The possibility of a Strikeforce stop in Las Vegas was first reported by ESPN.

No bouts have been targeted for the July date. However, the event should be labeled Strikeforce Challengers 17 with Strikeforce Challengers 16 already scheduled for June 24 in Kent, Washington, and will undoubtedly feature a nice blend of potential-laden prospects and skilled veterans given the general format of the Strikeforce Challengers series.

February 14 – February 20
All Times Eastern

Monday (2/14)

MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm
Titan FC 16 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2 (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm

Tuesday (2/15)

UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Salaverry (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
UFC Unleashed: Diaz vs. Davis (Replay) on SpiketV at 3pm
KOTC: Bad Boys (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
UFC Unleashed: Carwin vs. Lesnar (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4:30pm
UFC Unleashed: Sobral vs. Lambert (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm
UFC Unleashed: Carwin vs. Lesnar (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed: Diaz vs. Davis (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm
Best of PRIDE: Cro Cop vs. Herring (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm
Best of PRIDE: Silva vs. Fujita (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10pm
Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm
UFC Unleashed: Sobral vs. Lambert (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11pm

Wednesday (2/16)

UFC Fight Night: Tanner vs. Loiseau (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
Greatest Grudge Matches (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Premiere) on MAVTV at 10pm
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30pm
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10:30pm

Thursday (2/17)

UFC Unleashed: Silva vs. Sylvia (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4am
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30am
Art of Fighting (Premiere) on MAVTV at 12pm
Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm
WEC WrekCage: Caraway vs. Hominick (Replay) on VS. at 8pm
WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz (Replay) on VS. at 9pm

Friday (2/18)

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz (Replay) on VS. at 12am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am
Titan FC 16 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm
Fight Vault: Best of Sengoku 8 (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm
Fighting Words: Kenny Florian/Miller Brothers (Premiere) on HDNet at 8:30pm
Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm
Strikeforce Challengers: Healy vs. Beerbohm (Live Event) on Showtime at 11pm
MMA Live (Premiere) on ESPN2 at 11pm
Fight Vault: Best of Sengoku 8 (Replay) on HDNet at 11:30pm

Saturday (2/19)

Fighting Words: Kenny Florian/Miller Brothers (Premiere) on HDNet at 12am
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12:30am
Fighting Words: Kenny Florian/Miller Brothers (Premiere) on HDNet at 3am
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm
UFC Unleashed: Franklin vs. Henderson (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1:05pm
UFC Unleashed: St. Pierre vs. Penn (Replay) on SpikeTV at 2:05pm
UFC Unleashed: Hughes vs. Trigg (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3:10pm
UFC Unleashed: Sylvia vs. Telligman (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4:10pm
UFC Unleashed: St. Pierre vs. Penn (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5:15pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experieince (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm
UFC Unleashed: Franklin vs. Henderson (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6:15pm

Sunday (2/20)

Bellator Highlights (Replay) on NBC at 3am
WEC WrekCage: Caraway vs. Hominick (Replay) on VS. at 5pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

Tyron Woodley defeated Tarec Saffiedine by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

In a battle of top welterweight prospects, many thought the winner between Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine would shed the “prospect” label. Not so fast my friends. Even though one man won, he didn’t turn in the performance that many had hoped.

This wasn’t the most exciting fight in the world but it was interesting to watch it play out. Woodley imposed his game plan on Saffiedine by going for takedowns and keeping the fight in the clinch when he couldn’t get Saffiedine on his back. He never really did much damage with the clinch position outside of some short punches and knees to the body but he definitely controlled the action. When Woodley was able to get Saffiedine on his back, again, he didn’t do much damage but he stuffed a couple of submission attempts and grinding out Saffiedine on the ground. In the third round, Woodley seemed to tire a bit, which allowed Saffiedine to take control of things but the fight was still primarily fought in the clinch. Even when Saffiedine broke away to strike, he would land a punch but then initiate a clinch of his own. Neither man had his opponent in any real danger during the fight and it never felt like either fighter was close to finishing the other but in the end, Woodley controlled two of the three rounds and that was enough to earn him the decision victory.

Even though he lost, I was once again impressed with Saffiedine in this fight. He stuffed a lot of Woodley’s takedowns and when he was on his back, he wasn’t afraid to attack. Saffiedine’s problem was that he was too willing to fight in the clinch and Woodley’s clinch control had improved since the Nathan Coy fight. He’s only 24 and for a guy with a kickboxing background, his wrestling is very good and will only get better considering that he trains at Team Quest. Look for him to have a good 2011 where he fights solid but not quite spectacular competition and then have his breakout year in 2012.

Woodley might not have looked as exciting as fans had hoped but I like what he did in this fight. As mentioned already, his clinch control has improved over the months and he never let Saffiedine rest or find his rhythm on the feet. He was getting off first with his strikes and constantly going to takedowns, where, even if they failed, he still forced a clinch situation. It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing fight but it was the kind of grinding fight that Woodley needed it to be. I know Paul Daley mentioned Woodley as a possible opponent and while some might see that as too big of a jump in competition for Woodley, it’s a very good match up for him.

Predicted Next Fights: Saffiedine vs. Marius Zaromskis – Woodley vs. Daley

Ovince St. Preux defeated Abongo Humphrey by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Taking his third fight in as many months, Ovince St. Preux added to his impressive list of victories with an exciting victory over the very tough Abongo Humphrey.

Humphrey wanted to stand and bang with St. Preux but that didn’t work out so well for him early as St. Preux stunned him with the first punch thrown and then landed a takedown. When Humphrey got his chance on top, he went for an ill-advised leg lock and ended up on his back for the rest of the round. St. Preux really started to open up on the ground at the end of the first, landing some very good ground and pound and almost finishing with an arm triangle. The second and third round saw Humphrey trying to slug it out and landing his fair share of good right hands but St. Preux hang in there, returned fire, and when he felt like he was getting hit too much, he got a takedown. St. Preux didn’t do too much on the ground in rounds two and three but he controlled Humphrey and roughed him up a bit on his way to a decision victory.

Humphrey is as tough as they come and his style makes for exciting fights but he just can’t seem to get that signature win. I’d put his chin up against anyone’s in the world though and take my chances because he can definitely take a punch. His biggest problem is clearly his takedown defense because St. Preux was badly gassed in the third round and taking big punches yet he was able to land a relatively weak takedown. Humphrey isn’t someone who is going to challenge for the title anytime soon but match him up against another fighter willing to stand and trade and expect fireworks.

Right now, St. Preux is essentially getting by on his pure athleticism. There is no doubt that he has talent but he’s able to get away with a lot of things simply because he’s stronger and quicker than his opponents. His build reminds me a lot of Jon Jones and while he’s not as polished or spectacular as Jones, he seems to have just as much talent. He obviously needs to improve his cardio but other than that, right now, he just needs to take time off to train and get better. Taking three fights in three months is a great way to raise your profile but when you’re training to fight, you’re not really training to improve. The light heavyweight division in Strikeforce isn’t very deep so it’s possible that St. Preux could find himself in title contention with another win or two.

Predicted Next Fight: Humphrey vs. Sokoudjou – St. Pruex vs. Renato Sobral

Daniel Cormier defeated Devin Cole by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Daniel Cormier faced his toughest test to date in Devin Cole and while he didn’t steamroll him like many expected, he still turned in a solid performance over the tough veteran.

Cormier showed off his improved striking in this fight by throwing some nasty leg kicks early and landing some very good over hand rights that might have dropped a lesser man. Even though he was doing extremely well on the feet, Cormier elected to take the fight to the ground multiple times and although Cole fought him off, Cormier eventually put Cole on his back. Cormier wasn’t as explosive with his ground and pound as he’s been in previous fights but he still roughed up Cole on the ground with punches to the head and body. At one point I thought Cormier was going to finish Cole with an underhook on one arm and using his free arm to punch Cole while he was trying to stand up ala Cain Velasquez finishing Ben Rothwell but Cole did a nice job surviving on the ground and working up to his feet multiple times. Even though he didn’t finish Cole, it was a dominating victory for Cormier and a good test to see where he is in MMA.

Cole is a solid veteran and proved to be very tough in this fight by being the first person to take Cormier to decision. He didn’t really do anything wrong in this fight, he was just beat by a guy who was superior in every aspect of the game. I doubt he challenges for the title at any point in his career, especially considering the talent depth at heavyweight, but he could be a good gatekeeper for the company and test up and coming heavyweights to see if they’re ready for the big shows.

