Japanese fans were treated to a bit of a second Christmas today, as the traditional MMA/K-1 New Year’ Eve super-show “DYNAMITE!!” continued to prove why it’s seen as the be-all and end-all in Japanese MMA year after year. No less than Alistair Overeem, Shinya Aoki, Gegard Mousasi, and Kazushi Sakuraba all competed at the event, with some coming out of the event much better than others. And to continue a tradition of my own, here’s the latest edition of “What’s Next”, featuring DREAM/K-1’s “DYNAMITE!! 2010”. ...

Who wants to wait a day for their MMA action? While most American fans are eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s UFC 125: “Resolution”, Japanese MMA fans were treated to a stacked card featuring MMA, K-1 kickboxing, and even a few “mixed rules” fights. “DYNAMITE!! 2010” has now come and gone, and several important fighters made several important statements at the massive year-end 2010 event. Highlights included Alistair Overeem dominating in classic Overeem fashion and Shinya Aoki being KO’d. So let's get right to it: here are the full results to DREAM/K-1’s “DYNAMITE!! 2010. ...

strikeforce’s upcoming January 29 event was already looking like a great start for Strikeforce in 2011, but it just got even better. There will be two championship defenses on January 29, not just one. It was previously announced that Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza would defend his belt against Robbie Lawler. But recently, it’s also been announced that Nick Diaz has finally found himself an opponent and will also be defending his piece of gold, the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, in January. Here are all the details. ...

If there’s one thing Japanese MMA promotions know how to do throughout the numerous ups and downs the sport has been faced with lately… it’s how to end the year with a bang. The annual “DYNAMITE” event brings together both K-1 and the Japanese-based MMA promotion DREAM for a mixed-card extravaganza that takes place on New Year’s Eve. Despite the recent rumors of financial woe plaguing both DREAM and K-1, new bouts continue to emerge for the event, some of them being pretty high-profile. Here are all the latest details. ...

Current DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis will return to Japan for the first time in a long time when he takes on mixed martial arts pioneer Kazushi Sakuraba in arguably the biggest fight of his career. Zaromskis claimed the promotions welterweight title in 2009 after dispatching of Seichi Ikemoto, Hayato Sakurai and Jason High. Wins over UFC veterans High and Sakurai came via headkick knockout, which have become a trademark for the Lithuanian striker. Marius transitioned to the United States after reeling off four wins in a row under the DREAM banner, only to run on an 0-2-1 slide in Strikeforce. ...

Current DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis has hit a rough patch in his mixed martial arts career. After debuting in the Japanese promotion in early part of 2009, Marius was met with a lot of promise and hype--all for good reason. En route to capturing the vacant DREAM welterweight title, "The Whitemare" defeated the likes of former Shooto champion and perennial contender Hayato Sakurai and UFC/Affliction veteran Jason High. Both win's came by impressive highlight reel head-kick knockout victories. Was it a fluke? Definitely not. Following his title run through the welterweight field, Zaromskis returned to a 170-pound non-title affair with Ho Bae Myeong, a prospect of South Korea. He lasted all but 19 seconds in the cage with Marius at DREAM 12 in October of last year, before being knocked into unconsciousness with a head kick. Crashing his wave of hype in 2010 with two losses, the win over Myeong would be the last time Marius would record a victory to date. ...

A few days ago I reported that, after a lengthy contract negotiation, strikeforce had pulled the trigger and signed heavy-handed UFC-exile Paul Daley to a multi-fight contract. My overall outlook for Paul Daley in Strikeforce was positive and remains positive. If he’s utilized correctly, Daley could give us some very entertaining fights. And in that regard, here’s what I think would be the best fights Paul Daley could have in Strikeforce. ...

No matter what your favorite promotion is, it’s fun to play “armchair booker” once in a while and try to envision a fantasy card that brings all of your favorite fighters from competing promotions under one roof to truly determine who the best in the world is. The UFC did just that, for the most part, when they bought out the legendary PRIDE FC promotion in 2007. But with the arrival and rise of the Strikeforce promotion, fans are once again creating fantasy match-ups. To differentiate myself, today’s list will feature five matches between Strikeforce and the UFC that specifically does not include any of the obvious choices, like Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar or Cung Le vs. Anderson Silva. While they're fun debates to have, they've been discussed for quite a while now. With this list, I’m going for a little something different. Some picks may surprise you, but here are my top five (obvious examples excluded) Strikeforce vs. UFC fights. ...

Strikeforce: Los Angeles takes place this evening at the famed Nokia Theatre with the first preliminary fight starting at 7 pm PT. The first televised fight on Showtime will be at 8 PT. "The Reverend of MMA"  Turk Vangel will be cageside bringing you all the action with live updates posted here. ...

