>>>Mixed Martial Arts News
10/05/09
Shine International PINS DOWN STRIKEFORCE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL
Will Distribute more than 70 hours of mixed martial arts programming
LOS ANGELES, October 5, 2009 – Shine International has signed a global distribution deal with STRIKEFORCE, one of the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions, to sell its entire library of television programming, including more than 70 hours of content, to international markets.
Read more!
12:44:16 pm 09/21/09
FOOTBALL LEGEND HERSCHEL WALKER SIGNS WITH STRIKEFORCE MMA
NEW YORK (September 21, 2009)–-Former NFL and NCAA football superstar Herschel Walker will enter a new chapter in his career as a professional athlete when he makes his debut as a heavyweight in the world’s fastest growing sport – mixed martial arts (MMA) - as part of a multi-fight contract he has signed with world championship promotion STRIKEFORCE.
02:28:06 pm 08/15/09
SHOWTIME SPORTS® EXTENDS POPULAR ONLINE EXPERIENCE TO GLOBAL AUDIENCE
STRIKEFORCE: ALL ACCESS
Live Mixed Martial Arts Event—“Carano vs. Cyborg"—To Stream Simultaneously With Live SHOWTIME® Telecast
Saturday, Aug. 15, From HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
NEW YORK (Aug. 11, 2009)—For the first time, SHOWTIME Sports will offer Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans around the world STRIKEFORCE: All Access, the cutting edge online interactive experience, live on Saturday, Aug. 15, for STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg” from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
The immersive digital initiative will stream simultaneously with the live SHOWTIME® telecast beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET* and for the first time be available to fans in Brazil, Japan, throughout Europe as well as in the U.S. and Canada.
STRIKEFORCE: All Access debuted on April 11, 2009, when world-class MMA promotion STRIKEFORCE brought Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz to SHOWTIME. The unique experience was offered again on June 6, for the Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields event. On both previous offerings, STRIKEFORCE: All Access was limited to U.S.-based online users.
With STRIKEFORCE: All Access, fans can be their own director and toggle among five live cameras with full pause and rewind capabilities including SHOWTIME Sports exclusive CageCam®—a small and high quality camera worn by the referee which takes viewers inside the cage during the fights. It is the closest and most intimate viewing experience ever presented in MMA. Audio tracks will include the SHOWTIME telecast fight call by host and play-by-play man Gus Johnson, and color commentators Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, as well as the corresponding audio to the selected camera. SHOWTIME is again working with BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic, Inc. to enable this unique multi-media experience.
11:21:30 pm 08/03/09
FEDOR SIGNS
World’s No. 1 MMA Heavyweight To Fight
In STRIKEFORCE / M-1 Global Co-Promoted Events
First Fight To Air This Fall, Live on SHOWTIME®
NEW YORK (August 3, 2009)–-After a week of intense negotiations and speculation, the hottest topic of discussion in the professional fight world has come to a head as the world’s number one heavyweight and most sought after mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko has signed a historic, multi-fight agreement that will see him headline mega-events co-promoted by world championship promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global.
07:39:48 pm 07/31/09
ASC WEIGHTS & FACT SHEET
WHEN: Friday night, July 31, 2009
WHERE: Icenter, Manchester, New Hampshire
BOUTS: MAIN EVENT – Welterweights
Nate “The Future” Lamotte (10-4-0), Manchester, NH 170.8 LBS. vs.
Doug “The Flash” Gordon (9-7-0), New Castle, DE 160.6 LBS.
09:05:15 pm 07/15/09
GINA CARANO & CRIS CYBORG PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
NEW YORK (July 14, 2009) -- Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg, who will headline a STRIKEFORCE world championship quadruple-header on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., live on SHOWTIME, participated in a press conference, fan meet and greet session and open workout Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
On Aug. 15, the wildly popular and unbeaten Carano (7-0) and her No. 1 rival, Brazilian powerhouse Cyborg (7-1), will make history in the most anticipated fight in the history of women's mixed martial arts (MMA) and the first women’s fight to headline a major fight card also featuring men.
12:08:06 am 07/13/09
STRIKEFORCE.COM TO STREAM GINA CARANO-CRIS CYBORG PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TUESDAY
NEW YORK - The eagerly anticipated Gina Carano-Cris Cyborg press conference and fan meet and greet session will be streamed live in its entirety, exclusively on STRIKEFORCE’s official website, www.strikeforce.com, from New York City’s Madison Square Garden this Tuesday, July 14, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.
