“It’s okay. He probably didn’t know you were a Strikeforce fighter when he told that last joke…”
Strikeforce is continuing to add fights to its August 18th card, which will go down at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Headlined by Ronda Rousey’s first title defense against Sarah Kaufman, the promotion has announced three more bouts for the event.
It may be an exercise in futility to rank Strikeforce bouts in terms of significance, but there are still some interesting matchups on this card. Perhaps the most intriguing of the three recently announced matches is a middleweight showdown between former champion Ronaldo Souza and Derek Brunson. Since losing the strap to Luke Rockhold last September, ‘Jacare’ scored a third round arm-triangle choke over Bristol Marunde in March. Jacare looks to maintain momentum with a win over NCAA D2 All-American wrestler Derek Brunson, which is far easier said than done. Brunson is coming off of an extremely close loss to Kendall Grove at ShoFIGHT 20 two weeks ago after accepting the fight on four days’ notice. That fight, which was the first loss of Brunson’s career, could have easily gone his way. Expect a close fight here.
“It’s okay. He probably didn’t know you were a Strikeforce fighter when he told that last joke…”
Strikeforce is continuing to add fights to its August 18th card, which will go down at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Headlined by Ronda Rousey’s first title defense against Sarah Kaufman, the promotion has announced three more bouts for the event.
It may be an exercise in futility to rank Strikeforce bouts in terms of significance, but there are still some interesting matchups on this card. Perhaps the most intriguing of the three recently announced matches is a middleweight showdown between former champion Ronaldo Souza and Derek Brunson. Since losing the strap to Luke Rockhold last September, ‘Jacare’ scored a third round arm-triangle choke over Bristol Marunde in March. Jacare looks to maintain momentum with a win over NCAA D2 All-American wrestler Derek Brunson, which is far easier said than done. Brunson is coming off of an extremely close loss to Kendall Grove at ShoFIGHT 20 two weeks ago after accepting the fight on four days’ notice. That fight, which was the first loss of Brunson’s career, could have easily gone his way. Expect a close fight here.
In welterweight action, Team Quest product Tarec Saffiedine will meet Roger Bowling on this card. Saffiedine has won five of his last six outings, with his most recent fight being a split-decision over Tyler Stinson at January’s ‘Strikeforce – Rockhold vs. Jardine’. Likewise, Bowling will look to make it three straight victories when he steps in the cage against Tarec Saffiedine. His last two bouts, against Jerron Peoples and Brandon Saling, have both ended in knockouts. Will Bowling be able to make it three straight knockouts, or will Saffiedine prove to be too much of a test for “Relentless” Roger?
Also of note, a light-heavyweight tilt between Ovince St. Preux and TJ Cook is also set for the event. St. Preux was on an eight fight win streak until Gegard Mousasi momentarily derailed his hype train with a unanimous decision victory over the former University of Tennessee linebacker at Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal in December. Likewise, Cook is coming off of a loss by way of a first round guillotine choke at the hands of Trevor Smith at November’s Strikeforce Challengers 20.
We’ll keep you up to date as this card continues to fill out. For the time being, who ya got for these bouts?
It’s easy- perhaps even a bit lazy- to compare the embattled MMA fighter Drew Fickett to the similarly troubled Scott Hall. In their primes, both men performed on their respective sport’s biggest stages against recognizable names. In Fickett’s case, this meant a run in the UFC and notable victories over Dennis Hallman, Kenny Florian, Josh Neer, Josh Koscheck and Kurt Pellegrino.
Yet it’s arguable that both men are more famous for their self-destructive, chaotic lifestyles outside of sport than they are for their accomplishments. Both men have well documented struggles with addiction, have been fired from major promotions over their drunkenantics and have attempted to stay relevant in their respective sports with increasingly tragic results.
Yet it’s arguable that both men are more famous for their self-destructive, chaotic lifestyles outside of sport than they are for their accomplishments. Both men have well documented struggles with addiction, have been fired from major promotions over their drunkenantics and have attempted to stay relevant in their respective sports with increasingly tragic results.
Before the fight, MMAJunkie.com revealed that, aside from moving from Arizona to Florida to enter a rehabilitation facility and train at American Top Team, Fickett was in very real danger of becoming homeless if he did not receive a win bonus for his performance. And while Fickett walked to the cage with a sign proudly proclaiming his forty two days of sobriety, he did not last one minute into the fight. Fickett was caught with a head kick early and covered up until the referee stopped the fight.
As depressing of a result as this is for Drew Fickett’s 60th professional fight, “Night Rider” believes that he could retire with 100 fights under his belt.
