Strikeforce: “Houston” has now drawn to a close, and it made for quite an eventful night of fights. But the biggest story to come out of “Houston” had to have been the crowning of two Brazilian champions, both of whom train in the prestigious Black House gym, home to such famous fighters as Lyoto Machida, the Nogueira brothers (Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira), Junior Dos Santos, and Anderson Silva. For “Houston”, Black House was represented by Ronaldo Souza in a fight to crown a new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion after the title had been vacated due to former champion Jake Shields parting ways with the company, and also by Rafael Cavalcante in the first defense of Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal’s belt. Both fights were back-and-forth wars of non-stop action that fully proved the heart, dedication, determination, and skills of both “Jacare” and “Feijao”. Here’s how it all broke down. ...

Today marked the official weigh-ins for the upcoming Strikeforce: "Houston" event, scheduled for August 20, 2010 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The event features controversial Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal, better known as “King Mo”, in his first defense of the championship he won after beating the highly-regarded Gegard Mousasi to win the belt. The co-main event will also be a championship affair, as feared submission wizard (his nickname, “Jacare”, means Alligator) Ronaldo Souza takes on 12-2 Tim Kennedy for the vacant Middleweight Championship, which was rendered vacant when former champion Jake Shields promptly left the promotion and signed with the UFC after defeating new Strikeforce signee and MMA legend, Dan Henderson. The “Houston” weigh-ins weren’t immune to a bit of controversy, as several fighters failed to make weight. Here’s how it all broke down. ...

"I think [Vitor Belfort] is a great fighter," Fighters.com's fourth-ranked middleweight “Great” Nate Marquardt (29-8-2) told MMA Weekly Radio recently.  "I don’t necessarily agree with him getting a shot or whatever, just because he really hasn’t fought at 85," he added. ...

Strikeforce middleweight "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (9-2) climbed a rung to to number eight in December with a first-round submission of “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-7) at Evolution in San Jose December 19. ...

Fighters.com’s second-ranked middleweight Jake Shields (23-4-1) cemented his status as top contender to Fighters.com and UFC Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva's (25-4) titles and picked up the Strikeforce strap himself in a five-round unanimous decision over former top ten and nails-tough “Mayhem” Jason Miller (22-7) at Strikeforce in Chicago November 7. ...

Light heavyweight prospect “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (4-0), DREAM veteran middleweight “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (8-2), and UFC veteran middleweight “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-6) are set for Strikeforce Evolution in San Jose December 19, Strikeforce has announced. ...

Strikeforce has inked a multi-fight deal with Brazilian middleweight "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (8-2). "I am very excited that I will have the opportunity to fight in Strikeforce amongst many of the world's best middleweight fighters," said the 29-year-old Souza. "Strikeforce has an extremely deep roster of top middleweight fighters. I am looking forward to the challenge and to taking my career to the next level." After a brilliant run in the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix in Tokyo last year, Souza was knocked out by Strikeforce 205er, then middleweight and eventual tourney champ Gegard Mousasi (21-2-1) in the finals. Souza had left "Mayhem" Jason Miller (22-7) and Zelg Galesic (7-3) in his wake to the final showdown versus Mousasi. ...

Dutch mixed martial artist Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) knocked out Xtreme Couture's "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (10-2) at 2:15 of round one with an upkick as the Brazilian dove into Mousasi's guard throwing an overhand. It was Sousa who put the fight on the mat with a double-leg takedown at the opening; and, Mousasi fought like it was a prison rape to get the BJJ world champion off of him. Mousasi finally created distance; and, Sousa leapt back into Mousasi's guard when he absorbed the upkick full-on to his jaw. Lights out!  "Jacare" went limp; and, Mousasi rolled from beneath him. Mousasi, a 23-year old phenom, won the first DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Championship with the KO. On his way to the title, Mousasi took out former top ten Canadian Denis Kang (30-10-1), world champion judoka Dong Sik Yoon (4-6), and, Tuesday night in Saitama, both aggressive kickboxer "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (22-5-1) and two-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion Souza in the same night.  It was an impressive run through a gauntlet of styles chronicled by Fighters.com in interviews with Mousasi after defeating Kang and Yoon. ...

