LAVAR JOHNSON TO MEET VIRGIL ZWICKER,
TALENTED SHANA OLSEN, JULIA BUDD CLASH
AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, CALIF.,
FRIDAY, OCT. 22, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
NEW YORK (Oct. 6, 2010) – Heavyweight star Lavar “Big” Johnson (14-3), of Madera, Calif., will continue his courageous cage comeback against aggressive-minded Virgil “RezDog” Zwicker (8-1) during a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event presented by Rockstar Energy Drink at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), on Friday, Oct. 22.
A second fight announced today by STRIKEFORCE will pit unbeaten, world-ranked Shana “Rock Solid’’ Olsen (4-0), of Diluth, Minn., against highly regarded Canadian Muay Thai Champion Julia “The Jewel” Budd (pro debut), of Sechelt, British Columbia, at middleweight (145 pounds). Budd is the only fighter to have defeated Gina Carano in Muay Thai.
In the Oct. 22 main event, Relentless” Roger Bowling (8-0) will put his unbeaten record on the line one more time against “Vicious” Bobby Voelker (22-8) of Kansas City, Kan., in a rematch of an exciting fight last May 21 that ended prematurely due to an accidental poke in the eye
Undefeated prospect and Fresno resident Billy Evangelista (10-0, 1 NC) will make his long-awaited return to the cage when he faces Waachiim “Native Warrior’’ Spiritwolf (8-6-1) of San Diego in a 165-pound catch weight fight.
The hard-hitting Johnson, who will be making his second start since being gunned down at a family barbeque in 2009, is coming off a second-round TKO (punches) win over then-undefeated Lolohea Mahe last March 26 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Save Mart Center. To date, all of Johnson’s wins have come via knockout, TKO or submission.
The 6-foot-2, 33-year-old Johnson survived three gunshot wounds on July 4, 2009, sustained during the walk-by shooting that led to the death of a cousin. Johnson spent 30 days in a hospital, fighting for his life, and several more months rehabilitating.
Zwicker, a 6-foot-2, 28-year-old, is a member of the San Pasqual band of Kumeyaay Indians. He won his initial eight outings, including a second-round TKO over Ovince St. Preux on Sept. 26, 2009. In his most recent start last April 25, Zwicker dropped a decision to Cody Goodale.
Zwicker’s scheduled opponent was a no-show the day of the fight so he agreed to take on Goodale, who was 40 pounds heavier. “I had so many friends, family and fans that had already got tickets. I had to go ahead with the fight,” Zwicker said. “I didn’t want to let them down.”
Zwicker grew up and still lives on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation near San Diego. In his younger days, he seemingly fought every day against guys from other reservations and street thugs from nearby Escondido. The pavement punch outs ultimately got him into trouble, but he turned his life around when he followed in a brother’s footsteps into the MMA gym.
“I was a tough guy who wanted to fight all the time,” Zwicker said. “I definitely had a reputation.”
Once he got into MMA, Zwicker distanced himself from the rabble-rousers and is now married and the father of two young children, Duke and Maniya.
“I am proud that I could separate myself from everything,” said Zwicker, whose nickname “Rezdog” is in reference to the reservation. “I got out of the rut and expanded my life. I’m very happy where I’m at. Now, I can focus on my family and career. Fighting has created many opportunities and opened doors for me I’d never had on the reservation.
“I am beyond excited to be able to fight for STRIKEFORCE. I’ve always wanted to perform on the big stage and prove my ability, and this is my chance.”
Olsen will be making her fifth start since turning pro on May 6, 2009. She showed her superior ability by scoring a second-round TKO over 2007 HOOKnSHOOT Grand Prix Champion Kaitlin Young in her second outing. The 5-foot-7, 28-year-old Olsen earned an entertaining decision over then-world-ranked seasoned veteran Yoko Takahashi in her last start April 24.
Olsen’s first fight for STRIKEFORCE has been a long time coming. She thought she’d be facing Erin Toughill in August but the bout was scrapped when Toughill couldn’t make the contracted weight. A visibly irritated Olsen expressed her displeasure with Toughhill in an open letter that ran on various MMA websites.
The focus now for a member of the Minnesota Fight Factory, however, is solely on Oct. 22, and to ultimately be acknowledged as the No. 1 fighter in the world.
“Fighting Cyborg, Erin or anyone else is not my goal; my goal is to be a world champion fighter,” Olsen said. “To have the opportunities to fight the best fighters and to prove myself, these are my goals. The fighters I face are the obstacles on the path to my goal and if I let what they say or what they do take me from that path, then I have already lost.”
Budd is a dedicated 5-foot-7, 27-year-old athlete who has been yearning for a shot in the spotlight.