This was a telling fight for Cormier. He was obviously the better fighter but the fact that he couldn’t put Cole away despite having numerous chances had to be disappointing and judging by the look on his face after the fight, he was disappointed. Cormier may have been able to finish Cole had he spent more time striking because he was dominating in that department but instead elected to get the fight to the ground more often than not. If I’m Cormier, I spend a lot of time working on my submission offense because he had the opportunity to lock in a guillotine choke a number of times in the fight but never went for it. I still think Cormier has the talent and drive to be a beast in this sport but he has a ways to go before he gets there. Right now he’s penciled in as a Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix alternate so unless someone drops out, I assume he’ll just fight the winner of the other alternate fight between Valentijn Overeem and Ray Sefo.

Predicted Next Fights: Cole vs. Bobby Lashley – Cormier vs. Overeem/Sefo winner

Amanda Nunes defeated Julia Budd by KO (Punches) at 0:14 in Round One

Julia Budd came into this fight with a lot of hype behind her but none of that mattered to Amanda Nunes who is now the one being hyped as the next contender to the Strikeforce Women’s 145 lb Title.

There wasn’t too much to this fight. Nunes came out quickly, got into a brawl with Budd, dropped her with a right hand, and then pounded her out on the ground with hammerfists. It was an old school beatdown that reminded a lot of fans of the performances of Wanderlei Silva and it was a star making performance for Nunes.

This had to be disappointing for Budd. There was a lot of hype behind her coming into this fight and she was quickly knocked out. I don’t think the hype went to her head or that this proves that she’s a bad fighter, she just tried to slug it out and ended up being the one who fell. It was a bad idea to try and stand in the pocket and bang with Nunes but hopefully she learns from this and comes back with a strong performance.

I knew Nunes wasn’t afraid to stand in there and trade and I figured she would try to do so early but what really impressed me was her power. Now lets not put too much stock into a quick knockout because anyone can get knocked out within the first 30 seconds of a fight. Given the lack of depth in the Strikeforce 145 lb women’s division, there is already talk of Nunes facing Cristiane Santos but I hope she takes one more fight before doing so. Not only would it help build her name a bit but she looks small for the weight class and going in there to try and slug it out against Santos is a recipe for disaster.

Predicted Next Fights: Budd vs. Willow Bailey – Nunes vs. Shayne Baszler

Rhadi Ferguson defeated John Richard by Submission (Kneebar) at 2:00 in Round Two

Taking the fight on a weeks notice, John Richard tried making the most of his opportunity but Rhadi Ferguson proved to be a little too much for him.

Richard started off quickly in this fight. He threw a wild right hand to get inside, managed a trip takedown, and even got the back of Ferguson for a short period of time. Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t put Ferguson away and then he began to gas out. When that happened, Ferguson managed to get on top and pound away on Richard as he tried his best to survive, including spitting out his mouthpiece multiple times in order to gain a short rest. In the second round, Richard hit Ferguson with a kick that, according to Ferguson, was a groin shot but according to the ref, was perfectly legal. Ferguson ended up going down but he quickly regained his composure and locked on a kneebar for the victory. It might now have been as impressive as some hoped but it was good enough to Ferguson to do a dance to.

I hope Richard gets another chance in Strikeforce because he did take this fight on a weeks notices, he usually fights at heavyweight, and he didn’t do terrible for himself but he just wasn’t in shape to make it a competitive fight past a minute or two. So hopefully Strikeforce brings him back and gives him a fair shot at the weight he feels most comfortable at.

For all the hype surrounding Ferguson, I wasn’t impressed. He was taken down by a lower-level grappler and was being controlled until Richard gassed. His striking didn’t appear to be anything special either. I do like that he was attacking for submissions on the ground but other than that, he left a lot to be desired. Now he says he had multiple injuries coming into the fight, which I’m sure are true, but I don’t want to hear about them, especially when your opponent wasn’t 100% either. I doubt Strikeforce has any legitimate plans for Ferguson and that they’re just going to use him a lot like they’re using Herschel Walker, which I’m fine with.

Predicted Next Fights: Richard vs. Wes Shivers – Ferguson vs. Ion Cherdivara

The preliminary fights are set to kick off around 8PM EST with the main card set to start at 11PM EST on Showtime. Remember, it’s a free preview weekend on Showtime so if you don’t usually subscribe to Showtime, you are still able to watch this event.

Strikeforce Challengers Series 13 is headlined by top welterweight prospects Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine battling it out and trying to take the next step in the organization. Also on the card is highly hyped heavyweight Daniel Cormier, trying to remain unbeaten against veteran Devin Cole.

Here is a complete rundown of Strikeforce Challengers Series 13 results as they unfold

PRELIMINARY CARD

Stoney Hale def. Gerric Hayes via Split Decision
Luke Sanders def. Josh Jarvis via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Jason Blackford def. Jeremy Boczulak via Submission Round 2 (Heel Hook)
Chris Barnhizer def. Karl Willis via Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Charles McTorry def. Krishaun Gilmore via Submission Round 2 (Rear Naked Choke)
Dustin West def. Daniel Schmitt via KO Round 1 (Strikes)
Dustin Ortiz def. Matt Horning via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
John Salter def. Casey Huffman via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Thomas Campbell def. Jeremy Wallace via Submission Round 1 (Rear Naked Choke)

MAIN CARD

Rhadi Ferguson vs. John Richard

Round One: Very quick start by Richard who got a quick takedown, escaped a heel hook, and got the back of Ferguson. Ferguson was able to turn into the guard of Richard though. Richard’s mouth piece fell out twice and he was warned but no point was taken. Ferguson pounded on Richard on the ground, which caused Richard’s mouth piece to fall out again. The referee took a point away from Richard. Ferguson finished the round on top of Richard in the turtle postion, pounding away. Bad start for Ferguson but he rebounded strong and dominated. 5OZ scores the round 10-8 for Ferguson.

Round Two: Richard looking very tired to start the round. They started slow but then Richard hit Ferguson with a kick, that Ferguson reacted like it was a groin shot but the ref didn’t stop things. Richard got the takedown but Ferguson rolled and locked on a knee bar. Richard tried to fight it off but he eventually tapped out.

Result: Rhadi Ferguson def. John Richard via Submission Round 2 (Kneebar)

Julia Budd vs. Amanda Nunes

Round One: Nunes stood right in the pocket, slugged it out with Budd, dropped her, and then finished her on the ground with hammerfists.

Result: Amanda Nunes def. Julia Budd via KO Round 1 (Punches)

Daniel Cormier vs. Devin Cole

Round One: Cormier landed a big leg kick followed by an overhand right before clinching, landing some dirty boxing, and breaking. They clinched again and Cormier threw Cole to the ground. Cole was able to get to his feet without taking much damage but they remained in the clinch where Cormier controlled and roughed up Cole with short punches to the body and head. They finally broke and Cormier started to light him up on the feet with over hand rights and uppercuts. Cormier got a late takedown but didn’t do much with it. Very good round for Cormier, especially on the feet. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Cormier.

Round Two: Cormier got an early takedown off a whizzer and then mounted Cote but Cole used the fence to push off and roll out. Cormier stayed on top though and in half guard where he battered Cole with punches and elbows to the body. Cormier eventually got the back of Cole but Cole did a nice job escaping back to half guard. Cole went for a kimura but couldn’t fully lock it up before the bell rang. Another good round for Cormier. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Cormier.

Round Three: First minute was all on the feet with Cormier landing the better punches. Then they clinched where Cormier controlled but the ref broke them. Cole stuffed a takedown and then tried to pounce on Cormier as he slipped but Cormier reversed and put Cole down. Cole was quickly up though and he once again found himself in the clinch with Cormier controlling and roughing him up before the ref broke them. They clinched again and Cormier got a takedown with just over a minute left. Cormier finished the round strong with ground and pound but couldn’t finish Cole. Another good round for Cormier but he slowed down a bit. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Cormier and the fight 29-28 for Cormier.

Result: Daniel Cormier def. Devin Cole via Unanimous Decision

Ovince St. Preux vs. Abongo Humphrey

Round One: St. Preux stunned Humphrey with a good left hand before landing a body kick and getting a takedown. Humphrey took very little damage on bottom and then reversed the position on St. Pruex to end up on top. St. Pruex went for a triangle but Humphrey postured out and went for a knee bar but St. Pruex managed to survive and end up in the mount. St. Preux landed some big left hands on top and then locked up an arm triangle but Humphrey ended up escaping. St. Preux ended the round in mount. Dominating round for St. Preux. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for St. Preux.

