Fedor Emelianenko released from Strikeforce
(bloodyelbow.com)At the UFC 133 press conference it was announced by UFC president Dana White that Fedor Emelianenko has been released from his Strikeforce contract. Fedor is riding a three fight losing streak while carrying a hefty price tag and a management team with a long history of proving difficult for Zuffa to deal with. That combination makes this a much less shocking cut than the recent release of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
This does, however, continue the thinning out of the Strikeforce roster and the likely eventual dissolving of the promotion once the Showtime deal hits completion.
Reagan Penn makes MMA debut against Paul Gardner at ProElite 1
(mmajunkie.com)Reagan Penn (0-0), younger brother to UFC icon B.J. Penn, will make his professional MMA debut against Paul Gardner (2-0) at ProElite 1.
ProElite vice president of fight operations T. Jay Thompson today confirmed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the welterweight bout is signed, sealed and delivered.
ProElite 1 takes place Aug. 27 at storied MMA venue Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
The latest card currently includes:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Ray Lopez
Kendall Grove vs. Joe Riggs
Kala Hose vs. Drew McFedries
Reagan Penn vs. Paul Gardner
Mark Ellis vs. Jake Heun
Sara McCann vs. Raquel Pa'aluhi
FUEL TV launches "Punk Payback" with MMA legend Bas Rutten
(mmajunkie.com)FUEL TV continues its exploration of the mixed martial arts segment this fall with the launch of a new 10-episode series, "Punk Payback," starring Bas Rutten.
The former UFC champ and King of Pancrase will be the star of the series, which debuts on the cable channel on Nov. 2.
Described as a "comedic, street-fighting survival series," the half-hour episodes promise to showcase "combat moves that can help viewers avoid being 'punked' on the street."
Bobby Lashley enlists fellow pro wrestler Josh Barnett for MMA career guidance
(mmajunkie.com)After locking up in rings overseas and rolling backstage between worked wrestling matches, Bobby Lashley (6-1) has found an advocate in Josh Barnett (30-5).
The two recently paired up in Barnett's backyard of Irvine, Calif. After an intense training weekend, Lashley, who hopes to return to the cage in the fall, has seen the benefit of working with the Strikeforce heavyweight and hopes to make it a regular thing.
"Mighty Mo" Siliga signs with Superior Cage Combat, expected to debut in November
(mmajunkie.com)Samoan slugger Siala-Mou "Mighty Mo" Siliga is coming to Sin City.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that the upstart Superior Cage Combat promotion has signed the K-1, boxing and MMA vet for an upcoming appearance in a Las Vegas-based event.
While an opponent has yet to be named, the fight is expected to take place in November, at Superior Cage Combat's as-yet-unannounced third event.
UFC 133 Fight Card: Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz Trade Barbs Again
(bloodyelbow.com)A few days ago Mike posted a video of a verbal confrontation between UFC 133 main eventers Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, and hinted at the idea that there might be more where that came from. Well, there was more. The UFC tweeted a minute-long followup video called Verbal Warfare Part 2, with the two trading pretty weak barbs for the most part. The conclusion more than makes up for the beginning though.
Video after the jump. It's worth watching, it's only a minute.
Tatsuya Kawajiri Drops to Featherweight, Takes on Joachim Hansen on DREAM.17
(bloodyelbow.com)He's already the #9 ranked lightweight in the USA Today / SBN consensus rankings, but he will soon be trying to crush guys in another division. He's done very well at lightweight, but after failing to wrest both the DREAM and Strikeforce lightweight titles, DREAM officials have announced today that Tatsuya Kawajiri will now look to take on new challenges as a featherweight.
He will be making his debut against Joachim Hansen on September 24th, as part of the DREAM.17 card. This will be a rematch of their extremely quick and controversial bout back in 2006, when Kawajiri defended his Shooto welterweight (154 lbs.) title.
DREAM.17 - September 24, 2011 - Saitama Super Arena, Japan
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen
Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough
Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno
Willamy Freire vs. Satoru Kitaoka
Strikeforce's Gina Carano cleared for training, manager hopes for 2011 return
(mmajunkie.com)Gina Carano's doctor has cleared her to resume training, and if all goes well, she'll be back in the cage before the end of the year.
As with any Carano update, that's far from a promise, but it's the plan for now, manager Scott Karp today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
If nothing else, it appears the medical issue that precluded her from fighting this past June at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" won't keep her from mixing it up in the gym.
Golden Glory trainer on recent UFC/Strikeforce cuts: "I think it's unfair"
(mmajunkie.com)Martin de Jong got a punch to the gut when he checked his email Wednesday morning.
In his inbox was a letter forwarded from Golden Glory manager Bas Boon that stated three of his fighters under the Zuffa umbrella had been cut due to recent losses.
The fighters included former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen, UFC heavyweight Jon Olav Einemo and Strikeforce heavyweight Valentijn Overeem.
"This is a big blow for us," de Jong today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I feel it's kind of unfair to the fighters. They train hard. They put on exciting performances."
Are the cuts related to the recent strife between Alistair Overeem and Zuffa?
De Jong can't be sure.
"You tell me," he said. "I have no idea, but it doesn't look good. Of course, for us, it's really bad. I'm very disappointed. What can I say?"
Marloes Coenen cut by Strikeforce
(mmafighting.com)A week after Zuffa released Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem from his contract, three of Overeem's Golden Glory teammates have also been cut, including former women's champion Marloes Coenen.
Golden Glory's Martin de Jong wrote on Twitter that Coenen, heavyweight John Olav Einemo and Overeem's brother Valentijn Overeem were all released by Zuffa.
