FEG has announced the addition of a trio of match-ups to their annual “Dynamite” card slated for December 31 in Saitama, Japan including bouts featuring regional stars Shinya Aoki, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Caol Uno.

According to the company, Aoki will compete in a “mixed rules” bout against K-1 fighter Yuichiro Nagashima. Though the specific format has not been explained as of yet, there has been discussion regarding the possibility of one round of Mixed Martial Arts followed by another using the K-1 kickboxing format.

Slated for MMA-specific action, legendary competitor Kazushi Sakuraba will face Marius Zaromskis in a bout with the Lithuanian striker’s DREAM Welterweight Championship on the line. The pairing marks Zaromskis’ return to the promotion where he made a name for himself last year after compiling three consecutive wins by way of headkick. He has since gone 0-2 in Strikeforce with a recent “No Contest” against Waachim Spiritwolf due to an accidental eye-poke.

Also returning to Japan after a stint in the United States, former UFC lightweight Caol Uno will make his 145-pound debut at “Dynamite: The Power of Courage 2010” against freestyle wrestler Kazuyuki Miyata. Miyata, who represented Japan in the 2000 Olympics, has won his last five bouts including a decision victory over Takeshi “Lion” Inoue at DREAM 16 this past September.

The six fighters join a New Year’s Eve line-up already featuring former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson fighting 26-6-2 Tatsuya Kawajiri, as well as a featherweight title fight between Bibiano Fernandes and Hiroyuki Takaya (who originally fought to a split decision in the final of last year’s DREAM Featherweight Grand Prix).Similar Posts:

• DREAM.11 Live Results and Play by Play
• DREAM 11 Weigh-In Results
• FEG continues to fill lineup for New Year’s Eve Dynamite event
• Bibiano Fernandes vs. Joachim Hansen confirmed for Dream 13
• Eight bouts finalized for September 25th DREAM event

PRESS RELEASE / New York, NY (Nov. 4, 2010) – An already stacked “Strikeforce Challengers” card just got that much stronger with the announcement that DREAM world champion Marius “The Whitemare” Zaromskis will take on battle-tested Waachiim Spiritwolf on November 19th, at Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Mississippi, live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT, (delayed on the West Coast).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Billy Evangelista vs. Jorge Gurgel set to headline Nov. 6 Strikeforce Challengers
• Gurgel vs. Evangelista on tap to headline October Strikeforce Challengers card
• Bobby Voelker hands Roger Bowling first career loss at Strikeforce Challengers 11
• Changes afoot for November 19th Strikeforce Challengers event
• Woodley vs. Galvao replaces middleweight fight at “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II”

This Saturday night might as well be Christmas morning for fans of Mixed Martial Arts, as pound-for-pound great Fedor Emelianenko is set to face off against notable Brazilian Fabricio Werdum and is supported by a cast of players who are also worth-watching for a number of reasons. Fans in attendance at Strikeforce‘s homebase, the HP Pavilion in San Jose, as well as those tuning in on Showtime, will have the pleasure of seeing the two heavyweights clash as well as the always-exciting Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos defend her Women’s Middleweight Championship against Jan Finney, a rematch between stand-up aces Cung Le and Scott Smith, and former promotional lightweight champ Josh “Punk” Thomson attempt to make his way towards a rubber-match with Gilbert Melendez by beating veteran competitor Pat Healy.

Before I get into the actual “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. 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…

Derrick Burnsed vs. Bobby Stack

At 5-0 Burnsed is clearly is doing something right in the ring even if he’s never beaten anyone of particular note. As such, Stack will be his biggest test to date since he’s 2-0 in Strikeforce, but it also needs to be pointed out he hasn’t stepped in the promotion’s cage since November 2008. I think Burnsed will pull out the win since he appears to be a submission-based fighter who is comfortable tapping opponents from his back. He also seems to have decent power as well. Stack has gone to decision in his last three fights so it stands to reason the same could occur at tonight’s event, especially with the ring-rust brought on by his recent inactivity. That means 15-minutes’ worth of opportunities for Burnsed to latch onto his limbs or neck and finish things off along the way.

