Strikeforce live coverage from San Jose

Strikeforce live coverage from San Jose

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Welcome to our live coverage of tonight's Strikeforce show at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's Strikeforce show as well as tonight's WEC show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Only three prelim fights tonight. The David Tarzan Douglas vs. Bobby Stack fight is off. Douglas came in a few pounds overweight, managed to to make weight early last evening, but then when rehydrating, his system went into shock and he was hospitalized.

Because of it being only a seven match show, we're starting late.

A.J. Fonseca vs. Alex Crispin

Crispin is the crowd favorite. Pretty good crowd in here already. Crispin on top on the ground holding a front headlock. He’s throw a few punches but nothing of note. Crispin with punches and elbows to the back. More punches to the side of the head. More punches and elbows to the back by Crispin. More punches by Crispin. Fonseca back up. Crispin with a single leg but Fonseca up and throwing knees. Fonseca with punches. Crispin is tired. He’s backing off at the end but Fonseca couldn’t get anything of note in. Crispin 10-9

Fonseca came in but Crispin backed himinto the cage. Fonseca turned him around. Fonseca with a punch off the break. Crispin snuck in an elbow and Fonseca with short punches from the clinch. Fonseca tried a takedown, and got caught in a guillotine. He used it to get top position but let go of the hold. He’s throwing punches from the top. Fonseca tried to get up but Crispin spun and got his back. He’s working for a choke. Fonseca up. Crispin got a coupe of decent jabs in. Now a low kick. Crispin in and out and landing but nothing powerful. Clearly Crispin’s round 20-18.

Crispin connectedwith a punch and lifted up his hands and dared Fonseca to punch. Fonseca going for a takedown and getting nowhere. Crispin punching the body while blocking the takedown. Now punching the side of the head while blocking the takedown. Crispin throwing knees from the clinch. Now Crispin trying for a takedown. Two hard knees to the face. Fonseca went down and Crispin threw another knee, which was illegal with Fonseca down. Fonseca was staggering around. He could have pulled out a DQ or no contest over it, but he’s coming back and fighting. Crispin using his reach to land shots and stay out of trouble. Fonseca shot and got a takedown finally Crispin tried a shoulderlock and finally got it. He was working on a heel hook as time ran out. 30-27 Crispin.

Final scores were 30-27 across the board for Crispin

Justin Wilcox vs. Daisuke Nakamura

Nakamura wearing his pro wrestling tights. Nakamura is a protege of Kiyoshi Tamura. Wilcox connected with a right straight which was the best punch so far. Wilcox missed a high kick. Wilcos caught a few good punches. Nakamura with a punch and knee. Wilcox back with a punch. Wilcox connected with more punches. Good overhand right by Wilcox. Wilcox with a knee. Nakamura landed a jab but now Wilcox back. Nakamura tried a flying armbar but Wilcox just stepped aside and let him fall. Good right by Wilcox. 10-9 Wilcox

Nakamura in with a knee. Nakamura moving better this round. Not much happening this round. No telling blows this round but Wilcox is throwing more. Nakamura with low kicks. Wilcox got a takedown late and that may win the round for him. Nakamura tried a Kimura but Wilcox out of trouble with no problems at the bell. Wilcox 20-18.

Nakamura missed a rolling kick. As he got up Wilcox cracked him with a good punch. Wilcox with a few more good punches. Knee by Wilcox ‘Both guys tiring now. Nakamura starting to land a lot of jabs but Wilcos took him down. Nakamura going for an amrbar. Wilcox ‘s eyes both swelling bad. Knee up the middle by Wilcox. Nakamura connected with several punches. Wilcox back and Nakamura back. Trading but nobody landed a good one. Wilcox missing punches as Nakamura continually dodged him. Wilcox landed a good punch. Wilcox landing some punches. Wilcox bleeding a lot from the left eye. Wilcox with another flurry. Wilcox and Nakamura trading at the end. Third round was close but I’ve got 30-27 for Wilcox.

30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 for Wilcox. Right decision, I’d consider this an upset.

