UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

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• Robbie Lawler talks stunning KO win over 'greedy' Melvin Manhoef at Strikeforce 'Miami' (Video)
• Wes Sims pushes Bobby Lashley at Strikeforce post-fight press conference
• MMA Quick Quote: Bobby Lashley wants a heavyweight title shot
• Cris 'Cyborg' Santos was 'prepared for any situation' Marloes Coenen could have put her in (Video)
• Strikeforce results recap from last night (Jan. 30) for 'Miami'
• Strikeforce results live play-by-play TONIGHT (Jan. 30) for 'Miami'!
• Herschel Walker's MMA debut results in a third round technical knockout victory over Greg Nagy
• King of the Cage "Toryumon" Results
• Strikeforce video interviews mania for 'Miami' on Jan. 30
• Watch Strikeforce: 'Miami' online with 'All Access' tonight (Jan. 30)
• Reminder: UFC 107 video replay of 'Penn vs Sanchez' airs tonight (Jan. 30) on Spike TV
• Programming reminder: UFC 'Countdown to 109' debuts tonight on Spike TV
• Vitor Belfort: Anderson Silva seemed 'upset or nervous' at UFC 112 pre-fight face off
• Marius Zaromskis vs Kiyoshi Tamura in the works for DREAM 13
• MMA Quick Quote: Jay Hieron has a chance to win some Internet fans over at Strikeforce: 'Miami'
• Marlon Sandro and Leonardo Santos aiming for March 7th return to SRC

Robbie Lawler talks stunning KO win over 'greedy' Melvin Manhoef at Strikeforce 'Miami' (Video) Posted: 31 Jan 2010 12:42 AM PST Knockout of the year? Let's remember this in December, Maniacs. It was epic.

Wes Sims pushes Bobby Lashley at Strikeforce post-fight press conference Posted: 31 Jan 2010 12:42 AM PST It's all fun and games until a referee apparently stops a fight too early. Wes Sims was hamming it up for just about everyone who would watch following his first round technical knockout loss to Bobby Lashley during the post fight press conference that never happened at Strikeforce: "Miami" tonight from the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. But all the quirky smiles and awkward tension went out the window when "The Whole Show" decided to push Lashley, turning what everyone thought was another act into potentially the second round that Sims felt he deserved. After cracking several professional wrestling jokes, and even doing some comical vignettes for the cameras, Sims decided to take it too far and shove the "Dominator." Up until that point Lashley, like the rest of the crowd in the room, was laughing it all off as if it were just Sims being Sims. Lashley and everyone else soon realized that he was actually, maybe, being serious. Lashley went to remove the bag that was on his back, indicating that he was ready to retaliate. Sims even encouraged him to take it off. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the two were separated. Lashley walked to the other side of the room and Sims exited only to come back in minutes later and yuck it up for the cameras yet again. It's unclear what Sims real intentions were, but if they were to alienate yet another promotion -- and detonate a potential fight future with Strikeforce -- he can score it a huge win. Perhaps the first of his career.

MMA Quick Quote: Bobby Lashley wants a heavyweight title shot Posted: 31 Jan 2010 12:41 AM PST "Well, it's one of two things. Either they're going to allow me do it the way I wanna do it and build, or they're going to give me a title shot. Either or. I would like a title shot. I guess it's Overeem, he's the one who has the title right now. Him or Fedor, whoever. I wanted to take my time to build up but everyone's pushing me to get bigger and better fights so if I'm going to get bigger and better fights let's go for the best." Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Bobby Lashley (5-0) talks to the gang at Showtime Sports regarding his "Miami" win over Wes Sims on the main card of the January 30 event. "The Dominator" was too much for the short-notice opponent, finishing the TUF 10 contestant via first round TKO. Lashley wants to continue his slow build to the upper echelon of heavyweights but feels pressured by outside influences to go for the gold. Is he going to pose a legitimate threat to the promotion's top heavyweights? Or will his goose get cooked by the likes of Fedor and Overeem?

Cris 'Cyborg' Santos was 'prepared for any situation' Marloes Coenen could have put her in (Video) Posted: 31 Jan 2010 12:41 AM PST Can anyone stop Cyborg?

Strikeforce results recap from last night (Jan. 30) for 'Miami' Posted: 30 Jan 2010 10:14 PM PST Strikeforce: "Miami," from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, is officially in the books after kicking things off for the San Jose-based promotion in 2010. And despite still having 11 months to go, it's gonna take a monstrous effort to top this one. The much ballyhooed fight card featured what was billed as an exciting and explosive main event between Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis -- and the battle for welterweight gold certainly didn't disappoint. From the staredown to the referee's stoppage late in the first round, nothing but fireworks were on display. Despite being rocked and sent to the mat midway through the opening frame, Diaz controlled most of the action using his reach and accuracy. While the fight never went to the ground where Diaz held a clear advantage, he proved to be too much for the Lithuanian fighter on the feet as well after earning a first round TKO victory. In the co-main event, Strikeforce asked Women's Champion Chris "Cyborg" Santos to put her 145-pound title on the line against Marlos Coenen. Though many people gave Coenen very little chance of pulling off the upset, the challenger was more than up to the task early in the fight with her aggression and technical striking. Unfortunately Cyborg's strength and unlimited cardio proved to be the deciding factor once again. Her explosive and powerful strikes often found a home and in the end, the referee (and Coenen) had seen enough, calling a stop to the fight in the third round. In his much anticipated MMA debut, Herschel Walker showed everyone why he was once, and maybe still is, one of the best athletes in the world. Despite lacking a polished stand up or ground game, Walker used his strength and athleticism to overwhelm opponent Greg Nagy on way to a third round TKO victory. Walker controlled the action from the get go, and though he let a few submission opportunities slip away, he had enough wherewithal to remain in a dominant position throughout the fight. It will be interesting to see where Walker's MMA career goes from here. In what has to be considered the front runner for KO of the year, Robbie Lawler stunned Melvin Manhoef -- and everyone watching -- with a come-from-behind knockout victory in round one. After the two brawlers finished feeling each other out in the early moments, hands and legs started flying, mostly from Manhoef. The punishing kicks of "Marvelous" had Lawler limping midway through the first round. It looked as though at any second Manhoef would land that final shot to put Robbie away. Instead, a memorable night for Lawler was to be had.  After Manhoef landed an inside leg kick and followed it with a left hook, Lawler ducked, came up swinging, and landed a huge right hand that instantly sent the Dutchman to the mat unconscious. A shocking turn of events. The night's opening match served as yet another stepping stone for Bobby Lashley in his young MMA career. Wes Sims, a late replacement for the pro wrestler, showed up like he was just offered the fight a week ago (which he was). Though an in-shape Sims probably wouldn't have stood a better chance, the fight was a complete mismatch as Lashley ground and pounded his way to an early TKO victory in round one. Lashley will surely need a step up in competition for his next fight in order to be considered a legitimate heavyweight threat. It was a great night of fights full of knockouts, comebacks, and dominating performances. Two belts were either won or defended as Nick Diaz and Cris Santos walked away victorious in the two main events. What fighter showed you the most tonight? Will Lawler's knockout of Manhoef go down as one of the best ever? Is Cyborg unbeatable, by women at least? Let's hear it Maniacs.

