Strikeforce Challengers 13: Woodley's game shows holes in clinch-fest win

There's been some talk of Tyron Woodley facing Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz in the near future. That hype may need to be dialed down a bit. Tarec Saffiedine didn't win tonight in Nashville, but he showed that Woodley needs a little more seasoning before he faces a top 10 welterweight. Woodley used his wrestling to keep the fight in close quarters and take a unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28, in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers 13 in Nashville, Tenn.

"Tarec's a very tough guy. He's got some power, got some pop. I endured, I pressed him," Woodley told Showtime's Mauro Ranallo. "The game plan was to be dynamic, in and out."

There wasn't much out as Woodley worked his clinch game throughout the fight. He couldn't get the fight to the ground on several occasions, and Saffiedine scrambled so well off his back that Woodley couldn't take advantage of top control.

Woodley (8-0) got the slight nod in the first two rounds, but all that work along the cage sapped him, not Saffiedine. Originally from Belgium, Saffiedine was able to land the better strikes on the feet in the final round and threatened slightly on the ground as he worked for a kimura from the bottom.

Woodley was tired in the final round and took a lot of sloppy shots. He was also putting himself at risk by dropping his hands. These things happen when you're gassed. 

Before anyone gets too down on Woodley, this was probably a case of Saffiedine showing off his own skill-set. He's a versatile kid and proved a lot by grappling on an even level with a former NCAA All-American wrestler.

The 24-year-old fighting out of Dan Henderson's Team Quest camp in Temecula, Calif., is now 10-3.

It was a night filled with decisions.

After a 2010 highlighted by awesome knockouts, Ovince St. Preux ran into a much better challenge than expected against Ron Humphrey. The former Tennessee linebacker still won, but the fight went the distance. It was the third win since the beginning of November for St. Preux, who admitted he may need a little break.

Daniel Cormier (7-0) remained unbeaten, but he also failed to finish veteran Devin Cole.

The night was stolen by the lone female fight as Amanda Nunes destroyed Julia Budd.

Nunes charged hard at the start of the fight and blasted Budd, a Muay Thai specialist, with a straight left. Budd hit the ground hard and her head slammed on the mat. Nunes was a killer. The 24-year-old Brazilian jumped on top and unloaded seven hammerfists. The ref jumped in to save Budd, who had gone limp. All that in just 14 seconds. Maybe Nunes could be a challenger down the road for 145-pound champion Cristiane Santos.

MAIN CARD (results courtesy MMAjunkie) 

Tyron Woodley def. Tarec Saffiedine via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ovince St. Preux def. Ron "Abongo" Humphrey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel Cormier def. Devin Cole via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Amanda Nunes def. Julia Budd via KO (strikes) - Round 1, 0:14
Rhadi Ferguson def. John Richard via submission (heel hook) - Round 2, 2:00

PRELIMINARY CARD

Thomas Campbell def. Jeremy Wallace via sub (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 1:26
John Salter def. Casey Huffman via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 2:59
Dustin Ortiz def. Matt Horning via TKO (strikes) - Round 3, 2:10
Dustin West def. Daniel Schmitt via KO (strikes) - Round 1, 0:09
Charles McTorry def. Krishaun Gilmore via submission (rear naked choke) - Round 2, 3:46
Chris Barnhizer def. Karl Willis via submission (armbar) - Round 1, 2:35
Jason Blackford def. Jeremy Boczulak via submission (heel hook) - Round 2, 1:54
Luke Sanders def. Josh Jarvis via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 3:15
Stoney Hale def. Gerric Hayes via split decision (28-29, 29-28. 29-28)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Strikeforce-Challengers-13-Woodley-s-game-shows?urn=mma-304970

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UFC set to announce TUF 13 coaches: Who will it be?

The UFC hasn't always been the most airtight unit in keeping big announcements a secret, but the promotion has been on lockdown when it comes to naming the coaches for Season 13 of "The Ultimate Fighter."

According to Fanhouse's Mike Chiappetta, Dana White, a late addition to today's Ultimate Fight Night 23 presser (5:15 p.m. ET), is going to announce the coaches.

Who will it be?

Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Dominick Cruz, Miguel Torres, Urijah Faber, Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva are amongst the rumored names mentioned over the last month or so.

Faber is out. He's got a fight scheduled against Eddie Wineland in March. It's "official" because he's on the poster! Torres looks to be out with a fight schedule in three weeks at UFC 126.

Did Sonnen take himself out of the mix with his guilty plea in a real estate scam and subsequent suspension?

The heavyweights seem to be the strongest possibility. Did Dana White find a way to swindle Lesnar into spending seven weeks in Las Vegas? Mir or even Roy Nelson would be a great choice as the opposing coach.

Shane Carwin, on the shelf after of surgery, doesn't have a future fight booked yet. USA Today tracked Carwin's Twitter account where he said he agreed to a Nelson fight, but that was quickly scrapped by the promotion. He's now looking at a UFC 131 return in Vancouver in June.   

Are we way off base? Maybe UFC is going to pull something off that we never expected. 

MMAjunkie reported yesterday that the cast will be exclusively welterweights. Taping begins at the end of this month, with the first episode scheduled to air on Mar. 30.

