MATT SERRA NOT RETIRED, WANTS HUGHES REMATCH
(mmaweekly.com)Former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder Matt Serra wants a rematch with Matt Hughes and fights against opponents with names cemented in the industry.
"I had a talk with Joe Silva (UFC matchmaker) and we talked about some interesting things," Serra told MMAWeekly.com recently. "I was definitely first pushing for a rematch. That would be ideal for me. I'd love to fight Matt Hughes again. I told him, 'look man, you've already got the name for it, “Unfinished Business.” There you go.'
COUTURE ON CARANO'S PERFORMANCE AND FUTURE
(mmaweekly.com)Although Gina Carano’s pride took a hit Saturday night, her coach, Randy Couture, is already looking ahead.
Whenever she wants to get back in the gym, he’ll be there.
Carano suffered the first slide of her career at Strikeforce “Carano vs. Cyborg,” the first major mixed martial arts card to feature a female title fight as its headliner. Almost as soon as the fight was booked, she asked Couture to coach and corner her for the enormous challenge faced in Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, a vicious product of Chute Boxe Academy in Curitiba, Brazil.
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.
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.
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.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Kyle Moved to Showtime Portion of Strikeforce Card
(mma.fanhouse.com)The Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Kyle heavyweight bout has been bumped up to the Showtime portion of Saturday's Strikeforce telecast. FanHouse learned the news from Kyle on Thursday, and confirmed it with Strikeforce officials.
The fight was originally scheduled to take place on the non-televised portion of the card, but once the Jesse Taylor vs. Jay Hieron fight was changed to a three-round non-title bout, there was enough time to add Werdum vs. Kyle to the main card.
Strikeforce Close to Finalizing Debut Date For Fedor Emelianenko
(mma.fanhouse.com)October is shaping to be another can't miss month for mixed martial arts fans.
We already knew that DREAM.11 would take place on October 6 and UFC 104 on October 24, but now it looks like Fedor Emelianenko will make his Strikeforce debut on October 10. Ken Hershman, Showtime Sports' senior vice president and general manager, informed FanHouse of the news on Thursday. Emelianenko's first fight for the organization will air live on the premium cable network.
After Title Defense, 'Babalu' Sobral Wants Fedor Emelianenko Rematch
(mma.fanhouse.com)It seems as though we've been talking about Renato Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi for quite some time now. Of course, both men were supposed to fight on the ill-fated "Affliction: Trilogy" card. Instead, the bout was moved to this Saturday's Strikeforce event on Showtime, where "Babalu" will defend his light heavyweight title against the up-and-coming Mousasi.
NOT INTIMIDATED, CYBORG READY FOR CARANO
(mmaweekly.com)Having worked her way up the ranks to eventually be considered the top female fighter in all of Brazil, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos was well on her way to accomplishing the same feat in the United States when, after back-to-back wins in the promotion, EliteXC shuttered its doors.
She nearly made the move to Canada earlier this year, but a shoulder injury and subsequent offer from Strikeforce kept her in the States and now puts her in the biggest fight of her career.
Welterweight Phil Baroni released by Strikeforce; reportedly "likely" to sign with UFC
(mmajunkie.com)Following a June defeat at the hands of Joe Riggs, welterweight slugger Phil Baroni (13-11) was today officially released from his contract with Strikeforce.
Baroni fought just twice for the organization, compiling an 0-2 record.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said he wasn't ruling out a future relationship with the "New York Bad Ass," providing Baroni can put together a win streak in the welterweight division.
"We wish Phil the best of luck and hope he can revive his career," Coker said. "If he can, maybe one day he can return and fight for us."
A former middleweight, Baroni made his Strikeforce debut in June 2007. Facing MMA pioneer Frank Shamrock for Strikeforce's first-ever middleweight title, Baroni was choked unconscious in the second round.
The loss to Shamrock started a three-fight skid for the hard-hitting Baroni, a run that ultimately inspired the 33-year-old to drop to the welterweight division, where he put together a three-fight win streak before the loss to Riggs.
A report from Sherdog.com cites the UFC as Baroni's likely new employer. Baroni's agent, Ken Pavia of MMAAgents.com, was unable to comment on the matter when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
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