“I’m so excited to finally fight in MMA
Budd, who graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in human kinetics, is a personal trainer and Pilates instructor at Gibson Kickboxing in Port Moody BC.
Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office, select Save Mart Supermarkets, all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE's official website (www.strikeforce.com).
Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. The first main card bout will start at 8 p.m.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.STRIKEFORCE.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Paul Daley vs Scott Smith added to Strikeforce In St. Louis On Dec. 4, 2010
Paul "Semtex" Daley To Face Scott Smith At Strikeforce in St. Louis On Dec. 4. It was Announced in Sept. 2010, that Daley Signed A Multi-Fight Deal with Strikeforce.
EXPLOSIVE PAUL "SEMTEX'' DALEY TO FACE HARD-HITTING SCOTT SMITH
DEC. 4 AT SCOTTRADE CENTER IN ST. LOUIS. LIVE ON SHOWTIME® AT 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved. Used with Permission.
For Cung Lee vs Scott Smith's first fight see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFvebmE9bOM and their 2010 rematch in addition to Werdum submitting Fedor at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1l3ht-wjCY
Dan Henderson To Battle "Babalu" Sobral in Main Event;
Herschel Walker To Make Second MMA Start
NEW YORK- Two fighters who loathe decisions will collide when recent STRIKEFORCE signee Paul "Semtex'' Daley (25-9-2) of Nottingham, England, meets power puncher Scott "Hands Of Steel' Smith (17-7, 1 NC) of Elk Grove, Calif., in a featured welterweight (170 pounds) bout on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Mixed martial arts superstar Dan Henderson will take on former STRIKEFORCE world champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral at light heavyweight (205 pounds) in the main event. Football legend and unbeaten MMA fighter, the amazing Herschel Walker (1-0), will be opposed by an opponent to be determined in a televised heavyweight bout. Popular St. Louis native Jesse Finney will take on a foe to be announced in the top non-televised undercard scrap.
Daley is an exciting British bomber and freelance mixed martial artist whose style is a mix of striking, striking and more striking. Smith is a superb Muay Thai striker with tremendous one-punch knockout power. Neither is accustomed to putting in a full night's work.
Combined, the fighters have 42 victories, but only five of those wins have come via decision, and all five belong to Daley. Smith, a pro since June 2001, has never been triumphant on points.
The world-ranked 5-foot-9, 27-year-old Daley scored a decision over Jorge Masvidal last Sept. 11. Prior to that, Daley's last victory on points came on July 1, 2006.
"I am a striker - there is no secret about that,'' said the brash-talking Daley, a winner of two in a row and six of his last seven. "I like to knock people out aggressively and quickly. That's my game and no opponent's going to change that. Almost all my fights are exciting and memorable with non-stop action.''
Daley, who has compiled a highlight reel of impressive knockout victories, has competed against some of the best since turning professional in June 2003. Three of his most significant victories came against Masvidal, a 2:24, first-round KO (punches) over Dustin Hazelett on Jan. 2, 2010, and a 2:31, first-round TKO (punches) over Martin Kampmann on Sept. 19, 2009.
"Everyone knows I detest decisions,'' said the soft-spoken six-foot-tall, 31-year-old Smith, a proven finisher known for dramatic, stirring comebacks. He's won all his fights by knockout or technical knockout - 12 in the first round. The fight with Daley will mark Smith's first start at 170 pounds.
"Fans want action all the time and so do I. That's what I am all about.''
In his most recent start last June 26, Smith lost to former STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion Cung Le in a rematch, one fight after Smith handed Le the first loss of the San Jose-based Vietnamese star's fight career with an astonishing comeback third-round knockout on Dec. 19, 2009. The dynamic Le had previously amassed a perfect, combined 22-0 record in professional MMA and kickboxing.
Smith has fought some of the biggest names in MMA, including Le, Diaz, Robbie Lawler (twice) - their first fight was during the first-ever MMA primetime broadcast on the CBS Television Network) - Benji Radach, Dave Terrell, Patrick Cote, James Irvin, Jaime Jara and Pete Sell.
A special ticket pre-sale for STRIKEFORCE; Henderson vs. Babalu for "STRIKEFORCE Insiders" began yesterday and will conclude tomorrow/Thursday, September 30 at 10 p.m. CT. Fans can sign up to become an "Insider" at STRIKEFORCE.com. Anyone who purchases tickets during the pre-sale period will receive a special $5 off discount.
Tickets for the event go on sale to the public this Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. CT at Scottrade Center, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone (800) 745-3000.
