Phil Baroni

Strikeforce Continuing to Take Shots at Recently Released Fighters

It seems that Scott Coker is channeling his inner Dana White.

Strikeforce’s head honcho isn’t primarily known for talking bad about anyone. It’s precisely why Coker’s San Jose-based promotion has become one of the most respected businesses in mixed martial arts. But with the UFC eager to steal away any and all above-average talent from the Strikeforce ranks, it’s been Coker who has shown more of an aggressive side in recent weeks.

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Strikeforce Releases Phil Baroni, UFC Return Likely

Yesterday, Strikeforce officials announced that they had released PRIDE veteran Phil “The New York Bad Ass” Baroni from his contract. Baroni appeared under the Strikeforce banner twice dropping exciting bouts to Frank Shamrock and Joe Riggs.

“We wish Phil the best of luck and hope he can revive his career,” said Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker. “If he can, maybe one day, he can return and fight for us.”

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Strikeforce: Lawler vs Shields Live Results

Live:
Jake Shields def. Robbie Lawler - Submission (Guillotine choke) Round 1 2:02
Brett Rogers def. Andrei Arlovski - KO Round 1 0:22
Nick Diaz def. Scott Smith - Submission (Rear naked choke) Round 3 1:41
Joe Riggs def. Phil Baroni - Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mike Whitehead def. Kevin Randleman - Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Untelevised: (results via Sherdog)
Jesse Finney def. Josh Baumgartner - Submission (Kimura) Round 1 1:55
Mike Kyle def. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante - TKO Round 2 4:05
Booker DeRousse def. James Wade - TKO Round 1 4:06
Tyron Woodley def. Sal Woods - Submission (Anaconda choke) Round 1 4:20
Lucas Lopes def. Scott Ventimiglia - DQ (Knee to the head of downed opponent) Round 1 3:26
Pat Benson def. Dave Cochran - Submission (Armbar) Round 1 2:18

Changes Hit XMMA 7 Main Card

The Quebec-based XMMA promotion has announced a pair of changes to its upcoming “Inferno” event, which is slated to take place on February 7 at the Cepsum Center on the campus of the University of Montreal. Headliners Phil Baroni and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos have been forced off the card after suffering separate injuries during recent training sessions.

Baroni, who was set to take on rising welterweight prospect Guillaume de Lorenzi, will now be replaced by former “Ultimate Fighter” cast member Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver, who has been mentioned in the media quite frequently over the past weeks due to his release from Bellator Fighting Championships’ project with ESPN Deportes after he directed controversial comments towards newly-elected United States President Barack Obama.

Koppenhaver last competed at a Desert Rage event in November of last year, where he scored a first-round knockout of David Anderson. Following his time on “TUF”, Koppenhaver racked up a 1-1 record in the UFC before his departure, earning a third-round TKO of cast mate Jared Rollins and falling to Japanese veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

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Afternoon Notes: Mir-Lesnar II News, Goulet-McCrory Proposed & More

- A planned middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Thales Leites might not be the only championship bout at UFC 97. Fighters Only Magazine is quoting UFC President Dana White as saying that the heavyweight title unification rematch between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir could take place in April, which is when the UFC plans to return to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the second time in the last two years. “Mir took little damage in his fight with Nog, and Lesnar wants to fight him soon, so April may be the time and place for that,” White said.

- Canadian welterweight Jonathan Goulet has told Sherdog.com that he has been offered a fight against Tamdan McCrory for April’s UFC 97 event also, but will be unable to accept the bout until Thursday at the earliest due to medical clearance needed to begin training again after injuring his right knee in his recent loss to Mike Swick at the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” event in December. McCrory is coming off a loss as well - He fell to Dustin Hazelett via submission at UFC 91. Keep in mind thought that the UFC has yet to secure a date at the Bell Centre because of the Montreal Canadiens’ pending playoff schedule.

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Fight Announcements: Baroni, Lil’ Nog & More

There were a few future bouts revealed over the weekend involving some pretty interesting participants. Let’s get right to them…

— Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has revealed that he is attempting to match Phil Baroni and Duane Ludwig together for a welterweight showdown that would take place at a yet-to-be-announced event early next year in either Denver or Seattle. Baroni remains undefeated since moving to 170 lbs., winning a decision over Olaf Alfonso in his last bout. Ludwig has struggled as of late, splitting his last four bouts, albeit against much better competition. (Paul Daley, Takanori Gomi)

— Manny Gamburyan has told MMA Weekly that he has agreed to take on fellow lightweight Thiago Tavares at UFC 94 on January 31 in Las Vegas. Bout agreements have not yet been sent out, but paperwork is expected to be taken care of over the next few days. “He’s a phenomenal fighter,” Gamburyan said when asked about Tavares. “I’m really happy I’m fighting him. With a good victory, that’s going to put me on top for sure.”

