Strikeforce

Strikeforce Challengers: “Villasenor vs. Santos” Photo Gallery

Courtesy of Strikeforce and Showtime Sports, here is a small collection of photos from last night’s Strikeforce Challengers event, which took place at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.

As shown above, Joey Villasenor and Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos collided in a main-event middleweight affair. Villasenor came away with a split decision over the Brazilian. More photos from the event are after the jump.

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Villasenor Edges Santos at “Challengers”

VILLASENOR DECISIONS CYBORG IN MAIN EVENT; GURGEL AND HEUN PROVIDE CROWD-PLEASING FIREWORKS; KENNEDY AND KAUFMAN EACH SCORE VICTORIES

KENT, Wash. – “Smokin” Joe Villasenor showed no signs of rust after a year away from the cage as he recorded a close split decision over Evangelista “Cyborg” in the main event of the sophomore edition of Strikeforce Challengers Friday night on Showtime before an enthusiastic crowd at the ShoWare Center.

In a gritty and tactical battle all the way to the end, Villasenor proved victorious winning on two of the three judges scorecards, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. “I haven’t fought in over a year and that’s a great fight to come back to,” Villasenor said afterwards. “A three-round war. I was really surprised by (Cyborg’s) countering. It turned into a great fight.”

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Previewing Strikeforce Challengers: The Main Card

Strikeforce continues to move forward and will hold its second-ever “Challengers” event tonight on Showtime from the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington with a decidedly different look compared to their inaugural event back in May.

While a slew of skilled prospects will still be featured, tonight’s show will sport an unusual number of fighters that are often seen on the main cards of Strikeforce’s bigger events. The fact that both Dennis Hallman and Duane Ludwig have been relegated to preliminary bouts shows the sheer amount of notable talent on display.

The event will be headlined by a sure-fire middleweight slugfest between Brazilian striker Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and Greg Jackson-trained Joey Villasenor. Additional bouts slated for the televised main card include a middleweight clash between former BodogFight welterweight champion Nick Thompson and Army veteran Tim Kennedy as well as a lightweight bout involving Jorge Gurgel and Conor Heun.

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“Cyborg” Santos, Villasenor Scuffle During Strikeforce Weigh-Ins

The official weigh-in results for tonight’s Strikeforce Challengers event, which takes place at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, are below. All fighters successfully made weight.

A much-anticipated middleweight showdown between Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and Joey Villasenor will headline the show, which will air on Showtime beginning at 11 PM ET. Santos and Villasenor exchanged shoves following a heated staredown. Both fighters were quickly separated and order was promptly restored.

Additional bouts slated for the televised main card include a middleweight clash between former BodogFight welterweight champion Nick Thompson and Army veteran Tim Kennedy as well as a lightweight bout involving UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel and Conor Heun.

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Quick Hits: “Kid” Yamamoto to Added to K-1 Max, Hallman Gets New Foe & More

Here are your quick hits for the afternoon of June 18, 2009.

— Former pound-for-pound phenom Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto will return to action a little less than two months after suffering his first professional MMA loss in seven years at K-1’s “World MAX 2009” event on July 13 in a kickboxing bout. “Kid” will be fighting Jae hee Cheon in a three-round matchup. Other notable MMA fighters competing include Tatsuya Kawajiri and Atsushi Yamamoto. [Japan-MMA.com]

— Longtime veteran Dennis Hallman will now be facing training partner Justin Davis in a catch-weight bout at tomorrow night’s “Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg” event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. Hallman was originally slated to take on Cedric Marks, who was forced out of the bout after reportedly competing this past weekend and acquiring a medical suspension because of it. A lightweight bout between Jorge Gurgel and Conor Heun will also now be contested at a catch-weight of 160 lbs. [MMA Junkie]

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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

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.

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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.

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Quick Hits: Kyle to Replace Hamman at Strikeforce, Thomas Signs With WEC & More

Here are your quick hits for the evening of May 27, 2009.

— Heavyweight knockout artist Mike Kyle has reportedly been tapped to replace Jared Hamman against Brazilian light heavyweight prospect Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante on the preliminary portion of Strikeforce’s “Lawler vs. Shields” event on June 6. Hamman was forced to withdraw after suffering a broken nose during a recent training session. Kyle last competed at JG and TKT Promotions “Fighting 4 Kidz” event last August, where he won a unanimous decision over Mychal Clark. [MMA Weekly]

— World Extreme Cagefighting announced on Wednesday that TKO Championship Fighting and Ring of Fire featherweight champion Noah Thomas, a cast member on the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” that was actually kicked off the show and banned from the UFC for fighting castmate Marlon Sims on the show, has signed a deal with the promotion. He will replace injured former WEC bantamweight champ Eddie Wineland on the WEC 41 undercard and take on Frank Gomez. [MMA Junkie]

— Streaking Brazilian prospect Ronny Torres is expected to make his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 19 in September against an opponent yet to be determined. Torres was originally slated to face “Ultimate Fighters” alumnus Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 18 in April, but was forced out of the bout after suffering torn ligaments in his right knee during training. [Tatame.com]

Devela, Rockhold to Collide at Strikeforce Challengers in June

NEW YORK - Rising stars Cory “The One” Devela (9-2) and Luke Rockhold (4-1) will face off with each other in a middleweight (185 pound) battle at the Strikeforce Challengers mixed martial arts (MMA) event at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington on Friday, June 19.

“I feel like a million bucks,” said the 24-year-old Devela, one of the sport’s most promising young talents who hails from Bonney Lake, Washington and is a member of the Dennis “Superman” Hallman led Team Victory that has pioneered a hybrid fighting style dubbed “Cowboy Karate.” “I know he’s mostly a submission guy and I’m strong at that so it should be a great fight.”

Devela notched his best victory to date before a home crowd when he scored a TKO over former UFC star Joe “Diesel” Riggs in the first round of their Strikeforce matchup at Tacoma, Washington’s Tacoma Dome on February 28, 2008. After earning a unanimous decision over his next opponent, however, Devela suffered a setback when he was suddenly stopped by Terry Martin with an overhand punch in the third round of their Strikeforce matchup at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California on September 20, 2008.

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