It’s always important and interesting to try and figure out how successful any major, recent MMA event was. Normally things are seen from the promotion’s side: live attendance, gate receipts, PPV buys, television ratings, etc. But it’s also important to take things from a fighter’s perspective: who made the most cash, and who will have to sit on the sidelines? Here we have just thought: the official salary figures as well as the official medical suspensions of strikeforce’s recent “Feijao vs. Henderson” event. As always, I’ve included some commentary. ...

Fight fans had plenty to talk about at the end of strikeforce’s last event, “Feijao vs. Henderson”. Whether it was Dan Henderson claiming another championship at forty years young, or Marloes Coenen snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a great Triangle Choke, there was a lot of positive buzz after this show concluded. But you can’t really measure buzz, so the question should be asked: how successful was this show in more concrete terms? Here’s just that: the live attendance figures as well as the television ratings for Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”, plus some commentary on what I think these numbers mean. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another new edition of “Best of the Rest”! I really enjoy taking the time to give my detailed thoughts on a show after watching it, but after the serious discussion and debate I’ll raise in topics like “Top 5 Best Moments” and “Best Performance of the Night”, I think it’d be nice to have a tongue-in-cheek topic where I give out some other “awards”. It’s all in good fun, so don’t take any of it too seriously. So let’s dive right into this latest edition, now featuring Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

For the most part, Strikeforce’s recent “Feijao vs. Henderson” show was a thrilling event with several must-see moments. From Tim Kennedy and Marloes Coenen both pulling off dramatic submissions to Dan Henderson laying claim to yet another championship, the event had a little something for everyone. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after “Feijao vs. Henderson”? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

Strikeforce has been off to an amazing start in 2011, and their current run of quality events continued with last night’s “Feijao vs. Henderson”. Of four televised bouts, two of which were for Strikeforce championships, three ended with dramatic finishes. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top 5 best moments of Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

Strikeforce rolled right through another great event tonight, as “Feijao vs. Henderson” continued the long streak of good-to-great Strikeforce events. Only one fight went to a decision, and the other three fights all ended rather dramatically. And in the main event, Dan Henderson proved that sometimes an old dog’s old tricks are all he needs, since Henderson’s famed right hand allowed him to capture the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

For some reason, Strikeforce shows always seem to sneak up on me. That’s a problem I hope to correct soon, because Strikeforce has been off to an awesome 2011 and I think this trend will continue with their upcoming “Feijao vs. Henderson” show. As always, I’ve got plenty to say about any upcoming MMA show, but today it’s time for my final say. So here it is: another entry into my “Finally Final Thoughts” series, this time featuring Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

We’re now only a few days away from Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. In the main event, Rafael Cavalcante looks to beat MMA legend Dan Henderson, while “Hendo” looks to take away Cavalcante’s Light Heavyweight Championship. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Marloes Coenen has drawn the difficult task of beating the currently-unbeaten Liz Carmouche with the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship on the line. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

On March 5, 2011, Strikeforce will hold its highly-anticipated “Feijao vs. Henderson” event, featuring Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael Cavalcante defending his newly-won belt for the very first time against PRIDE FC veteran, UFC veteran, and all-around MMA legend Dan Henderson. Newly-crowned Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Marloes Coenen will also make the first defense of her belt on March 5, taking on the 5-0 Liz Carmouche. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson” ...

Strikeforce has solidified themselves as the number two promotion in the mixed martial arts world, but they are becoming a very distant second in my opinion. One of their biggest flaws has always been the manner in which they put together bouts on a given fight card, case in point "Strikeforce: Columbus" which has already rustled through three fighters in a single bout. Initially, a middleweight match-up pitting Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Tim Kennedy was expected to take place on the March event, which is scheduled to coincide with the Arnold's Sports Festival, however the promotion has since scrapped those plans for the trilogy bout. Then, it was announced that Kennedy would instead be facing budding contender Luke Rockhold in a middleweight fight, and as of today that fight has been put on the back burner also. ...

