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- Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs Shields’ predictions, preview and analysis
- WEC 41: Mike Brown and Urijah Faber rematch remix (Videos)
- Feel It Nutrition slashing prices on ALL TwinLab products for a limited time!
- Strikeforces Robbie Lawler throws out first pitch at St. Louis Cardinals baseball game (Pic)
- Stronger than before: Andrei Arlovski Strikeforce interview exclusive with MMAmania.com
- Dana White video blog for WEC 41 (Episode three)
- Bellator X weigh in results: Soto and Reyes official for featherweight title fight
- ‘Ultimate Chaos’ poster for Lashley vs Sapp on June 27
- Strikeforce, WEC video previews and the Kimbo Slice TUF 10 experiment on ESPNs ‘MMA Live’
- DREAM 11: Semi final ‘Super Hulk’ match ups booked for September show
| Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs Shields’ predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 05 Jun 2009 05:19 AM PDT
Strikeforce: 'Lawler vs. Shields' is set to go down this Saturday, June 6 from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, live on Showtime starting at 10p.m. ET. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates with blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of the main card action on fight night, which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET. To get us pumped for the festivities, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland (that's me) will break down the main event matches and take a closer look at the intricacies of each contest. Strikeforce has put together a solid show featuring a couple of fighters we just saw back in April — but in this case a repeat performance isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anyone who’s been following Strikeforce — especially in the wake of the ProElite acquisitions can tell you there is some serious talent at work here. One of the big stories coming into June 6 is of course the late addition of former UFC heavyweight champion Andre Arlovski to the main card as he takes on the menacing Brett “The Grim” Rogers. Does “The Pitbull” still have the Emelianenko loss on his mind or has he moved on? And what about Jake Shields moving up in weight? Can he handle the streaking Robbie Lawler? And if Lawler and Diaz both win, is a blockbuster rematch inevitable? There is definitely a lot of ground to cover. I've also included the current betting lines for each fight so that you can get a feel for what the money has to say about the chances of each combatant. Now, enough with the formalities … let's get cracking:
182 lbs. (Catchweight): "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-4) vs. Jake Shields (22-4-1) Backgrounds: Both competitors have been out of action since their former employer ProElite went out of business last November. Shields defeated talented British striker Paul "Semtex" Daley on the final event for the promotion last October. The victory was the first title defense for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He captured the vacant title with a first round submission win over Nick "The Goat" Thompson a little more than two months earlier on the July 26 EliteXC: "Unfinished Business" card. For Lawler, it's been a little longer since he last saw action, finishing off Scott Smith in the second round of their rematch on the "Unfinished Business" card in July 2008. The two engaged in one of the best fights in the short history of the organization in their first encounter in May, but the fight was ruled a no contest because of an inadvertent eye poke, which led to the rematch. The win over Smith was the fifth in a row for "Ruthless" — sans the dreaded no contest — and he wasn't fighting any bums either. That list included Frank Trigg, Joey Villasenor and Murilo "Ninja" Rua. Not to mention earlier career victories over Niko Vitale (twice), Chris Lytle and others. Dumbass predicts: There was a time when most UFC fans thought of Robbie Lawler only in the context of his faceplant against Nick Diaz at UFC 47 back in 2004. No more. After spending some time away from Zuffa and putting on two terrific performances against Scott Smith for Elite XC, “Ruthless” finds himself headlining a Strikeforce card against another guy that many of today’s fans hear a lot about but in actuality have seen little of. For me, this is going to be the deciding factor regarding Jake Shields’ true ability. He’s definitely got the grappling chops and has big wins over guys like Josh Thompson and Carlos Condit. Having said that, it must also be noted that nearly fifty-percent of Shields’ wins have come by way of decision and aside from Thompson, many of the bigger names he’s faced have gone the distance. That makes me wonder if he will be able to submit Lawler (even though Mayhem did it in ICON Sport) and if he can’t, can he survive the remainder of the fight against a guy who hasn’t gone to a decision in six years? Lawler’s size shouldn’t be that much of a factor, considering Shields also has a win over the very big and strong Yushin Okami back in 2006 for Rumble on the Rock, but my gut tells me that with five straight (T)KO wins, this is Robbie’s time. I expect Shields’ gas tank to fail him at some point in the third and Lawler will capitalize with a technical knockout. Betting lines (as of June 5): Lawler: -125 ((Bet Now)) Shields: -105 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Lawler via TKO 180 lbs. (Catchweight): Nick Diaz (19-7) vs. Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith (17-5) Backgrounds: Former UFC fighters Nick Diaz Scott Smith are coming off perhaps the biggest wins of their careers on April 11. Diaz stopped promotion pillar Frank Shamrock via second round TKO in the main event of "Shamrock vs. Diaz" in the first Strikeforce event since putting its new ProElite acquisitions to work. "Hands of Steel" lived up to his nickname earlier this month by knocking out the hard hitting Benji Radach with a little over a minute remaining in their three round slugfest. Smith was battered and bloodied, but refused to back down and stunned "Razor" — and the rest of the crowd with his thrilling come-from-behind win. Now the two biggest winners from April 11 will meet for a chance to crown themselves the King of St. Louis — and perhaps San Jose — now that Strikeforce elder statesman Frank Shamrock has dropped two straight. Dumbass predicts: I would not have expected to see these two guys again so quickly after April 11, but after the performances they gave us in San Jose I’m certainly glad they’re back — and I expect more of the same from each fighter. Both Diaz and Smith have to be coming into this fight very confident following their sensational wins, and that translates into a very entertaining fight for the fans. What’s interesting about this fight is that Diaz could probably end it early if he made use of those stellar jiu-jitsu skills, but we all know that’s not what he’s about. Diaz is there to fight and his rat-tat-tat style is tailored perfectly for Smith. “Hands of Steel” also has a heart of steel and will put up a good fight (and is by no means is a pushover), but Diaz lands a ridiculous amount of strikes per round and should cruise to a unanimous decision. It’s hard to count Smith out after his miraculous comeback against Radach last April, but the wily Diaz is a craftier opponent who is relentless and nearly impossible to finish. Betting lines (as of June 5): Diaz: -400 ((Bet Now)) Smith: +250 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Diaz via unanimous decision 265 lbs.: Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (15-6) vs. Brett "The Grim" Rogers (9-0) Backgrounds: Andrei Arlovski has been working with famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach over the past year or so to help him improve his striking. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see more of it against Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: "Day of Reckoning" back on January 24. “The Pitbull” was winning the stand up exchanges before attempting a fly knee, which the champion countered with a quick right that put Arlovski down for the count midway through the opening frame. Prior to the loss, Arlovski was seen devouring IFL veteran Roy "Big Country" Nelson at Elite XC: "Heat" on October 4 of 2008. After losing back-to-back fights in the UFC against Tim Sylvia, Arlovski went on to win five of six with four technical knockouts. "The Grimm" has stormed through the first nine men he’s faced rather easily, finishing each of them with strikes. In fact, only once — in his most recent victory over Ron "Abongo" Humphrey on April 11 — has the knockout artist faced an opponent who has survived beyond the first round. Dumbass predicts: Like Nick Diaz, Andrei Arlovski could probably win this fight in the first round via submission if he really wanted to. He’s a formidable grappler and his experience on the big stage puts him far ahead of Rogers in the grand scheme of things. He may be one of the best strikers in the heavyweight division regardless of promotion and he looks better and better in each fight. Even in his knockout loss to Emelianenko, one had to admire his performance. So why am I picking against him? Well folks, Brett Rogers has two choices in life: Succeed in mixed martial arts or go back to Sam’s Club and change tires for a living. I never pick against a man in that scenario. And Rogers is gangster. Not the “Hey I tilt my hat to the side and have a complex handshake” kind of gangster — the real deal. I was about four feet from him at the Elite XC ‘Primetime’ post-fight presser when he stood up — in front of his boss, his peers and the media — and told Kimbo Slice he tapped out to the elbows of James Thompson. Rogers wants to be the top guy. He wants to be the most feared heavyweight. If he isn’t, he’ll end up back in Minneapolis checking tire pressure. No way am I picking against that. Betting lines (as of June 5): Arlovski: -500 ((Bet Now)) Rogers: +300 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Rogers via KO 170 lbs.: Phil "New York Bad Ass" Baroni (13-10) vs. Joe "Diesel" Riggs (29-10) Backgrounds: Former UFC welterweight Joe Riggs was originally penciled in to face Jake Shields during the promotion's debut on the premium cable network on April 11 in San Jose, but the Strikeforce match makers decided to scrap the bout in order to free Shields up for a superfight