MMA News

WEC light heavyweight “Hooligan” Steve Steinbeiss (4-2) will cross over to the UFC, reported MMA Weekly Saturday. Steinbeiss has three fights left on his contract, which he will serve out in the UFC. He last fought at WEC 36 earlier this month, losing a split decision to “Fury” Carmelo Marrero (9-2). ...

The anticipated rematch between “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (29-11) and “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) will not happen at Dynamite!! on NYE, FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa announced at a press conference Thursday. “Alistair is begging for this fight but this fight will not go ahead on New Year’s Eve at ‘Fields Dynamite!!’,” Tanigawa said. “We will look to match them up on a different card.” Although Overeem and Filipovic had both publicly called for a rematch of their DREAM.6 bout in September – which was ruled a No Contest when Filipovic was unable to continue after being kneed in the groin – the fight was never made official. Overeem has been accusing Filipovic of dodging him. “I’m afraid Mirko is trying to run from me again,” he told Sherdog recently.  “FEG wants to make it happen… so the only obstacle here is Cro Cop.  He’s the one who hasn’t signed the contract yet and he’s the one who is trying to avoid fighting me again because he knows that he will get his ass kicked again.” Filipovic responded by calling Overeem a fool in an interview with Dnevnik Friday, and said that if he didn’t believe he wants to fight, “[Overeem] can come to Zagreb next weekend and we can fight in my cage with neutral referees.” ...

Fighters.com caught up with HardCore Gym standout and World Extreme Cagefighting rising star Brian Bowles (6-0-0) just days before his fight against Will Ribeiro (8-2-0) at WEC 37 in Las Vegas 3 December. Brian's undefeated record is beginning to stir notice amongst fans and analysts alike. The approaching fight is an extremely important affair as many insiders cite another win for the Georgia native will put him on track to a championship bout. Fighters.com: Brian, there are some similarities between you and current WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown (16-4-0). Brown flew under most people's radar until he recently defeated "California Kid" Urijah Faber (21-2-0) at WEC 36. What are your thoughts on how the WEC has marketed fighters such as yourself, Brown and others? Brian Bowles: Well, honestly, I think they do the best they can. I don't think they have a lot of room to market every fighter in the organization. So I think they just focus on their champs. You know, its a new organization. Fighters.com: Your victory over "Angel of Death" Damacio Page (8-4-0) at WEC 35 was quite impressive. That guillotine choke you landed was devastating. Your upcoming opponent has three knockouts in his last four fights while you have wins by both striking and submissions. What discipline if any do you think twill benefit you most in the fight against Will Ribeiro (8-2-0). ...

Despite being suspended by the California State Athletic Commission, “Big Foot” Antonio Silva (11-1) will fight at Sengoku 7 in Saitama 4 January versus “Kiss” Yoshihiro Nakao (8-1), World Victory Road announced Friday. Silva was issued a one-year suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone after his TKO win over Justin Eilers (19-7-1) 26 July at EliteXC. By competing in Japan, Silva is apparently ignoring both the suspension and a warning from the CSAC against fighting overseas. Silva’s management argued that other fighters had done it without penalty. Silva’s opponent, Nakao, last fought at Sengoku Second Battle in May, knocking out “Big” Jim York (9-2) in round two. Nakao is infamous for winning a fight versus “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) before it even began.  Herring was disqualified for dropping Nakao with a punch when Nakao kissed him during the staredown. ...

DREAM Middleweight Champion “Young Vagabond” Gegard Mousasi (7-0) and lightweight “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri (23-5-2) are scheduled for K-1 kickboxing bouts at Dynamite!! 31 December in Saitama, Japan. Mousasi will face four-time K-1 Japan GP champion Musashi, while Kawajiri will face former K-1 World MAX Japan finalist Kozo Takeda. Mousasi won DREAM’s Middleweight GP in September, knocking out eighth-ranked middleweight “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (8-2) with an upkick at 2:15 of round one of the final. Kawajiri last fought Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (13-1) at DREAM.5 in July, losing via first-round TKO. ...

Middleweight “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (9-3) will face longtime UFC veteran “Gumby” Jeremy Horn (80-18-5) at UFC 93 in Dublin 17 January, British UFC officials confirmed to Fighters Only Thursday. Palhares lost his last fight via unanimous decision to Fighters.com's fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (23-7) at UFC 88 in September. Horn is also coming off a loss, most recently to “Boogeyman” Dean Lister (11-5) via first-round guillotine choke at the TUF 7 Finale in June. ...