Doors at Scottrade Center will open for the event at 6 p.m. CT. The first preliminary bout will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the first SHOWTIME televised main card fight will begin at 9 p.m.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com <http://www.strikeforce.com/> ) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Strikeforce's Josh "The Punk" Thomson Calls for Better MMA Judging while STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez stated "I'm Nervous" After Thomson vs Cavalcante
San Jose native Josh "The Punk" Thomson (now 18-3) called for better training for MMA judges after beating the world-ranked Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante of Brazil stating "there is no way" I scored 30-27 against Cavalcante. MMA Judge Susan Thompson scored the bout 30-27 in contrast to the other two MMA judges who scored more closely at 29-28. Many MMA fans have demanded better training for MMA judges after certain decisions.
Thomson trains at AKA, the same MMA Training Center that UFC Fighters Cain Velasquez and Josh Koscheck exert long hours training at in San Jose.
Thomson beat the world-ranked Cavalcante (now 15-4-1) of Brazil and from American Top Top, in a fight that set the next challenger for STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Thomson, who shut out Melendez across five rounds to capture the lightweight title in 2008, won after a hard-fought submission victory over Pat "Bam Bam'' Healy last June 26 at the HP Pavilion on SHOWTIME. Cavalcante, a former consensus top five-ranked lightweight and two-time K-1 Hero's lightweight Grand Prix champion, made his eagerly awaited STRIKEFORCE debut. World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez who did an excellent job commentating on the fight stated "I'm Nervous" After Watching their Fight!
See statistics for this fight at http://blog.fightmetric.com/2010/10/thomson-vs-cavalcante-fightmetric.html#more
Tyron Woodley remained unbeaten with a first-round knockout after preventing Andre Galvao's takedown attempt in a featured fight of promising welterweights that opened the telecast. Woodley is a wrestler from the University of Missouri with an impressive 8-0 record and striking ability.
Sarah Kaufman ( now 12-1), a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at ZUMA and fighting out of Victoria, B.C., is a former ballet dancer. Kaufman controlled the clinch with some nice strikes against Marloes Coenen but the ref had to break them apart several times after a lack of action.
Kaufman experienced her first loss to Marloes Coenen and lost her 135 pound title. Coenen is from the Netherlands and part of Alistair Overeem's Team Golden Glory who had won her last eight fights by submission. Kaufman lost by a triangle choke submission after escaping from a previous attempt and throwing hammer fist punches in a way very similar to the way to how Fedor lost to Werdum. Kaufman's last fight was a successful defense of her title with an explosive third-round body slam KO over Roxanne Modafferi last July 23. This slam was amazing and reminded us of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's KO slam of Ricardo Arona at Pride FC. Kaufman, who had won nine of her fights by KO, lost her ground game against Coenen (now 18-4). Coenen is a talented submission specialist who gave STRIKEFORCE middleweight champion Cris Cyborg perhaps her toughest fight to date. Coenen stated after her win that she wants Meisha Tate to "bring it on" and that she is fighting in the Netherlands one week after this fight. Coenen stated she is injury free after beating Kaufman. It was reported that Coenen only made U.S. $3,000 for her win.
Nick Diaz won with a unanimous decision (48-47, 49-47, & 49-46) over KJ Noons in a five round stiking battle. Diaz landed 194 out of 443 strikes (44%). In contrast to initial erroneous report (whichwas twice reality) that Noons landed 310/611 (51%) of his strikes. See http://compustrike.com/ However, there were not many successful leg strikes with only 25 out of 45 leg strikes landed by Diaz and 14 out of 17 leg strikes landed by Noons. See http://blog.fightmetric.com/2010/10/diaz-vs-noons-ii-fightmetric-report.html
We agreed with commentator and retired MMA fighter Pat Miletich who stated why doesn't Diaz use more knee strikes. Diaz had some nice knee strikes but some not so great leg kicks. Noons had some effective kicks and knee strikes as well. Noons stated after his loss "He beat me fair and square...congratulations Nick."
Thomson trains at AKA, the same MMA Training Center that UFC Fighters Cain Velasquez and Josh Koscheck exert long hours training at in San Jose.
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| "JZ "Cavalcante took down Thomson in R1 at approx. 2:34 and put him in a guillotine. Thomson escaped by stacking "JZ" and countering with an arm triangle choke in the last 25 seconds of R1. |
Thomson beat the world-ranked Cavalcante (now 15-4-1) of Brazil and from American Top Top, in a fight that set the next challenger for STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Thomson, who shut out Melendez across five rounds to capture the lightweight title in 2008, won after a hard-fought submission victory over Pat "Bam Bam'' Healy last June 26 at the HP Pavilion on SHOWTIME. Cavalcante, a former consensus top five-ranked lightweight and two-time K-1 Hero's lightweight Grand Prix champion, made his eagerly awaited STRIKEFORCE debut. World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez who did an excellent job commentating on the fight stated "I'm Nervous" After Watching their Fight!
