“Before entering into MMA, Yamanaka was a dominatrix and worked in a SM club for four and a half years. She used the name Chiaki in catfights when she was working there. She didn’t have sports experience and started to train in MMA because she thought that it would help her in providing a better service to her clients.”
Me-ow! Now riding an eight-fight win streak, Yamanaka was the final Smackgirl Open Weight Champion, and is ranked #2 on MMARising’s 145-pound women’s list. Watch her in action after the jump…
(Serious question: How much would you pay this woman to kick you in the balls? / Photo via Sherdog)
“Before entering into MMA, Yamanaka was a dominatrix and worked in a SM club for four and a half years. She used the name Chiaki in catfights when she was working there. She didn’t have sports experience and started to train in MMA because she thought that it would help her in providing a better service to her clients.”
Me-ow! Now riding an eight-fight win streak, Yamanaka was the final Smackgirl Open Weight Champion, and is ranked #2 on MMARising’s 145-pound women’s list. Watch her in action after the jump…
(Hiroko Yamanaka vs. Hitomi Akano @ Jewels 7th Ring, 3/19/10)
(“Hey, remember when I punched you in the face? That was awesome.” Photo courtesy of Esther/Strikeforce)
Inactive for 14 months (and counting), Cristiane “Cris Cyborg” Santosconfirmed via Twitter last night that she has finally re-signed with Strikeforce. The 145-pound women’s champ officially became a free-agent in June, when her champion’s clause expired before she and Strikeforce could come to terms on a new deal. Though she had been negotiating with other organizations — and was even courted by the WWE — Santos is back where she belongs, and will face Opponent TBA at Event TBA.
Of course, Cyborg’s original problem still remains — that there are no credible challengers ready to fight her. I have a bad feeling that Ronda Rousey is about to get a life-changing phone call very soon.
(“Hey, remember when I punched you in the face? That was awesome.” Photo courtesy of Esther/Strikeforce)
Inactive for 14 months (and counting), Cristiane “Cris Cyborg” Santosconfirmed via Twitter last night that she has finally re-signed with Strikeforce. The 145-pound women’s champ officially became a free-agent in June, when her champion’s clause expired before she and Strikeforce could come to terms on a new deal. Though she had been negotiating with other organizations — and was even courted by the WWE — Santos is back where she belongs, and will face Opponent TBA at Event TBA.
Of course, Cyborg’s original problem still remains — that there are no credible challengers ready to fight her. I have a bad feeling that Ronda Rousey is about to get a life-changing phone call very soon.
The best female fighter in mixed martial arts has finally reached a deal on a new contract.
Cris Cyborg, the Strikeforce 145-pound women’s champion, announced on her web site that she has signed a contract to remain with the promotion for another year.
For fans of women’s MMA, that’s very good news. When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce there were concerns that women’s MMA could be on the way out, and the fact that the promotion’s best female fighter remained unsigned and on the shelf did not look like a good sign. Now Cyborg has her deal in place and is ready to get back into the cage.
But questions remain. There’s no word on when Cyborg will return, or who her opponent will be. Cyborg’s victories have been so one-sided that some fans have been turned off by watching mismatches, and Strikeforce hasn’t been able to identify a 145-pound woman who can challenge her.
However, a fight with former judo Olympian Ronda Rousey could be appealing, and the winner of the upcoming fight between Alexis Davis and Amanda Nunes would also be a viable option. The important thing is just to get Cyborg back in the cage. After more than a year off, that’s finally close to happening.
(Surprised they didn’t call this one “Beauty and the Beast.”)
On this day in MMA history two years ago Strikeforce held it’s first event headlined by a women’s championship fight. Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, which featured a bout between Gina Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s middleweight (145 pound) championship, took place on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
(Surprised they didn’t call this one “Beauty and the Beast.”)
On this day in MMA history two years ago Strikeforce held it’s first event headlined by a women’s championship fight. Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg, which featured a bout between Gina Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the inaugural Strikeforce Women’s middleweight (145 pound) championship, took place on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Cyborg dominated Carano, who was being groomed to be the face of Strikeforce, defeating the Xtreme Couture fighter with just one second left in the opening round. After the bout Gina considered retiring and has not fought since the loss, opting instead to pursue an acting career. Her return bout was scheduled for June 18 of this year against Sarah D’Alelio, but Strikeforce announced the week of the fight that Carano had failed her pre-fight medicals. No details have been released as to the nature of what was wrong with her.
Alistair Overeem, who won the Strikeforce heavyweight title against Paul Buentello in 2007 was supposed to put the strap on the line for the first time against Fabricio Werdum on the card, but the bout was called off after “The Demolition Man” suffered a hand injury in training. Mike Kyle stepped in to face Werdum in a non-title bout.