with Robbie Lawler in the main event instead. “Diesel” wasn't too pleased with the decision either, because he felt like he had a decent shot at handing the former EliteXC champion his first loss in nearly four and a half years. Who knows, perhaps a win in St. Louis will move the veteran fighter closer to a match with his desired opponent, but for now he'll have to settle with taking out his frustration on Baroni instead. The "New York Bad Ass" hit a bit of a dry spell, losing five of seven bouts from September of 2005 through May of 2008, but he bounced back to close out 2008 with three straight wins over Scott Jansen (KO), Ron Verdadero (TKO), and Olaf Alfonso (decision) after dropping down to compete as a welterweight in the 170 pound division. He's kicked up his training a few notches as well and has been working with guys like Jake Shields, Josh Thomson and others in preparation for Riggs. Dumbass predicts: Joe Riggs has a TKO win over UFC referee Herb Dean back in 2003. I say that because I’m trying to find something positive about his career and it’s proved to be challenging. No question he’s a tough guy who’s endured some real hardship inside and outside the cage, but for a guy with almost 40 fights under his belt you can pretty much get the sense of where things are going. For Riggs, it looks like nowhere. He’s too inconsistent, and aside from a razor thin decision over Nick Diaz in 2006, doesn’t have that one big win over a ‘name’ that indicates he can hang with the big dogs — however the fact that in 39 fights he’s only been to three decisions is pretty impressive. Baroni hasn’t been much better, but unlike “Diesel,” I think he’s turned the corner. He has a new conditioning program and has managed to put together three straight wins. He also has a genuine loathing for Riggs leading up to this fight as extra motivation. “The New York Bad Ass” still acts like a cartoon character but it looks like he’s taking his career seriously and I expect him to come out like a maniac and pummel Riggs en route to a first round stoppage. Betting lines (as of June 5): Baroni: -110 ((Bet Now)) Riggs: -120 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Baroni via TKO 205 lbs.: Kevin "The Monster" Randleman (17-12) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-7) Backgrounds: Kevin Randleman last competed on the second Sengoku card in May 2008, pulling out a unanimous decision victory over Ryo Kawamura. The fight was Randleman's first MMA bout since 2006 — a submission loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at Pride 32: "The Real Deal." The two-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion from Ohio State University defeated Pete Williams at UFC 23 in 1999 to capture the vacant heavyweight title, but is perhaps best known for consistently fighting the cream of the crop during his tenure in PRIDE. Whitehead was eliminated from the The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 show by current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. He got a second chance at UFC stardom at UFC 57, but got outworked by fellow TUF 2 contestant Keith Jardine. Instead of going away, Whitehead turned it up a notch — or five — by unleashing hell in smaller promotions, going 14-1 including a 4-0 run in the IFL (and a decision win over Krzysztof Soszynski) before the team-based promotion closed its doors. In fact, his only loss during that span was a unanimous decision to current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral back at Affliction: "Banned" last July. Dumbass predicts: Kevin Randleman knows how to talk it up. Watching him sell a fight is a thing of beauty because he looks fearsome and has the vernacular down pat. Unfortunately his record betrays that facade. Despite the wrestling talent and experience in the big show, “The Monster” is just 3-7 in his last ten fights and has been very underwhelming in his career. In fact, if you take away the flash knockout over Cro Cop from Pride in 2005, what is there to say? He’s the guy that dropped Fedor on his head — and decisioned Fatih Kocamis and Ryo Kawamura. That, coupled with the fact that he’s only fought once in three years has me favor Whitehead in this contest. Yes, he looked flat on TUF 2, but he’s been red hot as of late and actually beat some decent competition. The important thing is that he’s been fighting consistently and winning — and I have to believe his confidence is high (something that has hurt him in the past). Randleman will get a few takedowns in the first after he is unleashed, but Whitehead will survive and outwork him in rounds two and three. Betting lines (as of June 5): Randleman: -115 ((Bet Now)) Whitehead: -115 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Whitehead via unanimous decision That's a wrap, folks. Remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and our coverage of Strikeforce: "Lawler vs. Shields." What do you think? Now it's your turn … let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for Saturday's event. |
| WEC 41: Mike Brown and Urijah Faber rematch remix (Videos) Posted: 05 Jun 2009 05:06 AM PDT Check out what the “California Kid” has to say about getting revenge this weekend after the jump.
