WELCOME TO THE MMA NEWS AUGUST 2010 RECAP!

**Updated Every Monday**

Alistair Overeem Confirms K-1 and says no Aleks Emelianenko Fight

On Overeem’s official twitter site, this little news bit was posted.

“For the record: I will fight in the K-1 and not against Alexander E. I read something on the web and I'm not fighting him.”

I wonder what he read on the internet? Could it have been the Hepatitis RUMORS concerning Fedor’s brother?

Eddie Alvarez vs. Roger Huerta made official for Bellator 33

Bellator Fighting Championships officially announced today that the promotion will make its debut in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia when native and Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie Alvarez (20-2) squares off against former UFC star Roger “El Matador” Huerta (24-4-1) in one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year.

“Bellator 33: Alvarez vs. Huerta” is set to take place from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 21st.

For explosive Bellator champion Alvarez, momentum is on his side, as he enters the super-fight with an impressive five-fight win streak on the line where the longtime knockout artist has finished all of his most recent victims by submission. In his most recent trip to the cage, Alvarez put rugged UFC veteran Josh “The Dentist” Neer to sleep with a nasty rear-naked choke during Bellator 17 in Boston on May 6th of this year.

Alvarez is admittedly excited about the opportunity to compete in front of his hometown fans in Philly for the first time in the top lightweight’s career that currently spans 22 professional fights, from Japan to Boston, against many of the toughest 155 lb fighters in the business.

“Roger Huerta, Philadelphia, October 21st… this is a dream fight for me,” said Alvarez. “I’ve never even lost a fight here in the United States, so I’m definitely not going to start in my hometown of Philadelphia with all of my people there. That’s not going to happen. Not a chance.

“I’m not going to be happy unless I completely control and dominate Roger in this fight. It’s important for me to go in there and dominate this fight and prove that I’m one of the best lightweights in the world.”

In the case of Huerta, the electrifying 27 year old lightweight is eager to return to the cage after suffering a defeat in his previous outing when Pat Curran shocked the MMA world and defeated “El Matador” by unanimous decision in the semifinal lightweight tournament at Bellator 17.

Although fighting in Alvarez’ backyard of Philadelphia, Huerta expects for the advantage to ultimately lie in his favor, stating, “The cheers or jeers won’t affect me one way or the other. The pressure is on him fighting in his hometown. He’s going to bring the best out of me. The best. It’s going to be scary.

“This is a fight that I’ve always wanted. It’s a dream come true. It’s going to be a grueling fight for the both of us. It’s going to be a potential fight of the year. I’m going in there expecting a war, and I’m going in there trying to finish Eddie.”

Intending to send a direct message to his critics and fans alike in his upcoming performance against Huerta, Alvarez would be the first to admit that he’s had the former Sports Illustrated cover athlete in his sites since the moment Huerta signed his contract with Bellator.

“I don’t care where you fought in the past, but if you come to my promotion and you have a big name and you’re obviously marketable, and the promotion signs you, I’m going to have an issue with that,” said Alvarez. “If I don’t feel threatened by that, then I’m an idiot. I feel threatened by someone like Roger trying to move into my house and I’m going to do everything I can to protect what’s mine and get him out of there. I want to keep all eyes on me. I’m going to go out there and do my job and get him out of there.”

Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was admittedly excited to bring this incredible Superfight to Philadelphia, stating, “The Alvarez-Huerta fight should be one of the most electrifying bouts in the history of Bellator Fighting Championships, and to be able to host it in one of the greatest fights towns on earth, Philadelphia is spectacular. . I’ve said it before, I believe Eddie Alvarez is the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist in the world today and for Roger to have the courage to face him speaks volumes about his confidence and character. The fans are really in for a treat with not only a great fight card, but also a fantastic host venue in The Liacouras Center.”

UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 – Fight Night Bonuses & Preliminary Attendance

Submission of the Night:

Joe Lauzon

Fight of the Night:

Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis

*There were no knockouts at UFC 118, so obviously no Knockout of the Night was awarded.

*Each fighter received a $60,000.00 bonus check.

* UFC 118 drew a crowd of 15,575 fans for a live gate of around $3 million.

Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller vs. Sakuraba at Dream 16

In what will bet the final Dream event of 2010, Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller will face Japanese superstar Sakuraba at Dream 16 according to HDNet Fights.

“Mayhem vs. Sakuraba, Joe Warren vs. Omigawa &Gegard vs. Mizuno for title. HDNet kick ass card. News from me & @hdnetfights”

- Andrew Simon (CEO of HDNet Fights)

UFC 119: Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop Trailer

Remaining K-1 2010 Schedule Announced

K-1 World Grand Prix Series:

*K-1 WORLD GP 2010 IN SEOUL - FINAL16

October 2, 2010

Olympic Gymnasium #1

Seoul, Korea

Participants: Semmy Schilt, Badr Hari, Alistair Overeem, Jerome Le Banner, Errol Zimmerman, Ewerton Teixeira, Ruslan Karaev, Kyotaro, Freddy Kemayo, Ben Edwards, and more...

*K-1 WORLD GP 2010 FINAL

December 11, 2010

Venue: TBA

K-1 World Max Series:

*K-1 WORLD MAX 2010 -70kg World Championship Tournament - FINAL 16

Date & Venue: TBA

Participants: Giorgio Petrosyan, Drago, Artur Kyshenko, Chahid, Mike Zambidis, Mohamed Khamal, Vitaly Hurkou, Su Hwan Lee, and more...

*K-1 WORLD MAX 2010 -70kg World Championship Tournament - FINAL

November 8, 2010

Ryogoku Kokugikan

Tokyo, Japan.

Participants: Albert Kraus, Yoshihiro Sato, Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima, Tetsuya Yamato, Yuta Kubo, Hiroya, and more...

K-1 Koshien 2010 Series:

*K-1 KOSHIEN 2010 - KING OF UNDER 18 - FINAL16

November 20, 2010

Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan.

Participants: Masaaki Noiri, Tsukasa Fuji, Keisuke Miyamoto, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Hiroki Akimoto, Ryuya Kusakabe, Shoei Hareyama, Ryosuke Sasaki, Koki Takeuchi, Minoru Kimura, and more...

Bellator FC 26 – Event Results

Main Card:

Alexey Oleinik def. Mike Hayes via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)*

Jose Vega def. Danny Tims via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)**

Lisa Ward def. Aisling Daly via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)***

Steve Carl def. Tyler Stinson via technical submission (guillotine) - Round 1, 2:30

Preliminary Card:

Zak Cummings def. Rudy Bears via submission (D'arce choke) – Round 1, 1:27

Kevin Croom def. Brian Davidson via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 2, 3:22

John Ott def. Brian Imes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Jeb Chiles def. Demetrius Richards via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 3:51

*Opening-round heavyweight-tournament bout

**Opening-round bantamweight-tournament bout

*** Opening-round women's 115-pound tournament bout

Shark Fights 13 – Updated Card

Shark Fights 13

September 11, 2010

Amarillo Civic Center

Amarillo, Texas

Main Card:

Keith Jardine vs. Trevor Prangley

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Houston Alexander

Paul Daley vs. Jorge Masvidal

Joey Villasenor vs. Drew McFedries

Brock Larson vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Preliminary Card:

Ronnie Mann vs. Douglas Evans

Paul Bradley vs. John Reese

Devin Cole vs. Aaron Rosa

Karen Darabedyan vs. Marcus Hicks

Pete Spratt vs. Eric Davila

KJ Noons vs. Nick Diaz II Set for Strikeforce

A grudge rematch that fans, media, and the confident fighters themselves have been clamoring for since the first fight ended in bloody controversy nearly three years ago, will take place on Saturday, October 9th, when KJ Noons (9-1), fresh off a knockout victory last Saturday, challenges Strikeforce World Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (22-7, 1 NC) in the main event at HP Pavilion, live on Showtime.