Aleksander Emelianenko (12-3) told Sports.ru Tuesday that he will rematch with Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (19-5) at Affliction: Day of Reckoning 24 January. “There is already an agreement that on the show organized by Affliction and M-1 Global 24 January, I will have a rematch with former UFC Champion Josh Barnett,” Emelianenko said. However, Fighters.com has learned Barnett’s most likely opponent for Day of Reckoning, and it’s not Aleks.  Fighters.com thinks it’s Aleks’s wishful thinking. Emelianenko was scheduled to fight at Affliction’s debut event in July but was denied a license by the California State Athletic Commission at the last minute. ...

Lightweight Hermes Franca (19-7) will face “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (17-4) at UFC Fight Night 17 expected to take place 7 February in Las Vegas, Franca confirmed to MMA Junkie Wednesday. Franca came back from two straight losses to win a unanimous decision over “Maximus” Marcus Aurelio (16-7) at UFC 90 in October. Lauzon tallied a win over Kyle Bradley (13-6) at Fight Night 15 in September. ...

Lightweight Jorge Gurgel (12-5) has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce after the UFC released him Wednesday, reported ProMMA. “I am very, very excited to be part of Strikeforce and given a chance to fight new blood and capture a belt.  UFC has been my family for a few years now but I am ready for the next chapter,” Gurgel said. “There are some amazing contenders in my weight class including Josh Thomson (14-2-1) and Gilbert Melendez (14-2).  I will do whatever it takes to climb to the top of this league.” Despite losing his last fight to Aaron Riley (27-10-1) via unanimous decision earlier this month, he and Riley earned UFC 91’s “Fight of the Night” honours. Gurgel’s UFC record was 3-4. ...

Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight and DREAM fighter Eddie Alvarez (13-1) will fight 23 January in Atlantic City at Monte Cox’s Extreme Challenge, he confirmed to iguillotine this week. Alvarez said, "The only thing I know 100 percent sure right now is January 23 I'll be fighting here in Atlantic City at the Tropicana.  You know, bring it back home.  I've been fighting overseas a lot lately, and the jet lag and everything else, it's good to just drive 40 minutes from home, get a fight and then go home and rest." The Philadelphia native does not have an opponent yet. Alvarez last fought in the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix in July.  He TKO’d "Crusher" Tatsuya Kawajiri (23-5-2) at 7:35 of round one to advance to the final, but was unable to compete due to a cut over his eye. ...

Mac Danzig (17-5-1) will face lightweight “Dentist” Josh Neer (24-7-1), and Nick Catone (6-0) will face Amir Sadollah (1-0) in a middleweight match-up at Ultimate Fight Night 17 in Las Vegas 7 February, although the UFC has yet to officially announce the event. Danzig announced his fight via MySpace and Catone confirmed the bout to iguillotine. Catone and Sadollah were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 91 in November, but Sadollah was forced to withdraw days before the bout due to a leg infection. Danzig will look to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to “Carpenter” Clay Guida (24-9) at Fight Night 15 in September. Neer also lost his last fight at the same event via split decision to Nathan Diaz (10-2). Catone, who will be making his UFC debut, won his last three fights via first-round TKO.  Most recently he defeated Eric Tavares (5-9) in June. Sadollah last fought in June, submitting “Doberman” CB Dollaway (7-1) with an armbar to become the winner of TUF 7. ...

Canadian middleweight Denis Kang (33-10-1) will make his Octagon debut versus “The Talent” Alan Belcher (13-5) at UFC 93 in Dublin 17 January, Kang confirmed to Fighters.com. Kang last fought at Raw Combat in October and TKO’d UFC veteran “Beastman” Marvin Eastman (15-9-1) at 0:46 of round one. He recently signed a four-bout deal with the UFC. Belcher won a split decision over “Short Fuse” Ed Herman (14-7) in September at Fight Night 15. ...

EliteXC Heavyweight Champion "Big Foot" Antonio Silva's (11-1) manager, Alexander Davis, had one final message for the California State Athletic Commission concerning Silva's suspension and subsequent denial of appeal under that commission for testing positive for the banned anabolic agent Boldenone after his victory over Justin Eilers (19-7-1) at EliteXC in Stockton, east of San Francisco, 26 July. Direct from Brazil, Davis's statement is: "Bottom line is that Antonio did not use Boldenone, and it can be proved.  If there was a commitment to the truth and the will and humility to admit the possibility of an error.  Here are some things that can be proved: ...

New Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion “Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-8) shared his thoughts on winning Bobby Southworth’s (9-5) belt at the post-fight press conference Friday night after Strikeforce: Destruction in San Jose. ...

Former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) spoke to the press after losing his title to “Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-8) Friday night at Strikeforce: Destruction in San Jose. ...

"Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (14-6) spoke to media after knocking out Terry Martin (18-6) in the first round at Strikeforce Destruction Friday night in San Jose.   ...

“All I’m doing is agreeing with everything, training hard, I want to win fights, make money, and live my dream, which is what I feel I’m doing,” UFC welterweight “Quick” Mike Swick (12-2) told Fighters.com Thursday afternoon after training at the American Kickboxing Academy. Swick was speaking about the UFC cutting his teammates, Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked welterweight Jon Fitch (17-5) and heavyweight “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-4), due to their refusal to sign a lifteime likeness agreement for the UFC's video game.  He himself talked to UFC President Dana White and was told he would not be blacklisted. Fitch and Wellisch have since decided to sign the agreement and re-join the UFC. ...

“Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (14-6) defeated Terry Martin (18-6) with a stunning first-round KO at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. The end came 24 seconds into the fight, courtesy of Smith’s straight right to Martin’s temple. ...

“Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-8) defeated Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) via TKO on doctor’s recommendation to win his belt at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. Sobral went in and clinched.  Southworth grabbed Sobral’s leg and managed to wrestle him to the mat.  Southworth in his guard, Sobral climbed up Southworth’s back in a triangle attempt, but Southworth stood up out of it.  They clinched at the fence, each fighter trying some knees and punches, until referee “Big” John McCarthy separated them. "Babalu" crowded Southworth at the cage and threw a huge left elbow into Southworth’s face, causing sweat to fly.  The referee called a time out as blood started dripping out of Southworth’s right eyebrow with ten seconds left in the round, but allowed him to continue. Despite a strong finish by Southworth in the final seconds, with the crowd cheering so loud no one heard the horn, the referee called the fight after the first round. ...

“Bang” Duane Ludwig (18-8) defeated Yves Edwards (34-15-1) in a surprising unanimous decision Friday night at Strikeforce: Destruction in San Jose. After Edwards muscled Ludwig to the mat at the start of the match, he spent most of the remainder of the round smothering Ludwig, while Ludwig threw a few ineffective punches.  Ludwig twice attempted a triangle, which Edwards fended off with hammers.  The lack of any real action elicited boos from the crowd as the horn signaled the end of round one. The start of round two was promising, as Edwards caught Ludwig’s chin in a right uppercut and attempted a knee while Ludwig countered with some looping rights.  Edwards tripped Ludwig but they didn’t stay down for long.  It continued that way until the horn went, with Ludwig throwing knees into Edwards’s midsection. Round three was more of the same, but this time Ludwig spent more time on top, dropping elbows into Edwards’s gut.  Back to standup, Ludwig push-kicked, and Edwards charged forward, wrapping his arms around Ludwig’s waist.  Edwards picked him up and the round ended on the mat. The judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Ludwig, to the disbelief of many in the crowd. ...

“Diesel” Joe Riggs (29-11) TKO’d Luke Stewart (5-2) in round two at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. The fight started with a clinch, but Stewart was the one who managed to trip Riggs.  He was unable to do anything from the mat, however, and Riggs stood. Riggs came at Stewart with a quick flurry of fists.  Stewart attempted another takedown, and after battling a few moments was able to mount.  After a short stint in side mount, the round ended with Stewart on top. Stewart kicked Riggs in the ribs to begin round two.  This time, Riggs tripped Stewart.  From Stewart’s guard, he put fists in Stewarts’s face while protecting his own.  The punches gained power, and the crowd groaned as they felt Stewart’s pain until returning referee, “Big” John McCarthy, called the fight at 2:05 of round two. ...

After a close call in the opening minute of his fight, Luke Rockhold (3-1) choked out Nik Theotikos (5-1) with a first-round rear naked at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. Rockhold came out with a right punch, which Theotikos immediately evaded, catching Rockhold in what looked like a tight guillotine.  Rockhold was able to escape, and landed in Theotikos’s guard.  Rockhold reddened Theotikos’s ribs with his fists. They rolled and Rockhold got Theotikos’s back, first attempting the rear naked choke, then trying some ground and pound, but finally finishing with a rear naked at 3:06 of round one. ...

Darren Uyenoyama (5-1) came away with the unanimous decision over opponent Brad Royster (1-2) at Strikeforce: Destruction in San Jose Friday night. The first two rounds were dominated by Uyenoyama, with repeated and almost-but-not-quite successful submission attempts.  He was all over his opponent Royster, who was able to escape intact. Royster did all the work in round three, with Uyenoyama refusing to engage until the right moment.  It came, and Uyenoyama took him down in short order.  Mounted on his opponent, Uyenoyama ended the round with a flurry of punches and pouring blood down onto a trapped  Royster. All judges scored the fight 30-27. ...

