There secret to success has been the use of top tier talent in one or two fight stints. With names such as UFC and Srtrikeforce vets Paul Daley, Jorge Masvidal, Trevor Prangley, and Keith Jardine having made their way through the organization, Shark Fights is yet again delivering the goods with more notable fighters gracing their upcoming event.

In the main-event of the evening, UFC veteran Chris Camozzi will be taking on former EliteXC title challenger Joey Villasenor in middleweight clash with more fighters gracing the card that the general public would be all too familiar with.

Aside from the Villasenor-Camozzi headliner, UFC veteran David Branch, a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Renzo Gracie, will be taking on “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Jeremy May in the co-main event of the evening, also taking place in the 185-pound class.

Here is the full-card lineup as it stands, though as we near the date, we may see some changes to the lineup:

Main Bouts:
-Chris Camozzi vs. Joey Villasenor
-Jeremy May vs. David Branch
-Lionel Lanham vs. TBA
-Jared Downing vs. Bobby Huron
-Kyle Bracey vs. Artenas Young
-Timothy Snyder vs. Frank Gomez

Preliminary Bouts:
-Robbie Guiterrez vs. Russell Wilson
-Kasey Yates vs. Fredrico Crosby
-Adam Gonzales vs. Zac Hynes
-Edgar Lopez vs. Eric Baca
-Armando Mendiblez vs. Randy Ray Sanchez

–Shark Fights 15 takes place on Friday, May 27 at the Santa Ana Star Center in New Mexico. For more information check out www.sharkfights.com for additional details.

MMA Mania brings word from a pair of reports that first surfaced on Five Ounces of Pain. According to the reports, Strikeforce opted not to renew the contract of Joe “Diesel” Riggs despite the fact that he was on a two-fight win-streak and had won his last fight under the Strikeforce banner. However, that was on the “Strikeforce Challengers” series of shows. The last time Joe Riggs competed on what could be called a major Strikeforce show, he lost to Jay Hieron… who has also since parted ways with the company.

Joey Villasenor was likely a release that didn’t take many people by surprise. Despite the fact that “Smokin’ Joe” is a veteran of over thirty fights, he was on a two-fight losing-streak and was last seen in Strikeforce losing to current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza. Villasenor’s highpoint in Strikeforce was when he managed to beat Evangelista Santos on the second-ever “Strikeforce Challengers” show. Villasenor competed in Strikeforce a total of three times.

Overall, I can’t really say that I’m too upset by these losses. I think both men have been entertaining in the past and can put on good fights, but I do think that they’re two fighters at odds with the new approach Strikeforce seems to be taking. Everything they’ve been doing lately leads me to believe that 2011 will see Strikeforce try to grow its roster from within, and focus on newer, younger stars to lead them into the future.

With that in mind, I think we’ll see a lot more veteran talent let go in the coming months. They seem to have served their purpose. There will of course be exceptions, especially in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight division, which is filled to the brim with A-List talent that made their mark in other promotions around the world. But let’s not kid ourselves, neither Joe Riggs nor Joey Villasenor were top-division competitors. While I don’t see Strikeforce ever matching the UFC’s current policy, which seems to be that no contract is safe and every performance could easily be your last, I do think that Strikeforce’s dwindling roster of veterans will have to continue to win in order to justify Strikeforce keeping them around amidst an era focused on building up new blood.

In regards to Riggs and Villasenor themselves, I don’t think they’ll be out of a job for long. There are a surprising number of promotions competing for third and even fourth place right now. I think either of these men could easily end up signing with Shark Fights, or Shine Fights, or even Bellator, or (if they can afford to pay them) the Japanese-based DREAM. I have very little doubt in my mind that we’ll see both these men back in action sooner rather than later.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any reaction to these two being let go? Where do you see them going in the future?

Anchored by notables Trevor Prangley, a Strikeforce middleweight standout who also serves as Shark Fights’ light heavyweight champion, will face UFC veteran and MMA notable Keith Jardine in a 205-pound match that will be contested as a non-title, three round affair.

The rest of the card is littered with other UFC notables such as additional light heavyweights Houston Alexander taking on the “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Also confirmed for the broadcast is UFC castoff, Paul Daley against an as of yet announced opponent, a middleweight slug fest against Drew McFedries and Joey Villasenor.

