With rumors flying regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s status with Strikeforce following his absence from their upcoming CBS show on April 17th and his apparent withdrawal from a subsequent bout in May, there had been talk that the promotional agreement between Strikeforce and Emelianenko’s management team at M-1 Global may be on its last legs.
That talk apears to be premature, at least for now, according to M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan, who spoke to Sherdog about the latest round of negotiations between M-1 Global and Strikeforce and when we can …

With rumors flying regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s status with Strikeforce following his absence from their upcoming CBS show on April 17th and his apparent withdrawal from a subsequent bout in May, there had been talk that the promotional agreement between Strikeforce and Emelianenko’s management team at M-1 Global may be on its last legs.
That talk apears to be premature, at least for now, according to M-1 Global’s Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan, who spoke to Sherdog about the latest round of negotiations between M-1 Global and Strikeforce and when we can …

Seems like both M-1 Global’s Vadim Finkelchtein and Strikeforce’s Scott Coker are downplaying recent speculation that the two sides are having disagreements regarding Fedor Emelianenko’s current contract. Here’s what M-1 had to say, via Fanhouse:
1. Fedor isn’t fighting on the April 17 Strikeforce card because he wanted to have more time to prepare following the recovery from his hand injury.
2. Whether Fedor will fight Fabricio Werdum on the May 15 Strikeforce card is currently being worked out.
3. Everything is fine between Fedor, M-1 Global and Strikeforce.
4. Fedor is not ruling …

Ask, complain, insult and argue and ye shall receive? Current NABO and IBA Heavyweight Boxing Champion James “Lights Out” Toney has apparently signed a multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship according to a report from Five Ounces of Pain, capping off months of the boxer calling out UFC President Dana White.
Toney had been following White around at UFC events and ultimately met with him in Las Vegas, turning down one contract that the UFC offered in a public tongue-lashing of the promotion and White. “Lights Out” follows in the …

M-1 Global’s top dog Vadim Finkelstein had some pretty tough and opinionated words for absentee Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem as reported by tribuna.sports.ru and presented by lowkick.com. Here’s the quote:
I personally think that Alistair Overeem did not reach the desired level to challenge Fedor. He beat a lot of no-name opponents in Mixed Martial Arts. Overeem defeated Paul Buentello and then disappeared from the United States for more than two years, which is simply ridiculous. He has nothing to offer for Fedor Emelianenko, except being a steroid bully. Also, …

CBS SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and STRIKEFORCE mixed martial arts (MMA) return to network primetime television with a world-class lineup featuring three title fights and five of the top MMA fighters in the world from their respective weight classes, on Saturday, April 17 (9:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The event will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Dan Henderson (25-7-0), one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history, makes his STRIKEFORCE debut in the evening’s main event against champion Jake Shields (24-4-1) as …

Despite recent rumors about problems with Fedor Emelianenko, Strikeforce Promotions is continuing to sset up good matches for it’s upcoming April 17 CBS show. This time they’re bringing in Dream submission specialist Shinya Aoki to face Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
This match helps to bolster a card that will feature a total of three title matches. In addition to this lightweight bout, middleweight champion Jake Shields will defend his title against Dan Henderson, and light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi will face King Mo Lawal.
Aoki is coming off a brutal submission …

Looks like Alistair Overeem will in fact fight in May in North America, but don’t expect a title defense. The current absentee Strikeforce Heavyweight champion will more than likely fight Brett Rogers, but will not put the title up. Here’s the quote, via MMAJunkie.com:
He’s an excellent opponent. I’m looking forward to [smacking] his face and his loud mouth. I’m really happy that Strikeforce came with this fight so now we can settle things once and for all.
Overeem also had this to say about a potential fight with Fedor Emelianenko(who may …

Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields has just twittered that he will officially be on the CBS card as the main event on April 17 fighting Dan Henderson. Here’s the quote:
Officially fighting @DanHenderson on 4/17 Strikeforce Main Event live on CBS!! Mousasi vs King Mo and more TBA. 25 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Sounds like a good start to the card, but what’s interesting is that there’s no Fedor on CBS, which seems to lend credence to the reports that M-1 Global and Strikeforce are having some “interesting” re-negotiations. We’ll keep you …

A big day for Strikeforce in terms of matchmaking was made even bigger when former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski announced on his official website that he had signed a sixteen-month, multi-fight deal with the promotion with his first appearance likely coming as part of a Showtime event in May where he would face former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Antonio “Junior” Silva.
Arlovski has fought once previously in Strikeforce, a June 2009 bout against Brett Rogers that Arlovski took on just two weeks notice while under contract with Affliction Entertainment, …

Last night, the Strikeforce Challengers Series touched down in San Jose, CA at the San Jose Civic Auditorium for a full night of fights that included the crowning of a new Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion in a five-round battle in the night’s main event.
The night’s main card, which was televised on Showtime, began with Middleweight prospect Yancy Medeiros delivering a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Raul Castillo in a fight that saw Medeiros landing his punches and strikes at will while seeming to baffle Castillo when it came to …

Strikeforce crowned it’s new women’s 135 pound champ Friday night in San Jose, Cali. Canadian Sarah Kaufman improved her undefeated streak to 11-0 to become Strikeforce’s first welterweight champion (the promotion has designated 135 pounds as welterweight) earning a unanimous decision over Japan’s Takayo Hashi (12-2) after 25 minutes.
“I’m really happy with my performance,” Kaufman told MMAjunkie.com following the win. “I really feel like I did execute my gameplan very well. I wasn’t able to finish the fight, but I was able to control the fight.”
“I just knew that she …

Honolulu, HI (USA): X-1 World Events, the top entertainment company in Hawaii, is proud to announce that on Saturday, March 20th, 2010, they will produce one of the most highly-anticipated fight events in the history of Islands at it presents “Champions II,” live from the premiere venue in the heart of Honolulu, the Neal Blaisdell Arena.
UFC and StrikeForce veterans will vie for coveted X-1 gold, as X-1 World Middleweight (185 lb.) Champion and Hawaiian Falaniko “Niko” Vitale will defend his belt against the controversial Kalib Starnes.
In the co-main event, X-1 …