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. ...

Two former UFC fighters will lock horns at Strikeforce in Los Angeles June 16 in a 195-pound catchweight bout.  Former UFC light heavyweight challenger and Strikeforce champion  “Babalu” Renato Sobral (35-8) and former EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (17-5) will matchup at Los Angeles. "Babalu" comes into the fight off a title defense loss to “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (25-3-1) at Strikeforce in San Jose in August 2009. Lawler knocked out Melvin Manhoef (23-6-1) at Strikeforce in Miami in January. ...

Strikeforce is coming to Los Angeles June 16 at the Nokia Theatre with an event that will coincide with the widely popular Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). ...

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). ...

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. ...

What may possibly be the most explosive fight on the Strikeforece: Miami card Saturday night is the fight between "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-5) and Melvin Manhoef (23-5-1). Last night on MMA Gospel Radio we had a great discussion on this fight and I thought I would break it down further here and tell you why Robbie Lawlers only way to lose in this fight would be his ego. ...

Former EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-5) and recent Strikeforce signee “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (23-5-1) are "likely" to matchup in a potential stand-up war at Strikeforce Miami Jan 30, according to reporting from Five Ounces of Pain and MMA Junkie. Lawler was supposed to return from a loss to Fighters.com’s second-ranked middleweight and Strikeforce champ Jake Shields (23-4-1) at Strikeforce in St. Louis June 6 versus “Razor” Benji Radach (19-5), then Shark Fights light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley (20-4) at at Strikeforce in San Jose December 19, but both Radach and Prangley pulled up lame. ...

Shark Fights light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley (20-4) has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's Strikeforce matchup versus former EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-5), according to Sherdog. ...

Former EliteXC middleweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-5) and recently crowned Shark Fights light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley (20-4) will matchup at Strikeforce in San Jose December 19, the promotion announced. ...

ProElite, Inc. has cancelled it's 8 November EliteXC MMA event, ceased operations, and filed for bankruptcy, according to numerous reports. ProElite, Inc. is the parent company of the EliteXC promotion that is nationally broadcast in the States on CBS, as well as owner of the MMA brands King of the Cage, CageRage, ICON, and Spirit MC. ProElite's website is functioning and has no mention of the company's bankruptcy. However, Gracie Fighter, the website of EliteXC fighter Nick Diaz's  (18-7) manager, Cesar Gracie, posted Monday evening, "We are confirming that EliteXC has folded." The cancelled event was to have taken place in Reno and aired on Showtime featuring title fights in two weight divisions. ...

A rematch between Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) and Joey Villasenor (26-6) was announced Friday. It will take place 8 November and air on Showtime. Villasenor will look to avenge his KO loss to Lawler in October 2006.  Lawler’s flying knee ended the bout in 22 seconds. Villasenor won his last fight over “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (12-10) via first-round TKO in May. Lawler’s win over Villasenor began his current win streak.  He last fought “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) in July, TKO’ing him in the second round and successfully defending his title. Lawler's first bout versus Smith in May ended in a No Contest. ...

Fighters.com's seventh-ranked middleweight "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (17-6) made a successful comebackwith an anti-climactic unanimous decision over Makoto Takimoto (4-5) in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 25 August and plans to fight Falaniko Vitale (26-8) 3 October in Denver. Trigg also welcomed a son, Stone, to his family in September.  Congratulations from Fighters.com. The remainder of the Middleweight Top Ten was on holiday last month...well, at least at middleweight. Top contender "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3) made a successful return to light heavyweight in Atlanta 6 September.  He remains wishy-washy about his future in either division. But, before Franklin could move-up to 205, Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (22-4) beat him there.  Franklin must wonder whether Silva is going to move to Cincinnati and start teaching high school math too. Silva is preparing to defend his Fighters.com and UFC titles versus "Predator" Patrick Cote (13-4) in Chicago 25 October. Third-ranked "Ely" Paulo Filho's (16-0) WEC title defense versus Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) was postponed from tonight to 5 November due to Hurrican Ike. Fourth-ranked EliteXC champ "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-4) is rumored to be considering a rematch versus Joey Villasenor (26-6), whom Lawler KO'd in 22 seconds in 2006. ...