Evangelista Santos, better known as simply "Cyborg", is arguably at the pinnacle of his career. He has the chance to capture the very prestigious Strikeforce welterweight title from one of the more recognizable and enigmatic figures in the sport, champ Nick Diaz. However, while the honor in of itself in claiming gold would be great, Evangelista has already set up a hit-list of sorts on those he would like to exact some revenge on in his near 14-year career as a mixed martial artist. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi and former Cage Rage light heavyweight champion Melvin Manhoef are on the top of his list. ...

When Robbie Lawler is tasked with fighting another standup specialist, he usually works his way to a knockout win with his own world class fists as he did against Melvin Manhoef.  When tasked with facing a wrestling or multi level skilled fighter he has struggled in comparison, as witnessed in his loses to Renato Sobral and Jake Shields.  His opponent Saturday night in St. Louis on the Strikeforce card falls in the latter category.  Matt Lindland has Olympic level wrestling in his tool box and has Lawler ready to fight on his feet or off his back. “I don’t know how he thinks it is going to be but I have been working on my skills, my wrestling and I have been working on everything.  I think you have to ask Matt how easy he thinks it will be. I think he thinks it will be tough and it will be.” ...

Arguably one of the best strikers in mixed martial arts today, Melvin Manhoef will be returning to action on new years day for the DREAM promotion in Japan. The famed Dutch striker whom has part timed with Mike's Gym in Holland and American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, will be returning to Japan for the first time since a disappointing loss to the previously unheralded, Tatsuya Mizuno, who eventually made his way to the finals of the light heavyweight DREAM grand prix, where he lost to current champion Gegard Mousasi. Manhoef has no fared so well as of late and is looking revitalize his career in his next performance. ...

Kazuo Misaki, a perennial fixture in the middleweight division is a man's fighter. He takes on all comers, never turns down an opponent, and always comes to fight. And while the former Pride Welterweight Grand Prix Champion has seen the brighter side of things just a few years ago and has recently fallen on back-to-back losses, he's putting all on the line--and according to Misaki himself, it was his life that was at stake in his last fight with Sengoku Champion, Jorge Santiago. ...

For someone who once approached the upcoming video game “EA Sports MMA” with an incredible amount of hesitation, now more and more I’m thinking that October 19 can’t get here soon enough. In order to generate interest and encourage fans to open their wallets and put down a pre-order, EA Sports is revealing the entire roster of the game on a week-by-week, division-by-division basis. The Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight roster has already been revealed, and recently the Middleweights took center stage. EA Sports also recently revealed a teaser image of a famous venue that has yet to see a Mixed Martial Arts event. ...

DREAM lightweight champion “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (24-5) forced "Crusher" Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-6-2) to tap out in an Achilles lock at 1:53 of their DREAM.15 title fight in Saitama Saturday. Aoki returned from a drubbing by Strikeforce champion “El Niño” Gilbert Melendez (18-2) at Strikeforce in Nashville April 17 to defeat his longtime Japanese rival. ...

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. ...

“Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (22-9-2) and recent Strikeforce signee “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-5-1) will matchup at Fields Dynamite!! 2009 in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve, the promotion has announced. ...

Dutch kickboxer “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-5-1) will bring his exciting style to Strikeforce with a multi-year commitment, the San Jose-based promotion announced Wednesday. ...

Croatian middleweight “Benkei” Zelg Galesic (8-3) will fight Japanese MMA hero “Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba (22-13-1) at DREAM.12 in Osaka October 25, DREAM officially announced Monday. Sakuraba was originally scheduled to fight “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-5-1), but Manhoef bailed with an injury. ...

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.
...

