Showtime

Report: Fedor vs. Rogers Could Take Place on October 10 in New Jersey

Longtime heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko’s Strikeforce debut could come sooner than expected. An advertised bout against heavy-handed striker Brett Rogers could be targeted for a yet-to-be-announced October 10 event in Newark, New Jersey.

Showtime Sports executive Chris DeBlasio confirmed the addition of the date to the network’s programming schedule with MMA Junkie but stopped short of confirming that the organization would definitely be holding an event that night.

Continue reading "Report: Fedor vs. Rogers Could Take Place on October 10 in New Jersey"

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg Salaries

The California State Athletic Commission has released the official list of fighter salaries following Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg which took place on Saturday, August 15 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos ($25,000) def. Gina Carano ($125,000)
Gegard Mousasi ($2,000) def. Renato “Babalu” Sobral ($75,000)
Gilbert Melendez ($50,000) def. Mitsuhiro Ishida ($30,000)
Fabricio Werdum ($50,000) def. Mike Kyle ($14,000)
Jay Hieron ($55,000) def. Jesse Taylor ($12,000)
Scott Lighty ($4,000) def. Mike Cook ($2,500)
Justin Wilcox ($5,000) def. David Douglas ($5,500)
James Terry ($6,000) def. Zak Bucia ($2,000)
Alex Trevino ($3,500) def. Isaiah Hill ($2,000)

Remember that this is only the base salary that a fighter received. Bonuses, deductions, and other undisclosed fees are not included.

Nick Diaz Under the Gun With Strikeforce and Showtime?

Prior to Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, Nick Diaz was scheduled to take on Jay Hieron for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. All of that was thrown out the window when Diaz decided to skip a mandatory drug test administered by the California State Athletic Commission.

Strikeforce and Showtime executives were displeased with the situation and when forced to find a replacement they called upon The Ultimate Fighter 7 alumni Jesse Taylor and placed his bout with Hieron on the non-televised section of the August 15 card.

Scott Coker and Ken Hershman recently spoke with ESPN Radio’s Steve Cofield where they provided their thoughts on Diaz and what steps the organization and network will take in the future.

Continue reading "Nick Diaz Under the Gun With Strikeforce and Showtime?"

Cyborg Stops Carano, Captures Women’s 145-Pound Title

In the biggest bout in female mixed martial arts history, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos stopped Gina Carano via TKO to become the Strikeforce women’s 145-pound champion.

From the opening bell, the fight had a feverish pace as Cyborg immediately came forward and put the pressure on Carano with a flurry of hard strikes against the cage. As Cyborg attempted an early takedown, fans saw Carano sweep Cyborg and gain the mount. Before Carano could put up any offense, Cyborg went for a quick heel hook but Carano calmly escaped.

Continue reading "Cyborg Stops Carano, Captures Women’s 145-Pound Title"

Six Questions with Kevin Randleman

NEW YORK - Kevin Randleman is ready to seize the moment. After four years in and out of the ring because of a variety of ailments, the ex-UFC belt-holder and two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion says he's more focused and eager than ever to step in the cage for his much-anticipated Strikeforce debut against Mike Whitehead.

The two will battle in a light heavyweight matchup that will take place Saturday, June 6, during an incredible five-fight Strikeforce "Lawler vs. Shields" show to be televised on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

World-ranked fighters "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (middleweight) and Jake Shields (welterweight) will square off at a catch weight of 182 pounds in the main event and Andrei "Pitbull" Arlovski and Brett "The Grim" Rogers will meet in another exciting undercard matchup. Also, Scott "Hands Of Steel" Smith takes on Cesar Gracie black belt Nick Diaz and knockout artist Phil Baroni will meet Joe Riggs.

Randleman, 37, answered six quick questions regarding Saturday night's fight.

Continue reading "Six Questions with Kevin Randleman"

Six Questions With Tyron Woodley

ST. LOUIS – Fast-rising St. Louis fighter Tryon Woodley joins eight other popular local fighters including Jesse Finney on Saturday night's six-bout undercard that will precede an incredible five-fight "Lawler vs. Shields" Strikeforce show to be televised on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

World-ranked fighters Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (middleweight) and Jake Shields (welterweight) will square off at a catch weight of 182 pounds in the main event and Andrei "Pitbull" Arlovski, Brett "The Grim" Rogers and Scott "Hands Of Steel" Smith will do battle

In other fights on Showtime's five-fight telecast, Arlovski, a former UFC champion, will take on the undefeated, hard-hitting Rogers in an Affliction sponsored heavyweight bout, the exciting, power-punching Smith will take on talented, Cesar Gracie black belt Nick Diaz, knockout artist Phil Baroni will meet Joe Riggs in a welterweight scrap and ex-UFC belt-holder and two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Kevin Randleman will face Mike Whitehead in a light heavyweight matchup.

Woodley is 2-0 in his young career and takes on Salvoder Woods of Granite City, Ill. He is No. 11 of 13 children and was a two-time All-American at Missouri and the school's first Big 12 champion.

He answered six quick questions regarding Saturday night's fight.

Continue reading "Six Questions With Tyron Woodley"

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.

Continue reading "Photos: Strikeforce/Showtime Presser"

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.”

 

Continue reading "Strikeforce Acquires ProElite Assets; Lands Deal With Showtime"

Video Preview of Emelianenko-Arlovski Showdown

Courtesy of Showtime Sports, here’s a five-minute video previewing the upcoming heavyweight clash between longtime divisional king Fedor Emelianenko and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, which will take place at Affliction Entertainment’s “Day of Reckoning show on January 24 in Anaheim, California.

Video: “Babalu”, Sokoudjou Discuss Upcoming Battle

In the above video courtesy of Showtime Sports, former UFC title challenger Renato “Babalu” Sobral and one-time PRIDE upstart Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou discuss their upcoming light heavyweight bout, which will take place at Affliction Entertainment’s “Day of Reckoning show on January 24 in Anaheim, California.