WHEN CLAY GUIDA WAS CHAMP

Some of you might not remember that Clay Guida wasn’t always a UFC fighter. Guida cut his MMA teeth fighting locally in the XFO, Combat Do and Ironheart Crown. He fought in the first-ever events for both the XFO and Combat Do. He also fought in the first Strikeforce event and was the very first Strikeforce lightweight champion.

Guida defeated Josh “The Punk” Thomson to win the belt. Check out Thomson’s face and the special guest who presents the belt. Here is the entire fight.

It’s easy to see why Guida is so tough. Chuck Norris presented him the championship belt!

ROBBIE LAWLER GETS HIS FIGHT

“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler finally gets his next fight at “STRIKEFORCE: Miami”, in what looks to be a another fantastic card. Lawler (16-5) and Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (24-6-1) will square off with each other in a middleweight brawl on Saturday, January 30. Joe “Diesel” Riggs (32-10) and Jay “The Thoroughbred” Hieron (18-4) will face off at welterweight.

Lawler will look to get back to his winning ways after his first round submission loss to Jake Shields at the STRIKEFORCE fight card in St. Louis last June.

One fight prior to the meeting with Shields, Lawler, who hails from Granite City, Illinois, thrilled millions of fans when he unleashed his wrath on Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith in the main event of the live, CBS primetime televised event held in Stockton, California on July 26, 2008.

Manhoef, one of STRIKEFORCE’s newest signees who hails from Amsterdam, Netherlands, notched his latest conquest just days ago at the annual New Year’s Eve K-1 “Dynamite!” event in Japan when he scored a first round (1:49) TKO on former top 10 ranked Kazuo Misaki with a barrage of punches.

His arrival in STRIKEFORCE comes after Manhoef reached the semifinal round of the 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix tournament by scoring first round TKOs on Dae Won Kim and legendary champion Kazushi Sakuraba on May 11, 2008 and June 15, 2008 respectfully.

His well-known battle cry “When I fight, I am willing to die” has translated into Manhoef’s explosive style of fighting, one that has helped him earn 22 of his 30 career MMA wins and 27 of his 45 career kickboxing victories by way of knockout.

In the main event, Nick Diaz (20-7) will take on DREAM welterweight (170 pounds) champion Marius “The Whitemare” Zaromskis (13-3) of Siaulial, Lithuania at welterweight.

STRIKEFORCE Women’s World Lightweight (145 pounds) Champion Cris Cyborg (8-1) of Curitiba, Brazil will put her title on the line against Marloes Coenen (17-3) of Deventer, Holland.

Football legend Herschel Walker will make his highly-anticipated MMA debut against an opponent that has yet to be determined. Undefeated heavyweight and former WWE champion Bobby Lashley (4-0) will make his STRIKEFORCE debut during the event.

BOBBY LASHLEY SIGNS WITH STRIKEFORCE

Strikeforce has their Brock Lesnar. Former WWE heavyweight champion and undefeated MMA fighter Bobby Lashley will make his Strikeforce debut at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday, January 30 in the first-ever Strikeforce event in Florida.

In his last fight Lashley recorded a first round TKO over Bob Sapp in June. The win moved Lashley’s MMA record to 4-0. He also beat local fighter and trainer Jason Guida.

“I’m looking forward to fighting for STRIKEFORCE and challenging myself by taking on some of the top heavyweights in MMA,” said Lashley.

Lashley made his MMA debut on Dec. 13, 2008, earning a 41-second TKO over Joshua Franklin after Franklin sustained a cut and could not continue.

Herschel Walker? Antonio Silva? Brett Rogers? It will be interesting to see who Lashley gets in his first fight.

STRIKEFORCE: POST-FIGHT VIDEO

Post-fight comments from the fighters at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Scott Coker on the event:

Fabricio Werdum wants to fight Fedor next:


Mayhem talks about his performance and Jake Shields talks about the RNC that almost ended the fight:

Scott Coker says Strikeforce will be back in Chicago:


Brett Rogers on a rematch with Fedor:

RVCA Fedor Emelianenko Strikeforce T-Shirt

STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. ROGERS RESULTS

Live Results from Strikeforce/M-1 at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Main Card:

HWT: Fedor Emelianenko def. Brett Rogers by TKO (Strikes) at 1:48 Round 2.