There's clear tension at the moment between Golden Glory and Zuffa, the parent company of both the UFC and Strikeforce. Although Zuffa can point to the fact that Coenen, Einemo and Valentijn Overeem were all coming off losses, cutting them all and also cutting Alistair Overeem suggests that Zuffa doesn't want to deal with Golden Glory (which functions as both a gym and a promoter) at all.
Jim Miller unsure of title shot with win over Ben Henderson on Aug. 14
(mmamania.com) At a special conference call held today to promote the upcoming UFC on Versus 5 event on Aug. 14 in Milwaukee, lightweight wrecking ball Jim Miller continues his trend of being the best employee on the entire promotional roster.
That's because despite the fact that he's been all but promised the number one contender spot with a win over Ben Henderson, he's still ready and willing to fight everyone else under the sun except the champion, if that's what his bosses so choose.
Miller is already a champ in my book. What an exceptional attitude.
UFC returns to Toronto for UFC 140 on Dec. 10
(mmajunkie.com)Toronto has won the day for the UFC's next excursion into Canada.
After the promotion considered events in the Ontario capital as well as in Montreal, Quebec, which was the site of four previous (and lucrative) shows, Toronto's Air Canada Centre will host host UFC 140 on Dec. 10 .
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the event location with sources close to negotiations. ESPN first reported it.
Sergei Kharitonov: “Alex Emelianenko is a mistake of nature”
(valetudo.ru)Sergei Kharitonov told ValeTudo.ru about Fedor`s fight and his brother Alex problems with akcohol, drugs, prison and more!
The long-expected SF: Fedor vs. Henderson tournament where Dan Henderson defeated Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of the evening took part yesterday. Not long before it Fedor’s brother Alexander Emelianenko gave a scandalous interview where he said some unflattering words about Strikeforce Grand prix semi-finalist Sergei Kharitonov. Sergeicould find some time during his preparation to Josh Barnett in Thailand and shared some of his thoughts on the last events with us.
Keith Jardine Dropping to Middleweight, Wants Cung Le
(bloodyelbow.com)Former UFC and current Strikeforce fighter Keith Jardine is dropping to middleweight, and he has one name on his mind for a debut fight at 185 - former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le. Le has been campaigning for a fight in the UFC, but Jardine wants to duke it out in a Strikeforce cage. He had a lot to say to MMA Weekly about Le:
"Just looking out there, they need to get a fight for me, and it needs to be a big named guy, I want it to be a big named guy. Looking at Strikeforce seeing who they’ve got and there’s not much bigger than Cung Le. I thought that would be a great match-up."
Aleksander Emelianenko Trashes Fedor's Coaches Following Loss to Dan Henderson
(bloodyelbow.com)One of the few bright spots that were talked about during Fedor Emelianenko's preparations for his Strikeforce bout against Dan Henderson, was him re-uniting with his brother Aleksander. The two had a falling-out of sorts, and after two straight losses for Fedor, they mended fences and trained together again.
Shortly after his brother's loss though, Aleks spoke out and had some harsh words for Fedor's coaches. He talked to LifeSports.ru about it, in a phone interview (translated by Fighters Only):
"They sat like two amoebas, and did not know what to say. They were asked direct questions and would say, "It is difficult to say… we will see in the fight," - what kind of a coach says that? Only one who doesn’t understand the sport. I just call them ‘Stopwatch’ and ‘Towel’. That's as much use as they are, that's it,"
Leonard Garcia Out, Jim Hettes In Against Alex Caceres at UFC on Versus 5
(bloodyelbow.com)Leonard Garcia will have to a wait a little while longer to try and get back into the win column. The veteran featherweight was forced out of his August 14th fight with Alex Caceres at UFC on Versus 5 and will be replaced by the debuting Jim Hettes. UFC.com has it:
"Leonard Garcia is out with an injury, so newly signed prospect Jim Hettes is taking his place vs Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres on August 14 in Milwaukee," said White. "Hettes is undefeated as a pro and has finished all opponents by submission. Caceres has also never gone the distance. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout."
UFC 133 Fight Card: Rashad Evans 'Would Love To Fight' Dan Henderson
(bloodyelbow.com)Dan Henderson picked up a huge win this past Saturday, knocking out legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson. With his contract ending with Strikeforce, and having picked up three solid wins in a row, it's no shock that the talk of a Hendo return to the UFC has picked up.
Rashad Evans was supposed to be fighting for the UFC light heavyweight championship this weekend against Jon Jones, but an injury forced Jones off the card followed by Phil Davis pulling out with injury leading to a rematch with Tito Ortiz. A win should move Evans into position to fight the winner of the Jones/Quinton Jackson fight for the UFC title. So, would Evans have any interest in fighting Henderson in some sort of fight with Dan in the future (assuming he regains the 205 pound strap)? He tells a recent ESPN.com chat that he'd love it (HT: MMA Mania):
I'm a big Hendo fan. I picked him [against Fedor] even though I didn't think he was really going to win, but it was a pleasant surprise. I would love to fight him. He's getting better and better -- not so much learning new techniques, but having a stronger competitive mentality.
Unemployed Hendo wants Jones vs. Rampage winner
(mixedmartialarts.com)“I think that could be interesting going forward, a unification fight with the winner of that contest would be a good match,” Dan Henderson told Telegraph Sport from his home tonight.
“I’m the Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion, I’ve beaten Fedor, and I’m unemployed, so we’ll have to see what the talks are now after I’ve had a few weeks off. It’s not a bad position to be in though.”
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