Kerry Vera’s (2-0) Muay Thai skills led her to a brutal first round (3:35) TKO on Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-2) in the featured women’s 135 pound match-up. Early in the first round, Bears, of Kansas City, Missouri was able to fight off the 27-year-old Woodley, a two-time All American wrestler for University of Missouri.  But while the two were in the clinch Woodley scooped up and slammed Bears to the canvas.

Woodley quickly passed guard, and as Bears attempted to turn over, Woodley attempted an armbar.  Bears escaped and brought the fight back to stand up position. Shortly thereafter, Woodley secured a double leg takedown and passed Bears’ guard to gain side control before slapping on an arm triangle choke that forced Bears to tap out at the 2:52 mark of the opening round.

In the first round of the female bout, Couture ate several punches.  While in the clinch against the fence her opponent unloaded two straight knee strikes to her Couture’s mid-section. After Couture backed up, Vera swung away with her hands and connected with a flurry of lefts and rights, battering Couture until the referee jumped in and stopped the fight.  Vera was declared the winner by way of TKO at the 3:35 mark of the first round.

Local star Bobby Voelker (21-7) turned the tides on Huntington Beach, California’s Erik “Bad” Apple (10-2), who came out of the gates swinging in the first round of their welterweight (170 pounds) match-up. The remarkably resilient Voelker weathered an early storm, scrambling to his feet after Apple dropped him with an overhand right.  After absorbing a one-two punch combination, Voelker fired back with his own hands that backed up Apple.

Voelker tripped Apple to the ground and attempted to finish Apple with a flurry of punches from inside Apple’s half guard before the closing bell sounded. In the second stanza, a left hook from Voelker stunned his opponent.  Apple attempted to counter, but was caught with another left to the chin. Voelker took Apple down again.  After Apple stood up, Voelker dropped him with a hard right hand.  Voelker pounced on his downed opponent, unloading a series of right and left hands. As Voelker continued to punish him and Apple turtled up, the referee stepped in and stopped the action at the 1:23 mark of the second round.

In his first appearance since suffering an upset defeat at the hands of Mike “Mak” Kyle, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (8-2) spent much of the first round of his matchup with Aaron Rosa (12-3) trying to control Rosa against the fence. Cavalcante changed his tempo in the second round, taking Rosa down.  The referee stood the fighters up, however, and issued Cavalcante a warning for striking his opponent with elbows to the head from inside Rosa’s guard. (Striking a down opponent to the head with elbows is illegal).

After the action resumed, Cavalcante lunged at Rosa and tagged him with a knee strike to the head that put Rosa on his back.  Cavalcante quickly pounced on Rosa and hammered him with punches until the referee stopped the contest at the 3:25 mark of the second round.

“King” Kevin Casey (3-1) of Los Angeles, California made quick work of Iowa’s Chad Vance (7-4), taking Vance down in the early going of the first round.  Vance gave up his back and Casey used the opportunity to unleash several punches before sinking in a rear naked choke from which Vance tapped out at the 1:41 mark of the first round.

Spencer Pratt, star of MTV’s smash hit reality series “The Hills,” was on hand to support Casey, his friend and business partner, from cageside.

Complete STRIKEFORCE Challengers Results:

Main Card:

Kevin Casey def.  Chad Vance – Submission (rear naked choke) – 1st Round (1:41)

Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (3:25)

Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (1:23)

Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (3:35)

Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears – Submission (arm triangle choke) – 1st Round (2:52)

Preliminary Card:

Lucas Lopes def. Dominic Brown – TKO (strikes) – 2nd Round (:45)

Mike Chandler def. Rich Bouphanouvong – TKO – 3rd Round (2:07)

Darryl Cobb def. Gary Tapasua – Split Decision (3 Rounds) (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Nick Nolte def. Andrew Waters – Submission (Triangle Choke) – 1st Round (3:45)

Brian Davidson def. Russel Patrick – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (:29)

Lee Gibson def. Joe Wilk – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round (4:39)

The Super Six World Boxing Classic returns for the third fight in Group Stage 1 as Mikkel Kessler looks to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight title November 21,  live at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

About STRIKEFORCE

STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com <http://www.strikeforce.com/> ) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history.  The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265.  Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.”  In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose.

About Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL® and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2(tm), SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(tm) XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL(tm) HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL(tm) ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.

Photo: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

Source: Mike Afromowitz, STRIKEFORCE

Perusing the photos from this morning, it appears that Alvisi is leaner and actually was able to perform a modified vacuum pose, something we have not seen much in this ‘bigger is better’ world that bodybuilding has taken of late. Now it wasn’t the Frank Zane classic pose, but he did have the ability to suck in his abs while Banks appeared bloated in the mid-section in comparison to his fellow competitor.

Alvisi’s pecs did appear a bit peculiar when he hit certain shots (a front double bicep, for example) and hopefully the judges will not hold that against him. His outer chest did not hold all of the fullness that his inner pecs did and there was a clear separation there.

Even with that said, the Delray Beach, Florida resident still has enough in his total package to finish high. A year ago at the USAs, Alvisi finished in fourth place. His best career win so far came at the 2007 Arnold Classic Amateur.

With the attention that he has been getting recently in Muscular Development magazine, Alvisi’s confidence level has to be up and that in itself can be just the advantage he needs to find himself in the winner’s circle on Saturday night.