Round Two: St. Preux landed some quick left hands before stuffing a takedown and hitting a switch to put Humphrey on his back. The ref was pretty quick to stand them up though. Humphrey started swinging wildly and landing some good shots but St. Preux returned fire with some nasty straight left hands that jacked the jaw of Humphrey. Humphrey managed to clinch but once again ended up on his back. St. Preux controlled things on top and landed short punches but the ref again stood them up. St. Preux landed some good knees to the body but Humphrey landed some big right hands that hurt St. Preux and forced him into a desperation takedown. St. Preux got the takedown and Humphrey went for a guillotine but couldn’t get it as the round ended. Humphrey made it a close round at the end but St. Preux still did more overall. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for St. Preux.

Round Three: Humphrey went for a quick takedown but ate a knee and then ended up on his back. The ref quickly stood them up though as St. Preux wasn’t doing much. St. Preux went for a takedown but Humphrey grabbed an arm in guillotine. He was up against the cage though and couldn’t get the leverage he needed to finish and St. Preux was able to escape to side control. Humphrey regained guard though and caused another stand up with just under a minute left. They both threw a kick and Humphrey ended up slipping, allowing St. Preux to get on top and grind out the rest of the round. Controlling round for St. Preux even if he didn’t do a ton of damage. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for St. Preux and fight 30-27 for St. Preux.

Result: Ovince St. Preux def. Abongo Humphrey via Unanimous Decision

Tyron Woodley vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Round One: An early clinch where they traded knees to the body before things slowed down with Woodley controlling. Woodley managed to get a takedown but Saffiedine quickly got to his feet. Woodley kept him in the clinch though and pressed him against the cage for a long while before the ref broke them. Woodley complained about a finger in the eye but the ref told him to fight on because he didn’t see the incident. Woodley initiated another clinch though where he controlled Saffiedine to the end of the round. Not the most exciting round but good control by Woodley in the clinch. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Woodley.

Round Two: Saffiedine landed a good right hook and then clinched with Woodley. Saffiedine controlled Woodley in the clinch and landed some short knee strikes before Woodley exploded with a takedown. Saffiedine went for a triangle and then an omaplata but Woodley slipped out and remained on top. Woodley controlled Saffiedine on the ground but didn’t do much damage. Saffiedine tried to wall walk up but Woodley kept him down with one hook on the back as the round ended. Another controlling round for Woodley. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Woodley.

Round Three: Quick exchange to start the round with both men landing but then they were right back in the clinch. Saffiedine was able to break away though and then sprawl on a weak takedown attempt. Saffiedine ended up putting Woodley on his back and in side control but Woodley scrambled to his feet where they were right back in the clinch. Saffiedine tried to throw a head kick on the break but Woodley got a takedown. They ended up in an awkward postion with Woodley trapping the leg of Saffiedine as Saffiedine tried for an armbar but they worked out, up, and back into the clinch where the ref quickly broke them. Saffiedine tried to seperate but Woddley was quick to initiate a clinch every time before the round ended. Saffiedine took this round as he controlled the clinch and stuffed the takedown. 5OZ scores the round 10-9 for Saffiedine but the fight 29-28 for Woodley.

Result: Tyron Woodley def. Tarec Saffiedine via Unanimous Decision

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Woodley and Saffiedine both measured in at 170.2 pounds for their headlining clash, while Cormier came in almost ten pounds heavier than Cole by clocking 249 lbs. in comparison to Cole’s 239.2 pounds. Also notable, Ovince St. Preux weighed 204.8 for his fight against Ron “Abongo” Humphrey, who was 205.4 respectively, and Olympic judoka Dr. Rhadi Ferguson hit 205 on the dot for his promotional debut against John Richard (206 pounds).

Some of the preliminary fighters, many of whom are involved in amateur action, were not listed in the weigh-in results provided by Strikeforce. Fans can tune in to Showtime tonight during the network’s “Free Broadcast Weekend” to watch things unfold starting at 11:00 PM EST (delayed on the West Coast).

Here is a complete rundown of Strikeforce Challengers 13 weigh-in results:

Gerric Hayes (169.2 lbs) vs. Stoney Hale (171 lbs)
Luke Sanders (145.4 lbs) vs. Josh Jarvis (144.2 lbs)
Jeremy Boczulak (173.8 lbs) vs. Jason Blackford (169.2 lbs)
Chris Barnhizer (175 lbs) vs. Karl Willis (170.2)
Charles McTorry (185 lbs) vs. Krishaun Gilmore (185.6 lbs)
Dustin West (183.6 lbs) vs. Daniel Schmitt (184.8 lbs)
Dustin Ortiz (125 lbs) vs. Matt Horning (???)
John Salter (185.6 lbs) vs. Casey Huffman (186 lbs)
Thomas Campbell (135.8 lbs) vs. Jeremy Wallace (???)
Rhadi Ferguson (205 lbs) vs. John Richard (206 lbs)
Julia Budd (144.2 lbs) vs. Amanda Nunes (143.2 lbs)
Ovince St. Preux (204.8 lbs) vs. Ron Humphrey (205.4 lbs)
Daniel Cormier (249 lbs) vs. Devin Cole (239.2 lbs)
Tyron Woodley (170.2 lbs) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (170.2 lbs)

PHOTO CREDIT – Esther Lin / STRIKEFORCE

Welterweight Fight: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyron Woodley

Two welterweight prospects collide in the main event as Tarec Saffiedine tries to win his fourth straight fight while Tyron Woodley tries to win his eighth straight while also remaining unbeaten in MMA.

Saffiedine has flown under the radar a bit in his MMA career but now he’s getting a chance to shine in the main event. He’s a very good striker with an amateur background in kickboxing but what’s been really impressive as of late has been his wrestling. On the feet, he stands comfortably at orthodox or southpaw but considering that Woodley stands orthodox, expect Saffiedine to do so as well. He throws a lot of feints, especially with his kicks. He leads with his right hand and when he throws, it’s usually two punches and then he gets out. He has very good leg kicks but he might be afraid to throw them early in this fight given the wrestling prowess of Woodley. His kicks can be predictable though. When he’s kicking to the legs, he throws a left kick and when he’s kicking to the head, he throws a right kick. Working at Team Quest, one would think that his wrestling would be solid but it’s a lot better than people expect. He has very good takedown defense and not only that but he punishes opponents when they go for takedowns. He has a quick uppercut and if that doesn’t connect, he’s constantly throwing elbows to the body while stuffing the takedown. He has strong hips, good balance, and may end up on top of Woodley after fighting off the takedown. He has good control on top, likes to knee the body in half guard, and has good submissions. He needs to press Woodley in this fight. Woodley is at his best when he’s getting off first so Saffiedine needs to throw off his timing with quick inside leg kicks, get in with his strikes, avoid the big right hand, and get out. It wouldn’t hurt to adopt the strategy that fellow Team Quest teammate Nathan Coy used against Woodley, where he really wore Woodley out in the clinch with short knee strikes to the body and legs. Saffiedine can win this fight any of the three possible ways. He has the power to KO Woodley or overwhelm him with strikes on the ground, he’s good enough on top to lock in a submission, and he could win a decision by simply out-classing Woodley in all aspects.

Woodley is a highly touted welterweight who, despite being unknown to the general public, has been called out by Paul Daley as a potential next suitor. He’s a heavy hitter who relies on his wrestling and has a very good top game. He throws a very good counter right hand and every time Saffiedine throws a kick, you can expect Woodley to try and time it with a right hand. He likes to throw a left hook-right uppercut combo and that’s really his bread and butter combo when he moves forward. He uses the double jab to set up his takedowns or wing his right hand over the top. He has a very quick shot and he’s strong on his attempts. Like Saffiedine, he has very good hips but he seems very uncomfortable in the clinch. Given his wrestling background and athleticism, you would think that he could overpower his opponents in the clinch but instead he lets his opponents dictate things. He’s very good and submission oriented on top, possibly even too submission oriented. He doesn’t strike as much as he should to set up his submissions, he’s just used superior skill and technique to lock on whatever he attempts. He’s quick in the scrambles and that’s where he can really take advantage of Saffiedine in this fight. If he can create scrambles, he can end up in better positions and work from there. Woodley’s cardio is questionable. The one time he made it out of the second round, he gassed badly and arguably lost the decision. He’s a guy who uses a lot of energy with his punches and takedowns and it costs him the later the fight goes. Woodley needs to put Saffiedine on his back and grind him out. Saffiedine isn’t terrible off his back but Woodley has good submission defense and a good base and I doubt Saffiedine would be able to catch him. Saffiedine is very tough to finish but Woodley has one punch power, especially in his right hand, and his wrestling is good enough to wear out Saffiedine en route to a decision.

