Strikeforce Roundup: Fedor Debut Pushed to November, Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron Title Fight Planned, Next Opponent for Cyborg, and More
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Aug 17, 2009 at 9:55 am ET21 Comments
Fedor Emelianenko’s Strikeforce debut is now likely to take place in November against Brett Rogers or Fabricio Werdum, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who confirmed the news and Saturday’s post-fight press conference and also dismissed rumors that the top-ranked heavyweight could fight Ricco Rodriguez. Emelianenko’s first fight for the promotion won’t take place at Strikeforce’s home at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, which hosted Saturday’s card.- Coker also announced that Marloes Coenen (16-3), a little-known Dutch fighter who’s earned stoppages in all but two of her career victories, could be the first opponent for newly-crowned 145-pound Strikeforce women’s champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos. It was also announced that Strikeforce could host an eight-fighter female tournament, with the winner taking on the women’s title-holder.
- Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi, who won the title on Saturday with a first-round knockout of Renato “Babalu” Sobral, said at the post-fight press conference that he plans of remaining at 205-pounds for “two or three years” before a possible move up to heavyweight.
- Strikeforce is planning a Nick Diaz vs. Jay Hieron welterweight title fight, which could take place before the end of the year provided Diaz resolves his issues with the CSAC after failing to be licensed for Saturday’s event for refusing to take a mandatory pre-fight drug test.
- Strikeforce’s end-of-year schedule includes three Strikeforce Challengers events, one each in September, October, and November, as well as major Showtime-televised cards in November and December.
Tags: Brett Rogers, Cristiane Cyborg, Fabricio Werdum, Fedor Emelianenko, Gegard Mousasi, Jay Hieron, Marloes Coenen, Nick Diaz, Scott Coker
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Does anybody care? Really.
Considering I’m a fan of MMA, yes, yes I do.
yeah i like all mma news pretty much, see what they all have planned
I care…almost everybody else on this website cares…
Not me.
You cared enough to comment on this thread….
Everyone is going to talk down about Strikeforce just because Gina lost and they signed Fedor and are teaming up with DREAM, bringing large cards and small ones trying to build up and comers in the sport of MMA with their challengers series, expanding the growth of NA womens MMA and is the non ZUFFA based product making moves in NA and well with their alliance with DREAM the world.. But hey I get it, they aren’t the UFC…
I don’t know if that is exactly why they don’t care. For me personally…I don’t give a sh@@@ because you shouldn’t have to lure the GREATEST FIGHTER IN THE UNIVERSEREST to fight…EVER.
I’m tired of hearing about Emily, Feetor
I don’t even care if he fights someone decent, just freakin fight. One a year is just…just…poopy…THERE I SAID IT!
My bad, forgot to say hi FR. Shoot me an email. I’m starting to make plans for my glorious return…you know, thunder, clouds parting, light shining through, nothin major.
I wouldn’t mind waiting another month for Fedor to see some decent, non-Rico competition (even though Verdum would get eaten, and I’m still undecided on Rogers’ capabilities vs Fedor).
I’ve always been a fan of tourneys to decide challengers/champs, so good on Strikeforce for that. Cause really, who’s going to beat Manborg? There might be 2 dudes at 145 who could beat her, but certainly no women. At least a tourney gives the fans the illusion of finding a “suitable” opponent.
I thought Nick Diaz was boxing. Or did he realize you need pot testing for that too? What a donkey he is ruining his last fight and ruining the chance that I actually buy the ppv and not …cast it.
And finally, I really like how Strikeforce is putting on 5 shows in 3 months. Ask me 6 months ago and I’d say they’re flooding the market with MMA, but with the folding of Affliction and the UFC wanting to counter every other MMA show with a show of their own, I’m thinking we’ll get some awesome fights and angles (yes, angles exist in MMA) a la Monday Night Wars of the late 90s in pro wrestling.
Strikeforce is putting on 5 events in this “period” of time with 3 challenger events (up and comers + vets) and two “major” cards… Lets not forget of the unknown ties between FEG and Strikeforce (details not yet known) so they could be also co promoting events together and might end up being in that tally….
There are a few challengers to Cyborg for her title including the recently defeatd Gina Carano…
Nick Diaz might have signed this “boxing” contract but what the kid from teh 209 might not yet realize is that he still has to take his test and pass..
Almost forgot one thing:
Mousasi is the future of MMA and Strikeforce should they decide to keep him longterm. Let’s keep him in North America.
Not going to lie, im a little stoked about the tournament for the womens belt. Nice to see a GP in the states again.
Several rather large ones just ended. Little tournament by the name of Bellator? One per weight class? Eddie Alvarez won the lightweight tournament? Ringing any bells here?
I vaguely remember hearing something about that…
Is it just my imagination or do we not spend enough time talking about Bellator, and entirely too much time talking about sh!t like who and when Fauxdor will fight, or if Nick Diaz’s next appearance will be in a boxing ring, an MMA cage, or an episode of A&E’s Intervention??
Bellator is over and we know the who the champions are… They don’t like their 2nd contract with ESPN deportes and are looking for a new service provider and have put all their champions and fighters contracts on “hold” if you will.. So um ya they have good fighters but not top comp and they should merge with a larger org sometime soon, but perhpas they will give it a go at a “second season”….. Hellll they put on 4x the shows that Affliction did, sooo thats kinda awesome and the sub of the year in most people’s opinion happened there as well…
See I can speak Bellator too
I hope we see Fedor vs. Rogers. I think Rogers is the only fighter in Strikeforce that even stands a chance against Fedor. Just because of his one punch KO power.
I honestly think if Diaz passes a drug test, and fights Hieron, Diaz will win with ease IMO.
Also, I cant wait to see who Mousasi will fight next. That guy is an awesome fighter
Jay can take Diaz but it will be a helll of a fight
Werdum should get the first shot and Yuji Shimata needs to ref that fight bottom line
The have Rogers fight Fedor in San Jose that would be awesome
Mousasi will be fighting next in October in Japan for DREAM v Soko, one would Presume… Then probably the NYE show in Japan v the winner of Minowaman v HMC… Probably will defend his title here in the states in Febuary…. Thats all I know
*Then
I’d really like to see where Mousasi would fit in with the UFC 205 division…
Gregard is the man