on Lawal's legs with some quick, short kicks that he can snap back before they're caught. He also will likely be snapping his jab while circling to keep from being a stationary target that's easy to either catch with a big punch or get tackled to the ground.
Fight X-Factor: The most obvious of factors is Lawal's wrestling. It's going to be in the back of Larkin's mind throughout the fight and will be a big factor even if he doesn't use it. We've seen time and time again that great strikers tone it down a notch for fear of the takedown. If Larkin does this and allows "King Mo" to get a groove in his striking, he could be in trouble in both departments.
Larkin needs to be smooth and confident, of he could be in some serious trouble.
Bottom Line: This should be a terrific match-up between two of the most exciting light heavyweights on the Strikeforce roster. "King Mo" is not a one-dimensional wrestler, he's only really used his wrestling as his primary offense in one fight. He's got lethal hands and packs some serious power so expect to see some terrific striking exchanges. If Lawal feels he's losing momentum, that's when he's going to shoot in. This bout should be fun if it goes to the ground because Lawal likely won't be afraid of Larkin's bottom game and will be aggressive with guard pass attempts and strikes on the ground. This fight could be over in minutes, or it could be a 15 minute thriller.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which dangerous light heavyweight will reign supreme on Saturday night?
Muhammed Lawal
Lorenz Larkin
4 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, larkin, lawal, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJordan Mein has no fears in facing Tyron Woodley at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
22-year old Strikeforce welterweight Jordan Mein has never been afraid of a challenge. It’s a mindset he developed in the formative years of his life, growing up both the son of a fighter/promoter and brother of a twin with severe cerebral palsy. In the first instance he learned about toughness first hand, training with his dad as a teenager and making his professional debut while in high school. In the latter he saw his brother Preston, who unfortunately passed away over the summer from surgical complications, struggle to do even the most basic things and learned to not only appreciate life to the fullest as a result but saw someone dealing with a situation far more difficult than any he’d encounter inside a ring or gym.
Mein’s next challenge comes Saturday night when he takes on undefeated star Tyron Woodley as part of the lineup for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. The fight comes after notching six straight wins including those over Joe Riggs, Josh Burkman, Marius Zaromskis, and most recently Evangelista Santos.
Check Out a Preview for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Here
However, while the spotlight on their scrap may be bigger than those Mein has seen in the past, the 23-7 Canadian isn’t phased in the least bit regardless of Woodley’s past success or implications on the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt.
“I don’t really look at it that way,” said Mein in an interview with Strikeforce’s website. “I just see it as another fight. I don’t know what Strikeforce has planned for title fights, but for me, it’s just another test. He’s undefeated and he’s been a problem for everybody else, so I’m gonna try to figure that out and get the win and just take it as another fight.”
Mein made it clear he has no illusions about what Woodley offers as an opponent, explaining fans shouldn’t expect an all-out war so much as a chess game.
“He is a very strong grappler, a strong wrestler, and an athletic guy,” Mein began. “Me and ‘Cyborg’ had good styles to show each other’s skills off and entertain, and in this fight here, our styles are gonna be clashing, and his gameplan and my gameplan are completely different, but I think for hardcore fans and people who really enjoy watching technical stuff, this will be a good fight to watch.”
However the difficult task at hand is, as you might expect, it’s one Mein welcomes with open arms as he has all challenges in his life.
“I like fighting the best guys and testing my abilities and that’s what I’m here to do in mixed martial arts. I’m here to test myself,” Mein concluded.
Woodley-Mein will be part of the Showtime broadcast this Saturday night also featuring the headlining title-fight between champ Luke Rockhold and veteran contender Keith Jardine.
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Posted in: fight, saturday night, strikeforce, i ’m, mein
Read the full article at Fighters.comJordan Mein ready to test himself against Tyron Woodley at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
22-year old Strikeforce welterweight Jordan Mein has never been afraid of a challenge. It’s a mindset he developed in the formative years of his life, growing up both the son of a fighter/promoter and brother of a twin with severe cerebral palsy. In the first instance he learned about toughness first hand, training with his dad as a teenager and making his professional debut while in high school. In the latter he saw his brother Preston, who unfortunately passed away over the summer from surgical complications, struggle to do even the most basic things and learned to not only appreciate life to the fullest as a result but saw someone dealing with a situation far more difficult than any he’d encounter inside a ring or gym.
Mein’s next challenge comes Saturday night when he takes on undefeated star Tyron Woodley as part of the lineup for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. The fight comes after notching six straight wins including those over Joe Riggs, Josh Burkman, Marius Zaromskis, and most recently Evangelista Santos.
Check Out a Preview for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Here
However, while the spotlight on their scrap may be bigger than those Mein has seen in the past, the 23-7 Canadian isn’t phased in the least bit regardless of Woodley’s past success or implications on the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt.
“I don’t really look at it that way,” said Mein in an interview with Strikeforce’s website. “I just see it as another fight. I don’t know what Strikeforce has planned for title fights, but for me, it’s just another test. He’s undefeated and he’s been a problem for everybody else, so I’m gonna try to figure that out and get the win and just take it as another fight.”
Mein made it clear he has no illusions about what Woodley offers as an opponent, explaining fans shouldn’t expect an all-out war so much as a chess game.
“He is a very strong grappler, a strong wrestler, and an athletic guy,” Mein began. “Me and ‘Cyborg’ had good styles to show each other’s skills off and entertain, and in this fight here, our styles are gonna be clashing, and his gameplan and my gameplan are completely different, but I think for hardcore fans and people who really enjoy watching technical stuff, this will be a good fight to watch.”
However the difficult task at hand is, as you might expect, it’s one Mein welcomes with open arms as he has all challenges in his life.
“I like fighting the best guys and testing my abilities and that’s what I’m here to do in mixed martial arts. I’m here to test myself,” Mein concluded.
Woodley-Mein will be part of the Showtime broadcast this Saturday night also featuring the headlining title-fight between champ Luke Rockhold and veteran contender Keith Jardine.
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Posted in: fight, saturday night, strikeforce, i ’m, mein
Read the full article at Fighters.comScott Coker Talks Strikeforce In 2012
In this video interview with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker reflects on a wild 2011 and talks about what’s in store for Strikeforce in 2012.
Posted in: strikeforce, talk, video interview, coker, scott
Read the full article at MMA ConvertEstevan Payan replaces Bobby Green, completes 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
Bellator season-one veteran veteran Estevan Payan has replaced an injured Bobby Green and now faces Alonzo
Martinez in a lightweight contest at this
weekend's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event.
Strikeforce officials recently announced the change.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" takes place Jan. 7 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, alonzo martinez, estevan payan
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBloody Elbow Interview: Tyron Woodley Talks Title Fights and Fan Expectations
Tyron Woodley is very likely the top welterweight on Strikeforce's roster. A wrestler by trade, he's dominated his opponents using takedowns and top control to break their wills. This weekend he's fighting Jordan Mein in what is a number one contender fight for a future shot at the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. I had the pleasure of speaking with Tyron the day before he opened his new gym in St. Louis to find out what's going through his head as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career. The gym is called 'ATT Evolution' and is a huge step towards his goal of opening a non-profit for children..
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow) - So there was some big news the other day that Showtime extended the deal with Strikeforce to 2014. What's your take away from that announcement?
Tyron Woodley: My take away is that I was fighting January seventh regardless so for me I was really focusing on my next bout and my next opponent. Getting in there and showing fans what they need to see so they can realize that this is why I should be the champion. It's great news that the organization is sticking around. I didn't feel I was in jeopardy of being without a job. Had they disolved the organization, I feel like someone would have seen value in me and wanted to pick me up. So for me it was focusing on things I can control. I can't control what they decide to do with the organization. Of course I would like to win the belt since I've been in Strikeforce for a while and paid my dues to work my way to the top. Overall I just focus on things that I can control.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow) - Is there any disappointment that fighters won't be able to signed over to the UFC? Is there any disappointment on your end or no not really?
Tyron Woodley: No, not really man. Everyone's in a rush to jump ship and fight in the UFC. It comes with a lot of territory. Number one you are showing the organization that supported you that if anything better comes along you are looking to jump ship. Two, they're deep. You lose a close fight and you can be unemployed. Are you going to go back to Showtime and ask them to sign you again? So for me it's being loyal to the people I work for. It's the same organization and obviously you've got to be careful by the way you do things. For me it's focusing on the Strikeforce belt, getting a world title. Having a belt, having a title is gonna put you in a better position no matter what happens and if I do go to the UFC which obviously -- the goal is to be number one and those guys are in the UFC, so I can't be telling a story that I never planned on fighting in the UFC ever. You gotta do it the right way. You gotta do it with that belt and with some steam. You go over there like Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, Dan Henderson, and Alistair Overeem. They went over there to fight the top five in the world immediately and some of them for the belt.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow) - So you've fought for the old regime, the old owners in Strikeforce and now the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce and you were at UFC 136...what's the biggest difference between how things used to be run and how they're run now. And what's the difference between the Strikeforce product and the UFC product in your eyes?
Tyron Woodley: I think that Strikeforce did great with what they had. The resources were obviously no where near what UFC has. They didn't have the marketing power. They now have the funds to do a lot of things so I think Strikeforce did the best with what they had. They signed some big names: Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Dan Henderson. They signed a lot of top guys with what they had so I think that's a credit to them being strategic. Since being purchased by the UFC they've just become more. There's more to the product and there are improvements with how it's presented on television. The interviews. They've really shown us how to push ourselves as a brand as a fighter. So they want your branding to be strong because it's good for them.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow) - Now the fight this weekend, you're fighting Jordan Mein. Has there been any discussion that this is gonna be for the belt or a number one contender for the belt?
Tyron Woodley: I'm already the number one contender. They made this fight because I needed to fight. And because it's a good match up. This fight won't be for the belt nor do I think it should be for the belt. I think he's a tough kid and I think he has a good record. He has a lot of fights and a lot of experience but overall, US fans need to get to know him a little bit better. He also just got to Strikeforce. So of course he'd love to take my fans and move forward for the belt. My job is to make sure that doesn't happen.
More after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Has there been any discussion on when you will fight for the title? You've wiped out that division. The only person you didn't get to fight was Nick Diaz, has there been any talk on who you would fight?
Tyron Woodley: Unfortunately, there's so many guys in the weightclass who are prospects still and they really just don't have the name recognition for Showtime to be interested in for a title fight. So now you have to look at somebody who may be a good match up. There's guys who have issues getting into the US and others are injured so it's a peculiar situation where once again I am a victim of my situation. Me and Paul Daley one hundred percent should have been for the title. Now there's a situation where we're saying "what do we do?" Nick Diaz was a great bout and I hope to hopefully get that bout. But right now I gotta focus and know that everything is gonna work out.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Now as far as Strikeforce, you're 7-0 in the organization. The only other fighter that's riding a big win is Tarec Saffiedine, who you've beaten...
Tyron Woodley: The Tarec Saffiedine that I've already beaten by winning every round? That Tarec? HAHAHA
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Yeah I mean, is that a fight that makes sense? He's obviously made improvements. You beat him for three straight rounds and they present that as 'this is for the belt' what's in your mind with that one?
Tyron Woodly: He's made improvements and he's a tough fighter. I've been on the record saying he's one of the toughest guys in the division. When I took that bout I was sitting at the Strikeforce event in St. Louis and I took that fight on four weeks notice, I proved I was a kid who could take every round and put him away and force him to play my game. Everyone's like oh okay, I give it a B+. Then he fights Scott Smith who's walking around basically like a heavy bag taking punches and not even punching back. But that said, who did he just beat? He just beat Scott Smith who was taking a beating the whole time. His last real fight was with me on January 7th. I fought Paul Daley and he fought Scott Smith. The difference is that I fought a top 10 guy who can knock somebody out and you fought a guy who will take a beating until the last 30 seconds and then try and knock somebody out. I just don't feel like it makes sense. I think the fans want to see if because they sometimes don't realize what Mixed Martial Arts means. They think it's kickboxing. They want to see me go in there and not wrestle and just kickbox the whole entire time.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Now is that something that bothers you when they boo because you're going back to your bread and butter? You're a wrestler. Why wouldn't you use your greatest skill? Does that bother you when fans have the expectation that you're gonna go into a kickboxing bout?
Tyron Woodley: No, it doesn't bother me at all. It just puts me in a situation where you have to laugh because of the ignorance at not knowing what's going on. I had every intention on getting in and getting him frustrated by throwing punches and taking him down. I was in the cage and I don't remember them screaming. What I was doing was forcing them to not be able to concentrate on their game plans. As a smart fighter, if I know that something is frustrating my opponent and taking him completely out of his game, I'm gonna keep doing it. If he can't think clearly then his chances of winning a fight are very limited. I know what I'm doing and I know my goal is to get to the top.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Alright so you've spoken in the past about opening up a non profit for children and you've just opened up a new gym, is that part of the goal or totally separate?
Tyron Woodley: This is a little different. I do a mentoring program in St. Louis. It focusing on having a purpose and being a friend. With ATT Evolution, I want to impact the home. My impact here will be on the mom and the kids and bringing them together. Once I do that successfully then we're gonna focus on my non-profit. First thing first is to create a good business model and find the people that can push it forward. A lot of times running a non-profit is harder than running a for profit center because you have to have a combination of donors and good business model.
Matthew Roth (Bloody Elbow): Thank you Tyron.
Tyron Woodley: Hey man, anytime.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, belt, woodley, tyron
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowTyron Woodley Sets Sights On Strikeforce Welterweight Title
Unbeaten welterweight Tyron Woodley has been patient. But now he's got a plan: Beat Jordan Mein on Saturday, then get some Strikeforce gold in the spring.
Posted in: strikeforce, welterweight, strikeforce gold, jordan mein, woodley
Read the full article at Heavy MMAScott Coker Discusses Strikeforce's Wild 2011, What It Takes to Succeed in MMA
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosWatch below as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker discusses Strikeforce's hectic year, what's next for the organization, the upcoming Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine fight on Jan. 7, and what it takes to be successful as a promoter in the sport.
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Posted in: strikeforce, scott coker, strikeforce mma, news videoswatch, year whats
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseIn Strikeforce, Even Champs Face Difficult Questions in Confusing Times
Filed under: StrikeforceYou can't exactly call Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and former light heavyweight champ Mo Lawal disgruntled, but neither can you call them satisfied. As they sat down alongside Strikeforce's Scott Coker for a little pre-fight Q&A with media members in Las Vegas last week, they did not seem like men who were thrilled about the state of their careers.
Instead, they seemed more like people who were making the best of a bad situation. They were dealing with it. They were getting by. They didn't have much choice.
It's a tough time to be a Strikeforce fighter. If you complain too loudly about being stuck in Zuffa's second-tier organization, you risk the wrath of an upper management that is still trying to pretend that it's a first-tier organization. If you stay too quiet, you risk becoming the closed mouth that never gets fed a top contender.
As Rockhold put it when he made the case for bringing some UFC fighters over to compete in Strikeforce: "You don't want to get distracted from what you're doing, but you've got to try and build those fights and let people know that we're legit."
Especially when you examine the alternatives, you have to admit that he has a point.
Take Rockhold's current situation, for example. He's the new 185-pound champ after taking the belt from Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in front of a depressingly small crowd in Cincinnati this past fall. Now, for his first title defense, he gets journeyman fighter and UFC castoff Keith Jardine in a January 7 bout that will mark Jardine's debut at 185 pounds. If Rockhold does nothing -- if he plays the role of the quiet company man and acts like he's happy to be taking a fight that can do almost nothing positive for his career at this point -- where will that leave him?
When talking to reporters, Rockhold did his best to put a positive spin on the match-up, but even he had to admit that it was "far-fetched."
"I was definitely just dumbfounded by that one," Rockhold said. "It didn't make much sense. But I started to think about it outside of the box a little bit, and this is my first main event. He does have a big name, so it brings some name value to the card, and it'll bring some eyes and some ears to the card. Me beating him will show me to the rest of the public."
That is, if the public is watching. The last time Rockhold fought was at the "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" event in September, which even Coker said was "something that I would say is below what would be acceptable for our standards" as far as the live gate went. The event featured a night full of great fights, but both Showtime and Zuffa took a hands-off approach to promoting it, resulting in a dismal rating on the TV side and an embarrassing live crowd.
Most fighters will tell you that stuff like low ratings and empty seats don't bother them; they're simply there to fight and win. But then, most fighters feel compelled to lie about things like that, if only to avoid making their employers look bad. One fighter who rarely feels such an obligation is "King" Mo, who also notched a victory on that same fight card in Cincinnati, and who has never shied away from some real talk.
"When I fought for the belt on CBS I thought, okay, people are going to be watching," Lawal said. "When [Rockhold] was fighting 'Jacare' people didn't give him a chance, but I thought it may be the perfect time to promote this fight, as well as Daniel Cormier and the guys in the heavyweight tournament, so the world could see the talent we have in Strikeforce and they could see my boys at AKA do some work. When I saw the arena I was like, man, this is a joke. I was kind of mad."
Maybe anger is the only rational response. After all, the fighters at or near the top of the Strikeforce organization are elite, proven athletes. If guys like Rockhold and Lawal were free agents whose contracts had just expired in an organization Zuffa didn't already own, you better believe the UFC would be eager to snatch them up and inject some new blood into the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. But because Zuffa has a contract with Showtime -- and because Showtime seems to want to continue airing Strikeforce, though without putting significantly more effort into making it a success -- some quality fighters are stuck playing to smaller crowds and taking on lesser-known opponents.
Coker -- ever the optimist when it comes to the brand he built from the ground up -- stressed the benefits that Showtime's free preview weekend could bring to this card, noting, "Instead of being in 20 million homes...you're going to be in 70 or 75 million homes."
Then again, with a 10 p.m. ET start time on Saturday, you're also going up against the end of the Lions-Saints NFL playoff game that starts at 8 p.m. ET. You're also sandwiched between a UFC pay-per-view and frantic streak of UFC events that runs all the way through January and February before pausing for a breath. If you're an MMA fan -- even a hardcore fan who knows enough to know why Rockhold-Jardine is an odd pairing for a main event title fight -- you're probably more likely to sit out a Strikeforce event than you are to miss Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz or the UFC on FOX.
This is just one of many problems for Strikeforce fighters. As the UFC cranks up the dial on its own events schedule from 'intense' to 'insane,' something's got to give. It's only reasonable that Strikeforce would be the first to get thrown overboard when resources get scarce. The top fighters will quickly run out of top opponents, and the public will continue to regard the UFC champs as the de facto MMA champs. Meanwhile, all Rockhold can do is beg for the UFC to send him a contender and let him prove himself, but without annoying the powers that be in the process.
"All the top ten guys or whatever are in the UFC," Rockhold said. "I'd love to see some of the guys jump over, because I don't think we get enough credit in Strikeforce. I think we've got 'Jacare,' me, and [Tim] Kennedy -- I think all three of us can beat anybody in the top ten. I think if they want to build Strikeforce...a huge thing would be to bring over a top contender from the UFC and throw him in the mix here with all of us."
Of course, when you pan over to Coker for his response on the likelihood of any of that happening, you get an answer that tells you everything you need to know: "You have to talk to Dana about that one."
And Uncle Dana, if you haven't noticed, is sort of busy with this whole UFC thing at the moment. Strikeforce fighters? They can leave a message at the beep. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, event, rockhold
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Rockhold vs. Jardine Predictions
Filed under: StrikeforceCan a move down to middleweight revitalize the career of Keith Jardine? Or will Luke Rockhold simply be too much for the Dean of Mean? Will King Mo Lawal make a case that he's the top light heavyweight on the Strikeforce roster, or is Lorenz Larkin set for the biggest win of his career? Can Tyron Woodley, Jordan Mein, Tarec Saffiedine of Tyler Stinson put on the kind of performance that gets people interested in the Strikeforce welterweight division again?
We'll attempt to answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of Saturday night's Strikeforce event below.
What: Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
When: Saturday, the undercard will be televised by Showtime Extreme starting at 8 p.m. ET and the Showtime televised main card begins at 10.
Where: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
Predictions on the five Showtime televised fights below.
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Giving Jardine a Strikeforce middleweight title shot is an odd move: Jardine left the UFC on a four-fight losing streak, fought to a draw with Gegard Mousasi in his only Strikeforce fight, and has never fought at middleweight before. So, yes, the matchmaking here is a little strange. But Rockhold is the promotion's middleweight champion, and Strikeforce needs to find him high-profile opponents, and given the current middleweight depth in Strikeforce, Jardine was about as good as it was going to get.
So how does this fight go? I have a feeling Jardine is going to be weakened by the weight cut, and that Rockhold will have better cardio and have his way with Jardine on the ground. Eventually I like Rockhold to finish Jardine on the ground.
Pick: Rockhold
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
The matchmaking here is a little strange, too, but the fight itself should be a lot of fun: Lawler and Amagov are both heavy hitters with exciting styles. Lawler has lost four of his six fights since signing with Strikeforce in 2009 and may be fighting for his job, and I think he'll come out focused and ready to finish Amagov quickly.
Pick: Lawler
Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Larkin is one of the most fun fighters to watch on the entire Strikeforce roster, as evidenced by a cult following he developed while winning three straight Challengers Series fights. But while Larkin has a 12-0 record with eight wins by knockout or TKO, he's never faced anyone even remotely as good as King Mo. Lawal is so much better a wrestler than Larkin that he can easily grind out a decision on the ground if he chooses to, and the biggest question may be whether Lawal decides to keep it safe and win a decision or take some chances and try to put on a show. I expect Mo to take the latter approach, which means there's a chance Larkin catches him with one of his patented unorthodox strikes, but the much more likely result is that Mo proves he's simply too skilled a mixed martial artist for someone as raw as Larkin.
Pick: Lawal
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Woodley is a great wrestler who's getting better standing up and is now 9-0 in his professional MMA career. Mein has looked good recently and is on a six-fight winning streak, and he might test Woodley's chin. But Woodley shouldn't have much trouble clinching with Mein, taking him down and winning a decision.
Pick: Woodley
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Saffiedine lost to Woodley a year ago and then bounced back with a good win over Scott Smith. Stinson won his Strikeforce debut with a 15-second knockout of Eduardo Pamplona in July, but he's going to struggle trading strikes with Saffiedine.
Pick: Saffiedine Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, larkin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Fight Card
Strikeforce returns with their first card of 2012 this Saturday night, and it's actually a pretty good card. A lot of people take issue with Keith Jardine getting a middleweight title shot in his first fight in the division (see Miesha Tate, it DOES happen sometimes), and that's understandable, but there's a lot of other stuff going on. Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov is going to be a slugfest, King Mo vs. Lorenz Larkin should be excellent, and Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein matches up two of the best welterweight prospects in any organization. Strikeforce is still going to be a heck of a lot of fun, people! Here's the current card:
Luke Rockhold (8-1) vs. Keith Jardine (17-9-2) [MW Title]
Robbie Lawler (18-8, 1 NC) vs. Adlan Amagov (9-1-1)
"King" Mo Lawal (8-1) vs. Lorenz Larkin (12-0)
Tyron Woodley (9-0) vs. Jordan Mein (23-7)
Tarec Saffiedine (11-3) vs. Tyler Stinson (22-7)
PRELIMINARY CARDNah-Shon Burrell vs. James TerryTrevor Smith vs. Gian VillanteEstevan Payan vs. Alonzo Martinez
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, keith jardine, jardine, card
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' fight card: Tyron Woodley vs Jordan Mein preview
Two of the most talented welterweight fighters in Strikeforce will meet this Saturday night (January 7, 2012) as undefeated Missouri wrestling standout Tyron Woodley takes on rising Canadian prospect Jordan Mein on the main card of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in Las Vegas. Woodley has risen from Strikeforce Challenger to can't miss prospect over the past year and it all culminated with his victory against former title challenger and UFC standout Paul Daley earlier in the summer. "T-Wood" is hoping to finally earn a crack at Nick Diaz's vacated welterweight title with a victory over a fellow top prospect.
Jordan Mein is on an absolute roll. He stepped up his competition level in 2011 and steamrolled everyone in his path with victories over Joe Riggs and Marius Zaromskis on the Canadian circuit before blasting Evangelista Santos in his Strikeforce debut to instantly leap into the mix of contenders. Mein is primed and ready for a major upset on Saturday night.
Will Woodley be able to outgrapple the scrappy Canadian? Can Mein set a pace that his opponent won't be able to keep up with? How does each man secure a victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Tyron Woodley
Record: 9-0 overall, 7-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Tarec Saffiedine (Strikeforce Challengers 13), Andre Galvao (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Tyron Woodley was a standout wrestler at Missouri, earning All-American honors twice while competing and training alongside fellow superstar wrestler and eventual Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren.
Woodley took it slow with his MMA career, fighting seven times as an amateur and winning all seven easily due to his excellent wrestling base. After a quick 2-0 start as a professional on the local circuit in fights that lasted less than two minutes combined, Woodley was invited to participate in his first Strikeforce Challengers event.
Woodley steamrolled through his first three Challengers opponents, submitting each one in less than two rounds. After a tough scrap against Oregon wrestler Nathan Coy that Woodley barely squeaked by with a split decision, he would crush top Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Andre Galvao in his first appearance on a non-Challengers Strikeforce show.
Woodley would fight one last time on the Challengers series against fellow top prospect Tarac Saffiedine out of Team Quest and he would pass this test with flying colors, utilizing his dominant top control wrestling to keep "Sponge" on his back for three straight rounds while avoiding any flashy submissions and sweep attempts.
He drew former top UFC and Strikeforce contender Paul Daley this past summer and was able to eventually put "Semtex" on his back over the course of three rounds, although it was not nearly as easy as some had anticipated. He's hoping to get a shot at the vacant welterweight title with a victory on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Woodley has done some very smart things in preparation for this fight. He brought in Thiago Alves to help him prepare for Mein's stand-up attack and he brought in Jason High, the last man to defeat Mein.
Alves is one of the best strikers in the welterweight division and should do wonders for helping Woodley hang in the stand-up department while High should be able to provide pointers and weaknesses in Mein's game that he can take advantage of.
Standing is a bad idea against Mein, as it's his strongest attacking option. If Woodley wants to put a stamp on this fight, he needs to come out and put the Canadian on his back with authority. He can't be content with takedowns, though, as if he sits in Mein's full guard, he's going to be eating a large quantity of elbow attacks. Expect to see Woodley be a little more aggressive on the canvas, looking to pass guard or drop some nice ground and pound.
Most important for Woodley is to not explode out of the gate and blow all his energy early. He gets off to great starts, but then he hits an adrenaline dump and has trouble recovering in the later rounds. He can't afford to get tired against Mein so hopefully, he paces himself at the beginning of the bout.
Jordan Mein
Record: 23-7 overall, 1-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Evangelista Santos (Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov), Marius Zaromskis (Score Fighting Series), Joe Riggs (Wreck MMA)
Key Losses: Jason High (Rumble in the Cage 40), Mike Ricci (Ringside MMA: Rivalry)
How he got here: Jordan Mein has been a very busy young man. At just 21 years old, he's already been competing in MMA for over five years. He stumbled out of the gate with his first ever opponent being current top UFC prospect Rory MacDonald and after a 3-4 start to his career, he found his groove.
Mein competed entirely in Canada for the next four years, slowly progressing up the ladder facing stiffer and stiffer competition. After dropping a decision to Jason High at his father's Rumble in the Cage promotion in 2010, he hasn't looked back since, going on a tear that included the likes of UFC veterans Joe Riggs, Josh Burkman and former Dream champion Marius Zaromskis.
He caught the attention of Zuffa after the Zaromskis victory and was given a tremendous opportunity against former Strikeforce title challenger and overall ferocious Brazilian Evangelista Santos this past September. He hung with the veteran for two rounds and then pulverized him in the third with a brutal onslaught of elbows to score the biggest victory of his career.
Now he'll get a chance to become an instant contender if he can knock off Woodley, who's currently sitting atop the welterweight mountain in Strikeforce.
How he gets it done: Mein has to find a way to do his damage in the striking department without exposing himself to easy takedowns. Mein has a decent submission game, but it's highly unlikely that he could pull anything off against a wrestler of Woodley's caliber unless "T-Wood" is completely exhausted.
Speaking of that, perhaps Mein's biggest advantage is his gas tank. If he can make Woodley work extra hard for every takedown and push a very high pace, he could force the Missouri alum to sap his energy in the process. Woodley has dealt with conditioning issues late in fights before and Mein is precisely the type of fighter that can take advantage of a situation like that. Hell, he did it in his last fight when "Cyborg" slowed down drastically.
In the stand-up, Mein needs to keep his distance and keep Woodley moving. Standing still is a no-no as that won't do anything to tire Woodley out. If he can press the American Top Team product into the fence, he can do some damage with his strong Muay Thai game and he can also wear Woodley down as battling in the clinch is something that consumed a significant amount of energy.
Mein needs to draw this fight into the third round and then explode.
Fight X-Factor: The X-Factor for this fight has to be conditioning. Jordan Mein should not have an issue in that department, even if he's fighting from his back for much of the first two rounds. The big question mark will be if Tyron Woodley can last all three rounds and remain dominant. Conditioning issues plagued him against Nathan Coy, a fight he barely squeaked by with split decision and it almost cost him in the final two minutes against Paul Daley, a fight he'd been controlling with ease before being too tired to score the takedowns.
Mein can smell blood if his opponent begins to falter, so Woodley hopefully has been putting in the extra work to make sure he doesn't gas out in the later stages.
Bottom Line: This is a very interesting match-up between, in my eyes, the two best current welterweights on the Strikeforce roster. Why it isn't for the title is beyond me, but viewers should treat it as such. These are two extremely talented prospects currently sitting atop the division. This bout has potential for terrific swings of momentum, back and forth striking exchanges and lots of ground work. There's a possibility it slows down if Woodley isn't aggressive after takedowns, but that's a risk you're going to have to take. On paper, this should be a very good one.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who do you see potentially earning a welterweight title shot with a victory on the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine main card?
Tyron Woodley
Jordan Mein
0 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, welterweight, woodley, mein
Read the full article at MMA ManiaReport: Shawn Jordan vs. Oli Thompson Slated for UFC on FX 2
A heavyweight bout is in the works for UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia in March, according to ESPN UK, as Brit, Oli Thompson, has agree to face Strikeforce transferee, Shawn Jordan:
British heavyweight Oli Thompson will make his UFC debut against Shawn Jordan in March at UFC on FX 2. The bout, on the undercard of Martin Kampmann v Thiago Alves, will take place in Sydney, Australia.
Thompson was originally scheduled to make his UFC debut back in November at UFC 138, but an injury forced him out of a fight with fellow Brit, Philip De Fries, and Rob Broughton took the fight instead. Thompson has competed exclusively on the British scene, and is riding a five fight winning streak, with four of those wins coming via stoppage. Jordan is a product of the Greg Jackson camp in New Mexico and attracted some attention back in September when he submitted Lavar Johnson on a Strikeforce Challengers card. Now having made the jump to the UFC along with Johnson and other former Strikeforce heavyweights, Jordan will make his Octagon debut quite a long way's away from his native Louisiana, joining fellow Jackson teammate, Kyle Noke, on this Sydney card.
Oli Thompson (9-2)W Mark Potter (submission) - UCMMA 21W Ben Smith (submission) - UCMMA 19W Nikki Kent (TKO) - ZTFN Enter the Octagon
Shawn "The Savage" Jordan (12-3)W Lavar Johnson (submission) - Strikeforce Challengers 19L Devin Cole (unam. decision) - Strikeforce Challengers 17W Kendrick Watkins (TKO) - Gladiator Promotions Summer Knockouts
UFC on FX 2
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ufc debut, jordan, thompson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHeads up to all you cheapskates, you can watch Strikeforce for free this weekend
Let's be honest, getting older sucks. Sure, you can choose to stay up as late as you want playing Skyrim in your underwear but we all know that this is just glancing back to childlike innocence before the rectum of reality closes tight and Monday comes around again. We can't even buy breakfast cereal with a prize inside without feeling guilty anymore. That doesn't mean we don't buy it, but the excitement of finding a sliding puzzle in your bowl has definitely been diminished, and not just because they are far too easy now.
But fear not my adult friends, for the pleasure of unexpectedly getting something for nothing has not been lost, you just need to look a little harder. For example, if you were planning on watching Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine this weekend but with the force of a faceplant on concrete realized that you didn't have Showtime then you can rejoice in the fact that the channel is free this weekend! Check the details and their schedule on their official website.
They are dubbing it 'The Showtime All Access Free Preview Weekend' and it will cover Showtime, Showtime HD and Showtime on Demand, but not Showtime Extreme, where the Strikeforce prelims are being aired. Showtime has decided that Friday is now the start of the weekend and thus “The Showtime All Access Free Preview Weekend” actually starts on Friday, January 6th. So now you have no excuse to not count the number of times Jardine's style is referred to as 'herky jerk' while tweeting cynical and sarcastic remarks about the event, like a true adult.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, weekend, official website, preview weekend
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce 'Rockhold vs Jardine' fight card: Tarec Saffiedine vs Tyler Stinson preview
Two vastly different welterweight strikers will clash this Saturday night (January 7, 2012) at Team Quest prospect Tarec Saffiedine takes on powerful scrapper Tyler Stinson on the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" main card.
Tarec Saffiedine comes from a martial arts background and has become proficient in taekwondo, Muay Thai and karate. He's coming off the most impressive victory of his four year career, crushing durable veteran Scott Smith and he's looking to ride that momentum all the way to a potential shot at the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title if he can get past Stinson.
Tyler Stinson entered mixed martial arts on a whim just over five years ago and has taken a severe liking to it. He's worked his way up from local shows and has begun taking on top competition in the last couple years. He destroyed Blackhouse Brazilian striker Eduardo Pamplona in his Strikeforce debut and is looking to thrust himself into the title picture with another huge upset victory.
Will Saffiedine's technical prowess be too much for his scrappy Midwestern foe? Can Stinson play spoiler once more with his power and six inch height advantage? How does each man earn a victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Tarec Saffiedine
Record: 11-3 overall, 3-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Scott Smith (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), James Terry (Strikeforce Challengers 6), Nate Moore (Strikeforce Challengers 8)
Key Losses: Tyron Woodley (Strikeforce Challengers 13)
How he got here: Tarec Saffiedine grew up in Belgium with a strong background in the striking arts. He had a 12-1 record as an amateur kickboxer but fell in love with Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu which led to his transition to mixed martial arts.
He came to the US to train with Dan Henderson's Team Quest where he quickly earned the nickname "Sponge" for his incredible ability to absorb new information and utilize it. His only loss for four years was a close split decision to Yoon Dong-Sik when he stepped up in weight on very short notice in DREAM.
After getting off to a hot start in the Strikeforce Challengers series, he was slated to face fellow top welterweight prospect Tyron Woodley one year ago. In that fight, Woodley repeatedly took Saffiedine down, frustrating him with top control while avoiding all of his sweeps and submission attempts on the ground to take a unanimous decision.
He followed up his loss by turning Cinderella man Scott Smith into a human punching bag this past summer and he's hoping to potentially earn another shot at Woodley if he can put on a good show against Tyler Stinson on Saturday night.
How he gets it done: Saffiedine has a plethora of weapons which make him very dangerous. He's a patient fighter so he'll likely open cautiously, wary of the the Stinson's power but as he begins to see openings in Stinson's defense, he'll start to pick up the pace.
Saffiedine is very dangerous from any position. He's got nasty leg, body and head kicks as well as power in both hands. His biggest concern will likely be Stinson's power, but he's got terrific striking defenses so he's likely not going to be afraid to take risks in his stand-up because he covers his tracks well.
It's not very likely that this fight goes to the ground as both men are much more menacing on the feet and both are confident in their skills there but if anyone takes this fight to the canvas, it will likely be Saffiedine. Stinson has been prone to being submitted by talented jiu-jitsu fighters before, so if Saffiedine puts him on his back at some point, there's a possibility he could finish the fight there.
Tyler Stinson
Record: 22-7 overall, 1-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Eduardo Pamplona (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson), Nate James (Bellator 40), Drew Fickett (C3 Fights)
Key Losses: Steve Carl (Bellator 26), Dan Hornbuckle (Bellator 15),
How he got here: Tyler Stinson has been a very busy man. Despite just being 25 years old, this will be his 30th professional fight of his career. "The Evolution" began competing in mixed martial arts in 2006, competing on all sorts of local midwest shows. He scores some impressive victories over the likes of Drew Fickett and Eric Marriot before catching his big break at the Bellator tryouts in 2010 to be granted an invite to the season two Bellator welterweight tournament.
He would come up short in the quarterfinals to Dan Hornbuckle via triangle choke, but after two more stoppage victories on the local circuit, he would get another opportunity to fight his way into a Bellator tournament when he took on Steve Carl in one of the most entertaining two and a half minute fights you'll ever see. He had Carl on the ropes but succumbed to a guillotine choke.
After two more victories including a close split decision over Strikeforce Challengers veteran Nate James, Stinson was brought in as a sacrificial lamb to face Blackhouse fighter Eduardo Pamplona, who had won 10 straight and was prepping for a push into the Strikeforce title picture. Stinson played spoiler, though, knocking the Brazilian out cold in just 15 seconds on the undercard of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson.
His victory caught the eyes of the Strikeforce suits and they gave him the opportunity of a lifetime against Saffiedine.
How he gets it done: The biggest advantage Stinson has going into this fight is his power and his fearlessness. He's got the potential to end the fight at any given moment if he can connect with his heavy hands.
Stinson's endurance and striking are terrific, so he can push a high pace in a stand-up war but his biggest issues are the ground game. His goal for this fight should be to push an incredible pace, force Saffiedine to play defense and never let up the aggression. If he allows "Sponge" to get comfortable or if he slows down, he could be in some major trouble.
He can't allow Saffiedine to take him down, so expect a constant assault of strikes from the "Team Punisher" fighter for as long as he can sustain it. He's got nothing to lose by being reckless because Saffiedine is likely favored heavily to win so he should throw everything he's got at the Belgian. There's a possibility he could catch Saffiedine napping early just like he did against Pamplona.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is the technical differences in both men's striking styles. Tyler Stinson is more of a scrappy, hard-nosed warrior who is looking to throw out a large volume of heavy blows while Saffiedine is likely going to be more patient, selective and opportunistic with his strikes. In the stand-up at least, this fight reminds me a bit of Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone as, while Cerrone was the more technical striker, he had no answer for Diaz's constant barrage of blows. If Saffiedine is too passive in his striking, he could be overwhelmed. It should be a terrific stylistic battle while it lasts.
Bottom Line: Tyler Stinson is a fan's fighter. He goes out there and leaves everything in the cage every time. Look no further than his half-round war with Steve Carl to fully understand what I'm talking about. He's going to do everything he can to make this an exciting brawl, and there's a possibility he can drag Saffiedine into it if he can frustrate the Belgian. "The Sponge" will try to slow it down a notch and pick and choose his strikes, but there's a very high probability that he is forced to fight Stinson's fight, and the biggest winner if that happens will be the viewers. This should be a good one.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will get one step closer to a Strikeforce welterweight title shot with a victory on Saturday night?
Tarec Saffiedine
Tyler Stinson
3 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, he, stinson, saffiedine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNew preview surfaces for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
When Luke Rockhold stepped into the cage against Ronaldo Souza last September there were few outside of the American Kickboxing Academy fighter’s camp who believed he had what it took to dethrone the polished Strikeforce middleweight champ. However, by the bout’s conclusion Rockhold impressed all by outmaneuvering Souza throughout, using his speed and athleticism to outpoint the crafty Brazilian and take home the organization’s belt.
The 9-0 Rockhold’s next mountain to climb comes this weekend when he takes on Keith Jardine, a seasoned UFC veteran with wins over former light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin. Other fighters scheduled for action on the card include Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Muhammed Lawal.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine will be broadcast on Showtime and, according to this newly released preview, has a headliner with a story to tell as intriguing as any drama on the cable network.
Solid Prelims Set for Strikeforce’s 2012 Debut
Check out the video below:
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Posted in: strikeforce, forrest griffin, rockhold, keith jardine, cable network
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce preview and predictions for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.
Happy New Year Maniacs!
Believe it or not the first major mixed martial arts (MMA) event of 2012 happens this Saturday night (Jan. 7) and it's headlined by a middleweight title fight between Strikeforce 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold taking on UFC veteran Keith Jardine at "The Joint" from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Other match-ups booked for the "Sin City" fight card include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 7. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
Preview and early predictions, after the jump.
Preliminary Bouts:Welterweight Bout: Ricky Legere vs. Chris SpangBackground: Legere is 13-4 and Spang is 4-0. Neither of these fighters are very well known yet. Both competitors have fought at welterweight and lightweight in their respective careers.
Ricky Legere has spent most of his time in King of the Cage (KOTC), a professional since 2007 with 12 out of 13 victories coming via stoppage. He's only been to a decision twice in his career. This is going to be his Strikeforce debut.
Chris Spang is 24 years old and has been a pro since 2008. He only has four fights to his name but this is second fight in Strikeforce. In his four victories he's finished his opponent three times.
My Pick: I'm going to go with Legere because he has a lot more fights under his belt. I would like to say I had better information, but his experience and seven (T)KO victories gives me a hunch he'll defeat Spang via stoppage.
Light Heavyweight bout: Trevor Smith vs. Gian VillanteBackground: Smith is 9-1 and Villante is 8-3. Both of these men are Strikeforce veterans; Villante with three fights under the promotion and Smith with two.
Trevor Smith is 30 years old, has never been to a decision in 10 career fights and has been a pro since 2009. His two fights under Strikeforce have been submissions, which brought his career total of submissions to eight. He's fought mostly on smaller shows but his consistent submission finishes is a good sign. He is a former high school All-State and college All-American wrestler from Iowa State University. He is currently on a five fight win streak.
Gian Villante is 26 years old and has fought mostly in New Jersey. He has been to decision twice in his career, with seven finishes among his eight career victories. He has competed at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, holding a heavyweight title in a smaller promotion. He made his first Strikeforce appearance against recent UFC acquisition Chad Griggs, and his second against Lorenz Larkin. He lost both fights. He rebounded in August against Keith Barry at another Strikeforce Challengers event. He is 2-3 in his last five fights. He is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu, is a former New York State wrestling champion and successful college wrestler and was nearly recruited into the NFL as a linebacker.
My Pick: This is actually a really intriguing match up for me, both men have good wrestling credentials and good finishing ratios. This a real toss up because they seem to be very evenly matched. Smith has his five fight win streak behind him and appears to have the better wrestling credentials and submissions, so I think he's going to control the fight to a unanimous decision.
Welterweight Bout: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James TerryBackground: Burrell is 7-1 and Terry is 11-3. Another good undercard bout.
Nah-Shon Burrell is 21 years old and as been a pro since 2010. He has competed under Strikeforce twice and has been successful in both outings. He has been to decision twice in his career and has six finishes to his name, all (T)KO's. He has no wrestling credentials that I was able to find and has been training full time since he was 18 years old. All of his finishes have been standing (T)KO's, so it's safe to say he's willing to stand and trade with Terry.
James Terry is 30 years old and has been a pro since 2006. Terry is 4-1 in his last five with five knockouts in his 11 career victories. His other wins are via decision. He is also a former All American wrestler and was third place at the NJCAA wrestling finals in 2002. He trains kickboxing under Cung Le and has been training under him since 2006. Terry is a eight time fighter in Strikeforce and is 6-2 under the promotion.
My Pick: Burrell comes to finish the fight whereas Terry seems more content to let it go to a decision, with three fights going to decision in his last six and three ending via TKO. Terry has never been knocked out and neither has Burrell. I expect Terry to grind out a unanimous decision in a back and forth stand up fight with Terry mixing up takedowns and ground control, using his wrestling background to win a decision. Main Card:Welterweight Bout: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler StinsonBackground: Saffiedine is 11-3 and Stinson is 22-7. First fight on the main card looks like good test for both men.
Tarec Saffiedine is 25 years old and has been a pro since 2007. He is a two time DREAM veteran, a one time Shark Fights fighter, and a four time veteran of Strikeforce. He holds a victory over UFC, EliteXC, and Strikeforce veteran, Scott Smith. He has five submission victories in 11 professional victories. He is 4-2 in his last six with two decision losses, one to rising star Tyron Woodley. He was a successful amateur kickboxer and blue belt in Shihaishinkai Karate and a blue belt in BJJ.
Tyler Stinson is also 25 year old and has fought as a professional since 2006. He as a lot more fights than his opponent, with 15 (T)KO's and five submissions. However he also has five submission losses. He is a four time Bellator veteran and one time Strikeforce participant. He earned his blue belt in BJJ under Kiko France. He is 5-1 in his last six fights with three KO's due to punches.
My Pick: I really want to see this fight. Saffiedine has had better success with mid-to-higher caliber opponents, whereas Stinson is 2-2 in Bellator. That being said, he did win his Strikeforce debut. If Stinson can keep this fight standing, I see him winning via (T)KO in the second. If Saffiedine can impose his gameplan he'll win the decision. I'm favoring Stinson in the second by (T)KO.Welterweight Bout: Jordan Mein vs. Tyron WoodleyBackground: Mein is 23-7 and Woodley is 9-0.
Jordan Mein is 22 years old and a professional fighter since 2006. He has been on a great run, he is 20-3 in his last 23 fights and is on a six fight win streak, including victories over Evangelista Santos, UFC veteran Joe Riggs, and DREAM Welterweight Champion/Strikeforce veteran Marius Zaromskis. He has 13 wins by (T)KO, and seven by submission. In total, he has only gone to decision five times in 30 pro fights. He did lose to rising star, UFC fighter Rory MacDonald in his pro debut in 2006.
Tyron Woodley is 29 years old and has been a pro since 2009. He is currently undefeated with five submission wins, one KO win, and three decision wins. Woodley's biggest asset is his high level wrestling ability. He is a two time All-State wrestler, a two time NCAA Div I All-American and the 2003 Big Twelve Conference Champion and 2005 Runner Up. He is a seven fight veteran of Strikeforce, with wins over former UFC fighter and Strikeforce welterweight title contender Paul Daley, and Abu Dhabi Gold Medalist Andre Galvao. He is ranked 17th in the world by the "Consensus Rankings" as of December 29, 2011.
My Pick: This is a very tough fight to call. Woodley's best weapon is his grappling/wrestling and will probably look to control the fight with ground and pound and look for a submission. However, even though Mein has four losses via submission, he hasn't been submitted since 2008. Even though he is the younger man, Mein has 21 more fights than Woodley, in exchange Woodley has an insane amount of amateur wrestling matches under his belt. A lot of people are probably picking Woodley to win this fight, but I'm going with Jordan Mein, via KO in the third round. Light Heavyweight bout: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Lorenz LarkinBackground: Lawal is 8-1 and Larkin is 12-0.
"King Mo" Lawal is 30 years old and a professional fighter since 2008. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, NCAA Div II and NCAA Div I All-American, and 2007 Pan American Gold Medalist in Freestyle wrestling. Despite his heavy wrestling background, King Mo has six wins via (T)KO and two by decision. He most recently defeated Roger Gracie by KO. He is currently ranked 11th in the world by the "Consensus Rankings" as of December 29, 2011.
Lorenz Larkin is 25 years old and a professional since 2009. He is currently undefeated and is a three time Strikeforce veteran with eight knockout victories, he also was undefeated as an amateur boxer. Possibly his most impressive victory to date was TKO victory over Scott Lighty, a veteran of 42 pro kickboxing bouts and a 6-2 MMA record. This is huge step up in competition for Larkin, and it remains to be seen how he will fair against upper tier light heavyweights.
My Pick: Like I said up there, Mo is a huge step up for Mr. Larkin. I haven't been able to find Vegas odds for this fight yet, but I hazard a guess that Lawal will be the heavy favorite. I am expecting King Mo to knock out Larkin in the first or second round.
Co-Main Event:Middleweight Bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
Background: Lawler is 18-8 (1 NC) and Amagov is 9-1-1.
Robbie Lawler is 29 years old and made his professional debut back in 2001. He is a known commodity for a lot of MMA fans, being a veteran of UFC, PRIDE, EliteXC, and Strikeforce. He is also the former EliteXC middleweight champion. Inconsistent with a limited ground game, (five of his eight losses are via submission), Lawler is known for his heavy hands and solid boxing game. Currently, he is coming off of a two fight losing streak, going 2-4 in his last six fights. If he wants to move forward with his career he really needs a victory on Saturday night. He is currently ranked #21 in the world.
Adlan Amagov is 25 years old and has be a pro fighter since 2007. He went 0-1 in his first fight, losing to Bellator and BodogFight veteran Alexey Oleinik before going on a 10 fight unbeaten streak; (9-0-1) with six (T)KO's and three decisions. He has appeared in two Strikeforce: Challengers events, defeating Anthony Smith and Ronald Stallings. He recently won the Silver medal at the Expert level at the 2011 NAGA World Championship in No-GI grappling on back on May 7. He has no wins via submission, but it's clear he has a grappling game that's developing.
My Pick: Lawler is on a major downward spiral as a fighter. He's had a rough couple years and desperately needs a win. It's possible that he is being used as a stepping stone for the up and coming Amagov, a big name for him to knock off. I'm going with the up and comer, Amagov via submission in the second round. Main Event:Keith Jardine vs. Luke Rockhold (Strikeforce Middleweight Championship)
Background: Jardine is 17-9 and Rockhold is 8-1.
"The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine is 36 years old and well known veteran of the UFC, with wins over former UFC light heavyweight champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell, along with UFC vet; Brandon Vera. He has been fighting as a professional since 2001, and appeared on the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season two. Jardine has had a lot of ups and downs in his career, with big wins over top 10 fighters, but periods of going winless got him expelled from the UFC. He's 3-6-1 over his last 10 fights with two of his wins coming over relative unknowns. Last April, he had a draw with #9 ranked light heavyweight Gegard Mousasi, likely due to Mousasi being deducted a point for an illegal upkick. Jardine needs this win, not only to stay relevant as a fighter, but to keep his career and his head above water. He is a black belt in Gaidojutsu.
Luke Rockhold is 27 years old and has been a pro since 2007. He went 1-1 in his first two fights but has gone on a seven fight win streak which includes a win over UFC/DREAM vet Jesse Taylor, and not to mention, his win over DREAM veteran and Abu Dhabi champion Ronaldo Souza for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. In his title fight he showed excellent stand-up skills, despite having only one win via (T)KO. He has six wins via submission and is a brown belt in BJJ. Rockhold is ranked ninth in the world as a middleweight.
Current Betting Odds: -600 Rockhold, +400 Jardine
My Pick: I am afraid I am in total agreement with the odds makers for this fight. Keith Jardine is likely done and I don't expect him to be able to deal with Rockhold anywhere the fight goes. I'm predicting a second or third round stoppage. Rockhold by TKO.
That's it, Maniacs.
Let me know what you guys think and what you expect to happen this weekend at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine."
To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes click here.
Poll
Biggest Strikeforce upset at "Rockhold vs. Jardine?"
Keith Jardine over Luke Rockhold
Adlan Amagov over Robbie Lawler
Lorenz Larkin over "King Mo" Lawal
Jordan Mein over Tyron Woodley
King Kong over Godzilla
No upsets! All the favorites win
12 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, decision, vs, year
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBobby Green out of bout with Alonzo Martinez; Strikeforce officials seek replacement
As quickly as it was announced, the planned fight between Bobby Green and Alonzo Martinez looks to be off this coming Saturday’s Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card. Reports have circulated that Green suffered an injury, forcing him out.
Green holds a career record of 17-5, having won his last two fights in Strikeforce since a loss to Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante. “King” has won 15 of his 17 career bouts by early stoppage.
Martinez would be making his debut for Strikeforce if officials are successful in finding a replacement on short notice. He has won eight of his last nine fights, and owns 21 submission wins in his career.
MMAJunkie was the first to confirm the Green injury with Strikeforce officials.
The show takes place January 7 on Showtime from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Luke Rockhold defends his Strikeforce middleweight title against Keith Jardine. Green-Martinez was slated for the Showtime Extreme-televised prelims card.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, career, official, strikeforce officials, stoppage martinez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainScott Coker breaks down exactly why Gilbert Melendez will stay in Strikeforce
It's only appropriate that we start off 2012 with a topic that we've been endlessly discussing since 2009. Back then, the essential lightweight fight everyone salivated over was a cross-promotional bout between Strikeforce's Gilbert Melendez and Bellator's Eddie Alvarez. People initially believed that if the bout did happen, the primary issue would be over what promotion would retain broadcast rights for the event. That was until Bjorn Rebney publicly stated that he was willing to relinquish the idea of a co-promotion and was even open to having the event in Strikeforce at San Jose, CA. Weeks went by, then Bjorn Rebney insisted that Scott Coker was ducking the text messages he sent regarding Melendez vs. Alvarez. Scott Coker denied receiving the texts, then Bjorn Rebney released pictures of the texts from his phone -- and all talks just sort of collapsed.
Now fast forward a couple years to 2012 into the post-ZUFFA Strikeforce era that we all inhabit. Gilbert Melendez still remains locked into a Strikeforce contract (while riding a 6-0 winning streak) and Michael Chandler toppled Eddie Alvarez to be the new Bellator lightweight champion at Bellator 58. Unfortunately, whatever luster Melendez vs. Alvarez once had is no more. It's finished, like all of those hopes and dreams you wanted to accomplish in 2011. Maybe you need to take it easy on the innumerable cans of Pringles you consume while watching Harry and the Hendersons.
We're in 2012, the year of the Mayan prophecy -- and Gilbert Melendez is still not in the UFC. Those Mayans probably saw it coming. Damn them and their incredibly unique clairvoyance. We caught up with Scott Coker to discuss the future of Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce along with a few other topics I'm sure you'll find interesting.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, bjorn rebney
Read the full article at Middle EasyBest of the Best: The 2011 MMA Awards
2011 is officially in the books! It was an extremely memorable year in the MMA world filled with fantastic fights, ascending superstars, and major stories such as the UFC buying Strikeforce or signing a deal with FOX.
Today we’ll look back at the past twelve months to re-live a few of the highlights by naming Fighters.com’s “Best of the Best” from 2011. In some cases you may not agree with our choices but bear in mind that is simply testament to how incredible the year was, not a matter of being right or wrong.
- Biggest Story of the Year -
UFC-FOX: It was only a matter of time before the UFC signed a deal with a network but the scale of their agreement with FOX could only have been dreamt of. With multiple live shows expected to air on FOX, Fuel, and FX, as well as live Ultimate Fighter match-ups, the next few years look extraordinarily bright for MMA.
- Biggest Disappointment of the Year -
UFC’s Handling of Strikeforce: When the UFC bought Strikeforce it was unexpected and extremely exciting. However, after being promised “business as usual”, the UFC signed away most of Strikeforce’s stars and did little to promote the organization as a whole. Instead of either creating a competitive league or feeder promotion Zuffa let Strikeforce die on the vine.
- Knockout of the Year -
Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry: Sure, Johny Hendricks made a late run at the honor by finishing off Jon Fitch, plus there was also the front-kick mastery of Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva to consider, but for our money Kongo’s KO of Barry at UFC Live 4 was the cream of the crop. Barry had put Kongo on downhill path to Dream Street twice in the opening minutes of action only to get caught, the crash to the canvas in a creepy eyes-wide-open ending.
- Submission of the Year -
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: This was an epic finish for a few reasons. First, Nogueira had never been tapped out before and was seen as being the heavyweight division’s BJJ king. Secondly, Mir pulled off his Kimura after being on the cusp of defeat courtesy of Nogueira’s crisp, powerful striking. Finally, he snapped his arm like a twig, and though it was not a highlight I’d watch repeatedly there’s something to be said about the brutal nature of a “tap or snap” scenario.
- Fight of the Year -
Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua: Few and far between are the remaining match-ups involving decorated champions with a decade of success behind them who are in the same weight class and never crossed paths. However, in the case of Henderson-Rua fans were witness to just that and it delivered beyond the expectations of many. The PRIDE/UFC legends locked horns for twenty-five minutes, battling back and forth with each nearly seeing his night end thanks to the other’s abilities. It was every bit as epic as the participants themselves and easily 2011’s crown jewel where fights are concerned.
Honorable Mention: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez was every bit as fantastic but lacked the historical significance.
- Female Fighter of the Year -
Ronda Rousey: Though it could be argued Rousey won this award by default since Miesha Tate and Cristiane Santos only fought a single time in 2011, Rousey is certainly deserving of the honor as a rising star who went 4-0 with four first-round finishes. Her Olympic background in judo coupled with a ferocious appetite for Armbars have made for a dangerous combination, while her personality and looks have earned her a spot as one of the most popular fighters, male or female, of the year’s latter half.
- Male Fighter of the Year -
Jon Jones: Not only did no other fighter come close to having the year Jones did but we aren’t sure any in history has. “Bones” beat four opponents including three former UFC champions (Quinton Jackson, Machida, Rua) and one then-undefeated contender named Ryan Bader. Furthermore he dominated all four fights, becoming the first person to finish “Rampage” in more than five years, as well as the first ever to stop “Shogun” with strikes and tap out Machida.
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Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, fighter, year
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce's Lorenz Larkin: I've got nothing to lose against ex-champ 'King Mo'
Scott Lighty, Gian Villante, Nick Rossborough, Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal.
One of these is not like the others, and that's no slight to the others.
It's no secret Lawal, a former Strikeforce light-heavyweight titleholder, will be a huge step up in competition for undefeated prospect Lorenz Larkin.
Posted in: strikeforce, larkin, king, lawal, other
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBobby Green scratches; replacement sought for 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
Lightweight Bobby Green has been forced out of a bout with Alonzo Martinez at next week's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event.
Sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that Green suffered an undisclosed injury. Officials are searching for a replacement.
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" takes place Jan. 7 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, alonzo martinez, event today, scratches replacement
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFive Ounces 2011 Year-End Awards: Jaw Droppers and Arm-Poppers
The final week of 2011 has arrived, and though the year may not have delivered on the public’s long-standing dream of flying cars and laser-blasters it was certainly a period filled with memorable months from a Mixed Martial Arts viewpoint. We witnessed champions fall in dramatic fashion, prospects rise from the ranks to become divisional kings, and numerous fighters emerge victorious by the skin of their teeth. We saw shocking signings and ridiculous releases; countless classics and numerous nod-offers; moves in the ring unlike any other before and some hopefully never seen again.
With the close of the year, Five Ounces of Pain is bringing you our annual awards as we wind things down and get ready for the adventures 2012 will undoubtedly bring. Over the next few days we will announce our winners in somewhat unique categories with a final batch of standard distinctions handed out on Monday, January 2, once all the year’s performances have been turned in.
As always, 5 Oz. invites our readers to offer their own opinions in the “Comments” section on who should have taken home the hardware (or in this case digital love). We would not be here without you, and rest assured the Staff not only appreciates your contributions from a “page view” standpoint, but genuinely enjoys reading our community’s take on topics. Have an incredibly fun, albeit safe, NYE weekend!
– Who Saw That Coming –
Zuffa buys Strikeforce: It seemed like a typical non-event Saturday. There was no anticipation of a big fight later that night, no last minute bets to be placed, and no all-day discussions of who we thought would win later that evening. Then, in the early afternoon, Dana White dropped the bombshell: Zuffa has purchased their biggest competitor Strikeforce.
While Dana claimed that things would be “business as usual” for Strikeforce, that quickly changed when UFC took Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, and Alistair Overeem along with top local draw Cung Le to compete in the octagon. Strikeforce events almost immediately became even more secondary with most wondering when Zuffa would just fold the organization and bring the talent over the UFC.
It was a move that changed the landscape of the MMA world as Bellator became the defacto #2 promotion while Zuffa tightened its guillotine on the entire sport.
– Old Timer of the Year –
Dan Henderson: A couple of years ago, many would have argued that Dan Henderson’s resume was somewhat overrated. And they would have had a point. It’s not that the man hadn’t accomplished much – he had – but between gift decisions, hold the PRIDE welterweight (183 lbs) title in a non-existent division, and then briefly holding the middleweight title (205 lbs) only to lose it in a unification bout against Quinton Jackson, Henderson’s achievements were slightly overstated.
However, at 41 years of age, “Hendo” just had the best year of his career. He started things off with a knockout of Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante to add yet another title to his resume, before securing two of the biggest wins of his career back-to-back. His knockout of Fedor Emelianenko is even more impressive when factoring in the fact that for much of his career, Henderson competed two weight classes below the great Russian. He finally capped things off with one of the greatest in MMA history when he bested Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in an epic twenty-five minute war.
– Most Meteoric Rise –
(Tie) Ben Henderson/Ronda Rousey: Both Rousey and Henderson went unbeaten in 2011, rising up from relative obscurity to receive consideration as being among the top fighters in their respective weight-classes.
Henderson rise to the next level seemed in doubt after coming up short against Anthony Pettis to close out 2010, yet “Bendo” picked up wins on all three of his UFC fights including those against top contenders Jim Miller and Clay Guida and now has a future date with 155-pound champion Frankie Edgar.
While Rousey’s in-ring accomplishments are in no way as impressive as Henderson’s, her outspoken nature, aggressive style, and girl-next-door good looks have thrust her into the spotlight and made her one of the most popular competitors in MMA. Snapping another girl’s arm in two during a fight didn’t hurt her profile either, just Julia Budd’s limb.
Make sure to check back in on Monday when we reveal our selections for “Knockout of the Year”, “Submission of the Year’, “Fighter of the Year”, and “Fight of the Year”. You can also check out our previous 2011 Year-End Awards by clicking this link.
Posted in: strikeforce, henderson, year, thing, zuffa
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJuly 2011 MMA Recap: Tito Ortiz Lives, Alistair Overeem Cut, Hendo TKOs Fedor
While a lot of the big news stories of 2011 focused on the business outside the cage, July had several great moments inside it, headlined by two grizzled veterans picking up huge victories and the beginning of the road that brought Alistair Overeem to Friday's UFC 141.July 2011: Hendo, Tito & A Guy Named Alistair
Tito Ortiz was essentially left for dead in the UFC following a multiple year losing streak, excuses and a complete stripping of the bravado and character that made him into a huge draw years and years ago. Heading into his bout with Ryan Bader, no expected Ortiz to win. Somehow by a miracle of MMA Jesus, he knocked Bader down and sunk in a guillotine choke for one of the biggest upset wins of the year.
That led into events later in the month which went like this: Rashad Evans and Phil Davis were set to headline August's UFC 133, but Davis hurt his knee and had to pull out. Lyoto Machida agreed to take his place and then backed out when he was denied more money, leaving the pay-per-view in turmoil. Ortiz was asked to fight Evans and originally said no. Then, he said yes. In general, UFC 133 was snakebitten as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pulled out of his fight with Rich Franklin and "Ace" was removed from the card when he declined a fight with Alexander Gustafsson instead.
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The Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title wasn't up for grabs, but that didn't stop people from watching Dan Henderson battle Fedor Emelianenko in one of Strikeforce's biggest matches of 2011. After being knocked down by a Fedor right hand, Henderson held on and after a scramble, snuck a right hand under Fedor's arm while both were on the ground that flattened "The Last Emperor" for the first round TKO. It was Fedor's third straight loss and would be his last fight in Strikeforce. It would also be the final fight in the promotion for Henderson, but for different reasons.
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The focus on this last week of 2011 has been on Alistair Overeem's battle with Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, but how did the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion get to the UFC? It all began in July when Overeem wasn't happy with Zuffa and felt "disrespected" with them wanting him to fight on September 10 when he was recovering from injury. Within a few days, he was out of the Grand Prix, replaced by Daniel Cormier and found himself cut at month's end. Overeem also said he was going to compete on a United Glory event in October, along with fellow Strikeforce fighter Sergei Kharitonov. That, of course, never happened.
For the rest of a busy month, follow us after the jump.
Other Stuff That Happened
The UFC booked two big matches for UFC 136 as the rescheduled Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard 155-pound title bout and 145-pound champ Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian title match were inked...When it came to title belts, Jon Jones said to not ask him to autograph one...Miesha Tate defeated Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce 135-pound title...Nate Marquardt continued to be ridiculed by fighters and signed a BAMMA deal...Despite not being able to fight, Chael Sonnen was rumored for bouts against Lyoto Machida and Brian Stann.
Chris Leben knocked out Wanderlei Silva at UFC 132 and was slotted to face Mark Munoz in the first non-title five round UFC main event...Dana White wanted Silva to retire and scored fights with Justin Bieber. Despite all this, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira said White "is not a god"...135-pound champion Dominick Cruz defeated rival Urijah Faber by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 132.
Rampage Jackson made fun of Randy Couture on Twitter...Kimbo Slice announced his pro boxing debut...Dan Henderson's use of testosterone replacement therapy came to light...Bellator booked Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler for October...The UFC targeted February 2012 for their Japan show...ESPN Outside The Lines inspirational story Rad Martinez signed with Bellator...MMA Nation was formally announced.
Full archive of July stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, fedor, july
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow11 for 11: No. 2 Zuffa buys Strikeforce
The second biggest business story of the year shook the state of MMA. In March, Zuffa purchased its biggest rival, Strikeforce.
It was reported that the purchase price was $40 million which included some debt repayment by Zuffa for Strikeforce. The deal occurred as Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, main financial backer of Strikeforce, wanted to refocus its business on its NHL, the San Jose Sharks and other business. It is also believed that it may be trying to acquire an NBA team to San Jose.
Excellent coverage of the purchase is here and here is the text of the official Zuffa press release. Prior to Zuffa’s purchase, MMAPayout learned that there were other bidders for Strikeforce but Zuffa came up with the biggest monetary deal.
Prior to the purchase, Strikeforce was in the midst of its Heavyweight Grand Prix which was supposed to create interest in what was arguably the best divsion in the sport. Surely, Strikeforce execs were hoping for a Fedor-Overeem Final. Fedor’s upset loss to Bigfoot Silva made the GP less appealing. And, a futile effort to hold a card in Japan for its HW Grand Prix caused a delay in the tournament.
From the start, Zuffa stated that UFC and Strikeforce would operate separately although Zuffa execs (you know who) would provide input on its show starting with its April 9th show. The constant talking point was “Business as usual.”
But, that’s not the case as we’ve seen numerous Strikeforce fighters move over to the UFC. Notably, Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz. Other fighters such as UFC 141’s main eventer Alistair Overeem came over to the UFC after time fighting in Strikeforce. In addition, some Strikeforce staff were let go and replaced by Zuffa employees. Finally, Scott Coker has lost a lot of power in the new regime as it appears from interviews that he no longer has any say with the direction of Strikeforce.
Recently, Strikeforce and Showtime agreed to renew its television contract which was somewhat of a surprise considering the fact that many believed that Strikeforce would be consumed by the UFC.
It will be interesting to see the Strikeforce product in 2012. How will it compete, or complement the UFC product? Who is the face of Strikeforce? Certainly, a Gilbert Melendez and Mo Lawal would have fit in nicely with the UFC creating interesting fights. But, it appears that they will be in Strikeforce for at least the next year.
Links to MMAPayout coverage regarding the Zuffa-Strikeforce purchase can be found here:
- Zuffa Purchases Strikeforce, Agrees to Blockbuster MMA Deal
- Mystery Strikeforce Third Bidder, Early Signs Of Sale, & UFC Purchase Notes
- Exploring Why SVSE Walked Away from Strikeforce & MMA
Posted in: ufc, business, strikeforce, zuffa, purchase
Read the full article at MMA PayoutShane del Rosario headed to the UFC
Undefeated Strikeforce prospect Shane del Rosario will follow the likes of Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, and Chad Griggs in becoming a UFC fighter, at least according to his manager Jason House.
Del Rosario sports a perfect 11-0 record but has been out of action since last February after suffering injuries in a car accident. Del Rosario was rear-ended by a drunk driver, knocking him out of a planned bout with current Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Daniel Cormier.
“Would like to congratulate Shane del Rosario (11-0) on signing with the UFC,” House, who works for Iridium Sports Agency, posted on his Twitter account.
Along with stops in EliteXC and M-1 Challenge, Del Rosario had made Strikeforce his home as of late. Of his eleven career wins, ten have come in the first round and the lone exception resulted in a second stanza stoppage.
Zuffa recently announced the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be dissolved and absorbed in some fashion by the UFC over the coming months. Del Rosario’s signing shows the UFC is bringing in the best of the best to form what could be one of the deepest divisions in all of MMA.
No opponent for Del Rosario has been announced as of yet, or the date for his UFC debut.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, rosario, del, twitter account
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainShane Del Rosario Latest Strikeforce Heavyweight to Move to UFC
Unbeaten Strikeforce heavyweight Shane Del Rosario, who has all 11 of his wins by stoppage, has signed with the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, shane, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Heavyweight Shane del Rosario Signs with UFC
With Strikeforce soon folding its heavyweight division, undefeated prospect Shane del Rosario has signed with the UFC, manager Jason House recently announced.
A date and opponent for Del Rosario’s UFC debut have not been set.
Del Rosario (11-0) hasn’t fought in nearly a year since improving to 11-0 with a first-round submission of Lavar Johnson in February after injuries from a car accident kept him from facing Daniel Cormier in a reserve bout in Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix.
For the latest Strikeforce news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Shane del Rosario
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight division, lavar johnson, rosario, del
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyJune 2011 MMA Recap: UFC 131 Creates Contenders, Nate Marquardt & Joe Rogan Controversies
June was a return to action after a May relatively devoid of in-cage action and what a return it was. MMA fans were treated to a contender-rich UFC card, the semifinals of the Strikeforce Grand Prix, a UFC on Versus card, Bellator kicking off its Summer Series and there was plenty of controversy involving Nate Marquardt and Joe Rogan that had the industry and fans talking.
June 2011 - Earning Their Shots
Junior dos Santos originally had been tabbed to fight then-UFC Champion Cain Velasquez, but a shoulder injury forced the champion to turn the match down. JDS then accepted a match with Brock Lesnar and they signed on for The Ultimate Fighter's 13th season as coaches but medical issues forced Lesnar to pull out of the match. Shane Carwin was asked to faced Santos in a No. 1 contender's match where Dos Santos picked Carwin apart and emphatically earned his shot at UFC gold.
On that same card, Kenny Florian made his debut at 145 and won a narrow victory over Diego Nunes, earning him a title shot against Jose Aldo. Mark Munoz survived being rocked and a back crucifix attack against Demian Maia, earning a victory and entry into the upper tier of middleweights.
On the Strikeforce side, Alistar Overeem won what would his final promotional match in a less than thrilling scrap with Fabricio Werdum, while in Bellator, Pat Curran dropped down to featherweight and looked like a force of nature when he slapped a Peruvian Necktie on a Peruvian fighter.
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UFC on Versus 4 was meant to highlight the UFC welterweight division, pairing the up-and-comer Rick Story against veteran Nate Marquardt who was making his welterweight debut. But the fight never happened as Marquardt failed his medical exams due to abnormal testosterone levels and was cut from the UFC. Local favorite Charlie Brenneman was called on to replace Marquardt on a few hours notice and then proceeded to upset Story.
Marquardt would later break his silence on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour show, addressing why he was cut and sparking a debate on the role of TRT in MMA.
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UFC color commentator Joe Rogan decided to weigh in on a twitter outburst of Rampage Jackson, posting on a popular online forum and using some choice language when referring to Yahoo reporter Maggie Hendricks. This situation caused enough outcry for Dana White to issue an official statement and Rogan issued an apology.
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Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers was arrested in late-June and was charged with domestic assault after police accused Rogers of striking his wife and then choking her. Rogers had just lost to Josh Barnett and was out of the Strikeforce Grand Prix. His new boss White reacted quickly, releasing Rogers immediately.
More on the month that was June after the jump...
Other Things that Happened
In an Strikeforce Grand Prix alternate bout, Daniel Cormier had an impressive decision win over Jeff Monson that would later prove to be important...Fans were once again teased by the prospect of MMA in New York as a bill passed the New York State Assembly that included legalizing MMA. Just fourteen days later, the bill was dead and all parties continue to wait for resolution.
Rumors were abound that the UFC was looking to purchase the G4 Network and turn it into their own network...at the TUF 13 Finale, Clay Gudia defeated Anthony Pettis and Tony Ferguson became the season winner....Robert Drysdale notched MMA victory #3 at AFC 6...the IBJJF World Championships were held.
Full archive of June stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, june, marquardt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBobby Green vs. Alonzo Martinez on tap for Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
The upcoming Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card continues to grow as Strikeforce has added a lightweight bout between Bobby Green and Alonzo Martinez to the nights preliminary card. For the first time ever, the Strikeforce prelims will air in their entirety on Showtime Extreme prior to the main card on Showtime.
The bout was confirmed by Strikeforce officials.
A former King of the Cage lightweight champion, Green has posted back-to-back wins in Strikeforce against Charon Spain and J.P. Reese, defeating both men by submission. He made his promotional debut on the preliminary card of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson, dropping a Split Decision to highly-touted competitor Gesias Cavalcante. “King” has finished fifteen of the seventeen opponents he’s beaten.
Meanwhile, the veteran of over 50 fights, Martinez, will be making his Strikeforce debut when he squares off against Green in January. “Zo Diddy” has won eight of his last nine bouts and most recently fought on December 12, finishing Mario Ramos in just twenty seconds due to a verbal submission. The Nebraska native is a submission specialist, having won 21 of 35 bouts by way of tap out.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine is scheduled for January 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The night will be headlined by a middleweight title fight as champion Luke Rockhold makes his first title defense against veteran Keith Jardine.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, rockhold, card
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGegard Mousasi interested in dropping to middleweight for fight with Anderson Silva
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi continues to work his way back into contention for the title he lost. However, Mousasi also has his sights set on something else – the UFC.
Earlier this month, Mousasi downed rising prospect Ovince St. Preux at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal to place his name among those looking to wear the Strikeforce 205-pound title now that it sits vacant.
As for his next fight, Mousasi was looking at competing on this coming weekends DREAM card in Japan only to see the bout fall through. Instead, he will await the winner of the January 7 bout between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Lorenz Larkin, possibly setting up a rematch with Lawal as well as a potential title-fight.
“The thing now is that I’m going to wait until April and get a title shot against the winner of (Lawal-Larkin). That’s what I heard,” said Mousasi, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie. “I want to fight the big names, and the big names are in the UFC.”
Mousasi also talked about making the drop to middleweight for a shot at UFC champion Anderson Silva, adding, “You don’t get those chances a lot, so fighting a big name like him, that’s a big opportunity.”
For now, “The Dreamcatcher” will sit on the sidelines, working on his wrestling base if he does face Lawal again, and preparing himself for a future in either Strikeforce or the UFC.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, mousasi, name
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 115: King Mo Lawal, Year in Review Part 4
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at a special time of 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including the final installment in our "Year in Review" series. We'll take a look at both the best fights of the year 2011 and also the best show of the year. We'll also dish out other random thoughts about the year that was along with some of our favorite moments of the year.
We'll be joined by former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion "King" Mo Lawal as he prepares for his Jan. 7 fight with Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. We'll talk with him about that fight, the state of Strikeforce, his goals moving forward and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, radio, year, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGreen-Martinez Lightweight Bout Added to Jan. 7 Strikeforce Bill
Eight fights are now official for Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine.” Promotion officials announced Tuesday that lightweights Bobby Green and Alonzo Martinez will lock horns at the Jan. 7 event.
Posted in: strikeforce, alonzo martinez, official, jan, lightweights bobby
Read the full article at SherdogGegard Mousasi and the Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Division
In a marked contrast to the middleweight division, Strikeforce's light-heavyweights seem to be sorting themselves out despite the absence of any consistent championship presence. Let's take a look at how the weight class is shaping up.
The Top Five
Since losing his title to Muhammed Lawal in 2010, Gegard Mousasi has gone 4-0-1, splitting his time between Strikeforce and Dream. The recent fight against Ovince St. Preux, which saw Mousasi dominate en route to a unanimous decision, washed the bad taste left in the mouths of many after that underwhelming effort against Keith Jardine, which ended in a majority draw. After the win over St. Preux, the typically lackadaisical Mousasi admitted that he hadn't been training as diligently as he should've, and he's vowed to approach his career with greater intent. A clear divisional front-runner.
As of April, 2010, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal was poised to become one of the break-out stars of the light-heavyweight class. With an undefeated record, a fresh spot in the division's Top 10, and a championship belt around his waist (the latter two at the expense of a hapless Gegard Mousasi), Lawal seemed to be fulfilling all his great promise. A disappointing follow-up effort against Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, however, saw Lawal gas out before being hammered into a technical knockout, slowing his train significantly. Lawal has since rebounded from this first loss with a September knockout of Roger Gracie.
Rafael Feijao completes the championship triangle at the top of Strikeforce's light-heavyweight division. Like Lawal and Mousasi, Feijao dethroned the champion in impressive fashion, but failed to defend the title (Feijao, for his part, lost the belt to current UFC fighter and general paragon of manliness Dan Henderson). He likewise rebounded in September with a KO victory. Knockouts, technical or otherwise, of Atnwain Britt, Aaron Rosa, and Lawal keep him deep in the title hunt.
Lorenz Larkin, undefeated in twelve fights and with three straight victories coming under the Strikeforce banner, is a clear asset to this 205-pound division. His dizzying kick-boxing arsenal and talent for takedown defense has earned him a lot of buzz. He'll be put to a dire test this January when he steps into the cage with Mo Lawal.
Mike Kyle's record is as spotty as his reputation, but in the last four years he's shown a renewed focus at 205 pounds. Kyle's finished nearly every one of his opponents and, aside from an upset submission loss to Wayne Cole, he's faltered only in his efforts against elite heavyweights Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva. A rematch with Feijao, whom he knocked out in 2009, would make a lot of sense.
After the jump: More!
The Best of the Rest
Ovince St. Preux looked out of his depth in the opening rounds of his fight with Mousasi, but seemed close to staging a comeback in the third. At 5-1-0 in Strikeforce, with strong wrestling skills and decent power in his hands, he remains a serious factor in the division.
Submission artist Trevor Smith spent the last half of 2011 earning a pair of victories in the Strikeforce Challengers series, bringing his record to 9-1-0. Undefeated at light-heavyweight, and with every one of his wins coming by way of submission or, in one rare case, knockout, Smith will be looking to separate himself from the pack with a win over upcoming opponent Gian Villante.
Gian Villante entered Strikeforce as a much-lauded heavyweight prospect, but an abrupt TKO loss to Chad Griggs silenced much of that fanfare. A drop to light-heavyweight yielded only marginally better results, as he lost to Lorenz Larkin (by decision). A decision victory over Keith Berry pulled him out of his two-fight skid, and a win over Smith would put him firmly on the right track.
In Roger Gracie, Rhadi Ferguson, and Renato Sobral, Strikeforce has three grapplers whose place in the organization isn't entirely clear. Gracie tasted defeat for the first time last September courtesy of a rather nasty KO from King Mo, and there are rumblings that Lawal may have more than temporarily knocked the fight out of the jiu-jitsu ace. Rhadi Ferguson maintained his flawless, if slight, record with his submission of the unheralded John Richard early this year. Little mention of Ferguson has been made since, though, and as an undersized, 38-year-old light-heavyweight, it's hard to imagine any lengthy future for him in MMA. Sobral, meanwhile, hasn't fought since his KO loss to Dan Henderson just over a year ago. He's been more or less blacklisted from the UFC, which might make him similarly scarce from the Zuffa-owned Strikeforce.
And so...
Strikeforce's top five light-heavyweights are all around a pretty strong group. What they may lack in experience they more than make up for with crowd-pleasing styles. However, in the middle of the division, where contenders are built, things are looking a little thin. Picking up unknown fighters from the regional circuit might help, but to add a little sizzle to the proceedings, Strikeforce might consider using fighters with big-show experience to thicken their ranks. Mike Ciesnolevicz, Rodney Wallace, and Eliot Marshall would all make fine, relatively affordable additions to the weight class. Emanuel Newton and Jan Blachowicz (who's spent nearly his entire career in Poland's KSW, compiling a record of 14-3-0) would also be worth a look.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, mousasi, lawal, lightheavyweight
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendMarch 2011 MMA Recap: Zuffa Buys Strikeforce, Jon Jones & Dan Henderson Win Gold
Competitors became companions, the youngest UFC champion in history was created while Strikeforce got one of their oldest and a California Kid made his presence felt in the Octagon. Let's look back at March 2011, one of the busiest and most important months in recent MMA history.
March 2011 - The Most Important Business Month Ever?
Most MMA fans will remember where they were when they got the news that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce, putting the UFC's top competitor under their control. News broke unusually on a random Saturday afternoon, done via a video with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.We all had more questions than answers. Would the UFC and Strikeforce immediately merge? What about the champions? Why did they buy them? Was this good for the industry? As the year would play out, we got our answers but still have a lot of questions as we cross into 2012.
But in many circles, that wasn't even the biggest story of the year. That would come later on in the year.
****
Just a short time after the UFC/Strikeforce news, the UFC saw one of its power players complete his journey as Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with a dominant TKO victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. Weeks after he had earned the shot due to a win over Ryan Bader and an injury to top contender Rashad Evans, Jones found himself with a shiny belt and an aura of invincibility.
Following the win, Dana White decreed that Jones would face Evans next and after hearing his friend say he would fight him, Evans was more than willing to step in against him. The Jones/Evans feud would play out throughout the year with everyone associated getting involved, including coaches. It turned out to be a sad situation and because of injuries, fans are still waiting to see if they will ever get the fight they want to see.
****
After his crowd-pleasing KO win over Michael Bisping at UFC 100, Dan Henderson famously left the organization for Strikeforce. The move paid off as he knocked out Rafael Cavalcante in the third round, giving him the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title and a renewed vigor as a champion in the sport. But without any real divisional depth, Kid Nate wanted Hendo to fight Fedor Emelianenko...and he'd eventually get it.
Other Stuff That Happened
At UFC 126, Urijah Faber made his UFC debut count over Eddie Wineland and earned a shot at Bantamweight Champion and rival Dominick Cruz in the process...Phil Davis remained undefeated and Anthony Johnson ensured that Dan Hardy's struggles continued...Chan Sung Jung submitted Leonard Garcia with an awesome looking twister, which Eddie Bravo broke down.
Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which affected the ailing Japanese scene and martial arts community as a whole...Thiago Silva admitted he cheated on his pre-UFC 125 drug test...Matt Lindland suffered some reefer madness...Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley was booked for Strikeforce's April show, even with Daley's tenuous standing with Dana White...Diego Sanchez got beat up by Martin Kampmann but still squeezed out a decision...it was announced the 14th season of TUF would feature 135 and 145'ers for the first time...Cristiane Santos was rumored to be in conversations with WWE.
March's full archive of stories
Past Monthly Recaps:
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, year, march
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce adds Bobby Green vs Alonzo Martinez to Jan. 7 preliminary card
The Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card picked up a last-minute addition to its preliminary line-up set for Jan. 7, 2012, at "The Joint" from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The five-fight main card will air live via Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night; however, Showtime Extreme will broadcast the event's prelim bouts earlier in the evening.
Joining the fray will be lightweight mixed martial arts up-and-comer Bobby Green, as he tries to make it three in a row against storied veteran and Strikeforce debutante Alonzo Martinez.
The "King" is coming off consecutive wins over Charon Spain and James Reese while "Zo Diddy" bagged back-to-back victories over Spain and Mario Ramos.
Here's the current Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card and line-up:
Main Event:
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin170 lbs.: Jordan Mein vs. Tyron Woodley170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry205 lbs.: Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante155 lbs.: Bobby Green vs. Alonzo Martinez
To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, showtime, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBobby Green vs. Alonzo Martinez added to 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
A lightweight bout between former KOTC champ Bobby Green and veteran competitor Alonzo Martinez has been added to next month's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event.
Strikeforce officials recently confirmed the matchup.
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" takes place Jan. 7 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, martinez, jardine
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMy first contribution to MMA: Twenty-five fights that defined the year 2011 in MMA.
I used to contribute an article called Counting Down Christmas With Twenty-Five MMA Fights for a couple of pro-wrestling websites that had MMA sections. I gave up on that stuff a few months ago, but I still love sharing my opinion on some of the best fights of the year. The way mine works is that I list the first ten fights based on the fight itself. Essentially any fight that had me standing out of my seat or had me saying "This is one of the best fights I've seen all year" gets thrown in that top spot. The remaining fifteen are fights that were momentous for 2011/hard to forget; from the first Twister seen in the UFC, to the retirement of legends, to crazy flipping heel kicks, these fights ended with my jaw on the floor. I'll go into more depth on why I chose each fight later. Let me know what you think and I'd also like to see what your choices are for best fights. Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua (UFC 139: Shogun vs. Hendo) Eddie Alvarez vs. Mike Chandler (Bellator 58) Martin Kampmann vs. Diego Sanchez (UFC Live 3) Pat Healy vs. Lyle Beerbohm (*Strikeforce Challengers: Beerbohm vs. Healy) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber II) Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II (UFC 125: Resolution) Mark Hominick vs. Jose Aldo (UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields) Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Fejiao vs. Henderson) Luke Rockhold vs. Ronaldo Souza (Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov) Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva (Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Fedor vs. Silva) Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos (UFC on Fox: Velazquez vs. Dos Santos) Jon Jones vs. Mauricio Rua (UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones) Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort) Check Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 4) Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (*UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields) Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le (UFC 139: Shogun vs. Hendo) Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida (UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida) BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch (UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber II) Marius Zaromskis vs. Bruno Carvalho (Rumble of the Kings) Dennis Bermudez vs. Diego Brandao (The Ultimate Fighter Finale 14) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III (UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III) Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (Ultimate Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis) Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann (UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III) submitted by MaverickMMA [link] [comment]
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, vs, silva
Read the full article at RedditNoons Likes How He Matches Up Against Melendez
After outpointing Billy Evangelista on Saturday, K.J. Noons is already getting asked about a potential matchup against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
Posted in: strikeforce, champion, melendez, noon, outpointing
Read the full article at SherdogTyron Woodley in line for Strikeforce welterweight title fight with win in January
Strikeforce is planning on filling the vacant welterweight championship in the coming year, and Tyron Woodley is in line to fight for it.
If Woodley can get past Jordan Mein on January 7 at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker says Woodley will be in the title fight against an opponent yet to be determined.
Woodley has risen up from the Strikeforce Challengers series to put himself in contention with a win over Paul Daley earlier this year, improving his record to 9-0.
“Yeah, I think you have to look at it that way. Tyron Woodley, he’s a product of our Challengers show, if you remember when we first discovered Tyron, and he’s proven to be an amazing fight,” said Coker, while appearing on MMA Weekly’s radio show recently. “He’s beaten some of the top guys and his fight with Paul Daley, I think that kind of put the icing on the cake.”
Coker mentioned maybe bringing in an established fighter to meet Woodley for the title, or giving the opportunity to another one of Strikeforce’s up and coming stars.
“I’m going to have to sit back and talk with Sean (Shelby) and find out what they have in store for new guys coming in. It might be one of the old guys, it might be a new guy,” Coker said. “Sometime I think before summertime in 2012 you’ll see a welterweight title fight. T-Wood if he wins and another opponent.”
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, coker, woodley
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChad Griggs-Travis Browne on for UFC 145
Rising heavyweight star Chad Griggs, and former Strikeforce fighter, has a date and opponent officially set for his UFC debut after the fight promotion announced a match-up between Griggs and Travis Browne on March 24 at UFC 145.
“The Grave Digger” defeated Bobby Lashley, Gianpiero Villante, and Valentijn Overeem in his three Strikeforce bouts. It was announced that the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be absorbed by the UFC, and the 11-1 Griggs was one of many originally expected to be brought over. All eleven of his wins have involved some form of stoppage.
Browne (12-0-1) is one of the UFC’s top prospects, having defeated Stefan Struve and Rob Broughton this past year. His lone non-win came courtesy of a forgettable draw with Cheick Kongo in 2010.
