Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Anthony Perosh could be happening at UFC 131 this June in Vancouver

A light heavyweight match-up could be the latest addition to this June’s pay-per-view event which is set to hit Vancouver with a bang. In the main event of the evening, former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be returning to the cage for the first time since a disappointing loss to current titleholder Cain Velasquez last October. [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/11/krzysztof-soszynski-vs-anthony-perosh-could-be-happening-at-ufc-131-this-june-in-vancouver

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito 

Strikeforce mixed bag: Diaz vs. Daley on Apr. 9, HWT Grand Prix delayed

It looks like the Strikeforce is set to give fans another excellent main event and co-main on April 9, sadly neither one of those fights will involve participants in the heavyweight Grand Prix. The Josh Barnett-Brett Rogers and Alistair Overeem-Fabricio Werdum scraps have been moved to Dallas on June 18.

Nick Diaz is expected to defend his welterweight title against Paul Daley in April with Gilbert Melendez defending his lightweight belt against Tatsuya Kawajiri. The card goes down at the San Diego Sports Arena, now known as the Valley View Casino Center. 

The fellas at Fight Opinion are livid about the heavyweight tournament change:

Yes, in Texas. Who could have seen that coming? Read that Junkie report and the statement given by Scott Coker. Horrible.

First and foremost, as I stated this morning, there should absolutely be a penalty fee paid by Strikeforce & Showtime to the four fighters in the 'tournament' (Werdum, Barnett, Overeem, Rogers) for this ridiculous two month delay. It no doubt has impacted some of the scheduling for the fighters and their camps. No excuses, it’s time for Scott Coker to pay up.

Josh Gross at ESPN.com spoke with the camps of several fighters. Overeem's manager seemed okay with the change, while Rogers' manager Mike Reilly was a bit pertrubed. It was also interesting to hear Antonio Silva's camp say they want to get their guy another fight, out the tournament, before the fall. Silva pulled the upset on tourney favorite Fedor Emelianenko in February. 

Zach at FO hammers Coker for trying to initially place the card in Japan. Clearly, there are issues with Josh Barnett's license. The American heavyweight was suspended in 2009 by the state of California. He still hasn't gotten the license reinstated. It looks like New Jersey and Nevada also had California's back. The solution was running to Japan where the lack of drug testing has always been problematic?

Second, the fact that Scott Coker really did push all of his chips to try to run the April 9th date in Japan is absurd. Yes, I predicted that Strikeforce would try to run some if not all of Barnett’s fights in Japan, but you would have to be a clueless idiot in 2011 to try to run that market — especially if you are a foreigner. What it goes to show you is what a mark Scott Coker is when it comes to Japan to ignore all the realities that were facing him and to proceed ahead as if he was running into a brick wall just for the fun of it. I’m not angry at Mr. Coker, I’m just embarrassed for him at this point.

He also says this will test the trust of some fans. 

Third, the delay in the HW GP should absolutely raise red flags in the minds of fans that this ‘tournament’ will even get completed. I’m not saying 100% that it won’t happen be finished, but it certainly has a larger chance of not getting finished within the 2011 calendar frame. [...] Fans should have every right to be upset about the delay and what they may perceive as ‘false advertising’ when it’s really more or less incompetence.

I don’t know how many times I need to repeat this, but I will do so again: MMA fans want competency and consistency. Not one or the other, but both. Demonstrate that and you will win over fan trust.

Is this just a short delay in scheduling or something more sinister that leaves you frustrated with Strikeforce? 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Strikeforce-mixed-bag-Diaz-vs-Daley-on-Apr-9-?urn=mma-328549

Aldrin de Jesus  Todd Duffee  Marvin Eastman  Stav Crazy Bear Economou 

UFC 127 upset: Siver shocks lightweight title contender Sotiropoulos

The UFC has excellent depth in its lightweight division. Denis Siver proved that tonight.

George Sotiropoulos, on the verge of locking up a shot at the UFC lightweight title, rolled the dice by taking a fight in his homeland against the Russian fighting out of Germany. Sotiropoulos, an excellent jiu-jitsu practitioner, found it impossible to get the thick 5-foot-6 Siver to the ground. Meanwhile, Siver threw nasty kicks and punches for 15 minutes, even flooring Sotiropoulos in the middle of the first on his way to unanimous decision victory, 30-28, 30-27 and 29-28, at UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia.

"He was very strong," Sotiropoulos said. "He threw some heavy shots that landed, and I felt them.

Entering the fight, Siver (18-7) appeared to have so-so UFC record at 6-4, but he's improved massively since his early days with the promotion back in 2007. Tonight, was his crowning moment as he showed off solid takedown defense. In Siver's previous 10 fights, his opponents were 8-of-9 on takedown attempts. Sotiropoulos was 0-for-10. Siver has now won 7-of-8 overall.  