The main card is said to be priced at $29.95, a considerable amount for Shark Fight’s first go around on a PPV broadcast, but with a card that stacked, its considerably a desirable watch.

The card takes place on September 11, at the Amarillo Civic Center in Texas, which has been home to several of Shark Fights’ previous endeavors.

Even though preliminary card can serve as a main card in most cases, and the promotion is not ruling out possible plans to feature said preliminary’s in some capacity, whether it be an online stream, or something of that nature.

Doug Evans, a former UFC lightweight turned featherweight, will take on Sengoku veteran Ronnie Mann for the 145-pound title.

Former WEC top welterweight contender and UFC standout Brock Larson will also be in action, though no opponent has been mentioned as of yet.

Sengoku, Bellator, and EliteXC veteran Dave Herman will be in a heavyweight clash against Strikeforce veteran Aaron Rosa, while WEC veterans Marcus Hicks and Karen Darabedyan will meet in a sure crowd pleaser, meeting at 155-pounds.

It’s almost exhausting having to name all of these fighters, but all are recognized fighters in the world of MMA, and none should be left out vicariously, in a card that will be one of the biggest outside of the UFC or Strikeforce banners.

So, will you be buying this particular card, or rather, is it worth the $29.95? (iN DEMAND)

“I signed a multi-fight contract and it’s exciting,” Villasenor said. “I’m just glad that it’s all over with. There was some other competitors in there that were trying to get my services and Strikeforce rose to the occasion and they really fought for me. Now I get the opportunity to show them thanks by going and fighting for them.”

Villasenor won a scintillating split decision over “Cyborg” Evangelista Santos (16-13) at Strikeforce in Seattle in June 2009.

Villasenor also holds victories over UFC veterans “New York Badass” Phil Baroni (13-12), Ryan Jensen (14-6), “The Crow” David Loiseau (16-8) and “Crazy” Timothy Credeur (12-2).

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.

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) was scheduled to defend his title from challenger Joey Villasenor (26-6); and, Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Diaz were to have fought for the vacant 160-pound title.

EliteXC debuted 10 February in Southaven, south of Memphis, and has held 17 events.

Recently, the promotion’s most popular star, “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1), was knocked out by late replacement “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (10-4) in 14 seconds in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October.

The failed company was the most prominent challenger to the UFC.  It exposed millions to the sport of mixed martial arts via it’s relationship with CBS.

However, CBS EliteXC Fight Night was a production of CBS’s entertainment division, not it’s sports division; and, ProElite was often criticized for heavily promoting Kimbo Slice, a fighter who gained initial fame through videos of backyard fights broadcast on YouTube.

After Slice was KO’d by a UFC castoff, UFC President Dana White remarked to the Boston Herald, “These guys have lost $60 million trying to get this thing off the ground.  They’re building their promotion around a guy who can’t fight.  It’s kind of fucking stupid, isn’t it?  You’re in the fight business and you’re building your business around a guy who can’t fight.”

ProElite, Inc. executives were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

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.

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.

Seventh-ranked “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1) will fight “Benkei” Zelg Galesic in DREAM’s Middleweight GP semi-final in Saitama 23 September, then, if Souza wins, the winner of Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) versus “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) in the final the same night.

Ninth-ranked “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2) will fight “Diesel” Joe Riggs (28-10) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, 20 September.

Fifth-ranked Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1), sixth-ranked “Thunder” Yushin Okami (22-4), nor tenth-ranked “Mayhem” Jason Miller (20-5) have fights on their dockets.

September Middleweight Rankings

1. “Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4)

“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 year.

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 in the November rematch will solidify Filho’s ranking.

4. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4)

“Ruthless” rides a five-fight “W” streak since being choked out by Miller in ’06, including a KO of Trigg and stoppages of solid fighters Scott Smith, Murilo Rua, and Joey Villasenor.

5. Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1)

The Zainichi judoka ran the gauntlet of weight-mismatched spectacles before bursting into 185-pound contention with a KO of Denis Kang. Akiyama drew Misaki on NYE, but the the result was a NC. He choked out Katsuyori Shibata in his July comeback.

6. “Thunder” Yushin Okami (22-4)

Okamihas been most active among the top ten in the last two years and comes off a knockout of former UFC champ, the late 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.

7. “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (17-6)

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 and UD of Makoto Takimoto.

