Bellator Bolsters Roster With Paul “Semtex” Daley and Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef

Newport Beach, Calif. (July 21, 2014) – Since the day Bellator President Scott Coker joined the promotion, the goal has been to create the most entertaining fights possible under the Bellator banner. With that in mind, Bellator has added knockout kingpins Paul “Semtex” Daley (34-13) and Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (28-11) to the roster. The two veterans have both amassed impressive careers, including an astonishing 51 career knockouts between the two heavy-handed strikers.

Daley rejoins Bellator after a dominating debut in 2012 with a first round knockout over Rudy Bears at Bellator 72. Only 31, the Nottingham based striker is looking to make his mark on the Bellator Welterweight Division.

“Like always, I’m coming into Bellator to put on a show,” Daley said. “I loved working for Coker back in Strikeforce, and when I got the call to possibly come back to Bellator, it was a no-brainer. I feel great, I’m fresh, and I’m going after that belt.”    

Manhoef will join an already deep middleweight division as the Dutch kickboxer brings his finishing skills to the Bellator cage and Spike TV. The former Strikeforce and K-1 veteran is on a mission to provide explosive finishes, and with potential matchups with Alexander Shlemenko, Brennan Ward, Brett Cooper and Doug Marshall on the horizon, fans should expect fireworks inside the Bellator Middleweight Division.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We want Bellator to be a destination for not only the top-tier fighters in the sport, but the first-choice destination for fans to see the most entertaining fights in the sport,” Coker said. “Both Paul and Melvin add a level of excitement to the roster that I can’t wait to see inside our cage, and this is just the beginning.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BellatorMMA.         

Ronda Rousey: A double standard?

Credit: USA Today Sports 

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Fewer fighters experienced a more rapid ascension in mixed martial arts than Ronda Rousey. She seemingly entered the spotlight overnight. Since she won the women’s bantamweight title in 2012, she’s been one of the most recognizable faces in all of mixed martial arts, if not the most recognizable. But, as with any entrance into the limelight, Rousey's fame also translates to her receiving extra scrutiny.

From the weigh-ins for her first title fight against Miesha Tate (starting at the 6:52 mark):



 To the pair’s stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter:







Rousey has displayed the attitude and demeanor that’s straight out of the Nick Diaz or Michael Bisping School of Villainy. With it came a flood of criticism both from her fellow fighters, fans and some media types alike:

I wish @MieshaTate would just unload a can of whoopass on Ronda Rousey. Ronda was such a poor sport on @UltimateFighter
— Igor Vovkovinskiy (@Igor2tall) June 30, 2014

I don't blame the fans who booed Ronda Rousey last night. No one likes a poor sport.
— Miss Giggles (@AndreaKcc) December 29, 2013

Also a shame to see Ronda Rousey, the best female fighter on earth by far, show absolutely no class after a great fight with Tate #UFC168
— Mark Heath (@mark__heath) December 29, 2013

Now, compare those tweets about Rousey to similar tweets about the previously mentioned Diaz:

#mma It’s Time to Face the Facts, Nick Diaz is Really F ***ing Awesome: First off I apologize for the spora... http://bit.ly/hBDBGb #ufc
— Travis McPherson (@TravisMcP) April 10, 2011

That said, here’s a tweet from a knowledgeable colleague I follow on Twitter:

So, at the #UFC175 workout session, Rousey received the most cheers and highest welcome from fans. Yet all these people allegedly hate her.
— Dizz - #WSOF11 (@TalkMMA) July 2, 2014

So it’s possible my belief is unfounded. But, Rousey has never made apologies about who she is or tried to be someone she’s not. So why is she on the receiving end of boos and venom from certain fans, while male fighters who exhibit the same demeanor are cheered and revered?

One argument is that Rousey showed poor sportsmanship when she refused to shake Miesha Tate’s hand after their fight at UFC 168 last year. While many fighters shake hands, hug, etc. after they fight each other, many don’t. Let’s not kid ourselves though. It’s called the Ultimate Fighting Championship for a reason. At its core, it’s about two individuals stepping into a cage with the intent to beat each other up. Many times, the two people stepping into that cage don’t like each other, as is the case with Rousey and Tate.

