If you know of some news that you think we should know about, us our “contact us” form HERE to send it our way.

NEWS

Lewis Shocks Colorado, Wins Belt

Derrick Lewis (Silverback MMA) won the Fight To Win Heavyweight Tittle in Denver , Colorado with a second round TKO of Ryan Martinez. Visit www.fighttowinmma.com for a link to pictures of the fight and a fight recap.

Look for Derrick to fight back home in Houston very soon.

IKF Worlds – Houston fighter wins belt

The IKF Worlds Classic is regarded as one of the best Kickboxing/Muay Thai events in the world.  This years event set a record as it saw 320 fighters register to compete (shattering the old mark of 280 set back in 2009).  The IKF also set a record for number of fighters to fight for a title as it saw 270 compete for the gold, surpassing the old mark of 240 set back in 2005.

Houston are fighter Ricky Turcios (Gracie Barra The Woodlands) won the Featherweight Title for the second year in a row.  We are still trying to get final results for all of the Houston area fighters.

For more info, visit http://www.ikfkickboxing.com/WC10.htm

NOTES

Barringer to face Jiminez at Bellator

When Bellator returns to Texas is September, it will once again showcase some of Texas (and Houston’s) best fighters. We reported last week that Andrew Craig has agreed to appear on the card, and now you can add Arron “Bad Man” Barringer (Hoger MMA and blogger for TheCageDoor.net) and Gilbert Jiminez (Texas Powerhouse) to that list, as the two have agreed to square off at 155 in San Antonio.

RUMORS

No rumors this week

EVENTS

July 31 – Legacy Fighting Championship – Moore vs. Melancon - Click Here for Complete Coverage
Aug 4 – Puro Combate – Jason Frank makes his Pro Debut – See our Calendar entry for the complete card

Have some news about a Houston area fighter, gym or somebody else involved with the scene?  Send it to use by using THIS FORM and we’ll include it in our “News and Notes”.

FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE

(Houston, Tx) - ProStar Grappling is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi and NoGi grappling tournament circuit run under the official rules and guidelines of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).  In an effort to bring the highest quality IBJJF structured event for the serious grappler to the forefront of today’s competition arena, founders Spencer Caldwell and Gracie Barra BJJ Black Belt Chad “Robo” Robichaux created ProStar Grappling.

Join us in Spring TX at Legends Sports Complex on Saturday August 28^th 2010 and experience the difference.

· Special Super Fight Kayron Gracie vs Renan Chavez

· IBJJF Official Rules and Weigh Ins

· Black Belts Compete FREE

· Guaranteed to be organized and run with the highest level of quality available

o On Schedule

o Trained and Certified Referees and Staff

o No Rules Meetings at Event

o No Late Registration

o Brackets Available online the day prior to the event

The event is unique in its first class database system, which is one of a kind. Randomized bracketing software will put you in your bracket as you register. With the registration closing 3 days prior to the event the brackets and division times are available to the competitor online 1 day prior to competing. This allows the competitor to be physically and mentally prepared for their competition. NO rules meeting (rules are IBJJF rules and available here IBJJF Rules), and no waiting hours on your division to begin.

Every team member is formally trained to do their specific job, and referees are trained and certified by the Tournament Director, Octavio Couto Jr. “Rathino” (IBJJF Referee and 3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt).

We believe in providing the very best experience for you to compete out of a love and passion for the wonderful art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

See you on the mats,

ProStar Grappling

Please visit www.ProStarGrappling.com for more information

If you know of some news that you think we should know about, us our “contact us” form HERE to send it our way.

NEWS

Frank to make pro debut

Jason David Frank will be making his pro debut on the Puro Combate card on August 4th.

Craig set for Bellator

Andrew Craig and several other Houston fighters are slated to be on the September San Antono Bellator card.

Rudy gets a shot

John Malbrough will defend his 185lb Lonestar Beatdown title in September against John “Rudy” Thibeault (4oz Fight Club). Mick and the crew are already putting the card together.