Joe Riggs was originally scheduled to face Nick Diaz on the card, but pulled out of the bout three weeks prior to the event because of a drug reaction he had. He was replaced by Jay Hieron and the bout was upgraded to welterweight championship status, but Diaz missed a scheduled pre-fight drug screening and wasn’t granted a license by CSAC. As a result, he was replaced by Jesse “JT Money” Taylor and the bout was reduced to a non-title affair.
Then-Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson was also forced out of a unification bout with interim champion Gilbert Melendez due to injury and was replaced by Shooto, PRIDE and DREAM veteran Mitsuhiro Ishida.
The event, which peaked at 856,000 for the Carano vs. Santos bout, averaged 576,000 viewers on Showtime, more than doubling Strikeforce’s previous best — their June 6, 2009 Lawler vs. Shields event, which averaged 275,000 viewers. The event also set a new MMA ratings record for the specialty cable network previously set in February 16, 2008 by EliteXC: Street Certified which featured a main event heavyweight bout between Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbot. That show averaged 522,000 viewers.
The results and payroll for the event were as follows:
Cristiane Santos ($25,000 – includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Gina Carano ($125,000)
Gegard Mousasi ($25,000 – no win bonus) def. Renato Sobral ($75,000)
Gilbert Melendez ($50,000 – no win bonus) def Mitsuhiro Ishida ($30,000)
Fabricio Werdum ($50,000 – includes $25,000 win bonus) def. Mike Kyle ($14,000)
Jay Hieron ($55,000 – includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Jesse Taylor ($12,000)
Scott Lighty ($4,000 – no win bonus) def. Mike Cook ($2,500)
Justin Wilcox ($5,000 – includes $2,500 win bonus) def. David Douglas ($5,500)
James Terry ($6,000 – includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Zak Bucia ($2,000)
Alex Trevino ($3,500 – includes $1,500 win bonus) def. Isaiah Hill ($2,000)
While suffering through The Change-Up this weekend, I started thinking about the hypothetical situation of MMA fighters switching bodies. Obviously, one fighter would get the short end of the stick, like in all relationships, but other than that, it’s all good news from there. Imagine the man with a warrior spirit and broken body upgrading for a newer model. Imagine the heavy-duty gas-guzzler being replaced by a tiny, eco-friendly, electric car. Imagine experience and youth joining forces to reign terror on anything that steps in its way. So who most deserves a cinematic body-swap? Read on and find out…
BJ Penn and Brock Lesnar
Advantage: Baby Jay
For years, Penn has been criticized for his lack of self-discipline and willingness to stay in shape. Switching bodies would solve that problem and create what might be the best heavyweight in UFC history. A Nova Uniao Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with explosive striking and a granite chin, Penn has everything that Lesnar wishes he had. The Prodigy would be a wrecking ball at heavyweight if he had Brock’s body — as long as the viking took the diverticulitis thing with him. If he had to keep the illness during the switch, then I guess we could all agree that we’d like to see Josh Koscheck trade bodies with Brock.
(Unlike the rest of us, the eye candy in the back decided to open her eyes for Cyborg.)
While suffering through The Change-Up this weekend, I started thinking about the hypothetical situation of MMA fighters switching bodies. Obviously, one fighter would get the short end of the stick, like in all relationships, but other than that, it’s all good news from there. Imagine the man with a warrior spirit and broken body upgrading for a newer model. Imagine the heavy-duty gas-guzzler being replaced by a tiny, eco-friendly, electric car. Imagine experience and youth joining forces to reign terror on anything that steps in its way. So who most deserves a cinematic body-swap? Read on and find out…
BJ Penn and Brock Lesnar
Advantage: Baby Jay
For years, Penn has been criticized for his lack of self-discipline and willingness to stay in shape. Switching bodies would solve that problem and create what might be the best heavyweight in UFC history. A Nova Uniao Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with explosive striking and a granite chin, Penn has everything that Lesnar wishes he had. The Prodigy would be a wrecking ball at heavyweight if he had Brock’s body — as long as the viking took the diverticulitis thing with him. If he had to keep the illness during the switch, then I guess we could all agree that we’d like to see Josh Koscheck trade bodies with Brock.
Roy Nelson and Clay Guida
Advantage: Nelson
The TUF 10: Heavyweights winner is in a slump following back-to-back losses against JDS and Frank Mir. You remember seeing ‘Big Country’ sucking wind and basically collapsing after the final horn, right? I can’t remember another fighter looking worse in the Octagon besides Kimbo. We know from the JDS fight that Nelson is capable of eating punches and asking for more while his black belt in BJJ is evident when the fight hits the mat. Question: Why doesn’t he win more? Cardio? Heart? Answer: Both.
