Strikeforce Thread

[Rankin]

...And now Joe Riggs is off the card! Man this is quickly turning bad!

[Hammy]

...And now Joe Riggs is off the card! Man this is quickly turning bad!

...He was always going to lose 

[Hammy]

Strikeforce today announced that it has salvaged the dynamite light heavyweight showdown between Renato Sobral and Gegard Mousasi, which appeared to be scrapped when Affliction MMA closed its doors just one week prior to “Trilogy” on Aug. 1, 2009.

It gets better: Sobral, the Strikeforce 205-pound champion, will put his belt on the line when the two fighters collide at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Aug 15. It will be a featured bout on the televised main card, which will air on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET.

Sobral was forced to withdraw from his first-ever light heavyweight title defense against former Elite XC superstar, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, at the Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ event slated for the the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., on June 6, due to the birth of his child in late May.

Babalu has won four straight fights since departing from the UFC in late 2007, including a decision win over Mike Whitehead at Affliction: “Banned,” a submission win over Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” and a first round technical knockout win over Bobby Southworth at Strikeforce: “Destruction” to win the promotion’s 205-pound strap.

He will need every ounce of that experience (and his jiu-jitsu chops) to stymie Mousasi.

For Mousasi, who surrendered his DREAM middleweight title to focus on competing at a higher weight class, it is another opportunity to capture a major belt early in his bright career.

Here’s what he had to say about fighting Babalu under the Strikeforce banner:

“I am very happy that Strikeforce has resurrected this fight and that I will have the opportunity to become Strikeforce world champion…. Strikeforce is one of the world’s top promotions and I am proud to be a part of their roster of world-class fighters.”

That is fantastic news! 

[D]

also heard they may bring in Jay Hieron to fight Nick Diaz. That would be entertaining.

With somehow they could get Fedor to fight Werdum.

[Hammy]

Strikeforce announced today that former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion and Affliction MMA headliner Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) has signed a multi-fight contract with the San Jose-based mixed martial arts promotion under a special co-promotion agreement with M-1 Global.

“The Last Emperor” was in cruise control under the Affliction MMA banner after back-to-back wins over former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski.

He was in line for a WAMMA title defense against Josh Barnett at the Aug. 1 ‘Trilogy’ event until “The Babyface Assassin” got popped for steroids in a random pre-fight drug test.

The financially unstable promotion closed up shop shortly thereafter, leaving Emelianenko (once again) the hottest free agent in mixed martial arts.

The Russian gladiator was first up for grabs following the collapse of Pride FC in 2007. The UFC lobbied hard to bring the Sambo champion on board however, talks broke down when the parties could not agree on an exclusive fight contract, eventually leading him to Affliction under his terms.

It was those terms that once again failed to bring him to the Octagon despite the financial efforts of Zuffa, who went on record with a guarantee that he would never see a deal as lucrative as the one they offered.

In the end, co-promotion was apparently more important than cash, as Strikeforce brings M-1 Global into a partnership similar to the one it had with the now-defunct Elite XC back in 2008.

From Vadim Finkelchtein, President of M-1 Global:

“I am very happy and excited about the upcoming collaboration with Strikeforce. We are very pleased that we found a reliable partner and I feel that Strikeforce and M-1 can support each other on many things. This will create big opportunities for both parties to test their fighters against worthy opponents.”

Strikeforce currently has a heavyweight roster that’s comprised of potential opponents like Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem.

From Emelianenko:

“I am looking forward to going back to work and fighting at the highest level. Strikeforce is a top fight promotion that houses some of the greatest fighters in the world. I am prepared to fight any of them.”

Most of the mixed martial arts community is presumably anxious to hear Zuffa’s reaction after their intense negotiations with M-1 Global that ended with incredulous frustration.

In the meantime, fans can look forward to finally seeing the Stary Oskol native make his much anticipated debut inside a cage. It’s worth noting that Brett Rogers was holding out for an October fight when first approached as a fill-in for Josh Barnett.

With Emelianenko’s debut penciled in for Fall 2009, perhaps that’s a match we’ll get to see after all.

