LOS ANGELES - As Strikeforce continues its expansion across the U.S., the promotion's
CEO, Scott Coker, says a pair of new cities each are likely to host an
event in August.

While Coker insisted that nothing yet is set in stone, on Wednesday
night the Strikeforce exec confirmed previous reports that both Houston
and Phoenix
are in the running for late summer events.

But according to Coker, Strikeforce has no intentions of staying within
U.S. borders, and international fans can expect to see the company
spreading across the globe within the next 12 months.

Two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier looks to return to the Strikeforce cage
in August against an opponent yet to be determined, and the former
wrestler says he and the promotion will likely visit an untapped hotbed
of mixed martial arts.

While Strikeforce officials have yet to announced any August dates,
Cormier today told MMAjunkie.com Radio that
he's expecting to fight in Phoenix.

The undefeated prospect would likely feature on a yet-to-be-announced
Challengers Series events, tentatively title Strikeforce Challengers 10,
as Strikeforce is reportedly set to air an Arena Series event in August
from Houston.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is "tossing around numbers" with the manager of his current middleweight champion, Jake Shields, but he will not get into a bidding war for the fighter's services.

"To me, there's going to be a value that we feel is fair, and that's going to be it," Coker today told MMAjunkie.com. "I don't think it's good business to go into [the bidding] business."

If the two sides can't strike a deal on a new contract, Coker said the promotion likely will hold an eight-man tournament that could begin at a planned Aug. 21 event in Houston. The winner would be crowned the new champion.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 21, 2010) — A long-awaited match-up between two of the most exciting and best-known fighters from South Texas—Aaron Rosa and Robert Villegas—has been announced as the Local Main Event for Bellator 20 at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre.

Promoters have attempted for years to convince Rosa (12-3), a 26-year-old from San Antonio and Villegas (7-2), a 34-year-old from Corpus Christi, to face off in the cage, but Bellator 20 on May 27th marks their first-ever meeting.

Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

“Promoters from across Texas have been trying to get Aaron Rosa and Robert Villegas to fight each other for years, so it’s a great coup for Bellator that we’ve been able to finally make it happen,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Aaron and Robert are two of the best local fighters in Texas and both are looking to make their mark on the big stage. It’s going to be a great fight.”

The fight is one of four Local Feature Fights scheduled for the evening. Others include:

· Cedric Marks (27-20) of Killeen vs. Andrew Chappelle (7-6) of San Antonio;
· Brian Melancon (3-0) of Houston vs. Adam Schindler (6-1) of San Antonio;
· Humberto DeLeon (5-2) of Houston vs. Jimmy Flick (7-0) of Corpus Christi.

The Rosa-Villegas fight, however, is easily generating the most buzz.

“They’ve been trying to get us to fight for a long time,” Rosa said. “Now that it’s finally going to happen, I can tell you this much: We’re both gonna come out swinging and somebody’s gonna go down. It’s gonna be a great fight in front of my hometown crowd … I want everyone to show up.”

Rosa, a former football standout at Angelo State University in San Angelo, discovered MMA when a teammate showed him Renzo and Royler Gracie’s book, “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Theory Technique.” Since turning pro 4 ½ years ago, he has compiled an overall record of 12-3, with five of those wins coming via TKO.

“I’m a striker,” Rosa said. “I’m gonna go in there and punch him in the face and look for a knockout. That’s what I’m all about.”

Villaegas, for his part, says that he figures on taking Rosa to the ground, using the judo and jiu-jitsu skills that he’s honed over the last nine years at the MMA gym he owns and operates, Xtreme MMA in Corpus Christi. He holds black belts in both disciplines.

“I’m very picky about the fights that I take,” Villegas said. “I have to be inspired by a fight. I’ve had my ups and downs in MMA but this fight and being a part of the Bellator organization is a highlight. It’s gonna be a great show.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight contender and Milwaukee native
Anthony Pettis will throw out a ceremonial first
pitch on Wednesday, May 26 when Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers host the Houston
Astros.

Pettis fought most recently at the landmark "WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber"
pay-per-view event where he earned a submission win over Alex Karalexis.

As a lifelong fans of his hometown Brewers, Pettis said he's honored at
the invitation to take the mound at Miller Park.

