411’s Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields Report 06.06.09

Posted by Larry Csonka on 06.07.2009

Jake Shields submitted Robbie Lawler quickly in the main event of last night’s Strikeforce show! Elsewhere, Brett Rogers KO’d Andrei Arlovski in 22-seconds, Nick Diaz submitted Scott Smith, Joe Riggs outlasted Phil Baroni and more! Check out 411’s complete Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields Report for all the details!


Strikeforce – Lawler vs. Shields!

-Live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis!

-Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo and Frank Shamrock are the announcers.

-We get a vide package for Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Kevin Randleman (17-12) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-7):

ROUND ONE: The official is Big John McCarthy. And here we go with the first fight of the evening. They rush center, leg kicks by Whitehead to begin. High kick grazes Randleman, take down by Randleman and has the back of Whitehead. Whitehead to his feet, against the cage, they separate. Leg kicks by Whitehead. They clinch, knees by Whitehead, and gets the takedown. Randleman gets him off and to the feet they go. Leg kick by Whitehead. He shoots, to the cage and then Whitehead takes him down. Randleman escapes and Whitehead is cut by the eye from a left hook. Whitehead gets a takedown again, half guard and works the body. Whitehead continues to work the body from half guard, but Randleman escapes. Back to the feet, leg kick by Whitehead after a jab fake. Jab by Randleman, who is tired already. Uppercut by Whitehead, to the cage and they clinch. Whitehead wants the takedown, and gets it. Back into the half guard of Randleman and he works the body once again. Randleman just holds on, Whitehead works the body as the round ends.

SCORECARD:: Whitehead 10-9.

ROUND TWO: Round two begins, Whitehead with a good right connects. High kick checked by Randleman, and then Whitehead takes him down again. Into the half guard for the third time and works the body once again. Whitehead looks to change position, and has side control. Body shots by Whitehead, and Randleman is doing nothing at this point. Whitehead works a forearm choke, some headshots by Whitehead follow. Full mount by Whitehead, but Randleman finally escapes. Randleman with jabs, eats a light combo from Whitehead. Leg kick by Whitehead, and Randleman is very tired. Whitehead looks for jabs, misses a right. Jab connects for Whitehead, and the round ends.

SCORECARD:: Whitehead 20-18.

ROUND THREE: Final round now, Randleman takes center and gets a big overhand right. Whitehead with a straight right and works the jab. Great right by Whitehead, works the jab again, leg kick by Whitehead but Randleman catches him and DROPS Whitehead! To the ground, but quickly back up and Whitehead is busted open. Whitehead moves forward, gets a right, clinch and knees follow. They work against the cage, separate and a right by Randleman. Combo by Whitehead, jab by Randleman and another. Whitehead shoots and takes Randleman down again. He works from half guard and looks for a kimura. Whitehead lets it go, lefts to the head by Whitehead follow. Randleman escapes, to the feet they go and a right hook by Whitehead. Randleman misses a HUGE left, eats a right from Whitehead and the round ends as Randleman lands a jab.

SCORECARD:: Whitehead 29-28.

THE RESULT: Mike Whitehead via Unanimous Decision (29-28 Across the Cards)

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-Pat Miletich, Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez, Tim Sylvia, FEDOR and Josh Barnett are all in attendance.

-We get a video package for Riggs vs. Baroni.

Welterweight Bout: Phil Baroni (13-10) vs. Joe Riggs (29-10):

ROUND ONE: The official is Big John McCarthy. And here we go. They dance, high kick checked by Baroni. Baroni stalks him, gets a right but Riggs takes him down. Riggs works around to his back, and swings into the rear naked choke, but Baroni is out of the choke already. Riggs keeps the body scissors, swings into the guard of Baroni now and lands clean shots to the face. Half guard now by Riggs, lands a big right as Riggs slides him to the cage. Baroni to his feet, lands some shots as they work against the cage. Riggs single legs him and Baroni fights to get back to his feet. Does and then Riggs pulls him back down but Baroni into the guard of Riggs. Works the body, clean face shot as well. Riggs works the ribs, postures up and works both levels. They get stood up, which was shit. Riggs shoots in with a straight left, pulls Baroni down, but Baroni works to get back to his feet. Baroni takes the back of Riggs, great rights by Baroni and the round ends.

