Herschel Walker back to Football & UFC 129 Update
By Kevin Nelson
Here is the news and notes of the mixed martial arts world for Bellator, UFC, and Strikeforce.
In this article we will focus on each group separately regarding news of the week and some changes that need to be made. Also we will be discussing upcoming events and possible cuts within these organizations.
UFC
As expected with the Strikeforce announcement of the heavyweight tournament, the UFC President Dana White announced that if both Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre both win their bouts, they will meet at middleweight.
The match potentially could shatter all pay per view records as well as settle the score as who is the best pound for pound fighter in the world. With his devastating KO win on Saturday, Mark Hominick now gets a title shot at Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto.
The UFC is announcing that they are working towards getting a fight in Japan sometime late 2011 early 2012. With Melvin Guillard’s impressive destruction of Evan Dunham Saturday, Kenny Florian and Melvin Guillard may possibly meet soon in the octagon.
A war of words erupted between the two when Guillard’s pre fight interview was conducted. He was asked about Florian. He replied that “Florian was past his prime.”
The UFC has announced a new deal with Spike to showcase the prelims of pay per view cards in 2011. Former UFC fighter Patrick Cote has signed a deal with Ringside MMA in a bout with Kalib Starnes.
Former UFC fighter Kimbo Slice is rumored to be getting into pro wrestling in Japan
Bellator
With Season 4 starting in March on MTV2, the welterweight tournament has finally been completed. The fighters competing for a shot at Ben Askren are Jay Hieron, Steve Carl, former welterweight champ Lyman Good, Rick Hawn, Dan Hornbuckle, Chris Lozano, Brent Weedman and Jim Wallhead.
Also announced is the first entrant in the featherweight division for a shot at Joe Warren is Eric Larkin. Look for announcements on future opponents in this division.
Bellator also announced the signing of former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Joe “Diesel” Riggs. Look for him to compete in the middleweight division.
Strikeforce
With the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament being the talk of the promotion, Scott Coker has plans to do the final two legs of the tournament on pay per view, possibly in Canada.
Possible locations Montreal or Toronto according to Bloody Elbow. With Nick Diaz recent rants about his pay, he’s getting and turning down an opportunity once again to face Jason “Mayhem” Miller at a catch weight.
Diaz is exploring the possibility of boxing sometime this year. He is in current negotiations with boxing promoter Don Chagrin for a bout in 2011 against possibly Fernando Vargas or Ricardo Mayorga.
Diaz who only has one pro fight is looking to fight in the 168 pound division. With former Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker scheduled to fight Saturday in San Jose, he announced that, at age 48, he is thinking about a comeback in football.
Igor Gracie has signed a deal with Strikeforce. He will compete on the preliminary card of Fedor vs. Silva.
These are just some of the stories in the headlines this week in the wonderful world of mix martial arts.