We're still in "business as usual" mode according to Dana White when it comes to crossover fights between Strikeforce and UFC fighters. So no Nick Diaz versus Georges St. Pierre or Gilbert Melendez against Frank Edgar anytime soon. White spoke with USA Today's Sergio Non:
UT: You seem to be a bit more open to the idea of interpromotional fights if fans want it. Which Strikeforce champ could you see getting first crack at a UFC star?
DW: I'm not in the interpromotional fights now ...
Well, which Strikeforce fighter will we see in UFC?
If guys' contracts expire over there, I can sign them.
But you still wouldn't bring, say, Gilbert Melendez in to fight one of your top guys in UFC?
Not until his contract's up.
White said there is one loophole:
What if his contract allows it? Scott Coker says there's no contractual impediment to having Strikeforce guys fighting in UFC.
I agree, but we have a contract with Showtime. I could see going that way before I could see guys coming this way.
So the possibility exists that the UFC could send its fighters into Strikeforce to take on the champions on Showtime.
That's still a big help to the smaller MMA company. Strikeforce lacks the depth at 155, 170 and 205 to come up with enough quality challengers for its champions in those divisions, so maybe we see guys like Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Clay Guida, Anthony Pettis, Quinton Jackson or even Tito Ortiz squaring off against Strikeforce champions.
At the end of the interview, White also addressed the recent media credentialing snafu at Strikeforce: Diaz-Daley. Non pushed the issue, but White sounds like he's sticking to his guns.
Gary Goodridge Gerard Gordeau Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia
Source: http://www.fighters.com/04/14/spicing-up-a-dry-season-m-1-challenge-25-streams-live-and-free
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/07/bellator-books-top-prospect-tony-johnson-vs-carlos-flores/
Someone must have broken a mirror while under a ladder as a black cat crossed their path at American Kickboxing Academy, the gym that trains Cain Velasquez, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Josh Thomson and a slew of elite fighters. Two of their fighters had to withdraw from fights this week.
First, Jon Fitch pulled out of his planned rematch with B.J. Penn. The two were slated to fight at UFC 132 after they fought to a draw at UFC 127. No replacement has been named, but Penn is still expected to fight on the card.
Then, Mike Kyle was forced out of next week's Strikeforce bout with Gegard Mousasi with a broken hand. Strikeforce is looking for a replacement.
This is after Velasquez hurt his shoulder in training for a bout with Junior dos Santos, Koscheck broke an orbital bone against Georges St. Pierre, and Swick went through a laundry list of ailments that have kept him from fighting.
Since it's opening day for baseball, AKA fighters may want to think about pulling some ideas from "Major League" and "Bull Durham" to remove whatever curse that has befallen them. Sacrificing a live chicken might be a bit much -- especially for animal rights crusader Thomson -- but a bucket of KFC and chicken bones on their cage just may do the trick.
An injury has forced Jon Fitch to pull out of his July 2 bout with B.J. Penn.
Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Plenty of fans seemed lukewarm on the Fitch-Penn rematch at UFC 132. The UFC has an opportunity to come up with a something that'll get the juices flowing for its big Fourth of July weekend card.
Finding a fill-in isn't as easy as you'd think. The UFC has almost every fighter in the world under contract, yet its welterweight division doesn't have a ton of choices for Penn.
If healthy, Carlos Condit would be a great. The 26-year-old is now seven months removed from his devastating knockout of Dan Hardy. Because of an injury, he had to pull out of a UFC 127 fight with Chris Lytle. Condit would take the Penn fight, but his knee sounds like it may still be an issue.
"I dislocated a joint in my knee cap and did a lot of damage so I pull out of the fight. I have been rehabbing and trying to get my knee back in order. I was sparring today, I have been training all week and it still hurts, but it's healed for the most part," [Condit told MMADieHards.com. ...]
"If I get the call and they offer me the fight, I definitely would be up for that fight, I think it would be an honor to fight B.J. I would be fighting a huge legend so I think it would put a little pressure on me, (but) there's only one way to find out."
A Penn fight would be great for Anthony Johnson as well. Johnson, also a recent winner over Hardy, would be forced to stay in shape to get ready for the July fight.
"I'm staying in shape and trying to keep my weight down," Johnson [told MMADieHards.com]. "Right now I'm only about 200 pounds, but I'm full of water right now. When I run I sweat so much it looks like I just got out of a swimming pool, so if they were to tell me I have a fight in a month I know I'd be ready. The weight would be easy to come off, I'm good to go."
Johnson indicated that money might be a concern if he was offered a fight against the legendary Penn.
"Hell, if I fight B.J. they're for sure going to have to renegotiate my contract," said Johnson. "If the opportunity was presented, would I take a fight like that? Yeah. I don't say no to fights and I like to fight, if I'm winning or not, I still like to fight. So yeah, I would take that fight."
The only hitch in a Penn-Johnson fight is the potential size disparity. The 165-pound Penn faces that in every welterweight bout, but in Johnson he would battle a guy who walks into the cage as high as 195 pounds on fight night.
Who else could step up by July? Let's throw in a wild card in Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz. If he dominates Paul Daley this weekend, does Dana White think Diaz is "ready to play the game?"
Thiago Alves is scheduled to fight Rick Story at UFC 130. He could be moved back five weeks. There's also the possibility of a Diego Sanchez rematch, but that appears to a be long shot with the injuries he suffered at UFC on Versus 3 and the fact that the matchup down at lightweight was so one-sided.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fitch-out-Who-should-fight-Penn-?urn=mma-wp913
Source: http://www.fighters.com/04/10/top-5-best-moments-of-strikeforce-diaz-vs-daley
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Source: http://www.mmatko.com/golden-glory-series-moscow-hype-videos/
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