by Adam Lawman

DREAM’s sweet sixteen will be a lot like MTV’s “My Super Sweet Sixteen” except for the lack of spoiled, stuck up rich kids and there will be a lot more awesomely talented MMA fighters. There won’t be any ponies or surprise appearances by T-Pain but Lenne Hardt will be there and will be screaming her heart out like she’s slaying a dragon with her voice alone. Plus, like I said, some badass fights with badass fighters.

Last night at a DREAM press conference the event producer Keiichi Sasahara, announced three new bouts for their upcoming show  plus there has also been confirmation today on another rock solid bout. This card will be rawesome to the tenth power.

The biggest fight announced is probably Shinya “the REAL fancy pants in MMA” Aoki (Lyle Beerbohm comes close but his ‘fancy pants’ are really shorts so he’s kinda disqualified from the name) who will be taking on former UFC fighter Marcus Aurelio in a non-title scrap. Aoki has wrecked the last 2 guys he faced in DREAM – breaking Mizuto Hirota’s arm and almost doing the same to Tatsuya Kawajiri’s ankle. Aurelio is supposed to also fight in Shine’s lightweight grand prix (where he could possibly fight 3 times if victorious)  just 15 days before this show however that’s a long and ridiculous story and may never happen.

Also, two featherweight battles consisting of DREAM regulars were added to the lineup. Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen, the second most METAL fighter in the world (behind Josh Barnett) will be taking on Hideo Tokoro. Hansen has lost his last 3 but is still a very dangerous man, while Tokoro has lost 5 of his last 7 so this should definitely be a key match for either to get back on track. The other featherweight clash will have ”Lion” Takeshi Inoue matching up against Kazuyuki Miyata. For Inoue, this will mark his debut in DREAM after tearing up Shooto for the last 7 years or so. Miyata is on a 4 fight win streak, appearing for DEEP and DREAM, however he is 9-7 overall so either he keeps climbing that hill higher above .500 or he’ll fall back down to almost ground level.

Today, DREAM released a promo video confirming that the one and only legendary Kazushi Sakuraba will dance with Jason “Mayhem” Miller in what will be a great fight from entrance to end for each fighter. Will Sakuraba be able to pull off the upset? Or will “Mayhem” bring a tear to the eye of a lot of hardcore fans? It’s never a safe bet to count Sakuraba out.

Lastly, there is also a highly likely fight between new Bellator featherweight Joe Warren and the always entertaining Michihiro Omigawa. It’s a very valiant effort for Warren to come to Japan for another fight so soon after his battle for Joe supremacy against Mr. Soto. Omigawa will look to rain on Warren’s parade with a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots rendition that will most likely be the fight of the night early morning.

So spike your Red Bulls with some 5 Hour Energy and stay awake into the early hours of September 25th to witness the collective carnage of DREAM’s Super Sweet Sixten bash live on HDNet.

by Adam Lawman

MMA’s top clothing brand TapouT has been synonymous with the sport for over 10 years, but their future could hold many changes. Sources close to TapouT have told MMAPrime.TV that the company will soon announce that they are sold or being sold and that sales representatives have already been let go from the clothing company’s headquarters. The source also stated that the new buyer is possibly none other than reputed billionaire Warren Buffett.

TapouT was started by Dan Caldwell (aka “Punkass”) and the late Charles Lewis Jr (aka “Mask”) back in 1997. From it’s beginning in San Bernardino, CA to it’s current status as one of the most recognizable brands in popular culture, TapouT has become a multi-million dollar company and even spawned a reality television series which was aired on the Versus channel.

The recognizable faces of “Mask”, “Punkass” and “SkySkrape” were always noticeable at MMA events and have been a strong proponent for the continued growth of the sport, specifically the UFC.

Details of the purchase such as how much the company was bought for are not yet available at this time. Also, the current status of the remaining members is unclear, though we hope to have more information regarding all facets of this story as it comes to us.

