Quote:
Originally Posted by zitro_joe
Miami looks to be a good show so far. MMA and Dexter are the only reason I get Showtime
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Yes, it does. I like the card.
"Strikeforce: Miami" gets three more bouts
With Strikeforce's first event of 2010 a little more than three weeks away, the fight card is nearing completion.
MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed with promotion officials the addition of three preliminary card matchups to the Jan. 30 "Strikeforce: Miami" event.
And with Showtime committed to broadcasting five main-card matchups, a pair of high-profile fighters will likely be left off of the evening's premium cable broadcast – though it will not necessarily go unseen.
The three official additions to the card include Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos da Matta, Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly, and David Gomez vs. Craig Oxley. Strikeforce is expected to add at least one more preliminary matchup to the card, bringing the total guaranteed bouts to a minimum of 10.
Headlining the preliminary card will be a recently confirmed matchup between Jay Hieron (18-4 MMA, 1-0 SF) and Joe Riggs (32-10 MMA, 3-2 SF). Both are considered top welterweight contenders in the Strikeforce organization, and though Showtime will not air the fight, sources close to the Strikeforce promotion indicated the group may be seeking an alternative method of broadcasting the matchup.
The current Xtreme Fighting Championships bantamweight champion, Alfonso (5-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) brings a proven grappling game to the cage. The 26-year-old has earned four of his five career wins by submission, and his lone loss came in March 2009 via decision.
An American Top Team black belt known as "Parrumpinha," da Matta (7-0 MMA, 0-0 SF) also brings a capable ground game to the card. After sitting out in 2008, da Matta went 4-0 in 2009. The Brazilian owns two wins by TKO in addition to his three submission victories.
A Michigan native, Sabasi (2-0 MMA, 0-0 SF) debuted professionally in 2009. "The Punisher," who trains out of Coopers Gym in Detroit, has earned both of his career wins by first-round TKO.
Kelly (3-0 MMA, 0-0 SF) also brings an undefeated record to the cage. The 31-year-old earned three wins in 2009 in the first three bouts of his professional career. All three victories came via stoppage.
The Florida-based Gomez (0-2 MMA, 0-0 SF) made his professional debut in 2008 for the now-defunct EliteXC promotion. Winless in two professional contests, Gomez fought in 2009 under the Real Fighting Championships banner.
A striking specialist and World Combat League veteran, Oxley (0-2 MMA, 0-0 SF) also seeks his first professional MMA win. While an accomplished standup fighter, Oxley is perhaps best known to MMA hardcores as the recipient of a flashy Genki Sudo submission in a Pancrase contest held in 2000.
With the additions to the card, the full "Strikeforce: Miami" card now includes:
MAIN CARD
Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis (for vacant welterweight title)
Champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Marloes Coenen (for women's featherweight title)
Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef
Bobby Lashley vs. TBA
Herschel Walker vs. TBA
PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
Jay Hieron vs. Joe Riggs
Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos da Matta*
Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly*
David Gomez vs. Craig Oxley*
Also, Roger Gracie has signed with SF.