411’s Strikeforce ‘Shamrock vs. Le’ Report 3.29.08
Posted by Larry Csonka on 03.29.2008
Cung Le breaks Frank Shamrock’s arm in an epic battle to win the Strikeforce Middleweight Title to cap off a great night of fights!
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the show from 0-10!
STRIKEFORCE - SHAMROCK vs. LE~!
-Live from the HP Pavilion in San Jose California!
-Mauro Rannallo, Stephen Quaddros and Bill Goldberg will be our commentators.
-Bill is with Shamrock earlier today. Shamrock says why not Le, there is no one else to beat up. Le and Shamrock were training partners, and Shamrock was terrible at standup back in the day. Shamrock is here to hang and bang because people want to see it, and he doesn't think Le has a chin. The fight is to see who the REAL KING of San Jose is. He is glad to be here, he wants to stay here because this is his home and his sport.
-Stephen Quaddros is with Le. He is here to prove everyone wrong. The crowd will be mixed, and they will find out who's crowd is louder. Le says they sparred together and he knows Frank has changed, but Le isn't Phil Baroni and Frank won't beat him like that.
- MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Joe Villasenor (24-6) vs. Ryan Jensen (11-3) is up first.
-We get a video package for Villasenor vs. Jensen.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT - Joe Villasenor (24-6) vs. Ryan Jensen (11-3):
ROUND ONE: The official is Mario Yamasaki. And here we go. They dance, Jensen gets a straight right to land. Straight front kick by Jensen, Villasenor tries to shoot but Jensen clinches, to the cage they go and Villasenor gets the takedown. Villasenor has side control as Jensen is against the cage. Villasenor into the guard, not doing much, gets a wide base and then works the body. Jensen grabbed the cage there but no warning. Jensen trying a high guard to counter Villasenor, but Villasenor with the wide base and a few shots to the body. Villasenor tries to get him away from the cage, wide base and then drops down and lands a few strikes to the head. Villasenor postures up, lands a really good shot to the head and then knees to the head as Jensen was getting up. They stand now, both miss shots and then Jensen with a jab. Jensen with a jab, but Villasenor tags Jensen and drops him. Jensen pops back up and starts to fire away, they both throw a bit wildly and both land. Villasenor with a good left that lands, leg kicks by Jensen and another, which seem to have hurt Villasenor. Villasenor throws two jabs and then connects with a big right and Jensen is down and out! Wow.
-THE RESULT: Joe Villasenor via RD1 (4:45) KO
Bill Goldberg is with Villasenor. Villasenor puts over Jensen for taking the fight on short notice. Jensen was the opposite of what he trained for, and it was a great fight. He needed the win and it means a lot for him to get it. Villasenor thanks Elite XC, his coaches, his family and says he will keep on going.
-ShowXC will return April 5th.
-HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT - Mike Kyle (9-5-1) vs. Wayne Cole (10-6) is up next. We get video packages for the bout.
-Mike Kyle is coming off of a one-year suspension from a DQ that happened back at WEC 20, involving illegal kicks and punches while TWO officials tried to pull him off of his opponent. He hasn't fought in two-years.
HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT - Mike Kyle (9-5-1) vs. Wayne Cole (10-6):
ROUND ONE: Herb Dean is the official. And our second fight is underway. They touch and Cole with jabs and a big shot that misses to begin. Cole shoots, against the cage they go and a slam by Cole. Side control already for Cole, he gets an arm bar and Kyle taps!
-THE RESULT: Wayne Cole via RD1 (0:42) Submission
Bill Goldberg is with Wayne Cole. Cole says people thought he didn't use his wrestling enough, so he used it. Cole says to his mom that this is what he does for a living and tries to get out as soon as possible. He talks us through the arm bar.
-They hype the CBS debut on May 31st.
-We get a Kimbo Slice video package.
-Kimbo joins us in the cage. Bill Goldberg is with him and asks him what he thinks about the ovation he gets. Kimbo says they should do a fight out there. Goldberg says he isn't a street fighter anymore, he is now an MMA Superstar. Kimbo says he is excited about the CBS debut. No opponent announced.