05:45:33 pm 06/24/09
The Challenge of a Lifetime: Facing FEDOR EMELIANENKO in the Ring
SEAL BEACH, California (June 23, 2009)—Watching Fedor Emelianenko “made me nervous tonight,” said Josh Barnett about Fedor’s bout with Andrei Arlovski at Afflictions “Day of Reckoning”. Barnett will face Fedor on August 1st at Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy.”
10:54:44 am Iraqi War Veteran Woody Weatherby carrying NH MMA on back against Everson in ASC pro MMA debut show July 31 at Icenter in Salem, New Hampshire
SALEM, New Hampshire (June 23, 2009) – When U.S. Navy veteran Woody “The Dynasty” Weatherby (7-1-0) enters the cage July 31 to fight Lance Everson (11-6-0) in the main event on the inaugural American Steel Cagefighting (ASC) professional mixed martial arts show, Nashua resident Weatherby will be fighting for all of New Hampshire’s MMA fans, fighters and clubs.
10:52:49 am 06/19/09
Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy” loaded from top to bottom
F. Emelianenko-J. Barnett headline August 1 PPV Extravaganza in Anaheim
SEAL BEACH, California (June 18, 2009) – Affliction M-1Global’s star-studded “Trilogy” is stacking-up as one of the all-time best shows from top to bottom in professional mixed martial arts fighting history. The marquee performer is Russian combat fighting legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko, who defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett, August 1 live on Pay-Per-View from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
03:40:34 am FightZone Media, consisting of FightZone TV, Magazine, Radio and Internet, has joined UFC Fan Expo as an Official Sponsor.
In support of the event. FightZone TV will air over 100 TV commercials nationwide on over 30 of their airings from now until the day of the event.
The first-ever UFC Fan Expo being held in Las Vegas in celebration of UFC 100 is a two-day fan exposition of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) activities starting Friday, July 10th and leading right up to the start of the historic fights on Saturday, July 11th.
03:39:28 am Matt Serra at Wizard World Phila this weekend
Just a quick note that Matt Serra will be in attendance at Wizard World Philadelphia (www.wizardworld.com/home-pa.html), a comics and pop culture convention set for June 19-21 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. He will meet fans, sign autographs and give a sneak peek at his Round 5 figurine, which is scheduled for release in late July/early August.
03:37:09 am 06/15/09
TICKETS OFFICIALLY ON SALE FOR STRIKEFORCE: “CARANO VS. CYBORG”, SATURDAY, AUG. 15, AT HP PAVILION IN SAN JOSE, CALIF.
Historic STRIKEFORCE Event Will Include the Eagerly Awaited Grudge Rematch
Between Lightweight Champ Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez and Much, Much More
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 15, 2009) – Tickets for Strikeforce: “Carano vs. Cyborg,” the mixed martial arts (MMA) mega fight card that will be highlighted by the long-awaited showdown between superstar Gina Carano and Brazilian brawler and powerhouse Cris Cyborg at HP Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 15, are officially on sale.
11:19:29 pm 06/05/09
Robbie Lawler Throws Out First Pitch at Cardinals Game
“LAWLER vs. SHIELDS” -- June 6, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri,
Live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT; First Non-Televised Fight: 6:45 P.M. CT
ST. LOUIS (June 4, 2009) – “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler showed off his right arm Thursday night as he and Scott Smith attended the St. Louis Cardinals-Cincinnati Reds game with Lawler throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Strikeforce will present the biggest, most significant mixed martial arts event in the history of the Gateway City in the eagerly awaited Saturday, June 6, “Lawler vs. Shields” card live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Lawler and (middleweight) and Jake Shields (welterweight) will square off at a catch weight of 182 pounds in the main event.
01:09:47 am AFFLICTION M-1 GLOBAL'S "TRILOGY"
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
(Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - Trump Tower, New York, NY)
FEDOR EMELIANENKO:
"I'd like to thank the organizers of the event - Mr. Trump, Affliction, Mr. Cuban and Vadim. I want to thank Josh, a true friend, who I'll meet in the ring. This won't be the last show we are all involved in. Thanks for the support.
"Everyday I fight with my friend in training. It's a sport. We're athletes in the ring to compete. I'm confident our friendship (Barnett) will continue after the fight."
