World Series of Fighting signs top-10 ranked welterweight Jake Shields to an exclusive, multi-fight deal and is expected to debut in July, 2014

Top-10 ranked welterweight expected to debut in July

  

                                                              PHOTO: WSOF

LAS VEGAS (April 21, 2014) - World Series of Fighting continues to build an extremely stacked welterweight division with the addition of former Strikeforce champion and UFC title contender Jake Shields.  

With the addition of Shields, the World Series of Fighting welterweight division is now one of the best on the planet with such top talent as current champion Rousimar Palhares and top contenders Jon Fitch, Josh Burkman, Steve Carl, and Gerald Harris. 

The California-based fighter recently announced that he signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion and is expected to debut in the World Series of Fighting decagon in July. He brings a 29-7-1 record into the cage and will make his first appearance against an opponent to be named shortly.

Shields has beaten a very impressive who's who list of fighters that includes Dan Henderson, Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Martin Kampmann, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jason Miller and Yushin Okami. 

Shields is ranked as a top-10 welterweight and has built himself a hall-of-fame worthy resume in 15 years of professional fighting. The 35-year-old is a proud member of the "Skrap Pack," where he trains alongside some of MMA's best, including Gilbert Milendez as well as Nick and Nate Diaz. He also works closely with coach Tareq Azim at his Empower gym in San Francisco.

Shields, an American Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, previously held the EliteXC welterweight title, as well as the Strikeforce middleweight championship. "I have so much to prove, and I will become the World Series of Fighting welterweight champion," Shields said. "I'm really looking forward to fighting at my new home with World Series of Fighting.  I think that when you look at the World Series of Fighting welterweight roster, there is no denying that they're housing many of the world's best, and I'm proud to be a part of that group."

"Jake has been a top fighter in professional mixed martial arts for years now, " World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo said. "You know you've got one of the best in the world when you sign someone who has won multiple championship belts and has had 15-fight win streaks over some of the world class fighters he's beaten. This kid is an extremely tough, proven warrior capable of beating anyone who stands in his way. I'm extremely proud we were able to sign him and I will continue bringing fighters of this caliber to World Series of Fighting."

About WSOF

World Series of Fighting is a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering an incredible, action-packed entertainment experience for fight fans by producing the best possible matchups between elite fighters from around the globe. For more information please visit WSOF.com. Follow World Series of Fighting on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries and World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo@SugarRaySefo.

Takedown Wrestling Media Weekly Interview Archive Update 12/26/13

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Cradle Gear's Interview Archive Update click titles for links Audio Interview: Rich Bender Dec 26, 2013 03:10 pm Rich Bender read more      Audio Interview: Tyron Woodley Dec 26, 2013 01:43 pm Tyron Woodley read more      Audio Interview: Travis Traxler Dec 24, 2013 02:10 pm Travis Traxler read more      Audio Interview: Andrew Pariano Dec 24, 2013 12:15 pm Andrew Pariano read more      Audio Interview: Veronica Carlson Dec 23, 2013 04:20 pm Veronica Carlson read more      Takedown Radio December 21, 2013 Dec 21, 2013 11:08 am Hour 1 Hour 2 Interviews James Drescher/Chad Adams Frankie Edgar Michael Doyle Joe Warren Jeff Murphy read more      Audio Interview: Ty Eustice Dec 20, 2013 03:54 pm Ty Eustice read more      Wrestling fans- Click here: to Watch the Latest Episode of TDRTV.  Click here: to Listen to the Latest Radio Episode. Check your TV Guide for showtimes, our side column for local listings.

LUKE ROCKHOLD OUTPOINTS TIM KENNEDY TO RETAIN STRIKEFORCE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP; NATE MARQUARDT STOPS TYRON WOODLEY FOR STRIKEFORCE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

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SHOWTIME^® Telecast Will Replay Sunday, July 15, at 10 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Tuesday, July 17, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 14, 2012) – Luke Rockhold retained the STRIKEFORCE middleweight championship Saturday on SHOWTIME^®  by clearly outpointing Tim Kennedy in the main event from Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.  STRIKEFORCE newcomer Nate Marquardt beat previously unbeaten Tyron Woodley (10-1) in an impressive fourth-round  stoppage for the vacant STRIKEFORCE welterweight championship.

The SHOWTIME telecast will replay tomorrow/Sunday, July 15, at 10 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and again Tuesday, July 17, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.  The fights will be available On Demand from July 15-Aug. 12.

Rockhold (10-1) earned his second defense of the 185-pound title by outworking the challenger, earning a unanimous decision after five hard-fought rounds.  Rockhold had the better striking and grappling and was able to control Kennedy (14-4) in most areas throughout a fight scored 49-46 by the three cageside scorers.  Rockhold remains undefeated in the STRIKEFORCE organization.

