411's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Report 12.17.11

Posted by Mark Radulich on 12.18.2011

Gilbert Melendez defeated Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision to retain the Strikeforce Lightweight Title, Cyborg Santos destroyed Hiroko Yamanaka in 16-seconds and much more! Check out 411’s complete Strikeforce report for all the details!

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal
12.17.11
Valley View Casino Center
San Diego, California

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MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Champ Gilbert Melendez (155lbs 20-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155lbs 22-6) - for lightweight title
Champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (145lbs 10-1) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145lbs 12-1) - for women's featherweight title
Gegard Mousasi (206lbs 30-3-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206lbs 11-4)
Billy Evangelista (156lbs 11-1-1) vs. K.J. Noons (156lbs 9-3)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)
Caros Fodor (156lbs 8-0-0, 1NC) vs. Justin Wilcox (156lbs 11-3-0, 1NC)
Roger Bowling (170lbs 9-2) vs. Jerron Peoples (180.5lbs 4-1)* - 181-pound catchweight fight
Devin Cole (248lbs 19-9-1) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (265lbs 5-0)
Fernando Gonzalez (186lbs 16-7) vs. Eddie Mendez (186lbs 5-0-1, 1NC)
Chris Brown (170lbs 6-2) vs. Herman Terrado (170.5lbs 6-2)

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Strikeforce LIVES...as I said above. By now I'm sure you all know that Zuffa and Showtime have renewed Strikeforce for the duration of 2012 (we will discuss the new deal in depth tomorrow at 11:00AM EST on the 411 Ground and Pound Radio show). In doing so they've committed to reviving the brand that had been stripped of its key performers and seemingly left for dead. That revival begins tonight with a title defense by the promotions crown jewel, Gilbert Melendez. In addition, this event marks the return of the "One-Woman-Division," (thank you Dana White) Mrs. Cyborg Santos. While I'm sure many of you (including my fellow 411 writer and radio partner Kuch) don't give a hoot about Strikeforce, I for one am excited about this event and what 2012 will bring for Strikeforce 3.0. Another reason I'm jazzed about tonight's live coverage is that instead of having to DVR hours of concurrently airing boxing, I get to watch a double-header of combat sports in real time. In case you are not wazooey about boxing, here's what aired prior to tonights Strikeforce event:



Ah yeah, that's the stuff!

I didn't come here to tell you any of that so without further dudes, let's make with the fussin' and-a fightin'!

UN-AIRED PRELIMINARY MATCHES

Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) - Round 3, 4:05

Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:42

Caros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:13

INTRODUCTION:

We are live at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California!

OK, Strikeforce and Showtime need to fix the opening video. It still features Fedor, Rogers, Henderson, Diaz, Mayhem, etc etc. I don't ask for much but for Pete's sake, take some time to fix the production you are allegedly such experts at. Sheesh.

Announcers are Mauro Ranallo, Frank Shamrock and Pat Miletich.

We go to the cage for our first fight.

SHOWTIME MATCHES:

Lightweight bout: Billy Evangelista (156lbs 11-1-1) vs. K.J. Noons (156lbs 9-3)

ROUND ONE Noons comes out throwing a pair of kicks to the front leg. Noons goes for a takedown and gets it. Evangelista bounces back up and separates from Noons. Evangelista clinches and presses Noons against the fence. Evangelista attempts a standing guillotine but Noons escapes. They clinch again and trade shots. Noons looks to escape but Evangelista scoops up his leg for an attempted single. Noons defends and we're back to standing. Noons is sticking his jab out there. They trade leg kicks. They trade knee shots. Evangelista with an uppercut and follows with a left hook. Evangelista clinches and roughs Noons up some more. Noons delivers a leg kick, follows with a combo of punchs and nearly takes Billy's head off. Evangelista ties up Noons to end the round.

SCORECARD: Evangelista 10-9

ROUND TWO Noons starts off the round with a flurry of strikes. Noons starts to circle away. Noons delivers a leg kick. Noons smacks him with a straight right. Evangelista laughs it off. Noons goes for a shot but is denied. They trade more shots but Billy plants one on his chin. Noons ducks a punch and tries another shot but that gets him nothing. They trade hooks. Evangelista attacks the lead leg of Noons. Noons bounces off the cage and hits a knee. Evangelista attempts to lock up Noons but he gets out of danger, taking a bit of damage in the process. Evangelista dirty boxes Noons against the fence. That's where it ends.

SCORECARD: Evangelista 10-9

ROUND THREE Evangelista stalks Noons. Billy lands on Noons and Noons smacks him back. Noons catches Evangelista behind the ear. Noons kicks Evangelista directly in the face. Uppercut from Noons. Evangelista kicks the lead leg of Noons. Noons is juking and jiving, evading Evangelista's strikes. Evangelista ties up Noons and throws him against the fence. He goes for a standing Darce Choke but Noons escapes. Another uppercut catches Billy. Noons flicks his jab and has a conversation with Evangelista. They trade exhausted punches. Evangelista cracks Noons with an elbow to end the fight.

SCORECARD: Noons 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – by KJ Noons unanimous decision (29-28).

I'm fine with that. I think I'm in the minority giving the second round to Billy but honestly it was so close that I can't really argue with mostly everyone including the judges giving it to Noons. Great fight either way you look at it.