After eight minutes of action Alvin Cacdac (4-4) submitted Jose Palacios (1-2) with a rear naked choke at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. Both fighters looked strong in round one.  Palacios landed a left kick, then ate a high right kick from Cacdac.  Palacios tripped Cacdac and was able to get side control.  He attempted to get the full mount but Cacdac flipped him and landed in Palacios’s guard as the horn went. The fight ended in round two, after Cacdac stood up out of Palacios’s attempted triangle.  Palacios tried to throw Cacdac, but ended up with Cacdac in his guard.  Palacios gave his back trying to escape and Cacdac took it, sinking a rear naked choke and forcing Palacios to tap at 3:10 of round two. ...

Zakary Bucia (2-0) scored a quick victory over Adam Steel (1-1) at Strikeforce: Destruction Friday night in San Jose. The action was quick, with Steel shooting for Bucia’s legs almost immediately.  Bucia resisted and was able to push back and take Steel down himself.  Passing Steel’s guard into full mount, Bucia wrapped his right arm around Steel’s neck for the guillotine.  Steel tapped at 0:35 of round one. ...

Strikeforce: Destruction drew a crowd of 8,152 to the HP Pavilion in San Jose Friday night. Here are the results of the undercard: Bobby Stack (3-1) defeated Cyrillo Padilha (1-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Eric Lawson (2-0) submitted Tony Johnson (0-2) with a rear naked choke at 1:28 of round one. Kurt Osiander (3-1) TKO’d Josh Neal (4-4) at 2:16 of round one. Brian Schwartz (1-1) TKO’d Lemont Davis (1-3) at 2:22 of round three. Alvin Cacdac (4-4) submitted Jose Palacios (1-2) with a rear naked choke at 3:10 of round two. Zakary Bucia (2-0) submitted Adam Steel (1-1) via guillotine choke at 0:35 of round one. ...

"Marcus [Aurelio] hasn't been cut from the UFC,” American Top Team President Dan Lambert told Fighters.com Thursday.  “He hasn't had the greatest record in his last couple of fights; so, it wouldn't be a shock if he were let go.  The UFC has a crowded roster of fighters, but they wouldn't let Marcus go without speaking to us first.  So, we haven't been notified of it.” The report that lightweight "Maximus" Marcus Aurelio (16-7) was cut by the UFC appeared at Five Ounces of Pain Wednesday. Lambert continued, "I actually called [UFC Matchmaker] Joe Silva when I saw some of the reports that were released about Marcus being cut and Joe said he hadn't even gotten around to considering Marcus's next fight yet.  He said he was obviously not doing anything without talking to me first.  And, this rumor certainly has nothing to do with the video game situation that has also been reported today.” Lambert dispelled rumors that American Top Team was in the same boat with American Kickboxing Association, who UFC President Dana White blacklisted from the Octagon in a report at Yahoo!Sports. ...

Fighters.com's fourth-ranked welterweight Josh Koscheck (11-3) told Fighters.com at American Kickboxing Academy Thursday afternoon, “I don’t really care about any of that other crap that’s going on out there and what the problem is.  I’m just focused on winning and we’ll deal with all that later.  I have spoken to Dana White and I prefer to focus on my fight.” ...

Fighters.com was live at the Strikeforce: Destruction weigh-ins Thursday night at the Hotel DeAnza in San Jose. All fighters made weigh and, despite a delayed start and “Diesel” Joe Riggs’s (28-11) displeasure at having to strip, everything went smoothly. Riggs was not the only one who had to strip further than his ginch; the California State Athletic Commission requested that each fighter have only one crack at the scale, resulting in several weigh-ins behind towels. Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (9-4) looked cut.  He told Fighters.com Thursday afternoon that he had hired a new strength and conditioning coach. “Everybody’s been commenting on how my physique looks and how I’ve been performing.  So we’ll see how I perform tomorrow night,” Southworth said. Join Fighters.com Friday night for the live results. ...

Fighters.com was live at pro training at American Kickboxing Academy Thursday afternoon in San Jose and learned that fifth-ranked welterweight Jon Fitch (17-3) has resolved his dispute with the UFC and will return to the promotion. Fitch decided to sign a licensing contract for a UFC video game and will be back in the Octagon to face Akihiro Gono (30-13-7) at UFC 94 in Las Vegas 31 January. Fitch was dropped from the UFC Wednesday for refusing to sign an agreement giving the promotion lifetime rights over his name and likeness for a planned video game. Fitch has not spoken to UFC President Dana White and instead talked to co-owner of the organization Lorenzo Fertitta. “Congrats,” Fitch’s teammate told him.  “You have your job back.” ...