DREAM came to the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan tonight for Dream.13. The event was headlined by a DREAM Featherweight Championship bout between reigning titleholder Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and former Lightweight champ Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen, who dropped down in weight to challenge for his second DREAM title.
In other action, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett defeated Siala “Mighty Mo” Siliga in a bout marred by a foul. MMARising.com has live play-by-play from all seven fights.
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship invaded the Versus television network for the first time tonight with UFC On Versus 1 at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight clash between Brandon “The Truth” Vera and Jon “Bones” Jones.
Elsewhere on the main card, heavyweight contenders collided when Junior “Cigano” dos Santos knocked out Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga, while Cheick Kongo stopped former title challenger Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello. MMARising.com has live play-by-play of the action.
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Miesha “Takedown” Tate has come a long way in her short mixed martial arts career. The standout wrestler is the current holder of the Freestyle Cage Fighting Women’s Bantamweight Championship and now has her eyes set on capturing Strikeforce title gold in the future.
As she prepares to enter a Strikeforce cage for the third time at Strikeforce Challengers 7 on March 26th, Tate has engaged in a battle of words with opponent Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto. Tate discusses her career and her upcoming fight in this exclusive interview with MMARising.com.
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Jewels returned to Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan tonight for Jewels: “Seventh Ring,” which was headlined by a rematch between former Smackgirl champions Hiroko Yamanaka and Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano. Yamanaka avenged her only career loss by defeating Akano via competitive decision.
Elsewhere, Jewels postergirls Mika Nagano and Shizuka Sugiyama were both in action. Nagano bested one-time DEEP veteran Mai Ichii, while Sugiyama came up short in her bout with the always tough Miki Morifuji.
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In a posting this evening on her official Facebook page, Strikeforce competitor Erin Toughill has stated her intentions to leave the promotion. While details remain limited, Toughill cited an inability to get fights as a contributing factor and hinted that retirement may be possible.
Toughill had signed a long-term seven-fight contract with Strikeforce and had been scheduled to debut for the promotion last November in a rematch with Marloes “Rumina” Coenen. She was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a ruptured cyst and has not fought since last May.
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Two Strikeforce champions could become free agents after April 17th. Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields and Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi are both on the final fight in their contracts and could test free agent waters after their upcoming bouts.
MMAjunkie.com reported earlier today that Mousasi may sign a long-term contract extension following his April 17th bout with Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Win or lose in April, Shields will be free of his contractual obligation to Strikeforce and could begin negotiations with the UFC.
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The 2010 DREAM Light Heavyweight Grand Prix has begun to take shape with the confirmation of three well-known participants. Former Strikeforce champ Renato “Babalu” Sobral and multi-promotion veteran “The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou will join Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi in the 205-pound tournament.
Mousasi captured the DREAM Middleweight Championship last year, but vacated the title to move up in weight. He has since beaten both Sokoudjou and Sobral and became Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
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After two years away, MMARising.com can exclusively report that former #2-ranked bantamweight Amanda Buckner will return to mixed martial arts at Freestyle Cage Fighting 42. The eight-year veteran will be a part of the first FCF event in the state of New Hampshire on May 22nd.
Buckner was scheduled to compete in the opening round of the FCF Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix in January, but suffered a torn ACL in training and was forced to withdraw. She is now recovering after successful surgery and will compete at FCF 42 for just the second time in three years.
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