UFC 145 will take place inside the Bell Centre in Montreal, Ontario, Canada. It will mark the fifth UFC event to be held inside the arena. The only other announced fight on the card will pit 22-year old phenom Rory MacDonald against surging Brit Che Mills.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, browne, grigg, strikeforce bouts
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLuke Rockhold and the Strikeforce Middleweight Division
Strikeforce's 185-pound class has had a champion presiding over the division since 2008, when Cung Le defeated Frank Shamrock by TKO. Despite two of its middleweight champions having since vacated the title (first Le, and then his successor Jake Shields), Strikeforce has also been relatively quick in establishing a new one. Most recently installed at the top spot is Luke Rockhold. Given that the weight class has more or less always had a standard bearer in place, then, it's surprising the division is in such disarray.
The confusing middleweight state of affairs is no more clearly characterized than in Rockhold's upcoming title defense against Keith Jardine-a challenger who has never fought at middleweight, and whose promotional record stands at zero wins, zero losses, and one draw. And while I think Jardine is actually a much more dangerous opponent than most are giving him credit for, I don't think it's good for the organization's legitimacy when a contender is picked seemingly out of the blue, irrespective of promotional rank. More coherent matchmaking and a greater sense of divisional hierarchy is a must. I believe Strikeforce has the talent to make it happen. Let's take a look...
The Top Five
Former champ Ronaldo Souza has put together a 4-1-0 record in Strikeforce on the strength of his phenomenal grappling game and ever-improving, surprisingly effective striking skills. His multi-faceted approach served him well in his victory against Tim Kennedy. He nearly duplicated this success in his fight against Rockhold, but gassed badly in the third round. Despite questions about his endurance, Jacare remains one of the pillars of the middleweight division.
Though he was billed early in his career as a kick boxer, Tim Kennedy has displayed a knack for the ground game during his time with Strikeforce, outwrestling Robbie Lawler and submitting Zak Cummings, Melvin Manhoef, and Trevor Prangley. He's easily in the top three of the division.
Strikeforce has an interesting trio in Yancy Medeiros (9-0-0), Derek Brunson (9-0-0), and Adlan Amagov (9-1-1). All three have remained undefeated in the organization-Medeiros and Amagov throughout two bouts each, and Brunson across three-and all have a tendency to put away their opposition by either submission or TKO. They've been flying under the radar, but Amagov, at least, will soon get a chance to break away when he takes on Robbie Lawler this January.
&&
More middleweights after the jump...
Best of the Rest
Neither Robbie Lawler nor Trevor Prangley have faired quite as well in Strikeforce as I'd expected. At nearly 40 years old, Prangley's best days are most probably behind him, while Lawler seems to have lost much of the fury that characterized his early career. I myself have something of a soft spot for both of them, though, and since they've both done a little bit of division-hopping for Strikeforce (Lawler in his catch-weight bout with Renato Sobral and Prangley in a light-heavyweight fight against Roger Gracie), I think they each deserve another low-key shot in Strikeforce. Lawler, at least, gets one against Amagov in January.
Much the same can be said of Benji Radach. Being prone to injury, Radach hasn't had much of a chance to show that he's better than his 0-2-0 Strikeforce record suggests. Radach deserves another chance following his gutsy, if lopsided, decision loss to light-heavyweight Ovince St. Preux.
Melvin Manhoef has gone winless in two Strikeforce appearances. However, given his wrecking-ball style, international cred, and relatively low fee (he received 10K in his fight with Kennedy) I think Manhoef adds a lot of valuable wattage to a card.
Similar to Medeiros, Brunson, and Amagov, Andreas Spang, Nate James, and Lumumba Sayers have done some decent but little-seen work in Strikeforce. Spang remains undefeated in the organization, debuting last November with a TKO over Willie Parks. James most recently suffered a decision loss to Brunson, but a win over UFC vet Danillo Villefort remains to his credit. And though Sayers stumbled in his promotional debut (also against Brunson), he made quite a turnaround with his KO win over Antwain Britt. Being relative novices, it's hard to know where they figure in among the Strikeforce middleweights, but with a division in flux, there's no better time than now to find out.
And so...
As with the lightweights, I think a tournament would sort out this division in definitive and entertaining fashion. After a glance at its roster, it seems that Strikeforce has not only enough fighters but the right mix of new and veteran talent needed to keep an eight-man series both interesting and affordable. Of course, in the past year, Strikeforce had already considered and then declined to put on a middleweight tournament, though the "why" of the decision was never entirely clear. Maybe the concept will resurface now that the deal with Showtime has been firmly renewed.
Posted in: strikeforce, division, lawler, middleweight, brunson
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas
We're only two weeks away.
Strikeforce is close to putting the finishing touches on its upcoming Showtime-televised fight card from "The Joint" at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Jan. 7, 2012.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" will feature freshly crowned middleweight champion Luke Rockhold putting his 185-pound belt on the line for the first time against longtime UFC veteran Keith Jardine.
Other match-ups booked for the "Sin City" event include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
That's not all.
Check out the current Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card and line up:
Main Event:
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin170 lbs.: Jordan Mein vs. Tyron Woodley170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
170 lbs.: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry205 lbs.: Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 7. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
We're still a few days away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.
To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHighlight video surfaces for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
A pair of championship bouts were the highlights of the recently completed Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card, as Gilbert Melendez defended his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal.
The other title match featured Cris “Cyborg” Santos knocking out Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16 seconds to successfully defend her crown at featherweight.
K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista, along with Ovince St. Preux and Gegard Mousasi, were also featured on the Showtime-televised show.
Check out the video below for highlights from the night:
Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, masvidal, melendez, championship bouts
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain11 for 11: No. 8 The state of MMA sponsorships
With the purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa, sponsors felt the squeeze as Strikeforce imposed the same fee (or tax) as the UFC does with its sponsors.
Strikeforce imposed the sponsor fee starting with June’s Strikeforce event. The fee also applied to Strikeforce Challengers’ sponsors. As a result, sponsors such as Ranger Up, CageHero and VXRSI are no longer sponsoring fighters in Strikeforce.
While some do not dispute the imposition of the fee, it severed relationships some fighters had with brands since they fought at small MMA promotions. For the sponsors unable to pay the $35,000 to $50,000 fee to have its logo on a fighters’ shorts, it meant revamping its marketing strategy.
Also this year, the state of sponsors in MMA was examined as many sponsors questioned the return on investment.
Recently, clothing brand Respect Your Universe (RYU) became the UFC’s newest sponsor and signed welterweight Jon Fitch. Despite RYU, some have been critical about the UFC’s lack of obtaining new sponsorships. It will be interesting to see how many new sponsors sign on in 2012. With the Fox deal, Zuffa should be able to take advantage of the momentum.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, sponsor, fee, sponsors sign
Read the full article at MMA PayoutTwitter Mailbag: Heavyweight Predictions, Brock Lesnar's Prospects, and More
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIt's only fitting, what with UFC 141 right around the corner, but the heavyweights of both the UFC and Strikeforce figured prominently in your questions this time around. Of course, you also found time to question my love of my adopted home state, force me to make bold future predictions about things I couldn't possibly know for sure, and even harass one of my colleagues (unfairly, I might add) in this edition of the Twitter Mailbag.
It's a lot to deal with in one column, and I have to get back to posting pictures of my dog on my own Twitter, so there's no time to waste. Who's up first?
@james_177 If Brock Lesnar loses to Overeem on the 30th. In your opinion is that the end of mma for Lesnar? Will he stick around?
I got this question in one form or another over and over again, but I just don't get it. Why would one loss drum a former champ out of the business? He's only 34 and still more or less a baby in this sport. He has time to grow and develop, no matter what happens next Friday night. If he does lose -- even if he gets knocked out in 30 seconds -- I think fans will look at his year of health struggles and his time away from the cage and cut him some slack.
Overeem's an experienced, accomplished fighter. Losing to him isn't like losing to some jerk off the street. Plenty of people have come up short against The Reem, but they didn't regard it as a sign that they needed to find something else to do with their lives. Win or lose, I think Lesnar will continue on. There's too much money in it for him not to, and shooting prairie dogs with high-caliber weapons will never give him the same rush.
@mmadailypunch who would you predict to be UFC heavyweight champ by the end of 2012?
What an interesting and difficult question. On one hand, the division has seen a lot of turnover at the top recently. But then, as Roy Nelson said about his fellow heavyweights when I talked to him this week, "Those guys don't like to fight that often." But screw it, I'm going to go out on a relatively sturdy limb and say that whoever wins the Lesnar-Overeem fight will be wearing that strap by the end of next year. At the rate that title goes up for grabs, dos Santos probably won't defend it more than once in 2012 anyway, and whoever wins it may not even have time to defend it before the year is out. Then, in 2013, he'll lose it to whoever wins the Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier fight. How's that for a prediction?
@jmhawkins which UFC fighter do you think could potentially move to Strikeforce against Melendez? Do you think the UFC will do this?
I thought my MMA Fighting colleague Mike Chiappetta had a great idea: bring in B.J. Penn to fight Melendez. Why not? Penn's still a big name and a respected former champ. He'd be a great test for Melendez, and one that wouldn't require the dramatic reshuffling that a champion-versus-champion bout would. Penn's future in the UFC seems uncertain, and Melendez needs a serious opponent to retain the interest of the fans. It's an arrangement that could work well for everyone.
Will Zuffa make it happen? I hope so, but my gut tells me that we might be in for at least one more title defense against an existing Strikeforce lightweight before the powers that be wake up and realize that this can't go on much longer.
@Alex_Newfie Mir believes its unlikely that Overeem could guillotine Lesnar.. do you think Overeem could submit him?
Sure he could. At the risk of allowing you to bait me into repeating one of MMA's most overused cliches, anything can happen in a fight. Overeem has always had a sneaky guillotine, and wrestlers are prone to sticking their necks in that particular clamp when they start shooting for reckless takedowns. But let's be real here, if this fight hits the mat it's still to Lesnar's advantage. The longer it stays standing, the more it favors Overeem. As for Mir? Let's just say that you want to be careful how seriously you take the analysis of a guy who has a history with one of the participants. It tends to color one's perception.
@JefftheJeff Mailbag: what are some of your New (MMA) Year's Resolutions?
I, Ben Fowlkes, hereby resolve to 1) eat slightly less airport Cinnabon while traveling to and from MMA events, 2) Never again, even in casual conversation, ask a fighter how his training camp went, 3) Finally finish up that petition for an extra side to be added to the Octagon, thus forever rebranding it The Nonagon, which I have already trademarked, and 4) Get on that Skittles diet that the ring girls seem to employ on fight nights. Just saying, it's working for them, and beach season is right around the corner.
@ngordon18 if the matt hamil fight wasn't a dq jon jones would be 10-0 with 8 straight finishes why us he not no. 2 pfp
Because pound-for-pound lists are meaningless exercises in speculative fiction. Get over it.
@dsmelser13 Do you think Rhonda Rousey is ducking Cyborg? In her opinion, she is ready for a title shot at 135, but not 145. Seems suspect.
I think Rousey is smart when it comes to molding her MMA career. Too smart, in fact, to go charging into the mouth of the cannon when she doesn't have to. Style-wise, Miesha Tate is a much better match-up for her than Santos is. The weakest part of Rousey's game, based on what little we've seen of her, is probably her stand-up. She rushes forward in a mad dash to get the fight to the mat, and whether she ends up on top or on bottom she's still equally dangerous once it's a grappling match. But Santos doesn't play that. She'll keep the fight standing and beat the blonde off Rousey, and I think they both know it.
Tate, on the other hand, likes to grapple. She's also nowhere near as powerful as Santos is, so Rousey has a better chance to muscle her around. What's more, I also think Rousey is smart enough to know that a fight with Tate will sell better, and create more media buzz. They're two attractive women, not to mention two native English-speakers, and they can get out there together and promote this thing. Like I said, Rousey's smart. She knows where the money is in this sport, and it isn't on the business end of Cyborg's fists.
@hurstje1 Q. Your followers know about your love for all things Montana. What I want to know is why? Born there, school, lifestyle?
I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, raised in southern California, and went to college at San Diego State. Then, in 2004, my life changed forever when I went to grad school at the University of Montana in Missoula. I immediately fell in love with the place, and with my wife, who I met in the graduate writing program here. After relocating to New York City for a couple years after we got our MFAs, we finally got our lives together to the point where we could more or less live where we wanted, and there was no question where we wanted to be. Montana's the most beautiful place I've ever been. The people are great, the lifestyle is ideal (for me, anyway), and you could spend your entire life exploring all the different hiking and cross-country ski trails here. The same could be said for the dive bars, so basically it appeals to all my interests, both indoor and out.
@snsheehan Will Jon Jones and Anderson Silva ever fight? #CrystalBall
Oh good, another question that requires me to peer into the unknowable future. But what the hell, it's the holiday season. I'm going to say no, we'll never these two fight. And you know something? I'm okay with that. Silva is almost 37 years old, and much closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Why would he want to jump up a weight class to take on a monster like Jones, who will probably be a heavyweight before too much longer? I don't see the upside for Silva, and I don't see the need. I'm not sure why MMA fans are so obsessed with the idea of super-fights. Isn't that the whole reason we created weight classes, so everyone could pick on someone their own size? Let middleweights be middleweights, and let Jon Jones be, well, whatever it is he's going to be.
@GuruGrapher Who is the best fighter to ever come out of Montana?
Keith Jardine was born in Butte, and is exactly as hard-nosed and no-nonsense a character as you'd expect, given that town's reputation. More recently, Missoula's own Lloyd Woodard did pretty well in the last Bellator lightweight tournament, barely dropping a decision to eventual tournament winner and new Bellator champ Mike Chandler. The best grappler in the state has to be Brandon Olsen, who's been a fixture at many top grappling tournaments for years and who has tied me in knots on many occasions. We've also got some up-and-coming young bucks worth keeping en eye on, most notably Tim Welch and Jason Zentgraf.
@RaymondReece1 What do you see the UFC doing with strikeforce? Will it be a farm system? Will it be like the old WEC?
I like the idea of using Strikeforce as a kind of Zuffa minor league. At least, I like it insofar as I like the idea of keeping it around at all. But my guess is that Zuffa won't fully embrace that idea. It creates too much brand confusion, which the UFC is already battling now that Spike TV is devoting so much of its programming to toying with the emotions of gullible fight fans who don't know that the UFC has moved on to another TV home. More likely, Strikeforce and Showtime will continue trying to sell fans on the notion that it's a first-rate organization on par with the UFC, and fans will continue to reject that nonsense. Let's face it, if you're a young MMA fighter just starting out these days, your dream is to fight in the UFC. No kid throws around a Nerf ball in his yard while imagining he's in the Arena league, and it's the same here. Just as it did with the WEC, reality will catch up eventually.
@chuckmindenhall Now that you know picking against Jardine is a dangerous pastime, will you make the same mistake when he fights Rockhold?
For those of you who don't know the backstory here, ESPN writer Chuck Mindenhall caught some flack from his peers for picking Jardine to beat Gegard Mousasi in their Strikeforce bout last spring. When the fight ended in a draw, Mr. Mindenhall claimed his pick had been vindicated, and insists to this day that he was "basically right." It's a baffling argument, and one that just won't die. Long story short: I'm picking Rockhold. Your move, Mindenhall.
@monsieuryeye what do you think of the addition of the strikeforce heavyweights and which of them has the best chance to get the belt?
The only thing I don't like about the decision to bring the Strikeforce heavies to the UFC is that it isn't happening immediately. I understand the desire to finish out the Grand Prix. Cormier-Barnett is an excellent fight, and one that ought to give that ambitious experiment some closure. But I don't see the point in doing one more fight with "a top-rated heavyweight," in Scott Coker's words, if ultimately they're all going to end up in the UFC anyway.
As for who has the chance to get the gold in the UFC, I think sooner or later Cormier is going to end up as UFC champion. Barnett will be his toughest test to date, but win or lose I think the experience will only make him better. His combination of elite wrestling skills and knockout power is dangerous for any big man out there.
@red_mattos If u were Joe Silva, who would @danhardymma face next? Would it be in UFC or would u send him to the minors aka strikeforce?
Hardy has said that he'd like a go with Matt Hughes, who, as you'll recall, asked the UFC to put him on the shelf for a little while. I could see Hughes coming off the bench for this fight, if only because he thinks Hardy is a guy he could out-wrestle for a quick paycheck. Either way, I think Hardy's next fight will be in the UFC, and it will be a must-win for "The Outlaw." As I touched on in my feature about him earlier this week, that's a pressure that can sometimes hurt more than it helps.
@richardelopez How does @MikeChiappetta get away with calling Tim Silvia a top tier opponent when he fought Fedor in Affliction? #mailbag
I hate to back Chia up twice in one mailbag, but you have to put aside what we know about Sylvia now and think back to the way things were in 2008. As Dan Carlin says in one of my favorite podcasts, the thing you have to remember when assessing the people and events of the past is that we know their future -- they don't. The same holds true for Fedor and Big Timmy.
After dropping the UFC title to Randy Couture via decision, Sylvia outpointed Brandon Vera (who seemed to be a rising star at the time) and was taking it to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira before he went and got himself submitted. Going into the fight with Fedor, he was still easily a top-ten heavyweight, and even Dana White admitted to being impressed with how easily Emelianenko dispatched him. It's easy to look at how far Sylvia has fallen since then and write him off, but at the time that was a legit test for Emelianenko, and he aced it. Now go tell Mike you're sorry. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChad Griggs Latest Heavyweight Moving From Strikeforce to UFC
Chad Griggs will bring his 3-0 Strikeforce record, including two big upsets, to the UFC's heavyweight division in 2012.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, chad, chad griggs
Read the full article at Heavy MMAFans can re-live the excitement of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal with highlights clip
If you were not among the group tuning in last weekend to Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal you not only missed an entertaining show but likely heard about some of the evening’s action including featherweight champion Cristiane Santos‘ massacare of 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka and 155-pound title-holder Gilbert Melendez‘s successful, strike-oriented defense against polished striker Jorge Masvidal.
Forunately, Strikeforce has produced a clip of highlights from the show summarizing the festivities in less than five minutes with all of the night’s biggest moments meaning folks who missed the event can catch up on all of the action.
Play-by-Play from the Main Card of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Watch as Melendez outclasses Masvidal while standing and Santos solidifies her spot as the top woman in MMA, as well as how things unfolded in other match-ups like Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista.
Check out the full feature below:
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, action playbyplay
Read the full article at Fighters.comPair of prelim bouts added to Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card
Two fights have been booked for the prelim card of the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card, which is scheduled for January 7 from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will be headlined by Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold defending his title against Keith Jardine.
Nah-Shon Burrell will put his 7-1 career record on the line against James Terry in a welterweight bout, while Trevor Smith and Gian Villante tangle in the light heavyweight ranks.
Burrell enters on a five-fight win streak, which includes two victories while competing for Strikeforce. Terry (11-3) recently fought as a lightweight, going 1-1. He now returns to welterweight, where he began his career.
Smith (9-1) is seeking his third victory in Strikeforce, with the first two coming in the Challengers series. Villante (8-3) is 0-2 in the promotion.
The entire prelim card will be televised by Showtime Extreme, while the main card is featured on Showtime. This is part of the new Strikeforce-Showtime agreement, which was reached this past month.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, card, prelim card, prelim bouts, strikeforceshowtime agreement
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Video Highlights
Didn't get a chance to watch Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Showtime? Check out ShoSports' video recap of the night's main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, melendez, showtime check
Read the full article at MMA Weekly“Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” Salaries: Melendez, Mousasi Each Earn $150K
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and former light heavyweight title-holder Gegard Mousasi each earned $150,000 for their respective wins this past Saturday to top the $580,000 payroll for “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.”
The Showtime-televised event took place on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California and included Melendez outpointing Jorge Masvidal in the main event to retain his belt, women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg knocking out Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16-seconds, and decision wins by Mousasi and KJ Noons.
The complete salaries for the main card were:
Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Jorge Masvidal: $23,000
Cris “Cyborg” Santos: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) def. Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000
Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince St. Preux: $17,000
KJ Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Billy Evangelista $20,000
The event drew an attendance of just 2,995 for a live gate of $154,075, while 460,000 viewers tuned in on Showtime.
For complete coverage of Strikeforce stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Gilbert Melendez
Posted in: strikeforce, mousasi, bonus, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChad Griggs Talks UFC Signing: I've Got to Prove I Deserve to Be There
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceChad Griggs was just starting to get comfortable in Strikeforce when the UFC came calling. Or rather, maybe it was Strikeforce that was finally getting comfortable with Griggs.
"I think after the last fight I started to feel good there," Griggs told MMA Fighting on Thursday. "They were kind of like, okay, fine. You're here. We're giving you some credit now."
But with Strikeforce's heavyweight division now going the way of the WEC -- and with Griggs' contract expiring not long after his third consecutive victory in the organization -- Griggs and his management were ecstatic about the chance to sign a new deal with the UFC, especially now that his stock is higher than ever.
"We've been talking for a while," said Griggs. "We've been throwing numbers back and forth for a little while because my contract was coming close to an end, so we were trying to figure out where I was going from here. I knew they were interested, and it was just a matter of if we could get the numbers right. I think we're both going to be happy. ...I'm excited about it, but now I've got to get in there and prove that I deserve to be there. It's time to put the work in and hopefully it pays off here in a few months."
Before getting the call to face Bobby Lashley in his Strikeforce debut in August of 2010, Griggs had been toying with the idea of dropping to light heavyweight. He was a bit on the small side for the heavyweight division, he figured, but the chance to face a big name like Lashley was too great an opportunity to turn down, even if he knew what Strikeforce was expecting out of the bout.
"Obviously Strikeforce doesn't want me to win," he told us before that fight. "But hey, they gave me the chance and now they've got to pay the consequences."
Griggs not only won that bout, but also notched first-round stoppages in two subsequent fights, including a TKO win in a thrilling brawl with Gian Villante in a Grand Prix reserve bout in February of this year, followed by another quick win over Valentijn Overeem in June. Now that he's signed a new contract with the UFC, he's planning to stay at heavyweight for the foreseeable future, he said.
"I'm not going to try and fix anything that's not broke. If I don't do well we may try something else...but for now I'll stay with what I know, and that's fighting the big boys."
He has no official date or opponent for his UFC debut, Griggs said, but there have been discussions about slotting him in for an event in March of 2012. Most importantly, he finally feels like he's in an organization that is interested in him as a fighter rather than as a sacrificial lamb, he said.
"But it's a plus and a minus. I'm going to a new league, so you've got to reestablish yourself and prove that you deserve to be there. It's like going to a new school, I guess. You want to fit in and do well, but at the same time I think they want to see me do well and they know I put on some good shows, so they're not sending me into the slaughter. They're giving me some respect."
Griggs said he hopes to be able to announce an opponent and date for his first UFC fight in the next couple weeks, and urged fans to "keep an eye out for me."
"I'm going to try and make some waves," he added. "Just put my head down and swing."
And why not? It's worked out well so far, even if the people signing his checks didn't always expect it to. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, grigg
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse‘El Nino,’ Mousasi Top Earners at Strikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and Dream light heavyweight titleholder Gegard Mousasi each walked away from Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” with $150,000 paychecks, the largest disclosed fight purses awarded at the Dec. 17 event.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, mousasi, melendez, fight purses
Read the full article at Sherdog4 Strikeforce Fighters from Dec. 17 Face Indefinite Suspensions
Four fighters who competed at Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” have been indefinitely suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for medical reasons following the Dec. 17 event.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, event, dec, california state
Read the full article at SherdogAlexis Davis Returns to Strikeforce in March
Riding a three-fight win streak, Alexis Davis will look to make it four in a row when she returns to Strikeforce in March.
Posted in: strikeforce, alexi, return, davi, march
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChad Griggs becomes UFC’s latest heavyweight addition
Chad Griggs, who made a name for himself on the heavyweight scene when he earned a TKO victory over Bobby Lashley, is headed to the UFC.
Griggs won his last three fights in Strikeforce but the promotion is in the process of having its heavyweight division absorbed by the UFC, instead focusing its attention on other weight classes. Griggs joins Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum as former Strikeforce heavyweights signed by the UFC.
MMAWeekly was the first to break the news on Griggs’ signing. No opponent or date for his debut have been announced.
“The Grave Digger” is 11-1 in his career with the only defeat coming back in 2007 via submission to Shane Ott. His most recent performance came against Valentijn Overeem in June who he beat soundly in the opening round of action.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, grigg, valentijn overeem
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce's Rousey says 'Cyborg' fight 'needs to happen,' wants 135-pound belt first
At just 24 years old and with a mere 138 seconds of professional
fighting experience, Strikeforce's Ronda Rousey is
certainly not lacking in confidence.
As such, Rousey already has her eyes set on a future meeting with
current Strikeforce 145-pound champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, a
woman widely regarded as the best - and certainly most dangerous -
female in the sport.
But not just yet, Rousey says. Timing is imperative.
Posted in: strikeforce, rousey, future meeting, strikeforces rousey, cyborg fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Adds Prelims to ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’
Strikeforce on Wednesday added a couple of preliminary bouts to its Rockhold vs. Jardine fight card slated for Jan. 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, la
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBurrell vs. Terry, Smith vs. Villante added to 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
A pair of preliminary contests has been added to January's "Strikeforce:
Rockhold vs. Jardine" event, as Nah-Shon Burrell
meets James Terry in a welterweight bout and Trevor
Smith faces Gian Villante in light heavyweight action.
Strikeforce officials recently announced the two new bouts.
Featuring a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and
UFC vet Keith Jardine "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" takes place
Jan. 7 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, nahshon burrell
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Heavyweights Chad Griggs & Lavar Johnson Move To The UFC, Antonio Silva Hopes To Follow
Following last week’s announcement that Strikeforce would be dissolving their heavyweight division for the coming year, word has come that Strikeforce heavyweights Chad Griggs and Lavar Johnson will be moving over to the UFC.
MMA Weekly has the report on Griggs.
The migration of former Strikeforce heavyweights to the UFC continues as Chad Griggs has signed a new deal to move over to the UFC in 2012.
Sources close to the fighter confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday that Griggs will move to the UFC and begin fighting there in the new year.
It’s unknown exactly where and when Griggs will make his UFC debut, however Lavar Johnson already has a fight scheduled. The UFC has confirmed that Johnson will take on Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2 in his first UFC fight.
Less than one week after UFC president Dana White announced that Strikeforce would no longer be promoting heavyweight contests, UFC executives today announced Lavar Johnson (15-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been imported to the UFC and will meet Joey Beltran (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC).
The two heavyweights will clash at UFC on FOX 2, which takes place Jan. 28 at Chicago’s United Center.
The night’s main card airs on FOX, but Beltran vs. Johnson is expected to take place on the evening’s preliminary card.
Griggs and Johnson aren’t the only ones making the move. MMA Weekly reported last week that Fabricio Werdum had re-signed with the UFC and would face Roy Nelson at UFC 143. The UFC still hasn’t made it official, however both Werdum and Nelson both confirmed it today, so an announcement is likely imminent.
I may be missing a few, but that still leaves Antonio Silva, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.
Silva, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, hopes to make the jump next year as well, however there hasn’t been any movement on that front as of yet.
Barnett and Cormier are expected to meet in the Heavyweight Grand Prix finals in March. The winner will then fight one more time on Showtime against a “top heavyweight.” I would assume the winner would then move to the UFC, but that’s still unclear.
All in all, it looks like the Strikeforce heavyweights are moving on to bigger and better things. Bet Gilbert Melendez wishes he was about a 100 pounds heavier.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, johnson, grigg
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGilbert Melendez, Gegard Mousasi Top Lightly-Attended Strikeforce Event Payouts
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi each made $150,000 for their efforts last Saturday at the promotion's event in San Diego, each nearly topping what the show generated in ticket sales.
The California State Athletic Commission released the numbers for the entire show Tuesday and MMA Fighting reported on them, revealing a paltry attendance of 2995 and a final gate at $154,075.
From high to low, here's the breakdown of who earned what Saturday. Like always, these don't include discretionary bonuses given by Zuffa:
Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)
Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus)
Cristiane Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 win bonus)
K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus)
Jorge Masvidal: $23,000
Billy Evangelista: $20,000
Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus)
Ovince St. Preux: $17,000
Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus)
Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus)
Justin Wilcox: $12,000
Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000
Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus)
Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3000 win bonus)
Gabriel Salinas: $3,000
Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000
Chris Brown: $3,000
Jerron Peoples: $2,000
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, bonus, melendez, show tuesday, promotions event
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce's Chad Griggs Headed to the UFC
And here come the mutton chops.
Joining Strikeforce alum Lavar Johnson in the UFC will be Chad "The Gravedigger" Griggs. A report from MMA Weekly states that Griggs has already signed a new deal, and sources close to the website suggest that he'll be making his debut "on one of the first cards in the first part of 2012."
Griggs attained semi-prominence in the IFL as team heavyweight for Don Frye's Arizona Scorpions (which is about as strange a sentence as I could expect to write). Though he only compiled a record of 1-1-0 with the organization, Griggs was held in particular esteem by Frye as the grittiest, most diligent member of the team. Following the IFL's collapse, Griggs won three straight competing in regional promotions before stepping away from MMA for sixteen months. An offer to debut in Strikeforce against Bobby Lashley brought Griggs back to the ring in August of 2010. A heavy underdog, Griggs capitalized on Lashley's poor-conditioning and left "The Dominator" badly beaten and unable to answer the bell for the third round.
During his time with Strikeforce Griggs went undefeated, bringing his record to 11-1-0. That he was tabbed as an underdog heading into every one of his three fights, and that he nevertheless punched every one of his opponents into submission or near-unconsciousness, has greatly endeared him to fans.
Being relatively small, I wouldn't be surprised if Griggs makes the cut to 205 at some point, though given his recent tear, I'd expect him to give it a go among the heavyweights first. A bout with Pat Barry seems to make sense, though for now Griggs' next opponent remains nothing more than an interesting question.
Posted in: strikeforce, grigg, team heavyweight, organization griggs, gravedigger griggs
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendTen Fighters Hit with Medical Suspensions After Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Main-event fighters Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal were among 10 fighters slapped with medical suspensions after their Strikeforce fights on Saturday.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, jorge masvidal, melendez, strikeforce fights
Read the full article at Heavy MMAZuffa’s algorithm chooses Chad Griggs to leave Strikeforce and join the UFC
With Zuffa deciding to fold the Strikeforce heavyweight division, we're gonna see the UFC heavyweight division swell and I'm as excited as a 10-year-old being presented with a giant birthday cake after having just seen Erika Eleniak pop out of one in Under Siege. If you've seen that movie, then you will know what I'm talking about and understand that the only way I could be more excited is if I woke up and found myself magically transported to Evolve HQ in Singapore.
We already know that Fabricio Werdum is going to face Roy Nelson his return to the UFC but further names have eluded us...until now. MMAWeekly.com has reported Chad Griggs will be moving to the UFC in 2012, with his debut expected to come early in the year. A former Tuscon Scorpion in the IFL, Griggs has never gone to a decision and holds an 11-1 record with notable wins over Bobby Lashley and Valentijn Overeem in Strikeforce. Oh, and he also has awesome sideburns. If only we could convince him to 'do a TWAS' and shave them into star burns in homage to the Community character. Let's just hope that my disappointment as a 10-year-old at not being presented with a stripper for my birthday isn't felt by Chad Griggs in his UFC debut. [Source]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, chad griggs, grigg, valentijn overeem
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal attendance, salary information released
This past Saturday’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal failed to generate much interest around the MMA community, and, after seeing the attendance figures, it seems most fans in the San Diego felt the same way. According to official numbers from the CSAC the only card drew 2,995 people for $154,075 in gate. The number is one of the organization’s lowest to date and on par with a pre-Vegas Strikeforce Challengers show rather than a major card featuring two title-fights/
As far as salaries go, Gilbert Melendez, earned $150,000 for successfully defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal, as did Gegard Mousasi who stopped Ovince St. Preux in their main card match-up. Masvidal, in his first big-time main event, was awarded $23,000.
Cris “Cyborg” Santos, who knocked out Hiroko Yamanaka in just sixteen seconds, earned $66,000 including a $33,000 win bonus.
Other fighters who walked away with win bonuses included K.J. Noons, Caros Fodor, Roger Bowling, Devin Cole, Eddie Mendez, and Herman Terrado.
The salaries for each fighters is just what was reported to the California State Athletic Commission and does not include any post-fight bonuses awarded.
Read below for a full list of paydays frrom Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal:
Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3000 win bonus) def. Chris Brown: $3,000
Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000
Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 win bonus) def. Gabriel Salinas: $3,000
Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 win bonus) def. Jerron Peoples: $2,000
Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Justin Wilcox: $12,000
K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($30,000 win bonus) def. Billy Evangelista: $20,000
Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince St. Preux: $17,000
Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 win bonus) def. Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000
Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Jorge Masvidal: $23,000
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, san diego, bonus, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFabricio Werdum vs. Roy Nelson Confirmed for UFC 143
Filed under: UFC, NewsFabricio Werdum's first fight back in the UFC will be against the new-look Roy Nelson. Both Nelson and Werdum confirmed the news, which was first reported last week by MMAWeekly.com, on Tuesday.
The fight will take place at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.
Werdum (14-5-1) last appeared in the UFC in Oct. 2009 when he lost via first-round knockout to Junior dos Santos. The promotion released the Brazilian following the fight, which led to him subsequently signing with Strikeforce. The 34-year-old went 3-1 in Strikeforce, with his defining moment coming in June 2010 when he submitted Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. Werdum was last seen in a Strikeforce cage losing to Alistair Overeem via unanimous decision. He went 2-2 in the UFC.
Nelson (16-6) showed off a leaner physique at UFC 137 against Mirko Cro Cop. "Big Country" picked up a much-needed win when he defeated the Croat via third-round TKO. The win snapped a three-fight losing streak for Nelson.
UFC 143 will be headlined by Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. The main card will air live on pay-per-view. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, werdum, nelson, round werdum
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWhat the UFC signing of Lavar Johnson, Chad Griggs means for Strikeforce Heavyweights
Just days after it was revealed that the Strikeforce Heavyweight division would soon cease to exist, it's merger with the UFC's 265-pound talent appears to be underway.During a media conference call held last week, it was announced that Showtime and ZUFFA had extended their broadcasting deal, allowing the Strikeforce brand to live on for the foreseeable future. Though this meant job security for many of the up and coming fighters that the promotion currently employs, news that they would eliminate their
Posted in: strikeforce, broadcasting deal, strikeforce heavyweights, job security, strikeforce brand
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' ratings average 460,000 viewers for Dec. 17 event on Showtime
Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" took place this past Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, and featured the new face of the promotion, Gilbert Melendez, defending his lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal.
And if the ratings are any indication of the what's ahead for the recently resurrected promotion, there may be hope just yet.
That's because the event averaged 460,000 viewers on Showtime and recorded a 1.35 household rating, according to Sherdog.com. That's up considerably from the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix tournament semifinals, which drew just 274,000 viewers back on Sept. 10.
Much has changed since then, of course, including the outlook for the promotion. No longer is it a lame duck organization waiting to be put out of its misery. Sure, these numbers aren't blowing anyone away but it's a good start under the new agreement.
And you gotta start somewhere.
In the main event of the evening, Gilbert Melendez turned in yet another solid performance and retained his 155-pound championship by outworking Jorge Masvidal over the course of five grueling rounds.
He followed that up by calling out the UFC but he'll have to sit tight and take on whoever Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker can find him.
That may be K.J. Noons, who also won a unanimous decision on the card, besting the always game Billy Evangelista. He did just lose a title eliminator to Masvidal, who earned his shot on this card by defeating Noons, but such is the revolving door in a smaller promotion.
Cristiane Santos once again showed the world why she might actually belong fighting men, as it took her just 16 seconds to dispose of Hiroko Yamanaka, a highly ranked 145-pound lethal lady.
Not so lethal against "Cyborg."
For complete "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" results and recap of all the night's action click hhere and here.
Posted in: promotion, strikeforce, event, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Draws 460,000 Viewers on Showtime
Strikeforce earned an average of 460,000 viewers for its live Saturday broadcast of “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, viewer, melendez, saturday broadcast, showtime strikeforce
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' payouts: Gilbert Melendez, Gegard Mousasi earn event-high $150,000 apiece
Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event this past Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011), which aired on Showtime from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., were released to MMAmania.com this evening by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Unsurprisingly, lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez led the payout pack, earning $150,000 for his five-round unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
"El Nino" was adamant after the fight that he could compete against the cream of the crop in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 155-pound division; however, he might want to reconsider based on his payday, which was $48,000 more than the base salary that Frankie Edgar took home for his performance at UFC 125 earlier this year.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi was also rewarded handsomely for his 15 minutes of work, defeating Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision to inch himself closer to another championship opportunity.
That's not all.
Here is the complete list of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" salaries and payouts:
Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)Jorge Masvidal: $23,000Melendez defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision
Cristiane Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to win) Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000Santos defeated Yamanaka via knockout in round one
Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus)Ovince St. Preux: $17,000Mousasi defeated St. Preux via unanimous decision
KJ Noons: $ 65,000 ($35,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Billy Evangelista: $20,000Noons defeated Evangelista via unanimous decision
Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Justin Wilcox: $12,000Fodor defeated Wilcox via knockout in round one
Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win) Jerron Peoples: $2,000Bowling defeated Peoples via knockout in round one
Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Gabriel Salinas: $3,000Cole defeated Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision
Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000Mendez defeated Gonzalez via split decision
Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win) Chris Brown: $3,000Terrado defeated Brown via submission (armbar) in round three
The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" was $580,000.
Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.
For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJoey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson Set for UFC on Fox 2
The UFC isn't wasting any time after announcing that the Strikeforce heavyweight division will fold after the conclusion of the grand prix tournament in March, with news breaking tonight via the UFC twitter account that Strikeforce fighter, Lavar Johnson, will make the jump to the UFC to face Joey Beltran in Chicago on January 28th:
Heavyweights added to @UFConFOX 2 in Chicago: Joey Beltran @Mexicutioner760 vs. @LavarJohnson
Although Johnson isn't technically the first fighter to make the jump from Strikeforce, as Fabricio Werdum's fight with Roy Nelson at UFC 143 was reported last week, he will still be fighting before Werdum does. As much of a threat as "Big"'s power is on the feet, he's shown some severe deficiencies on the ground, as evidenced by two submissions losses in his last two fights. Although Beltran will likely engage him on the feet, the "Mexicutioner" is in need of a win too, and he has shown an adequate take-down game in the past, so it might not be surprising nor a bad strategic movie if Beltran decides to get Johnson to the floor.
Joey "The Mexicutioner" Beltran (13-6)L Stipe Miocic (unam. decision) - UFC 136W Aaron Rosa (TKO) - UFC 131L Pat Barry (unam. decision) - UFC Fight for the Troops 2
Lavar "Big" Johnson (15-5)L Shawn Jordan (submission - keylock) - Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. RossboroughL Shane del Rosario (submission - armbar) - Strikeforce: Fedor vs. SilvaW Virgil Zwicker (KO) - Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker
Here's how the UFC on Fox 2 card is currently stacking up:
Fox Main Card:-Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis-Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz-Michael Bisping vs. Demian MaiaFuel TV Prelims:-Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass-Johnny Bedford vs. Eddie Wineland-Joey Beltran vs. Lavar Johnson-Michael Johnson vs. Cody McKenzie-Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow-George Roop vs. Cub Swanson-Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby
UFC on Fox 2 coverage
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, vs, johnson, beltran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Salaries, Gate & Attendance Numbers
Gilbert Melendez and Gegard Mousasi are happy Strikeforce fighters after both topped the salaries list with $150,000 paydays each.
Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, salary, strikeforce fighters, salaries list
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Fighters’ Drugs of Abuse Tests Clean, Steroid Tests Still Pending
The California State Athletic Commission on Tuesday informed MMAWeekly.com of the fighters that were drug tested for last Saturday’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, drug, california state, abuse tests
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Medical Suspensions
Following a hard night of fights several competitors from Strikeforce face medical suspensions including Jorge Masvidal and Devin Cole who must gain doctor's clearance before returning to action.
Posted in: devin cole, doctors clearance, jorge masvidal, strikeforce face, strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Video Recap
A video recap of Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” courtesy of Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, recap, melendez, video recap
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Fighter Salaries
The CSAC has released the fighter payouts for Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal”. Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.
Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi led the pack with flat $150,000 paydays. Strikeforce women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg was next in line with a $66,000 payday with her win bonus. It was a significant bump from the $35,000 she pocketed for beating Jan Finney at Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Werdum.” KJ Noons was right behind her with $65,000 in total earnings.
The total disclosed payroll came to $580,000, however the $154,000 live gate was barely enough to cover Gilbert Melendez’s purse, let alone the rest of the payroll.
Payouts
Courtesy of MMA Junkie:
Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)
Jorge Masvidal: $23,000
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos: $66,000 ($33k + $33k win bonus)
Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000
Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus)
Ovince St. Preux: $17,000
K.J. Noons: $65,000 ($35k + $30k)
Billy Evangelista: $20,000
Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10k + $10k)
Justin Wilcox: $12,000
Roger Bowling: $14,200 ($7k + $7k + $200 Peoples weight fine)
Jerron Peoples: $1,600 ($2k – $200 fine to Bowling – $200 fine to CSAC)
Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6k + $6k)
Gabriel Salinas-Jones: $3,000
Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3k + $3k)
Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000
Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3k + $3k)
Chris Brown: $3,000
Total Payout
A disclosed total of $580,000 was paid out to the fighters.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, bonus, melendez, taxes insurance
Read the full article at MMA Convert'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' officially draws 2,995 attendance and $154K gate
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" officially drew 2,995 attendees for a $154,075 live gate.
California State Athletic Commission officials today emailed the figures to MMAjunkie.com.
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" took place Dec. 17 at Valley View
Casino Center in San Diego. The night's four-fight main card aired on
Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san diego, masvidal, nights fourfight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLavar Johnson to make Octagon Debut at UFC on Fox 2
Following on the heels of Strikeforce's revelation that they'll discontinuing their heavyweight division comes the announcement that Strikeforce mainstay Lavar Johnson will be facing off against Joey Beltran as part of January 28th's UFC on Fox 2 show. Aside from Fabricio Werdum's rumored return to the UFC (which Dana White has since declined to confirm) Johnson represents the first of the Strikeforce heavyweights to make the move over to the Octagon.
With heavy hands and a penchant for slugging it out, Johnson became something of a fan-favorite in Strikeforce, beginning his promotional campaign with three straight victories by (T)KO. A February bout with Shane del Rosario would see Johnson's streak would come to an end, however, with Johnson submitting to an arm bar in the closing minute of the first round. He'd hoped to rebound this past September against Shawn Jordan, but was again submitted--after a raucous first round, an exhausted Johnson found himself on the mat, stuck in a fight-ending kimura.
It suggests a lot, that a heavyweight in a rut two fights deep should be an an immediately viable addition to the UFC (I can't remember the last time anyone else was brought on after going winless the year prior). Certainly it speaks to the generally shallow heavyweight talent pool that we hear so much about. And of course it tells us that until a 250-pound Anderson Silva makes himself known, the UFC is going to content itself with employing heavyweights who they can count on for fireworks. Most interesting to me, however, is what this decision says about the chances of other Strikeforce heavyweights making the move. If Johnson is in, then we could surely expect to see del Rosario, Daniel Cormier, and Chad Griggs on a UFC broadcast as well. Likewise, one could certainly make a strong case for the additions of Werdum, del Rosario and Sergei Kharitonov, all of whom went 1-1-0 this year, unlike Johnson. Yet, the biggest fish in that pond is also the one with the biggest question mark over his file. Josh Barnett is most likely the strongest fighter that could be (re)introduced to the UFC heavyweight division, but given his highly contentious past with Dana White and Co., it's hard to tell what exactly his chances are. Dare to dream, right?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, johnson, strikeforce heavyweights
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Draws 460,000 Viewers
So much for the momentum from the announcement that Strikeforce was going to keep on keepin' on in 2012. Last Saturday's event featuring Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez headlining and Women's Featherweight Champion Cristiane Santos in the co-main event drew 460,000 viewers, verified by industry insiders.Of the eight non-Challengers events Strikeforce put on in 2011, Saturday's event ranked sixth in total viewership. February's event featuring Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva led the pack with 741,000 viewers while September's show with Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov was in the basement at 274,000 viewers.
On Saturday, Melendez took a unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal while Santos dispatched Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16 seconds. Strikeforce will have an opportunity to rebound on Saturday, January 7 when Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold defends his title against Keith Jardine during a free Showtime preview weekend.
Last week, UFC President Dana White announced on a conference call that Strikeforce and Showtime have extended their partnership and will put on 6-8 events in the coming year, eliminating the Challengers series. The number has to be disappointing considering there was a strong lead-in from a major boxing match featuring Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, saturday, viewer
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Draws 460K Viewers On Showtime
Last weekend's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which featured lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez's victory against Masvidal, drew 460,000 viewers on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, viewer, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Heavy MMA'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' ratings: Showtime nets 460,000 viewers
Despite a strong combat sports lead-in with the finals of the Super Six
Wold Boxing Classic, this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs.
Masvidal" event drew just 460,000 Showtime viewers.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures from an industry source.
The figure serves as just the sixth-highest mark of Strikeforce's eight "Arena Series" events to air on Showtime in 2011.
Posted in: figure, strikeforce, showtime, industry source, sixthhighest mark
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFrank Mir is Ready for the Strikeforce Heavyweights
Frank Mir is riding high after his arm breaking submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 and he's already looking for new challenges. In a recent interview with ESPN 1100 he said that he was ready for the Strikeforce heavyweights to be brought into the UFC.
Yahoo! Sports' Cagewriter blog has the quote:
"I think it's only a benefit to move them over to us," Mir said on the ESPN1100/98.9 FM's "MMA Insiders" show (9:15 mark). "I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth because of what happened when I first started my career. I had to always hear about 'oh, you guys are good, but the PRIDE guys would kick your butt.' And then that frustration of not being able to get to them."
...
"I don't want to hear that [who's the best discussion anymore]. I want to know that anybody in the division ... 'you think that you can beat me? Hey Joe Silva, is he clear? Okay cool, let's fight,'" said Mir.
I'm not sure if any of the Strikeforce heavies are actually in a position right now to challenge Mir outside of Josh Barnett. Daniel Cormier is very talented but I don't think he has quite the type of game that has always troubled Mir.
Am I missing any potentially great Mir vs. Strikeforce Heavyweights match-ups?
SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida
Posted in: strikeforce, mir, i dont, strikeforce heavyweights, strikeforce heavies
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBrydon on MMA: The Strikeforce conundrum
It will be interesting to see how Strikeforce will avoid looking like a secondary promotion in the shadow of the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, brydon, strikeforce conundrum, conundrum
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLavar Johnson Moves From Strikeforce to UFC for Chicago Fox Event
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceAs Zuffa moves forward on its plans to fold Strikeforce's heavyweight division into the UFC, the company announced Tuesday that Lavar Johnson will be the next Strikeforce heavyweight to set foot in the Octagon.
Johnson will fight Joey Beltran at UFC on Fox 2 on January 28 in Chicago.
The hard-punching Johnson won three straight fights on Strikeforce Challengers cards in 2009 and 2010, but this year he lost to Shane Del Rosario in an alternate bout in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, then bounced back down to Challengers and lost to Shawn Jordan. He's in a must-win situation at UFC on Fox 2, and so is Beltran, who has lost three of his last four.
The UFC also made a few other fight announcements on Tuesday afternoon:
-- Featherweight Erik Koch has suffered an injury and is out of his planned UFC 143 fight against Dustin Poirier. Koch and Poirier are two of the best young featherweights in the sport, and that fight should have been a big one. The UFC will seek a replacement to fight Poirier.
-- The 5-0 Brazilian prospect Caio Magalhaes has been signed and will make his Octagon debut in his home country against Fabio Maldonado at UFC 142. Maldonado had previously been scheduled to face Stansislav Nedkov, but he was forced to withdraw from the fight.
-- John Albert, a bantamweight who competed on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter and beat Dustin Pague in the Finale, will return and take a step up in quality of competition when he takes on Ivan Menjivar at the February 15 UFC on Fuel TV card in Omaha. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, johnson, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce's Devin Cole tweets "Here's what my eye looks like 2 days after getting poked in it...
Strikeforce's Devin Cole tweets "Here's what my eye looks like 2 days after getting poked in it during my fight."
Posted in: strikeforce, eye, tweet, here, devin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 112: Tyron Woodley, 2011 Year in Review Part 1
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they talk all the latest news in mixed martial arts. We'll begin our four-part "Year in Review" series, starting with two categories: Rookie of the Year (defined as the fighter making the biggest splash on the national stage in their first year there) and Comeback of the Year. Matt and Brian will present their top five in each category and give debate to each.
We'll also extend the debate to the people, taking your ballots for each category.
We'll be joined by Strikeforce welterweight Tyron Woodley in advance of his "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight with Jordan Mein. We'll chat with him about that fight, the state of the Strikeforce welterweight division and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, year, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGegard Mousasi wants to rematch King Mo in Strikeforce's 'stacked' light heavyweight division
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi, fresh off a unanimous decision win over Ovince St. Preux back on Dec. 17, wants his 205-pound title back.
And if he can reclaim it, while also defeating the man who took it from him, Muhammed Lawal, than Mousasi can "prove something at 205," which he intends to do before an eventual move to heavyweight.
Now that Dan Henderson has bolted for the greener pastures of the UFC, "The Dreamcatcher" can be one of just a handful of light heavyweights vying for the promotion's vacated division crown.
"My only loss in a couple years has been to King Mo, so I would definitely like that fight, especially if it's a title fight. Light heavyweight isn't that bad in Strikeforce you have Mike Kyle, Feijao, King Mo, me, there's some upcoming guys so it's getting stacked even more. It's getting better. I think it suits me better if I stay busy. My last fight was five months ago and it didn't do me well, I believe. I'm now a bigger 205, I need to win a lot more fights at 205, prove something at 205. At the end of my career, I would still like to finish as a heavyweight."
Hear more from Mousasi, courtesy of Fighting Famous TV, after the jump.
To see how his fight unfolded against Ovince St. Preux at last weekend's Strikeforce event in San Diego click here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, light, mousasi
Read the full article at MMA ManiaKing Mo Backs Off 'Cancer Patient' Comments, Wants to Fight Where the Money Is
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsIn September, "King" Mo Lawal said he viewed Strikeforce as something like "a dying cancer patient," saying he was just waiting for the promotion he's been fighting in since 2009 to die. But Lawal doesn't feel that way anymore.
With Lawal set to fight Lorenz Larkin on the January 7 Strikeforce card -- the first card on a new agreement between Zuffa and Showtime to keep Strikeforce alive through 2012 -- Lawal now views Strikeforce as alive and well.
"I was wrong to say it was a cancer patient. The cancer went into remission and Strikeforce is back," Lawal said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.
That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that Lawal will be part of Strikeforce in the long term. Lawal has made no secret that he'd like to be involved in bigger fights (and bigger paydays) in the UFC. And although he said his request for a fight with Rampage Jackson in Japan never came close to fruition, he said he's hoping for big fights and big money next year, after his current contract expires following the fight with Larkin.
"I've got one more fight on my contract and then my contract ends in February," Lawal said. "King Mo just wants to go where he can get paid and get paid without the check bouncing."
Lawal said he has no problem remaining with Strikeforce, and he wasn't upset to learn that Zuffa will continue to operate the UFC and Strikeforce separately, rather than absorb Strikeforce fighters into the UFC.
"I just hope they can get us good fights and get us paid well," Lawal said. "I'm not disappointed."
The 12-0 Larkin, who has come up through the Strikeforce Challengers series, represents an interesting challenge for Lawal. If Larkin can pull the upset, it would certainly hurt Lawal's negotiating position as he looks to sign a new contract, but Lawal doesn't see that happening.
"Get this win, which I will," Lawal said. "And then I'll see what the options are and see what happens." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, cancer, lawal, cancer patient
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFrank Mir excited about the possibility of Strikeforce’s heavyweights coming to UFC
Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir has heard about all the great heavyweights outside of the UFC for years now.
Thanks to the addition of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner, and the decision to include Strikeforce’s heavyweight division in the UFC in 2012, Mir will no longer have to dream about becoming the best in the world.
Mir, who recently defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the second time in his career, is excited about seeing the likes of Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, and Fabricio Werdum inside the Octagon.
“I think it’s only a benefit to move them over to us. I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth because of what happened when I first started my career. I had to always hear about, ‘Oh, you guys are good, but the PRIDE guys would kick your butt.’ And then that frustration of not being able to get to them,” said Mir, in an interview with ESPN’s MMA Insiders radio station. “I don’t want to hear that (who’s the best discussion anymore). I want to know that anybody in the division…’you think that you can beat me? Hey, Joe Silva, is he clear? Okay, cool, let’s fight.”
Mir has held both undisputed and interim championships. The Las Vegas native has won three straight fights since a loss to Shane Carwin back in 2010 including his “Submission of the Year” finish of “Minotauro” at UFC 140.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mir, heavyweight, zuffa banner
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainTyron Woodley and the Strikeforce Welterweight Division
Strikeforce's welterweight division is a bit of a puzzle these days. With divisional champion Nick Diaz now in the UFC, the weight class lacks any definitive gold standard. That the UFC continues to house the top thirteen welterweights in the world further complicates things. How can Strikeforce firmly establish, let alone expand, the 170 pound weight class with so little big-name talent available? Rather than hang their hat on one star attraction--ala Diaz--development of new talent and dedication to current, underexposed fighters will be key. So, let's look at the welterweights...
Top Five
Tyron Woodley, undefeated in his career and in the midst of a lengthy campaign through Strikeforce, is the organization's clear welterweight front runner. Following wins over Andre Galvao, Tarec Saffiedine, and Paul Daley, Woodley was considered next in line for a title shot. With Diaz gone, Woodley should figure all the more heavily in the division. Turning his fight with Jordan Mein into a championship affair would make a lot of sense.
Jordan Mein finds himself in a fight with Woodley after his sensational Strikeforce debut, which saw him use a barrage of standing elbow strikes to snuff out Evangelista Santos. At 23-7-0, with twenty of his victories coming by TKO or submission, Mein is just the kind of new blood the welterweight division needs.
With heavy hands and a knack for brawling, Bobby Voelker has climbed to 4-1-0 in Strikeforce. His lone defeat came by way of a contentious technical decision against Roger Bowling, a loss that he avenged twice over. It's hard to say how far his riotous style will take him, but given his strong record and fan-friendly style, Voelker's probably due for a step up in competition and exposure.
Along with Jordan Mein, Jason High is one of the best addition's to Strikeforce's welterweight roster. With a strong team behind him and a record of 15-3-0, the American Top Team representative ought to be a big factor among Strikeforce welterweights. That he owns a win over Mein doesn't hurt.
For a while, Tarec Saffiedine was running neck-and-neck with Tyron Woodley en route to contender-ship. And though a tepid decision loss to Woodley put a halt to such hopes, Saffiedine made it look easy against Scott Smith in his follow-up fight, and a rumored bout with KO-artist Tyler Stinson this January could once again set him apart from the pack.
After the jump, the best of the rest, plus the ever-insightful conclusion...
The Best of the Rest
Roger Bowling has demonstrated a flair for the knuckle sandwich, though he hasn't made it work for him quite as well as welterweight nemesis Bobby Voelker. In typically concussive fashion, Bowling improved his Strikeforce record to 3-2-0 last weekend, and his style should continue to make him an asset to the division.
Come this January, Tyler Stinson will have the chance to prove that his upset win over the surging Eduardo Pamplona was no fluke. There's much to gain in his upcoming fight with Saffiedine.
Strikeforce mainstay Luke Stewart has been MIA since a poorly rendered split-decision loss to Andre Galvao in March of 2010, and Galvao himself has been absent from the ring since a KO loss to Tyron Woodley last October. To paraphrase a great man, they have some ‘splaining to do.
And so...
A glance at Strikeforce's welterweight division reveals a lot of exciting fighters who for the most part have yet to display any consistency beyond undercard-level fights. Aside from crowning a champion, there's a lot of sorting that needs done. With this in mind, fighters like James Terry, who's seen action at both 155 and 170, and Nate Moore (2-1-0 in Strikeforce) will be invaluable, but it may help to introduce some more established talent into the division, as well. For this purpose, I think Delson Heleno (23-6-0) and Chris Wilson (17-8-0) would make excellent additions to the organization.
A high-level grappler like Heleno, who has submitted both Jake Ellenberger and the aforementioned Stinson, would bring some welcome variety to the 170-pound proceedings, which at this point skews heavily toward straight fisticuffs. With wins over Jay Hieron and Rory Markham (the latter by TKO), Wilson would likewise add some much needed depth to the welterweight division.
Posted in: strikeforce, welterweight, division, tyron woodley, woodley
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendGilbert Melendez Says He has Done More Than Ben Henderson to Earn Title Shot
For all the talk of how "thrilled" Gilbert Melendez is to remain in Strikeforce, there are still plenty of moments where he indicates otherwise. Most recently in an interview he did with Famous TV.
ESPN has a transcript of Melendez's statements:
"I don't feel like I shouldn't be in this position, I'm not crying about my position but I think I've done more than Ben Henderson," told Fighting Famous TV. "You know, these guys were on The Ultimate Fighter - I was already fighting in PRIDE and ranked top three in the world but some people just don't understand that.
"I'm not trying to be a cry baby again, but I just know my history and I've been there. I've already hit these bumps in the road and come back. Some of these guys haven't hit that bump in the road where they have to reinvent themselves and I've already hit that and they're still going to hit that."
This is the ultimate problem with Melendez in Strikeforce. Yes, he's a professional, but when a man feels that he isn't getting the opportunities that he deserves, it can lead to complacency through a sense of dissatisfaction.
For Melendez, his future is fights with men he has already defeated or men who aren't truly on his level. When you've spent your career establishing that you're one of the best in the world, get to the #2 spot and now are relegated to fighting fringe talents while you watch men you feel haven't "earned it" as much as you get bigger opportunities, it is bound to create some level of animosity.
For Melendez, what's the end game here?
I'm holding firm to the idea that Zuffa must send some fighters to Strikeforce to challenge Melendez. Yes, it may result in payouts that somewhat outpace the cash generated by the events, but that's what it takes to build up a promotion and fighters.
There's a lot of talk that a UFC fighter may see a temporary move to Strikeforce as some sort of horrible demotion, but it's an opportunity to fight the number two lightweight on the planet. For a man like Kenny Florian, unlikely to ever get another shot at a UFC title, that may be something tempting as a mark on his resume. A title run (yes, a secondary title) and the marquee win in his career.
Or even a Sean Sherk, unlikely to ever get to the top of the UFC heap at this point in his caeer but a fully legitimate test for Melendez.
An option like these is something that has to happen for the good of Melendez and Strikeforce as a whole.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: title, strikeforce, ben henderson, gilbert melendez, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFrank Mir: Strikeforce heavyweights add much needed depth to UFC roster
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Frank Mir is probably getting sick of rematches.
That could explain why he's so happy to have his heavyweight counterparts over at Strikeforce join him early next year inside the Octagon, adding some much needed depth to the 265-pound division.
Mir talks to ESPN 1100/98.9 FM's "MMA Insiders" show (via Yahoo Sports):
"We don't have the type of depth that the other weight classes have and I think it's only a benefit to move them (Strikeforce heavyweights) over to us. I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth because of what happened when I first started my career. I had to always hear about, 'Oh, you guys are good, but the PRIDE guys would kick your butt.' There is no comparison and then that frustration of not being able to get to them. And then when Nogueira came over and Mirko, ( I ) got a hold of them. 'Yeah, but there is still Fedor.' I don't want to hear that. I want to know that anybody that is in the division, it's like if you think you can beat me, 'Hey Joe Silva, is he clear?' Okay, cool, let's fight. Now we can solve it you know? That whole unattainable thing just drives me insane."
Some of the Strikeforce heavyweights will make the jump over to the UFC due to the planned termination of the division in 2012.
Mir is hoping to prove that all the best of the big boys reside in the UFC, much like he did when he went three for three against two former PRIDE FC heavyweight champions in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Filipovic; who many believed were the cream of the crop during their heyday in the PRIDE organization.
With potential additions such as Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva; Mir, or any other UFC heavyweight for that matter, will have no shortage of opponents should the move come to pass.
Fresh of his first round submission victory of "Minotauro" at UFC 140 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, back on Dec. 10, 2011, Mir is patiently waiting to see just who UFC matchmakers pair him up against.
Should it be one of the Strikeforce heavyweights?
Who do you feel would be a good match-up for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mir, heavyweight, strikeforce heavyweights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMAWeekly Radio Monday: Strikeforce Review, Manager Alex Davis and Patrick Cote
MMAWeekly Radio is back for Monday with MMA manager Alex Davis and former UFC middleweight Patrick Cote as well as a look back at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, mmaweekly, monday, alex, patrick
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyThree Fights To Make After Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Jeremy Botter takes a look at three fights he'd like see coming out of Strikeforce's latest Showtime offering.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, jeremy, fights hed, hed
Read the full article at Heavy MMAThe Scorecard – Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
The Scorecard hits the highs and lows of the latest big event offering in MMA. Points are assigned completely at random but stay between ten and negative ten because I hate math.
The final Strikeforce event of the year featured the best fighter not in the UFC and the best female fighter on the planet and yet it felt like any random MMA event on HDNet. Maybe it was because the San Diego crowd was too busy getting prepared for the Chargers Sunday showdown with the Baltimore Ravens on NBC or the Showtime crowd was too busy getting prepared for Sunday’s Dexter and Homeland season finales, but things just didn’t feel important on Saturday night.
Lets go to the scorecard:
*While I didn’t turn it to Showtime at 10:30 because I watched the boxing fight, I’m sure some people did and they didn’t see MMA. I fully blame Showtime for poor time management, knowing that the Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch fight could run into the Strikeforce start time if it went to a decision but they still took 30 minutes to get the guys in the ring. MINUS FOUR
*I hate the Strikeforce highlight video that runs prior to all their events. Half the people they show in the video don’t even compete in Strikeforce anymore. Hopefully they update it or get rid of it next year. MINUS TWO
*According to Mauro Ranallo, Saturday was the biggest night in combat sports history due to the Super Six Final and Strikeforce. It wasn’t even the biggest night in combat sports in the last 2 months. November 12 (UFC on FOX & Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 3) says hello. MINUS THREE
*Frank Shamrock’s braces. Nothing else needs to be said. MINUS TWO
*Big fan of the “Encore/Numb” mash-up by Jay-Z and Linkin Park so I salute Billy Evangelista for making it his walk out song. PLUS TWO
*K.J. Noons tops Evangelista though by using “All Eyez On Me” by 2Pac. You can never go wrong with 2Pac. PLUS THREE
*It’s not obligatory to mention Chuck Liddell on the Strikeforce broadcast but I’ll give them the obligatory points. PLUS THREE
*I think Pat Miletich provides great insight, but I’m not fully convinced that he knows how to score fights. MINUS ONE
*Fun scrap between Noons and Evangelista. I’m not very high on either guy but I take nothing away from what was a fun fight. PLUS FOUR
*Extra points to the fighters for putting on a nice scrap to kick off the main card. PLUS THREE
*”I have that fire back,” says Noons. Yes. That’s why you lost to Nick Diaz and Masvidal. It’s due to a lack of fire. MINUS ONE
*These backstage interviews always suck. The fighters never say anything important and you know they don’t want to do them. They should be done away with. MINUS TWO
*Really Ovince St. Preux, “We Fly High” by Jim Jones? That was cool five years ago. MINUS TWO
*Kudos to Mauro for working in a Tim Tebow mention during the broadcast even though Shamrock and Miletich completely no sold it. PLUS TWO
*Nice slip of the tongue by Mauro saying, “F*cking bronco” and not “bucking bronco.” PLUS FOUR
*I think the announcers only said “St. Pierre” and “GSP” twice during the OSP fight, so I’ll actually give them credit for not slipping more than that. PLUS TWO
*Even though I thought Gegard Mousasi vs. St. Preux was kind of lackluster, I give credit to Mousasi for really improving his wrestling. PLUS THREE
*That said, St. Preux clearly isn’t as good as people thought he was. His striking looked atrocious and he failed to capitalize on a number of dominant positions. MINUS TWO
*Although I appreciate Mousasi knowing that his performance wasn’t good, don’t ever pull out an excuse card. MINUS ONE
*What an awkward interview with Josh Barnett. However, it was refreshing change from his “I AM A WARLORD!” promo and I thought his analysis on the two title fights was good. PLUS TWO
*If you thought Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka was going to go any other way, please stop reading. EVEN
*Mrs. Cyborg is a bad woman. I realize that her competition isn’t good (although Yamanaka was the #2 ranked woman in the division, if that means anything) but it still speaks volumes about her skill, power, and killer instinct that she dominates like she does. PLUS FIVE
*Extra point to Santos for getting that chick out of the cage quickly. PLUS THREE
*Also extra points to her for working on and improving her English. PLUS THREE
*Why hello there Ronda Rousey. PLUS THREE
*All the Social Media segments were utterly pointless and made worse by the fact that Heidi Androl isn’t very good. MINUS TWO
*I don’t know what it is, but Strikeforce main events never have that “big fight feel” that UFC bouts have. Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal should have felt like a big fight but it just didn’t. MINUS ONE
*Very impressive performance by Melendez. While Masvidal was very underwhelming, I give credit to Melendez for mixing up his attacks and really improving his striking over the years. PLUS FIVE
*Extra points to Melendez because he played Masvidal’s game for 25 minutes and cruised. PLUS FOUR
*That said, Masvidal brought nothing to the table except a jab until the final minute of the fight. MINUS THREE
*My favorite part of the entire fight was Miletich owning Mauro and Shamrock on commentary in the fifth round with the whole “Masvidal is marking up Melendez’s face and landing a better percentage of strikes” argument. PLUS THREE
*Not a good post-fight promo by Melendez. Maybe he was told beforehand not to go all Nick Diaz, but there wasn’t much passion in his voice about fighting in the UFC. MINUS FOUR
*According to sources, Showtime was going to show some preliminary fights if they had time. Unfortunately they didn’t have time, and you know why? Because they started the show 10 minutes late due to boxing. MINUS THREE
*And finally, Mauro and Pat fumble the ending with the stupid Facebook poll question. What a fitting ending. MINUS TWO
*Overall, I didn’t think the fights were bad, but everything just felt so underwhelming. It’s pretty clear that, no matter what anyone says, Strikeforce is the secondary promotion and to think otherwise is just stupid. An event should be judged by the fights though and none of the fights were terrible, so I’ll give them some positive points. PLUS FIVE
Final Score: 24
For a more in-depth look at this Strikeforce event, make sure to check out tomorrow’s Five Ounces of Podcast with Samer Kadi and myself.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, event, masvidal
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainShowtime Exec Talks Scrapping 'Strikeforce Challengers,' Keeping 'M-1 Challenge'
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsThe main difference with the old and new Strikeforce deal is the cancellation of the Challengers series in favor of quality fight cards from top to bottom, says Showtime Sports executive vice president Stephen Espinoza.
"Instead of having two stand alone events," Espinoza said Monday on The MMA Hour. "To make it into one huge night of MMA action."
Espinoza made the announcement last Thursday with UFC president Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker that Strikeforce will continue producing events for Showtime.
Espinoza says it made more sense to focus on building both the main and preliminary portions of the Strikeforce cards. Previously, Strikeforce undercards were often non-televised/streamed and figured minimally in Strikeforce's long-term plans.
Starting with the Jan. 7 event headlined by Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine, all the preliminary bouts will air on Showtime Extreme leading into the featured bouts on the primary Showtime channel.
Currently, the deal calls for Strikeforce to produce up to eight events in 2012. Showtime then has to make the decision to whether or not continue the agreement.
"We have an option to do additional events beyond that," Espinoza said.
In addition to working with the UFC, Showtime also carries M-1 Challenge events. Although UFC and M-1 are competitors, M-1 will likely continue producing events for Showtime as well.
"We are in discussions with M-1 to continue our relationship and we actually hope that we are going to be contiuning for at least another year," Espinoza said. "And things looks good that we are going to be able to do so." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, event, showtime, espinoza
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDon't cry for Gilbert Melendez
There's been a great big pity party a brewin' for Gilbert Melendez and all the other guys 'stuck' in Strikeforce when we've deemed them worthy of crossing over to the UFC. Now that Zuffa and Strikeforce have come to terms, Dana White has promised he won't strip the promotion for parts any more, leaving them in what amounts to a kind of fight purgatory. Dana has declared he's going to make Strikeforce an awesome place that everyone will be happy to fight in, but you gotta figure for the guys who could actually hang in the UFC, Strikeforce will still mean less money, less exposure, and the exciting prospect of losing to someone you probably shouldn't have even been fighting in the first place.But I just don't feel bad for Gilbert Melendez. Yeah, he's probably the best guy on the roster and if he was in the UFC he'd find himself right up there in belt contention. Everyone has been all "Woe is Gil" since the portal between promotions was sealed just before he could squeak through, but not me. Because I remember that back in February his contract with Strikeforce was up, and rather than take the opportunity to move to the UFC and fight the best he decided to re-signed with Strikeforce. I don't begrudge any fighter that decides to make his coin fighting lesser competition outside the UFC, but I'm not going to cry when they get Alvarez'd doing it. It's kinda like how Nick Diaz talked endless shit about GSP and half the guys in the UFC, only to re-up with Strikeforce even though there was no one left for him to fight. Either you wanna fight the best or you don't. If you do, you go to the UFC. Otherwise, shut yer facehole.Gilbert Melendez will be fine. He's the shiniest jewel in an otherwise ratty crown. Less lucky are guys like Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy, dudes who will continue to toil in relative obscurity as they're unable to get the attention or competition necessary to move themselves up the rankings.
(gif by Letibleu)
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, guy, gilbert melendez
Read the full article at FightlinkerLosing Skid Snapped, KJ Noons Ready to Go on a Strikeforce Run
KJ Noons' mentality is simple – put on the best fight of the night, every time he steps in the cage. But the Strikeforce lightweight now realizes he's got to win, too.
Posted in: time, strikeforce, kj noons, noon, kj
Read the full article at Heavy MMAFalling Action: Best and Worst of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce's 2011 came to a close on Saturday night in San Diego, but the organization will live on in 2012. Whether that's good news or bad news for the fighters on the roster remains to be seen, but this latest event did seem to be some kind of harbinger of things to come, for better or worse.
And now, a look at the winners, losers, and everything in between after Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Biggest Winner: Cris "Cyborg" Santos
There aren't many ways to enter a bout as a 9-1 favorite and still exceed expectations, but by crushing Hiroko Yamanaka in 16 seconds, Santos found one. If anything, Santos is a little too dominant for her own good. After a year and a half out of the cage, she probably could have used a round or two of work just to stay sharp. Instead she went out there and Mike Tyson'd yet another overmatched opponent, leaving us to wonder whether there's any woman in the world who can possibly compete with the Brazilian. The powers that be seem to be eyeing Ronda Rousey as the next challenger, but Rousey seems savvy enough to know she'd be better off dropping to 135 pounds and chasing smaller, less terrifying prey. Now that Santos has laid waste to the 145-pound division, she might have no choice but to try and follow her down. If she can lose that much weight without the aid of a tapeworm, that is.
Biggest Loser: Jorge Masvidal
This might have been his last best chance to break out of the journeyman mold and claim some bit of greatness for himself, but he sure didn't fight like it. Word is that he went into this one with an injured hand, which might explain why he wasn't swinging for Melendez's brain stem with wild abandon down the stretch. Still, he had to know he was down on the cards and wasn't going to end it with takedowns in the final round, so what exactly was his plan for victory? Even with Strikeforce's lean roster, he'll have a hard time getting another title shot while he's still young and able. He needed to make this one count, and he didn't. Even with Melendez's eye swelling shut in the fifth, Masvidal kept fighting like he had two more rounds to make his move. It isn't easy to go for broke with an injured hand, but when you're running out of time to dethrone the champ in what might be the only shot you'll ever get, what other choice do you really have?
Most in Need of a Change: Gilbert Melendez
What's the worst part about his continued stay in Strikeforce? Forget the lack of money and attention, it's the dearth of quality opponents. You look around the Strikeforce roster and there's not a single potential challenger who Melendez wouldn't be a huge favorite against. And when you're the favorite, as he was against Masvidal, it's not always enough to win a smart, strategic decision. Not if you're trying to create a buzz and get fans to demand your presence in the UFC. You can't fault Melendez for fighting the way he did, but neither can you say that it upped his stock on Saturday night. Unless Strikeforce signs some new talent -- or the UFC loans it some -- Melendez is looking at more and more of these fights for as long as he's stuck in the Hexagon. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. And if you can't even get a fight with the best, then you need to absolutely smash the other guys just to stay in the conversation. It's a tough situation for Melendez, and it isn't getting any easier.
Most Improved: Gegard Mousasi
Looks like someone finally had enough of getting out-wrestled on the American MMA scene. After having that aspect of his game exposed by Mo Lawal (and, to a lesser extent, Keith Jardine), Mousasi clearly spent some time in the wrestling room and made some real strides of late. Granted, he's still not going to double-leg his way to a win over someone like King Mo, but maybe he can at least get good enough to stay upright against him. That is, maybe he can get there if only he'd start believing in himself a little more. After his decision win over Ovince St. Preux, Mousasi did his best to talk his way out of a potential title shot, implying that maybe there were others who might be more deserving. It reminded me of his demeanor after the draw against Jardine. He stayed in his seat well after the post-fight press conference ended, staring down at the table as his coaches tried to cheer him up. No matter how much they told him that he got robbed by the judges (which he did) or that he fought well (which he sort of did), he still looked and talked like a kid whose puppy had just been run over. It's nice to be honest with yourself about where you stand. It's also good to expect better and better performances from yourself. But at some point you cross the line from demanding to unnecessarily negative, and that doesn't help you. Cheer up, Gegard. You're not doing so bad for a 26-year-old pro fighter.
Least Improved: Showtime broadcast
You'd think that with as many Strikeforce events as the Showtime crew has done, they'd have it down cold by now. You'd be wrong. First they got off to a late start after the Super Six aftermath turned into a Wimbledon-style trophy presentation. Then, once the transition from boxing to MMA was complete, the simple task of reading the results of a clumsy Facebook poll proved more than any one person could handle. Between awkward interviews, weird sound miscues, and a broadcast team that seemed like it would have rather been somewhere else, it was a rough night. Even Pat Miletich, who's usually the very best ex-fighter commentator out there, had to be repeatedly dragged into the conversation by Mauro Ranallo. What's normally fun banter between the broadcast team became simply distracting, and you almost wished some producer would have stepped in and told them to play nice. I realize that broadcasting live sporting events isn't easy, and anybody can have an off-night, but if you compare Showtime's product to the one the UFC puts on pay-per-view more than 20 times a year, they aren't even close. It's like the difference between the picture of the cake that's in the cookbook and the half-sunken, dried-out mound you pull out of your oven after failing to read the directions carefully. If you want me to believe that Strikeforce is a top-tier organization, start with presentation.
Most Surprising: KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista
Who would have guessed that this would be one of the most exciting and competitive fights on the card? Noons and Evangelista mixed it up something fierce, and in the end the judges got it right when they gave the nod to Noons. But what's also surprising is the word that Noons was supposedly considering retirement (at least in theory) if he lost to Evangelista. I can understand feeling like he needed to win one -- after two losses in a row, he did -- but it's not like Evangelista is some chump that any decent fighter should be able to stroll through. He's a skilled, game opponent, and he showed it in the later rounds. Noons can be proud of that win, and with a few tactical changes here and there he's right back in the conversation at lightweight. Strikeforce's roster might be thin right now, but that's good news for guys like Noons. It means there's a short climb to the top of the 155-pound division, even if there's a heap of trouble waiting for you when you get there. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, noon, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMMA Link Club: The ‘everybody grumbles about the future of Strikeforce’ edition
Strikeforce, Zuffa-controlled and flavored, didn't go over too well this weekend on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, club, everybody, ‘ everybody, zuffacontrolled
Read the full article at Fight Opinion5 UFC Lightweights Who Should Move to Strikeforce
After easily winning a decision over Jorge Masvidal at last weekend's Strikeforce event, Gilbert Melendez called for the UFC to bring him a worthy opponent. While Melendez later commented saying it was mostly post-fight adrenaline that fueled the comments, one look at the Strikeforce lightweight roster shows that he has a reason to gripe.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, jorge masvidal, melendez, postfight adrenaline
Read the full article at Low KickThe MMA Hour With Overeem, 'King Mo,' Noons, Showtime's Espinoza
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life once again on Monday. Here's who will be stopping by for our last episode of the year.
* UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem will discuss all that he has had to endure to get to UFC 141.
* "King" Muhammed Lawal will discuss the new Strikeforce/Showtime deal and his upcoming fight against Lorenz Larkin.
* KJ Noons will discuss his win over Billy Evangelista and what's next for him.
* New Showtime Sports boss Stephen Espinoza will discuss the new Strikeforce deal and what to expect in the future.
* MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta will look back at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Mavidal and ahead to UFC 141.
Plus, we'll be giving away some holiday gifts, courtesy of our friends at Round 5, so give us a call at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714.
Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, mma hour, hour
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Fight Gallery
Scott Petersen's fight night photo gallery from Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal in San Diego.
Posted in: night, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGilbert Melendez has done more than Ben Henderson, would smash Anthony Pettis
Coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal last night (Dec.17, 2011) in San Diego, Calif., where he defended his Strikeforce lightweight title, Gilbert Melendez has now won six straight fights dating back to 2009.
Even though his most recent performance opposite "GameBred" proved to be tougher than Melendez may have wanted, "El Nino" not only climbed the ranks of the mixed martial arts (MMA) lightweight division, but also staked his claim as the new face of the Strikeforce promotion.
With Nick Diaz, Cung Le and Dan Henderson now fighting for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Melendez now carries the San Jose-based promotion squarely on his shoulders for the foreseeable future.
At the moment there are no shortages of opponents for him under the Strikeforce banner with Caros Fodor and K.J. Noons earning impressive wins at last night's Strikeforce event, and in the process, tossing their names in the hat as possible next challengers for "El Nino's" title. Not to mention Gesias Cavalcante, another Strikeforce contender who could prove to be a tough test for Melendez.
However, that hasn't stopped the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter from talking about the rest of the top lightweight talent that reside over in the UFC.
Speaking to Fighting Famous TV, "El Nino" say's that he would smash challengers from the UFC and also says he loves Japan because the Japanese people really know who the true number one lightweight in the world really is.
Check it out:
"I don't feel like I shouldn't be in this position, I'm not crying about my position but I think I've done more than Ben Henderson. You know, these guys, all these guys were on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) show you know? Like I was already fighting in PRIDE and ranked top three in the world but some people just don't understand that. I'm not trying to be a cry baby again, but I just know my history and I've been there. I've already hit these bumps in the road and come back. Some of these guys haven't hit that bump in the road where they have to reinvent themselves and I've already hit that and they're still going to hit that. I think Ben Henderson is someone who is going to be amazing, I think he is amazing and I actually think he is going to continue to be amazing and he is going to be a great champ. As for Pettis, I would welcome that challenge. I would like to fight that dude, bring him over I think I can smash him."
When asked about his upcoming trip to the "Land of the Rising Sun" to corner his training partner Jake Shields for his upcoming fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 on Feb. 26, 2012 -- who just so happens to be headlined by two of the UFC's premiere lightweights, division champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender Ben Henderson -- "El Nino" says he loves Japan because fans there know who the true number one lightweight in the world really is in MMA today.
"I'm going to try to pump up MMA out there too. I think I'm a big deal in Japan for MMA. They think I'm the number one lightweight in the world out there, they definitely think I'm the number one lightweight in the world. Maybe it's different in the US, but they definitely think I'm the number one lightweight in the world."
Back to back victories over some of Japan's best lightweights in Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri may be the primary reason Melendez believes the Japanese people would consider him the greatest 155-pound fighter in the world.
Not lacking any confidence, Melendez truly feels he is the number one lightweight on the planet and would love nothing more than a chance to prove it it against some of the best the UFC has to offer.
Though a fight with Anthony Pettis or any lightweight on UFC's roster could prove to be entertaining and a good test for Melendez, don't expect any cross promotion fights for "El Nino" anytime soon, even with Zuffa owning both Strikeforce and the UFC. With Strikeforce renewing its contract with Showtime, it could be at least two more years before Melendez ever gets his chance to step up up against the UFC's best lightweights.
What do you say Maniacs, is Melendez the true number one lightweight in the world? Or will he always be second best as long as he carries the Strikeforce belt and not the UFC title?
Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, number, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' results recap: KJ Noons vs Billy Evangelista fight review and analysis
It was a battle of two men who'd both come off tough losses to title challenger Jorge Masvidal, and it looked like it last night (December 17, 2011) when former EliteXC lightweight champion and Strikeforce welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons took on 10 fight Strikeforce veteran Billy Evangelista in the opening bout of the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal main card.
Noons seemed to have taken the initiative on becoming a more well-rounded fighter after getting battered by "Gamebred" his last time out, but did it help him or hurt him?
Evangelista, in typical Billy Evangelista fashion, was aggressive, looking for the clinch, takedowns and the occasional big looping haymaker, but it wasn't enough.
So how did Noons pull it off? And where do both former top prospects go from here?
Early on, it was all Evangelista as he took the initiative by pushing the pace and repeatedly backing Noons towards the fence where he was a little easier to hit. Noons, though, surprised many by mixing things up, occasionally shooting for takedowns and actually throwing multiple leg kicks.
What made it interesting was the fact that Noons probably could have been equally successful if not moreso if he had simply stuck with his boxing, which was clearly better than Evangelista. By choosing to mix it up with attacks that he's not an expert in yet, he actually allowed his opponent to catch up with him.
As the fight wore on, Noons became confident in his strikes and began landing much more consistently with his combinations and it was evident on Evangelista's face that he had been punched quite a bit. Evangelista continued to try to pressure him by pinning "King Karl" along the fence but Noons utilized solid lateral movement to side-step his attempts to cut him off along the fence.
After dropping the first round, Noons was awarded a unanimous decision victory, although neither fighter looked that great.
For Billy Evangelista, he seemed to be successful with his clinch attack and the occasional big hook, but he repeatedly let Noons escape his clutches when he had him cornered along the fence. He should have kept up his pressure and perhaps been a little more aggressive with his takedown attempts. When Noons shot in for takedowns, there were huge openings to take top position on the ground and keep him there but he didn't capitalize.
I would expect to see Evangelista against someone along the lines of Justin Wilcox, James Terry or perhaps David Douglas depending on where Strikeforce ranks his skill level and potential.
For K.J. Noons, he won, but it wasn't exactly pretty. He said he wanted to showcase his all-around game in this fight, but from the looks of it, he still has a long ways to go. His takedowns only worked in the opening seconds because of the surprise factor and he got stuffed badly after that. His leg kicks didn't have much on them either and he likely would have been better off punching away. Perhaps he can try to utilize those new skills once he's refined them more but for now, he should keep working on shoring up the rest of his defensive abilities first.
I would expect to see Noons take on someone along the lines of Joe Duarte, Pat Healy or maybe even Josh Thomson in his next bout depending on whether the promotion wants to try to build him up for a title shot or not. Hopefully he can continue to improve because he's still one of the few fighters that has really pushed Nick Diaz and he'd got plenty of striking talent.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Did you see anything you liked in this fight? Do either of these lightweights have what it takes to become contenders in the 155 pound division?"
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, takedown, strikeforce, noon, evangelista
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce-Showtime deal was contingent on keeping Melendez, Rockhold
More and more information continues to be released concerning the recent Strikeforce-Showtime extension that was worked out last week. Strikeforce recently held an event on the television network that featured Gilbert Melendez defending his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal.
Melendez, who seemed to be a lock to follow the likes of Dan Henderson and Jake Shields into the UFC, was part of the agreement between Strikeforce and Showtime that allowed the deal to be made. Also, Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was worked into the contract, as well, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
“That was just a situation of the Showtime agreement,” said Coker to MMAWeekly after last night’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event. “That was part of the deal, that these fighters would stay. UFC feels that they have enough challengers in their divisions now. We’re going to keep building our league and keep plugging in new fighters that aren’t for the UFC into Strikeforce. There’s plenty of fighters out there and we’re gonna keep building them.”
Rockhold will be in the main event of the first Strikeforce card of 2012, as he defends his title against former UFC veteran Keith Jardine. As for keeping Melendez, Coker was extremely pleased with that deal.
“Gilbert fought for Strikeforce in 2006. He’s one of the cornerstones of Strikeforce,” Coker said. “I’m happy that he is with us and he’s gonna stay with us.”
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, deal, melendez, coker
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce Looking for Challengers for ‘Cyborg’ Santos After Quick Win
After her breeze-through win Saturday, Strikeforce is "scouring the earth" for someone to challenge "the Mike Tyson" of women's MMA.
Posted in: strikeforce, mike, mike tyson, saturday strikeforce, breezethrough
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce Post-Fight Video: Gilbert Melendez Has Faith in Strikeforce
Gilbert Melendez tells MMAWeekly.com's Erik Fontanez he's confident Strikeforce will find opponents for him.
Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, faith, mmaweeklycom
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce results: On the brink of stardom, Gilbert Melendez puts in a pedestrian effort
Before we get started, will someone pick up that ball? You know, the one Gilbert Melendez dropped last night?
If Dana White -- and Melendez himself considering his broad, sweeping post-fight challenge -- is to be believed, the Strikeforce lightweight champion is staying put and will likely serve as the new face of the promotion. Melendez is, after all, ranked as a top five 155-pounder and can serve as the anchor for a company looking to avoid being written off as a second-rate league.
If that is in fact the plan, someone in the Zuffa chain of command is going to get a stern talking to on Monday morning because it certainly didn't seem like "El Niño" was privy to it.
Whether Melendez is staying or leaving, last night's main event was extremely important for his career and he turned in a rather uninspired effort. He got the job done, defeating Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision, however where was the seamless mixing of striking and grappling fans saw in his rematch with Josh Thomson? Where was the brutal ground and pound that took Tatsuya Kawajiri out?
Where was the Melendez that was supposed to take the UFC by storm?
Strikeforce is hurting for star power. It has already lost Alistair Overeem, whose defection to the UFC -- combined with an overall shallow talent pool sport-wide -- gave Zuffa all the reason it needed to cut the weight division from Strikeforce's ranks.
Also gone is Nick Diaz, the former welterweight champion. Here is a man any combat sports company -- be it mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing or pro wrestling -- could build its promotion around. Even Dan Henderson has returned to the Octagon after winning three out of four fights inside the Strikeforce cage. Already well-known thanks to his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and his subsequent decapitation of Michael Bisping, "Hendo" brought that name recognition to San Jose with him but absconded back to Las Vegas with it just as quickly.
The void that the departure of those three men has created is prime to be filled by any number of Strikeforce's stars. New middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has youth and 12 pounds of gold helping him along that path while contender Tim Kennedy can play up his military background to gain more traction with fans.
But no fighter is better suited to become THE guy in Strikeforce than Melendez. Going into last night's bout against Jorge Masvidal, "El Niño" was already a two-time champion with two defenses to his name. An impressive win over "Gamebred" would have sealed the deal for Melendez in one of two ways.
Either he makes the jump to the UFC and puts his top five ranking to the test against lightweights like Ben Henderson, Gray Maynard, and champ Frankie Edgar or he sticks around in Strikeforce and uses his status as a top 155-pounder to help legitimize the rest of the roster while continuing to fatten his bank account.
Despite winning a rather one-sided decision, he was still taken to the limit -- and busted up -- by a fighter who barely registers as a top 25 lightweight. I don't know if that ranking correctly gauges Masvidal's talent; no one does. It's impossible for anyone to get a proper read on his skill level and compare it to the top fighters at 155 pounds as he's been fighting mid-tier talent so far.
In this situation, two lines of thinking arise but only one is given any serious thought. Either Masvidal is for real and last night -- despite losing -- would be looked back on as his coming out party or Melendez -- who couldn't finish off the guy who got upside down choked in Bellator -- just isn't that good.
