Strikeforce Challengers - Kaufman v. Hashi

Strikeforce Challengers will be airing live tonight from San Jose, California on Showtime. Sarah Kaufman (10-0, 2-0 SF) will fight Takayo Hashi (12-1) for the first ever Strikeforce Women's 135 pound title.

In other action, South African UFC veteran Trevor Prangley (22-5, 3-1 SF) will fight the dangerous Karl "Pycho" Amoussou (11-2). In a battle of elite grapplers, Paul Bradley (12-1, 1-0 SF) will take on Luke Rockhold (6-1, 5-0 SF).

MAIN CARD

Takayo Hashi vs. Sarah Kaufman
Karl Amoussou vs. Trevor Prangley
Paul Bradley vs. Luke Rockhold
Tarec Saffiedine vs. James Terry
Raul Castillo vs. Yancy Medeiros

(Sarah Kaufman pictured)

UN-AIRED CARD

Eric Lawson vs. Wayne Philliips
Samuel Bracamnonte vs. Chris Stewart (a)
Tristan Arenal vs. George Miller (a)
Phil Balducci vs. Jesse Tobar (a)
Renee Robinson vs. Lilia Salas (a)
Steve Dickie vs. Alan Lummel (a)
Ronald Carillo vs. Anthony De Los Santos (a)

(a)= amateur bout

TUF Episode 3

This episode started as the respective teams were picked by Forrest and Rampage. Rampage won the toss and elected to choose the first fighter in CB Dollaway. Forrest went with the experienced BJJ blackbelt Tim Creduer. I was surprised to see Gerald Harris go as Rampage's #5 pick, Dante Rivera as Forrest's #6 and Zacharich go last overall. Here is what I think the teams broke down to:

-Rampage-
C.B. Dollaway
Matt Riddle
Paul Bradley
Daniel Cramer
Gerald Harris
Mike Dolce
Jeremy May
Brandon Sene

-Forrest-
Tim Credeur
Amir Sadollah
Jesse Taylor
Matt Brown
Cale Yarbrough
Dante Rivera
Nick Klein
Luke Zachrich

Afterwards, Rampage is talking to his team and sees a nasty rash on Paul Bradley's neck. It is found to be herpes, and subsequently he is booted from the show. It sucks that he had to give up his wrestling coach job, but with a rumored contract with Elite XC, I don't feel too bad for him. Guess he should have been packing Valtrex. In his place comes Patrick Schultz, one of the few guys who didn't get hurt in his fight. I would have taken Mike Marrelo if I was choosing.

The first match pits Mike Dolce v. Jesse Taylor. Taylor does look somewhat like a Big John McCarthy and Nick Cage love child. Rampage checks up on his team while at the house and talks about life and fighting. He also asks about what his fighters do for a living outside the ring, interesting that Matt Riddle has no driver's license and lives with his mom.

The first prelim fight featured Dolce stuffing Taylor's first takedown and landing some punches. Dolce eventually is reversed, and gives up his back. Dolce fought the choke, got a reversal, but the round was controled by Taylor. In the second Dolce landed another punch on his feet, but was taken down again. This time Taylor was able to land cleaner punches while on the ground, softening up Dolce for the choke. For his win and the stoppage, Taylor won 5K from Burger King, and 5K from the UFC. (How much he makes for just appearing on the show is a mystery)

*Jesse Taylor had a nice victory celebration, throwing up in a bucket.

Team Forrest has control to pick the next fight with the win- 1-0.

The Ultimate Fighter 7 Premier

The Ultimate Fighter 7 did not waste anytime. After Dana White's usual speech he let everyone know they had 24 hours to make weight and 24 hours before the fight. Obviously that hurt a couple guys who came in heavy. Why these guys don't get close to their weight before getting to the show always puzzles me. The episode showed four fights in their entirety and four with highlights.

Winners Highlight Fights:
C.B. Dollaway (6-0)- He made quick work of his opponent with kicks and ground and pound. I am wondering if the coaches know about his wrestling credentials.
Dante Rivera (10-2)- IFL vet Rivera looked impressive in his highlights, carrying his opponent to his corner before finishing him with a kimura.
Nick Klein (3-0)- Klein owns three victories all by armbar, and in his match used an arm triangle to win. This was a highlight fight and not much was shown.
Paul Bradley (5-0)- This was the only time Bradley was shown, as he is rumored to be going to Elite XC. Dana took the time to bash Bradley's performance as a takedown fest.

Winners full fights:
Jeremy May (6-5)- May fought Rampage's friend Doug Roberts and beat the snot out of him. Robert's looked tenative and not completely focused as May's stand-up looked to be on point. May's losses have come mainly via submissions, and he may have a tough time with an elite wrestler.

Cale Yarbrough (0-0)- Cale absorbed a little bit of a beating in the first before coming back and taking it to John Clarke (6-2). After winning the first round, Clarke looked completely gassed. This is understandable as he had dropped 17 pounds the day before. In the second Clarke just didn't have much left.

Amir Sadollah (0-0)- Sadollah is 5-0 as an amateur, and may have lost the first round due to a takedown and some big punches at the end of the round. In the second, Amir was able to land some strikes before securing an armbar. Sadollah probably had the upset of the night beating UFC vet Steve Byrnes (6-1).

Mike Dolce (4-4)- IFL vet Dolce came alive after trading slopping punches with Prince McLean (4-5). Dolce controlled the pace and land punches flush that eventually knocked Prince unconscious. Dolce has mainly fought at 170, and the lack of having to cut alot of weight is a definitive advantage in the TUF tournament.

*Dolce celebrating his victory in the IFL, his IFL record was 1-3 with decision losses to top competitors in Delson Helano (13-4), Antonio McKee (21-3), and Lyman Good (7-0)

*I'm interested to see if there is any mention of the IFL as two of their former fighters are already in the field of sixteen, and Gerald Harris is likely to go there as well.
*Also interested to see what happens with Paul Bradley. He was basically shunned in this past episode.
*The next show will also show 8 fights, probably 4 full and 4 with highlights again. Apparently there is a big KO coming our way.

Gerald Harris Snatched Up for TUF 7

IFL veteran Gerald Harris (6-2) has joined the mix of fighters that are participants in The Ultimate Fighter Season 7. He was a standout wrestler at Cleveland State. His two fights in the IFL ended with a close split decision loss to IFL standout Fabio Leopoldo (5-3) and a TKO to UFC/IFL vet Benji Radach (17-4). Gerald recently defeated Jeremija Sanders (2-5), Gerald has posted victories over Curtis Stout (11-12), Travis Fowler (6-4), Bubba McDaniel (8-3) and Ryan Lopez (4-3) in his brief career.

Other standouts include 2-Time All American wrestler Paul Bradley (5-0), All American wrestler C.B. Dollaway (6-0)(video below, 1st Rd TKO of Hans Marrero (11-5) in HDNet Fights), Steve Byrnes (6-1, 1 loss in UFC), Luke Zachrich (7-1), Bodog Fight vet Timothy Credeur (9-2)(two losses to MMA vets Chael Sonnen and Joey Villensensor), Jesse Taylor (6-2)(two losses to quality fighters, victory over Jorge Ortiz (13-4)), Mike Marrello (6-1-1)(only loss to an undefeated fighter) and IFL vet Mike Dolce (3-4).

-As you can see by the video, Gerald Harris likes to slam and throw punches. He was able to get numerous takedowns on Leopoldo and at least one takedown of Radach.



**Gerald Harris HL video

$$- I wonder if the UFC will edit out any mention of the IFL or if they are told not to bring it up.