Georges St. Pierre Vs Nick Diaz, Mike Whitehead RAPE UPDATE & More
By Kevin Nelson
This week’s edition of MMA News & Notes discusses all the news you need on Bellator, Strikeforce and the UFC, as well as MFC, TPF, Dream and Sharkfights. The ever evolving sport of MMA is constantly moving with no breaks and breaking news. We here at RSR will provide you with all the latest scoops.
Bellator
This season 5 Bantamweight Tournament is almost complete with seven entrants: Ed west, Alexis Vila, Eduardo Dantas, Chase Beebe, Marcos Galvao, Luis Nogueira, and Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren. There probably will be one more entrant in the tournament. The winner will face Zach Makovsky (the current Bellator bantamweight champion).
On June 18th at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida will be having open tryouts for a spot on a Bellator card. This season of Bellator has been the most controversial as many fights have been questionable. A part of that is fighters letting the fights go to the scorecard as well as judges not understanding MMA.
The biggest problem is not allowing elbows to the head. A part of the reasoning is fighters entered in tournaments have to fight 6 weeks later as Bellator tournaments move quickly. Let’s hope there is no controversy in the bantamweight tournament.
Strikeforce
Former UFC and Strikeforce light heavyweight contender Mike Whitehead is expected to be in preliminary hearing for a felony sexual assault case, taking place in August 19. The two plaintiffs of the case say they were attending a barbecue at Whitehead’s residence when he offered the two women his bedroom to sleep him. He told the women that he would sleep on the couch while they have the bed.
The women stayed over because they were too intoxicated to drive home. Whitehead, according to the plaintiffs, while they were sleeping, were sexually assaulted and told him to stop. Once he stopped, he put on his clothes and sat in a chair staring at the plaintiffs before leaving the room.
The second plaintiff claims he fondled her breasts during the rape but did not say anything for fear of being assaulted by an MMA fighter. Whitehead’s problems started last year after he refused to answer questions to the police following the alleged assault. When the police served him with a search warrant on the alleged assault police would discover 50 marijuana plants at his residence.
The Strikeforce July 30th card will take place at the Sears Center in Chicago. The main event is Fedor vs. Henderson with other matchups announced with Marloes Coenan defending her title against Miesha Tate. Also Roger Gracie will face King Mo.
UFC
The Ultimate Fighter results last night were Tony Ferguson winning season 13 with a KO of Ramsey Nijem. Ed Herman would KO Tim Credeur. Chris Cope would defeat Chuck O’Neil by decision and Clay Guida would defeat Anthony Pettis by decision. George St. Pierre will meet Nick Diaz at UFC 137.