A previously scheduled WEC 50 bantamweight matchup between former WEC Featherweight Champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber and Takeya Mizugaki is now targeted for the Fall. The fight, first scrapped after Faber was forced to withdraw due to injury, is now likely for WEC 52 or 53.

Sources close to the ongoing negotiations confirmed with MMARising.com this weekend that November 7th, targeted for Faber’s hometown city of Sacramento, California, is a likely date for the rescheduled fight. The event could serve as WEC 52 or 53. Bout agreements have not been signed.

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After a Bellator 25 bout with Dan “The Handler” Hornbuckle was scrapped, former UFC welterweight Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida is now expected to face John “The Natural” Alessio at Bellator 31. Sources close to the negotiations confirmed plans for the September 30th fight with MMARising.com earlier this weekend and bout agreements could be in place soon.

Yoshida is coming off of a pair of disappointing losses against Anthony Johnson and Mike Guymon, but the fourth-degree judo black belt will look for a fresh start in Bellator. Alessio, meanwhile, has won five straight fights.

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MMARising.com reports from the Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington tonight with live play-by-play for Strikeforce Challengers 9. The event was headlined by a heavyweight bout between undefeated rising star Shane del Rosario and hard-hitting Hawaiian Lolohea Mahe.

Also on the card, the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship was on the line when Sarah Kaufman defended against Roxanne Modafferi in the 135-pound women’s co-main event. In a light heavyweight bout, Mike “MAK” Kyle faced former EliteXC contender Ron “Abongo” Humphrey.

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Five more fights are reportedly in the works for a stacked UFC 121 card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on October 23rd. Chief among them is a light heavyweight bout between former champ “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz and former TUF 3 student Matt “The Hammer” Hamill.

Heavyweight bouts pitting Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga against Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub and Todd Duffee against Jon Madsen are also planned. Also targeted is a bout between Patrick “The Predator” Côté and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, while Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez faces Paulo Thiago.

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In an update to a Monday story, former Strikeforce title challenger Marloes “Rumina” Coenen will indeed be able to make 135 pounds and will compete in both the 135- and 145-pound divisions. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMARising.com on Monday that a cut to 135 would be too difficult for Coenen, but confirmed this morning that it is now possible.

In a press release today, Strikeforce announced Coenen as the number one contender for the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship at 135 pounds. She will face the winner of Sarah Kaufman vs Roxanne Modafferi.

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A planned August 21st bout between Erin “Steel” Toughill and Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen at Strikeforce: Houston could be postponed or possibly even cancelled as Toughill struggles to cut down to 145 pounds. Sources have confirmed with MMARising.com that a catchweight has been proposed.

Toughill has been scheduled to make her long-awaited Strikeforce debut on multiple occasions spanning nearly a year, but injuries and communication breakdowns have kept her off of cards. The outspoken former boxer also threatened to leave the promotion in March, but later reconsidered.

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