[D]

**** Fedor

he knows his best days are gone and he wants to keep the illusion of being the greatest going

[Rankin]

[Hammy]

The hits just keep on coming for Strikeforce: “Carano vs. Cyborg” … and punches are not scheduled to be thrown until this Saturday (Aug. 15) from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

Nick Diaz is the latest casualty of the cursed card, failing to appear for a mandatory random drug test requested by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) on Aug. 7 and again today (Aug. 10). Diaz — who carries a medical marijuana card — did not have enough time to flush the banned substance from his system prior to the test.

As a result, the Stockton, Calif., native was not issued a license to compete in the “Golden State” and will be unable to take on Jay Hieron for the promotion’s first-ever welterweight title.

It’s an odd turn of events that his his head trainer, Cesar Gracie, dazed and confused. He apparently had an informal agreement with former CSAC executive director Armando Garcia, which protected his fighter from such surprise tests.

Here’s a snip from him in an MMAWeekly.com report:


“They changed it without any notification. No one had any time. The old guys were doing things based off of California law, and I knew California law didn’t change. He’s licensed … it’s legal. They’re own legal team came out with a ruling that said (compassionate use was allowed). Then all of a sudden they’re saying we’re doing drug tests, and cannabis is included, it’s not just performance enhancers. To flush it out of his system, it takes 10 days, and we don’t have that.”

With Diaz refusing to take the test because it more than likely would have resulted in a lengthy suspension, it opens the door for former contestant on Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7, Jesse Taylor, to slide into the vacant spot opposite “The Thoroughbred.” Hieron was actually filling in for a hospitalized Joe Riggs.

The new-look 170-pound match up will not be a title fight.

Taylor recently scored a win over Korean Judoka Dong Sik-Yoon at DREAM 10. “JT Money” dominated the action from the get-go before it was halted because of an injury — Sik-Yoon appeared to suffer a serious leg/foot injury while defending a takedown.

It was the seventh straight win for Taylor and his sixth in 2009 alone.

He’s certainly been a busy man since losing to CB Dollaway via submission (Peruvian Necktie) at UFC Fight Night 14 back in July 2008. And he appears to be keeping the pedal to the medal and looking to make it eight straight, seven this year, against Hieron this weekend.

Shame Diaz is out, but Taylor is an alright replacement, he has been on a tear since his UFC release anyway...

[Hammy]

It was a very good event.  The 1 round they gave us showed that women's mma can be damn entertaining if nothing else.

Mousasi is superb, its inevitable he'll be in the UFC on day.

[Hammy]

Here is the breaking news from ShoSports.com:

“At Fedor’s public workout in New York City, Scott Coker announces Fedor’s plans to fight Brett Rogers. Event details to come.”

No confirmed date or location is available at this time. Sit tight, Maniacs.

Thoughts in the meantime?

I like this fight, Rogers has been on a tear, outside of the UFC this is probably the best fight they could give him.

[D]

Rogers has no ground skill at all
Fedor quick Sub victory

[Hammy]

Probably, but he has got to get him there first, it only takes on shot, but Fedor on experience alone should win out.

[Rankin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrTNpdtCkEc&feature=player_embedded

Big size difference. Decent match-up but you gotta think after Rogers and possibly Werdum & Overeem who else have Strikeforce got to challenge him? Hardlys the most stellar opposition available.

[D]

Fedor will slip a right hand, clinch Judo throw, Arm bar see u later

[Hammy]

Pretty decent card.

Werdum made a great recovery to grit out a solid victory, despite being the favourite going in I thought he'd lose, if he does get Fedor next I don't rate his chances.

Mousasi continues to impress, he took longer to win than I thought and for once Soko (whatever the rest of his name is) brought out some of his great Judo that he has rarely incorporated into his MMA Game.

Shields and Miller despite the boos I thought was a great back and forth match and Miller despite being dominated for the most part never gave up and goddamn that rear naked choke was deep.

Rogers impressed the hell out of me in the Main Event, his constant scrambling and getting out of subs, I like most thought once he was grounded that would be it, and Fedor showed his greatness again, what a killer shot to win.

Great stuff!