A long-rumoured heavyweight bout between Strikeforce and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem and former UFC prospect Todd Duffee has been officially confirmed for K-1 Dynamite!! 2010 on New Year’s Eve. The late addition to the card was announced today and will now be a DREAM title fight.
Overeem most recently became the first man to hold major titles in K-1 and MMA at the same time when he won three fights in one night to become K-1 Grand Prix Champion. He remains the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion as well and enters the bout with Duffee as a significant favourite.
A welterweight bout between former UFC title challenger Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy and hard-hitting striker Anthony “Rumble” Johnson is in the works for next March. MMAjunkie.com reports that the matchup will likely serve as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 24 on March 26th in Seattle.
North American Allied Fight Series standout Jessica “Evil” Eye is expected to make her Ring of Combat debut against fellow prospect Justine Kish at ROC 34 on February 4, 2011. The bout, which has not yet been officially announced, will reportedly be contested between 125 and 130 pounds.
Two of the top prospects in the 125-pound women’s division will square off in the co-main event of Hoosier Fight Club 6 on January 14, 2011. Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak, who recently took part in the Ultimate Women Challenge competition, will face Bellator veteran Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig.
Voting is underway for the 2010 Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Awards and this year’s edition features over a dozen categories. Awards will recognise notable achievements made by fighters, promotions and other individuals associated with the sport over the course of the past twelve months.
Top UK promotion Cage Warriors Fighting Championship has finalised what is arguably the biggest women’s fight in its eight-year history. Cage Warriors champ Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton will face Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi in a 125-pound bout at CWFC 40 on February 26, 2011.
A light heavyweight bout between jiu-jitsu phenom Roger Gracie and South African veteran Trevor Prangley will be part of the televised main card at the upcoming Strikeforce event on January 29th. MMARising.com confirmed plans for the fight with a source close to the negotiations on Monday.
Long-time pound-for-pound queen Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii will look to rebound from the first defeat of her career when she faces Emi Fujino at Sengoku Raiden Championship: “Soul of Fight” on December 30th. Fujii most recently lost a controversial decision to Zoila Frausto in Bellator.