After a 16-month layoff, Marquardt (32-10-2) made a loud statement about his return with a brutal knockout win over Woodley at 1:39 in the fourth round of an exciting and fast-paced slugfest. 

In other fights on SHOWTIME, Roger Gracie (4-1), who fought for the first time in his MMA career in the middleweight division, won a three-round decision over veteran Keith Jardine (17-11-2) and middleweight Lorenz Larkin (13-0, 1 NC) remained undefeated with an impressive three-round decision over Robbie Lawler (19-9, 1 NC). 

In live undercard fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME, hometown hero Pat Healy (30-17) won a three-round unanimous decision over Mizuto Hirota (14-5-1) in a welterweight bout; Ryan Couture (5-1) son of MMA legend Randy Couture, took a three-round split decision over Joe Duarte (10-3) by thescores of 29-28 twice and 28-29 in a welterweight bout; Jorge Masvidal (23-7) recorded a three-round split decision over Justin Wilcox (11-5, 1 NC) by the scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29 in a welterweight scrap; and Jordan Mein (25-8) earned a three-round decision over Tyler Stinson (23-9) in a welterweight match. On the non-televised undercard, Jason High (16-3) impressively submitted Nate Moore (7-3) in an exciting fight to begin the night with a 26-second finish in round one with a guillotine choke.

STRIKEFORCE returns to SHOWTIME on Aug. 18 with a highly anticipated card headlined by female star and current bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who takes on former bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman live at 10 p.m. ET/PT.  

Don't Miss Rockhold vs Kennedy Live Tonight

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Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold looks to defend his title against Tim Kennedy, plus Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight championship! Live tomorrow night at 10pm ET/PT on Showtime Ronda Rousey Takes Over The Cover of ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue Strikeforce women's bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey appears in the upcoming Body Issue of ESPN the Magazine. Look for it on newsstands this month! Tickets On Sale Now For UFC 151 Jones vs Henderson in Las Vegas UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones returns to the Octagon to face off against former two-division PRIDE champion Dan Henderson! UFC 151 Jones vs Henderson presented by MetroPCS - Saturday, September 1 live at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas

Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Kennedy on Showtime - Sat. July 14 - Portland, OR UFC 149: Faber vs Barao on Pay-Per-View - Sat. July 21 - Calgary, Canada

STRIKEFORCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: COKER, ROCKHOLD, KENNEDY, MARQUARDT & WOODLEY

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Championship Fights Top MMA Event This Saturday, July 14, 
Live On SHOWTIME^® (10 p.m. ET/PT); 
Preliminary Fights Live on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® (8 p.m. ET/PT)

PORTLAND, Ore. (July 12, 2012) – Luke Rockhold will defend his STRIKEFORCE^® middleweight title against Tim Kennedy in the main event of a World Championship Doubleheader this Saturday,July 14,  live on SHOWTIME^® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from the Rose Garden.

In the co-feature scheduled for five rounds, Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt will clash for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Welterweight crown. Other matches on the SHOWTIME telecast: Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler (middleweights) and Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine (middleweights).

The live undercard fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME^® begin at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The fights: Jorge Masvidal vs. Justin Wilcox (lightweights), Pat Healy vs. Mizuto Hirota (lightweights), Ryan Couture vs. Joe Duarte (lightweights), Jordan Mein vs. Tyler Stinson (welterweights) and Jason High vs. Nate Moore (welterweights).

What STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker and the world championship competitors said Thursday:

SCOTT COKER

“When I look at this fight card from top to bottom this is an amazing card. Like I’ve said, look at the fights that are on SHOWTIME EXTREME; those fights could really be on the championship part of the card. So from top to bottom STRIKEFORCE is going to deliver another world class match up.’’

(Regarding the vacant welterweight title) “Nate Marquardt is an amazing fighter. If you’ve never seen him fight, he is a dangerous fighter. T-Wood (Woodley) is somebody who came up through the STRIKEFORCE organization on SHOWTIME. This is going to be his toughest test to date.”

LUKE ROCKHOLD

(On being a fighter in STRIKEFORCE and the fan’s reaction) “I’m fighting to legitimize myself and keep bettering myself and to prove to everyone that I am one of the best in the world. They need to realize how good we (STRIKEFORCE fighters) are and if they haven’t seen that then they don’t know what they are missing. STRIKEFORCE guys are going over to the UFC and they are killing guys over there.’’

TIM KENNEDY

“We both want to demonstrate that we are the best fighter in our division. We are going to step in there and go 25 minutes to prove that. What we say before we step in there is irrelevant.

“I think the best way for me to represent the military community is for me to win this fight.”

