STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Alvarez Talks Contract, Huen (Bully Beatdown) Looking To Make Strikeforce Debut, Plus Women's 5 Minute Rounds Scheduled

From MMAJunkie, Alvarez clears up his contract and promotion priorities, since he is signed with 3 different organizations.

Alvarez's return to U.S. soil has also prompted many fans to wonder if he was interested in competing in the sport's biggest organization, the UFC. 

"The UFC, I think they made us an offer," Alvarez said. "It wasn't what (my manager) Monte (Cox) expected, or what I expected, so we had to move on." 

Alvarez credited financial freedom as his reason for turning down the offer. 

"I want to make a living doing this," Alvarez said. "I don't want to go back to doing concrete and training at night. Wherever I go, I have to be able to train full time, or else I'm not going to be near the athlete that I want to be." 

Although not UFC-bound anytime soon, Alvarez is actually currently contracted with three organizations, meaning fight fans will be able to see plenty more of the 24-year-old this year. 

"We are still under contract with Strikeforce (in the U.S.), as well," Alvarez said. "They are cool with letting me fight with Bellator. We are hoping I can come to Strikeforce by the end of the year and fight some big names. 

"I (also) have one more fight on my contract with DREAM."

Conor Huen looks to fight in the Strikeforce June 6 event after participating on the MTV new show "Bully Beatdown" along with Mayhem Miller.

Conor Heun (8-2), the mixed-martial-arts fighter who dished out justice on the latest episode of MTV's "Bully Beatdown," expects to fight at Strikeforce's upcoming June 6 event in St. Louis.

Heun discussed the possibility of the fight while a guest on today's edition of MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

Heun, an EliteXC veteran previously under contract to ProElite, expects to finalize a deal with Strikeforce this weekend.

"Nothing's signed yet, but that's definitely the hope I've been preparing for," Heun said in reference to the June 6 event, which features a headline bout between Robbie Lawler and Jake Shields, and airs on Showtime 

 STRIKEFORCE PRESENTS LAWLER VS. SHIELDS UPDATED:

Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO 
Saturday, June 6, 2009 – 9:00PM (CST) SHOWTIME - prelims at 7:00PM

MAIN CARD (BEGINNING AT 9:00PM - PST): 
Robbie Lawler (16-4) vs. Jake Shields (22-4-1)
Renato "Babalu" Sobral (32-7) vs. Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (7-1) 
Joe Riggs (29-10) vs. Phil Baroni(13-10) 

RUMORED MAIN CARD 
Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. TBA 
Jorge Gurgel vs. TBA 
Joey Villasenor vs. TBA
 

UNDERCARD (BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00PM – PST) 
Jesse Finney (3-0) vs. TBA

RUMORED UNDERCARD 
Bao Quach vs. J.C. Pennington 
Torrance Taylor vs. Lyle Beerbohm
Conor Huen vs TBA

And for those that missed it, Strikeforce announced the Kim Couture vs Meisha Tate matchup as a 3 round fight.  The significance here is that it will be 5 minutes per round, something that was not being done in the past by EliteXC or Strikeforce. Many female fighters and MMA fans were upset at the fact that women matches were scheduled for 3 minute rounds.  It looks like Scott Coker and Strikeforce are now ready to feature their women's division, starting by giving them more air time and more time to showcase their skills.  This will also be a HUGE step up in competition for Kim Couture.  Tate should be the heavy favorite here.

MAIN CARD (BEGINNING AT 8:00PM - PST):

Billy Evangelista (9-0) vs. Mike Aina (22-4-1) – 3X5 - Lightweights

Kim Couture (1-1) vs. Meisha Tate (7-1) – 3X5 – 135 Lbs.