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Welcome to our live coverage of Strikeforce on CBS from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. We’re looking for your thoughts on tonight’s show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Place pretty empty at the 5:30 p.m. start time. The upper deck is tarped off but middle deck is open. Before the crowd came in, they had dancing girls practice their routine for King Mo’s ring entrance.
Cody Floyd vs. Thomas Campbell
Floyd destroyed him in the first round, got an armbar, but the bell saved Campbell and he’s out for the second round.
Floyd came out with a flying knee to start round two, but was taken down. He got up and started pounding again, but got called for an elbow to the back of the head. Campbell was on the ground in pain and referee took a point away from Floyd for the foul. The doctors are checking with Campbell who was given a time out to recover. Campbell got up after a lengthy break . Floyd in, Campbell tried a takedown but Campbell avoided it. Floyd now on top. He threw punches. He’s now got Campbell’s back. He’s thrown some punches. He’s now throwing knees to the body. He just threw a brutal knee to the body. Knee to the head and kick to the head. Floyd was about to kick his head off but Campbell ducked at the last second and the round ended, just as Campbell was about to go down. I’d go 10-8 but with the point this would be 9-8.
Floyd threw some punches and Campbell went for a takedown, which he didn’t get. Floyd put him down with a knee to the chin and it was stopped, mercifully as this was a one-sided beating.
The ring announcer (local guy, Jimmy Lennon Jr. is here for CBS fights) is botching names left and right.
Dustin Ortiz vs. Justin Pennington
Ortiz looks like Ben Askren’s mini. Ortiz threw an accidental low blow so they called a recovery time out. Takedown by Ortiz. Full mount by Ortiz. He’s got an arm triangle. Ortiz gave it up to pound the body and put hold back on. Pennington throwing rib punches from the bottom. Ortiz moved back to the full mount to throw body punches. Ortiz now throwing solid punches to the head. Pennington gave up his back. Ortiz pounding him some more. Ortiz throwing punches and went for a choke but doesn’t have it. He flattened Pennington out and went for a choke again. Pennington tapped out at 4:47.
Zack Underwood vs. Hunter Worsham
Worsham won the first, lost the second and Underwood looks to be winning the third. Worsham’s left eye looks bad. Underwood had a guillotine on as time ran out. Second and third rounds were dull.
Underwood won, no scores read.
Josh Shockman vs. Cale Yarbrough
Shockman is an entertainer. He was doing Hulk Hogan poses and other comedy at weigh-ins and wore a mask to the ring. Not a wrestling mask but a Halloween like mask. Yarbrough is a former UFC fighter from the Hardcore Gym in Athens, GA, the same original gym as Brian Bowles and Forrest Griffin, that Rory Signer runs.
Shockman,from Nashville, is the crowd favorite. He’s going for a takedown and not getting it. Good knee by Shockman while in a clinch. Yarbrough throwing some knees. They’re locked up and trading knees, more by Yarbrough. Yarbrough landed two good punches, and a hard knee to the chin that put Shockman down. Shockman is bleeding. Yarbrough got full mount and did a Mongolian chop. Shockman’s cut is nasty, Right between the eyes. Yarbrough stood up and wants Shockman to follow. Ref Mario Yamasaki is instead taking him to the doctor to check the cut. The doctor is letting him continue. Body kick by Shockman and another body kick by Shockman. He tried another kick and Yarbrough used it to get a takedown. Yarbrough 10-9.
Yarbrough dropped him with a knee to the face and pounded on him on the ground until Yamasaki stopped it.
They are taping the Miller match now.
Jason Miller vs. Tim Stout
They are at least taping his ring entrance. Not that elaborate compared to Japan, mostly dancing and making faces into the camera. Jimmy Lennon now announcing and Thank God for that. Stout has a good punch. Miller claimed his discipline was "slap boxing." I guess they banned him from saying pro wrestling.
Miller several inches taller. Miller did some crazy stance and nailed a hard low kick. Body kick by Miller but Stout back with a good punch. Another body kick by Miller and a low kick. Miller in with a takedown and pounding him against the fence. He’s getting hard shots in on the ground. Miller tried a Mongolian chop but missed. Stout cut near the right eye. Miller with more hard punches on the ground. Miller pounding him more. It’s time to stop it. I’m really surprised Mario Yamasaki let it go as long as he did. Yamasaki finally stopped it. Stout was bleeding pretty heavy from the right eye. 3:09
A bad omen for the live show is that this crowd has been dead allnight, and were pretty cold for this match. Didn’t really react much to Miller.
Dustin West vs. Andy Uhrich
Uhrich with a takedown and on top throwing elbows to the body. Got full mount . West turned and Uhrich looking for a choke. He got the choke and West tapped. 1:36
At this point, the place is nowhere close to packed. 65% of the unblocked. The ring announced listed some of the stars of Strikeforce like "Chris Seeborg."