Strikeforce results live play-by-play TONIGHT (Jan. 30) for 'Miami'! Posted: 30 Jan 2010 09:13 PM PST Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: "Miami." Quick results of the preliminary fights are flowing RIGHT NOW and round-by-round coverage of the main card action on SHOWTIME is currently underway! Our play-by-play coverage of the welterweight showdown between Joe Riggs and Jay Hieron, which will air live on EASports.com, will begin at t 9:05 p.m. ET. If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main Strikeforce: "Miami" results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off. Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

Herschel Walker's MMA debut results in a third round technical knockout victory over Greg Nagy Posted: 30 Jan 2010 09:10 PM PST Well, Herschel Walker can finally cross off winning a professional mixed martial arts fight from his bucket list. The former Heisman trophy-winning running back, turned world-class sprinter, turned Olympic Bobsleder, has now successfully completed his transformation into becoming a legitimate MMA fighter. In his MMA debut under the Strikeforce banner, Walker used his superior strength and athleticism to overwhelm opponent Greg Nagy earning a third round TKO victory. However, it wasn't all footwork and hand speed that got the job done. Walker actually displayed some decent wrestling while mixing in some effective ground and pound on his way to his first victory inside the cage. Though he did let numerous submission opportunities pass, he escaped a couple precarious situations of his own. Coming into the match up with Nagy, many observers pointed to Walker's athletic prowess as the one clear advantage that either fighter held over their opponent. Despite this being Walker's first professional MMA contest, experience was not something Nagy could rely on, as coming into the fight his record stood at a modest 1-1. Of course now, all the pre-fight hype and talk as to whether or not this endeavor would prove to be successful for Herschel, will turn into whether or not he can do it again. Walker's long-term intentions in the sport are not yet clear, but if tonight's outcome was to play any role in his decision process on the matter, you can bet we'll be seeing more of this ultimate Renaissance man in the future.

King of the Cage "Toryumon" Results Posted: 30 Jan 2010 08:20 PM PST (Photo courtesy of Sportsnavi) King of the Cage made its Japanese debut on Saturday, January 30, as it delivered "King of the Cage - Toryumon" from Okinawa Convention Center in Naha, Okinawa. A fight card featured several notable Japanese veterans, and in the implicit "Japan vs. America" showdown that characterized the card, Japanese squad accomplished a near-clean sweep. In the main event, the afro-sporting Shooto veteran, Mamoru Yamaguchi breezed by the undefeated prospect, Frank Baca, earning a second-round submission victory. The triumphant Yamaguchi was awarded the previously vacant KOTC junior flyweight championship. Krazy Bee fighter, Kotetsu Boku bested former KOTC lightweight champion, Tony Hervey with unanimous decision. Hervey's doldrums continues as he now finds himself in the midst of a three-fight losing streak. After dropping a hard-fought five-round decision against the former Pride lightweight kingpin, Takanori Gomi last October at Vale Tudo Japan 2009, Hervey faltered in his KOTC title defense in December. Pride and K-1 Hero's veteran, Shungo Oyama returned to KOTC for the first time in nearly nine years and triumphed over Mike Wimmer in 67 seconds with heel hook. In the lone female clash of the night, Roxanne Modafferi rebounded from her first-round submission loss to Marloes Coenen. Coincidentally, had she won against Coenen, she would have been in Miami to challenge Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce women's 145-pound title on Saturday night. Modafferi earned a second-round submission win via rear naked choke over Molly Helsel. In one of the few fights in which an American fighter prevailed over Japanese opponent, the consensus 2009 Submission of the Year winner, Toby Imada defeated Pancrase and MARS veteran, Daisuke Hanazawa with a second-round TKO. Full results: Kotetsu Boku def. Tony Hervey by Unanimous Decision Toby Imada def. Daisuke Hanazawa by TKO Round 2 0:29 Roxanne Modafferi def Molly Helsel by rear-naked choke Round 2 3:18 Tatsuya Sou def Shigeki Matsuda by TKO Round 2 3:48 Shungo Oyama Def. Mike Wimmer by Heel hook Round 1 1:07 Koji Kanechika def Jerry Vrbanovic by Decision 3-0 Jerry Nelson Def. Shinsho Anzai by decision 2-1 Shinya Kumazawa def. Steve Hecht by Armbar Round 1 1:14 Tsuyoshi Tamaki def. Bryon Schnell by rear-naked choke Round 3 2:28

Strikeforce video interviews mania for 'Miami' on Jan. 30 Posted: 30 Jan 2010 01:04 PM PST Check out all the others after the jump.

