Strikeforce Challengers: Joey Villasenor vs Evangelista Santos set for June 19
by Jesse Holland on May 5, 2009 11:03 PM EDT
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Strikeforce middleweights "Smokin" Joey Villasenor (26-6) and Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (16-12) will face off in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers "Series 2" from the all-new ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington on Friday, June 19.
The Greg Jackson-trained Villasenor will look to extend his win streak to four consecutive bouts in his first match since knocking out "The New York Badass" Phil Baroni on CBS's "Saturday Night Fights" in May 2008.
His next bout was expected to be for the Elite XC middleweight title against "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler the following November until Pro Elite went belly up courtesy of a downed Kimbo Slice and some wanton check writing.
Like Villasenor, Cyborg hasn't seen action since the latter part of 2008. Santos threw hands twice under the Sengoku banner, going 1-1 and falling to Siyar Bahadurzada in his last match in September 2008.
"Series 2" will also feature Dennis "Superman" Hallman and Cory Devela along with The Ultimate Fighter 2 castaway Jorge Gurgel against yet-to-be-named opponents.
Strikeforce will debut its brand new "Challenger Series" on the premium cable network Showtime on May 15, which is designed to give up-and-coming, less heralded Strikeforce fighters an opportunity to do their thing in front of a large television audience.
Here’s a snip from company founder and CEO, Scott Coker, on SHO MMA:
"This is where the men — and women — will be separated from the boys, so to speak. The growth and future of our sport just got a turbo injection. For regional fighters and up-and-coming men and women looking to test themselves against other top prospects and get on the fast track to stardom, SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers is the place to do it. I can’t wait for this first event."
The ShoWare Center doors will open for the Strikeforce Challengers event at 5:30 p.m. PT on June 19 and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m. PT.
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This looks like itz gonna be a good stand up war. I’ve got Villasenor takin’ this by 2rd tko.
by Mike-C on May 5, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
agreed smokin joe will get some form of ko/tko. but i expect a war from these guys and think this will be a hell of an exciting fight
by Clinton Jackson (formerly Jared) on May 5, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
smokin joe ftw! cyborg is pretty much a stepping stone for just about everybody, cant see him winning this fight
by brendan on May 6, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Villasenor by tko. The only way Santos wins this is if he sends his wife in (women problems and all).
by DSmith on May 6, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions
No predictions on this fight other then I think it will be a very exciting stand up war like the rest of you seem t think. Cyborg is a stepping stone, but Smoking Joe is inconsistent…I think this fight can go either way!
by john on May 6, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Joey “Cousin Slow Poke” Villasenyor….hahaha Speedy Gonzales reference!
by john on May 6, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Cyborg = scary looking dude but 5/10 mma fighter. I’ve got Villasenor in this one.
by Nick J on May 6, 2009 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Where is Pw at? PW and everyone else:
Will you guys approve of Joey Villasenyor’s new MMAmania nickname being “Cousin Slow poke”?
Vote Yes or No, to make it official!~
by john on May 6, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont know exactly how true this is, but the site I got it off of is one of the more credible one’s out there, besides my BELOVED MMAmania of course:
Word on the street is that Roy JOnes IS WILLING to fight Anderson Silva in the Octagon under UFC rules…Problem is that Dana White said NO!!! If this is true, and Dana did say No, I woulud have to assume that he didnt want to pay Jones’s high salary!
by john on May 6, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow! Its actually TRUE that Roy would fight Anderson in the Octagon under UFC rules, and that Dana said NO!
This is what Dana had to say:
You won’t see a Silva versus Jones fight while Silva is under contract with me," White said Tuesday. “I don’t want to say anything bad about Roy Jones, I like Roy Jones and was a fan of his, but he mattered like fifteen years ago. He’s not anywhere near the best boxer in the world. He must’ve spent all his money.”
…..
“I could do it, make it huge, make money, but I could have done a fight like this when we were bleeding money (in the early 2000s),” White said. “The fight would make some money, but it hurts MMA in the long term. We don’t do that because we love the sport. That’s a Pride or K-1 matchup. It’s not what we do.”
OK Dana, I get the point, but how about you loosen up your chokehold OVER everything, and just give the fans what the want to see. I dont think anyone on this site would not want to watch JOnes vs. Silva in the Octagon!
by john on May 6, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d rather see them box, I don’t think Jones stands a chance inside the cage with Silva under MMA rules.
by O damn he got caught on May 6, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Props to Roy though, he’s the only high profile boxer I think I’ve heard say they’d step in the cage and fight an MMA guy MMA rules.
by O damn he got caught on May 6, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont like the nickname for JV.
And I’d rather not see Anderson vs Jones Jr. I thought we were serious about him fighting RELEVANT and top 205 pound MMA FIGHTERS.
by Synyster on May 6, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
this should be a slug fest but ive got joey taking home ko victory.
by DL92 on May 5, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions
Villasenor looks like a Thug but he’s classy, intelligent and tough as nails. If u don’t like anything else about Villasenor u’d gotta’ at least like that he KO’d Phil Baroni after his strip tease entrance on Prime Time!
by DAVE A on May 6, 2009 12:03 AM EDT reply actions
Why the shit is this in Kent and not seattle, how annoying. Also I know why it isnt in seattle, but still annoying haha.
by Scott on May 6, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions
Didn’t cyborg Santos just have a fight? I hope he/she doesn’t start there period the week of the fight. Nobody want to see these mma ladies fight at a catch weight!
by Bryce on May 6, 2009 12:36 AM EDT reply actions
That was his wife…but of course you were joking right…..
SIGN READS Do not feed the trolls!
by Ca$z on May 6, 2009 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah but still Ca$z!Imagine how it’s must be tough for him(Cyborg)these days!When peoples start to think your name is,the one of your wife…you know it’s time to change it.Also she’s almost the same weight,probably stronger than him,tougher,better fighter than him and she can knock him out cold when she doesn’t have a good day…!Man that i,would fell terrible!
by Alpha Male 360 on May 6, 2009 7:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Glad to see Joey back in the ring. Anyone worried about ring rust?
by Jonathan on May 6, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions
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