NOTES

Rivas out, Chavez in

Kayron will be facing Renan Chavez in the superfight instead of the rumored Jordan Rivas.

RUMORS

Rumor has it that…

• …Fabricio Werdum (the first man to beat Fedor) will be holding a seminar here in Houston the week of the Pro Star Grappling Tournament.

EVENTS

July 24 – Bikini Carwash: Benifiting John Malbrough’s Mother (click for details)

Have some news about a Houston area fighter, gym or somebody else involved with the scene?  Send it to use by using THIS FORM and we’ll include it in our “News and Notes”.

HOUSTON (July 13, 2010) – After weeks of speculation, Strikeforce formally announced that they are indeed coming to Houston.  They will be having a World Championship Doubleheader at the Toyota Center on Saturday, Aug. 21, that will also be aired live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

King Mo

STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Champion “King Mo” Lawal (7-0) will make the first defense of his belt against devastating striker Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2) in the main event. The semi-main will match Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2-1) and Tim Kennedy (12-2) in a clash for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Middleweight (185 pounds) crown.

“Feijao likes to bang so this is going to be an exciting fight.  I’m going to show you all some new things I’ve been working on.” Lawal said of his opponent and strategy.

When asked if he was going to change up his normal routine for his first challenge defense, King Mo responded “The approach doesn’t change.  Going into every fight, I feel like both a champion and a challenger because I challenge myself in training, but I’m always champion in my mind.   So nothing is going to change for this fight.”

Kennedy said he’s a proud Texan having recently moved to Austin, and he’s glad to be fighting here in the lone star state.

“I’m proud to say that I’m a Texan now.  I live in Austin.  I hope that all of Texas will come out to support me as I fight to win the belt.”

Tim Kennedy

When asked how his military experience has prepared him mentally and physically for MMA fights, the former Army special forces sniper said, “This is just fighting.  (In the cage), there’s a guy in a black shirt wearing latex gloves who’s going to protect me.  It’s much different than battling a guy who’s hiding behind a rock with a cell phone, waiting to blow me up.  So, this is fun.  I love fighting.  It’s a huge sport and I’m a huge fan of it.  It’s totally different.”

Undefeated heavyweight and form WWE star Bobby Lashley (5-0), will return to the cage against an opponent to be announced.  However, Jeremy Botter of Heavy.com reported on his Twitter that Lashley could be facing either Lavar Johnson or Chad Griggs.

Lashley spoke of his progression after moving from WWE to MMA.

“I think I’ve progressed well.  The Bobby Lashley who fought my first fight is completely different from Bobby Lashley now.   I’m anxious to get back out there.   I had a little setback and when I finally got cleared. I called (STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott) Coker and begged him to be on this card.”

Bobby Lashley

At one point, King Mo put on his press credentials and asked Lashley if he would take a fight with form WWE Alum Batista.

Lashley replied, “lets make it happen. But then I have bigger fish to fry.”

Also on the televised portion of the card is former world champion and Clements High School graduate (class of 2001) KJ Noons (11-2).  Noons will be facing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match up.

Noons reminisced about his high school days here in Houston.

KJ Noons

“I’m very excited to come back to Texas.  I finished high school here.  My mom and my dad are here.  The fans are awesome here.  I did open-hand Pancrase down the street from here eight years ago before MMA was even big, so I know how it was back then so I’m super excited to be back here.”

He added that he didn’t want to take full credit for getting Strikeforce to come to Houston, but he defiantly planted the bug in Strikeforce CEO Scott Cokers ear.

Game plan wise, it seems to be business as usual for the exciting Noons.

“I think I’m going to keep the fight standing and keep it exciting.  Whether you want to call it a war or whatever, it’s going to be like all my other fights.  I’m going to pick him apart and take him out.”