JOSH BARNETT:
"This is a fight a lot of people were expecting for a long time - press and fans, and even fighters. Make no bones about it; this is going to be a very serious endeavor. I think because of the nature of this bout between the two of us it heightens our status as professionals.
01:07:12 am Fedor defends heavyweight title vs. Barnett in Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy”
SEAL BEACH, California (June 3, 2009) – Russian combat fighting legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko defends his WAMMA heavyweight title against No. 1 contender Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett, when Affliction M-1Global presents its third major mixed martial arts show, “Trilogy,” Saturday night, August 1 live on Pay-Per-View from Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
12:54:19 am 05/16/09
CONTROVERSIAL BLOW DISQUALIFIES BILLY EVANGELISTA FROM MAIN EVENT MATCHUP WITH MIKE AINA, UNBEATEN SARAH KAUFMAN OUTPOINTS MIESHA TATE
Heavyweight Lavar Johnson Scores Devastating 18-Second KO; Rosa, Quach Also Win, May 15, 2009, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, Save Mart Center, Fresno, California
FRESNO, Calif. – Previously unbeaten hometown favorite Billy Evangelista lost by disputed, controversial second-round disqualification to Mike Aina Friday in the main event of the inaugural Strikeforce Challengers telecast on SHOWTIME.
06:56:26 pm 05/15/09
BILLY EVANGELISTA, MIKE AINA, SARA KAUFMAN, MIESHA TATE, AARON ROSA, LAVAR JOHNSON & MORE FINAL QUOTES AND WEIGHTS
What All 10 SHOWTIME Fighters Had To Say -- Thursday, May 14, 2009,
Piccadilly Inn University Hotel, Fresno, California
“STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS’’
Premieres Tomorrow/Friday, May 15, On SHOWTIME; Telecast Begins at 11 p.m. ET/PT
FRESNO, Calif. (May 14, 2009)—The 20 fighters who will compete in the eagerly awaited mixed martial arts fight card tomorrow/Friday at the Save Mart Center here all made weight Thursday at the World Sports Café.
In the main event of what will be a sensational event, undefeated lightweight sensation Billy Evangelista (9-0) will fight hard-hitting brawler and BJ Penn protégé “Iron” Mike Aina (11-6-1) in the inaugural, newly titled Strikeforce Challengers series from leading MMA promoter Strikeforce and premium television network SHOWTIME. The five-fight telecasts airs at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
08:09:51 pm 05/05/09
Lashley-Sapp headlines “Ultimate Chaos”
MMA PPV June 27in Biloxi, MS
BILOXI, Miss. (May 4, 2009) – The cage may have to be reinforced for the “Ultimate Chaos” headliner as former WWE star Bobby Lashley and mixed-martial-arts legend Bob “The Beast” Sapp battle June 27 on a special pay-per-view event live from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
02:53:21 am 05/04/09
Get discovered and become the next MMA superstar
LAS VEGAS (May 4, 2009) – The revolutionary www.fightengine.com state-of-the-art website is changing the way mixed-martial-arts fighters – professionals, amateurs and even neighborhood tough guys -- market themselves and develop strong fan bases.
Even fighters that don’t want to fight on a FightEngine.com scouting event (see below) can use the popular web site as a marketing tool to keep their names out in front of the public.
11:26:57 am 04/27/09
NICK DIAZ Vs. SCOTT “HANDS OF STEEL” SMITH ADDED TO JUNE 6 STRIKEFORCE FIGHT CARD
Middleweight Brawl Will Precede Lawler vs. Shields Main Event Live on SHOWTIME from Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Mo.
NEW YORK (April 27, 2009)–Fresh off their respective thrilling wins, the versatile Nick Diaz (19-7) and knockout artist Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (17-5) are eager to get back in the cage. The pair will square off on Saturday, June 6, in a special 180-pound showdown during the live SHOWTIME® telecast of Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
10:46:00 pm 04/21/09
American Idol meets MMA
LAS VEGAS (April 21, 2009) – The revolutionary www.fightengine.com is like American Idol meeting Mixed Martial Arts.
The newly launched state-of-the-art website is changing the way MMA fighters market themselves, much like singers auditioning for American Idol, and participating Fight Engine fans can act like Simon and Paula, criticizing video-posted fighters as well as arguing with other fans regarding which fighters they want matched against each other.
