…  TO BECOME FIRST STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION IN HISTORY AT STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS

Rockhold Crushes Bradley, Saffiedine and Medeiros Victorious On SHOWTIME® At STRIKEFORCE’s birthplace in San Jose

SAN JOSE, CA (February 27, 2009) –Before a sold out crowd of 2,322, former ballet dancer turned undefeated professional mixed martial arts (MMA) star Sarah Kaufman (11-0) became the first STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight (135 pounds) Champion in history by powering her way to a five round unanimous decision over Japan’s Takayo Hashi (12-2) in the STRIKEFORCE Challengers main event at San Jose’s Civic Auditorium on Friday, February 26.

Cory SCHAFER ISKA World president

Luke Rockhold (7-1) continued his climb up the middleweight (185 pounds) ladder with a stunning first round (2:24) TKO of Paul Bradley (12-2).  A middleweight contest between former South African national wrestling champion Trevor Prangley (22-5-1) and France’s Karl Amoussou (11-2-2) ended prematurely after Prangley accidentally poked Amoussou in the eye, leading to a doctor stoppage and technical draw being declared.

From the outset, Kaufman pressed the action with a stiff jab and one-two punch combinations, but was unable to finish Hashi who repeatedly backpedaled her way out of trouble.  Kaufman landed her best shots in the first round, dropping Hashi with a straight right hand.

In the third stanza, Kaufman sent Hashi reeling back and nearly put the Japanese fighter down for the second time in the bout with a straight right hand.  After a Kaufman jab snapped Hashi’s head back, Hashi responded by shooting for a takedown that Kaufman stuffed.

A chess match ensued for the remainder of the bout.  Kaufman continued to score with her hands and right leg kick while Hashi retreated to avoid imminent danger.  All three judges scored every round in favor of Kaufman after the fifth round concluded.

In the first round of their much anticipated matchup, Rockhold dropped Bradley with a right hand to the side of the head.  Bradley fought his way back to his feet, but Rockhold quickly went on the attack, scoring a head kick and following up with three straight knee strikes to the body.

Badly battered from the series of blows, Bradley turned his back, prompting the referee to immediately stop the action.

As expected, Amoussou came out of the gates firing punches at Prangley, who covered up and countered the Frenchman’s assault with his own hands.  Prangley scored a takedown, but was unable to advance his position from half guard

After the referee stood up the fighters, Prangley, with an open left hand, accidentally poked Amoussou in the right eye.  The ringside physician immediately entered the cage and examined Amoussou, who was unable to open his eye, and declared the fighter unable to continue at the 4:14 mark of the first round (According to MMA rules in the state of California, the ringside physician has the discretion to stop a bout in the event that an accidental foul causes an injury).

In other action Yancy Medeiros (5-0) of Waianae, Hawaii dominated Raul Castillo (6-1) at middleweight with continuous flurries throughout the matchup between the pair of unbeaten fighters.

Medeiros stuffed Castillo’s repeated takedown attempts and continued to pour on the punishment with both hands, putting Castillo on the canvas with a right hand in the third round.  After an exchange of shots brought the bout to a close, all three judges awarded the fight to Medeiros.

Like Medeiros, Tarec Saffiedine (8-2) maintained an all out stand up offensive in a welterweight (170 pounds) fight with James Terry (7-2) for three straight rounds, opening a cut on Terry’s lower lip and bringing about a welt under Terry’s left eye.

Terry repeatedly attempted to bring the fight to the mat, but Saffiedine defended the takedowns well and responded with more strikes.  After three rounds, Saffiedine was declared the winner by all three judges scoring the bout.

Amongst those in attendance at Civic Auditorium, was MMA’s newest star, football legend Herschel Walker, as well as STRIKEFORCE World Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, and STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez.

During an interview with STRIKEFORCE Challengers host Mauro Ranallo, Walker said, “(MMA) is the toughest sport there is.  To step in the cage and go mano-a-mano, there’s nothing like it. It is the toughest training I’ve ever done.”

Regarding his future in the sport, the 47-year-old Walker said, “I will leave that up to my team at AKA (American Kickboxing Academy, San Jose) when I get back in the gym, we’ll see if they say I am capable of going again, we’ll do it again.”

