Archive for April, 2011

MAIN CARD Ben Askren def. Nick Thompson via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) Jay Hieron def. Brent Weedman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – welterweight-tourney semifinal Michael Chandler def. Lloyd Woodard via unanimous (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – lightweight-tourney semifinal PRELIMINARY CARD Michael Osborn def. Cody Carrillo via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:27 Tyler Stinson def. Nathan James via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Eric Prindle def. Josh Burns via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00 David Rickels def. Dylan Smith via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:32

MAIN CARD RESULTS Nick Diaz def. Paul Daley via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:57 – to retain Strikeforce welterweight title Gilbert Melendez def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:14 – to retain Strikeforce lightweight title Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine fight to a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28) Shinya Aoki def. Lyle Beerbohm via submission (neck crank) – Round 1, 1:32 PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS Robert Peralta def. Hiroyuki Takaya via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29) Virgil Swicker def. Brett Albee via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:46 Joe Duarte def. Saad Awad via submission (armbar) – [...]

In a possible sign that the world is coming to an end and that business is anything but as usual, UFC president Dana White is in attendance for tonight’s Strikeforce event with Zuffa co-founder Lorenzo Fertitta. Zuffa purchased Strikeforce in March of this year. Here is an image of the surreal event:

UFC middleweight champion and a national celebrity after knocking Vitor Belfort out at UFC 126, Anderson Silva will be the biggest star of UFC Rio card. According to Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, former UFC heavyweight champion and his training partner, Silva will fight Yushin Okami, the last opponent to defeat him (by DQ at Rumble on the Rock 8, in 2006), trying to set a new record of nine straight title defenses in the UFC. The return of the organization to Brazil will take place at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena, on August 27. Clipped from: www.tatame.com (share this clip) UPDATE: [...]

Be sure to check out an action packed night of MMA tonight on free TV! It all starts at 9 pm ET on MTV2 with Bellator 40, which is headlined by a welterweight superfight between champion Ben Askren and UFC vet Nick Thompson. Strikeforce: Diaz vs Daley kicks off on Showtime at 10 pm ET. The event features a championship double-header — Nick Diaz and Paul Daley square off for the welterweight crown and Gilbert Melendez meets Japanese star Tatsuya Kawajiri in a lightweight title bout. Here are the televised cards for both events: STRIKEFORCE MAIN CARD Champ Nick Diaz [...]

Mixed martial arts will finally be represented in what seems to be a positive light in the box offices. An upcoming film “Warrior” is directed by Gavin O’Connor (Pride and Glory, Miracle) and is set to hit theaters on September 9th. The film stars notable actors Tom Hardy (Inception), Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom). Check out the official trailer for the upcoming MMA film:

Strikeforce held their pre-fight press conference for this coming Saturday’s event. Here are pictures of the presser courtesy of MMAFighting.com‘s Ariel Hewlwani:

Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren has an upcoming fight with UFC veteran Nick Thompson in the main event of Bellator 40 this weekend. According to Askren, he won’t be knocked out, he won’t be submitted, so he’s just going to win. Many fans have criticized Askren’s style and have labeled him as a “lay-n-pray” fighter — perhaps you could look at it as them praising the champ for his extraordinary ability to control a fight while doing as little damage as possible. Think of him as a Jon Fitch 2.0. Askren says he got into MMA just to win and he isn’t [...]

Light-heavyweight Thiago Silva faced the Nevada State Athletic Commission to hear his punishment for submitting a urine sample “inconsistent with human urine” following his UFC 125 defeat of Brandon Vera. Part of Silva’s punishment was to have the win taken away — it will now be ruled a no contest. Here is a complete summary of the punishment: When all was said and done, the NSAC ruling stated that Silva’s license was revoked for one year with a start date of Jan. 1, he was fined 25 percent of his $55,000 purse, fined $20,000 of his $55,000 win bonus, would [...]

Just over a week ago, Jon Fitch was forced to withdraw from his rematch with BJ Penn at UFC 132 due to an injury. Now it seems that both of the evening’s originally scheduled co-main event participants could be forced off of the card due to injury. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer, Penn has picked up an injury that could force him to pull himself off the July 2nd card. Other than reports that Penn will be undergoing a MRI too look at his injury, there are no other details. Stay tuned for updates on the situation.