In the co-feature, undefeated Strikeforce Women's Welterweight World Champion Sarah Kaufman (12-0) will make the second defense of her 135-pound title against No. 1 contender and Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (17-4).

Another featured fight will pit an emerging star from the Strikeforce Challengers series, up-and-coming Luke Rockhold (7-1), against the vastly more experienced, 2000 Olympic Games wrestling silver medalist, Matt "The Law" Lindland (22-7), in a middleweight contest.

Diaz has not lost a fight since he first faced Noons, losing via disputed first-round TKO on Nov. 7th, 2007. Diaz has been devastating in recent outings notching seven in a row. The talented, outspoken, no-nonsense brawler also boasts a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

The always-dangerous Noons is an aggressive and prolific striker who has won his last six fights, including the thrilling slugfest against Diaz that ended when the cageside physician halted the proceedings due to excessive cuts around Diaz' eyes.

Since that fight, there has been no love lost between the pair of brash fighters. Seven months after their first fight, on June 14, 2008, the fighters and their camp members nearly came to blows in the cage after the fighters registered victories in separate bouts.

"Nick has no class, he's a bum, a piece of (expletive) and he and his team disrespected my family and I with their gestures and trash talk and tried to upstage my fight,'' said Noons after the near-fracas.

Offered Diaz: "I'm sorry about what happened in the cage afterward, but I didn't start it. His guys were talking (expletive) to us.''

Dana White UFC 118 Video Blog w/Mike Tyson

WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez – Medical Suspensions

– Dominick Cruz was suspended until Feb. 15, 2011, unless he has his right hand x-rayed and cleared by a physician.

– Joseph Benavidez was suspended until Oct. 3 with no contact before Sept. 18.

– Shane Roller was suspended until Feb. 15, 2001, unless he has his left knee x-rayed and cleared by a physician.

– Anthony Pettis was suspended until Sept. 18 with no contact before Sept. 9.

– Scott Jorgensen was suspended until Feb. 15, unless he has his left hand x-rayed and cleared by a physician. He was suspended until Sept. 18 with no contact before Sept. 9, even if his hand is cleared before then.

– Brad Pickett was suspended until Sept. 18 with no contact before Sept. 9.

– Zack Micklewright was suspended until Oct. 3 with no contact before Sept. 18.

– Bart Palaszewski was suspended until Feb. 15, 2011, unless he has his right knee x-rayed and cleared by a physician.

– Anthony Njokuani was suspended until Oct. 3 with no contact before Sept. 18.

– Javier Vazquez was suspended until Sept. 18 with no contact before Sept. 9.

– Dave Jansen was suspended until Oct. 3 with no contact until Sept. 18.

– Danny Castillo was suspended until Feb. 15, 2011, unless he has his right wrist x-rayed and cleared by a physician. He was suspended until Sept. 18 with no contact before Sept. 9, even if his wrist is cleared before then.

Nick Diaz & Sarah Kaufman Return To Action At Strikeforce, October 9th

The Strikeforce men’s and women’s Welterweight World Champions Nick Diaz (170-pounds) and Sarah Kaufman (135-pounds) will return to the cage on Saturday, Oct. 9th at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Live on Showtime.

Diaz will face an opponent to be named in the coming week while Kaufman will defend her title against Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen.

Also on the explosive card, emerging star from the Strikeforce Challengers series Luke Rockhold will risk his six-fight win streak against MMA superstar and former Olympic wrestling silver medalist Matt "The Law" Lindland in a featured middleweight contest.

WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez – Fighter Salaries

Main Card:

-Dominick Cruz: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus) def. Joseph Benavidez: $17,500

-Anthony Pettis: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Shane Roller: $16,000

-Chad Mendes: $11,000 (includes $5,500 win bonus) def. Cub Swanson: $11,000

-Scott Jorgensen: $25,000 (includes $12,500 win bonus) def. Brad Pickett: $5,000

-Bart Palaszewski: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Zack Micklewright: $3,000

Preliminary Card:

-Maciej Jewtuszko: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Anthony Njokuani: $7,000

-Javier Vazquez: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Mackens Semerzier: $4,000

-Ricardo Lamas: $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. David Jansen: $4,000

-Fredson Paixao: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Bryan Caraway: $4,000

-Danny Castillo: $19,000 (includes $9,500 win bonus) def. Dustin Poirier: $3,000

Total disclosed WEC 50 Fighter Salaries: $221,500.00

Bellator FC 26 in Kansas City

Bellator Fighting Championships announced the official main card fights for Bellator 26 which is taking place at the Kansas City Power and Light District in Kansas City, MO. on Aug. 26th, marking the third appearance at the venue this year. In an opening round Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament fight, Mike “300” Hayes (12-3-1) takes on Russian submission specialist Alexey Oleinik.

Oleinik, a Judo black belt, is not only one of the most respected fighters in Russia, but also one of the most dangerous heavyweight submission fighters in the sport. Oleinik brings a phenomenal 27-5-1 record to the tournament with 23 of those 27 victories coming via submission.

This will be Hayes’ second appearance under the Bellator banner; he was victorious at Bellator 21 where he garnered a unanimous decision victory over Steve Banks.

Also on the card, longtime rivals Jose Vega and Danny Tims will square off in an overdue rubber match with an opening round Bellator Season 3 Bantamweight World Championship Tournament fight.

In Women’s Tournament action, undefeated Aisling Daly (9-0), the best female mixed martial artist in Ireland and the world’s No. 3-ranked 125 lbs. female fighter will take on dangerous veteran submission artist Lisa Ward (12-5).

The Fox Sports Net event will also feature an exciting Special Feature Fight between Season 2 Welterweight Tournament semi-finalist Steve Carl and welterweight prospect Tyler Stinson.

UFC 118 Fight Card Finalized

Main Card:

UFC Lightweight Championship:

Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn

Randy Couture vs. James Toney

Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard

Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda

Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis

Preliminary Card:

Joe Lauzon vs. Gabe Ruediger*

Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz*

Gerald Harris vs. Joe Vedepo

Dan Miller vs. John Salter

Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto

Mike Pierce vs. Amilcar Alves

*Live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA, Spike TV showcases two live undercard bouts from “UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II” on Saturday, August 28 at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT. In action, local product and sure to be crowd favorite Joe Lauzon (“The Ultimate Fighter 5” alum) of Bridgewater, MA takes on his former housemate from the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Gabe Ruediger, and Nik “The Carny” Lentz will square off with Andre Winner, fighting out of Leicester, England.

