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Tonight’s card features…
Showtime Card (10pm EST.)
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round: Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round: Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight: Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson
Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight: Chad Griggs vs. Valentijn Overeem
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight: Jorge Masvidal vs. KJ Noons
HDNet Card (8pm EST.)
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight: Gesias Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight: Magno Almeida vs. Conor Heun
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Joe Ray
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight: Mike Bronzoulis vs. Todd Moore
(Note: Due to timing issues with HDNet, the Mike Bronzoulis/Todd Moore fight will take place after the Showtime broadcast.)
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight: Brian Melancon vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Fight #1 - Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Brian Melancon (5-1-0) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (11-3-1)
Round One
The round begins with Melancon nailing Vallie-Flagg with several big strikes, Melancon then scores a takedown on Vallie-Flagg and he gets side control. Melancon briefly got back control and he attacked him with more strikes, Melancon then gets back control again and he starts looking for the choke. Vallie-Flagg eventually breaks free and they go back to the feet, Melancon responds by nailing Vallie-Flagg with an elbow strike, Vallie-Flagg starts attacking Melancon with short knee strikes. Melancon then nails Vallie-Flagg with a few overhand rights as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Vallie-Flagg hitting Melancon with a wild right, Melancon responds by hitting Vallie-Flagg with a counter right. Vallie-Flagg then nails Melancon with a knee to the midsection, Vallie-Flagg then scores a takedown for a few moments on Melancon. Melancon recovers to nail Vallie-Flagg with a few short knee strikes, both fighters separate and Vallie-Flagg quickly connects with knee strikes. The referee separates the fighters and Melancon nails Vallie-Flagg with some leg kicks, both fighters exchange knee strikes as the round ends.
Round Three
The Round begins with Vallie-Flagg attacking Melancon with leg kicks, Melancon responds with leg kicks of his own. Vallie-Flagg clinches with Melancon and hits him with a few short knee strikes, Melancon makes some space and nails Vallie-Flagg with a body punch. Melancon scores a takedown on Vallie-Flagg and he gets side control, Melancon gets full mount after a failed choke attempt. Vallie-Flagg finds a way to put Melancon back into the full guard, the fighters stand up and Melancon hits Vallie-Flagg with a knee strike. Vallie-Flagg responds by catching Melancon with multiple knee strikes to the body, Melancon then scores a takedown as the round ends.
Fight Result: Isaac Vallie-Flagg def. Brian Melancon by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 28-29)
Fight #2 - Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Nah-Shon Burrell (5-1-0) vs. Joe Ray (6-1-0)
Referee: Don Turnage
Round One
The round begins with Burrell working his jab on Ray, Ray responds by attacking Burrell with an outside leg kick. Burrell scores a takedown on Ray and he gets the half guard, Ray quickly finds a way to move Burrell into the open guard. Ray then catches Burrell with a few elbow strikes from his back, Burrell transitions to the half guard on Ray. Ray nearly catches Burrell with an arm bar from out of nowhere, Burrell moves to side control on Ray. Ray uses a scramble to get Burrell back into the half guard, the fighters stand up and Ray nearly catches Burrell with an arm bar as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Burrell quickly nailing Ray with a right, Ray responds by attacking Burrell with leg kicks. Burrell recovers to barely clip Ray with a right uppercut, Burrell then scores a takedown on Ray and he gets side control. Ray scrambles to put Burrell in the North/South position, Burrell quickly explodes to regain side control on Ray. The fighters stand up and Ray drags Burrell to the ground, Burrell scrambles to get on top of Ray and into the half guard. The referee stands up the fighters after inactivity and both fighters exchange strikes, Burrell scores another takedown on Ray and he gets the half guard. Ray eventually finds a way to put Burrell into his open guard, Ray uses a scramble as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Burrell nailing Ray with a three punch combination, Burrell then starts using his jab on Ray. Burrell changes it up and he nails Ray with an uppercut, Ray recovers by throwing a few kicks at a charging Burrell. Burrell scores a takedown on Ray and he gets the half guard, the fighters get back up and both fighters exchange knee strikes. Ray drops down for a guillotine on Burrell and he fails, Burrell winds up getting back control after escaping. Ray uses a scramble to get the fight back onto the feet, Burrell scores a takedown on Ray and he gets half guard. Burrell starts attacking Ray with some ground and pound as the round ends.
