Caros Fodor (L) raises his arms in celebration after three rounds with James Terry on June 24, 2011 in Kent, Washington. (Photo by Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images)

Caros Fodor is the latest fighter to leave Strikeforce, and will be welcomed to the UFC by Sam Stout at the company’s February Pay-Per-View, UFC officials confirmed on Friday.

Fodor and Stout will face each other at UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 23 in a lightweight match-up.

Fodor (7-2) last fought at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey in March, when he lost to Pat Healy by submission in the third round of their contest. The loss to Healy brought a stop to Fodor’s six-fight win streak, which was mounted all under the Strikeforce banner.

Stout (18-8) is veteran of the UFC’s lightweight ranks since 2006. He last saw action at UFC 154 in November, when he dropped a unanimous decision to John Makdessi.

The announcement that Fodor will transition to the UFC comes on the same day it was reported fellow Strikeforce fighter Bobby Voelker will make his debut at UFC 158. Both announcements came just a day after Strikeforce confirmed their last show on Showtime will be the Jan. 12 card that takes place in Oklahoma City, Okla.

UFC 157 is headlined by the first-ever UFC women’s title fight between champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche. The card also features a co-main event between former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Dan Henderson and former UFC 205-pound champ Lyoto Machida.

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Professor Zingano, Cat Zingano e o treinador Sakmongkol.

O card do próximo Strikeforce, no próximo dia 29, está recheado de candidatos à finalização mais bonita da noite.

Na luta principal, Gilbert Melendez representa o Jiu-Jitsu ensinado por seu professor Cesar Gracie. Na luta feminina, Cat Zingano disputa com Amanda Nunes quem tem mais chão, força e técnica.

Nas demais lutas, só fera: Guto Inocente, Jorge Gurgel, Jorge Santiago, Yuri Villefort… Duro de escolher quem será o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu mais comentado ao final.

Entre todos eles, há um campeão da arte suave que faz sua estreia do alto de uma longa carreira.

Com 23 vitórias em 29 combates, o amazonense Adriano Martins faz sua estreia no Strikeforce em Sacramento após anos de batalhas de kimono no Tijuca, e nos ringues do Jungle Fight.

Principal representante da Top Life, em Manaus, Adriano encara Isaac Vallie-Flagg e defende os treinos no calor amazônico. “Não preciso estar lá fora passando por dificuldades, porque sei que nosso Estado tem como me ajudar, apoiando não só eu como outros atletas daqui” disse ele ao colaborador Arthur Castro. Adriano conta com o apoio de grandes empresas amazonenses.

Adriano fechou um contrato de quatro lutas com o Strikeforce, e a primeira é contra este americano de 13 triunfos em 17 lutas – Isaac vem de vitória sobre Gesias Cavalcante, por decisão dividida dos jurados.

O brasileiro embarca sábado para os Estados Unidos com sua equipe e lá finaliza o processo de perda de peso. “Essa é a parte mais difícil, pois preciso perder 16kg para bater 70 um dia antes do show. Para obter sucesso  na carreira internacional, estou me espelharndo em lutadores renomados como meu conterrâneo José Aldo, Anderson Silva e Vitor Belfort “, comentou.

Também entre os leves, Gilbert Melendez e Pat Healy se engalfinham pelo título.

Já Cat Zingano é vista como uma das grandes estrelas da noite.

“Ela tem toneladas de talento, e agora está chegando ao Strikeforce para se testar contra as melhores. Com uma sólida carreira no wrestling e sua própria escola de Jiu-Jitsu, no Colorado, ela é uma lutadora completa, que representa uma ameaça a todas as concorrentes do peso-galo”, disse o produtor Scott Coker ao MMAJunkie.com.

No vídeo abaixo, você confere as habilidades da lutadora. Ela ensina a derrubar, bloquear o double-leg, contra-atacar, pegar as costas e derrubar de novo.

Strikeforce – Melendez vs Healy
Sacramento, Califórnia, EUA
29 de setembro de 2012

Gilbert Melendez vs Pat Healy
Josh Thomson vs Caros Fodor
Gian Villante vs Guto Inocente
Adriano Martins vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Quinn Mulhern vs Jorge Santiago
Mike Kyle vs Dion Staring
Jorge Gurgel vs Mizuto Hirota
Nah-Shon Burrell vs Yuri Villefort
Amanda Nunes vs Cat Zingano
Estevan Payan vs Michael Bravo

Professor Zingano, Cat Zingano  Coach Sakmongkol

The card for the next Strikeforce show, coming up on the 29th, is packed with candidates for the “Submission of the Night” award.

In the main event, Gilbert Melendez will be carrying the flag of his Jiu-Jitsu teacher Cesar Gracie. In the female fight, Cat Zingano and Amanda Nunes will lock horns to see who’s got more grappling, skill and technique.

The rest of the card is also studded with stalwart fighters: Guto Inocente, Jorge Gurgel, Jorge Santiago… Predicting the Jiu-Jitsu black belt to make the most noise is a tough pick.

Among them, one gentle-art whiz will be making his promotional debut after a lengthy career.

With 23 wins in 29 fights, Amazonas State native Adriano Martins will be making his Strikeforce debut in Sacramento, California, after years of gi-clad combat at the Tijuca Tennis Club, as well as MMA action in his native Brazil at events like Jungle Fight.

