This weekend is an exciting time for mixed martial arts. The WEC is putting on another event on Versus, and on Showtime we are being treated to Strikeforce. In the main event former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le battles UFC and EXC veteran Scott Smith, while Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez meet for the second time to determine the undisputed lightweight champion. Dream veteran Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza faces UFC veteran and former top ten middleweight Matt Lindland. The main card is rounded out with Sengoku veteran “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal against The Ultimate Fighter 2's Mike Whitehead.
Former EXC middleweight champion and UFC veteran Robbie Lawler was slated to fight Trevor Prangley, but the South African was forced off the card on Monday due to an injury. A replacement was sought but unable to be secured in time.
Preliminary action will feature the second US appearance of M-1 and DEEP veteran Daisuke Nakamura as well as K-1 veteran Scott Lighty.
**LIVE Results & Discussion**
SHOWTIME Fight Card:
Cung Le vs. Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith via TKO - Strikes Round 3 (3:25)
- San Jose favorite Le comes the cage with the crowd going frickin nuts waving Cung Le flags.
- Big John making another appearance. Spinning back kick by Le puts Smith down and Le punishes Smith with hammerfists. Smith gets up and chases Le but gets knocked back down with another side kick. Smith is lucky to escape Round 1 without having to pull Le's leg out of his stomach.
- Smith can't defend the kicks in Round 2 any better than he did in Round 1. On the ground Le is rape choking Smith and Big John warns him. Smith does improve though as the Round ends.
- Shamrock commentating ringside and stating that Le's strikes don't hurt. I guess that shattered arm felt good. Spinning backfist, spinning back kick and power slam combination by Le. Smith lands a huge left and Le goes down, back up Le eats three rights and few lefts and Le is on the mat and out. Talk about another amazing comeback for Smith.
Strikeforce World Lightweight Championship:
Josh "The Punk" Thomson vs. Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez via Unanimous Decision (49-47,49-46,49-46)
- Jon Fitch walks to the cage w/Thomson and Shields w/Melendez.
- Action packed Round 1 as they combined to throw over 100 strikes.
- Melendez scored an early knockdown in Round 2 and then landed a knee to the nuts. Absolute slugfest and Melendez gets another knockdown and stays in the guard till the bell.
- The ring seems awfully slippery despite King Mo spraying the cage with Rockstar energy drinks after his victory. No one can secure a takedown through the first 3 Rounds.
- Close fight but Melendez should be ahead 2-1 to start Round 4. Another slugfest Round until Melendez thumbs Thomson in the eye. Melendez probably took another which means Thomson needs to end the fight in Round 5.
- Both fighters are throwing everything they can but Melendez connects and scores another knockdown. Neither fighter quitting but both are obviously tired and Thomson gets a takedown finally. Amazing fight ends how it started.
Matt "The Law" Lindland vs. "Jacare" Souza via Submission - Arm Triangle Choke Round 1 (4:18)
- Big John McCarthy reffing the fight. Lindland can't take Jacare down at first and when he does Jacare sinks in an armbar but the Law escapes. Jacare keeps the pressure on and eventually gets the submission.
"King Mo" Lawal vs. "Iron" Mike Whitehead via TKO - Strikes Round 1 (3:08)
- Crowd is somewhat restless as Round 1 doesn't see much action until King Mo lands a big right that drops Whitehead.
- Mayhem Miller joins the King in the ring to celebrate.
Undercard:
Scott Lighty vs. Antwain "The Juggernaut" Britt via TKO Round 2 (0:00)
- Britt punished Lighty in Round 1 but Josh Rosenthal didn't stop the fight even though Lighty was bleeding badly.
- Lighty can't answer the bell for Round 2 due to cuts.
Justin "The Silverback" Wilcox vs. Daisuke Nakamura via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Wilcox is bleeding badly as they are engaged in a great stand & bang Round 3.
AJ Fonseca vs. Alex Crispim via Unanimous Decision (30-27 all cards)
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**11:30 PM EST - Showtime confirms Dan Henderson and Fedor will be fighting on the April 2010 card against opponents to be named later.
**10:05 PM EST - Arena is nearly full. Hendo, Herschel, Noons, Shields and others are seated cageside.
**8:55 PM EST - Arena is about half full and Cris "Cyborg" Santos is in the house.
**Bobby Stack vs. David "Tarzan" Douglas has been canceled due to Douglas having a health issue.
**PDG's Derek Wong is on scene in San Jose and will be providing updates all evening.
Photos: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE
Flamboyant showman, "King Mo'' Lawal remained undefeated with a first-round knockout over "Iron" Mike Whitehead in the opening bout of STRIKEFORCE: Evolution Saturday on SHOWTIME
"Jacare" Souza submitted Matt "The Law'' Lindland in one of the marquee fights at HP Pavilion on SHOWTIME
In a leading candidate for 2009 Fight of the Year, Gilbert Melendez regained the STRIKEFORCE lightweight world title with a thrilling five-round unanimous decision over Josh Thomson.
Scott "Hands Of Steel'' Smith rallied from the brink of defeat to register a shocking, upset third-round knockout over previously undefeated Cung Le in Saturday's main event.