Watch Strikeforce: 'Miami' online with 'All Access' tonight (Jan. 30) Posted: 30 Jan 2010 10:33 AM PST Fans who don't have Showtime as part of their cable or satellite packages can still catch all the action from Strikeforce: "Miami" via live Internet stream tonight (Jan. 30, 2010) from the For $24.95 per user, Strikeforce: "All Access" will stream simultaneously with the live Showtime telecast beginning at 10 p.m. ET and be available on a global basis as opposes to previous "All Access" events that were restricted to Stateside streams. To order Miami "All Access" click here (http://strikeforce.sho.com) now. From Strikeforce: With Strikeforce: All Access, fans can be their own director and toggle among five live cameras with full pause and rewind capabilities including Showtime Sports exclusive CageCam®—a small, high quality camera worn by the referee which takes viewers inside the cage during the fights. Audio tracks will include the Showtime telecast fight call by host and play-by-play announcer Mauro Ranallo, and color commentators Frank Shamrock and Stephen Quadros, as well as the corresponding audio to the selected camera. Showtime is again working with BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic, Inc. to enable this unique multi-media experience. All Access fans also will receive a live Twitter feed from the event and can join behind-the scenes staff in tweeting about "Strikeforce" and "Showtime Sports" during the evening. Through a Facebook® Connect application, fans will be able to make predictions, comment on the live fights, discuss outcomes and more directly on the All Access page. Strikeforce: "Miami" features a main event between Nick Diaz and DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis for the promotion's vacant 170-pound world title. Female powerhouse Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will put her 145-pound title on the line against Marloes Coenen in the co-featured fight of the night. In addition, feared K-1 striker "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef will make his Strikeforce debut opposite the power-punching "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. And joining them on the main card is Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy and Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of "Miami," beginning with the SHOWTIME telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 30. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 7:30 p.m. ET. It's going to be a great night of fights. And don't forget to hit us up for all the pre, during and post-fight coverage you can handle!

Reminder: UFC 107 video replay of 'Penn vs Sanchez' airs tonight (Jan. 30) on Spike TV Posted: 30 Jan 2010 10:05 AM PST Remember that today (Jan. 30, 2010) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again give mixed martial arts fans options while one of its competitors, Strikeforce, promotes a live show. UFC 107: "Penn vs. Sanchez," which was one of the more successful pay-per-view (PPV) events of 2009 for the promotion, will re-air TONIGHT on Spike TV at 10 p.m. ET. Of course, Strikeforce: "Miami" is scheduled to also go down this evening from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on SHOWTIME at the same time. UFC 107 featured a sensational performance from lightweight division champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn as he successfully defended his title against number one division contender Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez in dominating fashion. Former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir began his quest for a third title when he submitted Cheick Kongo in the co-featured fight of the night. Strikeforce: "Miami," on the other hand, has a dynamite main event planned between Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis to determine the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos is slated to defend her 145-pound crown for the first time ever against Marloes Coenen. What are your plans ... have a preference? Remember that if you don't have SHOWTIME and can't watch Strikeforce live tonight, MMAmania.com will deliver live results throughout the evening right here.

Programming reminder: UFC 'Countdown to 109' debuts tonight on Spike TV Posted: 30 Jan 2010 10:05 AM PST On the heels of the latest UFC counter-programming efforts, Countdown to UFC 109: "Relentless" will debut tonight at 12:30 a.m. ET on Spike TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, Feb. 6. "Countdown to 109" will beginning immediately following the 10 p.m. ET broadcast of UFC 107: "Penn vs. Sanchez," set to air opposite the Strikeforce: "Miami" card on Showtime. The network special will provide a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring former UFC heavyweight champions Randy "The Natural" Couture and Mark "The Hammer" Coleman. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Saturday, Feb. 6), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view from Las Vegas. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. To get up to speed on the "Relentless" event be sure to check out the complete UFC 109 archive by clicking here.

Vitor Belfort: Anderson Silva seemed 'upset or nervous' at UFC 112 pre-fight face off Posted: 30 Jan 2010 08:37 AM PST Props: CagePages (via Tatame.com) Quoteworthy: "I don’t know what happened, he seemed upset or nervous, I don’t know. We were face to face, but we didn’t greet each other. Some people like to stare down, but when the fight is on it doesn’t matter who can hold the stare the longest. I won the heavyweight tournament and the light heavyweight championship, and I want to be called a UFC champion again. Anderson is really dangerous and has all these weapons, but I have a good chance, and I’m working on a strategy to beat him." UFC number one middleweight contender Vitor Belfort seems to have rattled the cage of current division champion Anderson Silva during a recent trip overseas to promote their upcoming title fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi on April 10. "The Spider" wasn't his usual jovial self -- but is that an indication of pre-fight trepidation or was it simply his war face? "The Phenom" may find out the hard way -- though it's hard to overlook his resume when arguing against his chances this Spring. Upset special, or just another victim?

Marius Zaromskis vs Kiyoshi Tamura in the works for DREAM 13 Posted: 30 Jan 2010 08:24 AM PST Marius Zaromskis (13-3), who is set to battle Nick Diaz for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title tonight at "Strikeforce: Miami," will have little time to unwind after tonight. We reported earlier that the "Whitemare" has been named as a possible participant in the upcoming DREAM 13 on March 22. It now looks like he will defend his DREAM welterweight title against Kiyoshi Tamura (32-13-3) at the event. According to MMA Fighting, DREAM is close to signing the bout. Needless to say, Zaromskis-Tamura is contingent upon Zaromskis' medical condition after his fight with Nick Diaz: Should he sustain a serious injury, the fight may be called off. Zaromskis, a Lithuanian native training out of London Shootfighters, catapulted himself to fame when he emerged as a winner of the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix. DREAM 13 will mark the first time he puts his DREAM belt on the line. Tamura, who competed for United Wrestling Foundation in his professional wrestling days, launched his MMA career in 1995 with a heel hook win over Patrick Smith. The 40 year-old has since fought mainly in RINGS and Pride. In his last fight, he earned a dominant decision victory over Kazushi Sakuraba at Dynamite!! 2008. Having fought opponents from a diverse range of weight classes (from welterweight to heavyweight), Tamura makes his official welterweight debut at DREAM 13. DREAM 13 will take place at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, and it will air live on HDNet in North America. Bibiano Fernandes will also defend his 145-pound belt against Joachim Hansen on the card.