I'm sure you can figure out which point of view prevails. As unfair as it may be -- to both Melendez and Masvidal alike -- a lot of fans are going to look at last night's performance and decide the Strikeforce champ isn't on par with the top flight of the Octagon.
Wins are important in the fight game; the most important part but perception comes in a close second. "El Niño" had the power to control public opinion with his performance. Friday night, Melendez was seen as possibly being the uncrowned number one lightweight in the world. He simply needed his chance to prove it. Sunday morning, he's the champion of a second-rate promotion who talks bigger than he bites.
Which is true?
Posted in: night, strikeforce, champion, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Post-Fight News & Notes
Rundown of Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” post-fight news and notes…
— Gilbert Melendez didn’t dominate Jorge Masvidal last night, as evidenced by his busted up face, but he did enough to pick up the win and successfully defend his Strikeforce lightweight championship. With the victory, Melendez was supposed to move over to the UFC where he and the rest of the world could find out once and for all if he truly is worthy of being called the number one lightweight in the world like he says he is. Alas, that wasn’t meant to be though now that Strikeforce is going to survive for at least another year.
Melendez doesn’t exactly sound “f-ing excited” about it as Dana White claimed, but he does have faith that the powers that be will take care of him.
“It’s been a roller-coaster trying to stay focused with all of this,” Melendez told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following his win over Jorge Masvidal (22-7 MMA, 4-1 SF) in the main event of Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” card in San Diego. “I’ve got people telling me I’m going to the UFC. I’ve got people telling me I’m not. I also bring this pressure on myself saying I’m No. 1, you know what I mean? You’ve got to back it up when you talk like that.
“I’ve just got to have faith. What can I do? I’ve got no time to be crying or be negative about [expletive]. I’ve just got to stay focused and see what they bring to the table. We’ll go from there.”
“I’m happy to be a part of Strikeforce and Showtime,” Melendez said. “I’ve got faith that they’re going to do what’s good for me. Dana told me that. ‘It’s going to be great for your career.’
“When I signed with Strikeforce, I was like, ‘I don’t know, Scott.’ Then I was fighting on Showtime. I’m like, ‘Alright, I don’t know, Scott,’ and then he brings me Aoki, the No. 2 fighter in the world. Then I get a great challenge like Jorge. A lot of people underrate him. For me, this was a big win for me to get. Jorge is a guy I’ve seen in the circuit for a long time. I guess what I’m trying to get at is they manage to deliver for me, and I’ve got to continue to have faith that they will continue to deliver for me.
“We’ll all sit down together, and we’ll start talking. I think I’m in a position to ask some questions, and we’ll ask some questions and see what’s next.”
Gilbert Melendez isn’t the only one who has questions. The media and fans are all asking the same thing he is: What’s next? There’s no clear cut answers, however Scott Coker is confident they’ll find someone worthy of challenging Melendez.
“We’re going to keep building our league and keep putting new fighters that aren’t fighting for the UFC in Strikeforce,” Coker said. “There’s plenty of fighters out there. Not sure if you guys feel that way or not, but there’s plenty of fighters out there.
“In 2006, Gilbert fought for Strikeforce, and we had no TV deal. We had no sponsorship. He’s run the course with Strikeforce. I’m so happy that he is with us and has stayed with us. Really, I feel he’s still the No. 1 lightweight in the world. That’s just how I feel personally. He’s been around a long time. He and Frank (Shamrock) and Cung (Le) and Josh were the guys that were there from the very beginning. I’m proud to say he’s our champion, and we’re going to continue getting him great fights.”
Time will tell I suppose, but unless they bring over a worthy challenger from the UFC, there will be plenty of critics who claim his opposition isn’t good enough.
—Another Strikeforce champion in desperate need of worthy challengers is Cris Cyborg. Hiroko Yamanaka proved to be no match for the world’s best female fight last night when she found herself on the wrong end of a Cyborg blitzkrieg in the opening seconds of the fight. Ronda Rousey’s name came up as a possible contender after the fight, but Scott Coker says she is probably going to fight at 135 “for a bit,” presumably to set up a women’s bantamweight title fight with Miesha Tate, before she gets a crack at Cyborg.
“Ronda’s name keeps coming up, but I think Ronda is going to fight at 135 for a bit,” Coker said. “But Ronda has expressed interest in fighting at 145 and fighting for the title at some point.”
“I think all the fights that the media wants to see, the fans want to see, Showtime would like to see and we would like to see, I think all those fights will happen; just be patient,” Coker said. “Sean is out there scouring the earth, and we’re going to find some opponents for ‘Cyborg.’ Truly, she’s the Mike Tyson of female MMA.”
If the opportunity presents itself though, Cyborg says she’ll be ready. Working her way down to 135 is also a possibility.
“I’m ready for a fight with her,” Santos told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I think she talks too much, but she can keep training, and when she’s ready, I’m ready.”
“I’m going to put in a valiant effort to try and make 135,” Santos said through in interpreter. “Maybe if I can make a catchweight and fight at 140 first and slowly make my way down to 135, but I’m going to put in a good effort to get down to 135.”
— Gegard Mousasi may have earned himself a shot at the vacant light heavyweight title with his decision win over prospect Ovince St. Preux last night. Scott Coker says it’s not official yet, but it’s definitely possible that Mousasi could end up facing the King Mo-Lorenzo Larkin winner for the title sometime next year.
“I think the fight we had tonight definitely had title implications for that championship belt,” Coker said. “Then on Jan. 7, we’ve got the fight between ‘King Mo’ and Lorenz Larkin which will have title implications, as well. It hasn’t been decided, but I think that’s kind of the path it’s headed in.”
— It’s unclear what’s next for KJ Noons following his victory over Billy Evangelista. Whoever Noons ends up facing, he just wants to put on a show for the fans.
“I’ll just take whoever Strikeforce throws at me,” Noons said. “I put on fights for the fans. Every single time, no matter who I fight, whether they’re the best or whatever, I always put on the best fight of the night – every time. I just want to get better as a fighter and put on more exciting fights.
“You’re going to get your money’s worth when K.J. Noons shows up, no matter what. I’ll fight anybody at any weightclass, and I’ll put on a good show, but I want to be the best. I’m ready to get back on this winning streak and put on good shows.”
The win was Noons’ first in a little over a year, but considering the lack of depth in Strikeforce’s lightweight division, it seems like the opportunity is there for Noons to clinch a title shot sooner than later.
Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, melendez, coker
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: The MMA world's Purgatorio
[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
In the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, there are some clear levels, much like Dante Alighieri wrote in his epic La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy). For Dante, there was a clear progression as he toiled through the afterlife, he was first led through Hell, then he was led through Purgatory before finally having a glimpse at Heaven. If you wanted to compare it to MMA, the smaller, regional promotions are the veritable Hell. Low pay, bad attendance, poorly organized and promoted, but for most fighters, a necessity to move on to the “big leagues.” For many fighters, the biggest achievement is to be accepted into the UFC, to walk amongst the gods themselves beyond the steel gates of the Octagon. For fighters, the UFC is Heaven.
For a promotion like Strikeforce, though, there is a sense of being left-behind, like a middle child. Strikeforce finds itself not a containing the same rigors and lack of pay like the small minor leagues, but does not include the perks and the money that comes with fighting for the UFC. Instead, it is a virtual Purgatory for fighters. Fighters are left to reflect on their careers and see that they aren’t deemed as good enough to be called into the UFC, but are beyond the toiling in the reigional promotions.
Last night proved to be the first bigger Strikeforce event since the Showtime deal was re-negotiated, and something about the show did not come off as planned. On paper, the card was exciting and showed a lot of promise, but in execution it was a mess. If a fighter is competing within a promotion that stands on its own, there is something for them to achieve, but when the promotion is a feeder league with parallel divisions, the whole scope of the game changes. Part of what helped with Strikeforce’s charm was the attitude and identity of the promotion. It felt like a spiritual successor to some of the bigger Japanese events, with a focus on entertainment and promoting the fighters, not just the brand.
Continue Reading about the Harrowing of Strikeforce...
Posted in: ufc, promotion, strikeforce, fighter, league
Read the full article at Middle EasyStrikeforce Post-Fight Video: Scott Coker Discusses Company’s Future, Titles, Heavyweights
Scott Coker talks Strikeforce business with Erik Fontanez.
Posted in: business, title, strikeforce, coker, scott
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Video Highlights
Video: Highlights: Strikeforce
Highlights from Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” courtesy of Showtime and Fox Sports.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Melendez vs. Masvidal' results recap: What's next for Gilbert Melendez?
"If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man."
That was the task that faced Strikeforce lightweight number one contender Jorge Masvidal as he took on 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" last night (Dec. 17, 2011) from San Diego, California.
After five rounds of non-stop fists smashing against skulls, "El Nino" was able to come out on top and keep his belt. However, the shoe is now on the other foot, so to speak. Melendez wants to be "the man" at 155 pounds in mixed martial arts (MMA).
The problem? He fights for Strikeforce.
After the jump, we'll examine what's next for Melendez, as well as what he may need to do to be considered a legitimate contender for the number one lightweight in the world:
Rankings are overrated.
MMA fights don't happen on paper or on the Internet -- they happen in the cage. You can say a guy is better than another fighter up and down, but until the two square off in a ring of combat, all bets are off.
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has long been ranked near the top of the lightweight heap by almost every ranking system available. He also doesn't mind tooting his own horn.
After his victory last night, he challenged the best-of-the-best from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to come on over to Strikeforce and fight him in "his hexagon."
But, that's not going happen. Never.
Zuffa didn't purchase Strikeforce so it could ship the top fighters in the UFC over to Strikeforce. It also isn't interested in cross-promoting. If you believe otherwise, you clearly haven't paid attention to what has happened with Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum (just to name a few).
The harvesting has begun, in a big way. It's abundantly clear which way the filtering is going to occur, regardless of what Strikeforce President Scott Coker may tell you.
With that said, Melendez has two choices:
Stay in Strikeforce and be a big fish in a small pond, continuing to risk a legacy on up-and-comers who most fight fans haven't heard of
Be brave and do whatever he has to do to get into the Octagon
There's been much talk that if Melendez were to sign with the UFC, he would get an instant title shot. That may or may not be true, but that shouldn't matter. A fight for Melendez versus any of the UFC's top five lightweights would do unspeakably more for his career than a fight against anyone that Strikeforce has left to offer.
He has a big, multi-fight contract with Strikeforce, but do you really believe that's an issue?
The truth is that the UFC doesn't need him in a big way. Not right this second, anyway. Its 155-pound division is stacked. But, just wait until they have a big event featuring lightweights and someone gets hurt. Melendez will be there, waiting in the wings as a wonderful option for a fill-in.
The only question is: Does he respond to the call?
In my opinion, saying "yes" would be the only option. He's 29 years old. Not past his prime, by any stretch, but also not getting younger. If he's the best, he should want to prove it. And he's just not going to do that against the Joe Duarte's or Pat Healy's of the world (no disrespect, gentlemen).
What say you, Maniacs? Is it time for "El Nino" to make the move to the UFC, or are there still valid fights for him in Strikeforce?
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, melendez, championship ufc
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Sunday Junkie: Dec. 18 edition
Two big stories dominated the week in news: Strikeforce's new deal with Showtime, and what it means for Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez following a weekend win over Jorge Masvidal.
In our weekly reader-feedback feature, The Sunday Junkie entrants break down Strikeforce's plans and also weigh in on champ Cris "Cyborg" Santos and the recent hate for UFC champ Jon Jones,
But this week's winner, New Jersey's "The Commish," explains how Melendez is proof that the Strikeforce system is flawed.
Posted in: strikeforce, weeks winner, readerfeedback feature, news strikeforces, strikeforces plans
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce last night - Cris Cyborg vs Yamamaka Hiroko
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: strikeforce, tekprodfx, vs, cyborg, hiroko
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' results recap: Cristiane Santos vs Hiroko Yamanaka fight review and analysis
After 18 months between fights, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos only took 16 seconds to complete her first fight back in the Strikeforce fold last night (December 17, 2011) in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego.
Santos had previously had issues with finding opposition for her 145 pound Strikeforce women's championship and as evidenced by her thrashing of Hiroko Yamanaka, those problems persist.
Believe it or not, but with an eight fight win streak and a 12-1 overall record, Yamanaka was ranked as the number two women's featherweight fighter in the world although it certainly didn't look it.
So how was "Cyborg" so successful in her return? And what's next for both fighters?
There's not much to break down in a 16 second fight, but I'll do my best. In typical Chute Box fashion, Santos charged forward looking to throw huge power strikes early. Yamanaka had to have watched "Cyborg's" fights before, she had to know this was coming so what did she do?
She met the champ in the center of the cage with her hands too low to protect her face and then to make matters worse, put both arms out extended as if that was enough to keep the Brazilian powerhouse from barreling forwards and blasting her.
She did just that, crushing Yamanaka with left hook and two quick right hands to drop her within three seconds. After considering a rear naked choke, she allowed Yamanaka to escape to feet only long enough to back her into the fence and crush the Japanese fighter with four huge hooks which dropped her again. At this point, the referee had seen enough and rightfully so, officially ruled a knockout just 16 seconds in.
For Hiroko Yamanaka, this was definitely a huge learning experience. She'd never fought outside of Tokyo before and to be thrown in against the most dominant champion in mixed martial arts today is a tall order. Many expected a quick finish, although probably not that quick. She came out with a horrible gameplan, keeping her hands too low and not defending herself from "Cyborg's" blitz attack in the opening seconds and it cost her. She likely would have stood no chance even if she fought the perfect fight so it doesn't really matter I suppose.
I doubt she gets another fight in Strikeforce. Instead, she'll likely scurry back to Japan with her tail between her legs.
For Cristiane Santos, that was a monster performance and it was exactly what fans had been hoping for. It appeared that she took out her 18 months of frustration in ever punch last night. There are no complaints coming out of my end for this one. Scott Coker called her "The Mike Tison of women's MMA" in the post-fight press conference and you'll have to search long and hard for someone who will disagree with that statement.
It'll be difficult to find another opponent. Yamanaka was number two in the world and she was a huge underdog in the betting odds If there's any options at 145, perhaps 10-0-1 fighter Rin Nakai could be offered as a sacrificial lamb. If Ronda Rousey doesn't decide to drop to 135, she could be an option as well. Santos has flirted with the idea of dropping to 135 herself, but that seems impossible at this point. She already cuts a ton of weight just to make 145 and to drop to 135 would require a serious decision to lose muscle mass and could be very dangerous physically.
We'll just have to play the waiting game in the time being.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Is Scott Coker correct in comparing Santos to Tyson? Do you actually think she can make 135 pounds?
Sound off!
For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, fighter, scott coker, yamanaka
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe best thing about last night's Strikeforce card....
There was no Gus Johnson and his lovely lipstick! submitted by igorr35 [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, johnson, gus johnson, gu, lipstick
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Melendez Vs. Masvidal Results: Winners, Losers, and Other Thoughts
Last night was the final Strikeforce event of 2011 and featured two title fights. Earlier this week Strikeforce and Showtime announced an extension to their deal with one of the points of interest being that Gilbert Melendez will remain a Strikeforce fighter. As the last of Cesar Gracie's champions in Strikeforce, it is assumed that a majority of the marketing will go towards 'breaking' Gilbert Melendez to the casual MMA fan. Saturday also marked the return of Cris Cyborg after a year outside of the cage. As with every show there are winners and losers. I'll also give my thoughts on the overall show.
WINNERS
Gilbert Melendez - I said last night that he failed to impress and I stand by my words. That was not a star making performance. That wasn't even a star maintaining performance. That was the single worst performance in a championship fight that I can remember in 2011. His face was a mess post-fight and he landed 24% of his strikes. That's a terrible statistic. He's listed as a winner because he won but he has some work to do to even enter discussions on top lightweights.
Cristiane Santos - Cyborg was a -1800 favorite. She trounced Hiroko Yamanaka and scored the only stoppage of the main card. Glad to see she's back but there's no way she can make 135. She looked massive last night and the cut to 145 is difficult enough for the champ. It's a shame since 135 is where most of the talent in Women's MMA resides.
Gegard Mousasi - Nice win I guess? OSP was scared to fight on the feet and just isn't a good enough grappler to stay competitive with Mousasi on the ground. Gegard has skills but if he fights Mo Lawal again it will be a repeat of the first fight.
KJ Noons - Speaking of winners with terrible striking statistics, KJ won the fight with a striking success rate of 32%. Noons still has some of the best boxing in the division but I feel like he's regressed as a fighter. He barely got past Billy Evangelista.
Boxing - Last night Boxing won. The Carl Froch-Andre Ward fight was great and created a new star in Ward. Though the judges tried to give Froch the fight, they didn't and Ward walked away with the Super Six title.
More after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
LOSERS
Jorge Masvidal - What the hell was wrong with Masvidal last night? Actually better question: what the hell was wrong with Jorge Masvidal's corner? Jorge was down on all score cards and there wasn't any bit of urgency to try and finish the fight. Embarrassing performance in a title fight for a usually exciting fighter.
Jorge Masvidal's Corner - Seriously, their fighter was down on all cards and the best advice they could muster was 'throw the right if you feel comfortable'. That's the best advice they had? To 'throw the right' if Jorge felt 'comfortable'? Jorge didn't have a championship performance and it started with his corner.
Hiroko Yamanaka - I got nothing. She either landed 0 or 1 punches depending on your source. She had to know she wasn't gonna win. Her post-fight quote was 'I don't remember anything'. Yikes!
Ovince St. Preux - Had the opportunity to transition from prospect to top talent. He just looked like a fish out of water when put on his back. He finally came to life in the third round but he's just not there and hasn't developed like a guy of his athletic potential should.
Billy Evangelista - Less taunting. More fighting. Allowing someone to throw punches at his face is letting judges score for his opponent. There is a certain machismo in fighting but last night was a terrible idea.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- The referee in OSP/Mousasi should never referee a fight again. That was one of the worst performances of the ref who was telling fighters to work literally seven seconds after the fight hit the ground. He stood the fighters up multiple times while they were working from dominant positions and made himself a part of the fight. A direct contrast to the referee for Froch-Ward who allowed the boxers to fight out of the clinch.
- I'm happy that Strikeforce and Showtime are continuing their relationship for the next two years but if there is any desire to build the brand they can't have Melendez be that tentative. He wasn't impressive and as the face of the lightweight division he needs to showcase all his talents every night. I tweeted last night that Ben Henderson would ruin Gil Melendez and I stand by that assessment.
- WMMA may be fun to watch but if the best they could do was book Cyborg vs Yamanaka then it may be time to close up shop for 145. Not only did no one actually ask for that fight, it was a like a squash match between the Ultimate Warrior and Steve Lombardi. It lasted as long as one at least.
- Who will be the first MMA journalist to write about Cyborg's ridiculous physique. I don't want to make any sort of insinuations but I personally have never seen a female look that muscular. Her muscles had muscles. I'm not making any sort of implication though so don't read this as such. I'm just giving some food for thought.
- Scott Coker must be an alum of the Milford Academy because he is neither seen nor heard. Yes there are people who don't enjoy Dana White's tendency to be front and center but Scott just isn't willing to play the part of promoter. 2012 will be interesting when he's traveling with Dana and the two need to work together at events.
- Gus Johnson definitely enjoys calling boxing more than MMA. His work on the microphone during Froch-Ward was refreshing and reminded me why I enjoy his work for the New York Knicks and football. People were happy on twitter he wouldn't be calling Strikeforce but after last night's booth work, I'd have preferred Johnson been calling the action.
Posted in: fight, night, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGilbert Melendez Believes He’s World’s Top Lightweight, Strikeforce Tests Will Present Themselves
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez won again Saturday. Now he says he must continue to put faith in Strikeforce that he'll get tested.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert, strikeforce tests
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce notebook: Noons, Evangelista conspire; Mousasi, Fodor open to title shots
SAN DIEGO - Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons is no
stranger to a little in-cage conversation, but it's generally laced with
a few R-rated phrases and a mother reference or two.
So when Noons and Billy Evangelista started jawing at each other in the
third round of their back-and-forth "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal"
contest, it didn't seem out of the realm of possibility that expletives
were coming hard and heavy.
Noons reveals exactly what was being said in this post-event Strikeforce notebook. Saturday night winners Gegard Mousasi and Caros Fodor also look ahead to potential championship contests.
Posted in: strikeforce, kj noons, caros fodor, noon, rrated phrases
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce champ 'Cyborg' open to Rousey but wary of quick move to 135 pounds
SAN DIEGO - Strikeforce female featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg"
Santos might not be completely out of potential
opponents at 145 pounds, but the line of volunteers doesn't exactly
reach around the block.
Sixteen-second victories, like the one Santos notched over Hiroko
Yamanaka at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event in San Diego, tend
to have that effect.
But there is one name that just won't go away: Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: pound, strikeforce, san diego, hiroko yamanaka, volunteers doesnt
Read the full article at MMA JunkieZuffa Should Consider Sending BJ Penn to Strikeforce to Face Gilbert Melendez
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIf Dana White won't bring Gilbert Melendez to the UFC, he should bring the UFC to Melendez. Or at least, someone for him to fight. After beating Jorge Masvidal at last night's Strikeforce event in San Diego, what more is there for him to do? Who else is there for him to beat? What matchup are fans clamoring to see? The answers are nothing, no one and none.
Melendez is a top five fighter with nothing left to prove in the division as it stands right now. He's beaten Masvidal, Shinya Aoki and Josh Thomson, three of the best lightweights outside of the UFC, but there's no signed fighter in the division who has truly earned the right to face one of the best. Sure there are fighters like KJ Noons and Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante with some name value, but both of those guys have won exactly one fight in a row.
Solution: Bring someone over from the UFC to fight him. It doesn't have to be the champion. Bring one of the many quality guys over to challenge him. I have just the guy. He's a big name, he can bring attention to the promotion, and he offers the instant credibility that only a former UFC champion can provide. Bring over BJ Penn to fight Melendez.
Right now, Penn is on a break from fighting. He's home in Hilo, Hawaii spending time with his family after his hard-fought loss to Nick Diaz in October. But Penn does plan to fight again, and he even said that he'd be willing to rematch Diaz.
That's not going to happen, as Diaz has moved on to preparing for a big interim UFC welterweight title fight with Carlos Condit. So we need to find something that excites Penn, something that motivates him. Regardless of the skeptics who still refuse to believe that Melendez is for real, Penn knows the truth, that Melendez is for real and has a set of skills that would provide a challenge. Because of that, a bout with Melendez might interest him. As an added bonus, Melendez comes from the same Team Cesar Gracie as Diaz, making the marketing of the fight simple. BJ Penn comes looking for revenge against Diaz's teammate.
Penn loves fighting for belts, and as long as Frankie Edgar is the lightweight champ, Penn is stuck. He isn't going to get another shot against Edgar after losing to him twice. The same holds true for his chances of getting a welterweight title fight. He's already lost to Georges St-Pierre twice and Diaz once, so his chances of earning his way back for another title bout anytime soon are slim. So where does that leave him? He's in a legend-at-large role, looking for interesting matchups wherever they might appear. And is there really anything in the UFC that is so much more interesting than Penn-Melendez?
Let's face it, Penn would be one of the biggest stars ever to fight in the Strikeforce hexagon, with only Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko able to rival his popularity. He's a former two-division champ in the UFC, every MMA fan knows him, and his presence would certainly bring attention to the promotion. Just as importantly, it would illustrate that Zuffa is serious about Strikeforce.
Just last week, White promised that Strikeforce wouldn't be a B-league, or a feeder system for the UFC. They would go after top talent, he said. They would find a way to make Strikeforce's best fighters happy, he said. This match would prove it.
The biggest hurdle in this plan would be making it worth Penn's while. Because Strikeforce is on Showtime and not pay-per-view, the pay scale is different, and White would have to dig into his his pocket to make him whole.
That investment would be worth it for Strikeforce, to show that they are truly committed to MMA. It's one thing for White to say it on a conference call, it's another entirely for him to send over a UFC legend. That's a statement. That's a promise kept.
BJ Penn would be just the fighter to satisfy White's promise, fan interest and Melendez's ambitions. Melendez doesn't just need a legitimate challenge, he deserves one. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, penn, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVictorious Melendez Hopes to Face UFC Contenders in Strikeforce
Gilbert Melendez took another step on his quest to be recognized as the world’s top lightweight on Saturday night, as “El Nino” outpointed a game Jorge Masvidal to retain his Strikeforce lightweight title at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.
Posted in: saturday night, strikeforce, el, melendez, world ’s
Read the full article at SherdogGegard Mousasi in Strikeforce Title Picture
With his victory over Ovince St. Preux on Saturday night, Gegard Mousasi likely earned a birth into a fight for the vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight championship.
Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, mousasi, picture, gegard
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChamp Melendez brushes off 'ignorant' critics, puts future in Strikeforce's hands
SAN DIEGO - Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez admits he may bringing some of it upon himself.
After all, if you're going to claim to be the best in the world, you'd better be ready to prove it.
But with the recent announcement that Strikeforce will be sticking
around for the foreseeable future and that Melendez will be a key
fixture in the promotion, "El Nino" isn't exactly sure what will come
next - other than an apparent wave of non-stop criticism if he's unable
to offer a highlight-reel finish of every opponent.
Posted in: strikeforce, future, melendez, criticism, world youd
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMelendez and Rockhold Foregoing UFC was Part of Strikeforce’s Deal with Showtime
Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez and Luke Rockhold remaining with the promotion was a key element of the promotion's new broadcast contract with Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, showtime, luke rockhold, broadcast contract
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce's Melendez belongs in the UFC (Yahoo! Sports)
If Strikeforce can't find elite competition for lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez, they risk sqandering his prime.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforces melendez, risk sqandering, strikeforce cant, elite competition
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsStrikeforce: “Melendez vs. Masvidal” Results: Melendez Cruises, “Cyborg” Dominant
Strikeforce: “Melendez vs. Masvidal” took place tonight in San Diego, California. The card was headlined by a pair of title fights with Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez taking on Jorge Masvidal and women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos taking on Hiroko Yamanaka. Both champions successfully defended their titles in the Strikeforce cage with definitive victories.Melendez retains title over MasvidalWhile Jorge Masvidal was clearly not afraid to taunt and talk trash to the champion, the challenger was unable to translate that into a victory. Melendez controlled the fight from start to finish and kept Masvidal from being able to find his range. Melendez’s training and more polished skill proved to be the main difference as he had multiple answers for nearly everything Masvidal threw.After the fight Melendez challenged the winner of the UFC lightweight championship fight between champ Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson to “come in his hexagon.” While that particular fight is unlikely to materialize, Melendez expressed in the post-fight conference that Strikeforce has always found good opponents for him and he expects that will continue.“Cyborg” crushes YamanakaDespite an 18-month layoff, Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos made quick work of challenger Hiroko Yamanaka. Santos managed to land 15 power shots on Yamanaka in the span of only 16 seconds.Santos expressed her desire to remain at 145 but did state that she would like to fight fast-rising Ronda Rousey since she believes the former US Olympic Judo bronze medalist talks too much.Mousasi defeats St. PreuxDespite winning a close third round, Ovince St. Preux spent the majority of his fight with former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi being thoroughly dominated. Mousasi’s reported work with the Iranian wrestling team appeared to payoff as the Iranian-born fighter out wrestled his opponent in addition to controlling the striking game.After the fight a refreshingly honest and humble Mousasi stated he was unhappy with his performance due to illness. Mousasi also stated that he believed he was at least a fight away from challenging for the currently vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title despite pressure from Mauro Ranallo to call for a title shot.Noons defeats Evangelista in sloppy fightThe night opened with a sloppy but action packed bout between KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista. After a dismal first round Noons ditched the wrestling he had been training and reverted back to his old self. The move paid off as Noons was able to rebound and secure the hard fought victory.Main Card (Showtime)Lightweight title fight – Gilbert Melendez (c) def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)Women’s featherweight title fight – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (c) def. Hiroko Yamanaka via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:16Gegard Mousasi def. Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)K.J. Noons def. Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)PRELIMINARY CARDCaros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:13Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:42Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:05
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMelendez Bests Masvidal, Keeps Strikeforce Crown
Behind a relentless stream of two-, three- and four-punch combinations, Gilbert Melendez kept his stranglehold on the lightweight championship with a one-sided unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal in the Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” headliner on Saturday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, strikeforce crown
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Results: Melendez Beats Masvidal, Calls for Contenders to Come to Strikeforce
Gilbert Melendez pitched a shutout to beat Jorge Masvidal and then called for the UFC or Zuffa to bring him some contenders.
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, contender, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Post-Fight Video: Caros Fodor Ready for Title Talk
Caros Fodor speaks with Erik Fontanez following his Strikeforce win in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, caros fodor, fodor, caro, erik fontanez
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Champ Melendez shuts out Masvidal
SAN DIEGO - Gilbert Melendez is becoming an increasingly bigger fish in an increasingly smaller pound.
The Strikeforce lightweight champion and top-10 pound-for-pound fighter earned a shutout unanimous-decision victory over noted striker Jorge Masvidal in his latest title defense.
The bout headlined the Showtime-televised main card of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which took place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, title defense, san, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Results: Cyborg Obliterates Yamanaka In Just 16 Seconds
After an 18-month layoff, Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg needed just 16 seconds to obliterate Hiroko Yamanaka.
Posted in: strikeforce, yamanaka, second, layoff, cyborg
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Santos stops Yamanaka in 16 seconds
SAN DIEGO - Her layoff lasted 18 months; her latest title defense lasted 16 seconds.
After a year-and-a-half-long layoff due to stalled contact negotiations, Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" needed little time to make short work of overmatched opponent Hiroko Yamanaka.
The bout co-headlined the Showtime-televised main card of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which took place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, title defense, layoff, yearandahalflong layoff, bout coheadlined
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce: 'Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Cristiane Santos defeats Hiroko Yamanaka with 16-second KO victory
Tonight (Sat., Dec. 17, 2011) The women took center stage on the main card for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal", as reigning Women's Featherweight Champion Cristiane Santos defended her belt against heralded Japanese fighter Hiroko Yamanaka, LIVE from San Diego, California.
"Cyborg" entered the bout having won her last ten mixed martial arts (MMA) fights and looking to continue to cement her legacy as quite possibly the best fighter in all of Women's MMA (WMMA).
Her opponent, Yamanaka, was making her Strikeforce debut and riding an impressive eight-fight win streak of her own.
The fight was supposed to be the first real test that Santos has received in a good, long while.
Santos may eventually be tested, but tonight was not the night as she was able to notch the knockout victory in the very first round.
Within seconds, "Cyborg" swarmed Yamanaka and had her on the mat after eating several punches in the head.
Instantly, the champion was all over her opponent, throwing punches in bunches and causing the referee to step in and call a stop to the action.
After just 16 seconds, it was all over.
The pre-fight entrances took longer than the actual fight itself.
Who's next?
Remember to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card by clicking here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, yamanaka, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMelendez, Santos keep Strikeforce belts
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez won a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal while women's title-holder Cris (Cyborg) Santos took out Japanese challenger Hiroko Yamanaka Saturday.
Posted in: strikeforce, saturday, jorge masvidal, melendez, cyborg
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Mousasi edges top prospect St. Preux
SAN DIEGO - In his first Strikeforce fight since a disappointing draw with Keith Jardine, Gegard Mousasi proved a class above top light-heavyweight prospect Ovince St. Preux.
Mousasi used timely takedowns and effective ground and pound to earn a unanimous-decision victory.
The bout was part of the Showtime-televised main card of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which took place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, prospect, mousasi, strikeforce fight, unanimousdecision victory
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Results: K.J. Noons Back on Track
K.J. Noons showed an improving MMA game, while keeping his signature punching power at hand to win a unanimous decision over Billy Evangelista in Strikeforce on Saturday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, mma game, billy evangelista, noon, kj
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 111: Strikeforce 'Melendez vs. Masvidal' Results Review
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 1 a.m. ET/10 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, Forrest Lynn and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they review tonight's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which is headlined by two championship bouts. The featured bout of the evening pits Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his title against Jorge Masvidal and in the other attraction, Cristiane Santos defends her women's featherweight championship against Hiroko Yamanaka.
We'll review all the bouts that make air while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Fodor, Bowling score quick prelim wins
SAN DIEGO - Caros Fodor derailed Justin Wilcox's steady ascent up Strikeforce's lightweight ladder in devastating fashion.
Fodor needed a mere 13 seconds to stuff a takedown and blast the American Kickboxing Academy product with two quick right hands to set up a lightning quick knockout win.
It was the featured preliminary-card bout at "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The untelevised prelims preceded the night's Showtime-televised main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, san diego, fodor, right hands, fashion fodor
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce chat is up!
Strikeforce Prelims: Fodor Stops Wilcox in 13 Seconds
Caros Fodor has arrived.
Posted in: strikeforce, prelim, second, fodor, wilcox
Read the full article at SherdogPre-Strikeforce Chat: Super 6 - Ward Vs. Froch
Come talk boxing with us while we wait for Strikeforce to start!
Posted in: strikeforce, boxing, froch, prestrikeforce chat, prestrikeforce
Read the full article at FightlinkerPre-Strikeforce Chat: Super 6 Finals - Ward Vs. Froch
Come talk boxing with us while we wait for Strikeforce to start!
Posted in: strikeforce, boxing, froch, prestrikeforce chat, prestrikeforce
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Live Blog
Live results and commentary from tonight's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event in San Diego, California.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Heavy MMAGilbert Melendez Tops Jorge Masvidal, Retains Strikeforce Lightweight Belt
Filed under: StrikeforceGilbert Melendez won't get a chance to demonstrate that he's the best lightweight in the world any time soon. But he demonstrated once again on Saturday night that he's the best lightweight in Strikeforce.
In the main event of Saturday night's fight card in San Diego, Melendez had a fairly easy time beating Jorge Masvidal, winning 50-45 on two judges' scorecards and 49-46 on the third.
The fight came just days after Zuffa, the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC, confirmed that it will keep the Strikeforce and UFC brands separate, and that Melendez will stay in Strikeforce. That had to come as a disappointment to Melendez, who had said he wanted to fight the best of the best in the UFC, but nothing he did on Saturday night will have fans clamoring to see him fight the UFC champ. This was a workmanlike victory, but not a dominant performance.
After the fight Melendez said he hopes Zuffa will give him some better opponents to face.
More: Strikeforce Results | Melendez vs. Masvidal Live Blog
"I'm proud to be a part of Strikeforce, and Showtime's amazing," Melendez said. "But you know what? They need to bring some guys over here to challenge me."
In the first round Melendez landed quick combinations of punches while Masvidal did a lot of showboating and challenging but not a lot of actual fighting. Masvidal did knock Melendez down briefly with a leg kick, but the first round clearly belonged to Melendez, who threw more punches, and landed more punches, with more power.
In the second round Melendez continued to batter Masvidal with punches, and Masvidal didn't do much in response other than try to jab Melendez away. Melendez wasn't spectacular in the second round, but he was solid, and he built up a 20-18 lead.
As the third round wore on Melendez began to look tired, and some of Masvidal's jabs were starting to get through. Masvidal had been less active in the first two rounds, and that allowed him to stay fresher into the third, and it appeared that the tide in the fight was beginning to turn.
If Masvidal was building up any momentum in the third round, however, he didn't do much to capitalize in the fourth. That round was basically a boxing match, and Melendez landed more punches -- although both fighters had slowed down, and by the end of the fourth round the fans were booing.
By the fifth both fighters were exhausted and the pace had slowed, and Masvidal surprisingly didn't seem to think he needed to press the action and finish the fight. Melendez did enough to win the round and win the fight, even if it wasn't a great performance. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Live Results and Play-by-Play
It has been a tumultuous year for Strikeforce but the promotion is poised to close 2011 out on a high-note. Emanating live from San Diego it’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, an event featuring a pair of title-fights in the form of Gilbert Melendez putting his lightweight strap on the line against always-tough Jorge Masvidal and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos returning after an eighteen-month layoff to face 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka.
The lineup is also highlighted by bouts like Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista.
As always Five Ounces of Pain will be watching from the start and ready to relay live results back to readers. Preliminary pairings start at 8:00 PM EST with the Showtime broadcast firing up at 10:30 PM EST
Here is a full list of results including play-by-play for televised bouts:
Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez
Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado
Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples
Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox
Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCris Cyborg Blows Out Hiroko Yamanaka to Defend Strikeforce Title
Filed under: StrikeforceReturning to the cage after a year and a half away, Cris Cyborg absolutely destroyed Hiroko Yamanaka on Saturday night, needing just 16 seconds to win by technical knockout.
Cyborg exploded out of the gate and connected two quick hard right hands to knock Yamanaka down. Yamanaka got up but Cyborg exploded on her again, knocking her down against the cage. Cyborg began to pounce on the ground, but before she could do anything there the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
"I'm very happy," Cyborg said afterward. "I trained hard for a year and a half. This is amazing. I love fighting, I love training, I want to fight more."
More: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Cyborg vs. Yamanaka Live Blog
The win improves Cyborg's professional MMA record to 11-1 and shows once again that she's simply the toughest woman in the world. She's Strikeforce's women's featherweight champion, and the only question about her is whether Strikeforce will be able to find any opponents who can test her. After the fight Cyborg was asked about potentially fighting Ronda Rousey, which could be an option, although Rousey probably isn't ready for Cyborg.
Yamanaka came into the fight with a 12-1 record and a reputation as one of the best female fighters on the planet, but she's no Cyborg. There's no one like Cyborg. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, hiroko yamanaka, yamanaka, cyborg
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Real Time Results
Despite speculation surrounding the possibility of Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez joining the UFC‘s roster, even though his bosses have said the move is unlikely, “El Nino” still has a massive challenge ahead of him tonight when he faces polished pugilist Jorge Masvidal in the main event at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
The card also features female featherweight title-holder Cristiane Santos putting her gold up for grabs against Japanese newcomer Hiroko Yamanaka, as well as former 205-pound champion Gegard Mousasi against streaking contender Ovince St. Preux and KJ Noons trying to test the chin of kickboxer Billy Evangelista.
Check Out a Video Mash-Up of Highlights from Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Fighters
The night’s action starts at 8:00 PM EST with the main card hitting Showtime at 10:30 PM EST. Fighters.com will be tuned in throughout and delivering live results to readers as things unfold in real time.
A full list of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal outcomes can be found below:
Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez
Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado
Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples
Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox
Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, video mashup
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Live Blog: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, the main event of tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
In April, Melendez (19-2) retained his title by scoring a first-round TKO over Tatsuya Kawajiri. Masvidal (22-6) won both his Strikeforce fights this year against Billy Evangelista and K.J. Noons.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, masvidal, melendez, kj noons
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Live Blog: Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka, a women's 145-pound championship bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Cyborg (10-1) is back after an 18-month absence. She last fought in June 2010, knocking out Jan Finney to make her second successful title defense. Yamanaka (12-1) is coming off a stint with JEWELS and has won her last eight fights.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1:
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, yamanaka, showtime event
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Live Blog: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux, a light heavyweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Mousasi (31-3-2) fought Keith Jardine to a draw at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley in April. Next, he stopped Hiroshi Izumi in July to defend his DREAM light heavyweight belt. St. Preux (11-4) is undefeated in five bouts under the Strikeforce banner.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1: St. Preux opens with a head kick. Mousasi catches it. Mousasi lands a body kick moments later. Lots of trading kicks early. St. Preux looks a bit uncomfortable in there, reacting to every feint. Mousasi flashing his usual serial killer deportment. A St. Preux kick gets caught and Mousasi takes him down. Mousasi in St. Preux's half-guard. Mousasi with blows from the top. St. Preux lands a kick from the bottom as Mousasi's standing, but Mousasi quickly moves to side control with plenty of time to work. St. Preux tries to scramble to his feet but Mousasi drags him back down. Mousasi looks for the kimura but St. Preux powers out and ends up on top with :45 left. Mousasi quickly reverses and hammers St. Preux with stikes from the top. Mousasi gets the crucifix and rains down shots but runs out of time before he can finish. A 10-9 round for Mousasi.
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, st, mousasi, preux, kick
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal - Live Results and Play-By-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. The event kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET on Showtime, directly following the conclusion of the finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic between Andre Ward and Carl Froch.
The main event for the card sees Gilbert Melendez defend his Strikeforce lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal. In the co-feature bout, Cristiane Santos puts her women's featherweight title on the line against Hiroko Yamanaka. Scheduled to round out the televised broadcast is Gegard Mousasi taking on Ovince St. Preux in a light heavyweight bout and K.J. Noons squaring off with Billy Evangelista in a lightweight scrap.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down and stick around afterward as we recap all the action and fallout from this card.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Live Blog: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons Updates
Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons, a lightweight bout on tonight's Strikeforce on Showtime event from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Both fighters are coming off losses to Jorge Masvidal. Noons (10-4) is on a two-fight losing streak, having lost to Nick Diaz before the Masvidal fight. Prior to the March loss to Masvidal, Evangelista (11-1) won seven Strikeforce fights.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results | Latest Strikeforce News
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
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Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, masvidal, noon
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Results: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Filed under: Strikeforce, ResultsMMA Fighting has Strikeforce results of Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and the rest of Saturday's Strikeforce on Showtime card happening at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight belt against Masvidal. Meanwhile, Cris Cyborg is back in action as she defends her women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka.
Strikeforce results are below.
More Coverage: UFC 141 Fight Card | UFC 141 Results
Showtime Bouts
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal (live blog)
Cris "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (live blog)
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux (live blog)
Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons (live blog)
Undercard
Justin Wilcox vs. Caros Fodor
Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via first-round knockout
Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision
Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via majority decision
Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, blog, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWatching Strikeforce tonight.
How can I watch the Strikeforce fights tonight? Are they showing prelims? submitted by rryguy1978 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, prelim, strikeforce fights, rryguy
Read the full article at RedditGilbert Melendez, 'Cyborg' Santos and the New Face of Strikeforce
At the start of Miesha Tate's beef with Ronda Rousey, Tate said something that made no sense to me when she insisted that if women's MMA needs a "face" that it means that the sport will never make it. That's an incredible detachment from the reality of combat sports. I'd actually argue that it's much more "unhealthy" to not have one or two superstars who can bring extra attention to the sport and whose starpower can rub off somewhat when someone beats them.
Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar, Georges St. Pierre...etc. Those men were all the face of their sport at one time or another and without them that sport would have been profoundly less healthy.
This isn't specific to just a discussion on WMMA or MMA in general. Strikeforce will need one or two fighters who emerge as their top draws. Previously we saw Gina Carano, Fedor Emelianenko and Nick Diaz serve as the top drawing stars in the promotion. They were more than simply fighters, Gina was a rare combination of skills and mass appeal, Fedor had a tremendous run and incredible mystique, Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters on earth to watch and is such a loose cannon that it makes it hard to watch to see what happens.
So, knowing that the promotion isn't going anywhere any time soon, what happens now?
Despite Stephen Espinoza claiming Gina will return, it looks somewhat unlikely. And even if she does, it's unlikely to be a full-time return. Diaz has been poached by the UFC, same with Alistair Overeem. And Fedor is off in M-1.
After the jump we'll look through the current options to be the face of Strikeforce...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Gilbert Melendez - Melendez is a guy they seem to be positioning as the promotion's top star. He's the #2 lightweight in the world (according to the USA Today / SB Nation Consensus Rankings) and having that level of talent makes him a natural choice. Unfortunately, there isn't exactly a line of challengers that can create much buzz for a Melendez fight. A third fight with Josh Thomson may happen down the road, tonight's fight with Jorge Masvidal represents the only Strikeforce top 25 fighter that Melendez hasn't yet beat. Melendez vs. KJ Noons may be a fight down the road that could get a little attention since Noons can talk a little bit, but I have my doubts about Gil emerging as a superstar.
Cristiane Santos - "Cyborg" was expected to emerge as a big star following her dismantling of Gina Carano. Unfortunately, Strikeforce has only been able to find her three fights in the almost 28 months since that win. There is no depth at 145 pounds, especially if Rousey drops to 135 as expected. It's hard to have Cyborg get any bigger as a star without fights to make it happen.
Miesha Tate - If she's more worried about facing challengers she feels have "earned it" than taking fights that people want to see? I don't know how far she can go. Still, she has a look that gets her attention and the skills to deliver the goods in the cage. I have my doubts, but she could eventually turn into a real star.
Ronda Rousey - I hate pointing this out, but Ronda was on two of the three least watched Strikeforce events in the history of the Showtime deal. She's going to need some very good positioning on the 2012 cards to break out into the mainstream. It'll take a lot of effort an more than putting her on the Showtime Extreme undercard broadcasts.
Luke Rockhold - Now we're talkin'. Rockhold has skills and charisma to spare, he fights a fairly exciting style and, in a rematch with Jacare or a fight with Tim Kennedy, has a pair of legitimate fights that can be made. Unfortunately, he has to face Keith Jardine first. Maybe beating a former UFC fighter will do him some good, but it still feels like a waste of time. Still, Rockhold has a good chance of being a breakout star for the promotion.
Muhammad Lawal - Lawal has the flash, the skills the willingness to be special and the ability to talk a big game. Should he work his way back to the light heavyweight title, he is probably the guy (along with Rockhold) to be something more than "just another guy" on the Strikeforce roster.
2012 will be an interesting year for Strikeforce and the ability to create stars may be the make or break factor for their long time future.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, star, sport, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal LIVE Chat and Discussion (Starting 10PM EST)
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez returns to action against Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal, headlining the stacked Strikeforce card in San Diego, California. The event is co-headlined by the Women's Featherweight title bout between Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Hiroko Yamanako, while Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux, and KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista complete the rest of the main card.Don't forget to join us at LowKick.com for Play-by-Play Commentary and Chat with a full panel
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce card, cristiane cyborg, playbyplay commentary, hiroko yamanako
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal LowKick.com Staff Predictions
Once again, Trent Reinsmith and Anton Gurevich go toe-to-toe with predictions for tonight's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event in San Diego, California.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, prediction, anton gurevich, trent reinsmith
Read the full article at Low KickDespite new Showtime contract, it won't be 'business as usual' for Strikeforce
On the eve of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal", it was announced Thursday (Dec. 15) that Strikeforce and its longtime television partner Showtime had struck up a new deal through the end of 2014.
It put to bed the rumors that Dana White and the rest of the Zuffa brass were going to pull the plug on the San Jose promotion when its original deal expired early next year -- but not before ravaging it of its top talent, continuing what the UFC had started with Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem.
The news came as a bit of a surprise to most but even more surprising was the language White used to describe Strikeforce's future. While he didn't give much thought to the idea, he didn't flat out deny co-promotion between the two fight companies.
He spoke as if Strikeforce would operate on a level comparable to that of the UFC. He denied that Scott Coker's baby would become a "feeder league" and that its titles would not be looked at as "secondary" during Thursday's press conference.
I just wish someone had asked the question that was on my -- and likely many others' -- mind:
Exactly who does White think he's kidding?
Let's get one thing straight: Strikeforce won't have to worry about beginning to look like a second-rate league because it already does. But so does every promotion not named UFC.
In one of the rare instances where fact syncs up with opinion, the Las Vegas promotion is the top dog in the mixed martial arts (MMA) worlds. Ask any Affliction-clad guy in a bar during a pay-per-view (PPV) if he likes "MMA" and you'll see a deer in headlights. Use the term "UFC" and hope you have comfortable shoes because you're going to be standing there, talking to him for a while.
That settles the opinion half of the equation. And it doesn't take Rain Man to figure out the math on the fact portion. Take a look at the USA Today/SBNation consensus rankings and it becomes obvious that it'd be easier to count how many top 25 fighters are not in the UFC than tallying up how many are. The Octagon has a stranglehold on what pundits consider to be the best talent in the world. You'll see Strikeforce pop up maybe a handful of times per division but that presence isn't nearly enough to warrant comparisons to the talent pool its bigger brothers has at its disposal.
Strikeforce is in a situation that is wholly unique in the MMA world. It's a promotion with relatively strong nationwide brand recognition -- something that a Shark Fights or an XFO doesn't have -- that also happens to have a decent TV deal backing it.
The only other company that comes close in comparison is Bellator but the meager ratings it gets on MTV2 -- only ten of thousands of people tune in week in and out -- would have been its death knell had Viacom not decided to replace its UFC programming on Spike with Bjorn Rebney's offering. Bellator simply doesn't register with your casual fan.
Strikeforce -- on top of being the promotion that housed Fedor Emelianenko and up until recently Diaz and "Hendo" -- is leagues ahead of Bellator in terms of recognition. And with the Zuffa's marketing muscle hyping up each event on its PPVs, its FX cards, and even its Fox events, its status in the public eye has nowhere to go but up.
And that does wonders for fighters like Chad Griggs and Shane Del Rosario. These are guys who are obviously talented and have already bulldozed their way through the regional MMA scene en route to Strikeforce. But for as talented as they are, there's no denying that each would get absolutely obliterated against anyone of note inside the Octagon. That's the situation as is now for both fighters. In a couple of years, that might not be the case.
Two years in the UFC though would likely result in both of them picking up two or three consecutive losses and getting bounced from the promotion. Being in Strikeforce, they'll get good exposure and will be able to evolve and progress naturally. The WWE employs a similar strategy. They'll sign someone they see potential in and then send them off to a smaller promotion they have a working relationship with. That way, they can hone their skills and get ready for the big time and the WWE need not worry about a rival company signing the wrestler away.
Strikeforce can absolutely be that for the UFC. What else is there, unification bouts? It's a laughable idea.
Of the two divisions that actually have champions, there is all of one unification bout that fans want to see between the two promotions. And trust me, Luke Rockhold taking on Anderson Silva is definitely not it. The only other titleholder -- Overeem, Diaz, and Henderson were snatched up by the UFC and vacated their belts -- is Gilbert Melendez who hasn't been able to not talk about how excited he is to finally fight inside the Octagon.
But according to White, Melendez is "really f'n excited" to be in Strikeforce. I can see why White lost thousands of dollars in one night gambling; the guy can't bluff to save his life.
"El Niño" has been nothing but vocal about his desire to step inside the Octagon and prove his mettle. In October, he spoke almost as if his contract with Strikeforce was a hinderance, shackles that he couldn't wait to shrug off. He wanted more exposure and more money, both equally proportionate to the talent he feels he possesses.
Of course, Zuffa may have driven a dump truck full of money to Melendez's house to convince him to stay put. The only other thing the Mexican-American brought up more than wanting to prove he was the best was his "brand." It's obvious that he is taking his post-fighting future into consideration already, not wanting to end up like countless retired pro athletes who have nothing to fall back on.
A hefty pay increase could have assured Melendez that security he desired while also helping him forget about his goals inside the cage. The phrase "big fish in a small pond" has already been thrown around. Beyond that, I couldn't think of a single reason why the Strikeforce champ wouldn't want to jump at the chance at fighting on the world's biggest stage.
Despite what White says, Strikeforce is almost fated to become a place where the Griggs and del Rosarios of the world -- too talented for the regionals but not yet at the UFC level -- cut their teeth and where Octagon also-rans either get their career back on track or use whatever residual star power to finish it up. Plain and simple, Strikeforce has never and will never be on par with the UFC.
And if positioned properly, it doesn't need to be.
Posted in: ufc, world, promotion, strikeforce, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal - Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Dissection
The main attraction of Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event will pit Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, two of the most voracious and talented lightweights outside of the UFC.
Cesar Gracie standout Gilbert Melendez exploded off the starting line with ten straight victories. For a green fighter, the competition he devoured was quite admirable: Stephen Palling, Olaf Alonso, Hiroyuki Takaya, Rumina Sato and Clay Guida, the latter earning him the Strikeforce lightweight strap. His initial dominance vaulted him overseas to the lustrous Pride ring where he was quickly aligned with perennial Japanese legend Tatsuya Kawajiri. The decision victory over "Crusher" would officially put Melendez on the map.
Flawless after thirteen appearances, "El Nino" suffered his first defeat to explosive wrestler Mitsuhiro Ishida in the Yarennoka New Year's Eve show of 2007. Back in the states, he defended his Strikeforce title successfully before Josh Thomson would assume the mantle by handing Melendez his second loss. The defeat would be his last. Melendez transformed into a bloodthirsty carnivore with an afro, trampling Rodrigo Damm and then avenging both of his previous losses to Ishida and Thomson to retake the Strikeforce lightweight throne. Continuing his ascension, Gil notched career-defining wins with a dramatic upset of Shinya Aoki and merciless thrashing of Kawajiri in a rematch.
Much of the buzz that's surrounded Melendez is that he's either destined for the UFC or should be, and he deserves every bit of that gushing praise. However, while his increasing recognition could pave a lucrative future, high standards accompany his elevated status and, frankly, he's also got a lot to lose. The Melendez situation exemplifies the dilemma that top-ranked, non-UFC fighters are faced with: if he loses, he'll be branded as over-rated and undeserving; if he wins, he'll merely accomplish what everyone is expecting. Intensifying this high-risk, low-reward scenario is the dangerous complexity of his opponent.
American Top Team's Jorge Masvidal has been brilliant at times and disappointing in others. He first attracted attention when he blitzed current UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon by TKO in his seventh fight. Defeats were incurred immediately before and after. "Gamebred" then carved an eight-fight path that included more reputable lightweights, many on the larger stages of BodogFight and Strikeforce, such as Keith Wisniewski, Steve Berger, Ryan Healy (all decisions) and the wily Yves Edwards (head-kick KO).
When Masvidal signed with Japan's Sengoku promotion, he seemed destined to rise above the crowd and collide with former Pride champion and apex lightweight Takanori Gomi. In his debut performance, he was knocked flat by Rodrigo Damm. Masvidal recuperated well with two more wins, then set up shop in the states with a Bellator contract. Fans salivated over a match up with elite lightweight Eddie Alvarez but, this time just two fights in, Masvidal was victimized by Toby Imada's highlight-reel worthy inverted triangle. Again notching two wins afterward, what seemed like a tune-up against Luis Palomino resulted in another loss.
Developing a reputation for squandering ideal opportunities, Masvidal would regain favor by capitalizing on what should have been a no-win situation. Facing one of the most feared strikers a weight class up in Shark Fights, Masvidal fearlessly traded leather with Paul Daley and enforced a shockingly competent wrestling game. The unanimous decision awarded to Daley was received bitterly and Masvidal's stock rose for the gutsy showing. Now, consecutive wins under the Strikeforce banner over Billy Evangelista and a vicious unhinging of K.J. Noons has put him in title contention.
Match up analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
What makes this match up uniquely appealing is that, despite a handful of losses between the two, neither Melendez nor Masvidal have any glaring weaknesses to exploit. They are both strong across the board and have been phenomenal in fortifying their arsenals and enhancing their strengths.
The variables dictating the engagement will rely heavily on having the intelligence to draw from their many weapons with split-second reactions in the heat of battle. Rather than constructing a strategy attuned to one or two clear goals, the combatants will feel out the dynamics of movement and range while jousting strikes, gauge the availability of takedowns (and takedown defense), measure how they fare when tying up in the clinch and adjust accordingly.
The one spot where Melendez should have the edge is if he can put Masvidal on his back, but he'll be challenged by fluid footwork and boxing, being a few inches shorter in height and reach, solid scrambling and a resilient clinch structure.
The stand up of Melendez has easily been his largest improvement. After stellar wrestler and kickboxer Josh Thomson kept the fight standing and outpointed him on the feet, Melendez has rounded out his arsenal, polished his technique and added some serious power. With his wrestling still firmly intact, his quickness and intelligence propels aggressive attacks that alternate from aggressive striking combinations and adroit takedowns. His defense and has been sound and his beard adequately deflects the few blows that do slip through.
While Melendez has evolved to become thoroughly diverse, Masvidal has shined brightly with his kickboxing. Seeming more composed, complete and comfortable than ever before, the street-wise scrapper went toe-to-toe with "Semtex", who is one of the welterweight division's most prestigious Muay Thai machines. Showing an astounding control of distance, Masvidal sliced jabs, hooks and crosses through Daley's defense at tight range, then skated out to the fringe to frustrate him further with elaborate circles and angles.
The big shocker was how effective his takedowns were. He entranced Daley with artful boxing and then pounced with deep double-legs when Daley planted his feet while committing to his strikes. This was more of a case of timing, set up and the fight I.Q. of a complete fighter than anything else. This was convincing of Masvidal's offense wrestling, but it's his defensive wrestling and sprawl that will be tested tonight.
Having fallen to strikes in the past, an obvious outlet for Melendez is targeting the chin with big power. In intimate quarters, Gil packs a wallop with short-range punches, which is why Masvidal will likely maintain a cushion of space with his footwork and plug away with crisp punches to keep Melendez at bay.
How well Melendez can shrink the distance on the feet will be the most pivotal factor. From outside, Masvidal is an accurate sniper and excels in tailoring his output to his opponent's patterns. Melendez will have to decide if he's going to encroach by dropping levels for a takedown from outside or cutting angles on his way in to lock horns in the clinch, where he's an effective brawler who can still work takedowns from there.
I'm thinking, on the outside, Masvidal will wreak havoc. He was excellent in using his reach and cage motion against a much bigger and longer fighter in Daley, so I expect Melendez to struggle with finding his range. While Gil is the more accomplished takedown artist, he's yet to finish a fight by submission and Masvidal has clocked a lot of time with the BJJ and grappling experts at ATT to enhance his ground wit.
I have to admit that, ever since this fight was announced, I've been leaning toward Masvidal. He's much better than his record portrays, he's a big, agile lightweight who's learned to maximize his height and reach advantage and I think he's considerably more technical and diverse on the feet than Melendez.
I understand why Melendez is favored so highly and would be far from bewildered if he won. I'm going with my gut on this one and predicting the upset.
My Prediction: Jorge Masvidal by decision
Poll
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Melendez
Masvidal
3 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce results, updates and live play-by-play TONIGHT (Dec. 17) for 'Melendez vs Masvidal'
Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal."
Live results of the preliminary fights will begin to flow around 8 p.m. ET and round-by-round coverage of the main card action on Showtime will get started at 10 p.m. ET!
If you're going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it in the main Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.
Enjoy the show, Maniacs!
Posted in: strikeforce, result, masvidal, uptotheminute results, card action
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDissecting the new Strikeforce on Showtime deal
It was widely speculated that Strikeforce would fold following the purchasing of the organization by Zuffa and the conclusion of their Showtime deal, but rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated.
Strikeforce will be sticking around on Showtime and things will be “business as usual” moving forward.
What does this mean for the world of MMA? Well, I’m glad I asked myself.
PRO: More MMA. I’m never going to complain about more MMA on my television. Unless there’s a Taylor Swift concert in town, I’ll cancel my plans to watch any MMA event. And even if there is a Taylor Swift concert in town, I have a DVR to record the event. More MMA can be a bad thing because it makes lesser events feel even less important, but as a hardcore fan and someone who covers the sport, usually from the comfort of my own home, I’m always happy when there is fighting on my TV.
CON: Fighters will want to be in the UFC and will be moved to the UFC. No matter what Dana White says about, “Strikeforce fighters will stay in Strikeforce,” we all know he’s lying. Just like when he said, “business as usual,” and then poached champions Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem, and Nick Diaz from the organization. Fighters will be moved and they’ll want to be moved. Everyone sees UFC as the big time and they don’t want to be stuck on that second level. You really think Gilbert Melendez will stay in Strikeforce if he wins this weekend? Even if he does, he won’t be happy, because all the top lightweight talent is in the UFC. Muhammed Lawal has already expressed his interest in the UFC, as has Tim Kennedy. Dana says that Gilbert is, “very excited to stay in Strikeforce” and unless that means UFC will be sending over top talent like Clay Guida or Gray Maynard to fight Melendez, I think Dana and Gilbert might have different definitions of “excited.”
PRO: Women’s MMA has a home. Even though the talent pool isn’t all that deep, the women who compete in MMA are very talented and usually deliver exciting fights. Without Strikeforce, they would have been reduced to up-and-coming promotions or Bellator, if they decided to commit to higher women’s weight classes. With Strikeforce sticking around fighters like Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Cris Santos, and others will have a chance to showcase their skills in front of a larger audience. It also gives younger or mid-level female fighters a goal as they’ll see Strikeforce as the top promotion for female MMA.
CON: Strikeforce won’t have top fighters and their shows won’t seem all that important. The next major Strikeforce show (not the one this weekend) is headlined by a middleweight title fight between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine. You read that right. A relatively unknown Rockhold and UFC wash out Jardine will be headling a major Strikeforce event. Strikeforce shows are going to suffer from what I like to call “WEC Lightweight Syndrome.” Every time there was a big WEC lightweight fight, it never felt important because, since Zuffa owned WEC just like they own Strikeforce, we always figured the top lightweights were in the UFC and if guys like Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson were really that good, they’d be in the UFC. Rockhold might be a good fighter, but until he’s beating the middleweights in the UFC, he’s never going to the respect that he may deserve.
PRO: Showtime is behind the promotion. If they weren’t behind them, I’m sure they wouldn’t have re-signed with them. They aired a video package on the last Strikeforce Challengers show that no one watched, highlighting some of the bright spots in the promotion, this weekend the lead-in to the event is a big boxing match between Andre Ward and Carl Froch, and preliminary fights will start airing on ShowtimeExtreme. Obviously they could do a better job promoting the organization, but as a premium network, they don’t really promote any of their shows or events on regular networks. It’s not like I see ads for Dexter or Homeland, two of Showtime’s highest rated shows, when I’m watching ESPN or even ads for Showtime Boxing events.
CON: Zuffa is not behind the promotion. We all know that any resources that Zuffa has is going towards the UFC. They’re not going to commit extra funds or man power to the organization. The Zuffa employees are already going to be working hard with the five million shows that UFC is planning on running next year, they’re just not going to be able to give a 100% effort to Strikeforce. Zuffa could do little things to make Strikeforce look important like secure a DVD deal for the organization or even purchasing ad time on networks, but they’re just not going to do that and until they do, no one should be naive enough to believe that Zuffa really committed to Strikeforce.
PRO: More opportunities for fighters to fight and get paid. Besides money mark promotions that are willing to pay guys like Ben Rothwell $250,000 to be a punching bag, Strikeforce is the second highest paying promotion out there. So with them around, it gives fighters more income and more chances to fight. UFC already has an over-crowded roster, and while I’d much rather see guys like Jason High, Tarec Saffiedine, and Josh Thomson in the UFC instead of all the TUF wash-outs they keep around, they don’t have room for every fighter in the world.
The overall theory here is that Strikeforce sticking around is good for fighters and fans, but doesn’t seem like a very smart business move.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding this deal. Dana sounded very excited about things during yesterday’s media call, but he then proceeded to give a bunch of half, non-committal answers when asked things like, “will we see UFC/Strikeforce cross-over fights?”
Stephen Espinoza, Scott Coker, and Dana all said, “Strikeforce will not be a secondary promotion,” but I have my doubts. Does anyone really think that UFC will lend Strikeforce some of their top stars or best fighters, unless those guys are fighting for a title? And lets just say that we get Guida vs. Melendez in 2012 for the Strikeforce lightweight title and Guida wins, doesn’t that pretty much prove that Strikeforce is secondary if a guy who has failed to secure a UFC lightweight title shot can win the Strikeforce belt? Or if Melendez wins and people speculate, “could Gilbert beat the UFC champion?” does anyone really think Melendez vs. the UFC champion will take place on a Strikeforce event?
Strikeforce is already eliminating their heavyweight division due to “lack of depth.” Less than a year ago we all argued whether or not Strikeforce had a better heavyweight division than the UFC. Now, by the middle of next year, they won’t even have a heavyweight division.
This is definitely a “wait and see” deal for Strikeforce, Showtime, and Zuffa, but as it stands, I’m pretty skeptical.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, ’t, event
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSeven Ways of Looking at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Filed under: StrikeforceThe grand Strikeforce experiment will continue, whether fighters like it or not. Zuffa's other organization takes its next step tonight in San Diego with Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, and it's already been a whirlwind week for the company that Scott Coker built. Below, a few questions, concerns, and comments heading into Saturday night's event on Showtime.
I. That silence you hear? Yeah, that's one reason why guys like Gilbert Melendez can't wait to get out of Strikeforce and into the UFC. Fighters may not care how many articles get written about them in the lead-up to a fight, but they are still risking their health and whatever remains of their good looks in the cage on fight night, so they would prefer if people gave a damn. When it comes to Strikeforce these days, not many do. Maybe that's why Melendez still talks openly about how much he'd like to move to the UFC, trying to paint this title defense against Jorge Masvidal as if it's the last perfunctory step in the job application process for a UFC lightweight. Can you blame him? There's no buzz for Saturday night's event -- not among media or fans. Dana White can "make it right" for Melendez by cutting him a check to compensate him for being stuck in Strikeforce, but he can't make people care.
II. Money might help to make it right, but only for so long. Sure, Melendez's desire to get to the UFC is partially motivated by financial concerns, and that's the part White can help with. But don't underestimate the role of ego here. Melendez wants to get paid, but he also wants to know that he's testing himself against the best in the world, and on the biggest stage in the sport. He's not getting the chance to do that right now, and he knows it. Nothing against Masvidal, but a win over him doesn't do much to boost Melendez's status in the lightweight rankings. It's a fight where he has far more to lose than gain, in other words. The longer he stays in Strikeforce, the more of those he's likely to have.
III. So what is Strikeforce, now that it's not going away any time soon? Stephen Espinoza of Showtime Sports insisted on this week's media call that "Strikeforce is not a secondary brand. ...This is a top-tier organization." If that were even close to true, however, you probably wouldn't need to say it. People would just look at the fighters and the fights, and then they'd know. But what we see when we look at Strikeforce is an organization with a few very good fighters and a diminishing cast of also-rans to match them up against. It's true that Melendez isn't a second-tier fighter, but what does it matter if Strikeforce can't find first-tier opponents for him? It's like White has said about the UFC for years, usually when he wants to disparage the accomplishments of someone like Fedor Emelianenko: the UFC is the place where the best fight the best several times a year. Strikeforce might have some great champions, but they aren't fighting the best right now. Melendez could make his case as one of the world's best lightweights, but Jorge Masvidal can't. Luke Rockhold is an excellent middleweight, but Keith Jardine isn't a middleweight at all yet, much less a top contender in the division. It would be utterly unthinkable for Jardine to get a crack at Anderson Silva's middleweight title. But in Strikeforce? Sure, why not. That probably tells us everything we need to know about whether this is a top-tier organization.
IV. Cris "Cyborg" Santos had to wait a year and a half to get another fight in Strikeforce. If she rolls right over Hiroko Yamanaka the way most people are expecting her to, how long will she have to wait for the next one? The answer to that question probably depends on whether she could realistically cut to 135 pounds or not. There simply aren't enough opponents to keep her on a steady diet of challengers at 145 pounds, but you take one look at her frame and it's hard to see where the excess pounds would come from. At the same time, if she stays put she's not going to have much to do.
V. For a guy who hasn't lost in nearly two years, Gegard Mousasi sure needs a win in a bad way. He's 3-0-1 since dropping the title to Mo Lawal, but all three of those victories have come in Dream, against fairly unimpressive competition. He should have stomped an aging journeyman like Jardine, but instead ended up with a disappointing draw. If Mousasi is going to live up to his initial promise, he needs to start putting some wins together against opponents who matter. Beating up-and-comer Ovince St. Preux would be a good start, but it would only be a start. That's what makes this such a tough fight for Mousasi. He has to win. OSP just needs to look good and stay competitive.
VI. Now that Zuffa runs Strikeforce, is KJ Noons in danger of getting cut if he loses his third straight fight? It's hard to believe that the guy who was Nick Diaz's nemesis and Gilbert Melendez's would-be challenger now finds himself on a two-fight losing streak. In fairness, the first was a decision loss to Diaz, and there's no shame in that -- especially when you're fighting out of your natural weight class to begin with. But then Noons dropped a decision to Masvidal in a bout he was favored in, so he now finds himself in a must-win situation against Billy Evangelista. Or does he? While the UFC might not have much use for serial losers, Strikeforce needs anyone with a name and even a modicum of drawing power. Noons still has both, so maybe that would be enough to justify holding on to him even if he loses. At least that's one way Strikeforce's peculiar status could actually work for fighters rather than against them.
VII. Justin Wilcox and Roger Bowling make you wonder: is it better to star on Challengers, or fight in the shadows of the Strikeforce prelims? For the last few years Strikeforce has used the Challengers shows to highlight up-and-comers (and occasionally down-and-outers), while using the prelims of its other events to sell a few tickets with local draws. But now that Challengers is disappearing, it seems as though guys like Wilcox and Bowling will get stuck on Strikeforce prelims instead, which seems both good and bad. For one thing, Challengers wasn't ever a ratings winner, and the association had a certain negative connotation, like being on the JV squad. On the other hand, at least Challengers fights were on TV. At least they were the show, rather than the unaired show before the show. They might have thought they were playing to a tiny audience before, but now they're really knocking down trees in a lonely forest. If you put on a great fight and nobody sees it, does it really make a sound? Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, challenger, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseNo longer UFC-bound, Strikeforce's Melendez insists focus still unchanged
SAN DIEGO - It's amazing how much a single phone call can completely change the stakes of a fistfight.
For the past few weeks, it was generally assumed that Strikeforce
lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez was taking part
in what amounted to a UFC qualification bout against sometimes
welterweight Jorge Masvidal.
But on a Thursday media conference call, UFC president Dana White
revealed Melendez would be staying put, win or lose. Has the rapid turn
of events proven distracting for Melendez?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san, san diego, melendez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWeigh-in Video: Strikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’
Friday's weigh-in video can be viewed following the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, friday, weighin, jump
Read the full article at Sherdog2012 Strikeforce-Showtime Deal Conference Call Audio & Quotes
Here’s the full audio of the Strikeforce-Showtime conference call from earlier this week via BJPenn.com. We also have some notable quotes from the call below as well.
Dana White on doing a new deal:
“I’m fired up about this deal and the guys at Strikeforce are fired up about this deal too. So, they are involved in this and the guys fighting at Strikeforce are going to be very happy to be there.”
Scott Coker on eliminating the heavyweight division:
“No, we are going to focus on our other weight classes. We have a great lightweight division, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, and we are going to focus on the women’s divisions. What you will see happen with the tournament finals between Daniel and Josh is one more fight where the winner will fight a top rated heavyweight and then we are going to go back to focusing on our other weight classes.’’
“We are going to continue to run the two [women's] divisions. We are going to go out there, scour the planet, get the best females in the world and bring them to Strikeforce on Showtime.”
Dana White on Gilbert Melendez:
“Gilbert Melendez is pumped to stay in Strikeforce. If he wins he will continue to defend his belt in Strikeforce and he is absolutely excited about it.”
Dana White on his involvement in Strikeforce:
“Scott and the Strikeforce crew will be running the day-to-day and I will be involved in both this side and creatively on the Showtime side too. And I will be involved leading up to the events. When there is a Strikeforce event on a Saturday, I will work on the Showtime event just like I do a UFC event.”
Dana White on Ken Hershman’s departure from Showtime paving the way for a new deal:
“The reality is that I did not have a good relationship with the old regime and I have a good relationship with the new regime. I flew out there, we sat down, we talked, we worked this deal out and I love what we came up with. I would not be involved and I would not be this enthusiastic about it I wasn’t happy with this deal”
Dana White on any kind of crossover with the UFC:
“This whole thing is a work in progress, but we are both looking for the same thing. We are both looking for the best fighters in the world. There is a ton of talent and only so many slots to fill. There are a lot of great fighters that we can bring into Strikeforce, build an incredible division in each weight class and put on great fights.”
Dana White on Strikeforce not being a feeder league for the UFC:
“There is nothing wrong about being a feeder league, but that is not what this thing is designed to be. We are going after the best talent out there. A feeder league to me would mean that if you lose you go back down to Strikeforce and then you have to win some more fights and then we bring you back up. No, when you lose in the UFC you go somewhere else and you fight. Strikeforce is going to be looking for the best guys in these titles exactly like we do in the UFC.”
Scott Coker on Strikeforce not being a feeder league for the UFC:
“If you look at the history of the relationship that we have had with Showtime since 2007 and if you look at the fighters that have come across our events, it is far from a feeder league. We have had some of the world’s best fighters and have had record-breaking ratings.”
Stephen Espinoza on Gina Carano’s possible return:
“Gina is, at heart, a fighter, and will always have the genuine desire to fight, so it would not surprise me at all to see her back in MMA.”
Notes from the call can be found on the announcement post.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, deal, division, feeder league
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Quick Results
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal quick results on Saturday, Dec. 17, in San Diego. The main event features Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san diego, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMacDonald on MMA: Strikeforce picks
J-Mac looks back at UFC 140 and gives his picks for Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, masvidal, jmac, mma strikeforce
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce: ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Preview
Shoo away those circling vultures and other carrion feeders, because Strikeforce is going to live! But you knew that already, just as you knew that Dana White had rolled up his sleeves and entered into the consecrated offices of the Showtime network with the determination to keep some kind of worthwhile MMA property on the channel. So yes, Strikeforce will remain alive, albeit without its heavyweight division, without its low-calorie Strikeforce Challengers series, but with female bouts and no more fighters fleeing for the greener pastures of the UFC’s Octagon. Wahoo! More MMA! Which brings us to Saturday night, and an event headlined by a meeting between Strikeforce champ (whatever that’s still worth) Gilbert Melendez and the always-scrappy Jorge Masvidal. Savor that bout, for reasons that will soon follow, but ultimately, savor the fact that the event won’t be one of the organization’s last. Because without Strikeforce in our lives, what MMA show would we watch on Showtime eight times a year? M-1 Challenge? Ha!
-Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal – Given his hard-fought win over Josh Thomson, his dominant performance over Shinya Aoki, and his prison-rape of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melendez can be considered among one of the best lightweights in the world (but the inter-dimensional portal between Strikeforce and the UFC has closed, so we’ll never know if he’s the best!). And with his wrestling mixed with pinpoint striking and laser-like intensity, it’s not hard to see why he’s such a badass. The dude is a machine. Challenger Masvidal is no slouch, either, but he’s not quite the same caliber of machine as Melendez. Put another way, if Melendez is a T-1000 Terminator-kind of machine, then with his competent jiu-jitsu, solid Muay Thai, accurate high-kicks and propensity for starting somewhat slowly, Masvidal is an espresso maker. Which, hey, is a great machine if you like coffee-type drinks, but when it comes to dethroning one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world from their royal seat, forget about it. Melendez is finishing this one via TKO early.
-Cris “Cyborg” Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka – There’s a tale Brazilian mothers tell their children to scare them into behaving, a tale about a creature that lives in the jungle and comes out at night to devour the unwary. That fabled creature – that feared monster that preys upon mankind – is called the dreaded “Lobisomem”. Recently, Strikeforce 145-pound female champ Cyborg was hungry, so she ate the Lobisomem. And now she wants to feed again. Who’s next for her, and is it someone who stands a chance? Sadly, it’s not Ronda Rousey, so the answer is “no”. A well-rounded Japanese fighter named Yamanaka is the one that gets sacrificed to appease the appetite of Cyborg, which means we have to wait a while longer for something meaningful to happen in female MMA. Given her unyielding aggression and ability to strike better than most of the men on the planet, Cyborg is winning this one via TKO in what should be a quick, violent and ugly match.
-Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux – I admit, I drank the Kool-Aid when it came to believing that DREAM champ Mousasi was the next big thing. Then King Mo laid on him and took his Strikeforce belt, and he drew against Keith Jardine, and I realized that maybe, just maybe, there were some holes in the ace striker’s game. Oh well, he can still be exciting, and his skills are nothing to be trifled with. Which begs the question: will St. Preux, who sometimes likes to stand and bang as well as get guys down and manhandle them, trifle with Mousasi’s superior submissions and superior face-punching? If you’re the up-and-coming St. Preux’s coach, you have to hope your kid plays it smart and tries to grind out the win. I’m guessing that’s not what’s going to happen, though. Mousasi is finding St. Preux’s chin in the later rounds, and that’s all she wrote.
-Billy Evangelista vs. KJ Noons – Despite his top-notch boxing and ability to avoid trouble on the ground, Noons got completely housed by Masvidal and Nick Diaz in his last two fights, while the well-rounded Evangelista blew his chance at breaking out into the big time when Masvidal beat him too. Well, here we are, with a pair of guys who aren’t the best, but who are very capable at throwing leather and putting on a show. Which actually seems like a pretty good metaphor for Strikeforce itself – it’s pretty much not going to be the absolute best fighters throwing down, but it’s going to be good, skilled fighters doing it in entertaining fashion. In that spirit, I see this bout going the distance. The winner: who cares! It will be fun no matter what!
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce live expert analysis (Yahoo! Sports)
Get live cageside updates from Saturday night's Strikeforce card in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, san, expert, diego, cageside updates
Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' weigh-in photos: An MMAjunkie.com gallery
SAN DIEGO - MMAjunkie.com was
on scene for today's official "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" weigh-ins,
where all but one of the 18 competitors successfully made weight for Saturday's fight card.
And it was the one that missed, along with his opponent, that provided the most fireworks during the day's official ceremony.
After tipping the scales at 170 pounds, four-time Strikeforce vet Roger
Bowling charged right over to opponent Jerron Peoples, who not only
failed to make the welterweight limit but also missed an agreed-upon
179-pound catchweight limit, as well.
Posted in: pound, strikeforce, vs, melendez, welterweight limit
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' fight card: Gilbert Melendez vs Jorge Masvidal preview
The Strikeforce lightweight title is on the line tomorrow night (December 17, 2011) as champion Gilbert Melendez takes on challenger Jorge Masvidal in the main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Melendez is highly regarded one of the best 155 pound fighters on the planet. He made a statement earlier this year in a rematch against Tatsuya Kawajiri, showcasing his evolution as a fighter and he'll be looking to prove he's simply on another level compared to the rest of the division.
Jorge Masvidal has been on a terrific run in Strikeforce. He halted Billy Evangelista's undefeated streak in his return to the promotion and then destroyed former EliteXC lightweight champion and Strikeforce welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons over the course of three rounds to earn his shot at the belt. He feels now is his time to be champion and he's got a tall order.
Will Melendez continue to prove he's head and shoulders above the Strikeforce lightweight division? Does Masvidal have what it takes to play spoiler? What is the key to victory for both men tomorrow night?
Let's find out:
Gilbert Melendez
Record: 19-2 overall, 9-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Shinya Aoki (Strikeforce: Nashville), Clay Guida (Strikeforce: Revenge), Tatsuya Kawajiri 2x (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, Pride Shockwave 2006)
Key Losses: none
How he got here: Gilbert Melendez had his first professional fight in the WEC, actually becoming the first Strikeforce lightweight champion in just his fourth professional bout. After a terrific run in Shooto, Melendez would debut in Strikeforce, eventually defeating Clay Guida to capture the Strikeforce lightweight title.
After losing his Strikeforce title to Josh Thomson in the middle of 2008, Gilbert would go on to win the interim title and then avenge both of his career losses to Mitsuhiro Ishida and Thomson, unifying the belts in the process. The Cesar Gracie fighter handily defeated consensus number two-ranked lightweight (at the time), Shinya Aoki, on national television at Strikeforce in Nashville last April.
Melendez accepted a title defense against Kawajiri on relatively late notice earlier this year and then absolutely thrashed him with a first round technical knockout victory. He made great use of the new unified rules Strikeforce employed, blasting "Crusher" with a series of elbows to the head. There were rumors of him joining many of his fellow champions in the UFC, but he'll instead defend his belt against Masvidal tomorrow night.
How he gets it done: Where he once stood a sloppy, brawling wrestler, now stands as a very aggressive and technically sound striker. Melendez can pick his opponents apart with his jab or he can lunge inside and go to work with his powerful and precise hooks. He's got a multitude of weapons at his disposal and don't be surprised one bit to see him really utilize his elbows, even standing if the fight enters the clinch or gets up close and personal.
Melendez still has the wrestling base to fall back on, but I don't expect him to go to the ground unless he hurts Masvidal standing. He's going to be using his footwork to create an opening to pounce inside and land big strikes. He wants to prove he's the best lightweight in the world and he can't afford to slip here.
Expect Melendez to be very aggressive, perhaps even leaving himself open to counters simply because he wants to continue making statements. Dana White says "El Nino" is going to stay in Strikeforce for a while, but perhaps if he can go out and destroy his opponent quickly, he'll spawn a movement from the fans that will force the UFC's hand.
Jorge Masvidal
Record: 22-6 overall, 4-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: K.J. Noons (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum), Billy Evangelista (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson), Joe Lauzon (AFC 12)
Key Losses: Toby Imada (Bellator 4), Rodrigo Damm (Sengoku 3)
How he got here: Jorge Masvidal has been everywhere. After starting his career with a plethora of fights in the Absolute Fighting Championships, he made his debut in the upstart Bodog Fights promotion where he would go 3-0 before the promotion disbanded.
Masvidal would take his talents to Japan, going 2-1 for Sengoku Raiden Championships before signing to compete in the inaugural Bellator lightweight tournament.
After defeating Nick Agallar in just over a minute in his quarterfinal fight, Masvidal would be placed on the receiving end of one of the greatest submission in mixed martial arts history as Toby Imada scored an impromptu inverted triangle choke after getting thoroughly beat on for two-plus rounds of the Bellator lightweight semifinals.
"Gamebred" bounced around several promotions, even fighting eventual Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Paul Daley at welterweight (and holding his own) before making his return to the promotion in 2011. Masvidal would dominate previously undefeated lightweight Billy Evangelistain his return to Strikeforce earlier this year to jump up to contender status in Strikeforce's thin lightweight division and he would cement that status by smashing K.J. Noons with a dominant decision victory that saw him hurt the former welterweight title challenger badly in the first round.
How he gets it done: Masvidal is a very patient fighter, but his skills are top notch. He won't shy away from standing with Melendez as long as he feels he can spot an opening and pounce. Look out for his knees. Masvidal has long legs and can explode forward with a flying knee either to the head or the body and both are equally dangerous.
Something that would not surprise me one bit would be to see Masvidal utilize some of his wrestling at times in this bout. He's been improving leaps and bounds and his single leg is actually getting pretty good. If Melendez gets too aggressive, Masvidal will be prepared to change levels and take him down where he can work some strikes from top position or at least win some points for the judges.
Masvidal has a very slight height and reach advantage, so I expect him to stay back a bit, work his jab and not commit to anything unless he's absolutely certain there won't be any negative repercussions. This is his moment to shine and he can't afford to make a mistake by being reckless.
Fight X-Factor: Gilbert Melendez has talked openly about wanting to fight for the UFC title, even battling former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez. He wants to fight the best lightweights in the world and unfortunately, those don't belong in Strikeforce at the moment. Jorge Masvidal is a solid opponent, but he's nowhere near the top level of 155 pounders, so is Gilbert Melendez motivated for this fight? He has all the skill and talent in the world, but if he takes Masvidal lightly, he could be in for some serious trouble.
Masvidal has a dangerous skill-set and he could easily take advantage of Melendez if he catches his opponent sleeping.
Bottom Line: While Jorge Masvidal may not be a major household name, he's done more than enough in his last two Strikeforce fights to earn this shot. He's got enough talent to make this an interesting fight, even if Melendez shows up in top form. Expect some fun striking exchanges, although with Masvidal's patience, this won't be a stand-up "war" that fans would probably like to see. There is potential for a very exciting knockout from either man as both have power in their punches. If Masvidal can take Melendez down, however, it could get a bit ugly as he hasn't mastered his top control to the point where he can really rain down punches on his opponent. Either way, each man should have his moments and this should be a terrific main event.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will win the main event of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal tomorrow night?
Gilbert Melendez
Jorge Masvidal
3 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Results
All but one fighter hit their weigh-in mark Friday evening for Saturday’s Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card, including main event fighters Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal.
Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, weighed in at 155, while Masvidal hit the scale at the exact same number. The four-fight main card, which goes down at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, will be televised by Showtime.
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Hiroko Yamanaka each were right on the number for their women’s championship match, weighing in at 145 pounds. Meanwhile, Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux came in at 206 for their light heavyweight scrap, while K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista were at 156 for their meeting at lightweight.
The lone fighter to not make weight was Jerron Peoples, who tipped the scale at 180.5 pounds – 10 over his projected weight for a meeting with Roger Bowling. The bout will now be contested at a catchweight of 179 and has gone from business to personal as Bowling got in the face of Peoples regarding his lack of respect in terms of gross missing weight.
Fans can catch the main card tomorrow night on Showtime starting at 10:30 PM EST.
Here is a complete list of weigh-in results:
Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186)
Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5)
Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5)*
Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156)
Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206)
Cristiane Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145)
Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155)
* – Fight will now be a 179-pound catchweight bout
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, weighin
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Weigh-In Results
The Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
Jerron Peoples was the only fighter on the card to miss weight, and man, he wasn’t even close. His opponent Roger Bowling, who hit his 170 mark just fine, agreed to a 179 lbs. catchweight just prior to the weigh-ins, but Peoples couldn’t even make that, coming in at 180.5. He was given extra time to cut to 179.
The weigh-in results:
Gilbert Melendez (155) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155)
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (145) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145)
Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206)
Billy Evangelista (156) vs. K.J. Noons (156)
Caros Fodor (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Roger Bowling (170) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5)
Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265)
Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186)
Chris Brown (170) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” will take place tomorrow, Dec. 17, at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and will air live (tape delayed on West coast) on Showtime at 10:30pm ET/PT.
More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal - Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Dissection
How dominant is Strikeforce 145-pound female champion Cristiane Santos? Look no further than the amalgam of betting lines that favor her in four-digit increments that range from -1400 to -1011 against Hiroko Yamanaka. The women's title will be up for grabs in the co-main event of Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Showtime.
Women's MMA has made incredible strides in the last few years, but the progress was hindered by the UFC's purchase of Strikeforce, shrouding the future of the promotion and female fighting in uncertainty. Now, Strikeforce has extended their contract with Showtime and the ladies are featured in the supporting role to the show's headliner.
After a year and a half on the bench, Cristiane Santos (10-1) will return to action after having crushed all four of her previous Strikeforce opponents with ferocious strike-stoppages. The Chute Boxe product has redefined the way public perceives female fighting by, quite frankly, performing with just as much athleticism, technique and violence as top-level male combatants.
The challenger, Hiroko "Incomplete Queen" Yamanaka (12-1), will be making her stateside and Strikeforce debut, but she's far from a newcomer to the sport. Yamanaka is a former Smack Girl Open Weight champion and currently ranked second in the world (behind Santos) by MMARising. She is a composed and diverse mixed martial artist with solid striking and submission grappling. The sole blemish on her record was a 2008 submission loss to Hitomi Akano (who Cyborg defeated in her Strikeforce debut) but Yamanaka would later avenge the loss by split decision in the Jewels promotion.
Match up analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Yamanaka is 5'11" and the tallest fighter that Cyborg has ever encountered. Considering the champ's propensity to rag-doll opponents, Yamanaka should endeavor to maximize the advantages of her size. She has previously implemented a hard-nosed sprawl and brawl strategy against Josh Barnett's student Shannon Hooper, where Yamanaka exacerbated her length with solid boxing and footwork.
Striking-wise, she throws tight and precise punches. Though not a power puncher, her activity and accumulation of blows can be quite formidable and she also has a library of high-level submissions. Yamanaka is a crafty and composed fighter who I don't expect to be intimated by the tremendous challenge in front of her.
Santos is the complete package in every aspect: boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, submissions, strength, agility and aggression. Her chin has passed the test thus far and her only loss was via kneebar in her MMA debut back in 2005. Really, "Cyborg" represents the pinnacle of all aspects in women's MMA. She's steamrolled all comers and hasn't offered up any flaws to nitpick on even a microscopic scale.
The two areas that prohibit any excitement for an upset are Yamanaka's lack of knockout power and wrestling. While she may be competent in keeping Santos on the end of her punches, she will be hard-pressed to finish the champ and avoiding her wrath in every round makes winning a decision unlikely. While her submission game is sound, she was taken down rather easily by Akano. This means that Cyborg will not only dictate the location of the fight, but will probably assume the top position on the ground, where her striking prowess is just as deadly as it standing and her submission awareness is intact.
