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• Bobby Lashley video: Strikeforce has the best heavyweight in the world
• Strikeforces Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson disinterested in future rubbermatch ... for now
• WEC 45: Anthony Njokuani connects with a head kick as Chris Horodecki runs away (Pic via Las Vegas...
• Strikeforce video: Scott Smith 'overwhelmed' with win over Cung Le
• WEC 46: Mike Brown set to return vs Anthony Morrison in Sacramento on Jan. 10
• MMA Quick Pic: King Mo pops Mike Whitehead at Strikeforce: 'Evolution'
• Showtime! Jacare Souza in the Strikeforce house with submission of Matt Lindland (Video)
• Below the belt: Did Cerrone's illegal shots affect the outcome of WEC 45's main event?
• Cris Cyborg vs Marlos Coenen 145-pound Strikeforce title fight set for Jan. 30

Bobby Lashley video: Strikeforce has the best heavyweight in the world Posted: 20 Dec 2009 08:59 PM PST It's one of the many reasons he inked a deal with promotion: Any chance Lashley ever gets a crack at Fedor Emelianenko? And if he does is there any chance he can win?

Strikeforces Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson disinterested in future rubbermatch ... for now Posted: 20 Dec 2009 08:59 PM PST Props: CageWriter.com Quoteworthy: "Now that we got our stuff done with, it’s up to us to prove we’re the best 55ers. Me and him are badass. I think me and him can take out all the dudes in UFC and all the dudes in DREAM. It’s about the respect. We can beat a lot of those guys. We’re complete MMA fighters. A lot of guys aren't.... There’s gonna be a third one, huh? I’m not looking forward to it. I left my heart out there. I don’t know if they showed it on TV but I puked a little bit afterward. I think we put on a great show. I‘m cool with calling it even." Undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez reveals that a third fight with Josh Thomson is not something that he is currently looking forward to any time soon. Thomson, after the five-round thriller, as in complete agreement. "El Nino" bested "The Punk" in an action-packed war at Strikeforce: "Evolution" last night (Dec. 19) from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. With the win he not only unified the 155-pound title, but also avenged a loss from 18 months ago. He and Thomson -- who are good friends when not beating the snot out of each other -- now plan to turn their aggression toward other fighters in the division. Most notably, Strikeforce President Scott Coker is traveling to Japan next week to try and get Shinya Aoki to sign a bout agreement to fight Melendez sometime in early 2010. In addition, Coker mentioned that Thomson could take on recent acquisition and former Elite XC lightweight champion, KJ Noons, in his next appearance. Those are some fantastic potential match ups, but a trilogy match between Melendez and Thomson is something that simply has to happen at some point down the road, whether they like it or not. Agree or disagree, Maniacs?

WEC 45: Anthony Njokuani connects with a head kick as Chris Horodecki runs away (Pic via Las Vegas... Posted: 20 Dec 2009 08:58 PM PST WEC 45: Anthony Njokuani connects with a head kick as Chris Horodecki runs away (Pic via Las Vegas Sun)

Strikeforce video: Scott Smith 'overwhelmed' with win over Cung Le Posted: 20 Dec 2009 02:05 PM PST

WEC 46: Mike Brown set to return vs Anthony Morrison in Sacramento on Jan. 10 Posted: 20 Dec 2009 11:47 AM PST Mike Brown is set to return to the blue cage opposite Anthony Morrison in a featherweight match up at WEC 46 from the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif, on Jan. 10, 2010. The promotion today made the announcement, stating that the bout will be featured on the five-fight main card Versus telecast. Brown is coming off a disappointing technical knockout defeat at the hands of Brazilian striking and grappling sensation, Jose Aldo. Brown was obliterated by the devastating knockout artist, losing his 145-pound championship belt in the process. Brown's opponent, Morrision, is probably the easiest test the former champion has had in quite some time. Morrison is 10-7 in his professional career, as opposed to Brown who is 22-5, and 4-1 in the WEC.  However, Brown is not alone in his venture back to the featherweight title. Former featherweight champion Urijah Faber will also be on the Sacramento card, as he is set to face Raphael Assuncao. Faber is coming off hand surgery, with the injuries being results from his unanimous decision rematch to Brown at WEC 41.  WEC will feature a main event between lightweight interim champion Benson Henderson and reigning champion Jamie Varner in a title unification bout. Stay tuned to MMAMania.com for breaking news and updates for the WEC's first card of 2010.

MMA Quick Pic: King Mo pops Mike Whitehead at Strikeforce: 'Evolution' Posted: 20 Dec 2009 06:46 AM PST Props: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE Are you impressed with the performance of "King" Mo last night or will it take more than a stoppage of Mike Whitehead to make you a believer?

Showtime! Jacare Souza in the Strikeforce house with submission of Matt Lindland (Video) Posted: 20 Dec 2009 06:14 AM PST

Below the belt: Did Cerrone's illegal shots affect the outcome of WEC 45's main event? Posted: 20 Dec 2009 06:10 AM PST Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone exited the cage Saturday evening with a submission victory over Ed "9mm" Ratcliff after sinking in a rear naked choke in the third and final round of WEC: "Cerrone vs, Ratcliff" main event from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the fight was not without its moments of controversy -- several ill-guided "Cowboy" shots caught Ratcliff below the belt. In fact, Cerrone kneed/kicked Ratcliff illegally a total of three times and was penalized two points total by referee, Herb Dean, for the errant low blows. The two penalties were certainly not out of place, as Cerrone was being careless with his kicks and knees. However, the fact that the former WEC lightweight top contender finished the fight made those two lost points completely irrelevant. The situation therefore begs the question: Did those the three illegal shots affect the outcome of the fight and the performance of the victim? Ratcliff began the main event with a nice hook that landed flush on the chin of Cerrone, but from that moment on he was unable to break down the length of Cerrone. The fact that he was hit three times in a very bad place to take a blow may have affected "9 mm" to an extent, but don’t be so sure that it caused him to lose the fight. Cerrone chimed in during the post fight press conference on WEC.tv. "I knew in my head I was losing the fight. You know, I got two points deducted. I don’t care. I’m out here having a good time, and that’s all I care about is that I am gonna finish this fight." "Cowboy" seemed to have known all along that this fight was his for the taking. After a third round submission via rear naked choke that he basically summoned at will, it is hard to argue with him. But did the three shots below the belt lead to Ratcliff’s demise? Would the outcome of the main event have been different? Chime in Maniacs!

Cris Cyborg vs Marlos Coenen 145-pound Strikeforce title fight set for Jan. 30 Posted: 20 Dec 2009 12:20 AM PST Cris "Cyborg" Santos will return to action on to defend her 145-pound Strikeforce title against the Dutch submission specialist, Marloes Coenen, at Strikeforce: "Miami" in Sunrise, Fla. on Jan 30, 2010 . Cyborg vs. Coenen, along with the Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis, comprises a pair of title bouts that is slated to headline the first major SHOWTIME fight card of the New Year for the promotion. Cyborg earned her 145-pound title with the first-round demolition of the female MMA icon, Gina Carano, in August at Strikeforce: "Carano vs. Cyborg." Her first title defense was scheduled to take place at last month's Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Rogers" event, but a shoulder injury forced her off the fight card. Coenen has been a top candidate for the title shot for quite some time, and she affirmed her contender status with a 65-second submission victory over Roxanne Modafferi at the Fedor vs. Rogers event. According to Coenen, "everybody has a flaw in their game. And I've seen flaws in (Cyborg's) game." Cyborg recently turned heads with her potential appearance in Playboy magazine. Could the distraction stemming from the agonizing decision whether or not to grace the pages of the iconic magazine be a flaw that Coenen can exploit? Stay tuned to MMAmania for more news regarding the Strikeforce: Miami fight card as they become available.

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