Observations From My Couch: Strikeforce Challengers "Santos vs. Villasenor"

• Luke Rockhold vs. Corey Devela had all the makings of a grappling suckfest. Thank God for Rockhold's right hand.
• What the hell happened to Shayna Baszler? She used to be a submission badass. Now she just stands around and gets punched in the face.
• Leaving the UFC was the best thing Jorge Gurgel ever did. "Wahoo!" to the king of slugfests!
• Given Tim Kennedy's months spent in Afghanistan calling in air strikes and going on patrols, maybe Nick Thompson sporting a Taliban beard wasn't such a good idea.
• Good effort by Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos against Joey Villasenor, but I have no doubt his wife Cristiane would've won that fight.

"Smokin'" Joey Villasenor to Give Up Smoking, Cites Health Reasons

"Smokin'" Joey Villasenor, a Greg Jackson-trained fighter from New Mexico known for his hard-hitting style and penchant for tobacco products, has announced his commitment to give up smoking. Citing health reasons and increasing statistical evidence that smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease, Villasenor vowed in a statement to MMA Journalist that his "days of going through a carton of cigarettes and a box of cigars are through." "No more, man," said the veteran of Pride, the WFA and Strikeforce. "I owe it to myself, my loved ones and my coach. Smokin' Joe is done smoking." When pressed about the matter further, Villasenor conceded that he will continue to chew tobacco. "Yeah, you can call me Chewin' Tobacco Joe now." Villasenor is set to face Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos at Strikeforce Challengers June 19th event, which will be broadcast live on Showtime.

Strikeforce Showing Us How It's Done

Rumors are trickling in as to who will be fighting on the new and improved Strikeforce's April 11th Showtime card. Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz have signed on the dotted line and will be facing each other, Benji Radach and Scott Smith are throwing down, Robbie Lawler may be rematching with Joey Villasenor, Gilbert Melendez is fighting, Josh Thomson may be fighting, and maybe, just maybe, Gina Carano and Cristiane Cyborg might be in the mix. You know, for the past few months there's been a void left behind thanks to EliteXC's demise, and fans have been stuck with about ten versions of the same UFC a month plus the rare Affliction event. But with Strikeforce's new contract with Showtime and CBS, things have suddenly changed, and changed in a big way. We now have options when it comes to seeing intriguing and captivating fights, and our heroes - like Diaz, Radach, Lawler and Carano - can once again return to battle. It's a good time to be a fan.

Nick Diaz to Utilize Special Marijuana Powers Against Eddie Alvarez

Lightweight stud Nick Diaz has a trick up his sleeve for Eddie Alvarez when the two face each other at EliteXC's November 8th event: special marijuana powers. Promising to "smoke" the hard-hitting Philly slugger once the cage door shuts, Diaz claims his top-level jiu-jitsu and aggressive boxing won't be needed when he "rolls" Alvarez up and employs some "puff, puff, pass" and "choke and cough". Said Diaz, "Um, yeah, so... I... wait, what?" EliteXC's November 8th event will be broadcast live on Showtime, and will also feature middleweight champ Robbie Lawler defending his belt against Joey Villasenor.