Winner – Derrick Burnsed via Submission Round 2

Gareth Joseph vs. Yancy Madeiros

Fans unfamiliar with Madeiros should keep a watch out for the rising middleweight. At 8-0 he’s shown himself to possess both knockout power and solid grappling skills. Joseph hasn’t fought in a year so he definitely appears to have his work cut out for him. However, three of his four professional wins have been the result of a first round knockout, so it’s not as if he can’t land a punch at some point in the fight that sets up the beginning of the end for “Frisson”. I think the involved match-up should lead to a stoppage and result in a very entertaining scrap. However, Strikeforce has a history of ending broadcasts early with undercard bouts left on the cutting room floor, so I’m doubtful any viewers at home will ever get a chance to see it.

Winner – Yancy Madeiros via TKO Round 2

Bret Bergmark vs. Vagner Rocha

If winners were determined by “best nickname” then Bret “The Angry Hick” Bergmark would be one helluva tough draw to beat. Unfortunately for him, outcomes are typically influenced by individual ability and in that regard I think Rocha has the edge. He’s 5-0 since debuting in February 2009 (including a pair of wins in Bellator). Though I suspect he’ll be prepared based on his Cesar Gracie JJ training partners, the 36-year old Bergmark has only fought once in the last 4 1/2 years and should struggle to maintain pace in all areas, especially when rolling on the mat. He has the proverbial “puncher’s chance” but other than that I think Rocha should be able to maintain a perfect record in the ring.

Winner – Vagner Rocha via Submission Round 1

Chris Cope vs. Ron Keslar

Keslar has won his last four fights while Cope is coming off the first knockout loss of his career so it seems likely their mindsets will be drastically different entering tonight’s bout. It’s an interesting match-up of styles in that Keslar appears to focus on mat-work while Cope on stand-up, but I’m not overly confident the pairing will lead to much more than a plodding decision win for one of the two. Neither has shown a great talent for finishing opponents and both are making their Strikeforce debuts. I can see there being a lot of “feeling out” on their feet, especially from Cope, and lay-and-praying on the ground, especially from Keslar, based on their particular skill-sets and the fact each will be attempting to win on the biggest stage they’ve competed on thus far in their young careers. Beyond that I think it’s a coin-flip as far as determining who will win. Since, at least according to the original line-up and fact it’s a catch-weight bout, Cope was a late replacement I think he’ll gas out at some point and end up spending the bulk of the bout on his back.

Winner – Ron Keslar via Decision

Josh Thomson vs. Pat Healy

I’m a fan of both fighters for different reasons and am looking forward to their bout even if Healy isn’t a particularly “sexy” opponent for a top divisional contender like Thomson to be facing since he may not be known to a lot of fans. However, “Bam Bam” shouldn’t be dismissed because his only appearance in the UFC was a loss or based on his less-than impressive overall record. The fact is Healy is a terrific grappler with a ton of experience and wins over Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, and Dan Hardy earlier in his career. He’s also won three consecutive fights and five of his last six (with a decision loss sandwiched between the dubyas). Thomson is a solid striker with above-average wrestling to back his punches/kicks/knees up and had won eight fights in a row before losing the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship via decision to Gilbert Melendez last December.

I expect this particular match-up will feature fireworks from both and have the crowd on their feet at more than one point. Look for Healy to shoot in to keep Thomson on his back for as much time as possible with “Punk” firing away with knees, or punches from the sprawl, to make Healy think twice. I think Thomson will win based on athleticism and having more ways to beat his opponent than can be said in return. Healy has been knocked out, submitted, and out-pointed a handful of times while the former 155-pound champ has never been tapped out and only TKO’d once in nineteen in-ring appearances. That being said, I also won’t be surprised if Healy is able to pull off an upset decision win because he’s certainly talented enough to do so.

