Strikeforce: "Carano vs Cyborg" Results
by Robert Sargent
Easily their biggest event to date, Strikeforce showcased an exciting night of action at "Carano vs Cyborg," which concluded with Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos defeating Gina "Conviction" Carano to become Strikeforce Women's Lightweight Champion.
In the co-main event, breakout star Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi knocked out Renato "Babalu" Sobral for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.
Strikeforce Women's Lightweight Championship
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs Gina "Conviction" Carano
Taking advantage of her spot in this historic headlining women's bout, Santos dominated Carano throughout the first round and finished the fight with just one second remaining in round one to become the first Strikeforce Women's Lightweight (145-Pound) Champion.Santos immediately rushed forward with punches and tried for a takedown, but Carano wound up on top. Santos attempted a heel hook, but Carano squirmed free. Santos took her back on the ground and tried for a rear naked choke, then blasted Carano with punches after Carano stood up. Again, Santos tried for a takedown, but Carano landed on top in mount. She scored with punches, but Santos bucked her off. Carano stood up and Santos followed. The fighters clinched briefly, then exchanged punches. Santos caught a kick and landed a pair of right crosses, then took Carano's back. Carano tried to roll into a desperation kneebar, but wasn't even close.
Santos landed more punches, but Carano came back with a "Superwoman Punch," as commentator Frank Shamrock dubbed it. Santos continued to stalk Carano around the cage and took her down. She punched the sides of Carano's head until Carano stood up. More punches landed for Santos and she clinched. Santos scored a takedown and finally wound up on top. She attempted a keylock, but Carano spun free. Santos maintained top position and postured up, then rained down big punches. Carano turtled and offered no defence and the referee stopped the fight with just one second left in the round.
With the dominant victory, Santos becomes the first Strikeforce Women's 145-Pound (later dubbed "Lightweight" by CEO Scott Coker) Championship. Carano left the ring after the official result was announced and was not available for interviews.
Winner: Cristiane Santos by TKO (Punches) at 4:59 of round one. She improves to 8-1-0 and becomes the first Strikeforce Women's Lightweight Champion.
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship
Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi vs Renato "Babalu" Sobral
Making short work of the former champion, Mousasi captured another major title by knocking Sobral out cold with punches on the ground just one minute into the fight.The fight began with simultaneous leg kicks from both fighters and Sobral landed quick punches. A clinch followed and Mousasi wound up on top in side-control. He stood up and began teeing off with huge power punches as Sobral tried to cover up. Nearly all of the punches got through and Sobral was quickly left unconscious. Mousasi stopped punching even before the referee jumped in to intervene.
Already the first DREAM Middleweight Champion, Mousasi adds more gold to his résumé by capturing the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship in quick and emphatic fashion.
Winner: Gegard Mousasi by KO (Punches) at 1:00 of round one. He improves to 26-2-1 and becomes the new Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship
Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez vs "The Endless Fighter" Mistuhiro Ishida
With Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson still sidelined due to injury, Melendez avenged the first loss of his career by defeating Ishida to defend the Interim title.Ishida opened up with a leg kick and a takedown attempt, but Melendez stuffed it. Ishida scored with a head kick and more leg kicks and both fighters connected in an exchange. Ishida tried for another takedown and Melendez countered with a knee. Ishida rushed in and Melendez landed a nice three-punch combination. More punches followed from Melendez and Ishida backed away. Melendez began to effectively counterpunch and he drilled Ishida with a big one-two. Ishida shot in for a takedown and managed to get Melendez down briefly. Melendez stood up and Ishida took his back, then dragged him to the mat. Melendez got up and took Ishida down. He pinned Ishida against the cage until the bell. 10-9 Melendez.
Both fighters connected with punches in early exchanges in round two and Melendez scored with a right cross. Ishida shot for a takedown and Melendez stuffed it. He clinched against the cage and landed knees to Ishida's legs, then followed with an elbow over the top and stuffed another takedown. A three-punch flurry landed for Melendez and he followed with jabs as Ishida began to bleed from the top of the ear. Melendez staggered Ishida with a hook and followed with a combination. Ishida tried for another takedown and Melendez sprawled out. He landed punches to Ishida's face and took him down. Melendez pinned Ishida against the cage and landed knees to the body. Both fighters swung wildly with punches, but most missed. Ishida slipped while throwing a kick and Melendez landed two punches before the bell. 10-9 Melendez.