Light Heavyweight bout: Gegard Mousasi (206lbs 30-3-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (206lbs 11-4)

ROUND ONE OSP starts off kicking the lead leg of Mousasi. He attempts a spinning back kick. Mousasi returns fire with a body kick. Mousasi floats in to the pocket, delivers a combo and floats out again. Mousasi tags him again. OSP keeps running away from Mousasi. He kicks at Mousasi who catches it and takes OSP down. Mousasi is punishing OSP's face with strikes from guard. Mousasi is in half guard, mashing elbows in OSP's face. Mousasi has side control. OSP tries to escape and Mousasi wrestles him back to half guard. Mousasi takes a page from Mir's book and goes for a kimura. OSP rolls through and briefly gets on top of Mousasi. Mousasi reverses and goes to town on OSP. Mousasi has a crucifix. OSP eats strikes but is saved by the horn.

SCORECARD: Mousasi 10-9

ROUND TWO OSP immediately shoots and presses Mousasi against the cage but Mousasi reverses and ends up on top of OSP. Mousasi works over OSP from half guard. OSP is eating more elbows. Mousasi has completely shut OSP down. He's at the mercy of OSP until the ref stands them up (for no apparent reason). OSP delivers a body kick that is once again caught. However, OSP is still able to put Mousasi on his back. OSP is in side control. OSP can't do anything with it and so Mousasi escapes. OSP tries to shoot again but is sprawled on to end the round.

SCORECARD: Mousasi 10-9

ROUND THREE Mousasi has OSP on his knees and pressed against the cage just as soon as the round begins. OSP gets back to his feet and forces Mousasi down. OSP lands in side control. OSP gets full mount after 2 attempts and smashes Mousasi but Mousasi escapes. Mousasi gets OSP down and takes his back. Mousasi goes for the rear-naked choke. OSP gets up and in and effort to wrestle him back down OSP lands on Mousasi. Mousasi escapes and mounts OSP. OSP escapes and delivers a hammer fist to Mousasi. OSP has Mousasi pinned against the fence. OSP ends the round trying for a Darce Choke.

SCORECARD: OSP 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER – Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision (29-28).

WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Women's Featherweight bout (145lbs): Champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (145lbs 10-1) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka (145lbs 12-1)

ROUND ONE Cyborg rushes forward and murderizes Hiroko. End of line.

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER AND STILL WOMENS FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION – Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos by TKO (strikes) at 0:16 of round 1.

Dear Pat Miletich,

The only reason Hiroko was getting back up as Cyborg was hitting her was to run hell out of the cage.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at 411Mania.com

MAIN EVENT LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Lightweight bout: Champ Gilbert Melendez (155lbs 20-2) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155lbs 22-6)

ROUND ONE Melendez comes out jabbing. Melendez trying to land some combos. Melendez does land a few. Melendez lands with a counter punch. Masvidal is taunting Melendez and he gets smacked for it. Melendez jabs and slides under Masvidals guard to deliver and uppercut. Masvidal tries another knee. He catches Melendez. Melendez catches Masvidal's kick and trips him down. He tries for a series of submissions but Masvidal defends and gets back to his feet. Masvidal throws a kick and that's the end.

SCORECARD: Melendez 10-9

ROUND TWO Round 2 starts the same way as round 1. Masvidal evades well but doesn't counter with anything. Masvidal lands a leg kick and eats a punch. Melendez lands another. Melendez continues to score Masvidal as Masvidal attempts to impersonate Anderson Silva. Melendez lands a body and eats a counter punch. Masvidal with a knee. Melendez comes forward and Masvidal evades, backing away. Melendez lands a body kick.

SCORECARD: Melendez 10-9

ROUND THREE We get more of the same here in round 3. Melendez is attacking, Masvidal is evading. Melendez picks up the pace and lands few hard strikes. Masvidal lands a flying knee. They are starting to trade a bit more at a faster pace. Masvidal now is starting to score on Melendez. Melendez evades Masvidal's offense and does a bit of damage.

SCORECARD: Melendez 10-9

ROUND FOUR Melendez is the aggressor in this round as well. Masvidal lands a counterstrike. Double jab and right hook from El Nino. Melendez continues to jab and score on Masvidal, who is slow to respond. Melendez and Masvidal trade for a bit. Masvial for his part has jabbed Melendez' eye swollen. Masvidal hits a knee.

SCORECARD: Melendez 10-9

ROUND FIVE Melendez and Masvidal have basically turned this into a boxing match save for the occasional leg kick or takedown attempt. Melendez and Masvidal trade and circle. Masvidal is trying to come up with a to finish this fight. Masvidal tries for a flying knee and eats punches. Melendez and Masvidal finally pick up the pace and go four punch for punch. Masvidal goes for shot and runs out of time.

SCORECARD: Melendez 10-9

OFFICIAL RESULT: WINNER AND STILL LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION – Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision (50-45X2, 49-46.

Gilbert's parting words are that some of the UFC lightweights should come to Strikeforce so he can't get some decent challenges...yikes.

We'll have a recap tomorrow at 11:00 AM on the 411 Ground and Pound Radio show. RIght after UFC 141 ends (at 1:00 AM) I'll be covering Dream: Fight For Japan! New Year! 2011 (which is 9 FRIGGIN HOURS LONG...le sigh). Until then, be safe, be well and behave.