Hot off the press, Strikeforce has just announced that they will hold a 4-man MMA tournament on November 16th in San Jose, CA. The event will be dubbed “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives” and at this point the only confirmed participant for the middleweight tourney is Falaniko “Niko” Vitale. According to the press release, the winner of the tournament will potentially be awarded the opportunity to challenge Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion, Frank Shamrock. Check out the event fight poster here.

From Strikeforce Press Release:
October 17, 2007; San Jose, CA….Mixed martial arts star Falaniko “Niko” Vitale (24-7) and has been the first combatant selected to throw down in a four-man, single-elimination middleweight (185 lb. limit) tournament that will headline Strikeforce’s highly-anticipated return to San Jose, California’s HP Pavilion on Friday, November 16th. The winner of the first-ever sanctioned mixed martial arts tournament in the state of California, which will be completed over the course of the 10-bout fight card, will potentially be awarded the opportunity to challenge Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion, Frank Shamrock.

Tickets for the Strikeforce event, which will be presented by BodogFIGHT, are on sale at Ticketmaster (408-998-TIXS) and Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) as well as at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070). Ticket prices range from $30 to $300.

“We’re very grateful that the athletic commission has given us the opportunity to produce a tournament format fight for our fans,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. “This will be the first step in our efforts to produce more tournaments which, historically, have been a great way to challenge world class athletes and to determine who the best competitor is on any given day.”

The 33-year-old Vitale, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, is coming a sensational first round victory over Ron “Killing” Fields, a matchup which unfolded during Strikeforce’s history making event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills on Saturday, September 29th. From top position on the canvas, Vitale rained down on Fields with a series of blows before a stoppage was ordered at the 3:02 mark of the bout’s opening round.

Before entering the ranks of Strikeforce, Vitale made a number of notable conquests that have earned him prominent status in the world’s fastest growing sport. On June 6, 2003, he stopped superstar Matt Lindland in the first stanza of their meeting and, on February 7th of the following year, he earned a unanimous decision over former UFC middleweight champion, Dave Menne.

HP Pavilion doors will open for Strikeforce “Four Men Enter, One Man Survives” at 5:30 PM PST on Friday, November 16th. The first preliminary bout will begin at 6 PM and the first tournament bout will commence at 7:30 PM.

Congratulations to mixed martial artist Adam Smith who became the first MMA fighter to tested positive for three illegal substances. Smith received his first suspension for testing positive for weed and coke a few weeks ago after his “Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion” fight.  Today the California State Athletic Commission announced that he has also tested positive for steroids (Nandrolone and Stanozolol).

From the CSAC:

“Mr. Smith’s previous suspension was from the conclusion of the bout on September 29, 2007 through June 25, 2008 with a fine of $1,500. Due to the fact that he has now failed a second separate test constituting a second separate violation, a second suspension is now implemented from June 26, 2008 through the end of his licensing year which is September 27, 2008. Furthermore, he has been assessed an additional 271 days to complete the second suspension for anabolic agents when he re-applies for licensure in the State of California. He is also fined $2,500 for the second test failure.

Total time of suspension #1 and suspension #2 is 21 months. Total amount of fine #1 and fine #2 is $4,000.00. “

Adding insult to injury, Smith only received $500 for his Strikeforce fight.

Strikeforce Tournament Press Release Here

This is starting to become laughable.  Are these guys idiots?  They know they are going to be tested for banned substances when you fight yet they continue to do it. 

The California State Athletic Commission released a statement today that Bill Mahood, who last competed for StrikeForce on September 29, 2007 at the Playboy Mansion, has been suspended for testing positive for Drostanolone. He has been fined $2,500. His suspension period runs from the conclusion of the bout on September 29, 2007 through the end of his licensing year which is September 6, 2008. Furthermore, he has been assessed an additional 22 days of suspension for when he reapplies for licensure in order to fulfill the 365 day suspension.

And what did Mahood making for fighting in the StrikeForce event? $1,000. Really Bill, is it all worth it?

The California State Athletic Commission has suspended MMA fighter Adam Smith for testing positive for banned substances (cocaine and marijuana) after the Strikeforce at the Mansion event.  The big question here is, how did Smith going to pay for his $1,500 fine?  Adam only got paid an embarassing $500 for his fight last Saturday.  Busted for drugs, ouch.  Shitty pay, ouch.  Something tells me we won’t be seeing this guy in any big MMA events anytime soon.

Smith’s suspension will run through June 25, 2008.

Source: California State Athletic Commission

Wow, such a far cry from the UFC 76 fighter payouts. Gilbert Melendez was the top dog raking in a whopping $30,000 at Saturday’s Strikeforce event held at the Playboy Mansion. Strangely he did not receive a “win bonus.” Maybe they gave him a Playboy playmate in consolation. Poor Dewey Cooper and Adam Smith netted $500.

Gilbert Melendez - $30,000
Joe Riggs - $14,500 + $15,000 win bonus
Josh Thomson - $14,500 + $10,000 win bonus
Daniel Puder - $20,000
Bobby Southworth - $10,000 + $10,000 win bonus
Falaniko Vitale - $20,000
Jorge Masvidal - $18,182.50
Eugene Jackson - $15,000
Luke Stewart - $3,500 +$4,000 win bonus
Ron Fields - $7,000
Billy Evangelista - $3,000 + $3,000 win bonus
Tetsuji Kato - $6,000
Adam Lynn - $6,000
Eddy Millis - $4,000
Sam Liera - $3,000
Richard Dalton - $3,000
Clint Coronel - $3,000
Anthony Figueroa - $2,000
Miguel Linares - $1,500
Daniel McWilliams - $1,000
Matt Lee - $1,000
Bill Mahood - $1,000
Adam Smith - $500
Dewey Cooper - $500

Source: California State Athletic Commission