TYRON WOODLEY

“I think Nate has been around the block for a while. I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he is a well-rounded fighter. I think in this weight class he brings the most name recognition and more skills than the other guys. Most of the guys in the division I’ve already beat or I’ve beat someone who has beat them. I have no issue with him coming over and getting the title shot. ’’

NATE MARQUARDT

(About Tyron’s style) “As a fighter I respect his skills. He is a great wrestler and that’s what he does and that’s what he should be using in his fights. The thing is, we’re there to fight. So when you’re a wrestler your job is to fight. And if you are going to use wrestling that’s great and can be super exciting for the fans. If you can get that guy down and ground and pound that’s great, but if you are going take that guy down and hold him and wait for the decision, that’s a different thing.”

(Regarding what kind of a fight he is expecting on Saturday) “I am expecting to knock him out. This layoff has rejuvenated me and I’m ready to go. ’’

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE^®: ROCKHOLD vs. KENNEDY, presented by Musclepharm, are on sale now and are priced at $125, $75, $50 and $40. Tickets are available at the Rose Quarter Box Office, all participating Safeway/TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE (7673), or at RoseQuarter.com.

Strikeforce Comes To Portland - Tickets On Sale This Week

Strikeforce Comes To Portland With Two Title Fights - Tickets On Sale This Week Middleweight champ Luke Rockhold returns to defend his title against Tim Kennedy - plus, Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt battle for the vacant welterweight championship! Strikeforce Presented by MusclePharm - Saturday, July 14 - live at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR! UFC Fight Club presale starts Wednesday at 10am PT, join today for first access to tickets Subscribe to UFC Magazine Today Look for the new issue on newsstands, featuring covers with Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber Tickets On Sale Now For UFC Fan Expo This July In Las Vegas UFC Fan Expo returns to Las Vegas July 6-7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center

TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEEK AT ROSEQUARTER.COM Strikeforce: Rockhold vs KennedyPresented by MusclePharm Saturday, July 14 - Rose Garden Arena - Portland, Oregon  UFC Fight Club Presale Starts Wednesday, May 30 - 10am PT Join today for first access to tickets! UFC Newsletter Presale Starts Thursday, May 31 - 10am PT Presale Password: OREGON Purchase Public On-Sale Starts Friday, June 1 - 10am PT Purchase

The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale on FX - Friday, June 1 - Las Vegas, NV UFC on FX: Johnson vs McCall on FX - Friday, June 8 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

STRIKEFORCE WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER TYRON WOODLEY TO APPEAR REGULARLY ON SIRIUSXM RADIO’S “FIGHT CLUB”

Segment to be called the “Ty-Run Down”

St. Louis, Missouri (USA): It was announced today that Strikeforce welterweight title contender Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley has agreed to terms and will now be a featured contributor on SiriusXM Radio’s “Fight Club” MMA program. Woodley’s segment will be called the “Ty-Run Down,” and will be spotlighted on a bi-weekly basis. During “T-Wood’s” appearances, he will be chiming in on the latest news in the MMA world, while keeping listeners up to date on his journey to grab the Strikeforce 170-pound belt.

The St. Louis-based Woodley’s first appearance takes place at 5:45 PM ET later today, May 15^th.

“I’m extremely excited for this opportunity,” stated Woodley. “‘Fight Club’ is a great show, and I think we’re going to have a great time together. Fighters bring a different perspective to the media, and I plan to do just that with Sirius.”

“It’s an honor to have a talent like Tyron become part of the Sirius family,” said “Fight Club” Host Ricky Bonnet. “Fight fans really enjoy hearing the opinions of the athletes themselves, and Tyron is known for his straightforward style. This is going to be great.”

“Being a member of the MMA media as well as an active mixed martial artist, I know what unique perspective a fighter of Tyron's caliber can provide,” explained “Fight Club” Host RJ Clifford. “It is one thing to cover the sport, but to participate in competition at the level that Tyron has is a whole other animal. We not only look forward to getting his insight on the biggest stories affecting MMA, but also an intimate look into the mind of one of the sport’s elite.”

Tyron Woodley is one of the top competitors in Strikeforce’s 170-pound division. Making the transition from prospect to legitimate threat in 2011, the two-time Division I All-American in wrestling bested both Tarec Saffidiene and Paul “Semtex” Daley. He kicked off 2012 with a decision victory over Jordan Mein on January 7^th in Las Vegas at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine.” Now unbeaten at 10-0 with six finishes, the 29 year-old is expected to compete for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt in the near future.

SiriusXM Radio’s “Fight Club” airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4-6 PM ET on Sirius 94/XM 208, and online at SiriusXM.com and via the SiriusXM App via Sportszone 860. The show is hosted by Ricky Bonnet, SB Nation Editor Luke Thomas, radio personality and active fighter RJ Clifford, and ESPN Radio host and former Yahoo.com contributor Steve Cofield.

For more information on Tyron Woodley, please visit http://www.tyronwoodley.com/  or http://www.attevolution.com/. Tyron can also be followed on Twitter @TWooodley.

For more information on SiriusXM’s “Fight Club,” please follow them on Twitter @SXMFightClub.