My Prediction: Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos by TKO
Poll
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Cyborg
Hamanaka
15 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, submission, yamanaka, cyborg, cristiane
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Weigh-In Results: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
The final Strikeforce event for 2011 takes place Saturday in San Diego, CA, headlined by Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal with Women's Featherweight Champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. the debuting Hiroko Yamanaka in the co-main event. Unfortunately, the weigh-ins aren't being streamed but fortunately for you, Bloody Elbow will bring you the live weigh-in results starting at 7 PM EST.Can Melendez keep his streak going? Will Santos spend more than a round in the cage? Comment below and let's hear what you have to say.
Main Event:
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez ( ) vs. Jorge Masvidal ( )145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos ( ) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka ( ) 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi ( ) vs. Ovince St. Preux ( ) 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista ( ) vs. K.J. Noons ( )
Prelims:
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Justin Wilcox ( ) 265 lbs.: Devin Cole ( ) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones ( ) 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Jerron Peoples ( ) 145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez ( ) vs. Eddie Mendez ( )170 lbs.: Chris Brown ( ) vs. Herman Terrado ( )
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce’s Barnett vs. Cormier Grand Prix Final Likely for March 3 in Ohio
The Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix final between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier is expected to take place on March 3 in Columbus, Ohio, according to MMAjunkie.The Barnett-Cormier winner will be crowned the tournament winner and will fight one more time for the promotion before likely joining the UFC with Strikeforce set to end its heavyweight division.Barnett (31-5) advanced to the finals with submission wins over Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov, while Cormier (8-0) earned a spot in the tournament with a win over Jeff Monson before breaking his hand in a semifinal knockout of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva that delayed the finals.The March 3 event would take place alongside the Arnold Sports Festival like UFC 68, UFC 82, and UFC 96, and WEC 47 from 2007 to 2010.For the latest Strikeforce news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.Pictured: Josh Barnett
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, barnett, cormier, march
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBloody eyeballs and black spots no hurdle for Strikeforce's Justin Wilcox
Are eyeballs actually supposed to bleed?
That's the question Strikeforce lightweight Justin Wilcox had to ask himself after returning to the locker room at this past
June's "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" event, where an inadvertent
Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante eyepoke led to a no-contest result.
"In the backroom, my eyeball was bleeding," Wilcox recently told
MMAjunkie.com Radio. "I was like, 'Where is
this blood coming from?'"
Posted in: strikeforce, wilcox, eyeball, nocontest result, question strikeforce
Read the full article at MMA JunkieIt doesn't bother Tyron Woodley when UFC fighters can't make eye contact with him
Tyron Woodley and MiddleEasy.com were born into the MMA world only mere months apart. T-Wood made his pro debut in February of 2009 and we wrote our first article ever in April. Since then Woodley has moved through the welterweight ranks at a blistering speed as we've looked on impressed. Now the Missouri wrestler is digging into his St Louis roots and will be opening the latest American Top Team gym this weekend: ATT Evolution. We got the chance to speak to the new gym owner and top ranked Strikeforce welterweight and he tells us all about the big fish/small pond theory and how he plans to run the welterweight division in Strikeforce and out. And yes, UFC fighters aren't making eye contact with him.
You did it, you finally opened you gym. How do you feel? It's been a long journey man, it feels good. The name of the gym is ATT Evolution and it takes from the tradition of American Top Team and the things they do so well but place a lot of our spin on it and we will take MMA training even further.
Have you wanted a gym of your own for a long time? I knew for a while that it was something I wanted to do, and with all the people in my life that helped me out and made it possible for me to train all the and I've had a lot of people show me the behind the scenes and really helped me and opened my eyes...Now I want to do that and help out these fighters that need it.
So you will be offering training down their that has pretty much been previously unavailable? Yeah, oh yeah. I used to train in St Louis but then it got to the point where I was having to go out of town for a lot of my training and I was only doing strength and conditioning, maybe boxing around here. But now we can offer everything, the gym has four boxing rings, we have a BJJ area a wrestling area, cardio anything anyone needs, myself or my members need...I have a full sized training facility now to prepare for it.
Nice, so you will be spending more training camps at home I presume? Yeah it's nice. I'm going to get some favors returned, it's gonna be nice. The last five years I've been going out and helping guys like Thiago Alves and Yves Edwards and various guys and Team Quest and so now the favors are getting returned. Din Thomas and Thiago are getting in Monday. Cormier and Jason High will be in town to help me with Jordan Mein. It's just been incredible the response and how many people are behind this project. It's great, great workers, everything is great. Everyone is seeing the big picture and we are all striving towards the same goal.
You've said for a while now that your focus is on being a complete fighter and not just a wrestler, we saw some of that against Paul Daley, but is the opening of the gym effecting your development? Do you plan on standing with Jordan Mein? Well he's a Mixed Martial Artist and he does everything well. I think that him and his angles and it being an MMA fight I think he's gonna stand and I think I will stand but actually think he's going to try to take me down. I don't think you'll see the quote unquote striker Vs, wrestler thing going on. I think he's a more complete MMA fighter than that so I will do what I do best and I will show the world why i should be fighting for the title.
Anything cool in the works for your next Clinch Gear tee? Of course! Clinch Gear has always been there for me. Since I was a nobody on the undercards. They were sponsoring me then when it wasn't even televised. You look at my gym now though and it's covered in Clinch Gear. So yeah I will be definitely wearing a Clinch Gear shirt and I'm glad that you said that so I can call them about a walkout shirt design. But Eric and Dan Henderson have really helped me in every facet of the game. They have to be if not the number one brand they have to be in the top two performance brands in the sport. The quality speaks for itself, and at any event you will always see some Clinch Gear.
That and their shirts just look cool. Yeah they do a real good job with the design. They have multiple graphic designers that put a lot of thought into their work. They have a lot of guys that will be thinking of ideas and really just bouncing stuff around,. I don't know how they do it.
We just found out Strikeforce will continue to live, do you think that will lead to more fights for you? Yeah I think so man, I think they are planning for me to fight maybe after January in March or April. For me, it's not the fact that I can't fight it's just that they shuffle guys to try to keep them busy and making sure everyone gets fights. You know, with limited means and funds. Now that we have the machine behind us in Zuffa I think that will help a lot. All of these fighters that came up through Strikeforce like King Mo and myself and Cormier, maybe we can get some star power behind it. Now they can put some marketing behind of our guys.
Hypothetical question: if you moved to the UFC where do you think you would be in the mix? I should land in the top 5. I think I'm a top 10 fighter right now. Guys like Jordan Mein and Tarec and obviously Andre Galvao was better in Jiu Jitsu. So I think the guys I've fought are game opponents. I'm on the cusp right now and basically I think a win over this guy then a title will put me in the top ten when I go over there. I have no interest in working my way up from the bottom. I did that for three years in Strikeforce so now I want to fight the Jake Shields and Nick Diaz and Carlos Condits. Those are the guys I want to fight. Some of the guys in the top 20 aren't even that tough or not a great style matchup. I'm gonna put it on the line and go out there to get at the GSP's.
Speaking of style matchups, you hold the wrestling Kryptonite for a lot of people., including Nick Diaz. Do you think he jumped ship at the right time? Do you think he ducked you a bit? Nah. I think he made a good choice in his career, obviously financially and he had the belt. He has to prove it again against GSP...I've never seen the kid duck anybody and he's a pure fighter but you know what? It's not that great of a style matchup. I'm sure he would be down for the fight and go out there and give the fans what they want. I think it's a good matchup for me and if it happens in the future do I think I could beat him? Yeah. Easy fight? No. I think overall I just have to take what God has for me and get through Mein and then I will sit down and think about the title.
So Jorge Masvidal Vs. Gilbert Melendez, what is your official prediction? I want Masvidal to win man, I want him to win in the worst way. Whenever I'm on the couch and I'm watching with my wife she hates it because I'm always leaning around on the couch. Everyone knows he's a funny dude and charismatic but man that guy busts his butt working as hard as he does. I've trained with him and I know. Out of all the American Top Team fighters, all sixty some fighters, he's the one who says 'hey, I want more rounds' or 'lets do more sprints'. He is always pushing. When I was driving out to Coconut Creek I saw the work he puts in with pro boxers and strength and conditioning coaches. I want to see that pay off with him. I'm a fan of Gilbert and he's a great fighter but Jorge goes for broke every time. I mean all those guys at the Cesar Gracie camp don't even have to really use that Jiu Jitsu which they are known for. Those guys are just a different breed. It's gonna be good. We are actually showing the fight, December 17th at the gym here in St Louis. Having a viewing party at ATT Evolution, so it should b a great time in support of a teammate of mine Jorge Masvidal.
What do you think about Masvidal's addiction to Call of Duty and cheeseburger eating? That's hilarious, I didn't know you guys knew about that. I think he's with Dolce now so I'm positive he's not eating cheeseburgers anymore haha.
What would be better in your opinion: being in the deep UFC roster with possibly being lost in the mix or being one of the faces of Strikeforce? Oh I'm positive I wouldn't be lost in the mix in the UFC. I've been backstage and many locker rooms and I wont say any names but I've been there and UFC welterweights won't look me in the eye. That doesn't bother me. They know who I am and I'm not saying that I'm the man and you should know about me, but I don't think I would get lost in the shuffle over there. I've been in Strikeforce since 09 and it's been a long journey but my goal was to be Strikeforce champion. I feel like we should be finishers not only in the cage but in everything we do in our life. I'm right on the cusp of that. Right now anyway, that isn't an option so I'm gonna get my belt. After that it will work itself out. Look how Shields and Diaz went over. They went right to the top five because they went over with a belt. So it will only help my cause to have some hardware in the future. Strikeforce is a good organization and I'm glad they are going to be around. I don't liek to talk too much about the UFC and all that because I'm with Strikeforce and they are promoting me and they market me and they tell y story as a fighter. As long as my contract says Strikeforce I'm Strikeforce. If anyone wants to check me out on Twitter I'm @Twooodley or check out ATTEvolution.com. Check us out December 17th for the fights and then our grand opening is on December 19th capping it off with Randy Couture, Yves Edwards, Din Thomas, Thiago Alves and Mike Chandler so come check it out.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, fighter, im
Read the full article at Middle EasyHeavyMMA Podcast 65: UFC 140, The Greatness of Jon Jones, Strikeforce
The HeavyMMA podcast returns with a look back at UFC 142, discussion of how awesome Jon Jones could be and a look forward to tomorrow's Strikeforce event.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, jone, jon jones, heavymma
Read the full article at Heavy MMA“Cyborg” Santos plans to put on a show Saturday night
Strikeforce women’s featherweight champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos has been waiting a long time to get back inside the cage and perform. Saturday night, Santos will face Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal in the co-main event.
After successfully defending her title back in 2010 against Jan Finney via knockout, Santos was forced to the sidelines as contract negotiations took place. Now, “Cyborg” is ready to add another victim to her resume in Yamanaka.
“I’m very happy to fight and I know there are a lot of expectations around that,” said Santos, in a recent interview with Strikeforce’s website. “Even before thinking about winning the fight, I want to put on a really, really good show, and definitely for the fans, I’m going to go beyond any expectations.”
The 26-year-old became frustrated with the delay in working out a deal with Strikeforce, saying, “I’m always working to get female MMA to grow, and I want to see more girls fighting and I want to grow the event and make it better by giving the best show I can. So I was definitely frustrated with the big gap between fights because I always expect to fight three or four times a year if possible.”
As for her future now that Strikeforce has one, Santos is interested in competing in both the 135/145-pound divisions. That means a possible date with Ronda Rousey down the road, who is an up-and-coming fighter looking to make a big splash in women’s MMA.
In the main event of Saturday’s show, Gilbert Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal. Recently, it was announced that Melendez, Santos and the rest of Strikeforce’s non-heavyweight fighters will remain the company.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, show, saturday, ’m
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Results
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsMMA Fighting has Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-in results for Saturday's Showtime event at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
In the main event, Gilbert Melendez puts his lightweight belt on the line against Jorge Masvidal.
Weigh-in results are below.
Showtime Bouts
Gilbert Melendez () vs. Jorge Masvidal ()
Cris Cyborg () vs. Hiroko Yamanaka ()
Gegard Mousasi (206) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206)
K.J. Noons (156) vs. Billy Evangelista (156)
Preliminary Bouts
Justin Wilcox (156) vs. Caros Fodor (156)
Jerron Peoples (180.5) vs. Roger Bowling (170) *catchweight bout
Devin Cole (248) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265)
Fernando Gonzalez (186) vs. Eddie Mendez (186)
Herman Terrado (170.5) vs. Chris Brown (170) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, strikeforce newsmma
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Weigh-in Results
Results from Friday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-ins at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyCan the Strikeforce Heavyweights Compete in the UFC?
A major part of the Strikeforce announcement was the disbanning of the heavyweight division following the end of the Grand Prix. The winner of Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will fight once more and then the division is getting shut down. The reasoning is that heavyweight just isn't deep enough to have two separate divisions under the same Zuffa banner. With the division being absorbed into the UFC, how will the Strikeforce heavyweights match up with their UFC counterparts?
At the very top Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett are fighting for the Grand Prix belt. Both fighters have the talent and skill set to be immediate factors in the UFC. Cormier, thought a bit undersized, has the punching power and wrestling to be competitive and Barnett is still one of the best heavyweights in the world. Fabricio Werdum is rumored to be fighting Roy Nelson, though that fight has no been confirmed by the UFC and Dana wouldn't confirm it on yesterday's press call.
Antonio Silva is a major question mark in my mind. He's obviously skilled in both Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai; however, he's also lumbering and chin-y. He scored a huge win over Fedor Emelianenko in the opening round of the grand prix and his post-fight tears was one of the feel good moments of the year in MMA. When he faced Cormier in the semi-finals, he was embarrassed and knocked out. Though it could be attributed to Daniel's speed and footwork, Silva just didn't have any answers on the feet.
It is doubtful that the UFC will sign Sergei Kharitonov who was made to look like a chump against Josh Barnett. Blasting Andrei Arlovski into the next dimension just isn't as impressive as it once was. Sergei has legitimate boxing skills but his inability to get off his back against Barnett is a major concern. His lack of english makes him a booking nightmare and he just doesn't capture fans.
The remainder of the the Heavyweight Grand Prix participants are either already under UFC contract such as Alistair Overeem or persona non grata with Zuffa such as Brett Rogers and Fedor Emelianenko. There are two interesting prospects in Chad Griggs and Shane del Rosario but neither are ready for the top tier of the heavyweight division.
The Strikeforce heavyweights will provide a much needed infusion of new talent into the UFC heavyweight division but outside of Cormier and Barnett, it is doubtful that any of the fighters brought over will truly test any of the top guys in the UFC. The UFC's heavyweight division is just deeper and more talented which means there is a strong possibility that the Strikeforce fighters washout soon after making their debuts.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Poll
Can the Strikeforce Heavyweights compete in the UFC?
Sure thing!
Maaaaybe...
No wai!
64 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, division, strikeforce heavyweights
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Can Gegard Mousasi Reclaim His Former Glory?
Two years ago, Gegard Mousasi looked like a man on the verge of greatness. At 24 years old, he had already compiled an impressive 27-2-1 record along with a list of accolades. He was the undefeated Dream Middleweight champion and the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion. He had tried his hand at kickboxing and effortlessly KO'd K-1 veteran Musashi. He was on a 14 fight win streak and hadn't lost since facing Akihiro Gono in Pride back in 2006. He was being mentioned as a possible top 10 pound for pound fighter in the world. He was, beyond a doubt, one of the names to watch.
Today, he is largely forgotten. As Mousasi gets ready to face Ovince St. Preux at the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card this weekend, that momentum of two short years ago is gone. That's not so odd though - in this sport, fighters can fall hard and fast. But what's strange is this - in those 2 years, Mousasi has only seen 1 loss. He's gone 4-1-1 in MMA, plus defeated the K-1 Heavyweight champion Kyotaro under K-1 rules.
So why have fans forgotten about Mousasi?
Two factors are at play here. First is the nature of that 4-1-1 record. The 4 wins have all come in Japan, and so have not been seen by many casual fans. On the other side, that loss and draw were both under the Strikeforce banner, here in the US in significantly higher profile fights. And both of those performances were not Mousasi at his best. First was the loss to King Mo Lawal on the Strikeforce CBS show. There, Mousasi just had no answer for Mo's wrestling, being taken down repeatedly and ultimately unable to mount an offense. It was an easy, one-sided decision for Mo that greatly hurt Mousasi.
After that loss, his next US appearance was meant to be against Mike Kyle, but when Kyle was injured, Keith Jardine stepped in on one week's notice and fought Mousasi to a draw. Again, Mousasi did not look great in this fight. And worse, he didn't look great against a man who casual fans had last seen in the UFC on a disastrous 1-5 run. After those back to back Strikeforce fights, many casual gave up on Mousasi.
Also at play for Mousasi is the decreasing perception of Japanese MMA. As fighter after fighter has come over from Japan and failed to impress, fans have begun to write off the level of competition there as significantly lower than in the US. Despite Mousasi's record, even hardcore fans now look at him and see a fighter who has only succeeded in Japan, only against talent that are either past their primes, or have never had their own successes outside the US. And so, like the casual fans, many hardcore fans have given him up as well.
This Saturday, that can change. If Mousasi gets a big win over OSP - if he shows the kind of domination that led him to highlight reel stoppage wins over Mark Hunt, Jacare, Babalu, and more - then those Mo and Jardine fights will fade, as will the complaints about his Japanese run. They won't disappear, but they will grow a bit quieter. And the fans who once looked at Mousasi as a future great will be reminded of what made him special.
And if Mousasi loses, or wins and looks uninspiring in the process? Then fans will decide they were right all along and the hype was always unjustified.
It's a tough position to be in, but Mousasi holds his future in his hands. Let's see what he does with it on Saturday.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, fighter, fan, mousasi
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHiroko Yamanaka Excited to for Strikeforce, First Fight in America (Video)
Hiroko Yamanaka expresses her excitement about fighting for Strikeforce and making her North American fight debut.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, hiroko yamanaka, yamanaka, hiroko
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySo now that the Strikeforce HWs are coming over to the UFC, what match-ups would you like to see first?
submitted by ImaG [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, imag, hw, strikeforce hws
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Results
Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” event take place today at 7pm ET in San Diego, as Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, challenger Jorge Masvidal, and the rest of the card weigh in to make their fights official for the Showtime-televised event.The Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal weigh-in results are:MAIN CARDGilbert Melendez (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal Strikeforce Lightweight ChampionshipCristiane “Cyborg” Santos (c) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight ChampionshipGegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. PreuxKJ Noons vs. Billy EvangelistaPRELIMINARY CARDJustin Wilcox vs. Caros FodorJerron Peoples vs. Roger BowlingDevin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-JonesFernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie MendezHerman Terrado vs. Chris BrownPictured: Gilbert Melendez
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, weighin
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyKJ Noons vs Billy Evangelista odds for Strikeforce fight on Dec. 17
"King Karl" is back.
Former professional boxer and EliteXC champion K.J. Noons will return to face Billy Evangelista at the upcoming Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event scheduled for tomorrow night at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
Despite winning his first two fights as a Strikeforce employee, Noons (10-4) has now dropped to 2-2 for the former San Jose-based organization, falling to Nick Diaz and Jorge Masvidal in back-to-back unanimous decision losses.
But that hasn't stopped him from being labeled the -230 favorite for his Saturday night scrap in San Diego.
Evangelista (11-1) is also coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jorge Masvidal, going down on points at the "Feijao vs. Henderson" event back in March.
It was the first loss of the Fresno native's career but that could quickly be erased with a convincing win over a name like Noons.
To do that, he has to overcome his opponent's stand-up -- and a +180 betting line. Anyone smell an upset? Or is this a fairly predictable fight?
Who ya' got?
For more Strikeforce odds and betting lines click here. For an in-depth preview of K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jorge masvidal, noon, evangelista
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Round Table: Was Keeping Strikeforce Alive Good For Business?
Matthew Roth: The new deal with Showtime has finally been announced but details are still spotty. What we know is that Zuffa is planning 6-8 Strikeforce cards and that the HW's will be chopped following the Grand Prix. This is a two part question. First: The fact that Zuffa is planning 40 shows in 2012, will we see events not get marketing because of lack of time? Secondly: With the current depth in every division, can Strikeforce survive without an influx of new talent?
T.P. Grant: Ultimately I think this will be good for MMA fans.
Zuffa has been the most successful promotion on the business side of things, so I don't think they would attempt to do 40 shows in one year if they didn't have serious data to show it would work. And if it does fail, I also doubt they haven't thought of that a planed accordingly. I think events are going to serve as marketing also, get fights on free TV. Get people to watch one card and get them interested in the next card and also Fox has stated that their marketing resources will be also brought into play.
It has become cliche at this point to say something will function like the WEC, but that is how I feel Strikeforce will function. Prospects, projects and a few veteran gatekeepers, but I feel like Zuffa will try to keep putting fighters they cut from the UFC to a relative minimum. I don't think it will function so much like a minor league as it will be a developmental league. Of course this is strictly for men's division.
Zuffa does nothing half way, now that it is a Zuffa product I fully expect them to try to turn Strikeforce into the home of the best female fighters in the world. And this again is a good thing for MMA fans because those girls can scrap.
Tim Burke: Who said Strikeforce was staying? Tim said Strikeforce was staying! Anyway, I think that by now, especially with TV events, it's going to be promoted like Vince McMahon promoted the WWF in the 80's - the fighters won't matter, what will draw a crowd is just the three letters - UFC. Sure, some guys will be more popular than others, but the promotion itself is what will get people to watch, because they know they're going to get quality fights no matter what. I think a better question would be - can they always deliver quality fights with this many cards?In terms of the second part, I still believe you'll see UFC guys moving over there. Or instead of loading up on prospects in the UFC, guys like Michael Kuiper and Ryan Jimmo will be debut in Strikeforce instead of the UFC. It can definitely be a viable second promotion that doesn't need to rely on being a feeder for the UFC.
More after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Ben Thapa: Forty shows, Dana? Won't you think of Burt Watson and his tired dogs?
On a more serious note, we are discussing the potential of Strikeforce to build young prospects. Both incarnations of Strikeforce pre- and post-Zuffa buyout have an iffy track record of actually building prospects. Ronda Rousey is probably their biggest success and that may be sheer luck in having a dynamic fighter who absolutely obliterates her opponents and gives pretty kickin' interviews. Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold and Tyrone Woodley are their other notable successes and honestly, none of these talented young athletes have been successful at catching the attention of the big audiences like Nick Diaz or the eternal MMA will'o'wisp that is Gina Carano.
What Strikeforce needs is Paul Heyman. Well... maybe not Heyman himself, but someone who is willing to come up with storylines that fans can latch onto readily and embrace. We know Gil is a little bit more brash, impulsive and hotheaded than his generally demure interviews show. I suspect Rockhold has some kookiness behind that bland exterior and ring girl technique videos. Woodley is a golden boy in the mold of GSP. Despite the best efforts of Genghis Cohn and Co., people still don't know Masvidal is not to be slept on. The opportunities for hustle are there with Strikeforce. They just need someone dynamic to take advantage of them - and Scott Coker is not that man. Let him handle the backstage stuff and find a more flamboyant public face to galvanize the slowly-creeping-into-oblivion Strikeforce brand.
As for the new talent, I cannot say Strikeforce has been particularly good or particularly bad. This is an organization that gave us three Bowling/Voelker fights. At the same time, they snatched up prospects like Woodley, Rockhold and a few others like Gian Villante, who didn't immediately catch on fire as expected. Blue chip prospects like Jon Jones are usually easy to find and sign for the UFC. Finding the mid-major prospects, the ones who aren't so enormously physically talented that they can destroy any opposition, is harder and requires more patience. The UFC doesn't have that kind of patience for the ups and downs of those fighters. The WEC did. Can the hybrid of the two companies cultivate that WEC-style attitude in a different organization? I doubt it, but I can hope.
David Castillo: You'll be wrong eventually Tim. I think Zuffa is using this as a bit of an experiment: how will this wider network at their disposal combine together to create an even meaner Zuffa machine? With the concentration on women's MMA, I wonder if they're not looking to attempt a cash-in on the biggest female mixed martial arts fight ala UFC 48, I mean, WEC Aldo vs. Faber. To what degree can female MMA sustain itself when the gate is tallied, and the buyrates come in?
I thought Nason was crazy for a second with his post the other day, but then it made perfect sense: like the WEC, Zuffa was looking to corner the market on the lighter weights. They've already done that. With female MMA, here's yet another market to potentially own. This may seem like a gamble on the surface until you consider that other organizations with the funds to take over something like female MMA, and do it on a stage like Showtime's don't have access as long as Zuffa still has a deal with them. It's Zuffa doing what they've always done: maintaining market dominance.
For how long? Who knows. As to the broader point about the lack of any influx of talent can always be balanced out by bringing over UFC "rejects". And this could always be used as a better barometer for a prospect's abilities in Strikeforce. Not that I want to see the Jardine's of the world fight for their titles, but I have to think Jardine vs. Rockhold is an exception and not the rule. Plus, to be fair, 185 is one of the thinnest divisions in MMA, the UFC included.
Tim Burke: You're crazy if you think they did this just for women's MMA.
Brent Brookhouse: To the original questions. What Strikeforce events get the big marketing push now? Even the Grand Prix died down in terms of the overall push once Zuffa took over. They don't have the time or resources and even if they put a lot of promotional push behind the events, something like Rockhold/Jardine or Rockhold/Kennedy or Rockhold/Jacare isn't going to sell. Nor is anyone at 205. Or anyone at 170. Or anyone at 155 really. I mean, they just don't have guys who are superstars and they don't seem like they have a lot of guys with the intangibles to become superstars. And then the depth gets in the way to where you lack one of the critical elements to creating superstars.
Rockhold has a good look, he's an exciting fighter and he's just got a bit more of an "it factor" than most of the Strikeforce roster. But there's no stars for him to beat, no one that creates a buzz before and after a fight. 205 is a mess unless King Mo can get the title back, but even then...who is there for him to fight to really create much of a buzz? Mousasi again? That's not going to get anyone excited. OSP? Nah. ..etc. Melendez gets past Masvidal and then what?
I get Dana, Coker and Company not wanting to admit that Strikeforce is a second tier promotion, but that's exactly what it is. And they're not going to dump time and energy into promoting these shows with the set-up they currently have.
Yeah, maybe they can fix the depth with smart signings. But it's always going to be an issue that they're at a stage where they don't have marketable stars to build off of. There's no Liddell for someone to come knock out and become a star, or a Couture for someone to beat and gain legitimacy. It's going to be a few years of "I think I heard of that guy and he's fighting who? Never heard of him."
Brent Brookhouse: The idea that this has anything to do with women's MMA is crazy.
Yeah, they want a promotion where they can sign people and hold on to them and keep another promotion for having something unique and "important." But Dana was really clear that depth is a big issue. He joked about having the 135 class "and Cyborg" because thereis no real 145 class. They keep toying with this idea of just smooshing everyone into a single class just to force some compelling fights.
And if I can be honest here for a second, when you have Tate in public whining about Rousey wanting a title shot, it's really obnoxious. How many fights do people really have an interest in seeing? Rousey vs. Tate is probably the biggest women's fight on earth right now (aside from either against Cyborg or a Gina gimmick fight) and Tate is worried about credible title shots. Shut up and fight.
And, I'm sorry, but too heavy of a focus on women's MMA would be death by poor ratings.
Tim Burke: Not everything needs to be compared to the UFC though. This is about carving out a niche in the buffer zone between the UFC and the Ring of Combats of the world. Showtime will make money without superstars if none develop (as will Zuffa), but it's way too early to say "it's gonna fail, no one wants to watch". They don't need a Liddell/Couture/etc. They just need to put on good fights.
Brent Brookhouse: It's not about if it fails or succeeds. It's about putting it in a realistic space.
There's only so much value that a big promotional push for Strikeforce shows would make anyway, so for now it's pointless to focus on a huge marketing push.
Creating superstars generally requires superstars for them to get a rub from. What superstars with any drawing power were created in WEC? Faber and...Faber. Aldo, Cruz, Henderson, Cerrone. Those guys couldn't draw and even Aldo's minor star required Faber to get some shine. What superstars did Strikeforce create with any drawing power? Diaz I guess, but he wasn't exactly blowing the roof off the Showtime ratings. Coming in and beating Penn did more for him than anything he did beating Cyborg or Dailey..etc. Same with Bellator. Lombard is running around beating up bums and no one cares. Alvarez wasn't a special draw or anything.
Their space can be as a place with decent fights and some good fighters and good prospects. But people have to understand that that is what it is, it's nothing more.
KJ Gould: I'd ignore almost everything Dana said the other day. This is a B show, and that's not a bad thing. Fighters that Zuffa like who can't cut it in the UFC get somewhere to develop that's not some rank amateur regional show. There's no way Strikeforce is sustainable with the current roster and you can expect cut UFC talent to end up there providing they were cut on 'good terms' - which basically means didn't do anything to piss Dana White off.
Strikeforce is the perfect stop gap between the regional level and the UFC for those that need a little longer to develop. Not all prospects will be like Jon Jones, but that doesn't mean these prospects can't come into their own if given the time to do so in a promotion that's more competitive than the regionals, but not a sink or swim shark tank like the UFC can often be.
Don't forget, Strikeforce offer the fighter insurance like UFC does and there is a definite path of career progression for fighters that find success. Bellator may be more appealing for short term money, but even its champions have complained about the lack of activity they've seen while stuck with the promotion, and with an absurd champions clause a fighter's ceiling is going to remain low.
Strikeforce can be a viable alternative to Bellator for prospects who aren't ready for the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, prospect, zuffa
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 11, 2011
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Gilbert Melendez and Fedor Emelianenko pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Lowkick interviews rising Strikeforce prospect Ovince St. Preux, The Fight Nerd gets Chael Sonnen to open up about his upcoming fight and Bleacher Report speaks with Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Ovince St. Preux isn't scared to go toe-to-toe with Gegard Mousasi (LowKick)
"It's definitely safe to say that Mousasi is the biggest name I fought in my career," said St. Preux. "Everyone knows he's one of the Top 10 guys out there. He's a great challenge for me as a fighter. He will try to impose his will with striking, but he's one of those guys who also has a very good ground game too. With him I have to be prepared for a war in both stand up and on the ground."
- The procrastinating fight fan's last minute holiday gift guide (Cage Potato)
Pick these items up in your size and favorite color and if nobody visits you at Christmas, keep them for yourself.
- Carla Esparza reflects on recent win over Felice Herrig (Five Ounces of Pain)
Women's MMA and its rise in popularity can be attributed to a list of stellar competitors like Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Megumi Fujii, and Gina Carano. However, while certain stand-outs may receive the bulk of the public's attention there are a number of highly-talented females throwing down in the ring on a regular basis. One such fighter is Carla Esparza
- Winners and losers in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal (MMA Fighting)
That news will have a wide-ranging impact on the mixed martial arts world, including the fighters, the promoters, the networks and the fans. We examine who the winners and losers are in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal below.
- Fuel TV kicking off partnership in style (5thRound)
- Junie Browning wants US Embassy to save him from Thai mafia (MiddleEasy)
Sigh. The saga of Junie Browning's Thailand terrorization continues so it seems. It seems that it's not just the cops looking for Junie-now according to a post on Junie's facebook page: the Thai Mafia wants to wack his Kentucky ass.
- Chael Sonnen talks fight against Mark Munoz & why he won't coach a season of 'TUF' (The Fight Nerd)
Fight Nerd correspondent Hiroko Yamamura spoke with UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen at the UFC on Fox 2 press conference in Chicago. We spoke to him about his next fight against Mark Munoz and what to expect, where he plans on taking his career next and why he does not want to coach on a season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and how he wants peoples perceptions about his fighting style to change. This is an interview not to be missed!
- Keith Kizer believes urine is 'obviously' better than blood for steroid testing (Fight Opinion)
Tuesday proved to be quite the day on the radio circuit if you were interested in commentary about the situation between Alistair Overeem and the Nevada State Athletic Commission over drug testing. If you didn't follow the details of Monday's NSAC meeting, read the details here.
- Strikeforce and Showtime reach new deal (MMA Payout)
It has been speculated for months, but it was finally made official today. Strikeforce and Showtime have reached an agreement to televise live MMA for 2012, starting with the January 7th event headlined by Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold, which will air during a free preview weekend for the premium cable TV network.
- Interview with K.J. Noons (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
"My performance of my last fight was very poor. I got beat. He (Masvidal) came and had a good gameplan. Guys' tricky to fight. He's elusive. Got that in the past and changed the camp up, mix it up, do a few different things, be a better all around MMA fighter, really changed the camp up. Now I'm ready to go for this next fight. Showcase different skills to San Diego where I train and where I live at. So I'm super excited and I'm really excited to be back on Showtime."
- Review: The Principles of Unarmed Combat by Mark Jacobs (MMA Convert)
Yes, traditional martial arts - the world of dojos, starched gis and Bruce Lee's "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do". It's a world many an MMA fan fled like a combative sport refugee, and yet it's a world that still exists, kept alive by the inquisitive collective mind that hungers for the answers to such martial questions as "What works in a fight?"
- The Daily Line: Keeping Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce is a mistake (Fightline)
So, you're telling me that the guy who could barely contain his excitement at the prospect of joining the UFC roster back when the Zuffa/Strikeforce deal was initially announced, now all of a sudden wants to continue to compete in Strikeforce where it's been established the top-tier talent no longer resides?
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, fighter, fight nerd
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCyborg Santos Says Ronda Rousey Talks Too Much, Ready for Hiroko Yamanaka
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos won the Strikeforce women's featherweight championship all the way back in August of 2009 against Gina Carano. What seemed like a star that would be hard to keep off your TV turned into a somewhat disappointing two and a half year span as we've only seen "Cyborg" in the cage to defend her title twice.
Saturday night in the co-headline bout of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal we'l see Cyborg defend her title against Hiroko Yamanaka. MMA Interviews caught up with the champion to do a brief video interview. Cyborg's English is coming along fantastically. She even found time to talk a little about emerging star Ronda Rousey.
Check the video out:
Quotes from the interview after the jump...
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
On what she expects from Yamanaka on Saturday and what she has trained for:
I train everything. I'm ready for five rounds. I train jiu jitsu, submissions, stand-up. I'm ready for all situations in fight.
On Ronda Rousey's last fight and what she thinks about fighting her:
I no watch the fight but I know she win. She's a good fighter and she want to fight me? I'm ready. She talk too much. ...She want to fight and Strikeforce put it? I'm ready.
On what she expects to happen Saturday night:
I try to do a gift for Christmas for my friends and family. A big knockout!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, cyborg, im, coheadline bout
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' preview: Champs get heavy-favorite status
The end of the year has brought a new beginning for Strikeforce, and the promotion's first major event in three months brings two title bouts with two champions who look to solidify their dominance.
Or, in the spirit of a fresh start, make way for the underdogs.
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and women's featherweight champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos walk into bouts against Jorge Masvidal and Hiroko Yamanaka, respectively, as massive favorites.
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, hiroko yamanaka, underdogs strikeforce, heavyfavorite status
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce weigh in results LIVE from San Diego for 'Melendez vs Masvidal'
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs Masvidal" is set to take place later today (Dec. 16, 2011) LIVE from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
K.J. Noons and Cristiane Santos are also in action.
Complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" weigh in results, after the jump:
Main Event:
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez ( ) vs. Jorge Masvidal ( )
Main Card (Showtime):
145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos ( ) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka ( ) 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi ( ) vs. Ovince St. Preux ( ) 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista ( ) vs. K.J. Noons ( )
Preliminary Card (May not be televised):
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor ( ) vs. Justin Wilcox ( ) 265 lbs.: Devin Cole ( ) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones ( ) 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling ( ) vs. Jerron Peoples ( ) 145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez ( ) vs. Eddie Mendez ( )170 lbs.: Chris Brown ( ) vs. Herman Terrado ( )
For those fortunate enough to be in San Diego this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3:00 p.m. PT.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Dec. 17), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle
For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSt. Preux seeks life-changing Strikeforce win; Mousasi banking on improved wrestling
SAN DIEGO - Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Ovince St. Preux has quickly learned that you must be careful what you ask
for when it comes to future opponents. You never know when you just
might get it.
St. Preux called out former Strikeforce champ
Gegard Mousasi, and the two now meet on the
Showtime-broadcast main card of Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs.
Masvidal" event.
Mousasi admits he was a little surprised to be called out, but he
certainly doesn't take offense to the challenge.
Posted in: strikeforce, st, mousasi, preux, st preux
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce releases highlight video featuring Melendez, Masvidal, and Santos
Recently Strikeforce struck a new deal with Showtime that will keep the company on the network for at least eight more events in 2012. While the deal doesn’t officially kick off until a January 7 show, there is a major Strikeforce event this weekend featuring lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez taking on top contender Jorge Masvidal in headlining action. Plus, the most feared female fighter in the sport, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, is back in action and will be defending her featherweight belt against 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka.
To promote this weekend’s event, the promotion has released a highlight mash-up featuring the greatest hits from Melendez, Masvidal, and Santos. Also on the card, but not featured in the video, are light heavyweights Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux along with lightweights K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista. The action kicks off this Saturday, December, 17, on Showtime at 10:30PM EST.
Check out the video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, featherweight belt, billy evangelista, melendez masvidal
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce's 'Cyborg' prepped to carry women's sport, but Yamanaka no willing victim
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - While it's been nearly 18 months since Strikeforce
145-pound female champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos
has entered the cage, some things never change.
A focused, intense Santos insists she's ready to put on a crowd-pleasing
display at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," and her opponent is being widely regarded as just
another hapless victim.
Except Hiroko Yamanaka doesn't see it exactly that
way.
Posted in: strikeforce, cyborg, womens sport, crowdpleasing display, victim
Read the full article at MMA Junkie'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' live and official weigh-in results
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - MMAjunkie.com is on scene and
reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Melendez vs.
Masvidal" fighter weigh-ins, where 18 fighters look to make weight for
the Saturday night fight card.
Included among the participants are Strikeforce lightweight champ
Gilbert Melendez and challenger Jorge Masvidal, as well as Strikeforce
female titleholder Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and Japanese opponent
Hiroko Yamanaka.
Today's festivities take place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieOvince St. Preux a Confident Underdog Against Ex-Strikeforce Champ Mousasi
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe opportunity that changed Ovince St. Preux's future wasn't supposed to ever happen. Back in the early spring of 2010, when Strikeforce was putting together its soon-to-be infamous Strikeforce: Nashville event, the promotion was looking for local talent to fill out the undercard.
At the time, St. Preux was a relative rookie in the sport, having competed for just over a year. It's safe to say that back then, he wasn't exactly a prodigy. With a record of 4-4, he also wasn't lighting up the radar of major MMA talent seekers. In fact, when St. Preux's name was floated for the card, Strikeforce execs were against it. It was only the tenacious and repeated calls from some of his coaching staff to the Strikeforce office that ultimately landed him on the event, and St. Preux has taken the opportunity and sprinted with it.
Since that moment, he has yet to lose. Now 11-4 and with five Strikeforce wins under his belt, St. Preux makes the leap to title contender, fighting former light-heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi in the co-main event of Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event.
But how did he get from there to here? How does one start off a career winning just three of his first seven bouts, then suddenly find a new gear and dominate everyone put in front of him?
St. Preux said it was a few simple adjustments that changed everything. The former University of Tennessee football player recommitted himself to strength and conditioning, focusing on correcting stamina issues that he says plagued him early on. He also changed his eating habits, and when the time came, he seized his moments.
At Strikeforce: Nashville, he ended up romping in a 47-second TKO. A couple of months later, he scored an 8-second knockout of former UFC fighter Jason Day. With every win, he learned something about himself.
"Some of those fights let me know know where I was," he told MMA Fighting. "I wouldn't say I doubted myself, but when you have a lot of people telling you that you're good, sometimes you ask yourself, 'Am I that good?' So when you actually go out against those opponents and take care of business, you go, 'OK, I think I could push myself a little more.'"
St. Preux's confidence grew further with wins over hard-hitting strikers Antwain Britt and Benji Radach, and when he added a win over Abongo Humphrey for his seventh win in 11 months, it seemed that St. Preux was on his way to contention. But first he got a strangely matched bout with debuting Joe Cason.
St. Preux didn't allow himself any disappointment at what most saw as a step back from a matchup perspective, and ran through Cason in just 72 seconds. That set up his current match with Mousasi.
"It's just a situation that worked out perfectly for me," he said. "I don't feel like I have anything to lose. I don't have my back against the wall. It's a situation where I'm the underdog for this fight anyway."
Not that he feels like an underdog. St. Preux acknowledges that Mousasi is the better striker and even the better submission fighter, but he feels the edge is his when it comes to wrestling. Above that, he feels he's simply a better fighter than Mousasi.
"People will be surprised that I say that, but we'll see what happens after the fight," he said. "We'll see if they're still surprised after the fight.
"He's one of those top fighters," he continued. "He's 31-3, he's the type of fighter who has a lot of will, he's a tough guy. So it's not like I'm going in there thinking I'm going to cakewalk all over him. I'm going in there like it's an adventure. I'm definitely going to go in there and make sure I use all my skills to the best of my ability."
The Strikeforce light-heavyweight championship is currently vacant, left behind by Dan Henderson when he moved over to the UFC. The winner of the St. Preux-Mousasi fight seems a logical choice for one-half of a future title bout. Though that hasn't been guaranteed, those are likely the stakes he's playing for.
That's a pretty good second act for a guy who grew up wanting to play in the NFL. After exhausting his eligibility at UT, St. Preux briefly tried to wedge his way into pro training camps, but wasn't able to find a situation that offered him a legitimate opportunity to make a roster.
"I always say 'I never quit football; football quit me,'" he said.
St. Preux still has his roots down in Tennessee, training at the Knoxville Martial Arts Academy, just 15 miles from Neyland Stadium, the home of UT's football Volunteers. But he sprinkles in occasional work with Team Quest in Temecula, California, and arrived in the state a week earlier than necessary in order to get in some time there before facing Mousasi.
And make no mistake about it, this is the fight he wanted. After his last win over Cason, when Strikeforce announcer Mauro Ranallo asked St. Preux what might be next for him, Mousasi's name was the first thing out of his mouth.
"Everything kind of worked out my way, and now I've got to capitalize on it," he said. "I've just got to do my job and keep on winning."
In the last two years, that's all he's done. And on Saturday, he can continue the unlikely story of going from a losing record to the verge of a major championship. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, st, preux, he, st preux
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal -- By the Odds
Filed under: StrikeforceIt's Strikeforce time again, for better or worse, and that usually means one thing to the betting MMA fan: opportunity.
I don't know if it's the built-in talent inequality on the roster or the penchant for one-sided squash matches, but it seems like Strikeforce always features fights with big favorites and hefty underdogs. If you know how to parlay the former and spot the latter, that could mean some profitable fight nights. If you don't, it's just another night of crying into the couch cushions.
Let's see how oddsmakers see it going down on Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card.
Gilbert Melendez (-380) vs. Jorge Masvidal (+290)
On any Strikeforce card, both in the pre and post-Zuffa eras, you're bound to find some long odds to go with total mismatches. But while Saturday night's main event has the long odds part down, I doubt it's quite as much of a mismatch as it looks like on paper. Masvidal doesn't have the name recognition or the big wins that Melendez does, but he's still a tough, experienced fighter who's difficult to put away. That means Melendez could be looking at five hard rounds with this guy, which is plenty of opportunity for us to find out whether he took this challenge seriously enough in training camp. This is a tricky fight for Melendez, because there's just not that much to gain. Masvidal, on the other hand, could go from solid journeyman to potential star with one good night. Skill-for-skill, the edge has to go to Melendez. He's the all-around better fighter, and he should win this. But Masvidal is the kind of guy who won't give you anything. Melendez is going to have to go out there and take it.
My pick: Melendez. I can't bring myself to take the underdog risk on Masvidal, mostly because there are better options on this very same card. Speaking of which...
Gegard Mousasi (-380) vs. Ovince St. Preux (+290)
I get it: Mousasi's a familiar name and St. Preux is just some Challengers guy, right? Wrong. St. Preux is a genuine prospect, a gifted athlete, and maybe even a future Strikeforce champ with the right experience and adjustments. He hasn't lost a fight since 2009 and he's looking more and more comfortable in the cage of late, albeit against a series of opponents who seem as if they might have been selected for just that purpose. Mousasi, on the other hand, has looked a little uninspired in recent fights. He had that weird little draw with Keith Jardine, and he hasn't faced anyone really tough since he dropped the belt to Mo Lawal in 2010. He was the flavor of the month for a little while, but he just never progressed past a certain point and couldn't develop the appropriate sense of urgency about it, either. Maybe he deserves to be the favorite just based on the difference in experience against high-level opponents, but to give him Gilbert Melendez odds is insane. Not only does St. Preux have a chance, it's a pretty good one. I'd consider him a good bet at +190. At +290 he's a steal.
My pick: St. Preux. It feels like oddsmakers are just begging me to take their money here. I'd hate to disappoint them.
Cris "Cyborg" Santos (-900) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (+550)
Oh, here we go. Hide your kids. Hide your girlfriend's delicate face. Hide anything you don't want smashed to pieces by the most intimidating fighter in women's MMA. "Cyborg" is back on the scene and it's looking like another squash match for the 145-pound champ. This time you can't blame matchmakers. There simply aren't many women out there who could give Santos much of a fight. Granted, Santos hasn't fought in a year and a half, while Yamanaka's been pretty active, but come on. You look at Yamanaka's record and there's nothing to suggest that she's ready for the intensity and the force of this one-woman wrecking crew. Nothing at all.
My pick: Santos. But at -900, I can't even put her in my parlay without feeling weird about it. It's like betting on a bull in a fight with an ostrich. You know you're almost certainly going to be right, but who wants to profit off something like that?
KJ Noons (-190) vs. Billy Evangelista (+155)
Here's one where you can actually learn something by comparing their performances against a common opponent. Both these guys dropped decisions to Masvidal in their most recent outings, though Noons' loss was the one that seemed to catch oddsmakers off-guard. This isn't one of those fights where they both do very different things, and it's a contest to see who can shut the other one down and make it into his kind of fight. Instead, it's a fight where they have similar styles and approaches, but one guy is just a little sharper at it. And who's that one guy, you ask? Easy: he's the one with the minus next to his name.
My pick: Noons. I don't see him blowing two in a row where he's the favorite, but I'll save it for the parlay.
Quick picks:
- Justin Wilcox (-170) over Caros Fodor (+140). I'm still bitter that we didn't get a Wilcox-Cavalcante rematch after the unfortunate eye-poke ending to the last bout. This should be slightly less competitive.
- Devin Cole (-155) over Gabriel Salinas-Jones (+125). I don't expect the fight of the year, but I do expect a win for Cole.
The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Melendez + Noons + Wilcox + Cole Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Showtime contract makes sense but the good comes with the bad
Just yesterday (Thurs., Dec. 15, 2011), UFC President Dana White, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Showtime Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza held a conference call to announce that a new deal has been reached between Strikeforce and Showtime to continue their relationship for at least another two years.
The deal in place calls for Showtime to produce eight events during the 2012 calendar year. Coker will be running the show with input from White, who will attend live events and act as an overlord.
It starts on Jan. 7 with the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
There's a lot to like about the deal. More MMA, more places to get it and a different view on how it's presented to us. That's a good thing.
There's a lot to dislike about it, as well. The market is already oversaturated, and while I love MMA just as much as the next guy, I'm not entirely enamored with the idea of being handcuffed to my computer every Saturday for the entirety of 2012. Ribs taste pretty damn good but that doesn't mean I want them on my plate once a week.
Nonetheless, the deal is done. The dates have yet to be worked out but we know exactly what we're getting. But there's a lot more to the deal than just eight more events next year. Plenty of hard decisions were made, some of which were good and some of which were very clearly not.
Let's break 'em down.
The Good :
Dissolving the heavyweight division: I wrote not long ago that the UFC needed Alistair Overeem because its heavyweight division is seriously lacking contenders. That was the case in September and it's still the case today. Even when they bring the Strikeforce big men over, they're not exactly getting a plethora of top talent. Daniel Cormier has a ton of potential but he's a blown up light heavyweight. Is Josh Barnett even welcome back in the UFC? Antonio Silva had hype after beating Fedor Emelianenko but the previously mentioned blown up light heavyweight stuck him like a pig. Despite their collective potential inside the Octagon, they were a rag tag bunch in Strikeforce and pulling the plug on the division was the right thing to do.
Taping and airing preliminary card fights: This has needed to happen for a long, long time, for obvious reasons. No, they certainly won't get the exposure that main card bouts on Showtime will but they will be a part of the very same card and that makes them incredibly cost effective. It's the equivalent of airing a Challengers card without having to go through all the hoopla.
Keeping women's MMA and putting more of a focus on it: Marloes Coenen has to be kicking herself a bit for signing with Black Eye Promotions and not waiting out the storm. She could have been building towards a big money rematch against Miesha Tate and instead she's off fighting god knows where against lord knows who. Speaking of Tate, if you didn't know her before, you're going to get to know her now. That's not even mentioning Ronda Rousey, whose had three professional fights and spent about a minute and a half inside the cage in those fights ... combined. Oh and she was ripping arms out of sockets before Frank Mir made it cool again. She's also a master marketer. Big things are ahead for these lethal ladies and the spotlight is even bigger now that they don't have heavyweights to contend with and the future is no longer uncertain.
Dumping the Challengers Series: Every professional sports league needs an amateur league below it to groom talent and get them ready for the big stage. Baseball has AA, pro football has college football, even WWE has developmental territories in place solely to give guys somewhere to ply their craft until they're ready for bigger and better things. That's what Challengers was supposed to be. But the set up was a big fat failure from the get go and it was a money loser that couldn't get ratings and drew zero interest, which, ultimately, was counterproductive to the end game. The greatest performance of Ronda Rousey's career came on a Challengers show and about 150,000 tuned in to see it. That's unacceptable. A feeder league is good but if costs are high and revenue is low it will never make sense.
Fight night bonuses and awards: Not exactly a game changer and Strikeforce was never a promotion lacking excitement but any incentive for fighters to go a little harder for that knockout or submission is good with me.
The Bad:
Lack of foresight: If we're to assume the plan all along was to keep Strikeforce around, why was there zero emphasis placed on crowning new champions in the light heavyweight and welterweight divisions? And why was there a need to binge and purge talent at the top of the card to leave the mice fighting for the leftover scraps while the rats get fat in the greener pastures on the other side of the fence? Nearly every decision made from the time Zuffa purchased the promotion until yesterday lead every fan with a brain that works properly to believe it was only a matter of time until all that was left was a pile of ashes and broken dreams. All those various decisions did was undermine the perception of a promotion that was going to be kept alive in the end and that's bad business. I trust that the powers that be have a solid plan in place to rectify this but instead of planning big things for the future, they're left kicking off the new deal in damage control mode. Which brings me to my next point.
Fighting the notion that Strikeforce is anything but a feeder league and its champions are secondary titleholders: I understand that pumping up your product is necessary for any promoter and, in fact, the logical way to go about marketing. But outright lying to your audience is never a good idea. During the conference call to announce the deal, Dana White was adamant that Strikeforce is not a feeder league and its champions are not secondary titleholders, which is to say, there is nothing second rate about the organization. That's all well and good but if you want to call the UFC the pinnacle of the sport than Strikeforce, by definition, is not. That makes it secondary. Embracing that fact is far more productive in the long run. This is the equivalent of the Pittsburgh Steelers, for example, winning the AFC Championship game and getting a nice trophy. They hold the AFC title, sure, but it's the secondary title because the real goal is to win the Super Bowl and get its prize, the legendary Lombardi Trophy, or the NFL title. Pretending the AFC championship isn't secondary would be nothing short of an insult to the consumer. Same applies to Strikeforce.
Making Gilbert Melendez the face of the promotion: I went back and forth on this one. At first, I thought it was a good thing because having a fighter as charismatic as he is deadly inside the cage can't be a bad thing. But the reality is that he's a human being who isn't invincible. What happens when he loses? Not only does that mean the face of your promotion is a hurt commodity, it also kills whatever value he had as a potential draw in the UFC. On that note, the fact that he wasn't part of the talent mining hurts perception of him. Being the face of a second tier promotion is roughly equal to being the number one contender to any given title in the UFC. If you ain't first, you're last, folks.
Too much MMA: This is barely a complaint and in many ways it's not actually a bad thing but it doesn't help Strikeforce, who, as noted previously, will already be fighting the perception that its a second tier promotion, that it will inevitably be sandwiched between major UFC events on the 2012 fight calendar. The UFC will hold its most ambitious schedule ever this coming year and now that Strikeforce is adding a few more events to the fray, there is simply going to be far too much MMA for even the most passionate fan to digest. Professional sports like baseball and basketball, long as their seasons may be, have the benefit of an offseason. Fans have the chance to recharge their batteries and build excitement for the following season. In MMA, it's year round and we're constantly being beaten over the head with more. Pay-per-view buyrates are dwindling and part of the reason for that is oversaturation. It's just too much. I'm biased here, though, as stated earlier. I run weekends here on Mania and this change alters my lifestyle. I'll never complain at having a job like this but I'm not exactly jumping for joy at this news.
This deal has certainly split the line for fans and pundits alike. Plenty to like and plenty to take issue with, Maniacs. You've heard my take.
What's yours?
Posted in: ufc, promotion, strikeforce, deal, thing
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Weigh-In Video and Results
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and the challenger Jorge Masvidal will step on the scale tonight at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, as part of the official weigh-in session ahead of tomorrows stacked fight card. Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal will also feature the return of Cristiane Cyborg to the cage against Hiroko Yamanaka, as Gegard Mousasi tests his skills against Ovince St. Preux.
The weigh-ins will go underway at 7PM EST, with Melendez and Masvidal going
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, cristiane cyborg, weighin
Read the full article at Low Kickyou too will need a hug after you read about the demise of Strikeforce Challengers
This has been auite a year for all of us Strikeforce lovers. From the moment we discovered that Dana White and the UFC had purchased the promotion that struck fear and confusion into all of our hearts to the Diaz vs Daley card back in April that made us all realize why we simply can't accept losing the ever improving promotion its been a steady stream of highs and lows. Everything about Strikeforce this year has taken us for a ride on a wild emotional roller coaster. Even Mauro Ranallo's extreme hairstyle changeup has played games with our emotions.
This week is no different. Yesterday Showtime Exec. VP Stephen Espinoza shared with MMAWeekly that the Strikeforce Challengers series will no longer exist.
"What we've decided to do in a sense is consolidate programming, we're going to have the preliminaries airing on (Showtime) Extreme, immediately preceding the televised main event, and primary undercard fights. Whether they'll be called Challengers or not is still something to be discussed."
Now before you go stomping down your hallway into your bedroom, slamming the door and crying into your pillow over this revelation-there is actually positive news to go along with all of the death of the Challengers series. In a press release from Showtime and Strikeforce yesterday afternoon, the network also announced that they have reached a new programming deal and there will be up to eight televised Strikeforce cards next year. This is exciting news for those of us that feared the Jan 7th Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold card might be our last night of Strikeforce. According to a press statement even Dana White himself is stoked about Strikeforce in the coming year:
"We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big Strikeforce events next year. I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building Strikeforce and working very closely with Showtime.”
Take a moment to embrace your homeboys and pour out a little liquor for your dead homie Strikeforce Challengers, but save the rest of the bottle for the celebration of at eight more Strikeforce shows in 2012. The 2012 season begins during Showtime's free programming week so even if you aren't a subscriber you can check out Jardine vs Rockhold and King Mo vs Lorenz Larkin for free on January 7th![source]
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, vs, showtime, year
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideo: Jorge Masvidal confident he is better than Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez...
Video: Jorge Masvidal confident he is better than Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez everywhere, including in the wrestling department, and will prove it on Saturday night (Dec. 14, 2011) when they collide in the main event that will air on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, champion, jorge, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaOvince St. Preux ‘Most Definitely’ Handles Business in the Cage (Video)
Ovince St. Preux discusses Strikeforce, head kicks and football with Erik Fontanez.
Posted in: strikeforce, st, preux, ovince, strikeforce head
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMMA Quick Quote: Gegard Mousasi willing to fight Anderson Silva at middleweight
"What I hear from other fighters, how much they cut weight, it could be done. Only if it's really an important fight I would consider it, but otherwise I wouldn't do it. Let's say if they would give me Anderson Silva, then I would do it, but I don't think that's going to happen so it doesn't make any sense to go down to 185."
-- Gegard Mousasi tells MMAWeekly.com that the only way he would put his body through the rigors of a tough weight cut back down to middleweight -- a weight class he called home for a major part of his early mixed martial arts (MMA) career -- is if he gets a chance to dethrone divisional kingpin and current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. Mousasi, who has even competed at heavyweight, has had much success in the 185-pound division, earning the DREAM middleweight title by running through each of his opponents at the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix, which included top talents such as Melvin Manhoef, Denis Kang and Ronaldo Souza. After making the jump up to the 205-pound division, Gegard earned the Strikeforce light heavyweight title with a win over Renato Sobral; however, he would lose it to Muhammed Lawal in his first title defense, snapping his 15-fight win streak in the process. With the major announcement today that Strikeforce isn't going anywhere any time soon, the DREAM middleweight champion may not get his chance to make the jump into the UFC in the near future. In fact, with Dan Henderson vacating the Strikeforce light heavyweight title to join the UFC ranks, the Armenian kickboxer may be a prime candidate to vie for the vacant Strikeforce strap. What do you think, should he ever get the opportunity, does Mousasi stand a chance against Silva? Or would he simply be another casualty caught in "The Spider's" web?
Posted in: title, strikeforce, silva, mousasi, middleweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaZombie Strikeforce press conference notes
It's official! Strikeforce and Showtime had a press conference this afternoon officially continuing the relationship between the two for 2012. Let's break down all the nitty gritty:The deal is for 6-8 shows, which will set it on the exact same schedule the WEC used to be on. Who knows why there's two events worth of wiggle room, but whatevs. The heavyweight division is toast. Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will fight to wrap up the HWGP and then whoever wins that will fight 'a top ranked heavyweight' in an attempt to make the tournament seem less pointless. After that the UFC will cherrypick the division and shut it down.Women's 135 & 145 divisions will stay, which is really good because Cris Cyborg dying of kidney failure trying to cut to 135 would have made for some bad headlines.Scott Coker will run the day to day operations (at least the ones that have been left to him by Zuffa)The current broadcast team will stay the same because we love them all SO MUCH and there is no room for improvement there at all.Undercard fights will now air on Showtime Extreme, a channel I never knew existed that I'm sure no one really gets. But hey, that's neat. Maybe Strikeforce will stop outsourcing their prelims to local promotions now.Strikeforce Challengers is dead, and thank baby Jesus for that. The whole concept of a B-league for the B-league was always pretty stupid, and now it is no more.Of course, that doesn't mean that Showtime is willing to admit Strikeforce is a defacto B-league. Keep that delusion strong, new ShoSports dude:
"Let's be real clear: Strikeforce is not a secondary brand," Espinoza said. "Luke Rockhold is not a secondary fighter, Cris Cyborg is not a secondary fighter, GIna [Carano] is not a secondary fighter, Gilbert [Melendez] is not a secondary fighter. This is a top-tier organization. It was a top-tier organization as a brand when Scott [Coker] was running it independently of Zuffa, and it will continue to be now that they're in partnership with Zuffa."
Dana White also chimed in on that note:
“There’s nothing wrong with being a feeder league, but that’s not what this thing’s going to be.”
Which is kinda too bad, because whatever the fuck Luke Rockhold vs Keith Jardine is, it doesn't do much for me.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, toptier organization, bleague, zuffa dana
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce revamped for 2012 Showtime deal (Yahoo! Sports)
Consolidated shows, phased out heavyweights and more women's fights will mark Strikeforce's 2012 Showtime calendar.
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, showtime, yahoo, womens fights
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsThe Showtime Sports and Strikeforce Media Call: News and Notes
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker was joined by UFC president Dana White and Stephen Espinoza, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports, to field questions from the media this afternoon. At the heart of the matter was Strikeforce's renewed deal with Showtime, which entails six to eight events a year run on the premium cable station.
Probably the most significant change to the Strikeforce landscape is the elimination of Strikeforce's heavyweight division.
A bout between Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will give way to one final fight in the weight class, in which the Grand Prix winner will face "a top-rated heavyweight." Espinoza explained that finishing the Grand Prix and giving its champion one final performance seemed to offer a sense of closure and felt necessary to Showtime. Scott Coker said that it was quite possible that a UFC heavyweight could cross over to fight the winner of Barnett vs. Cormier.
Comparing this development to the UFC's temporary dissolution of that organization's lightweight division, Dana White explained that there simply isn't enough heavyweight talent to support the weight class. With up to eight fights a year, White believes it makes more sense to develop Strikeforce's lighter, more talent-rich divisions.
The Grand Prix final is slated for some time at the end of the first quarter in 2012. It's so far uncertain which of the Grand Prix participants will be added to the UFC's roster.
Dana White is expecting all other weight classes to grow, and alluded to some very promising developments in the coming year in terms of talent acquisition and matchmaking, which should keep someone like lightweight stand-out Gilbert Melendez quite satisfied. "I can tell you this," White said."Gilbert Melendez is pumped to stay in Strikeforce. He will continue to defend his belt in Strikeforce."
When asked about co-promotional fights between Strikeforce and the UFC, Dana White responded "That's a hell yes."
Under the new deal, fans can also expect a renewed emphasis on the women's bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Said Dana White: "Every weekend you guys are asking me about the women's division, terrorizing me on twitter about the women's division. It's very popular."
Ronda Rousey figured heavily into discussions of both weight classes. The popular submission artist has been asking for championship fights at both 135 and 145 pounds, and Scott Coker seemed amenable to the idea. "I think we're going to put her in some big fights."
After the jump, Strikeforce Challengers, the broadcast team, Gina Carano, and more...
The future is uncertain for the Strikeforce Challengers series. Espinoza suggested that fights normally meant for a Challengers card could find a place on the preliminaries of a Strikeforce event. He believes this will lend itself to better brand cohesion.
Showtime expects Strikeforce programming to come "in three to four hour chunks," with preliminary bouts airing on Showtime Extreme.
The December 17th and January 7th Strikeforce events will be significant in determining the next welterweight and light-heavyweight title contenders.
The January 7th event, featuring Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine, will be part of Showtime's free preview weekend.
No decisions have been made yet regarding the broadcast team, but Espinoza implied that Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo, and the rest of the crew would be sticking around.
No definite date or opponent has been set for Miesha Tate's first title defense. Gina Carano's return is likewise uncertain.
White refuted the claim that Fabricio Werdum would be moving over to the UFC for a fight with Roy Nelson.
White remained adamant that Strikeforce would not be used as a feeder or rehabilitation league. A fighter cut from the UFC would not be sent over to Strikeforce, nor would Strikeforce champions be vying for a spot in the UFC. Both Coker and White emphasized that Strikeforce and the UFC would be operating as separate entities. "Both companies are looking for the same thing," said White. "The best fighters in the world."
"Let me tell you what," said White, "Strikeforce goes away, the women aren't fighting. Strikeforce offers a ton of opportunity to build up all kinds of new talent. [...] More and more talent is popping up every day, and there's only so many spots to fill."
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, showtime, division
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce on Showtime: Eight Events with Televised Prelims, Heavyweights to be Dropped
Strikeforce and Showtime officially announced their new deal on Thursday that keeps the UFC-owned promotion on the premium channel for eight events per year beginning with “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine” on January 7, which will be available to more than 60 million households as part of a free preview weekend.Strikeforce will now be dropping its heavyweight division to focus on lighter weight classes and women’s divisions, but Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett will still meet in the finals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix early next year and may fight one more time for the promotion before likely moving to the UFC.Strikeforce will also discontinue its prospect-focused Strikeforce Challengers series, but Strikeforce prelims will now air live on Showtime Extreme. New champions will be crowned in the welterweight and light heavyweight divisions in the coming months after Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson respectively returned to the UFC.Strikeforce and the UFC will combine for at least 40 events in 2012, not including live fights from The Ultimate Fighter on FX.Strikeforce returns on Saturday with lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez taking on Jorge Masvidal and women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos facing Hiroko Yamanaka, while middleweight champion Luke Rockhold meets UFC veteran Keith Jardine in the Jan. 7 main event.For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.Pictured: Gilbert Melendez
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, event, champion, division
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce to Sally Forth , Plans 6-8 Events on Showtime in 2012
Strikeforce will continue to appear on Showtime in 2012, broadcasting between six and eight live events on the premium cable network.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, showtime, network, premium
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce announces the dissolution of its heavyweight division
Somebody drew the short straw during contract negotiations between Strikeforce and Showtime and while we've yet to verify their identity, it looks as though they weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 265-pounds.
Under today's contract extension, one that will see the Strikeforce brand of mixed martial arts (MMA) soldier on through 2014 as part of the Showtime network's combat sports programming, the heavyweight division will be eliminated by the end of next year.
From UFC President Dana White:
We'll be doing 6-8 events a year and we'll be focusing on key weight-classes and the women's division. We'll focus on the weight divisions that are strong. The heavyweight division isn't deep enough so we'll do away with the Strikeforce heavyweight division. The women's division is very popular and we're gonna keep it.
The Strikeforce heavyweight division still has some unfinished business and as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza explained, the network wants to tie a ribbon on the heavyweight grand prix tournament.
From the Showtime perspective, it felt incomplete and we wanted to run this tournament to its conclusion and then put an exclamation point on it.
That means we're still in line for a tournament final pitting longtime veteran Josh Barnett against undefeated up-and-comer Daniel Cormier.
After that?
The grand prix winner will then have to prove it wasn't a fluke against an opponent to be named, leaving the division's shelf life at a minimum of two fights.
As of now, there just isn't enough talent to sustain it, especially after poaching Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum for the greener pastures of the UFC.
What say you Maniacs, good move for MMA? Anyone hoping to get Sergei Kharitonov and "Bigfoot" Silva inside the Octagon?
Anyone?
For more on today's contract extension between Strikeforce and Showtime click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, showtime, division, womens division
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce lands new deal, will retire HW class
Strikeforce has announced it will retire its heavyweight division at some point in 2012 as part of a new deal with Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, division, heavyweight division, strikeforce lands
Read the full article at sportsnet.caStrikeforce & Showtime Reach New TV Deal For 2012
It has been speculated for months, but it was finally made official today. Strikeforce and Showtime have reached an agreement to televise live MMA for 2012, starting with the January 7th event headlined by Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold, which will air during a free preview weekend for the premium network.
Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.
The new deal kicks off during the network’s Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, “King Mo” Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®.
Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport’s next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders.
Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow.
“Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce. This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond.
“This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.”
“We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said. “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.”
“SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.”
STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night’s co-main event, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, event, champion, showtime
Read the full article at MMA PayoutStrikeforce Heavyweight Division to be Eliminated Following Grand Prix Finals and 'One More Fight'
Moments ago on the Strikeforce media call to announce the new Showtime deal, it was announced that Strikeforce will be doing away with the heavyweight division in the near future. The way that the set-up is sounds as though Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will meet in the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals and the winner will fight one more time against a (as it was put) "top heavyweight contender." After that fight, the heavyweight division will be eliminated in the promotion with fighters presumably moving to the UFC based on the promotion's desire.
UFC president Dana White said on the call that the division just is not deep enough to have it in both promotions and they will instead focus on the other classes and women's MMA.
When asked if any other division would get cut the answer was an absolute "no."
They also clarified that they would continue to operate 135 and 145 for the women, even if they do attempt to get some of the bigger name fighters together for big fights as Dana once again brought up depth issues.
We'll have much more news on Strikeforce today as details continue to emerge.
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, division, heavyweight division, prix finals
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce extends contract with Showtime until 2014
UFC President Dana White told us "Strikeforce lives" and he wasn't lying.
It was announced today that Strikeforce has reached a new broadcast agreement with Showtime to continue broadcasting events through the year 2014. From the press release:
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos, women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.
Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport's next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders.
Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow.
More on this in just a bit. To get quotes and notes on this deal right away, check out the conference call live blog right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, champion, showtime, blog right
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce's Showtime Contract Extended Officially
Just moments ago, prior to a media call with Showtime Sports executive VP Stephen Espinoza, UFC president Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, it was announced via press release that Strikeforce's contract with Showtime has been extended until 2014. This was news that was believed to be coming for some time but did hit some snags when Ken Hershman left Showtime for HBO and was replaced by Espinoza.
The combination of a guy with a boxing background (Espinoza had worked in a legal capacity for multiple boxers and promoters) and the fact that the UFC had poached some top talent from Strikeforce added some new wrinkles to getting the deal done, but in the end the sides were able to come to a final agreement and it appears Strikeforce is sticking around for a while.
Notes from the press release:
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events
They stressed that Gilbert Melendez, Miesha Tate, Luke Rockhold and other current stars will remain with the promotion
Will kick off with Showtime's free preview weekend on January 7, 2012
Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
They also mentioned that the winner of the Heavyweight Grand Prix will compete in Strikeforce again in the following months, meaning that the winner will not jump to the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, press release, strikeforces contract
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce & Showtime Sports Conference Call Updates
The rumored extension between Showtime and Strikeforce appears to be signed with representatives from both companies holding a call for the media today. Though details are spotty at the moment, from various sources Bloody Elbow was made aware that the two parties plan to extend the current deal an additional two years which would make it effective through 2014. The big hold up was that Showtime felt that Zuffa didn't act in good faith by signing away the top talent of Strikeforce. UFC President Dana White, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, and Executive Vice President & General Manager SHOWTIME Sports Stephan Espinoza will be on the call.
Join Bloody Elbow for a live discussion of the media call which takes place at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT. Follow @mattroth512for instant updates via twitter. Following the call the tweets will be posted after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, media today, parties plan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Reaches Agreement with Showtime
The details are somewhat scarce, but Strikeforce has reached a new broadcast agreement with Showtime, promoting up to eight live events per year.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, broadcast agreement, broadcast, agreement
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce / Showtime Conference Call News and Updates
We'll bring you live updates and news from the Strikeforce / Showtime conference call today at 3 p.m. ET. It's expected that the new deal between the Strikeforce promotion and the network will be announced on the call as well as a few other bits of big news. There are plenty of rumors floating around right now about what may be announced.
Scheduled to be on today are Strikeforce Sports VP Stephen Espinoza, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and UFC president Dana White.
I'm sure there will also be some talk about Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal card which follows the Super Six World Boxing Classic final on Showtime.
So make sure that you keep your browser locked in here at Bloody Elbow for all the news and updates you need on what should be a very important call in the history of Strikeforce.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, news, world boxing, strikeforce promotion
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce and Showtime Announce New Broadcast Agreement For 2012
It’s official. Strikeforce lives, at least for now.
Strikeforce and Showtime announced today that they have reached a new broadcast agreement that will kick off on Jan. 7 with Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine.”
According to the press release, the Showtime will produce and broadcast up to eight live events in 2012 with the prelims airing on Showtime Extreme. It was also noted that Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold, Cris Cyborg, Miesha Tate and the heavyweight grand prix champion (Josh Barnett or Daniel Cormier) will continue to fight for Strikeforce in 2012.
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.
Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow.
“Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said [Stephen] Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce. This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond.
“This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.”
“We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said. “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.”
“SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.”
A conference call with Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza, UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is scheduled for 3pm ET today. We’ll update this post with additional details following the call.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, champion, showtime, agreement
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce/UFC Real Time Conference Call Highlights
Last week UFC President Dana White came out to say Strikeforce was sticking around for the foreseeable future after Zuffa came to terms with Showtime on a new deal, also adding some potentially exciting news regarding an investment in maintaining the company’s roster and even booking the occasional crossover fight featuring a UFC competitor.
Now White, along with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza, are ready to talk in a bit more detail about what’s to come on the Strikeforce front.
The trio will shed some light on the subject at 3:00 PM EST during a conference call with media and, as always, Five Ounces of Pain will be on hand to relay relevant information and interesting soundbytes back to readers.
Check out the highlights below:
Dana White
Scott Coker
Stephen Espinoza
Posted in: strikeforce, ufc competitor, crossover fight, readers check, strikeforce front
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' fight card: Cristiane Santos vs Hiroko Yamanaka preview
The Strikeforce women's 145 pound title is on the line for the first time in nearly 18 months this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) as champion Cristiane Santos accepts a challenge from Hiroko Yamanaka in the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal".
"Cyborg" Santos is returning to the Strikeforce cage after a very long layoff due to issues finding opponents as well as problems with her contract. Everything has finally been squared away and she's ready to get back on the horse and showcase her incredible talents once more.
Hiroko Yamanaka is one of the only top female mixed martial artists who can claim to match Santos in size and skill. Hailing from Japan, this will be her first fight outside of "The Land of teh Rising Sun." She'll be looking to play spoiler and pull off one of the year's biggest upsets.
Will "Cyborg" terminate Yamanaka with her powerful fists? Does the Japanese challenger have what it takes to be a champion? What does each fighter have to do to be victorious on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Cristiane Santos
Record: 10-1 overall, 4-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Gina Carano (Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg), Marloes Coenen (Strikeforce: Miami), Hitomi Akano (Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz)
Key Losses: none
How she got here: "Cyborg" Santos actually lost her first mixed martial arts fight via first round kneebar inside two minutes, but boy, has she come a long way since then. Training out of the famed Chute Box Academy in Brazil, Santos added a mean streak to her fighting style and has become as intimidating of a fighter as there is on the women's side of the sport.
Since that first loss, the Brazilian powerhouse hasn't looked back, winning the remainder of her four fights in Brazil before signing with EliteXC. She went 2-0 in the promotion before it went under including an impressive second round TKO of Shayna Baszler in her United States debut.
Afterwards, "Cyborg" signed with Strikeforce and earned a shot at the inaugural title against Gina Carano in what is widely considered the biggest women's mixed martial arts fight of all time. Santos proved to be bigger, stronger and more powerful than "The Face of Women's MMA," scoring a technical knockout with one second remaining in the first round to capture the belt.
Since then, Santos has defended her title twice, knocking out both Marloes Coenen and Jan Finney but she has not fought since June of 2010 due to failure to find suitable opponents as well as contract issues. She was finally signed to a new contract this summer and was given Yamanaka in her comeback fight.
How she gets it done: Santos is ferocious and just the sight of her barreling down on her opponents likely strikes fear into their hearts. That fear would be well placed because she truly does fight like a cyborg, coming forward aggressively, swinging with power and walking through punches to land some of her own.
Santos has been away for nearly one and a half full years, she wants to get back in there and prove she's still the best. Expect to see her come out throwing hard and pushing the pace, looking to end it in the first round if possible. There really isn't anything in Yamanaka's stand-up that should scare her so expect to see "Cyborg" wade inside and looking to land heavy hooks.
If the fight goes to the ground, Santos will be comfortable as long as she's on top. She's very aware of herself from above and isn't easily swept or budged when she's grounding and pounding opponents. While she does have a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, from everything I've seen, it appears Santos would much rather punch Yamanaka's face in than go for the submission.
Hiroko Yamanaka
Record: 12-1 overall, 0-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Hitomi Akano (Jewels 7th Ring)
Key Losses: Hitomi Akano (Smackgirl: World Remix 2008)
How she got here: Hiroko Yamanaka is widely considered one of the best non-Cyborg female featherweights in the world. She got her professional career kickstarted in the Smackgirl promotion, winning the women's open weight tournament in her first four fights.
She could not repeat her performance, however, losing via armbar to veteran female grappler Hitomi Akana. Yamamoto would sign up with the upstart female promotion Jewels, competing in the first three events in the young company's history. In her fourth fight with Jewels, Yamanaka avenged her only loss with a close split decision over Akano.
While she's normally content to go to decision, Yamanaka has finished her last three opponents, scoring two submissions and a TKO. She was up for the challenge of what is by far the biggest fight of her career when Strikeforce came calling.
How she gets it done: Yamanaka has a strong background in Muay Thai as well as traditional Japanese submission grappling. She will come in with a three inch height advantage and should weigh about the same as Santos as she has to cut upwards of 20 pounds to make the 145-limit.
Yamanaka is a very patient fighter and that could help her out against Santos if she can somehow weather the early storm. She has the conditioning to easily handle going three rounds if need be, but it's anybody's guess how she'll handle it if this bout somehow goes for all five.
Expect to see her try to keep the distance in the stand-up, perhaps work some chopping leg kicks trying to chip away at Santos' base. What she truly wants to do is get this fight to the ground and be on top. She doesn't want to risk eating ground and pound from "Cyborg." Also, putting Santos on her back is easier said than done. She will have to use every single trick up her sleeve if she wants to pull out a victory.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor is the fact that Cristiane Santos has not fought since June of 2010 and she hasn't actually been challenged in a fight for nearly two years. From every training video, it appears she's kept in shape and kept up with her training, but will it all come back quickly once the cage doors close for real?
That's yet to be seen. It's not likely considering "Cyborg's" fighting style, but there's potential that she comes out slow, looking to get comfortable first before exploding. It's not exactly Yamanaka's style either to try to be crazy aggressive to take advantage of a potential situation like that but if there is ever a time to break the mold, the first minute of the fight would be a perfect time for Yamanaka to do it.
Bottom Line: In all honesty, this fight should showcase just how far the gap is between the number one and number two women's featherweight in the world. "Cyborg" Santos is an absolute monster and barring any unexpected illness or perhaps a Kevin Randleman-esque slip backstage, Santos should be able to handle this fight easily. If you're into a champion showcasing dominance, this is the fight for you.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Tell us your prediction in the comments below!
Poll
Who will exit the Strikeforce cage with the women's 145 pound championship belt around their waist on Saturday night?
Cristiane Santos
Hiroto Yamanaka
5 votes | Results
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, women, yamanaka, cyborg
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 110: Ian McCall, Strikeforce Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview this weekend's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which is headlined by a Strikeforce lightweight championship bout between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal.
Also on the card, Cristiane Santos returns to Strikeforce for the first time since June 2010 to defend her featherweight championship against Hiroko Yamanaka.
We're scheduled to be joined by UFC flyweight contender Ian McCall as he prepares to make his UFC debut coming up March 3 against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on FX 2 in Australia. We'll chat with him about making his UFC debut, his early thoughts on his fight with Johnson and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
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For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, radio, ufc debut, elbow radio, elbow
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGegard Mousasi vs Ovince St. Preux odds for Strikeforce fight on Dec. 17
Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will return to the Hexagon to try and quell the uprising of 205-pound division standout Ovince St. Preux on Dec. 17 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
And he'll do it as the -380 favorite.
Mousasi (31-3-2) was expected to rule the light heavyweight roost for many moons following his first round obliteration of Renato Sobral to capture the 205-pound strap back in 2009.
Unfortunately "The Dreamcatcher" was unable to stop the relentless takedowns of Muhammed Lawal and coughed up the belt in Nashville less than a year later.
He would ship himself back overseas to compete for DREAM and abuse a handful of Japanese fighters; however, stateside audiences were left with the memory of his butt-ugly draw against Keith Jardine at the Strikeforce: "Diaz vs. Daley" event earlier this year.
Mousasi will have the opportunity to wash that "Mean" taste out of his mouth, but it will have to come at the expense of one of the division's brightest prospects.
St. Preux (11-4) has been steamrolling the competition since 2009, stringing together eight straight wins in a streak that includes such notables as Benji Radach and Antwain Britt.
Mousasi is unquestionably a major step up in competition for the former college football star, which is why he's pegged as the +290 underdog.
But it's also a one-way ticket to the top of the food chain if he's victorious.
For an in-depth look at this 205-pound slugfest click here. For more odds and betting lines for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," click here.
Posted in: pound, strikeforce, vs, mousasi, preux
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal - K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista Dissection
A surefire slug-fest between lightweight strikers K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista will kick off the main card of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
K.J. Noons rose to prominence in the EliteXC promotion and is heralded for his boxing prowess, where he holds a professional record of eleven wins and two losses. Noons holds the extremely rare honor of being one of two fighters to stop the infallible Nick Diaz with strikes. The 2007 win crowned Noons as the EliteXC 162-pound champion.
After backing up this career-defining feat with a vicious knockout of Yves Edwards, Noons faded out of the spotlight to concentrate on boxing. He reappeared in Strikeforce in 2010 and contested his first match overseas against Andre Amado in Dream, then ventured back stateside to bring his returning streak to three with wins over Conor Heun and Jorge Gurgel.
The rematch with Diaz was too appealing to pass up even though the Stockton fighter had settled in at welterweight. Noons agreed to face Diaz at 170-pounds and lost a five-round decision; an outcome that recurred in his next foray against Jorge Masvidal on the Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum card.
Billy Evangelista is also coming off a loss to Masvidal, which was the first blemish on his thirteen-fight record. Evangelista debuted with a bang at WEC 18 where he stopped Ryan Healy with strikes in the second. All but three of Evangelista's future bouts would take place in Strikeforce, where the Fresno kickboxer defeated all comers barring Masvidal and a No Decision ruling against Mike Aina for some confusion on the legality of a fight-ending knee.
Match up analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Noons has an austere boxing acumen with good footwork, defense and overall technique. He's got a nice jab and one-two and usually loads up the power on his brutal left hook, which is probably his best punch. To complement his hands, he does throw an occasional kick and has a solid clinch game to boot. His grappling isn't as far along as his striking but Noons has been ultra-feisty with takedown defense and in scrambles to get back on his feet.
Noons transitioned well to MMA because his boxing is aggressive and powerful. He's freely relented on traditional boxing mechanics in order to pack a severe wallop with his combinations. What I mean is that Noons has been "acceptably sloppy" with his MMA striking. Instead of maintaining tight form and traditional fundamentals at all times, Noons will violently head-hunt with strikes that are much more deliberate -- bordering on wild -- with a focus on inflicting damage.
In most cases, Noons has found a happy medium between artful tactician and effective brawler. While his rocket-fueled left hook is wicked and accurate, slinging it from the waist with his hands are down and feet planted are tendencies that he recently paid for. Diaz and Masvidal were unafraid to duel in the pocket and capitalized with precise counter-punching. Additionally, Masvidal clearly keyed on Noons' habit of bending at the waist and dipping his head low in close range exchanges.
Whether he was in a southpaw or traditional stance, Noons was repeatedly clobbered with kicks and flying knees when this flaw continued to actualize. In fact, Masvidal's keen awareness to prey on the mistake may have made all the difference, as the scenario was the common thread in almost all of his memorable knockdowns and flurries. It should be mentioned, however, that both Diaz and Masvidal are elite strikers in their respective divisions.
Evangelista is similar to Noons in that he's a sound boxer who splices in kicks and has a strong clinch, but throws his hands with malicious intentions. He's definitely heavier on the brawling side and prefers to trade in much closer quarters or grind away with dirty boxing in the clinch. Against Noons, he'll assume the role of the brawler against a more proven and technical boxer. That particular mix might very well cause some problems for Noons. Evangelista is fearless in his stalking, he hits hard and has a great chin that forgives him of some defensive shortcomings.
His ferocity is a big factor and Evangelista constantly moves forward, looking to aggressively lock horns in close-quarter combat. He surrounds himself with a ceaseless barrage of strikes from outside and leans more toward knees, short elbows and dirty boxing in the clinch.
The cliche that "anyone can get caught" has a high presence in this match up. In light of Noons' questionable traits on the defensive end, Evangelista will have some opportunities to gain ground if he can pinpoint them. Masvidal cracked him with knees and kicks that were directed just to the left or right of Noons' waist where he swoons his head, and Evangelista is quite competent with that same selection of strikes. His stiff striking, physical strength and high pace could make for some surprises if he tailors his attack to Noons' weak spots and steals momentum with well-timed takedowns.
On the flip-side of the match up, Noons is probably better in every facet that Evangelista excels in and has encountered a far superior level of opposition. He's also demonstrated a rock-solid chin and should walk away with a win here.
My Prediction: K.J. Noons by decision
Poll
K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista
Noons
Evangelista
0 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, boxing, masvidal, noon, evangelista
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWinners and Losers in the New Strikeforce-Showtime Deal
Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, StrikeforceShowtime and Strikeforce have agreed to a new deal for more fights on the premium cable network, an announcement that comes as something of a surprise following months of speculation that the UFC would completely absorb the promotion it purchased early this year.
That news will have a wide-ranging impact on the mixed martial arts world, including the fighters, the promoters, the networks and the fans. We examine who the winners and losers are in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal below.
Winner: Strikeforce women's champions Cris Cyborg and Miesha Tate
It was a little jarring to hear UFC President Dana White, who's far from the biggest supporter of women's MMA, talk on the conference call announcing the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal about how great this will be for female fighters. But he's right: Showtime made a specific point in this announcement of singling out Cyborg and Tate as champions who would be involved in big events going forward. The UFC isn't ready to feature women's MMA, but Strikeforce and Showtime are.
Loser: Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez
White insisted that Melendez is excited about the opportunities he has ahead of him to continue defending his Strikeforce belt, starting on Saturday night against Jorge Masvidal. That may be true, but it's also true that Melendez is a great competitor who craves top-level competition, and he's just not going to get that outside the Octagon. If Melendez beats Masvidal, he'd be very worthy of the next UFC lightweight title shot, against the winner of the upcoming Frankie Edgar-Ben Henderson fight. Instead, Melendez will remain in Strikeforce, no doubt putting on solid performances -- but not getting the opportunity to do what he really wants to do, which is prove that he's the best lightweight in the world.
Winner: Showtime
Even though the new Strikeforce won't be quite as good as the old Strikeforce (the UFC has, after all, already taken away some of the biggest stars, like Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, Cung Le, Jake Shields and Nick Diaz), this deal still means that Showtime will be the home of the biggest names in MMA outside the UFC. As a subscriber-based business, Showtime is less interested in attracting broad audiences than in attracting the kinds of loyal viewers who are willing to pay for content. That perfectly describes hard-core MMA fans: The people who love the sport really love the sport and are willing to show that love on their cable bills. Keeping Strikeforce means keeping tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of MMA fans who only subscribe to Showtime to watch Strikeforce.
Loser: MTV2, Spike, HDNet and any other network airing MMA
It's already tough to get attention in the MMA media world if you're not with the UFC, and for MTV2 (current home of Bellator), Spike (future home of Bellator), HDNet (home of several smaller and international promotions) and any other channel that's thinking about getting into the MMA business, keeping Strikeforce alive on Showtime makes it tougher.
Winner: Strikeforce heavyweights
Strikeforce will conclude its heavyweight tournament with Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett, then give one more fight to the winner of that, and then move all the heavyweights remaining on the roster over to the UFC. That's big news for the biggest guys getting to fight in the biggest show, and it's the logical conclusion of a movement that is already underway: Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem is already in the UFC, set to fight Brock Lesnar, and the last man Overeem beat, Fabricio Werdum, is headed for the UFC now. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva is surely set to fight in the Octagon soon, and promising heavyweights like Shane Del Rosario, Chad Griggs, Lavar Johnson and Shawn Jordan will have great opportunities to prove themselves on a big stage.
Loser: Strikeforce light heavyweights
Although Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson has already vacated his belt and returned to the UFC, it appears that the other Strikeforce light heavyweights will stay where they are. That means good Strikeforce 205-pounders like King Mo Lawal, Rafael Cavalcante, Gegard Mousasi, Ovince St Preux and Lorenz Larkin -- all of whom could have a place in the UFC light heavyweight division -- will be denied that opportunity.
Winner: MMA fans
With Zuffa planning 40 live events (32 UFC, eight Strikeforce) plus the new live Ultimate Fighter on Friday nights, Bellator looking at a couple dozen events spread over two seasons, HDNet airing a couple shows a month and your random one-off events from other promotions, it's going to be a rare weekend night when MMA isn't on TV. If you're an MMA fan, you've already got plans for almost every weekend.
