Some of the best fights in mixed martial arts history have takenplace during the month of June: RandyCouture upset ChuckLiddell to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title in 2003,AndersonSilva made his UFC debut against Chris Lebenin 2006, and, most recently, DiegoSanchez engaged Clay Guida ina three-round thriller in 2009.
There are plenty of major sporting events vying for the buyingpublic’s attention nowadays. In this monthly series, we takereaders around the globe in an effort to broaden their MMAhorizons, showcasing the best fights and fighters that might notget much attention otherwise. The latest installment features thereturn of former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder FedorEmelianenko, who will carry a two-fight winning streak into his2012 debut.
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As always, the list does not focus on the well-promoted mainevent bouts from major organizations you already know to watch, butrather on fights from all over the planet that are worth seeing.The UFC, Strikeforceand Bellator Fighting Championships cards are excluded bydesign.
FedorEmelianenko vs. PedroRizzo
M-1Global “Fedor vs. Rizzo” | June 21 -- St. Petersburg,Russia
There is no denying that Emelianenko and Rizzo are past theirsporting primes. Rizzo has become something of a question mark, ashas not fought for nearly two years. However, the fact that thiscould be Emelianenko’s last fight makes it far more intriguing.Will this be the last time we see the greatest heavyweight ofall-time or was it just a smart marketing ploy from M-1Global?
Rene Nazarevs. GeorgeSheppard
UCC 5 “Unleashed” |June 8 -- Teaneck, N.J.
The co-headliner of Universal Combat Championship’s latest effortpromises violence. Struggling for the vacant lightweight title in afive-round fight will be Bellator veteran Nazare and M-1 SelectionAmericas finalist Sheppard. Nazare is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt with notable wins over Luiz Azeredoand JuanBarrantes, while Sheppard is a lethal striker with sixfirst-round knockouts on his record. Both men already haveexperience going five rounds, so this should be a barnburner.
Gregor Herbvs. MikeWiatko
SFCTournament 2012 Part III | June 2 -- Mainz,Germany
Germany’s Herb appeared headed for a UFC berth in late 2009.Injuries and the workload of being a school teacher and father oftwo, all while running his own gym and preparing for fights, haveheld back the submission specialist in recent years. Busy domesticpromotion Superior Fighting Championship has now matched Germany’stop middleweight with Wiatko, Belgium’s premier 185-pounder. Thebrawny 26-year-old is an aggressive striker who has never gone thedistance in 10 career fights.
AbnerLloveras vs. RyanQuinn
CESMMA “Proving Grounds” | June 15 -- Lincoln, R.I.
Another former M-1 title contender, Lloveras will do work in whatwill already be Classic Entertainment and Sport’s third event thisyear. The two-time Spanish boxing champion will face a toughopponent in Bellator veteran Quinn. The 25-year-old American Top Team prospect raised a few eyebrows when he handedhighly regarded Brazilian Dhiego Limahis first loss in 2010 and most recently won a unanimous decisionover “The Ultimate Fighter 11” alum MarcStevens. It will be a classic battle between striker andgrappler.
KatsunoriKikuno File Photo
Kikuno is a finisher.
SatoruKitaoka vs. KatsunoriKikuno
Deep58 Impact | June 15 -- Tokyo
Things did not exactly go as planned when Kitaoka fought his formerteammate and friend Shinya Aokion New Year’s Eve. “Tobikan Judan” issued a five-round beating andmade Kitaoka gurgle his own blood. Half a year later, the stockygrappler is back in the ring facing former Deep lightweightchampion Kikuno. The 30-year-old karateka had a significantly morepleasant NYE, as he knocked out cosplayer-turned-kickboxer YuichiroNagashima in a special rules bout.
AlexandreMoreno vs. TrevorSmith
BXC “The Rise” | June 16 -- Springfield, Mass.
It is going to be a busy month for Team Link. AbnerLloveras fights June 15, and RicardoFunch takes perhaps his final shot in the Octagon a week later.Sandwiched in between, Moreno will compete on the stacked inauguralBattle Xtreme Championship show being streamed live onSherdog.com.
The 29-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will take onAll-American wrestler Smith, a three-time Strikeforce veteran whois dropping to 205 pounds. With 18 submission wins between them,this promises to be a chess match on the mat.
Renato “Babalu”Sobral vs. TatsuyaMizuno
OneFC 4 “Destiny of Warriors” | June 23 -- Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Originally announced for a One Fighting Championship 3 matchup withMelvinManhoef, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Sobralwill finally make his promotional debut and in-cage comeback after18 months away from active competition. His opponent will beMizuno. One of the better Japanese big men, he holds a first-roundsubmission win over Manhoef. Mizuno, a third degree black belt injudo, has worked diligently on his striking and looked muchimproved on his feet in recent outings.
MarcusAurelio vs. LyleBeerbohm
ShoFight20 | June 16 -- Springfield, Mo.
Aurelio, who was at his peak between 2004 and 2006 in Japan, isstill going strong after more than 10 years in the game. As part ofthe deep ShoFight 20 card, the TakanoriGomi killer will take on former Strikeforce lightweightcontender Beerbohm. “Fancy Pants” has bounced back from his lonecareer losses to Pat Healy andAoki with back-to-back first-round submissions.
Rosi Sextonvs. AislingDaly
CWFC 47 | June 2 -- Dublin, Ireland
Sexton, the “Iron Lady” of the MMA scene in the United Kingdom,will not surrender her place to Daly, a woman 10 years her junior,without a fight. Adding difficulty for the 34-year-old osteopathwill be the fact that the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship women’s 125-poundtournament semifinal will take place in Daly’s backyard. Daly willenter the cage on the strength of three straight submissionvictories. The winner will have the dubious pleasure of facingGerman slugger Sheila Gafffor the title this summer.
JorgeSantiago vs. Jay Silva
TFC23 “Fight for the Troops” | June 15 -- Fort Riley,Kan.
Two UFC-experienced Brazilians will headline Titan Fighting Championship’s card from the Fort Riley armypost. Santiago had a positive experience fighting for the promotionpreviously, having knocked out countryman LeonardoPecanha at TFC 21 in March. Silva was not as fortunate, as hedropped a hard-fought decision to Polish grappler MichalMaterla last month. In the Materla fight, the 31-year-oldReign MMA fighter showed a glaring weakness on the ground.Santiago’s camp will certainly have taken note.
Follow Tim Leidecker on Twitter at @TimLeidecker or contact himat www.facebook.com/Rossonero1.
