Strikeforce weigh-ins: news and notes

Promma.info’s Eddie Constantine and Matt De La Rosa were on hand at the The Hotel DeAnza to witness the Strikeforce:Destruction weigh-ins Thursday night.

The only thing colder then the San Jose weather was Joe Riggs’s attitude. Riggs’s was visibly showing the affects of a twenty plus pound weight cut and became frustrated with the athletic commission’s handling of the scale, forcing Rigg’s to strip down prior to stepping on the scale.

Another fighter noticeably shaken from cutting weight was middleweight Terry Martin. Martin was seen lying on the floor before weighing in. Immediately after he stepped off the scale Martin rushed out of the room to begin replenishing himself for tomorrow’s co-main event.

The lone women’s bout on the card is between Kim “Sugar Free” Couture and Lina Kvokov. Along with being the only female fight, the fight will be contested at a catch weight of 133 pounds. Kvokov appeared extremely relieved that she made weight. Putting her hands together and looking at the sky after she hit the 133 mark.

Promma.info caught up with Kim Couture shortly after. Couture stated “I feel good, I didn’t have to cut. I stayed hydrated and ate all day.” “Sugar Free” didn’t read anything into her opponents reaction on the scale and when asked about training concurrently with her husband, Randy Couture for his UFC 91 fight she declared “It was a really fun experience.”

Eric Lawson also was pleased after his weight cut process ended by nailing the middleweight mark. “I’m gonna drink water, Gatorade, more water and more Gatorade.” He felt even more confident after seeing his opponent, Tony Johnson in person. “I just think I’ve got more stuff to bring to the table…I’ll smash him and the crowd will love it.”

Lawson’s trainer, former UFC welterweight Gil Castillo spoke with us and was also positive in his fighter’s abilities. “He is looking really strong and he is ready to go; Eric is going to over power this guy.” While Johnson possesses a solid kickboxing base, it doesn’t appear to be a concern for Castillo. “He likes to leg kick and if he does that’s going to be a problem because Eric’s takedown’s are looking really strong right now.”

Team Ralph Gracie will be represented with three fighters competing on this card. Kurt Osiander will be taking on Josh Neal in the card’s opening bout. Darren Uyenoyama squares off against Brad Royster and Luke Stewart taking on the aforementioned Joe Riggs.

Check out the following video with the master himself, Ralph Gracie as the two men talk about tonight’s card. Gracie also gives promma.info the exclusive news about his possible return to the ring inside the Strikeforce cage.

Ralph Gracie chats with PRO MMA:

Strikeforce “Destruction:” Weigh In Results

San Jose, CA. —Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (13-5) weighed in at 185 ½ lbs. and his opponent, Terry Martin (18-5), tipped the scales at 186 lbs. one day before their meeting at Strikeforce “Destruction,” the mixed martial arts mega-event at San Jose’s HP Pavilion.

Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight (205 lb. limit) Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) and his opponent, Renato “Babalu” Sobral (30-7), both registered in at 204 lbs. Knockout artists and opponents Duane “Bang” Ludwig (17-8) and Yves Edwards (34-14-1) weighed in at 163 lbs. and 164 lbs, respectively.

The following are the official fighter weights from Thursday’s weigh-ins at Hotel DeAnza:

185 lb. limit:
Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith – 185.5 lbs. vs. Terry Martin – 186 lbs.

205 lb. limit:
Bobby Southworth – 204 lbs. vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral – 204 lbs.

164 lb. limit:
Duane “Bang” Ludwig – 163 lbs. vs. Yves Edwards – 164 lbs.

133 lb. limit:
Kim “Sugar Free” Couture – 132 lbs. vs. Lina Kvokov – 133 lbs.

170 lb. limit:
Joe “Diesel” Riggs – 170.5 lbs. vs. Luke Stewart – 170.5 lbs.

135 lb. limit:
Brad Royster – 134 lbs. vs. Darren “Bone Crusher” Uyenoyama – 136 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Nik Theotikos – 185.5 lbs. vs. Luke Rockhold – 185.5 lbs.

170 lb. limit:
Zakary Bucia – 169 lbs. vs. Adam Steele – 168 lbs.

145 lb. limit:
Alvin Cacdac – 143 lbs. vs. Jose Palacios – 145 lbs.

175 lb. limit:
Lemont Davis – 173 lbs. vs. Brian Schwartz – 175 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Josh Neal – 184 lbs. vs. Kurt “Rhino” Osiander – 185 lbs.

155 lb. limit:
Bobby Stack – 155 lbs. vs. Cyrillo Padilha – 156 lbs.

185 lb. limit:
Tony Johnson – 184 lbs. vs. Eric Lawson – 185 lbs.

HP Pavilion doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for Strikeforce “Destruction” and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m. The main card will commence at 7:30 p.m.

The live HDNet telecast of Strikeforce “Destruction” will begin at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST).