Strikeforce Results: Scrap Pack Domination! Diaz & Melendez Retain Championships!

Casey Ryan defeats Paul Song by Triangle Choke Submission in the very 1st round.
Rolando Perez gets the Unanimous Decision over Edgar Cardenas.
Herman Terrado KO's A.J. Matthews just before the end of round 1.
Joe Duarte submitted Saad Awad by Armbar in the 2nd.
Virgil Zwicker TKO's Brett Albee in the 1st round.

Robert Peralta gets a Split Decision over Hiroyuki Takaya to begin a rough night for Japan. "Streetfight Bancho" did well initially but was dropped by a combination just before the end of the 1st round. Takaya makes a comeback winning the 2nd and in the final round secured a good takedown. The idiot referee (whom I will talk about later) stands them up early and there is little action to end the fight. You can make a case either way I suppose but I had it 29-28 for Takaya though I would have been OK with a Draw. At least the judging won't get worse right?

Shinya Aoki submits Lyle Beerbohm with a Neck Crank just over a minute into the initial round. Why "Fancy Pants" went for the takedown on 1 of the greatest Jiu Jitsu practitioners on Earth is beyond me. Aoki scrambled and took the back of Lyle securing the rear naked neck crank while latching on with a body lock. Beerbohm's grimacing and submits as Aoki gives Japanese MMA fans something to cheer about. Finally. "Submission Of The Night"

Gegard Mousasi and Keith Jardine fight to a Majority Draw. That is so unsatisfying. The "Dreamcatcher" controlled and easily out-struck the "Dean Of Mean" who really put on an impressive show of heart and determination. Jardine was hitting the takedowns early but could do nothing with them as Gegard escaped back to his feet again and again. After 1 suck takedown, Mousasi threw an upkick which is illegal. Keith smartly took his time to gain some air and the referee took away a point. That is fine but it was still a 9-9 round in the end. The 2nd began with Gegard becoming more aggressive and landing at will. Keith's eyes were bleeding and he was taking punishment before a low blow landed and the "Dean" got another 5 minutes to recover and suck wind. No point is taken away the round goes to Mousasi with an obvious 10-9. For the final round a brave Jardine hangs in there not getting KO'd as we all though but still easily losing the round 10-9. For those of you scoring at home that makes the scorecards 29-27 for Gegard Mousasi.

Unfortunately, the judges ruined a clear victory again. Two judges scored the bout 28-28 which is asinine. Abe Belardo scored round 2 for Jardine while Lester Griffin awarded Jardine round 1. Lester is incorrect but at least a case could be made (though not a good 1) for Keith in the opener. There is no way anyone should have scored round 2 for anyone but Mousasi!

Oh well. A pretty entertaining fight with Jardine taking the fight on only 9 days notice and proving that he does still belong with the big fish in MMA while Mousasi really needs to learn some wrestling.

* I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the viking bearded referee. The guy is straight out of a death metal video. His name is Mike Beltran and he wanted attention. He began the bout by yelling “handle it” (which is amusing) and then paraded around the ring during the 2 fouls and halted action again for a dropped mouthpiece while wandering around in search of the owners corner. Its pretty embarrassing when Cecil Peoples does a better job. OK we see you. Now disappear from MMA.

Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez TKO's Tatsuya Kawajiri in the 1st round after brutalizing "Crusher" for every bit of the 3 minutes and 14 seconds. The 1st right hand from Melendez dropped Kawajiri and from then on it was a rape. Gilbert unleashed "El Nino" via knees and uppercuts and tore through Tatsuya. Upon the mat desperately looking to survive, Kawajiri scrambles but Melendez launches just vicious elbows that force a great stoppage (Yes it was Cecil Peoples and he didn't screw things up...for once). "(T)KO Of The Night"

Just domination start to finish and now there should be no doubt that Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is the #1 155 lb. fighter in the world! Fact.

“I think it’s time we unified some titles,” Melendez said. “I’m the number one lightweight in the world, and I’m coming for that spot.”

Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz TKO's Paul Daley in a spectacular 1 round fight that ended 3 seconds before the end of the 1st round. This was a wild back and forth affair that delivered as only a Nick Diaz fight can. The Champ came out taunting and talking with his hands in the air or at his side. "Semtex" lands a left hook that has Diaz sprawling before Daley unloads with strikes looking for the finish. Nick pulls guard and gets to his feet where he begins to find his rhythm landing the punches in bunches he is known for. Diaz is bring a brutal onslaught to Paul's body when a left hook flattens Nick on the mat! Daley still can't capitalize and backs away allowing his opponent back up. More incredible body shots hurt "Semtex" who loses balance and goes careening across the cage to the mat. Now Diaz moves in for the kill with the final barrage of strikes when referee John McCarthy ends the fight with only 3 seconds remaining! What an amazing fight!

The stoppage was correct as Paul Daley has trouble getting up to his stool even after laying on the mat for a few moments. "Semtex" might have been complaining about the stoppage but he was unsure of what happened .

You have to love Nick as the crowd erupted into "Diaz-Diaz-Diaz" chants. Team Cesar Gracie (or the "Scrap Pack") had a great night and the 2 warriors finally shake hands as Nick gives another incoherent rambling interview.

3-0-1 on the picking deal.