The card does however feature the highly anticipated bout between Elite XC stand-outs Gina Carano and Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. The card also features a light heavyweight title bout between Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Dream middleweight tournament champion Gegard Mousasi – a bout initially scheduled for the recently canceled Affliction card. Former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez will rematch PRIDE veteran Mitsuhiro Ishida for the interim Strikeforce lightweight championship, while PRIDE and UFC veteran Fabricio Werdum also appears on the undercard. The main card is rounded out by The Ultimate Fighter's Jesse Taylor against MMA veteran Jay Hieron.
Click Here for Weigh-In Results & Pictures
**Live Results & Play-by-Play**
Main Card:
Strikeforce Women's 145 lb. Championship:
Gina Carano vs. Cristiane Santos via TKO - Strikes Round 1 (5:00)
Round 1:
Cyborg moves in and they exchange strikes, Cyborg gets the takedown but Carano lands on top. Leg lock attempt by Cyborg but Carano escapes and gets back up. Cyborg landing several strikes, Carano gets the takedown and mounts. GNP by Carano but Cyborg escapes and gets back up. They exchange strikes in the center of the cage, Cyborg gets the best of the exchange but Carano comes back. Left jabs by Carano and Cyborg clinches and takes her down. Carano escapes and they are back on their feet. Cyborg stalks Carano, they clinch again against the cage and Cyborg gets another takedown. Carano escapes an americana attempt by Cyborg but Cyborg ends the round with massive GNP and the ref stops the fight at the bell.
*Cyborg is now the Strikeforce 145lb Women's Champion.
*Jake Shields talks about Mousasi and says he is impressed and that he will stay at MW.
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship:
Renato Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi via TKO - Strikes Round 1 (1:00)
Round 1:
They touch gloves again, both fighters swing low leg kicks, Sobral catches a kick from Mousasi but Mousasi gets the takedown and is in side control. Mousasi unloads GNP and knocks Bablau out cold...
*Gegard Mousasi is the new Strikeforce LHW Champion.
Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship:
Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida via TKO - Strikes Round 3 (3:56)
Round 1:
Low leg kick by Ishida to start, both fighters measuring their opponent and Melendez lands a straight right. Ishida shoots and eats a knee from Melendez for his trouble, Melendez lands a five punch combo and another straight right. So far Melendez is controlling the fight with his striking. Left hook by Melendez, Ishida shoots again and finally secures the takedown. Ishida takes Melendez back but he escapes and gets the takedown. Melendez holds Ishida against the cage. The bell sounds.
Round 2:
Both fighters exchanging strikes, left jabs by Melendez. Ishida shoots again and Melendez blocks it and pushes Ishida up against the cage. Melendez landing knees/elbows from the clinch and blocks another takedown attempt from Ishida. Melendez continues with the boxing clinic, another stuffed takedown by Melendez. Ishida bleeding from his right ear after taking several shots and Melendez gets the double leg takedown. GNP from Melendez as Ishida is stuck against the cage. Both fighters exchanging again in the center of the cage. The round ends.
Round 3:
Ishida trying to utilize his jab now, both fighters swinging for the fences. Melendez goes back to his left jab and Ishida with an inside leg kick. Melendez moves in throwing strikes and gets Ishida to the ground where he is landing GNP on Ishida. More GNP from Melendez, Melendez now with back control, more GNP and the ref stops the fight.
*Melendez is now the Strikeforce Interim LW Champion.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Kyle via Submission - Guillotine Choke Round 1 (1:24)
Round 1:
Kyle comes out swinging, Werdum responds with leg kicks. Kyle lands a nice left-right combo and Werdum shoots and gets the takedown. Kyle tries to step back to his feet but Werdum catches him with a Guillotine choke and Kyle is forced to tap.
*Mauro says that Sergei Kharitonov may be signing with Strikeforce.
Undercard:
Jesse Taylor vs. Jay Hieron via Unanimous Decision (30-27 all cards)
Mike Cook vs. Scott Lighty via TKO - Strikes Round 1 (2:05)
David Douglas vs. Justin Wilcox via Submission - RNC Round 3 (2:16)
James Terry vs. Zac Bucia via TKO - Strikes Round 1 (0:23)
Alex Trevino vs. Isaiah Hill via Submission - Side Choke Round 1 (3:56)
Photos Courtesy of Esther Lin/Strikeforce:
Cris Cyborg captured the first-ever Strikeforce Female
145-pound Championship with a hard-fought first-round TKO over Gina Carano
Saturday on SHOWTIME.
Fabricio Werdum submitted Mike Kyle in the first round at HP
Pavilion.
Gilbert Melendez retained his Strikeforce interim lightweight
belt with a third-round TKO over Mitsuhiro Ishida.
Gegard Mousasi impressively won the Strikeforce light
heavyweight title with a first-round TKO over Renato Sobral.
