Press Release – LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Talented striker Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt (11-5) goes head-to-head with grappling ace Lumumba “Heavy Hands” Sayers (4-2) in a middleweight bout as STRIKEFORCE® returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, Nov. 18. STRIKEFORCE® will air live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
STRIKEFORCE, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, also features Adlan “Borz” Amagov (8-1-1) taking on Anthony “Lionheart” Smith (14-6) in a middleweight matchup, T.J. Cook (15-3) battling Trevor “Hot Sauce” Smith (8-1) in an explosive light heavyweight tilt, as well as an exciting women’s featherweight bout between undefeated judo player and Olympic bronze-medalist Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey (3-0) and Julia “The Jewel” Budd (2-1). In addition, unbeaten lightweight prospects Matt Ricehouse (5-0) and Bill “The Grill” Cooper (2-0) are set to collide.
“We love showcasing some of the best up-and-coming talent in this sport and we expect Britt and Sayers to deliver,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “The rest of the card is filled with great matchups, including the returns of Ronda Rousey and Adlan Amagov. This is a great card for the fight fans in Las Vegas.”
Tickets for STRIKEFORCE® are priced at $95, $65 and $40 and go on sale Friday, September 23, at 12 p.m. PT. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.
A special internet ticket pre-sale will also be available to UFC Newsletter and STRIKEFORCE Insider subscribers Thursday, September 22, starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com or the STRIKEFORCE Insider at Strikeforce.com.
Holding wins over UFC veterans Antonio Mendes and Carmelo Marrero, middleweight Antwain Britt is looking to make a run toward STRIKEFORCE gold. The Virginia Beach native, who owns a record of 11-5, has scored nine knockout victories and seeks his tenth when he takes on grappling ace Lumumba Sayers (4-2). The wrestling and jiu-jitsu prospect has won two out of his last three fights, and has scored submissions in all four of his victories.
Fighting in his second STRIKEFORCE fight, Adlan Amagov is hoping to add another win to his already impressive record. Riding a three-fight win streak that includes a win over Ronald Stallings, the Russian middleweight intends to find the same result against Anthony Smith. The Omaha-based 23-year-old has strung together five straight wins, including a KO victory over Ben Lagman in July. Fans can expect an all-out war from these middleweights when they touch gloves in the center of the cage.
Having recently defeated Lionel Lanham in July, T.J. Cook returns to STRIKEFORCE hoping to bring the same excitement he displayed in his last fight. The Florida-based light heavyweight has finished his last four opponents and is ready to do the same to Trevor Smith. Smith defeated Keith Berry via north-south choke in June and will likely look to slap on another submission when these two meet in Las Vegas.
Sitting at three wins and no losses in her professional MMA career, Ronda Rousey is more than ready for her next opponent after easily submitting Sarah D’Alelio in her STRIKEFORCE debut in August. A U.S. bronze-medalist in Judo at the Beijing Olympics, “Rowdy” is now making her presence felt inside the cage. She’ll take on kickboxing and Muay Thai expert Julia Budd, who holds notable wins over Shana Olsen and Germaine de Randamie. The 28-year-old is looking to bring her record to three wins as well on November 18 when she meets Rousey in a featured women’s featherweight bout.
Undefeated lightweight prospect Matt Ricehouse holds notable wins in STRIKEFORCE over Ryan Couture, Tom Aaron and Greg Wilson. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, Ricehouse will surely look to take the fight to the ground early and end his night early. Renowned grappling wizard Bill Cooper has other ideas in mind as he himself has finished both professional fights by submission. Most recently defeating Maka Watson, Cooper will seek the early finish as well and hope for a tapout.
For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About STRIKEFORCE® – www.strikeforce.com
Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in San Jose, Calif. that currently holds 16 live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
About the Pearl
The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. Featuring a stage just four feet from the floor and the furthest seating area being a mere 120 feet from the stage, The Pearl offers the utmost in intimate viewing of your favorite acts. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology using only top quality sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to The Studio at The Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency and without additional venue set-up. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.