Shark Fights 6

Dave Herman needed just 60-seconds to stop Don Frye on Saturday in the main event of Shark Fights 6, forcing a referee stoppage at the one-minute mark of the headliner. Gerald Harris, a cast member on the Ultimate Fighter 7, knocked out former WEC and UFC fighter Nissen Osterneck in the co-main event to with the promotion’s middleweight title.

• Dave Herman def. Don Frye via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 1:00
• Gerald Harris def. Nissen Osterneck via KO (punch) — Round 1, 0:46
• Anthony Waldburger def. Pat Healy via decision
• Ran Weathers def. Phil Cardella via KO — Round 1, 0:36
• Marcus Sursa def. Isaac Villanueva via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 2:06
• Brian Humes def. Lance Friedenstein via unanimous decision
• Anselmo Martinez def. Lorenzo Borgomeo via TKO (corner stoppage) — Round 1, 5:00
• Karen Darabedyan def. Estevan Payan via TKO — Round 1, 1:20
• Robert Clayton Hantz def. Tony Castillo via decision

Arena Rumble
Spokane Arena – Spokane, Washington

Veteran Jeremy Horn submitted journeyman Jason Guida in the opening round of their headlining matchup at Saturday’s Arena Rumble event. Trevor Prangley and Lyle Beerbohm were also victorious on the card, while notables Brad Imes and Terry Martin suffered defeats at the event.

• Jeremy Horn def. Jason Guida via submission (arm-triangle choke) — Round 1
• Trevor Prangley def. Dennis Reed via KO (punch) — Round 1
• Lyle Beerbohm def. Josh Martin via TKO (strikes) — Round 1
• Julio Paulino def. Terry Martin via KO (punch) — Round 3
• Josh Queen def. Brad Imes via KO (punch) — Round 3

Bitetti Combat
Maracanazinho – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ricardo Arona was victorious in his return to MMA on Saturday at Bitetti Combat, topping Marvin Eastman in the main event of the Brazil event. Paulo Filho looked unimpressive in picking up a decision win over Alex Schoenauer on the card, while Pedro Rizzo bested Jeff Monson and Murilo “Ninja” Rua stopped Alex Stiebling in other notable action.

• Ricardo Arona def. Marvin Eastman via unanimous decision
• Paulo Filho def. Alex Schoenauer via unanimous decision
• Pedro Rizzo def. Jeff Monson via unanimous decision
• Murilo “Ninja” Rua def. Alex Stiebling via TKO (strikes) — Round 1
• Milton Vieira def. Luciano Azevedo via split decision
• Fabio Maldonado def. Vitor Miranda via unanimous decision
• Glover Teixeira def. Leonardo Nascimento via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1
• Luis Dutra def. Henrique Nogueira via TKO (strikes) — Round 1
• Cassiano Tytschyo def. Fausto Black via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1
• Alexandre Pimentel def. Luciano Correa via unanimous decision

Pictured: Dave Herman

Sakurai improves to 35-8-2 with the victory and now advances to the semifinals of the promotion’s 2009 welterweight grand prix while Aoki, who falls to 20-4 with the loss, is likely to return to the lightweight division for his next bout.

With victories at DREAM 8, Jason High, Marius Zaromskis, and Andre Galvao also advanced to the welterweight semis.

The opening round of DREAM’s featherweight grand prix, which got underway with six bouts at DREAM 7, concluded on Sunday as Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata advanced with a win over Hideo Tokoro.

Notables Jeff Monson and Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro also picked up wins in non-tournament action, while Murilo “Ninja” Rua dropped an exciting unanimous decision to late-replacement Riki Fukuda.

The official DREAM 8 results were:

• Hayato “Mach” Sakurai def. Shinya Aoki via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 0:27*
• Jason High def. Yuya Shirai via technical submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 0:59*
• Marius Zaromskis def. Seichi Ikemoto via unanimous decision*
• Andre Galvao def. John Alessio via submission (armbar) — Round 1, 7:34*
• Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata def. Hideo Tokoro via unanimous decision^
• Jeff Monson def. Sergei Kharitonov via submission (north-south choke) – Round 1, 1:42
• Riki Fukuda def. Murilo “Ninja” Rua via unanimous decision
• Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro def. Katsuhiko Nagata via TKO (cut) – Round 1, 7:58
• Andrews Nakahara def. Shungo Oyama via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:00
• Katsutori Shibata def. Ikuhisa “Minowaman” Minowa via unanimous decision

* 2009 DREAM Welterweight GP quarterfinals bout
^ 2009 DREAM Featherweight GP opening round bout

Videos:

Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs. Shinya Aoki

Jason High vs. Yuya Shira

Jeff Monson vs. Sergei Kharitonov

The event will air via tape-delay on HDNet and features the opening round of the DREAM welterweight grand prix as well as the final bout from DREAM’s featherweight grand prix opening round.