MMA Quick Quote: Jay Hieron has a chance to win some Internet fans over at Strikeforce: 'Miami' Posted: 30 Jan 2010 08:19 AM PST "I get a chance to win some Internet fans over, so that’s great. Riggs is no layover. He’s a well-rounded fighter. I’m not just worrying about his hands. I’m worrying about everything. I’m not trying to fight anybody’s fight but mine; I’m trying to show my best ability when I get out there and on fight night I’ll be smart and sharp." Strikeforce welterweight contender Jay Hieron jokes to Sherdog.com about going from a welterweight title fight against Nick Diaz on August 15 to the undercard against Joe Riggs on Jan. 30. "The Thoroughbred" was offered the Marius Zaromski fight at 'Miami' however, his management turned the fight down and Hieron was paired with "Diesel" instead. On the up side, the Hieron vs. Riggs fight will be televised via EASports.com to promote their upcoming MMA video game that includes a strong presence from the San Jose promotion's talent roster.

Marlon Sandro and Leonardo Santos aiming for March 7th return to SRC Posted: 30 Jan 2010 05:28 AM PST Featherweight King of Pancrase, Marlon Sandro (15-1) aims to return to Sengoku for his first fight of 2010 on March 7. Tatame.com reports that Sandro, who was forced to withdraw from his Dynamite!! 2009 bout against Hideo Tokoro due to injuries, has been training hard at Nova União in preparation for his return to the ring. His appearance on March 7th remains tentative, as SRC has yet to name his opponent. "I would fight for the title, but Kanehara got hurt. They’re still looking for an opponent to face me", Sandro said. Sandro had a breakthrough year in 2009 with his successful run in the Sengoku featherweight grand prix. He dispatched Matt Jaggers and Nick Denis before losing a controversial split decision against the upset artist, Michihiro Omigawa, in the semi-final round of the tournament. He then rebounded with a first-round TKO victory over Yuji Hoshino at Sengoku 11. Another Nova União fighter who is rumored for return to Sengoku at the same event is Leonardo Santos (6-3). Santos, a younger brother of WEC bantamweight, Wagnney Fabiano, last fought at Sengoku 8 and lost a split decision against the Sengoku top lightweight contender, Kazunori Yokota. He is a highly decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner who is cited as one of the most dominant lightweight competitors in the sport's history. Sengoku, now rechristened as Sengoku Raiden Championship, will hold its first fight card of 2010, SRC 12, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on March 7th. The fight card will feature a middleweight title bout between Jorge Santiago and Mamed Kahlidov.

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UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

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• Strikeforce weigh in photos gallery for 'Miami' event on Jan. 30
• Strikeforce Rockstar ring girls for 'Miami' event (Pic)
• UFC 109 video blog with Matt Serra (Episode three)
• Strikeforce weigh in results LIVE from Sunrise for 'Miami'
• Strikeforce 'Miami' predictions, preview and analysis
• UFC Quick Quote: Tito Ortiz is 'full of shit'
• Brock Lesnar is ready for Frank Mir/Shane Carwin winner (Video)
• Nick Diaz: 'I could beat both GSP and Anderson Silva'
• Robbie Lawler 'not too worried' about Melvin Manhoef's stand up (Video)
• UFC Quick Quote: Lil' Nog is a 'horrible fight' for Forrest Griffin
• Two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad added to Matrix Fights 1
• UFC 109: Angry Midget vs. Tramp Stamp (video)
• BJ Penn is 'happy at 155' and 'too experienced' to look past Frankie Edgar at UFC 112
• Dan Henderson autograph signing TODAY (Jan. 29) with Cung Le and Scott Smith for Strikeforce 'Miami'
• MMA Quick Quote: Alistair Overeem takes a firm stand in his UFC negotiations (not really)
• Herschel Walker: I'm not going to be heavyweight champ -- but I am going to be competitive
• Strikeforce tickets 'Miami' discount for Jan. 30 event
• Middleweight Eric Schambari signs exclusive agreement with Bellator Fighting Championships

Strikeforce weigh in photos gallery for 'Miami' event on Jan. 30 Posted: 29 Jan 2010 08:13 PM PST Check out more weigh-in pics after the jump. For complete Strikeforce: "Miami" weigh in results click here.

Strikeforce Rockstar ring girls for 'Miami' event (Pic) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 08:10 PM PST Strikeforce Rockstar ring girls for 'Miami' event (Pic)

UFC 109 video blog with Matt Serra (Episode three) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 05:13 PM PST

Strikeforce weigh in results LIVE from Sunrise for 'Miami' Posted: 29 Jan 2010 02:21 PM PST The official weigh-in event for Strikeforce: "Miami" is in the books. The festivities took place TODAY (Jan. 29) at the Chairman's Club from the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. Strikeforce: "Miami" features a main event between Nick Diaz and DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis for the promotion's vacant 170-pound world title. Female powerhouse Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will put her 145-pound title on the line against Marloes Coenen in the co-featured fight of the night. In addition, feared K-1 striker "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef will make his Strikeforce debut opposite the power-punching "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. And joining them on the main card is Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy and Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims. Each of the ten main card fighters set to compete on the Showtime telecast hit their respective marks on their first attempt, including both main event welterweight title participants. There were, however, a few minor issues with the under card fighters. Sabah Homasi, John Kelly and Hayder Hassan were each slightly heavy on their first tries, but in each case the fights were agreed to go forth by both fighters without penalty. Here are the weigh in results for tomorrow's Strikeforce: "Miami" fight card: Main event: 170 lbs.: Nick Diaz (169.5) vs. Marius Zaromskis (169) Main card (Televised): 145 lbs.: Cristiane Santos (144.5) vs. Marloes Coenen (143.75) 265 lbs.: Bobby Lashley (252.25) vs. Wes Sims (258.25) 185 lbs.: Melvin Manhoef (185.75) vs. Robbie Lawler (185.75) 215 lbs.: Herschel Walker (214.25) vs. Greg Nagy (210.5) Under card (May not be broadcast): 170 lbs.: Jay Hieron (170.25) vs. Joe Riggs (170.5) 155 lbs.: David Zitnick (154)  vs. Michael Byrnes (TBA*) 145 lbs.: Craig Oxley (144.75) vs. David Gomez (144.5) 170 lbs.: Sabah Homasi (171.5) vs. John Kelly (170.5) 145 lbs.: Pablo Alfonso (139.25) vs. Marcos Da Matta (139.75) 170 lbs.: Ryan Keenan (168) vs. Hayder Hassan (170.5) 170 lbs.: Joe Ray (TBA) vs. John Clarke (169.75) *Needed to complete necessary paperwork. Weighing in at a later time. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of "Miami," beginning with the SHOWTIME telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 30. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s going to be a fun night of fights so don’t miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight "Miami" coverage you can handle.

