Strikeforce Tournament Of Odd Results?

Strikeforce held their Middleweight 4-Man Tournament with the winner not receiving a title shot at Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock. Their next show will feature two of the best Lightweights in the world when Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez defends his title against Josh Thompson. Tonight though was one for not the caliber of fights, but odd occurrences, controversy, and near tragedy.

Jorge Santiago began the tournament by KOing Sean Salmon (known for being devastatingly KO'd by Rashad Evans) just seconds into the fight causing not only the loss for Salmon but in ring seizures. Sean was rushed to the hospital and seems to be fine with no brain bleeding or skull fractures. Sean started the year with the infamous KO loss to Evans, followed it by losing to Alan Belcher, and went on to fight a total of 9 times this year, 3 in the month of September alone! He has won 5 of 4 this year but this disastrous KO may prove to be the end of his career as the California State Athletic Commission stated he may not be allowed to compete again. We wish only the best to the fallen fighter who may have just pushed himself to far in one year. Good luck Sean.

In the 2nd tournament bout, Trevor Prangley got the win over Falaniko Vitale when Prangley accidentally scratched Falan's eye causing the doctors to end the fight. Here's where it gets weird. The two rounds fought were close but Vitale definitely won the 1st round. The judges scored the bout 19-19, 19-19, and 20-18 for Vitale ruling the bout a Majority Draw. Thus, the referee makes the final call and awards the fight to Prangley! Vitale is understandably enraged.

Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth lost his title to Anthony Ruiz by TKO (cut). Bobby came out and dropped the challenger in the 1st and looked for a finish but Ruiz survived to the round. Anthony came out like a man possessed throwing bombs and with an incidental headbutt caused the cut to end the fight. Didn't I just do a story on cuts ending fights? Anthony Ruiz is your new champion with a 18-10 record and Light Heavyweights all over the world picking up the phone calling Strikeforce for a title shot.

Alistair Overeem became the Heavyweight Champion as he came out and straight dominated Paul Buentello with knees and punches after a trip to the floor. Paul tries to come back in the 2nd but those Muay Thai knees to the body floor him and he taps out! Wow, he taps out and Alistair gets a much needed win and trinket.

The Tournament finals begin and the fresh Jorge Santiago comes out landing punch after punch and two knees to the body (knees to the body in back to back fights for a finish?) putting Trevor Prangley out for the count. Jorge Santiago is your tournament winner and everyone is turning around to each other saying, who? Jorge won the tournament in a total of 2:55 taking his record to 16-7 and looking shockingly impressive.

In the main event (thank god), Cung Le just absolutely had his way with Sam Morgan like Kobe Bryant does with groupies. Cung threw and kicked the living crap out of Morgan for 3 rounds before mercifully ending the fight with a liver kick that TKO's Sam for good. Cung Le now feeling his oats, calls out Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock who accepts his bid for a title shot.

Somewhere in the back there is a confused Jorge Santiago wondering why did I just win this tournament again? Frank is already slated to rematch Renzo Gracie in early '08 and then fight Cung Le? I guess the tournament champ is just outta luck. What an eventful evening on an unimpressive card.