Riki Fukuda has agreed to fight fellow middleweight Murilo “Ninja” Rua on just one days notice after his scheduled opponent, Dong Sik Yoon, was forced out of their bout due to an undisclosed injury.

The official DREAM 8 weigh-in results were:

• Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (75.9kg/167 lbs.) vs. Shinya Aoki (73.5kg/161.7 lbs.)
• Yuya Shirai (75.7kg/166.5 lbs.) vs. Jason High (75.9kg/167 lbs.)
• Marius Zaromskis (75.5kg/166.1 lbs.) vs. Seichi Ikemoto (75.7kg/166.5 lbs.)
• John Alessio (76.0kg/167.2 lbs.) vs. Andre Galvao (76.0kg/167.2 lbs.)
• Hideo Tokoro (62.3kg/137 lbs.) vs. Daiki “DJ.taiki” Hata (63.0kg/138.6 lbs.)
• Sergei Kharitonov (116.5kg/256.3 lbs.) vs. Jeff Monson (110.0kg/242 lbs.
• Riki Fukuda (88.8kg/195.4 lbs.) vs. Murilo “Ninja” Rua (88.0kg/193.6 lbs.)
• Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (69.7kg/153.3 lbs.) vs. Katsuhiko Nagata (70.0kg/154 lbs.)
• Andrews Nakahara (85.0kg/187 lbs.) vs. Shungo Oyama (85.7kg/188.5 lbs.)
• Katsuyori Shibata (86.2 kg/189.6 lbs.) vs. Ikuhisa Minowa (87.0 kg/191.4 lbs.)

Stop by MMAFrenzy.com tomorrow afternoon for official DREAM 8 results.

Josh Koscheck

• Josh Koscheck will be unable to fight Chris Wilson at UFC 98 as scheduled after suffering a foot injury. The promotion is looking for a replacement for the matchup, which was to take place on the televised main card but will now likely be shifted to the unaired prelims. [The Wrestling Observer]
• Murilo “Ninja” Rua’s DREAM debut slated for Sunday at DREAM 8 in in doubt after opponent Dong Sik Yoon was forced out of the contest due to an undisclosed injury. DREAM is attempting to find a replacement for the bout. [Nightmare of Battle]
• All twenty-two fighters who will compete tonight at Bellator’s debut event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida successfully made weight yeterday for their bouts.
• In the wake of his recent controversy, UFC President Dana White will reportedly no longer do video blogs, has pulled out of a planned reality series, and will greatly reduce his public role with the UFC. [The Wrestling Observer]
• A featherweight matchup between Diego Nunes and Cub Swanson scheduled for Sunday at WEC 40 has been scratched due to a hand injury suffered by Nunes. A replacement will not be made on such short notice and the 145-pound bout has been removed from the card. [Versus]
• Mitsuhiro Ishida could rematch Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce’s April 11th event in place of the injured Josh Thomson. [Fight Ticker]

Announced today were the opening round GP matchups of Shinya Aoki vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Yuya Shirai vs. Jason High, Marius Zaromskis vs. Seichi Ikemoto, and Andre Galvao vs. John Alessio. A non-tournament bout featuring Jeff Monson and Sergey Kharitonov was also announced.

DREAm 8 airs on HDNet on April 10th at 10pm ET.

