With Black Friday being right around the corner it’s time to start looking around for your early Christmas Shopping needs. The only question is do you camp out overnight for the Mega Deals or do you sleep tight at home wake up at a normal time and buy the regular sale items online. All the regular Black Friday power houses are back in the game this year (Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry’s Electronics, etc…) Stardum will be out at Black Friday this year and from the looks of it our reps will be heading to Best Buy. If any of you are interested in any of the deals BlackFriday.info has all the from all the stores that are participating. So make a list, check it twice and make sure you don’t get trampled when the stores open in a few nights.

Its been 17 years since we have seen a new Gun’s N’ Roses album. It’s been 14 years since Axl first began recording what now is Chinese Democracy. Most thought the album would never be completed and the tracks would never surface to the Millions of G N’ R fans around the world. November 23, 2008 marked the release of the most anticipated album of the past decade, and it flew off Best Buy shelves and ITunes downloads, all to mixed reviews. Thats why Stardum is here to give you the no B.S to the point honest review. Do not buy the album expecting to hear another Sweet Child O’ Mine or November Rain on there. Madagascar is the only track I can see off the album that may be a long lasting hit. It’s good people the album is good but not 14 years in the making good. It’s a something every music fan should have in there collection. Axl is still the same old Axl and if you can get over the fact that all thats left of the G N’ R we knew and loved is Axl you will enjoy this album. Also to all the pirates out there lets not forgot how much money actually went into producing this album throughout the 14 years of work that was put into it and lets try to actually by this one. So all in all this will be a memorable album because of its history and what went into actually making it happen an there are a few stand out tracks but nothing that I feel is mind blowingly epic. So pick it up and and add it to the collection, and don’t forget Best Buy is the exclusive retailer for the album so you know where to go.

4 out of 5

Dutch Kickboxer and wild fighter Alistair Overeem is still looking for that big “Overeem vs. Cro Cop” rematch that’s been clinging to the MMA landscape like so much fog on a Marin morning. Overeem is ready to fight, ready to make sure Mirko Cro Cop can’t cop out from knee strikes and is even entertaining ideas about new organizations and fights once his contract expires. If you remember correctly Overeem and Cro Cop’s last fight was a debacle filled with groin shots and complaints that eventually led to someone telling us Cro Cop’s nutts had been forced back inside of him! Gnarly details bro. Checkout all the info sherdog grabbed from Overeem regarding, fighting, life, and knee strikes:
“I’m afraid Mirko is trying to run from me again,” Overeem recently told Sherdog.com. “FEG wants to make it happen, I would like nothing more than get my hands on him again and I know that the fans would like to see a definite ending as well, so the only obstacle here is Cro Cop. He’s the one who hasn’t signed the contract yet and he’s the one who is trying to avoid fighting me again because he knows that he will get his ass kicked again.”
The 28-year-old “Demolition Man” did not want to talk tactics should his second meeting with the Croatian come to fruition, but did reveal one alteration he is planning.
“I won’t use any knee strikes to the body this time, so he won’t have any chance to wimp out of the fight again,” he said.
It looks like things have gotten personal again. Who’s betting on Overeem?

Fabricio Werdum is still fired. Werdum is now a free agent in the MMAworld and it all seems to slowly be settling in for the Brazilian fighter. Over the last few weeks the UFC has been shaking up contracts and dissolving fighters and Verdum obviously did not escape that fate. Werdum, who suffered a KO loss in his last bout, is managed by his Sister and no longer fighting within the UFC. What seemed not to have sunk in with the fighter has now become clear. Here’s a some insight into Werdum’s state of mind thanks to Tatame:
“When I first heard the rumours, I didn’t know anything. I had four more fights left with them on my contract, which ran to 2010. But they demanded to renegotiate my existing contract by cutting my pay in half” revealed the heavyweight. Adding also that his departure had nothing to do with the video game licensing dispute. “No that wasn’t an issue but its not something that benefit’s the fighters”
“I‘m a free agent now. One of the advantages of leaving the UFC is the freedom of contract, which allows fighters to work with more than one event without any problems. That’s very beneficial. There are several possibilities now including fighting in multiple organizations. Affliction, Sengoku and Dream are big events, but I think the possibility of fighting for Affliction in particular will give me the best chance to fight the best in the world, Fedor, in addition to (Andrei) Arlovski, Josh Barnett and several other big names …That would be a great opportunity for me.”
Ouch, the sting still burns a little. At least he can shop himself around now. Arlovski rematch?

SAN JOSE, CA—Scott Smith (14-5) reinforced the meaning behind his nickname “Hands of Steel” by dropping fellow heavy-handed middleweight (185 lb. limit) Terry Martin (18-6) with a single overhand right only 24 seconds into the opening round of their showdown at Strikeforce “Destruction” at the HP Pavilion on Friday, November 21st. Renato “Babalu” Sobral (31-7) seized the Strikeforce world light heavyweight (205 lb. limit) championship from Bobby Southworth (9-6, 1 NC) after a deep cut around Southworth’s right eye forced a doctor stoppage in between rounds one and two.

Right out of the gates, the hard-hitting Martin came forwarded as expected and began looking to capitalize on the first opening he saw. As he moved forward to deliver, though, he was dealt the finishing blow that put him out on his stomach. Referee Herb Dean immediately signaled an end to the bout.

For Martin, the single shot defeat came only two months after he laid the same fate on Cory Devela at Strikeforce’s affair at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills.

Entering his second title defense, Southworth, Strikeforce’s first-ever light heavyweight champion, appeared to be in phenomenal shape as he defended a takedown in the early seconds of the first round before tripping Sobral to the canvas and gaining side control.

Sobral was able to stand up and, soon after, referee “Big” John McCarthy separated the two fighters, threw a hard left elbow that opened the fatal gash around Southworth’s eye. The third man in charged ordered the cut to be looked at by the ringside physician, who allowed the fight to resume.

The defending champion secured a takedown before the end of the round, but his run was ended by the doctor’s orders.

Duane “Bang” Ludwig (18-8) deployed an intelligent gameplan against Yves Edwards (34-15-1) in their 164 lb. limit catch weight battle, wearing Edwards down in the second round with repeated punches to the body while the two were on their feet.

Edwards scored a takedown later in the second as well as in the third, but Ludwig defended well from the guard on each occasion.

In the third, Ludwig, a world Muay Thai champion, came out firing to the body again with a kick and a left hand. Edwards countered with a strong left kick to the ribs and followed up with a takedown attempt, but Ludwig stuffed his shot and put Edwards on his back.

From Edwards’ guard, Ludwig began tagging his opponent with punches and elbows before Edwards was able to stand. Edwards secured one more takedown before the final bell sounded and all three judges’ awarded the victory to Ludwig.

Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-1), wife of MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture, displayed marked improvement in her second career start, acting as the aggressor against novice Lina Kvokov (0-2).

Couture, who suffered a punishing defeat in her debut on June 20, 2008, came out of the gates firing left and right hands. Kvokov traded with her, but was overwhelmed by Couture’s knee strikes to the body while in the clinch. Couture pushed Kvokov out of the clinch and continued to bomb on her opponent, who turned her back in the middle of the storm, a move that prompted referee Jon Schorle to order a stoppage at the 1:44 mark of the first round.

Joe “Diesel” Riggs (29-10, 1 NC) made a strong statement in his return to the welterweight (170 lb. limit) division, stopping Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Luke Stewart (6-2), in the second stanza of their matchup.

Stewart, a San Francisco native, was able to secure a single leg takedown in the opening round after his first attempt at doing so was denied. Riggs applied a guillotine choke from guard position, but Stewart easily escaped. Stewart passed Riggs’ guard and moved to the north-south position and, then, to side control. Riggs turned the tables on Stewart, though, making his way to half-guard and, then, to mount before the close of the round.

In the second, it was Riggs who took down Stewart and landed in Stewart’s guard. A Riggs right hand connected and gave the 26-year-old the opportunity to open up on Stewart, who turned over to protect himself. Riggs continued to pour on the punches before referee McCarthy halted the action at the 2:05 mark of the round.

Twenty-four year old submission specialist Luke Rockhold (3-1) turned in an impressive Strikeforce debut, turning the tides on Nik Theotikos (5-2), who pulled guard and slapped on a guillotine choke from which Rockhold fought his way out of with a healthy offering of punches to the head and body.

Rockhold freed himself from Theotikos’ guard and initiated a scramble that caused Theotikos to give up his back. Rockhold sunk in a deep rear naked choke that forced Theotikos to tap at the 3:06 mark of the opening round.

1. Complete Strikeforce “Destruction” Results:
2. Zakary Bucia def. Adam Steele – Submission (Guillotine Choke) at :35, Round 1
3. Alvin Cacdac def. Jose Palacios – Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:10, Round 2
4. Darren “Bone Crusher” Uyenoyama def. Brad Royster – Unanimous Decision, 3 Rounds (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
5. Luke Rockhold def. Nik Theotikos – Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:06, Round 1
6. Joe “Diesel” Riggs def. Luke Stewart – TKO (Punches) at 2:05, Round 2
7. Kim “Sugar Free” Couture def. Lina Kvokov – TKO (Punches) at 1:44, Round 1
8. Duane “Bang” Ludwig def. Yves Edwards – Unanimous Decision, 3 Rounds (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
9. Renato “Babalu” Sobral def. Bobby Southworth – TKO (Doctor stoppage due to cut around Southworth’s eye) at 5:00, Round 1
10. Scott Smith def. Terry Martin – KO (Punch) at :24, Round 1
11. Brian Schwartz def. Lemont Davis – TKO (Punch) at 2:22, Round 3
12. Kurt Osiander def. Josh Neal – TKO (Punches) at 2:16, Round 1
13. Eric Lawson def. Tony Johnson – Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:28, Round 1
14. Bobby Stack def. Cyrillo Padilha – Unanimous Decision, 3 Rounds (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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 today’s weigh-ins at Hotel DeAnza:

• 185 lb. limit:
• Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith – 185.5 lbs.
• Terry Martin – 186 lbs.
• 205 lb. limit:
• Bobby Southworth – 204 lbs.
• Renato “Babalu” Sobral – 204 lbs.
• 164 lb. limit:
• Duane “Bang” Ludwig – 163 lbs.
• Yves Edwards – 164 lbs.
• 133 lb. limit:
• Kim “Sugar Free” Couture – 132 lbs.
• Lina Kvokov – 133 lbs.
• 170 lb. limit:
• Joe “Diesel” Riggs – 170.5 lbs.
• Luke Stewart – 170.5 lbs.
• 135 lb. limit:
• Brad Royster – 134 lbs.
• Darren “Bone Crusher” Uyenoyama – 136 lbs.
• 185 lb. limit:
• Nik Theotikos – 185.5 lbs.
• Luke Rockhold – 185.5 lbs.
• 170 lb. limit:
• Zakary Bucia – 169 lbs.
• Adam Steele – 168 lbs.
• 145 lb. limit:
• Alvin Cacdac – 143 lbs.
• Jose Palacios – 145 lbs.
• 175 lb. limit:
• Lemont Davis – 173 lbs.
• Brian Schwartz – 175 lbs.
• 185 lb. limit:
• Josh Neal – 184 lbs.
• Kurt “Rhino” Osiander – 185 lbs.
• 155 lb. limit:
• Bobby Stack – 155 lbs.
• Cyrillo Padilha – 156 lbs.
• 185 lb. limit:
• Tony Johnson – 184 lbs.
• 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).

Wow, the madness has ended for now and for the better with Jon Fitch back in the UFC and Dana White looking to be a tad bit the bully. Fitch and his management pulled of a nice round of professional communications that left Fitch signing up for the UFC videogame and ready to fight again. The more it’s looked at, the more Dana seems to be throwing the power moves around the office, trying to break employees down. Good job Jon Fitch, everybody deserves to be dealt with with respect, especially someone who bleeds for the company name. This is what mmarated squeezed out of the Fitch Team:
“Communication kind of broke down with Dana (White) so we talked with Lorenzo,” Fitch told MMARated. “(I) just got off the phone with him and we came to an agreement. We’re going to move ahead and I’ll be back in the UFC. We’re going to sign off on the video game and I’m back. It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach that we felt Dana was being a little bit hot-headed and was threatening us right off the bat. It didn’t seem like a professional way of doing things.”

The war is still in it’s infancy but nonetheless General Dana White is mobilizing his unit for close combat. The problem is it’s a war of numbers against the guys who provided the fuel for Dana’s fire. Much like the pherohs of Egypt dispatched those who built the pyramid, White is slowly casting out some of the best builders the UFC has had, namely Jon Fitch. Fitch is a great fighter, worthy of respect and fair pay with fair play attached. Why is doesn’t Dana just say, “Fine you’re not in the video game.” Why does he have to fire him? If Fitch doesn’t want to be in the game isn’t that a fair choice? The game will be fine without a Fitch character but the UFC needs him. He is a contender for the belt and a stand-up athlete who people care about and want to watch compete. After Dana cooled down he had this to report to USA Today:
“This is not an attack on Jon Fitch. It’s not an attack on any one fighter. We have chosen not to do business with this camp called AKA. These guys have never, ever, ever treated us like partners. They’re always fighting over stupid, stupid (stuff) and negotiating over stuff that makes no sense. They’re negotiating like they’ve got Mel Gibson and this thing is the biggest movie ever being made. You know what I’m saying? The reality is, we’re not even sanctioned in Massachusetts or New York … (and) we’re going into all these different countries trying to do these different things. And I’ve got these guys that basically don’t want to be partners with me. You’ve got morons — morons — that are running these fighters’ lives. But to tell you the truth, one of the fighters from AKA called me and said, “Listen, I don’t care what these managers say or what they’re doing. I make my own decisions and my decision is, I’m with you. I’m your partner, I’m in.’ And this was before we even told AKA we wouldn’t be doing business with them any more. So this really isn’t an attack on Jon Fitch or any personal fighter. We’re just choosing not to do business with AKA any more. We’re not going to do business with them. And listen, there’s other guys out there that they can go do business with; they’re just not going to do business with me. Now there’s rumors out there, I know, about, ‘It’s over a video game deal. It’s over the ancillary rights agreement. It’s over this, that.’It’s over a lot of different things. It’s not one specific fighter or one specific thing. It’s about a lot of different things with a lot of these fighters. And you know what? This is more than just AKA. There’s other camps out there that we’re having trouble doing business with. And at the end of the day, this is a business. We run a business just like any other business. You come in, you do your job with your company and you get paid. And the guys that don’t want to do business with you — then go work somewhere else. It’s as easy as that. You don’t have to do business with us. There’s other people out there you can do it with.”