8. “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1)

“Jacare” finally fulfilled the hype surrounding the BJJ world champion by overwhelming Miller on the way to a UD in June, but besides “Mayhem” his record needs bolstered with two big wins to take the DREAM GP.

9. “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2)

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.

10. “Mayhem” Jason Miller (20-5)

Always entertaining “Mayhem” has thrown in a stoppage over Lawler, a stoppage by Trigg, and a lost decision to Souza into a mixed bag of competition the last two years.

“It sounds like it’s going to be in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico,” Villasenor said. “We’re just waiting on confirmation of who it’s going to be [against].”

“They keep on bringing up Ninja’s name. They’re bringing up other names, but Ninja is the one that is sticking out right now.”

Villasenor has won his last three fights, most recently against “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (12-10) in May via first-round TKO.

His last loss was by second-round TKO to Rua in June 2007, when they battled for EliteXC’s first-ever middleweight title.

Rua lost the belt in his next fight in September to current champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) via TKO in round two.

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.

Slice Has “A Lot To Learn”

“I’ve got a lot to learn, a long way to go,” Kimbo Slice admitted after enduring a spirited assault from “Colossus”.

Thompson kept his pre-fight promise early, putting Slice on the mat with a single-leg takedown.  Thompson postured up and pounded Slice; but, Slice easily stood out of Thompson’s mount.

Thompson pressed Slice to the cage and worked a standing guillotine; but, Slice battled out with an elbow to Thompson’s head.  Slice ate another punch and the pair went back to the mat.

Slice worked an interesting neck crank from side control; but, Thompson defended and the two scrambled back to their feet before Thompson dropped Slice again into side control and hammered elbows.

Thompson committed to an Americana; and, Slice rolled Thompson into half-mount, attempting his own Americana while Thompson worked a Kimura.

Slice was able to get back to striking at the beginning of round two; but, Thompson took Slice down at will.

The final minute-and-a-half of the round, Thompson pinned Slice’s right arm beneath his knee from half-mount and pounded fists and elbows to Slice’s skull.

“I didn’t know he was going to be that strong on the ground,” said Slice.

Slice threw from the round three bell, landing a right overhand that caused blood to trickle from Thompson’s left, cauliflowered ear.  Slice followed with a series of straight lefts and right uppercuts before the referee stepped between the fighters at :38.

Thompson pushed the referee in protest of the stoppage.

Slice said, “I knew I busted his ear.  The ref did a good job, because I was going to aim for it again.”

Baroni Smoked by Villasenor

“Smokin’” Joey Villasenor (26-6) TKO’d “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (10-10) at 1:11 of round one.

Baroni scored the early advantage catching a “Smokin’” high kick and dumping Villasenor to mat.  Baroni followed with rights, but backed off and allowed Villasenor to stand.

Villasenor jawed Baroni with a short left.

“It was all about fighting at range.  Me and me coach been workin’ on that,” Villasenor said.

Baroni backpedaled and Villasenor closed to a standing guillotine.

Villasenor admitted, “I knew the choke wasn’t going to be secure enough to make him tap, but I knew he was going to be wheezing after that.”

Villasenor released the choke and hammered a 4-1-2 combo that dropped “NYBA”and ended the fight.

Grim Ending for Murphy

“The Grim” Brett Rogers (7-0) knocked out Jon Murphy (4-3) at 1:01 of round one.

“This mean a lot to me.  I’m movin’ up and up and up,” Rogers said.

Murphy scored a right punch early, leading to a clinch at the fence.  Rogers pummeled off the fence and slipped a right hook to Murphy’s jaw during an exchange.  Murphy collapsed and the referee ended the fight by TKO.

Murphy danced in the cage in celebration.

Villasenor has won twice since losing to Rua by TKO in June 2007.  He won a split decision over Riki Fukuda (9-3) and knocked out Ryan Jensen (11-4) last month.

Baroni returns after losing an Icon middleweight title bout to Kala Kalohe Hose (6-1) in March.

No explanation for the change has been given.

Fickett was signed to challenge Shields on tonight’s Showtime-televised card; but, Shields injured his back heaving a sledgehammer during training.

Fickett drew Lim after Shields’s partner, Diaz, was denied a license by the California State Athletic Board.

The title fight has reportedly been rescheduled for 14 June in Hawaii.

The absence of Shields and Diaz, popular Nor Cal warriors,  agitated thousands of hungry fight aficionados at HP Pavilion.