Throughout his career, Koszewski won the 1950 AAU Jr. and regular Mr. Middle Atlantic; 1953 AAU Mr. Los Angeles and Mr. Pacific Coast; 1954 AAU Mr. California and 1967 Mr. International. In his last competition, he finished fourth in the 1970 IFBB Mr. World.

Appearing in a number of movies and television series, Zabo was more than just muscle. He may have been called “Mr. Abs,” but Koszewski was ahead of his time and a testament to the sport in many more aspects than just his mid-section.

That was Badell’s best year since 2005 when he won the Ironman and placed third at both the Arnold and Olympia. He also finished in the Top 3 at the 2004 O.

He may have missed his best chance during those two years. Even if he did, Badell came in to Las Vegas last September looking huge, but would have helped himself if his mid-section was a bit narrower and better defined.

“All I know is I did my job,” he said before the Olympia. “I tried to come in my best condition ever.”

Badell had good upper body definition and a wide back, but lost points with his obliques. He did not have that ‘V’ look to his body and with the right diet and timing can hone that to his advantage. At 5’8″ and a contest weight of 245 pounds, Badell would be better off slimming down and not being so concerned about coming in bigger than the next guy.

With Badell skipping this year’s Ironman, it appears that he has concentrated on placing high at the Arnold. Silvio Samuel took the title a month ago in Los Angeles and finished three spots higher than Badell at the Olympia. From the outside it would appear that Badell had a better shot against the Ironman field. He must have had a reason for skipping a show that he has had past success at. With that in mind, figure on Badell coming in to Ohio ripped and ready to do some damage.

Maybe even enough for an upset win.

Las Vegas, NV – Although a good portion of time had passed, when Dexter Jackson arrived at the after party, the newly-crowned Mr. Olympia was still at a loss for words. Arriving fashionably late dressed in a dapper dark blue suit, the man known as ‘The Blade’ was introduced and spoke briefly to the gathering as he accepted his FLEX Magazine award for ‘Bodybuilder of the Year.’

“I still can’t believe it,” he stated more than once. But believe it, because it’s true. Once the top six competitors were down to two, there was no way that Jay Cutler was going to make it three straight.

Jackson had better symmetry than the defending champion and the rumors swirling around the Orleans Hotel that Jackson was ahead after the prejudging came true. Perhaps the only disappointing thing about Jackson’s presentation Saturday night was his posing routine, which did not flow and his transitions were a bit awkward. In comparison, Cutler’s routine was sharp and regal, but it was not enough to get him a third Sandow.

The posedown made the place louder than it was during the individuals. Dennis Wolf seemed to have his eye on Cutler, who motioned to the crowd if that’s what they wanted to see. The two blonde monsters went at it pose for pose as the rest of the field moved around the stage.

At one point, the X-Man, Tony Freeman, had the entire right corner of the stage to himself and really excelled. Towards the end of the posedown, Cutler hopped down to the auxiliary stage and was followed by the rest of the pack, who went across doing their routines.

Jackson, perhaps feeling confident at that point, did not seem to be on Cutler’s tail and went about his business. Looking better than he has all year – a year, mind you, in which he already won three contests.

When Jackson and Cutler stood side by side, it was clear that Jackson had the better physique. His mid-section was tapered, unlike Cutler’s, which has been a complaint against him for some time now. Jackson’s lats were more prominent, and his narrow waist and defined obliques made his back even more prominent. His chest, delts and arms were proportioned perfectly and matched his lower body.

All in all, Jackson’s win was far from an upset. In fact, it would have been just that if Cutler’s name had been called.

All sports have their hanger-ons who just can’t seem to realize when it’s over. Even the great ones like Muhammad Ali have bowed out closer to the bottom than the top. In the world of professional wrestling, where the show is the catch, former headliners have sunk down to the level of grappling on the independent circuit looking a bit grayer and heavier in the mid-section than we may remember them on television. As pathetic as some of them seem, they at least have been consistent with continuing their active careers.

Then there’s Brain James “Jim” Hellwig, better known as The Ultimate Warrior, who was perhaps the only wrestler to rival Hulk Hogan in popularity during the same era. Since calling it quits in 1999 and becoming a motivational speaker, Hellwig has not strapped on the fringed boots and put on his warpaint. But some good things can’t last forever. The Ultimate Warrior will once again shake the ropes at the age of 49, this time on June 25 in Barcelona, Spain.

The Nu-Wrestling Evolution, an Italian outfit, will be promoting the bout, which was set up in April when the Warrior had words with NWE champion Orlando Jordan when the former was being presented with an award. It remains to be seen if he still has that explosive adrenalin when entering the ring.

Considering that the Warrior deflected any ‘roid rage’ talk following the death of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, coupled with the obvious with his appearance, the Warrior should come into the fight in the proper condition. A fine physical specimen during his prime, it would be a surprise if a cycle isn’t on the agenda.

Steroids or not, this is one unbalanced individual. In 1993, he had his name legally changed to ‘Warrior,’ as to retain legal rights to wrestle under the name. The video clips of him going around are comical at best, and sad at worst. He speaks in his character tongue, and in a few of them, rambles about Hulk Hogan and the troubles with the Hulkster’s son being in jail. He actually gives 17 year-old Nick Bollea advice not to bend over to pick up the soap.

Wherever he may end up, the Ultimate Warrior did have more than 15 minutes of fame, but due to his strange actions, it may be best for him, to stay away.