New Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi staying at 205 pounds for "two or three years"
(mmajunkie.com)Don't expect Gegard Mousasi to waste too much time before making his first Strikeforce title defense.
While current champs Alistair Overeem (heavyweight), Cung Le (middleweight) and Josh Thomson (lightweight) have each gone more than a year since last defending their Strikeforce belts, Mousasi, who delivered former champ Renato "Babalu" Sobral a brutal 60-second knockout on Saturday to claim the 205-pound title, is ready to pounce on his new weight class.
Gegard Mousasi performs well under pressure
(mmamania.com)There was some pressure coming into the fight because it was my first fight in the US, but I trained hard for it and I was very comfortable and confident in the ring. I wanted to fight stand-up with him but I knew he would go for the clinch. I didn’t want to give him any advantage so I knew when I could take him down, I would, [and] I had the chance so I took it. After 1-2 rights I felt he was a little bit dizzy, so I gave him some more — for better results.”
Santos' First Challenger: Marloes Coenen?
(mmajunkie.com)That could be the answer to the obvious "Who's next?" for Cristiane Santos. Marloes Coenen, who was given a 1-fight deal as a last-minute replacement last night if either Gina Carano or Santos couldn't go, is being hinted as a possibility to be the first challenger for Santos' new SF Women's Title. But Scott Coker said the hope it so have an 8-woman determination tournament to determine the first challenger, and Coker also cited "communication problems" behind a falling-out with Erin Toughill that led to this, but he said Toughill is still welcome in SF.
Fedor's SF Debut Now Planned For November, No Opponent Set
(mmajunkie.com)Although it was originally rumored for October, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said after last night's event that Fedor Emelianenko now will likely debut for the promotion in November. They haven't said who he'll fight but Brett Rogers and Fabricio Werdum are possibilities. Ricco Rodriguez, on the other hand, is not.
“We took a lot of proactive measures to make sure [Gina Carano and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos were on weight]. We were weighing the girls all week. When Gina went to sleep last night she was right at weight
(mmamania.com)“We took a lot of proactive measures to make sure [Gina Carano and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos were on weight]. We were weighing the girls all week. When Gina went to sleep last night she was right at weight (145). I was more concerned about Cyborg (she weighed in at 152 for her last Strikeforce fight). I talked to the Chute Boxe trainer and said ’she has to make weight.’ When they landed [in San Jose] she was 152. We just let her do her thing and didn’t interrupt, but we weighed them everyday. I don’t think we’ve ever been this diligent. This is a such high-profile event. This is a major fight for television, a major fight for us and a major fight for female fighting period.”
–Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker tells CageWriter.com that he was not about to let anything happen to his main event fight between Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Santos at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, Calif., on Aug. 15. The promotion went as far as to weigh the girls — who will compete in an historic main event for the first-ever 145-pound female championship — frequently leading up to yesterday’s weigh in. Carano and Cyborg have historically struggled on the scales, but not last night — both ladies hit their marks without incident. It was likely a huge relief for Strikeforce, which has had a rough time keeping the “Carano vs. Cyborg” card together because of injuries, drug test issues and other matters. With all the drama now out of the way, it’s finally time to fight.
Coleman warns Ortiz: “I won’t be used as a stepping stone by anybody”
(mmabay.co.uk)
“I think that’s absolutely perfect, I’m ecstatic. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I’ve been given this kind of opportunity in the past and this is one I need to take advantage of. This is my chance to take everything he has.”
“I think it’s gonna be a hell of a fight, I think it’s gonna be a war. Neither one of us likes to lose, I actually hate to lose. There’s a good chance this fight could end up on its feet and I feel like my stand-up skills will be ready to win in that area. I don’t know if I can knock him out but I definitely think I can beat Tito. I definitely feel like I can win this fight. There are no guarantees in this game but I hit really hard and if I connect I could knock him out.”
Condit vs. Ellenberger on main card, Dollaway vs. Miller completes UFC Fight Night 19
(mmajunkie.com)With a couple recent changes to the card, September's UFC Fight Night 19 lineup is now complete.
The event takes place Sept. 16 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City and airs on Spike TV as a lead-in for the debut of "The Ultimate Fighter 10."
A bout between Jake Ellenberger (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was a late replacement for Chris Lytle, and Carlos Condit (22-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) remains on the televised main card, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) had learned, and the addition of a C.B. Dollaway (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) vs. Dan Miller (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) fight is now official for the night's preliminary card.
Phil Baroni signs with the UFC
(mmajunkie.com)It's official: Phil Baroni, a shameless (and effective) self-promoter who's better known as "The New York Bad Ass," is returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
On Thursday the 33-year-old fighter signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC and is heading to the organization's welterweight division.
Bellator Fighting Championships Postpones Second Season
(fiveouncesofpain.com)Bellator Fighting Championships will postpone their second season from the previously announced date of October, to January of 2010.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com has recently been able to confirm the news of the promotion pushing back the date of their second season through sources close to the event.
The reason given for the postponement is that Bellator is currently trying to finalize negotiations with a new television partner.
Has Strikeforce Put Gilbert Melendez at a Slight Disadvantage?
(bloodyelbow.com)One of the more appealing bouts on the Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg main card is the Lightweight Interim title match-up between Gilbert Melendez and Mitsuhiro Ishida. Most of the interest surrounding the bout revolves around their previous tilt back at Yarennoka! on New Year's Eve of 2007 in which Ishida was the first man to defeat Melendez in his career and put some criticism to Melendez's ranking at the time.
Despite Changes, Jay Hieron 'Still Blessed to Be Fighting'
(mma.fanhouse.com)SAN JOSE, Calif. - Please excuse Jay Hieron if he sounds a little annoyed -- the man just can't buy a break.
The former International Fight League welterweight champion has now been a part of two failed promotions and recently saw his Strikeforce title shot evaporate after Nick Diaz failed to show up for his pre-licensing drug test.
UFC reverses course on Thales Leites and Tamdan McCrory, both returning to octagon
(mmajunkie.com)Thales Leites was stunned on Saturday when he heard that judges had come to a split decision in his fight with Alessio Sakara at UFC 101 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. He was even more stunned when he came out on the short end of the verdict.
But the really shocking news came on Thursday, when he learned he was being dropped by the Ultimate Fighting Championship only four months after competing for the middleweight title.
It turns out, though, that Leites still has a job with the UFC.
Toughill explains absence
(mixedmartialarts.com)With women’s MMA about to take its biggest step forward, one of the original pioneers of the movement will be sitting on the sidelines watching, but not by her choice.
Earlier this year Erin Toughill had been announced to participate on the undercard to Saturday night’s Strikeforce card, with the belief that she would step into the evening’s main event featuring Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Santos should one of them be forced to withdraw.
Alas, it never came to fruition.
MMA conditioning expert Billy Rush in hospital
(mixedmartialarts.com)Police: Man shoots own leg, crashes his pickup
A Germantown man who apparently shot himself in the leg was flown to an area hospital Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12, after crashing his pickup truck into two vehicles before striking a utility pole.
Billy Rush, 35, of Germantown, drove his Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck into a utility pole at 12:26 p.m. in front of 1270 E. Second St., minutes after he drove eastward out of a Shell gas station, crossing three lanes before he was struck by a Chevrolet Impala, said Franklin police Chief Gordon Ellis. The pickup then traveled into a parking lot and struck a parked car, then headed back onto the road and struck the pole, he said.
Josh Neer and Kurt Pellegrino Comment on Their Fight at UFC 101
(bloodyelbow.com)Josh Neer:
Hey guys I figured I’d come on here and explain my fight a little. 1 thing I wish I would have done is just try to get up. The reason I didn't was because when he stood up, he was waiting for me to do so. Soon as I would of, he would of spun around and take my back. If I had it to do over again I would have just took the risk. I was complaining about the ref standing us up because c'mon he can't stand us up 1 time? But I guess you can't when you’re basically from the same town as my opponent. I watched the same ref being buddy buddy with all the guys on the card from New Jersey. My main problem with Kurt was b4 the fight he talked how it was going to be a war and he was going to leave it all out there and blah blah. Well in my opinion he didn't at all. If you’re going to play it safe and stick to a game plan just say that. Don’t talk like it's going to be a great fight.
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