The event’s official lineup features:

Welterweight Grand Prix Opening Round

• Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs. Shinya Aoki
• Yuya Shirai vs. Jason High
• Marius Zaromskis vs. Seichi Ikemoto
• John Alessio vs. Andre Galvao

Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round

• Hideo Tokoro vs. Daiki Hata

Non-Grand Prix Bouts

• Katsuyori Shibata vs. Ikuhisa Minowa
• Dong Sik Yoon vs. Murilo “Ninja” Rua
• Andrews Nakahara vs. Shungo Oyama
• Sergei Kharitonov vs. Jeff Monson

Jon Fitch

• Gray Maynard says he’d like to fight Diego Sanchez, Clay Guida, or Sean Sherk next. [MMA Junkie]
• Takanori Gomi will return to Shooto for the first time in almost six years to fight 154-pound champion Takashi Nakakura on May 10th at JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
• Tito Ortiz says he’ll pass on Affliction, instead attempting to sign with Strikeforce. [Youtube]
• Former EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons suffered a unanimous decision loss over the weekend in his return to boxing. [MMA Junkie]
• Former EliteXC middleweight title-holder Murilo “Ninja” Rua has signed with DREAM and will make his debut for the promotion at DREAM 8 on April 5th in Japan. [Gracie Mag]
• Former NFL player and heavyweight prospect Rex Richards (8-1) will tryout for the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. [MMA Junkie]
• Andrei Arlovski’s boxing debut has been postponed until May. [Sherdog]
• Gina Carano says her anticipated bout against Cris “Cyborg” Santos is likely to take place before the end of 2009. [MMA Weekly]
• Former WEC fighters Johny Hendricks and Danillo Villefort will be transferred to the UFC’s welterweight division. [Five Ounces of Pain and MMA Junkie]
• Bellator has announced the complete lineup for its April 3rd debut. [MMA Junkie]
• Kendall Grove is likely to fight at UFC 101 on August 8th in Philadelphia. [Five Ounces of Pain]
• Bellator’s third event will take place on April 17th in Norman, Oklahoma and will feature the first round of the promotion’s middleweight tournament, which includes notable Hector Lombard, with Brandon Vera’s wife Kerry Vera also slated to be in action in a non-tournament bout. [MMA Junkie]
• Jon Fitch has signed a five-fight contract extension with the UFC. [MMA Mania]
• Wilson Reis vs. Henry Martinez will headline Bellator’s second event on April 10th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. [MMA Junkie]
• Ultimate Fighter cast members Jon “War Machine” Koppenhaver and Joe Scarola will fight for the welterweight and lightweight titles respectively at MMA Big Show’s June 10th “Conviction” event at the Belterra Casino in Belterra, Indiana.
• Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro vs. Keiichiro Yamamiya and Makoto Takimoto vs. Michael Costa have been added to the official lineup for Sengoku Eighth Battle on May 2nd in Tokyo.
• New Jersey has refused to sanction a planned boxing bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia and former boxing champion Ray Mercer, which was to headline Adrenaline MMA’s third show on May 30th in Atlantic City. This bout is now tentatively scheduled to take place in June at a location to-be-announced. [MMA Weekly]
• The Ultimate Fighter 7 teammates Matt Riddle and Dan Cramer are likely to square off at UFC 101. [Five Ounces of Pain]
• Welterweight bouts featuring Josh Koscheck against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 and Paul Taylor versus Peter Sobotta at UFC 99 have been officially announced.

As MMAFrenzy.com (www.mmafrenzy.com) reported on Monday undefeated heavyweight streetfighter-turned-mixed martial artist Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson will meet UFC hall of famer Ken Shamrock in the main event of the CBS-broadcast event.

In the co-main event EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields will put his 170-pound title on the line against Cage Rage welterweight champion Paul Daley.

Also on the main card the undefeated “Face of Women’s MMA”, Gina Carano, takes on Kelly Kobald and former EliteXC middleweight champion Murilo “Ninja” Rua returns against Benji Radach.

Additionally, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Yoko Takahashi and Edson Berto vs. Mike Aine were announced for the event’s preliminary card. Crafton Wallace and Seth Petruzelli will also be in action on the undercard.

As always, MMAFrenzy.com will have live results and coverage of EliteXC’s October 4th event.

Radach informed Sherdog of the matchup earlier today.

Radach compiled a five-fight win streak in the IFL with wins over Ryan McGivern, Brian Foster, Bristol Marunde, Gerald Harris, and Brent Beauparlant. In his most-recent bout he suffered his first IFL loss, losing to Matt Horwich via second-round knockout in December.

Rua bacame the first-ever EliteXC middleweight champion with a second-round TKO of Joey Villasenor in Jule 2007. He would drop the title in his next bout, losing to Robbie lawler via second-round TKO at EliteXC “Uprising” in September 2007, but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Xavier Foupa-Pokam and Tony Bonello that have returned his to title contention.

EliteXC’s October 4th event, its third CBS-broadcast event, features the promotion’s top draws in Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano.