Frank Shamrock

Quick Hits: Noons, Martin Claim Boxing Wins, “Ninja” Rua to Face Steibling & More

— Former EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons and UFC veteran Terry Martin each picked up respective wins in the world of boxing this weekend. Noons earned a unanimous decision over Randy Pogue on Saturday night in Pala, California while Martin knocked out opponent Rayvon Wilson in the second round of their Friday night bout in Hammond, Indiana. [MMA Junkie]

— Chute Boxe product Murilo “Ninja” Rua has reportedly been tapped to replace Antonio Rogerio Nogueira against Alex Steibling on the Bitetti Combat 4 card, which takes place on September 12 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nogueira withdrew from the card last week and current speculation has him joining his older brother, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in the light heavyweight ranks of the UFC. [Fighters.com]

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Diaz Batters Shamrock in Strikeforce Debut

Many former EliteXC fighters were victorious during Strikeforce’s first event of the year on Saturday night in San Jose, California, but none of those wins were more emphatic than the one brash UFC and PRIDE veteran Nick Diaz earned over longtime veteran Frank Shamrock.

A younger, faster, and more well-conditioned Diaz pummeled Shamrock on the feet and on the ground over the course of nine minutes in the featured attraction of Strikeforce’s “Shamrock vs. Diaz” show before finally putting “The Legend” away, possibly for good, at least in terms of the sport’s relevant stars.

“I give everything to Nick Diaz,” Shamrock graciously said after the fight. “I trained for him 100% and I didn’t take him lightly. I knew he was a dangerous opponent, but I stepped up. I always fight the best and I come to entertain, but Nick kicked my ass tonight. There’s no two ways about it. He beat me.”

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Photos: Strikeforce/Showtime Presser

Here’s a small gallery of photos from this past Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for Strikeforce’s “Shamrock vs. Diaz” event, which takes place on April 11 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California and will be televised live on Showtime.

Those in attendance at the press conference included former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz, former EliteXC champions Jake Shields and Robbie Lawler, and female MMA star Cris “Cyborg” Santos.

All photos were taken by Tom Casino and come courtesy of Showtime. Quotes from the press conference are here.

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Strikeforce Acquires ProElite Assets; Lands Deal With Showtime

It’s been a busy past few weeks for Scott Coker and his fledgling Strikeforce brand. Once thought to have been just a small success story in the San Jose area, the promotion seems to be on the fast track to becoming the legitimate number-two MMA organization in North America after securing a deal to purchase a limited number of assets from ProElite, the parent company of EliteXC.

Under the terms of the deal announced this afternoon, Strikeforce will acquire a select number of fighters contracts, along with the ability to sign additional fighters to Strikeforce deals, as well as a video library of past EliteXC and ShoXC events.

“This is a tremendous development that will bolster the Strikeforce roster and allow us to produce even more competitive matchups between top fighters,” Coker said in a press release today. “Some of these athletes have been on the sidelines for a while now and are eagerly waiting to return to competition. We look forward to providing them with the opportunity to do so in the next few months.”

 

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Frank Shamrock Chokes Out… Dewey?

Dewey Hammond, curious about death being choked out, finds out what it feels like thanks to Frank Shamrock.

Quick recovery…

Thanks to Franco for the tip.

Ortiz Close to Signing With EliteXC

After flirting with the idea of signing with a number of promotions including Affliction, the American Fight League, and even his former employer, the UFC, for months now, it seems that Tito Ortiz could end up inking a deal with EliteXC as soon as next week.

Ortiz revealed that he was very close to potentially signing a deal with the organization during it’s network television broadcast of “Saturday Night Fights” on CBS over the weekend.

“I see Andrei Arlovski competing in (EliteXC) now so the big names are starting to come over,” Ortiz said. “I’m going to exercise my right to be a free agent and we’re working really close… we’re about a week a way from signing the deal and I know that my fans are all going to be excited to see me back in the cage.”

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Frank Shamrock Previews EliteXC on CBS

Former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock gives his predictions on the main card fights that will take place at EliteXC’s upcoming “Heat” event on October 4 at the BankAtlantic Center, in Sunrise, Florida and is televised on CBS. Above Shamrock gives a quick breakdown of the card’s featured fights. After the jump, he explains how his brother Ken, can easily defeat Kimbo Slice.

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Fight of the Day: Frank Shamrock vs Cung Le

From the EliteXC and Strikeforce’s co-promoted extravaganza in March, here’s Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le for the Strikeforce Middleweight Title, recorded with Showtime’s patented “Cage Cam”. Enjoy the three-round war.

Ortiz: “My Affliction Deal is Ground-Breaking”

It’s official: Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has signed with Affliction Entertainment. The 33-year-old has stated that the deal he signed with the promotion will be nothing short of “ground-breaking”, likely making one of, if not the, highest-paid fighter in mixed martial arts today.

“I guarantee you that my contract will be like no other,” Ortiz told Sports Illustrated’s Arash Markazi. “It will be a ground-breaking record contract for sure, without a doubt. There’s so much money to be made right now in mixed martial arts and it’s all about the fighters trying to make that money. It’s going to be a long-term deal where I put my heart and soul into the company and help build them. That’s something I’m interested in doing. They’re going to bring me on, not just as a fighter but also doing some of the back work also.”

Ortiz is set to be introduced at a press conference Affliction has slated for tomorrow in Las Vegas. His official defection from the UFC comes just over 24 hours after his non-compete clause with the organization expired at midnight on Monday. It also signals that Dana White and company opted not to match Affliction’s offer. Exact numbers in terms of the money he’s making with this deal have not yet been revealed.

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Report: Shamrock to Headline EliteXC on CBS Announce Team

Former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock will serve as one of the color commentators during the television broadcast of Elite Xtreme Combat’s “Primetime” event on May 31st, which will become the first mixed martial arts show to air live on network TV. (CBS)

The news comes from Sherdog.com, which reports that CBS and EliteXC are expected to make the announcement this morning at a news conference held at the network’s studios in Los Angeles.

Gus Johnson, mostly known for his work during the NCAA Tournament and as the radio play-by-play voice of the NBA’s New York Knicks, will serve as the play-by-play broadcaster.

Mauro Ranallo, who has done play-by-play for every EliteXC broadcast since the promotion’s first show in February of last year, will work as a color commentator alongside Shamrock.