Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Fighter Payouts

MoneyThe CSAC has released the fighter payouts for Strikeforce “Evolution.” Keep in mind, these figures represent the base contracted pay the fighter receives from the promotion. These figures do not include any additional undisclosed bonuses or sponsorship money, which in many cases exceeds a fighter’s base pay. These numbers also do not account for taxes, insurance, and license fees.

 

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Photo Gallery

Scott Smith comes from behind to knock out Cung Le

As always, Esther Lin has an awesome photo gallery from last night’s Strikeforce “Evolution” on Showtime event.

 

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Post-Fight Press Conference Videos & Interviews

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ post-fight press conference videos and interviews via Fanhouse, Showtime Sports, Strikeforce and Sherdog.

 

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Results, Wrap-Up & Live Gate

Strikeforce Evolution PosterStrikeforce “Evolution” took place earlier this evening at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

 

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Pre-Fight Interviews: Le, Smith, Melendez, Thomson, Lindland, Jacare, Mo, Whitehead

Fanhouse and Showtime Sports deliver Strikeforce “Evolution” pre-fight interviews with Cung Le, Scott Smith, Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Matt Lindland, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, King Mo and Mike Whitehead.

 

Strikeforce ‘Evolution’ Pre-Fight Interviews: Matt Lindland & Jacare Souza

Matt Lindland and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza face off this Saturday, Dec. 19, at Strikeforce “Evolution.”

 

EA Sports MMA Announces Handful Of Fighters, Rumors, Future Battle With THQ Over UFC License?

EA Sports announced a handful of fighters for their upcoming EA Sports MMA video game earlier today in a live chat. Those announced were Cung Le, Scott Smith, Robbie Lawler, Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Matt Lindland.

They join Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Brett Rogers, Gegard Mousasi, Jake Shields, Nick Thompson, Frank Shamrock, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Jay Hieron on the official roster. You can keep track of the roster on the EA Sports MMA official website.

If you’re interested a few juicy rumors, Middle Easy is all over them. According to a story they found in Fighting Spirit Magazine, there were strong hints that DREAM will be one of the organizations in the game, PRIDE rules (soccer kicks and foot stomps) will be an option, Sakuraba will make the roster, ring restarts are still being worked out and the targeted release date is sometime in September 2010.

Meanwhile, Dave Meltzer says they’re shooting for August. Meltzer also foresees a potential battle between EA and THQ over the UFC license when THQ’s grasp on it expires next year. Via MMA Payout:

EA MMA is still sticking to its guns of no women in the game even though Gina Carano would probably be the most marketable person they would have if they signed her. The problem is decisions on personnel were made by hardcore purists. The game is right now scheduled for an August release. What will become interesting is that the THQ license for UFC expires next year and EA MMA will not sell close to UFC numbers, and EA hates to be second place in any genre. Even though Dana White has dissed EA in the past because people running the company at one point told White they had no interest in MMA, those in the industry believe EA, if the new game doesn’t do well, will make a big offer for the UFC license.

If EA is able to produce a superior experience to UFC Undisputed 2010, things could definitely get interesting. We all know once you burn Dana White, getting off his shit list is a very difficult, if not impossible task. Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta say EA blew them off in the past, so you have to wonder if their personal animosity towards the company would impede a potential working relationship in the future. That said, Dana and Lorenzo are businessmen, good ones at that, and they don’t like to lose so if EA makes a better product and proves they can add more to the UFC’s bottom line than THQ, the possibility of a EA Sports UFC game in 2012 shouldn’t be ruled out.

 

Strikeforce ‘Fedor vs Rogers’ Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights & Notes

A few news and notes coming out of yesterday’s Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Rogers” pre-fight press conference below and highlights above.

— The winner of the Fedor-Rogers fight and the Werdum-Silva fight may square off next according to Scott Coker.

“You see the matchup potential between the winner of the Silva-Werdum fight and the winner of the Fedor vs. Rogers fight, so I think it would make sense for those two to fight each other depending on how it goes,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.

But what about Alistair Overeem? Coker says he’s confident Alistair will return in the first quarter of 2010, so I’m guessing he’s floating this idea out there in case he doesn’t. Overeem last said he would be ready to fight Fedor in April 2010. Speaking of Fedor, he says he has two fights remaining on his contract following the Rogers fight and intends to fulfill them in the US in 2010. He’s not sure what will happen after that.

— The winner of the Coenen-Modafferi will “definitely” fight Cris Cyborg for the Strikeforce 145lbs. women’s title according to Scott Coker.

Strikeforce’s December 19 event on Showtime will be called “Evolution” and it will take place in San Jose, California. A rumored middleweight match-up between Matt Lindland and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has been signed. King Mo’s participation on the card has also been confirmed. The main event is currently being negotiated.

 

Strikeforce/Showtime Dec. 19 Event: King Mo, Lindland, Jacare, Lawler, Smith

Team Thirsty

 

Coker Looking To Book Lawler-Jacare For Fedor-Rogers Strikeforce Card

Robbie LawlerWith the Jake Shields vs Jason “Mayhem” Miller interim middleweight title fight set, Scott Coker is starting to focus on putting together fights for the rest of his middleweight division. Ariel Helwani got a chance to talk to Coker at the Fedor NYC workout, and he revealed he wants to pit Robbie Lawler against one of Strikeforce’s new middleweight signees, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.

Strikeforce is looking to book a middleweight match-up between Robbie Lawler and Ronaldo Souza on the same card that will feature the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers bout later this year on Showtime. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker informed FanHouse of the news at the Emelianenko public workout at the FightHouse gym in New York City on Wednesday.

Naturally, since Lawler is coming off a submission loss to Jake Shields, his manager, Monte Cox, wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the potential match-up.

“[Coker] hasn’t spoke to me about it at all,” Cox said. “Robbie is going to fight top people. I would rather Robbie fight a striker. We would like to find Robbie someone that would stand up and throw punches with us, but they have to do what they have to do.

“We wanted to fight on the last show. we’re certainly ready to fight on this one.”

It’s definitely a dangerous fight for Robbie Lawler who was on a hell of roll before Shields caught him in a guillotine. Lawler would have a considerable advantage on the feet, but if he makes one small mistake and lets Jacare get his hands on him, Lawler could easily find himself on the wrong end of a submission.

Matt Lindland’s Strikeforce debut is also expected to happen on the Fedor-Rogers card, although no opponent has been set for him yet. It’s unknown at this point if the Shields-Mayhem fight will take place on this card as well.

Image via Showtime