A couple of lightweight fighters were added to The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale. Charlies Oliveira (12-0) and Darren Elkins (12-1) will square off on the preliminary card of the event in June.

The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale is set to take place on June 19 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas with the main card airing live on Spike TV.

Oliveira will make his UFC debut, putting his 12 fight undefeated streak on the line. He trains with Gold Team USA in Houston and won back-to-back matches at a Warriors Challenge 5 in Porto Belo, Brazil in February. He defeated fellow Brazilians Rosenildo Rocha (submission RNC) and Diego Bataglia (KO slam) at the event.

Elkins makes his sophomore appearance after earning a TKO victory over Duane Ludwig at the UFC on Versus: Vera vs. Jones in March. Ludwig injured his ankle during a takedown attempt, shattering it forcing a stoppage. Before that Elkins rattled off two victories after his first career loss by defeating Bryan Neville and Gideon Ray in the fall of last year.

The current card for The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale is as follows:

Main Card

- Matt Hamill vs. Keith Jardine
- Finalist No. 1 vs. finalist No. 2
- Chris Leben vs. Aaron Simpson
- Spencer Fisher vs. Dennis Siver

Preliminary Card

- Travis Browne vs. James McSweeney
- Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira
- John Gunderson vs. Mark Holst*

* – Not officially announced

Showtime headliner Brett Rogers and preliminary-card featured fighter Jesse Finney both throw out ceremonial first pitches at today's St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium.

The honor comes two days before the fighters compete at Saturday's "Strikeforce St. Louis: Heavy Artillery" card, which airs on Showtime from St. Louis' Scottrade Center.

Today's game against the Houston Astros begins at 1:40 p.m. ET (12:40 p.m. CT local time) and precedes a Strikeforce autograph session near the ballpark.

“UFC 113: Machida vs Rua II” may not have been given a catchy nickname but it might as well be entitled ‘back on track’. After a couple of unimpressive cards which have resulted in lackluster fights the upcoming UFC has all the ingredients of a classic.

The main event is a relative rarity in recent UFC title fights in that there is little to choose between the two fighters. The first meeting between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida was close with the majority of spectators disagreeing with the judges who awarded Machida a controversial decision.

Regardless of the win the unbeaten Machida has lost little of his air of invincibility and will be looking to show that the first fight was merely an aberration by comprehensively outclassing his opponent in the rematch. “Shogun” did not make an impressive UFC debut being badly beaten by Forrest Griffin. Despite defeating fellow Pride veteran Mark Coleman he also failed to impress in his second Octagon appearance.

It was third time lucky for the the former Pride Middleweight Grand Prix champion as an emphatic first round knockout win over Chuck Liddell propelled him straight into a title show. He was a heavy underdog but Rua rolled back the years to give Machida the fight of his life. Even if Rua had been awarded the decision, as most impartial observers felt he should, this rematch would have been inevitable so to some extent the judge’s decision has been rendered irrelevant. The real winner will be decided in Montreal tomorrow night.

There is plenty of intrigue outside the main event as well. Paul Daley has won his last four fights by first round KO, two of them inside the octagon, but will be facing arguably the toughest test of his career against UFC veteran and outstanding wrestler Josh Koscheck. The TUF 1 alumni will be looking to prove that Daley’s superlative stand up can only take him so far in the UFC by putting the Englishman on his back and keeping him there.

Daley will be hoping to let his hands go but may also relish the opportunity to demonstrate that there is more to his game than merely knocking people out. A convincing win over Koscheck would firmly establish Daley as one of the top welterweights in the world and might even propel him towards a fight with reigning champion George St-Pierre, a mixed blessing if ever there was one.

Koscheck, who has already had his shot at St-Pierre, has been fighting for the UFC since 2005. He lost to GSP via unanimous decision but he has won three quarters of his 16 UFC fights and will provide a stern test of Daley’s title credentials.

The rest of the main card and undercard consists mainly of matches featuring Canadian fighters with Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens and Patrick Cote vs. Alan Belcher being the main ones. Outside of Canada though all eyes will be on the bout between former street fighter and internet legend Kimbo Slice and former NFL star Matt Mitrione.

Both men featured on TUF 10 together where Kimbo surprised a lot of people with his easy going attitude and willingness to learn. He is a hugely marketable asset who did his reputation no harm by defeating Houston Alexander in his UFC debut. Kimbo will be looking to prove that he has evolved from a back yard brawler to a modern day mixed martial artist by defeating Mitrione in Montreal.

There is no guaranteed formula for exciting MMA fights, if there was Zuffa would probably have patented it. Unlike recent UFC events you cannot criticize either the matchmaking or the card at UFC 113. Hopefully the fighters can put on a show which will make the disappointment of UFC 112 seem little more than a distant memory.

Country-western music is often associated with a person being dealt a rough hand in life, and no city in America is as closely related to the genre than Nashville due to its history and live music scene. Perhaps it’s fitting Strikeforce chose the Tennessee capital for their latest offering, as the event’s participants look to deliver a different variety of “hard knocks” to fans in attendance than those typically sung about at the Grand Ole Opry, and appropriately enough some will feel the heartbreak of losing their beloved – substitute increased opportunity, win bonuses, and title belts for country’s cliché of women, dogs, and pickup trucks if you will.

“Strikeforce – Nashville”, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena, will be aired live on Saturday, April 17th, on CBS at 9:00 PM Eastern as part of the network’s “Saturday Night Fights” series. It is highlighted by a trio of championship clashes including a headlining bout between Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields and newly signed veteran Dan Henderson. Additionally,Gegard Mousasi will defend his light heavyweight title against former All-American wrestler Mo Lawal on the live broadcast, while 155-pound champ Gilbert Melendez will look to retain his strap against DREAM superstar Shinya Aoki as well. The always-entertaining Jason “Mayhem” Miller is also set for action at the event and it is expected some, if not all, of his fight against Tim Stout will be shown.

Before I get into the “pick em” part of this article let me preclude the breakdown of bouts by saying one of the things about Mixed Martial Arts I’ve always loved is its unpredictable nature. As those who follow the sport have all learned along the way, Georges St. Pierre can get knocked out by a jiujitsu specialist as easily as Kimbo Slice and Houston Alexander can slug to a decision. There is no perfect rhyme or reason to predicting a match’s outcome and I wouldn’t ask for MMA to be any other way. I’ll do my best to steer you in the right direction with a little insight/opinion included in the deal, but readers would be wise to avoid laying down money on my attempts to glimpse into the future. Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to share your own thoughts on any or all of the scheduled fights in the “Comments” section below, and let’s get this show on the road…

PRELIMINARY CARD

Cody Floyd vs. Thomas Campbell

As far as I can tell, both men are making their professional debuts at the event so it’s difficult to accurately gauge their abilities without more information. However, Campbell apparently has four times as many amateur fights as Floyd so I’ll go with what little I know and opt for experience to make the difference.

Winner – Thomas Campbell via Decision

Dustin Ortiz vs. Justin Pennington

I believe the show will mark Pennington’s pro debut while Ortiz is less than two months removed from his own transition between amateur to paid athlete. As such, experience again wins out because I simply don’t know enough about either man to include any other factor into the decision making process.

Winner – Dustin Ortiz via Submission Round 1

Dustin West vs. Andy Uhrich

Finally we’re getting to a few fighters who aren’t overwhelmingly damp behind the ears! Granted, they may have less than ten fights between them, but at least their combined records don’t make Kimbo Slice look like a seasoned MMA veteran. Uhrich is undefeated, but I like West’s striking and power to ultimately win out and score the eventual finish.

Winner – Dustin West via TKO Round 2

Zach Underwood vs. Hunter Worsham

In a perfect world this bout would make the televised broadcast, as I think the pairing has potential for putting together an entertaining scrap based on success each young fighter has found so far, and Worsham in particular has a great story Strikeforce can help sell him to audiences with. Not only is he an Army Ranger stationed in Tennessee but “The Future” also has a pedigree in MMA thanks to his father Cal. Based on Underwood’s recent pair of decisions I’m assuming he may be a grappler, while I think Worsham is probably a little more polished based on his upbringing and record. His military training should also assist in maintaining focus and could be a difference maker depending on how action unfolds.