The undercard is stacked with local Houston fighters.  Matchups singed thus far (but still pending TDLR approval) are:

Chad “Robo” Robichaux (8-0) vs Humberto Deleon (5-3)

Kierre Gooch (2-5) vs Adam Schindler (7-1)

Artenas Young (2-1) vs Chad Cook (8-8)

and famed BJJ instructor Draculino vs Houston MMA legend Rocky Long.  There is also a rumored (but as of now unconfirmed) fight between Rey Trujillo and Jose Santibanez.  This could be a very interesting fight if it happensbecause Trujillo is set to square of against Santibanez’s brother Daniel Pindeda at Legacy FC on July 31.

A special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity for the event is available for “STRIKEFORCE Insider” e-newsletter subscribers (http://STRIKEFORCE.com/insider.html) until 10 p.m. CT this Thursday, July 15.  STRIKEFORCE Insiders receive a special e-newsletter with the pre-sale code.

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m. CT at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX, at select Houston area Randalls locations, and at www.strikeforce.com. Tickets will be available at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 19, at Toyota Center Box Office.

VIDEO INTERVIEWS

PICTURES

(Click to enlarge)

TWEETS

Here is some of the stuff we tweeted from the press conference, that we didn’t mention in the write up.  You can follow us at http://twitter.com/TheCageDoor:

• Strikeforce says the are partnering with EA sports to produce a new MMA vid game.
• KJ Noons says he’s working on his “spandex guard”
• King Mo says he’d “wear out” Rampage Jackson
• Tickets for the card start at $35
• Tim Kennedy’s suits are money
• Noons, “if you don’t respect the sport, it won’t respect you”
• Noons says he will fight Diaz again…and take his belt.

The good folks at Legacy in conjunction with the Houston Area Womens Center are having a school supply drive that ends on July 31.  You can drop your supplies (see the list below) off at any of the following gyms:

Elite Houston
Elite Baytown
Rising Sun Karate
Gracie Barra Woodlands
Westside MMA
McCalls MMA
Hoger MMA
Bushi Ban
Team Tooke
Kingwood MMA
Paradigm Training center
Silverback MMA
Kru Pong’s muay Thai
Submission Boxing
American Combative Systems
4 oz. fight club
Solis Martial arts
Gracie Barra Clearlake
Gracie Barra Champions Forest

On July 31st the first 500 people who bring a school supply to the Legacy event at the Arena Theater will receive a free t-shirt.

Back-to-School 2010 Project Supplies List

Item – (qty needed)

• SPIRAL RING NOTEBOOKS (WIDE RULE) – (2,800)
• WATER SOLUBLE MARKERS – (1000)
• NOTEBOOK PAPER WIDE RULE – (1600)
• WATER COLORS – (400)
• CONSTRUCTION PAPER – (800)
• ERASERS – (1000)
• INDEX CARDS – (200)
• GLUE STICKS – (2,400)
• 3 RING BINDERS (1 ½ -2”) – (400)
• WHITE GLUE – (800)
• COLORED FOLDERS W/POCKETS & BRADS – (3600)
• SCISSORS – POINTED – (600)
• DIVIDERS – (200)
• SCISSORS – BLUNT/SEMI-BLUNT – (400)
• COMPASSES – (200)
• PROTRACTORS – (200)
• MAP PENCILS – (800)
• SUPPLY BOX – (400)
• CLEAR ZIPPERED SCHOOL POUCH (3 HOLE) – (800)
• BACKPACKS (INCLUDING CHARACTER AND PLAIN) – (350)
• SM JUMBO CRAYONS – (200)
• BACKPACKS (LARGE) – (350)
• HIGHLIGHTERS – (1000)
• CLEAR & MESH BACKPACKS – (50)

News and Notes is a new feature for the site.  As the Houston scene becomes more active, we want to keep everyone updated as to whats going on.  If you know of some news that you think we should know about, us our “contact us” form HERE to send it our way.

