Strikeforce on Wednesday released its middleweight champion, Jake
Shields, which confirmed the fighter’s long-expected exodus from the
promotion.
The man who’s long coveted his services, UFC president Dana White, today
told MMAjunkie.com he sees no reason why he can’t
ink Shields “quickly.”
If a UFC deal is done, Shields’ manager said the fighter wants to fight
“a couple” of fights at middleweight, then drop to welterweight. White
doesn’t necessarily agree.
LAS VEGAS – At Wednesday’s open workout session in advance of this
weekend’s UFC 116 event in Las Vegas, UFC heavyweight champion Brock
Lesnar announced to a small group of reporters that he would be fighting
southpaw in his bout with Shane Carwin.
On Thursday, he admitted he might have let the cat out of the bag a
little early on that surprise.
“I probably messed up and spoke too soon on that,” Lesnar told
MMAjunkie.com with a laugh.
LAS VEGAS – In case you were wondering if Fedor Emelianenko’s recent
loss to Fabricio Werdum might open up the possibility of the Russian
making his way to the octagon, UFC president Dana White has a simple
message for you: It’s not happening.
Following Thursday’s UFC 116 pre-event press conference, White said he has
absolutely no interest in continuing his years-long pursuit of the
former PRIDE champ.
“Now that he loses, now they want to say, ‘OK, now we’ll come over,’
because he lost?” White asked. “I’m done playing the games.”
LAS VEGAS – Chuck Liddell’s fighting career in the UFC is officially
over.
That’s according to UFC president Dana White, who told a small group of
reporters following today’s UFC 116 pre-event press conference that he
won’t allow his friend to fight again in the octagon.
White is scheduled to have dinner with Liddell on
Thursday evening, and he hopes the “Iceman” won’t press for further cage
time. But if he does, White said there will be no talking his way into
another UFC contest.
Jamie Varner sustained fractures in his right hand and foot in his most recent fight against Kamal Shalorus, but he won’t sit on the bench for long.
That’s according to a source from Varner’s management firm, KOReps.com, who today informed MMAjunkie.com that the former WEC lightweight champion will wear splints for the injuries for “a few weeks,” though they are “nothing serious.”
Shalorus also injured his hand during the main-event fight, which went to a bizarre split draw at WEC 49.
As expected the winner of Saturday’s UFC 116 headliner between heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and interim title-holder Shane Carwin next will fight undefeated contender Cain Velasquez.
UFC president Dana White previously hinted at the plans, and he today confirmed them with MMAjunkie.com.
“Cain fights the winner of this fight, probably as soon as possible,” White told MMAjunkie.com. “Cain’s been waiting a long time.”
When Strikeforce makes its Texas debut next month, the organization likely will do so at Houston’s Toyota Center.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today told MMAjunkie.com the 18,000-seat arena is expected to host the Aug. 21 event, which airs on Showtime.
The Toyota Center is home to the NBA’s Houston Rockets and the AHL’s Houston Aeros.
Gerardo “Julio” Gallegos, like many fighters, is trying to make a name for himself in mixed martial arts.
But, in a way, he’s also trying to erase the effect his name has.
“I fight to take my last name out of the dirt for what my dad did to it,” said Gallegos, an undefeated XFC fighter who witnessed his parents’ murder-suicide as a kid. “Half my family doesn’t even talk to me because of what he did, but I’m trying to do good with it, to make it a better name.”
LAS VEGAS – With UFC 116 just a couple days away, the organization today hosts the usual pre-event press conference, and you can watch a live video stream of the media event here on MMAjunkie.com.
Today’s event takes place at the MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theatre in Las Vegas with UFC president Dana White, UFC 116 headliners Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, and co-headliners Yoshihiro Akiyama and Chris Leben.
The video stream begins at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
A welterweight bout between Cory Devela and Bobby Voelker has been added to this month’s Strikeforce Challengers 9 fight card, officials today announced.
The fight is part of the night’s Showtime-televised main card.
The event, which is the latest in the prospects-driven Challengers series, takes place at the Comcast Arena of Everett in Everett, Wash.