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| Feel It Nutrition slashing prices on ALL TwinLab products for a limited time! Posted: 05 Jun 2009 05:05 AM PDT
For this week’s edition of Fitness Friday, it would be prudent to talk about a manufacturer who has excelled for many years in the science of sports nutrition. We often talk about getting in shape and taking your game to the next level. Well now it’s time to profile a company that’s set the high water mark for the nutritional supplement industry. I’m talking of course about TwinLab, and in honor of their recognition, Feel It Nutrition is proud to offer 16% off on ALL TwinLab, Inc. products! Twinlab Corporation recently earned first place in two categories of Vitamin Retailer's Annual ‘Vity Awards.’ The company's Glutamine Fuel Powder and Amino Fuel Liquid are being honored in the June 2009 issue of Vitamin Retailer magazine. The Annual ‘Vity Awards’ honor the industry's best-selling products based on a nationwide survey of health food stores conducted by Vitamin Retailer Magazine. TwinLab, Inc. is also one Feel It Nutrition’s most well-known product lines. Feel It Nutrition is also one of the largest resellers of TwinLab vitamins and supplements, giving you the chance to save even more at the store. TwinLab has the same standards as Feel It Nutrition, that is to offer products based on the latest science and manufactured to the highest level of pharmaceutical standards. TwinLab specializes in vitamins, minerals, sports nutrition products and amino acids. In fact, TwinLab was the first manufacturer to offer a complete line of amino acids in the industry. As well as a 16% off savings at the store, enjoy a 21% discount off all TwinLab Amino Acid products! Whether the goal is to maximize your training and performance, achieve a higher sense of wellness or to just live healthier, TwinLab has got you covered. Whatever your need, Feel It Nutrition has what you're looking for and at the best prices. Feel It Nutrition: Get Your Supplements Cheaper! And why drive to the mall and put up with some snot-nosed teen clerk inside an overpriced supplement store when you can order the TOP NAME BRANDS at discount prices with Feel It Nutrition from the comfort of your own home? Remember, take 16% off TwinLab products at the store and enjoy a 21% discount off all TwinLab Amino Acid products! Hurry, this sale ends June 11! To start saving click here! |
| Strikeforces Robbie Lawler throws out first pitch at St. Louis Cardinals baseball game (Pic) Posted: 05 Jun 2009 04:21 AM PDT
Wonder what these two talked about … |
| Stronger than before: Andrei Arlovski Strikeforce interview exclusive with MMAmania.com Posted: 04 Jun 2009 08:49 PM PDT
The Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., is ready and waiting for the stacked Strikeforce soiree to commence this Saturday. The main event may pit Robbie Lawler against Jake Shields, however, arguably the biggest star that will walk into the arena on June 6 is former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. “The Pitbull” is coming off a devastating and disappointing loss to WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko at the Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” event that was held earlier this year in January 2009. As a result, he now sits at 15-6 in his professional MMA career and will attempt to get win number sweet 16 when he squares off with undefeated up-and-comer Brett Rogers. Arlovski would like nothing more than to defeat “The Grim” and get back to his winning ways. With the event now just two days away, he graciously took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions regarding Emelianenko, his desire to pursue professional boxing, his opponent this weekend, Brett Rogers, and more. Check it out:
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You’re coming off a loss against Fedor Emelianenko at the last Affliction event. Were you feeling confident that you were executing your game plan up to the point where Fedor caught you? What did you learn from the fight as a result? Andrei Arlovski: I didn’t fight to my game plan. It’s that simple. All my trainers were right about it. I have to be more disciplined. After this I was meeting with all my trainers and we found out what was working for me and I have to follow my game plan next time. I have to trust my trainers 100 percent. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): After the fight your boxing coach Freddie Roach said that Fedor simply “got lucky” with his punch. Do you feel the same way? Andrei Arlovski: For me that doesn’t make sense now whether he was lucky or not. He caught me. He knocked me out. This is fact. He got the best of me. Of course I still hurt after this. I am going to chase him everywhere and hope I can one day face him again. Next time I’ll be much smarter than I was before. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Of course, you’re a former UFC champion and the aforementioned Fedor has always been a guy who fans have wanted to see come to the UFC. Do you expect Fedor to ever join the UFC? Andrei Arlovski: I don’t know. It would be up to his management team. I don’t know if he wants to fight in the UFC or not. I don’t know. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Who do you expect to win between Fedor and Josh Barnett in August? Andrei Arlovski: I think that Fedor is going to beat Josh Barnett. It’s not disrespect to Josh Barnett, but for me I think Fedor is going to keep winning all his fights and I am going to face him again. (Phone briefly cuts out) Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Hello again, sorry about that.
Andrei Arlovski: Yes, I am sorry. It is a bad connection because I am in the trunk. I am driving to workout with all my trainers and I am in the trunk, you know? (laughs) Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Okay (laughs). Well, hopefully you have enough oxygen in there to finish the interview! Back to business. Now everyone knows you’re one of the biggest stars on the Affliction roster. How come you decided to fight at the Strikeforce event and not the Affliction event on August 1? Andrei Arlovski: Both Affliction and Strikeforce gave me the option to fight on Showtime for Strikeforce and I took the fight. Why not? Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): If you are fortunate enough to come away with a victory over Brett Rogers will it be your intention to pursue the Strikeforce heavyweight belt that currently belongs to Alistair Overeem? Andrei Arlovski: I don’t know much. I will talk to the organization and see what is the toughest fight.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Will your next fight be under the Strikeforce banner or Affliction?
Andrei Arlovski: I am sorry. I can’t give you much about my contract. I can give you more information after this fight. It is up to Strikeforce and my manager so they have to find out. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you still intend to pursue your pro boxing career as well? Andrei Arlovski: Yes, after June 6 I will have a match on June 27 at the Staples Center. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): If you had to make a choice would you rather be an MMA world champion again or a boxing world champion? Andrei Arlovski: Both. That is one reason why I started to throw myself into boxing. You never know if you are going to sit on the couch what you can be. If I can be heavyweight champion of boxing I have to try. That is why I want to train myself in professional boxing. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Going back to Brett Rogers. He has never faced a fighter of your caliber. Do you feel like he is ready to take that leap up in competition and what have you learned about him in your preparations? Andrei Arlovski: I know he’s a tough fighter. He’s undefeated (9-0). He’s dangerous. He’s bigger and heavier than me. We got a game plan with all my trainers. It’s actually a great fight for me. I wanted a big fight and Strikeforce gave me a great opportunity for me to fight and fight a tough fighter like Rogers. I am really excited to fight him on June 6. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You mentioned the weight difference, which is roughly 25 pounds. Do you anticipate that being a factor in the fight? Andrei Arlovski: You know I am not going to be 237 like I was in January. I put on some weight and I am a little stronger than I was before. I don’t know we’ll see. He’s a good striker and likes to box and we’ll see what happens. Also, I train a lot in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. If he wants to standup we’ll stand up. If I think I can take him down I’ll take him down. If I have to do a leg lock or choke him of course that’s something I’ll do. If I feel like the opportunity for my hands then I’ll take him out. It just depends on what kind of fight it will be. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): What do you expect to weigh in at on Friday? Andrei Arlovski: I expect it will be about 245. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): What is your official prediction for the fight? Andrei Arlovski: I don’t want to be in this position. I just train hard and I’m ready to go. I know Rogers said he was going to knock me out but I don’t want to joke with him. I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to step in the cage and do my job. I want to do all my talking in the cage. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): That’s all I have for you Andrei. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans out there or any sponsors you would like to thank before we go? Andrei Arlovski: Yes, thank you so much to all my fans for the support. Of course thank you to my sponsors. Thank you Affliction and Strikeforce. My dentist who makes a great mouthpiece for me. Looking forward. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Alright, thanks for the time. Best of luck on Saturday. Andrei Arlovski: Thanks. Also, you can check out more information at AndreiArlovski.com. Okay, thank you. Derek Bolender is staff writer for InsideFights.com. He is syndicated at CBSSports.com and FoxSports.com. You can also follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAWriter and on Facebook. Look for future articles from him on MMAmania.com. |
