Strikeforce Thread

[Hammy]

One time UFC poster boy Tito Ortiz hasn't fought in more than a year. And it's been nearly three years since he last won a fight.

Plagued by back problems for several years, his last bout was a loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. Prior to that, a draw with former UFC champion Rashad Evans and a loss to another former UFC champion in Chuck Liddell.

But following back surgery in October of 2008, Ortiz has recently been cleared to train full speed ahead.

"My doctor just released me. I feel great. My cardio is great. I'm excited to get back in there. I'm 100-percent, no more pain running down my back."

In a seemingly revolving door of endless negotiations, the former UFC champion sounds as if he is nearing the time when he will set foot back in the cage, once again ready to compete.

"I'm in negotiations right now with Strikeforce and working with CBS and Showtime, so all three of us are going back and forth to make a contract that makes sense to me," he told MMAWeekly.com recently.

"Hopefully by October I'll be competing. We're finishing the contract I'd say with CBS, Showtime, and Strikeforce and making a deal that UFC can't match."

If that deal does come to fruition, Ortiz says he's ready and has his near future already mapped out.

"I feel sorry for the person they have me fight, but I do need one warm-up fight," he said. "I managed to come off a huge back surgery. It's been a year since I've competed. I think one warm-up fight to get things going."

But after that, it's full speed ahead, and truly so if the fight he mentions does end up taking place. 

"After that, I don't want no more warm-up fights. I'm hoping by my fourth fight, possibly fight Fedor Emelianenko at a catchweight. That'd be something that I'm looking forward to possibly by the middle of next year." 

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=9087&zoneid=13

[Hammy]

Well it'd be a major fight, money wise, there would be plenty of interest, but I don't care how many warm-ups fights he has, Fedor would demolish him.

[D]

Fedor wouldn't demolish him. He'd win but Tito has an amazing chin and has amazing strength.

Cannot wait to see him back. He is my favorite athlete going today

[Ragu]

Fedor wouldn't demolish him. He'd win but Tito has an amazing chin and has amazing strength.

Cannot wait to see him back. He is my favorite athlete going today

tito would literally get demolished, he does not have an amazing chin, he would get decimated

[D]

OK, so maybe my fanboy love went a bit far

[Hammy]

Yeah I mean fanboy stuff aside D you've seen the way he reacts when people throw punches, he plays hide and seek, nobody likes getting hit but Tito seems to hate it more than most.

[D]

Yeah I mean fanboy stuff aside D you've seen the way he reacts when people throw punches, he plays hide and seek, nobody likes getting hit but Tito seems to hate it more than most.

blasphemous

for that **** u get a  and two 

[Rankin]

With the confirmation of a fight between Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum, the August 15th "Carano vs. Cyborg" fight card will feature not one, not two or three, but four title bouts. FOUR!

Not only does this have the potential to be the best fight card of the entire year, but it's going to be broadcast live on Showtime, which means you won't have to pay $44.99 to see it as long as you or a friend subscribe. Here is a quick breakdown of the championship bouts scheduled on the card.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship--Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum: Overeem hasn't fought in Strikeforce since he defeated Paul Buentello to win the title in 2007. In his first fight back, he'll face a tough test in former UFC contender and submission ace, Fabricio Werdum.

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship--Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs: Nick Diaz has been on a well documented tear lately, but Joe Riggs seems to have reinvented himself yet again. He comes into this fight after a dominant win over Phil Baroni, but look for Diaz to be in top form. Not only is there a belt on the line, but Diaz has the opportunity to avenge the loss Riggs gave him in the UFC in 2006.

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship--Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez: Despite being slightly overshadowed by the other bouts, this one may be most important to the fans in the building. Both of these fighters come from the San Jose area and they've already fought each other once for this belt. Thomson won the first meeting, so expect a very motivated Melendez to show up for this one.

Strikeforce Female 145-pound Championship--Gina Carano vs. Cris "Cyborg" Santos: Well, this is the collision everyone has been waiting to see. This is the first women's championship fight in Strikeforce, but even more importantly, it's the first time a women's bout has ever served as the main event on a major men's fight card.

Not to mention it will also feature the American debut of bright Heavyweight newcomer Roger Gracie (2-0).


An absolutally stacked card! 4 title fights! This is going to be great, far better looking card than Affliction 3. Not a huge fan of Female MMA though so thats the only downfall.

[Hammy]

That is looking like a decent card but for me Affliction's card is still much more stacked, Fedor, Barnett, Babalu, Belfort, Gomi, Yvel, Buentello, Mousasi etc.

Women's MMA that I've seen has been entertaining enough.

After Rogers demolition of Arlovski having Werdum jump ahead of him for a shot at the belt is a shame.

[Rankin]

Yeah it's a shame the Rogers fight didn't work out but I'm still looking forward to that fight, always love watching Overeem.

Diaz vs Riggs should be awesome, I wonder if there is another Hospital fight after this one again. 

[Ragu]

 will say this now. having a wmoans fight as the main event is terrible, women fights are stupid

[Hammy]

will say this now. having a wmoans fight as the main event is terrible, women fights are stupid

Its a money thing though.  Nobody can deny that their fight is the draw on the card and will be the reason a good majority of the viewers tune in.

Any early predictions?

I'm expecting Diaz, Cyborg and Thomson to win.

As for the Heavyweight scrap its tricky, Overeem has done well since he got "big" but Werdum does have a win over him.  I'm leaning slightly towards Overeem but Werdum's last fight might be blurring my vision on this one a bit.

[Hammy]

Ahem, you forgot someone dude....



While the California-based Strikeforce organization is set to promote the most heavily anticipated bout in women's MMA history when highly marketed former EliteXC stars Gina Carano (7-0) and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (7-1) meet in the main event of the Aug. 15 event "Carano vs. Cyborg," the company is not stopping its commitment to the women's game there.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that fellow top female 145-pound fighter Erin Toughill (10-2-1) will appear on the evening's card against an as-yet-undetermined opponent.

"Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg" takes place Aug. 15 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Tickets are currently on sale for the Showtime-broadcast event.

While Carano and Santos have long been considered by many as the top two fighters in the featherweight division, many MMA observers believe Toughill is also in the top five, if not the top three.

Toughill boxed professionally between 2000 and 2006, while also competing in mixed martial arts. The 32-year-old then took a brief hiatus from both sports and competed on "American Gladiators" as the gladiator "Steel."

Toughill is 3-0 since her November 2008 return to action. All three wins came in the Palace Fighting Championship, including a May decision over the previously undefeated Emily Thompson.

Five of Toughill's 10 wins have come by knockout or TKO.

With a win on the card, Toughill could quickly prove a contender for the Strikeforce's 145-pound belt, a title that will be first granted to the winner of the Carano vs. Santos bout.

Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz told MMAjunkie.com he was excited to have Toughill involved with the organization.

"Erin brings a great deal of experience to the cage, and she's very strong," Afromowitz said. "She's been in the game for a while, and she's certainly earned the right to be recognized as one of the best fighters in the women's featherweight division.

"Erin is definitely a great addition to our organization, and we're excited to bring her into Strikeforce on the same night we award our first-ever women's title to either Gina Carano or Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos."

[Rankin]

Overeem is now off the card due to his hand injury flaring up again. Werdum is still on the card but obviously not in a title fight anymore.

[Hammy]

Overeem is now off the card due to his hand injury flaring up again. Werdum is still on the card but obviously not in a title fight anymore.

Werdum vs. Rogers, Book it!