Complete STRIKEFORCE Challengers Results:

Main Card:

Yancy Medeiros  def.  Raul Castillo  – Unanimous Decision (3 Rounds) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Tarec Saffiedine  def. James Terry  – Unanimous Decision (3 Rounds) (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Luke Rockhold  def. Paul Bradley – TKO (knees to the body) – 1st Round (2:24)

Trevor Prangley – Technical Draw – Karl Amoussou (doctor stoppage after unintentional foul )  – 1st Round (4:14)

Sarah Kaufman def. Takayo Hashi  – Unanimous Decision (3 Rounds) (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

Preliminary Card:

Ronald Carillo def. Anthony De Los Santos  – submission (armbar) – 2nd Round (1:20)

Steve Dickie  def. Alan Lummel  – TKO (punches) –1st Round (:33)

Renee Robinson def. Lilia Salas – TKO (punches) – 1st Round (1:06)

Jesse Tobar def. Johnson Nguyen – Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) – 2nd Round (1:24)

Tristan Arenal def. George Miller – TKO (punches) – 2nd Round (:30)

Samuel Bracamnonte def. Chris Stewart – TKO (punches) – 3rd Round (:59)

Wayne Phillips def. Eric Lawson – Submission (armbar) – 1st Round (4:27)

Pristina, Kosova,  Super Heavyweight World Champion in Thai boxing Xhavit BAJRAMI defend on May 8th his title vs. the strong UK fighter Chris KNOWLES from Minotaur Gym.

Bajrami start his preparation for the fight in Holland by his friends and he is weeks before in a very good shape. The media interest in Kosovo is very high and negotiations with Euro sport TV are running.

Vienna, Austria;  on March 20th is maybe the biggest event of the Year in Kickboxing and full Muay Thai.

The ISKA  World Champion -60 Kg Anna KORCHAGINA get a chance to defend her title vs. the current polish Champion in a bout scheduled for 5 x 2 minutes round. Anna won her title against the African Champion in Cairo by unanimous points decision.  The charming “beast from the east”     is a real World Champion and she is ready to show excellent performance in Vienna.

And the second strike is Russian´s  Nr. 1 in the weight  -64,5 Kg. The famous fighter Denis LUKASHOV from Moscow fight for the vacant World title in Lowkick in a bout for 10 x 2 minutes round. Dennis is famous everywhere in the Kickboxing World, he is WAKO World Champion and also World Champion in other federations as well.

This event is a co-sanction with all three strongest promoters in Vienna and from there an second World federation sanction also 2 more World titles. So this show will have 4 World titles and top class fighters from Russia , Poland, Serbia and Ukraine facing ISKA Austrias stars in the Ring.

Cape Town, South Africa;  ISKA SOUTH AFRICA president Mr. Paul CAVE and his team in South Africa promote for the 5th time the biggest event on the African continent, called All African Open.

More than 900 fighters participated last Year in that event and this Year much more will come. ISKA EUROPE want to build up a team of the best European fighters , to challenge the best African fighters in forms, breaking divisions, point fighting and Full contact. ISKA family around the world support this huge event , which is in the same level like Asian Championship or European Championship.

Further is this event an excellent , suitable preparation for the upcoming ISKA Kickboxing World Championship in Almeria, Spain in November 2nd -7th.

Don´t miss this event, for further information contact Mr. Paul Cave, send mail or be part of the European team.

Vienna, Austria;  Sunday Febr. 7th we had a huge event in Vienna. In Vienna’s most prestige event hall STADTHALLE in the City centre the new Iron Gym with manager Mr. Helmut RAUCH and Bülent SAGLAM promoted a team fight in MMA vs. new ISKA Slovakia. After 9 hard fights the Austrian team won by 7:2 victories.

Beside the team fights we saw an Intercontinental title fight in MMA , Lincon RODRIGUES from Brazil vs. the Austrian home town boy Willi OTT. After 40 seconds in the first round Lincon won by surrender with an arm lock. New Intercontinental champion in MMA Lincon RODRIGUES from Brazil.

Superleague fighter Fadi MERZA from Vienna challenged Italian top class fighter Luca DI SANTO for the World title in OR – 72,30 Kg. In the first round Merza hit Luca with a knee strike on the jaw and referee Fritz EXENBERGER had to give a standing 8 count. The fight continues and after 5 x 3 minutes the international judges from Poland, Serbia and Austria made a clear point decision for Fadi MERZA. New World champion OR – 72,30 Kg Fadi MERZA.

Next big event in Vienna is scheduled in May 9th, again a team fight. This time is new ISKA SERBIA team as guest in Vienna.

Birmingham, England, Mr. Yogendra PAREKH and his Black Widow Martial Arts Academy promote again a high class event in Birmingham, march 21^st .

With several weeks still remaining a huge card of fights has been confirmed for Oceana Super Fights II. This on all accounts will be a much bigger show than our first!

All Black Widow fighters will be taking on very tough opponents from all around the country so this promises to be an action packed evening!

The schedule so far:

C CLASS (3×2 min rounds)

1) Roy Davis (Black Widow) VS Steven Clarke (Studio 2000)
2) Luke Greenshields (Fearless) VS Chris Hudson (Impact Thai-Boxing)
3) Daryl Mullings (Black Widow) VS Chris Hands (Impact Thai-Boxing)

4) Naqqash Khan (Black Widow) VS Pavan Aujla (Firewalkers)

5) Suki Singh (Firewalkers) VS Affan Khan (LMTA)6) Kasian Jackson Williams (Impact) VS Alex Strickley (Thaitans)
7) Russell Pitts (Black Widow) VS Steve Johns (Chao Phraya Muay Thai)
Michael Corns (Black Widow) VS Kevin Fletcher (Salford Thai-Boxing)

9) Kay Magee (Black Widow) VS Cassie Robinson (Salford Thai-Boxing)

K1 RULES
10) Ivan Damyanov (Firewalkers) VS Paul Douglas (Storm Gym)

B CLASS (with knees to the head)
11) Richard Shaw (F’s Freestyle) VS Sean Clarke (Studio 2000)
12) Leko Wright (Black Widow) VS Juan Carlos Rios (LMTA)
13) Muri Balogun (Black Widow) VS Freddie Lumor (LMTA)

A CLASS (5×3 mins)

ISKA British Title
14) Kerrith Bhella (Firewalkers) VS Darren Till (Sapphire Gym)

(FULL THAI RULES)

ISKA Commonwealth Title
15) Jonno Chipchase (MFA) VS Ranjit Dheer (Eagles Bedford)
16) Michelle Newall (ISKA World Champion) VS Charlotte Webster (Bad Company)

This event is not to be missed and is guaranteed to be a sell out, so get your ticket to Birmingham’s biggest event of the year! Tickets are available from Black Widow Martial Arts Academy

An after party has also been arranged for all spectators so you can party till you drop into the early hours!

Hope to see you all there …

ISKA UK in association with the SENI show and Fighters Inc. will stage the inaugural London International Open on the 29th may 2010 at the Excel London. The Freestyle Tournament will include categories for Semi-Contact, Light-Contact and Forms for men women and children, novice, intermediate and seniors

The tournament will also act as the qualifiers for the ISKA 2010 Amateur World Championships in Almeria Spain. The two highest placed English competitors in each Senior category will qualify for the England World Championship Team. All 1st place winners will earn a seeded position in the US OPEN 2010 (will not have to fight in the first round of their category).

All competitors will get free entry to the SENI show the largest Martial Arts and Combat Sports trade show in the World

A Full list of categories for the London International Open will be announce soon

Former multi-World Champion Clifton Finley has been appointed ISKA UK Amateur Director. Clifton brings a wealth of experience and is already busy appointing directors for each amateur discipline in preparation for the London International Open on the 29th May, Excel London

Clifton started training in Kung Fu at the age of 17 his desire for competition fighting in the early 90’s was made apparent when he entered his first major Competition at the Famous F.S.K. Open in Manchester. After Winning the Grand Championships within the First Year he Joined 5 times WAKO World Champion Alfie Lewis’s  F.S.K.A Association knowing that  if he wanted to be the best he had to Join the best.

Since winning numerous British and European Championships in his Career which stretched over two decades some of his most prized titles included being Crowned World Champion in Canada at the WKA in 2000, this was followed by yet another world title this time with the W.F.F.O in 2002. Success never stopped there for Clifton, a year later he was voted Peterborough Evening Telegraph Sports Personality of the Year, the following year he clinched the Sports man of the Year. With twenty years of teaching experience and a formidable Competitive C.V.  Clifton remains one of the most humble and approachable instructors.

After retiring in 2004 to dedicated his time to teaching in his home town he is very committed and generously wants to share his knowledge and passion for the sport with the next generation. He only came out of retirement in 2009 to clinched The WAKO World Crown in Italy in the Vets at the tender age of 43 This 5^th Dan Black belt has done and won every major title out there but he still strives for more success.