| Dana White video blog for WEC 41 (Episode three) Posted: 04 Jun 2009 07:44 PM PDT Dana White watches Wow Wow Wubbzy. I’m not the only one: |
| Bellator X weigh in results: Soto and Reyes official for featherweight title fight Posted: 04 Jun 2009 07:40 PM PDT
The field of 16 fighters set to compete at Bellator X tomorrow night (June 5) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif., today tipped the scales for the official fighter weigh in event. All of the athletes hit their respective marks, including the two men who have survived the grueling tournament gauntlet to compete in the first-ever Bellator Featherweight World Championship bout, Joe "the Hammer" Soto and Yahir Reyes. Soto handed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace and world-ranked Wilson Reis his first-ever loss to earn his spot at championship glory. Meanwhile, Reyes scored a stunning highlight-reel knockout of Estevan Payan to advance to the final round. In addition to fighting for the featherweight title, the winner of the bout between Soto and Reyes will pocket a cool $100,000. Check out the complete weigh in results for Bellator X below:
Note: Fighters are allowed to weigh one pound more than the division limit in non-title fights. Remember that the Bellator X action will take place tomorrow, June 5, in Ontario, airing via tape delay on ESPN Deportes Saturday evening (June 6) at 9 p.m. ET. A replay of the event will also be streamed online next Wednesday morning on the official Bellator Web site with an English-speaking broadcasting team. Check back early and often for complete Bellator X results, as well as a detailed recap and discussion. |
| ‘Ultimate Chaos’ poster for Lashley vs Sapp on June 27 Posted: 04 Jun 2009 07:38 PM PDT
For more on Ultimate Chaos: “Lashley vs. Sapp” click here. |
| Strikeforce, WEC video previews and the Kimbo Slice TUF 10 experiment on ESPNs ‘MMA Live’ Posted: 04 Jun 2009 04:56 PM PDT |
| DREAM 11: Semi final ‘Super Hulk’ match ups booked for September show Posted: 04 Jun 2009 12:10 PM PDT
The semifinal bouts for DREAM's open weight tournament, which has been dubbed "Super Hulk," were recently revealed during the Affliction: “Trilogy” press conference in New York City. The fights are scheduled for DREAM 11 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, in September. No official date has been set at this time. First up will be Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa Minowa, who has fought virtually every big name overseas under the sun (albeit with inconsistent results). He has the daunting task of facing off against 7'2" gargantuan, Hong Man Choi. Minowa earned his spot by knocking off the modern day Goliath, Bob Sapp, which he did by locking in an achilles lock that forced "The Beast" to tap at DREAM 9 last month. He will face a similar assignment against Choi — who wailed on baseball's steroid stool pigeon Jose "Can"seco for his advancement in the grand prix — at an even greater size disadvantage. On the other side of the bracket, Gegard Mousasi, who vacated his DREAM middleweight title recently because he desired a move to light heavyweight, will face off against the dangerous Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
Mousasi made short work of "Super Samoan" Mark Hunt in his quarterfinal bout, taking his much larger counterpart to the mat quickly where he would go to work for a kimura straight away, eventually getting it and forcing Hunt to tap. While in his preliminary bout, Sokoudjou got back to his winning ways by trouncing 6' 11", 330-pound Jan "The Giant" Nortje. Despite being considerably outsized, “The African Assassin” was able to take "The Giant" down and pound on him furiously, which forced the referee to intervene and waive off the action. However, Sokoudjou continued the onslaught in a moment of depravity, which led to both corners storming the ring. The good news is that cooler heads eventually prevailed, though Sokoudjou — who said he felt like a “douche bag” for the miscue — has taken a verbal lashing from fans for the controversy. The "Super Hulk" tournament finalists will then do battle on New Years Eve at the annual Dynamite!! event. DREAM 11 is also expected to feature the semifinal bouts of the featherweight grand prix. Though the pairings are still to be announced, it will feature fan favorite and underdog Hideo Tokoro, jiu-jitsu phenom Bibiano Fernandes, hard-hitting slugger Hiroyuki Takaya and also wrestling stud Joe Warren, who shocked the World recently by defeating featherweight superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. Here is the current line-up for DREAM 11:
For more on DREAM click here. |
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