Daniel Cormier vs. Tony Johnson in KOTC

Bellator FC 25 - Event Results

On a night full of decisions, Cole Konrad, Damian Grabowski and Zoila Frausto all punched their tournament semifinal tickets with unanimous nods at Bellator 25. All three contests were featured on the evening's FOX Sports Net-televised main card – though it was non-tournament action between Dan Hornbuckle and Brad Blackburn provided the night's only real fireworks. Bellator 25 took place Thursday night at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago.

The main event saw Konrad do what he does best. The two-time NCAA wrestling champion used his superior grappling abilities to ground opponent Rogent Lloret for much of the 15-minute contest and allowed very little room for a counterattack. With six submission wins to his credit, Lloret was considered a viable threat from his back, but the openings simply never materialized.

Konrad's (5-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) top game proved effective once again, and the undefeated heavyweight netted his third-straight decision win in a largely uneventful affair. Meanwhile, Lloret (9-2-1 MMA, 0-1 BFC) sees an eight-fight win streak snapped.

The evening's second heavyweight tournament fight featured what appeared to be heading toward a surprising upset but resulted only in an upset Scott Barrett. The stocky Barrett pushed forward against the undefeated Grabowski throughout the 15-minute fight, and in the opening two rounds he was able to work to top position frequently. However, once there, Barrett did very little with the top position while Grabowski fired off shots from underneath and worked to sweep and stand on each attempt. Still, the positional battle was unquestionably in favor of Barrett, and it appeared he might have a pair of rounds in the bank as he entered the final frame based solely on positional dominance and takedowns.

Exhausted, Barrett continued to move straight ahead in the final round. But with his hands down and mouth open, Barrett absorbed blow after blow from Grabowski. It looked as if the Polish import might be earning a 10-8 round, but a final Barrett takedown seemed to prohibit that score. Nevertheless, many observers (including the Bellator broadcast team) felt Barrett was going to cruise to a decision win. Instead, the crowd favorite was given a 30-27 nod on all three judges' cards.

Grabowski (13-0 MMA, 1-0 BFC) remains undefeated with the win while advancing to the tournament semifinals. Meanwhile, Barrett (10-2 MMA, 1-1 BFC) sees a four-fight win streak halted with the loss. Grabowski and Konrad join Neil Grove as semifinalists in the heavyweight bracket.

In a welterweight special attraction, season-two tournament semifinalist Hornbuckle outlasted a game Blackburn and a nasty kick to the groin to claim a unanimous-decision win. Blackburn opened with effective boxing and outstruck Hornbuckle en route to claiming the opening round. But as time wore on, Blackburn's crisp attacks lessened in frequency, and Hornbuckle was able to effectively mix in kicks and knees along with his punches from range.

The groin shot came in the second round and looked damaging in live action. But Hornbuckle battle through the adversity over the final round-and-a-half. Blackburn's face began to show the effects of the punishment in the final frame, and though he battled valiantly until the end, "Bad" Brad fell short on all three judges' cards, 29-28. With the win, Hornbuckle (22-3 MMA, 3-1 BFC) rebounds from a June loss to eventual tournament winner Ben Askren. While his effort was commendable, Blackburn (17-12-1 MMA, 0-1 BFC) falls just short in his Bellator debut and has now dropped three-straight fights overall.

The night's main card opened with striking sensation Frausto taking a one-sided decision win over the previously undefeated Jessica Pene. The submission-oriented Pene was unable to overcome Frausto's capable takedown defense at any point in the 15-minute affair, and while the "Warrior Princess" wasn't able to display her flashy attacks, she was able to easily claim all three rounds of the fight.

The contest wasn't especially entertaining, with most of the action taking place in the clinch, but Frausto's win was undeniable, and she was awarded all three rounds on all three judges' cards. With the win, Frausto (8-1 MMA, 2-0 BFC) joined Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii in the 115-pound female tournament semifinals. Pene (7-1 MMA, 1-1 BFC) loses for the first time as a professional.

Official Results:

Main Card:

Cole Konrad def. Rogent Lloret via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Damian Grabowski def. Scott Barrett via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Dan Hornbuckle def. Brad Blackburn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Zoila Frausto def. Jessica Pene via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Preliminary Card:

Terrance Taylor def. Shonie Carter via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)*

Brian Gassaway def. Kenny Knabjian via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)*

Kenny Robertson def. John Kolosci via submission (keylock) - Round 2, 2:41*

Eric Kreigermeier def. Keoki Cypriano via submission (triangle choke) - Round 1, 3:16

* - Bout contested following main event

UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen – Fighter Salaries Released

Main Card:

Anderson Silva: $200,000 (no win bonus) def. Chael Sonnen: $35,000

Jon Fitch: $108,000 (includes $54,000 win bonus) def. Thiago Alves: $60,000

Clay Guida: $56,000 (includes $28,000 win bonus) def. Rafael dos Anjos: $12,000

Matt Hughes: $200,000 (includes $100,000 win bonus) def. Ricardo Almeida: $35,000

Junior Dos Santos: $80,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus) def. Roy Nelson: $15,000

Preliminary Card:

Rick Story: $22,000 (includes $11,000 win bonus) def. Dustin Hazelett: $18,000

Phil Davis: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus) def. Rodney Wallace: $6,000

Johny Hendricks: $40,000 (includes $20,000 win bonus) def. Charlie Brenneman: $8,000

Tim Boetsch: $32,000 (includes $16,000 win bonus) def. Todd Brown: $6,000

Stefan Struve: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Christian Morecraft: $6,000

Dennis Hallman: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) def. Ben Saunders: $12,000

Total Disclosed Fighter Salaries: $1,029,000.00

Georges St. Pierre on Criss Angel Mindfreak

UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen – Fighter Medical Suspensions

– Anderson Silva was suspended for 180 days unless he has a possible rib fracture x-rayed and cleared by a physician. He was also suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, and needs neurological clearance and a head CT.

– Chael Sonnen was suspended for 60 days, with no contact for 60 days, for a laceration.

– Rafael dos Anjos was suspended for 180 days unless he has a possible rib fracture x-rayed and cleared by a physician. He must also have a head/jaw CT cleared by a maxillofacial surgeon.

– Junior Dos Santos was suspended for 60 days unless he has a right cheek laceration cleared by a physician.

– Roy Nelson was suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, for a hard bout.

– Dustin Hazelett was suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, for a TKO, and needs a new physical.

– Phil Davis was suspended for 180 days unless he has a possible right fifth metacarpal fracture cleared by a physician.

– Charlie Brenneman was suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, and needs a new physical.

– Tim Boetsch was suspended for 60 days unless he has a left facial laceration cleared by a physician, and was suspended for 180 days unless he has a right thumb fracture cleared by a physician.

– Todd Brown was suspended for 60 days unless he has a laceration cleared by a physician.