185 lbs Championship: Jake Shields def. Jason Miller by Unanimous Decision to win the Middleweight Belt

205 lbs: Gegard Mousasi def. Rameau Sokoudjou by TKO  3:43 of Round 2

HWT: Fabricio Werdum def. Antonio Silva by Unanimous Decision

Preliminary Card:

**Mark Miller vs. Deray Davis has been pushed back.**

- 145 lbs. Marloes Coenen def. Roxanne Modaferri by Submission(armbar) 1:05 in Round 1.

- 149 lbs.(catch) Jeff Curran def. Dustin Neace by Submission(injury) 1:39 in Round 1.

- 170 lbs. Shamar Bailey def. John Kolosci by Unanimous Decision

- 185 lbs. Nate Moore def. Louis Taylor by TKO(tap to strikes) 3:24 in Round 2.

- 155 lbs. Christian Uflacker def. Jonatas Novaes by Unanimous Decision

THE CHICAGO FLAVOR OF STRIKEFORCE

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers has an undercard filled with local Chicagoland fighters. WEC Veteran Jeff Curran has been added to the preliminary fights, as well as TUF 6 contestant John Kolosci. Bolded names are fighters with Chicago ties.

Undercard:

• Roxanne Modaferri vs. Marloes Coenen
• Jeff Curran vs. Dustin Neace
• Shamar Bailey vs. John Kolosci
• Deray Davis vs. Mark Miller
• Jonatas Novaes vs. Christian Uflacker
• Nate Moore vs Louis Taylor

I think the undercard is going to thrill the crowd at Sears Centre. Davis vs. Miller should be a spectacular brawl. Curran never has a boring fight due to his skillset. Kolosci loves to bang. Uflacker is a BJJ specialist with one of the most respected schools in the area. And Louis Taylor is a young, hungry fighter looking to make it to the next level of pro MMA.

We’ll have all the results of the undercard on our Twitter account, and we’ll have post-fight video and analysis right here on Chicago’s MMA.

STRIKEFORCE: THE FIGHTERS SPEAK

The fighters met the media for an open workout yesterday and here are some quotes and pics:

“I am always amazed at the reaction I get in cities in the United States and it gives me a good feeling. I appreciate it very much. It only makes me want to give a better performance.

“I am really happy to be in Chicago and I have enjoyed my time here.

“This is going to be a good fight. Brett Rogers is good opponent who is undefeated. Fighting in a cage will be different, but I have trained in a cage before.’’

“I feel good and I am happy to be part of such a great card. The exposure we will get for ourselves and the sport of MMA will be tremendous on Saturday night.

“My opponent is very dangerous and I expect a very difficult fight. He has lost a couple fights but they were to good fighters, so there may be some people who are underestimating him. But I am not.

“This fight will last longer than my last one, which I was actually hoping would last longer. But I don’t think there is any way this will go the distance.’’

“I think it’s funny how some people are underestimating me. I’m shocked at the odds. I should be the favorite. But oddsmakers’ jobs are to make money and to get action.

“I’m going to turn this into a brawl. I’m not interested in turning it into a hugging contest, which is what he may do. I want to keep the fight at a fast pace, while I think Jake will want to slow it down and grind it out.

“It’s possible, if I have my way, and Shields does his part, that we will have the fight of the night.’’

“I have prepared very hard for a good fight and that’s what I expect. I think this fight will have a little bit of everything. He’s a very strong opponent and has lost only once.

“I want to fight the best, but my focus is always on my next fight. So, right now, my concentration is totally on Silva. I have to win Saturday so I can continue to do what I want to do.’’

“I am very happy to be fighting again in the United States against a very worthy opponent on CBS.

“I had a fight in late September, but that only lasted one round (3:51). But I trained very hard before that and I trained very hard after it. I’ve been training daily for about four straight months.