NEWS

Houston Grand Prix Jiu Jitsu Results

Tony Tipton from Genesis BJJ won the Brown/Black Grand Prix Tournament at the 2010
Houston Grand Prix Jiu Jitsu Championship beating out Eduardo from Elite MMA

Pat Bierschwale, Terrance Ferguson, John Malbrough, Andrew Craig, and Humberto
Deleon were just a few of the local MMA stars that competed at this weekend’s Houston
Grand Prix Jiu Jitsu Championships held at Summer Creek High School. With over 400
competitors Elbert and his crew once again put on a top notch show.

Bronzoulis out after Shark Fights DQ.

Mike Bronzoulis has been told by TDLR that he will be unable to participate at Legacy FC on July 31.  We’re told that Bronzoulis was kneed in the head by his opponent, Anselmo Martinez, while on the ground, knocking him unconscious. Bronzoulis won via Disqualification, but was told by TDLR that he will have to miss the next 60 days.

Updated July 31 Legacy Card

155 – Todd Moore (Gracie Barra The Woodlands) vs. Brian Melancon (Paradigm)
145 – Ray Trujillo vs. Daniel Pineda (4oz Fight Club)
170 – JR Fuller vs. Jonathon Harris (Submission Boxing)
185 – Chris Spicer vs. Bubba Bush
170 – Jeff Rexroad (Paradigm) vs. Craig Gardner (Westside MMA)
205 – Artenas Young (Hoger MMA) vs. Ike Villanueva (Rocky Long MMA)
170 – Patrick Hutton (RSKA) vs. Justin Murray (BushiBan)
135 – Steve Garcia (4oz Fight Club) vs. Warren Stewart
170 – Ricardo Talavera (Elite MMA Houston) vs. Larry Hopkins (Silverback MMA)
HVY – Taylor Hebert vs. Larry Crowe (Silverback MMA)
170 – Jordan Rivas (Elite Baytown) vs. Ruben Melendez (Silverback MMA)

NOTES

Couto Seminar
Master Black Belt Octavio “Ratino” Couto coach of StrikeForce HeavyWeight Fabricio
Werdum the first man to submit Fedor will be in Houston Sunday the 18th for a seminar
at Sugarland MMA. Check out Sugarlandmixedmartialarts.com for more info.

RUMORS

Rumor has it that…

• …Rocky Long could be facing off against Draculino at the Aug 21 StikeForce Houston show.

Have some news about a Houston area fighter, gym or somebody else involved with the scene?  Send it to use by using THIS FORM and we’ll include it in our “News and Notes”.

When asked what went through his mind when he got the word that he’d be on the card, Schindler commented, “I was really excited after doing Bellator last month because I didn’t want to go backwards. The last couple of weeks have been a little crazy for me, so it was great news. He [Gooch] fought Daniel Pineda who I train with now, so that will help.”

Gooch declined our request for a comment regarding the fights, stating he was too busy to be able to respond.

The other bout we have learned about features the # 1 and # 8 ranked pound for pound fighters in the city. Chad “Robo” Robichaux (Gracie Barra The Woodlands), currently ranked #1 overall, will be squaring off against young phenom and 8th ranked Humberto Deleon (Bushi Ban) in a catch weight bout. Look for this fight to go to the ground quickly. Robo is a highly regarded BJJ Black belt who beat Lewis McKenzie back in November to earn the Legacy FC 135 title. Deleon has suffered a couple of losses after starting his pro career 5-1, but has won 18 of his 21 career fights (pro and amateur) via armbar.

“I’m honored to be fighting someone of that caliber and I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Deleon said of his match-up with Robo.

Robo was set to make his national debut with Shine Fights back in April, only to see his fight fall though before the entire show was canceled. “I feel totally re-energized for this bout. I trained hard for Shine and when it fell through it was a bit discouraging. To be blessed with this opportunity to compete in an event such as StrikForce is a huge honor, especially in my city and against an opponent that I think very highly of. I’m very excited and will be working hard with my coaches Todd Moore, Jody Tranthom, Daniel Kim, Lewis Wood and Professor Draculino to represent Gracie Barra with the same level of skill and professionalism we always do. I plan to bring my same fast paced and dominating game plan that I always do, and I promise nothing short of an exciting fight. Look for this to be fight of the night.”

