Kazuo “Grabaka Hitman” Misaki (19-8-2) has reached a two-fight deal with Strikeforce.
Mike Afromowitz — Strikeforce Vice President — confirmed the signing on Saturday and said Misaki’s promotional debut would likely take place sometime this summer.
Misaki has eight career fights under the Pride FC banner. He’s battle tested against the likes of Dan Henderson (win), Denis Kang (win), Nate Marquardt (loss), Ed Herman (win), Phil Baroni (win), Jake Shields (draw), Paulo Filho (loss), Frank Trigg (loss), Ricardo Almeida (loss) and others.
He signs on with Strikeforce and joins a division that has a headlining title fight in two weeks between Frank Shamrock and Cung Le. Misaki is a legitimate threat to whoever wins that title in San Jose, and he’ll be looking for a title shot sooner rather than later.
With his credentials he shouldn’t have to wait long.
After a war last night between Phil Baroni and Kala Kolohe Hose, and the big fight coming up in two weeks, and now this signing, Strikeforce and ProElite combined have some very solid middleweight talent. And that’s a bit strange since the 185-pound class has always been sort of a weak division in the UFC (excluding the champ of course).
Maybe it all makes sense.
If I were a free agent middleweight fighter looking for a place to fight, I’d have to consider other organizations besides the UFC. I mean with Anderson Silva dominating the way he is, it sure seems like it would be a lot easier for some of those guys to try and win a title elsewhere like Strikeforce or EliteXC.
We’ve already seen Scott Smith move over. And with 32 middlweight fighters on the upcoming season of TUF, the UFC is going to put a lot into marketing some of those guys. That could leave some of the vets looking to get their piece of the spotlight elsewhere.
Perhaps even a network television spotlight.
8 Comments »
Misake is no joke! He is a legit top 10 middle weight fighter in the world. UFC should have definitely trie dto land this guy. He would make for a much more exciting opponent for Silva than Okami.
Maybe after all the marketing UFC will do the the TUF 7 grads the guys from other orgs will want to move up. theres gotta be some allen berubes in this next dump of fighters.
I don’t usually have open questions, but here goes.
I know EliteXC and Strikeforce are affiliated. And of course EliteXC doesn’t allow knees to downed apponent, stomps, and soccer kicks- like most orgs. these days.
I was very suprised to see all of those allowed at last nights Strikeforce event.
-How is this. And what governing body sanctions the rules.
It may be easier to win a strap somewhere else, but let me pose a question to you, James.
Is it better to win a title in a place your checks sometimes bounce, or to be 4th or even 8th in the UFC where you actually get paid?
[quote comment="369814"]I don’t usually have open questions, but here goes.
I know EliteXC and Strikeforce are affiliated. And of course EliteXC doesn’t allow knees to downed apponent, stomps, and soccer kicks- like most orgs. these days.
I was very suprised to see all of those allowed at last nights Strikeforce event.
-How is this. And what governing body sanctions the rules.[/quote]
It was an Icon Sport event.
Misaki is a sweet sign. If he has a two fight contract, his very first fight should be for the belt.
[quote comment="370838"][quote comment="369814"]I don’t usually have open questions, but here goes.
I know EliteXC and Strikeforce are affiliated. And of course EliteXC doesn’t allow knees to downed apponent, stomps, and soccer kicks- like most orgs. these days.
I was very suprised to see all of those allowed at last nights Strikeforce event.
-How is this. And what governing body sanctions the rules.[/quote]
It was an Icon Sport event.[/quote]
thanks
the ufc should have got him he is a worthy opponent for silva