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STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker made several major announcements today while in Las Vegas for the highly-anticipated UFC 130: RAMPAGE vs. HAMILL event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

First, Coker confirmed that two legends of the sport of mixed martial arts will collide on Saturday, July 30 at Sears Centre Arena in Chicago when former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko meets reigning STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson in a long-awaited summer superfight. The heavyweight bout will air LIVE on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR vs. HENDERSON are priced at $350, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, not including applicable service charges, and go on sale on Saturday, June 4 at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets are available online via http://www.SearsCentre.com, by calling 1-888-SEARS-TIX, or the arena box office. Luxury suites are available by calling 847-649-2227.

UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, June 2 at 10 a.m. CT via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers, as well as STRIKEFORCE Insiders on Friday, June 3 starting at 10 a.m. CT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

In addition to the announcement of the Fedor-Henderson clash, Coker announced that HDNet will broadcast five preliminary fights from the STRIKEFORCE: OVEREEM vs. WERDUM card on June 18 from Dallas, Texas beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. If that wasn’t enough, HDNet’s Inside MMA television show will be on the scene to host a live weigh-in special from Dallas on June 17 beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Surging lightweight Justin Wilcox will take on slick submission artist Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante in featured preliminary action, while 155-pound star KJ Noons locks horns with American Top Team product and tested veteran Jorge Masvidal. Additional preliminary fights will be released at http://www.strikeforce.com in the days to come.

Coker also unveiled to press today that the organization will host a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event from the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, July 22. In the night’s main event, heated rivals Roger Bowling and Bobby Voelker collide in an exciting trilogy fight. The pair engaged in two outstanding fights last year, with Bowling winning the first encounter by decision, only to be stopped via TKO in the second bout. On July 22, the rising welterweights look to settle the score as STRIKEFORCE invades Sin City. The action will air live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE Challengers go on sale on to the public on Saturday, June 4 at 12 p.m. PT and are priced at $150, $85 and $50. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.

UFC Fight Club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers, as well as STRIKEFORCE Insiders on Friday, June 3 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit http://www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Nice that it is finally official but Fedor need to win or go home. Great fighter, Great career and a legend but three losses in a row won't help his legacy.

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson - Card Updated
July 30, 2011
Sears Centre
Hoffman Estates, Illinois



Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko


Strikeforce Womens Welterweight Championship:
Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate


Rafael Cavalcante vs. Ovince St. Preux
Muhammed Lawal vs. Roger Gracie
Paul Daley vs. Evangelista Santos
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Scott Smith

Strikeforce has announced that Paul Daley will take on rising star Tyrone Woodley in what is likely to be an explosive contest. The top ten ranked Daley will look to end the Woodley's unbeaten streak at eight while Woodley could jump to the next step with a win over Daley.

Tarec Saffiedine will look to bounce back from a loss to Woodley is his last outing, taking on the spotty Scott Smith who has gone 1-3 in his last four fights.

The updated card for the event is below:

* Champ Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko (heavyweight non-title fight)
* Champ Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate (for women's welterweight title)
* Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler
* Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley
* Tarec Saffiedine vs. Scott Smith

Strikeforce Confirms 5-Bout Main Card for July 30

STRIKEFORCE returns to Illinois for the first time since 2009 with one of its top fight cards of the year. Having already announced the heavyweight super fight main event between Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko and Dan “Hendo” Henderson, STRIKEFORCE officials today confirmed the remainder of the loaded main card, which will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Women’s 135-pound champion Marloes “Rumina” Coenen will defend her crown against Miesha “Takedown” Tate in the exciting co-main event, while middleweight contenders “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and Tim “The Hero” Kennedy are also set to collide. Plus, the night’s action will feature a pivotal welterweight bout pitting Paul “Semtex” Daley and Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley, as well as a 170-pound contest between Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith and Tarec “Sponge” Saffiedine.

“Fedor versus Hendo is the super fight fans have been waiting for and we’re proud to have also stacked the rest of this card with exciting fights,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Marloes has proven to be one of the best women’s mixed martial artists on the planet, but Miesha could be her toughest challenge yet. When you add knockout artists like Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith, as well as rising stars such as Tyron Woodley, Tim Kennedy and Tarec Saffiedine, this is the type of card that will deliver some explosive fights.”

Having already successfully defended her 135-pound women’s title against Liz Carmouche in March, Coenen (19-4) is ready to get back into the cage and show MMA fans why she’s one of the best female athletes in the world. Fighting out of the Golden Glory gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands alongside Alistair and Valentijn Overeem, Coenen is looking to display the grappling skills and signature submissions that have made her one of the division’s elite. She’ll take on top contender Tate (11-2), who is currently riding a five-fight win streak that dates back to October 2009. The Tacoma, Wash. native, who currently trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento with UFC bantamweights Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez, is ready to end Coenen’s reign atop the 135-pound division.

A veteran of UFC, Pride and EliteXC, Lawler (18-7, 1 NC) hits the STRIKEFORCE cage once again on a mission to rule the middleweight division. A member of Matt Hughes’s H.I.T. Squad in Granite City, Ill., Lawler’s strong wrestling base and knockout power have provided a quick end to many of his past fights. He’ll look for another dramatic finish on July 30 when he takes on San Luis Obispo, Calif.’s Kennedy (13-3). The U.S. Army Green Beret and Operation Iraqi Freedom vet has been given the opportunity to fully dedicate himself to his MMA career and has put the rest of the division on alert. Coming off a recent win over Melvin Manhoef, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter seeks another impressive win when he meets Lawler at the Sears Centre.

Top welterweight and British knockout artist Daley (27-10-2) looks to spark another run at the welterweight crown he takes on undefeated two-time All-American wrestler Woodley (8-0) on July 30. The road back to the title won’t be an easy one. Woodley, who starred at the University of Missouri, is one of the fastest-rising fighters in the sport thanks to his versatility and knack for finishing opponents.

Former top middleweight contender Smith (17-8, 1NC) steps into the STRIKEFORCE cage this month with the goal of wreaking havoc on the welterweight division. Owning wins over the likes of Cung Le, Kyle Noke and Tim Kennedy, the Muay Thai and boxing standout will be pushed to the limit when he meets Belgium’s Saffiedine (10-3). Currently training with Dan Henderson’s Team Quest in Temecula, Calif., the 24-year-old karate black belt will look for another submission win to add to his already impressive total.


The updated card for the event:

* Champ Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko (heavyweight non-title fight)

* Champ Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate (for women's welterweight title)

* Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler
* Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley
* Tarec Saffiedine vs. Scott Smith
* Gesias Cavalcante vs. Lyle Beerbohm
* Alexis Davis vs. Julie Kedzie
* Eduardo Pamplona vs. Tyler Stinson

Lightweight Bobby Green will make his Strikeforce debut a little sooner than expected.

Strikeforce officials announced Wednesday that Green has been pulled from his Aug. 12 bout against Milton Vieira at Strikeforce Challengers 18, and will instead meet Gesias Cavalcante July 30 on the undercard of Strikeforce and M-1 Global’s “Fedor vs. Henderson.”

Green replaces Cavalcante’s original opponent, Lyle Beerbohm; the reason for Beerbohm’s withdrawal from the contest was not immediately clear.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Green- ... Show-34138


Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson
July 30, 2011
Sears Centre
Hoffman Estates, Illinois



Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko


Strikeforce Womens Welterweight Championship:
Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate


Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler
Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Scott Smith
Gesias Cavalcante vs. Bobby Green
Alexis Davis vs. Julie Kedzie
Derek Brunson vs. Lumumba Sayers
Eduardo Pamplona vs. Tyler Stinson