Loser: Spouses/significant others of MMA fans
With Zuffa planning 40 live events (32 UFC, eight Strikeforce) plus the new live Ultimate Fighter on Friday nights, Bellator looking at a couple dozen events spread over two seasons, HDNet airing a couple shows a month and your random one-off events from other promotions, it's going to be a rare weekend night when MMA isn't on TV. If you're married to an MMA fan, you're not going to be able to make plans for many weekends. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, heavyweight, winner
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Preview Video
Check out this preview video for Saturday's exciting Strikeforce lightweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, video, title fight, gilbert melendez, preview video
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce to Eliminate Heavyweight Division in 2012
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsThe big men aren't long for Strikeforce, as the promotion will finish out its Heavyweight Grand Prix and soon afterward, eliminate the division in order to focus on its remaining weight classes.
The announcement was made by Strikeforce president Scott Coker during a Thursday conference call regarding the promotion's new extension with Showtime.
"What you'll see after the event with the tournament finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, you'll see one more fight where the winner will fight a top-rated heavyweight and then we're going to go back to focusing on our other weight classes," Coker said.
UFC president Dana White, who has a hand in running Strikeforce, cited the lack of depth for the reason from abandoning the class.
White didn't say what the future would hold for most of Strikeforce's signed heavyweights, but it is expected that most of them will be moved to the UFC and bolster depth there. On Thursday, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani confirmed with White that recent Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum has been signed into the UFC.
The move will be a bittersweet ending for the division that was once Strikeforce's deepest. At the start of 2011, the Heavyweight Grand Prix announcement brought more buzz to the promotion than anything they'd done with the exception of signing Fedor Emelianenko.
But the Grand Prix had its own problems. Emelianenko was eliminated in the first round, Alistair Overeem was eventually cut due to a dispute between Zuffa and his management team, and none of the hoped-for matchups materialized.
The final between Cormier and Barnett is likely to be contested by the end of the first quarter of next year, Coker said. And the end for the division won't come long afterward. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, division, weight classes, anything theyd
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce, Showtime Announce Extension to TV Deal
Executives from Strikeforce and Showtime have announced a new contract that will keep the two sides partnered up in the television broadcasting business for at least the next year. Their original deal had been set to expire in early 2012. The new pact will see Showtime broadcast up to eight Strikeforce shows per year. Undercard fights will also air live on Showtime Extreme.
The announcement ends lengthy speculation about the future of the relationship, which seemed unsalvageable as recently as October.
In a joint teleconference including the two sides, UFC president Dana White, who has had an active role in negotiations since mid-October, said the tide turned after a regime change at Showtime.
Asked if a deal could have been struck without the regime change, White said probably not.
"I dont know," he said. "Obviously, it didn't go well [previously]. It probably wouldn't have. Listen, lets cut the b-------. Me and [former Showtime sports boss] Ken Herschman aren't fans of each other. He's not a fan of mine, I'm not a fan of his. He's not there anymore. I flew out there, I liked these guys, and we did a deal, period, end of story."
Stephen Espinoza, who now runs the division as executive vice president & general manager of Showtime sports, would not divulge the length of the agreement between the sides, but promised to continue the long relationship between the brands in presenting Strikeforce as a first-tier product.
White echoed that, saying that Strikeforce would look to sign top available talent, and that fans shouldn't expect it to be run as a "B-league" or feeder system for the UFC, as some had feared.
"Let's be real clear: Strikeforce is not a secondary brand," Espinoza said. "Luke Rockhold is not a secondary fighter, Cris Cyborg is not a secondary fighter, GIna [Carano] is not a secondary fighter, Gilbert [Melendez] is not a secondary fighter. This is a top-tier organization. It was a top-tier organization as a brand when Scott [Coker] was running it independently of Zuffa, and it will continue to be now that they're in partnership with Zuffa."
Among the few changes announced is the eventual abandoning of the heavyweight division. World Grand Prix finalists Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett will meet in the final -- which is likely to take place before the end of the first quarter of 2012, according to Coker -- and then the winner will fight one more time in Strikeforce before the weight class is discontinued.
The reason? Lack of depth, according to White, who said the promotion will focus on all of its other existing divisions. He also reaffirmed that Strikeforce will continue to promote both the women's 135- and 145-pound classes.
For the first time, Showtime will also have a stake in the event preliminaries, as undercard fights will be aired live on Showtime Extreme.
The first event on 2012's Showtime-Strikeforce calendar will be on January 7, with an event from The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and featuring Rockhold defending his newly won middleweight title against Keith Jardine. The event presentation will look similar to past offerings, with White promising a few tweaks. The announcing team is likely to stay intact, Espinoza added.
The extra events will bring Zuffa's 2012 total to over 40 live shows, making White's schedule a nightmare. "People don't even think it's going to be humanly possible, but I disagree," he said of the travel that will be required of him. But that doesn't mean he's not excited for the potential of Strikeforce, and he plans to offer the UFC's sister promotion as much of himself as is possible in the coming months.
"This is what I love to do," White said. "This is the s--- that gets me out of bed in the morning. The Showtime guys and Scott Coker, everyone will laugh but it's business as usual for these guys. They've had this relationship for a long time. I'm getting involved in this thing and I'm excited about it. I'm going to get behind it 100 percent. Like I said, we're going to get in, we're going to do some fun stuff, make some tweaks and see how big we can make this thing."
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, event, deal, showtime, fan
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFabricio Werdum Returns to the UFC
Filed under: UFC, NewsFormer Strikeforce heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum is headed back to the UFC.
UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMAFighting.com on Thursday that Werdum "is a UFC fighter." Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
White would not confirm when Werdum would make his return to the organization, however, MMAWeekly.com and other outlets reported on Wednesday that "Vai Cavalo" would meet Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.
Werdum (14-5-1) last appeared in the UFC in Oct. 2009 when he lost via first-round knockout to Junior dos Santos. The promotion released the Brazilian following the fight, which led to him subsequently signing with Strikeforce. The 34-year-old went 3-1 in Strikeforce, with his defining moment coming in June 2010 when he submitted Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. Werdum was last seen in a Strikeforce cage losing to Alistair Overeem via unanimous decision. He went 2-2 in the UFC.
On Thursday, White announced that the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be abolished in 2012, following the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and the GP winner fighting one more time in the organization. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, werdum, gp winner
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseShould Strikeforce go full chickfight?
I don't know who Josh Nason is - actually, I don't really know who any of the randos writing on BloodyElbow are any more. But I do like his idea on what the UFC should do with Strikeforce now that the UFC has decided to keep it around: turn it into an all WMMA league. Here's some of his reasoning:
We don't need more of the same MMA: Strikeforce's talent roster is thin and everyone knows it. There are guys fighting in the UFC solely because they're filling spots -- not because they're among the best fighters in the world. There's enough UFC events in 2012 to get the top Strikeforce talent action and create more exciting cards as a result. If they have to cut guys on either roster, so be it. Take aboard the best and let's get after it already. We simply don't need more of what we've seen this year: events for hardcore fans and constant questions of when the top talent like Melendez are going to shift over. Unless they move a hundred fighters from UFC over to Strikeforce to fill out the roster, what's the purpose in keeping it as is?It's a unique idea that hasn't been done on a national stage before: The UFC is on TV all the time. HDNet has hundreds of hours of live events a year. Bellator runs 25+ events a year. None of them have truly embraced women's MMA other than a scant few fights. If a promotion can actually focus solely on putting together the best women in the world, they will lead the pack in something new. Who doesn't want that?Zuffa has the money to do it: If there's any company in the world that can afford to take the risk, it's Zuffa. They also have the money and resources to do it right. Focus on two power divisions (130/140 or 135/145) and build from there. Sign everyone you can and make stars. Do what White has said there isn't and create depth by bringing all of this talent under one roof and pay them well to do so.
Unfortunately, this isn't exactly what I would call a likely scenario. Above everything else, Strikeforce is sticking around in zombie mode to block other MMA promotions from moving onto Showtime. Anything else that comes of this is a bonus. You can also expect Zuffa to use it to counter-program other events and stop promotions from snapping up any fighters who have the marketability but not the skills to hang in the UFC.The best we can hope for is that matchmaker Sean Shelby has an interest and an aptitude for putting together great women's fights. Great fights turn into more excitement which turn into more exposure and maybe we'll start seeing more than one WMMA match every 2-3 cards. Who knows how this is gonna turn out? The official announcement from Strikeforce and Showtime hasn't even been made. How long, how many events, show format, length, who handles production, all of this is up in the air. If Strikeforce gets 2 years on Showtime, that's long enough for women to make real strides forward in the world of MMA. Strikeforce doesn't have to be all WMMA to save WMMA. It just has to treat it with some fucking respect and enthusiasm. The rest will follow.
Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, event, year
Read the full article at FightlinkerShowtime Sports and Strikeforce conference call updates and LIVE blog today (Dec. 15) at 3 p.m. ET
Showtime Sports and Strikeforce will hold a special media conference call today (Dec. 15, 2011) to make a "special announcement."
Hrmmm, I wonder what this could possibly be about?
The call, which begins at 3 p.m. ET, will feature Stephen Espinoza, UFC President Dana White and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
Stephen Espinoza is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports. Rumors have been flying that Zuffa has made a deal to keep Strikeforce on Showtime for the forseeable future and today, all the speculation can finally end.
Expect to hear plenty of information about the future of Strikeforce, it's fighters and what its potential relationship with Showtime will be like moving forward.
We'll have complete updates of the Showtime Sports and Strikeforce conference call after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET.
Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, showtime sports, strikeforce conference
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Predictions
Filed under: StrikeforceWill Gilbert Melendez make a statement that he deserves to be fighting for the UFC lightweight belt, or will Jorge Masvidal pull off a major upset? Will Cris Cyborg continue to look like the toughest woman in the world after a layoff of more than a year? Can Gegard Mousasi stop a takedown? Will MMA fans remember to watch Strikeforce on Saturday, more than three months after the last major Strikeforce card? We'll answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal below.
What: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Where: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego
When: Saturday, the Showtime broadcast begins at 10:30 PM ET
Predictions on the four televised fights below.
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
For Melendez, this fight is less about defending his Strikeforce lightweight title than it is about demonstrating that he deserves to be brought into the UFC and given huge pay-per-view fights, like the Strikeforce champions at heavyweight (Alistair Overeem) light heavyweight (Dan Henderson) middleweight (Jake Shields) and welterweight (Nick Diaz) have been. Melendez needs more than just a victory -- he needs a sensational performance, a spectacular submission or knockout that has everyone clamoring to see Melendez fight the winner of the upcoming Frankie Edgar-Ben Henderson fight.
Melendez should beat Masvidal handily, but finishing him in highlight-reel fashion is going to be tough to do. Masvidal has only been finished three times in his 28-fight MMA career. Melendez will win, but it's going to be tough for him to win in a way that convinces the UFC that he deserves the next crack at the belt.
Pick: Melendez
Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Cyborg is finally returning to the cage a year and a half after she demolished Jan Finney in a serious mismatch. Give Strikeforce credit for the matchmaking this time around, however, because Yamanaka is no mismatch -- she's probably the second-best145-pound woman in the world, after Cyborg, and she presents some interesting matchup problems for Cyborg. The 5-foot-11 Yamanaka taller and longer than Cyborg, and Cyborg's tendency to swing wildly with her chin up and her hands down could leave her exposed to an opponent with a reach advantage.
But Yamanaka isn't much of a finisher (eight of her 12 wins are by decision), and in a 25-minute title fight, eventually Cyborg is going to hit her and hit her hard. Look for Cyborg to win, but look for Yamanaka to give her the toughest test she's had since she made her EliteXC debut three and a half years ago.
Pick: Cyborg
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
Mousasi has much more experience than St. Preux and a much, much more well-rounded game than St. Preux. Some fans view this fight as a mismatch that Mousasi should win easily.
I'm not so sure about that. I think St. Preux, a former University of Tennessee defensive end who has gone on a tear in the cage over the last couple of years, has just the kind of style to drive Mousasi crazy: St. Preux is stronger than Mousasi and has good takedowns, and Mousasi has shown in his loss to Mo Lawal and his draw with Keith Jardine that he has a really, really hard time staying off his back. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see St. Preux take Mousasi down enough to grind out a decision.
However, while Mousasi isn't very good at staying off his back, he is good at finishing his opponents from his back. And that's what I see him doing: Look for him to catch St. Preux in a triangle choke or an arm bar and force him to tap.
Pick: Mousasi
KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista
Noons and Evangelista are both coming off losses to Masvidal, and the loser of this one may be done in Strikeforce, where no fighter on a losing streak can expect to be safe. I see this fight going the distance, and Noons landing more effective strikes and winning the decision.
Pick: Noons Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, mousasi, melendez, cyborg
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseZUFFA set to eliminate Strikeforce Heavyweight Division in 2012
The announcement that Showtime and Strikeforce had inked a new deal to present six to eight fight cards on the cable network was not a real surprise as UFC President Dana White had all but officially announced the deal was done earlier in the week. What did come as a surprise was the announcement that the Strikeforce Heavyweight division would cease to exist at some point in 2012.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had this to say about the division, which currently sits without a champion and awaits the
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, division, cable network, fight cards
Read the full article at Low KickOFFICIAL: Showtime and ZUFFA sign a new deal for Strikeforce
Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship MMA promotion STRIKEFORCE have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, broadcast agreement, mma events, zuffa sign
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce and Showtime Reach New Deal for 2012
Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO. Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and other world-class MMA fighters will continue to compete for the organization on SHOWTIME.The new deal kicks off during the network’s Free Preview Weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, as champion Rockhold defends the STRIKEFORCE 185-pound title against dangerous veteran Keith Jardine at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Notable STRIKEFORCE contenders such as Robbie Lawler, “King Mo” Lawal and Tyron Woodley are also set to compete on the televised card, which—as part of Free Preview Weekend—will be available in more than 60 million households nationwide across SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD™ and SHOWTIME On Demand®. Beginning with the Jan. 7 card, SHOWTIME will also televise undercard fights for all STRIKEFORCE events live on SHOWTIME EXTREME. The live SHO Extreme preliminary telecasts will afford network subscribers with expanded live fight coverage by up to two hours and provide invaluable exposure for the sport’s next generation of STRIKEFORCE contenders. Under the new deal, the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament champion will be determined when Josh Barnett battles Daniel Cormier. The winner will compete again on SHOWTIME under the STRIKEFORCE banner in the months to follow. “Since its advent on SHOWTIME in 2007, live mixed martial arts has always performed well with our subscribers, particularly in the younger demographics,” said Espinoza, who now heads the division of the network responsible for programming live boxing, studio shows from National Football League and NASCAR as well as multiple sports documentary series. “As the one and only premium network in the MMA business, we are proud to renew our commitment to the sport and to our partners at Strikeforce. This agreement ensures that we can continue to deliver the edge-of-your-seat programming that each live MMA event produces in the New Year and beyond. “This exciting announcement could not have come at a better time,” he continued. “During our nationwide Free Preview Weekend a whole new crop of MMA fans will have the opportunity to sample the Strikeforce brand free of charge.” “We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big STRIKEFORCE events next year,” White said. “I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building STRIKEFORCE and working very closely with SHOWTIME.” “SHOWTIME has been a great TV partner for us and we’re happy to renew our agreement with them,” Coker said. “Together, we’ve put on some really amazing events and we’re going to keep doing that with this new deal. We have a great core of talented fighters on our roster and MMA fans are in for a real treat.”STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast) as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the title against hard-hitting contender Jorge Masvidal. In the night’s co-main event, women’s featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos meets gifted Japanese star Hiroko Yamanaka.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, event, champion, showtime
Read the full article at UFCWhat If: Strikeforce as a Women's-Only Fight Promotion?
Josh Nason has an interesting piece up over at Bloody Elbow suggesting that Strikeforce's future ought to be rooted in women's MMA. He argues, among other things, that it would distinguish the Strikeforce brand and open up MMA to a new range of fans and sponsors...
We don't need more of the same MMA: Strikeforce's talent roster is thin and everyone knows it. There are guys fighting in the UFC solely because they're filling spots -- not because they're among the best fighters in the world. There's enough UFC events in 2012 to get the top Strikeforce talent action and create more exciting cards as a result. If they have to cut guys on either roster, so be it. Take aboard the best and let's get after it already. We simply don't need more of what we've seen this year: events for hardcore fans and constant questions of when the top talent like Melendez are going to shift over. Unless they move a hundred fighters from UFC over to Strikeforce to fill out the roster, what's the purpose in keeping it as is?
It's a unique idea that hasn't been done on a national stage before: The UFC is on TV all the time. HDNet has hundreds of hours of live events a year. Bellator runs 25+ events a year. None of them have truly embraced women's MMA other than a scant few fights. If a promotion can actually focus solely on putting together the best women in the world, they will lead the pack in something new. Who doesn't want that?
Zuffa has the money to do it: If there's any company in the world that can afford to take the risk, it's Zuffa. They also have the money and resources to do it right. Focus on two power divisions (130/140 or 135/145) and build from there. Sign everyone you can and make stars. Do what White has said there isn't and create depth by bringing all of this talent under one roof and pay them well to do so.
Run smaller venues and less shows as you build: There's no reason to book 5000 seat arenas. Smaller 1500 seat venues like the Pearl or likewise are just fine, but price tickets accordingly. Book events in hometowns of main eventers like WEC did with Urijah Faber back in the day. Treat Strikeforce like a startup and focus on making six events a year as strong as you can.
Promotion to a new group: A women's only promotion would help in attracting a new audience to educate. Find appropriate sponsors. Play to all audiences. Find a way to build more draws like Ronda Rousey and Tate. If the sport is going to grow, its athletes need a major league to strive for, one that will allow women to train full-time and make some good money for competing. There are other potential stars out there that just need to have airtime to show their skills.
I think it's a fascinating idea, but I ultimately disagree with it, and it all comes down to his first point.
I've written on the subject already, but to summarize: the UFC simply can't support the entirety, or even just the best, of Strikeforce's roster. A lot of number crunching was done in the wake of the WEC merger, and the results revealed that while the UFC may be growing in terms of exposure and prestige, its roster isn't expanding all that much. What this means is that if Strikeforce were to become women-only, and you wanted to continue watching Gegard Mousasi, Ovince St. Preux, Mo Lawal, Rafael Feijao, Mike Kyle, and Lorenz Larkin, you'd have to find nearly just as many current UFC light-heavyweights to jettison to free up space. So who gets tossed?
Regarding his last three points, I'm in total agreement, but Strikeforce ought to be doing those things now, regardless of whether or not the organization promotes women's MMA exclusively.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, event, women, roster
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Main Card Betting Lines
The first major Strikeforce card in three months is coming up this weekend, and the betting lines for the main card dropped today. And folks...there's not much to see here. Three lopsided lines and one that's sort of close. It should come as no surprise to anyone that champions Gilbert Melendez and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos are heavy favorites, Cyborg in particular. Mousasi as a big favorite isn't that out there either, though there might be a tiny bit of value in OSP at +300. To me, the best value on the main card is Noons at -190. Evangelista has little finish and KJ is the more polished striker. Anyway, here are the lines for the main card.
Lines via bodog.ca
Gilbert Melendez -400 vs. Jorge Masvidal +300
Cristiane Santos -900 vs. Hiroko Yamanaka +550
Gegard Mousasi -400 vs. Ovince St. Preux +300
K.J. Noons -190 vs. Billy Evangelista +155
Images via Strikeforce
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, line, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCan Gilbert Melendez Stay Relevant With No UFC Future in Sight?
This weekend Gilbert Melendez hopes to defend his lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal in San Diego. As with every event Zuffa held a phone conference for the media to ask questions of the fighters. One talking point that Gilbert couldn't escape was his desire to fight in the UFC. He went as far as saying that he believes he'll be in the UFC soon and that talks are on-going to bring him to the "major league" of MMA. He continued his praise of Masvidal as a legitimate opponent but was open about his view that there were no longer any competitive match ups in Strikeforce after Saturday night.
Just this week it was finally confirmed that Zuffa will continue to run the Strikeforce product and that it will still air on Showtime. Negotiations between Zuffa and Showtime stalled when the broadcasting partner believed that Zuffa acted in bad faith by signing Strikeforce champions away from the promotion. There is a new deal in place and a major sticking point is that Strikeforce fighters will remain in Strikeforce. Gilbert Melendez will be the sole champion not signed to the UFC. The big question is can he remain relevant in top 10 talks without ever fighting in the UFC?
Melendez missed his window. According to the USA Today/MMA Nation rankings, there are two lightweights in the top 25 besides Melendez and he fights one of them on Saturday. The other is Josh Thompson. In fact, 19 of the top 25 lightweights call the UFC home. Following the fight with Masvidal, is it even possible for Melendez to remain relevant in a division that that calls the UFC home?
The lightweight landscape changes after every event and with Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar squaring off in Japan, it's safe to say that Melendez can't continue to be ranked in the top 5 without another top 10 win. There are rumors that Zuffa may start sending UFC fighters to Strikeforce in 2012 to create new match ups in stagnant divisions. However, the issue for Melendez is that no matter who the UFC sends, they won't be top 10 lightweights nor will they be proven draws. Melendez is in MMA purgatory and there is no escape in sight. With the portal to the UFC effectively closed due to renegotations, Melendez is slowly becoming a fighter like Eddie Alvarez, a top talent who isn't fighting people that can truly push him up the rankings.
Melendez will face Masvidal this weekend but will it even matter? All this talk of finally fighting in the UFC is now a moot point. Dream fights with Edgar and Maynard surely won't happen and he'd never fight against Ben Henderson who shares the same representation. Gilbert Melendez is slowly going the way of the dinosaurs in a company that won't invest in signing top lightweights to challenge for his belt. Even his title is viewed as a number two with the UFC lightweight belt regarded as the true champion of the division. Hopefully this weekend we'll see the best Gil Melendez because if we don't, I'm not sure we'll ever get the chance to see him against another top tiered talent.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, gilbert
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce's Melendez goes with the flow (Yahoo! Sports)
It's no secret Gilbert Melendez wants to fight for the UFC title, but for now he's happy in Strikeforce.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc title, strikeforces melendez
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsTwo prelims complete Saturday's 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' lineup
The fight card for Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" card is complete with nine bouts.
Officials recently finalized the lineup with two preliminary-card bouts: middleweights Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez and welterweights Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado.
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" takes place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, fight card, vs, melendez, welterweights chris
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDana White Says Gilbert Melendez Will Stay In Strikeforce
Of Strikeforce’s top four champions in 2011, only lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez remains in the organization following the Zuffa buyout. Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz have all left Strikeforce for greener pastures in the UFC.
While Melendez insists he’s focused on an “underrated” Jorge Masvidal, he has made no bones about it — the UFC is where he wants to be so he can prove he’s the number one lightweight in the world.
“It’s obvious it’s something we’ve been talking about. I think it’s inevitable,” he said of a future move to UFC. “I think some of the top fighters need to go to the UFC. And I’m one of those guys, so it’s in the works. Things have been talked about. Am I in [the discussions] all the time? Am I the one talking to them? No. But there’s some dialogue going on and I mean, the goal is to be the UFC champion at the end of the day. The goal is to be No. 1 in the world at the end of the day. And the only way to do that is by getting the UFC title.”
“The goal is to be No. 1 in the world, you know what I mean?” he said. “If I have to beat Jorge, if I have to beat someone else, if I have to beat five more people before that, then so be it. But, the sooner the better. I think I deserve the chance at the UFC title. So, if I can get it as soon as possible that would be great. If not, I’ll have to keep winning and keep working hard. If I feel like I have to constantly prove myself in this MMA industry, then so be it. It’s inevitable. I’m coming for that spot.”
When Strikeforce’s demise seemed inevitable, Dana White matter-of-factly declared that he wanted to bring Melendez over ASAP, however now that the tide has turned and it looks like Strikeforce might have a future after all, Dana has unfortunately changed his tune about Melendez moving to the UFC.
“The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce,” the fight executive said on Saturday. “Strikeforce lives.”
“Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make this right,” White said. “They will be happy to be there. Believe me. I’ve got this thing worked out. I’ve got it figured out. It’s going to be good for everybody. It’s going to be good for the fighters, it’s going to be good for Showtime, and it’s going to be good for Strikeforce. Trust me, I got this.”
That may be good news for Melendez’s bank account, but unless Dana White plans to do some crossover fights (doubtful), it’s not good news for Melendez’s goal to be universally recognized as the number one lightweight in MMA. It’s not really good for the fans either who want to see if Melendez has what it takes to beat the Frankie Edgar’s of the world.
The situation may be out of his control, but the best thing Melendez can do is put on the kind of performance against Jorge Masvidal this weekend that makes Dana White salivate for a Frankie Edgar vs. Gilbert Melendez title fight and hope everything works out like it should.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, dana, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' fight card: Gegard Mousasi vs Ovince St Preux preview
A seasoned veteran will test a rising prospect at light heavyweight this Saturday night (December 17, 2011) as former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi takes on rising star Ovince St. Preux on the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal main card.
Mousasi lost his title in April of 2010 and he wants it back. Since losing the belt, he's won the Dream light heavyweight grand prix to claim their belt, he's beaten K-1 striker Kyotaro in a kickboxing match and he controversially drew with Keith Jardine. He would love to score a big victory and potentially reclaim the vacant title.
Ovince St. Preux has gone 5-0 in Strikeforce, making his debut with the promotion on the night Mousasi lost his title. He ran a gauntlet of three seasoned veterans in three months to leap into the stratosphere of top prospect and he cemented that status with a 72 second knockout of previously undefeated Joe Cason earlier this summer. He's finally ready to take on his first legitimate challenge.
Will Mousasi's experience and talent give him the decisive edge he needs? Can "OSP" continue his incredible Strikeforce run with a monumental upset? How does each dangerous light heavyweight earn a victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Gegard Mousasi
Record: 31-3-2 overall, 2-1-1 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Renato Sobral (Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg), Mark Hunt (Dream 9), Ronaldo Souza (Dream 6)
Key Losses: Muhammad Lawal (Strikeforce: Nashville)
How he got here: Still just 26 years old, Gegard Mousasi has fought professionally in MMA 36 times and he's also 5-0 in professional kickboxing bouts. He got an early start with martial arts, training in judo, boxing, kickboxing and eventually MMA.
Originally competing at middleweight, he would catch the eyes of Pride talent scouts, who enlisted him in their welterweight (185 pound) tournament. Although he would be upset by Akhiro Gono in the quarterfinals, "The Dreamcatcher" would score one of the most impressive victories of his career with a unanimous decision against Hector Lombard in the alternate bout.
After bouncing around several promotions, Mousasi signed up for the Dream middleweight tournament, defeating everyone in his path including Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef and eventually Ronaldo Souza in the finals to be crowned the Dream middleweight champion.
Mousasi moved to light heavyweight for his Strikeforce debut, knocking out Renato Sobral to claim the title but his reign would be short-lived as he would be upset by "King Mo" Lawal at Strikeforce: Nashville in April of 2010. Since then, he's been successful fighting in Japan but fought to a controversial majority draw against Keith Jardine in his lone fight on US soil. He'll be looking to right that ship against Ovince St. Preux.
How he gets it done: Mousasi has so many weapons, that's what makes him very dangerous. They key for him will be to find a rhythm in his striking. His stand-up is as lethal as any fighter at light heavyweight in the world due to his K-1 kickboxing background. He's got tremendous power and he is very technical and precise with his stand-up.
With his judo background, he wouldn't mind if this bout were to go to the clinch as he's got some very nice tosses in his arsenal and he's very good at hurting his opponents whether they are against the ropes or a fence.
What Mousasi does not want to do is spend this fight on his back. Sure, he's aggressive with submissions and strikes from there, but it's not a favorable position. Look for him to try to utilize his footwork to keep a proper distance and keep striking. The longer this fight goes, the more comfortable he's going to get and the more trouble OSP will be in.
Ovince St. Preux
Record: 11-4 overall, 5-0 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Abongo Humphry (Strikeforce Challengers 13), Antwain Britt (Strikeforce Challengers 12), Benji Radach (Strikeforce: St. Louis)
Key Losses: Virgil Zwicker (TCC 1)
How he got here: Ovince St. Preux got off to an inauspicious start to his MMA career, dropping bouts to the likes of future UFC fighter Rodney Wallace, future Bellator fighter Nik Fekete and future Strikeforce competitor Virgil Zwicker in his first seven fights. Since that time though, he's been unstoppable.
Despite just a 4-4 record at the time, he made his Strikeforce debut in April of 2010, knocking his opponent out in just 47 seconds. What really turned some heads was his eight second knockout of UFC veteran Jason Day just three months later.
"OSP" went to work in Strikeforce, scoring an impressive three wins in three months, all decisions over Antwain Britt, Benji Radach and Abongo Humphry where he showcased his superior wrestling, grappling and ground and pound skills to overwhelm his opposition.
After taking six months off, St. Preux returned this past July and destroyed Rufousport fighter Joe Cason in just over a minute to remain undefeated in five Strikeforce bouts. With that victory, the Strikeforce big wigs decided it was time to throw him to the sharks at 205 pounds and St. Preux accepted a bout with the former champion.
How he gets it done: First and most importantly, St. Preux needs to stand with Mousasi as little as possible. I don't care how much he feels his striking has progressed. Standing and trading with the K-1 level striker is a really, really bad idea.
I think Ovince St. Preux would benefit greatly from a Rick Story-esque gameplan of constant pressure. He can't let Mousasi get comfortable so if he stands with him, he needs to be moving forward aggressively and cutting off escape routes, looking to pin him against the fence, throw short flurries of strikes while actually looking for takedown opportunities.
I doubt he could trade submission attempts with Mousasi, but OSP has a very solid ground game and he's a terrific athlete so if he can put the former champ on his back, he has a great shot at implementing the gameplan that "King Mo" used to win the belt and an overmatched Keith Jardine used to earn a draw. His top control has to be tight, however, as Mousasi has improved lately with his ability to get up from takedowns.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor is the huge jump in competition for Ovince St. Preux. He's spent the majority of his time facing off against tough prospects, but this is the real deal. Gegard Mousasi is one of the best light heavyweights in the world and it will present a whole new breadth of challenges to OSP. We're going to find out exactly what he's made of in this bout, but he's still a very raw fighter. If he hasn't shored up his technique in the five months since his last fight, he could get overwhelmed quickly.
Bottom Line: Whether he's ready or not, Ovince St. Preux is strong and athletic enough to potentially cause some problems for Mousasi. Despite the huge experience differential, this is still a very compelling match-up. Mousasi has potential to destroy OSP standing, but St. Preux also has potential to control "The Dreamcatcher" on the canvas. There are definitely some possibilities for this fight to be exciting wherever it goes so stay tuned. This one could b ea blowout or a thriller depending on St. Preux's readiness for a jump in competition level.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which talented light heavyweight will pull out a victory on Saturday night?
Gegard Mousasi
Ovince St. Preux
4 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, st, mousasi, preux, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez is sick of talking, ready for some walking
Sick of talking, and ready to do some walking.
That's the current mindset of Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez as he nears his third title defense, which comes against Jorge Masvidal.
Usually, he doesn't mind doing media. But this fight has been different.
Posted in: strikeforce, champ, title defense, jorge masvidal, doesnt mind
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce odds: Cyborg Santos a slight favorite over Hiroko Yamanaka at -900
Looks like we have a pick 'em in the Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka 145-pound title fight, scheduled for the co-main event of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., live via Showtime.
Santos hasn't been seen since eating Jan Finney's soul back in June 2010, when she threw a frightening 158 total bombs in the opening frame alone and finished with a total of 141 out of 236 total strikes (60-percent) including 63 "power strikes" and six knockdowns.
That's one strike every 3.3 seconds.
It should come as no surprise then, in light of four straight violent (T)KO finishes, that "Cyborg" is a slight favorite against Yamanaka at -900. Bet $900 to win $100.
What a bargain!
Yamanaka, to her credit, has been kicking the crap out of the Japanese fight scene under the Jewels banner, last submitting the unpronounceable Bolormaa Erdenebileg back in July of this year.
"Cat's Eye" will need more than just a feline's retina against the Brazilian bomb-dropper, she'll need all nine of its lives as well.
But at +550, anyone gonna throw a five-spot on this kid just for the hell of it?
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here. See more Strikeforce lines and odds here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, yamanaka, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFinding silver lining in Daniel Cormier loss, Devin Cole motivated for Strikeforce return
Back in July, Devin Cole scored a unanimous-decision victory over Shawn Jordan at Strikeforce Challegers 17 to snap a two-fight skid.
It was a welcomed victory for the 35-year-old veteran heavyweight.
But Cole - who returns at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event - might actually consider the preceding loss a more impressive performance.
Posted in: strikeforce, cole, twofight skid, strikeforce return, shawn jordan
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce's Future Should Be Women's MMA Only
I was surprised as anyone to hear UFC President Dana White recently talking glowingly about the future of Strikeforce. I assume nearly all of MMA fandom thought the promotion was on its last legs, preparing for inevitable absorption like PRIDE and the WEC before it.
But White is boasting that the future is going to be bright, saying, "Just sit and wait and watch what I do." When pressed, he couldn't give any details and no extension with Showtime has been signed.
Thus the future of talents like Gilbert Melendez, Daniel Cormier, Tyron Woodley and others are still in limbo and we're still waiting to see if Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman will ever fight again six months after they last competed. 145-pound champion Cristiane Santos gets her first action in almost TWO YEARS this Saturday.
Since White's comments, I've thought a lot about how Strikeforce could continue. In its current state, it's pointless. The top male stars don't make the money of their UFC cousins and are constantly asked about leaving. There's no pay-per-view. Events draw next to no fans. The future has been in question since the UFC made the announcement this past March, which has hurt the name value they once had.
So how could Strikeforce 3.0 be different? How could they stand out? What could White do with it that would set it far apart from the UFC and make it unique? How could it make money and draw interest? The answer stood out to me like it should be in bold font, so it is: Strikeforce should become a female-only promotion.
Before you shun the idea completely, there's some legitimate reasons I really think this could work:
We don't need more of the same MMA: Strikeforce's talent roster is thin and everyone knows it. There are guys fighting in the UFC solely because they're filling spots -- not because they're among the best fighters in the world. There's enough UFC events in 2012 to get the top Strikeforce talent action and create more exciting cards as a result. If they have to cut guys on either roster, so be it. Take aboard the best and let's get after it already. We simply don't need more of what we've seen this year: events for hardcore fans and constant questions of when the top talent like Melendez are going to shift over. Unless they move a hundred fighters from UFC over to Strikeforce to fill out the roster, what's the purpose in keeping it as is?
It's a unique idea that hasn't been done on a national stage before: The UFC is on TV all the time. HDNet has hundreds of hours of live events a year. Bellator runs 25+ events a year. None of them have truly embraced women's MMA other than a scant few fights. If a promotion can actually focus solely on putting together the best women in the world, they will lead the pack in something new. Who doesn't want that?
Zuffa has the money to do it: If there's any company in the world that can afford to take the risk, it's Zuffa. They also have the money and resources to do it right. Focus on two power divisions (130/140 or 135/145) and build from there. Sign everyone you can and make stars. Do what White has said there isn't and create depth by bringing all of this talent under one roof and pay them well to do so.
Run smaller venues and less shows as you build: There's no reason to book 5000 seat arenas. Smaller 1500 seat venues like the Pearl or likewise are just fine, but price tickets accordingly. Book events in hometowns of main eventers like WEC did with Urijah Faber back in the day. Treat Strikeforce like a startup and focus on making six events a year as strong as you can.
Promotion to a new group: A women's only promotion would help in attracting a new audience to educate. Find appropriate sponsors. Play to all audiences. Find a way to build more draws like Ronda Rousey and Tate. If the sport is going to grow, its athletes need a major league to strive for, one that will allow women to train full-time and make some good money for competing. There are other potential stars out there that just need to have airtime to show their skills.
This whole idea may sound crazy but we need something more refreshing from Strikeforce in 2012 and beyond, assuming the Showtime deal is signed. I don't want Challengers events that feature male prospects as that's what UFC undercards and The Ultimate Fighter is for. I want different. I want a national all-women's promotion and I want Zuffa to lead the charge.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, event, women, there
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRoy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum to meet at UFC 143
Just days after UFC President Dana White said that the fighters that are in Strikeforce would be staying in Strikeforce, MMAWeekly.com broke the news that Fabricio Werdum would be facing Roy Nelson at UFC 143.
Werdum is coming off a lackluster performance against Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinal round of the Strikeforce heavyweight World Grand Prix in June of this year. During the three round bout, Werdum was very reluctant to engage Overeem, the end result being a fight that contained very little
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, werdum, fabricio werdum, roy nelson
Read the full article at Low KickGilbert Melendez Focused on Defending Strikeforce Title, But UFC Hopes Remain
Filed under: Strikeforce, News Gilbert Melendez is a Strikeforce original, one of only two fighters the promotion retains from its inaugural event in 2006, and its only remaining male fighter who receives true consideration among the top five of his division.
Since April, Melendez (19-2) has been on the shelf, awaiting his next assignment, but despite that, he's seen his fame grow, mostly because of UFC president Dana White uttering his name regularly during that time in reference to possibly bringing him over to make his octagon debut.
That possibility for now has been moved to the back-burner, but it's one Melendez gets asked about on a regular basis, and one that is lurking in the background of his Saturday night title defense in the main event of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Many athletes would refuse to acknowledge the possibility of a future past their next scheduled date, but not Melendez. In fact, he candidly states that he's not long for Strikeforce, even as he prepares to headline their event on Showtime.
"It's obvious it's something we've been talking about. I think it's inevitable," he said of a future move to UFC. "I think some of the top fighters need to go to the UFC. And I'm one of those guys, so it's in the works. Things have been talked about. Am I in [the discussions] all the time? Am I the one talking to them? No. But there's some dialogue going on and I mean, the goal is to be the UFC champion at the end of the day. The goal is to be No. 1 in the world at the end of the day. And the only way to do that is by getting the UFC title."
Melendez, ranked No. 2 among world lightweights by MMA Fighting, takes on the role of big fish in a small pond, a star capable of competing among the UFC's deeper, more established talent pool.
Yet, if there's one last challenge he sees for himself in Strikeforce, it's his Saturday opponent, Jorge Masvidal.
The Floridian has quietly been considered among the top talents unsigned by the UFC for a few years. He's also been regarded as a sort of mercurial talent, one who may look like a world-beater on his best days and unmotivated on others.
Masvidal (22-6) signed with Strikeforce in early 2011, moving to the lightweight class in the process, and since then has defeated Billy Evangelista and KJ Noons in consecutive fights. Melendez calls Masvidal an "underrated" fighter who he has been expecting to fight for a couple of years, but the odds will be big in his favor on Saturday, and the pressure is on him to win.
"A lot of people have been talking nonsense, that Jorge is no good," he said. "You're going to run by him and that talk kind of bothers me because some people are ignorant. They don't really follow the game that much. If you don't fight in the UFC, they think you're no good. So what's been the challenge for me is motivating myself and staying motivated and pumping myself up.
"So this means a lot to myself; not to fans, not to anybody," he continued. "This fight is for me, just to prove that I can defend my throne, and I'm the big favorite here and I have a tough guy who's underrated and I got to really come through. So that's what's been motivating me and I think if I can get past this and look real good, I think it will mean a lot to me more than I think it will to anyone else."
If Melendez wins, he won't necessarily push for a shift over to the UFC -- he still has multiple fights left on his current deal -- but he also says that he can't think of any other lightweight on the Strikeforce roster that he's hoping to face or is deserving of a title shot against him. That will make for a tricky situation. He might be the face of Strikeforce, with nothing more to do there.
If that happens, we'll all know what he wants to do. It's UFC title or bust, all in due time.
"The goal is to be No. 1 in the world, you know what I mean?" he said. "If I have to beat Jorge, if I have to beat someone else, if I have to beat five more people before that, then so be it. But, the sooner the better. I think I deserve the chance at the UFC title. So, if I can get it as soon as possible that would be great. If not, I'll have to keep winning and keep working hard. If I feel like I have to constantly prove myself in this MMA industry, then so be it. It's inevitable. I'm coming for that spot." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, title, strikeforce, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseShowtime-Strikeforce close to new deal
MMA Junkie reports that the Strikeforce-Showtime relationship may continue as Dana White stated to the web site that a deal for Strikeforce to continue on Showtime is imminent.
“Showtime lives,” White stated to MMA Junkie.
Scott Coker appeared on Inside MMA on Monday to talk Strikeforce:
Coker didn’t reveal too much about the future of Strikeforce.
According to White, Strikeforce fighters are staying put although it was rumored that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez would move over to the UFC.
Payout Perspective:
The move to continue the Showtime relationship is interesting considering the amount of programming Zuffa intends to put on Fuel TV. Its also surprising with the Fox deal that there would be a need to continue with the Strikeforce promotion on Showtime. Keeping Strikeforce talent such as Melendez in Strikeforce is disappointing considering Melendez has outclassed his division in Strikeforce. Certainly, a superfight with Frankie Edgar would create some PPV buzz.
One think about keeping Strikeforce is that it keeps women’s MMA. While its unlikely to see women in the UFC anytime soon, keeping the women’s divisions in Strikeforce would have Zuffa observe whether its something that fans want to see.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, showtime, melendez, strikeforce fighters
Read the full article at MMA PayoutScott Coker on Strikeforce future: Nothing is signed yet but I'm optimistic
Just this past weekend, UFC President Dana White came right out and said Strikeforce, the promotion Zuffa bought back in March and mined for a lot of its top talent over the following months, will live on and its remaining roster of fighters will be staying put.
Scott Coker, the CEO and General Manager of said promotion, was a guest on Inside MMA and talked about the future. He is, as he has been all along, optimistic:
"Well, you know, nothing's signed yet. So that's the fact. I am optimistic and I think that hopefully by the end of this week or sometime early next week we'll have a big announcement to make. I think both sides look at this as something they want to do (and) have worked diligently to make this happen. I think it's great programming for Showtime, to have all these great fights and to keep Strikeforce going. Personally, it makes me very happy because, you know, I feel like, you give birth to this league and being a founder of the name Strikeforce and the founder of the Strikeforce mixed martial arts league. So I'm happy and I think that it will continue but for right now, we'll have to wait and see and hopefully by the end of the week we'll have something else. I'm feeling very warm right now. I'm feeling warm and fuzzy. But you never know."
The more we know, the more we don't know, you know?
Strikeforce's current schedule is rather thin, considering it has just two events planned over the coming months. The first, "Melendez vs. Masvidal," takes place this Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, in San Diego, and the second, "Rockhold vs. Jardine," which is set for Jan. 7, 2012, in Las Vegas.
After that, it's a deep, dark abyss with an awful lot of fighters left with no dates and an uncertain fighting future. All this is without even mentioning the heavyweight grand prix tournament, which still has yet to reach its conclusion.
If Strikeforce is, indeed, sticking around, the fight announcements are going to come fast and furious over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, Coker talks about losing a few champions to the UFC and more after the jump.
Posted in: strikeforce, week, scott coker, im, im feeling
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPortal between the UFC and Strikeforce now closed
Hot off the heels of news that Strikeforce would indeed be sticking around on Showtime through 2012 comes news that the UFC will stop stripping the promotion for parts. Here's Papa Dana:
"The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce. Strikeforce lives. Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights (for them). They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out. It's going to be good for everybody. It's going to be good for the fighters, it's going to be good for Showtime, and it's going to be good for Strikeforce."
I dunno how this is going to be good for guys like Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold, Jacare, and Tim Kennedy. They all find themselves stuck on the smaller stage, smaller paycheck platform fighting whatever random opponents Zuffa decides they're going to stock Strikeforce with now. Be it unknown up and comers or UFC castaways too marketable to let Bellator get a hold on, they're not going to be great for the resumes of the top tier dudes now locked into the B league.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, guy, showtime, stock strikeforce
Read the full article at FightlinkerGilbert Melendez and the Strikeforce Lightweight Division
With the news that Strikeforce will be renewing its relationship with Showtime, and a statement from Dana White last Saturday that fighters would no longer be migrating between the two Zuffa-owned promotions, December 17's Strikeforce card takes on heightened significance. Whereas before it was assumed that Gilbert Melendez would be the next to jump into the Octagon and that his title defense was a mere perfunctory exercise, it now seems that Melendez will be the face of Strikeforce's 155-pound division for as long as he can hold on to his belt.
We, as fans, are now left to view the lightweight division less as a thing to be stripped for parts, and more in terms of hierarchy, talent development, and coherent matchmaking--the stuff that successful divisions are made of. For the sake of their champ and their fans, one hopes that Strikeforce is doing the same. Let's take a look at the field...
Top Five
Jorge Masvidal (22-6-0) earned a shot at Melendez's belt with a shellacking of boxer-turned-mixed-martial-artist K.J. Noons. With an aggressive style and a Strikeforce record of 4-0-0, Masvidal is, no matter how Saturday's fight turns out, an asset to the organization. Aside from his promotional debut, which he lost to Mitsuhiro Ishida, Justin Wilcox (11-3-0) has remained undefeated in Strikeforce, with victories over Rodrigo Damm and Vitor Ribeiro highlighting his résumé. He'll be stepping into the ring this Saturday for the first time since his no-contest bout with Gesias Cavalcante, which ended when Wilcox was accidentally poked in the eye. Caros Fodor (6-1-0) has, despite his slight record, excelled on the Strikeforce stage, remaining undefeated during his time with the organization, with a win over James Terry topping his ledger. A victory this Saturday against Justin Wilcox would place him firmly among Strikeforce's better lightweights.
Next to Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson (18-4-0) is easily this division's best competitor. Wins over Pat Healy, Gesias Cavalcante, and Melendez himself are particularly noteworthy. Thomson is, however, also quite injury prone, and is often absent for long stretches of time, making him an inconsistent, if considerable, factor in the lightweight picture.
Pat Healy (26-16-0) has played spoiler three times since his 2010 debut with the promotion, which saw him out-hustle lauded prospect Bryan Travers en route to a lopsided, unanimous decision win. Since then, Healy's also handed Lyle Beerbohm his first loss and put the breaks on Maximo Blanco who, prior to submitting to Healy's rear-naked choke, was on a six-fight tear. A loss to Thomson is his lone blemish from the last two years.
After the jump, the best of the rest and a few concluding words...
Best of the Rest
Carlo Prater (29-10-1) has had the best year of his recent career, going undefeated across four fights and submitting every one of his opponents, including Bryan Travers in Strikeforce this past February.
Though he's stumbled a bit in 2011, KO artist K.J. Noons (10-4-0) should remain a consistent presence in the division given his exciting style. Much the same could be said for Bobby Green, who's reeled off two submission wins since dropping a split-decision to Cavalcante. And what do you know, they're both nicknamed "King."
Billy Evangelista (11-1-0) and Lyle Beerbohm (15-2-0) enjoyed lengthy undefeated runs before some rare losses this past year took a bit of the shine off their records. Evangelista will have the chance to right ship this Saturday against Noons.
Finally, Joe Duarte (10-2-0) has made the most of his time with Strikeforce, going 2-0-0 within the organization, including a win over Jorge Gurgel.
And so...
Strikeforce's lightweight division is probably one of its strongest, being extensive and possessed of both dependable roughnecks and some aggressive up-and-comers. As such, Strikeforce doesn't need any sensational imports so much as they need to make effective use of the stable they already have. To this end, I'm always in favor of a tournament.
In contrast to their heavyweight tournament, which came with big names and, most likely, a big price tag, a lightweight tournament could be an expedient as well as economical way to put the division in order. Populated with the likes of Wilcox, Duarte, and Green in addition to more established talent like Cavalcante and Thomson, capital would be relatively small while the natural pageantry and marketability of a tournament--something they did do right with the heavyweights--would draw fan interest. By the end of such a series, unknown contenders will be introduced to the fans and a clear, appreciable challenger for the belt will have emerged.
Strikeforce must stop cobbling together title fights. Certainly Gilbert Melendez deserves better. Given the range of 155-pound competitors fighting under the Strikeforce banner, there's no reason why they couldn't put their lightweight house in order post-haste.
Posted in: time, strikeforce, division, gilbert melendez, melendez
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendStrikeforce 'Melendez vs Masvidal' fight card: KJ Noons vs Billy Evangelista preview
Two former top Strikeforce lightweight contenders will battle for divisional relevance this Saturday night (December 17, 2011) as former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons takes on nine-time Strikeforce veteran Billy Evangelista in the opening bout of the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card.
Noons is looking to bounce back after a rough year. He lost a rematch to Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce welterweight title and blew his shot at number one contender after getting roughed up by Jorge Masvidal earlier this summer. He needs a victory over Billy Evangelista to avoid falling off a cliff in the lightweight division.
Billy Evangelista is coming off the first loss of his professional career, also to Masvidal. He had been groomed as a top lightweight prospect by Strikeforce but this is now his 10th fight in the promotion and it's time for all that patience to pay dividends. He needs to prove he can hang with the big players in the division or all that effort to build him up will have been for naught.
Can Noons return to form against the previously undefeated prospect? Will Billy Evangelista score the biggest victory of his career thus far? What's the best path to victory for both lightweights on Saturday night?
Let's find out
K.J. Noons
Record: 10-4 overall, 2-2 in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Nick Diaz (EliteXC: Renegade), Yves Edwards (EliteXC: Return of the King), Jorge Gurgel (Strikeforce: Houston)
Key Losses: Nick Diaz (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2), Jorge Masvidal (Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum)
How he got here: Karl James Noons is one of the few fighters who has been successful at both boxing and MMA. Originally getting into combat sports as a kickboxer near the turn of the century, he got submitted in less than 30 seconds in his second MMA fight back in 2002.
After that, K.J. focused primarily on boxing for awhile but would make his return to mixed martial arts, achieving the highlight of his career thus far by defeating Nick Diaz via TKO (cuts) to become EliteXC's inaugural lightweight champion. After defending his title against Yves Edwards, Noons would be stripped of his belt for refusing to give Nick Diaz a rematch.
Noons would then sign with Strikeforce two years later and after winning his first two fights in the promotion, he was given a title shot against welterweight champion Nick Diaz in a much anticipated grudge match. The fight with Diaz was electric and both men hurt each other on several occasions but Diaz would go on to outstrike Noons and win the later rounds to take a unanimous decision victory and retain his title.
Noons dropped back down to the lightweight division to battle Jorge Masvidal for a lightweight title shot, but Masvidal had his way with him, beating him soundly in all areas and earning the title shot. Noons will now battle Masvidal's other recent victim, Billy Evangelista to remain relevant in the 155 pound division.
How he gets it done: Despite years of training in MMA, it would still be best for Noons to stick to his roots which is his pure boxing. Whether it's at a distance working his jab or in the pocket where he can land his crosses and hooks, that's where he's most comfortable. What he needs to be careful about this time, however, is not to simply use boxing head movement. All that juking and ducking could have him lean right into a head kick or a knee. He needs to use more MMA-centric head and body movement.
Noons have developed some decent defensive countermeasures over the years so look for him to be prepared to sprawl or push off if Evangelista tried to clinch or shoot for a takedown. He needs to avoid getting tied up at all costs and then get right back to work with his striking. If he gets bogged down in anything else, he could be in trouble.
Billy Evangelista
Record: 11-1 (1 No Contest) overall, 7-1 (1 No Contest) in Strikeforce
Key Wins: Nam Phan (Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson), Jorge Gurgel (Strikeforce Challengers 4), Waachim Spiritwolf (Strikeforce Challengers 11)
Key Losses: Jorge Gurgel (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson)
How he got here: Billy Evangelista has spent the majority of his career as a Strikeforce lightweight prospect and nearly every fight has been in the spotlight, even making his professional debut at WEC 18 in 2006. He's occasionally fought for other promotions, but Strikeforce is his home. It was where he had his second career fight against Isaiah Hill and it was where he had his most recent (13th) professional fight against Jorge Masvidal.
Evangelista remained undefeated for over five years, grinding out gritty decision victories against the likes of Nam Phan, Jorge Gurgel and even the significantly heavier Waachim Spiritwolf in a catchweight fight but he finally met his match when Jorge Masvidal methodically kept him at a distance and worked his jab to earn a decision of his own.
Evangelista will be looking to reestablish himself in the lightweight division if he can defeat a former welterweight title contender and lightweight champion on Saturday night.
Hoe he gets it done: Evangelista isn't the best striker, but where he's most dangerous is in the clinch or with his takedowns. Look for him to strike only long enough to set either one of those parts of his game up.
If he can pin Noons against the fence and either work for a takedown against the cage or practice some dirty boxing and short knees, he'll definitely do it.
The same goes with a takedown in case Noons comes in overaggressive and opens himself up to being put on his back, perhaps if Evangelista can duck a looping hook or if he can get in deep an drive forward. Evangelista isn't the most explosive wrestler, but he's got pretty solid technique and he's a very big lightweight. If he can grab ahold of Noons' legs, there's a very good shot at putting the boxer on his back.
If he can put Noons down, Evangelista has to keep tight pressure on top of him because "King Karl" is pretty good at getting back to his feet. Even if it risks warnings due to inaction, don't be surprised if Evangelista hangs on tight, creating little to no space with a methodical attack. If he rushes into ground and pound, he could allow Noons to get back to his feet and that's the last thing he wants.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is how each man responds to their most recent loss, both of them were to main event fighter Jorge Masvidal. Evangelista was picked apart with a jab while Noons was smashed with powerful knees. For Evangelista, it was his first legitimate loss of his career and it had to sting. Noons has dealt with defeat before, but he hadn't been dominated like that since his flash knockout loss at the hands of Charles Bennett nearly five years ago. If either man comes out gunshy or even if one comes out overaggressive almost as a response to defeat, they could be in for a butt-kicking.
Also, knowing that the last man to defeat them is fighting for the title in the main event of the evening has got to sting as well. I believe this will effect Billy Evangelista much more than Noons, but we'll have to wait and see.
Bottom Line: This is an intriguing match-up, and while there are some positives, there are plenty of negatives as well. Billy Evangelista has a very grinding, scrappy, in-your-face style and while it's effective, it's not always the most appealing visually. If he can implement his gameplan and either put Noons on the fence or on his back, this could be a long, drawn-out 15 minutes. Evangelista is not a great finisher and it's unlikely that Noons floors him with his boxing either. The only shot that this one is really entertaining is if Evangelista throws caution to the wind Jorge Gurgel-style and tries to make this a stand-up war.
Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which lightweight will score a big victory in the opening bout of the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal main card?
K.J. Noons
Billy Evangelista
0 votes | Results
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, billy, noon, evangelista
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Expects to Announce Strikeforce’s Future Soon
UFC boss says Strikeforce will carry on and operate separately from the UFC as new Showtime deal approaches.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, deal, showtime, ufc boss
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce: 'Rockhold vs Jardine' a part of Showtime's free weekend on Jan. 7
Great news for all you "Dean of Mean" fans hoping to catch a glimpse of "The Mean 1" in his Strikeforce middleweight title fight next month against Luke Rockhold.
The Showtime network, home to the Strikeforce brand of mixed martial arts for many moons, will offer the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event as part of its free preview weekend (Jan. 6-8, 2012) next month in Las Vegas.
From the official press release:
On Saturday, January 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), SHOWTIME Sports will air the STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Championship featuring defending champ Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine, with four additional mixed martial arts bouts, live from The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Here's a look at what you'll see next month:
Main Event:
185 lbs.: Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Preliminary Card (May not be televised):
TBA
For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, showtime, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White on Strikeforce: Believe me, I got this thing worked out
After a long negotiation, it appears that Strikeforce and its stable of fighters will not be going anywhere in the near future. UFC President Dana White revealed the news following Saturday’s UFC 140 press conference.
“Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights [for them.] They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out. It’s going to be good for everybody. It’s going to be good for the
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, thing, strikeforce show, showtime i
Read the full article at Low KickGilbert Melendez vs Jorge Masvidal odds for Strikeforce fight on Dec. 17
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will be strapping on the gloves this Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011) to defend his 155-pound strap against Jorge Masvidal at the Valley View Casino Centre in San Diego, California.
Melendez (19-2) hasn't seen the inside of a cage since a successful title defense against Japanese "Crusher," Tatsuya Kawajiri, back in April. That win marked "El Nino's" fifth in a row and shot him into the top five of the divisional rankings.
It should come as no surprise then, to learn he's a -360 favorite against Masvidal.
After coming up short in a unanimous decision loss to Paul "Semtex" Daley under the Shark Fights banner, "Gamebred" (22-6) made a successful Strikeforce debut opposite Billy Evangelista back in March, punching his way to a sweep on the judges' scorecards despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Columbus crowd.
The Bellator and Sengoku veteran turned that around and staked his claim to the Melendez throne with his impressive win over K.J. Noons, a former pro boxer, earlier this year.
Yet he's still a pretty sizable underdog at +300.
Are the oddsmakers giving the champion too much respect? Or the challenger too little? See all the Strikeforce odds and betting lines for this weekend's Showtime-televised event right here.
To get up to speed on all the news and notes for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, judges scorecards, strikeforce fight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFollowing new Showtime deal, Strikeforce fighters 'are staying in Strikeforce'
TORONTO - UFC president Dana White recently told MMAjunkie.com that the announcement of Strikeforce signing a contract renewal with cable partner Showtime could come as early as today
However, for those expecting to see a greatly retooled product from the UFC's sister promotion, don't get your hopes up.
"The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce," the fight executive said on Saturday. "Strikeforce lives."
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, contract renewal, fight executive
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce's Herschel Walker Featured in December's Playboy, May Have One More Fight
Strikeforce heavyweight and former NFL/college football star Herschel Walker is featured in December's edition of Playboy, giving some insight into his MMA training.
The feature (also available on the Playboy website and safe for work) contains a lot of what people already know about Walker: he's a driven individual, ridiculously athletic and wanted to fight for the competition and not for the money. It also goes into detail about his businesses, his multiple personality disorder and athletic background.
An interesting note is that Walker was interviewed in July and the story mentions that he was training for a third fight. As the year closes with a Strikeforce event this Saturday and a January event already booked, there's been no word as to whether the 49-year-old will get that fight.
If it happens, it apparently will be his last.
Those who care about Walker are now urging him to walk away from MMA. "We all feel scared," says his fiancee Julie Blanchard. "His family does not approve. He’s done it. He’s proved it." Walker hears them but says he will finish on his own terms. After this last fight, he says, "I can guarantee you there will be no more. It really won’t make sense for me to continue to fight after this year."
Walker made his debut in January 2010 with a third round TKO win over Greg Nagy and returned a year later with a first round TKO win over Scott Carson.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, strikeforce event, round tko, walker
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White: Strikeforce lives and all its fighters are staying put
Sorry, Gilbert Melendez. No UFC for you!
Strikeforce, you know, the promotion that appeared to be on its deathbed as early as one month ago, has struck a deal to continue broadcasting events on Showtime in the year 2012.
Details have remained scarce, though, as UFC President Dana White has maintained his silence regarding what exactly the situation is. Until now.
White revealed last night at the UFC 140-post fight press conference (via MMAWeekly.com) that not only does Strikeforce live but its fighters will remain with the promotion.
Here's the word from the man himself:
"The guys that are in Strikeforce are staying in Strikeforce. Strikeforce lives. Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights (for them). They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out. It's going to be good for everybody. It's going to be good for the fighters, it's going to be good for Showtime, and it's going to be good for Strikeforce."
Melendez is just one week away from defending his Strikeforce lightweight championship against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California.
It was expected that he would make the jump to UFC shortly after. This thought was perpetrated by White himself, who said he wanted "El Nino" fighting inside the Octagon "ASAP."
Not anymore, apparently.
But if Strikeforce lives, they'll have to figure out a few things and fast. Most importantly, a champion needs to be crowned in the welterweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Surely, that will all be worked out in 2012.
Business as usual.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, melendez, live
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White: Strikeforce Fighters Are Staying In Strikeforce
UFC president Dana White shares details about Strikeforce's immediate future.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, dana, strikeforce fighters, shares details
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce: Tyron Woodley vs Jordan Mein booked for Jan. 7 in Las Vegas
The welterweights will be going to war inside the hexagon early next year, as a pair of Strikeforce prospects, Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein, have been booked to square off against each other at the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event on Jan. 7, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The promotion announced the match-up late yesterday.
Woodley, just two years into his mixed martial arts career, is already 9-0 with seven of those wins coming under the Strikeforce banner. His latest victory, a unanimous decision drubbing over Paul Daley back in July, was supposed to be the catalyst to bigger and better things for the American Kickboxing Academy product.
It wasn't. But squashing another prospect should do him some good.
Despite the fact that he's just 21-years-old, Jordan Mein has amassed a record of 23-7 since his professional debut back in June 2006. That includes a third round technical knockout win over Evangelista Santos in his Strikeforce debut back in September.
He's currently riding a six fight win streak and hoping to break into the big time at the expense of Woodley. Prospect pick-off time!
Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" is headlined by yep, you guessed it, Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine, which is worth watching for no other reason than it might see "The Dean of Mean" become middleweight champion despite going 3-6-1 over his last 10 fights.
Check out the current fight card and rumors for the Jan. 7 Showtime event right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, luke rockhold, strikeforce banner, woodley
Read the full article at MMA ManiaProspects Woodley, Mein Square off at Jan. 7 Strikeforce
Rising welterweights will collide on Jan. 7, as Strikeforce officials Friday announced that Tyron Woodley will lock horns with Jordan Mein at Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine.”
Posted in: strikeforce, jan, tyron woodley, jordan mein, woodley
Read the full article at SherdogJordan Mein vs. Tyron Woodley added to 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
An intriguing welterweight matchup between fast-rising prospect Jordan
Mein and undefeated contender Tyron Woodley has been added to January's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine"
event.
Strikeforce officials today announced the new booking.
Featuring a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and UFC vet Keith Jardine, "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" takes place Jan. 7 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, welterweight matchup
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHoly shit: Strikeforce lives through 2012
Contrary to what his last name would lead us to expect, it looks like Strikeforce general manager Scott Coker may not be smoking crack after all. We’ve all been laughing for months at him, and not just because he’s a fatty fatty fat fat. We also laughed at him for saying that Strikeforce will extend its contract with Showtime. But now, after months of Dana White washing his hands of the situation with Showtime while flashing the sheepish grin of a dog that’s just butt-dragged a fetid line of ass juice onto your bed, the UFC president is saying that StrikeForce is staying on Showtime in 2012:
[Strikeforce is] staying, and hopefully I’ll have all the information for you next week. Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me, it’s going to be just fine... I know I keep saying this every week, but that deal should be wrapped up any day now, and then I’ll make the decisions on who goes where and what’s going to happen. So we should know hopefully by Monday.
ESPN’s Josh Gross tweeted regarding the situation that the fees Showtime pays will be reduced significantly under the contract extension, perhaps being cut by as much as half, even though the original contract called for a large increase in payments in 2012. Evidently Showtime used the fact that the UFC is stealing talent from Strikeforce like innocence from little boys at Penn State to finagle themselves a better deal. (As per UFC Rape Joke Protocol® sec. 2, Penn State jokes are acceptable.) I know that we (ok, just I) try to maintain solidarity with the other writers at FL, but I could sit on the toilet for hours and still not shit out a reason why Subo would write that Strikeforce is a "piece of crap" and that MMA would be better off without it. This contract extension will definitely be a very good thing for fans, because not only do we get to see Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier fight in March, women’s MMA will continue to have a home under the Zuffa/Forza banner. And if (as Dana White bringing up the WEC in conversation about Strikeforce would indicate) StrikeForce is to become the AAA league of the UFC, then we’ll get to see lots of not-yet-shot-but-lost-a-couple-fights UFC vets getting their rebound matches nationally televised. (Elliot Marshall, anyone?) Or maybe the WEC comparison means that we’ll get to see the addition of 115lb, 105lb, and midget weight classes. Either way, sign me up. This will be a good thing for Zuffa as well, because it will keep Zuffa’s Japanese rape tentacle (can we say that anymore?) gripping talent that could otherwise be snapped up by Bellator or others in a second. And the reduced price may have already led Showtime to conclude that it no longer needs M-1 on its network; this would certainly lead to jubilation within Zuffa that it has ripped another asshole into yet another enterprising competitor. Just like the asshole of a... never mind.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, contract, ’ll
Read the full article at FightlinkerDana White: Strikeforce is here to stay; a deal should be wrapped up 'any day now'
Looks like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is going to bury the "Business as usual" punchline the mixed martial arts community has so lovingly embraced over the past 10 months.
That's because White has declared that the Strikeforce promotion, gobbled up by the ZUFFA zealots back in March of this year, is "here to stay" as the UFC finalizes a television deal "any day now."
From MMA Fighting:
"It's staying. Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me, it's going to be just fine. Like I said last time I talked to you guys about this, I'm getting into this and I'm going to handle it. Watch and see. We'll see what happens. I know I keep saying this every week, but that deal should be wrapped up any day now, and then I'll make the decisions on who goes where and what's going to happen. So we should know hopefully by Monday."
Most fans expected ZUFFA to fold Strikeforce into the UFC, much like it did with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) earlier this year, and it's hard to envision a scenario where it remains a separate promotion after its contract with Showtime expires.
But then again, stranger things have happened, especially in this sport.
Strikeforce will bring its "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event to the Showtime airwaves a week from Saturday (Dec. 17, 2011) and has already booked its next show, titled "Rockhold vs. Jardine," for the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7, 2012.
There's also some unfinished business in the heavyweight division, as Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett are still expected to slug it out for the right to be called Grand Prix Champion early next year.
Will it be on Showtime? Or does White have another trick up his sleeve?
Alright Maniacs, let's hear some predictions. Is Strikeforce going to hang around and if it does, what's the best way to utilize it?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, day, deal, year
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine' tickets on sale this week
Tickets for Strikeforce's next event, "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine," go on sale beginning this week.
The event takes place Jan. 7, and a middleweight title fight between champion Luke Rockhold and UFC vet Keith Jardine headlines a loaded Showtime-televised main card.
The show takes place at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, week tickets
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWhite: Strikeforce to Stay on Showtime in 2012
UFC President Dana White today announced that Strikeforce will likely continue to appear on premium cable network Showtime in 2012, revealing that a deal between the parties was close to being reached.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, network, premium, cable
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce To Keep Going, UFC's Dana White Promising Big Things
At Thursday's UFC 140 pre-event press conference, UFC President Dana White was asked again about the future of Strikeforce, once competition that was purchased by parent company Zuffa earlier this year.
White not only said that Strikeforce will remain in business, but that big things are ahead.
"Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me: it's going to be just fine. Like I said last time when I talked to you guys about this, I'm getting into this and I'm going to handle it. Watch and see."
Strikeforce's deal with Showtime is set to expire in February 2012. The promotion officially announced a January 7th date today and fans are still waiting to hear about when Josh Barnett will battle Daniel Cormier in the Grand Prix finals. They will put their final event of 2011 next Saturday with Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez defending against Jorge Masvidal.
White said that a deal hasn't been signed with the pay-cable provider yet, but that should come "any day now" with Monday potentially as the target for understanding what's next. White was mum on any details, but alluded to the success of the WEC under the Zuffa banner as an example of how it could work. However, the WEC was eventually absorbed by the UFC, so perhaps that wasn't the best example.
When the news is announced, we'll have the details for you on BE. Could Strikeforce survive and how? Comment below with what you think.
Poll
Even if Strikeforce continues to exist, will it eventually be absorbed by the UFC anyway?
Of course! Dana rules.
No way. Coker forever!
Yes, but not for years.
78 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, dana, zuffa banner, understanding whats
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Staying on Showtime, Jan. 7 Event Officially Announced
The UFC is keeping Strikeforce alive after striking a deal with Showtime to continue airing Strikeforce events after their current contract ends in February, UFC President Dana White announced Thursday.
“It’s staying, and hopefully I’ll have all the information for you next week,” White said at the UFC 140 pre-fight press conference (via MMAjunkie).
White hinted that the deal meant further changes would be coming to the promotion, which has already surrendered champions Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem and former title-holder Cung Le to the UFC.
“Just sit and wait and watch what I do,” White reportedly said. “Trust me, it’s going to be just fine. Like I said last time I talked to you guys about this, I’m getting into this, and I’m going to handle it. Watch and see.”
Meanwhile, Strikeforce confirmed on Thursday that it will visit the Hard Rock in Las Vegas on January 7 for an event headlined by middleweight champion Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine. Also announced for the Showtime card were Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, “King” Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin, and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Luke Rockhold
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, vs, event, showtime
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyRobbie Lawler and Mo Lawal added to January Strikeforce card
Strikeforce veterans Robbie Lawler and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal will each be in action on the January 7 Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine lineup, as more fights were recently announced for the officially confirmed card.
The event takes place on Showtime from Las Vegas, Nevada with a main event pitting middleweight champion Luke Rockhold against UFC veteran Keith Jardine in the American Kickboxing Academy product’s first title defense.
Meanwhile, Lawler has been signed to face Adlan Amagov, while Lawal will tangle with Lorenz Larkin.
“Ruthless” Robbie is currently in a two-fight losing skid, dropping his record to 18-8 overall. Amagov sports a 9-1-1 mark, including a victory over Anthony Smith just last month.
Lawal returned from an extended break to have knee surgery to defeat Roger Gracie back in September, as the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion looks to get back his belt. Larkin is 12-0 and has won four fights this year alone.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, lawler, robbie, lawal, ” robbie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce tickets for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' in Las Vegas on Jan. 7 on sale soon
Tickets for Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," which was recently made official for The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Jan. 7, 2011, will go on sale to the general public on Sat., Dec. 10, 2011, at 10 a.m. PT.
UFC Fight Club members, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.
"Rockhold vs. Jardine" will feature freshly crowned middleweight champion Luke Rockhold putting his 185-pound belt on the line for the first time against longtime UFC veteran Keith Jardine.
Other match-ups booked for the card include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
Here is the Strikeforce tickets sales schedule:
UFC Fight Club presale: Fri. Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. PT
General tickets sale: Sat., Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. PT
Strikeforce tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
For all the latest news and notes on Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine, ticket
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Reborn! New Showtime Deal On Tap
It appears the ringing of the death knell for Strikeforce has been a little bit premature.
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, death, showtime deal, death knell
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFour Fights Announced for Jan. 7 Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine”
As expected, Luke Rockhold will defend his Strikeforce middleweight title on Jan. 7 against Keith Jardine.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke rockhold, jardine, jan
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Fight Card Rumors
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine fight card and rumors for January 7, 2012, in Las Vegas.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Jardine’ Tickets on Sale This Weekend, Lawler-Amagov, King Mo-Larkin, Saffiedine-Stinson Added
Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” is official.
Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” is scheduled to take place at the The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Jan. 7, and will air on Showtime.
In the main event, Strikeforce middleweight champion puts his title on the line against Keith Jardine.
“What a way for STRIKEFORCE to kick off the New Year!” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “We’re happy to give fans in Vegas the chance to see the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title defended by one of the hottest young champions in the sport in Luke Rockhold when he takes on, quite possibly, the toughest and most unorthodox fighter in all of MMA, Keith Jardine. Fans at Hard Rock should expect an exciting standup battle in the main event on January 7.”
“Jardine is a big name who’s fought a lot of tough guys in this sport,” Rockhold said. “I’m not going to sleep on him or this opportunity. This isn’t just another fight for me, I’ve wanted my chance to prove I’m a champion and a five-round title defense is the way to do it. We’re going to prove to fans in Las Vegas what we’ve got over here in this division. You can expect this fight to be nothing short of spectacular.”
“I’ve completely rededicated myself to this sport,” said Jardine, whose record currently stands at 16-10-2. “I’ve sacrificed a lot to be where I am and I want to make the most of it. A title shot against Rockhold is a huge opportunity that I’m not going to waste. Luke’s a tough kid and he beat a tough opponent in ‘Jacare’. but he doesn’t fight like I do and he’s never had an opponent push him like I will. This will end with me imposing my will on him in a way he’s never seen.”
Other match-ups announced for the card include Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, “King” Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10am PT and will be priced at $104, $79, $54 and $39. They can purchased at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, online at TheJointLasVegas.com and TicketMaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
The latest Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Jardine” fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce adds Robbie Lawler vs Adlan Amagov and King Mo vs Lorenz Larkin to Jan. 7 Showtime event
The Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight card is starting to come together with today's addition of Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov and Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin for Jan. 7, 2012, at "The Joint" from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The five-fight broadcast will air live via Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
First up on the docket is the return of Robbie Lawler (18-8). The "Ruthless" one is on a rare two-fight consecutive losing streak for just the second time in his illustrious 10-year career.
He'll be looking to get back into the win column against the dangerous Adlan Amagov (9-1-1), who fight fans may remember from the pounding he put on Anthony Smith at the "Challengers" event just last month.
Which one of these middleweights gets their licks in during what could be the final days of the Strikeforce promotion?
Joining them in "Sin City" is Muhammed Lawal (8-1), who rebounded from his 205-pund title loss to Rafael Cavalcante with a thunderous knockout of jiu-jitsu wizard Roger Gracie back in September.
Looking to dethrone "King Mo" is undefeated prospect Lorenz Larkin (12-0).
"The Monsoon" rained on Nick Rossborough's parade earlier this year at the Strikeforce Challengers 19 event, his fourth win of 2011.
Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" is headlined by yep, you guess it, Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine, which is worth watching for no other reason than it might see "The Dean of Mean" become middleweight champion despite going 3-6-1 over his last 10 fights.
Check out the current fight card and rumors for the Jan. 7 Showtime event right here.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, event, luke rockhold
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Wait and Watch What I Do' with Strikeforce, Says Dana White
Filed under: UFCTORONTO -- Just when you thought Strikeforce might be going the way of the WEC, UFC president Dana White told reporters on Thursday that Zuffa's other promotion is sticking around. We just don't know in what form yet, or with which fighters.
"It's staying," White said of the organization, adding that he hoped to have more information to release on it next week, hinting that big changes might be in the works.
"Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me, it's going to be just fine. Like I said last time I talked to you guys about this, I'm getting into this and I'm going to handle it. Watch and see."
Media members weren't the only ones curious about the fate of the organization, whose contract with Showtime is set to expire in February of 2012. A fan also took the opportunity during the UFC 140 pre-fight press conference to question the UFC president on what he planned to do with the Strikeforce fighters , specifically heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier.
"We'll see what happens," White said. "I know I keep saying this every week, but that deal should be wrapped up any day now, and then I'll make the decisions on who goes where and what's going to happen. So we should know hopefully by Monday."
The question that leaps to mind is, why maintain an organization that's been looted of most of its top draws, and which has recently struggled to move the needle at all when it comes to generating fan interest in its events on Showtime? After all, didn't Zuffa try that model already with the WEC, when it ran the organization as a separate entity on a separate channel before eventually folding the roster into the UFC?
If it didn't work then, what makes White think it will work with Strikeforce, which has already lost its heavyweight, light heavyweight, and welterweight champions to the UFC, with the remaining beltholders suggesting that they're eager to follow?
Only don't tell White that the WEC was a failure. He insisted on Thursday that the WEC "did work," even if it no longer exists.
"We had a television deal -- a great television deal with the WEC," he said. "It was very successful. The fights were awesome. There were people that loved watching the WEC fights. It absolutely worked."
And yet, it didn't work so well that Zuffa felt compelled to keep it around. If you're a Strikeforce fighter these days, that track record might not instill much confidence, but White insists that the organization won't be fading into the ether any time soon, and Strikeforce's Scott Coker said earlier this week that he was optimistic about the organization's future on Showtime.
"In the history of Strikeforce since the relationship with Showtime was developed, we put on, I think some of the best fights in the history of MMA," said Coker. "We've done our part to grow the sport, and that's going to continue. There's still a lot of great fighters on the roster. And we're going to keep building these fighters. We're going to continue putting on great fights. To me, that's not going to change. So everybody can tune into Showtime and watch in 2012, and we're going to put on some amazing, amazing fights."
Then again, as White pointed out, the WEC also put on some amazing fights. In the end, it wasn't enough to ensure its long-term survival as a separate entity under the Zuffa banner. One can't help but wonder whether Strikeforce will be able to avoid the same fate. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, wec, organization
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRockhold, Lawler, King Mo, Others Set for Action at Jan. 7 Strikeforce Event
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce on Thursday announced four of the five televised bouts slated for its Jan. 7 event at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The new matchups are Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson.
And as previously reported, the main event will be middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against UFC veteran Keith Jardine.
"Jardine is a big name who's fought a lot of tough guys in this sport," Rockhold said in a statement. "I'm not going to sleep on him or this opportunity. This isn't just another fight for me, I've wanted my chance to prove I'm a champion and a five-round title defense is the way to do it."
Rockhold (8-1), undefeated in seven Strikeforce fights, captured the middleweight strap away from Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza by unanimous decision in September. Jardine (17-9-2) made his Strikeforce debut in April, fighting Mousasi to a draw. Jardine will be making his 185-pound debut.
Lawler (18-8) will be looking to snap a two-fight losing streak. In 2011, Lawler lost both of his fights against Souza and Kennedy. Amagov (9-1-1) made the jump from the Russian MMA scene to Strikeforce in July and has since won two bouts.
In his lone fight in 2011, Lawal (8-1) scored a first-round knockout over Roger Gracie. Larkin (12-0) won four fights this year, three of which took place inside the Strikeforce cage.
Saffiedine (11-3) lost to Tyron Woodley in January and then bounced back to beat Scott Smith in July. Stinson (22-7) made his Strikeforce debut in July and earned an impressive KO over Eduardo Pamplona. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine, lawler
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White: Strikeforce will be fine, sit and watch what I do
Speculation has been running rampant as to exactly what is going to become of Strikeforce once its current contract with Showtime runs its course. The promotion has seen several of its champions move over to the UFC, leaving what many see as a shell of an organization.
Gone are Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem and when Luke Rockhold defends his Strikeforce Middleweight title in January it will be against Keith Jardine, a fighter that has zero Middleweight fights to his name. In short,
Posted in: strikeforce, luke rockhold, keith jardine, middleweight fights, champions move
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce weigh in results, information and details for 'Melendez vs Masvidal' on Dec. 16 in San Diego
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs Masvidal" is set to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Fri., Dec. 16, 2011.
The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.
As usual, MMAmania.com will provide up-to-the-second coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
K.J. Noons and Cristiane Santos are also in action.
Here is the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line-up:
Main Event:
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Main Card (Showtime):
145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka 205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux 155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Preliminary Card (May not be televised):
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox 265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones 170 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples145 lbs.: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez
For those fortunate enough to be in San Diego this weekend, remember the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3:00 p.m. PT.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Dec. 17), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7:30 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight Strikeforce coverage you can handle
For the latest "Melendez vs. Masvidal" news and notes click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce heavyweight grand prix now expected to end in March
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, end, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, strikeforce heavyweight
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce's Tim Kennedy upset Michael Bisping beat Jason Miller and made so much money doing it
It seems that fans aren't the only ones astounded by the paycheck that Michael Bisping earned this past weekend (Dec. 3, 2011) at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale for his $425,000 beatdown of Jason Miller.
According to his official Twitter account, fellow middleweight and current Strikeforce contender Tim Kennedy is upset that "The Count" earned so much cheddar this past weekend at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Check out his reaction:
#ICanAdmit that I was disappointed that @Bisping won. I'm equally disappointed that he made $425k.
Bisping hauled in nearly a half-million by soundly defeating "Mayhem" in the third round in the battle of TUF 14 coaches, which was scheduled for five rounds. Miller, meanwhile, who gassed terribly after turning in a decent performance in the opening frame, took home $45,000 in defeat.
So why is Kennedy upset?
Perhaps the fact that during his 2.5 year tenure with Strikeforce, in which he won five of six fights, he has been unable to collectively stockpile what the Briton earned in less than 15 minutes worth of work, may have something to do with it.
Lets take a look at Kennedy's recent reported numbers:
June 19, 2009 -- Strikeforce Challengers: "Villasenor vs. Cyborg - $20,000Sept. 25, 2009 -- Strikeforce: "Kennedy vs. Cummings" - $30,000June 16, 2010 -- Strikeforce: "Los Angeles" - $30,000March 5, 2011 -- Strikeforce: "Feijao vs. Henderson" - $50,000
Total: $130,000
It's important to note that Kennedy -- who has admitted publicly that he hates Bisping because he cheats -- has had two additional paydays during that span, including a championship title fight loss to Ronaldo Souza on Aug. 21, 2010. at Strikeforce: "Houston," and a victory over Robbie Lawler on July 20, 2011 at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Henderson."
Though his actual earnings were not reported for those two events, it's safe to say that even if Kennedy had a substantial salary increase, he would still be a several big Benjamins shy of Bisping's single TUF 14 Finale purse.
It's unclear what Kennedy's true motives could be in expressing his unhappiness with Bisping's salary. Could he be genuinely upset in comparison to his own, or is he trying to set up a potential showdown with the British brawler?
Legit beef, sour grapes or all of the above?
Posted in: strikeforce, bisping, michael bisping, jason miller, kennedy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce champ 'Cyborg' Santos considering 135; Coker OK with Tate-Rousey
If Strikeforce is able to renew a deal with Showtime and extend its run on the premium-cable station beyond February, no shortage of storylines is emerging for its female fighters.
Two big ones came out today during a Strikeforce media call.
For one, Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is considering a move down to 135 pounds - a division that could soon see champ Miesha Tate take on fast-rising Olympian Ronda Rousey.
Posted in: strikeforce, champ, cyborg, premiumcable station, strikeforce media
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Media Call
LIsten as Strikeforce champions Gilbert Melendez and Cris Cyborg, as well as challengers Jorge Masvidal and Hiroko Yamanaka field questions from the media.
Posted in: strikeforce, media, masvidal, melendez, cris cyborg
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez admits to few challenges after Jorge Masvidal
It's almost impossible now for Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez to conceal his true feelings.
A few months after the promise of a UFC contract seemed as real as the cage in which he fights, Melendez is set to defend his belt a third time when he meets Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 at "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal."
But can he see any challenges beyond that?
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, ufc contract, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Prelim Bouts
Strikeforce on Tuesday revealed the preliminary bouts for its upcoming Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Dec. 17 in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champ Cris Cyborg Eyeing Fights In Women’s Bantamweight Division
It’s been a long time since Cris Cyborg defended her Strikeforce women’s featherweight title. While lengthy contract negotiations are partially to blame, a lack of credible challengers in the women’s 145 lbs. weight class has also been a factor. In fact, it’s been so difficult to find Cyborg opponents, she told Tatame last month that Strikeforce asked her if she could make 135 lbs. where there are more known fighters like Miesha Tate, Sarah Kaufman and emerging star Rhonda Rousey.
Actually there’re still two weight divisions: 135lbs and 145lbs. It’s already hard for me to drop to 145lbs, I gotta work a lot and they’re thinking about one division only, they asked me if I could do it. I can try, it’s not impossible. Let’s see… I guess that, in the future, there’ll be some news.
There’s no real news yet, but Cyborg reiterated on a Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” conference call earlier today that she’s definitely up for trying.
“It’s going to be difficult but I’m going to try to make the move if there’s more work for me there,” Santos said on Tuesday.
“I want to try to do both categories if possible, but I know there is more opportunity at 135,” she added.
If my memory serves me right, Cyborg had trouble cutting down to 140 lbs. at one point, but if she can do it, should would undoubtedly became a major factor in the women’s bantamweight division where a rivalry between Miesha Tate and Rhonda Rousey recently emerged.
Of course, this all becomes a moot point if Strikeforce doesn’t survive past their February deadline to extend their contract with Showtime. Dana White stated last weekend that he has a “very good feeling” about it and Scott Coker continued to express his optimism earlier this afternoon, but until a deal is actually finalized the future of women’s MMA remains in question.
Image via CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: strikeforce, division, lb, women, cyborg
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce CEO Scott Coker Bullish on Tourney, Showtime Future
Strikeforce exec believes heavyweight tournament finals between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier could happen by March, "optimistic" about Showtime extension.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, josh barnett, barnett, daniel cormier
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce's Scott Coker Optimistic About New Showtime Deal, No Announcement Yet
Scott Coker talked today on the media call for Melendez vs. Masvidal about Strikeforce's future on Showtime. While he said that there was nothing to announce in terms of a new deal, he did seem to suggest that things were progressing well and his tone suggested that the promotion had a future on the network.
He also said that they hope to conclude the heavyweight Grand Prix in March if Daniel Cormier has fully recovered from his broken hand.
In expanding upon the Showtime situation, Coker said:
In the history of Strikeforce since the relationship with Showtime was developed, we put on, I think some of the best fights in the history of MMA.
...
We've done our part to grow the sport, and that's going to continue. There's still a lot of great fighters on the roster. And we're going to keep building these fighters. We're going to continue putting on great fights. To me, that's not going to change. So everybody can tune into Showtime and watch in 2012, and we're going to put on some amazing, amazing fights.
It sounds like things are still positive with the Showtime/Strikeforce relationship even with the changes at the top of Showtime Sports, but until the deal is signed and announced it's hard to say with any certainty what the future looks like.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, future, coker, strikeforces future
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPrelims Take Shape for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
A fight between Roger Bowling, left, and Jerron Peoples is among the bouts added to the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal prelims for next week in San Diego.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, melendez, roger bowling, jerron peoples
Read the full article at Heavy MMAStrikeforce CEO on Showtime renewal: 'I'm optimistic at this point'
Despite persistent rumors, Strikeforce hasn't completed a broadcast deal to remain on Showtime.
But Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today hinted at some progress with the premium-cable channel and suggested an announcement could be coming.
"That's something we'll just have to wait and see," Coker said. "But I think things are going well, and I think we'll have something to announce soon."
Posted in: strikeforce, broadcast deal, thats something, premiumcable channel, strikeforce ceo
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSTRIKEFORCE: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL MEDIA CALL UPDATES
Strikeforce returns to Showtime after and extended time away from the network with two title fights. Headlining the card will be Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his belt against Jorge Masvidal. As the co-main event Cristiane Santos returns after a year in purgatory to defend his title against Hiroko Yamanaka.
As with all events, Zuffa is holding a conference call for the press. The conference call, hosted by STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker, will feature STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and No. 1 contender Jorge Masvidal, as well as STRIKEFORCE women's featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos and challenger Hiroko Yamanaka. For instant updates follow Matt Roth on twitter (@mattroth512). Immediately after the call I promise to post the tweets after the jump for those that don't have twitter.
STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. MASVIDAL airs live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on West Coast) on Saturday, Dec. 17.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, instant updates, events zuffa
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Real Time Conference Call Highlights
While a UFC title may be on the line this weekend at UFC 140, two other Zuffa championships will be up for grabs on December 17 when “Top 3” lightweight Gilbert Melendez gives a golden opportunity to talented American Top Teamer Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Also set for the Showtime broadcast, explosive female champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos scraps against 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka with the winner being crowned queen of the 145-pound division.
Other match-ups include K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista and Ovince St. Preux vs. Gegard Mousasi.
Before mixing it up in the ring, the quartet of competitors at the top of the lineup will face off in a conference call with media scheduled for this afternoon at 1:00 PM EST. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and relaying live results back to readers including scintillating soundbytes and other relevant nuggets of information.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker will also participate in the festivities.
Read below for a breakdown of events:
Gilbert Melendez
Jorge Masvidal
“Cyborg” Santos
Hiroko Yamanaka
Scott Coker
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, zuffa championships
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal conference call updates and LIVE blog today (Dec. 6) at 1 p.m. ET
Strikeforce will hold a special media conference call today (Dec. 6, 2011) to promote Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal, which is scheduled to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California for Dec. 10, 2011.
The call, which begins at 1 p.m. ET, will feature Gilbert Melendez, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Santos, Hiroko Yamanaka and Strikeforce President Scott Coker.