“There was a time, in the beginning, after I was told I couldn’t fight, that I actually doubted that I’d be able to fight again. But as time went on, and things progressed and everything was solved, I became more confident.

“Still, it was a huge relief when I was told I could fight again. I am ready for Saturday and prepared for anything he has to offer and ready to go anywhere the fight goes.’’

VIDEO: “MAYHEM” MILLER RELAXED FOR CHICAGO STRIKEFORCE FIGHT

Jason “Mayhem” Miller was as colorful as ever in front of the TV news cameras in Chicago. He played to the cameras well, donning fur jacket and practicing pro wrestling moves. If he’s uptight about his upcoming middleweight title match with Jake Shields you’d never know it.

VIDEO: FEDOR TALKS TO CHICAGO MEDIA

Chicago’s MMA has been critical of the mainstream Chicago media when it comes to covering mixed martial arts.  To our surprise, members of the local TV news pool sent a crew to cover Strikeforce’s open workouts at POW gym in the West Loop.  Here’s Fedor Emelianenko talking to Fanhouse’s Ariel Helwani and some local reporters.

THE MARK MILLER INTERVIEW

The Mark Miller Interview by Rea Frey

Chicago native Mark Miller looks like a typical fighter. With a myriad of tattoos on his arms, a solid build, and his nose and ears marked by his relentless pursuit on the mat, this laid back fighter approaches everything with ease. He’s just as likely to make you laugh as he is to put up his thick fists in a mock old school boxing style and land a quick left hook to your chin. With a record of 14-5, Miller will make his Strikeforce debut November 7 against local fighter Deray Davis (5-1-1) in one of the preliminary bouts. Best known for his stint on season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, this heavy-handed fighter is heralded for his strength and his stand-up game.

Fighting

“Coming up as a kid, I was always a boxing fan,” Miller says. “I always liked watching Mike Tyson smash people in the face. Then, Ultimate Fighting came out, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s some cool shit. I want to do that one day.’ I remember telling one of my friends, ‘One day, I’m going to fight on TV like those guys.’ And I did.

“I started boxing in high school for fun. When I joined the military, I saw some guys training MMA one day on base at the gym. I asked them if I could start working out with them and they let me. I picked up everything pretty fast. I ended up training with them all the time while I was there. Six months later, they asked me if I wanted to fight. A promoter in Florida had a guy drop out of a fight, and they needed a replacement. With a week’s notice, I took the fight. I won in the first round by submission, which doesn’t happen often with my fights. I’m not really a submission guy. From there, I kind of fell in love with fighting, and I’ve been fighting ever since.

“I fought on and off for fun for a couple of years. I was working construction and got laid off for the winter, and in order to make extra money, I just started fighting more often. I kept winning fights. I won some Midwest titles. People were just telling me, ‘You should do this instead of working full-time. You only have a window in your life where you’re able to fight.’ So, I kept fighting, and I kept winning. Then, I got offered a fight for the IFL. That was three years ago. Since then, I’ve been fighting full-time. I like fighting in front of big crowds. That’s a rush.”

“Stand-up is definitely my favorite part of MMA,” he continues. “I love boxing. I never really wanted to be a boxer, though. The whole idea of getting punched in the face the whole time didn’t really appeal to me that much with boxing. I like having the options of kicking and kneeing. I like the stand-up, because I think it’s more exciting for the fans, and it’s more exciting for me. I never really shoot takedowns, but I have the option, if I felt like it.” He shrugs and laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever shot a takedown in my life.” Then why not be a boxer? “I’m too short to be a boxer,” Miller says. “If I was a boxer, I’d have to fight at 147. That’s not happening. Not as long as Taco Bell exists.

“I think the future of MMA is that it’s going to be the biggest sport around. I have mixed emotions about it, actually. As the sport grows, it means better money for the fighters and a better way to make a living, but it also means a massive influx of douche bags. It’s already started. You can go out to any bar on any given weekend and see guys with their MMA shirts on who ‘fight’ UFC. It has its pros and its cons. So, if I had to give local fighters any advice, it would be to take your time. Really learn the sport before you just jump into it. It’s not always about sparring everyday. Take the time to learn the techniques. Evolve as a fighter. Don’t just jump into it. Especially if you’re young. You’ve got all the time in the world. Don’t just take a couple of classes, fight in a local show, win a fight and then tell everybody you’re a UFC fighter. Take your time. Keep your mouth shut. Work hard in the gym. In time, if you dedicate yourself, it will all pay off.”