Clifton in looking forward to the ISKA World Amateur Championship in Almeria Spain 2nd-7th November where he plans to field a strong UK team

Saturday, Jan. 30, Live on SHOWTIME From BankAtlantic Center, Miami, Florida
SUNRISE, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2010) – Nick Diaz (21-7) of Stockton, Calif., won his sixth straight and the first-ever STRIKEFORCE welterweight championship with a 4:38, first-round TKO over Marius Zaromskis (13-4) of London, England, and the first and only STRIKEFORCE Female lightweight champion, Cris Cyborg (9-1) of Curitiba, Brazil, successfully defended her 145-title for the initial time with a third-round TKO over Marloes Coenen (17-4) of Deventer, Holland, in the co-featured matches of an action-packed mixed martial arts card before 8,156 at BankAtlantic Center Saturday on SHOWTIME®.

In other results on the main portion of Strikeforce’s first event in 2010, former pro and college football superstar Herschel Walker of San Jose, Calif., made his pro MMA debut at age 47 a winning one, registering a third-round TKO (2:17) over Hungarian-born Greg Nagy (1-2) of Phoenix, Ariz., former two-time world champion “Ruthless’’ Robbie Lawler (17-5, 1 NC) of Granite City, Ill., rallied from the brink of defeat to score a spectacular 3:33, first-round knockout (punches) over Melvin Manhoef (24-7-1) of Amsterdam and unbeaten Bobby Lashley of Coconut Creek, Fla., won his Strikeforce debut and improved to 5-0 with a 2:06, first-round TKO over Wes Sims (22-13-1, 2 NC) of Lancaster, Ohio.

The event, presented by SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE, aired live simultaneously on SHOWTIME® and on the Web (Strikeforce: All Access) at http://strikeforce.sho.com. The SHOWTIME telecast began at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast); the Strikeforce: All Access webcast went at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
In a fight streamed live on EA SPORTS™ MMA website (www.easportsmma.com), Jay Heiron (19-4) of Las Vegas took a unanimous three-round decision over Joe Riggs (32-11) of Phoenix to put him in position to possibly fight for the Strikeforce welterweight title.

Southpaw Diaz, a talented, Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, mostly outclassed Zaromskis in the match for the vacant world title. Diaz decisively defeated the Dutchman at his own game: striking.

“I’ll fight anybody,’’ said Diaz, who has been victorious in seven of his last eight and hasn’t lost in more than two years. I felt real good fighting again at 170. But the guy I really want is Gegard Mousasi.’’

Cyborg had to work hard to defeat the courageous Coenen, who at no point seemed intimidated by the powerful Brazilian bomber and fought like it. She certainly wasn’t totally overwhelmed and presented Cyborg with more problems than the vast majority of Cyborg’s opponents.
In the end, Cyborg was too tough and rough. “I’m very happy to win this fight,’’ said Cyborg shortly the heated scrap was stopped at 3:40 of the third. “It was a good fight. I think I could have done more but she was the toughest fighter I’ve faced and has a great heart. I admire her a lot.’’
Coenen, a strikingly attractive submission whiz who couldn’t take down Cyborg, wanted the fight to continue. “This is extremely disappointing to say the least,’’ she said. “This was for a world title. It should have been allowed to go a little longer. I wanted to fight.’’

A native of Wrightsville, Ga., Walker was satisfied with his performance in his highly-anticipated, much-publicized debut. Endurance-wise, he didn’t fight like a man his age. He was still breathing easily during the post-fight interview.

“I feel good but I didn’t do many things right and I still have a lot to learn,’’ said Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and a two-time Pro Bowl competitor. “The experience itself was exciting and I thank my opponent for fighting me. It’s tough to fight an old man. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
“I thought I’d be more nervous. I’m an MMA fighter now. I earned a little bit of a stripe tonight. This is one of my biggest athletic achievements ever.’’
Nothing was going right for the left-handed Lawler for more than three minutes as the highly regarded Manhoef had his way. But a savage overhand right rocked Manhoef and a left that caught him on the way down ended matters almost immediately.

“I knew this guy was really a killer, but I knew I would catch him,’’ Lawler said. “When he looks to finish, he really loads up. I just lured him in and got him.

“He was chopping and chopping and he was really hurting me with the leg kicks. When I felt the first one land, I knew I could get one more in and finish, and that’s what I did.’’
Lashley, who wants to fight for a world title, said Saturday’s exercise against the 6-foot-10-inch Sims was an excellent learning experience.