Winner – Josh Thomson via TKO Round 3

Scott Smith vs. Cung Le

I can hardly wait for the high-level jiujitsu and wrestling ability that will undoubtedly be on display when Smith and Le lock horns in the cage! I can also hardly wait for pigs to fly! Now that I have your attention, based on their respective styles it’s fairly obvious 99% of this bout will take place while standing with the other 1% reserved for whoever gets knocked down/out first. Le’s problem in their original match-up was conditioning and, to an extent, his “warrior spirit”, as I recall him being en route to a decision win but still moving forward while gassed out rather than playing it safe and letting the third round expire. He won’t be coming off a 21-month break from action while filming movies rather than training so I don’t think cardio will be a problem, and I also believe Le to be intelligent enough to have learned from his previous loss to Smith. As such, I think he’ll be able to seal the deal against his fellow hard-hitting Californian this time around. Then again, Smith is known as “Hands of Steel” for a reason, and he’s impossible to count out in any fight based on his previous performances in the ring.

Winner – Cung Le via Decision

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Jan Finney

Records and talent aside, how could anyone ever pick a “Cuddles” to beat a “Cyborg”? Moving on, as I said in this week’s “Grappling with Issues”, though Santos is unlike any female striker let alone female fighter seen thus far in women’s MMA, “Finney has been in the ring against a few females with above-average hands (Erin Toughill for example) and remained conscious throughout save for a single loss to Julie Kedzie.” I don’t think she’ll immediately be overwhelmed by Santos, but it seems pretty clear based on both female’s overall abilities she will eventually be. “Cyborg” has been out of action since January and will be looking to hang a new head in the Santos Family Room, as her husband Evangelista did ten days ago in regards to Marius Zaromskis, so expect some hate-filled flurries to end Finney’s night.

Winner – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos via TKO Round 2

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum

I could break down the greatness that is Emelianenko but instead I’ll leave it at a single word – “Fedor”. Werdum is a world-class competitor and currently has one of, if not the, best BJJ games in the heavyweight division. Even if Emelianenko knocks him down he’s still a major threat to procure an armbar or triangle-choke from the bottom. He also has underrated striking that continues to improve on a per-fight basis thanks to his time with Chute Boxe. “Vai Cavalo” has only been finished once in eighteen fights and, though Fedor clearly has knockout power, he doesn’t have the speed or diversity of strikes that led to Junior Dos Santos’ TKO win over Werdum at UFC 90. Werdum also appeared to be in perhaps the worst shape of his career entering the bout, and given the opportunity attached to potentially beating Emelianenko that won’t be an issue this time around.

As far as how I see the actual fight unfolding, I have a feeling Werdum will try to keep things standing for the first round unless he sees an opening to work on Emelianenko from the top. He’s got good power to back up his Muay Thai techniques, including the option of leg kicks to maintain distance, and Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski showed promise when trading with the stoic Russian before eventually falling victim to him. The reality is that Fedor hasn’t gone to decision in five years and it could be interesting to see how his less-than toned body reacts if Werdum is able to make him work for fifteen minutes. However, he hasn’t seen the judges’ scorecards in that long a period because of how amazing a fighter he is, and in that regard I can’t pick against him. He’s escaped every difficult position he’s ever been put in and I don’t think Werdum is good enough to expose any weaknesses he possesses (assuming he is actually human and does possess some).

Winner – Fedor Emelianenko via TKO Round 2

How likely is it that Fabricio Werdum will beat Fedor Emelianenko? What event from the past ten days did you enjoy most from top to bottom? Will Cris “Cyborg” Santos beat Jan Finney faster than her husband beat Marius Zaromskis a week-and-a-half ago? What’s next for newly crowned Ultimate Fighter Season 11 champion Court McGee?

Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!

If you’re reading these lines you’ve made it through another work-week and are back in the friendly digital confines of “Grappling with Issues”, our site’s resident Friday feature highlighting insight and opinion from Adam Tool and myself on six subjects plucked from the Mixed Martial Arts landscape. However, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t feel precluded from dishing out your own thoughts on each matter in the comments section at the bottom of the column…

Best overall event – “Strikeforce – Los Angeles”, “Sengoku 13″, “TUF 11 Finale”, or “WEC 49″?

Adam Tool: I should probably start by saying that since I have neither a)HDNet or b) insomnia, I have yet to see Sengoku 13. I’ve been trying to track down a copy online but thus far I have been unsuccessful, so I’ll have to make my pick from the other three events which I did see.

Of those three my pick would be WEC 49. In terms of fight quality there was plenty of good stuff to be had on all three cards. While thinking back on those events I can’t point out a single fight which I considered boring, but it was the action in the WEC cage that kept me closest to the edge of my seat. The only knock I can make against WEC 49 would be the unsatisfying result rendered in the evening’s main event, but that only came about as the result of the incompetent judging of Cameron Quwek, the lone judge who scored every single round for Kamal Shalorus. Some blame could also be leveled against referee Josh Rosenthal, as I still can’t understand why he didn’t take another point away from Shalorus for the third low blow delivered in the final frame. Other than that though, WEC 49 was a barrage of non-stop action and tremendous performances from everyone involved.

I would also have to give the edge to WEC 49 in terms of the show’s pacing. During the two and a half hour event we saw seven fights, with what seemed like a minimal amount of commercial interruption. The Ultimate Fighter Finale featured five fights over the course of two hours, with some interminable commercial breaks, endless shilling of upcoming Spike programming, and an extremely dull interview with Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Strikeforce: Los Angeles was well-done from a production stand-point, but I still don’t understand why the show’s producers chose to air backstage interviews in between rounds of some of the fights. On top of that we saw once again that Strikeforce has no interest in promoting new stars of the sport, as the event ended a half-hour early without a single preliminary fight shown.

Brendhan Conlan: Though each broadcast featured moments of brilliance I tend to side with Tool as far as WEC 49 being the strongest overall show in the bunch. Sengoku’s action was top notch but primarily involved talent 1% of the English-speaking audience could have picked out of a line-up prior to it airing, Strikeforce had some highlight-worthy moments but also had issues related to the card’s E3-specific production and promotion’s continuing trend of going off the air early without promoting undercard competitors, and save for Court McGee’s story and a fun scrap between Keith Jardine and Matt Hamill the Ultimate Fighter Finale was one of the least memorable in recent history. The scoring in Varner vs. Shalorus certainly detracted from the fight’s result but not from the entertaining battle that occurred during the fifteen minutes prior. Other than that, viewers were treated to the continued ascension of Josh Grispi as a top featherweight, late-replacement Danny Downes showing a ton of heart en route to a third-round submission loss at the limbs of Chris Horodecki, an edge-of-your-couch affair between Will Campuzano and Eddie Wineland, and a whole lot more.

True/False – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will beat Jan Finney tomorrow night faster than her husband beat Marius Zaromskis ten days prior?

Tool: I’ll go with “false,” although I have little reason to justify it. A quick peak at Finney’s record online reveals two things two things: 1) her nickname is “Cuddles” (seriously?) and 2) she’s only had one TKO loss on her record which came in the second round. Despite her unimpressive record and the overwhelming odds against her, I think it’s safe to assume that Finney is not the easiest opponent to put away. Cyborg is clearly the toughest opponent “Cuddles” has faced in her career and it would certainly be no surprise if the Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight Champion finishes this fight in under two minute, but unless Finney makes a crucial error (flying knee anyone?) I believe she’ll last a bit longer than Zaromskis did.

Conlan: Zaromskis lives and dies on his feet, as evident by four of his five career losses coming by way of TKO, so it was inevitable he or “Cyborg” (XY Chromosome version) was going to sleep sooner than later in their bout. That’s not the case with Finney – ahem, “Cuddles” – so I think I’ll also have to go with “false” on this. Granted, Santos is unlike any other striker let alone overall fighter in women’s MMA. However, Finney has been in the ring against a few females with above-average hands (Erin Toughill for example) and remained conscious throughout save for a single loss to Julie Kedzie. Her grappling is good enough to lock onto “Cyborg” if need be and her stand-up is decent, so as long as she avoids going toe-to-toe with the champ she should be able to make it past the 2:38 mark.

Should Cung Le retire from MMA and focus on acting if he loses to Scott Smith a second time?

Tool: To be honest, I’m not really sure. Thus far Le’s acting career has yet to really take off. He’s played smaller roles in some big-screen releases, although his work in the film Tekken has yet to be seen here in America. He would probably have better luck in Asian cinema as a straight-forward martial arts action star, as there’s little call for someone with his particular talents in the current Hollywood system.

While Le took a large chunk of time off from MMA to focus on acting, the loss to Smith seems to have re-lit the competitive fire within him. He certainly believes that he’s a better fighter than Smith (and up until the final seconds of their first fight, he was) and with the (presumably) impending departure of Jake Shields the door could be wide open for Le to try and regain the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. After all, he never lost the belt. Of course he never had a chance to lose it since he didn’t defend it, but that’s beside the point.

Le could very well lose to Smith a second time. It’s unlikely, but certainly possible. He’s pushing 40 years old so he doesn’t have all the time in the world to get better in the sport, and as such retirement from competition probably isn’t too far off anyways. His exciting fighting style and built in fanbase in the San Jose area will allow him the opportunity to continue on as long as he wants, but if he’s trying to be the best in the world then his chances to do so will live or die on Saturday night.

Conlan: I’m a firm believer fighters should hang up their gloves when they are ready to do so unless there are health-related reasons at play. Yes, Le is 38 and power/speed are typically the first thing to deteriorate with increased age. Yes, he’s only been in the ring three times since June 2007. Yes, he’s a one-trick pony as far as being 100% stand-up based. However, losing his rematch with Smith would only drop him to 6-2, and it’s not as if “Hands of Steel” is some out-of-shape, over-the-hill can they plucked from the street. He’s got 3X as many fights as Le and beaten some notable opponents in his career. He has the striking to put any adversary to sleep and a solid jaw of his own to boot as indiciated by Smith’s only career TKO losses coming to Robbie Lawler in 2008 and James Irvin in 2004. If he walks away victor again this Saturday night it should in no way be considered a slight on Le’s talent but rather a credit to his fellow soft-spoken Californian’s. As Tool said, Le is a huge regional draw and possesses an incredibly entertaining style, so as long as he is still interested in stepping into the ring and competing he should be allowed to do so.

Using a percentage, how much of a chance do you give Fabricio Werdum of beating Fedor Emelianenko?

Conlan: 1%. Don’t get me wrong – Werdum is a world-class competitor on the mat and has some solid Chute Boxe-based striking to compliment the skill. He’s beaten a number of ranked opponents and only been finished once in eighteen fights. However, we’re talking about frakking Fedor here. He’s weathered punches that would have dropped most for the count and worked his way out of any tough position he’s ever been put in. He’s gone to decision less than 1/4 of the time he’s fought, is on a ridiculously long win-streak, and…well…I probably could have stopped at “frakking Fedor”, because the reality is if you’re reading this paragraph you already know the Russian phenom’s resume. There will always be a chance Werdum could perfectly time a punch and pull a “Matt Serra”, so he at least deserves “1%”, but beyond that I don’t see there being any way he comes away from the event as the first fighter to legitimately beat Emelianenko.

Tool: I’ll be a bit kinder to Mr. Werdum and go with 10%. Obviously I’m still backing Fedor to win, but Werdum does have at least one avenue to victory. His striking isn’t quite good enough to give Fedor trouble, but there can be little argument that he’s one of the best pure grapplers in the heavyweight division. Fedor has never really been close to being submitted, but then again it’s been a long time since he’s faced anyone that’s on Werdum’s level in BJJ. I still can’t see Fedor tapping out, but if there’s any opponent in the world that can do it I think it’s Werdum.

Do you think that Jamie Varner and Kamal Shalorus should have an immediate rematch?

Conlan: Though I’m typically in favor of immediate rematches when a particularly poor decision is rendered, this situation is different because Varner is going to miss a good deal of time with his broken hand/foot. Shalorus, however, was relatively uninjured after their original bout and isn’t scheduled to sit on the sidelines beyond his regular recuperation/training period. Based on that, it’s likely he’ll be ready for action before Varner is so it doesn’t make sense for him to twiddle his thumbs while waiting for the former lightweight champion to recover. As such, I could see a date with Donald Cerrone at a future event.

However, if WEC is determined to pair him with Varner again, I have a suggestion on how “The Prince of Persia” can kill his new-found time. There’s a new James Bond movie on the horizon that’s certain to need evil henchman and if ever an individual was born with the physical attributes to play a role…

Tool: Let’s also not forget that the recent Prince of Persia film was a resounding success, so perhaps Shalorus could have a role to play in a potential sequel? Shalorus vs. Gyllenhaal: book it!