– Stefan Struve was suspended 60 days unless he has a lower lip laceration cleared by a physician.

– Christian Morecraft was suspended for 180 days due to a hard bout and is required to get a head CT. He was also suspended 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, for a TKO, and was suspended 60 days unless he has a right eyebrow laceration cleared by a physician.

– Dennis Hallman was suspended for 60 days unless he has a left cheek laceration cleared by a physician.

– Ben Saunders was suspended for 45 days, with no contact for 30 days, due to a hard fight and the UFC also cut Ben in the days following the event.

Mirko ‘CroCop’ Filipovic vs. Frank Mir

According to Fighters Only Magazine, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has been injured in training (hip) and Cro Cop will take his place in the UFC 119 main event against Frank Mir.

Nogueira spoke with Tatame.com about the injury and his recovery timetable:

“I hurt my hips training and I’ll have to go on surgery, I’m only depending on a few exams, but I think it’ll be done by the weekend. The surgery will be on both sides of my hips, and I’ll operate my knee too. If everything goes alright I’ll be back on training in four months."

The UFC Returns to Anaheim for Lesnar vs. Velasquez

Alexey Oleinik joins the Bellator FC Heavyweight Tournament

Bellator Fighting Championships officially have announced that Russian heavyweight Alexey Oleinik is the latest and final addition to the Bellator Season 3 World Heavyweight Tournament. The Judo black belt is not only one of the most respected fighters in Russia, but also one of the most dangerous heavyweight submission specialists in the sport. Oleinik brings a phenomenal 27-5-1 record to the tournament with 23 of those 27 victories coming via submission.

“Alexey Oleinik is a great final addition to this stacked heavyweight tournament,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He’s one of the most threatening and versatile heavyweights in the sport with extremely dangerous submission skills, which makes him a legitimate threat to anyone he faces in the heavyweight division.”

The 33-year old was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine but currently fights out of Moscow. He trains out of Red Devil Sports Club and is a Master of Sports in Sambo. Oleinik is known and feared for the rare Ezekiel Choke finish which he has used successfully on six of his previous opponents.

Oleinik met fellow heavyweight tournament participant Rogent Lloret last August where the two fought to a draw, setting up a potentially interesting rematch opportunity in Bellator Season 3. Oleinik holds impressive victories over the likes of Jessie Gibbs and Thiago “Big Monster” Santos.

Oleinik is the eight confirmed participant in the forthcoming Season 3 Heavyweight World Tournament along with undefeated European sensation Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski, Seattle-area knockout artist Mike “300″ Hayes, Georgia-based ground and pound specialist Scott Barrett, Spanish submission ace Lloret, two-time NCAA wrestling champion Cole Konrad, and British-based slugger Neil Grove (who eliminated heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez via TKO Thursday night at Bellator 24).

Shane Carwin Linked to Steroids

In a federal trial involving J. Michael Bennett (supervising pharmacist at Applied Pharmacy Services), several pro athletes’ names were disclosed as individuals who obtained steroids illegally from Bennett, who was sentenced in the trial to four years.

The prosecuting attorney in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins, identified the athletes by name and here they are:

- Shane Carwin

- Kurt Angle

- Bob Howard

- Tony Freeman

- Quincy Taylor

- Dennis Newman

- Troy Zuccolotto

For more on this story please CLICK HERE

 Women's MMA Updated Unified Rankings

Bellator FC 24 – Event Results

Bellator Fighting Championships kicked off its highly anticipated third season in front of a boisterous crowd at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Once again fans were treated to a full card of electrifying fights that included shocking finishes in nearly every fight.

In the night’s main event Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard took on former NFL player Herbert “Whisper” Goodman in a non-title “Super Fight”. In his last outing Lombard needed just six seconds to KO his opponent, this time it took only 38 seconds. Lombard overwhelmed his opponent early with right hook that wobbled Goodman before following up with a brutal flurry that left Whisper unconscious on the canvas just 38 seconds into round one.

When asked about his ability to take opponents out early Lombard stated,“I train hard, I train hard every day as hard I can.”

“I’m a knock-out artist, this is what I do”

Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney echoed his previous sentiment about Bellator’s Middleweight Champion.

“I think Hector Lombard is the best middleweight in the world. I believe he beats anybody he steps in the change with,” said Rebney.

In an opening round World Heavyweight Tournament fight British knockout artist Neil “The Goliath” Grove took on UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez. Grove’s striking skills were on display early when he connected with a devastating left hand that sent Sanchez to the canvas. Grove followed up with brutal ground and pound before eventually letting a weary Sanchez back to his feat. Standing, Grove continued to batter Sanchez with precise strikes that eventually forced the referee to halt the fight less than a minute into the opening round.

In Season 3 Women’s Tournament quarterfinal action, female pound-for-pound queen Megumi Fujii met late tournament replacement Carla Esparza. Fujii elected to stand and trade early with the wrestling specialist. The fight hit the ground for the first time midway through the first round with “Mega Megu” going for an ankle lock that Esparza painstakingly twisted out of. Round 2 saw Fujii bring Esparza down early and secure a slick fight ending arm-bar just 57 seconds into round 2 with the Japanese sensation again flexing her submission skills and subsequently improving her record to 21-0 while moving on to the Semi-final round of the tournament.

Also in Women’s Tournament action South Florida native Jessica Aguilar took on Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez. Aguilar easily took Alvarez down early in the first round where she transitioned between ground and pound and submission attempts while in side guard. Aguilar was eventually able to secure an arm-triangle choke at 4:01 into the first round.

“Winning in front of my fans is all I could ask for,” said Aguilar. “I was planning to finishing it as quickly as possible with little energy expended and no injuries.”

The “Local Feature Fight” between hometown favorite Luis “Baboon” Palomino and dangerous MMA veteran Yves Edwards proved to be an entertaining match-up with back and forth action that left Edwards with his hand raised after three rounds. Edwards now holds an astounding 38 wins in his MMA career.

“Tonight proved to be another great night of fights at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. We love coming here and can not wait for our return in October when Hector Lombard will face Alexander Shlemenko for the Bellator Middleweight Championship,” said Bellator’s chief-executive, Rebney.

Bellator FC 24 - Official Results:

Main Card:

Jessica Aguilar def. Lynn Alvarez via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 1, 4:01

Hector Lombard def. Herbert Goodman via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:38

Megumi Fujii def. Carla Esparza via submission (armbar) - Round 2, 0:57

Neil Grove def. Eddie Sanchez via TKO (referee stoppage) - Round 1, 1:32

Preliminary Card:

Frankhad Sharipov def. Eric Luke via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Yves Edwards def. Luis Palomino via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Tulio Quintanilla def. Brian Eckstein via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 2:48

Shine Fights - Eight Man Tournament Announced

Shine Fights Promotions' highly-anticipated return to the MMA ring will take place on September 10 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA, and it was announced by Shine Fights COO Jason Chambers.

The Grand Prix format--an eight-man, single-elimination tournament taking place in one night--will be the first such event held in the United States in more than 15 years. The bout will be broadcast live on PPV by MultiVision Media, Inc., beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST. The suggested retail price is $29.99.