See statistics for this fight at http://blog.fightmetric.com/2010/10/thomson-vs-cavalcante-fightmetric.html#more
Sarah Kaufman ( now 12-1), a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at ZUMA and fighting out of Victoria, B.C., is a former ballet dancer. Kaufman controlled the clinch with some nice strikes against Marloes Coenen but the ref had to break them apart several times after a lack of action.
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| New 135 lb Women's Champ Marloes Coenen apologized after beating Kaufman for keeping the triangle choke on so long after Kaufman clearly tapped, blaming the ref for not stopping the fight sooner. |
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| Nick Diaz won a memorable unanimous decision over KJ Noons in a grudge rematch to retain his STRIKEFORCE World Welterweight title Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose on SHOWTIME. His boxing preparation and his 4 inch reach advantage clearly paid off. Karl James Noons is recovering from a broken jaw. |
We agreed with commentator and retired MMA fighter Pat Miletich who stated why doesn't Diaz use more knee strikes. Diaz had some nice knee strikes but some not so great leg kicks. Noons had some effective kicks and knee strikes as well. Noons stated after his loss "He beat me fair and square...congratulations Nick."
Friday, October 8, 2010
UFC's Arianny Celeste Furious Over Unauthorized Web Display of her Playboy Pictures
UFC Ring girl and 2009 Ring Girl of the Year, Arianny Celeste is furious about the unauthorized web release of her Playboy pictures. She succinctly discussed her outrage on Twitter over the unauthorized web display of her Playboy pictures on MMA websites today. Playboy has a long history of suing over copyright infringement (direct and indirect) so this is not a surprise to us. Some MMA website owners would be better off having the statutes and cases on infringement and fair use explained to them in detail. Start with Playboy Enterprises, Inc. v. Frena, 839 F. Supp 1552, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19165 (M.D. Fla. 1993). In that case, the defendant operated a subscription bulletin board service that distributed unauthorized copies of Playboy's copyrighted photographs.
Celeste stated via Twitter within hours of the unauthorized release: "Thanks to a lame mma site 4 ruining it for my fans. Prepare for a cease and desist letter from @ufc @playboy and my attorney. What a shame."
Do not worry Arianny you will not lose your shirt in that leak as us and your countless fans want a signed copy! Our Wanderlei Silva Gladiator Axeman & Shogun Designs will protect your pixels. Our Blog Followers and Facebook Fans get the latest MMA news (from the vantage point of a legal and fitness consultant), discounts on MMA Products, Consulting, & Equipment used by pro-fighters at www.facebook.com/MMAMaxim?ref=mf
Celeste stated via Twitter within hours of the unauthorized release: "Thanks to a lame mma site 4 ruining it for my fans. Prepare for a cease and desist letter from @ufc @playboy and my attorney. What a shame."
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Strikeforce MMA Fight on Nov. 19 Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro vs Justin "the Silverback" Wilcox
VITOR “SHAOLIN” RIBEIRO TO FACE JUSTIN “THE SILVERBACK’’ WILCOX
IN MAIN EVENT ON FRIDAY, NOV. 19, IN JACKSON, MISS., LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
Ryan Couture, Son Of MMA Legend, Randy, Returns To The STRIKEFORCE Cage. Who are you picking to win and why? Do you think Ryan Couture will be able to win as easily as he did for his first MMA fight?
San Jose, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2010) – Lightweight star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro will take on Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox of Cincinnati in the headlining fight of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event on Friday, Nov. 19, at Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Miss., LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT, (delayed on the West Coast).
In a featured televised bout, unbeaten lightweight Ryan Couture (1-0) will face an opponent to be determined. The son of legend Randy Couture won his STRIKEFORCE and MMA debut with a 1:15, first-round submission (triangle choke) over Lucas Stark last Aug. 13 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers.
The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will mark STRIKEFORCE’s initial foray into the state of Mississippi.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders” begins this Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. CT and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at www.STRIKEFORCE.com.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. CT at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Coliseum box office and Be-Bop Record Shops, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com and STRIKEFORCE.COM.
Ribeiro (20-4) is a decorated submission expert and one of the top 155-pounders in MMA. He won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship four times, once as a purple belt in 1996 and three times as a black belt in consecutive years (1999-2001).
His 20 victories include 14 stoppages (12 by submission) and he has defeated, among others, such notable fighters as Joachim Hansen, Eiji Mitsuoka, and Mitsuhiro “The Endless Fighter” Ishida.