As for the topic at hand, I believe that a rematch should be made as soon as both fighters are healed up and ready to go. I can point to no less than three reasons why this should happen. First, this bout was intended to determine the next #1 contender for Ben Henderson’s WEC Lightweight Championship. That honor will likely now go to the winner of the upcoming Shane Roller/Anthony Pettis bout, but right now there’s a serious lack of competition for the company’s “Smooth” young champion.

The second reason I would like to see a rematch is due to the decision rendered in the first fight. Clearly a draw does nothing to further either man’s career, but on top of that it’s a decision that has not sat well with a majority of the fanbase. Just about anyone that watched that fight could tell that Varner won, but obviously that’s not the case. Look at it this way; if it hadn’t been for the point deduction in the second round Shalorus would have won a split decision, and the controversy would have been even greater.

Finally I say match these two up again because their first meeting was simply a great fight. Groin shots aside, these two kept things competitive for the majority of the fifteen minutes. Shalorus’ strategy of staying in the pocket and slugging it out with Varner may not have been the best gameplan but it certainly kept things entertaining. I say let’s have rounds four, five, and six.

Who would you like to see Court McGee matched up with for his first post-”TUF” fight?

Conlan: I have a feeling McGee may actually drop to welterweight for his next in-Octagon appearance since he’s only 5′11 and size is crucial in a promotion as deep in talent as the UFC. It also makes sense considering a number of past seasonal champions have done the same thing. The Ultimate Fighter is a great opportunity and often fighters are willing to risk competing against bigger guys to earn a contract, plus it makes maintaining/making weight easier.

As far as when Court will be in session again (you’re welcome Mauro Renallo), there are ton of opponents at 170 pounds for “The Crusher” to, well, crush. He clearly can’t be matched against one of the division’s top fighters but he also deserves better than a “gimme” dubya. Amir Sadollah seems possible based on his status as a former TUF winner himself and the fact that, at 3-2, the master of “Baboo Baby” technique could use a semi-winnable fight. Season 9 champ James Wilks is also in a similar position but ended up on the right side of a decision at UFC 115 instead of the wrong one, as Amir did at UFC 114.

Tool: I’m not so sure that McGee will drop down in weight, since he’s not yet announced any plans to do so. I’m going to try and pick someone at middleweight, and furthermore I’ll try to follow the UFC’s traditional model of giving their “TUF” champs a somewhat “lesser” opponent in their first post-show fight.

With that in mind my pick goes to Joe Doerksen. Doerksen is the very definition of a journeyman fighter, with enough name value to provide McGee a nice little boost with a win. At the same time if McGee comes up short in this fight it’s a bit more understandable given the fact that he’s facing an opponent with such a depth of experience. Stylistically the two match up well, as neither man is technically proficient in striking even though they are willing to stand and trade. McGee would have the wrestling advantage, but Doerksen could present a problem with his jiu-jitsu skills.

Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (9-1) just watched her husband Evangelista Santos defeat Marius Žaromskis last Wednesday at “Strikeforce: LA” and will fight herself next Saturday against Jan Finney.

In a recent interview with Tatame.com, the female champ talked about her husbands victory as well as her hopes for another knockout victory against Finney.

What did you think of your husband’s win on Strikeforce?
Cyborg has been training a lot, had the opportunity to show his work here and thanks God everything went right… But we hadn’t time to celebrate, because I’m the next one to fight… Let’s celebrate later (laughs).

What are your expectations for this fight?
I’m well trained, on the last phase of my preparation. I’ll stick to my game plan, always trying the knockout, but what I want to do it a good fight, the win is just a consequence. I’ll bring this belt home.

What do you know about Jan Finney, who will do her debut on this event?
I watched her fights standing, but I’m ready to fight that way and if I have the opportunity to submit her on the ground, I will. I don’t have a plan, I have to feel how things are going during the fight.

Both women will co-headline the “Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Werdum” event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Cali. on June 26.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Evengelista “Cyborg” Santos re-invents himself at 170 by knocking out former welterweight title contender Marius Zaromskis in the co-main event of Wednesday’s Strikeforce: Los Angeles event.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Former Special Forces soldier Tim Kennedy picks up another victory after submitting Trevor Prangley in the first round. Kennedy is looking to face a tougher, and a much higher profile, opponent for his next bout.

