Zuffa providing additional insurance to contracted fighters
When Zuffa meets with UFC/Strikeforce employees this week as part of the company’s annual summit in Las Vegas one of the recurring themes throughout will undoubtedly involve the discussion of organizational policies. However, the policy drawing the most attention from fighters this go-round may very well be one completely unrelated to anything occurring inside of the cage – an insurance policy. “Our... [Read More...]
Gina Carano gets June opponent in the form of Sarah D’Alelio
Immensely popular female fighter Gina Carano faced a “Cyborg” in her most-recent battle and now appears poised to stare down “The Monster” in her next. The aforementioned opponents in question are not characters in one of the blossoming actress’ films but rather in-ring adversaries with Strikeforce 145-pound champ Cris Santos playing the former role and the latter going to Sarah D’Alelio,... [Read More...]
Cris “Cyborg” eyeing August fight outside of Strikeforce
After nearly a year of waiting for a call from Strikeforce it appears 145-pound female title-holder Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is prepared to take matters into her own hands by opting to compete on an August 6 card in Brazil. Santos has been out of action since a June 2010 knockout of Jan Finney based on the status of her contract in addition to a lack of legitimate contenders at her weight. “Cyborg”... [Read More...]
Strikeforce adds Gina Carano, more heavyweights to June line-up
The State of Texas plays host to one of the most anticipated MMA events of the year this summer when the second half of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix fires up in Dallas on June 18. Already headlined by Fabricio Werdum facing Alistair Overeem, as well as Josh Barnett battling Brett Rogers, in quarter-final action the card now appears to feature another long awaited occurrence in form of crossover... [Read More...]
Strikeforce looking to test PPV waters this summer
Following in their parent-company’s footsteps, it appears Strikeforce may take their evolution into a Zuffa brand one step further in July with a PPV event. Though no date or location have been mentioned, nor is anything official, a fight between undefeated Roger Gracie and former Strikeforce 205-pound champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal would likely take place on the card if it were to occur. News... [Read More...]
Strikeforce changes policy regarding elbows on the ground
Though fans had been assured Strikeforce would operate as it had prior to Zuffa’s recent acquisition of the promotion it appears immediate consistency only relates to contractual matters as revealed in a recent conference call with UFC brass. One such example relates to the allowance elbows on the ground as is the case under the unified system of rules used in the Octagon. Prior to this past weekend’s... [Read More...]
Zuffa purchases Strikeforce in historic step towards expansion
There is no need to pinch yourself or rub your eyes. You are awake and it is not April 1 yet. In the ever-expanding world of “never say never” where Mixed Martial Arts is concerned news broke earlier today regarding the UFC’s purchase of rival promotion Strikeforce. In an interview with MMAFighting, Dana White explained the decision to acquire Strikeforce had to do in part with the company’s... [Read More...]
A Memo to Strikeforce: Fighters Need To Fight
The life of a fighter is, in a word, hell. Fiscal responsibility is hard enough in this day and age without throwing in the uncertainty that a sport like MMA provides. A serious injury can leave a fighter unable to earn a living for several months at best, a year or more at worst. On top of that consider the physical stress a fighter’s body must endure to continue competing (and winning), and as... [Read More...]
UPDATE: Gina Carano in talks to face Amanda Nunes on June 18 in Dallas? Not so fast…
Building off Strikeforce’s recent announcement of popular female fighter Gina Carano’s return to the cage later this year, as well as news the promotion has scheduled an show for June 18 at the American Airlines Center in her hometown of Dallas, Texas, it appears the crossover star may indeed have an opportunity to fight in her own backyard as word has surfaced Carano’s camp is in negotiations... [Read More...]
Hiroyuki Takaya, Shinya Aoki added to April 9 Strikeforce event
With title-defenses already expected from champs Gilbert Melendez and Nick Diaz, Strikeforce’s upcoming card on April 9 is continuing to take final form with recent news Japanese fighters Shinya Aoki and Hiroyuki Takaya are expected to be dressed for action in San Diego although against who remains a mystery. Word of their addition was first reported by Read More →
Gilbert Melendez extends relationship with Strikeforce
It looks like fans hoping to one-day see “Top 3” lightweight Gilbert Melendez inside the UFC’s Octagon will be kept waiting until at least 2012, as Strikeforce announced earlier today the organization had reached terms with “El Nino” on a contract extension keeping him under their banner for the foreseeable future. While specifics of the deal were not mentioned it was referred to in an official... [Read More...]