Is it possible that the only two people who bring this side out of Rousey are Tate and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino? Perhaps. Leading up to her fights against Liz Carmouche and Sara McMann, Rousey was basically complimentary of her opponents. Carmouche even trained with Rousey and her team during her stint as coach on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

But overall, I still think some MMA fans hold Rousey to a different standard than male fighters. What is the cause of this? I don’t know. Is it a case of “too much, too soon” with Rousey’s unprecedented success? Is it based in some subconscious belief in so-called “traditional” gender roles - that men should be aggressive and women should be submissive?

If you’re not a fan of Ronda Rousey, that’s well within your rights. But for her to be criticized for the same reasons other fighters are celebrated doesn’t pass the smell test.  

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Bristol Marunde signs Paradigm MMA Management for full-service representation

January 29, 2013

(Irvine, CA)  Bristol Marunde has signed with Paradigm MMA Management for full service representation.   In addition to being a M-1, IFL and Strikeforce veteran and Superior Cage Combat’s Middleweight champion, Bristol was recently a participant on the UFC’s reality TV show, The Ultimate Fighter Season 16.  Bristol holds a professional MMA record of 12-7, including winning 9 of his last 11 fights. 

Bristol lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and son.  He trains at Throwdown Training Center under coaches Peter Pinto and Robert Drysdale. Bristol is excited to sign with Paradigm, stating, “MMA is a fast paced sport and I need a management company like Paradigm that will represent me and fight for me.”

Paradigm MMA President Audie Attar said this about the signing, “We are excited to have Bristol joining the Paradigm MMA team.  He was exciting to watch on the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter Season 16.  In his time in the sport Bristol has never been a person to shy away from a challenge and we look forward to working with him.” 

Listen to The FNU Combat Sports Show Featuring Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer

Listen to this week's combat sports show featuring Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer. "Rabble Rousin'" Rich Bergeron, Tony "The Tornado" Penecale, and "Psychic" Tom Padgett also break down the week's combat sports news. We recap last week's final Strikeforce event, preview UFC on FX 7, and run down this weekend's boxing events in this two-part episode.

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Strikeforce on SHOWTIME: A Retrospective

With Strikeforce’s finale taking place this past Saturday night on SHOWTIME, here is a look back at some of the most unforgettable moments featuring some of the biggest names in MMA: Frank Shamrock, Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Cung Le, Fedor Emelianenko, Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and more!

STRIKEFORCE: NATE MARQUARDT vs. TAREC SAFFIEDINE WEIGH-IN RESULTS

All Fighters Participating in Saturday’s Event Make Weight

From Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Televised Saturday/TOMORROW Live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Preliminary card live on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 11, 2013) – All fighters participating in Saturday’s STRIKEFORCE World Championship telecast made weight on Friday, just one day before they step into the cage at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) as part of a Free Preview Weekend on SHOWTIME^® that begins this Friday, Jan. 11, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 13 and is available in over 80 million households.

In the main event STRIKEFORCE Welterweight Champion and former UFC title contender Nate Marquardt, of Aurora, Colo., will defend his belt against the streaking Tarec Saffiedine, of Brussels, Belgium. 

In a co-featured fight, undefeated top heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier, of San Jose, Calif., will square off with Dion Staring, of North Brabant, Netherlands, in a three-round heavyweight bout. 

In other fights on SHOWTIME, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett, of Seattle, Wash., will face Nandor Guelmino, of Vienna, Austria, former STRIKEFORCE and Dream Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi, of South Holland, Netherlands, will take on Mike Kyle, of San Jose, Calif., and former STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Champion Jacare Souza, of Manaus, Brazil, will faceEd Herman, of Portland, Ore.  Additional preliminary bouts will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

FINAL WEIGHTS:

STRIKEFORCE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 5 Rounds

Nate Marquardt – 170 Pounds

Tarec Saffiedine – 170 Pounds

Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Daniel Cormier – 230 Pounds

Dion Staring – 240 Pounds

Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Josh Barnett – 249 Pounds

Nandor Guelmino - 229

Light Heavyweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Gegard Mousasi – 205.5