HT: Strikeforce.com

FiveOuncesofPain.com is here to bring you all of the latest breaking live results from “Strikeforce: Los Angeles“.

“Strikeforce: Los Angeles” is taking place from the Nokia Theatre in…. you guessed it - Los Angeles, California.

Headlining the card will be a catchweight bout between the heavy handed Robbie Lawler and the dangerous submission specialist Renato “Bablu” Sobral.

A full list of results from “Strkeforce: Los Angeles” are listed below:

Hugo Sandoval def. Marcus Kowal via TKO (strikes) – Round 2

Jeremy Umphries def. R.J. Clifford via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2

K.J. Noons def. Conor Heun via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Tim Kennedy def. Trevor Prangley via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1

Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos def. Marius Zaromskis via TKO – Round 1

Renato “Babalu” Sobral def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan is a guest on today's edition of "The Fight Show with Mauro Ranallo."

With Ranallo in Los Angeles for tonight's "Strikeforce: Los Angeles" event, Morgan joins Arda Orcal to preview the Showtime-broadcast event, including Robbie Lawler vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. Marius Zaromskis and Trevor Prangley vs. Tim Kennedy

Catch the segment at 4:15 p.m. ET (1:15 p.m. PT) on Hardcore Sports Radio,
which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 98 or online at HardcoreSportsRadio.com

During Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker talked about wanting to match up welterweight champion Nick Diaz (22-7) against Jason “Mayhem” Miller (23-7) at a future event later this year.

Coker planned to put the two in the cage long before April’s brawl which took part at the “Strikeforce: Nashville” event which was broadcast live on CBS.

“I think ‘Mayhem’ versus Nick Diaz was a fight we were going to promote anyway,” Coker said. “It was just going to be a matter of time. So I think that fight will happen.”

Asked whether the next time we see Miller and Diaz will be against each other, Coker simply responded:

“I believe that fight will happen probably in the next eight months to a year.”

Diaz has won his last 7 bouts, having defeated Hayato Sakurai at DREAM.14 last month in a non-title bout in Japan. He defeated Marius Žaromskis last January in Miami to earn the Strikeforce welterweight title. His last loss was against K.J. Noons in 2007 for the vacant EliteXC lightweight title, a fight which he lost by TKO (cuts).

Miller, meanwhile, is 1-1 in his last two fights having defeated Tim Stout by TKO (punches) at the Nashville event. The loss came to current Strikeforce middleweight champ Jake Shields as both men fought for the vacant title in November at the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers event. Shields earned a unanimous decision in that fight.

HT: MMAFighting.com

“Strikeforce – Los Angeles” is as unique a card as you’re likely to find in recent history, at least where mainstream MMA promotions are concerned. The event is slated to feature six bouts instead of the standard 10-12 and is in conjunction with the E3 conference where EA Sports MMA, and Strikeforce therein, are being featured. Fans can tune in to watch the action starting tonight at 11:00 ET on Showtime.

Beyond the non-combat particulars, it’s also a show that’s been dealt some blows during the build including a number of scheduled fights falling apart due to a number of reasons. However, while company head Scott Coker may not have the fortune of turning injuries off or resetting the console, as might be the case in a video game, he and his crew have still done a nice job putting together a few sure-to-be entertaining match-ups. Robbie Lawler and Renato “Babalu” Sobral will duke it out in the main event at a catchweight of 195 pounds with the winner earning a title-shot in his respective division. On top of that, armed-forces veteran Tim Kennedy will be taking on MMA veteran Trevor Prangley, hard-hitting Brazilian Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos steps into the cage against high-kicking sensation Marius Zaromskis, and former EliteXC champ KJ Noons will take on the always-tough Conor Heun.

Before I get into the actual “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. 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…

Marcus Kowal vs. Hugo Sandoval

I’ve never heard of either fighter but apparently Kowal is 2-0 with a pair of finishing performances (one submission, one TKO) while Sandoval is 1-2 with his lone victory being a split decision. Based on stats alone it seems fairly obvious Kowal should have this in the bag.

