Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos Offers Her Thoughts On Rousey vs. Kaufman

In San Diego during Rousey vs. Kaufman fight week, women’s mixed martial arts fighter Cris Cyborg talks about the upcoming Strikeforce match between Ronda Rousey and Sarah Kaufman.

‘ONE FC: Rise Of Kings’ To Feature Three Title Matches On Oct. 6

ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC) returns to the Lion City on Saturday, 6 October, with the highly anticipated Lightweight Super Fight between Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki and French Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Champion Arnaud “The Game” Lepont. All the action will take place at the 12,000-seater Singapore Indoor Stadium in what is expected to be the greatest fight card ever compiled in ONE FC history. After selling out arenas in Indonesia and Malaysia, it is finally time for ONE FC to return to the beautiful island of Singapore where it is headquartered.

ONE FC: RISE OF KINGS will be a historic moment for Asian MMA because for the first time ever, three championship belts will be awarded. Three ONE FC weight divisions will see a World Champion crowned. Since ONE FC’s sold-out launch in 2011, fans and fighters have been eagerly awaiting the crowning of ONE FC World Champions as stars began to emerge from the ever growing talent pool.
Tickets for ONE FC: RISE OF KINGS are now on sale at SISTIC (www.SISTIC.com.sg). Ticket categories begin with the full Red Carpet and Cage-side experience for VIPs at $348 followed by Arena $148, Terrace $68 and Balcony $38.
CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™ Victor Cui stated, “We are coming back to Singapore to put on one of the greatest fight cards in Asian MMA history and to add icing to the cake, we will crown an incredible three World Champions and have our first Super Fight! Singapore will witness Shinya Aoki and Arnaud Lepont in a super fight that showcases two of the toughest lightweight fighters in Asia. With the largest pool of the top MMA talent in Asia, I have decided that the time is perfect to introduce three ONE FC world titles. This card is going to be epic and fans can expect to see some incredible fights come 6 October.”
The first ONE FC Super Fight will be a battle between the top pound-for-pound lightweight fighter in Asia, Shinya Aoki, versus the heavy-handed slugger from France, Arnaud Lepont.
Shinya Aoki is the DREAM Lightweight Champion and has beaten the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Marcus Aurelio and Rich Clementi. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo which has earned him a reputation as one of the best submission specialists in the sport of MMA. The “Grandmaster of Flying Submissions” is excited to showcase his skills to his fans when he debuts at ONE FC: RISE OF KINGS. He is considered the most deadly submission grappler in the world of MMA and is the No.1 Lightweight Fighter in Asia.
Arnaud Lepont publicly challenged Aoki after his impressive victory over Brian Choi at ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors. He is well-known for his indomitable spirit and never-back-down attitude which has contributed to his 10-1 record. Having lived and trained in many different parts of Asia, Lepont has finally found his home on the largest stage in Asian MMA. Holding a purple belt in BJJ, the Frenchman has won nine of his 10 fights by submission thus demonstrating his superiority on the ground. Lepont also possesses knockout power that should have any fighter worried. He will be looking to use his heavy hands to spoil Aoki’s hopes of a successful ONE FC debut. Notorious for being brash, he says his mentality during the fight is to attack relentlessly in order to rip his opponent apart.
Fans of ONE FC can look forward to see the return of mega star Melvin Manhoef to the ONE FC cage, as well as rising star Zorobabel Moreira and Singapore’s first pro-MMA fighter, Radeem Rahman.
For more updates, log on to www.ONEFC.com

All Access: Ronda Rousey – Full Episode Part 2

The media spotlight fades as Strikeforce women’s champion Ronda Rousey enters an intense training camp guided by some of the best teams in MMA and boxing. Rousey’s challenger, Sarah Kaufman, trains with equal focus and determination while the cameras of SHOWTIME Sports capture both world-class athletes preparing for their August 18th showdown.

‘Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman’ Fight Card

The Strikeforce promotion returns to the airwaves this Saturday on SHOWTIME with the Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman event which goes down on August 18, 2012 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
The nine bout card is headlined by a women’s bantamweight title bout between defending champion Ronda Rousey and former title holder Sarah Kaufman. The co-main event sees former middleweight champ Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza face off agaginst Derek Brunson.
Main card (Showtime)
Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout: (c) Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman
Middleweight bout: Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson
Welterweight bout: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Roger Bowling
Middleweight bout: Lumumba Sayers vs. Anthony Smith
Light Heavyweight bout: Ovince St. Preux vs. T.J. Cook
Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme)
Bantamweight bout: Miesha Tate vs. Julie Kedzie
Lightweight bout: Bobby Green vs. Matt Ricehouse
Middleweight bout: Adlan Amagov vs. Keith Berry
Bantamweight bout: Hiroko Yamanaka vs. Germaine de Randamie

Wanderlei Silva Willing To Chase Chael Sonnen Back To Light Heavyweight

Legendary Brazilian warrior Wanderlei Silva caught up with UFC Tonight analyst Ariel Helwani to talk about his future in the UFC. “The Axe-Murderer” pulled no punches when calling out several high profile fighters.

