Archive for October, 2009

Critics of Strikeforce and CBS' pre-fight build-up to the Nov. 7 event, "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers," have questioned aloud why the network hasn't heavily utilized its NFL programming as a platform for advertisement.

That concern will be addressed on Sunday.

MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the organization that main-event fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers are set to appear at Sunday's Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns game at Soldier Field in Chicago. The pair will also be interviewed on the CBS Football Halftime Show.

DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis may soon be fighting in the U.S. as "The Whitemare" has signed a multi-fight agreement with Strikeforce.

Promotion officials announced the intriguing addition to the Strikeforce roster on Saturday afternoon.

While Strikeforce and DREAM have forged an official partnership in an effort to cross-promote, Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz told MMAjunkie.com that Zaromskis' contract will operate independently of that deal.

The UFC's busy week of fight shuffling is nearing an end, and two competitors that were recently left without an opponent have been matched up with each other.

MMAjunkie.com has learned that welterweights Jon Fitch (19-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) and Mike Pierce (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez," and bout agreements are expected to be signed shortly.

Featuring a lightweight title fight between current champ B.J. Penn and challenger Diego Sanchez, UFC 107 is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Memphis, Tenn. The main card airs live on pay per view.

The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.

A long-rumored contest between UFC sluggers Houston Alexander (9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (3-1 MMA, 0-0 WEC) will take place at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.

That explains why Alexander is applying for a license to fight with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but what about the weight difference between "The Assassin" at 205 pounds and Slice as a heavyweight? The Times of Northwest Indiana has the answer.

The quickly filling card for "WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff" today received another addition.

MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the event that undefeated WEC newcomer Zach Micklewright (6-0 MMA, 0-0 WEC) has verbally agreed to meet lightweight Muhsin Corbbrey (7-4 MMA, 0-1 WEC) at the event.

Featuring a main event between lightweight contenders Donald Cerrone and Ed Ratcliff, WEC 45 takes place Dec. 19 at The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on VERSUS.

Undefeated featherweight Erik Koch (7-0 MMA, 0-0 WEC) will indeed make his WEC debut in December, but it won't be against Mackens Semerzier.

While Semerzier had been targeted as Koch's first WEC foe, MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the event that the newcomer will instead face Jameel Massouh (21-6 MMA, 0-2 WEC).

Bout agreements for the contest are expected to be finalized shortly.

UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has his sights firmly set on rematch with recent challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

It just might not happen quite as soon as Machida, Rua and UFC president Dana White might like.

MMAjunkie.com today spoke with Machida's manager, Ed Soares, who confirmed "The Dragon" went under the knife on Friday and will be limited in training until mid-January.

While the recovery from a recent elbow surgery is going just fine for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, Jan. 2 will simply be too soon for him to return to action.

MMAjunkie.com today spoke with Silva's manager, Ed Soares, who issued the update on "The Spider."

"The latest is he's not fighting Jan. 2," Soares said. "That's not going to happen. He won't be ready."

Undefeated UFC light heavyweight Ryan Bader (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) continues to improve with each performance in the octagon, and his UFC 104 win over Eric Schafer (11-4-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) was no exception.

But while "The Ultimate Fighter 8" winner's wrestling prowess and physical tools are an obvious asset, Bader recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio his mind may finally be catching up with his body.

"I felt this time I got in there, and I was relaxed," Bader said. "I think it's a good sign if I continue to do that in my next fight. I think this fight allowed me to turn a corner in my career."

With the busiest month in Strikeforce's history rapidly approaching, the promotion's three November cards are nearing completion.

MMAjunkie.com has learned the latest additions to the prelims of "Strikeforce Challengers V: Woodley vs. Bears" include a pair of Kansas-based fighters in Joe Wilk (6-3) and Russell Patrick (5-2).

Featuring a welterweight main event between rising prospects Tyron Woodley and Rudy Bears, "Strikeforce Challengers V" takes place Nov. 20 in Kansas City, Kan. The main card airs on Showtime.