Fight Result: Nah-Shon Burrell def. Joe Ray by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #3 - Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Magno Almeida (9-1-0) vs. Conor Heun (8-4-0)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round One
The round begins with Almeida quickly attacking Heun with a few leg kicks, Heun scores a takedown on Almeida and he gets back control. Almeida scrambles for leg locks while on his back, Almeida winds up in the full guard of Heun after it is all said and done. Heun starts attacking Almeida with strikes from his back, both fighters are attacking each other as Heun holds the rubber guard. The referee stands up the fighters after inactivity and Almeida voluntarily goes to his back, the fighters stand up and both fighters exchange kicks as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Heun attacking Almeida with leg kicks, Almeida then charges at Heun with some wild strikes. Almeida then catches Heun with a few short knee strikes, Heun responds by attacking Almeida with knee strikes of his own. Heun then throws Almeida into the referee and the referee goes down, Almeida then catches Heun with a few punches to the face. Heun then scores a takedown on Almeida and gets side control, Almeida nearly catches Heun with an arm bar from his back and fails as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Almeida hitting Heun with a few leg kicks, Heun responds by throwing leg kicks of his own. Almeida then catches Heun with a few weak punches to the face, Heun scores a takedown on Almeida and he gets the open guard. Almeida rolls for an arm bar and the fighters end up in the North/South position, Almeida winds up in side control after scrambling with Heun. Almeida nearlyu catches Heun with an anaconda choke from his back, Heun gets in the open guard of Almeida and he attacks him with ground and pound until the round ends.
Fight Result: Conor Heun def. Magno Almeida by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fight #4 - Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Gesias Cavalcante (15-4-1) vs. Justin Wilcox (11-3-0)
Referee: Don Turnage
Round One
The round begins with Wilcox attempting a flying knee strike on Cavalcante, Wilcox then starts attacking Cavalcante with leg kicks. Wilcox scores a takedown on Cavalcante and they quickly got back up, Wilcox then catches Cavalcante with a nice right. Cavalcante then nails Wilcox with a few punches to the body, Wilcox responds by connecting with a front kick to Cavalcante. Cavalcante recovers to nail Wilcox with a front kick of his own, Wilcox then hits Cavalcante with a series of strikes to the head as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Cavalcante quickly attempting to attack Wilcox, Cavalcante then accidentally pokes Wilcox in the eye and it looks really bad. The doctor checks on Wilcox and the fight is stopped.
Fight Result: Justin Wilcox fights Gesias Cavalcante to a No Decision via Accidental Eye Poke (0:31, R2)
Fight #5 - Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight
Chad Griggs (10-1-0) vs. Valentijn Overeem (29-25-0)
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Round One
The round begins with Overeem nailing Griggs with a leg kick, Griggs scores a takedown on Overeem and he gets the half guard. Griggs then starts attacking Overeem with some ground and pound, Griggs turns up the heat with his ground and pound until the referee steps in.
Fight Result: Chad Griggs def. Valentijn Overeem by submission via strikes (2:08, R1)
Fight #6 - Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight
Daniel Cormier (7-0-0) vs. Jeff Monson (42-11-0)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round One
The round begins with Cormier attempting the high kick on Monson, Cormier then catches Monson with a knee strike to the body. Cormier then clips Monson with a left to the side of the jaw, Monson then catches Cormier with a knee during a clinch. Cormier recovers to nail Monson with a series of leg kicks, Cormier then rocks Monson with a left hook. Cormier follows it up by nailing Monson with a body kick and right hook, Monson then pegs Cormier with a straight left. Cormier responds by drilling Monson with a left hook, Cormier follows that up by connecting with a knee strike to Monson as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Cormier nailing Monson with a series of kicks, Monson responds by nailing Cormier with a straight left. Cormier recovers to charge at Monson while throwing strikes, Cormier then nails Monson with a counter leg kick. Monson then clobbers Cormier with a short right during a clinch, Cormier then nails Monson with two straight uppercuts to the jaw. Cormier then rocks Monson with a two punch combination, both fighters then test each other with a series of jabs. Cormier corners Monson and he nails him with a few knee strikes, Cormier then launches a series of wild strikes that connect on Monson. Cormier then barely connects with a superman punch on Monson, Cormier then resumes his knee striking attack on Monson as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Cormier again attacking Monson with multiple kicks, Monson then barely misses a hard right attempt on Cormier. Monson then starts peppering Cormier with a few jabs, Cormier then levels Monson with a left hook from out of nowhere. Cormier follows it up by rocking Monson with a straight right, Cormier then closes the distance with a left to the face. Cormier then launches a series of wild strikes towards Monson, Cormier then drills Monson with a solid right. Cormier then catches Monson with a knee strike to the midsection, Cormier then just tosses Monson to the ground. The fighters stand up and Cormier attacks Monson with a leg kick as the round ends.