ROUND ONE: Herb Dean is the official. Lemley aggressive early, but Melendez rocks him with a left. High kick by Lemley misses, Melendez shoots, gets the takedown and is into the guard against the cage. Lemley works for a guillotine, but Melendez slips right out. Melendez stands, drops back down and lands two good lefts. Lemley looking for the guillotine again, Melendez escapes and postures up. A good right by Melendez connects, Melendez passes the guard and has side control and lands rights. Melendez almost had mount, but Lemley escapes. Shoulder shrug by Melendez, rights and lefts connect. Melendez keeps landing shots from the guard, hammer fists now and he stands and lands more lefts and rights. Lemley cannot stop anything he is throwing. Lemley's right eye is starting to show the effects of Melendez's attack. Side control by Melendez, he keeps connecting with about everything he throws. Melendez stands and keeps landing, he drops down and get some hammer fists and then just unloads with repeated shots and the horn saves Lemley.
LARRY'S SCORECARD: Melendez dominated the round with ease, and it could have been stopped there at the end. I will go 10-8 for Melendez as Lemley didn't do anything but eat punches.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins, side kick by Lemley lands. Two great rights by Melendez land, Lemley tries to clinch and fails. They exchange, Melendez shoots and takes Lemley down and is in the guard. Melendez with some hammer fists connect, another left lands to the right eye of Lemley. Melendez stands, lands from the standing position and then gets side mount. Lemley is covering up and Melendez gets a warning for the back of the head. He unloads again on Lemley and Herb Dean finally stops the fight. Lemley's eyes look bad.
Bill Goldberg is with Gilbert Melendez. He had the goal to be #1, and now he has to stay on top. You have to be self disciplined and he trained with Jake Shields, who was supposed to fight tonight. He shouts out to Nick Diaz as well as Nate. Jake is here now, and he says he suffered a back injury but he will be back strong. June 14th is when he plans to fight next.
-We get a Shamrock vs. Le video package.
-We now see Shamrock and Le working out backstage.
-Tonight you can go to SHO.com and see the main event through the CAGE CAM!
-Up next is the WELTERWEIGHT BOUT - Drew Fickett (31-5) vs. Jae Suk Lim (9-3). We get a video package for both fighters.
-The announcers say that Diaz couldn't compete tonight due to "incomplete paper work."
ROUND ONE: John Schorle is the official. Lim fought 3-weeks ago and won they say. They clinch against the fence, knees by Fickett and they separate. A good jab by Fickett, they both connect and then back off. Lim trips Fickett, but he rolls over on him, Fickett gets into the half guard and gets Lim against the cage. Lim stands up, Fickett gets the guillotine, wraps his legs up on Lim as he stands, he drops down and Lim taps! That was sweet. Fickett does a pose down to celebrate.
-THE RESULT: Drew Fickett via RD1 (1:14) Submission
Bill Goldberg is with Drew Fickett. Goldberg discusses the Shields fight that was cancelled, but he says both guys stepped up and took this fight to make sure the re was one. He thanks his camp, does some push ups and then talks us through the replay. Shields is here now to discuss their fight, which will be the 14th of June in Hawaii. Shields promises a war, while Fickett almost does a pro wrestling promo promising that someone will die by choke.
ROUND ONE: Mario Yamasaki is the official. Here we go with the main event of the evening. Great atmosphere here. Leg kicks by Shamrock to begin. Le answers back, side kick to the ribs by Le, Shamrock for a takedown and nothing. They talk a bit and then trade leg kicks. Body kick by Le, Shamrock back and Le back. Le with a shot to the jaw and then a body kick. Leg kick by Shamrock, a good jab and then another leg kick. Le with a grazing kick o the head, jabs by Shamrock and more leg kicks. Le with a good right hook lands, a straight body kick lands as well for Le. Le with another strong body kick that connects, Shamrock tries for a takedown but nothing. Le with a flurry of shots that land. Leg kicks by Shamrock, another and then a body shot and right by Le. Le with a snapping kick to the head that misses, Shamrock charges, almost has a guillotine off of a Le slip, but then gets a good knee to Le. Shamrock in with a combo, and then a body kick. Shamrock blocks a kick by Le, Shamrock with a combo that lands and then back to the leg kick. Sidekick by Le, they trade again and a good combo by Shamrock ends the round.
LARRY'S SCORECARD: Great opening round with a lot of energy. Le had things in control early, but Shamrock did more as the round went on and I will go Shamrock 10-9. It was close.
ROUND TWO: Round two begins and they touch. A body kick by Shamrock lands, and then one by Le. Shamrock with a straight right, another and Le lands a kick and Shamrock's mouth piece falls out! Back to action and Shamrock with a good right. Le misses a high kick, leg kick by Shamrock and then they both connect with rights. Combo by Le, straight left and then a kick to the shoulder. Le catches a kick and Shamrock goes down, but he waits on Le, who refuses to go to the ground. Back standing, Shamrock dances and Le with a leg kick. He follows with a good combo and a sidekick. Cut kick by Le, but he eats a right by Shamrock. Le with a light combo that lands, body kick by Le and then one by Shamrock. Le gets a right sidekick, and then a sweet right hook to Shamrock. Body kick by Le, snap kick to the head misses. Sidekick again by Le, a good body kick follows. Shamrock with a right as round two ends.
