Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament Results
by Robert Sargent
In the first-ever sanctioned one-night MMA tournament in California history, Strikeforce crowned a middleweight tournament champion and also a new heavyweight champion. The tournament was contested under a format which was similar to early UFC tournament nights and PRIDE Grand Prix events. Four men entered the tournament, with one victor to be crowned after winning two fights in one night.
Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament Final
Jorge Santiago vs Trevor Prangley
After both fighters advanced to the tournament final, an early exchange of strikes in this fight saw Santiago dominate with a solid right hook. Not long after, Santiago landed another hard right, followed by a pair of knees to the body, which sent Prangley to the canvas. Santiago was crowned the winner at 2:31 of round one to become the first Strikeforce Middleweight tournament champion.Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament Semi-Final
Jorge Santiago vs Sean Salmon
Salmon, who had already fought eight times in 2007 before this event (including four times since September 1st), was a late replacement in this match after Yuki Sasaki was unable to participate.Unfortunately for Salmon, this fight ended much the same as his fight with Rashad Evans in the UFC, after Santiago knocked Salmon out cold with a jumping knee to the head just 24 seconds into the first round. Following the fight, Salmon was taken to a local medical facility, and was said to have suffered a seizure in the ring. His career is now said to be in jeopardy. He has now been brutally knocked out two times in ten months and, at some point, his health and safety needs to take top priority. Santiago advanced to the tournament final with this victory.
Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament Semi-Final
Falaniko "Niko" Vitale vs Trevor Prangley
This fight had one of the most bizarre finishes and decisions in MMA history.Vitale began the action with a solid right hand. Prangley attempted a judo toss, but Vitale defended. After Vitale landed another hard shot, Prangley got the Thai clinch and landed three solid knees to the head, dazing Vitale. However, Vitale quickly recovered and landed more solid punches before the end of the round.
Prangley began the action in round two, landing a solid punch and knee to Vitale's jaw. Vitale replied with a punch to the body, but Prangley countered with body shots of his own. During the exchange, Vitale caught a finger in the eye, scratching his eyeball and forcing a referee stoppage of the fight at 2:46 of round two. After that, the confusion began.
As Vitale vehemently protested, the tournament's rules were put into effect, wherein the referee would decide the victor if the fight ended in a draw after two rounds. With the bout stopped, the judges' scorecards were read. The judges had scored the bout 19-19, 19-19 and 20-18 for Vitale, which equated to a Majority Draw. However, referee Marcos Rosales ruled that Prangley had won the fight and Prangley advanced to the tournament final. The official result of the fight is Trevor Prangley by Decision (Referee Decision) at 2:46 of round two. Extremely bizarre.
Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament Reserve Bout
Dennis "Superman" Hallman vs Jeremiah Metcalf
Though Hallman is not overly well-known in the mainstream MMA world, he is the only man to ever defeat former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes twice. In this fight, he showed his dominance over Metcalf, but since Trevor Prangley was ruled the victor in the fight against Falaniko Vitale, Hallman was not needed in the tournament final.After missing a leaping punch, Hallman went for a guillotine, but Metcalf defended well and escaped. Back on their feet, Hallman clinched and landed three knees. After landing a few uppercuts from in close, Hallman went for a double-leg takedown, but Metcalf once again defended. However, Hallman transitioned to Metcalf's left leg, securing a heel hook. Hallman wins by Submission (Heel Hook) at 1:39 of round one.
Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship
Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem vs Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello
Coming off of a loss to Sergei Kharitonov in K-1 HERO's in September, Overeem was clearly out to show what he was capable of doing in this fight.The first round was extremely lopsided, with Overeem completely dominating Buentello. After missing an early jumping knee attempt, Overeem took Buentello down and landed knees to the body and punches to Buentello's face on the ground. Buentello rolled over, but Overeem's strikes never let up. After trapping Buentello's arm behind his back, Overeem landed more punches and knees and Buentello began bleeding from the mouth. Shortly before the end of the round, Overeem went for a D'Arce choke, but Buentello managed to escape.
The second round was better for Buentello in the early-goings, as he landed a series of uppercuts, forcing Overeem to go for a takedown. After the referee stood the fighters up, following a period of inactivity, Overeem went for another takedown. Buentello got back to his feet, but was met by a pair of vicious left knees to the body, crumpling Buentello and forcing him to tap out. Overeem wins by Submission (Knees to the body) at 3:42 of round two to become the new Strikeforce World Heavyweight Champion.
Sam "The Squeeze" Morgan vs Cung Le
Le began the action with a punishing body shot, followed by a takedown. Standing back up, Le hurt Morgan with a kick to the body, then knocked him down with a side kick to the chest. Le evaded a flurry from Morgan and threw him back down to the mat. Back on their feet, Morgan finally landed a punch, but Le took him down and got mount. Le landed strikes for the duration of the round and easily won round one.Morgan came rushing in to begin round two, but was quickly hip-tossed. Le stood back up and quickly threw Morgan back down with another thrilling hip toss. Le trapped Morgan in a crucifix and landed strikes at will until the bell rang.
The third round was more domination for Le, as he first dropped Morgan with a right hand, stood over Morgan as the crowd chanted Le's name, then allowed Morgan back to his feet, only to send Morgan crashing back to the canvas after a vicious liver kick. The referee stopped the fight at 1:58 of round three and Le improves to 5-0 (all by KO/TKO). After the fight, Le challenged Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock. Shamrock accepted. Morgan was sent to hospital for overnight observations after throwing up uncontrollably following the liver kick.
Anthony "El Toro" Ruiz vs Bobby Southworth
Southworth, the Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight Champion, was fortunate that this was a non-title contest, as Ruiz came out the victor on this night.After landing a right hand early in round one, Southworth took Ruiz to the mat and got mount. Southworth moved to Ruiz's back, but Ruiz was able to get back to his feet. Ruiz landed a knee to the body, then two elbows to the head shortly thereafter. Southworth took Ruiz back down and controlled position for the remainder of the round.
Ruiz began round two with a bang, landing four straight haymaker punches that sent Southworth reeling to the mat. Southworth was cut above the left eye, forcing a stoppage at 52 seconds of round two. Ruiz wins by TKO (cut), but the fight was not for the title.
Undercard Fights:
Lemont Davis defeated Brian Schwartz by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).Luke Stewart defeated Bryson Kamaka by KO (Knee) just 19 seconds into round one.
Eric Lawson defeated Josh Neal by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 20 seconds of round two. Lawson had been saved by the bell in round one, as he had been split seconds from being rendered unconscious by a very deep triangle choke from Neal.
Anthony Figueroa defeated Pete Sabala by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) in a bantamweight bout.
Alex Crispin defeated Clint Coronel in a lacklustre bout by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Chris Drumm and Evan Esguerra fought to a No Contest (Technical Draw) after an illegal punch to the back of Drumm's head forced a stoppage of the featherweight bout.
Following the Overeem/Buentello battle, it was announced that Strikeforce World Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez will face Strikeforce United States Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson on March 29, 2008.