The middleweight top ten whirls like a dervish across the UFC, WEC, EliteXC, DREAM, Sengoku, and Strikeforce, leaving Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (22-4) to defend versus "Predator" Patrick Cote (13-4) in Chicago 25 October. The UFC seemed intent that sixth-ranked "Thunder" Yushin Okami (21-4-1) miss his de facto UFC top contender challenge of Silva, marketing Cote versus "Cachorrao" Ricardo Almeida (9-3) in Las Vegas 5 July as an eliminator fight even before Okami pulled up lame with a broken hand. Cote won by split decision. ...

"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (18-4) TKO'd "Hands of Steel" Scott Smith (13-5) at 2:35 of round two to retain his EliteXC Middleweight Championship. Nick Diaz (18-7) TKO'd "Wildman" Thomas Denny (26-17) at :30 of round two. Jake Shields (21-4-1) defeats "The Goat" Nick Thompson (36-10-1) by guillotine submission at 1:03 of the first round for the EliteXC Welterweight Championship. "Big Foot" Antonio Silva (11-1) TKO'd Justin Eilers (20-8-1) at :19 of round two for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship. "Feijao" Rafael Cavalcante TKO'd "Gladiator" Travis Galbraith (15-6) at 3:01 of round one. Wilson Reis (5-0) won a unanimous decision over Bryan Caraway (10-3). Carl Seumanutafa (4-0) KO'd Mike Cook (5-2) by slam at 1:21 of round one. Drew Montgomery (5-3) TKO'd Brandon Tarns (1-2) by doctor stoppage at 4:23 of round three. ...

It's with a heavy heart that Fighters.com's June Middleweight Rankings saw legendary "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) fall from the top ten. But, the cold, hard ledger reveals Hendo' hasn't had a win at 185-pounds in two years. Hendo's previous rank was filled by tenth-ranked "Mayhem" Jason Miller (20-6), falling a notch to newly ninth-ranked "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (9-1). Souza debuted in the top ten after pulling off a tight two-round unanimous decision over Miller in DREAM's Middleweight Grand Prix 15 June. Also in June Japanese action, "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2) cemented his seventh ranking with a UD over "Pink Pounder" Logan Clark at Sengoku. Misaki now seeks revenge over new Sengoku add-on, seventh-ranked "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6). No Sengoku match-up has been announced for Trigg; but, one would assume Misaki's home nation promotion wants to match the old enemies as soon as Trigg is ready. Sixth-ranked "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) was pulling away from "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) in the third round of their EliteXC title fight 31 May in Newark, west of New York City, when a thumb to Smith's eye rendered the result a No Contest. Lawler held steady in June, as did the entire middleweight top five. ...

EliteXC announced Saturday a rematch between Fighters.com's sixth-ranked middleweight "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4; 1 NC) and “Hands of Stone” Scott Smith (13-4) set for 26 July. The match will air on CBS to headline the second installment of Saturday Night Fights. Lawler first defended his title against Smith at EliteXC's network television debut on 31 May. An exciting fight ended in round three in a controversial "no contest" when Lawler accidentally poked a thumb into Smith's eye and "Hands of Stone" told doctors he couldn't see. ...

Fighters.com's fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-6) posted about last Saturday's controversial stoppage of the EliteXC middleweight title bout between champion and sixth-ranked middleweight "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) and "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) on his blog Monday: "I know Scott had a hurt leg from throwing kicks and Scott started to look very frustrated.  I think Scott’s aches and pains and frustrations had maybe a little to do with the stoppage.  That’s just my opinion." Hughes trains Lawler and was cageside cornering his H.I.T. Squad student. No one has been willing to state blatantly that Smith encouraged the controversial doctor stoppage Saturday night in Newark, outside of New York City, after he was poked in the right eye by Lawler's thumb. However, Hughes's opinion bolsters New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Counsel Nick Lembo's description to Fighters.com of events inside the cage immediately after the eye poke. ...

New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Counsel Nick Lembo told Fighters.com Monday that "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith(13-4) told two Control Board, cageside doctors he couldn't see after absorbing a thumb in his eye from Fighters.com's sixth-ranked middleweight "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) in an EliteXC title fight in Newark, outside of New York City, Saturday night. The exciting stand-up war was stopped by doctors at 3:26 of round three for a no contest. "I can't see," Smith told Dr. Angela Gagliardi, the first doctor in the cage, according to Lembo. Lembo wanted a second opinion and, after 30-seconds or so, called on veteran fight doctor Sherry Wulkan.  "I told her, 'This is a title fight,'" Lembo stressed. According to Lembo, Wulkan asked Smith, "What's wrong?" Smith told the second doctor, "I can't see!" "You took a finger in the eye," Wulkan explained.  "What do you mean you can't see?  Is your vision blurry?  Dark?" Smith repeated, "I can't see." Wulkan asked, "Is it getting better?" ...