UPDATE: The information reported is from a source close to the situation however the news has not been officially confirmed with TapouT.

UPDATE #2: New reports are coming out that the potential deal TapouT is working on could be with Authentic Brands Group, a newly formed brand development and licensing company. Authentic Brands Group’s other investments consist of Polaroid, The Sharper Image and other large brands. The group is also rumored to be making a deal with Silver Star Casting Company, another mixed martial arts clothing brand.

If the deal went down with ABG, or even Buffett’s group Berkshire Hathway, then most likely it is just a selling of the brand and not the full company itself. These types of business deals usually consist of increasing the already proven company with wider resources to continue that company’s growth.

I don’t yet think it’s time to whistle the alarm for a fall of the TapouT empire. I’d assume that “Punkass” and “SkySkrape” will continue to be a part of the company, being that it’s most likely just a sale of their brand (or a percentage of it).

This news comes right after CNN Money recently ran an article defining TapouT’s success in sports apparel specifically with how unique the founders are. It’s a good read and has lots of information on TapouT and how the business is run.

Here’s a quote from “Punkass” taken from the article:

“I don’t see ourselves making TapouT Ken and Barbie dolls anytime soon,” he says. “We won’t make a product unless it connects to our core audience. We stay true to the brand.”

MMAPrime.TV will bring you more info as it becomes available.

by Adam Lawman

Today there was a very puzzling piece posted on BloodyElbow.com by founding editor Kid Nate. He questions that if Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and BJ Penn are the best at 155lbs in the UFC, then they may not have the best lightweights in the world. His reasoning is that since Edgar beat Penn and in turn Maynard got the best of Edgar, that the UFC’s carousel of talent takes away from their overall success. He mentions that the UFC has 6 of the top 10 lightweights (per the rankings outlet of which they are a part of) but that the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th best are all outside the Zuffa owned fight organization. While I see where he is coming from, I have to disagree wholeheartedly. Sorry, Nate.

First off, the fact that there is beautiful parity between the top fighters in the UFC should not take away from their overall ranking, but actually prove that all of these men spoken of are excellent mixed martial artists and since they perform under the same roof, increase the value of the UFC. It shows that each has specific talents where they may have an edge and that there is no formula per se that number 1 will beat numbers 2 and 3 and so on, but instead that the number 3 guy may match up against a higher ranked foe in better ways.

Secondly, the four fighters in their top 10 that aren’t in the UFC are Gilbert Melendez, Shinya Aoki, Eddie Alvarez and Tatsuya Kawajiri. While they are all good, they have done the same cancelling each other out bit that he uses as one of his points to this theory. Melendez beat Aoki but Aoki has defeated both Alvarez and Kawajiri so the parity is just the same. Also, none of these fighters compete in the same organization. Melendez is a Strikeforce fighter, Alvarez works for Bellator, Aoki and Kawajiri belong to DREAM but they can perform in Strikeforce as well. So if not the UFC then who?

I think I see Nate’s logic but it would be better portrayed as there are some other world class fighters that need to join the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Melendez has been vocal about the fact that the UFC is the top of the food chain and will most definitely make a change in employers in some time. He gets it. The UFC is MMA at it’s finest.

So in summary, there are a lot of amazing fighters and great organizations in our sport however nothing, at any weight class, can compete with the UFC.

by Adam Lawman

Frankie Edgar completed his masterpiece Saturday night in Boston. The artist of the octagon used jabs and kicks as his brushstrokes and painted the perfect victory over BJ Penn. If there were doubts after their first match up at UFC 112 about who was the better fighter, there surely aren’t anymore. The question was answered and a career was defined. Frankie Edgar proved to the world that he is one of the best fighters at 155lbs in mixed martial arts today.