"The Grand Prix format can be traced back to the grassroots of MMA," said Chambers. "Fans will be given the unique opportunity to witness some of the world's most talented athletes go head to head, more than once, in a single evening. And they will see first-hand the intense conditioning, determination, and will that is needed to survive in such a demanding format. Fans better purchase their tickets quickly because we are expecting a sellout."

Shine Fights CEO, Devin Price added, "Shine Fights has always believed in offering MMA fans a different and compelling fight card. I am as anxious as any other MMA fan to see a compelling tournament with eight tough fighters culminating with one champion, all in one night."

"We are very excited to introduce this exciting, cutting edge format in High Definition," said Executive Producer Brian Ricco. "Being surrounded by our team of network veterans and buoyed by Bruce Beck, we are looking forward to the highest level of sports broadcast."

"The Patriot Center is very pleased to host Shine Fights' Grand Prix Lightweight Tournament on Friday, September 10, 2010. We look forward to a fantastic Mixed Martial Arts tournament and feel it will be great for fans in the Washington, D.C. area", said Barry Geisler, General Manager of the Patriot Center.

The Grand Prix tournament is sanctioned by the Virginia State Athletic Commission, but will be contested under Nevada State Athletic Commission rules. Each of the eight 155 lb fighters will be paired-off in the tournament's opening round, with the four winners moving on to round two. The two winners of round two will move on to the tournament's final round and battle for the championship. The single-elimination format means that the tournament winner will need to win three bouts that evening. (In case of injury there will be two alternate bouts)

Rounds one and two of the tournament will be composed of two 5-minute rounds. They will also have a 3-minute overtime if needed to decide a winner. Round three (Finals) will increase to three 5-minute rounds.

Below is a list of the eight competitors:

· Rich Crunkilton: 16-3 with 7 TKOs, 6 Submissions, and 3 Decisions. The 30-year-old Ft. Lauderdale, FL native is known for his devastating throws and slams, high kicks and wild punches.

· Josh Shockley: 9-0. Only 19 years of age, Shockley has made a name for himself through his athleticism and skills. He fights out of Duneland Vale Tudo with training partners Keith Wisniewski, Darren Elkins, and Mark Burch.

· Drew Fickett: 37-13 with 3 TKOs, 26 Submissions. The 30-year-old Tucson, AZ native has notable victories over Josh Koscheck, Kurt Pellegrino, former UFC lightweight title contender Kenny Florian and Josh Neer. Drew won his last fight against fellow UFC veteran Derrick Noble by submission.

· Carlo Prater: 24-7-1 with 2 TKOs, 12 Submissions. The Sao Paolo, Brazil native began competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2002. He amassed an undefeated record of 10-0, with a notable win over Melvin Guillard, before losing his first bout. He is the former PFC Lightweight Champion.

· James Warfield: 20-6 with 15 TKOs and 5 Submissions. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native trained in Jeet Kune Do and Karate as a child. He has since fought for many MMA organizations, such as Shine Fights, International Fighting Championship, Freestyle Combat Challenge, Warriors 4 Warriors, Extreme Cagefighting Organization, Combat USA, Downtown Destruction, EVO MMA, Ultimate Battleground, Xtreme Kage Kombat, Ring Of Fire, and Ultimate Combat Sports. His nickname is The Unbreakable Heavy Hitter.

· Marcus Aurelio: 20-8 with 4 TKOs, 13 Submissions, and 3 Submissions. The 36-year-old Brazilian native is an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has never been stopped. All eight losses were by decision.

· Hector Muñoz 9-3, 3 TKOs, 6 Submissions. Muñoz is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt. He is a 2x Grapplers Quest Champ, Pan Am Bronze Medalistas well as a Fight Fest Champion and Katana Cagefighting Champion.

· Charles Bennett: 22-17-2 with 14 TKOs, 5 Submissions. The 30-year-old Ocala, FL native is known as a hell-raiser. He insults other fighters, disrespects referees, and has even brawled with other fighters backstage. He holds notable Knockout victories over former EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons, UFC veteran Gerald Strebendt, and WEC Bantamweight contender Yoshiro Maeda. He was once quoted stating that ground fighting " is like making love, it's not real fighting."

The MMA showdown will be beamed on PPV on cable and satellite in the United States and Canada. The event will be in High Definition and it will be available in both English and Spanish (where available). The MMA showdown will be distributed live on Pay Per View beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST by Multi Vision Media, Inc. The suggested retail price is $29.95.

UFC 118 Prelims to Air on Spike TV, Lauzon vs. Ruediger and Lentz vs. Winner

Live from the TD Garden in Boston, MA, Spike TV showcases two live undercard bouts from “UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn II” on Saturday, August 28 at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT.  In action, local product and sure to be crowd favorite Joe Lauzon (“The Ultimate Fighter 5” alum) of Bridgewater, MA takes on his former housemate from the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Gabe Ruediger, and Nik “The Carny” Lentz will square off with Andre Winner, fighting out of Leicester, England.

Lauzon (17-5) burst onto the mixed martial arts scene with a shocking knockout of former lightweight champ Jens Pulver at UFC 63 in September 2006.  A cast member of “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” Lauzon won his first three UFC bouts before losing to fellow New Englander Kenny Florian via TKO in April 2008.  After winning two of his last three fights, Lauzon needs a win in front of his hometown fans to continue his ascent to the upper ranks of the lightweight division.

Fighting out of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Gabe Ruediger (17-5) is perhaps best known to UFC fans for his stint on season five of “The Ultimate Fighter”.  But Ruediger’s mixed martial arts expertise extends even further, as he once held the lightweight title in the WEC.  He enters his bout with Lauzon on a six fight winning streak, and is looking to make a big impression in his return to the Octagon.

Nik Lentz (20-3-2) is undefeated since his debut in the UFC, with wins against Rob Emerson and Rafaello Oliveira on his resume, as well as a draw with the veteran Thiago Tavares.  The Minnesota product will look to continue his impressive run as he takes on “The Ultimate Fighter:  US vs. UK” alum, Andre Winner.

A product of Leicester, England, Andre Winner (12-3-1) is one of many impressive fighters coming out of Team Rough House.  Winner was introduced to the MMA world as a member of Team UK on the ninth iteration of “The Ultimate Fighter,” in which he marched all the way to the finals before losing to Team Rough House teammate Ross Pearson in a bruising contest.  He has since bounced back with consecutive victories against Roli Delgado and Rafaello Oliveira, and will look to win his third straight contest against Lentz.

Strikeforce Challengers 10 – Card Finalized

Main Card:

Strikeforce Women's Welterweight Tournament:

Miesha Tate vs. Carina Damm

Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano vs. Maiju Kujala

Joe Riggs vs. Louis Taylor

Ryan Couture vs. Lucas Stark

Preliminary Card:

Colleen Schneider vs. Liz Carmouche

Chris Gruetzemacher vs. Ryan Diaz

Christian Grosinsky vs. Jason Karpel

Jeffrey Anderson vs. Edmund Xhelili

Joel Champion vs. Sean Scott

Tim Worth vs. Rob Anderson

Andres Acuna vs. Edwin Louis

Frankie Saenz vs. Jace Crawford

Dana White Looks Back on UFC 117, Calls Main Event 'Legendary'

Four-Time All-American Eric Larkin joins Bellator FC

Bellator Fighting Championships announced the signing of former Arizona State University wrestling prodigy and fast-rising mixed martial artist Eric Larkin to its rapidly expanding roster.