Ragan McDaniel, of B3 Sports, manages both Chad Robo and Adam Schindler, and had this to say when asked how tough it was to get two of his fighters on the card, “ I really just stayed in contact with Strikeforce and tried to promote the guys consistently. Of course, having 2 premiere fighters that have great records and professional titles makes it easier.”

It is worth noting that all 4 fighters have agreed to the fights, but will not be officially signing the contracts until after the press conference on Tuesday.

Strikeforce is coming to town, and they are bringing the King (King Mo that is) with them. Fresh
off of his win over Gergard Mousasi, King Mo will defend his Light Heavyweight title
against an unnamed fighter at this time (though rumored to be Rafael Cavalcante), here in Houston Texas on August 21st. Also, scheduled to appear on the card is BJJ legend Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

This marks only the second time that Houston has hosted a major national card with the
last coming almost three years ago (in 2007) at UFC 69. Hopefully with another great
showing from our fans, Houston can get and stay in the rotation and continue to host these types
of events. A couple of Houston fighters have been rumored to be on the card, and TCD.net will
confirm these fighters as soon as possible.

If you know of some news that you think we should know about, us our “contact us” form HERE to send it our way.

NEWS

Houstonian’s win gold in Dallas

Patrick Bierschwale and his Westside MMA teammate Petar Velebit Šprajc won gold at the Chin Woo San Shou kickboxing tournament in Dallas this past weekend. Really impressive when you realize Patrick just had knee surgery 4 weeks prior.

Global Fight Alliance Results:

Chow KO’ed

Gerzan Chaw from Bushi Ban lost a tough fight for the 145 title in Louisiana on Saturday night. Gerzan dominated the first round and got caught in the second as he was going for the finish.

Powers Falters

Bobby Powers from United Kombat Academy lost his 125 title fight on Saturday Night by RNC in the 1st.

Ohlson Dominates

Israel Ohlson won his fight in 24 seconds of the very first round via vicious armbar that broke his oppnents arm in two places.

Lewis Loss Marred by Controversy

Derrick Lewis from Silverback MMA lost a controversial fight against Bellator HWY Shawn Jordan in Louisiana on Friday night. Bad reffeing, poor timekeeping, and fighters not weighing in all marred this fight. Hopefully the Louisiana commission will look into these claims.

Fight To Win/WGC Results: Chapa and Buchannan Go For Gold.

Congrats to Alan Chapa and Tim Buchannan from Hoger MMA on winning gold at the Fight To Win tourney in Dallas. Tim also won silver as well.

Shark Fights 11: Ike Wins Via Decision

Ike Villanueva earned a unanimous decision at Shark Fights 11 and improved his record to 5-3.

NOTES

TheCageDoor.net UFC 116 watch party and fund raiser

PLEASE READ!!!

TheCageDoor.net will be holding our second UFC watch party this Saturday at Big Woodrows for UFC 116 (Lesnar vs Carwin). We will have giveaways from some of our great sponsors and we look for another great turnout. This event will also act as a benefit for the mother of local MMA fighter John Malbrough.  Mrs Malbrough recently had a heart attack and found herself in the hospital.  She does not have insurance and is the medical bills are begining to pile up.  SO PLEASE, come out the Houston MMA family.  More details to in the next couple of days.

Donations will be accepted and we hope to see Houston give back to one of the nicest and most well respected guys in the Houston fight game.

RSVP ON FACEBOOK HERE:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127551797283352&index=1

RUMORS

None this week

EVENTS

July 3- UFC 116 Watch Party at Big Woodrows

Have some news about a Houston area fighter, gym or somebody else involved with the scene?  Send it to use by using THIS FORM and we’ll include it in our “News and Notes”.