A lot of people are on the Woodley bandwagon, and while I certainly like him, Saffiedine is a tough match up for him. If Woodley can’t finish Saffiedine early, he’s going to be in for a long night because the more tired Woodley gets, the easier Saffiedine will be able to stuff the takedowns, and the more punishment he’ll do to Woodley on the feet. Look for Saffiedine to pick his shots on the feet, wear Woodley out in the clinch, and take him into deep waters. Woodley is tough to finish but I think Saffiedine can do enough to win a comfortable decision.

Prediction: Tarec Saffiedine to defeat Tyron Woodley by Decision

Heavyweight Fight: Devin Cole vs. Daniel Cormier

Looking to keep his 2010 momentum intact, Daniel Cormier finally makes it back to television to take on the well-traveled Devin Cole.

Cole isn’t a bad fighter but almost every time he’s stepped up in competition, he’s lost. He’s a long time wrestler who was an All-American at Southern Oregon and he trains at Team Quest. His striking is very basic and he has power but he mainly uses his striking to get inside on his opponents. He’s strong in the clinch and throws very good uppercuts from that position. He changes levels well and is relentless on his takedowns but his wrestling isn’t up to Cormier’s level. He strong and active on top but has a tendency to punch himself out when he gains a top position. I haven’t seen much of his bottom game but I’m guess that it’s not good enough to catch Cormier, although stranger things have happened in MMA. Cole needs to get off to a quick start. Not only is his best chance to finish Cormier within the first couple of minutes but also he needs something to go well for him early. He can’t afford a slow start where he begins to doubt himself and succumb to the hype and skill of Cormier. Cole needs to dictate the pace of the fight, which needs to be a rather slow pace, and not get into a wresting battle with Cormier either. Tony Johnson, a solid wrestler in his own right, tried to engage in a wrestling match with Cormier and 9/10 times, that;s a battle that favors Cormier. Cole needs to work his jab and set up his right hand. He has the power knock Cormier out and maybe he can win a decision if he can keep the fight on the feet and outstrike Cormier.

If you’re looking for that 2011 breakout star, look no further than Cormier. He’s highly respected among his peers and has the credentials to back it up. He’s an outstanding wrestler who has placed in various high-level tournaments over the years. He has power in his hands but his striking is mainly powerful hooks that he uses to set up his takedowns. Despite his wrestling credentials, it hasn’t quite translated to MMA the way you would expect. Less skilled and credentialed wrestlers than him have stuffed his takedowns, which is a bit surprising to most people. Even though his takedowns don’t come as easy as they probably should, sooner or later, Cormer’s opponents end up on their back thanks to Cormier’s relentless on his takedown attempts. On top, Cormier has excellent posture and control, gets to better positions, and is active and strong with his striking. When you’re as big as Cormier and push a pace like he does, it’s fair to question his cardio. I doubt it will be a problem for him though, should this fight make it out of the first round. He trains at American Kickboxing Academy, a camp known for great cardio, and he’s not a muscular heavyweight. I’m sure Cormier will do what he always does and that’s come out quickly, throw a quick right hook, and then go for the takedown. He’ll keep the pressure on Cole and simply look to dominate him. Cormier has the power to finish Cole, his submission game is good enough to put Cole to sleep, or maybe he’ll just win a decision by being a better fighter.

This is a designed win for Cormier, which doesn’t always work out, but I trust Cormier’s skills. Simply put, he’s a better fighter than Cole in all aspects of the game. Cole has plenty of power in his hands and anyone can be caught early but I expect Cormier to immediately go for the takedown and rough up Cole on the ground en route to a stoppage.

Prediction: Daniel Cormier to defeat Devin Cole by TKO in Round One

Women’s 145 lb Fight: Amanda Nunes vs. Julia Budd

After an impressive performance against Shana Olsen, Julia Budd is back in the Strikeforce cage to face newcomer Amanda Nunes.

Nunes hasn’t fought in almost a year but she’s on a four fight win streak and now has a chance to not only derail the Budd bus but also make a name for herself. She’s not a power striker but she is an overwhelming striker who is willing to stand in the pocket and throw down. She’s not very technical with her striking, telegraphs her right hand, and leaves herself open for counter punches but she seems to have a good chin on her. Trying to stand and bang with Budd wouldn’t be a very good idea though given Budd’s technical ability and power. She has decent takedown defense and off her back she seems comfortable although I doubt she wants to spend much time there. She controls her opponents posture well and likes to attempt an armbar off her back, which is more just to get her opponent to move and create a scramble rather than an actual submission attempt. She has quick hips, controlling on top, and is active with passes and strikes. She needs to get Budd to the ground in this fight. Even though she’s a tough girl who is willing to exchange strikes, it seems like she’d be in for a short night should she try and go that route. It would be smart to pressure Budd and get her uncomfortable early but after that, she needs to put Budd on her back and continue that pressure. It’s possible that Nunes overwhelms Budd on the ground en route to a TKO stoppage or she could win a decision but controlling Budd on the ground.

Coming from a muay-thai background and being the only person to defeat Gina Carano in a muay-thai fight, Budd looked very well-rounded in her MMA debut. She comes out of her corner quickly, pumps a quick jab, uses the push kick, and just does a very good job at controlling the distance. She also welcomes the clinch because that allows her to throw knees and elbows. Plus she’s very strong for the weight class and is able to bully her opponents on the ground and in the clinch. She has strong and quick hips, shown when she was able to end up on top of Olsen both times Olsen tried to get a takedown. She’s spent some time training with Quinton Jackson but she mainly trains with Lance Gibson and his crew. She’s still inexperienced in MMA but her muay-thai experience helps her when it comes to preparation. The thing I’m concerned about with Budd is how she deals with her newfound attention. After an impressive debut she garnered a good amount of media attention due to her performance and good looks. She seemed humble in her post-fight interview, realizing she has a long way to go before challenging Cristiana Santos, but maybe the pressure and hype will get to her. I wouldn’t count on it but it’s at least worth mentioning. Look for Budd to try and keep things on the feet and work her superior striking but it shouldn’t shock anyone to see her try and clinch in order to use her size and strength. She’s a power puncher who could easily put Nunes out with one shot, wear her out with strikes, or win a controlling decision.

I was really impressed with Budd in her last fight. Combine that with the fact that Nunes wasn’t quite as impressive and is coming off a very long layoff, I don’t like her chances. I think Budd picks her apart on the feet, wears her out in the clinch, and finishes her on the ground with strikes.

Prediction: Julia Budd to defeat Amanda Nunes by TKO in Round Two

Light Heavyweight Fight: Abongo Humphrey vs. Ovince St. Preux

In an overlooked fight that really shapes the future of the Strikeforce light heavyweight division, Ovince St. Preux fights for the third straight month against Abongo Humphrey.

Although he’s best known for almost having his dreadlocks pulled out by Brett Rogers, Humphrey has since dropped down to light heavyweight and done decently for himself. He’s a decent striker with power but his defense leaves a lot to be desired. He tries to parry punches, which doesn’t work so well in MMA and leaves his body wide open. He reacts to a lot of feints and can be hit with hooks from both sides. Luckily for him, his parents blessed him with a hell of a chin. Offensively, he throws some solid leg kicks, has a good counter left hook, and likes to press forward with three punches. When he shoots for takedowns, he telegraphs his shot and leaves himself wide up for uppercuts. He has good clinch control and takedowns from the clinch. If St. Preux decides to willingly go down, Humphrey could easily grind him out on the ground. One thing Humphrey likes to do is bait his opponents into using an underhook to stand up and then lock on a modified anaconda choke, which is pretty much just an arm in guillotine. Arm in guillotine’s are usually tough to finish but Humphrey has confidence in his squeeze. The problem is, when he doesn’t get the choke, he’s on his back with his opponent on top. Humphrey has the power to finish St. Preux, could possibly catch him in a choke, and could win a decision if St. Preux decides to get passive on the ground.

St. Preux is on a big roll right now. He’s coming off back-to-back victories over respected fighters Antwain Britt and Benji Radach and he’s now poised for a big 2011. He’s a very good striker with big power in his right hand and a good body kick. He’s tall for the weight class and has a good reach that he uses well. He has a stiff jab and a good left hook that he uses to set up his straight right hand. On top of his power, he’s very explosive and athletic on his feet. He’s a solid defensive wrestler but very inconsistent. Sometimes it looks like he has the best sprawl in the world and other times he’s easier to get on his back than a girl in the Jersey Shore. He’s no real threat off his back and in fact, he’s very defensive and tries to just hold on in hopes for a stand up. He’s active on top with his strikes but has been known to wear himself out trying to finish. His back control is excellent and a position he may be able to gain relatively easy in this fight due to Humphrey’s lack of ground game. I think St. Preux will look to keep it standing early, batter Humphrey with body kicks, and wear him out in the clinch. Even though St. Preux’s cardio is questionable, Humphrey’s is just as bad. Humphrey doesn’t have great takedown defense, especially in the clinch, so expect St. Preux to try and get the fight to the ground and be on top where he can do damage and control the fight. I’d be shocked to see St. Preux knockout Humphrey with one punch but he could easily overwhelm him on the ground with strikes, finish with a rear naked choke after securing the back, or win a dominating decision.

