Mixed Martial Arts

Ryan Couture ready to get back in ring after first setback: Saturday, August 22, 2009; Son of UFC legend faces Palo Verde grad Jimmy Spicuzza in tonight's Tuff-N-Uff event; By Andy Samuelson; This past March Ryan Couture tasted two bitter pills for the first time in his young mixed martial arts career. He suffered a near knockout blow from former training partner Elisey Yarovoy, and then eventually a unanimous decision loss to Yarovoy — the first setback for the 26-year-old son of UFC legend Randy Couture. But the sour moment in Bellingham, Wash., close to where Couture grew up in nearby Woodinville, he says was a necessary process for his continued development in the fight game.

Strikeforce CEO Coker sees endless possibilities: Tuesday, August 18, 2009; MMA: Partnership with M-1, DREAM could make promotion a legitimate threat to UFC; By Andy Samuelson; In order to land highly sought mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had to do something UFC brass wouldn’t budge on — letting the Russian star’s M-1 Global fighting organization co-promote events.

A look back at a historic night in mixed martial arts: Monday, August 17, 2009; strikeforce by the numbers:; By Andy Samuelson; Some 13,524 fans filled the HP Pavilion Saturday night to watch mixed martial arts history as Gina Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos battled for the first-ever female championship in the San Jose-based Strikeforce MMA organization.

Despite nonstop frustrations, Hieron leaves San Jose somewhat happy: Sunday, August 16, 2009; Strikeforce Notebook: Coker talks future of women's MMA and Fedor's next foe; By Andy Samuelson; Jay Hieron had too many frustrations to list in the last two weeks, but when the smoke finally cleared (no pun intended to Nick Diaz) Saturday night — Hieron left San Jose with a win and future title fight.

'Cyborg' does all the talking in and out of cage: Sunday, August 16, 2009; MMA: Carano avoids media after loss, trainer promises she'll be back; By Andy Samuelson; After losing in the most historical match in female mixed martial arts history, Gina Carano didn't have much to say. The Las Vegas-based fighter avoided talking to media members in San Jose, but her trainer at Xtreme Couture gym, Shawn Tompkins, vowed 'Conviction' will make it back to such a grand stage in the future.

'Cyborg' TKOs Carano: Saturday, August 15, 2009; Strikeforce: Fans not happy as bout is stopped with one second left in first round; By Andy Samuelson; The first female title fight in women's mixed martial arts history ended with one second left in the first round and plenty of second guessing from the 13,000 fans in attendance at HP Pavilion. The one thing that was clear when ref Josh Rosenthal pulled Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos off Gina Carano a split second before the bell sounded was that Carano was in tons of trouble as the Brazilian striker was reigning down punch after unanswered punch during their action-filled, and crowd-approved four minutes and 59 seconds of fighting Saturday night in San Jose.

Carano ready to write one for the history books: Saturday, August 15, 2009; Strikeforce: Las Vegas fighter prepared for first-ever female MMA championship bout; By Andy Samuelson; SAN JOSE, Calif. — There was daddy’s little girl standing on the scale in front of the masses in just a pair of black and white striped skivvies Friday afternoon and a black sports bra. While the weight of the world, at least that of the female mixed martial arts variety, was placed squarely on her shoulders — all Gina Carano could do was a crack a smile. “I’m excited, I’m ready,” said Carano, who unlike previous weigh-ins, had no problem making weight as she came in a two full pounds under the 145-pound limit.

Carano, 'Cyborg' both make weight: Friday, August 14, 2009; Strikeforce:; By Andy Samuelson; The hard part is over … both Gina Carano and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos made the 145-pound weight limit today for tomorrow’s historical first-ever female mixed martial arts championship bout, the main event of Strikeforce’s show at the HP Pavilion. “A definite sigh of relief,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker after Santos tipped the scale first at 144.5-pounds and Carano came in second at a slim 143.

Carano-'Cyborg' set to make history: Friday, August 14, 2009; TAKE FIVE: MMA: Strikeforce show will feature the first-ever female MMA title fight; By Andy Samuelson; History will be made Saturday night in San Jose, Calif. when the first-ever female mixed martial arts championship event takes place between Las Vegan Gina Carano and Brazilian Christiane “Cyborg” Santos. The fight between the top two female fighters had been rumored for several months. When EliteXC folded, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker swept in to make the dream match a reality. "This is the biggest fight in the history of women’s fighting, not just MMA,” Coker said.

Latest Strikeforce fight goes up in smoke: Tuesday, August 11, 2009; MMA: Diaz's failure to take drug test marks third title fight to fall through for Aug. 15 show; By Andy Samuelson; The show will go on for Strikeforce this Saturday night, but the headaches aren’t letting up for CEO Scott Coker and his San Jose, Calif.-based fight organization.

Kevin Ross celebrates birthday with fight victory: Sunday, July 26, 2009; MMA:; By Hepi Mita; Although it wasn’t the gift he expected, Kevin Ross (9-4) celebrated his 28th birthday by winning the formerly vacant WBC Muay Thai USA welterweight title on Saturday night. “It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever had,” Ross said.

'One-Armed Bandit' ready to prove himself once again: Saturday, July 25, 2009; MMA: Injury during birth hasn't hurt Baxter Humby's career as a champion-level Muay Thai fighter; By Hepi Mita; At first sight it is hard to believe that Baxter “The One Armed Bandit” Humby is a champion kickboxer. “I saw a picture of a guy with one arm and a belt over his shoulder and at first, I’ve got to admit, I didn’t take it seriously,” said Preston Conner, a filmmaker who has spent the past two years documenting Humby’s life. But once one sees Humby fight, it soon becomes evident why he’s the IMTC World Super Welterweight Champion.

Fight card shuffled after Chinese fail to get visas: Friday, July 24, 2009; FIGHTING:; By Hepi Mita; Kevin Ross’ long awaited WBC Super Lightweight International title fight against Kang En has been postponed, after the Chinese Muay Thai team failed to attain entry visas into the United States. The absence of the Chinese team has forced World Championship Muay Thai event organizers to rearrange tomorrow’s fight card.

It takes two to tangle: Thursday, July 23, 2009; MMA: Las Vegas native's desire to fight inspired top female MMA fighter to take up sport; By Hepi Mita; Kevin Ross wasn’t born a fighter. He didn’t take his first martial arts class until he was 22-years-old. But some six years and more than 30 fights later, the Las Vegan has an opportunity to compete for one of Muay Thai’s most eminent titles.

Mayweather badmouths MMA, Pacquiao's promoter: Tuesday, July 21, 2009; MMA/Boxing Notebook: 'GSP' doesn't need surgery; promoter says Hatton should retire; By Andy Samuelson; Floyd Mayweather Jr. might not be talking much about the rib injury that delayed his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez this month, but that seems like the only topic not up for discussion. In a recent interview with CBSSports.com, “Pretty Boy Floyd” rapped on Marquez, Pacquiao and took a monster shot at mixed martial arts — saying the sport his Sept. 19 fight vs. Marquez is competing head-to-head against (UFC 103 is in Dallas the same night) is for “beer drinkers, boxing is for everybody.”