Winner – Marcus Kowal via Submission Round 2

RJ Clifford vs. Jeremy Umphries

Again, I’m not familiar with either fighter, but their records indicate Clifford is a striker and Umphries is a grappler. Clifford owes two of his three professional wins to TKOs, Umphries three-of-four by way of submission. One thing standing out to me in the equation is Clifford’s inactivity as of late. More specifically, he hasn’t competed in nearly two years. While Umphries didn’t set any records for in-ring appearances over the last year he’s at fought four times in the same span of time. I think conditioning could play a role as a result, so I expect Umphries to work takedowns and jiujitsu to either break Clifford down en route to a decision win or tap him out at some point along the way.

Winner – Jeremy Umphries via Decision

KJ Noons vs. Conor Heun

This is an important fight for Noons in that he’s an obvious favorite and a 2-0 record since returning to MMA three months ago could open some “main event” doors for him next go-round. I’m positive Strikeforce is anxious to promote him based on look, style, and the fact he has a win over welterweight champ Nick Diaz. Heun is historically tough to finish, as all three of his career losses have been decisions (two of them split). I don’t think Noons will be able to knock him out but I do believe the one-time champion will land enough strikes to score points and keep Heun, the superior grappler, at bay long enough to pick up the win.

Winner – KJ Noons via Decision

Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Prangley

People thinking this should be a cake-walk for Kennedy are sorely mistaken. Prangley is 5-0-1 in his last six fights and 11-1-1 in his last thirteen. He’s a tough draw for any middleweight and has decent striking, above-average wrestling/submission skills, and a good deal of experience in the ring against game opposition. Kennedy has always been one of my favorites based on humility, class, and the service he’s done for this country. I’m excited to see how far he’ll go now that he’s able to finally train MMA full time instead of splitting time between the gym and his job as an Army Ranger. He’s got knockout power, under-appreciated grappling ability, and the heart/will to overcome any situation. He’s lost twice in thirteen fights – by cut and by decision to Jason “Mayhem” Miller. The guy won a Bronze Star for valor in combat, so it’s not like he’s going to sweat a difficult position or mentally break if he ends up on the wrong side of a knockdown. He will legitimately go until his body won’t allow him to and that’s a quality I’m rare to assign without a hint of doubt attached. I think this will be a very competitive match-up with Kennedy getting the better of Prangley at most points and thereby earning a decision win.

Winner Tim Kennedy via Decision

Marius Zaromskis vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos

I doubt I’m alone in thinking Zaromskis and Santos will keep things standing for 99% of the fight with the other 1% being the moment one of them ends up seeing stars with his back on the canvas. However, I don’t believe they’ll rush out of their corners swinging because both are experienced competitors who likely understand what’s at stake. Zaromskis is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Nick Diaz while Santos has dropped four of his last six bouts. Both need a win and the bulk of their collective defeats have involved them being knocked out. Rather than beginning the bout in a rock-em, sock-em style I expect a feeling out process involving jabs, leg kicks, and circling. Hell, “Cyborg” might even attempt a takedown for shoots and giggles. Eventually they’ll engage, but not before feeling comfortable with the notion of entering the danger zone by doing so. Beyond that it’s a toss up. First one to land a solid strike wins.

Winner – Marius Zaromskis via TKO Round 2

Robbie Lawler vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral

Lawler and Sobral are stylistic opposites of each other, though Sobral is certainly more of a striker than Lawler is a jiujitsu specialist. Still, “Babalu” struggles against adversaries who are superior on their feet and excels against those who rely on mat-based techniques. Comparably, Lawler succeeds against knocking blocks off of opponents who want to bang and tends to stumble against high-level grapplers. If Sobral doesn’t focus purely on using BJJ and his size, even though he actually weighed in lighter than Lawler, he’s in for the longest short night in history. Unfortunately for him he’ll have to get close to “Ruthless” Robbie in order to drag him to the floor and with Lawler’s power he’s likely to eat a lot of shots in the process. I’m positive Lawler’s training partners, like Matt Hughes, will have him well prepared to sprawl when necessary or throw knees to fend off takedown attempts. I think it could frustrate “Babalu” early and inspire him to test his stand-up. If so it will be a costly mistake.

Winner – Robbie Lawler via TKO Round 1