"My plan was to continue fighting and take him down, but he defended it well. His defense was really good, and the leg was a little slippery at that point, so it was hard to get a good grip on it," said Sotiropoulos.

Sotiropoulos (14-3, 7-1 UFC) came into the fight without a loss in the UFC. With 2010 wins over Joe Stevenson, Joe Lauzon and Kurt Pellegrino, he stormed into the top five of the promotion's lightweight ranking. After the Aussie beat Lauzon in late November at UFC 123, he insisted on being placed on this card just 13 weeks later. Siver turned out to be an awful matchup.  

Sotiropoulos was a minus-330 favorite. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-127-upset-Siver-shocks-lightweight-title-co?urn=mma-326863

Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace Crosley Gracie

Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson Predictions

by Michael David SmithDan HendersonAfter a February show that kicked off the Heavyweight Grand Prix in style, Strikeforce will do its best on Saturday night to keep the momentum going despite a long delay before the next Grand Prix fight. And the man they'll count on to help them keep the momentum going is the most prominent non-heavyweight the promotion has ever signed: Dan Henderson.

Henderson, whose signing was heralded as a major coup for Strikeforce in 2009, will now fight for the promotion's light heavyweight title after falling short of earning the middleweight belt a year ago. Although Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante is the champion, Henderson is the undisputed main draw on Saturday night's four-fight Showtime card, which we'll preview here.

What: Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson

When: Saturday, the live Showtime card begins at 10 PM ET.

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus

Predictions on the four televised fights below.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/04/strikeforce-feijao-vs-henderson-predictions/

Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan  Dan The Sandman Christison  Logan The Pink Pounder Clark 

Nick Catone Faces Costantinos Philippou in UFC 128 Catchweight Bout

With Dan Miller tapped to replace Yoshihiro Akiyama and face Nate Marquardt on UFC 128's pay-per-view card, Nick Catone will welcome The Ultimate Fighter 11 castmember Costantinos Philippou to the Octagon in a 195-pound catchweight matchup at the March 19 event in Newark, New Jersey.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/17885/nick-catone-faces-costantinos-philippou-in-ufc-128-catchweight-bout/

Robert Berry David Bielkheden Michael Bisping  Dan Bobish

Is Georges St. Pierre Afraid Of Anderson Silva? A New Interview Leads Some To Believe So, But I Disagree

It?s one of the most-talked about ?dream fights? in UFC history, and perhaps in all of MMA history. It would be an epic encounter between two of the most dominant UFC champions ever. Of course, I?m talking about UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre taking on UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. People have been debating [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/05/is-georges-st-pierre-afraid-of-anderson-silva-a-new-interview-leads-some-to-believe-so-but-i-disagree

Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves 

Ebersole wins UFC debut over Lytle at 127

Veteran fighter Brian Ebersole won his UFC debut 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 over Chris Lytle in an exciting bout at UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia.

Ebersole -- who had an arrow pointing up shaved into his chest hair -- opened with his trademark cartwheel kick, but it got him nowhere. Lytle, a UFC veteran, remained calm and continued to land hard shots and avoided the first takedown attempt. On the next one, he allowed Ebersole to take him down while catching a guillotine. Ebersole flipped out of the guillotine twice, but Lytle held on and continued to work on the choke. Ebersole finished the round on top of Lytle and opened a cut on his face just before the rounded ended.

In the second round, Ebersole continued to show off an unorthodox style, trying a spinning back kick and some strikes that can only be described as odd, peppering in conventional leg kicks and strikes. After a takedown attempt, Ebersole knocked Lytle to the ground with a knee. Ebersole followed up with hammerfists and a choke attempt and then frenzied stand-up followed with a slam. 

Ebersole had the momentum going into the third round, and again tried the cartwheel kick. Lytle moved away from it, and then threw a ton of strikes. Ebersole defended with a takedown, and again, Lytle tried for a guillotine. Again, he couldn't finish it. The two returned to their feet, and worked the clinch with Ebersole throwing elbows and Lytle hitting inside shots. 

Lytle and Ebersole are from the same town -- Indianapolis -- but traveled to Australia to fight. Before Ebersole made Sydney his home, he fought all over the Midwest where he would often see Lytle, but this is the first time they fought. At just 30 years old, Ebersole is 47-14-1. Lytle is now 30-18-5.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Ebersole-wins-UFC-debut-over-Lytle-at-127?urn=mma-326842

Ralek Gracie Renzo Gracie Rickson Gracie Rodrigo Gracie