D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Yahoo Sports reported that the Lyoto Machida-Mauricio “Shogun” Rua light heavyweight title rematch will take place on May 1 in Montreal on a yet-to-be-announced UFC card. Machida’s manager told Sherdog.com the date is on, but Rua’s camp had yet to confirm.
• Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and NFL vet Herschel Walker will compete on a Strikeforce card on Jan. 30, when the promotion stages an event at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. Opponents were not announced.
• The situation surrounding Sengoku’s planned New Year’s Eve event grew more complex this week, as the promotion indicated it was looking for a new venue to stage the card after widespread speculation that it was canceled.
It appears that a main Sengoku sponsor jumped to working with Dream after growing frustrated with costs and Sengoku not being able to secure a viable television outlet for the event. It was thought Sengoku fighters would compete on K-1 and Dream’s “Dynamite!” show on New Year’s Eve, but Sengoku officials were claiming interest is high enough in the Satoshi Ishii-Hidehiko Yoshida main event that it can fill a larger arena than Ariake Coliseum for the fight. There is widespread skepticism about the claim, as Sengoku has struggled to get any traction in live attendance or television exposure.
• The UFC confirmed it will stage an UFC Fight Night card on Jan. 11 at The Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., headlined by Gray Maynard vs. Nathan Diaz and Efrain Escudero vs. Evan Dunham. The card, on a Monday night, will air on Spike TV.
• The man who shot and killed former UFC heavyweight Justin Eilers last Christmas was sentenced to 15 years in prison in an Idaho court. James Malec was convicted of voluntary manslaughter the death of Eilers, his stepson.
• The newly formed California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) is set to oversee its first amateur bouts in an event in Montebello, Calif. on Friday in conjunction with the California State Athletic Commission. The organization, founded by former Pro Elite officials Jeremy Lappen and J.T. Steele, will license promoters, inspectors, fighters, trainers, referees and judges intent on competing in and working at amateur MMA events in the state.