Fighters.com's sixth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC Champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) and "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) sizzled in three-and-a-half-rounds of stand-up in Newark, outside of New York City, Saturday night in the prime time network premier of mixed martial arts. In the main event, "Colossus" James Thompson (14-9) exposed "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (3-0) in a third-round stoppage loss. Former Ultimate Fighters Lawler and Smith fought to a controversial no contest halted when Smith absorbed a finger in his right eye from a defending Lawler. Smith protested the end of a fight that was building into the primetime MMA era's sequel to Griffin v Bonnar, while Lawler hung his head in disappointment. "Hands of Stone" opened round one of his title challenge establishing his high kick.  Lawler was cagey in defense, pawing a jab and feigning a takedown. It wasn't long before the fireworks shot off and didn't end.  Lawler countered a Superman punch from Smith with a straight right.  Smith belted back with a right high kick, backing up the champion.  Lawler threw haymakers in defense, then clinched up to throw hooks to Smith's head.  The warriors traded body kicks to end round one. Lawler established his jab in round two, setting up an uppercut.  Smith defended with Thai clinch in which he landed knees and elbows as Lawler struggled to free himself.  The fighters crashed into the cage and dirty boxed, Lawler landing uppercuts while Smith countered with elbows. The fireworks came to an anti-climactic end in round three as doctors inexplicably called an end to the fight after Smith took a Lawler finger to the eye. ...

Fighters.com's top-ranked middleweight "Spider" Anderson Silva (21-4) has sucked the air out of this division. In April, second-ranked "Ace" Rick Franklin (23-3) finessed out of an armbar executed by TUF champ "Serial Killer" Travis Lutter (9-5) to pick apart the Texan in two rounds, but Franklin has no where to go after two stoppages to Silva. As mentioned in 3 May's Bushido Sheet, Franklin was offered a main event versus tenth-ranked "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) at UFC 85, but turned down the fight. Franklin continues to consider interesting match-ups at 205-pounds. Hendo' dropped a rank in May after his 2006 UD over eighth-ranked "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2) fell from his two-year record leaving "Hollywood" without a win at 185-pounds in two years. His March stoppage to Silva leaves him with few good match-ups but for Franklin.  At this point, Hendo' just needs a win in the Octagon. The trail on the "Hitman" Misaki has gone cold since his March submission of Siyar Bahadurzada (13-2-1) at Sengoku. Third-ranked "Ely" Paulo Filho (16-0) is recovering from a substance abuse problem in Brazil. He's scheduled for a rematch with Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) to defend his WEC title, but don't hold your breath for a Silva versus Filho title unification bout. Filho and Silva are friends and refuse to fight each other; and, Filho plans to move to 205-pounds win, lose, or draw to Sonnen. Fourth-ranked Yoshihiro Akiyama's (10-1) run at the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix championship ended before it began when he re-injured a nasal bone fracture in training, causing him to withdraw. Fifth-ranked "Thunder" Yushin Okami (22-4) remains the most likely candidate to take a swat at "Spider", but no official word yet. Sixth-ranked "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) may be the face of the division when his EliteXC title defense versus "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4) is broadcast on national television across North America at the end of May. Ninth-ranked "Mayhem" Jason Miller (21-5) debuted before the Nipponese in May with a first-round TKO of Katsuyori Shibata (2-4), but the "W" does little to propel him forward in the division. May Middleweight Rankings 1. "Spider" Anderson Silva (21-4) “Spider” fights like he’s hacked the matrix, making top-tier opponents look like they’re clumsily swatting at a web. In March he choked out former PRIDE champ Hendo’. His two-year record has both volume and quality with a “W” next to each challenger. 2. "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3) Despite two stoppages to Silva, Franklin is still the best of the rest, even according to Silva himself. "Ace" finessed from a Travis Lutter armbar to pick the TUF champ apart in April and outwrestled notoriously powerful Okami for a decision last July. 3. "Ely" Paulo Filho (16-0) Filho's perfect rap sheet lists solid foes, but only an ’06 KO of Misaki among top-tenners. Chael Sonnen gave him hell in a controversial stoppage, but Filho missed the March rematch. A strong comeback and top-ten challenge will solidify Filho’s ranking. 4. Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1) The Zainichi judoka ran the K-1 gauntlet of weight-mismatched spectacles before bursting into 185-pound contention with a KO of Denis Kang. Akiyama drew Misaki on NYE, but the end was deemed illegal and the result a NC. He also needs a strong comeback. 5. "Thunder" Yushin Okami (22-4) Okami has been most active among the top ten in the last two years and comes off a knockout of former UFC champ Evan Tanner.  His only UFC loss was to Franklin, but could’ve conceivably been a “W” had he went after “Ace” before the final two minutes. 6. "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) “Ruthless” rides a four-fight “W” streak since being choked out by Miller in ’06, including a KO of Trigg and stoppages of solid fighters Murilo Rua and Joey Villasenor. Upcoming versus Scott Smith won’t prove much unless he loses. 7. "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6) With all Trigg does, you may have missed his comeback at middleweight the last two years, starting with a TKO of Miller and a UD over Misaki. Lawler iced him at Icon, but he’s returned with a quick stoppage of Edwin Dewees. He’s my division wildcard to watch. 8. "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2) Misaki has made successful hits on Denis Kang and Hendo’, but also dropped decisions to Trigg and Hendo’ and a stoppage to Filho. Regardless, he’s won and lost among the division’s best, and may have added a “W” versus Akiyama if PRIDE rules ruled K-1. 9. "Mayhem" Jason Miller (21-5) Always entertaining “Mayhem” has thrown in a stoppage over Lawler and a stoppage by Trigg into a mixed bag of competition the last two years. 10. "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) "Hollywood" served Silva his first losing round in two years, but couldn't follow-up in round two.  Yo-yoing between weight classes has resulted in a mixed record for the last PRIDE champion in two weight classes.  If he wants 185, he’ll have to commit. ...