Junkie also thinks Gray Maynard and Frank Edgar could be the coaches. The TUF 13 Finale is slated for June 4 in Las Vegas and UFC 131 is June 14. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-set-to-announce-TUF-13-coaches-Who-will-it-?urn=mma-306090

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Amanda Nunes: 'I Want to Fight Cyborg Tomorrow'

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive

It was inevitable, once you stop and think about it. An aggressive Brazilian fighter in the Strikeforce 145-pound women's division comes in and knocks out her opponent in the first round of her Strikeforce debut, and the questions about (not to mention comparisons to) Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos start up before the cheers even die down.

That part didn't particularly surprise Amanda Nunes. But after putting away Julia Budd in just fourteen seconds at last Friday's Strikeforce: Challengers event, the irony is that now she has to learn a little patience.

"I want to fight Cyborg tomorrow, but my manager and trainers feel like I need to gain a little more experience before I fight for the championship," Nunes told MMA Fighting via email this week. "I've only been training MMA for three years and I am still learning every day. The day I step in the cage with Cyborg, I will be 100% prepared."

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/13/amanda-nunes-i-want-to-fight-cyborg-tomorrow/

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Overeem finishes Duffee in 19 seconds

Alistair Overeem is making this fight stuff look too easy. Just two weeks after muscling his way to a K-1 kickboxing title in Japan, he ran roughshod over former UFC super prospect Todd Duffee. Overeem walked straight ahead against the powerful puncher. He delivered a vicious knee to the body, a right to the side of the head and a left hook. That was it. Duffee collapsed into the ropes and Overeem spared him what could've been some nasty punishment. All that in just 19 seconds at Dynamite!! 2010 in Saitama, Japan. 

Frankly, Duffee was in over his head. The 25-year-old is a solid prospect but he only had seven pro MMA fights under his belt. This was fight No. 46 for Overeem. The size difference was also alarming. Duffee is massive at 6-foot-3, 249 pounds, but Overeem looked like a giant and fought like one. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Overeem-finishes-Duffee-in-19-seconds?urn=mma-302056

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Fedor is back! Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, a coup for MMA in 2011

Many bloggers were skeptical about the possibility of Strikeforce putting together an eight-man tourney for its heavyweights. It looks like Scott Coker and Showtime have cut through the red tape. The heavyweight extravaganza could result in some of the best matchmaking of 2011! 

The Canadian Press reported that Fedor Emelianenko Tweeted about his first-round fight. It'll be Antonio Silva on Feb. 12 in New Jersey. The former Strikeforce champ, regarded by many as the greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport, hasn't fought since his upset loss at the hands of Fabricio Werdum last June. Silva, a winner of two straight, has only lost one fight since 2006.  

Update - FanHouse reports that the field is set:

The first two quarterfinal bouts will take place on Feb. 12, with Fedor Emelianenko taking on Antonio Silva, while Andrei Arlovski will face Sergei Kharitonov.

The other two quarterfinal bouts include Brett Rogers facing Josh Barnett and current Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem taking on Fabricio Werdum, the last man to beat Emelianenko 

The tourney will also include a cool feature for Strikeforce's up and coming heavyweights. Shane del Rosario, Lavar Johnson and Daniel Cormier may be involved in alternate bouts as insurance down the road for injured participants.   

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fedor-is-back-Strikeforce-heavyweight-tournamen?urn=mma-303264

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Alistair Overem vs Peter Aerts at K-1 Final Grand Prix 2010 - Alistair Overeem

K-1 World Grand Prix Final 2010, [ Final ]

Source: http://mmalice.com/alistair-overeem/alistair-overem-vs-peter-aerts-at-k-1-final-grand-prix-2010-video_921622c90.html

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UFC still committed to bringing MMA to New York

UFC president Dana White and chairman Lorenzo Fertitta met with the press in New York City to make their commitment to the Big Apple clear. They announced via an online press conference that once MMA is regulated, the UFC will bring two shows to Madison Square Garden. According to studies from an independent researcher, those two shows would bring $23 million and more than 200 jobs to N.Y.

"By bringing UFC events to New York, the state will see a positive financial impact," White said. "The arenas will get to host major UFC events and local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses will attract new customers. They’ll look forward to the times we bring UFC to New York." 

N.Y. assemblyman Dean Murray was on hand to talk politics, and the process that had to happen to get MMA legalized and sanctioned in his state. He will try to sway newly sworn-in governor Andrew Cuomo to include revenue from MMA in the state budget, which will give it an easier path. He is pushing for MMA's legalization because he wants the state to find new economic streams.

"In today's climate, we don't need to be raising taxes. We need a chance to raise revenue," Murray said.

But one thing was clear throughout the press conference -- the UFC's biggest hurdle in getting MMA in the Empire State was not effective lobbying or discussions of economic impact. It's the need for education. 

White emphasized the process of education several times throughout the half-hour press conference, and then a reporter on-hand showed just why education about of MMA was needed, asking, "How will you regulate martial arts when you add in kicks and punches?"

White calmly pointed out that kicks and punches are part of MMA, one of the few sports regulated by the government, and that safety is always the first concern. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-still-committed-to-bringing-MMA-to-New-York?urn=mma-307253

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