The 2003 recipient of the illustrious Dan Hodge Trophy, Larkin captured the 2003 NCAA Division I National Championship at 149 lbs on his way to becoming the only wrestler that year nominated for ESPN’s ESPY Award for best male collegiate athlete. During his time spent wrestling at ASU, Larkin became a four-time All American along with picking up four PAC-10 Championships.

“Eric Larkin’s wrestling pedigree is as good as anyone competing in our sport today,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Larkin possesses an overwhelming amount of athleticism which gives him huge potential to become a top fighter in the sport. Ben Askren and Joe Warren, both tremendously talented wrestlers, have dominated at Bellator. I’m excited to see if Eric can follow a similar path.”

UFC on Versus 2 – Fighter Salaries

Main Card:

Jon Jones: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Vladimir Matyushenko: $31,000

Yushin Okami: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus) def. Mark Munoz: $22,000

Jake Ellenberger: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. John Howard: $15,000

Takanori Gomi: $120,000 (includes $40,000 win bonus, $40,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus) def. Tyson Griffin: $30,000

Preliminary Card:

Jacob Volkmann: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Paul Kelly: $17,000

Matt Riddle: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. DaMarques Johnson: $10,000

Igor Pokrajac: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. James Irvin: $20,000

Brian Stann: $74,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus, $40,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus) def. Mike Massenzio: $45,000 (includes $40,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus)

Charles Oliveira: $52,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus, $40,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus) def. Darren Elkins: $8,000

Rob Kimmons: $18,000 (includes $9,000 win bonus) def. Steve Steinbeiss: $6,000

Ken Shamrocks son Sean Shamrock wins MMA debut at King Of The Cage

Sean Shamrock made his debut at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota last Saturday night to a sold out crowd for King Of The Cage. Sean is a talent and prodigy of his Father - Hall of Famer and legend Ken Shamrock.

Sean displayed fast and effective grappling during the fight, the kind of grappling his Father developed called American Grappling. After Sean snapped the ankle of game opponent Lucas Goulet the fight returned to the feet with Goulet limping from a reverse ankle lock. Ken shouted out to his baby boy “step out head kick”, and that is exactly what the junior Shamrock did scoring a knock out at 1:56 of the first round.

KOTC execs said they are happy and excited to have Sean debut at their event and are looking forward to showcasing the other 2 Shamrock boys (Ryan 21, Conner 18 and Sean 17) on future KOTC events.

Sean trains with his Father and brothers at the Lion’s Den located in Reno, Nevada. Looks like the the Shamrock legacy continues. Ken stated he has a few family members training and looking to fight on the future KOTC shows. Sean took the fight on less than 2weeks notice to fill in for his injured brother Ryan Shamrock.

Marquardt vs. Palhares, Danzig vs. Wiman - UFC Fight Night 22

Originally scheduled to take place at UFC 118 in Boston, Nate Marquardt (32-9-2) and Rousimar Palhares (20-2-0) will engage in a key middleweight battle to headline Spike TV’s “UFC Fight Night” live from the Frank Erwin Special Events Center on the campus of The University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday, September 15 at 8:00 PM ET/PT. The bout replaces the previous main event of Alan Belcher vs. Demian Maia, which has been postponed due to an injury to Belcher.

A longtime protégé of renowned trainer Greg Jackson, Marquardt enters the fight against Palhares coming off of a hard-fought battle against Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 in February. The exciting three-round contest, winning “Fight of the Night,” honors denied Marquardt a middleweight title shot, but he is more determined than ever heading into September’s bout with Palhares. With over forty fights on his resume, Marquardt is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC, and has notched wins against notable middleweights like Demian Maia and Martin Kampmann. He will look to take a step towards another chance at the division’s crown with a win over Palhares.

Fighting out of Brazilian Top Team in Dores do Indaia, Brazil, Palhares enters his bout with Nate Marquardt on a three fight win streak, most recently submitting Tomasz Drwal forty five seconds into the first round of their matchup at UFC 111 in Newark, NJ this past March. Considered one of the most naturally gifted Brazilian Jiu Jitsu artists in mixed martial arts, seven of Palhares’ last eight wins have come via submission. He aims to add to that tally and enter the discussion for a middleweight title shot when he takes on Marquardt.

In the co-feature, “The Ultimate Fighter 6” champ Mac Danzig (20-8-1) fighting out of Los Angeles, takes on Matt Wiman (12-5) from “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” currently fighting out San Francisco, in a rematch of their bout this past June at UFC 115. In that fight, Wiman was awarded a controversial victory when he told the referee Danzig had passed out while caught in a guillotine choke. However, a conscious Danzig claimed he never lost consciousness or tapped. The lightweight contenders will settle their score in Spike’s “UFC Fight Night,” with the winner moving up the ranks in the 155lb division.

The Spike telecast will open with a lightweight battle between Cole Miller (16-4) (“The Ultimate Fighter 5” participant) and “The Ultimate Fighter 9” winner Ross Pearson (13-3). Fighting with American Top Team out of Coconut Creek, FL, Miller has won three of his last four UFC contests. His opponent, Pearson, fighting out of Sunderland, England with Team Rough House, is undefeated in three fights in the Octagon.

Also on the televised card will be a lightweight showdown between Jim Miller (17-2) and Gleison Tibau (31-6). The pride of Whippany, NJ, Miller is on a four-fight winning streak and is quickly moving up the 155lb division ranks. Tibau, a Brazilian native who currently trains with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL, is coming off of an impressive first round TKO over Caol Uno in March.

Yoshiyuki Yoshida joins Bellator FC

Yoshiyuki Yoshida, a heavy handed Judo black belt and UFC veteran, has become the newest addition to the Bellator Fighting Championships’ roster, as he fights an unannounced opponent at Bellator 31 on September 30th for the chance to earn a spot in the Season 4 World Welterweight Tournament.

Yoshida is seasoned veteran of the Japanese mixed martial arts scene who quickly adapted to MMA in the US. He wasted little time choking out dangerous striker War Machine in his UFC debut with a vicious anaconda choke that came less than a minute into the first round. Yoshida also holds notable victories over the likes of Katsuya Inoue, Brandon Wolff and former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy.

“Yoshiyuki Yoshida is a multi-talented fighter with diverse abilities that could present problems for anyone in the welterweight division, said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “At Bellator we’re dedicated to providing world-class, entertaining MMA and fighters like Yoshida at allow us to accomplish just that.”

Known for his flashy submissions and knockout power, Yoshida has finished 9 of his 11 victories, with 6 being stopped early due to KO or TKO, and the other 3 being finished via submission.