The movement  that he uses has spawned many parodies relating to his style being perceived as dancing, which it is, however there is so much more to it. Just like the sweet science of boxing, mixed martial arts calls for a tango of sorts between the competitors, both working to the beat of their own pulsing hearts. Months of preparation for the fight, not to mention years overall of training each art’s disciplines (boxing, jiu-jitsu, etc.) creates a calculated and incredible choreography of muscle memory used to instinctually make the best decisions. Frankie Edgar’s iron will showed through the nerves of fighting for the prize of all prizes, whereas Penn’s mindset seemed clouded with doubt.

It takes a great competitor to make a legend insecure. That’s what Edgar did as he relentlessly peppered Penn with quick, effective strikes that signalled his dominance just like a wild beast would mark his territory. And when Penn did get motivated and jumped out of his cage of self-doubt to score a takedown and secure good positioning, what did “The Answer” do? He answered back with a quick reversal, telling Penn, with skills, that the championship belt was his and his only, to which Penn replied with silence. BJ accepted a little more realization of defeat with each reversal, jab, kick or takedown that Edgar scored. By the end of the 25 minutes, Frankie Edgar had taken every ounce of spirit from the former champion and icon of fighting.

Both the UFC’s plans for Edgar’s second title defense as well his journey to unquestionable lightweight supremacy call for a stroll down a similar path. Gray Maynard, the only person to ever defeat Edgar, won a top contender bout to claim a shot at the belt so the two will rematch sometime in 2011 in a meeting that will be marketed as a tale of revenge for Frankie Edgar. The always changing landscape of MMA will be epitomized by two newer talents vieing for the 155lbs championship in what will be the beginning of a brand new generation for the sport.

Until then, one thing remains proven and true above all else. The UFC lightweight champion is Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.

by Eric Shields

The battles fought, the dust settled, and three warriors have been crowned Kings of Kombat.  An array of skill sets were on display this past weekend as the Palmer Event Center played host to King of Kombat 9: The Resurrection.  No skill was more expertly demonstrated though, then that of the match making.

The night began with fireworks as Warren Stewart faced Josh Scales.  The fight began in second round as the first ended the day before at the weigh-in.  A small dust up as these two faced off, left each of these combatants heated when they met in the cage.  The animosity was evident as the bell rang and leather was thrown immediately.  Stewart was rocked early and held a tight clinch against the cage to survive.  Beginning a systematic attack on the taller fighter’s legs through the unconventional use of uppercuts to the thigh, Stewart was able to hold on.  However, Scales ended the round strong and looked strong going into the second frame.  The next round began and the tides were turned as Stewart landed a big head kick and sent Scales reeling.  A massive flurry of punches left Stewart a bit winded as the bloodied Scales fought back.  The two began trading wild hooks in the center of the ring for almost 20 seconds until Stewart brought the fight to the ground.  Some good scrambling kept Scales in the contest as the second round ended.  As the final frame began Stewart seemed to have the cardio edge as he stalked the taller fighter. Scales, in the most orange shorts I’ve ever seen, showed effective counter punching and composure as the crowd rallied for his opponent.  The final bell rang and the pre fight scrap was settled as both fighters hugged it out.  The judges gave the slight nod to Scales, 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 in the shows Fight of the Night.

Another split decision came from the promotions first ever female fight as pro boxer Jennifer Scott used crisp straight punches and stalked her opponent, Timisha Jones through three rounds.  Jones fought hard with flurries of hooks and showed great heart, but was unable to fight past the seven inch discrepancy.  Scott looked fresh as the fight concluded and took the decision 28-29, 30-27, 29-28.

The third contest featured middleweights Josh Smith and Sean Spencer.  The six foot five Smith established his long jab early in the fight, but is unable to cause any real damage.  As the fight wears on Spencer begins to find his range as Smith tires.  The two are happy to stand in the middle and trade, Spencer because he is winning and Smith because is tired.  It goes the distance and Spencer wins the unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 30-27.