Ribeiro’s losses have come against some of the division’s most talented practitioners -- Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gesias "GZ" Cavalcante and, Shinya Aoki, in the DREAM Grand Prix finals July 20, 2009.
Shortly thereafter, Ribeiro, 31, underwent successful eye surgery. He returned to the cage last May 15 and lost a controversial split decision to undefeated Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm in St. Louis, Mo.
Wilcox (9-3), a 31-year-old former NCAA wrestling star and bodybuilder, has won his last four starts. In his most recent outing on March 26, he registered a unanimous decision over Shamar Bailey at STRIKEFORCE Challengers in Fresno, Calif.
A member of San Jose, Calif.’s Team AKA, one of the most fearsome fight teams in the world, Wilcox wrestled for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he befriended teammate Josh Koscheck, who turned his college wrestling buddy on to MMA and eventually brought Wilcox into the AKA family.
Wilcox’ first most noteworthy victory came on Aug. 30, 2008 when he scored a unanimous decision over Gabe Ruediger, a contestant on season 5 of Spike’s The Ultimate Fighter reality series.
The younger Couture is a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team. Before impressively winning his pro debut, the 28-year-old compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 with all five wins coming by submission.
Couture, whose parents split up when he was in the 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 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. 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
Doors at Jackson Convention Complex will open at 6:45 p.m. CT. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. The first fight on SHOWTIME will begin at 9 p.m.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
IN MAIN EVENT ON FRIDAY, NOV. 19, IN JACKSON, MISS., LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
Ryan Couture, Son Of MMA Legend, Randy, Returns To The STRIKEFORCE Cage. Who are you picking to win and why? Do you think Ryan Couture will be able to win as easily as he did for his first MMA fight?
San Jose, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2010) – Lightweight star and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro will take on Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox of Cincinnati in the headlining fight of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event on Friday, Nov. 19, at Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Miss., LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT, (delayed on the West Coast).
In a featured televised bout, unbeaten lightweight Ryan Couture (1-0) will face an opponent to be determined. The son of legend Randy Couture won his STRIKEFORCE and MMA debut with a 1:15, first-round submission (triangle choke) over Lucas Stark last Aug. 13 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers.
The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight card presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will mark STRIKEFORCE’s initial foray into the state of Mississippi.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders” begins this Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. CT and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at www.STRIKEFORCE.com.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. CT at all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Coliseum box office and Be-Bop Record Shops, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com and STRIKEFORCE.COM.
Ribeiro (20-4) is a decorated submission expert and one of the top 155-pounders in MMA. He won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship four times, once as a purple belt in 1996 and three times as a black belt in consecutive years (1999-2001).
His 20 victories include 14 stoppages (12 by submission) and he has defeated, among others, such notable fighters as Joachim Hansen, Eiji Mitsuoka, and Mitsuhiro “The Endless Fighter” Ishida.
Ribeiro’s losses have come against some of the division’s most talented practitioners -- Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gesias "GZ" Cavalcante and, Shinya Aoki, in the DREAM Grand Prix finals July 20, 2009.
Shortly thereafter, Ribeiro, 31, underwent successful eye surgery. He returned to the cage last May 15 and lost a controversial split decision to undefeated Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm in St. Louis, Mo.
Wilcox (9-3), a 31-year-old former NCAA wrestling star and bodybuilder, has won his last four starts. In his most recent outing on March 26, he registered a unanimous decision over Shamar Bailey at STRIKEFORCE Challengers in Fresno, Calif.
A member of San Jose, Calif.’s Team AKA, one of the most fearsome fight teams in the world, Wilcox wrestled for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he befriended teammate Josh Koscheck, who turned his college wrestling buddy on to MMA and eventually brought Wilcox into the AKA family.
Wilcox’ first most noteworthy victory came on Aug. 30, 2008 when he scored a unanimous decision over Gabe Ruediger, a contestant on season 5 of Spike’s The Ultimate Fighter reality series.
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| PHOENIX - AUGUST 13: Ryan Couture celebrates his debut MMA win after defeating Lucas Stark in the Strikeforce Challengers Main event bout at Dodge Theater on August 13, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo used with permission from Christian Petersen/Getty Images) |
The younger Couture is a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team. Before impressively winning his pro debut, the 28-year-old compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 with all five wins coming by submission.
Couture, whose parents split up when he was in the 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 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. 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
Doors at Jackson Convention Complex will open at 6:45 p.m. CT. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. The first fight on SHOWTIME will begin at 9 p.m.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons rematch (Training Videos Episodes 1 & 2 and Weigh-in)
THE COUNTDOWN TO SATURDAY'S MAIN EVENT CONTINUES WITH PREMIER OF EPISODE 2 OF COLLISION COURSE: THE PATH TO DIAZ vs. NOONS II
STRIKEFORCE Welterweight World Champion Nick Diaz vs.