Strikeforce 'Miami' predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 29 Jan 2010 12:57 PM PST The San Jose based mixed martial arts promotion, Strikeforce, is all set to invade South Florida this weekend with their "Miami" event live from the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The organization is opening up the new decade with a bang by putting its first ever welterweight title on the line in the main event of the evening between perhaps the most dynamic fighter on the company's roster, Nick Diaz, and feared DREAM champion Marius Zaromskis. The rest of the night is jam-packed with highly anticipated bouts as well. NFL great Herschel Walker is making his mixed martial arts debut. Powerhouse ex-WWE superstar Bobby Lashley is making his Strikeforce debut. The best female fighter on the planet, Strikeforce champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, is making her first title defense. And as if that wasn't enough, former Elite XC champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler and devastating Dutch knockout artist "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef are also set to square off in a can't-miss 185-pound contest. The main card, including the featured 170-pound championship bout, will air live on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. To help get you better prepared for the festivities, I've told Nostradumb-dumb to take a hike so that I can deconstruct the main card bouts set to hit the Showtime airwaves on Saturday night and drop some money-in-the-bank predictions. Check it out: 170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Marius "Whitemare" Zaromskis for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title Diaz has an obvious advantage on the ground. If the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt can somehow get Zaromskis to the mat then he'll have the Lithuanian fighter completely out of his comfort zone. Even though "The Whitemare" has never been submitted in an MMA match, I wouldn't put it past Diaz to change that trend if he gets the opportunity. However, Diaz has seemingly turned into a boxer over his last two fights for Strikeforce, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see the talented, yet unorthodox striker, opt to put his pugilistic skills to use once again in this fight. Good idea? Maybe not. Zaromskis is smaller, but he's much more dangerous and versatile on his feet than either Frank Shamrock or Scott Smith (Diaz's two most recent opponents). In fact, he's won his last three fights, one of which was against Japanese standout Hayoto "Mach" Sakurai, by first round knockout from head kicks. Overall he has ten career wins by stoppage from strikes. Diaz's normal routine of peppering his opponent with jabs and straight punches while not worrying much about getting hit himself could be an even more risky approach to take in this fight. Zaromskis is too aggressive, he's too powerful, and he can hit you and knock you out from anywhere, at anytime, with any strike. With that said, Diaz still has advantages with his length and reach on his feet. He's three inches taller than Zaromskis, and he'll have to capitalize on that reach advantage because I don't see him being able to take Zaromskis down, at least not early on. Now, this is a five round fight, which favors Diaz as well because of his insane cardio. The deeper this fight gets into the championship rounds, the more Diaz's chances to win increase. This is a great main event fight because both guys are aggressive and exciting to watch, but this is a bad matchup for Zarmoskis. He's never faced a guy like Diaz who can frustrate him on his feet and dominate him on the ground. I got Diaz by TKO in the middle to late rounds. Final prediction: Nick Diaz via technical knockout in round three 145 lbs.: Strikeforce female champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Marloes Coenen Unless "Cyborg" has weight cutting issues or some kind of injury that prevents her from performing at her usual pace, I don't see how Coenen is going to be able to deal with the pressure that's going to be put on her by the relentless Brazilian powerhouse. Coenen is going to have to rely on her jiu jitsu because striking with "Cyborg" is only going to end one way, and we all know what that is. But, even though we haven't had much of a chance to see it, "Cyborg" has a nice set of ground skills herself. The truth is that Coenen doesn't really have an area of weakness to attack on "Cyborg". And no matter where this fight goes, "Cyborg's" strength and power is going to give her the advantage. I don't see this fight ending any other way than by first round stoppage from strikes with "Cyborg's" hand raised at the end. Final prediction: Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos via technical knockout in round one 265 lbs.: Bobby "The Dominator" Lashley vs. Wes "A Whole Show" Sims The last time Lashley fought someone with a good amount of experience like Sims, he had to grind out a less than impressive decision against Jason Guida. But I expect Lashley to take advantage of his TV time in this fight and have an impressive showing against the TUF alum. Sims clearly has the edge in experience, and his submission game could be an issue for Lashley as well. And there's no doubt Sims will have a gameplan to deal with the monstrous Lashley and his power, but executing that gameplan once you get in the cage with the behemoth is another story. The truth is that Lashley has improved a lot since the Guida fight. Training at American Top Team has worked wonders for him as he's won both fights since then by first round submission. I don't know if he'll be able to submit Sims that easily in this fight, but one thing is for sure, Sims is in for a rude awakening once Lashley grabs a hold of him. Look for a lot of early aggression from Lashley with takedowns and some smothering ground and pound that's going to lead to a dominating TKO win for the former WWE superstar. Final prediction: Bobby Lashley via technical knockout in round one 185 lbs.: "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef vs. "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler Other than the main event, this should be the most anticipated fight on this card. Both of these guys are bangers, and both are extremely fun to watch. Both guys have knockout power, but I don't think there's much of an argument against saying Manhoef is the more powerful striker of the two. He has that one punch knockout power that can come from anywhere at anytime in the fight. With that said, Manhoef's ground game is nonexistent. Lawler has a fantastic opportunity to use his wrestling to take Manhoef down and win this fight by submission if he wanted to. But we all know that's not going to happen. Lawler's even said himself that he's going to stand and see what happens. And I think that's a mistake. Manhoef is a smaller guy, coming in three inches shorter than Lawler. So maybe Lawler will have some success on his feet by keeping his distance with a healthy dose of kicks and jabs. That could happen, and it could work for a round or two, possibly. But choosing to stand with Melvin Manhoef is like playing Russian Roulette. Lawler may be able to avoid the bullet for a little while, but the longer the game is played, the more dangerous it becomes. If he tries to trade strikes with the Dutchman, it'll only be a matter of time before he ends up snoring. I got Melvin Manhoef by knockout. Final prediction: Melvin Manhoef via knockout in round two 205 lbs.: Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy Obviously there isn't much to go on for the 47 year old Walker since this is his first ever MMA fight. He still comes in as the heavy favorite though because of his natural athletic ability and because of the fact that he's a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has extensive training in Kenpo karate and Muay Thai. Plus, the former USFL and NFL great has been training MMA with the American Kickboxing Academy crew in California in preparation for this fight. That can only be a good thing. So, he's old and inexperienced, but he's an athletic freak with a solid amount of first class training. It's going to be interesting to see how he does, to say the least. Nagy doesn't have much of a resume either. He has two fights under his belt, the most recent of which was a unanimous decision loss to Francisco Navarro back in November. He doesn't appear to be anything special, and it's hard to imagine Strikeforce would be promoting Walker like they've been doing if they expected him to have a difficult time in this fight. Nobody really knows what to expect, but my money says Herschel Walker by submission. Final prediction: Herschel Walker via submission That's a wrap. To check out the full lineup for Strikeforce: "Miami" click here. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of "Miami," beginning with the SHOWTIME telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 30. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 7:30 p.m. ET. Check in early and often -- it should be an exciting night of fights! In the meantime, feel free to share your Strikeforce-related thoughts and predictions in the comments section below.