St. Preux is on such a role right now that I can’t see him losing to Humphrey. He should be too quick and powerful on the feet for Humphrey and I know he can go 15 minutes, even if he tires a bit, while I don’t have faith that Humphrey can. I think St. Preux lands a lot of body kicks and then catches Humphrey coming in with a big punch that leads to the end.

Prediction: Ovince St. Preux to defeat Abongo Humphrey by TKO in Round One

Light Heavyweight Fight: John Richard vs. Rhadi Ferguson

Judo Olympian Rhadi Ferguson makes his Strikeforce debut against John Richard, who is taking this fight on a weeks notice.

I can’t find any footage on Richard so I honestly have no clue what he has to offer in this fight. He hasn’t faced very good competition and in fact, the only time he’s faced someone with a winning record, he lost. Maybe not so coincidently, the one time he’s made it into the third round, he lost. So based on those facts, I’d have to say that he’s just a mid-level fighter at best who doesn’t have a great gas tank. He’s also taking this fight on less than a weeks notice so his questionable gas tank might be even worse. That said, there is no pressure on him in this fight. Ferguson has the big name, he’s the guy who’s been on ESPN2 in the past, and he’s the guy who everyone expects to win. Richard can’t get overaggressive because that could lead to a clinch situation where he could quickly find himself thrown on his head. Ferguson tends to drop his hands and use head movement like he’s Anderson Silva but that’s a quick way to get knocked out. Richard needs to use leg kicks to take away the movement of Ferguson, go to the body, and then head upstairs. He could finish Ferguson because we don’t know how good Ferguson’s cardio is either but he could also win a decision by controlling things and possibly turning this into a boring fight.

If you recognize the surname Ferguson, you might be thinking of Rhadi’ cousin Kevin Ferguson, better known to fight fans as Kimbo Slice. But while Slice was busy taking $500 from bodyguards at backyard BBQs, Rhadi was winning Judo tournaments all across the world. He’s very smooth on his feet but seems to be a bit overconfident with his striking. Both his MMA victories have come via his hands, which is something he’ll get away with against lower competition, but sooner or later it will catch up to him. As I mentioned above, he drops his hands when he’s attacked and uses movement to evade his opponents but that won’t work forever. He’s in his mid 30’s and even though he hasn’t fought much in MMA, your reflexes slow down as you get up near your 40’s. His background is in Judo so I’d expect that he’s strong in the clinch and has good hips. Judo fighters have a slight advantage because it’s tough to find high-level judoka’s to train with. I’m sure Ferguson will look to strike early and if that doesn’t go his way, he’ll put Richard on his back and work from there. He’s a hard hitter who could finish Richard with one shot or overwhelm him en route to a stoppage or maybe he’ll show off his submission skills on the ground. I highly doubt this fight will go to a decision with Ferguson winning and if it does, he should be ashamed of himself.

This is Ferguson’s fight to lose. He’s the better fighter and he’s facing a mid-level fighter taking this fight on very short notice. If he gets overconfident on his feet, he could easily be dropped but I suspect that he’ll once again get away with striking, drop Richard early, and finish him.

Prediction: Rhadi Ferguson to defeat John Richard by TKO in Round One

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

January 3 – January 9
All Times Eastern

Monday (1/3)

MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm
XFC 13: Unstoppable (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
WEC WrekCage: Brown vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 6pm
UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm

Tuesday (1/4)

KOTC: Vengeance (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
WEC WrekCage: Henderson vs. Cerrone (Replay) on VS. at 6pm
Strikeforce Challengers: Santos vs. Villasenor (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm

Wednesday (1/5)

Fight Vault: Best of 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
WEC WrekCage: Brown vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 5pm
WEC WrekCage: Campuzano vs. Wheeler (Replay) on VS. at 6pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm

Thursday (1/6)

MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4am
The Voice vs. Alistair Overeem (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Fighting Words: Best of 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 5pm
WEC WrekCage: Brown vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 8pm
WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis (Replay) on VS. at 9pm
Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs. Mahe (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm

Friday (1/7)

WEC WrekCage: Henderson vs. Cerrone (Replay) on VS. at 12:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm
Fight Vault: Best of DREAM 16 (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm
Fighting Words: Chuck Liddell (Premiere) on HDNet at 8:30pm
Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm
Dynamite!! 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 10pm
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine (Live Event) on Showtime at 11pm

Saturday (1/8)

Fighting Words: Chuck Liddell (Replay) on HDNet at 1am
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 1:30am
Dynamite!! 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 2:30am
Fighting Words: Chuck Liddell (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm
Fight Vault: Best of 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm

Sunday (1/9)

Bellator Highlights (Replay) on NBC at 3am
WEC WrekCage: Cruz vs. Benavidez (Replay) on VS. at 5pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

The 35-year old Ferguson holds a PhD in Education and has used his knowledge, as well as competitive experience, to train a number of high-level athletes in and out of MMA in a variety of areas including strength and conditioning. As a professional fighter he’s gone 2-0 thus far with two TKOs, though the change from Olympic Judoka to Mixed Martial Artist hasn’t been as smooth a process as one might think.

“I don’t think MMA is ever a natural transition,” Ferguson said. “I did Judo, I did BJJ, and I’m a strength and conditioning coach and a judo coach for some top MMA fighters. After training these guys for a while the sport caught me a little bit. I’m 35, but I feel like I still have some stuff in the tank. I’m satisfied with my athletic career but I wouldn’t mind putting the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title-belt on my mantel.”

“The thing about fighting is it makes me feel free,” Ferguson continued. “I think what I enjoy from MMA is the newness of it – it’s new to me and there’s so much to learn. When you become good at a sport like Judo you have core skills that you hone in on so much. You’re only focused on that. With MMA, there are so many things which you have to become proficient at. You don’t have to be good at everything but you’re proficiency has to be high to be a true Mixed Martial Artist.”

Ferguson’s opponent, Canadian prospect Ion Cherdivara, will also be making his Strikeforce debut at the January event. Though he may not have the Olympic credentials of Ferguson, Cherdivara certainly isn’t lacking any confidence in his abilities which have been refined as a former member of Moldova’s national wrestling team and impressive showings on the local scene.

“I’m only 1-0 because I’ve had a hard time finding fights in Montreal,” Cherdivara said. “No one wants to fight me. With Strikeforce I’ll finally be able to face some quality opponents who otherwise wouldn’t dare fight me. I’m looking to face the best light heavyweights Strikeforce has to offer.”

Joining the pair of debuting light heavyweights at Strikeforce Challengers 13, in co-headlining bouts, undefeated Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier will face Devin Cole in heavyweight action, while fellow rising star Tyron Woodley will also attempt to maintain his unblemished record when taking on Tarec Saffiedine. Additionally, workhorse Ovince St. Preux will go for his third win in Strikeforce since November 19 against striker Ron “Abongo” Humphrey.

A former University of Tennessee linebacker, Saint Preux (9-4) will be opposed by Ron “Abongo” Humphrey (7-2) of Atlanta. The first Strikeforce event of the year will be highlighted by an eagerly awaited confrontation between two of the promotion’s premier, up-and-coming welterweight stars, unbeaten Tyron Woodley (7-0) and hard-hitting Belgian Tarec Saffiedine (10-2).

Originally scheduled to take place on the card, the middleweight (185 pounds) matchup between Yancy “Frisson” Medeiros (9-0) and John Salter (5-2) of Nashville has been scrapped due to a knee injury sustained by Medeiros.

The 6-foot-3, 27-year-old Saint Preux will be the first fighter ever to compete on three consecutive Strikeforce events. He is coming off a career-best, thoroughly dominant three-round unanimous decision over UFC veteran, Benji Radach, on December 4, in St. Louis on Showtime. Saint Preux registered a unanimous three-round decision over Antwain Britt during a Strikeforce Challengers event on November 19 in Jackson, Mississippi.

“I always thought I was fighting January 7, but when I had a chance to take the fight (with Radach) I took it,” said Saint Preux, a member of Knoxville Martial Arts Academy who passed what most expected to be his toughest test in impressive fashion. “That was a good fight and a hard fight that we both took on short notice but there was no way I could turn down fighting in Tennessee.

