Strikeforce: "Shamrock vs Diaz" Results
by Robert Sargent
Capping off a thrilling night of fights, Strikeforce's debut event on Showtime concluded with Nick Diaz coming out on top in his battle with Frank "The Legend" Shamrock, while heavy hitters Scott Smith and Benji Radach engaged in an all-out war.
In a highly controversial women's bout, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos's huge weight and strength advantage proved to be too much for the undersized Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano.
Nick Diaz vs Frank "The Legend" Shamrock
While the first round of this battle of trash talkers was a competitive one, Diaz's punches and non-stop aggression proved to be more than Shamrock can handle, and Diaz finished the fight in round two after a devastating body shot.Shamrock opened up the fight with leg kicks, but missed when he attempted a head kick. Diaz, as he typically does, stuck to his jab and made use of his reach advantage, then scored a takedown. He moved from half-guard to side-control and attempted a Kimura. Shamrock escaped and got back to his feet. Diaz landed more jabs, while Shamrock stuck to right crosses that met with limited success. Shamrock landed a nice body shot, then went back to leg kicks. Shamrock ducked under a punch from Diaz and countered with a body kick, but Diaz caught the leg and threw Shamrock to the mat. Diaz moved to side-control, then to mount and landed some solid punches from the top. Shamrock finally managed to escape just before the bell, but Diaz took the first round. 10-9 Diaz.
Diaz opened up round two by trash talking, as Shamrock kept his distance. Diaz landed a solid left hook and Shamrock attempted to counter, but his punches were well off the mark. Diaz kept Shamrock out of range and left Shamrock unable to do much of anything. Diaz landed a right hook and chased down Shamrock with more punches. Shamrock, looking tired, absorbed the punches from Diaz, but offered little in return. Diaz backed Shamrock up against the cage and landed a left cross, then dropped Shamrock with a right hook to the body. Shamrock turtled and crouched on the ground while Diaz teed off with big punches. The referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
After the fight, Diaz helped Shamrock to his feet and raised his arm in a show of respect.
Winner: Nick Diaz by TKO (Punches) at 3:57 of round two. He improves to 19-7-0, 1 ND.
Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship
Gilbert "El Niņo" Melendez vs Rodrigo Damm
Dominating the first round with strikes from Damm's guard, Melendez put a stamp on his latest victory by dropping Damm with punches midway through round two and leaving him in a crumpled, unconscious heap against the cage.The fighters circled each other in the early stages of round one and looked to find their range with short strikes. Damm attempted a kick, but Melendez caught his leg and scored a takedown. Melendez used shoulder strikes to Damm's face to do as much damage as possible, but Damm prevented Melendez from landing anything significant. Melendez switched to left hands to the body, but Damm looked to secure an armbar. Melendez broke free and landed big right hands from the top. Damm used butterfly guard to attempt to push Melendez back, but Melendez simply postured up and landed more punches and hammerfists. Melendez then passed to half-guard and landed left hands, then added a series of rights just before the bell. 10-9 Melendez.
Round two began with an early takedown attempt from Melendez, who looked to create a repeat of round one. Damm had other ideas, however, and sprawled to defend. A scramble ensued, with Damm landing quick punches that caused Melendez's eye to swell up. Damm looked to be growing tired, though, and Melendez pressed forward with a combination. He followed up by dropping Damm with a one-two. Melendez unleashed three more big punches that knocked Damm out cold. The referee dove in and waved off the fight.
With the win, Melendez becomes the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion and is once again slated to face Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh "The Punk" Thomson in his next fight.
Winner: Gilbert Melendez by KO (Punches) at 2:02 of round two. He improves to 15-2-0 and becomes the Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion.
Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith vs Benji "Razor" Radach
Adding yet another incredible come-from-behind knockout victory to his career, Smith recovered after badly losing the first two rounds and twice being on the verge of unconsciousness, as he drilled Radach with an overhand right late in round three that ended the fight in a flash.Radach began the fight with a right cross and a jab, then landed more jabs and caught a kick from Smith. A leg kick landed for Smith, and Radach replied with a wild right hook. Smith avoided the punch and landed a big right hand of his own. The punch staggered Radach and Smith dropped him with a second right cross. Radach immediately got to his feet and landed a counter left hook while moving backwards. The punch rocked Smith, who fell to the mat. Smith got up and ate more punches, and Radach soon scored a slam takedown. From the top, Radach landed punches to the face and body while Smith did little more than survive until the bell. That, however, was an accomplishment in itself. 10-9 Radach.
Smith opened up round two by moving forward and landing a big right hook. Radach clinched, but Smith pressed him against the cage and looked for a sweep takedown. Smith let go of the clinch and backed away, but paid for that decision seconds later. Radach landed a left hook and a knee to the body, then rocked Smith with a second left hook. He dropped Smith with a right cross and locked on a guillotine choke as Smith tried to stand up. Smith appeared to hold the cage to avoid being taken down, then scored a takedown of his own, but Radach maintained the choke and looked to use it to move to mount. Radach lost the choke in a scramble and the fight returned to the feet. Radach landed sparse punches to close out the round, as Smith bled from numerous cuts all over his face. 10-8 Radach.
Radach used his jab to keep Smith at a distance in round three, but Smith pushed forward with a quick combination and a kick to the body. Smith, bleeding from beside both eyes, continued to push the pace with strikes, but Radach countered with an impressive takedown. Smith fought back to his feet and stunned Radach with an overhand right. Radach backed away, but stopped Smith's march forward with a counter right. Radach, now bleeding from the side of the head, used more short punches to try to create distance, but Smith pressed forward again and landed a huge right cross as Radach attempted a right hook. Radach fell to the mat against the cage and the referee quickly waved off the fight. Incredible comeback win for Smith.