“For me, this is a new challenge,” said Yoshida. “There are many great fighters in Bellator so I am really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Yoshida. “I really like American fans and it’s my dream to keep fighting in the States. After the September fight, my focus will be solely on winning the Welterweight Tournament. Until then, I’m taking this one fight at a time.”

Yoshida joins an increasingly deep Bellator welterweight talent pool that currently includes Bellator Champion Lyman Good, Season 2 Tournament Champion Ben Askren, and Dan ‘The Handler’ Hornbuckle.

Strikeforce: Houston – Card Updates

Strikeforce: Houston

August 21, 2010

Toyota Center

Houston, Texas

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship:

“King Mo” Lawal vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante

Strikeforce Middleweight Championship:

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Tim Kennedy

K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel

Bobby Lashley vs. Chad Griggs

Daniel Cormier vs. Jason Riley

UFC 118: Penn vs. Edgar 2 – Card Updates

UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2

August 28, 2010

TD Garden,

Boston, Massachusetts

Main Card:

Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn (UFC Lightweight Championship)

Randy Couture vs. James Toney

Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard

Nate Diaz vs. Marcus Davis

Demian Maia vs. Mario Miranda

Undercard:

Gerald Harris vs. Alessio Sakara

Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim

Andre Winner vs. Nik Lentz

Dan Miller vs. John Salter

Nick Osipczak vs. Greg Soto

Mike Pierce vs. Amilcar Alves

Sengoku Raiden Championships 14 – Card Updates

Sengoku Raiden Championships 14

Sunday, Aug. 22

Ryogoku Kokugikan

Tokyo, Japan

Sengoku Middleweight Championship:

Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki

Akihiro Gono vs. Jadamba Narantungalag

Hatsu Hioki vs. Jeff Lawson

Taisuke Okuno vs. Nick Thompson

Yasubey Enomoto vs. Kenta Takagi

Motoki Miyazawa vs. Takuya Sato

Shintaro Ishiwatari vs. Kil Woo Lee

Takuya Eizumi vs. Shoko Sato

Tatsuya So vs. Wataru Takahashi

Hirokazu Nishimura vs. Jae Hyun So

The Ultimate Fight 12 Cast Revealed

The 12th season of Spike TV’s popular original series, “The Ultimate Fighter,” will feature 28 of the best up-and-coming mixed martial artists in the lightweight division competing for a six-figure contract with the preeminent mixed martial organization in the world, The Ultimate Fighting Championship. From Broken Arrow, OK to Los Angeles, CA, to Manchester, England, the 28 fighters, with a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds, have all gathered in Las Vegas with one goal – to become the next “The Ultimate Fighter.” As in prior seasons, 14 of these competitors will win a preliminary bout to gain a place in the Ultimate Fighter House, one step closer to their ultimate goal, whereas the losers of these bouts are sent home.

Two of mixed martial arts’ biggest stars – UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, and the number one contender to his belt, Josh Koscheck, will serve as coaches this season. The two will square off as coaches during the 12 week run of the show, and will later meet inside the Octagon™ with the welterweight title on the line at a UFC pay-per-view event. The new season premieres Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 10:00 PM ET/PT featuring the following cast members:

JASON AMBROSE:

Fighting out of: Santa Clara, CA/ AKA

Record: 12-2

Age: 23

PAUL BARROW:

Fighting out of: Tampa, FL/ Gracie Tampa

Record: 2-0

Age: 24

JASON BRENTON:

Fighting out of: Grand Junction, CO/ 8th St., Impact Boxing

Record: 6-0

Age: 23

JONATHAN BROOKINS:

Fighting out of: Orlando, FL/ Gracie Barra Orlando

Record: 11-2

Age: 24

MIKE BUDNIK:

Fighting out of: Broken Arrow, OK/ Triton

Record: 8-4

Age: 35

ALEX CACERES:

Fighting out of: Miami, FL/ Young Tigers Foundation

Record: 4-2

Age: 21

SAKO CHIVITCHIAN:

Fighting out of: Glendale, CA/ Gokor/ Gene Le Bell/ Hayastan MMA

Record: 5-0

Age: 26

JOSEPH DUFFY:

Fighting out of: Donegal, Ireland / Falcons Martial Arts

Record: 7-0

Age: 22

PABLO GARZA:

Fighting out of: Fargo, ND/ Academy of Combat Arts

Record: 7-0

Age: 26

TOBY GREAR:

Fighting out of: Los Angeles, CA/ True Warrior

Record: 7-4-1

Age: 30

DANIEL HEAD:

Fighting out of: Sharpsville, IN/ Ibjja

Record: 6-2

Age: 23

MICHAEL JOHNSON:

Fighting out of: Springfield, MO/ Springfield Fight Club

Record: 8-4

Age: 23

AMIR KHILLAH:

Fighting out of: Kalamazoo, MI/ Jeremy Horn’s Elite

Record: 6-4

Age: 30

JEFF LENTZ:

Fighting out of: Lanoka Harbor, NJ/ Kurt Pellegrino MMA

Record: 6-1

Age: 21

SEVAK MAGAKIAN:

Fighting out of: Glendale, CA/ Hayastan MMA/ Main Event

Record: 8-3

Age: 24

STEVE MAGDALENO:

Fighting out of: Torrance, CA/ VMAT

Record: 5-1

Age: 28

ANDY MAIN:

Fighting out of: Boonton, NJ/ AMA Fight Club

Record: 4-1

Age: 21

CODY MCKENZIE:

Fighting out of: Metaline, WA/ Fancy Pants Fight Team

Record: 10-0

Age: 22

TJ O’BRIEN:

Fighting out of: Prole, IA/ Round Kick

Record: 13-3

Age: 23

SPENCER PAIGE:

Fighting out of: Watertown, NY/ CNY MMA

Record: 5-2

Age: 24

NAM PHAN:

Fighting out of: Garden Grove, CA/ Ma Du Academy

Record: 15-7

Age: 27

MICHAEL RICHMAN:

Fighting out of: Rosemount, MN/ MN Fight Factory

Record: 8-0

Age: 24

DANE SAYERS:

Fighting out of: Fargo, ND/ Academy of Combat Arts

Record: 7-1

Age: 22

ARIEL SEXTON:

Fighting out of: San Jose, CA/ Renzo Gracie

Record: 6-3

Age: 28

MARC STEVENS:

Fighting out of: Lorraine, NY/ Team Balance/ Relson Gracie

Record: 12-5

Age: 24

KYLE WATSON:

Fighting out of: St. Louis, MO/ The Hit Squad

Record: 13-6-1

Age: 30

RAN WEATHERS:

Fighting out of: Albuquerque, NM/ Greg Jackson’s MMA

Record: 13-5

Age: 28

AARON WILKINSON:

Fighting out of: Manchester, England/ Wolfslair MMA Academy

Record: 6-3

Age: 23

During the six-week taping of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck,” the competitors endured a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, karate, boxing and wrestling. The intense competition among the fighters continues after they leave the gym – at the Ultimate Fighter House. These warriors must live together, knowing that any day they might be forced to fight each other in the famed UFC Octagon.