UFC Quick Quote: Tito Ortiz is 'full of shit' Posted: 29 Jan 2010 12:19 PM PST "No, it's not true at all. He's full of shit. Let me tell you what Chuck told me. He's gonna break his head open! Yeah, he's pissed." -- WEC General Manager Reed Harris kept it short and not-so-sweet when Dave Farra asked him on X107.5 Las Vegas if there was any truth to the allegations made by Tito Ortiz that Chuck Liddell is a recovering alcoholic. Ortiz claimed that Liddell was in deep trouble with the disease of alcoholism, until Dana White saved the most dominant light heavyweight champion in recent history through an intervention. Harris was quick to challenge Ortiz's claims, saying that "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" is "full of shit." Whether it is true or not, it seems Tito Ortiz is fully in favor of refueling the fire these two once had between them. Let the games begin ... again.

Brock Lesnar is ready for Frank Mir/Shane Carwin winner (Video) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 11:13 AM PST

Nick Diaz: 'I could beat both GSP and Anderson Silva' Posted: 29 Jan 2010 10:45 AM PST You know how people used to think Albert Einstein was a crazy dude, but then long after he died we realized he was a genius? Well, maybe that's what we have in Nick Diaz. A man respected for his craft, yet someone who doesn't seem to fully understand his surroundings. A man, who despite possessing the ability to be great at what he does, consistently makes decisions that for all intents and purposes harm his very well being. Sure, some of what he says and does makes very little to sense to us. But is that because Mr. Diaz is well ahead of his time? Diaz tells Ariel Helwani that there are certain topics we shouldn't touch with him. Like the word - excited."I don't really use that word," he said. "I think I had this discussion earlier. I have a lot of energy, so I feel good." And as to whether or not Nick has a dream fight, he had to think about for a minute, but then had a pretty sweet idea. I think he means fighting both of them at once. "Um... no. Actually, right now, I'd like to fight both GSP and Anderson Silva because I think I could beat them," declared the defiant welterweight. "But they [UFC] won't ever let that happen." When asked about how he envisioned the fight with Zaromskis ending, Diaz seemed to surprise himself with his answer: "I don't. I don't." Diaz also shared some interesting thoughts on how he thinks fights should be judged. Imagine if NFL games were determined in this fashion. I would argue that the New York Giants went undefeated every season of their existence. "It's about who would have won the fight had the fight kept going," he reasons. "Not who was winning, but who would have won." Despite owning a 6-4 record inside the Octagon, Diaz feels as though his record should read as 9-1. "I don't feel like I won the fight against Diego Sanchez," he concedes. "But other than that, I didn't lose any other fights in the UFC." To fully appreciate what could be a defining moment of Nick Diaz's legacy check out the full interview below.

Robbie Lawler 'not too worried' about Melvin Manhoef's stand up (Video) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 10:35 AM PST

UFC Quick Quote: Lil' Nog is a 'horrible fight' for Forrest Griffin Posted: 29 Jan 2010 10:28 AM PST "That is a horrible fight for me. I have trained with his brother a little bit, so he already has the 'inside scoop' on me, he's a southpaw, has got a good chin, and has good power. Plus he is pretty solid on the ground. The only place I would have an advantage would be wrestling... and my wrestling is not that good. So yeah, that’s a tough match up for me. I'd do it, if that’s what they wanted, but being straight up, there are other guys I'd rather fight." Former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin tells MMASportsMag he isn't exactly warm and fuzzy over his planned match up against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira UFC 113 event from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on May 8. Perhaps Griffin is still a little weary of Brazilians after the clobbering he took against Anderson Silva last year -- is it that a loss to "Lil' Nog" could send him tumbling down the 205-pound rankings? Unfortunately there is very little margin for error in this division. Where does Forrest rank before and after the Nogueira fight?