Wrap up Roy’s knowledge, passion, and skill inside the body of Clay Guida and you’ve got yourself a force to be reckoned with. The Carpenter is the most fuel efficient guy on the roster, and his thick neanderthal-esque skull will provide the x-factor in Nelson’s game. Wishing you had Mo Lawal’s oxygen supplier in your corner will become a thing of the past as a “new” lightweight makes a mad dash for Edgar’s title. The only question that comes to mind when pondering this swap of bodies is whether Roy will keep Guida’s famous hair or go for a mullet.
Gina Carano and Cristiane ‘Cris Cyborg’ Santos
Advantage: Fans
Not to take anything away from the budding Hollywood actress, but Cyborg is a genetic freak and the more skilled female fighter. But what Carano lacks in MMA dominance, she more than makes up for in beauty and star-power. Gina Carano is hotter than a Tezpur Chili on the Scoville Scale and because Cyborg would get Carano’s body while keeping her wicked awesome skills, Chyna would have to give the title of ‘9th Wonder of the World‘ to Santos. Makes perfect sense to us. Honestly, this one actually should be a movie.
Jim Miller and Chael Sonnen
Advantage: Miller
The 20 and 2 AMA product is overdue for a title shot. (You could argue that Clay Guida deserves one first after defeating former #1 contender Anthony Pettis, but you could also argue that Strikeforce won’t be swallowed up by the UFC next year.) Jim Miller is riding an incredible seven-fight win streak, leaving behind a pile of game competitors. So why no shot at the belt yet? Consider this: walk around your local mall or sports bar and ask random dudes who Jim Miller is. “Isn’t he that ‘Bully Beatdown’ guy?” is probably how most would respond.
Apparently top-notch technique and continued success just aren’t enough. What’s missing? The personality to make people want to see you compete — and remember when you do — and the charisma to captivate an audience both in and out of the cage. Enter Chael Sonnen, aka Senor Chael. Problem solved. The only downside is that if we do get to see Silva vs. Sonnen 2, the pre-fight hype will be downgraded from AAA to AA+.
Wanderlei Silva and Jon Jones
Advantage: Wandy
Of all the fighters who we’d love to see switch bodies, this might be our favorite. We are unabashedly huge fans of ‘The Axe Murderer’ and wish he could somehow drink from the mystical Fountain of Youth to prolong his storied career as one of MMA’s coolest/scariest dudes.
Jon Jones has the largest reach of active UFC fighters. Do you even understand the possibilities of what that kind of wingspan could do when combined with one of the sport’s most lethal strikers? This would literally be the second coming of Wanderlei Silva! Look, we know he’s still got the itch to fight. New body, fresh outlook, old scores to settle.
Is Jonny Bones getting the short end of the stick? Absolutely. But look on the bright side — at least he won’t have to duck Rashad anymore.
Well, Cris “Cyborg” Santos is officially a free agent, which either means that Strikeforce was unwilling to pay her what she felt she was worth, or that Zuffa has decided against continuing to promote women’s MMA under the SF banner. Either way, it’s a blow to the promotion’s women’s division.
A source we spoke to today received confirmation from Cyborg’s management that Zuffa’s exclusive negotiation period with the 10-1 Curitiba, Brazil fighter ended yesterday and that the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC failed to come to terms with the Strikeforce women’s middleweight champ before she became a free agent at the stroke of midnight.
Well, Cris “Cyborg” Santos is officially a free agent, which either means that Strikeforce was unwilling to pay her what she felt she was worth, or that Zuffa has decided against continuing to promote women’s MMA under the SF banner. Either way, it’s a blow to the promotion’s women’s division.
A source we spoke to today received confirmation from Cyborg’s management that Zuffa’s exclusive negotiation period with the 10-1 Curitiba, Brazil fighter ended yesterday and that the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC failed to come to terms with the Strikeforce women’s middleweight champ before she became a free agent at the stroke of midnight.
According to Santos’ former manager Ken Pavia who helped negotiate the deal that was fulfilled with her last fight with Jan Finney on June 26, 2010, there was a champion’s clause in her contract, which he said he thought would extend her deal. But according to another we spoke to who is close to the situation, the clause had a one-year expiration date and when Strikeforce failed to re-sign her or offer her a fight by June 26, they waived their right to exercise the option.
You may recall that former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields had a similar proviso in his contract, but when Scott Coker and co. figured there was little chance of resigning him, they granted him a release rather than make him sit out the one-year waiting period.
We’re told that Cris is in serious discussions with a promotion that we’ve been asked not to name until the deal is finalized and that she could have a new contract in place as early as this weekend. Wherever Gina Carano is, she’s thanking her lucky stars.
We will have updates the situation when we are given the go-ahead to release them by the parties involved.
The best female fighter in mixed martial arts has finally reached a deal on a new contract.