— World Victory Road has officially announced that former PRIDE standout Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has signed with the organization and will go up against Moise Rimbon at Sengoku VI on November 1 in Japan. Nogueira last fought in Affliction’s debut show on July 19, stopping Edwin Dewees in the first round. Rimbon, a Europe Top Team product, submitted K-1 kickboxer Peter Graham with a rear naked choke at Sengoku IV in August.

Baroni Bests Alfonso at PFC 10

Phil Baroni extended his undefeated streak in the welterweight division Friday night, winning an unanimous decision over former WEC mainstay Olaf Alfonso at Palace Fighting Championship’s “Explosive” event at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.

Baroni overcame a tough first round in which he suffered a cut under his left eye to control Alfonso over the next two rounds. He used crisp combinations in timely takedowns to keep Alfonso off-balance and hand him his first loss of the year.

The event also featured three separate championship bouts: Bryan Travers defeated Jeremiah Metcalf via unanimous decision to claim the vacant PFC welterweight title, Shawn Klarcyk submitted Brandon Miller to retain his PFC bantamweight crown and Brian Cobb coasted to an easy decision win over David Gardner to remain the PFC’s lightweight champion.

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Trigg-Vitale Possible for Strikeforce in October

Despite Strikeforce officials releasing a press release this evening advertising former UFC welterweight title challenger Frank Trigg as facing fellow veteran Falaniko Vitale on October 3rd in Denver, Trigg himself has stated that he will not commit himself to the fight until after his scheduled matchup against Makoto Takimoto at World Victory Road’s “Sengoku IV” show on August 24th in Japan.

Trigg revealed his plans to MMA Junkie. According to the part-time radio show co-host, he has not yet signed a contract to fight Vitale out of hesitation that an unforseen circumstance could prevent him from participating in the organization’s fall event.

“I plan to fight for Strikeforce on Oct. 3, but I don’t want to commit and then not be able to fight,” Trigg said. “I definitely want to fight, but I just don’t want to make that promise and then not be able to compete because of an injury or something from [next week’s] fight in Japan. I don’t even want to talk about the October fight. I have not signed a contract (with Strikeforce). I won’t even look at the contract until I get back from Japan because I want all of my focus to be on Takimoto.”

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Strikeforce Headed to Denver in October

Strikeforce will venture outside of the state of California for the second time this year when they hold a show at the Broomfield Event Center in Denver, Colorado on October 3rd. “Payback” will feature a main event between local product Duane “Bang” Ludwig and “Ultimate Fighter” veteran Sam Morgan.

The organization officially announced the show in a press release today. Also advertised as competing at the event are UFC veterans Phil Baroni and Frank Trigg. However it’s interesting to note that Trigg has told Five Ounces of Pain that he won’t commit to any future fights until after his August 24th meeting with Makoto Takimoto at World Victory’ Road’s “Sengoku IV” show.

Both Ludwig and Morgan have been struggling as of late. Ludwig has lost two out of his last three bouts, most recently a TKO loss to Takanori Gomi in March, while Morgan has not fought since suffering a brutal first-round TKO loss to British welterweight sensation Paul Daley at a ShoXC event in January. The two originally fought at a Ring of Fire show in April 2005. Morgan knocked out Ludwig just 50 seconds into the fight.

MMA Weekly reports that longtime veteran Pete Spratt will also be competing on the card as well and that a deal regarding a live broadcast is “in the works, but nothing definite” according Strikeforce vice president Mike Afromowitz, who also stated that at the least, the show would be televised in parts in the future on Strikeforce’s weekly television show late Saturday nights on NBC.

Hose, Baroni Win at “Hard Times”

ICON Sport middleweight champion Kala Kolohe Hose bounced back from a recent loss in EliteXC to Rolando Dominique by way of strikes in the second round of their non-title bout at last night’s “Hard Times” event at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hose appeared to be in trouble early on after a first-round exchange on the feet saw Dominique stun Hose with a left hook. Hose was able to recover and ended the round on top of Dominique, controlling his opponent and landing strikes. Hose then dropped Dominique with a right hand midway through the second and pounded away for the stoppage win.

Also victorious on last night’s card was Phil Baroni, who remains undefeated at welterweight after scoring a controversial knockout of fellow veteran Ron Verdadero just 51 seconds into their co-featured matchup. A wild exchange on the feet saw Baroni tag Verdadero multiple times before knocking him down with an uppercut and a right hook, prompting referee Yuji Shimada to quickly wave off the bout. Verdadero immediately jumped to his feet and protested the stoppage amongst boos from the crowd but his argument fell on deaf ears.

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