Kimbo Slice & the MMA News and Notes
By Kevin Nelson
This edition of MMA News and Notes discusses all the news, rumors, and possible signings of the MMA world. The organizations such as Bellator, Strikeforce and the UFC we cover. Also included are other promotions such as shark fights, Dream, TPF, and MFC.
Bellator
The winners of the featherweight matchups and moving on to the semi-finals are set with Ronnie Mann facing Pat Curran and Nazareno Malegarie facing Marlon Sandro at Bellator 47.The winners of those matchups move on to the final. Other noteworthy news is Ricco Rodriguez facing Seth Petruzelli in a heavyweight matchup in Bellator 48.
The Bellator season 5 bantamweight tournament begins on September 10th. The matchups are Alexis Vila (1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist in wrestling) facing Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren (also an Olympian). Marcos Galvao will face Chase Beebe, Joe Soto will square off with Eduardo Dantas and Luis Nogueira faces Ed west. Joe Warren is set to defend his featherweight title at Bellator 47 also competes in Bellator 48. If victorious could be looking at fighting once a month for 5 months.
Let’s not forget he is also planning on competing for a spot in the Olympics in 2012. As much as I dislike Warren and his arrogance I admire his competitive spirit and the fact that he will take on all comers. I’m looking forward to seeing the return of Joe Soto the former featherweight champion.
Strikeforce
The Strikeforce Fedor vs. Dan Henderson card is set with a few hiccups along the way with Roger Gracie pulling out and having to reschedule his matchup with King Mo and Cyborg pulling out of his match with Paul Daley.
Other matchups were announced as Tarec Saffiedine facing Scott Smith at welterweight and Paul Daley facing Tyron Woodley. Also Robbie Lawler facing Tim Kennedy and Miesha Tate facing Marloes Coenan for her 135 woman’s title.
The week before the Fedor vs. Hendo card is a challenger’s card featuring the third fight between Bobby Voelker facing Roger Bowling. Other fights on the card are Ovince St. Preux facing Joe Cason in a light heavyweight showdown. There is also a 135 pound woman’s fight with former champ Sarah Kauffman facing Liz Carmouche.
UFC
It has been almost a week since UFC Live 4 in which Nate Marquardt was scratched from the main event and altogether cut from the UFC the talk is still over the Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry match in which Kongo was badly hurt and taking unnecessary shots before rallying with a one punch KO of Pat Barry.
If I have one complaint about the UFC is that there are hardly rematches of great fights. This one I would love to see a rematch. The next UFC event is UFC 132 in which Urijah Faber faces Dominick Cruz for the title. Former UFC fighter Kimbo Slice is set to make his boxing debut this weekend against a Heinz can of tomatoes. This is all the news this week folks remember if she looks like a man talks like a man and your drinking stay the hell away from her( him).