01:53:14 pm 04/07/09
Bob “The Beast” Sapp
Fight Engine’s Head Conductor
LAS VEGAS – Combat fighting legend Bob “The Beast” Sapp is firmly stationed in the corner of www.FightEngine.com, the newly launched state-of-the-art website that’s revolutionizing the way mixed-martial-arts fighters market themselves, promoters and managers scout talent, and fans become real matchmakers.
07:11:34 pm Meza & Schmidt fighting for 1st SNMMA featherweight championship in “Extreme Beatdown” headliner
Special Guest Brock Lesnar April 11 at Apache Gold Casino show
PHOENIX) – A pair of former Arizona high school wrestlers, featherweights Yaotzin Meza and Jamie “The Headhunter” Schmidt, will fight for one of two Sovereign Nations Mixed Martial Arts (SNMMA) title belts being contested for Saturday night, April 11 in “Extreme Beatdown” at Apache Gold Casino, located five miles east of Globe in San Carlos, Arizona. MMA heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be a special guest at “Extreme Beatdown.”
04:19:21 am 03/21/09
W1 INCEPTION - UPDATED CARD & WEIGH-IN/AFTER-PARTY INFO (ONE WEEK TO GO!)
One week to go and W1: INCEPTION is poised to be the leading event in Gatineau/Ottawa history. Already over 3000 tickets sold, the event will be a massive success with an exciting night of top level Mixed Martial Arts bouts. W1: INCEPTION is headlined by the first Canadian UFC Champion CARLOS ‘THE RONIN’ NEWTON facing one of the country’s top welterweights, Ottawa’s own NABIL ‘THE THRILL’ KHATIB.
05:31:12 am W1 INCEPTION - UPDATED CARD & WEIGH-IN/AFTER-PARTY INFO (ONE WEEK TO GO!)
One week to go and W1: INCEPTION is poised to be the leading event in Gatineau/Ottawa history. Already over 3000 tickets sold, the event will be a massive success with an exciting night of top level Mixed Martial Arts bouts. W1: INCEPTION is headlined by the first Canadian UFC Champion CARLOS ‘THE RONIN’ NEWTON facing one of the country’s top welterweights, Ottawa’s own NABIL ‘THE THRILL’ KHATIB.
05:31:00 am 03/13/09
SHOWTIME® AND STRIKEFORCE PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS;ROBBIE LAWLER Vs. JAKE SHIELDS FIGHT ANNOUNCED FOR MAY
KEN HERSHMAN, SCOTT COKER, FRANK SHAMROCK, NICK DIAZ,
JOSH THOMSON, GILBERT MELENDEZ, BENJI RADACH, SCOTT SMITH,
SHIELDS, LAWLER AND CRIS CYBORG
Thursday, March 12, 2009,
Avalon Hollywood, Hollywood, California
:SHAMROCK Vs. DIAZ -- April 11’’
Live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT
LOS ANGELES (March 12, 2009) – Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) Event producer Strikeforce hosted a kickoff press conference Thursday to discuss their new relationship and the eagerly awaited April 11 fight card on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT).
04:41:38 am 02/18/09
Hot UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon positioned for future title run
E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass.– Tattoo-less Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, coming off his impressive win against Jeremy Stephens, headlining the February 7th“UFC Fight Night 17” in Tampa, has positioned himself for a future UFC title run in the highly competitive lightweight division.
Lauzon (18-4, 5 KOs, 13 submissions), star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, put on a classic Brazilian Jui-jitsu demonstration against Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens(14-4, 10 KOs, 2 submissions), who was a late replacement for injured Hermes Franca (20-7).
01:27:28 am 02/12/09
FightZone TV and UWC Team Up For "Man 'O' War"
FightZone TV is proud to announce that once again they will be partnering with Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC) as world-class professional mixed marital arts action makes its highly anticipated return to the GMU Patriot Center on Saturday, February 21, 2009, when Ultimate VIP International and Sherdog present UWC 5 - "Man 'O' War."
04:16:34 am 01/30/09
GSP & PENN DO IT AGAIN!!! UFC 94 MAIN EVENT READY TO EXPLODE
By: Michael Gawler
The first time these two men faced each other, Georges St. Pierre found victory in a controversial split decision. According to BJ Penn, he spent the hours following the fight at the bar while GSP was at the hospital. BJ and his fans felt he won this fight while the judges agreed with Georges and his fans that he won the fight. I personally believe that GSP did enough to earn the victory as well. However, this is an argument that has been ongoing for nearly 3 years. The good news is... Saturday night their gonna go at it again!!!
12:54:11 am 