EliteXC has announced the official fight card of its 31 May CBS debut called CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights. The main event, reported last week by Fighters.com, will match "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (2-0) versus "The Colossus" James Thompson (14-8) in a heavyweight scrap sure to end before the final bell. "The Grim" Brett Rogers (6-0) earned a spot on the broadcast card when he knocked out "The Colossus" in February, though it evidently wasn't enough to challenge "Slice" in the main event.  He'll fight Jon Murphy (4-2), who comes off of a KO over Dave Huckaba (4-2) last August. Also previously reported, Fighters.com's number six middleweight "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) will defend his EliteXC championship versus "Hands of Stone" Scott Smith (13-4). Finally, "New York Bad Ass" Phil Baroni (10-9) will try to bounce back from his recent TKO loss to Icon Middleweight Champion Kala Kolohe Hose (6-1) versus "Ninja" Murilo Rua (15-8-1), who last crossed the Atlantic to pickup a stoppage in CageRage after Lawler knocked him out in his EliteXC debut. "In terms of recognition and perception, I believe May 31 is the biggest and single most important MMA fight card ever," said Gary Shaw, EliteXC Live Events President.  "It will forever change the landscape of the sport and how it is perceived." Given the pedestrian fight card and spectacle of a main event, let's all hope not. The card will air live in America at 9:00 PM EST/PT. ...