Melendez opened round three with jabs and quick leg kicks, but Ishida countered with strikes of his own. Both fighters landed combinations and Melendez tried unsuccessfully for a takedown. Melendez landed a pair of one-twos and continued to find a home for his jab. He countered a leg kick from Ishida with a hard right hook. Melendez stuffed a takedown attempt and dropped Ishida with two punches and a knee. He rained down left hands to the face of Ishida, who tried to work back to his feet. Melendez kept him in place on the ground against the cage and landed big punches from the top. Melendez took Ishida's back and attempted a series of rear naked chokes, but Ishida escaped. Melendez teed off with hard punches as Ishida turtled and offered no resistance and the referee stopped the fight.
Melendez avenges his first loss and puts himself in line as the top challenger to Thomson.
Winner: Gilbert Melendez by TKO (Punches) at 3:56 of round three. He improves to 16-2-0 and remains the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion.
Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum vs Mike "MAK" Kyle
With veteran Japanese referee Yuji Shimada officiating the fight, Werdum escaped a surprising armbar attempt from Kyle and quickly trapped his opponent in a guillotine choke that forced Kyle to submit.Kyle opened the fight with a one-two and Werdum replied with a stiff leg kick and a flurry of his own. Kyle caught a kick from Werdum and tried to push him to the mat, but Werdum displayed incredible balance and kicked Kyle in the face while hopping on one leg. Three big punches landed for Kyle and Werdum scored a takedown. Kyle tried for an armbar, but Werdum escaped and secured a guillotine choke as Kyle tried to stand up. He used it to drag Kyle back down to the mat and Kyle quickly tapped out to the choke.
Winner: Fabricio Werdum by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:24 of round one. He improves to 12-4-1.
Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron vs Jesse "JT Money" Taylor
Fighting a smart fight, Hieron controlled the fight on the ground and landed effective punches from the top en route to a clear-cut Unanimous Decision victory in this late-replacement bout.Taylor shot in for early takedowns, but Hieron easily defended and pushed Taylor to the ground. From the top, Hieron landed quick punches and passed to half-guard. He landed elbows that cut the nose of Taylor. Hieron continued to strike from the top and Taylor offered little in return. Taylor tried to scramble back to his feet, but Hieron dragged him back to the ground again. Hieron landed weak strikes from the top until the fight was stood up with 20 seconds left. Taylor tried to land lunging strikes, but could not connect. 10-9 Hieron.
Round two began with another takedown attempt from Taylor, but he was once again unsuccessful and Hieron secured a guillotine choke. He used it to roll Taylor over and worked from mount. Hieron quickly took Taylor's back and nearly trapped him in a rear naked choke. Taylor narrowly escaped and Hieron moved back to mount. He attempted an arm-triangle choke, but Taylor worked free and regained guard. Hieron landed a handful of strikes from the top until the referee stood the fighters up. Taylor swung wildly with haymakers that missed by a mile and he tried for a pair of desperation takedowns. Hieron easily defended and took Taylor down, then worked from half-guard. He landed more punches from the top until the fight was stood up again and Taylor attempted more wild punches and a takedown before the bell. 10-9 Hieron.
A striking exchange began the final round and Taylor finally found a bit of success, but Hieron landed the better punches and stuffed a takedown attempt. The fighters separated and Taylor tried for another takedown. This time, he got it and managed to pass to half-guard, but could do nothing with the position. Hieron scrambled back to his feet and stuffed two more takedown attempts, then took Taylor down. He landed weak strikes from the top until the fight was stood up. A badly fatigued Taylor tried to land a knockout punch, but was unable to hit Hieron at all and the fight came to an end. 10-9 Hieron.
Winner: Jay Hieron by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 18-4-0.
Undercard Fights:
Scott Lighty defeated Mike "The Animal" Cook by TKO (Liver Punch) at 2:05 of round one. He improves to 5-0-0 with the win.Justin "The Silverback" Wilcox defeated David "Tarzan" Douglas by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:16 of round three. He improves to 6-3-0 with the win.
James Terry defeated Zak Bucia by KO (Head Kick & Punches) at 1:23 of round one. He improves to 7-1-0 with the win.
Alexander "Spider" Trevino defeated Isaiah Hill by Submission (Keylock) at 3:56 of round one. He improves to 4-0-0 with the win.
While Gina Carano may have been overthrown as the "Face of Women's MMA," Strikeforce's latest event was a very good one, even despite all of the last-minute changes to the card.
