Hayder Hassan eyes “Strikeforce: Miami” win while repping MMA’s Arab fanbase

For welterweight Hayder Hassan (2-1), his preliminary card matchup with
Ryan Keenan at “Strikeforce: Miami” represents his first shot with a
national promotion.

But Hassan’s goals don’t stop there.

The U.S.-born son of Iraqi immigrants, Hassan has his sights set on
long-term success in mixed martial arts, and he hopes to give an entire
culture someone to cheer for.


For welterweight Hayder Hassan (2-1), his preliminary card matchup with
Ryan Keenan at “Strikeforce: Miami” represents his first shot with a
national promotion.

But Hassan’s goals don’t stop there.

The U.S.-born son of Iraqi immigrants, Hassan has his sights set on
long-term success in mixed martial arts, and he hopes to give an entire
culture someone to cheer for.


Strikeforce champ “Cyborg” Santos eyes progression in the women’s game

For quite some time now, Gina Carano has been considered “the face of
women’s MMA.” As such, the brawling beauty became the standard-bearer
by which other female fighters are often judged.

But Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos defeated Carano rather
handily this past August and ushered in a new era in the women’s side
of the sport.

With a physically imposing, muscular frame and an aggressive style that
rivals that of any fighter on the men’s side of the sport, Santos
showed that female mixed martial artists are competing in the exact
same sport fans have learned to love. Now, she hopes fans will simply
realize the same thing.


For quite some time now, Gina Carano has been considered “the face of
women’s MMA.” As such, the brawling beauty became the standard-bearer
by which other female fighters are often judged.

But Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos defeated Carano rather
handily this past August and ushered in a new era in the women’s side
of the sport.

With a physically imposing, muscular frame and an aggressive style that
rivals that of any fighter on the men’s side of the sport, Santos
showed that female mixed martial artists are competing in the exact
same sport fans have learned to love. Now, she hopes fans will simply
realize the same thing.


“Strikeforce: Miami” live and official weigh-in results from Sunrise, Fla.

SUNRISE, Fla. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today’s “Strikeforce: Miami” official fighter weigh-ins in Sunrise, Fla.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the BankAtlantic Center, the
same site as Saturday night’s Showtime-broadcast fight card.

All 22 fighters hit the scales beginning at 6 p.m. ET, though the ceremonies hardly went off without a hitch.


SUNRISE, Fla. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today’s “Strikeforce: Miami” official fighter weigh-ins in Sunrise, Fla.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the BankAtlantic Center, the
same site as Saturday night’s Showtime-broadcast fight card.

All 22 fighters hit the scales beginning at 6 p.m. ET, though the ceremonies hardly went off without a hitch.


“Strikeforce: Miami” live and official weigh-in results from Sunrise, Fla. (Updated)

SUNRISE, Fla. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today’s “Strikeforce: Miami” official fighter weigh-ins in Sunrise, Fla.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the BankAtlantic Center, the
same site as Saturday night’s Showtime-broadcast fight card.

All 24 fighters hit the scales beginning at 6 p.m. ET, though the ceremonies hardly went off without a hitch.


SUNRISE, Fla. – MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today’s “Strikeforce: Miami” official fighter weigh-ins in Sunrise, Fla.

Today’s weigh-in ceremonies took place at the BankAtlantic Center, the
same site as Saturday night’s Showtime-broadcast fight card.

All 24 fighters hit the scales beginning at 6 p.m. ET, though the ceremonies hardly went off without a hitch.


“TUF 11” coach Tito Ortiz: I’ve raised the bar for all fighters, and they should be thankful

While former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is no stranger
to making headlines with his often controversial brand of
trash-talking, it was something far different that had MMA fans buzzing
earlier this week.

A quick snapshot taken of Ortiz during a media day for “The Ultimate
Fighter 11” showed the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” sporting a modified
coach’s jersey that displayed the name of his own clothing line, Punishment
Athletics.

As MMAjunkie.com first reported, Ortiz negotiated
the clause into his “TUF 11” contract, a move the 35-year-old said was just the
latest in a long line of decisions designed to help his fellow athletes.


While former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is no stranger
to making headlines with his often controversial brand of
trash-talking, it was something far different that had MMA fans buzzing
earlier this week.

A quick snapshot taken of Ortiz during a media day for “The Ultimate
Fighter 11” showed the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” sporting a modified
coach’s jersey that displayed the name of his own clothing line, Punishment
Athletics.

As MMAjunkie.com first reported, Ortiz negotiated
the clause into his “TUF 11” contract, a move the 35-year-old said was just the
latest in a long line of decisions designed to help his fellow athletes.


UFC 109’s Mark Coleman thought his chance at glory had passed him by

After Mark Coleman was forced to withdraw from a
co-main event fight with Tito Ortiz at UFC 106, the former UFC and
PRIDE champion thought he’d slid down to the first rung of the ladder.

Coleman assumed his next fight would be against a young
up-and-comer – maybe it would even be a preliminary fight. Maybe he’d
take that oh-so-happy label for veteran fighters: a gatekeeper.
 
That was not the case. Coleman was at dinner with his daughters when he got a text message from UFC matchmaker Joe
Silva. Did he want to fight Randy Couture at UFC
109?


After Mark Coleman was forced to withdraw from a
co-main event fight with Tito Ortiz at UFC 106, the former UFC and
PRIDE champion thought he’d slid down to the first rung of the ladder.

Coleman assumed his next fight would be against a young
up-and-comer – maybe it would even be a preliminary fight. Maybe he’d
take that oh-so-happy label for veteran fighters: a gatekeeper.
 
That was not the case. Coleman was at dinner with his daughters when he got a text message from UFC matchmaker Joe
Silva. Did he want to fight Randy Couture at UFC
109?