This Week in Combat Sports May 12th, 2011:

Coupon Codes from Mevio.com

Dog.com: ‘SADPSOR5′ for $5 off your order of $50 or more

Dog.com: “SADSPORT’ for $15 off your order of $75 or more

Footlocker.com: ‘AFCOMBFL ‘ and receive 10% off your order. Online Only: Some Exclusions May Apply

Eastbay.com: ‘AFLCOMB15 ‘ to receive 10% off your order. ’AFLCOMB20 ‘ to receive 15% off any order over $75 or more. Online Only: Some Exclusions May Apply

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMBFS ‘ Free shipping on orders $30+

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMB15′ 15% off orders $75 or more

Chael Sonnen’s Struggle With the Truth Isn’t Just His Problem — It’s Ours, Too

UFC’s Jacob Volkmann won’t shut up until he gets a meeting with the President

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Off UFC 130 After Injuries Sideline Both

UFC Announces New Insurance for Fighters

Bob Reilly Questions Motives Behind Zuffa’s Accident Insurance

Nick Diaz vs. Jeff Lacy Purse and TV Information

Jay Hieron Sweeps Tourney, Earns a Bellator Welterweight Title Shot

Rampage Jackson to leave MMA when money is right with Hollywood

Wanderlei Silva Had Doubts of Coming Back, Now Holds Chris Leben’s Feet to the Fire

Jamie Varner Has Not Signed to Face Shinya Aoki, Fight Not Likely to Happen

Manny Pacquiao Dominates Shane Mosley

UFC vet Antoni Hardonk retires from MMA

UFC vet Chris Lytle, Indianapolis police vying for $50,000 Pepsi grant for MMA program

Drunk driver puts del Rosario’s fighting future in jeopardy

Judges’ monitors approved for UFC 131, officials to request them at NSAC meeting

Email your comments and questions to twicbs@gmail.com. Or post you comments here. See you next week.

From Press Release:

CHICAGO, Ill. (May 10, 2011) — Bellator Fighting Championships announced today the signing of hard-hitting Brazilian welterweight Michael Costa to its rapidly expanding roster. Costa joins Bellator days after his training partner at Wand Fight Team, Vitor Vianna, agreed to terms with the promotion.

One of the original members of the Chute Boxe Academy, Costa moved from Rio de Janeiro to Curitiba, Brazil at 21-years-old to train alongside Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, Maurcio “Shogun” Rua, Fabricio Werdum and others. Similar to Vitor Vianna, Costa made the journey from Brazil to the United States after Wanderlei had urged the two to train at his academy.

While Costa holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Royler Gracie, the 2x Sengoku veteran is also a Muay Thai black belt under Chute Boxe founder Rafael Cordeiro, and holds the title of head Muay Thai instructor at Wand Fight Team.

“Michael Costa has all the tools to have a breakout year and his no nonsense approach in the cage made him a perfect fit for Bellator”, said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “His addition to our welterweight division makes a strong 170 lbs. class that much stronger.”

Like many Brazilian fighters, Costa prides himself on not letting the fight get to the judges, proof by his last eight victories ending in finishes.

“Anyone that has seen me fight before knows that I fight with all my heart, and that I fight to finish my fights by knockout,” said Costa. “For me, fighting is a war. I want to finish all of my fights with Bellator so the fans remember my name.”

Fans knowing his name was the main reason Costa jumped at the chance to sign with Bellator. With Bellator broadcast in nearly 80 million homes on MTV2, the opportunity was too good to pass up for Costa.

“Now that I have this incredible opportunity with Bellator, I’m going to work harder than ever to make the most of it for myself, my fans, and my family. When people talk about Bellator, I want them to talk about Michael Costa. I want them to talk about me like they talk about Hector Lombard. I’m here to make a name for myself with Bellator, and that’s what I’m about to do.”

This Week in Combat Sports March 10th, 2011:

Coupon Codes from Mevio.com

Dog.com: ‘SADPSOR5′ for $5 off your order of $50 or more

Dog.com: “SADSPORT’ for $15 off your order of $75 or more

Footlocker.com: ‘AFCOMBFL ‘ and receive 10% off your order. Online Only: Some Exclusions May Apply

Eastbay.com: ‘AFLCOMB15 ‘ to receive 10% off your order. ’AFLCOMB20 ‘ to receive 15% off any order over $75 or more. Online Only: Some Exclusions May Apply

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMBFS ‘ Free shipping on orders $30+

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMB15′ 15% off orders $75 or more

Strikeforce: Henderson knocks out Feijao to claim Light Heavyweight belt

Latest title most meaningful, but Strikeforce’s Henderson still open to middleweight

Strikeforce champ Henderson anticipates summer return, interested in Emelianenko

Strikeforce: Carmouche surprises all, but surprise is not enough to get title from Coenen

“Future champ” Carmouche impressive, but Strikeforce’s Coenen wants Tate, “Cyborg”

Strikeforce: Kennedy subs Manhoef in first

With time ticking till military return, Strikeforce’s Tim Kennedy wants big fights now

Strikeforce: Masvidal hands Evangelista first loss.

Bellator 35 Results: Hieron, Good, Hawn and Weedman Move on in Welterweight Tourney

Controversy Creeps as 170 Tourney Kicks Off Bellator Season 4

Pat Barry Happy to Face Carwin, Hunt, Struve or Whoever the UFC Sees Fit

Weekend winners include Pulver, Jardine, Beebe, Fioravanti and others

Diego Sanchez, Martin Kampmann suspended indefinitely following UFC on Versus 3

Aoki, Beerbohm Matched for April 9 Strikeforce Bout

Don Frye Fired by Shark Fights

UFC Signs 4-Year Broadcast Deal with Rogers Sportsnet for Canada

If Bisping-Sonnen Is Not Made, Bisping-Munoz Should Be

MMA Valor’s Exclusive Interview with The NY Badass Phil Baroni

Email your comments and questions to twicbs@gmail.com. Or post you comments here. See you next week.

This Week in Combat Sports February 11th, 2011:

Coupon Codes from Mevio.com

Dog.com: ‘SADPSOR5′ for $5 off your order of $50 or more

Dog.com: “SADSPORT’ for $15 off your order of $75 or more

Footlocker.com: ‘AFCOMBFL ‘ and receive 10% off your order

Eastbay.com: ‘AFLCOMB15 ‘ to receive 10% off your order. ’AFLCOMB20 ‘ to receive 15% off any order over $75 or more.

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMBFS ‘ Free shipping on orders $30+

CCS.com: ‘AFCOMB15′ 15% off orders $75 or more

Rashad Evans replaces Thiago Silva to fight Rampage Jackson at UFC 130

Thiago Silva’s UFC 125 Drug Test Being Scrutinized, Others Clear

Matt Hamill replaces Thiago Silva, faces “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130

Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal Expects June Return, Open To Fighting All At 205

Bellator Fighting Championships hits Oklahoma four times in upcoming fourth season

UFC contender Kenny Florian officially headed to featherweight

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Turned Down Shogun Rua Fight at UFC 128

Bellator 35 kicks off welterweight tourney, four quarterfinal pairings announced

NSAC: Anderson Silva’s UFC 126 greasing speculation much ado about nothing

Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva Breakdown

MMAValor.com Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Bracket contest

Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Fedor vs Silva

Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Arlovski vs Kharitonov

Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Del Rosario vs Johnson

Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Griggs vs Gian Villante

Strikeforce/M-1 Global: Valentijn Overeem vs Ray Sefo

Email your comments and questions to twicbs@gmail.com. Or post you comments here. See you next week.

This Week in Combat Sports August 26, 2010:

Shambala Sports Radio

Coupon Codes from Mevio.com

Footlocker.com: ‘AFCOMBFL ‘ and receive 15% off your order

Eastbay.com: ‘AFLCOMB15 ‘ to receive 15% off your order. ’AFLCOMB20 ‘ to receive 20% off any order over $75 or more.

GoDaddy.com: ‘COMBAT1′ for 10% off and order that is not already discounted. ’COMBAT2′ for $5 off $30 or more of any items not already discounted. ’COMBAT3′ to get .COM Domain Names for $7.49. ’COMBAT20H’ to receive 20% off Hosting Plans.
‘COMBATSSL’ to get SSL Certificates for $12.99.

Strikeforce Houston: Feijao claims King Mo’s Light Heavyweight Crown

Manager: Lawal Out 9 Months for Knee Surgery

Jacare gets decision over Kennedy

Noons KOs Gurgel with a little bit of controversy

Nick Diaz vs KJ Noons Rematch Announced

Chad Griggs sets Bobby Lashley’s title contention hopes aside

Jay Hieron released by Strikeforce…Kind of.

Dana White: Chael Sonnen rematch up next for UFC champ Anderson Silva

Belfort: Return Opponent Won’t Be Sonnen

Alistair Overeem Not Interested in Fedor Fight, Decides to Fight for K-1 in October

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Rashad Evans UFC title fight on hold until mid-2011

Jay Hieron released by Strikeforce…Kind of.

UFC 118: Frankie Edgar vs BJ Penn

UFC 118: James Toney vs Randy Couture

UFC 118: Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard

Dana White: Kenny Florian-Gray Maynard Winner Guaranteed Title Shot

Email your comments and questions to twicbs@gmail.com. Or post you comments here. See you next week.

Fans scoffed at the idea of having two fighters who have a combined 2 pro fights between them, both belonging to Nagy, to be broadcast on the main card of the January 30th event, while Hieron and Riggs was put on the preliminary card. Thanks to EASportsMMA.com, at least will be able to catch the fight, as long as they have access to the internet. While it’s TV, at least it’s something for the fans.

Talking to MMA news site MMAjunkie.com, Randy Chase, the Product Marketing Manager for EA Sports told them, “It was a discussion that came up between Strikeforce, Showtime and EA Sports during planning meetings. All parties had seen the MMA community interest in the fight and wanted to give the fans what they wanted to see.  We are committed to growing the sport and supporting the fighters in our game, so we were happy to play a part in bringing this fight to the fans.”

Not only is this a good thing for all parties involved, it shows that people do in fact listen to the fans and what they want. From a marketing stand-point, having a former Hiesman Trophy winner and NFL running back could bring in fans, it still has that “sideshow” feel that we have come to see from other MMA Organizations, as if I need to remind everyone about the Super Hulk tournament DREAM gave us.

This won’t be the first time Strikeforce will use the web to stream fights, as they have broadcast fights before ProElite.com and Yahoo! Sports, as well has using Showtime to broadcast an interactive webcast so fans can view fights from different viewpoints, it still shows that the fans opinions actually matter. So while Walker will make his MMA debut on Showtime, Riggs and Heiron will hope people can catch their fight streaming on EASportsMMA.com.

It’s not TV, but at least it’s something.