The Ultimate Fighter

“I never had any desire to go on that show. The idea of living with fifteen guys in a house was so erotic – I mean, no, it never really appealed to me to be on a reality show,” he laughs. “But, I remember they had the tryouts here in Chicago, and a couple of my buddies were going. Me and my friend Kevin, who I ended up fighting on the show, we actually went together. I don’t know how many times we said to each other, ‘Dude, let’s just get the hell out of here.’ It was a fifteen-hour day, there were over 1,000 people there. It was a long, boring process for maybe five minutes of exposure the whole day. We stuck it out, though, and we both ended up getting calls for second interviews. They flew us out to Vegas. We did our interviews and our physicals, and then we both made the show, and lo’ and behold, we both fought each other, which was pretty stupid, I thought. But, I guess if you’re looking for good television, that’s a good way to go about it. Overall, in the house, it was boring as hell. There were no books, no radio, no TV, no music, no anything. And I’m not a kid. I’m a grown man, so I don’t really get into the drama. I don’t sit there and talk about people and play pranks on people and complain and cry. A lot of guys complained a lot and said they couldn’t take it. I was like, ‘Come on, you knew what you signed up for. Deal with it.’ I pretty much kept to myself, but I was close to a couple of guys there. But, I didn’t get involved in any drama.

“I learned a lot of good things from the coaches out there, so it definitely helped me,” he says. “I think certain things I’ve learned will help me – but they aren’t things my coaches haven’t told me before – now, I’m just starting to realize them. Like, I need to relax. I want to turn every fight into a brawl and a street fight, and that’s when I end up doing stupid things and rushing into things. Whereas if I just relax and use my skill, instead of trying to rely on piss and vinegar, I feel like things will turn out a lot better.

“Unlike most fighters, I really don’t have a goal, though. I never set out to be a fighter. I kind of fell into it. I know I said when I was little that one day I would fight on TV, but it wasn’t something that I worked for and worked for. I just kind of fell into it when I lost my job and kept fighting. So, I really don’t have any goals, I just like to fight.”

Training

“My training is usually the same formula: conditioning in the morning and training at night. Depending on the opponent, I try and focus on certain things a little more. It varies from fight to fight. For this upcoming fight, I’ve been focusing a little bit more on my wrestling and not even my defense, but my takedowns too. I’ve been getting a lot of good wrestling work in, and I’ve actually been taking people down, which is not something I’ve done in the past. People get pretty surprised, even in practice, when they see me taking people down. I’m not saying I’m going to shoot a takedown or anything in this fight,” he jokes. “That’s not going to happen. I guarantee it’s not going to happen, but if I could get a body lock slam, I’m taking it. I want to slam somebody,” he says, pounding his fist into his open hand.

Cutting Weight

I’d like to go back in time, find the first person who cut weight, and punch him right in the face. You’re just making life miserable for the future! I don’t cut too much weight, as compared to most guys. I don’t want to win fights because I’m bigger than someone. I fight at 170, but I don’t walk around more than 15 pounds heavier. It’s a pretty easy cut. A lot of guys walk around at 190 and up if they’re fighting at 170. I’d rather just worry about getting better as a fighter than making weight.”

“I just want to say thank you to my friends, family and training partners,” he concludes. “Team Dino Costeas and West Loop Gym. If it wasn’t for all my coaches and training partners, I wouldn’t even be where I’m at today, so I think they deserve all the credit.”

Watch the action Saturday, November 7 on CBS when Mark Miller joins Fedor Emelianenko, Brett Rogers, Jason Miller, Jake Shields, Gerard Mousasi, Thierry Sokoudjou, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum on what promises to be an exciting card at the Sears Centre in Chicago, Illinois.

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