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.
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.
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.
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.
Fresh off of her 15-second flying armbar victory over Rosary Califano in February, Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson returns to action on April 24th. Waterson will square off with Japanese veteran Masako Yoshida at “Spring Brawl” at the Urban Plains Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
Mixed martial arts saw a passing of the torch in the heavyweight division at UFC 110 when undefeated powerhouse Cain Velasquez knocked out MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira in less than half a round. The dominant victory vaults Velasquez into the top five in the division.
Former WIBA and IFBA Boxing Champion Elena “Babydoll” Reid will return to mixed martial arts action on April 17th. The talented striker will defend her Sovereign Nations MMA Women’s Flyweight Championship when she faces Alyx Luck at Playboy Fight Night in New Town, North Dakota.
When we think of female MMA stars in Japan, Megumi Fujii immediately comes to mind, but one name that must not be overlooked is DEEP Women’s Lightweight Champion Miku “Supernova” Matsumoto, who announced her impending retirement in late February.