The biggest name out of Top Life team, Adriano will be taking on Isaac Vallie-Flagg to prove the training in the equatorial heat of his home is all he needs. “I don’t need to be abroad going through a rough time, because I know our state can help me, backing not just me but other athletes from these parts,” he told our contributor Arthur Castro. Adriano is sponsored by a number of big companies from the state of Amazonas.

Adriano sealed a four-fight deal with Strikeforce, of which this fight against Isaac – an American with 13 wins in 17 fights, as well as a split decision win over Gesias Cavalcante – is the first.

The Brazilian and his team will be taking off for the United States this Saturday. There, he will go through the final process of shedding weight. “That’s the toughest part, because I have to lose 16 kg [35 lbs] to make 70 one day before the show. To achieve success in my international career I’m modeling myself on renowned fighters from my homeland like José Aldo, Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort,” he said.

The show will also feature a lightweight title fight, with Gilbert Melendez defending his crown against Pat Healy.

Now Cat Zingano is also being touted as one of the big stars of the night.

“She’s got tons of talent, and now she’s arriving at Strikeforce to test herself against the best. With a solid wrestling career and her own Jiu-Jitsu school in Colorado, she’s a complete fighter who’s a threat to all the competition at bantamweight,” promotional president Scott Coker told the MMAJunkie.com website.

Check out some of her skills in the video below, where she teaches how to get the takedown, block the double-leg, counter-attack and take the back, to again get the takedown.

Strikeforce – Melendez vs Healy
Sacramento, Califórnia, EUA
29 de setembro de 2012

Gilbert Melendez vs Pat Healy
Josh Thomson vs Caros Fodor
Gian Villante vs Guto Inocente
Adriano Martins vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Quinn Mulhern vs Jorge Santiago
Mike Kyle vs Dion Staring
Jorge Gurgel vs Mizuto Hirota
Nah-Shon Burrell vs Yuri Villefort
Amanda Nunes vs Cat Zingano
Estevan Payan vs Michael Bravo

Pamplona in publicity photo

Strikeforce “Challengers 16 went down at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, this Friday, and there was no lack of excitement in the cage.

São Paulo native Eduardo Pamplona made his promotional debut in style. Against local fighter Jerron Peoples, Pamplona was quick on the trigger and took just 2:40 minutes to take his opponent to the ground and pound away until the ref stepped in. With the win the 35-year-old brings his tally to ten back-to-back victories.

In the evening’s main event Caros Fodor took on James Terry and after three lukewarm rounds the scorecards read unanimous decision for Fodor. The former Marine now has four wins in a row on his record.

Holland’s Germaine de Randamie, a stalwart muay thai stylist, was unable to put her strike game to work and ended up being neutralized by Julia Budd, who took the unanimous decision.

(Collaborator Junior Samurai)

Check out the results:

Strikeforce “Challengers 16”
ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington, USA
June 24, 2011

Caros Fodor defeated James Terry via unanimous decision;
Matt Ricehouse defeated Ryan Couture via unanimous decision;
Lorenz Larkin defeated Gian Villant via unanimous decision;
Jason High defeated Quinn Mulhern via unanimous decision;
Julia Budd defeated Germaine de Randamie via unanimous decision;
Derek Brunson defeated Jeremy Hamilton via unanimous decision;
Eduardo Pamplona defeated Jerron Peoples via TKO at 2:40 min of R1;
Trevor Smith submitted Keith Berry with a north-south choke at 3:02 of R2.

Pamplona em foto divulgação.

O Strikeforce “Challengers 16” rolou nesta sexta-feira no ShoWare Center, em Kent, Washington, e não faltou emoção no cercado.

O paulista Eduardo Pamplona estreou na organização com uma atuação de gala. Encarando o local, Jerron Peoples, Pamplona foi rápido no gatilho e só precisou 2min e 40seg para derrubar e bater até o juiz interromper o duelo. Com o triunfo, o lutador de 35 anos emplacou dez vitórias seguidas.

Na luta principal da noite, Caros Fodor enfrentou James Terry e, depois de três rounds mornos, as papeletas marcaram a vitória de Fodor por decisão unânime. O ex-marines chega ao seu quarta êxito consecutivo.

Ryan Couture não foi bem na jaula e conheceu seu primeiro infortúnio. O filho de Randy Couture bem que tentou a trocação contra o invicto Matt Ricehouse, que levou vantagem em pé e ainda aplicou duas quedas, ações que impressionaram os juízes. Nas papeletas, Ricehouse venceu por decisão unânime.

A holandesa Germaine de Randamie, eximia lutadora de muay thai, não conseguiu encaixar os golpes da arte tailandesa e acabou neutralizada por Julia Budd, que venceu por decisão unânime.

(Colaborou Junior Samurai)

Confira todos os resultados:

Strikeforce “Challengers 16”
ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington, EUA
24 de junho de 2011

Caros Fodor venceu James Terry por decisão unânime
Matt Ricehouse venceu Ryan Couture por decisão unânime
Lorenz Larkin venceu Gian Villante por decisão unânime
Jason High venceu Quinn Mulhern por decisão unânime
Julia Budd venceu Germaine de Randamie por decisão unânime
Derek Brunson venceu Jeremy Hamilton por decisão unânime
Eduardo Pamplona venceu Jerron Peoples por TKO aos 2:40 do 1R
Trevor Smith finalizou Keith Berry com um estrangulamento norte-sul aos 3:02 do 2R