Will Campuzano stepped into the cage as the most known name on the card. Having 3 fights in the WEC he had a target on his head for someone else to make a name off of a victory.  So then it was fitting that his opponent is known as The Assassin.  Stephen Garcia came to scrap and he showed an impressive striking with various combinations that kept the aggressive Campuzano on the defensive.  A ground scramble led to a tight guillotine had the crowd ready to explode, but Campuzano was able to find his way out.  The Assassin didn’t let up, however Campuzano used his experience and a new found aggression to take it to the Houston based fighter and came away with the victory via another split decision using solid countering and takedowns.  29-28, 28-29, 29-28

For the fifth bout of the night, Tim Snyder faced fan favorite and KOK lightweight champion Nick Thompson. Showing us why he is known as the ghost, Thompson combined quick head movement and elusive footwork to cut angles and avoid takedowns.  By way of punches in bunches Thompson never seemed to lose composure and danced his way to a unanimous decision victory 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.

For the first of three championship matches we match light heavyweights Marcus Sursa and Ryan McClain.  Sursa enters the cage as a ball of energy. Even from the warm-ups hours prior it doesn’t appear if he has taken a foot off the gas.  The fight begins and Sursa quickly uses his All American wrestling and scores a takedown and establishes side control.  A few submission attempts are stopped by McClain, but some good old fashioned ground and pound leads to a mounted crucifix and Sursa rains down elbows to the temple.  About eight were thrown as the bell rings and McClain cannot rise.  Marcus Sursa is victorious with a KO at 5:00 in first round.

With the Welterweight title at stake Ryan Larson enters the cage to a deafening ovation from the crowd, across stood the California native Derrick Krantz. D-Rock goes for an early takedown, but is stuffed by the length of Larson, and is soon locked in a tight guillotine.  Krantz powers out and scrambles to back mount, throws some punches and locks in a fight ending rear necked choke at 4:23 in the very first round.

The night’s main event showcased some of the top talent in the bantamweight division.  Golden glove champion Edwin Figueroa has his eyes on the strap, but Johnny Bedford uses his all American wrestling skill to take the fight to the mat.  Controlling Figueroa on the mat, Bedford moves to back mount and flattens out his opponent using a body triangle.  Figueroa survives but is still in trouble.  As the first round comes to a conclusion Bedford stands from side control and plants two soccer kicks square to the back, one after the bell.  The referee takes a point and Figueroa, in obvious pain, manages to get to his corner.  As the second round commences, Figueroa connects with a brutal left hook.  Bedford collapses to the mat as Figueroa pounces, landing three shots to the downed Bedford.  The referee puts a halt to the action at 17 seconds in the second round.
Eight bouts, 3 split decisions, 3 finishes, as stated not only was the talent level high, but top tier match making was showcased.  Congratulations to the fighters for bringing it, CEO and Owner Ron Hernandez for delivering and outstanding card, and to the three newly crowned Kings of Kombat.

The next event has already been scheduled for December 18; if you are in the central Texas area there will not be a better place to be to have a thrilling night of entertainment.

*Pictures provided by Eric Shields and Mario Cantu

by Adam Lawman

Crack open a Samuel Adams and crank up the Dropkick Murphys because the UFC is in Boston and it’s a badass card!

Dana White is returning to his old stomping grounds on Saturday to deliver a loaded card that will be sure to knock your socks (Red Sox?) off!

Let’s get to the picks…

Frankie Edgar (C) vs BJ Penn (for the UFC lightweight championship)

People can say what they want about the legitimacy of Frankie Edgar’s status as the current lightweight champion, however you can’t deny the facts. The fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi was a very closely contested chess match between two highly skilled and intelligent fighters and by no means did any one competitor win decisively. The judges decided that Edgar was the better man back in April and so he is the gentleman you’ll see with the ridiculously large belt buckle with the UFC logo upon it. Edgar’s game of quick in and out interactions worked to his advantage, throwing off Penn’s rhythm which made BJ look a little out of touch in the fight. Edgar was even successful at taking Penn down twice, something no other lightweight in the UFC had EVER done. It’s these things I’ve discussed plus something else I can’t put my finger on but for lack of better words I’ll call it a gut feeling, that makes me believe lightning will strike twice. I don’t see Edgar stopping Penn before 25 minutes is up, however I see him once again disrupting Penn and controlling the five rounds to retain the title and hopefully start getting some real recognition.   EDGAR VIA DECISION