In far less depressing news, John Gunderson quickly submitted Karo Parisyan by guillotine choke. After being taken down early by “The Heat”, Gunderson caught Parisyan with a huge left knee. Parisyan desperately dove in for a takedown, and was caught in the fight-ending guillotine for his efforts. Gunderson improves to 34-14, while Parisyan has lost four of his last five fights.
TUF 3 champion Kendall Grove won the ShoFIGHT middleweight title last night as well, earning a split-decision victory over the previously undefeated Derek Brunson. Brunson took the fight on only four days’ notice, as the original challenger, noted punching bag Terry Martin, was not cleared by the Missouri Office of Athletics to fight. Because of this, the bout was only three rounds, and at a catchweight of 190 pounds.
Grove was taken down often, yet remained busy from his back, attempting multiple submissions. When Grove landed an illegal upkick in the third round, the referee stood up the fight (?!), and Grove was able to pick apart Derek Brunson as the fight came to an end. Grove is now 15-10 with the victory.
Also of note, former Strikeforce lightweight Lyle Beerbohm battered and bloodied Marcus Aurelio on his way to a unanimous decision victory that all three judges saw 30-26. Aurelio was simply no match for “Fancy Pants” throughout the fight, being taken down at will and unable to threaten with any submission attempts. Beerbohm has now won three straight fights since being cut from Strikeforce.
Full Results:
Main Card:
John Gunderson def. Karo Parisyan by submission (guillotine choke), 2:04 of Round One
Kendall Grove def. Derek Brunson by split decision
Lyle Beerbohm def. Marcus Aurelio by unanimous decision
Mike Wessel def. Matt Kovacs by TKO (strikes), 4:50 of Round Two
Jonatas Novaes def. Drew Fickett by TKO (strikes), 0:51 seconds of Round One
Chris Greutzemacher def. Roli Delgado by TKO (elbows), 3:24 of round 3
Preliminary Card:
Sevak Magakian def. James Reese by unanimous decision
Chris McDaniel def. Charles Bennett by submission (triangle choke), 2:52 of Round One
Lucas Lopez def. Sam Alvey by TKO (strikes), 1:37 of Round One
Dustin Phillips def. Allen Gibson by unanimous decision
Matt Lucas def. Lucas Overcast by unanimous decision
Mike Brazzle def. Karen Darabedyan by TKO (strikes), 4:15 of Round One
Jacob Ritchie def. Robert Saborudden by TKO (strikes), 3:28 of Round Three
Jason Ignacek def. Gary Michaels via unanimous decision
With the news today that Derek Brunson has failed his medicals and as a result has been forced out of his March 3 main card bout with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the upcoming Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey show in Columbus, OH, it appears that one prime candidate for the bout is very interested in stepping up on just over two weeks notice: Tim Kennedy.
Kennedy, who still has a bitter taste in his mouth from the unanimous decision loss he suffered against Souza back in August 2010 at Strikeforce: Houston responded to questions on Twitter today regarding his desire to take the bout and said he is in shape and ready to go if he gets the call to rematch the Brazilian submission specialist.
(Do over? Photo courtesy of MMAJunkie)
With the news today that Derek Brunson has failed his medicals and as a result has been forced out of his March 3 main card bout with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the upcoming Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey show in Columbus, OH, it appears that one prime candidate for the bout is very interested in stepping up on just over two weeks notice: Tim Kennedy.
Kennedy, who still has a bitter taste in his mouth from the unanimous decision loss he suffered against Souza back in August 2010 at Strikeforce: Houston responded to questions on Twitter today regarding his desire to take the bout and said he is in shape and ready to go if he gets the call to rematch the Brazilian submission specialist.
“I know I don’t really have an objective opinion, but I’m pretty accurate in how I view how fights went, and I thought I landed more strikes,” Kennedy told MMAjunkie.com after the fight. “I thought I landed more kicks. I knew I stuffed both of his takedowns. I knew I was the only one that scored takedowns. I knew I was the one that was controlling the center of the ring. In my understanding of the scoring of MMA, that means I won the fight.”
Brunson wasn’t cleared by the Ohio commission when they learned that he wears contacts when he fights — a common practice by fighters. After being told that he would be pulled from the card, he tweeted today that he will be booking an appointment for Lasik eye surgery in the near future.
“Failed medicals [– specifially the] eye exam. I’ve been fighting with contacts for 11 fights, [and it] never was an issue [before],” Brunson explained. “Ohio won’t pass my eye exam. I’m working on getting Lasik [surgery] this week. I’ll be back in no time.”
Hopefully Zuffa books Kennedy for the rematch since it’s unlikely that many opponents will be lining up to take on a tough former Strikeforce champ in two-and-a-half weeks. Tim is said to be next in line at a shot at champ Luke Rockhold, but a planned January bout never materialized for unknown reasons.
