StrikeForce News - Page 11

Strikeforce heavyweight attraction and former PRIDE FC star Josh Barnett had his mixed martial arts (MMA) license reinstated today (March 5, 2012) during a special hearing in front of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). But not without provisions. "The Warmaster" must consent to "random biological fluid testing" at a time and place determined by the commission prior to his participation at any event held in the state of California. Barnett, who is expected to fight undefeated division standout Daniel Cormier under the Strikeforce banner on May 19, has been battling the CSAC for over two years to get back in their good graces following his failed drug test back in 2009, one that sank the S.S. Affliction and canceled a late summer superfight against Fedor Emelianenko. Now he's back, primarily because the state of California "needs good fighters," according to the commission. More details on his reinstated license, as well as his upcoming fight against "DC," as they become available.

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Ryan Couture has just been riding the coattails of his father Randy all along. He couldn't even find a way to beat Matt Ricehouse. There's no way he'd have a shot against veteran Conor Heun. Wrong, naysayers. Wrong. "I think that should shut up just about anybody that said I don't belong here," Couture told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after his latest Strikeforce win. "To not only beat a guy who is tough and experienced, but to finish him – no one has ever done that. It feels really good."

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Josh Thomson (19-4 MMA, 10-2 SF) was mad at the performance he gave against K.J. Noons (11-5 MMA, 3-3 SF), and he cursed when asked to rate it afterward. Despite dominating every round and winning a unanimous decision, Thomson's anger was replaced by near-tears in the locker room.

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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? @danawhite Dana 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

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Brandon Saling, a competitor on tonight's card, was allowed to fight despite being a registered sex offender and a known bigot. I'm extremely disappointed this guy made it past the vetting process and someone's head needs to roll for this. The SS bolts and 88 are on his shoulder.

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Strikeforce lightweight Conor Heun meditates in his Hollywood loft, singing praises of a greater good. His roommates, all MMA fighters and trainers, watch from across the living quarter as Heun finds peace and calm burning incense and lifting his hands towards the ceiling.

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It will have been just under a year and a half when it happens, but the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will finally reach its conclusion on May 19, according to Strikeforce officials. Though they have yet to name a venue or location, finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier will square off to determine the tournament winner.

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Ronda Rousey submitted Miesha Tate in the main event of Strikeforce Tate vs. Rousey in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday night, winning the women’s bantamweight championship

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Onetime Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Paul Daley (29-11-2 MMA, 1-2 SF) assumes that he'll get past Kazuo Misaki (24-11-2 MMA, 1-0 SF) 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.

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Josh Thomson would understand if fans have forgotten about him. After all, it's been 15 months since he most recently fought on U.S. soil, and when he did, the crowd wasn't altogether happy with the judges' judgement. Then add in the rest of the time he's spent on the bench nursing this injury or that, and well, even he might have lost track if he were sitting in the stands.

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Simmering tensions threatened to boil over at the weigh-in for Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” Watch as Bristol Marunde, Ronaldo Souza, Scott Smith, Lumumba Sayers, Paul Daley, Kazuo Misaki, Josh Thomson, and K.J. Noons hit the scales with headliners Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Definitely worth a look MAIN CARD (Showtime) * Champ 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) PRELIMINARY CARD (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)

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Life gave Ronda Rousey all she could handle when she was born blue and not breathing. Rousey was revived in the operating room, but was later diagnosed with brain damage that hindered her ability to speak coherently until age six. At 8, Rousey's father took his own life after he'd been paralyzed in a sledding accident and then contracted a rare disease that made recovery impossible. Mother Ann Maria, who'd taken up judo when her own mother pushed her out the car door at the local YMCA and told her to go join something, made it a requirement that all her four daughters at least try the sport that had empowered her.

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With the abdication of former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Dan Henderson, and the recent positive steroid result for Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal, the Zuffa owned promotion is running out of available fighters to contend for the vacant title. One of those hoping for a shot at the belt, is former champ Rafael ‘Feijao’ Cavalcante (11-3) who has been sitting patiently since his win last September over Yoel Romero Palacio. The two met in Ohio as part of the Barnett vs. Kharitonov event and saw Cavalcante end the fight by second round knockout. ‘Feijao’ is hoping to return to action this April, and had been training to face ‘King Mo’ for the 205-lbs strap, but with Lawal out the Brazilian figures he’ll have to compete one more time before he gets a shot at reclaiming his belt.

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Current Super Cage Combat middleweight champion Bristol Marunde (15-6 MMA, 0-0 SF) has agreed to fight ex-Strikeforce titleholder Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (14-3 MMA, 4-1 SF) 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 (9-0 MMA, 3-0 SF), was forced off the card on Tuesday after failing a pre-event vision test. "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The event's main card, including Marunde vs.Souza , airs live on Showtime while preliminary-card fights air on Showtime Extreme.

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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: @FUELTV FUEL TV #BREAKING: @arielhelwani announced on #UFCTONIGHT - former #UFC Middleweight @NathanMarquardt has signed to @Strikeforce. Feb 22 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

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A main card middleweight match-up between Derek Brunson and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has been nixed from the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey fight card planned for March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Tuesday announced that Brunson has been pulled from the card due to failure to pass the medical requirements for the bout. He did not reveal the details of the failure, but indicated that it was nothing serious. Brunson later took to his Twitter account to clarify the situation. He said that he failed Ohio’s medical requirements due to his eye examination, although it’s never been an issue for him in the past. “Ok here’s the deal…” Brunson tweeted. “I’ve been fighting with contacts for 11 fights (9pro,2ams) never was an issue. Ohio won’t pass my eye exam.”

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Lightweight K.J. Noons has yet to submit a medical clearance that will enable him to fight Josh Thomson at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." Until he does, Noons remains on a national database of fighters under medical suspension, a rep from the California State Athletic Commission today told MMAjunkie.com. "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" takes place March 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

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In a recent TapouT Radio interview, Ronda Rousey discussed a wide range of issues in reference for her title bout with Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" on March 3, Columbus. OH. Fighting weight “I’m at 141.8 right now. I’m a professional, and I want to have a better cut than Miesha does, because I want to beat the girl into the ground." The Olympics “She brought up that my Olympic medal is a fraud, and that I really got fourth place. I just thought, ‘What kind of an ungrateful little POS are you? I won the Olympic medal for YOUR country, and you’re questioning the validity of the Olympic medal that I got for your country, just to make yourself feel a little bit better.’ I mean, that’s just not even American ... the whole idea that she would try to defame one of her own country’s Olympic medals is so tactless. It was un-American and an anti-patriot thing to do."

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After defeating Lorenz Larkin in his last mixed martial arts (MMA) fight on Jan. 7, 2012, Lawal had his victory overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) because of a positive drug test that indicated his use of steroids (drostanolone). The news just gets worse. According to Robert Joyner (who writes freelance MMA articles for Sport Illustrated), "King Mo" was very recently in some dire straits: "On the King Mo situation, hearing from those close to him he's in a bad situation. He got injured in the Larkin fight, had to get another ACL. There were complications and he ended up with a very bad staph infection that was life threatening, and nearly required amputation. Mo had to have five surgeries in 12 days before staph was gone. Currently he's taking an IV directly into his heart every day for six weeks. Making the situation even worse, this was a recurrence of same injury within 18 months, so Zuffa/SF insurance won't cover the ACL surgery or the subsequent follow-ups for the staph. Mo is/will have to come out of pocket on medical bills that may well reach into six figures."

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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). It's the second time an injury has scrapped a matchup with former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 SF). The two were supposed to meet this past April at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" before Kyle broke his hand and bowed out. 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.

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