Scott Lighty vs. Antwain Britt

Britt came out fast. He’s got Lighty bulled into the fence. Britt threw a knee to the groin and it was briefly stopped. High kick by Lighty. Britt in with punches. He knocked Lighty down and he’s throwing a ton of punches at the side of the head. Britt has side control. He’s now back throwing hard punches but Lighty back up. Lighty back to his feet. Britt dropped him again with a punch. Lighty back up with a kick. Hard throwing and Britt dropped him a third time. Lighty back up. Britt throwing big punches. Looks like Britt is getting tired now. Lighty is cut at the hairline. Another knockdown by Britt but he’s just holding Lighty down at the end of the round. 10-8 for Britt.

The doctor ordered the stoppage of this round between rounds so Britt wins via TKO at 5:00 of round one.

King Mo vs. Mike Whitehead

When you do a King Mo ring entrance you’d better win the match. Mo’s ring entrance wasn’t on television. Well, I guess if you don’t want to make stars....Mo is a 5-1 favorite but he’s giving up a ton of weight here. It’s really a heavyweight against a middleweight, which is Mo’s best weight class. And a more experienced heavyweight although the middleweight is by far the better athlete. Mo got a few punches in. Whitehead threw a knee. Whitehead threw a knee as Mo tried to duck to shoot. Fans are booing the lack of action. Mo threw a left and Whitehead back with a low kick. Another low kick by Whitehead. Another low kick by Whitehead. Mo decked him with a right and now pounding him on the ground. The third shot on the ground made Whitehead go limp abnd it was stopped. That was a big test for Mo because beating Whitehead shows you’re a real deal.

Mo said when asked what weight class he’s going to fight at, he said he’s a moneyweight.

They are doing a poll asking fans what rematch they most want to see among Fedor vs. Brett Rogers, Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg, Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields, Scott Smith vs. Benji Radach or K.J. Noons vs. Nick Diaz

Matt Lindland vs. Ronaldo Jacare Souza

John McCarthy got the best pop of the three. Souza missed a high kick. Lindland tried for a takedown and didn’t get it. Lindland got the takedown. Souza moving for an armbar and used it to reverse and get top position. Now he’s pounding Lindland. Lindland with a shoulderlock. Now Souza on top. Fans loved the ground work. Lindland throwing more from the bottom. Souza with a fist drop almost like an Abdullah elbow drop with the fist. Souza going for an arm triangle and Lindland tapped.

Fun match Souza made himself in the U.S. with that win.

Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez to unify the lightweight title

Thomson got much larger reaction but a ton of boos and he’s the San Jose guy. Thomson both more cheers and boos. Melendez in with a low kick. High kick and punches by Thomson. Thomson seemed to gain confidence from that exchange. Melendez failed a takedown. Low kick, Thomson caught the leg and got a takedown. He’s holding a front headlock and threw a knee. Trading punches . Great exchange. Now in a clinch. Thomson with a low kick and good punch. Melendez shot in for a single leg but couldn’t get it, but naile Thomson with a punch. Good low kick Thomson. Melendez with a nice flurry. Thomson with low kicks. Thomson with some nice punches. Thomson 10-9

Melendez decked Thomson with a right. Thomson slipped backing up. Trading punches and Thomson got nailed with a low blow. Melendez got a warning. It was a knee right in the center. Another wild exchange. A lot better fight than the first one. Melendez looks to have the conditioning edge this time and he didn’t have it last time. Body kick by Thomson. Another big exchange. Nobody getting the better of these wild swinging flurries. Melendez in with a hard knee as he grabbed Thomson’s leg from a kick. Thomson going for a takedown but didn’t get it and Melendez with a knee and elbow. Good low kick by Melendez. Thomson got better of an exchange. Wild swinging. Incredible exchange. Melendez decked him hard and working for a finish on the ground. Melendez with the ground and pound. 10-8 Melendez round so 19-18 for Melendez. Fantastic round.

Thomson needs this round but Melendez in with a low kick. Melendez with a punch and lwo kick. Slower round but it would almost have to be. Low kicks by Melendez. Both trading again. Knee by Melendez. Another good low kick by Melendez. Nice trip by Melendez but Thomson back up. Thomson with a few punches. Now a low kick by Thomson. Push kick by Thomson. Thomson shot in for a takedown. Didn’t get it. Close round but I’d say Melendez. 29-27.