Bellator Champ Pat Curran Injured, Forced Out Of Title Defence Against Patricio ‘Pitbull’

Pat Curran

Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran (17-4) will not defend his belt later this month against Season Four Featherweight finalist Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire (17-1). The two were scheduled to headline Bellator 73, which is scheduled for August 24, 2012 at Harrah’s Tunica Hotel and Casino in Tunica, Mississippi.
ESPN.com spoke to Curran and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about the injury on Tuesday, reporting a fractured orbital bone as the reason for the champs withdrawal.

Curran: “It’s an incredibly frustrating injury, especially to happen so close to the fight, but these things happen,” Curran said. “I can honestly say I’m in the best shape of my life, but injuries happen and once I heal up, I’m going to continue to train and come back stronger than ever to defend the Bellator featherweight title.”

Rebney: “First and foremost I feel horrible for Pat, he’s been looking forward to this fight pitting two of the best 145 pounds in the world against each other for months,” Rebney said. “Pat always elevates his game as the stakes get higher and higher. Right now the focus is Pat healing and getting back to 100 percent and we will get that fight rescheduled as quickly as Pat’s health will allow us to.”

Curran beat Joe Warren last March at Bellator 60 to claim the 145-lbs title, earning a third round knockout finish. Curran moved to featherweight after losing to former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez in a title fight in April 2011. Curran won the 2011 Summer Series, defeating Luis Palomino, Ronnie Mann and Marlon Sandro to win the tournament before moving on to beat Warren.

Chael Sonnen Says He’s Moving Back To Light Heavyweight, Facing Forrest Griffin Dec. 29th

Former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen says he is moving back to light heavyweight and will take on former champion Forrest Griffin on December 29. The expected event for that date is UFC 155 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sonnen is coming off a loss to middleweight champ Anderson Silva this summer in their much anticipated rematch.

All Access: Ronda Rousey Part II – Training for Rousey vs. Kaufman Video Trailer

Go inside the intense training routines of Ronda Rousey and Sarah Kaufman as the two MMA fighters prepare for an epic championship battle. Don’t miss the second episode of All Access: Ronda Rousey on Wednesday, August 15, 9:30PM ET/PT only on SHOWTIME.

UFC on FUEL TV 5 – Gunnar Nelson vs. Pascal Krauss & Jimi Manuwa vs. Kyle Kingsbury Added To Card

Jimi Manuwa - image via @posterboyjm on Twitter

Two more bouts were confirmed for the upcoming UFC on FUEL TV: Struve vs. Miocic event to complete the UK card. Meeting in a welterweight match will be undefeated fighter Gunnar Nelson (9-0-1) and Pascal ‘Panzer’ Krauss (10-1), while recently signed newcomer Jimi ‘Poster Boy’ Manuwa (11-0) faces Kyle ‘Kingsbu’ Bingsbury (11-4, 1NC) in a light heavyweight match.
The promotion announced both fights at UFC.com on Tuesday.

Undefeated Icelandic welterweight Gunnar Nelson, who has finished all of his opponents, looks to extend that streak to 10 as he takes on German-born Pascal Krauss.
Another undefeated prospect joins the UFC on that card as English light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa gets his first Octagon opponent in Kyle Kingsbury.

UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic (aka UFC on FUEL TV 5) is expected to take place on September 29, 2012 at Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England in Great Britain.
Nelson brings a ten bout undefeated streak into the Octagon with nine finishes under his belt and two IBJJF Pan American Gold medals in Gi and No-Gi competition. The Icelandic fighter earned a victory last February at a local event in Ireland, finishing his Ukrainian opponent with a first round armbar submission.
Krauss had his ten fight win streak stopped last May in his second Octagon appearance. The German fighter was handed his first career loss by John Hathaway, losing a decision to the Brit at UFC on FOX 3. ‘Panzer’ debuted with the UFC in November 2010 at UFC 122, winning a decision over Mark Scanlon and a “Fight of the Night” bonus. In between bouts, Krauss was out with a shoulder injury.
Manuwa is undefeated in eleven pro-matches, having never gone the distance in a fight with eleven finishes. Only one of this victories came by submission with the other ten coming via (T)KO. His most recent win took place this past December, earning a first round TKO (retirement) win in his BAMMA debut versus opponent Antony Rea.
‘Kinsbu’ has lost two straight matches, having tapped out in his last fight this past May to Glover Teixeira at UFC 146. The other loss was to TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar by decision, in November 2011 at UFC 139. Kingsbury has so far gone 4-3 inside the Octagon since debuting at the TUF 8 Finale against Tom Lawlor.

Strikeforce: Sarah Kaufman Pre-Fight Interview

“I am the former champion, and I am the future champion.” Sarah Kaufman breaks down her upcoming fight with Ronda Rousey at STRIKEFORCE on Showtime: Rousey vs. Kaufman.

Referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Amateur Fighters Need To Be Protected Too

'Big' John McCarthy

With the recent death of another amateur mixed martial arts fighter this past Saturday in South Carolina, referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy says tragedies like these could be avoided through the use of medicals and blood tests. On Saturday night in an amateur mma bout in Mount Pleasant, SC, Tyone Mimms was competing in the second bout of the ‘Fight Night at the Point 6′ event, when he collapsed in the locker room following a second round TKO loss to opponent Blake Poore.
Mimms, who was a father of five, was taken to the Medical University Hospital where he died about an hour after passing out.
An autopsy by the Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten provided “no obvious, glaring cause of death.”
Speaking to color commentator Mauro Ranallo on Monday, during a segment of “The MMA Show with Mauro Rannallo,” explained his stance on protecting fighters professional or amateur.

“The UFC has never had a serious injury and that’s because the UFC makes sure all the fighters pass their medicals and have everything else taken care of before they step into the Octagon. They make sure the medicals are up to date, that MRIs are done — the things everyone complains about because they cost money. This is the kind of stuff that could protect Tyrone because he didn’t have medicals, he didn’t have blood tests, none of that was taken care of as an amateur. Amateurs needs to be protected just as much if not more than professionals. Some say they don’t want to take a medical because they don’t get paid, but that’s what will save your life.”

Also featured on Monday’s podcast were Strikeforce women’s fighter Julie Kedzie, Sherdog.com’s Greg Savage, and boxing expert Steve Farhood.

UFC Champ Ben Henderson & Nate Diaz Compare Each Others Game

Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten spoke with Benson Henderson, while Ron Kruck spoke with Nate Diaz as each fighter gave their early thoughts on their upcoming title fight.

UFC 151: Jon Jones Pre-Fight Interview

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has a straightforward gameplan for his title fight at UFC 151: Let nature take its course, and become the first person to TKO Dan Henderson.

‘Cyborg’ Santos Wants Ronda Rousey At 140-Lbs

Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos

Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) still has about four months left on her suspension from the California State Athletic Commission, but she already has her sights set on her next opponent. As a guest on “The MMA Hour” on Monday at MMAFighting.com, Santos told host Ariel Helwani that she “really” wants to face Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey saying the former Judo Olympian ran down a weight division to avoid facing her.
‘Cyborg’ says she isn’t able to follow Rousey down to 135-lbs because it’s impossible for her to cut the weight. The lowest weight she could make is 140-lbs and challenges ‘Rowdy’ to face her in a catchweight bout.

“I really wanna fight Ronda. I really want to. She says bad things about me. I never say bad things about my opponent. I want to do my best in the octagon, and if she says she wants to fight me, she can come to my weight or at 140.”
“She started at 145,” she said of Rousey’s Strikeforce career. “And she’s running to 135. She’s running to not fight me. And after, she speaks a lot of s— about me. I want to fight her soon. I’m very excited to fight her. And when we’re in the octagon, we’ll see if she says anything. And if she says anything, I can punch her.”

Santos was suspended for a year after testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, following her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka. The TKO win was changed to a “No Contest” ending Santos’ ten fight win streak.

UFC Middleweight Chris Weidman All Access Video

UFC Middleweight and Team Edge member Chris Weidman takes you inside a day in his life in New York.

Find more content like this from Heavy MMA and you can cast your vote for Weidman as the next TEAM EDGE Champ at EdgeShave.com/UFC, or any of the three other names which include Rory MacDonald, John Dodson, and Joseph Benavidez.