Randy Couture vs James Toney

I will be holding my breath for the first few minutes of this one because Randy Couture will have to close the distance to clinch or take Toney down and if he’s within the boxing champion’s reach it could be lights out pretty quickly. Other than that, every other aspect of the game favors Couture. Still it should be a very intriguing fight to watch. So unless, Toney lands a bomb right off the bat I’m going to call a TKO due to referee stoppage in the opening frame.   COUTURE VIA TKO, RD 1

Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard

The winner of this match up is supposed to be the next contender for whoever is victorious in the main event. Florian has had the chance twice before, losing to Sean Sherk and BJ Penn but every time the guy steps in the Octagon he looks like he’s gotten ten times better. Maynard is undefeated himself and this will be the biggest fight to date in his young career. While both fighters have won their last 2 bouts, Florian has looked much better in his outings than Maynard has. Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi both felt the wrath of Florian’s rear naked choke. Maynard though, has not won via stoppage but twice in his career, the last one happening 3 years ago. If Maynard wants to box like he has as of late, then it’s over. However, if he sticks to his wrestling then Florian could see flashbacks of his fight against Sherk which he lost via decision. I think that Florian is the better mixed martial artist and so I’m calling Florian to win with some “hell-bows” in the 3rd.   FLORIAN VIA TKO, RD 3

Demian Maia vs Mario Miranda

This will be awesome. With two black belts in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu taking each other on I almost expect some wicked human pretzels. Maia is one of the best grapplers in the UFC, quite possibly the best at 185lbs and Miranda is a new star looking to prove he is up there as well. Both fighters also possess decent striking with Miranda getting the edge, however Maia’s stand up has improved quite a bit which even allowed him to catch Anderson Silva a couple times during their fight. Miranda is 1-1 in the UFC, losing to Gerald Harris and defeating David Loiseau. While I think Miranda could be a star soon, I just don’t see him taking advantage of Maia. Demian Maia has seen some of the UFC’s best at middleweight and has scored a record of 6-2 in the Octagon only losing to Nate Marquardt and the afforementioned Silva. Look for a close decision to be awarded to Maia.    DEMIAN MAIA VIA DECISION

Nate Diaz vs Marcus Davis

This one will start exciting and end the same way, except the entire duration of the fight will probably only last 5 minutes. I see Davis catching Diaz early which will boost the confidence of “The Irish Hand Grenade.” Davis will get too amped though and leave himself open for Diaz to daze him. Diaz will capitalize on the opportunity by taking down the Boston native and submitting him via rear naked choke.   NATE DIAZ VIA SUBMISSION, RD 1

And now some quick picks for the Spike Prelims and undercard:

• Joe Lauzon to def Gabe Ruediger via TKO, Rd 1
• Andre Winner to def Nik Lentz via Decision
• Dan Miller to def John Salter via Decision
• Nick Osipczak to def Greg Soto via TKO, Rd 2
• Amilcar Alves to def Mike Pierce via Submission, Rd 3

Strikeforce has issued a press release announcing that Nick Diaz will indeed defend his Strikeforce welterweight title in a rematch with KJ Noons at the October 9th event that will take place in San Jose, CA.

Yesterday, in the ”Strikeforce Insider” newsletter, the company accidentally listed “Diaz vs Noons” on the ticket information for the event so this isn’t a huge surprise, but many people had more desire to see Diaz and Jason Miller settle their unfinished business instead.

Diaz and Noons have some friction themselves spawning from when they squared off in Elite XC previously, but it’s been so long that most fans don’t remember or, frankly, don’t care.