Chris Hawk vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Saint Preux was the starting linebacker at University of Tennessee. Saint Preux clocked him right away and was doing ground and pound. He was throwing some wicked lefts on the ground and ref John McCarthy stopped it. This was one of those deals where the head was bouncing off the ground. :47
We’ve got 45 minutes until the live show starts so I’m heading to the message board.
The ring announcer corrected his pronunciation of the women’s champion. Now she’s Cris Seeorg. Glad they corrected him.
CBS show is starting. We’re about 80-85% full. The tickets listed an 8 p.m. start time for the show instead of 5:30 p.m. Crowd looks similar to the UFC Fight Night show in this building last year.
They ran down the celebrities at the show. Biggest pops was Herschel Walker, followed by Eddie George, Nick Diaz and Bobby Lashley.
Gegard Mousasi vs. King Mo Lawal
Mo is out with his crown, robe and his dancing girls. They aren’t showing this on TV, are they? Crowd kind of into this, a lot more than anything so far tonight.
Crowd kind of booed Mo. They booed Mousasi louder. King Mo chant not loud but it’s there. Mousasi moving like he’s confident out there. He threw a high kick. Mo in with punches. He threw some more punches. He absolutely doesn’t want to play that game. Mo grabbed a single. Mousasi unloaded but Mo got him down. Mousasi working for a triangle from the bottom. Mo out of trouble. Mo has him down but not able to get anything in. Now got a few punches in from the top. Mo dove back down and has side position. Mo got a few more punches in. Mo stood up, went back down and threw a few punches. He’s not doing damage but he’s getting them in and winning the round so far. Mousasi tried an up kick, Mo down and mauling him with punches. He’s getting real punches in now. Mousasi looks he doesn’t care, totally calm. Mo down with more punches. . Mousasi back up. Crowd cheered a lot for Mousasi getting up. Mo went for a takedown and Mousasi sprawled. Mo threw a wild punch, Mousasi with a knee and Mo took him down again. Mousasi back up with 11 seconds left. Mo in with a lot of punches standing. Mo looked tired at the end of the round, but he won the round 10-9.
Mo in wildly with punches but took Mousasi down again. He threw a knee to the body on the ground and another one. Mo more riding Mousasi at this point. Mousasi paint brushing Mo from the bottom with punches. Mousasi unloading with punches from the bottom. Mo almost walked into a triangle. Mousasi punching from the bottom. Mo clearly getting tired. Mo again almost walked into a triangle. Mo is getting paint brushed with punches from the bottom. Even though Mousasi is on the bottom he should be winning the round. He got up. Mo in with a punch. Mousasi with a punch and a knee but Mo took him down again. McCarthy threatened to stand them up. Mousasi chant. Mousasi kicked him off and back up. Mo went for a takedown and got Mousasi down. King Mo chant. Mousasi continues to punch from the bottom. Went for a triangle armbar but Mo out of trouble. Mousasi up again. He’s throwing punches and Mo trying to escape. Mousasi has his back standing with seconds left and throwing more punches. He wants a choke but time in the round ran out. Mousasi’s round for sure so 19-19.
Body kick by Mousasi and low kick. Mousasi hit a jab. Mo in with a punch but got hit with a counter. Mo threw a hard punch but blocked. Mousasi is so calm. He landed series of punches. Mo came back. Mousasi has him in the corner. Mo connected with some good punches and took Mousasi down. Mousasi trying to hit up kicks but Mo is holding him against the cage once he got in. Mo has turned this round into a wrestling match and is winning. He’s getting punches in, not super hard though. But he’s keeping busy. McCarthy told them to start working and Mo is throwing more punches. Mousasi isn’t hurt by the punches but he’s not getting out. Now some of the punches are getting through. This is a good round for Mo. McCarthy telling them to work and Mo started punching. This is definitely Mo’s round. 29-28 for Mo. There are people who think the round was closer than I did.
Round four. Body kick by Mousasi. Mo in with punches . Another takedown by Mo. Mo throwing more punches. Mousasi hit with an up kick that he’s been trying to land the whole fight. But Mo is keeping the position. McCarthy warning them. King Mo chant. Mo throwing punches form the top. Mousasi with some punches from the bottom. McCarthy stood them up. Mo in with punches. He went for a single. Mousasi punching and blocking but Mo got him down again. Knees to the body by Mo from the top. More punches by Mo from the top. McCarthy warning them again. Mouasi punching from the bottom. Mo’s round, 39-37. Mousasi needs a finish in round five.