Melendez is the current Strikeforce lightweight champion and is a top three ranked lightweight in the world. The Cesar Gracie fighter is coming off a dominant destruction of Tatsuya Kawajiri this past April and has hinted at potentially fighting in the UFC soon.
His challenger is rising prospect, Jorge Masvidal. "Gamebred" was awarded a title shot after dominating former EliteXC champion K.J. Noons in his last bout, which was a number one contender match in the promotion.
Cristiane Santos is the current Strikeforce women's 145 pound champion. She has had significant issues finding fights, most recently battling 20-1 underdog Jan Finney over a year ago. She signed a new contract with the promotion over the summer and is ready to prove she's the most violent female fighter in the world once again.
Lastly, Hiroko Yamanaka is one of the best female fighter in the world that you've never heard of. She has been dominant in Japan competing in the Jewels promotion and sports a 12-1 record which includes avenging her only career loss. She appears to be the best available option in the thin women's featherweight division.
We'll have complete updates of the Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal conference call after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
Posted in: strikeforce, conference, hiroko yamanaka, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFeatherweight Champ Cris 'Cyborg' Santos Wants to Rule Bantamweight, Too
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsAfter a seemingly interminable, 18-month trip to the sidelines during the prime of her career, Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is finally heading back where she belongs, in the middle of the cage.
When Santos returns at December 17's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event, she'll have the respected Japanese fighter Hiroko Yamanaka standing across from her, hoping to wrest the belt away. But like always, Santos will enter as a huge favorite to retain her championship in dominant fashion, and a win could open the door for her to become a two-division champion.
That's because Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told reporters on Tuesday that the promotion plans to continue both Cyborg's featherweight class, as well as the bantamweight class, currently reigned over by champ Miesha Tate. Recently, it had been rumored that the featherweight class would be dropped. But even though Coker suggests Cyborg's division will still be in play, the Brazilian phenom said she is interested in fighting in both classes.
"It's going to be difficult but I'm going to try to make the move if there's more work for me there," Santos said on Tuesday.
"I want to try to do both categories if possible, but I know there is more opportunity at 135," she added.
It's hard to blame "Cyborg" for looking to fill her plate after her recent stretch of inactivity. She had fought four times in 14 months from April 2009 to June 2010, scoring four KO/TKO finishes in that time, but the last of those wins over Jan Finney was the last fight on her contract.
The two sides engaged in lengthy negotiations, and for a time, Santos announced she would fight in her home country, but every possibility to return to action seemed to fall through for her until she finally re-signed with her current promotion in August 2011.
Still just 26 years old, Santos will attempt to shake off the ring rust while defending her belt. She sees the layoff as no issue, choosing to emphasize the improvements she was able to make while honing her craft in the gym.
"I feel like I've gotten better at jiu-jitsu, I've been staying competitive in that aspect," she said. "I've been working on boxing, striking. I feel I'm better and more well-rounded as a fighter than I was before."
If that's true, now fighters in two weight classes will have to contend with her unique blend of athleticism, power and technique. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, class, featherweight, cyborg, ive
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThree bouts for 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal,' including Bowling vs. Peoples
Three preliminary card contests have been added to next week's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event, including a previously unreported matchup of Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples.
Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox, Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones, both previously reported by MMAjunkie.com, were also officially announced.
Featuring a pair of championship matches, "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The event's main card airs on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, card airs, vs, san diego, masvidal
Read the full article at MMA JunkieScott Coker: No Announcement on Showtime-Strikeforce Extension, But 'Optimistic'
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsWith 2011 rapidly coming to a close, word of an agreement to extend the soon-to-be-expiring deal between Strikeforce and premium cable TV partner Showtime has yet to come.
In the wake of the Strikeforce buyout by UFC parent company Zuffa, negotiations between Strikeforce and Showtime got off to a rocky start, but a management shakeup at Showtime seemed to open the door for renewed hope. Still, they've yielded no firm results just yet, according to Strikeforce's Scott Coker.
"There's nothing to announce, but I'm optimistic at this point," he said on Tuesday.
Asked for a possible timeframe on a decision, Coker declined to offer any specifics.
"That's something that we'll have to just wait and see," he said. "I think things are going well and I think we'll have something to announce shortly, but right now, I have nothing official to announce."
The uncertainty puts the Strikeforce team in something of a strange position. On a Tuesday teleconference designed to promote the upcoming December 17 event that will match lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez against Jorge Masvidal in the main event, both fighters were repeatedly asked about the possibility of soon moving to the UFC.
The promotion has also had to continue planning for future possibilities during a time of flux. For example, Coker mentioned that he is hoping to host the finals of the heayvweight World Grand Prix in March. Meanwhile, fighter contracts constantly need to be addressed, and future venues and dates have to be determined.
Essentially, Coker and the rest of his team must continue as though Strikeforce's future existence is a guarantee. For his part, Coker is plowing ahead with the belief that he'll be promoting events far into 2012 and beyond.
"In the history of Strikeforce since the relationship with Showtime was developed, we put on, I think some of the best fights in the history of MMA," he said. "We've done our part to grow the sport, and that's going to continue. There's still a lot of great fighters on the roster. And we're going to keep building these fighters. We're going to continue putting on great fights. To me, that's not going to change. So everybody can tune into Showtime and watch in 2012, and we're going to put on some amazing, amazing fights." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, showtime, future, coker
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMuhammed 'King Mo' Lawal targeted for 'Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine'
Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal is back on a regular schedule.
After an on-again, off-again stretch of activity courtesy of a knee injury, Lawal is expected to make his second appearance since returning from his layoff when he fights at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine."
Sources close to the event today confirmed the news to MMAjunkie.com and stated Lawal has yet to receive an opponent.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lawal, event today, activity courtesy
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Fight Card: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Filed under: StrikeforceThe final Strikeforce fight card of 2011 features Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka, two championship bouts on Dec. 17 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
Melendez, who is on a five-fight win streak, will look to defend his Strikeforce lightweight title for the third time. Masvidal is 2-0 this year and defeated K.J. Noons via unanimous decision in June to earn this title shot.
Cyborg, who is making her return after having her Strikeforce contract renewed in August, last fought back in June 2010. She'll defend her 145-pound belt against Yamanaka, a fighter who's made her name through the Smackgirl and JEWELS promotions in Japan.
The current fight card is below.
Showtime Bouts
Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Cris "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Preliminary Bouts
Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox
Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, time masvidal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Results Video: Dana White Positive Showtime Deal With Strikeforce Continues
Following the Ultimate Fighter 14 finale, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani caught up with UFC President Dana White to get his thoughts on the fights. Among the topics discussed are Jason Miller's performance and future in the UFC, the finals for the TUF crown, and Michael Bisping's next fight (White doesn't give any information, but hints that it's a huge fight). However, the most newsworthy tidbit is the future of Strikeforce.
Since the UFC's purchase of Strikeforce, it was assumed that eventually the company would be folded once the contract with Showtime ran out in February 2012. All signs pointed this way with various Strikeforce fighters getting the "call up to the majors" so to speak. However, some members of the media were adamant that the recently announced date for Luke Rockhold's title defense against Keith Jardine was a sign that talks between Zuffa and Showtime have improved and the chances of a contract extension were extremely high. White's comments to Helwani confirm this suspicion. He won't commit 100% to a new contract but if Dana White feels that there will likely be a new contract, it's probably likely that the paperwork is being drawn up right now and they are just waiting to put the ink on the paper.
SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, fighter, dana, contract
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
In Hawaii, it's still morning so temporally, this 'Sunday Morning Rumor Mill' is highly appropriate. Throughout the week, nuggets of information pass through MiddleEasy and instead of disregarding these morsels, we occasionally publish them in our weekly rumor mill. It's the equivalent of two guys talking in a bar about stuff they've heard throughout the week, but in this scenario there is no cigarette smoke or readily available beers that can be consumed. It's just you and your computer. Have fun.
There is a 0% chance Fedor Emelianenko will fight at DREAM's NYE event. With that said, I still believe Fedor provides some serious problems for every heavyweight in the UFC.
One FC will not be co-promoting with DREAM in their NYE event.
ZUFFA and Spike TV planned for a five-round match between Bisping vs. Mayhem. Logistically, it didn't go as planned.
According to the infamous 'Hammers Hamill,' ZUFFA and Showtime have further renewed their contract for an additional two years. Showtime believed the Strikeforce product was devalued due to UFC removing fighters from their roster, therefore the contract was renewed at a discounted rate -- nearly half of what it was. UFC fighters will migrate to Strikeforce to show that it's not a 'b-level feeder' league.
Hammers Hamill also states that M-1's contract with Showtime is finished and will not be renewed after this year.
More from Hammers Hamill states the Strikeforce HW GP date will be announced this week and the company will plan more events in 2012. Also, it appears that a reality show is planned for Strikeforce in 2012.
Apparently Ronda Rousey's emergence in the MMA scene renewed ZUFFA's belief that Strikeforce and women in MMA is a viable product.
Immediately after last night's TUF 14 bout, I heard from a few sources that Michael Bisping's next opponent will be Brian Stann.
M-1 Global plans to have a TUF-like reality show based entirely in Russia at some point next year.
According to Dave Meltzer, the UFC doesn't plan to have a 125 lb division anytime soon.
Also according to Meltzer, a Spike.com writer had his credentials pulled just before the TUF 14 finale and was unable to attend the event.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, event, reality show, contract
Read the full article at Middle EasyDana White Talks TUF 14 Finale, Strikeforce, Mayhem’s Future
The UFC President opens up about his thoughts on Mayhem Miller's performance and his future in the UFC, Strikeforce's future, the TUF winners and more in this exclusive interview.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, future, ufc president, tuf winners
Read the full article at Heavy MMAEverything you ever wanted to know about Miesha Tate is in this sixteen minute interview by LayzieTheSavage
Cris Cyborg hasn't fought in a year and a half and Gina Carano is off making action thrillers. Strikeforce was purchased earlier this year by a guy who hasn't been shy about his distaste for WMMA...Yet somehow, some way, the Strikeforce women's division is dominating just about every MMA messageboard like it was 2009. That's in large part thanks to amazing performances by Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Between the champ, Sarah Kaufman and Ronda, women's MMA is experiencing a revival so powerful you might think a necromancer is involved.
LayzieTheSavage dropped by the Tapout training center in the surprisingly chilly Las Vegas and sat down with the Strikeforce women's bantamweight champ for a revealing and interesting interview about life, love and everything in between. Wrap yourself in a blanket, cozy up to your monitor and relax while Miesha Tate tells us stories.
[Source]
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, women, miesha, miesha tate
Read the full article at Middle EasyJosh Barnett, Bobby Lashley Return To Pro Wrestling At Japanese Event
It wasn't in the Strikeforce cage, but former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett returned to action Friday in Tokyo, Japan, competing in a pro wrestling match against former K-1 star Jerome Le Banner.
In the main event at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2011 in front of almost 8700, Le Banner won the match by "knockout" in 8:24 but from what Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer heard, Barnett may not have got out of the match unscathed.
I don't know if this is storyline or not, but they are reporting in Japan that Josh Barnett suffered a broken nose today in his pro wrestling match with Jerome LeBanner at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, where LeBanner retained the IGF world heavyweight title.
Barnett has competed on and off in wrestling, starting in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2003. In recent years, Barnett has worked for Antonio Inoki's IGF promotion, facing former Strikeforce heavyweight and former WWE star Bobby Lashley in a match earlier this year, and famously worked a match during a Strikeforce open workout earlier this year.
Traditionally, Zuffa doesn't allow its talent to compete in other sports, recently denying Brock Lesnar the opportunity to wrestle at this year's WWE Wrestlemania. However, Barnett is still under his old Strikeforce contract and there is still no date for his Strikeforce Grand Prix tournament finale against Daniel Cormier.
The event featured Lashley and plenty of K-1 and Japanese MMA alums. Lashley teamed with three-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts to defeat Kazuyuki Fujita & Kendo Kashi. Former PRIDE star and current DREAM fighter Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa also made an appearance, defeating Atsushi Sawada in an IGF vs. DREAM bout. Former PRIDE and K-1 fighter Bob Sapp was defeated by Yuichiro Nagashima.
Side note: Inoki competed in what some consider to be the first major modern MMA bout when he faced Muhammad Ali in Tokyo in 1976.
Posted in: strikeforce, year, lashley, barnett, nose today
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale: Nashville Brawl behind him, Jason Miller finally returns to the Octagon
"Sometimes these things happen in MMA."
Reading reactions on websites like MMAmania following that statement, you would have believed that Showtime announcer Gus Johnson might as well have taken the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) behind the barn and plugged one in the back of its head. The bubblegum-flavored lip balm aficionado, flustered for words, said that infamous statement following an all-out brawl, a fracas that has become synonymous with the Strikeforce: Nashville card from April 2010.
And smack dab in the middle of it was The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale headliner Jason Miller.
"Mayhem" had fought earlier in the night, earning a relatively easy win over Tim Stout. It put him back in the win column after he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Jake Shields, a bout that decided a new middleweight champion after Cung Le absconded to Hollywood to film Fighting 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Shields beat Miller, surviving a tight third round choke, and became the 185-pound champion. Five months later, he overcame yet another early scare in his bout with Dan Henderson and would go on to defend the title in a fashion similar to how he won it in the first place.
Celebrating his come from behind win over Henderson with his Cesar Gracie teammates in tow, while Johnson asked a litany of standard post-fight questions, Shields was taken by surprise by a familiar face who had unexpectedly dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and dodged his way inside the cage.
"What's up? Where's my rematch, buddy?" Miller said with the Cheshire Cat grin that is perpetually attached to his face.
That's when all hell broke loose.
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez was first to step up to plate. He tried to get an arm in between his training partner and Miller while Shields, nervous smile creeping across his face, gave his former foe a small shove to one shoulder. A stronger, two-handed shove was delivered from the middleweight champ immediately after and "Mayhem" -- still grinning like a madman -- fell back into Shields' sponsor banner.
But, by this point, Miller was no longer focused on the middleweight. Nick Diaz -- and this should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who knows even the slightest bit about the Stockton fighter -- had started throwing punches, apparently home sick the day in kindergarten where everyone is taught that differences are settled with words, not fists.
"Mayhem" was eventually wrestled to the ground where Diaz delivered a flurry of body shots to the kidneys -- even in a brawl, he remembers good technique! -- while younger brother Nate did his best Wanderlei Silva impersonation and tried to stomp away as the former "Bully Beatdown" host.
That was right about when Johnson said that infamous line and followed it with several, "Gentlemen! We are on national television!"s like an old schoolmaster at her wit's end, trying to control a classroom full of petulant children.
When the dust finally settled, there were fines levied against several of those involved, but no dollar amount could ever compare to the drama that followed the incident. Miller and Diaz engaged in an all-out war of words, bantering back and forth about catchweights and which of the two homies was, in fact, scared.
The fight never materialized. Diaz went on to defend his welterweight title three times before making the jump back to the Octagon and maybe/maybe not retiring B.J. Penn. Diaz's unwillingness to sign on the dotted line to face "Mayhem" caused some fans to cry foul.
But like just about anything in the world - and especially the fight game - there was more to the story. Miller was quietly "banned" from Strikeforce because of his involvement in the "Nashville Brawl" and had to sit out the remainder of his contract. He took a fight against Kazushi Sakuraba in DREAM but the decision to keep him outside a Strikeforce cage makes his bout with Michael Bisping his first in over a year.
A year is pretty much an eternity for a fighter. They can train day in and day out the entire time but without stepping inside the cage and putting those skills to test in an actual fight, there's no way to be sure whether any definable progress is being made.
Was the brawl worth sitting a talented, marketable fighter on the sidelines for that long? Absolutely not. Despite Johnson's poorly timed statement, these things DO happen in MMA. It happened in Pride Fighting Championships several times and hell, it even happened in Strikeforce once before when K.J. Noons and his daddy got into it with - you guessed it - Nick Diaz.
Sure, it gives ammunition for those who don't like the sport to load into their buzzword and rhetoric guns but the simple fact is, people love drama. The only thing better than something good is something good turning chaotic. That's the element that Miller brings every time he fights and now brings to the Octagon. He's not nearly clinically insane like "Krazy Horse" Charles Bennett but he's pretty damn close.
And that's the kind of a fighter people will pay money to see.
Posted in: fight, diaz, strikeforce, fighter, miller
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRockhold-Jardine Title Scrap on Tap for Jan. 7 Strikeforce
Keith Jardine will likely meet Luke Rockhold for the Strikeforce middleweight title on Jan. 7, as “The Dean of Mean” makes his 185-pound debut to kick off 2012.
Posted in: pound, title, strikeforce, luke rockhold, jan
Read the full article at SherdogLuke Rockhold defending Strikeforce title in January against Keith Jardine
Strikeforce middleweight champ will put his belt on the line in early 2012 as expected but will not do so against Tim Kennedy, a deserving contender with success at 185 pounds who was unfortunately sidelined with a recent injury. Stepping in for Kennedy will be seasoned veteran Keith Jardine.
The 17-9-2 “Dean of Mean” will be making his divisional debut at the event after a slew of success at light heavyweight including wins over former UFC champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell. He is coming off a Draw against Gegard Mousasi in his first appearance under the Strikeforce banner.’
Rockhold Expected Kennedy in January
News of the bout was reported by MMAFighting, citing sources close to the event, but Strikeforce has yet to confirm the show or match-up on an official level.
Rockhold was last seen outpointing Ronaldo Souza in September to win the middleweight title. He holds an overall record of 8-1 with notable victories in the past against Jesse Taylor and Paul Bradley.
The unnamed Strikeforce event hosting Rockhold vs. Jardine is scheduled for January 7 in Las Vegas.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, luke rockhold, chuck liddell, jesse taylor
Read the full article at Fighters.comKeith Jardine Gets Strikeforce Title Shot. Wait. What?!
Strikeforce has a long history of making very questionable matchups, especially pertaining to their titles, but they've really out done themselves this time. It appears their new middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, will not be fighting Tim Kennedy after all. Instead he'll meet Keith Jardine of all people.
I really don't understand what they are thinking anymore. I assumed now that they were under the Zuffa umbrella, these ridiculous matchups would stop; I was wrong. Keith Jardine in no way deserves to be fighting for a title, in any organization. Besides never having fought at 185, he's coming off a draw (realistically it was a loss, Mousasi was robbed), and two wins against nobodies. Before that, he dropped five fights in a row.
I understand they are working with a limited roster, but if they want to make one sided matchups like this they should drop the belts completely. This is not a relevant fight, this is a UFC washout being fed to a rising prospect. How do you make the argument that Jardine is a champion caliber fighter with his current record?
And what if by some miracle, Jardine actually wins? What would that say about the titles and other Strikeforce champions? It would absolutely ruin any semblance of importance that the belts hold, and tarnish the promotions reputation as a whole. This is a big mistake.
If they need to keep Rockhold busy, why not bring over a mid-tier middleweight from the UFC? They've had no problem moving most of Strikeforce's talent to the big leagues, and so the opposite shouldn't be an issue. It's not like the UFC can't spare the likes of Alan Belcher, Tim Boetsch, or Nick Catone. Any of these guys would be a tough challenge for the middleweight champion.
It seems Strikeforce is simply buying time until the promotion folds in 2012. Most of their top talent has already been moved over to the UFC, and matchups like this don't exactly renew any interest in their champions. It's just a shame they aren't going out with some more memorable fights.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, champion, keith jardine, jardine
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendLuke Rockhold Slated to Defend Strikefoce Title Against Keith Jardine in January
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is expected defend his title for the first time against UFC veteran Keith Jardine at a January 7 Strikeforce event in Las Vegas, according to MMAFighting.
Rockhold (8-1), who had expected to fight Tim Kennedy next, won the 185-pound belt with a unanimous decision over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in September for his 7th-straight win, while Jardine (17-9-2) fought former champion Gegard Mousasi to a draw in April after snapping a five-fight losing streak with back-to-back wins.
For complete coverage of Strikeforce stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Keith Jardine
Posted in: strikeforce, keith jardine, jardine, las vegas, keith
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyLuke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine title fight targeted for Jan. 7 Strikeforce event
Strikeforce appears to have its first fight of what appears to be an uncertain 2012 fight season.
Sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com newly minted Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is expected to fight UFC veteran Keith Jardine in a Jan. 7 title fight.
MMAFighting.com first reported the likely bout.
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, event, rockhold
Read the full article at MMA JunkieKeith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold booked for Strikeforce event on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas
Are you 3-6-1 in your last 10 fights and have never fought at 185-pounds before? Then you're a perfect candidate for a Strikeforce middleweight title shot!
Former UFC light heavyweight Keith Jardine will get the first crack at dethroning recently crowned Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold at an as yet announced Strikeforce event scheduled for Jan. 7, 2012, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
MMAFighting.com brought word of the pending match-up a short while ago.
Tim Kennedy was originally in line for a title shot; however, an undisclosed injury kept the super soldier from taking the fight and "The Dean of Mean" was apparently the next best option.
That's despite the fact that Jardine has won just three times in his last 10 fights. Those three wins? Brandon Vera (split decision), Francisco France and Aron Lofton. Talk about a championship resume, huh?
Luke Rockhold, who trains alongside former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, and current UFC welterweights Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch over at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), is on a seven fight win streak dating back to 2007.
Despite a long layoff due to injuries, the Santa Cruz, Calif., native looked like a seasoned veteran in his championship win over submission wizard Ronaldo Souza back on Sept. 10.
A win here wouldn't just give him his first successful title defense; it could very well earn him a one-way ticket to the UFC.
Strikeforce has yet to officially announce an event for Jan. 7, 2012, in Las Vegas but Jardine vs. Rockhold is expected to headline the card. No other bouts are currently rumored at this time.
What do you Maniacs think of this match-up? Does Jardine deserve a title shot in his first fight as a middleweight? And who will come out on top?
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaReport: Keith Jardine To Challenge Luke Rockhold For Strikeforce Middleweight Title On Jan. 7
It looks like Christmas is coming early for Keith Jardine. Despite going 2-5-1 in his last seven fights, Jardine is reportedly getting a Strikeforce title shot in a weight class he’s never fought in before.
That’s right, MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani is reporting that Jardine will challenge Luke Rockhold for his Strikeforce middleweight title on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas.
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is slated to defend his belt against former UFC veteran Keith Jardine on Jan. 7, MMA Fighting has confirmed with sources close to the fight. The title fight is expected to headline the organization’s first event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Strikeforce has yet to officially announce the card or any fights signed for it as of Thursday evening.
Sherdog also confirmed that Jardine will fight on the card, but didn’t mention anything about the match-up.
According to the MMA Fighting report, Tim Kennedy was originally supposed to face Rockhold in a title fight that would have made more sense, but he suffered an injury and won’t be ready. Considering their second choice, it seems they ran out of reasonable options.
Despite the severe lack of depth on Strikeforce’s roster, rumors still persist that a contract extension with Showtime is possible and may even be likely.
Image via Daniel Archuleta for Sherdog
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, rockhold, jardine
Read the full article at MMA ConvertKeith Jardine vs. Luke Rockhold Planned for Strikeforce Middleweight Title
There's been a bit of a change of plan in Strikeforce with Luke Rockhold now slated to face Keith Jardine on January 7, 2012 according to MMA Fighting. The original rumored plans were for Rockhold to face Tim Kennedy but Kennedy is unable to take the bout as he has an undisclosed injury.
This is a shame as Keith Jardine has gone 3-6-1 since 2008, has never fought at 185 pounds and his only win of note during that span was over Brandon Vera at UFC 89.
It's hard for me to not see this as a reason that Strikeforce has very limited value in its current form. Kennedy being unavailable leaves the promotion as seeing no better option than Keith Jardine? Maybe a rematch with Jacare is too much to ask on only 5 weeks notice.
I'd just as soon see them pay Paul Daley to take a middleweight fight (a weight where he is 3-0) or give a young guy from the Strikeforce Challengers stage a shot, Adlan Amagov springs to mind as someone who would have a "it was fun while it lasted" fight. And it's not as though Keith Jardine's name carries any weight in terms of being a draw.
I also can't help but wonder if Zuffa couldn't find a mid-tier current middleweight in the UFC to send over for a brief Strikeforce run. Maybe it's a bit too deep of water for a guy like Chris Weidman, but that'd be a hell of an interesting fight.
In the end, fantasy matchmaking does nothing. Jardine is getting the shot and we'll see if he can make the most of it.
Posted in: strikeforce, keith jardine, jardine, middleweight, keith
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowJardine Slated for Jan. 7 Strikeforce Return
Keith Jardine will be back in action as a Strikeforce middleweight on Jan. 7, Sherdog.com confirmed with a source close to the fighter on Thursday.
Posted in: strikeforce, jardine, return, jan, strikeforce middleweight
Read the full article at SherdogLuke Rockhold Slated to Defend Strikeforce Middleweight Title Against Keith Jardine
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsStrikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is slated to defend his belt against former UFC veteran Keith Jardine on Jan. 7, MMA Fighting has confirmed with sources close to the fight. The title fight is expected to headline the organization's first event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Strikeforce has yet to officially announce the card or any fights signed for it as of Thursday evening.
Rockhold was expected to meet Tim Kennedy in his first title defense, but according to sources, Kennedy couldn't commit to the fight due to an undisclosed injury.
Rockhold (8-1) won the title in September when he defeated Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza via unanimous decision. The American Kickboxing Academy member has won his last seven fights in a row.
Jardine (17-9-2) fought Gegard Mousasi to a draw in his Strikeforce debut in April. This fight would mark his first at 185 pounds. "The Dean of Mean" is 2-1-1 since his release from the UFC in June 2010. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, title, strikeforce, rockhold, keith jardine
Read the full article at AOL FanhousePreview surfaces for "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal"
After a two-month break from the scene Strikeforce is back with a solid show scheduled to take place in less than three weeks. Headlined by lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defending his title against rising star Jorge Masvidal, the December 17 lineup also features explosive female featherweight Cristiane Santos putting her gold up for grabs against 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka as well as a battle between top light heavyweight contenders Gegard Mousasi and Ovince St. Preux.
Melendez Content with Strikeforce but Eyeing UFC
The promotion released a preview for the event today where KJ Noons‘ scheduled appearance against Billy Evangelista was also mentioned. Fans can catch the show live on Showtime when the broadcast fires up at 9:00 PM EST.
Check out the complete video below:
Tweet
Posted in: strikeforce, melendez, billy evangelista, event today, broadcast fires
Read the full article at Fighters.comSigns of Strikeforce Life? Bobby Voelker Signs Contract Extension
Strikeforce welterweight Bobby Voelker just signed a new five-fight contract extension. Does it indicate new signs of life for Strikeforce?
Posted in: strikeforce, life, bobby, sign, extension
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMMA Roundtable: TUF 14 Finale, Strikeforce's Future, and More
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, BellatorWith season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter drawing to a close and the big finale fight between the coaches drawing near, now seemed like as good a time as any to go head-to-head with my buddy and colleague Michael David Smith over a few of the more pertinent questions of our day.
Questions like, what's up with Strikeforce? Also, what's up with Bellator? And, if you're not into this TUF Finale business, just what are you into, smart guy? All that -- only, you know, slightly more artfully rendered -- awaits you below. MDS, why don't you start us off.
1. A big part of TUF is supposed to be hyping the fight between the coaches. Has anything on The Ultimate Fighter this year made you any more interested in Michael Bisping vs. Mayhem Miller than you were three months ago?
MDS: I'm kind of surprised by how little the Bisping-Mayhem feud has moved the needle because Bisping and Mayhem are both engaging characters who know how to sell a fight. I assume part of the issue is that there's been less promotion for the fight because it's on Spike, and Spike and the UFC have ended their relationship. If this fight were going to be on pay-per-view, as most coach vs. coach fights have been, I'm sure the UFC would be doing a lot more to promote it.
But the larger issue seems to be that Bisping vs. Mayhem doesn't seem to do a lot for fans in terms of its relevance to the UFC's middleweight division. Both guys are solid fighters, but the winner of this fight will still be behind Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz in line for a title shot, and if either Bisping or Mayhem did get a title shot, it's not like anyone would pick either one of them to beat Anderson Silva. So it doesn't have the feel of a really important fight.
Fowlkes: While I don't disagree that this fight lacks the promise of an immediate impact on its division, I have a hard time accepting that that's why there's not more heat behind it. Yes, the UFC seemed to choose these two as coaches based on force of personality alone, but didn't that work as well as anyone could have hoped? They laughed, they yelled, they pranked, and they even coached. They had their obligatory tense and borderline violent moments, but they also had some fun. That's got to be better than "Rampage" Jackson sleeping on the mat, right?
The TUF franchise did its job on this one, at least according to its own abilities, and its stagnant formula. It's the UFC that decided not to go hard in the paint when it came time to push it on fans. Maybe that's a consequence of the brewing feud between White and his soon to be ex-TV partners. Maybe it's collateral damage from a crazy couple of months worth of events. Maybe it's a little of both.
I just know that this is, on paper, a pretty good fight. I was interested when I first heard about the pairing, and I'm interested now. I can't say that watching them trade expletives or kick through a couple flimsy cardboard doors on the TUF set did a whole lot to get my heart rate up (after fourteen seasons, I've seen all the meaningless property damage and half-bleeped arguments I can take), but so what? It's still an interesting fight, and I still genuinely want to see it.
2. Bellator's season has come to an end. Do you think MMA fans cared? What do you think needs to happen to make fans pay attention in 2012?
Fowlkes: Here's an instance where we must resist the temptation to think of MMA fans as one monolithic slab. Did fans care? Sure. Some of them, anyway. Bellator gets a small, though consistent slice of the MMA pie with every event, and that slice is big enough to spread the word when there's an awesome finish or a great fight. And yet, there's another side to that coin. I suspect there's a healthy segment of the MMA fan population that is aware of and maybe even mildly interested in Bellator, but nonetheless doesn't feel the need to watch every weekend because, hey, if something worthwhile happens, it'll be on YouTube in the morning.
Part of the problem is the Bellator schedule. It's cool to have a fight every weekend as the season plows forward, but it also makes it difficult to convince fans that one fight night is bigger or more important than any other. Oh, there's a Bellator event on Saturday? Well, there'll be another one next Saturday, and the Saturday after that, so no big deal.
The schedule also makes it difficult for Bellator, as an organization, to focus on building a select few stars. As soon as one show ends, the Bellator crew has to turn its attention to the next one. Meanwhile, the champ in each weight class can either sit around and wait for the next tournament winner, or he can engage in a completely non-sensical non-title bout. Neither is a particularly attractive option for the champ or the organization.
These are all problems that arise as a result of Bellator's main selling point, which makes them especially difficult problems to resolve. How do you keep the tournament structure without taking the spotlight off your champs for too long? How do you keep a season rolling forward without it feeling routine? I'm not sure I know, but Bellator is going to have to figure it out eventually.
MDS: I agree with you that there's a problem with the Bellator schedule, but I don't think the problem is that they run every week during their two "seasons." I actually like the weekly format of knowing you're going to have a certain night of the week when Bellator is going to be on, just as I like knowing that The Walking Dead comes on every Sunday
while it's in season and Modern Family comes on every Wednesday while it's in season.
My suggestion to Bellator is they should choose a night other than Saturday. I just don't think it makes sense for a No. 2 MMA promotion to go on Saturday nights, the territory that the UFC has already staked out. To me, that makes about as much sense as a startup football league scheduling its games for Sunday afternoons in the fall.
I love the tournament format and want Bellator to keep it, but it does create major problems with the champions: What are they supposed to do while they wait around for the next No. 1 contender to emerge from the next tournament? The "superfights" haven't really worked out very well, as Bjorn Rebney himself has acknowledged.
I think the answer is that the champions should be in the tournaments. You win the Season 5 tournament? Congratulations. You're the Season 5 tournament champion. Now Season 5 is over, so it's time for you to enter the Season 6 tournament. That's what every sport that uses a seasonal format does -- the defending champion goes right back into the mix. And that's what Bellator should do, too.
3. Strikeforce is back this month with its first non-Challengers show since the Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals more than three months ago. Do MMA fans still care about Strikeforce? Should they?
MDS: I don't get the sense that fans care much about Strikeforce. If anything, fans wish the UFC would hurry up and absorb all the best fighters so guys like Gilbert Melendez (who fought only once in 2010 and only once so far in 2011) could fight elite opposition more often. Melendez is defending his title against Jorge Masvidal in the main event, and the overwhelming reaction I've heard has been disappointment that Melendez isn't in the UFC fighting a better opponent than Masvidal.
The reason I still care about Strikeforce is, more than anything, my affinity for women's MMA. Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka is going to be a very good women's fight, and if Strikeforce disappears there's going to be an uncertain future for women's MMA.
But the bottom line is that the UFC is currently stripping Strikeforce for spare parts and will eventually do away with it. Given that, it's hard to fault fans for losing interest in the promotion.
Fowlkes: Well MDS, you just confirmed my suspicion that it's impossible for a dude to type the phrase "my affinity for women's MMA" without it feeling just a little bit creepy for some reason, but okay, I have to agree with you on that score. I would also like to see women's MMA survive, and Strikeforce is the best bet for that right now. Pulling the plug immediately would probably put a lot of very dangerous women out of work, and that's not good for anybody.
But as for whether fans do and/or should care about Strikeforce in general, I have to say 'not really' and 'probably not.' Sorry, but that's what happens when the UFC pillages your roster, taking almost every significant draw and leaving you with a couple champions who are all but begging to be the next ones sucked up by the UFC tractor beam. The heavyweight GP still has a legitimately compelling final between Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, and a middleweight title fight between Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy is one I wouldn't sneeze at, but after that it starts to look pretty thin.
The Strikeforce fighters -- the ones who have options, anyway -- don't really want to be there, and few can even be bothered to maintain the illusion anymore. Everyone knows this thing is running out of road, and nobody particularly wants to be there to ride it all the way to its sad end in a nearly empty arena, in front of a home audience that's just waiting for Dexter re-runs to come on.
4. December features the TUF Finale, a Strikeforce card and two UFC pay-per-views. What's the best fight of the bunch?
Fowlkes: Without a doubt, the biggest fight in December is the UFC 141 main event between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. And I don't just mean big in terms of total combined weight, though there's that too. It's just, from a media buzz/pay-per-view sales perspective, nothing in the coming month can top the combination of Lesnar's name and Overeem's experience. It's smart of the UFC to have that on the night before New Year's Eve, when people will be more likely to stay home and rest their livers anyway, and you have to think the end result will be plenty of eyeballs on that one fight.
But then, biggest doesn't necessarily equal best. That distinction I save for another fight on the UFC 141 card: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz. Cerrone's been on a one-man paper-stacking mission this year, racking up win purses and post-fight bonuses like a man in hock to the IRS. Diaz struggled at welterweight, but looked downright scary when he took Takanori Gomi apart as a lightweight at UFC 135. Both these guys have the sort of tough-first mentality that involves taking no crap off of nobody, and when they get in the cage together I expect a technical, though ruthless fight.
It'll be sort of like a demolition derby featuring half-drunk Nascar drivers: a whole lot of engine-revving and middle finger-waving, no small amount of profanity before, during, and after, and absolutely no regard for safety or long-term repercussions. How can you not like that?
MDS: Lesnar-Overeem is without a doubt the biggest draw, and I don't know if there's any other fight in December that will give me butterflies in my stomach when the cage door closes like Lesnar-Overeem will. That fight is going to be awesome.
But for pure entertainment value, I don't think there's a better fight on the docket than Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung at UFC 140. Remember how often we used to say after WEC cards that there was no promotion putting on great fights as consistently as the WEC? Hominick vs. Jung is exactly the kind of fight that made us love the WEC, with two featherweights who will relentlessly batter each other for 15 minutes or go down swinging if they can't.
If Hominick vs. Jung is the best fight in December, I won't be the least bit surprised. If it's not, that probably means we're in for an amazing month. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, strikeforce, fan
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDespite Owning Strikeforce, Dana White Hasn't Changed Stance on Women's MMA
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsTrue story: at the UFC 139 post-fight press conference, Dana White not only referenced a Strikeforce Challengers fight, he also referenced a women's fight.
Crazy, I know.
Basically, when talking about the late stoppage in the Chris Weidman-Tom Lawlor bout, White said he felt there was also a late stoppage in the Ronda Rousey-Julia Budd fight the night before at Strikeforce Challengers in Las Vegas.
The mention was a surprising one for obvious reasons, but it got me wondering whether White, who, along with his partners at Zuffa, now owns Strikeforce, was warming up to the idea of promoting women's fights.
Not so fast. The UFC president still believes the divisions are too shallow on talent right now.
"As the sport continues to grow and as time goes on, maybe that will change," White said. "Maybe it will change or maybe less women will get involved, I don't know. We'll see what happens. Time will only tell. I don't know. But yeah, I still feel the same way."
Of course, White has made his stance on women's MMA pretty clear over the years. In short, he's not against women competing in MMA, but he simply doesn't believe there are enough top-level athletes fighting right now to build divisions around. It's a fair argument that even the most devoted supporter of WMMA would probably agree with.
That said, the times they are a changin', and after Gina Carano's absence took some of the spotlight away from the female fighters, the buzz seems to be coming back, thanks in large part to the emergence of Rousey, who White admitted after the presser that he was impressed with.
"She's talented," White said. "Great fights."
So for now, women's MMA fans will have to settle on a mention from White. You gotta start somewhere. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, women, i dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo preview for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. The event will take place on December 17th in...
Video preview for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. The event will take place on December 17th in San Diego, CA.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, december, video preview, san diego
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Promo
Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 17., at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and will air on Showtime at 10:30pm ET/PT. The latest Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal video preview for Dec. 17 in San Diego
Strikeforce is ready to kick off its final Showtime-televised fight card of 2011 when it invades the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. K.J. Noons and "Cyborg" Santos are also in action.
For the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line-up click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, lineup click
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Show Targeted For January 7, Rockhold Vs. Kennedy Expected
BloodyElbow.com has learned that the Hard Rock Hotel venue in Las Vegas is being targeted for a Strikeforce show on January 7th of 2012. A representative from the Nevada State Athletic Commission confirmed the promotion's request.
The event, which will be aired on the Showtime network, is likely to stage the first title defense for Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. When the promotion urged him to start training for his next bout, Rockhold recently speculated that Tim Kennedy would be his opponent at an event being aligned for January. This report seems to reinforce Rockhold's claim.
The future of Strikeforce has been in question since the promotion was acquired by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, in March of 2011. "Business as usual" was the initial driver for Strikeforce's operation until select stars were poached from the roster, such as Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Jason "Mayhem" Miller.
With the pre-Zuffa contract between Strikeforce and Showtime nearing expiration and a handful of their premiere fighters being plucked away, expectations for a prosperous future dwindled. However, late last month, Dana White stated that negotiations for a contract extension between Strikeforce and Showtime went "very well", perhaps facilitated by Showtime Sport's new helmsman, Stephen Espinoza.
Scheduling another event to be aired on Showtime is a positive indicator and could signal a new beginning for the Strikeforce promotion.
Posted in: promotion, strikeforce, rockhold, showtime, strikeforce show
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMiesha Tate and Ronda Rousey rip into each other over Strikeforce contendership
The war of words between Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated Olympian Ronda Rousey heated up yesterday when the two talented females faced off to debate the issue of divisional contendership. Rousey, who has looked dominant in all four of her fights since crossing over from a career as a decorated Judoka, recently came forward to say she wanted a shot at Tate’s belt based on the buzz the bout would create, while the 135-pound title-holder has been adamant regarding Rousey’s need to wait her turn.
“I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen,” said the 24-year old Rousey on an edition of The MMA Hour. “It’ll be great for women’s MMA. It’ll be the first highly anticipated fight in women’s MMA for a long time … We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don’t want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title.”
Rousey supported her stance by referring to her ability to sell a fight to the public in comparison to other challengers, especially based on the marketability involved from an aesthetic standpoint.
“Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she’s not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn’t finish matches in extraordinary fashion,” Rousey explained. “It’s just kind of being realistic. I’m sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women’s title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too.”
Tate responded to Rousey’s claims by agreeing looks would play a significant role in the match-up being made if things go that route.
“If you weren’t pretty, it wouldn’t matter what you said or didn’t say,” replied Tate. “That’s why you’re getting this attention. I don’t know, I guess I personally like more of a humble approach.”
However, when it came to actual experience, Tate pulled no punches in her assessment of Rousey’s lack thereof.
“What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in? Is she going to tap out or quit? We don’t know. We haven’t seen that yet. I think it’s kind of silly to put her in with me because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take it to her.”
“A lot of people are underestimating me. That’s fine. That always seems to be the case,” Tate continued. “Make no mistake, if Ronda is my next fight, I’m going to come in with a vengeance you’ve never seen before, because to be quite honest, it’s probably going to piss me off.”
For now their rivalry will continue to simmer with no definitive indication of how Strikeforce will handle the female division in 2012 since the company hasn’t announced any events beyond December. That being said, with both being supremely skilled and under the age of 25, chances are this week’s run-in won’t be the last between the two talented ladies whether in terms of verbal exchanges or an eventual physical one.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Melendez vs Masvidal' on Dec. 17 in San Diego
Strikeforce is close to putting the finishing touches on its upcoming Showtime-televised fight card from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
In addition, former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessess defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
That's not all.
Check out the current Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" fight card and line up:
Main Event:
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Main Card (Showtime):
145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Preliminary Card (May not be televised):
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. TBA
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 17. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night.
We're still a few weeks away from fight night; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions for "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.
To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes check out our extensive event archive right here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Plans First 2012 Show With Likely January 7 Event in Las Vegas
Strikeforce has requested a January 7 date to host an event at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas that would be televised by Showtime.
A Nevada state athletic commission representative confirmed the Zuffa request on Monday.
Once approved -- and given parent company Zuffa's track record in Nevada, that is a near certainty -- the previously unannounced show would be the first Strikeforce event to be scheduled for 2012.
Until now, the only future Strikeforce event planned had been the upcoming December 17 Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event in San Diego, California.
The move is yet another indication that Strikeforce will exist past its current deal with Showtime, which is set to expire around March 2012.
In the past, Zuffa executive and UFC president Dana White voiced doubt that Strikeforce and Showtime could salvage their relationship, but a change in Showtime's leadership structure allowed White to inject himself in negotiations, and recent talks have reportedly been far more productive.
While final word on an extension has yet to come from either side, the booking of events in early 2012 must be seen as a positive step towards a likely deal. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, event, showtime, zuffa, zuffa request
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGilbert Melendez remains optimistic after recent brush with UFC roster
Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez was unsure what was in store for his fighting future, as rumors of an impending arrival to the UFC hit a fever pitch earlier this year.
UFC president Dana White seemed to be the main voice behind the probability of Melendez being signed by the UFC, so the odds looked bleak as far as “El Nino” ever defending his Strikeforce title again . However, in the ensuing weeks it was revealed that Melendez would be back inside a Strikeforce cage and not the UFC Octagon later this year, as he’s set to face Jorge Masvidal in the main event of a Strikeforce card on December 17 from San Diego, California. It will be his second fight this year with a first round TKO over Tatsuya Kawajiri a few months back.
With all that being said, is Melendez upset about remaining in Strikeforce and not being paired up with UFC 155-pound king Frankie Edgar or any other of the elite lightweights in the UFC? Not a chance.
“Nah, I’m not disappointed at all. The hype was there for a second. I was jazzed. I was hoping,” said Melendez, in a recent interview with MMAFighting. “I’m more popular than ever now…Dana White, the man, said go check Gilbert out and now people are checking me out. So I’m actually grateful on that. I’m an optimistic guy. I look at that like a glass half-full.”
Melendez has put together a 19-2 record, including 11 victories by knockout. He has not lost since 2008 when Josh Thomson defeated him via decision. Melendez has since avenged that loss, along with his only other career defeat to Mitsuhiro Ishida.
As for making the leap to the UFC – which seems inevitable – Melendez is just letting his managers take care of that, saying, “I’m ready for the big stage, I’m ready for all challenges.”
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, i ’m, ’m, melendez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMMA Top 10 Women: Ronda Rousey Enters the Top 5
Filed under: Strikeforce, Bellator, Rankings, Women's OverallRonda Rousey is the next big thing in women's mixed martial arts.
The undefeated Rousey, who beat Julia Budd on the Nov. 18 Strikeforce Challengers card, has been running through her competition like few fighters, male or female, we've ever seen: Rousey is 4-0, and incredibly all four of her wins have come in less than a minute, all by armbar. Before turning pro she had three amateur fights, and she won all three of those by armbar in less than a minute, too.
And so, although she's still new to the sport and still hasn't been tested against the best women Strikeforce has to offer, Rousey makes my Top 5 as we rank the top pound-for-pound fighters in women's MMA. She looks that good.
What we don't know yet is whether Rousey is more than just a one-trick pony: If she faces an opponent who's able to keep the fight standing, will she be able to hold her own exchanging punches? And although she's not going to face anyone who's on her level as a judo player, will she be able to execute more than just her go-to arm bar if she faces an opponent who's sophisticated enough on the ground not to let Rousey get her arm?
It remains to be seen. But I think she's a future champion, and I think she deserves her place on the list of the top women in the sport, which is below.
Top 10 pound-for-pound women in MMA
(Editor's note: The ranking from the last time we ranked women are in parentheses)
1. Cris Cyborg (1): After more than a year away, Cyborg returns to defend her women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka. That's an interesting matchup; Yamanaka has a 12-1 record and will have a height and reach advantage over Cyborg. But Yamanaka has never fought outside Japan before, and Cyborg has been so dominant that at this point it's very tough to see anyone beating her.
2. Zoila Gurgel (2): It's unfortunate that after Gurgel's huge win over Megumi Fujii, she's only been able to fight once. She's currently nursing a torn ACL and won't be back any time soon. It would make sense for Bellator to arrange another women's tournament for the right to take on Gurgel, although it's not clear whether that's in the promotion's plans.
3. Miesha Tate (7): Tate turned in a great performance against Marloes Coenen to win the Strikeforce 135-pound women's championship. What really worked for her in the Coenen fight was her superior wrestling, and it's her wrestling that would make her a favorite to beat almost any female fighter in the world.
4. Megumi Fujii (3): In the year since suffering her one and only loss to Gurgel, Fujii has gone back to Japan and won a couple of unanimous decisions. I'd like to see her back in the Bellator cage in 2012, and a rematch with Gurgel would be the biggest women's fight Bellator could make.
5. Ronda Rousey (NR): Rousey has been calling out Tate, and although the next shot at Tate's 135-pound title was supposed to go to Sarah Kaufman, Zuffa may decide that Rousey is too hot to hold off on right now. Rousey is an easy sell for promoters because she's smart and articulate and an Olympic bronze medalist in judo, and putting her in the cage with Tate would be one of the most marketable female fights that Strikeforce could arrange.
6. Marloes Coenen (4): First Coenen lost her Strikeforce title to Tate, then she lost her contract when her management at Golden Glory feuded with Zuffa. Now it's anyone's guess when or where she might fight next; she's with an organization called BlackEye Promotions, which has no events scheduled.
7. Sarah Kaufman (5): Kaufman's only loss was to Coenen, and since then she's won two in a row, supposedly earning a title shot against Tate, whom Kaufman beat in 2009. The question is whether Strikeforce will push Kaufman aside to put Rousey in the cage with Tate.
8. Jessica Aguilar (8): Aguilar looked great in her unanimous decision win over Lisa Ellis-Ward at Bellator 58. Aguilar has now won seven of her last eight fights, with the only loss coming by split decision to Gurgel.
9. Tara LaRosa (6): LaRosa has been inactive since her great heel-hook submission of Carina Damm in March, and as a result a couple of more active fighters have leapfrogged her in the rankings. LaRosa is one of the real pioneers for women's MMA. Let's hope she's back in the cage soon.
10. Alexis Davis (NR): Davis has had a couple big wins since we last updated our women's rankings, beating Julie Kedzie by unanimous decision in July and then beating Amanda Nunes by TKO in September. I hope Zuffa keeps Strikeforce's 135-pound women's division alive, because Davis could be a great opponent for Tage, Kaufman or Rousey. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, tate, women, rousey, she
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGilbert Melendez content with Strikeforce but still eyeing the Octagon
Before Ben Henderson emerged as the UFC’s top lightweight contender by beating Clay Guida a different curly-coiffed 155er was rumored to be in line for a shot at champion Frankie Edgar after UFC President Dana White mentioned the company’s interest in giving him an express route to the Octagon.
Even Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce’s title-holder at the same weight, thought he might be the latest fighter from the floundering organization to head to deeper waters in the UFC. However, with a previously planned bout against Jorge Masvidal ultimately materializing, Melendez saw his plans put on hold for at least the immediate future.
Melendez Feels He’s Ready for Shot at Edgar
“El Nino” reflected on the process in an interview with MMAFighting where he explained he viewed the entire situation as a positive even if he admittedly was excited about the potential move.
“Nah, I’m not very disappointed at all,” Melendez said. “The hype was there for a second. I was jazzed. I was hoping, ‘Yeah, maybe it’s really happening,’ but I’m pumped – I’m pumped to be fighting Jorge. I’m pumped to be testing myself.”
“I’m more popular than ever now…Dana White, the man, said go check Gilbert out and now people are checking me out,” continued Melendez on the silver-lining surrounding the situation. “So I’m actually grateful on that. I’m an optimistic guy. I look at that like a glass half-full.”
What happens after December 17 is anyone’s guess though Melendez made it clear he’ll find his way into the UFC at some point, saying, “At the end of the day it’s gonna happen.”
Melendez holds an overall record of 19-2 and has won his last five fights including successful showings against Josh Thomson, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki.
Other match-ups on the Strikeforce card include Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and Billy Evangelista vs. KJ Noons, as well as a title-fight between female 145-pound champ Cris Santos and 12-1 Hiroko Yamanaka.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Read the full article at Fighters.comVideo: Gilbert Melendez is ready for the UFC but Strikeforce still has business with Showtime
There was a time not too long ago that UFC President Dana White proclaimed he wanted Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez fighting inside the Octagon "ASAP."
But that didn't happen.
In fact, "El Nino" will be defending his belt on Dec. 17 against Jorge Masvidal at the next Strikeforce event in San Diego. So what's the explanation for his not going to the UFC?
"There really was no real explanation except we still got business with Showtime and Strikeforce and this and that. But there wasn't much questions asked on my part. I'm kind of a soldier here, I let the managers deal with all that. I, basically, was there to just state my case and let everyone know I'm ready. I'm ready for the big stage. I'm ready for all challenges. Let me know. I'm ready to do work and put some entertaining fights on for the fans, too."
Assuming he gets past Masvidal next month, it's hard to imagine a scenario that doesn't involve Melendez coming over to the UFC, possibly for a title unification bout. Perhaps he'll meet the winner of the Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson fight going down at UFC 144 in Japan?
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, im, octagon asap
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez not disappointed to still be in Strikeforce, focused on "underrated" Jorge Masvidal
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who will put his title on the line against Jorge Masvidal on December 17th, discusses his opponent, as well as whether or not he's disappointed to still be fighting in Strikeforce rather than the UFC. Melendez admits that he was "jazzed" when Dana White said he would be competing in the octagon "asap," but says he's not too upset to be defending his title against Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, masvidal, melendez, ufc melendez
Read the full article at Low KickGilbert Melendez Looking to Prove to Himself, Not Others, He's a Worthy Champion
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosWatch below as Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez talks about why he didn't move over to the UFC, whether he's upset he's still in Strikeforce, whether the UFC talk has been a distraction to him, fighting Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17, and his good friend Nick Diaz.
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Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, he, didnt move
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce Challengers 20: 143,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that last week’s Strikeforce Challengers 20 on Showtime scored a lowly average of 143,000 viewers. The numbers indicate the lowest rating for the series as well as a 30 percent decrease from the previous Strikeforce Challengers edition which averaged 203,000 viewers.
The show received a 0.42 household rating (via Wrestling Observer, subscription required).
The show featured Ronda Rousey submitting Julia Budd with an armbar. Replays were gruesome as Budd’s arm was bent a way it should not have. In addition, Lumumba Sayers knocked out Antwain Britt in the first round.
Payout Perspective:
With Bellator and the UFC holding cards on Saturday night, Strikeforce Challengers seemed overlooked. This does not bode well for the series and we will see what impact the dismal ratings may have for the future of Strikeforce on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, ronda rousey, julia budd, observer subscription
Read the full article at MMA PayoutStrikeforce: Luke Rockhold thinks he's fighting Tim Kennedy in January
Quick: Name the Strikeforce middleweight champion.
Four of you get a cookie (not really) for correctly naming Luke Rockhold, who has become an afterthought in the mixed martial arts world since turning in the performance of his life against Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" this past Sept. 10 in Cincinnati.
It's not his fault. The insane UFC schedule coupled with the uncertain future of the promotion he's a champion in has led many to simply let a few details slip through the cracks.
That includes the who, what, when and where on Rockhold's first title defense. For his part, the champ tells Tatame he expects to fight Tim Kennedy in January:
"I think Tim Kennedy is out there, and from what I've been told, that's probably my next fight. Nothing's official, but they told me to get into training camp and get ready. So, I'm thinking January I'll be fighting and, most probably, it'll be Tim Kennedy."
You Maniacs up for Rockhold vs. Kennedy for the title?
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, tim, kennedy, tim kennedy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDoes Showtime's Grabbing of Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto II Signal a Dim Future For Strikeforce?
The future of Strikeforce on Showtime has been a matter of some interest and concern for MMA fans. With the UFC taking stars from the Strikeforce roster already and hinting at wanting to bring in more top talent, it seems that Strikeforce's days are numbered. But UFC president Dana White has said several times that they are trying to continue the promotion going forward.
In late August, White told Ariel Helwani that he met with Showtime execs and it went well as far as keeping Strikeforce around. However, on November 14 it was announced that Showtime had hired Stephen Espinoza as Ken Hershman's replacement as executive VP and general manager of Showtime Sports after Hershman left for HBO.
Espinoza had a boxing background after working as an attorney for men like Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya while also working with Golden Boy Promotions. While no one was quite sure how Espinoza would handle sports going forward after Hershman established a pattern of looking to pay solid rights fees for good fights in boxing while also showing a grand vision by bringing Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley to the network and organizing the Super Six World Boxing Classic.
Today saw some big news for the network as they outbid HBO to get the rematch between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto. This is a big rematch that did very solid viewership numbers for HBO the first time out. Showtime going after the fight shows that they have a commitment to getting big fights on the network and are willing to pay for them.
Now, networks like HBO and Showtime work on a yearly budget for boxing. This leads to situations like HBO bidding against themselves and overpaying for the box office bomb that was Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley. That overpayment forced HBO to put Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson on PPV even though they knew it wasn't a PPV worthy fight, it was just necessary given their depleted fight budget.
I'd be lying if I said I had any idea what Showtime's budget is or if they tie the Strikeforce money to the overall budget with boxing. But paying a rights fee of $2.5 million for Berto vs. Ortiz is an indication that they're keyed in on making 2012 a big year for boxing.
I think it's entirely fair to wonder if this is a revealing signal of their priorities going forward. If they can take the yearly expense of paying rights fees for Strikeforce events and even buy 2-3 more fights like this, it may be of more long term value as Showtime continues to build up their reputation as a very stiff competitor to HBO for the best boxing action.
If that is of a high enough priority and the network isn't interested in ratings for Strikeforce that haven't shown steady improvement while the UFC picks off their top fighters, it may be the end for the promotion on Showtime once the contract is up.
Posted in: fight, hbo, strikeforce, boxing, showtime
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Champ Luke Rockhold Anticipates Tim Kennedy in January Title Bout
Luke Rockhold, Strikeforce's newly coronated middleweight champion, has been summoned by the promotion to start training for his first title defense. Though nothing is official, Rockhold spoke to Tatame.com and speculated that Tim Kennedy would be his opponent for a show sometime in January.
"I think Tim Kennedy is out there, and from what I've been told, that's probably my next fight. Nothing's official, but they told me to get into train camp and get ready. So, I'm thinking January I'll be fighting and, most probably, it'll be Tim Kennedy."
After starting off his MMA career with one win and one loss, Rockhold signed with Strikeforce and reeled off six consecutive victories, all of which were finished in the first round. The impressive streak earned the American Kickboxing Academy fighter a crack at Ronaldo Souza's belt. Despite coming in as a significant underdog, Rockhold dethroned the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenom in a commanding five-round decision on September's "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov" card.
Tim Kennedy battled with "Jacare" to crown Strikeforce's first middleweight champion at the "Strikeforce: Houston" show in August of 2010, losing a competitive decision. The defeat was Kennedy's first since meeting the UFC's Jason Miller in 2007 and his third overall. Since meeting Souza, Kennedy notched wins over Melvin Manhoef (submission) and Robbie Lawler (decision).
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal is the next turn for the organization, which takes place on December 17th and will be headlined by a lightweight championship bout between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, rockhold, tim, kennedy, tim kennedy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce fight card and rumors for 'Melendez vs Masvidal' Showtime event on Dec. 17 in San Diego
Event: Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal"Date: Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, at 10 p.m. ET on ShowtimeLocation: Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California
Main Event:
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
Main Card (Showtime):
145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux155 lbs.: Billy Evangelista vs. K.J. Noons
Preliminary Card (May not be televised):
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox265 lbs.: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. TBA
For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, lb, card, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLuke Rockhold expects to fight Tim Kennedy in January
It looks like Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold may have his first title-defense lined up for early 2012, a notion also giving weight to the argument that the promotion will survive beyond their December 17 show and isn’t going away just yet.
According to the 8-1 American Kickboxing Academy product, he’s been approached by Strikeforce brass urging him to get back in the gym in anticipation of an upcoming match-up, and though they did not mention a specific opponent there appears to be one individual Rockhold is focused on more than any other.
“I think Tim Kennedy is out there, and from what I’ve been told, that’s probably my next fight,” Rockhold explained to Tatame. “Nothing’s official, but they told me to get into train camp and get ready. So, I’m thinking January I’ll be fighting and, most probably, it’ll be Tim Kennedy.”
Rockhold also revealed he has his eyes on a run inside the Octagon and wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of his Strikeforce peers join him there.
“I look forward going to the UFC,” said Rockhold. “I think me, Kennedy and (Ronaldo Souza) would be very well in the UFC.”
Kennedy Rumored to Join UFC Roster
The 27-year old earned his belt by outpointing Souza in September, easily the toughest draw of his young career. The 13-3 Kennedy went five full rounds against “Jacare” as well in a 2010 title-fight, coming up short on the scorecards in his go at the dynamic Brazilian. However, he has won two fights since beating Melvin Manhoef and Robbie Lawler.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Fight Card
Strikeforce hasn't presented a major card since the Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals card in September, but they're back on December 17th. San Diego will play host to the event, which could possibly be the last major event the promotion ever puts on. The main event will see Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defend his title against Jorge Masvidal. Melendez is on a five-fight winning streak and is universally considered one of the top three lightweights in the world. A win in this fight would surely see him move over to the UFC. In the co-main, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will defend her women's 145 lb. title against former dominatrix Hiroko Yamakana. Keith Jardine will also be making his middleweight debut. Here's the current card:
Gilbert Melendez (19-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (22-6) [LW Title]
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1)
Gegard Mousasi (31-3-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (11-4)
K.J. Noons (10-4) vs. Billy Evangelista (11-1, 1 NC)
Caros Fodor vs. Justin WilcoxDevin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-JonesKeith Jardine vs. TBA
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRonda Rousey offers Thanksgiving analogy for brutal submission against Julia Budd
Strikeforce featherweight Ronda Rousey may only be 5’6” and possess a bubbly exterior capped off by long blonde hair and infectious smile but make no mistake – she’s as dangerous an opponent as can be found in her respective division. That point was driven home last weekend at Strikeforce Challengers 20 when “Rowdy” Ronda locked opponent Julia Budd into an Armbar and snapped her elbow in two after Budd refused to tap.
Rousey was recently a guest on Inside MMA where she explained what the grotesque submission felt like, comparing it to a familiar feeling typically taking place at this time of year.
“Oh yeah…you know like, when you’re…well, its Thanksgiving…you know when you’re preparing a turkey and kind of like, tearing things off? It felt like that except in like a very sensitive area,” Rousey explained to the panel when asked if she knew she’d disassembled Budd’s arm.
Rousey Says She’s Not Out to Make Friends in the Ring
On the topic of Turkey Day, Rousey also explained she was especially excited this year because she’ll actually get to eat for once instead of dieting for judo/MMA.
Check out the full video below along with a demonstration from Rousey on how she approaches Armbars with host Bas Rutten serving as her willing victim…
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda, budd
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Death Watch Update
It's been a couple weeks since Dana White implied a deal with Strikeforce was about to either go through or fall apart. Yet here we are still waiting to find out what the fate of the promotion will be. Part of that has to be because Showtime just replaced their head sports honcho. General meddler and Dana White nemesis Ken Hershman is out, boxing lawyer Stephen Espinoza is in. While most of Espinoza's clients were boxers or boxing promoters, he's also represented Gina Carano. So read into that what you will.You can read into this whatever you want as well: it sounds like the UFC wants to scrap their women's 145 pound division. Here's Cris Cyborg talking about it:
You were commenting you got a new four-bout contract with Strikeforce. What are your expectations?I signed the contract for these four fights after UFC purchased Strikeforce, so I guess they’ll keep us, they’ll keep the female divisions and female MMA keeps growing and growing, and I guess they’re keeping the girls, and it depends on what we do to call UFC’s attention.There two divisions and they want to unify it to a single female division. In that case you’d have to lose a lot of weight. How do you see it?Actually there’re still two weight divisions: 135lbs and 145lbs. It’s already hard for me to drop to 145lbs, I gotta work a lot and they’re thinking about one division only, they asked me if I could do it. I can try, it’s not impossible. Let’s see... I guess that, in the future, there’ll be some news.It’d be good for you to have more opponents to fight against, right?It’ll be hard because I got a lot of weight to lose, but it’d be good because I could fight more. I guess it’s important to keep active, it’s my job, so I’ll try it to stay here.
So why would the UFC bother to make plans regarding their women's divisions (even destructive plans like this!) if they weren't going to stick around? Well, it could just be them going through the motions so when this whole deal falls apart they can honestly say they were preparing to continue in good faith. Or maybe the guys at Zuffa just like the idea of forcing women onto diets. Meanwhile, Strikeforce ratings aren't exactly skyrocketing. Other than that World Grand Prix semi-final that performed shittily, it's been all Challenger events going down in flames. And last Friday's event was the worst yet!
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, division, lb, ’ll
Read the full article at FightlinkerWhy Women's MMA Needs Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey To Happen Now
Women's MMA can be a strange thing sometimes. It's a mix of some great talents, some inexperienced fighters, an internal conflict of selling sex vs. athleticism and a constant self-evaluation of where the sport is to date.
That's why I've been so fascinated as to what's happened this week following Ronda Rousey's much-discussed victory at Strikeforce Challengers and the subsequent fallout from her post-fight callout of current 135-pound champion Miesha Tate.
In case you missed it, Rousey (4-0) continued her dominant run with a 39-second armbar win over Julia Budd. In four fights, the 24-year-old Rousey has needed just over two minutes combined to garner four armbar submission wins. Following the win over Budd, she said she wanted Tate and would even fight top contender Sarah Kaufman first to prevent anything from messing that up.
The Rousey victory went viral within MMA circles, an impressive kickoff to one of the best MMA weekends in years. In just her fourth pro fight, Rousey was put in the co-main event slot and is the only thing anyone is talking about from a show that featured four quick finishes (even with virtually no one watching).This set off a bit of a firestorm within the women's MMA community with many current fighters unhappy with the attention Rousey got, ripping the idea that she's the new 'face of women's MMA' and that she was brazen enough to suggest she be given a title shot at this stage of her career. Tate, in particular, has been on the Twitter offensive most of the week about the possibility of Rousey getting an opportunity this soon in her career. Here's where my fascination turns into advice: people want to see Tate vs. Rousey and women's MMA needs it to happen.I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there simply isn't the widespread market for women's MMA as some of those competing within it may think. If you need some proof, take a look at the recent activity for five of the most well-known names:
Gina Carano: The former 'face of women's MMA' last competed over two years ago, teased a 2011 comeback and is preparing to revel in the spotlight of her first major movie role.
Cris Santos: The current Strikeforce 145-pound champion finally has a fight booked in December against Hiroko Yamanaka, who makes her promotional debut and therefore will be unknown to most watching. Santos hasn't fought since June of 2010 because, well, they didn't have anyone for her to fight.
Kaufman: After losing her Strikeforce 135-pound title in October 2010, the Canadian was last seen beating up Liz Carmouche in July and may have earned a title shot against Tate with the win…we think. It's been five months and nothing has been mentioned, said or discussed about it since then.
Tate: Since defeating Marloes Coenen in late-July for the 135-pound title, there's nary been a mention of her on Strikeforce either. She's apparently healthy and there's been events, so apparently they forgot about her as well.
Coenen: After losing her title and being cut from Strikeforce due to the Golden Glory fiasco, she signed a deal with a regional promotion and may debut early next year. How Zuffa didn't bring her back or Bellator not make an offer, I'm not quite sure.
The above are just five names that don't include Tara LaRosa (one of the more well-known names that has never appeared in Strikeforce or Bellator), Zoila Frausto-Gurgel (current Bellator champion that is hurt) and...who else that the casual MMA fan might have possible heard of? When one of your main names is someone that is essentially retired, that's a problem for women's MMA. It can be fixed and I have a potential solution, but more on that later this week.Of course, the promotions aren't exactly making an effort to build female challengers either. We know what the UFC and Dana White's stance is on female fighters. Bellator has shown exactly one female fight on air this season. Strikeforce has aired a small handful of fights in 2011, but it may be less than five. There are talents out there, but no one is willing to put the effort in to build anything on the mainstream stage.Given all of that information, women's MMA needs any help it can get to sustain itself and draw interest when it has the opportunity to do so. That's why Tate vs. Rousey needs to happen as it's the only fight other than a rematch of Santos/Carano that would pop any type of viewer rating and ultimately, the viewers and paying public drive the sport. (Yes, Carano is retired but she's still a star. Deal with it.)So what about Tate/Kaufman, you ask?
I would be interested in seeing it, but I'm a hardcore fan at heart that watches every UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator show regardless of quality. I really don't count in this equation. Kaufman has earned the opportunity to get a title shot, but there's a reason why we haven't seen it. It's because Strikeforce doesn't see the value as there's no steam behind seeing these two go at it. Tate can talk up a fight but Kaufman has practically disappeared from the MMA public eye. She's talented, but she doesn't have that "come see me fight!" charisma that can make or break a career. Why else would Strikeforce just abandon a recent champion like this?If and when Strikeforce is interested in promoting a Tate title fight, they will likely look to Rousey, who has that charisma, the good looks that bring in the 18-34 male demographic, the Olympic background that attracts mainstream media and plenty of steam behind her thanks to how she's winning. That might not be fair to "rankings" but c'mon now. Everyone knows there is no such thing as rankings in the UFC or Strikeforce. It's about what draws interest with a nod toward win streaks and competitive fights. To think otherwise is naive.
Unfair? Yep. That's the fight game. Ask Carlos Condit about fairness. Tate should be thrilled that there's a legit buzz about a challenger to her belt and that she might actually get to defend it someday. I asked her about this on Twitter and while she said her pay stays the same no matter who she fights, she felt it would be a buzzkill to have the fight so soon without having more hype behind it. By 'more hype', I assume she meant more wins for Rousey, but in this situation, I think that's irrelevant which leads into my final point.
People need to stop complaining about Rousey calling out the champion.
That's what she should be doing. Doing the meek "Well, I'll take anyone Strikeforce has to give me" is boring and doesn't get anyone anywhere. She's been running through opponents at a blistering pace and took an opportunity in a co-main event spot to move the needle. People are now talking about her and are talking about women's MMA. In other words, it worked.Lest we forget another title challenger in 2008 that many said was underqualified for a title shot. That person was just 2-1 and got a shot at one of the biggest names in MMA for one of the biggest prizes in the sport. That person was Brock Lesnar and he did just fine in beating Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.While no one is suggesting Rousey will be anywhere the level of draw Lesnar is, the UFC knew they had something and he jumped the line in front of a few more qualified contenders thanks to a fanbase that wanted to see him fight and with the athletic background to back it up. Rousey getting a shot after just four pro bouts isn't unprecedented and frankly, women's MMA could use the attention.It might not be fair, but it's business. The alternative of women's MMA disappearing from all major promotions is much worse.
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, womens mma, rousey
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow“Cyborg” Santos says Strikeforce has asked her to consider move to bantamweight
Last Friday night, undefeated featherweight Ronda Rousey went on the microphone after her successful showing against Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers 20 and expressed her interest in dropping to 135 pounds to face Miesha Tate or Sarah Kaufman. Now it appears Rousey is not the only popular female fighter on the Strikeforce roster who may be making the move to bantamweight at some point in the near future.
During a recent interview, 145-pound champion Cristiane Santos (10-1) mentioned she has been approached by Strikeforce officials about the possibility of slimming down, saying the organization is looking to streamline things to provide more relevant match-ups for their high-caliber females.
“It’s already hard for me to drop to 145lbs, I gotta work a lot and they’re thinking about one division only, they asked me if I could do it. I can try, it’s not impossible. Let’s see… I guess that, in the future, there’ll be some news,” said the 26-year old in an interview with Tatame.
It’ll be hard because I got a lot of weight to lose, but it’d be good because I could fight more,” she continued. “I guess it’s important to keep active – it’s my job, so I’ll try it to stay here.”
Santos Working on Sharpening Her Skills Before Upcoming Title-Defense
Before attempting to dip her toes in the bantamweight pool Santos will be busy defending her belt on December 17 against Japanese grappler Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1).
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, friday night, ’ll, bantamweight pool, strikeforce roster
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Challengers Ratings Hit All-Time Low
While there has still been no announcement regarding the future of Strikeforce, the ratings for last Friday night's Challengers event are in and they're not good.
The November 18th event -- headlined by Lumumba Sayers vs. Antwain Britt and Ronda Rousey vs. Julia Budd -- drew an average of just 143,000 viewers -- the lowest in the history of the series and a drop of 60,000 viewers from their September 23rd Challengers event that featured Lorenz Larkin vs. Nick Rossborough and Lavar Johnson vs. Shawn Jordan.
The Friday show featured Sayers knocking out Britt in just 28 seconds and Rousey submitting Budd in just 39 seconds. Of the five fights that made air, there were first-round finishes in four of them.The viewership is the lowest since the October 20, 2010, Challengers show headlined by Roger Bowling vs. Bobby Voelker and Lavar Johnson vs. Virgil Zwicker.
Strikeforce has one more event scheduled for 2011 with Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and Women's Featherweight Champion Cris Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka scheduled for Saturday, December 17th. The promotion's contract with Showtime has been said to run out in February 2012 and UFC President Dana White revealed recently that he's taken over negotiations on whether Strikeforce will continue with the network past that date.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce Challengers 20
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, vs, event, promotions contract
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDevin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones added to 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal'
A heavyweight matchup between Devin Cole and
Gabriel Salinas-Jones has been added to December's
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal."
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to
the fighters that both have verbally agreed to the matchup, and bout
agreements are expected to be finalized shortly.
Featuring a pair of championship matches, "Strikeforce: Melendez vs.
Masvidal" takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
The event's main card airs on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez, bout agreements
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Challengers 20 ratings: Showtime draws series-low 143,000 viewers
In a weekend loaded with quality MMA action, Strikeforce Challengers 20
struggled to gain much attention and ratings for the event fell to a
series low.
This past Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event drew just 143,000
viewers - down nearly 30 percent from the 203,000 who tuned in for
Strikeforce Challengers 19 in September.
MMAjunkie.com confirmed the ratings information with an industry source.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, ratings information, rating, september mmajunkiecom
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
UFC vs Strikeforce at HP Pavilion San Jose: The Numbers
First glance at the gate and attendance numbers for UFC 139 would suggest that the UFC far outstripped Strikeforce in popularity when their rivalry was...
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, attendance numbers, number, outstripped strikeforce
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyStrikeforce Challengers 20 Medical Suspensions
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the post-fight suspensions for Strikeforce Challengers 20.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, suspension, nevada state, postfight suspensions
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers 20 Fighter Salaries
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the Strikeforce Challengers 20 fighter salaries.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, challenger, nevada state, salary
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers 20 Fighter Salaries
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsThe Strikeforce Challengers 20 fighter salaries were made available Monday by the Nevada state athletic commission for last Friday's event on Showtime from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Women's MMA standout Ronda Rousey, who scored a 39-second armbar win, earned $8,000 in her co-headlining bout.
Adlan Amagov was the only fighter to bank five digits with $5,600 for show plus a $5,000 win bonus. Amagov's extra $600 on his show purse was due to his opponent Anthony Smith forfeiting 20% of his purse for failing to make weight.
Purses for all 18 fighters on the card after the jump. Please note that the salaries are the numbers reported by Strikeforce to the commission and doesn't necessarily represent a fighter's final earnings.
Andreas Spang: $2,500 + $2,500 win bonus = $5,000 def. Willie Parks: $3,000
Quinn Mulhern: $3,500 + $3,500 win bonus = $7,000 def. David Hulett: $3,000
Bobby Green: $4,000 + $4,000 win bonus = $8,000 def. James Reese: $3,000
Matt Ricehouse: $4,000 + $4,000 win bonus = $8,000 def. Bill Cooper: $3,000
Derek Brunson: $4,500 + $4,500 win bonus = $9,000 def. Nate James: $3,000
Trevor Smith: $3,000 + $3,000 win bonus = $6,000 def. T.J. Cook: $3,000
Adlan Amagov: $5,600 + $5,000 win bonus = $10,600 def. Anthony Smith: $2,400
Ronda Rousey: $4,000 + $4,000 win bonus = $8,000 def. Julia Budd: $3,500
Lumumba Sayers: $3,000 + $3,000 win bonus = $6,000 def. Antwain Britt: $6,000 Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, bonus, salary, purse
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseScott Coker Looks Back on Historic UFC 139, Confident in Strikeforce's Future
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Watch below as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker talks about the historic UFC 139 in his home city of San Jose, what it was like watching an event at the HP Pavilion and the positive outlook for Strikeforce's future.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san jose, scott coker, strikeforces future
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRonda Rousey maintains unbeaten record with submission win at Strikeforce Challengers 20
Former Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey continued her impressive run in MMA since transitioning to the sport by picking up a win at Strikeforce Challengers 20, running her record to 4-0 with the quartet of victories all coming in 2011. Equally amazing, “Rowdy” Ronda rearranged the physiology of an opponent’s limb for the fourth time as well with her victim this time around being talented striker Julia Budd who refused to tap and ended up suffering a gruesome broken arm as a result.
Rousey Says Foes Shouldn’t Be Fooled by Looks
Other notable performances at the Strikeforce event include Lumumba Sayers who flattened organizational veteran Antwain Britt in the opening round, as well as Trevor Smith and Adlan Amagov who also found success in the first frame of their respective fights.
Here is a complete list of Strikeforce Challengers 20 results:
Andreas Spang def. Willie Parks via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Quinn Mullhern def. David Hulett via Unanimous Decision
Bobby Green def. James Reese via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Matt Ricehouse def. Bill Cooper via Unanimous Decision
Derek Brunson def. Nate James via Unanimous Decision
Trevor Smith def. T.J. Cook via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
Adlan Amagov def. Anthony Smith via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
Ronda Rousey def. Julia Budd via Technical Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Lumumba Sayers def. Antwain Britt via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, round, submission, adlan amagov, ronda
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Challengers 20 results recap for 'Britt vs Sayers' event on Nov. 18
Strikeforce was at it again last night (Nov. 18, 2011) with its latest installment of the Challengers series with Strikeforce Challengers 20, live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And if you happened to tune in to the event, hopefully you didn't blink very much.
That's because the night of fights didn't last very long, but it wasn't for a lack of action. Four of the five bouts on the main card ended in the very first round with only one going the distance. In fact, two of the fights ended in less than one minute.
The event was headlined by a middleweight bout between Lumumba Sayers and Antwain Britt who were both in desperate need to get back into the win column after suffering defeats their last time out.
Sayers stunned "The Juggernaut" as he opened the fight with a flurry of punches after stuffing a clinch attempt. Then, just 28 seconds later, Sayers had his hand raised in victory as he knocked out Britt with a right uppercut that sent him to the canvas and forced the referee to stop the fight.
Sayers gets back to the win column, while Britt suffers his third consecutive loss under the Strikeforce banner.
In the co-main event of the evening, Ronda Rousey aimed to keep her perfect record in tact as she took on Julia Budd.
Mission accomplished.
Join me after the jump for the rest of the Strikeforce Challengers 20 recap:
After taking a few hooks from Budd, Rousey -- an Olympic Judo bronze medalist -- quickly took the fight to the ground. It was all she wrote from that point.
Rousey mounted Budd and quickly transitioned into an armbar. With "The Jewel" refusing to tap, Ronda put a little more torque on the arm and appeared to dislocate her opponent's elbow, which forced Julia to tap just 39 seconds into the opening round.
Rousey improves to 4-0 and moves one step closer to a fight with women's Strikeforce bantamweight champ, Meisha Tate.
Adlan Amagov and Anthony Smith wasted no time in getting the action started in their middleweight bout as both came out swinging for the fences. After a few exchanges with no one landing a direct hit, the fight hit the canvas as Amagov successfully took down Smith.
After a failed triangle attempt from Smith, the fight was immediately brought back to the feet.
After another wild exchange, Amagov connected with a sold right hand that dropped Smith. Three more bombs on the ground for good measure and Smith was out for the count at the 2:32 mark of the first round; ending his six fight winning streak in very brutal fashion.
In light heavyweight action, T.J. Cook took on Trevor Smith, who looked to make it five wins in a row.
Both fighters traded leg kicks and right hands in the opening moments, but quickly ended up on the ground after Cook caught a head kick attempt from Smith and earned a takedown. After a battle for position on the ground, Smith moved to side control and soon took Cook's back. After a failed armbar attempt from Smith, he quickly transitioned to a guillotine.
Cook tried to hold on, but was forced to tap to Smith at the 4:28 mark of the very first round.
In the only main card bout to last longer than a round, Derek Brunson improved to 9-0 as he earned a unanimous decision victory over Nate James. Brunson takedowns were simply too much for James throughout the fight. After a few brief exchanges, Brunson took James down repeatedly and controlled the fight on the ground.
After three rounds of lackluster performances from both fighters, Brunson was awarded the unanimous decision and kept his record perfect. The crowd booed on a few occasions through the fight; little did they know what was in store for them in the rest of the night's action.
That's a wrap for the Strikeforce Challengers 20 recap.
Now it's up to you to rate the performances of tonight's participants with your thoughts in the comments section below.
Impressed?
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, challenger, smith
Read the full article at MMA ManiaA Star Is Born in Ronda Rousey, Sayers Crushes Britt at Strikeforce Challengers
Strikeforce may have found their next star in the women's division with Ronda Rousey, while Lumumba Sayers made quick work of Antwain Britt to cap off Strikeforce Challengers.
Posted in: strikeforce, lumumba sayers, antwain britt, ronda rousey, womens division
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers chat is up!
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, chat
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce Challengers 20 Live Results
The Strikeforce Challengers Series is back with their twentieth offering, an under-hyped card featuring solid talent including undefeated competitors like Matt Ricehouse and Derek Brunson, as well as bout between top female contenders Julia Budd and Ronda Rousey and promotional veteran Antwain Britt making his middleweight debut.
Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in when things start up on Showtime at 11:00 PM EST but delivering live results throughout.
Here is a full list of Strikeforce Challengers 20 results:
Andreas Spang def. Willie Parks via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Quinn Mullhern def. David Hulett via Unanimous Decision
Bobby Green def. James Reese via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke)
T.J. Cook vs. Trevor Smith
Bill Cooper vs. Matt Ricehouse
Adlan Amagov vs. Anthony Smith
Derek Brunson vs. Nate James
Ronda Rousey vs. Julia Budd
Antwain Britt vs. Lumumba Sayers
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, derek brunson, ronda rousey, james reese
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRonda Rousey Arm Bars Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers
Filed under: StrikeforceIn a fight with major implications for the future of women's mixed martial arts, former Olympic judo competitor Ronda Rousey needed just 39 seconds to submit Julia Budd with an arm bar at Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers event.
Rousey's ground game is simply on a different level from Budd -- and from just about every other woman in the world -- and it didn't take her long to establish that: As soon as she got Budd down, Rousey effortlessly transitioned into mount, then cranked on Budd's arm and forced her to tap.
"I got tagged a couple more times than I would like to, but I'm stoked," Rousey said afterward.
Rousey is now 4-0 in her professional MMA career, with all four wins coming by first-round arm bar in less than a minute. Rousey could be a good future opponent for Strikeforce 145-pound champion Cris Cyborg, but she said after the fight that she'd rather move down to 135 pounds and fight for the title there.
"I really want to have a title shot at Miesha Tate," Rousey said.
Whatever weight class she's fighting in, Rousey is a force. She has the potential to be a great crossover star for women's MMA.
In other Strikeforce Challengers action:
-- Adlan Amagov got a highlight-reel knockout of Anthony Smith in the first round, swinging wildly and connecting with a huge overhand right and then finishing him off with four more bombs on the ground. The always exciting Amagov is now 9-1-1 in his MMA career.
-- Trevor Smith submitted T.J. Cook with a guillotine choke in the first round. Smith put on a solid showing and improved his pro record to 9-1, with eight of his nine wins coming by submission.
-- Derek Brunson beat Nate James by unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three judges' scorecards, in a fairly dull battle to get the Showtime televised card started. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, arm, rousey, budd, arm bar
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseIn San Jose, UFC Benefits From Groundwork Laid by Strikeforce
Filed under: UFCSAN JOSE, Calif. -- At least for local MMA fans, the HP Pavilion might as well be the house that Scott Coker built. Strikeforce held its first event here in March of 2006 -- the first sanctioned MMA event in the state of California -- and both the venue and the city served as its home base for the next five years.
That's why it felt a little odd to walk into the HP Pavilion for Friday afternoon's weigh-ins and see the UFC's logo splashed around the arena. This was where Fabricio Werdum upset Fedor Emelianenko. It's where Gina Carano and "Cyborg" Santos became the first women to headline a major MMA event.
And now, with Strikeforce firmly under Zuffa control, it's the UFC that's reaping the rewards of a vibrant market full of passionate fight fans.
For Cung Le, it seems especially strange. The hometown favorite has yet to fight in an MMA bout outside of San Jose, and his contest with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 will mark the first time he's set foot in a cage that didn't belong to Strikeforce.
"I'm trying not to think about it," he said earlier this week, adding that it was "an honor to be in the UFC."
Le made his MMA debut at that first Strikeforce event, knocking out Mike Altman in the first round in front of what was, for the U.S. at the time, a massive MMA crowd of more than 18,000 fans.
For Coker, you might think it would be a little bittersweet to see his old friend now working for his former rivals, but speaking to MMA Fighting from Las Vegas (where he's attending Friday night's Strikeforce: Challengers show) the San Jose native insisted he was genuinely happy for Le.
"I'm excited for him," said Coker. "I think it's a big fight, and I'm not just saying that."
The way Coker sees it, the success of combat sports in the Bay Area -- from the early days of his kickboxing promotion to Strikeforce's warm reception there as an MMA promotion -- has a pretty simple explanation.
"It wasn't until the '50s and '60s and '70s that a lot of the martial arts instructors started moving to America," he said. "...Before that, very few people did martial arts in America. What happened was, when the martial artists came over to America, most of them settled in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Seattle, because those were the ports of entry. That's why when you look at the Bay Area, you know, I remember at one point counting about 80 [martial arts] schools just in the South Bay part of the Bay Area."
The success of local fighters, such as the American Kickboxing Academy's stable of top talent, has helped maintain local interest in the sport over the years, but the UFC has historically shied away from promoting events in the area. It brought UFC 117 to Oakland last summer, but San Jose has always been Strikeforce's stomping grounds.
Until now, of course.
So now that Zuffa owns his promotion and the UFC is moving into the building where some of the greatest moments of his professional life took place, what will it be like for Coker when he flies back to San Jose on Saturday and walks into the HP Pavilion to watch a fight there as a spectator? At least for now, even he isn't quite sure, he said.
"We're all one family now. But to me, how is it going to feel to walk into the HP Pavilion [for a fight] and have it not be Strikeforce? I'll be able to answer that when I walk in there. I really don't know yet." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, san jose, hp pavilion
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseAntwain Britt Ready to Shake Up the 185ers
Strikeforce Challengers 20 headliner Antwain Britt recently made the move to middleweight, and he plans on immediately shaking up the division... beginning Friday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, antwain britt, friday, britt, antwain
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers 20 weigh-in results full video for 'Britt vs Sayers'
The official weigh in event for Strikeforce Challengers 20: "Britt vs. Sayers" went down last night (Nov. 17, 2011) from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With the exception of middleweight Anthony Smith (188), all fighters set to compete on tomorrow night's "Sin City" fight card hit their respective marks without incident.
Complete Strikeforce Challengers 20 weigh in results after the jump.
Main Card (Showtime):
185 lbs.: Antwain Britt (184) vs. Lumumba Sayers (185)145 lbs.: Julia Budd (146) vs. Ronda Rousey (146)185 lbs.: Adlan Amagov (184) vs. Anthony Smith (188)*205 lbs.: T.J. Cook (205) vs. Trevor Smith (205)185 lbs.: Derek Brunson (186) vs. Nate James (184)
Preliminary Card (Untelevised):
155 lbs.: Bill Cooper (154) vs. Matt Ricehouse (155)155 lbs.: Bobby Green (155) vs. James Reese (155)170 lbs.: David Hulett (170) vs. Quinn Mulhern (169)185 lbs.: Willie Parks (184) vs. Andreas Spang (185)
*Fined by NSAC for not making weight
For more on Strikeforce Challengers 20 click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, vs, lb, smith
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBritt, Sayers On Point for Strikeforce Challengers 20 Headliner
The Strikeforce Challengers 20 headliner will move forward as planned, as both Antwain Britt and Lumumba Sayers hit their contracted weights on Thursday.
Posted in: strikeforce, lumumba sayers, antwain britt, britt, britt sayers
Read the full article at SherdogDan Henderson: ‘Dana White Bought Strikeforce Because He Missed Me’ (Video)
Dan Henderson is back in the UFC. He's happy with the decision he made when he left for Strikeforce, but jokes about Zuffa buying the company because Dana White missed him.
Posted in: strikeforce, dana, henderson, dan, ufc hes
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyB.C.'s Budd looks for anothe Strikeforce win
B.C.'s Julia Budd looks to build on her last win when she faces Olympic judo bronze medallist Ronda Rousey in a Strikeforce event Friday.
Posted in: strikeforce, budd, bcs budd, anothe strikeforce, bc
Read the full article at sportsnet.caParks replaces Berry, meet Spang at Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event
Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event has undergone a small lineup change, officials announced.
Promotional newcomer Willie Parks has replaced Keith Berry, who was forced off the card for undisclosed reasons, and now meets fellow middleweight Andreas Spang.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 takes place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, event, spang, keith berry
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMMA major events schedule (Yahoo! Sports)
Antwain Britt Friday, Nov. 18 Strikeforce Challengers Where: Pearl at The Palms Casino, Las Vegas Television:...
Posted in: strikeforce, la, casino, pearl, television
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC 139's Cung Le considered retirement before Zuffa bought Strikeforce
Cung Le has other things going on in his life.
He is a fighter first, of course. But he is also a successful actor that's growing more successful by the year.
