The MMA Digest

Mixed martial arts fans attending this Saturday’s terrific EliteXC fight card in Stockton, Calif., will have the opportunity to meet Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano when they participate in a pre-fight autograph signing just prior to the opening bell.

The undefeated EliteXC fighters, perhaps the two most popular and recognizable athletes in mixed martial arts, will sign autographs inside The Stockton Arena beginning when the doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT. They will sign until the first fight starts at 3:15.

Tickets for the most significant sporting event in the recent history of Stockton start at $35 and can be purchased at the Stockton Arena Box Office (Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Saturday (noon-4 p.m.), by phone at (209) 373-1700 and (866) 373-7088 (toll free) or online at www.stocktontickets.com.

Three of Northern California’s most talented and crowd-pleasing fighters will appear in Saturday’s top fights.

Hard-hitting Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (15-4, 1 NC) of Sacramento by way of Elk Grove, Calif., will challenge defending champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (15-4, 1 NC) of Granite City, Ill., for the EliteXC middleweight title; San Francisco’s Jake Shields (20-4-1) faces Nick “The Goat’’ Thompson (36-9-1) of Minneapolis for the vacant EliteXC welterweight belt and local favorite and world class lightweight contender, Nick Diaz (17-7) of Stockton meets Thomas “Wildman’’ Denny (26-16) of Victorville. Calif.

The spectacular event is presented by Los Angeles-based ProElite, Inc.’s live fight division, EliteXC.

This week Jake takes us through a move he calls the “Bas Rutten Body Crank.” He saw Bas do this move in a Pancrase match and has since incorporated it into his game. He shows this move from the head and arm position and also explains the fundamentals of a good head and arm. This is a great move, check it out here!