Mo went for a takedown but Mousasi powered him off. Mousasi set for a kick and Mo slammed him back down. Mousasi with two up kicks as Mo was standing but Mo jumped back down. Mo punching from top and Mousasi from the botom. Loud King Mo chant. Mo in with punches. Mousasi threw an up kick while Mo’s knee was down which was foul. McCarthy talking to Mo. Mo’s left eye is swollen almost shut. McCarthy asking Mo if he want to continue. 2:57 left. He docked Mousasi a point. Basically Mousasi needs a finish here or he’s lost the fight. Mousasi pounding on Mo from the bottom. Mo back with punches from the top. Mo has him pinned down and landed some punches. Mousasi up and has 1:44 left. Mo behind him. Mousasi away and now has 1:23left. Mo took him down again. McCarthy ordered a stand up with 25 seconds left. Mo got a punch in. Mousasi moving forward. Trading punches. Mo got another takedown with seven seconds left. Close round, but I’ve got it for Mo and with the foul I’ve got it 49-45. Should be a new champion.
Scores were 49-45 across the board for Mo. That was a hell of gutsy performance, left eye almost shut, tired, and facing a more skilled fighter but he played the wrestler game and is strong enough to get takedowns when he needs them and can win rounds. Crowd turned on Mo during his interview. I couldn’t hear what he said to do this but he shouldn’t have been booed after that performance. Mousasi landed tons more strikes than Mo when the scores came out.l
Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki for the lightweight title.
Aoki came out to Baka Survivor. There were about 5% of the crowd that really popped for the song. It’s like this really cool Japanese deal but if you don’t watch Japanese fights you wouldn’t know, and most of the people here clearly don’t watch Japanese fights.
Aoki got a polite response. No boos at all. Melendez got about the same reaction.
Aoki is not allowed to wear hs magic pants in the U.S. Body punch by Melendez. Body kick by Aoki. Melendez grabbed it and tripped him down but Melendez wouldn’t go to the ground with him. Fans starting to boo already. . Melendez got poked in the eye. Aoki got him down and went for a triangle and armbar right away. Melendez put him to the cage where Aoki isn’t familiar, but then let him back up. Melendez hit a body punch. Another body punch by Melendez. Aoki shot and didn’t get it. He wanted Melendez down but he won’t come to the ground. This fight is a style clash. Melendez went to the ground and hit a few punches. He’s starting to hurt Aoki with punches on the ground and Aoki got up. Body kick by Aoki late. Melendez landed a body and head punch. Body kick by Aoki and Melendez landed a few more punches. Another body punch and a knee by Melendez. Melendez 10-9
Melendez uppercut as Aoki came in. Aoki shot, then backed off. . Aoki shot again, landed on the bottom, but he’s happy to do that. Aoki is bleeding from the nose. Melendez landing punches on the ground. Melendez backed off and wanted it standing. Aoki landed a left. Didn’t hurt Melendez. Trading and Melendez landing more. Aoki shot in,ended up on the bottom. Melendez with a few punches. Another good punch by Melendez. Ref Yamasaki ordered a stand-up with nothing happening. Aoki fell to his back and Melendez in with punches. He pushed him into the fence and throwing shoulders and time ran out. 20-18 Melendez.
Aoki shot in and has Melendez against the fence. Melendez danced away from the takedown. Aoki stayed on the grond and Melendez jumped into his guard. Aoki butt scooting which is always good for boos. . Aoki dropped to his back and Melendez went in his guard. Melendez throwing some punhes but crowd starting to boo again. Melendez getting a lot of punches in. The ref telling them to move as it was like rigir morits was setting into the fight. He ordered a stand up. Aoki hit a knee but Melendez landed several punches. 30-27 Melendez.
Fourth round. Melendez was on top, threw a few punches and then backed off. Melendez landed punches. Aoki can’t stand with him and can’t take him down, or do anything from his back against Melendez. Melendez with a hard knee to the chin. Melendez with a series of punches. Aoki butt scooting. Yamasaki ordered a stand up and at the same timeMelendez clocked Aoki on the ground. Yamasaki yelled at Melendez over that. Aoki is not happy. Melendez top as Aoki pulled him down. Melendez with a few puches and back to the rigir mortis. Aoki controlling wrists. Melendez broke free and kicked himtwice in the butt. 40-36 Melendez.
Aoki tried a takedown, then motioned his eye was poked. Melendez on top again while Aoki grabbed a rubber guard. Aoki dropped to his back. Melendez stayed up and he had to get up. Melendez threw a few punches on the ground. Then he fired up like he was a 70s babyface. Melendez got aggressive to finish, decking Aoki and finishing strong. Easy50-45. Bad night for Japanese MMA.
Final scores were 50-45 for Melendez.
When Gus Johnson asked Melendez if he thought he was No. 1 in the world, he said he thinks he’s top three. Why do people do that? The promotion is trying to get its title over, and he just beat the champion from Japan, and B.J. Penn just lost. Well, I guess he’s honest. He thanked Nashville and the people popped.
Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson
This fight is starting at 11 p.m.. The CBS affiliates around the country are probably going crazy. If this fights goes five rounds, we’re not getting off the air until 11:40 p.m. the local newscasts around the country are going to furious starting late, plus being handed off a lead-in show that had nothing but a demo that doesn’t watch local news.
Really scary when Jake Shields has to save the show. Really, the Mo fight was good but the Melendez fight was like the worst case scenario. It badly hurts the cross-promotional gimmick. Dream’s welterweight champion came here and didn’t last a round and their lightweight superstar champion did nothing on offense in 25 minutes.
The crowd is actually hot. After that last match, I felt I was on a 30 hour bus ride through Europe looking out the window and seeing nothing but ash.
Crowd booed Shields. Henderson did not get anything resembling a superstar reaction. It was good, but not overwhelming. Let’s blame Aoki for that as well. Henderson looks in great condition.
Hendo chants. Hendo decked him right away. Shields going for an ankle lock from the bottom. Henderson pulled his way free. Best action so far this TV show. Shields threw a body kick. Henderson threw a punch and Shields backed off bad. Henderson rocking Shields with punches and Shields dropped to his back. Henderson told him to get up. Now these people love Henderson. He’s killing poor JakeShields with punches on the ground. . Henderson backed off and wants him to get up. Henderson in firing punches and Shields at least got away from the fence. Hendo chant. Every time he lands Shields’ head snaps back. JohnMcCarthy separated them as they clinched against the fence. Sheilds ducked low for a takedown but Henderson is back up right away. Henderson with a knee to the ribs and another knee. They are clinched against the cage. Traded punches. I’ve got 10-9 Henderson but very close to 10-8.
Shields went for a takedown, but Henderson got Shields’ back and going for a choke. Henderson swept to get to the top. Shields with a few body punches. Shields got full mount. Holy shit. Shields with punches from the top. Shields peppering him with punches from the mount. Henderson almost turned his back and then thought better of it. More punches from the mount by Shields. Henderson isn’t getting off his back. Shields got an arm triangle. Shields really unloading on Henderson. Henderson is in real trouble. Damn, the biological clock kicked in three minutes ago. Body shots by Shielids. I’ve got this 10-8 Shields but figure judges will make it even at 19-19, I’ve got 19-18 Shields.
Shields shot for a takedown, but Henderson back up. Henderson threw a good punch and it didn’t hurt Shields and Shields went for another takedown. Shields is better conditioned as Henderson is just using his wrestling skill to block but Shields put Henderson on his back again. Shields passed to side control. Henderson regained guard. Shields with a few punches to the face. . He’ got full mount again. But doing little but keeping the position. He’s throwing some punches in but not like the last round. He’s connecting with more and went for an armbar. The bell looked like it saved Henderson. 29-27 Shields after three.
Round four. Henderson threw a punch. Shields went low for a takedown and got Henderson but Henderson reversed on the ground and back up. Shields ducked low for a single leg. Henderson has Shields cradled but now Shields with a single put Henderson to his back. Shields got full mount again. Shields going for a straight armbar. He’s trying for a straight armbar again but Henderson escaped. He’s on top in full mount and throwing punches. He went for a choke but Henderson escaped. More punches by Shields. Crowd booing but Shields is keeping busy throwing punches from the top. Shields again, I’d go 10-9 but wouldn’t argue 10-8 here. 39-36.
Fifth round. Henderson trying to throw big punches and Shields again took him down. Shields has side control. So what’s Shamrock saying about Shields controlling while boring the crowd to death? Crowd booing as Sheilds got the mount. More punches from the top by Shields. He’s going for an arm triangle to finish. Henderson is out. Shields is throwing punches from the mount to the head and body but they aren’t hard He went for an armbar but Henderson got out. Now he’s going for a heel hook but Henderson is out of that. And time ran out. Crowd booing pretty hard. I’ve got 49-45, but guess 49-46 will be most of the socres. People are streaming out not waiting for the decision. Not a good night for anyone.
Scores were 49-46, 49-45 and 48-45 for Shields. People booed the decision even though it was clear Shields won. Miller came in and asked for a rematch. There was a hell of a pull apart brawl. This is ridiculous. I mean, it was awesome but at the same time, not on CBS. The Diaz brothers went crazy I think. The crowd is booing the Diaz Boys and Melendez and Shields like crazy as they left the cage. Melendez shoved him. Guys from the Shields camp all attacked Mayhem and wouldn’t stop. They had to go to a commercial and clear the ring. It was Gordon Solie in the TBS studios in 1979, but not in a good way.
The show ended with Shields doing an interview outside the cage and because people were booing him so bad they cut the mic and picture off for those who stayed. The brawl brought people running back to the arena.
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