Last week the UFC held their “Fighter Summit” where they invited all of the Zuffa fighters to come to Las Vegas and learn about such topics as head injuries, social media, taxes, information about their new insurance coverage, and so on. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Bellator)
—MAIN CARD—
Falaniko Vitale vs. Hector Lombard: Lombard via KO (Punch), Round 3, 0:54
Patricky Freire vs. Michael Chandler: Chandler via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27), Round 3, 5:00
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brett Cooper: Shlemenko via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
Bellator 44 delivers big names including dangerous kickboxers Alexander Shlemenko (left) and reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (right). "The Storm" will take on Brett Cooper and "Shango" will lock horns with UFC veteran Falaniko Vitale. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
The recently announced Bellator Fighting Championships Featherweight “Summer Series” Tournament begins May 14 with perhaps their most stacked card to date. The event will take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey and also hosts a middleweight elimination match to determine who will grace the Season 5 Tournament as Bellator Season 2 Middleweight Tournament winner and title challenger “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (29-4) steps back into the cage against Brett Cooper (12-5). Continue reading »
Saturday, February 12. The night was chilly as usual but even another freezing night could not damper my mood as I drove towards East Rutherford, New Jersey and the start of the unprecedented (in the US at least) Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament being put together by Strikeforce. With so much emphasis put on the UFC, fans really had to be surprised to see the wealth of heavyweight talent amassed for this tournament. That I was witnessing the launch of such an historic MMA event left me quite gleeful. Of course events that unfolded would show that for Strikeforce no good deed goes unpunished. But we’ll get to that.
The IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey played host to Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva last Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of MeadowLands.com)
As I drove toward Lot 26 which is designated for the press and employees I stopped to ask every parking attendant where the lot was located and was instructed to just keep driving. When I finally circled the entire IZOD Center and came to my designated lot I made an ill advised, on-the-fly decision to not stop by the parking person manning this lot and a few seconds later felt like Billy Hayes in Midnight Express as my car was surrounded by several guys who looked as if they were competing in the evening’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament or at least a local tough man contest. After the some venting of steam by guys whose mood was not enhanced by the freezing temps, I was finally able to spit out my name and ultimately allowed to proceed and park. So began my first sojourn as a credentialed press dignitary. I almost ended up buried with Jimmy Hoffa and other luminaries in the nearby meadowland swamps courtesy of Mo and the guys. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Strikeforce and Showtime MMA)
—MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: Silva via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 2, 5:00
—CO-MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov: Kharitonov via KO, Round 1, 2:49
—MAIN CARD (Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bouts, on Showtime)—
Shane del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson: del Rosario via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 4:31
Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo: Overeem via Submission (Neck Crank), Round 1, 1:37
Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante: Griggs via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:49
—PRELIMINARIES (HDNet)—
John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens: Cholish via Submission (Kneebar), Round 2, 3:57
Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone: LaBerge via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 1, 5:00
Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy: McLean via Split Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado: Gracie via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke), Round 2, 3:04
Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza: Oropeza via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 4:10
Fedor Emelianenko (left) and Antonio Silva (right), two of the world's best heavyweights, will square off tomorrow in the first installment of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. (Photo courtesy of Esther Lin and Strikeforce)
—MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
265 lbs.: Fedor Emelianenko (230) vs. Antonio Silva (264)
—CO-MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski (242) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (250)
—MAIN CARD (Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bouts, on Showtime)—
265 lbs.: Shane del Rosario (248) vs. Lavar Johnson (243)
265 lbs.: Valentijn Overeem (239) vs. Ray Sefo (249)
265 lbs.: Chad Griggs (229) vs. Gian Villante (227)
—PRELIMINARIES (Un-aired)—
155 lbs.: John Cholish (155.75) vs. Marc Stevens (156.5)*
145 lbs.: Josh LaBerge (145.75) vs. Anthony Leone (146.2)**
145 lbs.: Jason McLean (145.5) vs. Kevin Roddy (145.75)
170 lbs.: Igor Gracie (170.75) vs. John Salgado (170)
170 lbs.: Don Carlo-Clauss (170.4) vs. Sam Oropeza (169.75)
* Marc Stevens weighed one-half pound over the limit, but John Cholish decided to accept the match-up
** Anthony Leone has one hour to lose the remaining two-tenths of a pound
"The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski is one of eight competitors in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, which kicks off with two of its quarter-final bouts at this Saturday's "Fedor vs. Silva" event. (Photo courtesy of MTV)
Just four days from now – on Saturday, February 12, Strikeforce’s much anticipated inaugural Heavyweight Grand Prix kicks off from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey with Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva. The event itself, named after its main event competitors, boasts an all-heavyweight main card including two quarter-final match-ups of the eight-man single elimination tournament.
The main attraction of the evening pits the legendary Russian Sambo and Judo Champion “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-2), who is returning to the cage for the first time since his upset loss to Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) last June, against the Brazilian behemoth and Karate, Judo, and BJJ black belt “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (14-2), a bout that Silva has been requesting for almost a year now. The co-main event sees former UFC Heavyweight Champion “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-8) return to the lime light in taking on the last man to defeat Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion (one of several titles he currently holds) “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem – former PRIDE superstar Sergei Kharitonov (16-4). Continue reading »