Thonmson out using kicks and now got a doule leg takedown. He threw a knee. Melendez back up. Another big exchange. Thomson chant. Melendez with punches. Hard knee by Melendez. Punch and low kick combination by Melendez. More punches by Melendez. Low kick by Thomson but Melendez back with punches. Big trade of punches, Melendez got more in. Body kick, Melendez swept the leg and took Thomson down. Thomson right back up. Push kick by Thomson. Big exchange. Trading punches but Melendez getting the better punches in. Good knee by Melendez. Body kick by Thomson. Thomson got a thumb in the eye. Thomson trying to get time to recover. That was thumb right in the eye. Melendez’s round 39-36.

Final round opened with a knee by Thomson. Fantastic exchange. Thomson got the better of it and Melendez cut in the left eye. Another big exchange. This is a fight of the year candidate. Thomson dying at this point, exhausted. Melendez decked him to end the exchange. Now on top. Thomson up with 2:00 left. Just standing and trading. Gilbert chant. Thomson with two nice punches. Thomson with a takedown with 1:00 left and got his back. Melendez back up with :54 left. Thomson got some good punches in. Another big exchange. Fight of the year. Better than Henderson-Cerrone or Couture-Nogueira and right with Sanchez-Guida. Very close last round. Melendez gets it due to the knockdown. 49-45

Both hugged when it was over. Unanimous decision Cecil 49-47, 49-46, 49-46 all for Melendez.

Melendez said Josh is the toughest man he’s ever had, toughest match he’s ever had and toughest match he’ll ever had.

Thomson said Gilbert won because he was the better man. I want to make that clear so people don’t make bigger excuses.

Lashley interview and plugged TNA. Henderson interviewed. People reacted to Henderson like he’s a big star. Henderson kind of blew off when they asked about Fedor saying there are a lot of fights before he gets there.

Cung Le vs. Scott Smith headlines the show

No way they can follow the previous match. Le still got the biggest pop of the show. Cung Le chant. Smith out fast. Side kick by Le. Body kick by Le. Head kick missed by Le. Side kick by Le. Cung looks older and slower to me but great spin kick by Le. Smith is the perfect opponent for him to have a great fight. Le put him down with a spin kick. Le throwing punches on the ground. Le working to finish. Le on top. Le throwing hard punches on the ground. Smith is in a lot of trouble. Hammer punches by Le. McCarthy let it go longer than most would have. But Smith survived and got to his feet. Smith very lucky John let it go. Smith rushing in. Another spin kick put Smith down. Smith back up. Cung is tired. Another high kick by Le. Another spin kick by Le. Smith connected with a punch. Another spin kick to the body hurt Smith and sent him reeling backwards. Le with a left and a kick. Low kick by Le. Smith coming back. 10-8 Le.

Side kick by le. Le dancing away. Le went for a takedown so you know he’s tired. Body kick and head kick by Le but mouth wide open. Another low kick by Le. High kick blocked. Good left by Le. Spin kick tothe body put Smith down. Le not throwing on the ground. McCarthy ordered a standup. Smith in few wild punches. Le back with punches. Le with body kick. Le tried a hip toss. Smith blocked it. In a clinch. Le stomping on the toes. Le with a hip toss but Smith back up and hit a good punch in transition. Le seems to me to be stalling in a clinch with the round ending. Smith throwing big but not hitting. Still Le’s round with the knockdown 20-17.

Le staggered him with a head kick and staggered him again with a body kick. Side kick by Le. Another side kick by Le. Body kick by Le, but he’s tiring. Le with punches, spinning back fist. Le with a high slam. Smith back with a punch. Smith tried a guillotine. Smith back head hunting. Le kicking to the body. Good left by Le. Smith throwing big punches but not really landing. Smith decked Le with a left and now has him in trouble. Left cross and a hard right. Afew punches on the ground and it’s over. Unbelievable fight.

He caught me with a punch, I did my best I fought my hert out, he fought his heart out. I just got caught with a punch. You win some you lose some. I did my best.hard