Mike Kyle - 205

194-Pound Catchweight Special Attraction – 3 Rounds

Jacare Souza – 193.25

Ed Herman - 193

PRELIMINARY CARD ON SHOWTIME EXTREME – 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast)

Lightweight Undercard Bout – 3 Rounds

KJ Noons – 156 Pounds

Ryan Couture – 155.25

Middleweight Undercard Bout – 3 Rounds

Tim Kennedy – 186 Pounds

Trevor Smith – 186 Pounds

Lightweight Undercard Bout – 3 Rounds

Pat Healy – 156 Pounds

Kurt Holobaugh – 156 Pounds

Middleweight Undercard Bout – 3 Rounds

Roger Gracie – 186 Pounds

Anthony Smith – 186 Pounds

Don't Miss Marquardt vs Saffiedine Live Tomorrow Night

Marquardt and Saffiedine Battle For the Strikeforce Welterweight Title Live Tomorrow  Strikeforce welterweight champion and UFC veteran Nate Marquardt faces Tarec Saffiedine, plus Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier goes toe-to-toe against Dion Staring, and former light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi takes on Mike Kyle! Strikeforce live tomorrow night at 10pm ET/PT during the Showtime Free Preview Weekend See The Prelims Live On SHO Extreme Before the action hits Showtime, see the prelims live at 8pm ET/PT on SHO Extreme Aldo vs Edgar Live In Las Vegas - Tickets Available UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo puts the belt on the line in a super fight against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, plus Alistair Overeem returns to the Octagon to battle Bigfoot Silva, and former light heavyweight king Rashad Evans battles Rogerio Nogueira! UFC 156 presented by Bud Light - Live on Saturday, February 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas

Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine on Showtime - Sat. January 12 - Oklahoma City, OK UFC on FX: Belfort vs Bisping on FX - Sat. January 19 - Sao Paulo, Brazil

Jake Shields signs with Paradigm MMA Management for full-service representation

November 26, 2012

(Irvine, CA)  Jake Shields, a professional MMA Fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has signed with Paradigm MMA Management for full service representation.   Jake is a former Strikeforce World Champion, holds a professional MMA record of 27-6-2 and is widely regarded as a top contender at welterweight.

Jake lives and trains in San Francisco, California with top fighters such as Gilbert Melendez, Nate and Nick Diaz and is coached by Tareq Azim.  Jake said that he was excited to sign with Paradigm and about the opportunities that lie ahead.  Shields went on to say:

“I am extremely dedicated to my career, improving as a fighter and once again becoming World Champion.  I feel that the support of Paradigm’s team will allow me to best accomplish my personal and professional goals.”

Paradigm President Audie Attar said the company is ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with a world champion like Jake. Attar went on to say:

“Jake is a household name in the sport of MMA, he’s battled through a lot of adversity in his career and is poised to make a huge come back in the welterweight division.”

Three Strikeforce Championship Fights Come To OKC

Strikeforce Brings Three Title Fights, Plus The Return of Daniel Cormier, To OKC Strikeforce comes to the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on Saturday, January 12th, and the card is loaded with championship matchups! Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez defends the belt against Pat Healy, welterweight champ Nate Marquardt returns to face Tarec Saffiedine, and Lorenz Larkin looks to try and claim the middleweight title from champion Luke Rockhold! Tickets on sale this week. The Countdown to UFC 154 Begins Tonight UFC 154 is on the horizon - see how champions Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit have prepared for their showdown in Montreal, plus Martin Kampmann and Johny Hendricks get ready for their battle of welterweight contenders! Countdown to UFC 154 premieres tonight at 11pm ET / 8pm PT on FUEL TV

TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEEK Strikeforce Champions Presented by MusclePharm  Saturday, January 12 - Chesapeake Energy Arena  UFC Fight Club Presale Starts Wednesday, November 14 - Noon CT Join today for first access to tickets! Newsletter Presale Starts Thursday, November 15 - Noon CT Presale Password: ENERGY Purchase Public On-Sale Starts Friday, November 16 - Noon CT Purchase