The reason for Diaz/Noons II instead of Diaz/Miller is said to be due to Diaz not being able to add extra weight since it is currently triathlon season. It’s a legit excuse but still disappointing that a highly anticipated fight for his employer had to be placed on the back burner because of it.

Still, Diaz/Noons II should be a hell of a fight itself and should provide viewers with an all out war similar to Jung vs Garcia from the WEC.

The event takes place on October 9th at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, CA.

Other fights that night include:

Sarah Kaufman vs Marloes Coenen (for Strikeforce Women’s 135 lb Championship)

and

Matt Lindland vs Luke Rockhold

by Adam Lawman

Yeah….So that happened last night.

There was a lot to love about Strikeforce: Houston but there was also quite a bit to loathe. For every stunning KO and takedown there was a referee issue or something else to counter the excitement. Overall, the event was a gambler’s dream with many underdogs finding their way to the win column, including the first fight of the night (and biggest upset) which saw Chad Griggs work through 16 months of ring rust to defeat the over-hyped Bobby Lashley.

Griggs looked a little rough at first and Lashley seemed to be able to take him down pretty easily, but once on the ground Lashley went blank and wasn’t able to cause much damage and never once looked for a submission. Instead, he played the positional control game, trying to nullify his opponent’s movement rather than looking for a finish. This worked for only a while before Lashley became tired and started huffing and puffing. Griggs actually worked his way back up a few times and started to expect Lashley to shoot and used uppercuts to counter the wrestler. One such strike opened a decent gash under Lashley’s left eye which introduced the former TNA star to real pain very quickly. Lashley was able to battle through and even got another takedown however referre Jon Schorle decided to stand up the fighters as Lashley was in mount. I’m not sure if it was the cut he was checking on or if he really doesn’t get MMA, but nonetheless it changed the pace of the fight. Lashley, whom had gassed a la Shane Carwin, looked zombified and stiff which lead to him getting rocked on his next takedown attempt. Griggs took advantage of the situation and pummelled Lashley until the end of the second round. That round would be the last as Lashley waved off the third due to exhaustion and the beating his cranium took.

First thing’s first, Jon Schorle is a horrible referee. The stand up he called for when Lashley had mount was downright ridiculous. That type of handling of a fight is a major disruption to the legitimacy of the competition and has no place at any level of the sport. It’s disgusting to see so many referees whom are ignorant about the fights, specifically the intricacies of positioning and technique on the ground.

Secondly, Lashley is obviously not ready for the big time. In fact, he may not be cut out for MMA. Granted, he showed toughness to persevere as long as he did but you could see was giving up on himself mid-fight. He has a lot of work to do if he wants to gain credibility and have a shot in this sport. It could happen with a rededicated focus on his career, but the question is if he’s really committed to doing that.

On to fight number two: KJ Noons and Jorge Gurgel. I was so surprised when Gurgel decided to stand rather than use his BJJ skills (caution: the previous sentence contains sarcasm). Noons looked cautious to begin and Gurgel took advantage gaining an early lead in the striking department. Noons soon started answering and countered beautifully, specifically at the end of round one when he knocked Gurgel out cold. The strike was thrown right at the bell and Gurgel used the time in between rounds to collect his consciousness. He wouldn’t regain it long before Noons went on the attack again and KO’d Gurgel for the second time in the fight. However, that wasn’t enough for the referee. Gurgel out of survival instincts grabbed Noons leg and received a few more blows to the head, including an illegal kick, before the official decided that maybe the fight should be over. The kick would not lead to disqualication though, based on the fact that the fight was being called off before Noons connected. Overall, Noons looked much better than Gurgel and deserved the victory.

Next up for Noons could be a grudge match waiting in the welterweight division. Strikeforce has confirmed that Nick Diaz will headline the October 9th card and rumors are circling that a rematch with KJ Noons is likely however the bout is not yet official. I’d love to see that over any other option but if something falls through, then let’s see Noons take on Lyle Beerbohm or Josh Thomson for lightweight number one contention.