Former World Champ & Devastating Striker KJ Noons
Premier of Episode 2 of Collision Course: The Path To Diaz vs. Noons II
Episode 2 introduces the intense training camps of Noons and Diaz, giving fans a rare look inside the Cesar Gracie camp that is home to Diaz. In exclusive, behind-the-scenes interviews, both fighters and their trainers discuss their preparation for one of the most highly anticipated rematches in MMA history. Noons takes a trip to Tijuna, Mexico to fight southpaw fighters with his trainer Kimo Show. Will they be good enough to simulate Diaz's talents?
In the main event of the world championship doubleheader, Diaz will defend his 170-pound crown against the last man to beat him - Noons - at the STRIKEFORCE: Diaz vs. Noons II event presented by Rockstar Energy Drink on Saturday, Oct. 9, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Diaz-Noons II is a grudge rematch that has been brewing since their first fight ended in bloody controversy nearly three years ago. Both Diaz (22-7), of Stockton, Calif., and Noons (10-1), of San Diego, Calif., have gone undefeated since their last meeting and bad blood between the brash fighters has only increased.
In the world championship co-feature, undefeated Sarah Kaufman (12-0) will defend her STRIKEFORCE Women's Welterweight (135 pounds) World Title against No. 1 contender Marloes Coenen (17-4).
Also on the card, former STRIKEFORCE champion and San Jose native Josh Thomson (17-3) will meet the world-ranked "JZ" Cavalcante (15-3-1), of Brazil, in a fight that could determine the next challenger for STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Another featured fight will pit top prospects Tyron Woodley (8-0) and Andre Galvao (5-1) in a welterweight throw-down.
STRIKEFORCE Welterweight World Champion Nick Diaz vs.
Former World Champ & Devastating Striker KJ Noons
Premier of Episode 2 of Collision Course: The Path To Diaz vs. Noons II
Episode 2 introduces the intense training camps of Noons and Diaz, giving fans a rare look inside the Cesar Gracie camp that is home to Diaz. In exclusive, behind-the-scenes interviews, both fighters and their trainers discuss their preparation for one of the most highly anticipated rematches in MMA history. Noons takes a trip to Tijuna, Mexico to fight southpaw fighters with his trainer Kimo Show. Will they be good enough to simulate Diaz's talents?
In the main event of the world championship doubleheader, Diaz will defend his 170-pound crown against the last man to beat him - Noons - at the STRIKEFORCE: Diaz vs. Noons II event presented by Rockstar Energy Drink on Saturday, Oct. 9, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Diaz-Noons II is a grudge rematch that has been brewing since their first fight ended in bloody controversy nearly three years ago. Both Diaz (22-7), of Stockton, Calif., and Noons (10-1), of San Diego, Calif., have gone undefeated since their last meeting and bad blood between the brash fighters has only increased.
In the world championship co-feature, undefeated Sarah Kaufman (12-0) will defend her STRIKEFORCE Women's Welterweight (135 pounds) World Title against No. 1 contender Marloes Coenen (17-4).
Also on the card, former STRIKEFORCE champion and San Jose native Josh Thomson (17-3) will meet the world-ranked "JZ" Cavalcante (15-3-1), of Brazil, in a fight that could determine the next challenger for STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Another featured fight will pit top prospects Tyron Woodley (8-0) and Andre Galvao (5-1) in a welterweight throw-down.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Strikeforce's Dan Henderson in a Rematch with Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Herschel Walker To Return To The Cage, Dec. 4 In St. Louis
DAN HENDERSON TO REMATCH “BABALU” SOBRAL,
HERSCHEL WALKER RETURNS TO THE CAGE, DEC. 4 IN ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, MO (Sept. 27, 2010) – Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Dan Henderson will face former STRIKEFORCE World Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral when STRIKEFORCE returns to St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center, LIVE on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast)
Football legend and unbeaten MMA fighter Herschel Walker will return to the cage in a televised co-feature fight at the STRIKEFORCE: Henderson vs. Babalu event.
Also on the card, talented St. Louis native Jesse Finney will face an opponent to be announced in a non-televised undercard fight. Additional bouts for the main card will be announced in the next several days.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders” begins this Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at STRIKEFORCE.com. Anyone who purchases tickets during the pre-sale period will receive a special $5 off discount.
Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. CT at the Scottrade Center ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
A two-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (‘92, ‘96), Henderson is the only fighter in the sport's history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes (welterweight and heavyweight) for a major fight promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships). A former UFC star, Henderson is considered one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history.