SCORECARD:: 10-9 Riggs.

ROUND TWO: Round two now begins, they dance, hard body kick by Riggs. Leg kick by Baroni, and they both trade wildly. Riggs misses the spinning backfist , but lands a leg kick. Riggs gets the takedown after a Superman punch, but Baroni back to his feet and HE takes Riggs down. Baroni works the body, great lefts follow as Rigs gets to his feet. Baroni fakes a kick, takes some kicks, shoots and to the cage they go. GREAT knee by Riggs! They clinch and go to the cage, Baroni drops and tries for a takedown, Riggs stops that. Baroni is tired, shoots and fails at first, but Baroni gets him down. Baroni works the guard, and Riggs has a triangle now. Baroni tries to pull out, and he escapes! Baroni works from the guard as they trade, Baroni with a combo as Riggs tries to work up the cage. Baroni holds on and lands some shots as the round ends.

SCORECARD:: Close round, but Riggs 20-18.

ROUND THREE: Round three begins. Great knee by Riggs, gets another and Baroni is rocked. High kick partially blocked by Baroni. A left and then a flying knee by Riggs. They trade rights, straight left by Riggs and Baroni is dead tired here. Leg kick again by Riggs, and then a hard body kick. Baroni has his hands down, he backs away and eats leg kicks. Riggs with the knee again, Baroni calls him on as he lands a jab. Right hook by Riggs, another and a kick by Baroni. Big knee and a right by Riggs as he has complete control. Straight right by Riggs, they trade, knee by Riggs again. Riggs is throwing everything at Baroni, but cannot take him out. Leg kick by Riggs, Baroni with lunging shots, lands one to the body. Riggs gets a takedown as the round ends.

SCORECARD:: 30-27 Riggs.

THE RESULT: Joe Riggs via Unanimous Decision (30-27 Across the Cards)

Gus is with Riggs. Riggs says he broke both of his hands during the fight. He has a family to support, and just did what he had to do. He also says he has been suffering from the flu. He puts over Baroni, and they says he wants Jake Shields.

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-On August 15th, Josh Thompson will face Gilbert Melendez in a rematch for Thompson's Strikeforce Lightweight Title and Gina Carano will face Cyborg to crown the first Strikeforce Women's champion! Alistair Overeem will be in action.

-Mauro is with Josh Thompson and Gilbert Melendez, Melendez says the first fight he just got beat, and he will work harder for the rematch. Thompson says he is healthy now, and injuries are part of the sport. He then says he will have to use new tricks in the second fight.

-June 19th is the return of ShoMMA.


-We get a video package for Smith vs. Diaz.

180lbs Catchweight Bout: Nick Diaz (19-7-1nc) vs. Scott Smith (17-5-1nc):

ROUND ONE: The official is Big John McCarthy. Time to rumble kids. Smith throws wildly, Diaz uses his range and pepper shim with punches. They clinch, to the cage and body shots by Diaz. They separate, Good right by Smith, slips back up and Diaz showboats, and back to the repeated shots. Smith misses wildly, Diaz with the bunches of punches and is controlling Smith. Diaz rocks Smith with a combo, clinch and knees now. Crowd into Diaz as they continue the clinch and get separated. Smith with a great right, but Diaz rocks him again and they clinch. Knees by Diaz, body shots, both levels by Diaz, they separate and a great right by Smith, misses the high kick and Diaz may be cut. Smith gets his back standing, Diaz works for the standing kimura but Smith slams him down and they allows him back up. Combo by Smith, Diaz starts to connect a lot again, but Smith with the leg kick. They clinch, to the cage, separate and Smith with a good right. Diaz gets a takedown as the round ends.

SCORECARD:: Great round and very close. 10-9 Diaz.