Strikeforce welterweight champion “Diablo” Nick Diaz (21-8) and Japanese veteran “Mach” Hayato Sakurai (35-10-2) will matchup in a non-title welterweight bout at DREAM.15 north of Tokyo May 30, according to GracieFighter.com. While Diaz is at the pinnacle of his career coming off a victory of DREAM's titular welterweight champion “Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (11-3), Sakurai is  at a low point after losing by stoppage to Akihiro Gono (30-14-7) and Zaromsikis in his last two fights. MMA Junkie reports that DREAM considered a rematch between Diaz and Zaromskis for the DREAM belt, but opted for Diaz to fight Sakurai instead because Sakurai is a Japanese fan favorite. ...

Strikeforce put on the first show of this year last night and there were highs and lows plus some shocking revelations post-fight. I will start with the high points of the night first which leads me to the showdown between "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (17-5) and Melvin Manhoef (23-6-1). ...

Last night Strikeforce: Miami took place and the main event was a fight for the vacant welterweight title. "Whitemare" Marius Zaromskis (11-3) stepped inside the cage to fight "Diablo" Nick Diaz (21-8) in what was a highly anticipated match. Marius became the DREAM welterweight champ after winning the 2009 welterweight Gran Prix and was looking to become the first fighter to hold titles in Japan and in the United States. The only thing standing between him and that distinction was a 5 inch reach advantage that Diaz had in his favor. ...

Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz (20-8) and heavyweight prospect “Dominator” Bobby Lashley (4-0) both made weight for their respective fights at Strikeforce in Miami January 30. ...

Nick Diaz (20-8) and DREAM welterweight champion “Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (12-2) will matchup for the Strikeforce welterweight title in Miami January 30, according to MMA Weekly. ...

DREAM welterweight champion “Whitemare” Marius Zaromskis (12-2) of Lithuania will fight Korean Myeon Ho Bae (6-4) in a non-title fight at DREAM.12 in Osaka October 25, DREAM officially announced Monday. Zaromskis seemed to emerge from nowhere when he knocked out “Mach” Hayato Sakurai (32-8-3) and Jason High (6-1) both with first-round head kicks to capture the DREAM title in the final two rounds of the welterweight grand prix at DREAM.10 north of Tokyo July 20. ...

Former WEC middleweight champion "Ely" Paulo Filho (16-1) tapped "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (22-6-1) in an armbar at 2:36 of round one and lightweight "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (18-4) won a unanimous decision over "Shaolin" vitor Ribeiro (20-2) at DREAM.10 in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Monday.

Lithuanian "Whitemare" Marius Zaromskis (12-2) upset "Mach" Hayato Sakurai (32-9-3) and Jason High (7-2) both with fight-ending head kicks to win the Welterweight Grand Prix.

Returning to Japan after an odd stint in the WEC and returning to MMA after nine months off, Filho was rusty and lucky to exploit the chink that has resulted in three of Manhoef's six losses: the armbar.
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Saturday at Cage Rage in London, 43-year old "Machine" Ian Freeman (19-7-1) recaptured the promotion's light heavyweight title from Liverpudian kickboxer Paul Cahoon (10-11). Freeman, a former UFC fighter, dominated the mat match with G'n'P to take a unanimous decision. The Cage Rage welterweight title was also wrapped around a new waist. Che Mills (6-1) forced a doctor's stoppage TKO of Marius Zaromskis (7-2) after cutting the Lithuanian's eyelid. Mills will likely defend first versus "Semtex" Paul Daley (17-6-2), who will end his short retirement to return to the cage. "Messenger" James Zikic (16-5-2) submitted light heavyweight Rodney Faverus (24-16-3) at :29 of the third round.  It was Faverus's fifth straight "L". TUF205-pounder "Gladiator" Ross Pointon (6-10) submitted "Boss" Ross Mason (12-9) in a heel hook in the first round. "Hardest" Matt Ewin (20-9-1) won a unanimous decision over "Beast" Mark Epstein (14-11). "Chocolate" Henrique Nogueira (6-4-1) of the Wolfslair Academy and Team Supreme's Marc Goddard (7-6-1) fought to a draw. Featherweight "One Punch" Brad Pickett (13-4) won a majority decision over Paul Reed (7-2). Rookie Popek Rak (2-0) knocked out Kevin Simms (1-6) in just 1:12. Middleweight Chris Rice (12-5) TKO'd Edgeleson Lue (2-2) in the third round. Kickboxer Harvey Harra (5-3) showed his ground game by submitting Gary Kelly (2-1) in the first round. ...