Author: John Morgan [kingofabuelos]

Just hours before the fighters hit the scale, MMAjunkie.com Radio
offers a full preview of Saturday night’s “Strikeforce: Miami” event.

Listeners are encouraged to call in and offer their own predictions and
analysis of the intriguing event, while the crew will break down all of
the highly anticipated Showtime-broadcast action.

MMAjunkie.com Radio begins at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. Listen to
and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Three-time WEC veteran Eric Schambari, who put together a 4-0 run in
2009 after taking one year off while recovering from a life-threatening
condition, is Belltor’s first participant in its newest 185-pound
tournament.

Bellator officials today announced the native Las Vegan as the first member of its eight-man, 185-pound bracket.

Bellator’s season-two tournaments, which determine challengers for the
season-one winners and current champs, kick off in April and air live
on FOX Sports Net affiliates and in highlights packages on NBC and
Telemundo.

Two-time NCAA wrestling champion Cole Konrad (1-0) did not follow the
usual path to fighting professionally in mixed martial arts.
 
Before Konrad ever had a fight, he was making a full-time living in the
sport. The massive heavyweight earned his stripes as a paid training
partner for Brock Lesnar while the current UFC heavyweight champion was
busy making a splash in the sport.
 
Now Konrad, 25, is stepping out onto his own and aims to make a big impact with his 280-pound frame.

When it comes to pushing for his chance at a UFC lightweight title
shot, top contender Gray Maynard doesn’t exactly
live up to his nickname.

In fact, “The Bully” is quite content to watch Frankie Edgar – a man Maynard defeated in April 2008 – take the next shot at
B.J. Penn.

At 30 years old, but still developing into a complete mixed martial
artist, Maynard is already back in the gym just a few weeks removed
from his seventh-straight UFC win. And while he was seemingly passed up in
favor of “The Answer,” Maynard knows his day is coming.

As a reminder, submissions for the upcoming edition of “The Sunday Junkie” are due Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.

All topics, including this weekend’s “Strikeforce: Miami” event, are
open for discussion. The person who sends in the submission we deem the
best – based on timeliness of subject, clarity and overall
persuasiveness – will be invited onto MMAjunkie.com Radio to discuss
the topic. 

Each winner will also receive a free year’s subscription to Fighters Only, the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine!

For every wannabe Dana White in existence, Joe Donofrio has a warning: Be careful what you wish for.

Donofrio is the promoter of record for the Jan. 30 “Malice at The
Palace” event in Auburn Hills, Mich., one of the first regulated
professional mixed martial arts shows in Michigan’s history, and he
knows well the process of taking the sport to an unregulated market.

But Donofrio warns aspiring promoters that there are a variety of
potholes on the paved road to promotional success, not the least of
which is the rules adopted by the agency when it begins regulation in
the first place.