Overeem Replaced By Cormier In Strikeforce Grand Prix To Fight "Bigfoot" Silva. Silva Wants To Fight Barnett & Kharitonov At The Same Time!

It Sucks That Overeem Was Cut From The Strikeforce Grand Prix. At Least Daniel Cormier Will Fight "Bigfoot" Silva Who Wants To Fight Josh Barnett and Sergei Kharitonov At The Same Time!  


We met Cormier in Anaheim for the UFC and credit his correct prediction of Cain Velasquez's easy win over Brock Lesnar.

Story by John Morgan from MMA Junkie. 

Alistair Overeem (35-11 MMA, 3-0 SF) today informed the world he would not be fighting for Strikeforce on Sept. 10.

Strikeforce today informed Overeem his services will not be needed for the remainder of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix.

In a shocking development, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed that Overeem has been pulled from the tournament, and Daniel Cormier (8-0 MMA, 5-0 SF) will take his spot in the semifinals of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix.

The change was first reported by Tatame.com. It's currently unclear if Overeem is still under contract with the promotion or if Strikeforce brass elected to hand their heavyweight champion an outright release.

Overeem today revealed on MMA Fighting's "The MMA Hour" that the promotion requested he return to action against Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (16-2 MMA, 3-1 SF) on Sept. 10. However, the Dutch striker said he asked for more time and preferred an October booking.

With the company planning for a September event to host the promotion's heavyweight grand prix semifinal bouts, some obvious tension was built. Overeem said the company threatened his release even before today's official announcement.

"What's going to happen next, I don't know," Overeem told MMA Fighting. "I've had some threats of cutting me out of the tournament if I don't participate. I don't know if they're going to do it."

Overeem now has his answer.

Overeem's publicly stated position was that the Sept. 10 date was too soon to return to action and that he needed time to heal some nagging injuries. 

However, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that Overeem was in the process of working out a new contract with the promotion, which may have contributed to his unwillingness to compete in September. It may also explain his recently expressed desire to challenge champion boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in a boxing contest – a strategy similar to the one Nick Diaz used to leverage his Strikeforce title into a shot at the UFC's welterweight belt.

Silva, who was aware of today's reports but unaware of any official change, seemed rather unconcerned at the development.
  
"I don't care who they put against me," Silva today told MMAjunkie.com through his manager and interpreter, Alex Davis. "If Overeem doesn't want to fight because his toe is hurt, then get me King Kong. Get Josh Barnett and Sergei Kharitonov both. I'll fight them both at the same time.

"I'm very frustrated and disappointed that someone who is considered one of the best fighters in the world would basically withdraw from the competition and refuse to fight me. Overeem is a great guy, but I don't really like what he's doing right now as a fighter. Either way, I don't pick my opponents. I would have much rather Cain Velasquez stepped in for Overeem because I want to prove I'm the best heavyweight in the world. If it's Cormier I won't take him lightly, either. I'll continue to train just as hard as if I was still facing Overeem."

Davis believes Cormier provides a capable fill-in, but he also admits the entire situation is unfortunate.

"Antonio and I both find it very unfortunate that Overeem apparently declined to take into consideration all the interests involved in his appearance," Davis said. "Strikeforce needs him to fight in September. His fans, and really almost all MMA fans, were looking forward to the conclusion of this amazing grand prix. Antonio was looking forward to fighting an opponent as popular and accomplished as Overeem is. Now, all that may be lost."

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Nate Marquardt's Hormone Replacement Therapy Causes Cut From The UFC!

Nate Marquardt blames hormone replacement therapy for UFC on Versus 4 scratch

Comment here and at www.Facebook.com/MMAMaxim on "Nate wants to apologize to his family, friends and fans of the UFC."

 

by Steven Marrocco on Jun 28, 2011 at 1:05 pm ET

Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen have much more in common than a fight at UFC 109.

Marquardt revealed today that he, too, suffers from a testosterone deficiency for which he took prescribed testosterone and sought a therapeutic exemption to continue his career.

That exemption, as it turns out, proved to be his undoing at UFC on Versus 4. When Marquardt did not deliver on a promise to produce the exemption for the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, he was not medically cleared to fight.

Marquardt explained the unfortunate circumstances during Tuesday's edition of "The MMA Hour" on MMAFighting.com. He and his representatives had declined comment until the appearance on the program.

Marquardt said he first noticed a change in his health this past August and received clearance from his primary doctor to undergo hormone replacement therapy. He added that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which oversaw his previous bout against Dan Miller at UFC 128, approved his testosterone therapy.

Following Marquardt's removal from this past Sunday's card, PAC Executive Director Greg Sirb told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighter had been placed on indefinite medical suspension until he met the state's requirements for licensure. While he declined to discuss the details of the suspension, he added that Marquardt had been given six weeks to resolve the issue which caused it.

"He needs to show us a new report," Sirb said. "When that report comes in and he meets our requirements, which could even be tomorrow, we'll take him off. It could be two months, but it's an indefinite suspension until he submits that report we're looking for."

Prior to today's disclosure, rumors had run wild about the circumstances surrounding Marquart's denial, which prompted UFC president Dana White to permanently fire him from the UFC. Initial speculation pointed to a weight-cutting problem, as it was the fighter's first appearance at welterweight. Then, predictably, talk shifted to possible performance-enhancer use and a possible failed drug test.

Those rumors were shot down when a video shot during Marquardt's weight cut showed him making the 170-pound limit without issue, and Sirb's disclosure that the fighter had not popped positive prior to the event.

Marquardt was replaced just hours before the weigh-ins for UFC on Versus 4 by Charlie Brenneman, who ended up winning a huge upset victory over the highly touted Rick Story.

During the "UFC on Versus 4 Pre-Fight Show," a statement was released by Marquardt and his representatives.

"Nate wants to apologize to his family, friends and fans of the UFC," the statement read. "This outcome was certainly not what he wanted. At this time, Nate wants to be with those closest to him so he can evaluate his situation over the coming days."

Sonnen, who outpointed Marquardt at UFC 109, was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission following his decision loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117. In an appeal of the suspension, he revealed his use of prescribed testosterone as a treatment for hypogonadism and argued that he had properly disclosed his use to the commission. His suspension was later halved from one year to six months, and he was fined $2,500.

Marquardt was 6-3 as a middleweight before deciding to drop to the welterweight division. 

UFC Live 4 Cheick Kongo's Knock Out Of The Year After Joe Rogan Screams Kongo Is Out!

Cheick Kongo's KO Of The Year At UFC Live 4 After Joe Rogan Screams Kongo Is Out!  Kongo Will Most Likely Fight Matt Mitrione Who Also Won At UFC Live 4!

Heavyweights Cheick Kongo and Pat Berry traded heavy leg kicks from the start, with Barry controlling the center of the cage and backing Kongo (16-6-2, 9-4-1 UFC) into the fence. Berry changed his stance to southpaw and cracked the Frenchman Kongo with a sizzling overhand right that dropped Kongo where he stood and rushed in to finish. Then what happened next was one of the greatest reversals in a fight.

Monday, June 27, 2011
Brian Knapp
Cheick Kongo appeared to be out on his feet -- until he put Patrick Barry to sleep with a short right uppercut.

In what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most improbable comebacks in mixed martial arts history, Kongo survived nearly being stopped and flattened Barry with one punch in the UFC Live 4 main event on Sunday at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. The dramatic finish came 2:39 into the opening round. Barry lay unconscious on the mat, his right leg bent beside him, his open eyes staring blankly into space.

“It was perfect,” Kongo said, pointing to the uppercut that ended it.

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The two heavyweights traded heavy leg kicks from the start, with Barry controlling the center of the cage and backing Kongo (16-6-2, 9-4-1 UFC) into the fence. He cracked the Frenchman with a sizzling overhand right that dropped Kongo where he stood and swarmed to finish. Referee Dan Miragliotta appeared close to stopping it and even made brief contact with the two fighters, but he gave Kongo, a proven 24-fight veteran, the benefit of the doubt.

With his back to the cage, a still wobbly Kongo unleashed a right hook that knocked Barry (6-3, 3-3 UFC) off balance, planted himself and followed it with the uppercut. Kongo trailed his unconscious opponent to the mat and landed a few hammerfists before Miragliotta called him off.

“I had to win this fight,” Kongo said. “I’m really happy.”

Rick Story 

Story was upset by “The Spaniard.”

Brenneman Upsets World-Ranked Story

Charlie Brenneman made himself a factor in the welterweight division with the most important 15 minutes of work in his career.

A last-minute substitute for the suspended Nate Marquardt, Brenneman used a heavy dose of takedowns, grappling and scrambling to upset the world-ranked Rick Story in the co-main event. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Brenneman, a 30-year-old Hollidaysburg, Pa., native who has quietly won nine of his past 10 bouts.

Brenneman (14-2, 3-1 UFC) grounded Story repeatedly, frustrating the surging welterweight contender with a relentless pace. The AMA Fight Club standout struck for takedowns in all three rounds and powered out of repeated submission attempts from story, including a second-round guillotine choke and a third-round triangle choke. Story (13-4, 6-2 UFC) mounted Brenneman with 1:19 left in the fight but failed to exact any damage and allowed the underdog to slip out the back door.

The defeat snapped Story’s six-fight winning streak.

Brown Decisions Howard, Ends Slide

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 alum Matt Brown halted a three-fight losing streak with a hard-fought unanimous decision over John Howard in a welterweight showcase. All three judges scored it 29-28 for Brown, who won for the first time in almost two years.

Howard scored effectively with low kicks but found himself largely outgunned on the feet. Brown (12-10, 5-4 UFC) wobbled him during a stout first-round exchange, punctuating a nice combination with a grazing head kick. Howard backpedaled in the face of superior firepower and abandoned a standup fight in favor of clinches and takedowns. However, Brown resisted his advances, and Howard expended valuable energy in a series of failed attempts to get the fight on the ground.

Brown scored with a trip takedown early in round two, landed in half guard and worked effectively from top position. Howard (14-7, 4-3 UFC) transitioned to a leg lock and swept into top position, only to be stonewalled and neutralized with an omoplata from his grounded opponent. The two welterweights traded takedowns in a largely uneventful third round, and Brown avoided Howard’s late bid for a kimura.

Mitrione KOs Morecraft, Moves to 5-0

Unbeaten and improving “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 alum Matt Mitrione blasted through the 6-foot-6, 261-pound Christian Morecraft and scored a decisive second-round knockout in a featured heavyweight matchup. Undone by a beautiful three-punch combination, Morecraft met his end 4:28 into round two.

Morecraft (7-2, 1-2 UFC) had no answer for the hand speed and power his opponent brought to bear. Straight left hands, set up by wicked inside leg kicks, were at the heart of Mitrione’s attack. He put Morecraft

As round two dawned, Morecraft was a spent force. Mitrione (5-0, 5-0 UFC) picked his spots and weathered two takedowns from his fading foe. A picture-perfect combination -- a right hook followed by a straight left hand and a straight right -- sent Morecraft’s mouthpiece flying and left the Team Bombsquad representative staring at the lights.

UFC Releases Nate Marquardt Without Disclosing Why!

UFC President Dana White Cuts Nate Marquardt following UFC on Versus 4

UFC middleweight title challenger Nate Marquardt (31-10-2 MMA, 10-4 UFC) had hoped to drop to the welterweight division.


Less than one hour after the UFC officially announced that Marquardt has been scratched from Sunday's UFC on Versus 4 event, UFC president Dana White informed the world Marquardt also has been released from the organization.

"I'm sure you heard that Nate Marquardt is out," White said in a short video clip posted on his Twitter account. "It's true. He failed his medicals. Not only is he out of this fight, out of the main event on Versus, he will no longer be with the UFC."

Neither White nor Marquardt's management team were immediately available when contacted for comment.

Marquardt "did not receive medical clearance" and was pulled from a planned main-event bout with Rick Story. Charlie Brenneman was quickly tapped as a last-minute replacement, and a heavyweight bout between Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry was promoted to the evening's featured slot.

Specifics on the reasoning for the scratch have not yet been announced.


"Nate is really disappointed," a representative said. "He really was looking forward to making his welterweight debut, and he plans to be back in there as soon as possible."

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Strikeforce Dallas: Will Overeem Avenge His Loss To Werdum This Sat? Werdum Predicts Win In 2 Minutes

Strikeforce Dallas 2011 June 18, 10 PM ET/PT Alistair Overeem (31-12-0) vs Fabrico Werdum (14-4-1).  Your predictions on if Overeem will avenge his loss to Werdum on May 5, 2006 at Pride: Total Elimination Absolute. Werdum won by kimura.

Werdum claims he will submit Overeem's other arm and win in round 1 in two minutes.  We may be watching this fight with some of Werdum's students so it will be interesting.

Is Overeem a better striker now then Junior dos Santos (JDS) back on 10/25/2008 at UFC 90?  Current UFC Heavyweight contender JDS knocked out Werdum in round 1 at 1:20.

Overeem commented that Strikeforce is more organized now that Zuffa, LLC owns it.   Overeem has not signed a new contract with Zuffa which would almost certainly state he cannot fight in other promotions like K-1. Overeem predicts he will sign a new contract with Zuffa after his fight.