"It's going to be a great fight. We've both progressed a lot since our first fight 10 years ago so it will be interesting to see who's progressed more,” said Henderson, who defeated Babalu with a majority decision in 2000. “I'm looking forward to putting on a great show for STRIKEFORCE and for the fans."
Sobral is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over knockout artist Robbie Lawler on June 16 at STRIKEFORCE Los Angeles, his first fight since losing the STRIKEFORCE title to Gegard Mousasi on Dec. 19, 2009. Prior to the defeat, Sobral had reeled off five consecutive victories.
"Dan and I have a lot of respect for each other and this will be a great rematch,” Babalu said. “I'm looking forward to fighting another top opponent at Strikeforce and will be going into seclusion for my training camp. When I'm not fighting, my kids come first. But, when I am in camp, training comes first because I am fighting for my kids."
The 48-year-old Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NFL Pro Bowl competitor, is undefeated at 1-0 in his latest athletic endeavor – MMA. A 1999 College Hall of Fame inductee who was also selected to Sports Illustrated’s NCAA All-Century Team that year, the 6-foot-1, 220 pound Walker already holds a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and boasts additional training in the combat disciplines of Muay Thai and Kenpo.
On Jan. 30, Walker made an impressive professional MMA debut, scoring a third round TKO (punches) over 26-year-old Greg Nagy at Sunrise, Fla.’s BankAtlantic Center. Walker has been training in San Jose, Calif. with Team AKA, one of the most prominent MMA fight camps in the world that is also the home of former STRIKEFORCE world champions Cung Le and Josh Thomson.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in the cage again at STRIKEFORCE and to be fighting on the same card that Dan Henderson and Babalu will be fighting on,” Walker said. “They are two superstars of the sport so it's a great feeling to be fighting alongside them."
"This is a great sport. I want to bring more attention to it so I can show people that. It's a human chess match. I've always loved martial arts and that's why I'm doing this."
Tickets on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. CT at the Scottrade Center ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
“RUTHLESS’’ ROBBIE LAWLER RETURNS TO CAGE
AT SCOTTRADE CENTER IN ST. LOUIS TO MEET MATT “THE LAW’’ LINDLAND
SATURDAY, DEC. 4, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
NEW YORK (Oct. 5, 2010) – Two fighters seeking a return to top-contender status in the deep STRIKEFORCE middleweight division will clash when “Ruthless “Robbie” Lawler (17-6, 1 NC) faces 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland (22-7) in a 185-pound match Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Southpaw Lawler, who hails from the St. Louis area, in nearby Granite City, Ill., is returning to middleweight after losing a close decision to Sobral in a catch weight fight at 195 pounds in his last start on June 16 in Los Angeles. The defeat, by the scores of 29-28 three times, was only the second in nine outings for Lawler since September 2006.
The athletic, well-conditioned 5-foot-11, 28-year-old Lawler is known for his aggressiveness. The former two-time world champion’s 14 of 17 victories have come via knockout or TKO, including a dramatic, come-from-behind 3:33, first-round KO over highly regarded Melvin Manhoef on Jan. 30, 2010.
But Lawler may have outsmarted himself against Babalu by feigning an injury in a ploy to get the Brazilian to exchange. The strategy backfired. It may not have cost him the decision, but Lawler conceded afterward that he “could have done much more.”
Lindland is coming off an impressive third-round TKO (punches) over Kevin Casey in the headlining bout of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event last May 21, in Portland, Ore. An All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska and the 1993 NCAA Big Eight conference champion, Lindland captured the silver medal in Greco Roman wrestling for the United States.
During a stellar 13-year career, Lindland has fought and defeated the best. He has been in with the famed Fedor Emelianenko, and has triumphed over a number of all-time greats, among them former UFC champions Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
HERSCHEL WALKER RETURNS TO THE CAGE, DEC. 4 IN ST. LOUIS
 |
| From left to right, announcing their involvement in the event were St. Louis native Jesse Finney; former STRIKEFORCE world champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Herschel Walker and Dan Henderson. (Photo used with permission from Bob Barton/ STRIKEFORCE) |
ST. LOUIS, MO (Sept. 27, 2010) – Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Dan Henderson will face former STRIKEFORCE World Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral when STRIKEFORCE returns to St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center, LIVE on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast)
Football legend and unbeaten MMA fighter Herschel Walker will return to the cage in a televised co-feature fight at the STRIKEFORCE: Henderson vs. Babalu event.