Winner – Hunter Worsham via Decision

Josh Shockman vs. Cale Yarbrough

Yarbrough, known to most as one of the members of Forrest Griffin’s team on the seventh season of the Ultimate Fighter, has won six consecutive fights since losing via TKO to Tim Credeur at Fight Night 14 a little less than two years ago. Shockman hasn’t been quite as successful or active in his career, losing two of his last three contests with Saturday night marking his first bout in more than a year. Anything other than Yarbrough walking away victorious should be considered an upset. In the end I think his kickboxing and overall preparation will prevail.

Winner – Cale Yarbrough via TKO Round 1

Chris Hawk vs. Ovince St. Preaux

St. Preaux and Hawk are both coming off finish-based defeats and have the opportunity to even their win/loss columns, while neither has been on a card as big as the Strikeforce one, so rest assured each man should leave it all out there when things fire up in the cage. St. Preaux, a former Tennessee Volunteers’ football player, will undoubtedly be the crowd favorite and may be able to use their energy to his advantage. Neither is particularly known as a striker so I think most of the bout will be fought on the mat. I’m expecting a decision based on their comparable abilities but I won’t be too shocked if a submission shows up at some point in the action.

Winner – Ovince St. Preaux via Decision

Jason Miller vs. Tim Stout

I’m not sure what the odds are on Stout beating Miller but I’d wager they’re about as good as Anderson Silva’s current chances of spending Christmas Eve at Dana White’s house in Las Vegas. “Mayhem” has thirteen more wins than Stout in his career with an equal number of losses, though it should be pointed out Miller’s record is peppered with a number of notable adversaries while his opponent’s biggest fights to date have involved names like Brandon Melendez, Pat Healy, and Luigi Fioravanti. This bout was put together in order to showcase Miller’s skills on a national platform while using his above average star-power to increase ticket sales and ratings. It should in no way be a competitive affair. Stout is no slouch but Miller is on a different level than him.

Winner – Jason Miller via Submission Round 1

MAIN CARD

Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki

It goes without needing much detail to say Aoki’s chances for success against Melendez mirror his ability to bring the action down to the ground long enough to work his jiujitsu magic without absorbing a lot of damage in the process. However, Melendez is a fast, strong lightweight with solid striking, and I think it will be difficult for Shinya to execute his game-plan without having his chin tested a few times. Three of the Japanese fighter’s four professional losses have been knockouts and “El Nino” is no stranger to blowing through opponents and rendering them unconscious. I also think Aoki could possibly be affected by the travel necessary for his debut on American soil and his lack of familiarity with competing inside a cage can’t help either. All in all the involved factors seem to be a recipe for defeat.

Winner – Gilbert Melendez via TKO Round 2

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mo Lawal

I actually found this to be the most difficult outcome to pick between all three of the title fights slated for the event. It seems like Mousasi should be a lock given his fifteen-bout win streak and well-rounded arsenal of skills, but Lawal’s strength, athleticism, and raw talent make it difficult to pick against him with any conviction. His grappling is good enough to control position and a few nicely placed shots from the top could easily spell doom for Mousasi’s title reign. The Strikeforce champ also hasn’t faced a wrestler as talented as “King Mo” at any point in his career. It makes for an intriguing match-up and one I suspect could steal the show. I’m taking Mousasi to win because I think his speed/striking will somewhat neutralize Lawal’s takedown attempts, and even on his back his jiujitsu is of enough quality to successfully defend attacks or even latch onto a limb.

Winner – Gegard Mousasi via Decision

Dan Henderson vs. Jake Shields

I appreciate that Shields is testing himself at 185 pounds, and he is without a doubt a solid #2 to Georges St. Pierre in MMA’s welterweight rankings, but as far as Henderson goes I think Strikeforce’s vegetarian champ is biting off a little more than he can chew. “Hendo” is a helluva measuring stick for any fighter to put himself up against, especially one who appears to be more naturally suited for a smaller weight class. The former PRIDE champion, who concurrently held the company’s equivalent to both light heavyweight and middleweight titles prior to it folding, has never been knocked out in a thirty-two fights and has only tapped out once in the past five years (to Anderson Silva). His size, strength, and wrestling acumen eliminate the base Shields uses to set opponents up for submissions or control them en route to decisions. Henderson also has a distinct advantage in the striking department and a history of putting opponents to sleep as well. Frankly, I don’t see a lot of ways for Shields to win, and if he somehow does he deserves consideration as being one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA.

Winner – Dan Henderson via TKO Round 3