The two finalists will square off in a live finale on Spike TV, where the winner will be declared “The Ultimate Fighter” and net the six-figure contract. UFC President Dana White will once again serve as host of the series.

After each show, Spike.com users will get exclusive extended footage from each episode and an exclusive video leak of the upcoming episode.

Mike Tyson talks MMA and Brock Lesnar

Joe Soto vs. Joe Warren Title Fight Set For Bellator 27

Bellator Fighting Championships World Featherweight Championship belt will be on the line Sept. 2nd when reigning champ Joe “The Hammer” Soto defends his title against Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Champion Joe Warren at Bellator 27 in San Antonio.

The five-round Main Event Championship fight — which will be televised LIVE nationwide from San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre on FOX Sports Net — features two fighters at the top of their games each looking to make another huge statement that they are among the world’s top 145-pound fighters.

Soto, a native of California’s Central Valley, was a virtual unknown in the MMA world before knocking off Ben Greer, Wilson Reis and Yahir Reyes to take home the first-ever Bellator Featherweight Championship belt last June. He recently improved his record to a perfect 9-0 with an impressive May 20th ground-and-pound stoppage of durable UFC veteran Diego Saraiva at Bellator 19 in Dallas. The Hammer is known for his well-rounded arsenal and finishing ability with four of his wins coming via submission and four being stopped via KO or TKO.

Warren, the former NCAA all-American wrestler at the University of Michigan and two-time Greco-Roman wrestling world champion, burst onto the MMA scene in 2009 with stunning wins over former WEC standout Chase Beebe and Japanese sensation Kid Yamamoto. In 2010, he took home Bellator’s Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Championship with inspiring consecutive victories over Eric Marriott, Georgi Karakhanyan and the previously undefeated Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, improving his overall pro MMA record to 5-1 and solidifying his place among the best featherweights in the sport.

“Of our four upcoming world title fights, the Soto-Warren fight is hugely intriguing,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Joe Soto is extremely talented and has made a collection of top ten rankings. Warren’s a world-class wrestler who beat one of the greatest featherweights in the world in just his second fight. He has tremendous heart and he doesn’t understand what the word ‘lose’ means. Joe Soto also comes from a national-caliber wrestling background and anyone who saw his fight with Diego Saraiva in May knows that his game is polished and world-class throughout every facet of MMA. This should be a truly spectacular fight.”

Soto said that he “can’t wait for the fight” and thinks he matches up well against Warren.

“I’m just really excited to get in there and compete against him,” Soto said. “He’s a wrestler just like I am, but I think I can out-wrestle him. If he takes me down, I’m better on my back than he is on top. If we stay standing, I think I can out-box him. No matter where the fight goes, I think I’m a much better all-around fighter than he is.”

Warren, for his part, respectfully disagreed, saying that “after September 2nd, Joe Warren will have his first belt and that’s going to be big trouble for everyone in this weight division.

“Joe Soto is a tough fighter, but he’s going to see the best Joe Warren that’s ever been in a cage,” Warren said. “We’re both great wrestlers so I’m guessing we’re going to get in there and beat the crap out of each other, but in the end I’m going to be taking that belt home with me.”

Horwich vs. Leites on Aug. 14 "War on the Mainland" PPV

Former IFL middleweight champion Matt “The Fighting Hippy” Horwich is the new opponent for former UFC title challenger Thales Leites in their August 14 battle for the vacant Powerhouse World Promotions (PWP) LLC Middleweight Championship, one of three world title fights on the “War on the Mainland” Pay Per View event, live from Bren Events Center in Irvine, California.

Leites (17-3-1), fighting out of Brazil, and Hollywood-based Horwich (23-13-1) are both Brazilian Jui Jitsu specialists. Leiti has defeated Gustavo Machado and Jason Guida, while Horwich’s victims include Jason Lambert, Mike Pyle and Benji Radach.

“We’re excited to add Matt Horwich to our already stacked card,” PWP CEO Brian Manna said. “They are two of the best BJJ fighters in the world. Either one will make a great PWP Middleweight Champion.”

Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim “Maine-iac” Sylvia meets former UFC and Strikeforce title challenger Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello in the main event for the PWP Heavyweight Championship

“War on the Mainland,” presented by Powerhouse World Promotions, is being distributed by Integrated Sports Media at 10:00PM ET/7:00PM PT in North America on cable and satellite Pay-Per-View via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network, as well as Viewer’s Choice, Bell TV and Shaw PPV in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. It will also be available in the United Kingdom via Primetime Live. The PPV card will also be streamed live on Internet PPV outside of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom by going to www.WarontheMainland.com.

Ryan Couture Signs With Strikeforce, Will Debut On Aug 13th

Ryan Couture, son of MMA legend Randy "The Natural" Couture, has signed a multi-fight agreement with world championship Mixed Martial Arts promotion Strikeforce and will make his professional MMA debut on Friday, Aug. 13 at the Strikeforce Challengers event at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., LIVE on SHOWTIME.

The 27-year-old Couture, a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team, will face Lucas Stark of Chandler, Ariz. in a three-round lightweight bout.

Looking to make a name for himself in the sport his father helped pioneer, Couture compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 competing as a lightweight with all five wins coming by way of submission. He has had access to a who's who of MMA royalty as training partners and coaches, which, coupled with a solid amateur career, has given him the background and confidence to take his fight career to the next level.

Couture, whose parents split up when he was in sixth grade, spent his high school years in suburban Seattle. With his father being a former wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University, Couture naturally developed into a talented high school wrestler.

Following high school, Couture enrolled in Western Washington University in Bellingham, where he graduated in 2004 with a mathematics degree. He worked at a local bank until he realized his desire to work in the family business.

Couture began his MMA training in 2006, working diligently to mature into a well-rounded fighter, adding Muay Thai and a dangerous submission game to his repertoire. In January 2008, he moved to Las Vegas to train with his father.

In his final amateur bout on March 26, Couture fought to a draw against Sean Bollinger for the Tuff-N-UFF 155-pound title fight at The Orleans in Las Vegas.

In the main event, Phoenix native and MMA star Joe "Diesel" Riggs will take on knockout artist Louis Taylor at a catch weight of 182 pounds.

The event will also showcase a four-woman, single-elimination 135-pound tournament featuring Strikeforce Women's welterweight prospects Miesha "Takedown" Tate, Carina "Beauty But The Beast" Damm, Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano and Maiju Kujala.

Carina Damm - Visa Issues

As has been speculated on various websites, Brazilian Carina Damm is having difficulty obtaining the necessary visa to travel to The United States for her participation in the Strikeforce Challengers event on Friday, Aug. 13 where Damm is slated to compete in the women's welterweight tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.

Strikeforce is working diligently to help Carina secure a visa in time to make the trip for next month's event. In the event that she is unable to acquire a visa, however, we have identified a qualified replacement for the tournament and will release her name if Carina is officially forced to withdraw from the event. This prospective replacement has been in training camp for several weeks and is prepared to take on the task at hand.

Stay tuned for further information.

Thank you,

Mike Afromowitz

STRIKEFORCE

 

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