Next up was the middleweight championship between Tim Kennedy and Jacare Souza. Jacare’s stand up game was much improved and he used it instead of his incredible BJJ skills to beat Kennedy. Jacare was quicker and had better technique which allowed for more effective strikes even though Kennedy kept close in pace regarding  punches thrown and landed. Kennedy did win the takedown battle, earning 2 for himself and not allowing Jacare to score any for 25 minutes. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough to outpoint Jacare Souza, who became the new Strikeforce 185 lbs champion.

I’d like to see Kennedy enter the proposed middleweight tournament, whenever it happens, if he is healthy enough. He showed that he was able to hold his own and deserves to compete against the other contenders in the division.

In the main event of the night, “King Mo” Lawal had his recently earned title as Strikeforce’s light heavyweight champ  on the line against Team Black House member and Anderson Silva training partner Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Most fans and critics chose Lawal to win easily, some choosing a stoppage but most were sure he’d at least dominate through a decision. That wasn’t how life played out though. Feijao looked crisp in his striking, a newly renovated area of his game. Lawal was able to slam his opponent twice but never used his wrestling as he should have. Instead, Mo looked to trade punches with Feijao who, in the third round, dazed Lawal before kneeing him in the clinch. Feijao then followed the falling champ and caught him with a hook which dropped the former Oklahoma State wrestler. Lawal clutched Feijao’s leg but was beaten until a technical knockout was called due to the amount of unanswered blows.

Lawal, even as a champion, was still very much untested. He went through Mike Whitehead and Gegard Mousasi on his way to the title, but I wouldn’t consider either in the top 10. Feijao whom lost via TKO to Mike Kyle just last summer, may not have the greatest credibility as a champion himself, but there is no discrediting the victory he earned in Houston.

The next likely direction for the 205 lbs belt seems to be targeted on a rematch of Feijao and Mike Kyle which speaks on so many levels about the talent gap between Strikeforce’s light heavyweight fighters and those employed by the UFC.

After Saturday night, Strikeforce has some work cut out for selling their bigger name fighters. Lashley was seen as a possible contender by the less experienced fans but it is now obvious he is not; nor is he even near that level. Lawal on the other hand, is still a very talented fighter, just inexperienced. “King Mo” can get back atop the division and still be a top tier fighter but he has some blatant weaknesses he needs to address.

While the show was mostly fun for the fans, I’m sure Scott Coker and company are pretty dumbstruck about how their money makers like Fedor, Lashley and Mo have all lost recently. The parity is great for the sport but maybe not so good for Strikeforce as a business.

(Photo by Esther Lin for Strikeforce / Showtime)

by Adam Lawman

Strikeforce sets up shop in Houston, Texas tonight for their next offering of MMA which features two title fights and four bouts total. New light heavyweight champion “King Mo” Lawal defends his belt for the first time since winning the strap as he faces Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in the main event of the evening. Other action in the cage includes the battle for the middleweight championship between rising star and former soldier Tim Kennedy when he meets BJJ phenom Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Also in action is KJ Noons as he makes his Strikeforce return just 2 months after his last fight. He’ll be meeting Jorge Gurgel in a lightweight match up that should most definitely be the fight of the night. Finally, the infamous Bobby Lashley will meet another hand picked opponent, this one is named Chad Griggs.