ROUND TWO: Diaz threw 146 strikes in round one. Round two begins, they trade and Diaz with the fast shots, leg kick as well. They clinch, separate and jabs by Diaz. Smith gets the back standing, and to the cage they go. Good right by Smith, they trade and Diaz continues to land shots. Smith is hurt by a body shot, Diaz is bleeding from the eye as hey both throw wild combos, but Smith is taking the worst of this. Elbow by Smith, but eats another body shot and Diaz keeps landing a ton of shots. Both levels are landing for Diaz. Smith misses a high kick after a good right. Diaz connects again with tons of shots, they clinch, Diaz works the body again and is doing more overall. They get separated, Smith is cut as well. Smith is just eating punches, and body kicks now. Great body shots by Diaz, lands the jabs and backs off Smith. Superman by Smith misses, eats a body shot and a right hook. To the cage they go, knee by Smith and they both trade, Smith is down and the round ends.

SCORECARD:: Diaz 20-18

ROUND THREE: Diaz threw 220 punches in round 2, and Smith was just busted up. They touch, and they go right at each other. Smith throws hard and wild, but Diaz clinches to stop that. They get separated, Diaz with the jabs and body kick. Smith tries for a take down, but they pop right back up. Diaz gets the body shot, to the ground and works to take the back of Smith. He gets the hooks in, Smith fights to stay alive, but Diaz rolls into the choke and Smith taps. Awesome fight.

THE RESULT: Nick Diaz via RD3 (1:41) Submission

Nick Diaz landed 207 of 397 strikes.

Gus is with Diaz. Diaz says not to believe everything to see on TV, he puts on a show and does what he does. Diaz says his camp is better, but Smith worked hard and fought great. He offers for Smith to train with a real team. He thanks his people.

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-We get a video for Arlovski vs. Rogers.

Heavyweight Bout: Andrei Arlovski (15-6) vs. Brett Rogers (9-0):

ROUND ONE: The official is Big John McCarthy. Here we go with heavyweight action. They come out, circling and a leg kick by Arlovski, but Rogers DROPS Arlovski after a combo and a huge right and it is stopped! Arlovski was out on the way down, damn.

THE RESULT: Brett Rogers via RD1 (0:22) KO

Gus is with Rogers. They discuss Kimbo getting the chances while he had to sit back. Rogers says when you work hard, good things happen. He thanks Arlovski for giving him the chance to prove himself. THAT WAS BEAST LIKE THERE! He is ready for anyone next, and he wants the title.

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-We get a video for Affliction: Trilogy, featuring FEDOR killing Big Tim and Arlovski. FEDOR is with Mauro. FEDOR says he is happy to fight in the US and wants to fight there for a long time. He says Arlovski chose poorly against Rogers in his game plan, and then says he will train hard for Barnett. We get some video on Barnett, and he joins us as well. He has to be at his best to beat FEDOR. He puts over Rogers, and also says Arlovski had a poor game plan.

-We get a video for Lawler vs. Shields.

182lbs Catchweight Bout: Robbie Lawler (16-4-1nc) vs. Jake Shields (22-4-1dr):

ROUND ONE: The official is Big John McCarthy. And it is main event time! They come out, both throw, Shields works the leg kicks, single leg by Shields, but Lawler back up. Lawler works the body, to the cage they go in the clinch, knees by Shields but Lawler with good shots as well. Shields eats a knee as he went for a takedown. Body kick by Shields, combo follows and then the leg kick. Shields pulls Lawler down, gets the guillotine, Lawler stands, but back down and LAWLER TAPS!

THE RESULT: Jake Shields via RD1 (2:02) Submission

Gus is with Jake Shields. Shields thanks Lawler for taking the fight, and says that it was an honor to battle him. The key was that he settled and took what he was able to get. He also says his best days are ahead of him. He thanks his team, and says he wants the title from Cung Le.

Gus now talks with Lawler. He just got caught and had no defense for the guillotine. Lawler will go back to training and will be back and knocking people out.

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-Mauro walks us through the replay.

-Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo and Frank Shamrock discuss the main event and then run down the card.


PRELIM RESULTS
- Pat Benson def. Dave Cochran via submission (triangle choke), Round 1 - 2:18
- Lucas Lopes def. Scott Ventimiglia via disqualification (illegal knee strike) - Round 1, 3:26
- Tyron Woodley def. Salvoder Woods via submission (north-south choke) - Round 1, 4:20
- Booker DeRousse def. James Wade via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 4:06
- Mike Kyle def. Rafael Cavalcante via TKO (strikes) - Round 2, 4:05
- Jesse Finney def. Josh Bumgarner via submission (kimura) - Round 1, 1:55


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