Strikeforce Jan 30th (Cyborg, Walker, Diaz)

[EmpireWF]

If that fight is on, how the hell will they fit the womens fight, the welterweight title fight, Lashley, Walker, Noons and Lawler's fight on the show? Something won't make it or they'll just cancel something.

[Liquidrob]

If that fight is on, how the hell will they fit the womens fight, the welterweight title fight, Lashley, Walker, Noons and Lawler's fight on the show? Something won't make it or they'll just cancel something.

Like I said earlier, I dont think the Lashley fight will make it, Walker they pormoted some, so they probably wont pull it

Maybe they put Riggs and Hieron on the undercard, but that would be a mistake because the winner will probably fight for the title next

[Liquidrob]

Looks like Noons vs Billy of off, Evangelista is injured

A lightweight fight between KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista has been scrapped from the upcoming Strikeforce: Miami card. Noons confirmed the news with MMA Fighting on this week's edition of The MMA Hour, which will air on the Web site on Wednesday.

Noons (7-2) said he was recently informed by the organization that Evangelista suffered an undisclosed injury in training, forcing him to withdraw from the fight. The former EliteXC 160-pound champion added that he has been placed on standby for the Jan. 30 card in case someone else gets injured, but if that doesn't happen, he will make his Strikeforce debut in either March or April.

Noons recently signed a new multi-fight deal with the San Jose-based organization last month. He last competed in MMA in June 2008, when he defeated Yves Edwards to retain his EliteXC belt. Following the victory, Noons and EliteXC could not reach an agreement on a new deal, and he was eventually stripped of the title before the organization folded in October 2008.

The 27-year-old also announced that Mark Dion is no longer his agent and that he now represents himself. Dion had been the target of criticism from former EliteXC vice president Jared Shaw during the negotiations.

Since leaving MMA, Noons returned to boxing, where he compiled a 4-1 record. His overall boxing record is 11-2, and he said his new deal with Strikeforce will allow him to continue to pursue his goal of being a two-sport champion.

Evangelista recently defeated Jorge Gurgel on a Strikeforce Challengers card, improving his record to 10-0 (1 no contest.)

Official fights for the upcoming Strikeforce: Miami card include Cris Cyborg vs. Marloes Coenen, Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis and the Strikeforce debuts of Herschel Walker and Bobby Lashley against yet to be announced opponents. The event airs live on Showtime.

[EmpireWF]

Well there's some relief. Now it's a 5-fight card (at least with the Hieron/Riggs bout only rumored).

[Liquidrob]

Updated Card:
-Nick Diaz (20-7) vs. Marius Zaromskis (12-3) [WW Title]
-Cris "Cyborg" Santos (8-1) vs. Marloes Coenen (17-3) [145 Title]
-Melvin Manhoef (24-6-1) vs. Robbie Lawler (16-5)
-Joe Riggs (32-11) vs. Jay Hieron (18-4)
-Bobby Lashley (4-0) vs. TBA
-Herschel Walker (0-0) vs. TBA

[Kuzzy Powers]

Is that Manhoef/Lawler fight confirmed? If so, this card is very appealing. Losing Noons/Evangelista hurts for sure tho.. love watching KJ fight. Diaz/Whitemare gave me an immediate MMA-boner when I heard the match-up, I just dont see how that fight CANT end up being extremely entertaining. At first I thought the whole Herschell Walker thing was a joke, but im now pretty intrigued by the whole thing, but if they dont find an opponent soon I suspect he wont be fighting this card.

[EmpireWF]

Only confirmed fights right now are Cyborg/Coenen and Diaz/Zaromskis

[Kuzzy Powers]

Only confirmed fights right now are Cyborg/Coenen and Diaz/Zaromskis

Well, thats no good.

[SHOGUN]

Boooo.

[EmpireWF]

This isn't Japan, why are they giving guys such short notice to train for specific match-ups?

Or do Walker and Lashley know who they're fighting but word is not out yet?

[Liquidrob]

This isn't Japan, why are they giving guys such short notice to train for specific match-ups?

Or do Walker and Lashley know who they're fighting but word is not out yet?

I would like some comfirmed matches, but honestly, Lashley and Walker are going to get guys that are not big names, so whoever they fight it wont be like a big time training camp to scout there style, king of Japan style which can be fun, but going forward SF needs to plan these match ups a little farther out

Also, Manhoef/Lawler isnt comfirmed, but a lot of reports that is set, I think they have to get it approved thru the athletic commision before they release it officially

To me, this card is awesome just with Diaz/Zaromskis and Manhoef/Lawler, 2 fights that cant be bad unless Robbie taps out Manhoef quick which I dont see happening

[Liquidrob]

For everyone that cracks on Manhoefs ground game, he has 4 sub losses in 31 fights to Filho, Mousasi, Yoon and Akiyama, all really good sub guys

[Liquidrob]

The Manhoef/Lawler and Hieron/Riggs have been confirmed, it says here that Hieron/Riggs will be on the undercard, that doesnt make much sense if the winner gets a title shot, it might just be speculation from the writer

Chuck Liddell had to do it while he waited for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, and it looks like Jay Hieron will do the same thing as the perennial contender will take another fight while waiting for a shot at the Strikeforce welterweight title. Hieron will step in to face Joe Riggs at Strikeforce: Miami on Jan. 30 in Sunrise, Fla.

Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed the bout, and several others, to MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday.

MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday reported former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler would step in to face Melvin Manhoef on the Jan. 30 Showtime telecast. Afromowitz on Tuesday also made that bout official.

Undeterred in his goal of winning a title, Hieron made his Strikeforce debut in August in what was supposed to be a fight for the 170-pound divisional title against Nick Diaz. Days before the event, Diaz dropped out of the fight and Hieron instead took on and defeated former "Ultimate Fighter" alum Jesse Taylor.

Since that time, Diaz has been named as the No. 1 contender for the welterweight crown. He will square off against Dream champion Marius Zaromskis in the main event of Strikeforce: Miami in a battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. Hieron is left to do battle with Riggs.

A mainstay in Strikeforce over the last few years, Riggs has made a new home for himself in the welterweight division, winning his last four fights in a row, including wins over Luke Stewart and Phil Baroni.

With Diaz vs. Zaromskis, Lawler vs. Manhoef, a title fight between Cris “Cyborg” Santos and Marloes Coenen, the promotional debut of former WWE star Bobby Lashley, and the MMA debut of NFL veteran Herschel Walker, the fight between Hieron and Riggs isn’t expected to make it to television.

Three preliminary bouts added to the card, according to Afromowitz, include Craig Oxley vs. David Gomez, Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly, and Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos Da Matta.

The Strikeforce: Miami main card airs Jan. 30 on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

[Kuzzy Powers]

For everyone that cracks on Manhoefs ground game, he has 4 sub losses in 31 fights to Filho, Mousasi, Yoon and Akiyama, all really good sub guys

Its not so much that I crack on his ground game.. its more like dude just looks like a fish out of water on the ground. Its very awkward.

[SHOGUN]

I still don't know why Coker and Strikeforce act like they can't show more than four fights. Put the prelims on the website or something.