Adding to an already solid card, Sengoku Raiden Championship has announced a pair of high-profile bouts for “Eleventh Battle” on November 7th. Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago will face Mamed Khalidov, while Stanislav Nedkov takes on former UFC Heavyweight Champion Kevin “The Monster” Randleman.
Santiago’s title will not be on the line against the experienced Khalidov, but a Khalidov win would ensure a future title shot. Nedkov will look to remain unbeaten in his fight, while Randleman seeks a win to get back on-track.
Returning to action for the first time since June, undefeated Canadian star Sarah Kaufman will face her toughest test to date at Strikeforce Challengers 5 on November 20th when she takes on Japanese standout Takayo Hashi, who has tasted defeat just once in her career.
Adding to its growing light heavyweight division, Strikeforce has signed undefeated rising star Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal to a deal that could see the charismatic standout debut for the promotion as soon as December. He will be free to continue competing in Japan for Sengoku Raiden Championship.
Beginning 2010 in style, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will feature a blockbuster middleweight bout between former DREAM and K-1 HERO’s star Yoshihiro Akiyama and long-time PRIDE Middleweight Champion “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva. The fight will take place at UFC 110 or 111 next year.
With the success of the pre-UFC 103 telecast on Spike TV, the UFC will once again air preliminary bouts prior to the upcoming UFC 104 pay-per-view telecast. A free one-hour special on Spike will feature Ryan Bader taking on Eric Schafer and Antoni Hardonk battling Pat Barry.
Continuing her incredible run of victories, DEEP Women’s Lightweight (106-Pound) Champion Miku “Supernova” Matsumoto defeated veteran striker “Windy” Tomomi Sunaba in a lopsided bout in the co-main event of DEEP: “44th Impact.”
Capped off by an incredible WEC Interim Lightweight Championship bout between Ben “Smooth” Henderson and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, WEC 43 featured solid action from start to finish and concluded with a razor-thin decision that went Henderson’s way.
With Strikeforce Women’s Lightweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos sidelined due to injury, Strikeforce will aim to determine the next challenger for Santos’s title on November 7th when top contenders Marloes Coenen and Erin Toughill battle in a rematch from their 2004 bout.