Winner: Scott Smith by KO (Punch) at 3:24 of round three. He improves to 16-5-0, 1 NC.
Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano
This ill-conceived and one-time cancelled bout saw Santos overpower the vastly undersized Akano before finishing the fight with punches early in round three. That said, this fight still should never have taken place.Santos rushed forward in round one and immediately landed big power punches in a flurry. Akano tried to fire back with strikes, but was predictably thrown to the mat like a rag doll. That's what a 25-pound difference in size will do. Akano attempted an armbar on the ground, but Santos muscled out of it and stood up. Santos once again tossed Akano to the mat as Akano attempted to clinch. Akano got up and moved effectively to avoid hard punches from Santos. Akano attempted to pull guard, but could not get Santos to the mat and ate more big punches before the bell. 10-9 Santos. This is beyond frustrating to watch.
Santos opened up round two with more huge punches that put Akano on the defensive. Akano ducked and attempted a takedown, but met with zero success. Akano managed to land a solid left cross, but that did little more than anger Santos, who replied with a one-two. Akano, showing a huge heart, jumped and locked on a flying armbar that would likely have submitted anyone in her weight class, but Santos simply powered out. Akano used her guard to try to nullify as much offence from Santos as possible, but Santos landed punches and passed to side-control. More right hands landed for Santos before the bell. 10-9 Santos.
Akano attempted to pull guard to begin round three, but missed and was stood up. Santos drilled her with a kick to the body and a big right cross. Akano backed up to the cage, where Santos dropped her with more punches and a knee. The referee stopped the fight and Santos proceeded to run around the cage in celebration. What she was actually celebrating, who really knows. Perhaps that she'd gotten away with making zero effort to make weight.
To take nothing away from Santos, who did her job in the fight itself and finished her opponent, this fight serves as the best example of why horrible mismatches should never be allowed to take place.
Winner: Cristiane Santos by TKO (Punches) at 0:35 of round three. She improves to 7-1-0.
Brett "The Grim" Rogers vs Ron "Abongo" Humphrey
Remaining undefeated and setting himself up as the number one contender to Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem's Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship, Rogers controlled round one and finished Humphrey off with a series of knees early in the second round.Humphrey began the fight as the aggressor with three jabs and a pair of spinning back kicks, but the kicks came up well short. Humphrey defended a takedown attempt and tried for a head kick, but Rogers blocked it. Humphrey then attempted a takedown of his own, but Rogers easily evaded it and landed uppercuts from in close. A clinch against the cage saw both fighters land short punches, and Rogers slipped in the process. He got back to his feet and landed a huge overhand right, then locked on a Thai clinch. He grabbed the long dreadlocks of Humphrey, however, and was warned by referee Herb Dean. The clinch continued, and Rogers once again grabbed Humphrey's hair. The fighters separated and Rogers landed a quick combination, then clinched again. This time, he was deducted one point for holding onto Humphrey's dreadlocks. After the restart, Rogers landed short hooks and uppercuts from in close. Due to the point deduction, round one is 9-9.
Rogers backed Humphrey against the cage in round two and landed a knee, then scored with quick punches. Another big knee from Rogers landed to the body and he alternated between uppercuts and knees in a clinch. After a string of knees landed to the head and body, Humphrey collapsed to the canvas and the fight was stopped. Impressive victory for Rogers, but he will take a huge step up in competition when he meets Overeem.
Winner: Brett Rogers by TKO (Knees) at 1:38 of round two. He improves to 9-0-0.
Undercard Fights:
Luke Rockhold defeated Buck Meredith by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:07 of round one. After scoring a quick takedown, the fight was all Rockhold, as he transitioned from mount to Meredith's back and eventually secured the fight-ending choke. Rockhold improves to 4-1-0 with the win.Eric Lawson defeated Waylon Kennell by TKO (Punches) at 4:54 of round one. In a back-and-forth fight, Lawson dropped Kennell with punches in the early stages of round one, but could not finish his opponent and seemed to fatigue badly. He took Kennell down, but Kennell reversed and took mount. With time running out, Lawson swept Kennell and finished the fight with punches from top position. Great fight. Lawson improves to 9-2-0 with the win.
Raul Castillo defeated Brandon Michaels by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:45 of round one. Castillo quickly took the fight to the ground, where he passed Michaels's guard and eventually transitioned to the back. He locked on a rear naked choke that forced the overmatched Michaels to submit. Castillo improves to 6-0-0 with the win.
James Terry defeated Zak Bucia by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. Terry scored takedowns throughout the fight and worked from top position, but his striking was not enough to finish Bucia. The comedy moment of the night came when ring announcer Stu Ganz, who seemed to be in way over his head, attempted to read the judges' decision. Ganz first listed Bucia as the winner before being corrected by Commission officials. Terry improves to 6-1-0 with the win.
Shingo Kohara defeated Jeremy Tavares by KO (Knee) at 0:04 of round two. The first round was even, as Kohara attempted a seemingly endless series of armbars and Tavares landed some solid punches from top position on the ground. As round two began, Tavares shot in for a takedown and was knocked unconscious by a knee from Kohara. Tavares got up and walked out of the cage under his own power, which was good to see. Kohara improves to 1-0-0 with the win.
The highly controversial women's bout aside, Strikeforce: "Shamrock vs Diaz" served as an excellent platform for Strikeforce's new venture with Showtime, and the promotion will look to continue the momentum with a string of upcoming events.