Two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad added to Matrix Fights 1 Posted: 29 Jan 2010 10:13 AM PST Philadelphia, PA - In a major announcement, the Philadelphia-based Matrix Fights (www.MatrixFights.com) promotion revealed today that former two-time NCAA heavyweight champion Cole Konrad has been added to the promotion's inaugural event on Saturday, Feb. 27 at The Arena in Philadelphia, PA. Konrad is one of UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar's training partners who made his professional MMA debut on Jan. 23 in Fargo, ND. With Lesnar in his corner, Konrad submitted Gary Hamen via polar bear choke at 1:13 of round 1. The highly anticipated debut has become a YouTube sensation and the dominant victory solidified Konrad's standing as the top unsigned prospect in mixed martial arts. "The addition of a fighter with the pedigree of Cole Konrad is a tremendous coup for Matrix and a strong example of our intent to become the premier MMA organization in the city of Philadelphia," said Matrix Fights President Jimmy Binns Jr. "We were very satisfied with the existing card we had in place but with this being our first event, we wanted to really make a statement. Landing Cole Konrad's second-ever professional MMA bout is about as big of a statement that a regional promotion can make." Konrad is currently being pursued by major fight organizations such as the Tokyo-based DREAM and U.S.-based Bellator Fighting Championships organization. Despite having a potential lucrative contract at stake, Konrad will be facing a stiff test against Joel Wyatt, 5-2, out of Richmond, Virginia. "Joel Wyatt is a purple belt in jiu-jitsu and rated by UltMMA.com as a top 15 unsigned heavyweight prospect. This is not some setup fight for Cole. It is a prospect vs. prospect bout that I expect to be very competitive," said Matrix Fights promoter Phil Migliarese. "Cole is taking a major risk here but as bad as we wanted him on the show, we did not want to do our fans a disservice by trying to pad his record. Make no mistake, Cole will be tested and there are no guarantees he's going to pass." In addition to training with Lesnar in Alexandria, MN, Konrad also trains under Greg Nelson in Minneapolis, MN at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, home to top fighters such as former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, UFC heavyweight Chris Tuchscherer, former BodogFIGHT welterweight champion Nick Thompson, former NCAA All-American Paul Bradley, and highly rated middleweight prospect Brett "The Natural Disaster" Stevens. The Konrad vs. Wyatt bout is being billed as a "special attraction," with the night's main event featuring EliteXC veteran Matt Makowski (5-2) of Philadelphia, PA taking on former IFL draft finalist LeVon Maynard (9-5) of Virginia Beach, VA in a clash of welterweight prospects. The fight will serve as a long-awaited MMA-rules rematch to their 2006 Muay Thai encounter at the WKA Championships in which Makowski was the victor. In addition to Konrad vs. Wyatt and Makowski vs. Maynard, Matrix Fights 1 (card subject to change) will also feature pro bouts between Aaron Miesner of Philadelphia, PA vs. Francois Ambang of Richmond, VA; Will Martinez in his Philadelphia debut vs. Mitch Lyons of Dayton, OH; and former United States Marine Julio Rosario vs. Steven Baker of Wilmington, DE. Tickets for the Feb. 27 event remain on-sale at MatrixFights.com with premium seats priced at $75 and general admission tickets costing just $45.

UFC 109: Angry Midget vs. Tramp Stamp (video) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 08:36 AM PST UFC 109: Angry Midget vs. Tramp Stamp (video)

BJ Penn is 'happy at 155' and 'too experienced' to look past Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 Posted: 29 Jan 2010 08:30 AM PST Props: Fighter's Only Quoteworthy: "I am happy at 155lbs right now and am looking forward to fighting Frankie. I have a tough opponent in front of me at UFC 112. I don’t think any champion can really ‘clean out’ a division because there are so many great fighters coming through all the time as soon as you beat one guy another one just as good is ready for his try. I think a champion just has to keep going through these guys, beating these guys and build a legacy. I am too experienced; I’ve been doing this for too long to underestimate anyone at this level. As far as my aspirations to go back up to welterweight and fight GSP again, I am going to have to wait. I do want to be the welterweight champion again, I want to fight GSP again and I am always interested in moving up, I have done that in the past, looked beyond what I had to do, and I won’t be looking past Frankie Edgar." BJ Penn prepares for the latest challenger in a seemingly outmatched division as Frankie Edgar gets his chance to try and dethrone the Hawaiian at UFC 112 on April 10 in Abu Dhabi. The reigning 155-pound champion has looked nearly invincible since returning to the lightweight division in June 2007. In fact, "The Prodigy" has violently finished all five of his opponents in his weight class, including a submission win (rear naked choke) over Kenny Florian at UFC 101 in August 2009. For dessert he had two scoops of Diego Sanchez's face at UFC 107 last December. Is his return to welterweight a foregone conclusion? Or does Edgar finally have "The Answer" to beating Penn?

Dan Henderson autograph signing TODAY (Jan. 29) with Cung Le and Scott Smith for Strikeforce 'Miami' Posted: 29 Jan 2010 07:58 AM PST Strikeforce has upped the ante for fight fans in Southern Florida who are planning to attend today's (Jan. 29) "Miami" weigh in event from the Chairman's Club at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. In addition to the scheduled weigh ins for tomorrow's highly-anticipated fight card, Strikeforce is bringing in three of its top middleweights for a meet and greet fan session that includes autograph signings. Former PRIDE Champion and UFC star Dan Henderson will join former Strikeforce 185-pound Champion Cung Le and the hard-hitting Scott "Hands of Steel" smith TODAY (Jan. 29) at 5:30 p.m. to dole out a few dozen autographs to the fans in attendance. The weigh in event will begin immediately following the signings at approximately 6:30 p.m. For more information on today's festivities click here.

MMA Quick Quote: Alistair Overeem takes a firm stand in his UFC negotiations (not really) Posted: 29 Jan 2010 07:26 AM PST "I'm not going to discuss the UFC too much with the media. But I will say that when they show me terms I like, I'll sign... Money is important but it isn't everything. There are some conditions they have that I don't like. But like I said, when the terms are right I will sign right away." Part-time Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem spoke to Fighters Only about the prospect of him ever signing with the world's leading MMA promotion. From the sounds of it, he doesn't seem to thrilled about the idea of showcasing his talents on the sport's biggest stage, but then again, he doesn't really seem to care about showcasing his talents on the sport's second biggest stage either. Do we even care at this point?