Alright, here’s my look into the crystal ball:

“King Mo” Lawal (C) vs Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, for Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship

Lawal is a damn good wrestler who is doing well in transitioning to MMA however he is still very much untested. His decision win over Gegard Mousasi was a solid victory but an All-American wrestler dominating someone with NO takedown defense is not a huge surprise. “Feijao” is not a top-tier MMA fighter  by any means so Mo won’t get too much of a challenge and will most likely pick up an easy decision victory. Strikeforce needs to pit the “King” against someone like Dan Henderson to build up more credibility. “KING MO” VIA DECISION

Tim Kennedy vs Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, for vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

Kennedy is a well-rounded fighter with good hands and a solid ground game. He’ll need the latter because “Jacare” is a BJJ assassin and very dangerous. While Souza’s hands have been improving, he didn’t look too comfortable in his last fight against Joey Villasenor. A key to the fight for Kennedy will be to put the pressure on early and look for a quick TKO win, otherwise if he gives “Jacare” time to work, it could be a very painful night for one of Kennedy’s joints. I think Kennedy has worked enough to progress his game and should pull out a quick TKO win and will be named the new Strikeforce middleweight champion. KENNEDY VIA TKO, RD 1.

KJ Noons vs Jorge Gurgel

This one is going to be fun! Gurgel has an advantage on the ground but he usually forgets about that and focuses on making exciting fights by standing up with his opponents. Noons will be very pleased with that choice and will take the opportunity to put on a free boxing seminar for Showtime viewers as he beats down Gurgel. Look for a stoppage in round 2 and for Noons to contend for the lightweight title very soon. NOONS VIA TKO, RD 2.

Bobby Lashley vs Chad Griggs

Seriously? LASHLEY VIA TKO, RD 1.

Make sure you catch Sherdog’s free stream of 2 undercard fights (Andre Galvao vs Jorge Patino; Daniel Cormier vs Jason Riley) starting at 9 ET / 8 CT. Then switch over to Showtime for the main card starting at 10 ET / 9 CT.

By Eric Shields

Most people think of Austin as “The Live Music Capital of the World” but Ron Hernandez, owner and CEO of the Austin based King of Kombat (KOK), wants you to know that MMA is here too; and here to stay.

Since the promotion’s inception in September of 2007, KOK has grown to become a well respected competitor in the industry.  Ron had his first taste of MMA as a sponsor.  Like many out there, Ron felt he could run a better company that treated its fighters better and offered a more thrilling package for the fans.  Unlike most, he had the determination to see his ideas through. Now with the ninth fight of the organization set for this week and events booked until 2012, it appears Ron knows exactly what he is doing.

However, the ride hasn’t been on cruise control since the beginning.  Just as most industries in the U.S. the local fight promoters hit some rough times during the recession of 2009.  KOK was no exception.  Ever the savvy business man, Ron began using volunteers to set up the cage and the system in return for tickets to see the show.  This strategy has proven a winning one and King of Kombat is poised to not only weather the storm, but grow.

Tickets begin at $19.95 and with a move from the Crockett center to the Palmer Event Center everyone in the building will have a fantastic seat for a fantastic night of fights.  Can’t make it?  Ron has you covered by striking deals with ESPN and HDNet.  Highlights are set to be shown soon after.

King of Kombat 9 “The Resurrection” is set to blow the doors off the Palmer Events Center this Friday, August 20.  With the three titles on the line you know you are in for an unforgettable night of Texas MMA.  Ron Hernandez wouldn’t want it any other way.

Official weigh in results:

Derrick Krantz (169.25) vs. Ryan Larson (169.25)                   (for Welterweight Title)

Ryan McClain (205) vs. Marcus Sursa (201.25)                       (for Light Heavyweight Title)

Edwin Figueroa (135) vs. Johnny Bedford (134.5)                    (for Bantamweight Title)

Tim Snyder (145) vs. Nick Gonzalez (150.75)*                        145lbs

Steve Garcia (134.5) vs. Will Campuzano (128.75)**  135lbs

Josh Smith (184) vs. Sean Spencer (181.5)                               185lbs

Jennifer Scott (119.75) vs. Timisha Jones (120.75)                   120lbs

Warren Stewart (146.25) vs. Josh Scales (148.5)                     150lbs

*Gonzalez made no attempt to cut further

** Dispute over contracted weight, settled at 135lbs both fighters agreed to contiunue with no fines