They packed in to feast on a middleweight mixed martial arts title fight between Strikeforce champion Frank Shamrock (24-9-1) and Cung Le (6-0), heroes from opposite sides of the Capital of Silicon Valley.

What they were fed was two-and-a-half rounds of brisk San Shou sparring and two-and-a-half minutes of MMA.

Le remained undefeated when Shamrock quit with a broken arm after the third round, relinquishing his belt to the Vietnamese kung-fu stylist.

 ”He kept blocking,” Le explained,  ”so I kept aiming at that part of the wrist.”

With local street cred on the table, both fighters answered the opening bell cautious of the other’s prowess.

Shamrock circled in a crouching stance while pumping a lazy jab in Le’s general direction, while Le waltzed warily from a safe range.

When the hammer did fall, beginning with a Shamrock kick to Le’s midsection countered by a Le left hand, it was in single-strike spurts followed by congratulatory high fives.

They grinned at each one-off as the crowd chanted “Boring!”

Shamrock closed round one with a knee busting Le’s lip, but lost the round in range of Le’s snapping kicks.

Le opened the second frame knocking Shamrock’s mouthpiece out with a left high kick.

As Le learned Shamrock wasn’t interested in taking him to the mat, he became more comfortable launching left and right middle kicks to setup punches to Shamrock’s head, catching Shamrock with a right hook towards the round’s final bell.

Le topped Shamrock in round two as well.

Midway through the third round, a fight broke out and the champion and challenger traded flurries against the cage.

A hard left kick to Shamrock’s core backed the champion into the fence and Le followed with a spinning back fist as Shamrock advanced.

Shamrock walked through the worst of Le’s attack and pounded punches in a flurry marked by a right fist that staggered Le against the cage.

Le countered with another lightning strike body kick followed by a flurry of hooks as the bell signaled an end to the round and, as Shamrock chose not to answer the fourth round’s bell, the end of the fight.

“This is a dream come true,” Le said after the fight.  “Coming from Vietnam under gunfire and now world champion, I love it.”

In undercard action, top ten lightweight “El Niño” Gilbert Melendez (14-1) shook-up and opened the anticipated can of whoop ass on last minute opponent Gabe Lemley (11-7).

Referee Herb Dean showed mercy on the seemingly awe-struck Iowan and called an end to Melendez’s G’n'P onslaught at 2:18 of the second round.

Melendez returned like a typhoon from a loss to “The Endless Warrior” Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-3-1) in Japan, the first of “El Niño’s” career.

Strikeforce newbie Wayne Cole (11-6) surprised “MAK” Mike Kyle (9-7-1) in an armbar 45-seconds after the opening bell.

Kyle, win-less since 2005, was rusty from a two-year absence from professional competition.

In a sloppy, but entertaining 4:45 minute punch-up, middleweight Joey Villasenor (25-6) of Jackson’s Submission Fighting popped late replacement Ryan Jensen (11-4) with a right hand, knocking the former UFC fighter out in his third consecutive first-round stoppage loss (all against tough competition).

Team Oyama welterweight Tiki Ghosn‘s (10-7) takedown defence kept his scrap with young Luke Stewart (5-1) where Ghosn could pick at Stewart’s stand-up.  The veteran nickle-and-dimed his way to a unanimous decision of 29-28 twice and 30-27.

Stewart picks up his first “L” after five stoppage wins, all in Strikeforce affairs.

Team USA grappler Darren Uyenoyama (4-1) broke bantamweight Strikeforce regular Anthony Figueroa’s (4-2) two-fight win streak by sweeping from half guard into a guillotine choke, enticing the tap at 1:27 of the first frame.

Undefeated Jesse Jones (2-0) exposed Jesse Gillespie (1-1), transitioning in back control from a rear naked choke to G’n'P for a 35-second TKO.

Lightweight Billy Evangelista (6-0) knocked out Marlon Sims (3-3) at :39 of the third round to end the night.

Santos will fight Joey Villasenor (24-6).

Riggs was replaced due to a back injury requiring surgery he suffered at last month’s Strikeforce event in Tacoma.

Santos fights Makoto Takimoto (4-3) on World Victory Road’s debut event in Japan today.

He returns from a 1 February TKO loss to Gegard Mousasi at an HCF event in Calgary.

Villasenor comes off a split decision victory over Riki Fukuda (9-3) at a September 2007 EliteXC show.