When he avenged his sole MMA loss to Scott Smith in June 2010 under the Strikeforce banner, he thought he might hang it up. But when Strikeforce was purchased by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC, his plans changed.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce banner, actor thats, scott smith, mma loss
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFormer NAIA champion wrestler Willie Parks steps in versus Andreas Spang at Strikeforce Challengers 20
A shake up on the prelims for Strikeforce Challengers 20 will include the addition of a promising middleweight prospect. Willie Parks (4-1) out of Jackson's MMA is booked versus Las Vegas middleweight Andreas Spang (6-1) on the untelevised portion of Strikeforce Challengers 20. Spang was originally scheduled to face Keith Barry (10-8). Sources close to the situation have informed ULTMMA.com (www.ULTMMA.com) of Parks' call up to Strikeforce. Strikeforce Challengers 20 is set for Friday November 18th at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The five fight main card will broadcast on Showtime and is headlined by Antwain Britt (11-5) vs. Lumumba Sayers (4-2).Parks has quickly risen up the ranks on the local MMA scene due to his amateur wrestling credentials that include NAIA championship and a third place finish at the 2008 US Nationals.The 27 year old Parks has worked as a member of Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico since he turned pro in late 2010. As a middleweight prospect Parks began his career with a four fight winning streak. Parks last stepped in the cage in August versus Ultimate Fighter alumni Jamie Yager (5-2), where he was submitted in the second round. A 33 year old middleweight Spang last two bouts came under the Maximum Fighting Championship promotion. Spang went 1-1 with the MFC and submitted Cody Krahn (11-4) in his last bout.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, park, spang, jacksons mma
Read the full article at UltMMAHow's Taste My Tweet Tweet? Mixed Martial Arts on Twitter for the 3rd Week of November
A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse
RANDOM TWIDBITS
"One of the coaches here asked how fighting was goin. I said pretty good. He then asked when I'll be ready for my pro, pro debut." -Charlie Brenneman
"At UFC function in Cali. The iPhone looks like a Chiclet in Alistair Overeem's hand." -Jon Anik
"I fully support the @ufc & all the MMA athletes who've joined the fight to have the ban lifted in New York State" -Georges St. Pierre, 2 writers from Gals Guide to MMA are also joining in that bid to get the ban lifted.
"Well like I said before. I felt like I was fighting my shadow. Losing to a very tough and skilled opponent in Douglas Lima doesn't feel like a real loss. He is my brother and teammate at American Top Team and it was an honor to goto battle with him. I said we were gonna goto war and may the best man win. He was the better man tonight, & I have no regrets. I have said it since day one. Win, Lose, or Draw I come to fight! I am an aggressive fighter and I come to scrap. If I get caught trying to finish the fight then so be it. If I'm gonna lose that's how I wanna go out." -Ben Saunders, after losing his Bellator bout against Douglas Lima
CHAEL'S CORNER
"Speak up Vitor. I can't hear you when you're crouching behind Welterweights." -Chael Sonnen
"Walk away Andy. It's not worth it. Don't let the brass pressure you. You aren't that good, and I'm not that nice." -Chael Sonnen
There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena
Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould
UFC ON FOX
"Just had a great time yesterday and was nice to meet other UFC fighters. Want to congratulate @junior_cigano with winning the UFC belt!" -Alistair Overeem
"I'm told by @ufc that @junior_cigano gained 20,000 new followers tonight! Wowzers." -Esther Lin
"Sorry to all my fans . I expect more from myself and you guys do too. Thank you for all the support." -Cain Velasquez
UFC ON FOX VIA NBA PLAYERS WHO ARE STUCK IN A LOCKOUT NOW
"Who's watching UFC? Who yall got? ... I got Cain but I wana see a good fight.... Oooooook maybe not. Lol #wow #UFC... Yea I was Kidding about Cain winning. Lol" -Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls
"Eating Nathan's hot dogs and about to start watching the UFC fight #Winning... Ain't this some shit! ...Waited all day for this fight and it's over in a minute" -Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76'ers
TWICTURES
"Brian Sperber President of Phoenix International Race Car NASCAR" -Anderson Silva
"Brasil!" -Lorenzo Fertitta, with Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in the background.
"FW @RondaRousey mean muggin' a reporter @ufc on fox" -Strikeforce
"Kind of a big deal, guys" -UFC
"Dang cat on my hat, Dr Bas" -Bas Rutten
MOAR TWICTURES!
"Sorry to be vain but I just had to post a pic of the dress I wore to my first red carpet!" -Ronda Rousey
"YES!!! RT @KendaPerezFans: Who's pumped for @UFCONFOX this weekend?? I know @KendaPerez is! Whoop! Whoop! Fight week!" -Kenda Perez
"For those of you asking to see me as a ring girl, you can Feb 14, when @UFC Undisputed comes out. : )" -Kenda Perez
"Cleopatra was in full force last night......she took no prisoners" -Kenda Perez
"In honor of my Gramps who flew in WWll here is my Friday pic (#friskyfriday sounds wrong haha)" -Natasha Wicks
SHE'S BACK!
"Finishing the chain and the he is ready to go ;-)" -Brittney Palmer
"Love this thing!" -Brittney Palmer
"Photo from @fitnessgurls mag" -Brittney Palmer
"Me and @Gamernextdoor awaiting the release of Modern Warfare! :) #boom" -Brittney Palmer
BUT SHE'S OUT
"Last day of my laziness. Start the new job tomorrow! Yay! #reallife... My new job is at a mortgage company :) still with @Strikeforce but dec 17 is my last fight. Sorry to drop that bomb but it wasn't up to me... You guys will love the new Strikeforce ring girl! She is UH MAZING! I promise you" -Kelli Hutcherson
Here's the new Strikeforce Ring Girl, Corinne Solomon:
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, palmer, brittney
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBobby Green meets J.P. Reese at Strikeforce Challengers 20
Strikeforce lightweight Bobby Green now has an opponent for his fight Friday at Strikeforce Challengers 20.
The promotion today announced that newcomer James "J.P" Reese will step in for an injured Isaac Vallie-Flagg to fight Green on the preliminary card of Strikeforce Challengers
20.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 takes place Friday at The Pearl at the Palms
Casino in Las Vegas. Main-card fights air live on Showtime.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, challenger, isaac vallieflagg, jp reese
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRonda Rousey’s Strikeforce Warm-Up: Toss a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt (Video)
Watch Ronday Rousey toss a Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt around then talk about her upcoming fight at Strikeforce Challengers 20.
Posted in: strikeforce, jiujitsu, belt video, gracie jiujitsu, ronday rousey
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyHeartbreaker: Kelli Hutcherson Is Leaving Strikeforce
Bad news. Super awesome Strikeforce ring girl Kelli Hutcherson is leaving Strikeforce following their upcoming Dec. 17 card. Kelli revealed the heartbreaking news earlier today on Twitter.
Last day of my laziness. Start the new job tomorrow! Yay! #reallife
My new job is at a mortgage company still with @Strikeforce but dec 17 is my last fight. Sorry to drop that bomb but it wasn’t up to me
You guys will love the new Strikeforce ring girl! She is UH MAZING! I promise you
Kelli didn’t say why she’s leaving or being forced to leave, but seriously, if this was Zuffa’s decision, what is with all the best ring girls getting the pink slip? First, Natasha Wicks and Logan Stanton, and now Kelli Hutcherson. Do hot girls with great personalities not fit Zuffa’s ring girl mold? Or is Kelli being moved to the UFC and not telling us??? I really hope it’s the latter.
Nevertheless, Kelli was right about one thing. Her replacement is “UH MAZING.” Well, she looks amazing at least. Her name is Corinne Solomon and you can check out a few pics on her official website.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: strikeforce, ring, girl, kelli, kelli hutcherson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertKJ Noons vs Billy Evangelista official for Strikeforce: 'Melendez vs Masvidal' on Dec. 17 in San Diego
"King Karl" is back.
Former professional boxer and EliteXC champion K.J. Noons will return to face Billy Evangelista at the upcoming Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event scheduled for the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011.
The promotion recently confirmed the long-rumored bout via its official website.
Noons (10-4) has some work to do if he expects to be picked up by ZUFFA in the near future. Despite winning his first two fights as a Strikeforce employee, he's now dropped to 2-2 for the former San Jose-based organization, falling to Nick Diaz and Jorge Masvidal in back-to-back unanimous decision losses.
A third straight could spell doom for the San Diego striker.
Evangelista (11-1) is also coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jorge Masvidal, going down on points at the "Feijao vs. Henderson" event back in March.
It was the first loss of the Fresno native's career but that could quickly be erased with a convincing win over a name like Noons.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
For more on the Dec. 17 Showtime event check out our Strikeforce archive by clicking here.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaK.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista set for 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' main card
A long-rumored lightweight bout between K.J. Noons and Billy Evangelista is now official for next month's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" main card.
MMAjunkie.com first passed along news of the bout this past month, and Strikeforce executives recently made it official.
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" takes place Dec. 17 at
Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The event's main card airs on
Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, masvidal, card mmajunkiecom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThursday's Strikeforce Challengers 20 weigh-ins open to the Las Vegas public
The year's final Strikeforce Challengers event takes place this week, and fans are invited to Thursday's officials fighter weigh-ins.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 weigh-ins take place at the Key West Ballroom at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
The first fighter is on the scale at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT local time).
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, las vegas, west ballroom, weighin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSiyar signs with UFC, debuts at UFC 142
Sometimes the good things come to those who wait.Last year, Siyar Bahadurzada thought he had agreed a deal with Strikeforce. Instead the promotion did...
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, deal, siyar, siyar signs
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyQuinn Mulhern: I'm fighting David Hulett at next week's Strikeforce Challengers 20
Next week's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event apparently has a new addition.
In recent tweet, former King of the Cage champion Quinn Mulhern said he's "officially" fighting fellow welterweight David Hulett at the event.
Strikeforce officials have not announced the fight, and MMAjunkie.com could not immediately confirm the bout.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, event, david hulett, quinn
Read the full article at MMA JunkieOvereem sues Golden Glory management
Alistair Overeem has launched a lawsuit against his management team Golden Glory.The former Strikeforce heavyweight champion is asking the court to order...
Posted in: overeem, strikeforce, management, court, management team
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyWomen's MMA Report: Gina Carano out until 2012, Amanda Lucas wins again in Japan (MMAJunkie.com)
Fans of Gina "Conviction" Carano will have to wait at least a little longer for the Strikeforce...
Posted in: strikeforce, carano, gina, conviction, amanda
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsWomen's MMA Report: Gina Carano out until 2012, Amanda Lucas wins again in Japan
Fans of Gina "Conviction" Carano will have to wait at least a little longer for the Strikeforce star's return to the cage.
The talented striker was noticeably absent from the Dec. 17 Strikeforce card that recently circulated, and she's not expected back in the cage until next year, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
In our latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses Carano's plans, Amanda Lucas' latest win, Vanessa Porto's plans for 2012, and other happenings in the WMMA world.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, carano, gina, japan fans
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePhoenix Jones needs to fight in Strikeforce
As if getting arrested for indiscriminately pepperspraying a group of post-club shit kickers wasn't bad enough, Phoenix Jones aka MMA fighter Ben Fodor also had his 6000 supersuit taken away by the cops. Not content to stop messing with him there, the government has now also stepped in and gotten him fired from his day job. His more superhero job than his actual superhero job: working with developmentally disabled autistic children!
Last week, Jones received a letter from the state Department of Social and Health Services, informing him he is no longer allowed to work with kids. PubliCola was not able to determine exactly why DSHS disqualified Jones from working with kids, but it appears to be due to his pending assault case.When contacted for a comment, Jones said he had been advised not to speak extensively about the circumstances of his apparent termination, but confirmed he was no longer able to work with autistic children.“They all knew I was Phoenix Jones,” he says.Jones says that because of his arrest, he’s on “a list” that prohibits him from working with children, because he has “a history of interjecting myself into situations that are dangerous.”Jones, naturally, disputes that characterization. “I would say I have a history of fighting crime,” he says. “The whole point of what I do is to keep people safe.”Jones isn’t sure how he’ll pay the bills now. He says he’s received offers for fight bouts from the Strikeforce mixed martial arts organization, and plans to start fighting crime in the daytime, in addition to his night patrols around Seattle. Other than that, he says, “I really don’t know.”
Normally I'd say what's the point of getting a job with Strikeforce because you're going to end up just as unemployed in a few months. But in this case I'll stop being a giant cynic and say yeah, it would totally be cool if Phoenix Jones joined Strikeforce. Not only does it totally sound like the plot to comic book, but the guy is essentially being punished for being awesome by getting fired from a job that desperately requires awesome people. Those kids need a real life superhero, and I'd say Jones had a resume that fit that description.
Posted in: strikeforce, jone, job, phoenix jones, phoenix
Read the full article at FightlinkerStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Promo
Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17, and air on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT. The Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, vs, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Challengers 20 adds Green vs. Vallie-Flagg, Berry vs. Spang
The fight card for this month's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event has filled out with the addition of two preliminary-card fights.
The additions include Bobby Green vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg and Keith Berry vs. Andreas Spang.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, fight card, challenger, vs, preliminarycard fights
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGina Carano Will Not Fight on December 17th Strikeforce Card
MMA fans have been waiting for Gina Carano to return to the cage for over two years now, and it appears that we're all going to have to wait even longer. While there was never any official confirmation of it, rumors were rife that Carano would be fighting on Strikeforce's last major card of the year. But according to MMA Fighting, that will not be the case:
Carano, still arguably the most famous women's MMA fighter in the world, will not be fighting on Strikeforce's Dec. 17 card in San Diego, sources close to the event confirmed with MMAFighting.com. There had been some speculation that Carano was targeting a return to action on the card.
Carano is still "the face of women's MMA" despite not competing since Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos stopped her late in the first round of their bout in August 2009. She was scheduled to return a few months ago and was set to face Sarah D'Alelio, but was pulled just before the fight for not passing her medicals. There was a lot of speculation about what happen to her, but no answers were ever provided. And with her home promotion in jeopardy of going under if Showtime and Zuffa can't come to an agreement, who knows when we'll see Carano in the cage again. You can see her on the big screen though - her movie Haywire comes out January 20th.
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, card, gina carano, carano
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGina Carano not fighting on December StrikeForce card
Pretty please, don’t pull a Crocop/Penn on us and retire, Gina! We love your body (when you’re at the bottom of your yo-yo weight cycle). MMAFighting.com reported today that Gina Carano will not be fighting on StrikeForce's December 17 card, ending our hope that she would return from her August 2009 loss against Cris “Cyborg” Santos without two full calendar years passing by. Gina was cleared to train in August after a “mystery illness” forced her out of a June bout with Sarah D’Alelio; this time, no excuse has yet been proferred for the fact that she won’t be fighting. StrikeForce general manager Scott Coker coke-teased us in numerous outlets by stating that Carano would compete in 2011; instead, she seems to be completely focusing on the fact that she’s the star of an upcoming movie featuring A-list production and actors. She ought to realize, though, that creepy obsession equals popularity equals stardom equals money. If Gina has a pre-existing, creepily obsessed fanbase whose fetish is watching her beat other girls up, she ought to indulge that fetish until a sex tape with her in it gets leaked. So for the sake of business acumen, Gina, please fight soon.
Posted in: strikeforce, gina carano, carano, gina, preexisting creepily
Read the full article at FightlinkerGina Carano Not Scheduled for Strikeforce's Dec. 17 Card
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsAnother full calendar year will go by without Gina Carano competing in an MMA cage.
Carano, still arguably the most famous women's MMA fighter in the world, will not be fighting on Strikeforce's Dec. 17 card in San Diego, sources close to the event confirmed with MMAFighting.com. There had been some speculation that Carano was targeting a return to action on the card.
The 29-year-old Carano last competed for Strikeforce in Aug. 2009. She lost via first-round TKO to Cris Cyborg in the last women's fight to headline a major Strikeforce card on Showtime. Since then, Carano has pursued a movie career and stayed out of the MMA spotlight, rarely doing media appearances or showing up to fights.
She announced her return to Strikeforce in February, however, an undisclosed illness forced her to pull out of her June 18 fight against Sarah D'Alelio. As of right now, Strikeforce has no plans for her return to the cage.
So the next time you want to see Carano in action, it will have to be on the silver screen when she stars in her first motion picture, "Haywire," which is set to be released on Jan. 20.
The promotion's year-end show will consist of a four-fight main card, which will air live on Showtime:
Gilber Melendez (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal -- Strikeforce lightweight title
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (c) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka -- Strikeforce women's featherweight title
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, gina carano, carano
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFabricio Werdum Mapping Out First Two Fights for UFC Return
Fabricio Werdum answers the call to who is calling him out and maps out where he'd like to go from there. Also, details emerge about proposed Strikeforce fights that never happened.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, werdum, fabricio, strikeforce fights
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDana White takes over negotiations to keep Strikeforce on Showtime: 'We have a chance it lives'
You've been hearing it for months now. "Strikeforce is dead as soon as its contract with Showtime is up," the pundits have said. "Who cares, all the champions have gone to the UFC anyway," the fans chime in.
Halt the hearses, folks, this funeral might not be happening.
That's because UFC President Dana White has personally stepped in to handle the ongoing negotiations with Showtime to reach a new contract to keep the promotion alive.
"I met with Showtime yesterday and I had a great meeting with them. I'm jumping in [to the negotiations]. Lorenzo Fertitta and I divide and conquer. We're both so busy and we're working on so much stuff, so to get this deal moving we needed the kinder, gentler side of the UFC there in the beginning. Now, I'm going to go in there and close it.... We had a great conversation. We moved the ball forward and we'll see what happens. There is no deal done. I just think we had a great meeting... We have a chance that Strikeforce lives."
This is partially possible thanks to Ken Hershman bailing on Showtime to become President of HBO Sports. White had previously had trouble dealing with the successful executive, whom he referred to as a "deal-blower."
But now that Hershman no longer has any say in the discussions, there's hope just yet that Strikeforce can prosper on cable television.
There are still plenty of reasons to believe the opposite. Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz, all champions, have jumped ship recently to fight inside the more prestigious Octagon. But for the first time since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce back in March, there's optimism that Scott Coker and company will have a promotion to run next year.
Hear more from White on the negotiations, as well as plenty of UFC 137 talk, in the full entry.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, showtime, hbo sports, negotiation
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Talks UFC 137, Taking Charge of Strikeforce and Viacom Buying Bellator
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, dana, mattyblayze, charge
Read the full article at RedditDana White Talks UFC 137, Taking Charge of Strikeforce and Viacom Buying Bellator
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting caught up with UFC president Dana White on Thursday to preview Saturday night's UFC 137 card. White talked about the three main fights on the card, his decision to take over the Strikeforce negotiations with Showtime and what Viacom buying Bellator means for the MMA landscape.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, ufc mma, strikeforce negotiations
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseShowtime-Strikeforce Negotiations Ongoing, but Now With Dana White Involved
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsLAS VEGAS -- Strikeforce isn't quite dead yet.
Following a recent shakeup at Showtime that saw former sports head Ken Hershman leave for HBO, it seems that there is a renewed hope that the premium cable network might be able to strike a deal with Strikeforce.
So far, there's been at least one change to the ongoing negotiations. While they had previously been handled by Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, White has taken the reigns in search of a new deal.
"I was in New York [Wednesday] and met with Showtime," White said following a UFC 137 press conference on the Brooklyn Bridge replica outside the New York New York Hotel. "That's why I was there. So yeah, I'm it now. I took over."
White said he was able to inject himself into the situation now that Hershman is gone. The two have had a notoriously rocky history over the years, with White pulling no punches over his thoughts on Hershman. Even now that the executive has moved on, White did the same, saying dealing with the channel has gotten a lot easier now that he's gone.
Why?
"Because he's an idiot, and the rest of the guys aren't," he said.
As of now though, there is still no deal. So for the time being, reports of other Strikeforce fighters -- Fabricio Werdum, for example -- defecting to the UFC will come to a close. The timeframe for a decision has been extended as the two sides attempt to keep the promotion alive past the first quarter of 2012. But at least there is a newfound sense of optimism involved.
"I had a great meeting with them," he said. "We'll see how it goes. I met with all of them, the whole crew. It went very well, and we'll see how it progresses." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, deal i, york wednesday, showtimestrikeforce negotiations, sides attempt
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseCaros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox Slated for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
A lightweight match-up between the two Strikeforce Challengers standouts has been added to the December 17 event in San Diego, California.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, diego, matchup, wilcox
Read the full article at Heavy MMACesar Gracie Says Gilbert Melendez is UFC-Bound After December Strikeforce Fight
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has recently been the subject of much speculation regarding how much longer he would remain with that organization. UFC president Dana White recently said that he wanted to bring him over to the UFC, but he was still booked in a title defense against Jorge Masvidal at a Strikeforce event on December 17th in San Diego. Gil's coach Cesar Gracie made it clear to Tatame that he's going to the UFC after that fight though:
"Absolutely it’ll be his last fight (in Strikeforce)", assures the coach, who didn’t have any doubts about Melendez’s situation on the lightweight division of Ultimate, which title holder is Frankie Edgar. "I believe Melendez is the best of the world in this division".
This isn't exactly shocking news to anyone, but it's the first time that Gracie has made such a definitive statement about it. Gracie also talked about how he actually didn't want Melendez to take the fight with Masvidal:
"It’s a very dangerous fight. Melendez has nothing to win, there’s the problem," Cesar said. "I didn’t want him to do it. I believe he’s gonna win, he’s a better fighter, but in any fight you can either win or lose and it’s not different this time. Melendez has everything to lose and nothing to gain. He needs to fight the top fighters. Masvidal sometimes is good, but sometimes he loses to some guys nobody knows".
Cesar's speaking the truth here. A loss to Masvidal would kill a lot of Gil's cred coming into the UFC. Was Melendez smart to take one last title defense in the UFC? I wonder if he was even given much choice in the matter.
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Targeting Wilcox-Fodor Lightweight Bout for Dec. 17
Caros Fodor will apparently return to the cage on Dec. 17, as the AMC Pankration product Wednesday announced that he will square off against Justin Wilcox at Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal.”
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, dec, justin wilcox, wilcoxfodor
Read the full article at SherdogCaros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox slated for 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal'
A lightweight bout between Strikeforce Challengers regulars Caros Fodor and Justin Wilcox will be part of December's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event.
Fodor today revealed the fight on "The MMA Show" with Mauro Ranallo.
The event takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. The event's main card airs on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, card airs, san diego, fodor, justin wilcox
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCesar Gracie: Jorge Masvidal will be the last fight for Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce
Some things in life are just inevitable. It looks as though the folding of Strikeforce has recently fallen into this category of events.
After losing three of their champions (Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem) to the greener pastures of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), rumblings regarding current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez following suit have filled up the airwaves and "tweets" for months now.
The timeframe for his alleged departure changed a bit when it was confirmed that "El Nino" would be defending his title against number one contender Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego, California.
Melendez's trainer, Cesar Gracie, told Tatame.com that he absolutely believes this will be the champion's final fight under the Strikeforce banner:
"Absolutely. It'll be his last fight (in Strikeforce)", assures the coach, who didn't have any doubts about Melendez's situation on the lightweight division of the UFC, whose current title holder is Frankie Edgar. "I believe Melendez is the best of the world in this division."
Gracie went on to elaborate on Melendez's next fight, a bout which Gracie says he was not in favor of:
"It's a very dangerous fight. Melendez has nothing to win. There's the problem," Cesar said. "I didn't want him to do it. I believe he's gonna win. He's a better fighter, but in any fight, you can either win or lose. It's not different this time. Melendez has everything to lose and nothing to gain. He needs to fight the top fighters. Masvidal sometimes is good, but sometimes he loses to guys nobody knows."
Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been clamoring for a fight between Melendez and Edgar for some time now. Both fighters have been ranked near the top of their division for at least the last year. Getting them in the cage would settle the matter, once and for all.
The other question would have to be in regard to how this all affects Strikeforce. Could they really afford to lose Melendez? Would it be the final nail in the coffin if he walks?
It looks as though it's going to happen either way. The writing is on the wall.
What say you, Maniacs? Is it a foregone conclusion that Melendez will defeat Masvidal on Dec. 17? How eager are you to see him enter the Octagon versus Edgar to clarify who the number one lightweight in the world is?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, gracie
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHow the Government Will Analyze the UFC-Strikeforce Merger
This was originally a fanpost by thuggis over on BloodyElbow, but it - along with some comments by nottheface - was insightful enough that I felt it deserved an article. What follows is the original post plus the interchange from both SBNation commenters.
Despite being one of the biggest MMA stories of 2011, there has been surprisingly little discussion of how the federal government will analyze the merger between Zuffa (the UFC's parent company) and Strikeforce. As a former antitrust attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, I can provide something of an insider's view.
The combination between Zuffa and Strikeforce is what's called a horizontal merger. In other words, it's a merger between two companies in the same industry. The other primary type of merger is called a vertical merger, where the companies compete at different levels of the supply chain--e.g., a company that makes steel merging with a car company.
As a horizontal merger, the government would use the horizontal merger guidelines to analyze the competitive implications of the deal. (I'll abbreviate references to the horizontal merger guidelines as "HMG") Since Zuffa and Strikeforce have already merged, the government would first look for any direct evidence of anticompetitive effects.
Typically, anticompetitive effects take the form of increased price or decreased output. For example, if the UFC raised the price of its pay-per-view fights, or decreased their number, it could be an indication of decreased competition. The anticompetitive effects need to be "merger specific," which means that, if the UFC was doing something like that before merging with Strikeforce, we can't blame the merger for it. (HMG 2.1) This likely means that the concerns raised by the culinary union won't go very far. If the UFC was getting away with things like automatic contract renewal and right to match other offers, you can't really blame the merger with Strikeforce for them. But the fact that, before the merger, the UFC lost some top fighters to Strikeforce (e.g., Dan Henderson, Nick Diaz), could cause some concern (HMG 2.2). By contrast, Bellator's feeding off of discarded UFC scraps shows that they aren't nearly the same level of competition as Strikeforce was.
This also raises the issue that there are at least two levels at which the government must analyze the deal: effects on the fighters (the monopsony or supply-based level), and effects on the customers (the monopoly or demand-based level). The customers would include not only fans buying PPVs and watching prelims, but also advertisers and networks such as Spike, Versus, and Fox. The government will likely conduct interviews with all of the directly affected parties, and examine marketing documents from both the UFC and Strikeforce to try to gauge the various effects of the deal. The government will look closely to see if the UFC is, as a result of the merger: 1) paying its fighters less or entering into more restrictive contracts; 2) raising the prices charged to networks for broadcast rights; or 3) raising the prices charged for PPVs to end viewers.
If the government can't find direct evidence of anticompetitive effects from the merger, it may try to go through the market definition exercise. (HMG 4) Market definition in this instance would be primarily concerned with product market definition (HMG 4.1), e.g., whether the UFC is adequately constrained by other sports, such as boxing, or other entertainment options, such as movies or rock concerts, so that the merger with Strikeforce doesn't matter. The government would look to determine what would happen if the UFC controlled all mixed-martial arts promotions in the United States (assuming the US is the geographic market), and whether such control would allow the UFC to impose a "small but significant, non-transitory increase in price," also known as a "SSNIP." Or, on the flip side, whether controlling all MMA promotion would allow the UFC to force a SSNDP on its fighters. If the answer is yes, then MMA promotion is the relevant market. If not, then the market includes other products.
I think the answer to product market definition is clearly that MMA is the relevant market. It seems unlikely that, in response to a 5% increase in prices charged for MMA PPVs (say about $3), people will start watching boxing, pro wrestling, or go see a production of Hamlet. On the other hand, if the (pre-merger) UFC raised its prices and Strikeforce were putting a good card on network TV, it's quite likely that a decent number of people would choose the free card over the PPV. On the supply side, it seems unlikely that a fighter would switch to a new line of work if the UFC cut his pay by 5%. But if Strikeforce were still a viable competitor, a fighter might jump ship from the UFC for a 5% raise.
Assuming that MMA is the relevant market, the next question is what was the UFC's market share, both before and after the merger with Strikeforce. (HMG 5) While the calculations under section 5 of the merger guidelines can get somewhat complex, it seems hard to deny that, despite opinions to the contrary, the UFC has a monopoly. But it also probably had one before the merger. The UFC will no doubt claim that, even if the merger decreased competition, it also provided some efficiencies (HMG 10), such as a larger roster of fighters.
In the end, it's impossible to determine whether the government will find the deal anticompetitive, and if so, what sort of remedy it would insist upon. But hopefully this article at least provides a bit of insight as to how the government might analyze it.
After the jump, check out the lines from ntf and the response.
I’ve been talking to couple of people pretty knowledgeable with regards to antitrust law, and doing my own fanpost, but it is probably better for you write about it than me trying to decipher what they told me. So here’s some of the things that I have caught my eye about the story (I don’t have my notes from my discussions with me so I might not be exact on some of the legal terminology here) which hopefully someone like you, who is much more familiar with these matters, can comment on :
The date the investigation started is key. If it started before the merger was reported than it might not be as much about antitrust as it is about Xyience or some other business deal. If it started with the Strikeforce merger then it suggests that the sale is what triggered the investigation. This could mean the review was triggered by the thresholds set forth in the Hart-Scott-Rodino act, which states that a merger is reportable when the acquiring company paid more than $66 million. Well, the amount usually reported is some $40 million plus some debt payment so maybe it is possible that the actually price tag was $66 million for Strikeforce. Or maybe the FTC decided to investigate on their own after getting some evidence of Zuffa abusing its market power. It is worth noting that the rumors of the investigation didn’t start until Middle Easy reported on it in May of this year.
If it was reported by the HSR act it would seem as if the deal would be in trouble because, as you note, it doesn’t seem to comply with the Horizontal Merger Guidelines.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence against Zuffa are the recent comments by ProElite CEO Paul Feller concerning the bid they were making for Strikeforce. "Negotiations went up close to the $20 million mark for us to acquire majority interest," said Feller. "That day, the UFC came over the top of us and doubled our offer." My guys though this, combined with the idea that they overpaid for Pride to keep it out of the hands of Ed Fishman or Vince McMahon (Fishman reported it was worth no more than $20 million or so and that Zuffa grossly overpaid for it) and the stories that they blacklisted vendors who sponsored non-UFC fighters, would be the big trouble spot for Zuffa. Those actions could easily be construed as an abuse of power and seem to indicate a promotion that is intent on gaining some sort of monopsony power over the labor market.
The barriers to entry defense doesn’t seem that compelling. Zuffa’s incredibily high profits seem to indicate the entry isn’t that easy. The UFC also benefits from the "network effect" which could actually hurt them in the eyes of the FTC.
I don’t know what or any actions the FTC would take if they ruled against Zuffa. I also wonder if "treble damages" could be awarded against them at some point.
This is Thuggis' response to NTF.
Those are some great points! Because the investigation is nonpublic, it’s impossible for us to know when it began, unless someone at Zuffa or Strikeforce leaks it.
I don’t think this is a Hart-Scott type review, because the firms have to wait to finalize their merger under the HSR framework. Also, as you mentioned, based on the figures I’ve seen, it doesn’t seem to reach the HSR threshold. But, even if it wasn’t, the government could still use the Horizontal Merger Guidelines to analyze the transaction.
The ProElite comments, the PRIDE acquisition and the UFC’s treatment of vendors could all be relevant to an abuse of monopoly position investigation. They wouldn’t relate as much to the Strikeforce acquisition per se, so a lot depends on what kind of investigation the government is conducting (focusing on the UFC-Strikeforce merger or a broader Microsoft-type investigation), which is difficult to know. That being said, abuse of monopoly power cases are much harder to win in court than challenging an anticompetitive agreement (such as a merger).
Like you, I’m also not impressed with the barriers to entry defense. There are huge network effects, because everyone wants to see the best fighters face each other. As Strikeforce found, you can’t just peel off an Emelianenko here or Hendo there and hope to compete on even footing against the UFC.
As you probably know, the government generally doesn’t seek monetary damages in antitrust actions, though their investigation could pave the way for private plaintiffs to seek treble damages in a class action. The government might seek to force the UFC to unwind the merger, which is probably one reason why the UFC is trying to poach as much Strikeforce talent as it can right now.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, merger, government, market
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendFormer Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers arrested ... again
Former Strikeforce and current Titan Fighting Championship heavyweight fighter Brett Rogers was arrested earlier today (Mon., Oct. 24, 2011) in Apple Valley, Minn., for reportedly violating terms of his pre-sentencing release.
In June, Rogers was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife, Tiuana, who reportedly suffered injuries to her face, ear, neck and back. In an interview with HDNet's "Inside MMA," both Rogers and his wife refuted the charges, calling the whole thing "a misunderstanding."
Rogers pleaded guilty in September to felony third-degree assault after the June incident.
Shortly thereafter, a warrant for Rogers' arrest was issued after he failed to comply with conditions of his pre-sentence release. "The Grim" was then arrested early this morning by Dakota County police officers for the violation, which is currently undisclosed.
Rogers was once viewed as the epitome of a "feel good story" in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world. The one-time Sam's Club tire flipper seemed to come out of nowhere when he debuted with Strikeforce in April 2009.
But then after losing three fights in a row under the Strikeforce banner earlier this year, Rogers was cut by the organization and transitioned to Titan Fighting Championships, a regional promotion based out of Kansas City, Kansas. In his first fight with the promotion, Rogers lost what looked to be a very uninspired split decision to former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Eddie Sanchez at Titan Fighting Championships 20.
Rogers will ultimately face sentencing on his plea deal on Nov. 30, 2011. He could face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
MMAmania.com will have more on the situation as it develops.
Posted in: strikeforce, championship, roger, misunderstanding rogers, plea deal
Read the full article at MMA ManiaProElite announces Heavyweight Grand Prix entrants
Following the path set by Strikeforce this year, resurgent promotion ProElite has announced a Heavyweight Grand Prix of its own.Unlike the Strikeforce...
Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, prix, prix entrants, promotion proelite
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyFormer Strikeforce Fighter Brett Rogers Arrested Again on Monday
Former Strikeforce and Titan Fighting Championships fighter Brett Rogers was arrested again on Monday after failing to comply with all the conditions of his pre-release in September.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, roger, brett, monday
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFormer Strikeforce Fighter Brett Rogers Arrested Again
Brett Rogers was arrested again early this morning. The Apple Valley Patch in Apple Valley, MN is reporting that Rogers was arrested on an outstanding warrant related to his June arrest. This past June, the former Strikeforce fighter was arrested and charged with felony third-degree assault against his wife. Rogers pled guilty to that charge, and was released pending sentencing. Today's arrest was for failing to comply with certain conditions of that pre-sentencing release.
Rogers was also arrested in late September for violating the order of protection issued after the June domestic assault.
Sentencing for the June incident will be on November 30. If convicted, Rogers could face a maximum of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Rogers was released from his Strikeforce contract following the initial arrest. He has since competed in MMA once more, fighting on the card for Titan FC 20, where he lost to Eddie Sanchez.
Posted in: strikeforce, roger, june, arrest, assault sentencing
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBrett Rogers Arrested Again
Filed under: StrikeforceBrett Rogers' personal life appears to be even more troubled than his mixed martial arts career.
Rogers, the former Strikeforce and EliteXC heavyweight who participated in two of the most-watched fights in the history of the sport, was arrested again on Monday morning, this time for failing to comply with the conditions of his pre-sentencing release, stemming from a guilty plea last month to assaulting his wife in June.
Apple Valley Patch reports that Rogers was arrested at 6 a.m. Monday. He was scheduled to be sentenced on November 30 after pleading guilty to the assault of his wife, whom he reportedly punched and choked. It is not clear how Monday's arrest will affect his upcoming sentencing.
Rogers' attorney told HDNet's Inside MMA that Rogers surrendered to authorities on Monday morning. He stands accused of violating an order not to have any contact with his wife.
Rogers was involved in the first mixed martial arts fight ever to be shown on network television when he knocked out Jon Murphy on May 31, 2008. He was also in the main event of a CBS-televised Strikeforce show, losing to Fedor Emelianenko on November 7, 2009.
But while Rogers once possessed an 11-0 record, with all 11 wins coming by knockout, his career has gone into free fall over the last couple of years. Strikeforce parent company Zuffa released Rogers from his contract after his June arrest, and Rogers has lost four of his last five fights.
Rogers faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, monday morning, roger, monday
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFabricio Werdum Says He Isn't Negotiating With the UFC, But Couldn't Tell You if He Was
The good folks at FightHubTV got the chance to catch up with Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum at a recent amateur event. They asked him about recent rumors involving negotiations to take his talents back to the UFC. Werdum said no, but he didn't exactly say no.
Watch the video:
Some quotes from the interview:
I haven't spoken to anybody yet, the only thing I know is my Strikeforce contract. Of course I would love to return to the UFC, because they are the best promoters in the world and I fought four times for them and I know I will come back to fight the best and if Joe Silva gives me the chance to show I'm in good form and I can do this but it's when they call me up. I don't have anything for sure. The only thing for sure are my Strikeforce fights.
...
No, no one has talked to them and I'm waiting though. If there is a rumor maybe there is some truth to it but if there was I couldn't say much right now either.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, i dont, ufc werdum, i couldnt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce prospect Lorenz Larkin reflects on Sept. 23 win and looks to the future
Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Lorenz Larkin has had a very fruitful 2011.
After initially bursting onto the scene after stepping in as a late injury replacement and smashing K-1 veteran Scott Lighty this past April, Larkin has progressed up the ticket in two subsequent appearances in the Strikeforce Challengers series culminating in a headlining appearance this past September against Rick Rossborough at Strikeforce Challengers 19 in Las Vegas.
"The Monsoon" continued his solid run in Strikeforce with yet another victory, this one a hard-fought decision against the bigger, stronger Rossborough.
With the victory, the Riverside native may have set himself up for a shot at the big boys in either the Strikeforce or potentially the UFC light heavyweight division.
Larkin spoke with MMAmania.com about what he learned about himself, his future and a hypothetical future move to the UFC in this exclusive interview.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): First thing's first, you've really been moving up. You've got from an injury replacement on a Strikeforce Challengers card earlier in the year to headlining and being on a huge billboard in Vegas. What was it like seeing that billboard for the first time? Did it hit you that you've taken it to the next level?
Lorenz Larkin: I don't know. I would say that you hear about these things that kinda hit you but to me, it's just really crazy. It's just like your thing. The last time I remember I was just driving in the car and I was getting an offer to be a last minute replacement and I was just happy that I was in good shape and able to take the fight, being able to be on a big show whether alone all this hype now and headlining events on my third fight. Yeah, the whole thing is just something I never ever thought of or dreampt of.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about that last fight with Nick Rossborough. This was the second time they've pitted you against huge dudes, like the biggest light heavyweights possible. They're guys that have fought at heavyweights and are coming down and barely making it. Has it been difficult, getting pushed around a bit by these bigger guys?
Lorenz Larkin: Yeah, it's funny because after I did my post-fight for the Gian Villante fight, I was like, "I'm not even worrying about it because Gian is probably the biggest light heavyweight I'll ever fight," and lo and behold, I didn't think this new guy would be that big. He was huge. It plays a factor, a big factor in the fight, just them putting their hands on you and pushing you around. The size makes a big difference. The cutoff is 206 and by the time the fight came I was probably about 215 and I asked him after the fight and he was 232.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You always say that you want to wait until after a fight so you can evaluate your performance with your team and see what they think. Once you guys got back and looked at the tape and saw how you did, what were your thoughts on how you performed? You won a unanimous decision, you continued to move forward so what did you and your team think?
Lorenz Larkin: I think that my team felt I took a little bit too much punishment against the cage. Yeah, I did get hit but that's part of the game. I felt comfortable with my back against the cage and a lot of the cage work and ground that we worked on in camp played out beautifully as far as me and my camp goes because the things that we're working on, I applied them in the fight and they worked. I'm happy with the things we worked on to go into the fight with but being it was a last minute change and how things came up, he was a physical fighter. He's really talented and tough and he came to bring it that night. I did take a bit more punishment than I would want to but that's like any fighter. We all wish that we didn't have to get punched. (laughs)
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Yeah, you mentioned the opponent change and it happened with a little over a week notice. Rossborough was a completely different fighter than Virgil Zwicker in my opinion. He's not as much a striker, more of an "up close and personal" type of fighter. Was that difficult having to deal with a completely different fighter on such short notice?
Lorenz Larkin: Yeah, because coming in we knew he was a big submission guy and he does like to strike but in my opinion, submission guys that like to strike, they only like to strike until they get hit and then they go to their ground game. I don't think it was so much that, it was just the physique difference as far as Virgil being 6'2 and this guy being 6'5 with his reach and everything. That was a big factor in the fight as far as being a last minute replacement. I think that was the toughest thing to deal with?
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Did you learn anything about yourself from your performance? I know he really pushed you in this fight and you responded well.
Lorenz Larkin: Yeah, I was happy with that. As far as everybody's outlook on the fight, I was thinking, "Oh gosh, that was a tough scrap. I really had to grind it out and I got the win," but when I look back at the fight and listen to what people were saying, a lot of people were telling me I showed a lot of heart and I think I displayed some of my ground that people say I don't have and being able to control a jiu-jitsu guy. It was things like that, proving I'm a guy that doesn't just stand up and work to not get taken down and if I get taken down I'd be a fish out of the water. I think I displayed a lot as far as showcasing different things in my skills.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Virgil Zwicker backed out of the fight with an injury. Is that a fight that still interests you, or do you feel that you're past that now?
Lorenz Larkin: You know? I think I'm really past that now. If he wants to fight me, he should have to fight somebody else first now. I think that the original fight was good for our points in our careers but with me taking that fight and winning, he should at least fight again before we would even do the fight because at this point I think that's kind of backtracking for me now.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): There's been a ton of rumors going out lately about Strikeforce, what's going to happen with them. Does that get in your head a bit, people talking about Strikeforce potentially closing its doors after their Showtime deal runs out in February?
Lorenz Larkin: You know what? I stay focused on me and I just try to keep winning fights and putting on good shows. I feel like if I just keep on doing what I've been doing, there will be a spot for me somewhere and there's just so much wrapped around the whole Strikeforce thing and there's so many different rumors, it's like, if I try to get caught up in all that stuff, I'd be lost.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Have you heard anything about when you're next fight will be?
Lorenz Larkin: Ummm, no, not yet. Hopefully, I don't know what else they're doing for this year but hopefully for the beginning of next year they can get me in somewhere. I haven't got any calls. If they wanted me on their December show, they'd have called me by now. I'm shooting for the beginning of 2012.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This is a completely hypothetical question, but a lot of guys from Strikeforce have been going over to the UFC. If they came calling and asked you to come over to the big show and fight, is that something you think you'd be ready for?
Lorenz Larkin: Yeah, I think as long as they have the same views for my career as I do, you know? I think it would be a good match for me as long as I'm matched up evenly to the point where I can put on a good show and it would be a good fight, not just a landslide, that's not what I would want. I always want tough fights and if I feel like I could get matched up like that, it would be a great move for me.
Lorenz would like to thank all his trainers, Sam Mason, Arnold DeWitt, Tony Gianopolis, Romi Guram, his home gym Icon MMA, his sponsors Splat Hair Color, Ion Me, Python Mouth Guards, Hostility Clothing, Extreme Auto Works, Cali Life and everybody who supports him.
So what do you think Maniacs?
Has Larkin earned himself a shot at the big leagues? Or does the top prospect still need a bit of seasoning before he's ready?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, guy, lorenz, thing
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRenato 'Babalu' Sobral would sign with Bellator if the money is right (Video)
Then again, he would also re-sign with Strikeforce if the money was right. Or the UFC:
"Maybe. ... If they pay me what I deserve. Yeah, it's a contractual thing (with Strikeforce). I don't have any contract with Strikeforce anymore. (There is no specific organization I'm talking to), not yet. I would like to go anywhere that would pay me what I think I deserve."
Sobral may never return to the Octagon thanks to his refusing to release a choke on David Heath back at UFC 74, and with Strikeforce seemingly on its deathbed, Bellator may prove to be the only option available to him. But will the tournament oriented promotion be interested in the 36-year-old light heavyweight?
Posted in: strikeforce, deathbed bellator, octagon thanks, david heath, organization im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC, Strikeforce fighters to attend charity golf tournament for TurningWheels for Kids.
submitted by col0rado [link] [comment]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, tournament, golf, turningwheel
Read the full article at RedditFabricio Werdum Talking With the UFC, May Return in December
Brazilian outlet Tatame.com has released an interview with Kings MMA head trainer Rafael Cordeiro. Among other comments on Wanderlei Silva, Mark Munoz and Renato Sobral, Cordeiro revealed that Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum has an open dialogue with the UFC and may appear as soon as December.
Tatame: And what about Werdum's return? There were rumors about him signing with UFC...
Cordeiro: He's back to the trainings, he's making everybody laugh. He'll probably fight in December... He's talking to the UFC, and maybe they come up with something for December.
Rumors of Werdum returning to the Octagon began to swirl after a vague reference by MMAJunkie in their report of UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin's recent back injury, which read as follows:
Carwin's UFC 141 return had not been announced by the UFC, but there was some speculation he would be welcoming recent Strikeforce heavyweight back to the octagon.
On the current Strikeforce heavyweight roster, only three fighters have previously competed in the UFC: Josh Barnett, Jeff Monson and Fabricio Werdum. Barnett's position in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament left Werdum as the likely candidate.
The former Pride standout first emerged at UFC 70 in 2007, losing a decision to Andrei Arlovski. "Vai Cavalo" followed up with consecutive TKO wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera before suffering a vicious knockout at the hands of then-unknown Junior dos Santos, who was making his promotional debut.
Unable to find common ground with the UFC, Werdum opted to sign with Strikeforce where he notched three impressive wins over Mike Kyle via guillotine choke, Antonio Silva by decision and the earth-shattering submision of famed Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
Werdum's last outing was an unflattering decision loss to Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinals of Strikeforce's heavyweight tournament.
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, december, werdum
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDespite Strikeforce's uncertain future, K.J. Noons 'will still have my job'
SAN DIEGO - Onetime Strikeforce welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons isn't just returning under the burden of back-to-back losses. The future of his promotional home is uncertain.
Neither is an immediate concern, though.
"I'll still have my job for a while, wherever I go, as long as I keep winning and showing people that I can compete with the best," Noons told MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: strikeforce, job, noon, backtoback losses, kj
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Ring Girl Kelli Hutcherson Works Out, Looks Hot
Here’s a video from MMA30.com of Strikeforce ring girl Kelli Hutcherson working out… just because.
HT: TheMMANews
Posted in: strikeforce, ring, girl, hutcherson, kelli
Read the full article at MMA ConvertJonathan Snowden writes "Strikeforce Is Dying And I Don't Care." Read it at MMA Nation.
Jonathan Snowden writes "Strikeforce Is Dying And I Don't Care." Read it at MMA Nation.
Posted in: strikeforce, nation, jonathan snowden, snowden, jonathan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce has talented fighters, gorgeous ring card girls and a history of delivering exciting...
Strikeforce has talented fighters, gorgeous ring card girls and a history of delivering exciting fights. So why is the typical mixed martial arts fan so apathetic towards its impending doom? MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden gives one possible explanation here.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, ring, girl, arts fan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce champ Cris Santos open to dual MMA-wrestling careers
SAN DIEGO - Not fighting, as it turns out, is nothing new to Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.
Contractual jiu-jitsu has kept her from the cage for the past 16 months, but when she first came to the U.S., she said she went years without a booking.
"I kept my faith in God and just kept training and hoped for the best, and hoped that the fans would want to see me come back to Strikeforce to fight," Santos recently told MMAjunkie.com through a translator.
Posted in: cristiane cyborg, booking i, strikeforce, translator, san
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce CEO Scott Coker: 'Both sides want to make a deal' (MMAJunkie.com)
Scott Coker doesn't believe Ken Hershman's exit from Showtime spells the end for Strikeforce's...
Posted in: strikeforce, ken hershman, ken, coker, scott
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsFriday Fun: Stripping Strikeforce for Parts - Middleweight, Welterweight and Lightweight
Earlier today we started a fun project to pick five fighters from each division in Strikeforce that should be brought into the UFC if Strikeforce were shut down today. We started out with the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, now we go through 185, 170 and 155.
Again, the one rule is: you must pick no fewer, and no more, than five fighters in each division.
Here are my picks. Share yours in the comments.
Middleweight:
In:
Luke Rockhold - The Strikeforce champ, a very personable guy and possessing a whole lot of talent. Rockhold is a no brainer, but he has to be handled carefully. He is only 26 and could be one of the guys in the running to replace Anderson Silva as the top 185'er in the world in a few years, but a few fights to build him up before throwing him in against Silva or Chael Sonnen makes a lot of sense.
Tim Kennedy - Sometimes we have a little fun at Tim's expense. He is overly serious sometimes ("It's JUST BLOOD!") and it makes for a laugh, but he's a good fighter and an easy guy to promote.
Ronaldo Souza - There are just so many interesting fights for Jacare in the UFC. He'd be the favorite to catch Sonnen with a submission, wouldn't he?
Robbie Lawler - Dana White loves Robbie Lawler. He may be 2-4 since 2009, but his style is fan friendly and I think Dana and the UFC would enjoy getting the last few wars left in him out in their cage. Plus, there aren't a lot of good 185'ers in Strikeforce.
Derek Brunson - I guess I'm going on hope here. Brunson trains with good camps, has wrestling credentials and has gone 8-0 while finishing 7 of those bouts. He's better than most of the guys that get on TUF these days and may be able to make some noise.
Notable cuts:
Benji Radach - Fought once in 2008, once in 2009, once in 2010 and is 1-3 in his last four fights.
Scott Smith - I just don't want to see Smith get punched in the head anymore. He's had enough wars in his career, there's no need for him to finish out his career getting knocked out in the UFC.
Follow after the jump for welterweights and lightweights.
Welterweights:
In:
Tyron Woodley - Welterweight in Strikeforce is a bit of a mess, but Tyron Woodley is by far the best 170 guy they have. He was still the best at 170 when Nick Diaz was still on the roster, too.
Bobby Voelker - I don't think Voelker is particularly special, but he has two wins over Roger Bowling now and does enough things well to maybe get a win or two on the prelims.
Nate Moore - 7-2 record with seven finishes. When he doesn't get the finish, he gets finished. At the very least, he's entertaining.
Tarec Saffiedine - Saffiedine is a lot of fun and only lost to Tyron Woodley during his time in Strikeforce. I could see Tarec becoming a staple of FX shows.
Jason High - High only got one shot in the UFC and that loss to Charlie Brenneman doesn't look very bad given Brenneman's defeat of Rick Story. I'd pick High to get a decision win over Dan Hardy at this point.
Notable cuts:
Roger Bowling - I'd take Bowling or I'd take Voelker. I'm not taking both of them.
Paul Daley - I'm just assuming Paul doesn't get to return to the UFC. If he does, I'd replace Voelker with him.
Lightweight:
In:
Jorge Masvidal - He's a fun fighter, he's young and he always comes to put on a show. Masvidal would make for very entertaining fights with a number of UFC lightweights, even if he isn't a top level fighter.
KJ Noons - He looked bad against Masvidal, but he's been very good at lightweight in his career and fights in the "fan friendly" style the UFC loves. I'd pay to see Noons vs. Melvin Guillard or Noons against Nate Diaz given the Noons/Diaz family history.
Justin Wilcox - Constant improvement and a solid record. Wilcox is a tough out for anyone at 155.
Gilbert Melendez - This one is obvious. He's one of the top fighters in the world and holds the title. No explination needed.
Caros Fodor - Grinding, hard working fighter who doesn't show signs of ever being elite, but he is just one of those scrappy guys that will work his way to wins in some fights you fully expect him to lose.
Notable cuts:
Billy Evangelista - He's a tough fighter but he has one stoppage win in his last ten fights, not a trait I like to see in a guy fighting mid-tier Strikeforce talent.
Conor Heun - Heun is fun to watch but he's not all that good. I don't think he could last a year in the UFC without getting cut.
Gesias Cavalcante - Since 2008 he is 2-3 (2 NC). Both of those wins were split decisions. That's simply not good enough.
Josh Thomson - I probably could have included him, but he is 33 with limited upside and a somewhat inconsistent schedule.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, guy, fighter
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFriday Fun: Stripping Strikeforce for Parts - Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight
There's no better time to have a little bit of fun than Friday night. Right about now you should be killing time until you go out for a little end of week celebration, resting up for a big weekend or waiting around for the start of M-1 on Showtime. Whatever you're doing, I now urge you to take part in a little fun with me.
As top fighters are slowly picked off from Strikeforce and brought into the UFC it seems like it's only a matter of time until we see Strikeforce shut down and the best assets brought over to the UFC.
For the sake of discussion I'm setting a guideline for determining who you would bring in:
Only five fighters can be brought over from each weight class. This prevents anyone from taking the easy way out of "bring them all in and let it get sorted out naturally." You must pick five though.
We'll start with the heavyweights and light heavyweights, the rest of the divisions will follow shortly.
Here are my picks.
Heavyweight:
In:
Fabricio Werdum - I honestly think that the UFC's heavyweight division is a miserable place for Werdum, but he's a top 10 heavyweight with wins over Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko so you can't cut him. I have to believe he loses a lot of value within 3 fights though.
Shane Del Rosario - 11-0 American heavyweight who has gotten a finish in every fight and only been out of the first round once. I'm not high on him in terms of being a future superstar, but he's got enough going for him to give him the chance to become one in the UFC.
Chad Griggs - Griggs is sloppy as all hell but he's also tough as nails, 11-1 overall (3-0 in Strikeforce) and could be a good fit on the prelims of UFC cards serving the same kind of role as a Joey Beltran.
Josh Barnett - Honestly, I'd like to put him on the cut list for his history. Since this is as of today, though. I think you'd have to take him. Should Cormier beat him in the grand prix finals though? Goodbye Josh.
Daniel Cormier - Of the five, this is the one guy I'd want more than anyone else. The steady improvement from fight to fight, the backstory, it all adds up to a legitimate and valable heavyweight comodoty.
Notable cuts:
Antonio Silva - I'm going to catch heat for this one, but who has Bigfoot ever truly beaten? His win over Fedor was impressive as he put together a complete gameplan and executed it. Beyond that though his biggest win is light heavyweight Mike Kyle in a fight where he was badly hurt? A completely shot Andrei Arlovski by decision in the only fight in a 4 fight stretch where Arlovski wasn't stopped? I'd rather have a guy like Griggs serving a role by testing guys out on the undercard for reasonable pay than overpay for Silva to get trucked by the UFC roster.
Herschel Walker - Herschel is a fun story but the amount of extra attention he truly brings has been overstated and there's no one on the current UFC roster that you'd pick him to beat, so you can't honestly keep him.
Sergei Kharitonov - There's only so much room on the UFC roster and Kharitonov just isn't a special fighter. He has wins over Alistair Overeem and Mike Russow but that was over 4 years ago now. He also got paid $100,000 to fight Josh Barnett so if the UFC kept him, they'd have to negotiate some lower pay.
Lavar Johnson - Tremendous addition for Bellator.
Shawn Jordan - Another guy who would fit in well on the Bellator roster.
Follow after the jump for the light heavyweights.
Light Heavyweights
In:
Rafael Cavalcante - Feijao fights with a style that UFC president Dana White would love. He is prone to the occasional slip-up but he fights his ass off and could be competitive with the mid-tier of the UFC 205 roster.
Muhammad Lawal - He still has a little work to do to become a truly well rounded threat but he has charisma for days, tremendous wrestling and legitimate KO power.
Lorenz Larkin - His bout with Nick Rossborough had to bring people like myself back down to earth a bit. I'd been very high on Larkin but he showed that he still has some work to do. But at only 25 years old with underrated defensive wrestling and grappling skills and a whirlwind striking game, Larkin has a very bright future.
Ovince St. Preux - OSP is a tremendous athlete dating back to his time as a very talented defensive player at the University of Tennessee. His career got off to a 3-4 start thanks to an overly tough schedule as he was still learning the sport. Now riding an eight fight win streak and beating some legitimate names, OSP is one of the fastest rising 205'ers.
Gegard Mousasi - I think we can all agree that Mousasi isn't proving out to be quite the rare talent many thought he would be. Still, he sports a 31-3-2 record at the age of 26. The Keith Hackney draw is an unfortunate blemish on his record for a fight that he should have won if not for reffing and judging issues. He'd have plenty of success in the UFC.
Notable Cuts:
Gian Villante - Just hasn't proven out. 1-2 in Strikeforce, Gian has to do some work on the regional scene (or find a cushy career in Bellator) to earn a spot in the UFC.
Roger Gracie - Ignoring the last name, Roger is just not good enough at mixed martial arts.
Renato Sobral - Babalu's last exit from the UFC is probably enough of a reason to not see him stick around.
Antwain Britt - Britt exists in that space just below able to compete reliably at the Strikeforce/UFC level but just good enough to probably run wild on 205'ers outside of the big leagues.
Mike Kyle - Too much baggage, not quite good enough.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, light heavyweights
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowScott Coker: 'Zuffa is committed to continuing Strikeforce'
When Jason Miller became the first fighter to make the jump from Strikeforce to UFC after the Zuffa buyout back in March, it was explained away by the fact that "Mayhem's" contract had already run out and he simply went where the money was.
But as time went on, moves were made in a far more obvious manner. Nick Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion, was brought over and signed to fight Georges St. Pierre, although that's not happening anymore.
Alistair Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, was yanked around before finding his way to "Sin City" to sign a bout agreement to fight Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 on Dec. 30.
Even Dan Henderson, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who has had so many problems with UFC in the past, brought his brand of violence back to the Octagon.
To top it off, UFC President Dana White has made it clear he wants Gilbert Melendez and he'll do whatever it takes to get him. That will make four of the five champions from the San Jose based promotion.
Despite the roster gutting, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker maintains the company line that Zuffa is committed to continuing the organization and that it's all up to Showtime.
"Zuffa is committed to continuing Strikeforce. And really, it's in Showtime's hands. There's dialogue and negotiations going back and forth right now and I'm hopeful that Strikeforce will be renewed and we'll put on some great fights for many years."
If it is, indeed, up to Showtime, the future looks bleak. Ken Hershman, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports and Event Programming who cut the original deal to bring Strikeforce to the popular cable channel, has left for the greener pastures of HBO.
Does that, in and of itself, signal the end of Strikeforce?
Of course not, but it's certainly yet another bad sign that the boys from San Jose are going bye-bye.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san jose, champion, zuffa
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC's Market Dominance An Overwhelming Deterrent to Emerging Startups
On Thursday, Ken Hershman, executive vice president and general manager of sports and event programming for Showtime, resigned after a nineteen years with the subscription-based network. Hershman was pivotal to the growth of mixed martial arts, bringing the sport to the network in 2007 in the form of EliteXC. EliteXC inevitably failed, but Hershman kept his resolve, adding Strikeforce to the portfolio and helping the small California-based promotion become a major player in the mixed martial arts' world.
Hershman isn't leaving the industry however. He's been named the new president of HBO Sports, opening up the possibility that HBO will lift their embargo on the sport. In the aftermath of the news, there were also questions revolving around Showtime's continued committment to the sport. Will they work out a deal to keep Strikeforce on Showtime? Will they remain in the MMA business?
BloodyElbow.com's own Brent Brookhouse opined yesterday that Hershman's move to HBO is likely focused more on helping boxing grow on the network versus bringing in a new option:
Hershman's move to HBO isn't likely to bring MMA to that network either. Boxing remains a big part of HBO's identity and despite uninformed opinions that the network will eventually give up on the sport, they actually are investing even more in the sport. In 2012 the network is launching a midweek boxing show that will feature competitive fights on a smaller budget to try to aid the process of building up stars.
I couldn't agree more, and I find it perplexing that the immediate reaction from many fans and media was the blatantly optimistic opinion that HBO will now open its doors to MMA. As for Showtime's future in the sport, Strikeforce is an option, although there are many reasons why staying connected to Zuffa may be the wrong way to go.
These are only micro issues underneath the larger macro problem that start-ups and networks promoting MMA are entering the sport with an even steeper slope than we've ever seen before. The UFC's expansive reach, years and years of brand saturation, and buyout of the second largest promotion in the world has turned their large lake into an ocean, sucking the water from all the smaller lakes and ponds. They control a vast majority of the relevant talent in the sport with only a few outliers who are able to draw any semblance of interest from fans.
Ten years ago, start-ups had options. EliteXC and Strikeforce both fed off veteran talent, both to promote their main card and test young prospects, while also taking advantage of regional honey holes like southern California. The more options, the more talent was willing to negotiate and take the best offer, especially when those smaller promotions were gaining traction in the television landscape. Fast forward to today, and we see that EliteXC has crumbled, Strikeforce has been swallowed by Zuffa, and casual interest outside of the UFC is at an all-time low.
Look no further than ProElite for proof. I'm not attempting to be the most cynical man on the planet, but it's difficult to see a progressive trend of growth when Pedro Rizzo vs. Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Fulton are the top two fights on one of the newest start-ups in the sport. The proven formula of growing prospective talent while bringing in name value doesn't work any longer because name value has disappeared. Who is Reagan Penn and Mark Ellis, assuming they progress into bona fide talents, going to fight down the road?
The optimistic fans will throw Bellator right into my face. Look at what they've done! They've signed a bevy of great prospects, many of which are featured on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report. They have notable names that fans will tune in to watch. Unfortunately, they are hindered by MTV2's decision to keep them on Saturday nights, going head-to-head with the UFC, and that's not their most glaring problem.
Whether it's a start-up promotion or an established brand like Bellator, finding recognized veterans to prop up cards and draw in fans who wouldn't normally watch the card is becoming harder and harder to do. In fact, it's impossible to do these days. Bellator is going to find out quickly that Eddie Alvarez has nobody to fight. Same goes for the rest of their champions.
What does any of this have to do with Showtime and HBO? In my opinion, Showtime's best option is to let Strikeforce go and start their own series. It isn't necessarily a promotion, more of a series of shows designed to build cheap programming and maintain subscribers. After the failure of EliteXC and the piece-by-piece stripping of anything worth a damn from Strikeforce by the UFC, Showtime's biggest issue has been outside forces crushing their MMA programming.
The problem, however, is that there isn't any talent to build from. It's pointless for HBO to waste the money entering the market unless they want low budget, cheap programming regardless of name value. Same goes for Showtime. Even if they retain Strikeforce, it's going to be tough for them to gain enough steam to move away from sustainability into growth. The mere second a prospect begins showing signs of greatness, Zuffa will swoop in and sign him to a UFC contract.
Smaller promotions in North America and beyond serve a purpose as development platforms for prospects, but I believe the days of spectacular growth, growth seen in two or three years in the market are gone. There isn't enough recognizable talent available to help small promotions gain eyes, and building prospects to a casual fanbase requires money to promote them. Even the latter is a risky endeavor. Will fans care more about Eduardo Dantas if they spend a lot of money promoting him? Who has he beaten? Who is Wilson Reis? Those are questions people will ask.
Be honest and ask yourself... what fighters, outside of Zuffa, would you actually tune in to watch? Most will cite Bellator fighters, perhaps Nate Marquardt, Roger Huerta, or Shinya Aoki. How many of those are viable options for a promotion like Titan FC to bring in? Will that help them keep your interest for a prolonged period of time? Probably not. The point is that it isn't a large number. It's so small that there are barely any options for regional promotions looking to make an impact to consider.
This isn't the boom years of MMA any longer. The upward trend is slowly flattening out, and the UFC has come out as a massive presence. In North America, they dominate the landscape. Internationally, there is opportunity. More on that later. For promotions like Shark Fights and Titan Fighting Championships however, it doesn't look good.
Posted in: promotion, hbo, strikeforce, sport, showtime
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCris "Cyborg" Santos ready to sharpen skills for bout with Hiroko Yamanaka
Strikeforce recently announced a female featherweight title-fight between Cristiane Santos and Japanese grappler Hiroko Yamanaka, set to take place on December 17 in San Diego, California.
Of course, “Cyborg” hasn’t fought since June 26 of last year when she dominated and defeated Jan Finney, finally ending the fight with a knee to the body that sealed the deal on the American’s night.
However, since then Strikeforce has had difficulty finding another contender for ’Cyborg’. She has not dropped a fight since her first fight back in 2005, and hasn’t gone to a decision since her fight with Yoko Takahashi in October of 2008.
Strikeforce Dropped the Ball on Handing of Santos’ Career
The struggle to procure a contender has left the champion in a state of limbo with her spending the last few months training hard for a mystery opponent. When asked in a recent interview with TATAME, she talked about her progress, Santos responded, “I was training, but not that committed, but I tried to get better and better on striking, boxing, I fought World of Jiu-Jitsu…Each day I look for something to inspire me, so I become better and better. Now, for this fight, we’ll set a goal. Actually, I’ll start my diet, so I can’t train like I was doing. I’ll just get sharpened.”
Yamanaka’s latest fight was a submission victory via armbar, over Mongolian fighter Esui at Jewels 15th Rings back in July. For the 32 year old JEWELS veteran, also known as ‘Cat’s Eye’, this will be the first time she has fought outside of her native Japan.
After the announcement only a week or two ago, ‘Cyborg’ was asked what she knew about her upcoming opponent. She said, “I know she’s fought a lot (thirteen times), and I guess she won most of the times via points. She has been defeated only once, by a girl I’ve fought. I guess she’s a good opponent, a good fight.”
While Santos may not know what’s to come after December 17 given the shaky nature of Strikeforce she at least knows who she’ll be facing at the event, and after such a long break from action that fact alone is no doubt good enough for her.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: fight, strikeforce, “ i, i ’ll, cyborg
Read the full article at Fighters.comScott Coker: Gilbert Melendez is #1 Lightweight in MMA
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker shared his 2 cents, or more correct - dollars, about the ongoing Mixed Martial Arts rankings debate, labeling promotion's Lightweight Champion Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez as the best 155'er on the planet. Coker also discussed Strikeforce's future and the chances of his former fighters inside the UFC Octagon. First Strikeforce vs. UFC bout will take place on October 29th, with Nick Diaz facing the legendary BJ Penn in the co-main event of UFC 137 in Las Vegas,
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, las vegas, coker, ufc bout
Read the full article at Low KickHershman leaves Showtime for HBO
Broadcasting and Cable reports that Showtime head Ken Hershman is leaving to take the vacant HBO Sports opening. Hershman will become the president of HBO Sports replacing Ross Greenburg.
Hershman will start his new position in January 2012.
What does this mean for the future of MMA on Showtime? Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated that he has talked to Showtime officials and the network wants to continue with MMA programming according to a report from MMA Junkie.
Via MMA Junkie:
Coker said the much of the same executive staff will oversee the remaining events Strikeforce owes to Showtime, which comprise three major events and three of the promotion’s Challenger series through February 2012.
Coker said it was possible that should Showtime renew, a revised TV deal could see fewer Strikeforce events on the channel.
Showtime has not named a replacement for Hershman.
Payout Perspective:
Does Hershman’s departure mean that Strikeforce is closer to extinction? Or, will Hershman’s departure mean Strikeforce gets a stay of execution? Earlier this week, MMA Payout made a compelling argument that Zuffa had muted any chance for Strikeforce success. Hershman did bring MMA to Showtime but Dana White has not been a fan of Hershman. If Showtime would like to continue programming MMA, Hershman’s replacement must have the same interest in the sport and see it through. If White decides to dissolve Strikeforce, it will be interesting to see if Showtime will continue to pursue MMA programming.
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, showtime, hershman, mma junkie
Read the full article at MMA PayoutStrikeforce Champ Gilbert Melendez: ‘I’m Up There Pound-For-Pound As Well’
Is Gilbert Melendez a pound-for-pound fighter? He's done a lot to be thrown into the discussion, and the Strikeforce lightweight champ talks about those things in this exclusive one-on-one video.
Posted in: strikeforce, gilbert melendez, pound-for-pound, pound-for-pound fighter, champ talks
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyScott Coker Believes Both Zuffa and Showtime Want To Extend Strikeforce Contract
Dana White hinted a couple weeks back that Strikeforce’s fate would be known soon. At the time, Lorenzo Fertitta was meeting with Showtime execs in New York to figure out whether or not Showtime wanted to extend Strikeforce’s contract. It sounded like it would be settled by now, however Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker revealed today that both sides are still talking and actually want to make a deal.
“There are negotiations going on to extend the deal, and I believe both sides want to make a deal,” Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “Both sides have indicated to me that they’d like to stay in this relationship.”
“I know that negotiations were ongoing and they were going back and forth,” Coker said. “It’s like any negotiation. They’re trying to come to a deal that makes sense for both parties. The devil’s always in the details.”
It’s a little surprising considering Strikeforce’s numbers are down since Zuffa, err Forza LLC, acquired the organization and subsequently cherry picked it’s top stars for the UFC. Coker hinted that a new deal could result in fewer shows on the network, but it’s unclear what the motivation would be to keep it going.
Another interesting twist in this story is Ken Hershman’s departure from Showtime. News broke today that Hershman, the Executive VP of Showtime Sports and the guy Dana White spit fire at back in the day, resigned from Showtime to become the new president of HBO Sports. It’s unclear if and how his departure would affect negotiations. When Ariel Helwani sought comment from the organization today, all they would say is they’re committed as ever to MMA. Of course, that attitude could change if Hershman’s replacement isn’t as enthusiastic about the sport.
So for now, Strikeforce still has a big fat question mark next to it, but it sounds like there might be some life left in it after all.
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, showtime, coker, negotiation
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCoker confident Strikeforce/Showtime deal can be renewed
Scott Coker believes that the possibility for a renewed deal between Strikeforce and the Showtime network exists.That is despite Strikeforce being steadily...
Posted in: strikeforce, deal, scott coker, possibility, coker
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyK.J. Noons fighting Billy Evangelista on December Strikeforce event
Strikeforce continued to fill out the show’s next big card, a December 17 offering in San Diego headlined by lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his gold up for grabs against well-rounded top contender Jorge Masvidal, with a recent announcement relating to hard-hitting 155er KJ Noons.
While Noons had already been rumored for the event, the organization has now confirmed he will face 11-1 Californian Billy Evangelista who, like the heavy-handed striker, suffered a loss to Masvidal in his last appearance under the Strikeforce banner.
A Look Back at Noons vs. Masvidal
Noons holds an overall record of 10-4 including past success against Yves Edwards, Conor Heun, Jorge Gurgel, and Nick Diaz. A former EliteXC title-holder known for his stand-up, the 28-year old has earned eight of his ten total victories via TKO.
Evangelista also has the ability to stop his adversaries with strikes, having four TKOs to his credit, as well as decision wins over Gurgel, Waachiim Spiritwolf, and Nam Phan.
The December show will also feature Cristiane Santos defending her featherweight belt against Japanese grappler Hiroko Yamanaka and Gegard Mousasi taking on streaking contender Ovince St. Preux.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, december, masvidal, noon, evangelista
Read the full article at Fighters.comCyborg Santos vs Hiroko Yamanaka set for Strikeforce event on Dec. 17 in San Diego
Looks like they finally found another victim opponent for Cristiane Santos.
"Cyborg" (10-1), who somehow managed to escape serving a life sentence for the murder of Jan Finney, has been booked to defend her Women's 145-pound title against Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1) at the promotion's upcoming Showtime event scheduled for the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011.
Santos hasn't been seen since smashing "Cuddles" back in June 2010, when she threw a frightening 158 total bombs in the opening frame alone and finished with a total of 141 out of 236 total strikes (60-percent) including 63 "power strikes" and six knockdowns.
That's one strike every 3.3 seconds.
Hoping to avoid the Brazilian's relentless attack is Yamanaka, who has been kicking the crap out of the Japanese scene under the Jewels banner, last submitting the unpronounceable Bolormaa Erdenebileg back in July.
"Cat's Eye" will need more than just a feline's retina, she'll need all nine of its lives as well.
Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back into the promotion's win column in more than a year when he takes on former University of Tennessee defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
For more on this upcoming fight card click here.
Posted in: strikeforce, event, strike, san diego, yamanaka
Read the full article at MMA ManiaKen Hershman Out As Head of Showtime Sports
Ken Hershman, Showtime's Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sports & Event Programming, has resigned, the premium cable network confirmed to MMAFighting.com on Thursday afternoon. Broadcasting & Cable first reported the news earlier in the day.
The outlet is also reporting that Hershman, who left Showtime earlier this week, will replace Ross Greenburg as president of HBO Sports in the coming days. Showtime officials would not confirm where Hershman was headed and HBO officials could not be reached for comment.
Hershman began working for Showtime in 1992 in the network's law department. He was named head of Showtime Sports in 2003. In 2007, Hershman brought MMA to the network when EliteXC debuted, and he stuck with the sport following the demise of EliteXC in 2008, striking a deal with Strikeforce in 2009.
Of course, this news comes at an interesting time for Strikeforce with all sorts of speculation about its future. Showtime officials would not confirm whether Strikeforce would continue to air on the network next year when its current contract expires, however, a network spokesperson did say that they are still as committed as ever to the sport.
UFC president Dana White has made no secret of the fact that he has never seen eye-to-eye with Hershman, however, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has been running Strikeforce and dealing with Showtime since Zuffa purchased the fight promotion in March.
Depending on who replaces Hershman, his departure could either signal the end of MMA on Showtime or breathe new life into the struggling Strikeforce brand. Conversely, Hershman's reported arrival at HBO could open the doors for MMA to air on the network for the first time in its history. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, sport, showtime, network, hershman
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce tickets for 'Melendez vs. Masvidal' in San Diego on Dec. 17 for sale soon
Tickets for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal," which was recently made official for the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., on Sat., Dec. 17, 2011, will go on sale to the general public on Sat., Oct. 15, 2011, at 10 a.m. PT.
UFC Fight Club members and Strikeforce/UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.
"Melendez vs. Masvidal" will feature lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez putting his 155-pound belt on the line against a very dangerous, and hungry, Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening.
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight and 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion, Gegard Mousasi, will look to get back in the promotion's win column in more than one year when he takes on former University of Tennessess defensive standout Ovince St. Preux.
Here is the Strikeforce tickets sales schedule:
UFC Fight Club presale: Thurs., Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. PT
Strikeforce/UFC Newsletter presale: Fri., Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. PT
General tickets sale: Sat., Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. PT
Strikeforce tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.
Posted in: strikeforce, ticket, melendez, ., oct, melendez vs
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTIL - "Strikeforce was founded as a kickboxing organization. It became involved with MMA in 2006 with the Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie event on March 10, 2006"
submitted by yarp-yarp [link] [comment]
Posted in: strikeforce, gracie event, shamrock vs, kickboxing organization, march
Read the full article at RedditIs Tim Kennedy Moving Over to the UFC?
The UFC's dismantling of Strikeforce looks to have continued with Tim Kennedy. Kennedy recently added the Ultimate Fighting Championship to his employers on Facebook:
Kennedy could be referencing the fact that the UFC owns Strikeforce, and, by proxy, he's employed by the UFC. But, then again, it seems like a random thing to do seven months after Strikeforce was purchased, no?
So, the UFC's come after the heavyweights and the light heavyweights and the welterweights and the lightweights and now it appears as if they're coming after the middleweights. UFC President Dana White will never say it, but I don't think there's much ambiguity with what they WANT Showtime to choose in 2012.
Bloody Elbow has reached out to sources close to Kennedy. We've yet to hear confirmation back, but we will update this post once we receive word.
Kennedy defeated Robbie Lawler by decision in his last fight in July at the "Fedor vs. Henderson" event.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ufc ?., kennedy, tim kennedy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Main Card Official for “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Dec. 17
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will defend his title at least one more time before a likely move to the UFC as “El Nino” is set to face Jorge Masvidal in the main event of Strikeforce’s Dec. 17 event on Showtime from San Diego, California, the promotion announced today.
Filling out the main card are women’s featherweight champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka, Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux, and KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista.
The event could be one of the promotion’s last on Showtime as their broadcast deal ends in early 2012 unless an contract extension is executed by the channel.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, event, ovince st, masvidal ”
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce Announces Main Card for Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Strikeforce has announced the main card for their upcoming show in San Diego titled Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san diego, melendez, melendez vs
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMo Lawal a free agent in February
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed Lawal is in an interesting position. While he wants to fight again as soon as possible after knocking previously undefeated grappler Roger Gracie out in the opening round of a September bout under the Strikeforce banner, Lawal has also been extremely critical of the way his bosses have handled business and even compared the promotion’s future to that of a terminally ill cancer patient.
Compounding things, Lawal’s contract expire in a few months leaving him in limbo with Strikeforce’s December card already filling up and the possibility of the promotion folding shortly thereafter.
“King Mo” discussed his status recently in a conversation with MMAFighting where he offered his thoughts on what’s next for him including his desire to eventually settle his quarrel with Quinton Jackson one-on-one in the Octagon.
“Who knows,” Lawal responded when asked when or where his next match-up will take place. “We’ll see. My contract is up in February,” he added while also expressing an interest in fighting sooner than later.
Lawal Wants to See Strikeforce vs. UFC Card
As far as Jackson, Lawal stated he hadn’t initiated the conflict between the two but was tired of hearing his name come out of the former UFC title-holder’s mouth.
“This fool ‘Rampage’ calls me out, and then people get mad when I respond? He’s a bitch in my eyes because he didn’t respond. Maybe he’ll respond later, but the word is he wants to fight (Mauricio Rua). That’s whatever. But he called me out, so I’m going to respond.”
“He wasn’t even on my radar,” Lawal continued. “But now he wants to say something about me, he’s on my radar now. We’re going to bang eventually.”
Lawal, only three years younger than Jackson, holds an 8-1 professional record in comparison to the PRIDE icon’s 32-9 mark. In terms of styles, both are wrestlers with above-average boxing though Lawal is the more-decorated of the two in terms of grappling while Jackson arguably packs more power in his punches.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, jackson, mauricio rua, lawal, september bout
Read the full article at Fighters.comK.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista targeted for 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal'
A welterweight bout originally planned for "Strikeforce: Miami" has materialized again for the promotion's next major event.
Multiple sources today told MMAjunkie.com that
onetime welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons is
targeted to meet Billy Evangelista at "Strikeforce:
Melendez vs. Masvidal," which takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino
Center in San Diego.
Verbal agreements are in place for the bout. It's not yet known whether the bout will air as part of
the event's main card or reside on the preliminary roster.
Posted in: strikeforce, bout, vs, melendez vs, billy evangelista
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePayout Analysis: The Strikeforce Death Knell ?
Zuffa created a subsidiary called Forza LLC to control Strikeforce who was taken over from Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment in March of this year. Since then, there’s been much debate as too whether Zuffa/Forza will continue to operate the promotion or just kill it off. Strikeforces’ television contract with Showtime expires mid-February 2012 and both sides have been relatively quiet as to the future the promotions programming on the network. However, UFC President Dana White recently commented on the Strikeforce/Showtime situation at the UFC 135 pre-fight press conference:
“Who knows what’s going to happen? The way this thing works is, it depends on Showtime. The ball’s in their court. They need to decide whether they want to keep Strikeforce around or not”
Showtime has yet to comment on their plans moving forward. They do have an option to extend the deal through 2014, however, the ball that’s been left in their court doesn’t have much of a bounce left.
Over the past 5 months Strikeforce had their top draws cherry-picked by the UFC, an impressive list that includes former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem, former welterweight champ Nick Diaz and Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Dan Henderson. It’s almost certain the Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez will join them. By hollowing out the promotions champions, Zuffa’s actions speak louder then words and Showtime should be getting the message now loud and clear.
So is there even a business case left for keeping Stikeforce around in 2012? Using the publicly available data we took a closer look at the performance of the two Strikeforce ownership groups, Silicon Valley, and Zuffa/Forza. We sampled data from the last 9 events under Silicon Valley ownership, between October 9 2010 to March 25 2011 that included 5 major tier 1 events and 4 smaller tier 2 Challengers events. We compared the average TV Ratings, Attendance, Gate and Payroll to the first 9 events under Zuffa ownership, between April 1 2011 and September 23 2011 that included 4 major tier 1 events and 5 tier 2 events.
Payout Perspective:
In the midst of losing their top talent, the rough estimation is that Strikeforce has seen TV ratings dip 5%, attendance drop 32%, live gate profits down 11% and an increase of 26% in fighters payroll since Zuffa took control in March 2011.
From Showtimes point of view, the ratings are stagnant and Zuffa is (or has) impeded the ability for Strikeforce to improve upon their ratings. Showtime is drawing approximately 2.5 times more viewers with boxing programming then with Strikeforce. M-1 Global, who also broadcasts MMA events on Showtime will air their next to last event on October 14th. With no word on a Showtime/M-1 contract renewal, perhaps Showtimes focus will shift solely back to boxing leaving the MMA programming by the wayside.
For Zuffa, they’re in a position were they have just signed a huge network television contract for the UFC with FOX, which includes distribution on the cable channels FX and Fuel TV. Plus, Spike TV appears set to continue broadcasting UFC content, counter-programming or not, throughout 2012. So for Zuffa’s primary brand there’s no shortages on the television front. There has been zero push for Strikeforce since the ownership change and none look to be in sight. The numbers aren’t terribly good and there is no momentum, I see little benefit for Zuffa to continue their support for Strikeforce. It’s plausible they would continue to broadcast Strikeforce on Showtime in an attempt to help limit potential competition but I think if Showtime is to continue with MMA programming, it won’t be under the Zuffa/Forza/Strikeforce banner.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, event, showtime, zuffa
Read the full article at MMA PayoutMuhammed 'King Mo' Lawal: Rampage Jackson and I are going to bang eventually
Fight! Fight! Fight!
The always vocal and entertaining Muhammed Lawal has once again expressed his desire to settle his beef with the equally entertaining and maybe even more vocal UFC light heavyweight, Quinton Jackson.
"King Mo" and "Rampage" have had beef dating back to 2009, when an infamous video was leaked in which the two were involved in a verbal confrontation in a van. It's been a hate-hate relationship ever since.
And with the apparent end of Strikeforce just around the corner, Lawal may as well set up for a big money match-up inside the Octagon, right?
Here's what the outspoken Tennessean told MMAFighting.com:
"This fool Rampage calls me out, and then people get mad when I respond? He’s a b—h in my eyes, because he didn’t respond. Maybe he’ll respond later, but the word is he wants to fight Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. That’s whatever. But he called me out, so I’m going to respond. When’s the last time you heard me mention Rampage’s name before he mentioned mine? I don’t care about him. He wasn’t even on my radar. But now, he wants to say something about me, he’s on my radar now. We’re going to bang eventually. Who knows? We’ll see. My contract is up in February. … I’d like to fight, but I have no idea."
Lawal, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, is coming off an impressive knockout victory over the previously undefeated Roger Gracie at the Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" event just this past Sept. 10.
Coincidentally enough, Lawal's Strikeforce contract is up in February and "Rampage" has expressed his desire to compete on the Japan card scheduled for the same month, though his sites are set on avenging a loss to Mauricio Rua.
Both Jackson and Lawal have a strong fan base in "The Land of the Rising Sun" due to their time spent competing in PRIDE and Sengoku, respectively. A matchup in Japan at the highly anticipated UFC card scheduled for February 26, 2012, would make perfect sense.
What do you say, Maniacs, does "King Mo" deserve to be drafted to the UFC and finally settle his score? Or does he still have work to do in the Strikeforce ranks to prove he deserves to bang with the big boys?
Discuss.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, rampage, &rsquo, lawal
Read the full article at MMA Mania'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' tickets on sale this week
Tickets for Strikeforce's next and final event of 2011 go on sale this week.
The show, "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," takes place Dec. 17 at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, and the main card airs on Showtime.
Tickets for the show, which range from $45 to $175, go on sale beginning this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).
Posted in: strikeforce, card airs, sale, ticket, melendez vs
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGilbert Melendez meets Jorge Masvidal in December match-up
Speculation surrounding where 19-2 Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez would fight next has been put to rest.
According to his superiors at Zuffa, Melendez will face Jorge Masvidal on December 17 in San Diego as had been rumored before discussion recently heated up regarding a run in the UFC. Other match-ups on the card include Cristiane Santos defending her featherweight title against Japanese grappler Hiroki Yamanaka and Gegard Mousasi mixing it up with Ovince St. Preux.
“El Nino” is seen by many as the #2 155-pounder in the world and is currently on a five-fight winning streak including success against Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, and most recently Tatsuya Kawajiri. While he has ten fights under the Strikeforce banner, Melendez has already expressed his desire to test himself against the best in the UFC with Dana White backing the cause.
Melendez has Head on Masvidal, Heart on UFC
Comparably, Masvidal earned his crack at the Californian’s championship by taking out KJ Noons in June is as impressive a performance as has been seen from the 26-year old. “Gamebred” holds an overall record of 22-6 with past wins over Billy Evangelista, Yves Edwards, and Joe Lauzon.
Other fighters expected to compete alongside Melendez and Masvidal include Noons and Keith Jardine.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Tickets On Sale This Week, Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Official
Gilbert Melendez’s run at the UFC lightweight title will have to wait. Instead of following Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz over to the UFC this winter, Strikeforce announced today that he and Jorge Masvidal will headline their upcoming December card in San Diego.
Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” is scheduled to take place at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California on Saturday, Dec. 17, and will air on Showtime at 10pm ET.
Melendez will put his Strikeforce lightweight title up for grabs against Masvidal in the main event. Other match-ups official for the card include Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka and Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux. KJ Noons is also expected to compete on the card. Gina Carano was believed to make her long awaited return on the card, but she was not included in the announcement. Neither was Keith Jardine who is expected to make his middleweight debut.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, Oct. 15, at 10am PT and will be priced at $175, $125, $75 and $45. They can be purchased at the Valley View Casino Center box office, online at ValleyViewCasinoCenter.com and Ticket Master, by phone at 800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster outlets.
The latest Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, card, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGilbert Melendez Will Defend His Strikeforce Belt Against Jorge Masvidal
Strikeforce announced today that lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will indeed be defending his title against Jorge Masvidal on December 17 as originally planned. Per the promotion's Twitter:
@StrikeforceStrikeforce Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat!Oct 11 via webFavoriteRetweetReply
UFC President Dana White had talked last week about bringing Melendez into the UFC "asap" but apparently he'll have to fight at least one more bout with Strikeforce before moving over to the big show.
Melendez (19-2) is currently ranked #3 in the world at lightweight according to the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings. Masvidal (22-6) is currently ranked #20.
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, masvidal, melendez, title vs
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGilbert Melendez stays put, fights Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce event on Dec. 17 in San Diego
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will not be coming to the UFC to fight Frankie Edgar in a title unification bout.
At least, not yet.
That's because the promotion today announced that he will instead defend his 155-pound strap against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, California.
From the Striketweet:
Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat!
Melendez (19-2) hasn't seen the inside of a cage since a successful title defense against Japanese "Crusher," Tatsuya Kawajiri back in April. That win marked "El Nino's" fifth in a row and created a matchmaking conundrum for his Zuffa employers.
No longer.
After coming up short in a unanimous decision loss to Paul "Semtex" Daley under the Shark Fights banner, "Gamebred" (22-6) made a successful Strikeforce debut opposite Billy Evangelista back in March, punching his way to a sweep on the judges' scorecards despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Columbus crowd.
The Bellator and Sengoku veteran turned that around and staked his claim to the Melendez throne with his impressive win over K.J. Noons, a former pro boxer, earlier this year.
But was it enough to convince you he can steal the strap? Or is Melendez on another level? And how disappointed are you that he's not fighting "The Answer?"
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, dec, san diego, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGilbert Melendez Still in Strikeforce, Defends Title Against Jorge Masvidal
If Gilbert Melendez is going to fight UFC champion Frankie Edgar, he's going to have to earn it with at least one more title defense in Strikeforce.
Posted in: title, strikeforce, title defense, jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' official for Dec. 17 in San Diego
Is Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is moving to the UFC, it won't be before a Dec. 17 title fight with top contender Jorge Masvidal.
UFC president Dana White, whose company acquired Strikeforce earlier this year, recently said he wants Melendez in the UFC as soon as possible.
But first, he'll headline an event that officials today announced: "Strikeforce" Melendez vs. Masvidal."
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez, melendez vs
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal Official for Strikeforce in December
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsGilbert Melendez will have to wait a little longer to fight in the UFC.