Also on the card, talented St. Louis native Jesse Finney will face an opponent to be announced in a non-televised undercard fight. Additional bouts for the main card will be announced in the next several days.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders” begins this Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at STRIKEFORCE.com. Anyone who purchases tickets during the pre-sale period will receive a special $5 off discount.
Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. CT at the Scottrade Center ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
A two-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (‘92, ‘96), Henderson is the only fighter in the sport's history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes (welterweight and heavyweight) for a major fight promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships). A former UFC star, Henderson is considered one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history.
"It's going to be a great fight. We've both progressed a lot since our first fight 10 years ago so it will be interesting to see who's progressed more,” said Henderson, who defeated Babalu with a majority decision in 2000. “I'm looking forward to putting on a great show for STRIKEFORCE and for the fans."
Sobral is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over knockout artist Robbie Lawler on June 16 at STRIKEFORCE Los Angeles, his first fight since losing the STRIKEFORCE title to Gegard Mousasi on Dec. 19, 2009. Prior to the defeat, Sobral had reeled off five consecutive victories.
"Dan and I have a lot of respect for each other and this will be a great rematch,” Babalu said. “I'm looking forward to fighting another top opponent at Strikeforce and will be going into seclusion for my training camp. When I'm not fighting, my kids come first. But, when I am in camp, training comes first because I am fighting for my kids."
The 48-year-old Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NFL Pro Bowl competitor, is undefeated at 1-0 in his latest athletic endeavor – MMA. A 1999 College Hall of Fame inductee who was also selected to Sports Illustrated’s NCAA All-Century Team that year, the 6-foot-1, 220 pound Walker already holds a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and boasts additional training in the combat disciplines of Muay Thai and Kenpo.
On Jan. 30, Walker made an impressive professional MMA debut, scoring a third round TKO (punches) over 26-year-old Greg Nagy at Sunrise, Fla.’s BankAtlantic Center. Walker has been training in San Jose, Calif. with Team AKA, one of the most prominent MMA fight camps in the world that is also the home of former STRIKEFORCE world champions Cung Le and Josh Thomson.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in the cage again at STRIKEFORCE and to be fighting on the same card that Dan Henderson and Babalu will be fighting on,” Walker said. “They are two superstars of the sport so it's a great feeling to be fighting alongside them."
"This is a great sport. I want to bring more attention to it so I can show people that. It's a human chess match. I've always loved martial arts and that's why I'm doing this."
Tickets on sale to the public on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. CT at the Scottrade Center ticket office, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
“RUTHLESS’’ ROBBIE LAWLER RETURNS TO CAGE
AT SCOTTRADE CENTER IN ST. LOUIS TO MEET MATT “THE LAW’’ LINDLAND
SATURDAY, DEC. 4, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
 |
| “Ruthless “Robbie” Lawler |
NEW YORK (Oct. 5, 2010) – Two fighters seeking a return to top-contender status in the deep STRIKEFORCE middleweight division will clash when “Ruthless “Robbie” Lawler (17-6, 1 NC) faces 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist Matt “The Law” Lindland (22-7) in a 185-pound match Saturday, Dec. 4, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Southpaw Lawler, who hails from the St. Louis area, in nearby Granite City, Ill., is returning to middleweight after losing a close decision to Sobral in a catch weight fight at 195 pounds in his last start on June 16 in Los Angeles. The defeat, by the scores of 29-28 three times, was only the second in nine outings for Lawler since September 2006.
The athletic, well-conditioned 5-foot-11, 28-year-old Lawler is known for his aggressiveness. The former two-time world champion’s 14 of 17 victories have come via knockout or TKO, including a dramatic, come-from-behind 3:33, first-round KO over highly regarded Melvin Manhoef on Jan. 30, 2010.
But Lawler may have outsmarted himself against Babalu by feigning an injury in a ploy to get the Brazilian to exchange. The strategy backfired. It may not have cost him the decision, but Lawler conceded afterward that he “could have done much more.”
Lindland is coming off an impressive third-round TKO (punches) over Kevin Casey in the headlining bout of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event last May 21, in Portland, Ore. An All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska and the 1993 NCAA Big Eight conference champion, Lindland captured the silver medal in Greco Roman wrestling for the United States.
During a stellar 13-year career, Lindland has fought and defeated the best. He has been in with the famed Fedor Emelianenko, and has triumphed over a number of all-time greats, among them former UFC champions Pat Miletich and Carlos Newton.
About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE, sanctioned by ISKA, has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts (MMA) series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose. In March 2009, STRIKEFORCE signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME® to stage live events on the premium cable television network. The promotion has since also produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, SHOWTIME 2 HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™ and FLIX ON DEMAND®. SNI also manages Smithsonian Channel™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
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