Fight Result: Daniel Cormier def. Jeff Monson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight #7 - Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Jorge Masvidal (21-6-0) vs. KJ Noons (9-2-0)
Referee: Don Turnage
Round One
The round begins with Masvidal nailing Noons with a few leg kicks, Noons then barely connects with a punch to Masvidal. Noons then connects with a few punches to the body of Masvidal, Masvidal then connects with a knee strike on Noons. Masvidal then nails Noons with a flying knee strike to the shoulder, Masvidal then scores a takedown on Noons and he gets leg control. The fighters stand up and both fighters work their jabs on each other, Noons then rocks Masvidal with a right. Masvidal recovers by clocking Noons with a right hook, Masvidal then drops Noons with a head kick and it is followed up with ground and pound as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Noons attacking Masvidal with several strike attempts, Masvidal then responds by throwing leg kicks at Noons. Noons then clobbers Masvidal with an uppercut to the jaw, Masvidal briefly puts Noons on the ground with a takedown. Masvidal follows it up by nailing Noons with a few hooks to the body, Masvidal scores another takedown on Noons and he gets the open guard. The fighters stand up and Noons hits Masvidal with a leg kick, Masvidal recovers by hitting Noons with a right and a liver punch. Masvidal then drags Noons to the ground for a few moments, Noons recovers and drops Masvidal to the ground and attacks him with ground and pound. The fighters stand up and Masvidal hits Noons with a knee strike as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Noons hitting Masvidal with a quick left hook, Noons then dazes Masvidal with an uppercut. Noons then goes to work on the body of Masvidal with punching combinations, Masvidal recovers by attempting a flying knee strike on Noons. Masvidal then drills Noons with a spinning back kick to the midsection, Masvidal then scores a takedown on Masvidal and he gets leg control. The fighters stand up and Masvidal puts Noons on the ground again, Masvidal gets side control on Noons for a short time. The fighters stand up again and Masvidal drags Noons back to the ground, Masvidal then gets back control as the round ends.
Fight Result: Jorge Masvidal def. KJ Noons by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight #8 - Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Josh Barnett (29-5-0) vs. Brett Rogers (11-2-0)
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Round One
The round begins with Rogers nailing Barnett with a quick leg kick, Barnett scores a huge takedown on Rogers and he gets side control. Rogers uses a scramble to get Barnett into the half guard, Barnett quickly transitions to full mount on Rogers. Barnett then starts attacking Rogers with some light ground and pound, Barnett starts turning up the heat with his striking on Rogers. Rogers uses a scramble to briefly get Barnett off of him, Barnett is quick to regain his full mount on Rogers as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with Barnett quickly putting Rogers back on the ground, Barnett quickly gets full mount on Rogers. Barnett locks in an arm triangle and the tap out follows.
Fight Result: Josh Barnett def. Brett Rogers by submission via arm triangle (1:17, R2)
Main Event - Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round
Alistair Overeem (34-11-0-1NC) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)
Referee: Leon Roberts
Round One
The round begins with Werdum attempting a head kick on Overeem, Werdum then catches Overeem with a low leg kick. Werdum follows that up by hitting Overeem with a kick to the midsection, Overeem grabs Werdum and nails him with a knee strike. Werdum attempts to pull guard and Overeem quickly escapes, Werdum then connects with a leg kick on Overeem. Werdum continuously fails on his takedown attempts on Overeem, Overeem then nails Werdum with a left hook. Overeem then just throws Werdum onto the ground with ease, Overeem then catches Werdum with a knee strike to the body. Werdum pulls guard on Overeem as the round ends.
Round Two
The round begins with both fighters exchanging a few knee strikes, Werdum then clobbers Overeem with two knee strikes to the head. Werdum pulls guard for a short time on Overeem, Overeem recovers to clobber Werdum with a punching combination. Overeem then catches Werdum with a knee strike to the face, Werdum then pulls guard on Overeem and he holds him there this time. Overeem eventually forces the fight back to the feet again, Overeem then hurts Werdum with a knee to the body. Werdum then pulls guard again after eating another knee strike, Overeem attacks Werdum with some ground and pound as the round ends.
Round Three
The round begins with Werdum assaulting Overeem with a ton of punches and knee strikes, Werdum fails at a takedown attempt and Overeem gets back control. The fighters stand up and Overeem nails Werdum with a right to the head, Werdum pulls guard and gets Overeem down. The fighters stand up and Werdum hits Overeem with two rights to the face, Werdum then pulls guard on Overeem again. Overeem attempts to attack Werdum with some ground and pound, the fighters stand up and Overeem nails Werdum with a series of knee strikes. Werdum attempts a knee bar on Overeem as the round ends.
Fight Result: Alistair Overeem def. Fabricio Werdum by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