Herschel Walker: I'm not going to be heavyweight champ -- but I am going to be competitive Posted: 29 Jan 2010 07:15 AM PST Props: Miami Herald Quoteworthy: "I love martial arts. I've loved it for years. I love the sport of it. When I saw MMA years ago, I fell in love with it. They've cleaned it up so much that it is now a mainstream sport, and I wanted to get involved in it. There are incredible athletes doing it, and I want to consider myself a good athlete, and that's the reason I want to do it. I'm not stepping into this sport, fighting for a belt, `Oh, I want to be heavyweight champion.' No. At the age I'm at right now, I'm getting into a sport that I consider one of the toughest sports out there, and I'm going to be competitive. I've been in martial arts for years, but this is something totally different. One thing I had to do was forget about everything I learned in the past. I walked through those doors (at AKA) as a green fighter, trying to learn." It's put up or shut up for recent Strikeforce acquisition and former NFL great Herschel Walker, who's ready to prove that age ain't nothin' but a number when he debuts opposite Greg Nagy tomorrow night (Jan. 30) in Sunrise. Walker, a Taekwondo black belt, is donating his "Miami" payday to the Alternative Community Development Services "Project Turnaround." Will he be one-and-done? Or a regular addition to Strikeforce programming? Not if Greg Nagy has anything to say about it.

Strikeforce tickets 'Miami' discount for Jan. 30 event Posted: 29 Jan 2010 06:38 AM PST Last call! MMAmania.com and Strikeforce have partnered up to offer fight fans an exclusive discount on tickets for the blockbuster event set for the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, tomorrow night (Jan. 30). All you need to do to get the discount (10 percent) is go to Ticketmaster.com or click here and enter "MMAMANIA" when prompted for the promo code. If you've never been to the BankAtlantic Center, it's a top notch sports arena and a great place to watch a fight. On top of that, this is a fantastic card that is absolutely stacked from top to bottom with star power. Not only is Strikeforce putting the first ever welterweight title on the line in the main event between the exciting Nick Diaz and feared DREAM champion Marius Zaromskis, but the rest of the night is jam packed with highly anticipated bouts as well. NFL great Herschel Walker is making his mixed martial arts debut. Powerhouse ex-WWE superstar Bobby Lashley is making his Strikeforce debut. The best female fighter on the planet, Strikeforce champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, is making her first title defense. Then there's the fight that everyone's talking about between former Elite XC champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler and devastating Dutch knockout artist "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef. That fight alone is going to be worth the price of admission. This could also be a great opportunity for some of the local MMA Maniacs to come out and check out some live mixed martial arts action as a group. Some of the regulars have done this in the past and it's always turned out to be a great time. Just ask Kevin and some of these other guys who stormed the Wachovia Center for UFC 101 in Philly. If nothing else, at least you save a little bit of dough on your tickets. Nothing wrong with that. So head over to Ticketmaster.com and snatch up your tickets for Saturday's show and don't forget to use the "MMAMANIA" promo code to save 10 percent on your order. See you tomorrow night in Sunrise!

Middleweight Eric Schambari signs exclusive agreement with Bellator Fighting Championships Posted: 29 Jan 2010 06:01 AM PST CHICAGO, Ill. (January 29, 2010) – In the latest addition to its growing Season 2 fighter roster, Bellator Fighting Championships announced today the acquisition of middleweight and former WEC standout Eric Schambari. Schambari, who boasts an 11-1 professional record, is in the midst of an unlikely comeback from a career-threatening injury that forced him to sit out all of 2008. He is a perfect 4-0 since his return. "I watched Bellator last season and I just think it’s a great organization with some really, really talented and exciting fighters," the 31-year-old Schambari said. "In this business, it’s all about finding the best possible competition and Bellator has some of the best in the world." Schambari is the first fighter to be signed to compete in Bellator’s eight-man Season 2 middleweight (185 lbs.) tournament. Bellator will also conduct tournaments at 145, 155, and 170 lbs. during Season 2, which begins April 8th. The winners in each division will be declared No. 1 contenders to the current roster of champions. "Eric is a very talented middleweight with what’s commonly referred to as freak-strength," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Given who our middleweight champion is, that’s a vital attribute to possess. On top of that, the determination Eric’s shown during his comeback from a serious injury is inspirational and shows the kind of heart he has." A native of Las Vegas, Schambari was working as a lifeguard at the Bellagio hotel and casino just five years ago when he first decided to pursue MMA as a full-time profession. "I looked at my life, I was working a casino in Las Vegas, and I thought, ‘There’s something more for me in life than this,’" Schambari recalled. "So I moved to Texas, started training and got my first fight." After compiling a perfect 5-0 record in various regional promotions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Schambari moved back to Las Vegas and received an invitation to join the WEC. He won his first two fights under that promotion’s banner and then, in December 2007, lost a controversial split decision—the only loss of his career—to eventual Bellator fighter Bryan "The Beast" Baker. Shortly thereafter, Schambari sustained a severe training injury and then had an allergic reaction to a medication that, in his own words, "nearly killed me." "After all that, I didn’t know if I’d be fighting again," he admitted. "It was tough." Eventually, against the advice of his doctors, he began training again and, after about 14 months, returned to the cage in the best shape of his life. In the nine months since, he’s compiled a perfect 4-0 record with only one fight lasting past the first round. Schambari says he’s excited to continue to prove himself on the national stage created by Bellator’s landscape-altering TV distribution alliance. Each of Bellator’s 24 fights during Seasons 2 and 3 will be distributed live in primetime on Thursday nights on FOX Sports Net and its regional sports network affiliates. The top moments from each week’s live events will then be condensed into an action-packed 30-minute highlight show, broadcast every Saturday night, late night, on NBC. A one-hour highlight show will air in Spanish on Telemundo every Saturday night from midnight to 1 a.m. For more information, please visit Bellator.com.

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