It took “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (10-1) only 1:27 to earn a spot in the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix final with a submission of "Benkei" Zelg Galesic (9-4) in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Tuesday night. The fight got underway quickly as Jacare slammed Galesic to the mat and controlled from the side until he was able to mount. "I went for a kick, missed it, and found myself on my back," said Galesic. Galesic reversed positions; but, "Jacare" caught him in an armbar and Galesic was forced to tap. Galesic explained, "He done some sort of leg triangle mount and my arm popped out." ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

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. ...

Friday, DREAM released its DREAM.4 Middleweight Grand Prix match-ups to be fought in Tokyo 15 June. Fighters.com's ninth-ranked middleweight "Mayhem" Jason Miller (21-5) will fight Brazilian BJJ enigma "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (8-1). Fast-rising Gegard Mousasi (21-2-1) will face Korean judoka Dong Sik Yoon (4-4). MMA legend "Gracie Hunter" Kazushi Sakuraba (24-10-1) is matched versus "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef (21-4-1). Finally, "Benkei" Zelg Galesic (8-3) will fight Taiei Kin (3-2). ...

"Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (15-2) won a unanimous decision over "JZ" Gesias Calvancante (14-2-1) in a Lightweight Grand Prix bout. The rest of the card were fights in the Middleweight Grand Prix. Gegard Mousasi (21-2-1) submitted Denis Kang (29-10-1) in a triangle choke at 3:10 of round one. Taiei Kin (3-2) won a unaninmous decision over "The Punk" Ikuhisa Minowa (39-28-8). "Benkei" Zelg Galesic (8-3) submitted Magomed Sultanakhmedov (4-2) by armbar at 1:40 of round one. "The Gracie Hunter" Kazushi Sakuraba (24-10-1) sumbitted Andrews Nakahara (0-1) by neck crank at 8:20 of the first round. "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (8-1) submitted Ian Murphy (0-1) by rear naked choke at 3:38 of the first round. Kiyoshi Tamura (32-14-1) TKO Masakatsu Funaki (38-13-1) in 57 seconds. Dong Sik Yoon (4-4) won a unanimous decision over Shungo Oyama (7-11). ...

Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked middleweight “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (16-6) has been dropped from DREAM.2's Middleweight Grand Prix. Trigg had insisted to MMA Junkie over the weekend that he had never signed to fight on the card. "Twinkle Toes" had been matched versus BJJ stud "Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (7-1). Souza will now fight American amateur wrestler Ian Murphy, who has never competed in professional mixed martial arts. Murphy wrestled collegiately at Cal State Fullerton. Trigg was the only Fighters.com top ten ranked middleweight in the Grand Prix. ...

DREAM has announced additional fights on their 29 April DREAM.2 card featuring a Middleweight Grand Prix. Fighters.com's seventh-ranked middleweight "Twinkle Toes" Frank Trigg (16-6) will welcome Brazilian jiu-jitsu stud "Jacare" Ronaldo Souza (7-1) to the big leagues. Trigg, a former WFA and Icon champion, is the favorite to win the tournament.  He comes off a 1:40 Kimura submission of former UFC tough guy "Babyface" Edwin Dewees (34-12) in December. "Jacare" is on a seven-fight "W" streak after losing his MMA debut by KO in 2003.  The ADCC absolute division runner-up last submitted Wendell Santos (0-1) in October.  Souza has never fought competition like "Twinkle Toes". "The Punk" Ikuhisa Minowa (39-27-8) will stand across the DREAM ring from Taiei Kin (2-2) on the same card. Croation "Benkei" Zelg Galesic (7-3) has been matched against Russian Magomed Sultanakhmedov (4-1). Finalyly, veteran PRIDE and K-1 judoka Dong Sik Yoon (3-4) will fight Shungo Oyama (7-10) in the tournament's opening round. Three other Middleweight Grand Prix fights were announced previously. ...