It’s tough to be the little guy. That’s why I have a lot of respect for both the lower-tier MMA promotions and the skilled athletes fighting in them. However, there is one thing I will never see as justifiable: not paying your fighters. I’d rather see a company go bankrupt than see a Mixed Martial Artist not get paid for putting his/her body on the line. It was bad enough with Impact FC not paying their fighters, but now it appears that another promotion, Shine Fights, has followed suit. ...

“Ninja” Murilo Rua (18-10-1), brother of Fighters.com's third-ranked light heavyweight contender “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4), and Falaniko Vitale (25-8) will matchup at Shine Fights third iteration tentatively scheduled for spring 2010. Rua is fresh off a TKO of Golden Glory’s Jason Jones (3-9-1) at Bitetti Combat 5 in São Paulo December 12. Vitale has been on hiatus since losing a three-round decision to “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (19-7) at Strikeforce in Denver in October 2008. ...

Former UFC heavyweight challenger “Snowman” Jeff Monson (28-2) has signed a multi-fight contract with Shine Fights, according to MMA Junkie. Monson recently lost a unanimous decision to “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (17-9) at Bitetti Combat 4 in Rio de Janeiro September 12.  After the loss, Monson told Fighters.com that he was cutting to 205 pounds. ...

Nicaraguan former WBC welterweight boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga will make his MMA debut at Shine Fights, according to Shine Fights promoter Dorian Price (8-3) on the Shine Fights II Internet broadcast Friday night.

Fighters.com confirmed Price's announcement Saturday morning with another source close to Shine Fights who said nothing has been signed, but that's the intention of both Mayorga and Shine Fights.

Thirty-five year old Mayorga is 28-7-1 with 22 knockouts in the boxing ring, most recently suffering a twelfth-round knockout to "Sugar" Shane Mosely in September 2008.

Tuesday, Mayorga filed a breach of contract lawsuit against boxing promoter Don King.

...

American Top Team welterweight “Jucao” Roan Carneiro (13-8) won a three-round unanimous decision over “Macaco” Jorge Patino (22-12-1) by scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28 at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night. "I'm so happy fighting here in ATT backyard," Carneiro said after the fight. In the first round, Carneiro tripped "Macaco" to the mat and landed body punches and a right elbow to Patino's head; but, Patino swept into half mount. Carneiro countered with an armbar, but the Brazilian veteran "Macaco" wasn't going to tap. He kicked "Jucao" in the head illegally and the referee paused the action without taking a point deduction. After the pause, Carneiro scored a double leg slam. ...

American Top Team lightweight Yves Edwards (35-15-1) tapped late replacement James Warfield (12-5) in a triangle choke at 4:48 of round two at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night.

The end came after Edwards doubled over Warfield with a straight left to his body and followed with a Thai clinch. Warfield threw Edwards to the mat and followed into the Edwards triangle choke.

Warfield was determined not to tap as Edwards held the technique for a full minute as Warfield struggled, but eventually tapped out.
...

American Top Team lightweight “Buscape” Luiz Firmino (13-4) made a successful American debut with a three-round unanimous decision over “Irish Assassin” Ryan Healy (10-6-1) at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night.

"Buscape" landed a right hook to begin the fight, then charged to slam Healy into half mount and landed a straight right to Healy's chin on the mat. Healy stood from beneath Firmino, but Firmino took Healy's back and rode him down where Firmino switched to full mount and locked-in an arm triangle. Again, Healy defended and stood, but Firmino pulled him back to the mat where Healy again stood and Firmino tripped him back to the mat again. As "Buscape" attempted to pass, Healy swept and stood again. Firmino followed and landed a jab and a left hook at the end of the round.

In round two, "Buscape" slammed Healy and landed an elbow and hammer fist before Healy scrambled. Again, Firmino took Healy's back. Firmino sank a rear naked choke with a body lock, but Healy found another escape and got back to his feet. On their feet, Healy landed a left hook and a straight right at the bell.
...

Lightweight “Sobrevivente” Flavio Alvaro (25-6) won a tactical three-round majority decision over his former long-time training partner “White Bear” Jean Silva (16-9-3) at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night. "My weight cut definitely affected my performance," said Alvaro after the fight. "Jean is coming back after a long layoff and is welcome to a rematch." In the first round, Silva fell into Alvaro's half guard from an Alvaro trip takedown and briefly worked on a Kimura on Alvaro's left arm. But, Alvarao defended the Kimura and swept out of half guard and stood-up. On their feet, Silva landed a straight right. ...

American Top Team featherweight Micah Miller (12-3) tapped Anthony Morrison (7-6) in an arm triangle at 4:25 of round two at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night. From Morrison's back, Miller switched to full mount and sank to technique before sprawling out in side control to finish Morrison, who tapped meekly. In the first round, Miller absorbed stinging leg kicks to his rear and lead leg before clinching with Morrison against the cage and exchanging knees to the body with the shorter fighter, Morrison. Miller scored a sure takedown, but Morrison grabbed the cage to keep his feet. The referee immediately took a point. ...

Former NFLer “Whisper the Gorilla” Herbert Goodman (6-4) from Matt Hughes's (41-7) H.I.T. Squad showed James Brasco (5-2) who the killer is with a TKO by punches from the mount at 3:24 of round three at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night.

Until the last 20 seconds of the fight, it didn't seem either fighter has a killer instinct.

Brasco shot out in the first round with a straight right into a shoot, defended by Goodman. But, Brasco tripped Goodman and proceeded to pass to full mount easily. But, Goodman escaped with a bridge and scrambled to Brasco's back, taking his time getting around to a rear naked choke attempt as the round ended.

Goodman said, "He didn't really damage me on the ground. I had wrist control."

...

Pro-debuting Brian Fuery (1-0) tapped out Xtreme Couture's Phil Friedman (1-2) in an arm triangle at 2:03 of round one at Shine Fights in Miami Friday night. From the clinch against the cage, Fuery rode Friedman to the mat with a guillotine hold and transitioned to an arm triangle in side mount for the tap out. Friedman didn't go down quietly. He backed Fuery to the cage with furious flurries of punches. But, Fuery, a former pro football player, demonstrated unusual composure in his pro debut, fighting off Friedman's flurries and notching the submission victory. ...

Fighters.com will post live results from Shine Fights’ American Top Team VS The World Friday night at 8:00 PM. The fight card: "Jucao" Roan Carneiro (12-8) v "Macaco" Jorge Patino (22-11-1) "Buscape" Luiz Firmino (12-4) v "Irish Assassin" Ryan Healy (10-5-1) "Sobrevivente" Flavio Alvaro (24-6) v "White Bear" Jean Silva (16-8-3) Yves Edwards (34-15-1 v James Warfield (12-4) Junior Assuncao (8-4) v "Gladiator" Gideon Ray (15-10-1) Micah Miller (11-3) v Anthony Morrison (7-6) "Whisper" Herbert Goodman (5-4) v James Brasco (5-1) Phil Friedman (1-1) v Brian Fuery (0-0) Danny Chavez (2-1) v "Tagarela" Jonatas Gurgel (3-0) ...

American Top Team lightweight Yves Edwards (34-15-1) will fight James Warfield (12-4) at Shine Fights’ American Top Team VS The World in Miami 4 September, Fighters.com has confirmed...again. Fighters.com reported Edwards was originally offered and agreed to fight Kyle Watson (13-6-1), but that fight fell through. Then, Fighters.com reported Edwards had agreed to fight German Mario Stapel (13-11), but that fight fell through. Fighters.com won't guarantee Warfield will be anywhere near Miami this time, but the fight was originally reported by Wisconsin Combat Sports and Fighters.com confirmed the figh with Edwards, again. ...

American Top Team lightweight Yves Edwards (34-15-1) will fight German Mario Stapel (13-11) at Shine Fights’ American Top Team VS The World in Miami 4 September, Fighters.com has confirmed. Fighers.com reported yesterday Edwards would likely fight Kyle Watson (13-6-1), but should've waited for the ink to mark the paper. Fighters.com was aware Stapel had been mentioned, but was told by multiple sources at ATT that Watson was Edwards's likely opponent. Stapel tapped "Hitman" Harris Sarmiento (25-20) in a guillotine at Shine's original show in Columbus 9 May. Edwards lost a UD to “Bang” Duane Ludwig at Strikeforce in San Jose last November and will be fighting to end a two-fight losing run. ...

Lightweight Yves Edwards (34-15-1) will likely fight Kyle Watson (13-6-1) at Shine Fights’ American Top Team VS The World in Miami 4 September, Fighters.com has confirmed.

Watson is on a four-fight win streak, most recently tapping out Steve Reyna (5-4) in a rear naked choke at Corral's Combat Classic in Indiana last February.

Edwards lost a UD to “Bang” Duane Ludwig at Strikeforce in San Jose last November and will be fighting to end a two-fight losing run.

Though Edwards has agreed to fight Watson, the contracts aren't yet inked and other fighters are being considered. ...

Wandering thug-jitsu warrior Yves Edwards (34-15-1) confirmed to Fighters.com Wednesday that he'll enter the cage at Shine Fights' American Top Team VS The World in Miami 4 September.

"I don't even know [who I might fight]," Edwards said. "I'll know later tonight."

Edwards's resume includes the fights in the UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, HDNet Fights, Bodog Fights, PRIDE, WEC, MFC, Shooto, and KOTC. He'll X-off the American Top Team half of the theme and await a 155-pound challenger.

Edwards lost a UD to "Bang" Duane Ludwig at Strikeforce in San Jose last November and will be fighting to end a two-fight losing run.

...

Shine Fight Promotions has inked a deal with The Fight Network to broadcast American Top Team vs. The World, the promotion's second show headlined by "Jucao" Roan Carneiro (12-8) versus "Macaco" Jorge Patino (17-10-1). American Top Team vs. The World will be held in Miami 4 September, but broadcast on The Fight Network 12 September. ATT's Carneiro enters Shine off of a 2-3 stint in the UFC ending with split decision loss to "Piranha" Ryo Chonan (15-10) at UFC 88 in Atlanta last September. Patino won a UD over "Blackjack" Beau Baker (7-2) at KAPMMA in Newark last February. The card also features UFC vet Junior Assuncao (8-4), WEC vets Carlo Prater (24-7-1), "Maverick" Micah Miller (12-3) and "Irish Assassin" Ryan Healy (4-4-1), and PRIDE and DREAM vet "Buscape" Luis Firmino (12-4). ...