“Anytime you win and learn something, it’s a good night,’’ he said. “Sims is a tall guy who came in with nothing to lose, almost like he didn’t care, and those are the guys that are usually the hardest to fight.
“I want to continue to step up.’’
Hieron outpointed Riggs by the scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28: “I wanted to beat Joe and show that I am a top fighter,’’ Heiron said. “I want to fight the winner of Diaz-Zaromskis. Actually, I hope it is Diaz but I don’t care.’’

STRIKEFORCE: Miami will be available On Demand beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Mauro Ranallo called the action on SHOWTIME with MMA expert Stephen Quadros and MMA superstar Frank Shamrock serving as expert analysts.

In Saturday’s non-televised results: Pablo “The Hurricane’’ Alfonso (5-1), Jacksonville Fla., submitted (armbar) Marcos “Parrumpinha” DeMatta (8-1), Coconut Creek, Fla., at 1:47 in the first round (140 pounds); Hayder Hasan (3-1), Coconut Creek, KO 2 (2:42, punches) over Ryan Keenan (3-1), Orlando, Fla., at 170 pounds; John Kelly (4-0), Miami, submitted (rear naked choke) Sabah Homasi (2-0), West Palm Beach, Fla., at 2;48 of the second round (170 pounds); Michael Byrnes (1-2), Port Saint Lucie, Fla., won a majority decision (30-27 twice and 29-29) over David Zitnik (4-7), Sunrise, at 155 pounds; David Gomez (1-2), Miami, won a unanimous decision (30-27 three times) over Craig Oxley (0-3), Miami (145 pounds); ad Joe Ray (1-0), Miami, TKO 1 (3:14, strikes) over John Clarke (0-1), Hollywood, Fla. (170 pounds).

In Europe he is often called a “Russian tower”, in Russia – “Voivoda” (army general). His way to success was not easy but it makes his victories – not only in sports but also in life – even more valuable. A. Nosyrev is an absolute world kickboxing champion in all existing versions – ISKA, WAKO-PRO, WKN, WKA, WBKF, W5. These victories have been achieved within only 2 years. Nobody has done it before. What is the secret of the Russian sportsman? Where is a source of his inexhaustible power?

Anatoly Nosyrev was born in 1977 in a small town Novocherkassk in the south of Russia. In the childhood he was a weak, thin and shy boy. At the age of 7 he went into judo and after 1 year he took boxing lessons from his father Gennady Nosyrev – famous trainer in the town. The father and the son love to remember what a hard job was it for Anatoly to fight with older opponents because of his height. The results appeared very soon – at the age of 17 Anatoly became master of sports and then he won one championship after another. At the same time Nosyrev made a big progress in his education – he finished secondary school with honors and after several years he got 2 diplomas of high education.

In 2001 Anatoly went in for kickboxing. Within 4 years he became a seven-time Russian champion. Russian championship is a unique phenomenon. The strongest fighters from all corners of Russia take part in it. The Russians joke that to win a Russian championship is much more difficult than to win a World championship.

In 2007 Nosyrev won a title of WBKF world champion (+93 kg, full-contact). His opponent was a European champion Martin Berka from Czech Republic. In the 9^th round Anatoly sent his opponent into knock-out. Later in the same year Anatoly got 2 more world champion titles – ISKA and WKA. First he defeated American fighter Kelly Leo. The fight was quite difficult for the Russian sportsman but firm belief in his victory as well as support of fans helped him to win ISKA belt. Victory over Portuguese fighter Vitor Matos for WKA title brought Anatoly one step closer to his ambitious aim – to become an absolute world champion.

Anatoly began to actively train for the next title which was scheduled for 23d of February, 2008. It was the fight for the title of W5 champion (Russian version). Several days before the fight a tragic event happened in his family – his wife Elena Sabitova, seven-time Russian and World boxing champion died. Everyone was sure that Anatoly would reject to fight. But he decided to devote this fight to the memory of his wife. Those who saw that fight later said that Anatoly was fighting “for two”. His opponent Leonardo Comcic from Croatia simply didn’t have a chance to win!

In May 2009 Anatoly won the last belt – WAKO-Pro. This victory turned a Russian sportsman into a legend of world kickboxing. Nobody managed to win all world champion belts in such a short period of time – neither in Russia, nor in the whole world!

Anatoly says that the main secret of his success is first of all strength of will and desire to win. Every time he steps on the ring he “simply does his job”, works hard and doesn’t lose his self-control. Chief trainer of Russian Kickboxing Federation Vadim Ukraintsev adds: “Nosyrev is our pride. He is our “voivode”, symbol of Russian power and Russian character”.