Strikeforce announced on Tuesday that "El Nino" will in fact defend his lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17 in San Diego, Calif. The card will take place at Valley View Casino Center, and tickets go on sale to the public on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Melendez met with UFC president Dana White over the weekend to discuss the possibility of unifying the Strikeforce and UFC lightweight title but no deal was reached.
"I just wanted to discuss my future with the organization," Melendez said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I just expressed that I want to fight the best."
Melendez (19-2) has won his last five fights in a row. He most recently defeated Tatsuya Kawajiri via first-round TKO at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, which also took place in San Diego.
Masvidal (22-6) is 2-0 since returning to Strikeforce, defeating Billy Evangelista and KJ Noons.
Also officially announced for the card is Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka for the Strikeforce women's featherweight title, Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux and local favorite KJ Noons is expected to meet Billy Evangelista.
The main card will air live on Showtime. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, vs, san diego, melendez, billy evangelista
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGilbert Melendez mindful of future in UFC, fight against Jorge Masvidal
Everyone wants to see current Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez in the UFC including top executive Dana White. With the 155-pound division boasting a deep roster of talented fighters, Melendez would be another central point to build around and further solidify the organization as the sport’s elite.
For now, though, Melendez remains in Strikeforce, where he has an upcoming title bout set with Jorge Masvidal in December. That hasn’t kept Melendez from thinking about what the UFC has to offer, especially in terms of a super-fight with champion Frankie Edgar.
“The UFC title is the best belt. I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible,” said Melendez recently on The MMA Hour. “I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great. I honestly feel like I’m the No. 1 contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.”
Melendez, who trains with the likes of Nate Diaz and Nick Diaz, as well as with Jake Shields, is 19-2 with five straight wins since a loss to Josh Thomson in 2008. He has finished three of his last five opponents.
While White tries to figure out a way to get Melendez out of Strikeforce and into the UFC, Melendez continues to focus his training on Masvidal.
“He’s the first guy in line. I think he’s the No. 1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy,” Melendez said. “He’s real tough. But it’s hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors.”
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/ESTHER LIN
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, mma hour, jorge masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal official for December 17th Strikeforce Event
It appears Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is not yet headed to the UFC to face Frankie Edgar after all.Instead, according to the official Strikeforce Twitter account, he'll first defend his belt against Jorge Masvidal on December 17th."Sorry to keep you waiting folks! @GilbertMelendez WILL be defending his title vs @GamebredFighter in San Diego on Dec. 17. Tix on sale Sat!"The match-up will mark Melendez's third consecutive title defense since dethroning Josh Thompson to recapture the
Posted in: strikeforce, san diego, melendez, title vs, !"the match-up
Read the full article at Low KickGilbert Melendez: “I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now.”
It may sound strange to hear Strikeforce’s lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez refer to himself as a “contender” or plead his case when it comes to receiving a shot at gold. However, with Dana White recently expressing his desire to bring Melendez over as soon as possible it appears “El Nino” could be poised to join fellow former Strikeforce champions Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz in the UFC.
UFC President Expresses Strong Interest in Inking Melendez Immediately
Melendez addressed the issue on Monday in a conversation with The MMA Hour where he made it clear his mind is on Jorge Masvidal but his heart is set on the Octagon.
“I’ve been focusing on Masvidal,” Melendez commented on his rumored opponent at a December 17 Strikeforce event. “He’s the first guy in line. I think he’s the #1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy. He’s real tough. But it’s hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors.”
“The UFC title is the best belt,” the 29-year old continued. “I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible…I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great. I honestly feel like I’m the (top) contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.”
The 19-2 Californian has won his last five fights including one-sided performances against Mitsuhiro Ishida, Josh Thomson, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki. He has won eleven of his total bouts by way of TKO while never having been finished himself.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: ufc, title shot, strikeforce, melendez, inking melendez
Read the full article at Fighters.comGilbert Melendez: The UFC Belt Is Best Belt, and I Want It
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez sat down with UFC President Dana White recently and put it out there that he'd love to get a crack at the UFC lightweight title.
"I just wanted to discuss my future with the organization," Melendez said Monday on The MMA Hour. "It looks like I have a good future. ... I just expressed that I want to fight the best."
Although Melendez described himself as a loyal Strikeforce fighter who still has four fights left on his contract, he made no secret of the fact that his ultimate goal in the sport is to be the champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"The UFC title is the best belt," he said. "I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible."
Melendez said he believes he matches up well with UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and has done enough that he deserves the next shot at Edgar's belt.
"I'm definitely impressed by Frankie. He's an amazing fighter. He's great," Melendez said. "I honestly feel like I'm the No. 1 contender and I feel like I'm ready for the title shot now."
The UFC has already brought in Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, and Melendez is hoping he's next. Melendez stressed, however, that he's not allowing the possibility of fighting in the UFC distract him from his planned December 17 Strikeforce fight with Jorge Masvidal.
"I've been focusing on Jorge Masvidal," Melendez said. "He's the first guy in line. I think he's the No. 1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy. He's real tough. But it's hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors."
Melendez had nothing but positive things to say about Strikeforce, but he has been frustrated at times that the general public recognizes only UFC fighters as the best in the world.
"The most frustrating thing is the recognition," Melendez said. "A lot of people don't recognize me as a great fighter because I haven't beaten any UFC guys."
Melendez hopes to change that soon. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, belt, champion, melendez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWeek-in-Review: List of UFC, Strikeforce & Other Fights Announced
A complete list of significant new fights reported in the past week.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, week, list
Read the full article at SherdogGilbert Melendez doesn't have a chip on his shoulder but thinks he deserves recognition
Today at the UFC 136 Fan Expo, current Strikeforce Lightweight Champion spoke with media and of course, the question of whether or not mixed martial arts (MMA) fans would see "El Nino" inside the Octagon sooner rather than later came up.
Melendez treated the question and answer session much like he does his fights. He went full speed ahead and didn't hold anything back. He stated that he always feels like he has to prove himself in the sport. While teammates Jake Shields and Nick Diaz are being brought over from the Strikeforce cage to the Octagon, no official word on Melendez's exodus from the San Jose-based promotion has been made.
Dana White has said he wants "El Nino" to fight under the UFC banner but as of right now, he has a date with Jorge Masvidal on December 17 to defend his Strikeforce belt.
"A lot of other fighters and the media respect me but the common fans, they think that I haven't made it to the big leagues," Melendez said. "I've been working my butt off, putting on really good shows and exciting fights and not getting the recognition I think I deserve has been frustrating."
"But nobody here is bitter," the Strikeforce champ added with a smile.
More with Melendez including how he felt after his rematch with Tatsuya Kawajiri after the jump!
Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz. All three men once wore Strikeforce gold but now have "UFC" on their four-ounce gloves. So why not Melendez? The lightweight has run through every lightweight put in front of him the past two years.
He said that since the Strikeforce buy-out, he feels he's gotten more of a PR push. "My name is getting out there but that's inevitable, I'm going to be number one. One way or another, I'm gonna be number one," he added.
But despite the recent talk of having "El Nino" drop his Strikeforce obligations to become the latest big name to sign with the UFC, nothing is concrete.
"The boss Dana White is saying stuff like, 'We're going to yank him over' and you want to get excited but you have to come back to reality and remember what's been inked and what hasn't. My fight with Masvidal is inked. Until I'm told different, that's where my focus is," Melendez told reporters.
The fight with Masvidal has been pretty much official since the American Top Team product defeated K.J Noons back in June on the Strikeforce: "Overeem vs. Werdum" card in Dallas. Unofficially, though, Melendez has been wanting to step inside the cage with Masvidal for some time now.
"He has talked trash on me in the past so I knew I was going to fight this guy eventually," the champion explained. "I thought he was going to beat K.J. [Noons] so I was visualizing a fight with Masvidal even before that."
Dana White has already made it clear that he wants Melendez inside the Octagon. As the number three 155-pounder in the world according to SBNation, it would only make sense that he plies his wares in the promotion that holds most of the top talent. When asked if he would accept an immediate title shot in the UFC, Melendez said, "I don't think a warm-up fight is necessary. I'm a veteran in this sport, I've been fighting for a long, long time. I'm ready to be number one. I'm ready to take over and start representing the sport.
"I'm not a new kid that needs to get his feet wet. Yeah, this is the biggest stage in the world and that can make someone nervous or you can take all those vibes and emotions and people yelling and use it. That's what I do, that's what I've always done."
He did just that about as perfectly as possible the last time he fought. He was inside the cage with Tatsuya Kawajiri who he held an oft-debated decision win over from back in 2006. The second time they faced off, "Crusher" ended up getting crushed.
He ran through Kawajiri, ending the fight with a series of brutal elbows which had just become legal inside the Strikeforce cage. "That felt really good. I just ready to fight when I stepped inside the cage. Not being dumb but just turning it on as soon as the fight starts. It felt great to throw some elbows. I loved it," he said.
Of course, this entire weekend's festivities have been used to help promote tonight's (Oct. 8) event headlined by thelightweight title rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Putting on his predictions cap, Melendez said he has been visualizing a bout with Frankie more. Why?
"Because I think he's going to win," he went on to explain. "I think about a fight with Maynard but I lean towards Frankie. He'll win on the scorecards but Maynard will win the feet. Maynard will hit the big punches and takedowns but Edgar will jump in, land some quick punches, and jump out. That's how I think he'll win."
After nearly a decade in the game, it seems the future is brighter than ever for "El Nino." But despite feeling overlooked at times, Melendez insists there are no hard feelings.
"There's no chip on my shoulder but I don't need a warm-up. I want to come over, of course. Masvidal has earned the shot to face but I've earned 10 times what he has. I've been here longer than Edgar, Maynard, Melvin Guillard, Clay Guida. I've been here longer than all of those guys. I would take an immediate title. I want to fight the top guy."
Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNick Diaz vs Strikeforce 2011
submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: diaz, strikeforce, nick, tekprodfx, vs
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce update: Dana White has to run his business and can't wait for decisions to be made
There's been a lot of talk over the past few days about bringing Gilbert Melendez to the UFC.
"El Nino" would be the fourth Strikeforce champion (behind Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson) to be uprooted from the former San Jose-based fight promotion since the blockbuster acquisition made by Zuffa earlier this year.
Whoever said "no man is an island" should probably talk to recently crowned middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.
The mantra has been "business as usual" -- which translates to "Dana White has a business to run and can't wait around for Showtime to decide whether or not they want to be in the business of cagefighting."
"The ball is in their court, you either wanna be in this business or you don't. The problem is, we're [already] running a business, I can't sit around and wait for decisions to be made. Do you wanna cut a deal and be in the mixed martial arts business? I'm not gonna cut a stupid deal. I'm not gonna cut a deal that's gonna hurt me and put me out of business. It's not just about getting on TV. Yeah it's great if you get on TV, but if you're paying the whole bill, you're dead."
The UFC President breaks it all down (via MMA Weekly) after the jump.
Over/under on the dissolution of Strikeforce. +/- three months?
What say you?
Posted in: business, strikeforce, deal, el nino, blockbuster acquisition
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDerek Brunson vs. Nate James slated for Strikeforce Challengers 20
A middleweight bout between undefeated Derek Brunson and veteran Nate James is slated for next month's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event.
Brunson and Strikeforce officials announced the fight via Twitter.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, strikeforce officials, brunson, nate james, derek brunson
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBrunson Reveals James Bout for Strikeforce Challengers 20
Undefeated welterweight prospect Derek Brunson Wednesday announced that he will face American Kickboxing Academy representative Nate James on Nov. 18 at Strikeforce Challengers 20.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, jame, james bout, brunson
Read the full article at SherdogUFC prez on Strikeforce champ Melendez: "If I have to yank him over here, I'll do it"
HOUSTON - There have been strong indications that Gilbert Melendez's run in Strikeforce is over and that his UFC run is just beginning.
Following Saturday's UFC on Versus 6 event, UFC president Dana White said he wanted the lightweight champ in the UFC "ASAP," which prompted speculation that Melendez's headliner with Jorge Masvidal at a December Strikeforce event had been dissolved,
Masvidal and his representatives say the bout is still a go, and while White said today that he isn't sure when Melendez will make the jump.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, ufc prez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDecision on Strikeforce-Showtime Relationship Imminent
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsHOUSTON -- The future of the Strikeforce-Showtime relationship is expected to be decided imminently, UFC president Dana White said on Wednesday.
Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta was in New York on Tuesday meeting with Showtime executives, and White was scheduled to speak with Fertitta after Wednesday's press conference and possibly learn the fate of the deal.
Showtime has an option to extend the deal past its current end date, which is reportedly in early 2012.
Since Zuffa bought Strikeforce in March 2011, it has taken several key pieces from the promotion to the UFC, including reigning champions Alistair Overeem (heavyweight), Dan Henderson (light-heavyweight) and Nick Diaz (welterweight). White also recently mentioned bringing lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on board, fueling speculation that the promotion is on its last legs.
"We'll see," White said. "We're still trying to figure this whole thing out. I don't like to speak about Strikeforce that much because I'm not involved with it, I'm not the one doing it. I've purposely taken myself out of that situation. We'll see what happens, but I've got to run my business. If I have to yank him over here, I'll do it."
Fertitta has overseen Strikeforce since the purchase. Asked what he expected, White said he was unsure due to his total focus on the UFC.
"I don't know," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't even want to talk about it. I'm not even involved with that thing." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, strikeforce-showtime relationship, fertitta, showtime executives
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseJorge Masvidal Believes His Fight with Gilbert Melendez is Still Happening in Strikeforce
It's been a strange couple of days for Strikeforce lightweight Jorge Masvidal, who believes his fight with Gilbert Melendez is still on.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, jorge
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyJorge Masvidal Reveals His Fight with Gilbert Melendez is Still Happening in Strikeforce
It's been a strange couple of days for Strikeforce lightweight Jorge Masvidal.
Posted in: strikeforce, jorge masvidal, gilbert melendez, masvidal, jorge
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyGilbert Melendez' Impending Journey into the UFC Shark Tank and What it Means for Strikeforce
I meant "shank tark". Sorry Gus.
With the news that Gilbert Melendez is UFC bound, it'll be interesting to see whether Melendez can avoid the stereotype of non-Zuffa fighters under-performing in the 'big show'. At 29 years old, he's got plenty of time to make waves, but will he?
Melendez is on an impressive winning streak. Within that streak is the avenging of his only two losses, and two emphatic wins over then top 10 competition in Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki. Moreover, Gilbert brings with him a style perfect for the division. His wrestling is top notch, and his striking, while highly competent (with elements of both power and speed), is made stronger by the fact that he's a rangy LW.
Of course, what's odd about the news being made so public, with both parties willing to talk about Gil's prospects in the UFC is that Melendez still has a title fight scheduled in December against a fighter he'd be wise not to underestimate in Jorge Masvidal. It's possible Dana and Melendez forgot about that fight. I know the fans did, including myself.
Masvidal has taken bad losses: to Palomino (questionable decision), Imada, and Damm (to be fair Sengoku refs make the Yamasaki brothers as of last night look like the Wright Brothers with that terrible stoppage). But he's highly talented, and when he's focused, he can almost be mistaken for world class. As he showed in his dominating victory over KJ Noons.
Of course, the news also underscores what many have long suspected: that Strikeforce is a corpse. The only thing missing is the engraving on the tombstone. The Strikeforce HW, LHW, and WW champions have already signed into the UFC, and now the LW champion is heading in the same direction. One of their most marketable fighters in Cung Le is in the UFC. No word on when Luke Rockhold is coming over.
What kind of show is Strikeforce expected to run without their champions? None at all, which is what many suspected in the beginning, but I suppose it's nice to finally have confirmation.
Poll
How good are Gilbert's chances in the UFC?
Good. He does all the things every other wrestle-boxer in the UFC does but better.
Bad. Beating Kawajiri and Aoki doesn't prove you've got a chance in the UFC.
4 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, gilbert
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendBobby Lashley Reveals Next Opponent, Eyes Winner-Take-All Fight with Dave Bautista
Bobby Lashley has a name and a date for his next MMA fight, and his opponent will be a familiar face to fans of The Ultimate Fighter.
On November 11 in Lubbock, Texas, Lashley will face TUF 10 contestant Darrill Schoonover for the Shark Fights heavyweight title, the former pro wrestler told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. It will be the first in his multi-fight deal with the Shark Fights organization, and Lashley hopes it will help build him back up after his short, unimpressive stay in Strikeforce.
"I believe [Strikeforce CEO Scott] Coker said this, he said he doesn't believe that I want it," Lashley said. "...I have all the respect in the world for Coker, and he may have been right. Maybe I wasn't ready for Strikeforce at the time. ...I didn't have everything together and I wasn't training the way I should have."
Lashley won his Strikeforce debut over journeyman heavyweight Wes Sims, but in his second bout with the organization he was undone by exhaustion against Chad Griggs. After starting strong against Griggs, Lashley suffered a cut and was later barely able to pick himself off the mat at the end of round two, prompting a stoppage that put the first blemish on his professional record.
Back then, Lashley said, he thought he was in shape, but with the help of a new strength and conditioning coach he recently learned that "I was just in the wrong kind of shape."
That was a little over a year ago, and Lashley rebounded in March with a win over John Ott in the Titan FC organization, but he still hasn't given up on the prospect of a rematch with Griggs.
"I would like to get that fight against Griggs some day," Lashley said. "That's one thing that still burns in my stomach, is having that loss on my record."
Another fight Lashley wouldn't mind is one with fellow WWE alum Dave Bautista, who was at one point rumored to be making his MMA debut in Strikeforce. That coming out party never materialized, but now that Lashley is with Shark Fights and Bautista is unsigned, Lashley has some ideas about how they could make it happen on a limited budget.
"If we do the fight, let's do winner-take-all. Let's put one purse up there, winner takes all," said Lashley, who acknowledged that a bout between two former pro wrestlers might not be well received by every fight fan.
"I'd love to fight Dave. I guess that's a super fight and that's a fight for maybe the wrestling fans. I don't know how well the MMA community would take it. I guess they would just sort of shrug their shoulders and say, 'whatever,' but I know it's a fight that a lot of wrestling fans would love to see."
As for his long-term future in the sport, Lashley said he remains committed to proving that he is a serious fighter, and not just a pro wrestler dabbling in MMA. His conditioning program has been adjusted to meet the demands of the sport, he said, and he's spent a lot of time working on his stand-up skills and increasing his sparring load, despite not sparring at all before his last two fights.
"I think it's good for me to get back there and try to prove myself. That's what I'd like to do. I'm not one to fight what someone else says about me. It's better to go out there and prove that, hey, I want to fight. I'm here, I'm taking this seriously, and I do want it," said Lashley.
Ultimately, he said, he'd like to get back in the big leagues, which is easier said than done.
"I want to get some fights in and I want to really prove myself in front of these guys, so that I can have that door open and maybe go back with Strikeforce or maybe talk to Dana White later on and get up there and do some big things and show what I'm really capable of doing," he said.
Beating Schoonover wouldn't be a bad start. But considering Schoonover's 1-4 record since losing to James McSweeney in the TUF 10 Finale, it would most likely be the first step in a long journey. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, lashley, bobby lashley
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWeek-in-Review: List of UFC, Strikeforce & Other Fights Announced
A complete list of significant new fights reported in the past week.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, week, list
Read the full article at SherdogManager: Bigfoot Silva will be in the UFC "real soon"
“He has a contract with Strikeforce, but Strikeforce is now controlled by the UFC and we’re watching Strikeforce fighters going to the UFC all the time. UFC’s heavyweight division is big, but they could have even more, and I’m sure Bigfoot will be in the UFC real soon” - TATAME
According to his manager, Alex Davis, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva may find himself pretty soon inside the UFC Octagon. Bigfoot was TKO'd by Daniel Cormier in the semi-final of Strikeforce Heavyweight GP, in
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, bigfoot, alex davis, strikeforce fighters
Read the full article at Low KickDana White bringing Gilbert Melendez to UFC “as soon as possible”
Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Nick Diaz all abandoned their Strikeforce titles to sign with the UFC and are scheduled for action in the Octagon over the next three months. Now, assuming UFC President Dana White has his way, lightweight Gilbert Melendez will join the group of former Strikeforce champions with the date of his arrival coming sooner than later.
White opened up about the company’s interest in bringing the gold-wearing grappler on board where he made it clear Melendez’s days as Strikeforce champ are numbered (much like the promotion itself it seems).
“We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We’re looking to bring him over now,” White explained to MMAWeekly.
“El Nino” certainly doesn’t appear opposed to the idea, telling the media outlet in a follow-up discussion that he’s currently focused on a December defense against top contender Jorge Masvidal but would “be there in a heartbeat” if asked to join the UFC lightweight division.
Melendez holds an overall record of 19-2 and is widely considered to be one of the “Top 3” 155-pounders in MMA. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak and owns past victories over a number of respected peers including Josh Thomson, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Shinya Aoki.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, gilbert melendez, melendez, strikeforce champ
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White: Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez is headed to the UFC, ASAP
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champ, asap, greyghst
Read the full article at RedditStrikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez Could Join UFC Soon
Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is reportedly coming to the UFC. MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin reports that UFC President Dana White says the deal is currently being worked on and that the UFC wants Melendez in the octagon.
Melendez’s agent, Malki Kawa, has apparently not received the offer but expressed over twitter that “Melendez would love nothing more than to come the UFC today! Dana White just has to make that call and he’ll be there. Meeting with the boss on monday. Got a couple of champs that got business to handle.” Kawa’s company, First Round Management, also represents UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
If the deal is completed, Melendez will become the fourth former Strikeforce champion to join the UFC following teammate and former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz, former heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson. The move would leave only middleweight champion Luke Rockhold as the remaining Strikeforce men’s champion.
Melendez is currently scheduled to put his lightweight title on line against hard-hitting Jorge Masvidal this December at Strikeforce 37 in San Diego, California. Melendez is generally considered one of the top three lightweights in the world and has lobbied for a move to the UFC several times since UFC parent company Zuffa LLC. purchased a controlling interest in the company earlier this year.
For more on this story and all your MMA needs, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, jorge masvidal, melendez
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce Champ Gilbert Melendez UFC Bound… ASAP
Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, according to UFC president Dana White, will be the latest talent siphoned away to the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, melendez, gilbert, … asap
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBigfoot manager: I'm sure Antonio Silva will be in the UFC real soon
The last time we saw Antonio Silva he was kissing canvas at the Strikeforce "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" event after his fellow heavyweight, Daniel Cormier, knocked him clean out inside the first round.
"Bigfoot" was just one fight away from advancing to the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix after having defeated the legendary Fedor Emelianenko earlier this year. His knockout loss to Cormier, just the second of his career, leaves him in a precarious position.
What’s next for the 6'4'' 265-pound behemoth? A potential move to a bigger playground with a lot more dangerous playmates, that's what.
This according to Silva’s manager, Alex Davis, who tells Tatame he hopes to see his client bang it out with the big boys of the UFC real soon:
"He has a contract with Strikeforce, but Strikeforce is now controlled by the UFC and we're watching Strike force fighters going to the UFC all the time. UFC's heavyweight division is big, but they could have even more, and I'm sure Bigfoot will be in the UFC real soon. There's a lot of great fights for him inside the Octagon, and he'll shine there."
Now that the heavyweight tournament has its final two participants (Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett), Alistair Overeem has jumped ship to the UFC, and Fedor was released, are there any good fights left for Silva in the Strikeforce ranks?
The UFC has slowly but surely been absorbing many of the top talents from its smaller sister organization, an indication that leads many to believe the promotion is dying a slow but certain death.
Does "Bigfoot" have the chops to find success against the best of the best in the UFC? Or does he even deserve a call up to the big show given the result of his last fight?
One thing is certain: if and when the move happens, there will be no shortage of opponents for him. Who would you like to see welcome him into the fold?
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, heavyweight, antonio silva
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUSA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Middleweight
Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1
Anderson Silva
100
UFC
1
2
Yushin Okami
90
UFC
2
3
Chael Sonnen
88
UFC
3
4
Mark Munoz
79
UFC
5
5
Vitor Belfort
77
UFC
6
6
Brian Stann
71
UFC
7
7
Demian Maia
67
UFC
9
8
Michael Bisping
66
UFC
8
9
Nate Marquardt
59
BAMMA
10
10
Luke Rockhold
53
Strikeforce
28
11
Ronaldo Souza
53
Strikeforce
4
12
Chris Leben
44
UFC
11
13
Hector Lombard
40
Bellator
12
14
Alan Belcher
36
UFC
16
15
Tim Kennedy
34
Strikeforce
14
16
Rousimar Palhares
27
UFC
19
17
Jorge Santiago
27
UFC
13
18
Wanderlei Silva
24
UFC
17
19
Mamed Khalidov
23
KSW
15
20
Robbie Lawler
19
Strikeforce
18
21
Chris Weidman
17
UFC
24
22
Yoshihiro Akiyama
16
UFC
20
23
Dan Miller
16
UFC
23
24
Tim Boetsch
15
UFC
36
25
Jason Miller
15
UFC
21
UFC 136 on October 8 will give us the return of #3 Chael Sonnen to the Octagon as he takes on #6 Brian Stann in what ought to be the toughest test of Stann's career. That same night will also feature #7 Demian Maia and #17 Jorge Santiago as they attempt to get back to contender status.
That's all for the middleweight division in the UFC this month and Strikeforce has no event at all. Bellator 54 will feature once-ranked Alexander Shlemenko and Bryan Baker as they face no doubt credible opposition whose names ring no bells for me.
Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, fighter, ranking
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUSA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Light Heavyweight
Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1
Jon Jones
100
UFC
1
2
Mauricio Rua
94
UFC
3
3
Rashad Evans
93
UFC
2
4
Quinton Jackson
87
UFC
4
5
Lyoto Machida
85
UFC
5
6
Dan Henderson
78
UFC
7
7
Phil Davis
72
UFC
8
8
Forrest Griffin
68
UFC
6
9
Rafael Cavalcante
49
Strikeforce
10
10
Gegard Mousasi
47
Strikeforce
9
11
Muhammed Lawal
40
Strikeforce
16
12
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
38
UFC
12
13
Thiago Silva
37
UFC
11
14
Rich Franklin
37
UFC
13
15
Alexander Gustafsson
36
UFC
15
16
Tito Ortiz
31
UFC
14
17
Ryan Bader
26
UFC
17
18
Vladimir Matyushenko
19
UFC
19
19
Renato Sobral
17
Strikeforce
18
20
Cyrille Diabate
16
UFC
21
21
Stanislav Nedkov
14
UFC
NR
22
Randy Couture
14
UFC
23
23
Roger Gracie
13
Strikeforce
20
24
Keith Jardine
12
Strikeforce
24
25
Brandon Vera
12
UFC
25
25
Jason Brilz
12
UFC
30
25
Kyle Kingsbury
12
UFC
26
#1 Jon Jones made his first successful title defense against #4 Quinton Jackson this past Saturday at UFC 135 keeping hope alive that we'll get to see Jones fight #3 Rashad Evans with the title on the line.
#9 Rafael Cavalcante and #11 Muhammed Lawal both faced and defeated lower (or un)ranked opposition at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov keeping their names in the discussion of contenders at 205.
The next month currently has no top 25 light heavyweight action scheduled, though the following months should make up for it.
Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, fighter, ranking
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUSA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight
Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1
Cain Velasquez
100
UFC
1
2
Junior dos Santos
95
UFC
2
3
Alistair Overeem
90
UFC
3
4
Brock Lesnar
86
UFC
4
5
Fabricio Werdum
79
Strikeforce
6
6
Frank Mir
74
UFC
7
7
Shane Carwin
73
UFC
8
8
Josh Barnett
68
Strikeforce
9
9
Daniel Cormier
67
Strikeforce
20
10
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
64
UFC
11
11
Antonio Silva
46
Strikeforce
5
12
Fedor Emelianenko
39
M-1
12
13
Cheick Kongo
33
UFC
15
14
Brendan Schaub
31
UFC
10
15
Roy Nelson
28
UFC
14
16
Sergei Kharitonov
25
Strikeforce
13
16
Travis Browne
25
UFC
16
18
Matt Mitrione
23
UFC
17
19
Mike Russow
22
UFC
18
20
Cole Konrad
22
Bellator
19
21
Mark Hunt
16
UFC
NR
22
Pat Barry
14
UFC
25
23
Stefan Struve
14
UFC
24
23
Shane del Rosario
14
Strikeforce
27
25
Mirko Filipovic
13
UFC
27
#1 Cain Velasquez will defend his belt against #2 Junior dos Santos as they headline the UFC's first ever appearance on network television.
UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson this weekend will feature #22 Pat Barry vs. #23 Stefan Struve as they struggle to remain relevant in the admittedly shallow heavyweight division.
And somehow, those two fights make up all of the relevant heavyweight bouts scheduled between now and the next edition of these rankings.
Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.
Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, fighter, ranking
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFabricio Werdum eyes December return to the ring
Coming off a disappointing loss to Alistair Overeem last June, Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1) will likely be returning to action in December. Whether his next bout will take place in the Strikeforce cage or UFC Octagon however, remains unclear.
The highly decorated grappler, who finished second in the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, is bidding to rebound from a lackluster performance against Overeem in the first round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix; a bout the Brazilian views as a learning experience.
“I still have some fights under my Strikeforce contract and I don’t know yet if my fight in December will be for them or for UFC,” Werdum told Sherdog. “What I can say is that I learned a lot after the Overeem fight and I saw some things I needed to fix. I had a lot of strength and brutal power training, and I’m feeling much stronger. I’m sure I’ll have a great victory and I’ll dominate in 2012.”
“Vai Cavalo” has competed in the biggest MMA promotions in the world, enjoying stints in PRIDE, the UFC and Strikeforce, where he handed the legendary Fedor Emelianenko his first legitimate defeat.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCESimilar Posts:
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Posted in: overeem, strikeforce, werdum, fabricio, i ’ll
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce Challengers 19 ratings rebound, Showtime draws 203,000 viewers
After drawing one of its lowest audiences in the event series' history, Showtime saw a ratings rebound for the latest installment of Strikeforce Challengers.
This past Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 event drew 203,000 viewers - up 12 percent from the 181,000 who tuned in for Strikeforce Challengers 18 in August.
MMAjunkie.com confirmed the ratings information with an industry source.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, ratings information, strikeforce challengers, industry source
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDan Henderson excited about UFC return
The UFC got one step closer to housing all of Mixed Martial Arts’ elite competitors when it re-signed Dan Henderson after the 41-year old spent a little more than a year fighting for Strikeforce where he became the promotion’s light heavyweight champion and stopped the once-unbeatable Fedor Emelianenko with strikes in the opening round of their bout this past July.
Henderson’s first test in his third UFC stint will come November 19 at UFC 139 against former title-holder Mauricio Rua. At a recent press conference promoting the event the 28-8 Californian spoke some about his decision to return to the UFC.
Henderson Talks Possibility of UFC Return with Fedor Fight Looming
“The best match-ups for me are here in the UFC,” Henderson explained. “Strikeforce has a number of guys that are tough and I felt like I fought some of the tougher guys over there. My last one with Fedor, beyond that I wasn’t excited about anybody coming up that I might be fighting other than the guys that were gonna be in the UFC. So, it was good timing, I guess, that (Dana White) came in and swooped up Strikeforce. I’m excited.”
“I guess it’s a little ironic that anytime I win a title somewhere, Dana has to buy the company to get me back,” he joked while alluding to Zuffa’s purchase of PRIDE a number of years ago.
“Hendo” also stated he would drop to 185-pounds again if asked but only for a rematch with Anderson Silva who submitted him in 2008 at UFC 82. Other than that his focus will be on “Shogun” Rua and, with a win, a shot at unifying the Strikeforce/UFC titles.
Henderson has beaten a “who’s who” of MMA in his fourteen-year career including Emelianenko, Renato Sobral, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He is currently on a three-fight winning streak with the trio of victories all coming via knockout/TKO.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, henderson, ufc return, renato sobral
Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Challengers 19 Salary Information
This past Friday the latest Strikeforce Challengers Series took place, featuring an evenly-matched night of action with top prospects Ryan Couture, Jason High, and Lorenz Larkin all coming out of the festivities ahead on the judges’ scorecards.
A few days removed, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has since released the Strikeforce Challengers 19 with a number of athletes making a decent sum considering the size/scope of the show.
Full Strikeforce Challengers 19 Results
Larkin and Couture were the show’s highest-paid fighters taking home $10,000 each with High and fellow main card competitor Shawn Jordan earning $8,000 a piece.
Here is a complete rundown of Strikeforce Challengers 19 salary information:
Quinn Mulhern: $4,600 (includes $2,500 win bonus)* def. Danny Davis: $2,900
Chris Spang: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Joe Ray: $2,000
Bobby Green: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Charon Spain: $3,000
James Terry: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Magno Almeida: $2,000
Brian Melancon: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Felipe Portela: $2,000
Jason High: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Todd Moore: $4,000
Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus) def. Maka Watson: $2,000
Shawn Jordan: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Lavar Johnson: $10,000
Lorenz Larkin: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Nick Rossborough: $3,000
* – Mullhern sacrificed 20% of his purse after coming in overweight for the fight
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, lorenz larkin, larkin, bonus
Read the full article at Fighters.comFabricio Werdum Wants to Fight For UFC or Strikeforce in December
Fabricio Werdum will soon be ready to return to the cage now that the ADCC's are over, and he doesn't seem to care where it's going to be. Werdum is coming off a loss in the quarter-finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix to Alistair Overeem in June, and apparently knows what he needs to improve upon. He spoke to Sherdog about it:
"I still have some fights under my Strikeforce contract and I don’t know yet if my fight in December will be for them or for UFC," Werdum told Sherdog.com. "What I can say is that I learned a lot after the Overeem fight and I saw some things I needed to fix. I had a lot of strength and brutal power training, and I’m feeling much stronger. I'm sure I’ll have a great victory and I’ll dominate in 2012."
Werdum has been working with King's MMA in California, and has a lot of nice things to say about his camp:
"Can you imagine all the motivation from having these guys in the camp?" asked Werdum. "Shogun, Wanderlei, Munoz, Andre ‘Dida’ [Amado], Babalu, Jake Ellenberger... not to mention Rafael Cordeiro’s investments in expansion which made Kings MMA a great facility. With all those guys fighting so close to each other, I just can predict a great end of the year and an even better 2012."
It is not yet known who Werdum would possibly face if he did return in December, but you'd have to think it would be in Strikeforce considering they do have a big show planned for that month in San Diego.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, &rsquo, werdum, fabricio werdum
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDan Handerson talks return to the UFC
Dan Henderson’s time away from the UFC was productive. Henderson left the promotion after UFC 100, unable to come to terms on a contract. He then moved to Strikeforce where he went 3-1, losing to Jake Shields in his first bout, but recovering well in his next three fights, capturing the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title with a win over Rafael Cavalcante. Henderson then ended his tenure with the promotion by knocking out Fedor Emelianenko.
Henderson will leave Strikeforce with only two champions
Posted in: ufc, jake shields, strikeforce, henderson, rafael cavalcante
Read the full article at Low KickStrikeforce Challengers 19 Medical Suspensions Form a Lengthy List
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the post-fight suspensions for Strikeforce Challengers 19. The list was fairly lengthy.
Posted in: strikeforce, list, nevada state, suspensions form, post-fight suspensions
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers 19 injuries and medical suspension for 'Larkin vs Rossborough' on Spet. 23
People fight. And when they do, they tend to get hurt.
Strikeforce Challengers 19: "Larkin vs. Rossborough" was no exception following the Showtime broadcast last Friday night (Sept. 23, 2011) from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The "Sin City" fight card produced a litany of banged-up fighters, including Lavar Johnson, Magno Almeida and Bobby Green, who all have a date with the X-Ray machine to make sure everything is still in proper working order.
But that's not all.
A complete list of injuries and medical suspensions for Strikeforce Challengers 19: "Larkin vs. Rossborough," after the jump.
Nick Rossborough: Suspended until 10/24/11 with no contact until 10/15/11 (forehead laceration).
Lavar Johnson: Suspended until right elbow and right knee are cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 03/23/2012. Minimum suspension until 10/15/11 with no contact until 10/08/11.
Shawn Jordan: Suspended indefinitely pending left hand (third metacarpal) X-ray to rule out fracture. If results are positive, must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor.
Ryan Couture: Suspended until 11/06/11 with no contact until 10/24/11 (forehead lacerations).
Todd Moore: Suspended until 10/24/11 with no contact until 10/15/11 (scalp laceration).
Brian Melancon: Suspended pending right hand (first finger) X-ray to rule out fracture or no contest until 03/23/2012.
James Terry: Suspended until 10/24/11 with no contact until 10/15/11 (left eyebrow cut and lower right eye cut)
Magno Almeida: Suspended pending left wrist X-ray to rule out fracture. If positive, must be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until 03/23/2012.
Bobby Green: Suspended indefinitely pending X-rays to both hands to rule out fractures (right third metacarpal and left fourth and fifth metacarpal). If positive, needs doctor's clearance to return.
Quinn Mulhern: Suspended until 11/06/11 with no contact until 10/24/11 (scalp laceration).
Danny Davis: Suspended until 10/24/11 with no contact until 10/15/11 (precautionary reasons).
Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases.
For complete Strikeforce Challengers 19 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of all the main card action click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, right, lavar johnson, contact, doctor
Read the full article at MMA ManiaCris Cyborg to Meet Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce Event on December 17th
Strikeforce women's 145 lb. champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1) officially re-signed with the company last month, and after over a year out of the cage, she will finally return to defend her title in December. She will meet Jewels regular Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1), who is ranked # 2 in the world in the women's 145 pound weight class by MMA Rising (probably the best source for women's MMA around). The fight was announced on Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 broadcast.
The challenger Yamanaka has had an interesting past. According to her wiki page, she was a dominatrix that got into MMA because "she thought it would help her in providing better service to her clients". Wow. Turns out she is pretty good at MMA, and has won 8 fights in a row. She's also avenged her only loss to Hitomi Akano by defeating her in their rematch.
Santos hasn't competed since June 2010 when she defeated Jan Finney via TKO in the second round. She originally won the Strikeforce women's 145 lb. belt back in August 2009 when she defeated Gina Carano in one of Strikeforce's highest-rated bouts ever (at least on Showtime). Carano is also rumored to be competing on the December 17th card, which will take place in San Diego, CA. The event will be main-evented by a Strikeforce lightweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal.
More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
Posted in: mma, strikeforce, women, san diego, strikeforce women
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Challengers 19 Fighter Salaries: Larkin and Couture Top Payroll
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the Strikeforce Challengers 19 fighter salaries. Main and co-main event winners Lorenz Larkin and Ryan Couture top the list.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, challenger, nevada state, salary
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWeek-in-Review: List of UFC, Strikeforce & Other Fights Announced
A complete list of significant new fights reported in the past week.
Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, week, list
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Challengers 19 Fighter Salaries
Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsWith a payday of $10,000, Lorenz Larkin, Ryan Couture and Lavar Johnson were the highest earners at this past Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 in Las Vegas.
Larkin, who defeated Nick Rossborough in the evening's main event, earned $5,000 to show and another $5,000 to win. Couture and Johnson each received $10,000 flat. Couture, though, won his fight against Maka Watson, while Johnson was submitted by Shawn Jordan.
Salaries for all 18 fighters on the card are after the jump.
Please keep in mind these salaries are the numbers Strikeforce reported to the Nevada athletic commission and does not necessarily represent a fighter's final earnings.
Showtime Bouts
Lorenz Larkin ($5,000 + $5,000 win = $10,000) def. Nick Rossborough ($3,000)
Shawn Jordan ($4,000 + $4,000 win = $8,000) def. Lavar Johnson ($10,000)
Ryan Couture ($10,000) def. Maka Watson ($2,000)
Jason High ($4,000 + $4,000 = $8,000) def. Todd Moore ($4,000)
Preliminary Bouts
Brian Melancon ($3,000 + $3,000 win = $6,000) def. Felipe Portela ($2,000)
James Terry ($4,000 + $4,000 win = $8,000) def. Magno Almeida ($2,000)
Bobby Green ($3,000 + $3,000 = $6,000) def. Charon Spain ($3,000)
Christopher Spang ($3,000 + $2,000 = $5,000) def. Joe Ray ($2,000)
Quinn Mulhern ($2,100 + $2,500 = $4,600) def. Danny Davis Jr. ($2,900)*
Mulhern failed to make weight and forfeited $400 of his purse to Davis Jr. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, johnson, larkin, salary
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRyan Couture among Strikeforce Challengers medical suspensions
Ryan Couture is among the names on a lengthy butcher’s bill of medical suspensions stemming from the weekend’s Strikeforce Challengers event...
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, &rsquo, ryan, strikeforce challengers
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyOpponent announced for Cristiane Santos’ return to the ring
After being away from action since June 2010, featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will return to the Strikeforce cage on December 17 to defend her title against Hiroko Yamanaka. The match-up was announced during the Strikeforce Challengers 19 broadcast and ends a period of limbo due to the Brazilian’s contractual status.
Santos’ reputation as the most ferocious female in MMA is well-earned after finding success in ten straight including eight strike-based stoppages. She has finished all four opponents she’s faced in Strikeforce including victories over Marloes Coenen, Gina Carano, and most recently Jan Finney.
Stylistically, Yamanaka creates an interesting match-up given her ability on the ground. A 12-1 grappler out of Japan, the 32-year old Yamanaka is currently on an eight-fight winning streak.
Also on the card a lightweight title bout between champion Gilbert Melendez, coming off an impressive showing against Tatsuya Kawajiri, and number one contender Jorge Masvidal, who earned his title shot after defeating K.J. Noons last June.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCESimilar Posts:
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Gina Carano targeted for December return to Strikeforce
K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Masvidal official for “Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum”
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Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCris Santos draws 12-1 Hiroko Yamanaka in December
Explosive female fighter Cristiane Santos will finally make her return to the ring after more than a yearlong layoff due in part to the difficulty in finding her a suitable opponent. However, it appears Strikeforce may have done just that, as Santos will face 12-1 grappler Hiroko Yamanaka who is currently on an eight-fight winning streak.
The December 17 match-up was announced Friday night during the broadcast for Strikeforce Challengers 19. Gilbert Melendez and Gina Carano are also expected to make in-ring appearances on the card.
Carano Poised for Fight in December
The 10-1 Santos hasn’t lost since her professional debut in 2005 while leaving a multitude of badly beaten opponents in her wake. All of her victories in Strikeforce have been the result of rendering an opponent defenseless from strikes including TKOs over Hitomi Akano, Jan Finney, Carano, and Marloes Coenen.
Interestingly enough, Yamanaka’s only loss came via submission meaning “Cyborg” would be the first foe to stop her with strikes if she’s able to do so in December. A Smackgirl and Jewels veteran from Japan, Yamanaka has won eight fights by way of decision with two TKOs and two submissions to her credit as well.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: strikeforce, december, yamanaka, marloes coenen, fighter cristiane
Read the full article at Fighters.comCris Cyborg Returns to Strikeforce Against Hiroko Yamanaka on Dec. 17
Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will return to the cage to face 12-1 Japanese prospect Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce’s December 17 event, which is expected to take place in San Diego, California, according to MMAjunkie.
Cyborg (10-1), widely ranked as the top pound-for-pound female fighter, recently re-signed with Strikeforce more than a year after scoring a second-round knockout of Jan Finney in her most-recent bout last June.
Yamanaka has won eight-straight since her first and only career loss, including a notable win over Hitomi Akano .
The Dec. 17 Strikeforce card, which airs on Showtime, is headlined by lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal and is also expected to feature the return of Gina Carano, UFC vet Keith Jardine, and former champ Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux.
For the latest Strikeforce news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: strikeforce, ovince st, san diego, yamanaka, career loss
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStrikeforce Challengers Results: Larkin Remains Undefeated, Jordan Upsets Johnson
Super prospect Lorenz Larkin kept his undefeated record alive with another victory to cap off Strikeforce Challengers on Friday night.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, larkin, friday night, strikeforce challengers
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce champ Cris 'Cyborg' Santos faces Hiroko Yamanaka on Dec. 17
As MMAjunkie.com first reported, Strikeforce women's featherweight
champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will fight on Dec.
17.
Japanese product Hiroko Yamanaka will look to unseat the current titleholder.
Strikeforce officials announced the booking during Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers 19 broadcast on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, friday night, strikeforce officials, hiroko yamanaka, strikeforce women
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLive NOW: Strikeforce Challengers 19 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas at approximately 9 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce Challengers 19, which is headlined by a light heavyweight clash between unbeaten Lorenz Larkin and Nick Rossborough.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, challenger, las vegas, nick rossborough
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Challengers 19 Live Results
The Strikeforce Challengers series is back with another card full of talented prospects in the form of Strikeforce Challengers 19, a show headlined by undefeated striker Lorenz Larkin and also featuring appearances from Ryan Couture and Jason High.
Larkin was originally scheduled to face Virgil Zwicker before the hard-hitting Zwicker was forced out of the fight with an injury and 20-14 Nick Rossborough stepped up to the plate as a replacement.
Action is already underway in Sin City and Five Ounces of Pain will be along for the ride to bring live results back to the masses.
Read below for a full list of Strikeforce Challengers 19 results:
Quinn Mulhern def. Danny Davis via Submission Round 3 (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Christopher Spang def. Joe Ray via Unanimous Decision
Bobby Green def. Charon Spain via Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Magno Almeida vs. James Terry
Lavar Johnson vs. Shawn Jordan
Brian Melancon vs. Felipe Portela
Jason High vs. Todd Moore
Ryan Couture vs. Maka Watson
Lorenz Larkin vs. Nick Rossborough
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCESimilar Posts:
Jason High set for September scrap with Todd Moore
Strikeforce Challengers 16 Weigh-In Results
Caros Fodor cruises, Ryan Couture handed first loss at Strikeforce Challengers 16
Smooth sailing at Strikeforce Challengers 17 weigh-ins as all fighters on target
Undefeated Lorenz Larkin back in action against Virgil Zwicker at September Challengers event
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Posted in: strikeforce, result, challenger, vs, larkin
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce Challengers 19 Preview
You are doing yourself a horrible disservice if you've yet to take in a Lorenz Larkin fight. Deprive yourself no longer and behold "The Monsoon" in the headliner of tonight's Strikeforce Challengers 19 event from the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The action begins at 11 p.m. ET on Showtime.
Drawing comparisons to feared striker Melvin Manhoef, light-heavyweight Lorenz Larkin has been nothing but an unhinged luncatic in his undefeated eleven-fight career. The rising phenom takes on Nick Rossborough in the main event, which is supported by Ryan Couture's next chapter against Wand Fight Team product Maka Watson.
Also appearing on the main card broadcast: Former UFC, K-1, Dream and Affliction welterweight Jason High returns to the cage against another former Dream (and WEC) participant in Todd Moore, heavyweights Lavar Johnson and Shawn Jordan square off, and welterweight scrapper Brian Melancon faces undefeated Brazilian newcomer Felipe Portela.
The Challengers 19 undercard is punctuated with game prospects as well:
Magno Almeida vs. James TerryBobby Green vs. Charon SpainJoe Ray vs. Christopher SpangQuinn Mulhern vs. Danny Davis
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce Challengers 19
From a fan's perspective, the prime-time of a hot prospect's career is his ascension to the top.
Lorenz Larkin is now thriving against mid-tier competition; his confidence soaring with each commanding performance.
Depending on how the future shakes out with the UFC and Strikeforce, this might be the last time we see Larkin dueling on a Challengers card.
The Kung Fu student brings flashy, traditional-style techniques that are efficiently adapted to MMA.
In these animations, Larkin is tearing through his Challengers 15 opponent Scott Lighty.
With a stout frame, exemplary agility and a wide arsenal of crushing and unorthodox strikes, Larkin is reminiscent of an old school Chute Boxe fighter who merely bombards his foe with relentless offense from the get-go.
In his steepest test to date, Larkin is fresh off a decision win over another under-rated prospect in Gian Villante, who fell to Chad Griggs on the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva card.
Larkin takes a small step down in competition against wild card Nick "Leatherface" Rossborough (20-14, 13 subs). Rossborough has considerable experience in his seven-year career and is making his Strikeforce debut, but is probably being thrown to the proverbial wolves here.
Jason High (14-3) is quietly stacking together a nice string of wins since losing to Charlie Brenneman at UFC Fight Night 21. His six-hitch run started off with recently unveiled phenom Jordan Mein and includes a tight decision over Hayato Sakurai. High controlled Quinn Mulhern for a decision win in his last showing.
High takes on Todd Moore, a Third Column rep who was submitted by Shinya Aoki at Dream 6. Moore has defeated four of his five opponents since then with fellow card member Brian Melancon accounting for the sole loss. Jason High will be a tall order for most 170-pounders on the Strikeforce roster and should out-wrestle Moore to a decision.
Randy Couture's son, Ryan Couture (2-1), continues to plug away on Challengers cards. He'll look to rebound from his first professional loss to Matt Ricehouse against the Wand Fight Team's Maka Watson (4-1). Watson emerged under the Strikeforce banner with four first-round stoppages (3 subs, 1 TKO) but dropped his debut to Bill Cooper by submission.
Heavyweight slugger Lavar Johnson (15-4, 13 by TKO) brings his overwhelming wrath to the cage against Gladiators Academy fighter Shawn Jordan (11-3, 8 by TKO). Johnson's seven-fight win streak was just snapped by Shane Del Rosario with a first round submission. Jordan, who has competed in Bellator and lost his Strikeforce debut by decision to Devin Cole, will have his chin tested early and often.
Brian Melancon (5-2) continues to be rewarded for his frenetically paced aggression. A fan friendly fighter, Melancon has three wins by TKO and one via submission. His losses include Adam Schindler in Bellator and a questionable decision for Isaac Vallie-Flag last time out on the Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum prelims. Melancon draws a new face in Felipe Portela (7-0, 4 subs) who makes his promotional debut.
Posted in: strikeforce, decision, challenger, card, larkin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Challengers 19 Interview: Lorenz Larkin, Monsoon Rising
This is a guest feature by Shaun Al-Shatti.
Lorenz Larkin is trying not to get ahead of himself, though that's easier said than done. To say the ride has been swift is an understatement. Having been plucked from obscurity by Zuffa officials just five months ago, Larkin suddenly finds himself headlining Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 event against late replacement Nick Rossborough. "It's crazy," he says in amazement. "It was surreal enough just to be in Strikeforce. From fighting in the smaller shows, to now I'm headlining? Everything's moving pretty fast for me."
But those close to him aren't as surprised. Born and raised an hour away from the sandy beaches of coastal California, the Riverside native grew up the youngest of nine children. After a brief shot at football, Larkin moved to boxing, before eventually turning to mixed marital arts.
Fighting upwards of twice a month, Larkin quickly collected a 15-0 record on the amateur circuit before making the leap to the professional ranks in mid-2009, where he knocked out Lateef Williams with a vicious elbow 40 seconds into his debut. The ensuing two years were spent blazing a dazzling highlight-laden trail across California, capped by a ridiculous "Rampage"-equse slam over world ranked grappler Joao Assis.
On the heels of a six-fight knockout streak, Larkin finally got a call from the Strikeforce brass and was promptly tasked with fighting Scott Lighty on just one week's notice. With few offering him little more than a puncher's chance, Larkin stunned pundits by steamrolling through the K-1 veteran on route to a brutal second-round TKO victory. Proving the performance was no fluke, Larkin followed up a month later with an even more impressive victory over former NFL prospect Gian Villante. The community was buzzing. "The Moonson" had arrived. "It was just finding my future," he sheepishly says. "All the hard work that I've put into this sport."
Such a whirlwind six months could be jarring for any 25-year-old, but Larkin seems to be taking it in stride. "I've been sitting back and really thinking about my career," he explains. "It is hard, but I think I'm pretty good at looking at all my options, weighing them out, and then making the decision, instead of just diving in headfirst and going all crazy." In a sport clashed with pomposity and cookie-cutter personalities, Larkin's unconventional self-awareness is a breath of fresh air. The youngster eschews the token callouts, instead fixing his gaze only on improvement. "I don't want a title shot right now." he states plainly. "That's not important to me yet. Right now I'm just trying to develop as a fighter."
More after the jump.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce Challengers 19
Though don't be fooled, under the modest demeanor rests a monster. A representative of the new generation of hyper-athleticism, with lightning in his feet and thunder in his hands, Larkin has abruptly emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in mixed martial arts. Aided by a dazzling stand-up arsenal, eight of his eleven victories have come by way of knockout, with six in the first round. Yet the fighter's fan-friendly style is neither deliberate, nor a contrived attempt to feed into the thirst for violence. "That's just how I fight," he flatly explains. "I couldn't change it if I wanted to. I've just been doing that my whole fight career, even amateur. Not trying to be conceded, but most of them have been really exciting."
As wrestlers slowly take over the sport, Larkin's fearless approach will go a long way to endear himself to both fans and the powers at be. For the same reasons that Jon Fitch hasn't gotten a second title shot while Dan Hardy remains employed by the UFC after four straight losses, fans are rapidly becoming less and less tolerant of lay and pray practitioners. "I think your longevity in MMA is if you're exciting," Larkin explains. "It has nothing to do with whether you win or lose."
"Look at [Chris] Leben. When he comes in he's always 50-50 to win. But I don't ever see the UFC cutting that guy because he is just one of those exciting fighters that people will always want to watch." After finishing the thought, Larkin pauses, as if rerunning the words through his head. "I think that's what helps me out," he eventually concludes. "I'm not so focused on ‘oh my god, I can't lose'."
Outside of a lackluster first round against Villante, Larkin has eluded any risk of staining his immaculate run. The weight of an undefeated record has swallowed fighters in the past, but for Larkin it's just another perk in an already surreal ride. "I'm not too worried about it," he says when confronted with the notion of his inevitable first loss. "Knowing that your family is behind you and they want you to do good, it helps out a lot. For somebody to beat me, they're going to have to really seriously hurt me."
That balance between conviction and awareness is a determining factor in any young fighter's career, and Larkin's groundwork was laid surprisingly early. Fresh off his first professional victory, Larkin tried out for the UFC's flagship launching pad, "The Ultimate Fighter." Though his audition was a brief one. "I didn't even get past the first round," he bitterly recollects. "I was kind of fed up, you know, thinking this is all gimmicks." So the young fighter went back to the grind, eventually earning his shot the hard way.
Years later, after being signed by Strikeforce, Larkin inadvertently ran into UFC President Dana White. "I told him, ‘you know, I'm not going to lie to you. I just thought you were the biggest a**hole and I f**king hated you'," he says, a laugh escaping from his informal drawl. "But I told him ‘you know what, it probably helped me out the best, because afterwards I wasn't going to take the easy way up to the UFC. Just keep on fighting and winning and I'll get there eventually.'" Such frank honesty is hard to find, and was exactly what White coveted. "He was cool about it," Larkin gleefully recalls. "He said ‘you know what, that's the sh*t that I want to hear man.'"
Just days from the biggest fight of his career, Larkin flashes a wide grin as he remembers the story. It's bizarre to think that it was only two years ago. To have come so far in so little time is an accomplishment in of itself, yet Larkin isn't content. For him the ride is just starting. "I don't want to go back," he says with a wry smile. "You guys got me, now I'm staying. I'm going to be a red-headed stepchild around here."
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Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Challengers 19: Larkin vs. Rossborough - Live Results and Play-By-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Strikeforce Challengers 19. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Showtime broadcast (11 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
The event is headlined by a bout between one of the most exciting prospects on the Strikeforce roster, Lorenz Larkin, and Nick Rossborough. Rossborough is a late replacement for Virgil Zwicker who had to pull out due to injury. Co-headlining the card is Lavar Johnson vs. Shawn Jordan. Ryan Couture, son of Randy Couture, looks to rebound from a loss in his last bout as he takes on Maka Watson. Also in action is former Affliction, DREAM and UFC fighter Jason High as he goes to battle against Todd Moore.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, event, rossborough, maka watson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAlthough stung by 'JZ' loss, Bobby Green anxious for Strikeforce Challengers 19 win
It took Strikeforce's Bobby Green considerably less time to make it to the big show than many of his contemporaries.
His first big fight wasn't under the best of circumstances, but now, he gets a second chance to prove he belongs.
Green tonight fights Charon Spain at "Strikeforce Challengers 19: Larkin vs. Rossborough, and with a full training camp behind him, he plans on taking home a W.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, challenger, training camp, fight wasn
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce drug test results come back clean for 'Barnett vs Kharitonov' on Sept. 10
Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" drug test results are in from the Ohio Athletic Commission, who today confirmed that all eight fighters tested for illegal/banned substances after competing at the U.S. Bank Arena on Sept. 10, have all passed with flying colors.
While each competitor was screened (via urine test) for performance enhancers such as steroids and drugs of abuse like cocaine and marijuana, among others, select tournament participants were also administered blood tests to try and pinch anyone looking to sneak their way down the yellow brick road.
Results from these battery of tests all returned negative.
The Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix may have lost most of its luster thanks to losing both its big money stars, Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett did what he could to keep the party rocking by submitting Sergei Kharitonov in the first round to advance to the finals.
"Barnett vs. Khartinovo" also featured the other semifinal grand prix bout with Daniel Cormier shocking the world while simultaneously inserting himself as a favorite in the finals by destroying Antonio Silva.
Also on the card, Luke Rockhold realized his dream of winning mixed martial arts gold when he drug "Jacare" through the mud and earned a five-round unanimous decision victory over Ronaldo Souza to become the new Strikeforce middleweight champion.
In slightly sadder news, the event only garnered 274,000 viewers on Showtime, which was just 39,000 more viewers than Bellator 49 garnered on MTV2 on the very same evening.
For complete results and coverage of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Kharitonov" click here and here.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, test, barnett vs, barnett
Read the full article at MMA ManiaStrikeforce Challengers: Jason High’s Plan is to Keep Stepping Up the Ladder
Jason High wants to work his way back up the ladder, starting with Strikeforce Challengers 19. With that in mind, he's shifted up his training so that he's ready to step his game up.
Posted in: strikeforce, jason, strikeforce challengers, ’s plan, ladder
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce Challengers 19 Pre-Fight Interviews
Strikeforce Challengers 19 takes place tonight in Las Vegas and will air on Showtime at 11pm ET/PT. The official Strikeforce Challengers 19 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, challenger, card, las vegas
Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov Drug Test Results Returned on 8 Fighters
Following the latest Strikeforce event, the Ohio Athletic Commission has released the drug test results with eight fighters undergoing testing.
Posted in: strikeforce, fighter, barnett vs, strikeforce event, drug
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUnbeaten & Still Mostly Unknown, Lorenz Larkin Continues Climb Up Strikeforce Ranks
Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive These days, Lorenz Larkin goes by the nickname "The Monsoon," a tribute to his chaotic fight style as much as it is an homage to his brother, whose given first name actually is Monsoon. That wasn't always the case. When Larkin was in the first days of his MMA career, he had a different nickname, one that was decidedly less intimidating. It was "the Chihuahua." Amazingly, he gave the first moniker to himself, but for a purpose.
"I was thinking about what would be the funniest thing to throw somebody off guard," he told MMA Fighting. "I could imagine the promoter telling my opponent, 'We got this guy who's called 'The Chihuahua,' and then they see me."
The name was short-lived. Around his third amateur fight, Larkin had the foresight to realize "that name probably wouldn't go too good if I went anywhere."
He's somewhere now, a still unbeaten, rising light-heavyweight talent who will be featured in the main event of Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers 19 card against Nick Rossborough.
Larkin recently turned 25 years old and is now considered one of Strikeforce's best prospects, but his background would have hardly suggested such a path. He grew up in Riverside, California as the youngest of nine children.
As a kid, he wanted to participate in contact sports, but was not allowed to by his father, who was worried Lorenz could get hurt. Larkin characterizes those early days as "sheltered" as a result.
When he was 12 years old, he took up boxing. Still, that came with a caveat. He was to work technique only, never spar and certainly not compete. Because of that, he says he became a gym rat.
"I wasn't allowed to fight so all I could do is go to the gym and train," he said. "When it came time for fight time, I couldn't fight. That made me a gym rat because i wanted to learn and I wanted to fight even though I couldn't."
As adolescents do, Larkin had to test his boundaries. He began sparring, but it still could go no further as he had no prayer of his father signing off an an amateur card which would have allowed him to compete.
Still, Larkin's love affair with the sport was a rocky affair at first, sometimes quitting and returning after some struggles.
"At the time, I was going against Golden Gloves champs and good guys, and I was getting worked," he says now with a laugh. "So I'd be training and then on sparring day, I'd get my butt whooped and I'd say, 'that's enough of that.'"
He kept finding himself drawn back for more. Part of it was that he just liked fighting. Another part was that despite his difficulty with the best guys in the gym, when he'd face someone with a similar experience level to his own, he would routinely pound them.
In 2008, Larkin participated in his first boxing tournament, The Desert Showdown in Indio, California, and won all four of his bouts to win his weight class. At the time, the 5-foot-11 Larkin weighed about 225 pounds. Thinking about his future, he realized going pro would put him in the heavyweight class, leaving him at a severe size disadvantage at times. His mind started racing.
"I already watched MMA, but that's when I started venturing off to try it," he said. "My buddy trained, so I figured I'd go with him to a couple classes to try it, and I finally made the switch over."
Soon after making that decision, Larkin moved to Kentucky to begin his amateur career. He racked up fights and wins in a hurry, going 10-0 before returning home to California to turn pro.
SInce then, he's gone 11-0, but he's only recently made a dent in the major MMA landscape with impressive Strikeforce wins over Scott Lighty and Gian Villante.
It also changed things at home.
"My dad didn't fully understand it until I made my debut in Strikeforce," he said. "That's when he started coming around and saying, 'OK, this might go somewhere.' He's so into it now and so proud. He's 100 percent behind me now."
Larkin's style fits perfectly with his "Monsoon" nickname. He is a whirlwind of activity, you never quite know where's coming from, and he leaves damage in his wake. He says that his flashy style was influenced by many fighters, including boxers Jorge Paez, David Tua and Mike Tyson, and mixed martial artists Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Andrei Arlvoski, among others.
It's also part of his experimental training, in which he enjoys trying "new and awkward things," and tries to adapt them to MMA.
Despite his quick success and a headlining spot, Larkin concedes he's still finding his comfort level in the cage. It's been a fast rise, and as the wins pile up, the stakes get bigger. Though he's never lost, he says the unbeaten stretch means little and that he's not scared to blemish his record. He's still green and he's still learning, so much so that he concedes he wouldn't take a title shot if it was offered to him.
From "the Chihuahua" to "the Monsoon," Larkin has already matured his MMA game, and even if there is still a long way to travel, he's in no rush.
"i just look at it like I'm a freshman in high school," he said. "I'm still trying to get a hang of things and find out how things work. I'm still getting settled in. I want to be a well-tuned fighter. I just want to get through this year and then I'll start making moves." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, larkin, thing
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce 9/10 Cincinnati results & 9/23 Las Vegas card
A look at the Strikeforce cards for September 2011.
Posted in: strikeforce, card, strikeforce cards, cincinnati, la
Read the full article at Fight OpinionStrikeforce Challengers 19 Live Results and Play-by-Play (9 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas at approximately 9 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Strikeforce Challengers 19, which is headlined by a light heavyweight clash between unbeaten Lorenz Larkin and Nick Rossborough.
Posted in: strikeforce, result, challenger, las vegas, nick rossborough
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Challengers 19 Weigh-In Results
The Strikeforce Challengers 19 weigh-ins took place earlier today at the The Palms in Las Vegas.
Quinn Mulhern missed weight by a whopping five pounds and will now face Danny Davis at a catchweight.
The weigh-in results:
Lorenz Larkin (206) vs. Nick Rossborough (206)
Lavar Johnson (249) vs. Shawn Jordan (238)
Ryan Couture (156) vs. Maka Watson (155)
Jason High (170.5) vs. Todd Moore (169)
Brian Melancon (170) vs. Felipe Portela (170.5)
Magno Almeida (154) vs. James Terry (156)
Bobby Green (155) vs. Charon Spain (155)
Joe Ray (170.5) vs. Chris Spang (170)
Danny Davis (170) vs. Quinn Mulhern (176)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Strikeforce Challengers 19 will take place tomorrow, Sept. 23 at The Palms Casino and Resort and will air live (tape delayed on West coast) on Showtime at 11pm ET/PT.
More Strikeforce weigh-in pics at Strikeforce.com
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertStrikeforce Challengers 19 Weigh-In Results
All eighteen fighters scheduled for tomorrow night’s Strikeforce Challengers 19 event stepped on the scale earlier today in Vegas and, with one except, the entire lot made weight meaning the event will go on as planned for the most part.
Headliner Lorenz Larkin weighed in at 206 pounds, as did opponent Nick Rossborough, on the eve of his quest to remain undefeated and improve his record to 12-0. Larkin has finished eight of his previous adversaries via TKO and shown a ton of potential in each of his Strikeforce appearances due in large part to his impressive arsenal of stand-up skills. Rossborough is a replacement for Larkin’s original opponent, Virgil Zwicker.
Zwicker Out of Strikeforce Challengers 19 Bout with Head Injury
Other notable results include rising welterweight Jason High clocking in at 170.5 pounds for his fight against 14-4 Todd Moore and Ryan Couture weighing 156 pounds in his attempt to bounce back from his first career loss with opponent Maka Watson hitting the lightweight mark on the head at 155.
The only fighter to not make weight was late addition Quinn Mullhern who was a full five-and-a-half pounds over the welterweight limit of 171 pounds. No word was given on his his match-up will be handled.
Fans can tune in to catch things unfold live on Showtime on Friday night starting at 11:00 PM EST.
Read below for a full list of Strikeforce Challengers 19 results:
Bobby Green (155 lbs) vs. Charon Spain (155 lbs)
James Terry (156 lbs) vs. Magno Almeida (154 lbs)
Joe Ray (170.5 lbs) vs. Christopher Spang (170 lbs)
Brian Melancon (170 lbs) vs. Felipe Portela (170.5 lbs)
Quinn Mulhern (176.5* lbs) vs. Danny Davis (170 lbs)
Ryan Couture (156 lbs) vs. Maka Watson (155 lbs)
Jason High (170.5 lbs) vs. Todd Moore (169 lbs)
Lavar Johnson (245 lbs) vs. Shawn Jordan (238 lbs)
Lorenz Larkin (206 lbs) vs. Nick Rossborough (206 lbs)
* – Mullhern, a late addition, came in 5.5 pounds overweight
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Read the full article at Fighters.comStrikeforce Challengers card confirmed for November 18
Strikeforce returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, November 18th.Striking stylist An twain ‘The Juggernaut’...
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, november, las vegas, palm
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyJames Terry Sees Challengers as Opporunity to Prove He Belongs at Strikeforce
After losing his last time out in a Challengers headliner, James Terry is back on the undercard of Strikeforce Challengers 19 and out to prove he belongs with the big boys on Strikeforce's main card.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, james terry, challengers headliner, jame
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyDana White: We want to keep Strikeforce around but it's up to Showtime
What, you thought UFC signing away three of Strikeforce's five men's champions, all of which have a much higher profile than the remaining two, meant Zuffa wanted to do away with the boys from San Jose?
Apparently, that's not the case, at least not if you hear UFC President Dana White tell it, which he did recently to Heavy:
"We do want to keep (Strikeforce) around. The ball is in Showtime's court. We're waiting to hear back from them (on) whether they want to stay in the Strikeforce business or not. I can't even get into the details, it's so not my thing. I have literally not been in one of these meetings. I do the UFC, that's it. We'll see what happens."
These are sentiments echoing what White stated at the UFC 135 pre-fight press conference yesterday, when he continued to shrug off the idea of a women's division in the UFC.
The extension of that is whether or not said women would have a home in Strikeforce past early 2012, which is when the contract with Showtime runs out. And that's where White says it's up to the cable television channel if they want to renew. This despite the fact they've been given every reason not to.
Indeed, even upon being asked such questions, White looks, dare I say, mildly annoyed at having to provide answers. Video after the jump so you can judge for yourself.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, san jose, showtime, strikeforce business
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBritt-Sayers, Cooper-Ricehouse Added to Strikeforce Challengers 20
Two new contests have been added to the dance card for Strikeforce Challengers 20, promotion officials have announced
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, contest, dance card, cooper-ricehouse
Read the full article at SherdogStrikeforce Challengers 20 adds Cooper vs. Ricehouse, Britt vs. Sayers
A lightweight bout between unbeaten lightweights Bill Cooper and Matt Ricehouse, as well as a light-heavyweight bout between Antwain Britt and Lumumba Sayers, have been added to November's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event.
Strikeforce officials and the fighters' representatives recently announced the bookings.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 takes place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, las vegas, cooper vs, lumumba sayers, britt vs
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWith renewal deadline looming, White says Strikeforce's future lies in Showtime's hands
DENVER - What's become patently clear in the question of whether Strikeforce will
continue to exist is whether Showtime is willing to rebuild the brand.
UFC executives have distanced themselves from that decision.
As UFC president Dana White today told MMAjunkie.com, an option comes due in one month on whether to
renew or cancel a five-year broadcast agreement struck in February 2009,
long before Strikeforce was purchased by UFC parent company Zuffa, LLC.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, ufc executives, renewal deadline, broadcast agreement
Read the full article at MMA JunkieStrikeforce Challengers 19's Lorenz Larkin says opponent switch took careful consideration (MMAJunkie.com)
Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Lorenz Larkin won't lie. Getting a new opponent a week before fight...
Posted in: strikeforce, lorenz larkin, opponent, opponent switch, lorenz
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsShowtime Has ‘Another Month’ To Decide If They Will Keep Strikeforce Or Not
Strikeforce's future will likely be decided in the next month.
Posted in: strikeforce, showtime, month, month ’, future
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyStrikeforce's Future Depends on Showtime, Says Dana White, but Deadline Looms
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceDENVER -- Near the end of Wednesday's UFC 135 pre-fight press conference, a particularly insistent fan decided he didn't need the microphone in order to grill UFC president Dana White about the future of Strikeforce's women's division, of which he seemed to be an ardent supporter. What would become of the female fighters, he inquired, after Strikeforce...well, you know.
"After Strikeforce what?" White shot back. Though really, he didn't need to ask. He understood the unstated assumption as well as anyone in the room, and the sheepish grin on his face said as much.
"Are you assuming that we're going to shut Strikeforce down?" White asked, as if it was the first time he'd heard the idea.
To hear White tell it, it's not a question of whether Zuffa wants to continue to operate the lesser-known organization it acquired last spring. Instead, he insisted, it's up to Showtime, which broadcasts the fights on its premium cable network.
"Who knows what's going to happen? The way this thing works is, it depends on Showtime. The ball's in their court. They need to decide whether they want to keep Strikeforce around or not," White said.
Of course, with the UFC picking off Strikeforce champions left and right, it seems as though White isn't giving Showtime a lot of reasons to keep the flagging organization alive.
Former Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem and former welterweight champ Nick Diaz both have UFC dates in the near future, and vacant Strikeforce titles in their wakes. The UFC also recently signed Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Dan Henderson to take on Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 after "smooth" contract negotiations, according to White, and the stakes for Hendo are indeed big in his return to the Octagon.
"It would be tough not to give the winner of [Henderson-Rua] a title fight," White added. "After Rashad [Evans]."
But while Strikeforce continues to play out its Showtime contract, White doesn't seem terribly interested in following the action. He claimed not to have seen the most recent World Heavyweight Grand Prix event, which got very little hype from Zuffa or Showtime, and received dismal ratings after drawing a paltry live crowd. Showtime reportedly has an option to extend the Strikeforce contract, but White added there was a "deadline" for the network to decide by.
"It depends on whether they seriously want to stay in the business, the mixed martial arts business," White said, before hinting that he thought Strikeforce had signed a bad deal when it aligned itself with Showtime.
"Everybody that comes into this business thinks that pay-per-view or free TV is the holy grail, the answer to everybody's problems. Bulls--t. Either of those two things will put you out of business. You get into a bad deal with one of these companies, and the next thing you know you're $30 million in the hole."
It's comments like that that have many in the industry assuming it's all just a matter of time before Strikeforce disappears for good. With the Showtime contract expiring soon, and with ratings worse than ever, it seems unlikely that the cable network would want to continue to air an organization that is rapidly losing its few stars to the UFC.
And maybe that's the whole point, even though White won't confirm or deny it.
"I'm UFC, man," he said. "I'm all UFC and you guys know that. I wanted nothing to do with this thing. And it's not like I'm Showtime's best friend. Lorenzo [Fertitta]'s much nicer than me. Let Lorenzo go deal with that." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, business, strikeforce, showtime, contract
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseGegard Mousasi mixing it up with Ovince St. Preux at December Strikeforce event
It looks like streaking light heavyweight Ovince St. Preux has finally gotten called up to the majors after winning five consecutive fights under the Strikeforce banner including a pair of opening round finishes.
According to Strikeforce’s Twitter account, OSP is scheduled to scrap with former 205-pound champion Gegard Mousasi on December 17 at an event already headlined by lightweight title-holder Gilbert Melendez defending his belt against ATT’s Jorge Masvidal.
St. Preux, who has won eight straight overall, is 11-4 with past victories over Antwain Britt, Benji Radach, and Jason Day. His most recent rumble took place in July where he forced Joe Cason to tap from strikes a little over a minute into their Strikeforce Challengers 17 bout.
The former collegiate football player’s opponent, Mousasi, is no stranger to having his hand raised with only a single stumble in his last twenty fights. He is 31-3-2 in his career with success against a slew of talented peers including Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Melvin Manhoef, Evangelista Santos, Denis Kang, Renato Sobral, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Though not nearly as official as St. Preux vs. Mousasi, also rumored for the December 17 card are appearances from popular female fighter Gina Carano and fan-favorite Keith Jardine.
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Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, light, mousasi, preux
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGegard Mousasi returns to Strikeforce to fight Ovince St. Preux on Dec. 17
Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will return to the Hexagon to try and quell the uprising of 205-pound division standout Ovince St. Preux on Dec. 17 at a location to be named.
The promotion teased the upcoming match-up via its official Twitter account late last night:
He's baaaack: Former LHW champ Gegard Mousasi will face rising prospect @003_OSP Dec. 17! Stay tuned for more info...
Mousasi (31-3-2) was expected to rule the light heavyweight roost for many moons following his first round obliteration of Renato Sobral to capture the 205-pound strap back in 2009.
Unfortunately "The Dreamcatcher" was unable to stop the relentless takedowns of Muhammed Lawal and coughed up the belt in Nashville less than a year later.
He would ship himself back overseas to compete for DREAM and abuse a handful of Japanese fighters; however, stateside audiences were left with the memory of his butt-ugly draw against Keith Jardine at the Strikeforce: "Diaz vs. Daley" event earlier this year.
Mousasi will have the opportunity to wash that "Mean" taste out of his mouth, but it will have to come at the expense of one of the division's brightest prospects.
St. Preux (11-4) has been steamrolling the competition since 2009, stringing together eight straight wins in a streak that includes such notables as Benji Radach and Antwain Britt.
Mousasi is unquestionable a major step up in competition for the former college football star, but also a one-way ticket to the top of the food chain if he's victorious.
The Dec. 17 Strikeforce event has yet to be announced but as always, keep it locked in to MMAmania.com for all the latest details as they begin to trickle in.
In the meantime, early predictions for this 205-pound slugfest?
Posted in: strikeforce, mousasi, preux, dec, gegard
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White confirms Dan Henderson's 'exclusive' UFC contract -- but unsure as to the fate of the Strikeforce belt
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson has signed an exclusive contract with ZUFFA and will indeed fight Mauricio Rua at UFC 139, scheduled for the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2011.
And that leaves Strikeforce without a champion in three of its divisions (heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight).
While there are still a handful of competitors in the promotion's 205-pound weight class, including former straphangers Muhammed Lawal and Rafael Cavalcante, it's unlikely we'll see gold around their waists at any point in the near future because White is "unsure" as to what happens next as he "figures out" what to do with Strikeforce.
In football terminology, it's called "running out the clock."
Hear more from the UFC boss on Henderson vs. Shogun, "Spygate" and the National Anthem, courtesy of Tom Ngo at 5th Round, after the jump.
Any Maniacs out there expecting to see another Strikeforce light heavyweight champion? Or will "Hendo" be the last man to ever hold the strap?
For more on UFC 139 click here.
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, light, calif .,
Read the full article at MMA ManiaOvince St. Preux vs. Gegard Mousasi slated for December 17th in Strikeforce
Gegard Mousasi is like the hottest thing right now. That's a pretty ignorant way to start off a story but when it comes to a 6'1" tall Armenian dude that has the power of the entire Fantastic Four wrapped up in his fists -- you're pretty much forced to preface everything with 'the hottest thing'. If this story were about Kim Kardashian, it would have the same introduction. Kim Kardashian is also Armenian but unlike Mousasi, her superpowers do not lie within her fists. Instead, her superpowers have been concentrated entirely in her ass. If asses were the evolutionary line of mankind, her ass would be the first fish that decided to walk on land. Kim Kardashian's ass has thoroughly revolutionized the world and it's safe to say every guy is grateful for her parents having unprotected sex 30 years ago.
If you're not entirely sold on Ovince St. Preux being one of, if not the best light heavyweight prospect Strikeforce has to offer, then perhaps his appearance in EA Sports MMA will cement any doubts you've had towards OSP. By now, someone has undoubtedly made him on the create-a-fighter feature on the EA Sports MMA 'Fighter Share'. After this article, I'll rush over to my Xbox 360 with the intentions of investigating, but will probably get sidetracked by some bright reflection emanating off my living room window. If intelligence was measured by the duration of one's attention span, I would have the IQ of a warm jar of mayonnaise.
Both of these fighters will be locked in a cage and will hit each other as hard as possible on December 17th in Strikeforce, and we're assuming the winner of this bout will -- who knows, go to UFC? Be the light heavyweight champion? With Dan Henderson re-signing with UFC, we're not sure what's going on with Strikeforce's 205 lb division. Let's look at the facts here: Mousasi sprinkled with a little OSP will result in some combustible and uncontrolled reaction that will play out nicely on your television. [Source]
Posted in: strikeforce, gegard mousasi, mousasi, kim kardashian, ass
Read the full article at Middle EasyGegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Added to Dec. 17 Strikeforce Card
A light heavyweight matchup between former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi and rising prospect Ovince St. Preux has been added to Strikeforce’s December 17 event, the promotion announced Tuesday.
Mousasi (31-3-2) is unbeaten since losing the 205-pound belt to “King” Mo Lawal in April 2010, including a draw against Keith Jardine in Strikeforce in April and first-round TKO of Hiroshi Izumi to defend his DREAM title in July.
St. Preux (11-4), who played football at the University of Tennessee, topped Abongo Humphry in January for his third unanimous decision win in less than two months, then returned to the cage in July with a 72-second stoppage of Joe Cason.
The Dec. 17 event is also expected to feature lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal, the return of Gina Carano, and UFC vet Keith Jardine.
For the latest Strikeforce news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Gegard Mousasi
Posted in: strikeforce, st, mousasi, gina carano, jorge masvidal
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyGegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St-Preux Added to Strikeforce Card in December
Former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi will face rising prospect Ovince St-Preux on Dec 17.
Posted in: strikeforce, mousasi, strikeforce card, ovince st-preux, st-preux
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMousasi-St. Preux Targeted for Dec. 17 Strikeforce
Dream light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi will return to the Strikeforce cage on Dec. 17, as the former Strikeforce titleholder locks horns with rising prospect Ovince St. Preux.
Posted in: strikeforce, prospect, preux, strikeforce cage, dec
Read the full article at SherdogReport: Ovince St. Preux To Meet Gegard Mousasi At December 17th Strikeforce Event
Ovince St. Preux and his management team asked to fight Gegard Mousasi last month, and Mousasi recently said he'd be cool with that. Strikeforce has apparently booked the fight for their yet-unannounced December 17th event, according to a report by MMA Junkie.
OSP has looked quite impressive lately, rattling off five straight wins in Strikeforce and eight overall. His last win was a 72-second TKO of Joe Cason at Strikeforce Challengers 17 in July. Mousasi was last seen in Strikeforce when he went to a controversial draw with Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley in April. Most observers felt that Mousasi handily won the fight. He has fought once outside of the promotion since then, defending his Dream light heavyweight title successfully against Hiroshi Izumi at Dream: Fight For Japan in July.
The event has no rumored location yet, but it will likely be headlined by a Strikeforce lightweight title fight between champion Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Gina Carano, and Jardine's middleweight debut are also expected for the card.
Posted in: fight, strikeforce, event, mousasi, ovince st
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowStrikeforce Challengers 20 adds middleweights Anthony Smith vs. Adlan Amagov
A middleweight bout between Anthony Smith and Adlan Amagov has been added to November's Strikeforce Challengers 20 event.
UFC officials today announced the addition.
Strikeforce Challengers 20 takes place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Tickets for the event go on sale later this week.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, adlan amagov, anthony smith, middleweight bout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieQuinn Mulhern vs. Danny Davis added to Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19
Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 linup has a late addition.
A welterweight bout between Strikeforce welterweight champion Quinn Mulhern and Danny Davis has been added to the event's preliminary card, officials recently announced.
Strikeforce Challengers 19 takes place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, las vegas, danny davis, welterweight bout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDan Henderson vs. “Shogun” Rua Expected for UFC 139 Main Event
A light heavyweight fight between Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson and former UFC champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is rumored to be on tap for UFC 139 and is expected to headline the November 19 card, according to MMAWeekly.
The two PRIDE veterans have never fought despite being with the same organizations multiple times. Henderson (28-8) is coming off his knockout of heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce in July. While the move likely signals the end of Henderson’s run with Strikeforce, “Hendo” recently said he would like to defend his Strikeforce belt.
Rua (20-5) scored a devastating knockout of Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 last month. “Shogun” has seen mixed results in the Octagon due to recurring knee injuries, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion now appears healthy and will be looking to make another run at regaining the title.
The bout is replacing a heavyweight title fight between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos that was expected to headline UFC 139 before being moved to “UFC on Fox.”
UFC 139 is expected to be co-headlined by another former-Strikeforce vs. UFC matchup between Vitor Belfort and Cung Le on Nov. 19 in San Jose, California.
For complete UFC 139 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Dan Henderson
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, heavyweight, henderson, rua
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyShogun Rua vs. Dan Henderson is coming directly to your television at UFC 139
You guys remember when Dan Henderson launched a tactical missile at Michael Bisping's chin at UFC 100 and shocked every living organism that had their television's tuned-in at UFC 100? Hendo was ecstatic from that knockout and wanted another crack at Anderson Silva, but Dana White simply did not want to make that match-up happen. Of course you remember around this time in 2009 when it was rumored that Scott Coker was covertly talking to Hendo, meeting him at restaurants and even Dana White inadvertently walked in on the two having lunch at a suave place in Downtown LA. Dana insisted that it would be impossible for Strikeforce to pay him the amount of money that he wanted, and later that year Dan Henderson made an appearance at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers, a feat that shocked the entire MMA world. While Hendo was still undecided, it seemed like he was leaning towards Strikeforce, perhaps even as leverage to negotiate another deal with UFC. A few weeks later, Hendo signed with Strikeforce, something so extraordinary that it had the entire Underground mentioning how Strikeforce could rival UFC.
Hendo then went on the media circuit for Strikeforce and even appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles in an 'MMA themed' episode. In 2010 he was slated to take on Jake Shields, a fight that a large majority of people believed Hendo would easily take. The fight began, he landed a massive H-bomb which dropped Shields, but unfortunately he just couldn't finish the fight. The former Pride champion, who at the time was riding a three-fight win streak, was defeated by a Strikeforce fighter -- heads exploded. Everyone on the internet firmly stated that 'Strikeforce was here to stay' and that it could legitimately hold its on with UFC.
Now fast-foward over a year later in the post-ZUFFA buyout world we live in. Fedor has gone 1-3 in Strikeforce and has been cut from the organization, Alistair Overeem and Nick Diaz have signed UFC contracts, and with the MMAWeekly news that Dan Henderson has re-signed with UFC and will face Shogun Rua at UFC 139 -- you just have to wonder what will be of Strikeforce a year from today.
Perhaps it was ZUFFA's plan all along to disassemble Strikeforce. I'm not sure. I wasn't in the board room with Scott Coker when it all happened. However, Shogun Rua vs. Dan Henderson is a fight that should make all MMA fans flip in their chairs for -- and all Showtime employees sulk in their chairs. We all know someone is getting a raw deal, and it's certainly not the fans. Now excuse me while I finish this bowl of Fruit Loops, you know, business as usual. [Source]
Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, henderson, dan henderson, hendo
Read the full article at Middle EasyGermaine de Randamie scratched, Strikeforce Challengers 19 set with eight bouts
With Julie Kedzie forced out of a planned Strikeforce
Challengers 19 contest with Germaine de Randamie,
"The Iron Lady" has now also been pulled from the card.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to
the fighter that Strikeforce brass was unable to secure a suitable
opponent in time for Friday's event.
Featuring a light-heavyweight main event between Lorenz Larkin and Nick Rossborough, Strikeforce
Challengers 19 takes place Sept. 23 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino
Resort in Las Vegas. The main card airs on Showtime.
Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, lorenz larkin, place sept, card airs
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAlistair Overeem Turns Attention to UFC, With K-1 Still Owing Him Money
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, K1When Alistair Overeem made the decision to leave behind the two organizations in which he had won heavyweight titles -- Strikeforce and K-1 -- and sign an exclusive agreement with the UFC, one consideration is that he knew the UFC would actually pay him, something that hasn't been the case for all his fights.
Overeem said on The MMA Hour that he still hasn't been paid for winning the K-1 World Grand Prix Final in 2010.
"They didn't pay me," Overeem said. "It's a lot of money, I can tell you that."
Overeem said he expects to take legal action against FEG, the parent company of K-1, but he's skeptical that he'll ever collect what he's owed.
"We're on the verge of starting up legal action, but Japan is a hard environment to move. You have the language barrier, you have the culture barrier. Are we expecting something from it? It's hard to say. I actually think it's going to be really hard. FEG has a lot of outstanding liabilities, a lot of unpaid bills, so maybe mine is just going to be put underneath the stack of the other bills. They have a lot of debt."
Overeem said he feels even worse for Peter Aerts, whom Overeem knocked out to win the K-1 World Grand Prix, and who didn't get paid anything.
"You get your ass kicked and you don't get paid? That's just a shame," Overeem said.
But Overeem said he's pleased with his recent business decision to sign with the UFC, where he will face Brock Lesnar in December. Overeem said that he was engaged in tough negotiations with Strikeforce, which is also owned by UFC parent company Zuffa, before finally being released by Strikeforce only to be re-signed by the UFC. He says that was a real negotiation and that it wasn't just posturing by the UFC to move him from Strikeforce to the UFC.
"I don't think it all was a trick and a ploy to get me into the UFC," Overeem said.
Now Overeem's focus is on Lesnar, whom Overeem views as a dangerous opponent.
"I do definitely think he brings it. I do definitely think he fights to win, to destroy his opponents," Overeem said. "I expect him to come full force. I expect him to be 100 percent come Dec. 30."
If Overeem beats Lesnar, he would likely face the winning of the upcoming heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.
"There are a couple of guys who are interesting fights for me and those guys happen to be in the UFC," Overeem said. "That is the big show these days. There were other fights out there, there were other options, but everybody has been sending me messages, hassling me, telling me go to the UFC, Alistair, when are you going to the UFC? ... I always want to fight the best guys, the best guys are in the UFC, so of course I want to fight in the UFC." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, overeem, strikeforce, guy
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseStrikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum VIDEO Predictions
The Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum event will finally take place this Saturday, June 18th, after being delayed for 2 months. Only two quarterfinal bouts remain in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament before the Heavyweight King will be crowned! Be sure to tune into Showtime at 10pm ET as this event will definitely host some [...]
Posted in: strikeforce, prix tournament, strikeforce heavyweight, quarterfinal bouts, heavyweight king
Read the full article at Fighthub TV