“I like to stay busy and I’m in the gym training, working out and trying to improve all the time anyway. So why not fight again? Besides, this is like a home game for me.”

Saint Preux, who won his Strikeforce debut with a 0:47, first-round TKO (punches) over Chris Hawk last April 17 in Nashville, played for the Univserity of Tennessee Volunteers from 2001-2004.

After graduating with a degree in Sociology in ’04, he became heavily involved in MMA, utilizing his impressive wrestling skills and natural athletic abilities. He made history on February 20, 2009, by not only competing in Tennessee’s first sanctioned MMA event, but also by recording the first knockout in the state.

One of six children, Saint Preux has one sister and five brothers. Four of his brothers are twins; one set is older and one set is younger. He has a couple of brands on his body. One is for his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.

Humphrey, a military son who was born on a military base in Vacaville, California, will be making his fourth appearance for Strikeforce and third in a row on Strikeforce Challengers on Showtime. In his most recent outing, he was submitted (rear naked choke) in the second round by a red-hot Mike “Mak” Kyle at a Challengers event last July 23 at Everett, Wash.

In his outing before last, the previous March 26, Humphrey made George Bush tap (Guillotine Choke) at 1:44 of the first round on a Challengers card in Fresno.

The birth name of the 5-foot-11, 33-year-old is “Ronald,” but he prefers to be addressed as “Abongo,” the name of an African warrior spirit believed to protect a village located in The Republic of Ghana. The moniker was bestowed upon him a few years ago after he endured a series of mentally and physically grueling tasks during a rites of passage trip to Africa.

Humphrey’s experience there inspired him to establish a non-profit organization that allows him to introduce other African-Americans to their heritage by bringing them to Africa.

“There are certain things that are lacking in the black community here and one of them has to do with cultural identity,” said Humphrey. “Fighting and doing the community work in Africa is something that really drives and motivates me in life.”

Humphrey was introduced to a national audience as a contestant on BET‘s MMA reality series “Iron Ring” where he was a member of a fight team coached by MMA star, “Mr. International” Shonie Carter, and managed by hip-hop artist and producer Lil’ Jon.

Among those Humphrey defeated during his stint on “Iron Ring” were former K-1 USA contender Jeff “Big Diesel” Ford and Carlos Moreno, whom Humphrey knocked out with a head kick.

Other televised fights: Undefeated up-and-coming heavyweight prospect and former U.S. Olympic wrestling star Daniel Cormier (6-0) faces Devin Cole (18-8-1) and promising Julia “The Jewel” Budd (1-0) faces Amanda “Lioness Of The Ring” Nunes (5-1) in a women’s middleweight match. A fifth televised bout will be announced soon.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

As first reported on Five Ounces of Pain, American Kickboxing Academy heavyweight Daniel Cormier will put his 6-0 record on the line against the most-experienced adversary of his career, Devin Cole. Cole is 18-8-1 and has spent time in the ring with a number of notable fighters including Ben Rothwell, Jeff Monson, and current Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante.

Woodley, who is 7-0, will also face one of the stiffer tests he’s encountered in MMA thus far in the form of Belgian competitor Tarec Saffiedine. The 24-year old Saffiedine has won his last three bouts, including a unanimous decision over widely respected welterweight Brock Larson in September, and has yet to be finished in twelve total fights.

The event will also feature Julia Budd against Amanda Nunes is female middleweight action, as well as dueling Nates in the form of Nate Coy and Nate Moore in 170-pound action.

News of the bout, scheduled for January 7, was first reported by Five Ounces of Pain. The site has now confirmed Cormier will be facing Devin Cole in the evening’s main event according to sources attached to the situation.

Cole is 18-8 and will represent the most-experienced opponent Cormier has faced thus far in his career. He is 6-1-1 in his last eight bouts and had won five straight before falling to Aaron Rosa by way of decision at Shark Fights 13 last September. However, he has spent time in the ring against the likes of Jeff Monson, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, and Ben Rothwell, and beaten thirteen of the eighteen opponents he’s faced via TKO/submission while only having been finished a single time himself in more than three years.

The 6-0 Cormier, a teammate of fellow undefeated UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez at American Kickboxing Academy, has yet to see the judges’ scorecards thus far in his career and rendered his last five opponents unable to compete beyond the first round. His last appearance in Strikeforce came this past August at “Strikeforce – Houston” where he forced Jason Riley to tap due to strikes a little over a minute into their match-up.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Five Ounces of Pain has learned Cormier, who is 3-0 in the promotion, will attempt a seventh straight win in the ring at an upcoming Strikeforce Challengers event on January 7, though the exact location of the show has not been confirmed yet. In terms of who he will face, Strikeforce is still in the process of scouting potential adversaries for the 31-year former Olympian with an official announcement expected soon.

The American Kickboxing Academy teammate of UFC champ, and undefeated heavyweight peer, Cain Velasquez has rendered his last five opponents unable to compete within the respective bout’s opening frame. He competed as recently as two weeks ago, while only having been a professional fighter for about fourteen months, and has finished the bulk of his foes by way of strikes with only a single submission to his credit.

PHOTO CREDIT – ESTHER LIN/STRIKEFORCE

The 31-year-old Wilcox (10-3), a former NCAA wrestling standout for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, opted to keep the fight standing, punishing Ribeiro with straight right hands throughout their three-round bout. Ribeiro repeatedly tried to take the fight to the ground, but Wilcox fended his opponent off with a well-timed sprawl.

“We came out wanting to exploit his stand up. At AKA, we’ve got the best stand up,” said Wilcox, who was awarded all three rounds by the three judges scoring the fight. Wilcox’s win was his fifth straight.

Asked about a potential matchup with another star in Strikeforce’s lightweight division, undefeated Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm, after the win over Ribeiro, Wilcox acknowledged his interest in facing Beerbohm.

“He keeps calling out the big dogs,” said Wilcox of Beerbohm, “but, if he wants to fight, I’m your Huckleberry.”

A much anticipated bout between go-for-broke strikers Marius Zaromskis and Waachiim Spirit Wolf took a quick, anti-climactic turn after Zaromskis attempted a flying knee out of the gate in the first round, but accidentally stuck a finger in Spirit Wolf’s eye on the way down.

Unable to see properly, a frustrated Spirit Wolf was allotted a five minute period to regain his vision, but could not do so. After he was examined by the ringside physician for the second time during his recovery period, it was determined that the laceration to Spirit Wolf’s eye was too severe for him to continue, prompting a stoppage to the bout and a no contest being declared.

“In the case of an accidental foul, the referee has the discretion to give the fighter up to five minutes regardless of what kind of foul occurs,” said Cory Schafer, Strikeforce Rules Director and ISKA President. “If the foul occurs in the first or second round of a three round fight and the fighter can’t continue as a result of the accidental foul, the bout is declared a no contest.”

One fight later, lightning inexplicably struck for the second time when St. Preux accidentally poked Britt in the eye in the opening seconds of the first round. Fortunately, Britt regained enough of his vision to continue after a brief break and examination from the ringside physician.

After the action resumed, Britt went on the offensive, scoring a hard right hand to St. Preux’s chin. St. Preux returned the favor, though, landing a left round kick to the liver and, then a right round kick to Britt’s ribs.

Britt caught his opponent’s right leg off the kick and took St. Preux down, but St. Preux scrambled to take Britt’s back and began firing away with punches to the body and side of Britt’s head. As the round winded down, St. Preux suddenly attempted a calf slicer to submit Britt, but Britt survived the round.

Britt made a strong stand in the second round, taking St. Preux down and blasting him with repeated punches, including a series of short hammer fists while St. Preux remained relatively inactive in guard.

In the third stanza, St. Preux turned the tides again, taking Britt to the ground and mounting him. Britt fought his way back to guard and the referee stood the fighters up after neither was advancing his position. After stopping a Britt takedown attempt, the final round came to a close with St. Preux working from half guard.

All three judges scored the fight two rounds to one in favor of St. Preux, whose win was his fourth straight and second under the Strikeforce banner.

“I feel like I’m ready for anything,” said the 27-year-old St. Preux, a resident of Knoxville, Tenn., after the fight. “I’ll put everybody in check in alphabetical order.”

In other televised action, Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche continued her unbeaten run by stopping brawler Jan Finney with a ground and pound offensive in the third round of their 135-pound match-up.

Carmouche, the winner of the Strikeforce women’s 135-pound tournament “reserve” bout in Phoenix, Arizona on August 13, was quick on her feet, pelting Finney with round kicks and working aggressively on the ground.

