This Friday’s Strikeforce 135-pound women’s tournament has undergone last-minute format changes. The promotion announced last week that all bouts in the four-woman tournament would be contested under a three, three-minute round format. However, opening round bouts have now been shortened and will be contested over just two rounds of three minutes.
In addition, original plans that called for a sudden death round in the event of a tie have been scrapped. It is expected that judges will be tasked with determining an outright winner and that Draws will not be permitted.
On just three days’ notice, former two-time All-American wrestler Carla Esparza will step in to face Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii this Thursday night at Bellator Fighting Championships 24 in Hollywood, Florida. Esparza will replace Angela Magana, who was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury.
Citing a foot injury suffered during training, New Mexico’s Angela Magana has withdrawn from the Bellator 115-pound women’s tournament. She was scheduled to face unbeaten pound-for-pound queen Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii at Bellator 24 on August 12th in a first-round tournament matchup.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California tonight for UFC 117: “Silva vs Sonnen.” The event was headlined by a UFC Middleweight Championship bout between champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva and outspoken wrestling standout Chael Sonnen.
A featured women’s bout has been added to the upcoming Jackson’s MMA Series 2 card on September 4th. Julie “Fireball” Kedzie, one of the true pioneers of women’s MMA in North America, will square off with unbeaten prospect Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio at 135 pounds.
This Saturday’s UFC 117 rematch between welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago “Pitbull” Alves will serve as a title eliminator bout. UFC President Dana White confirmed the news today and stated that the winner will face either Georges “Rush” St. Pierre or Josh Koscheck.
With ten days to go until the inaugural Strikeforce 135-pound women’s tournament, the promotion has finalised the event’s preliminary reserve bout. Highly-touted Gracie Academy prospect Colleen Schneider will face fellow Californian Liz Carmouche. Both will make their Strikeforce debuts.
With just six fights to his name, UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar has already done the improbable and now assumes the top spot in the heavyweight divisional rankings. Lesnar rallied to submit Shane Carwin at UFC 116 to solidify his status as the top heavyweight in the sport.