UFC 154: St-Pierre vs Condit on Pay-Per-View - Saturday, Nov. 17 - Montreal, Canada UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Diaz on FOX - Saturday, December 8 - Seattle, WA

Don't Miss Franklin vs Le Live Tomorrow, Plus New TUF and Primetime Tonight

Franklin vs Le Live Tomorrow At A Special Time on FUEL TV The UFC arrives in China, bringing a huge middleweight showdown to the Octagon! Former champion Rich Franklin takes on Cung Le, Thiago Silva battles Stanislav Nedkov and Dong Hyun Kim faces Paulo Thiago! Live at 9am ET / 6am PT on FUEL TV, with a replay at 7pm ET / 4pm PT UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs Condit Part Two Premieres Tonight After All-New TUF on FX Team Nelson leads the tournament going into the final opening round match - who will earn the last spot in the quarterfinals? Immediately following TUF is the premiere of UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs Condit Part Two - go behind the scenes and into the lives of the two men who will battle for the undisputed welterweight championship in Montreal on November 17! Starting tonight at 10pm ET/PT on FX

UFC on FUEL TV: Franklin vs Le on FUEL TV - Saturday, November 10 - Macao, China UFC 154: St-Pierre vs Condit on Pay-Per-View - Saturday, Nov. 17 - Montreal, Canada

THREE STRIKEFORCE® TITLE FIGHTS AND THE RETURN OF OSU STAR DANIEL CORMIER HEADLINE JAN. 12, 2013 EVENT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, LIVE ON SHOWTIME®

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, NOV. 16

Las Vegas, Nevada – STRIKEFORCE^® heads to the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., onSaturday, Jan. 12 with three championship fights, plus the return of Oklahoma State University star Daniel Cormier, all televised live on SHOWTIME^®. With a collection of some of the best fighters in the world today, STRIKEFORCE has put together a memorable and historic card for the fans in the Sooner State. 

The action-packed night includes the following bouts:

• Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez (champion) vs. Pat Healy for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title
• Luke Rockhold (champion) vs. Lorenz Larkin for the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title
• Nate Marquardt (champion) vs. Tarec Saffiedine for the STRIKEFORCE welterweight title
• Daniel Cormier (Grand Prix champion, OSU All-American) vs. Dion Staring

“We’ve built an absolutely stacked card for Oklahoma City and the SHOWTIME viewers,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “We have three awesome title fights featuring some of the best fighters to ever grace the STRIKEFORCE cage. Plus, we have Daniel Cormier, one of the fastest-rising heavyweight stars today, returning to his roots in Oklahoma to fight Dion Staring. January 12 is going to be a really special night.”

“The biggest stars in STRIKEFORCE are putting their titles on the line in competitive fights,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports^®, “and that is precisely what fans of STRIKEFORCE on SHOWTIME have come to expect.  We are excited to be part of the event.”

STRIKEFORCE^® will air live on SHOWTIME^® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE^® go on sale to the public on Friday, November 16 at 12 p.m. CT and are priced at $150, $100, $70 and $50. Tickets are available at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, at Ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices will be announced in the coming days. Applicable service charges may apply.

UFC^® Fight Club^™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, November 14 at 12 p.m. CT, via the website www.UFCFightClub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter and STRIKEFORCE Insider subscribers Thursday, November 15, starting at 12 p.m. CT. To access this pre-sale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through www.UFC.com and the STRIKEFORCE Insider through www.STRIKEFORCE.com.

For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

About STRIKEFORCE^® - www.strikeforce.com

Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship^® brand, STRIKEFORCE^® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in Las Vegas, Nev. that currently holds live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on SHOWTIME^® and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME^®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2^™, SHOWTIME^® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME^®, SHOWTIME BEYOND^®, SHOWTIME NEXT^®, SHOWTIME WOMEN^®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE^® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD^™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel^™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. 

Chesapeake Energy Arena: 
Chesapeake Energy Arena is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2012 and recently completed a more than $90 million renovation that included a new grand entrance and other significant upgrades. The arena is managed by SMG, which since 1977 has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition cen­ters.