Strikeforce signs Jason High to multi-fight contract
It appears Strikeforce has taken a necessary step towards deepening their welterweight roster with the recent addition of 13-3 Jason High. Known for proudly representing his region, “The Kansas City Bandit” has emerged successful in his previous four outings including a submission of Rudy Bears in the opening minute of action of their bout at Titan FC 16 in January. News of High’s signing was... [Read More...]
Melvin Manhoef fighting on March 5 for Strikeforce
It appears fans will be in for an additional treat on March 5 in Columbus, as it appears Strikeforce has added the scintillating stand-up of Melvin Manhoef to the event currently headlined by a light heavyweight championship clash between title-holder Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and PRIDE/UFC legend Dan Henderson . Manhoef has remarkably TKO’d 23 of the 24 individuals he’s beaten due to a devastating... [Read More...]
Luke Rockhold, not Jason Miller, facing Tim Kennedy on March 5
Rather than completing his trilogy with Jason “Mayhem” Miller under the Strikeforce banner on March 5 in Columbus, Ohio, 12-3 middleweight Tim Kennedy will take on hot divisional prospect Luke Rockhold at the same event. A match-up between Miller and Kennedy had been previously rumored for the show and was even reported as having been agreed upon by both fighters. Whether or not the change was... [Read More...]
Miesha Tate vs. Marloes Coenen added to March event
Strikeforce will look to continue their recent run of rock-solid shows on March 5 in Columbus, Ohio with an event now set to feature a pair of championship clashes in addition to two World Grand Prix quarterfinal bouts. Already linked to a light heavyweight tilt between title-holder Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and iconic UFC/PRIDE veteran Dan Henderson, the show will also apparently involve 135-pound... [Read More...]
Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante expected for March event
As expected after knocking Renato Sobral out two minutes into their match-up in December, Dan Henderson will indeed get a second crack at winning Strikeforce gold with hopes of a different outcome than the one suffered in his promotional debut against Jake Shields. It now appears the double-divisional PRIDE champ also has a date and location linked to his anticipated meeting with 205-pound title-holder... [Read More...]
Jorge Gurgel signs multi-year deal with Strikeforce, fighting in March
Brazilian lightweight Jorge Gurgel is a rare breed in Mixed Martial Arts ripe with respect and possessing as big a heart as there is in the sport. A BJJ blackbelt, Gurgel often opts to stand and exchange on his feet against opponents rather than rely on his grappling background out of a love for the competition and appreciation for fans’ expectations of excitement. Beyond that, in a brutal bout with... [Read More...]
Fedor Emelianenko’s deal with Strikeforce includes three-fight extension
When this week’s exciting news regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s future with Strikeforce broke, as expected, the legendary Russian was also announced has having signed a new contract with the organization he’ll be calling home for the foreseeable future. While the terms of the deal were stated as being “multi-year”, it appears the label may be minimal in nature as Five Ounces of Pain has confirmed... [Read More...]
Two reserve bouts rumored for Strikeforce’s upcoming heavyweight tournament
Anticipating the possibility of an injury or suspension interfering with the three-round, eight-man heavyweight tournament planned for the next several months, Strikeforce appears to already have a contingency plan in place and is looking at a pair of match-ups to provide replacements if necessary. Both fights are targeted for February 12 in New Jersey when the tournament’s opening quartet, including... [Read More...]
Fedor Emelianenko fighting in February, involvement in Strikeforce tournament announced
Thanks to a multi-year extension between the parties, M-1 Global and Strikeforce will co-promote a series of shows headlined by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko starting with his involvement in match-up against Antonio Silva as one of the opening round affairs in a eight-man, single-elimination tournament planned for the next several months. The bout will take place on February 12, live on Showtime, from... [Read More...]