In the ocean, the depth at which the water is suddenly much colder is called the "thermocline".  Most MMA division top tens have one, where the quality of fighter suddenly drops considerably.  The middleweight division has two thermoclines.  Guess where. 1. "Spider" Anderson Silva (21-4) “Spider” fights like he’s hacked the matrix, making top-tier opponents look like they’re clumsily swatting at a web. In March he choked out former PRIDE champ Hendo’. His two-year record has both volume and quality with a “W” next to each challenger. 2. "Ace" Rich Franklin (22-3) Despite two Silva stoppage losses, Franklin is still the best of the rest, even according to Silva himself. “Ace” outwrestled notoriously powerful Okami for a decision last July and out-classed “The Athlete” Jason MacDonald before that. 3. "Ely" Paulo Filho (16-0) Filho's perfect rap sheet lists solid foes, but only an ’06 KO of Misaki among top-tenners. Chael Sonnen gave him hell in a controversial stoppage, but Filho missed the March rematch. A strong comeback and top-ten challenge will solidify Filho’s ranking. 4. Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1) The Zainichi judoka ran the K-1 gauntlet of weight-mismatched spectacles before bursting into 185-pound contention with a KO of Denis Kang. Akiyama drew Misaki on NYE, but the end was deemed illegal and the result a NC. He also needs a strong comeback. 5. "Thunder" Yushin Okami (22-4) Okami has been most active among the top ten in the last two years and comes off a knockout of former UFC champ Evan Tanner.  His only UFC loss was to Franklin, but could’ve conceivably been a “W” had he went after “Ace” before the final two minutes. 6. "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) “Ruthless” rides a four-fight “W” streak since being choked out by Miller in ’06, including a KO of Trigg and stoppages of solid fighters Murilo Rua and Joey Villasenor. Upcoming versus Scott Smith won’t prove much unless he loses. 7. "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6) With all Trigg does, you may have missed his comeback at middleweight the last two years, starting with a TKO of Miller and a UD over Misaki. Lawler iced him at Icon, but he’s returned with a quick stoppage of Edwin Dewees. He’s my division wildcard to watch. 8. "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2) Misaki has made successful hits on Denis Kang and Hendo’, but also dropped decisions to Trigg and Hendo’ and a stoppage to Filho. Regardless, he’s won and lost among the division’s best, and may have added a “W” versus Akiyama if PRIDE rules ruled K-1. 9. "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) "Hollywood" served Silva his first losing round in two years, but couldn't follow-up in round two.  Yo-yoing between weight classes has resulted in a mixed record for the last PRIDE champion in two weight classes.  If he wants 185, he’ll have to commit. 10. "Mayhem" Jason Miller (20-5) Always entertaining “Mayhem” has thrown in a stoppage over Lawler and a stoppage by Trigg into a mixed bag of competition the last two years. ...

CBS and ProElite, Inc. have announced that the first live primetime mixed martial arts event will be broadcast Saturday, 31 May (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights will be broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. "We're excited to introduce broadcast television viewers to America's fastest growing sport with this prime time event," said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime.  "EliteXC is putting together a lineup card that showcases the unique personalities, world-class athleticism, and raw power and emotion that characterizes mixed martial arts."    Champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (15-4) will put his title on the line against "Hands of Steel" Scott Smith (13-4) in a middleweight championship bout.  EliteXC heavyweight phenom, "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (3-0), will also participate in the May 31 event along with other stars from mixed martial arts.  Additional matchups will be announced at a later date. "I am very happy for the highly trained fighters, who will finally get the kind of exposure they deserve, and, of course, the viewers, who will get the opportunity to learn that MMA is truly a sport that requires an abundance of skills, both mentally and physically," said Gary Shaw, EliteXC Live Events President. ...

Icon Sport's President T. Jay Thompson solemnly announced Saturday in Honolulu, "Icon Sport has taken the unprecedented action of stripping Robbie Lawler of his Icon Sport world middleweight title." Icon Sport is a Hawaii-based promotion under the ProElite umbrella. Lawler, known as "Ruthless", knocked out Frank Trigg for the title in March 2007, but has failed to defended due to various training injuries. "I'm as disappointed as anybody with the injuries that have prevented me from fighting," complained Lawler by SMS message. Icon's top contender has been Kala Kolohe Hose of Waianae since June 2007, most recently matched-up with Lawler in December.  Lawler pulled out of that title fight with a torn bicep. "We had to bring in a fighter worthy of this belt," Thompson claimed at Saturday's press conference. Hose grinned ear-to-ear as his opponent for a March 15 title showdown was announced. "One of the most feared strikers in MMA," Thompson teased.  "You know him as 'The New York Bad Ass', Phil Baroni will be [Hose's] opponent." Baroni last fought in June, suffering a rear naked choke TKO loss to Frank Shamrock in Strikeforce. Thompson put the best possible spin on the fight, calling Baroni, "Someone that brings the honor and respect to the sport," despite Baroni emerging from a six-month suspension after testing positive for steroids after his Shamrock loss. "Too bad Lawler was afraid to fight [Hose], but I’m not," Baroni taunted, then claimed, "I've fought the best fighters in the world, all over the world." Baroni is 10-8, 3-3 since winning his first two PRIDE fights in 2005 versus Ikuhisa Minowa and Ryo Chonan. Hose is 5-1, knocking out five consecutive cans. At Saturday's press conference, Baroni called Hose, "A young Phil Baroni, chin down, hands up, and let'em fly." Lawler is 16-4 with wins versus Murilo Rua, Trigg, Joey Villasenor, and Falaniko Vitale.  Lawler said, "I also look forward to...winning the title back and wearing the Icon belt around my waist where it belongs." ...