LARRY'S SCORECARD: Another energetic round. I felt Le did more damage and was more aggressive, and he gets it 10-9, and even it up 19-19.
ROUND THREE: Round three begins and a high kick by Le is blocked. High roundhouse lands now by Le. Another high kick lands to the shoulder for Le. A good combo by le, sidekick lands as well. Shamrock with a straight right, but takes a body kick. Leg kicks by Le followed by a combo. They both connect with kicks at the same time, sidekick by Le and then a body kick lands. Push kick by Shamrock, sidekick and a spinning back fist by Le land. He drops Shamrock with a low kick, but Shamrock is back up. Sidekick again by Le, and then one to the head. A left by Le, Shamrock with a combo connects. Straight kick by Le, another and Shamrock comes back with a straight right that rocks Le. He stalks Le, he throws wildly and Le does as well. Shamrock gets a good right, clinch and knees by Shamrock. Shamrock unloads on Le against the cage, spinning back fist by Le connects! Shamrock with a right and then a knee to follow up. Kick to the head by le, a combo and kick to end the round for Le all connect!
LARRY'S SCORECARD: Wow, what a round. Le was commanding, but Shamrock looked to have comeback there for a while but Le secures the round late and takes it 10-9, and has the advantage 29-28.
THE FIGHT IS OVER! Shamrock apparently cannot continue and we have a NEW CHAMPION! Frank Shamrock has reportedly suffered an arm injury, which is why he cannot continue.
-THE RESULT: New Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le via RD3 Doctor's Stoppage (Right Arm Injury) TKO
Frank shows Le respect after the match with a hug.
Bill Goldberg is with the new champion Cung Le. Le says Shamrock stuck to his word and stood. Le says Frank is great and a legend, but tonight he was the better man. He thanks all of his people and the fans. He left everything he had in the cage. We get replays of the end of the fight. Le says he tried to aim at the arm after he saw it was bothering Frank so much.
Frank is now here and says Le broke his right arm with a kick. He felt the bones clicking, he tried to fight through it but Le is the better man.
Le says it was not easy, and he ate some good shots and got rocked. He fought hard after seeing stars, but he pushed through it and he got pumped up and tried to kick through Shamrock.
-Mauro Rannallo and Stephen Quaddros wrap up the event and the title win for Cung Le. Goldberg joins them and they discuss Shamrock deciding to stand, and the fact that he underestimated the power of Le. Goldberg says that Le is a true MMA star now that he has defeated Shamrock.
Feel free to send in your thoughts on the show! If you do, please include your BEST and WORST fight, and score the show from 0-10!
San Jose is WEAK! I searched all over for this fight figuring they would be supporting the local boy and showing it at a local bar. No dice! It sounded like a great fight!
Posted By: Jack (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 01:16 AM
That dude Cung le is gonna be the Vietnamese version of Anderson Silva lol you think so?
Posted By: Scottyieoittie (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 01:22 AM
No Anderson Silva is better on the ground. Cung le likes to stay on his feet like Chuck does
Posted By: ttt ttt (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 03:19 AM
Fight of the year so far
Posted By: homegrowncone (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 11:36 AM
that was a great card and a great main event. cung le took some serious shots and stayed on his feet. however, cung le wanted no part of shamrock when it went to the ground... he fought a smart fight, spider would kill him though.
Posted By: RAY (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 01:31 PM
i see herb dean around EVERYwhere, jus curious, there is no exclusivity in his contract?
Posted By: curious (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 04:15 PM
curious,I'm sure the refs are in a union. So they can ref most mma events.
Posted By: Top (Guest) on March 30, 2008 at 09:54 PM
bullshit fight! they Sparred the whole time. Le doesn't have the knockout power to take out Frank. Frank got hit with le's best shot....didn't phase him. Frank clocked Le and didn't finish...come on...i call shinanagins!!!! they wanna milk this!! Their gonna have two more of these. Franks gonna eat him up. Franks a competitor he would of took it to the ground if need be. But he didin't. Three big paydays is better tahn one. bullshit fight!
Posted By: themerovingian (Guest) on April 01, 2008 at 06:37 PM