After dominating the first two rounds, Carmouche scored her third takedown of the fight in the third and final scheduled round and quickly mounted Finney.

A short flurry of punches from Carmouche prompted Finney to turtle up, giving Carmouche the opportunity to inflict more damage with an onslaught of punches to the side of Finney’s face. The referee soon after stepped in and halted the fight, giving Carmouche a TKO win at the 1:30 mark of round three.

Twenty-six year old, Caros “The Future” Fodor earned his second victory in Strikefroce Challengers competition using a slick ground game against newcomer Derek “The Pretzel” Getzel, who secured a spot on the Challengers card by winning an eight-man qualifying tournament in Minnesota earlier this year.

Fodor, a member of Matt Hume’s AMC Pankration in Kirkland, Washington, secured a takedown in the first stanza and landed in side control. Getzel escaped a Fodor keylock attempt, but Fodor quickly initiated a d’arce choke while inside Getzel’s guard and sunk in the choke while simultaneously passing guard. Getzel tapped out from the hold at the 4:39 mark of the first round.

Here is a complete rundown of Strikeforce Challengers 12 results, including preliminary action:

Justin Wilcox def. Vitor Ribeiro via Unanimous Decision
Ovince St. Preux def. Antwain Britt via Split Decision
Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachiim Spirit Wolf – No Contest (Eyepoke)
Liz Carmouche def. Jan Finney via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
Caros Fodor def. Derek Getzel via Submission Round 1 (D’Arce Choke)
Wes Shivers def. Goldman Butler via KO Round 1 (Strikes)
Jacob Noe def. Wesley Little via Unanimous Decision
Jeremiah Riggs def. James Sharp via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Mitchell def. Jeffery Hedgepeth via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
Thomas Vazquez def. Brian Hall via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
Joel Cooper def. Brian Burse via Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Ken Duboise def. Travis Robertson via Unanimous Decision

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Read ahead for a live breakdown of results as they’re broadcast live…

Caros Fodor vs. Derek Getzel

Round One: They spent the first three and a half minutes in the clinch with Getzel controlling but not doing much damage. Fodor was able to reverse things and land a trip takedown into side control. As Getzel tried to scramble up, Fodor locked on a d’arce choke. Getzel squirmed around but was forced to tap out. The tap was hard to see and the crowd was dead as the ref stopped the fight.

Result: Caros Fodor defeated Derek Getzel by Submission (D’Arce Choke) at 4:39 in Round One

Jan Finney vs. Liz Carmouche

Round One: All on the feet for the first half of the round with Finney landing good leg kicks. Carmouche was the busier of the two but didn’t land anything with power. Carmouche was able to land a trip takedown and then slam her way out of a couple of armbar attempts but Finney reversed things and ended the round in side control. Relatively close round but Carmouche was more active in all positions and did more damage overall. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Carmouche.

Round Two: Carmouche started the round was a jumping kick and then managed a clinch takedown. She spent about two minutes on top and in guard landing short punches but Finney did a nice job controlling the posture. Carmouche then stood over Finney and kicked at the legs before Finney was able to stand with around 90 seconds left. After a short clinch that went nowhere, Carmouche ended the round strong on the feet, consistently landing a right hand. Easy round for Carmouche as she had the better positions and did more damage. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Carmouche.

Round Three: Finney initiated an early clinch but that only led to Carmouche getting a takedown and moving right into mount. Carmouche then proceeded to pound away on Finney until the ref finally jumped in to stop things. Finney was trying her best to protect herself but it was clear that she wasn’t getting out of the position and she was eating some heavy punches.

Result: Liz Carmouche defeated Jan Finney by TKO (Strikes) at 1:30 in Round Three

Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf

Round One: Zaromskis immediately went for a flying knee but ended up poking Spiritwolf in the eye just six seconds into the fight. The doctor checked on Spiritwolf multiple times and he ended up telling the doctor, “I can’t see.” That promptly led to the referee waving off the fight and declaring it a no contest.

Result: Marius Zaromskis and Waachiim Spiritwolf fought to a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke)

Antwain Britt vs. Ovince St. Preux

Round One: Britt got poked in the eye about 35 seconds into the round. After getting his eye washed out by the doctor he was able to continue. They spent the majority of the round on the feet with St. Preux staying more active but not landing anything clean. With about a minute and a half left, St. Preux landed back to back body kicks that dropped Britt and made him turtle up. St. Preux tried to finish with strikes but Britt survived and then went for a calf crusher at the end of the round but Britt held on until the end of the round. Dominating round for St. Preux and he was just moments away from finishing the fight. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-8 for St. Preux.

Round Two: St. Preux looked tired to start the round and Britt took advantage of that by immediately securing a takedown into half guard. Britt spent the entire round in the half guard of St. Preux landing punches to the body and head. St. Preux offered very little defense other than covering up and moving just enough. Dominating round for Britt as he spent the entire round on top and doing damage. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Britt.

Round Three: St. Preux stuffed a takedown early and then managed to land a takedown of his own about a minute and a half into the round. St. Preux spent the entire round on top but Britt controlled the posture well and took limited damage. The ref stood them up with 45 seconds left. On the feet, St. Preux landed a big body kick, stuffed a takedown, and finished the fight on top. Dominating round for St. Preux. He spent the majority of the round on top and landed the most damaging blow of the round. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for St. Preux and the fight 29-27 for St. Preux.

Result: Ovince St. Preux defeated Antwain Britt by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Justin Wilcox vs. Vitor Ribeiro

Round One: The entire round was spent on the feet. Wilcox was much more active and kept Ribeiro away with the jab along with landing a good overhand right. Ribeiro went for a couple of takedowns but they were easily stuffed by Wilcox. Not much action in the round but Wilcox’s activity on the feet along with his right hand put him in control of things. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Wilcox.

Round Two: All on the feet this round as well. Ribeiro did a better job landing counter punches early but Wilcox was still more active and ended up busting the nose of Ribeiro with his punches. Wilcox landed a big right hand that seemed to stumble Ribeiro with a bout a minute and a half left in the round but he couldn’t follow up. Wilcox continued to easily stuff the takedowns of Ribeiro as well. Easy round for Wilcox as he was once again the more active striker and landed the most damaging strikes of the round. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Wilcox.

Round Three: Ribeiro was more active this round on the feet and landed some good right hands but Wilcox continued to be more aggressive and finding a home for his own right hand. Ribeiro tried again to get the fight to the ground but Wilcox easily stuffed them. Another solid round in the favor of Wilcox thanks to his sprawl, activity on the feet, and overall damage. Jeremy Lambert scores the round 10-9 for Wilcox and the fight 30-27 for Wilcox.

Result: Justin Wilcox defeated Vitor Ribeiro by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Neither Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and Justin Wilcox will share a significant size advantage over the other when the headlining 155ers meet in the ring, as Ribeiro came in at 155.6 pounds with Wilcox weighing 155 on the dot. Ribeiro is 20-4 overall, but has dropped three of his last four fights and will be looking to have his hands raised for the first after an eighteen-month drought from victory. “The Silverback” has fared far better than the highly-respected Brazilian as of late, winning four straight including three inside the Strikeforce cage.

Lithuanian kickboxer Marius Zaromskis checked in a little more than two pounds heavier than his opponent at 171 lbs., though it remains to be seen if the small differential will assist in breaking a two-fight skid Zaromskis is currently riding. Waachim Spiritwolf, who the knockout specialist will face in a main card pairing, will compete for the third time in three months at tonight’s show with his most recent outing involving a decision loss to undfeated lightweight contender Billy Evangelista.

Fans can tune in to see the action starting at 11:00 PM EST on Showtime.

Here is the complete rundown of Strikeforce Challengers 12 weigh-in results:

Jeremiah Riggs (184.8 lbs) vs. Jason Sharp (184.6 lbs)
Wes Little (202.8 lbs) vs. Jacob Noe (204.6 lbs)
Goldman Butler (242.8 lbs) vs. Wes Shivers (263 lbs)
Caros Fodor (155.6 lbs) vs. Derek Getzel (155 lbs)
Jan Finney (135.8 lbs) vs. Liz Carmouche (134.4 lbs)
Marius Zaromskis (171 lbs) vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf (168.8 lbs)
Antwain Britt (206 lbs) vs. Ovince St. Preux (205.6 lbs)
Justin Wilcox (155 lbs) vs. Vitor Ribeiro (155.6 lbs)

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

The 31-year old Brazilian holds an overall record of 20-4, as well as victories over a number of tough foes in the past including Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida, and Joachim Hansen. However, he has lost three of his last four bouts, including his last in-ring outing against undefeated Lyle Beerbohm this past May at “Strikeforce – Heavy Artillery” (via split-decision).