Gegard Mousasi (23-2-1) quickly tapped fellow Dutchman "Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef(22-5-1) in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Tuesday afternoon in the battle of Holland precluding the DREAM Middleweight GP final. Mousasi wasted no time tackling the "Marvelous" kickboxer shortly after the opening bell and wrestling him to the mat in full mount.  Manhoef surrendered his back, but rolled into Mousasi's full guard in defense of a rear naked choke. "It's my own fault that I understimated him a bit," said Manhoef. "I thought he would stand with me." From his back, Mousasi allowed Manhoef to punch himself into a leg triangle. Manhoef admitted, "It's a little bit stupid of me because I was too anxious to go ground'n'pound." Manhoef squat pressed Mousasi, hanging from his neck, into the air, but slammed to the mat still wrapped in the triangle. Manhoef tapped at 1:28 of round one; and, Mousasi earned a spot in the Middleweight GP final. ...

Thanks to Jurojin boss Ino Alberga, Fighters.com served-up questions with rising middleweight Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1), who will trade strikes with “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 23 September in DREAM's Middleweight GP semi-final. If Mousasi defeats the Dutchman, he'll move into the final the same night versus the winner of Fighters.com's eighth-ranked middleweight "Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1) and “Benkei” Zelg Galesic (9-3). Fighters.com: After defeating Denis Kang (29-10-1) at DREAM.2 in 29 April, you called out "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) for your next fight and had called him out even before then.  Why has Manhoef been on your hit list? Gegard Mousasi: I consider myself a young, up-and-coming fighter, who has to fight the strongest opponents.  Besides that, it was also a personal thing for me to get more exposure in Holland.  In Holland, most of the people only know "Hurricane" Gilbert Yvel (33-12-1), "Demolition Man" Alistair Overeem (28-11), and Melvin Manhoef, all of whom I very much respect and with some of them I have had regular trainings.  By fighting Melvin , the people in Holland (and, of course, the rest of the world) will recognize that Holland has a new kid on the block.  I need to prove something in Holland! Fighters.com: Manhoef comes out aggressively at the bell.  Does he leave himself open at his initial charge? Gegard Mousasi: I agree that he is very aggressive when he comes out.  Every fighter will have his weakness; but, I consider Melvin as one of the best strikers in the 185-pound category.  But, that makes it more exciting to take the challenge.  I know I can fight him standing up.  He will have problems with my reach. Fighters.com: How will you use your extra four inches over Manhoef as an advantage? ...

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. ...

DREAM on Thursday officially announced three fights that will take place at DREAM.6 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, 23 September. “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1) and “Benkei” Zelg Galesic (9-3) will take part in the Middleweight Grand Prix, as will “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) and Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1), who all fought at DREAM.4 in June. Also announced is a featherweight match-up between Hideo Tokoro (21-13-1) and Atsushi Yamamoto (11-5-1). “Jacare” defeated “Mayhem” Jason Miller (21-6) via unanimous decision at DREAM.4. Galesic got a TKO victory over Taiei Kin (3-3) when Kin injured his elbow. Manhoef TKO’d “Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba (24-11-1) in the first round in July. Mousasi most recently won a unanimous decision over Dong Sik Yoon. Tokoro fought at DREAM.4 and DREAM.5, earning unanimous decision victories over Darren Uyenoyama (4-2) and Takeshi Yamazaki (14-8-2). Yamamoto, a Pancrase and Shooto veteran, lost his last fight unanimous decision to Masakatsu Ueda (8-0-1) in March. ...

Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (16-2) further expanded the common MMA repertoire Sunday at DREAM.4 when he tapped Katsuhiko Nagata (4-3) in a gogoplata from the full mount at 5:12 of round one. Adorning his sprayed-on, gaudy long johns, Aoki scored two takedowns, mounting Nagata on the second.  Aoki pounded his victim as Nagata bucked. Aoki wasn't going anywhere! He smothered Nagata and slipped his foot out of nowhere into the pretzel that ended the fight, advancing Aoki to the Lightweight Grand Prix semi-finals. “If you want to be the legend, you have to kill the legend," "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) said after slaying "Gracie Hunter" Kazushi Sakuraba (24-11-1) with a kick in the first round and advancing to the Middleweight Grand Prix semi-finals. "That’s what I did today.” Manhoef finished the Japanese legend with a knee to Sakuraba's head from side control followed by hammerfists to his face before the referee ended the fight. ...