Two events in one night, I'll just get right to the recaps
Strikeforce Diaz vs Daley Recap
Shinya Aoki vs Lyle Beerbohm
So Aoki is still pretty good at jiu jitsu it seems? Beerbohm went in for a body lock and put Aoki up against the cage and...well that was it for him really. Aoki gets a whizzer and turns it into a leg trip and its on the mat, gets his back and slaps on a what I guess we'll call it Rear Naked Crank?. Very impressive, glad Aoki had such a great performance in the US. $$$
Future matchups to make
I'd like to see Aoki stay in the US and take on Josh Thomson
Gegard Mousasi vs Keith Jardine
As a Mousasi fan this fight pained me to watch and I kept saying well at least he'll get the win get out of this fight and back to the drawing board..wha..?! hold on a draw?! Did Jardine win that first round? fine there's a good argument for that but its the point deduction that I didn't agree with. Jardine looked more gassed at that point than injured after the accidental up kick by Mousasi but you really have to wonder what this fight would of looked like if Jardine had a full camp. It seems that Mousasi can strike with anyone and wrestle with...no one. Jardine took him down with so much ease it would make you wonder if Mousasi could stuff a lightweight take down, but Jardine wasn't able to do a whole lot of damage and I guess to Mousasi's credit he was able to get back up and he was lighting up Jardine in the stand up. I had this fight round by round 9-9, 10-9 Mousasi, 10-9 Mousasi for a 29-28 Mousasi win. Bad call or not that ref did have a pretty nice beard. $$1/2
Future matchups to make
Rematch I guess is the most logical decision especially with the thin roster Strikeforce has at LHW
Stirkeforce Lightweight Title
Gilbert Melendez vs Tatsuya Kawajiri
Well after my anger of the draw and at that ref I settle in for what should be a good tilt and....Cecil Peoples?! nooooooooo! bring back The Long Beard Dude!. But seriously now Melendez makes Cecil Peoples job obsolete by absoulutely demolishing Kawajiri. Kawajiri looked in tremendous shape coming into this fight and Gil just, and it pains me to say it wipes the floor with him. Devasting knees huge power punches! Kawajiri has a hell of jaw/skull/forehead/nose etc etc Next to Jon Jones's win over Shogun this is probably the most impressive performance of the year by a fighter. $$$$
Future matchups to make
I'm really at a lose to what Strikeforce can do for Gil's next opponent, he could very well be the #1 Lightweight in the world.
Kawajiri- Maybe Beerbohm
Strikeforce Welterweight Title
Nick Diaz vs Paul Daley
Sometimes fights don't live up to the hype, sometimes hype doesn't live up to the fights. With these 2 guys the hype was there and they backed it up with a incredible round of action that I'm tempted to call my fight of the year (so far). Daley dropped Diaz with a big hook and I thought that was it, Daley went for a soccer kick on a downed Diaz by Ref John McCarthy was on top on it and recognized it was no illegal great call (where were you during the Mousasi fight?!). Daley dropped Diaz a second time but Diaz was able to battle through and finish Daley just before the end of the round. Legit stoppage I would say Daley still looked really woozy trying to get up and sit on the stool. $$$$1/2
Future matchups to make
Diaz- Same thing I said about Melendez, they are out of opponents for these guys. Tyron Woodley maybe will get a shot but really only someone inside the UFC roster is a legit contender for both Diaz and Melendez
Daley- I say they need to give him a winnable fight next time out Cyborg Santos would be pretty entertaining.
Bellator 40 Recap
Chandler went to work earlier in this one with a big slam on Woodard. Chandlers wrestling was the factor in this fight but Chandler did have some good moments in the 2nd. One was when Chandler went for a kick and a take down Woodard stuffs it and hits Chandler with an uppercut and a nicely timed legal knee as Chandler was trying to get back to his feet. His best moment in the fight with about 1:30 left Woodard locked in a kimura from the bottom and used it as an excellent sweep to get the fight standing and he's on Chandler's back trying to pull him onto the mat. He got the hooks in while Chandler is still standing but sinks in an RNC with about 25 seconds left. Chandler falls to the mat but Woodard elects to let go of the choke to release some ground and pound as the round ends. But Chandler went back to work in the 3rd his wrestling was just too much for Woodard and he took the decision 29-28 which was the same score I had it. $$3/4
Future matchups to make
Michael Chandler will take on Patricky Freire in the Lightweight Tourny final, should be a great matchup with the winner earning a shot at champ Eddie Alvarez
Jay Hieron vs Brent Weedman
Well I thought Weedman might give Hieron a tough fight but didn't expect him to drop Jay 23 seconds in with a left hand and get full mount. Hieron eventually gets out and comes close to a finish him self with a d'arce choke attempt. Early in the 3rd Hieron went for a take down but Weedman locked in a guillotine but Jay was able to pass and Weedman had to let go. Weedman also got full mount with about 50 seconds left but Hieron was again able to get out. Hieron did win this fight by decision but Weedman gave Hieron even more trouble than I predicted you would have to think we haven't seen the last of Weedman. $$3/4
Future matchups to make
Hieron will take on Rick Hawn in the Welterweight Final and the right to face champ Ben Askren
Ben Askren vs Nick Thompson
Don't think there was as much of a sure thing as this fight, Ben wrestles and he wrestles well. Thompson was never in it and could not handle his constant pressure it was like his was a training dummy for Ben. Not much more I can say about this fight but for whatever reason it was probably the most interested I have been in an Askren fight in some time. Was just a few hours ago from when I'm writing this that I've read that Thompson annouced his retirement from MMA. $$
Future matchups to make
Askren waits on the winner of the Jay Hieron/Rich Hawn fight
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