Ribeiro recently spoke to media about his return to the cage tomorrow night at Strikeforce Challengers 12 in Jackson, Mississippi and explained why he feels especially motivated, and able, to finish 9-3 Justin Wilcox.

“This fight means a lot to me,” he began. “I’m really happy to be the main event in this show and I think that’s what motivated me to train so hard the last few months. I’m just working on a few things today and sparring a bit, but I feel great and I’m ready to go…”

As far as what he expects from “The Silverback”, who has won eight of his last nine fights including his last four in a row, Ribeiro made it clear he’s prepared to grapple based on Wilcox’s past performances (7-of-9 victories by way of outpointing his opponent).

“(Justin) sounds like a very powerful wrestler who has good hands. I’ll be ready to use my game plan, though, based on what I know about him.”

The BJJ-blackbelt also made it clear he wants to avoid the involvement of scorecards after having lost back-to-back decisions, stating, “I left my last fight to the judges, so I’m going to try to not make that mistake again and finish the fight in three rounds. If I can’t, I’m going to dominate the three rounds and not leave any doubt in anyone’s mind about who won.”

In addition to the headlining lightweights, Strikeforce Challengers 12 also features 205-pounders Antwain Britt and Ovince St. Preux mixing it up as well as Lithuanian kickboxer Marius Zaromskis looking to get back on the winning track against Waachim Spiritwolf. Fans can watch action unfold live on Showtime starting at 11:00 PM EST.

November 15-21
All Times Eastern

Monday (11/15)

WEC Greatest Knockouts (Replay) on VS. at 12am
WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez (Replay) on VS. at 1am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm
WEC WrekCage: Cruz vs. Benavidez (Replay) on VS. at 4pm
WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz (Replay) on VS. at 5pm
UFC Unleashed: Imes vs. Evans (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed: Shamrock vs. Ortiz (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm
UFC 123 Countdown (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 11pm

Tuesday (11/16)

WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki (Replay) on VS. at 12am
Stars & Strikes: MMA Fighters in the Military (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2 (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm

Wednesday (11/17)

United Glory: First Round (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
UFC 123 Countdown (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed: Matt Hughes Fights (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm
UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm
The Ultimate Fighter 12: Episode 10 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm

Thursday (11/18)

The Ultimate Fighter 12: Episode 10 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4am

Friday (11/19)

UFC 123 Countdown (Replay) on VS. at 12am
MMA Live (Premiere) on ESPN2 at 12:30am
WEC WrekCage: Cruz vs. Benavidez (Replay) on VS. at 1am
Sengoku 15 (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm
UFC Unleashed: Bisping vs. Schafer (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm
UFC 122: Marquardt vs. Okami (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 7pm
Strikeforce Challengers: Ribeiro vs. Wilcox (Live Event) on Showtime at 11pm

Saturday (11/20)

Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am
Strikeforce Challengers: Ribeiro vs. Wilcox (Replay) on Showtime2 at 1:30am
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 4am
The Voice vs. Tito Ortiz (Replay) on HDNet at 5am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 6pm
UFC 123 Countdown (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm
UFC Unleashed: Hughes vs. Gracie (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed: Hughes vs. Penn (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm
UFC 123 Prelims (Live Event) on SpikeTV at 9pm
UFC 123: Jackson vs. Machida (Live Event) on PPV at 10pm

Sunday (11/21)

WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 1am
Bellator Highlights (Replay) on NBC at 3am
Sengoku 15 (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

The featured welterweight televised fight will replace the bout in which Ryan Couture could not fight due to a lingering staph infection. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will mark STRIKEFORCE’s initial foray into the state of Mississippi.

Both fighters are coming off losses – Zaromskis (13-5) to Brazil’s Evangelista Cyborg last June 16th at “Strikeforce – Los Angeles” and Spiritwolf (8-7-1) to Billy Evangelista at a Strikeforce Challengers event in Fresno on October 22nd – and are eager to return to the win column.

The highly explosive, 30-year-old Zaromskis, who hails from Siauliai, Lithuania, has never shied away from taking on the sport’s best as he fell to Nick Diaz last January.. Prior to that loss, Zaromskis had won three consecutive fights, all by way of head kick in the first round.

Zaromskis won the DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix and became the Japanese promotion’s inaugural welterweight champion by defeating Seichi Ikemoto at DREAM 8. He conquered both Hayato “Mach” Sakurai and Jason High at DREAM 10.

Zaromskis’ first love was karate as a child before switching to kickboxing. As an adult, Zaromskis moved to London to train with the London Shootfighters Fight Team. Since signing with Strikeforce, Zaromskis has moved to San Jose and currently is training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).

Fans will no doubt recall Spiritwolf’s Strikeforce debut a few weeks ago when he fell to the unbeaten, returning Billy Evangelista in a highly entertaining slugfest by unanimous decision (30-27 twice and 29-28). Spiritwolf, 34, is a Fresno native now fighting out of Poway in the San Diego area. He is the head instructor of his own gym, Spiritwolf MMA.

He said after the fight he should have won. “I come to fight and that’s what I did tonight,” he said. “It is bad enough I thought I deserved the decision, but to not get a round on those scorecards is ridiculous. Honestly, I feel I got ripped off.”

Spiritwolf has trained with some of MMA’s best, including MMA legends Randy “The Natural” Couture and Dan Henderson.

In the November 19th main event on Showtime, lightweight star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (20-4) will face Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (9-3) of Cincinnati. In another televised fight, former University of Tennessee linebacker Ovince St. Preux (7-4) will seek his fifth consecutive conquest inside the distance when he faces Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt” (11-4) in a light heavyweight scrap.

Power-punching Jan “Cuddles” Finney (8-8) will be also opposed by unbeaten Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche (4-0) in a key women’s match at 135 pounds and Caros “The Future” Fodor (6-2) will throw down with Derek “The Pretzel” Getzel (2-1) at lightweight.

The change was made due to a staph infection Couture picked up while training that will apparently keep him out of action for about a month. “”I was really looking forward to fighting so this is a big disappointment, but I’ll be back,” said the 28-year old. “As soon as I’m cleared, you can bet I’ll be back in the gym preparing for my next Strikeforce fight.”

However, while Strikeforce may have lost a match-up based on Couture’s ailment, the card also gained a pair of bouts according to an official statement from the promotion.

Jan Finney, who had won four consecutive fights before falling to women’s champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos last June, will take on the debuting 4-0 Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche. The pairing will also mark the return of Finney to her natural competitive weight of 135-pounds.

In addition, newcomers Caros Fodor and Derek “The Pretzel’’ Getzel will also face each other at the event.

Strikeforce Challengers 12 is headlined by a bout between 155-pounders Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox, and is also scheduled to feature light heavyweights Antwain Britt and Ovince St. Preux mixing it up.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

October 25-31
All Times Eastern

Monday (10/25)

WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 12am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm
WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 (Replay) on VS. at 5pm
UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm

Tuesday (10/26)

WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson (Replay) on VS. at 12am
DREAM 16 (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker 2 (Replay) on Showtime2 at 10pm

Wednesday (10/27)

The Ultimate Fighter 9 Marathon (Replay) on SpikeTV 3-6pm
UFC Unleashed: Sylvia vs. Rodriguez (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm
UFC Unleashed: Liddell vs. Sobral 2 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm
UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm
The Ultimate Fighter 12: Episode 7 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm

Thursday (10/28)

The Ultimate Fighter 12: Episode 7 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am
UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4am
WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 8pm
Bellator 34 (Live Event/Premiere) on Fox Sports Net. Check Local Listings
WEC Greatest Knockouts (Replay) on VS. at 10pm

Friday (10/29)

WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan (Replay) on VS. at 12am
MMA Live (Premiere) on ESPN2 at 12:30am
Sengoku 14 (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am
MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm
Fight Vault: Best of DREAM 10 (Replay) on HDNet at 8pm
Fighting Words: Matt Lindland (Premiere) on HDNet at 8:30pm
Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm
United Glory: First Round (Live Event) on HDNet at 10pm

Saturday (10/30)

Sengoku 15 (Live Event) on HDNet at 2am
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm
WEC Greatest Knockouts (Replay) on VS. at 2pm
Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm
Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 6pm

Sunday (10/31)

Bellator Highlights (Premiere) on NBC at 3am
Freak Show: Halloween Special (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am
MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

*Bellator 34 replays from Thursday to Sunday on Fox Sports Net. Check your local listings.

*You can order the UFC 121 replay all week on certain PPV providers.