“Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg” takes place tonight, Friday, June 19, 2009, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., and PRO MMA (promma.info) is sitting ringside to bring you the live round-by-round updates and results.
Quick Results:
-Steve Hadsel def. Taylor Roberts by knockout (punches) rd1
-Len Bentley def. Marques Daniels by unanimous decision
-Landon Showalter def. George Stork by unanimous decision
-Lyle Beerbohm def. Duane Ludwig by rear-naked choke rd1
-Brian Caraway def. Alex Zuniga by nanimous decision
-Dennis Hallman def. Justin Davis by rear-naked choke rd1
-Luke Rockhold def. Cory Devela by rear-naked choke rd1
-Sarah Kaufman def. Shayna Baszler by unanimous decision
-Jorge Gurgel def. Conor Heun by unanimous decision
-Tim Kennedy def. Nick Thompson by submission (strikes) rd2
-Joey Villasenor def. Evangelista Santos by split decision
PRELIMINARY CARD
Lyle Beerbohm vs. Duane Ludwig
Rd. 1 – Beerbohm shoots immediately, gets Ludwig against the cage where he gets back up . Ludwig gets taken down again. Beerbohm gains side control works a little GnP then Ludwig scrambles to his feet. One point is taken from Ludwig for an illegal knee to the head. Beerbohm again goes for the takedown, and is successful after a stuff. Beerbohm works to pass from the half guard of Ludwig. Beerbohm stays active working the GnP working for the pass. Beerbohm gets the tap after a schoolyard choke from the back at 4:27 of round 1. Lyle Beerbohm defeats Duane “Bang” Ludwig via rear-naked choke submission in Round 1 (4:27).
Brian Caraway vs Alex Zuniga
Rd. 1 – Caraway takes down Zuniga almost immediately at the bell and gets the mount. Gets north/south then side control as Zuniga walks the cage to try and work for an arm. Caraway gets full mount again then stands up. With knee on belly, Caraway works for mount but gets Zuniga’s back as he tries to roll out. With both hooks in Caraway works for the choke. The bell sounds. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Caraway.
Rd. 2 – Both fighters faint a couple of punches before Caraway again gets the takedown. Caraway sinks one hook, then the other as he takes Zuniga’s back, again. Zuniga fends off the choke with wrist fighting and keeping his chin tucked. Zuniga finds an opportunity to escape and scrambles to his feet. Caraway lands a couple of solid punches as the two exchange blows. After a short clench against the cage, Caraway again gets the takedown. Caraway gets the full mount and starts to rain down blows. The bell sounds with Caraway on top dropping punches on his opponent. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Caraway.
Rd. 3 – Caraway lands a couple of straight punches but eats a spinning backfist. Caraway again gets the takedown and immediately gets Zuniga’s back. Zuniga rolls over and gets the half guard, which is passed and Caraway is again in side control. Zuniga is cut over his left eye. Caraway again gets his back. Zuniga rolls and Caraway gets side control yet again. Caraway gets Zuniga’s back, yet again but Zuniga scrambles only to get mounted. Zuniga rolls and reverses but they scramble and stand up. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Caraway, and the fight 30-27 for Caraway. – Official Decision: Brian Caraway def. Alex Zuniga via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dennis Hallman vs. Justin Davis
Rd. 1 – Hallman shoots gets the takedown and his back. Rear naked choke sank in, Davis taps out at :27 of round 1. Dennis Hallman defeats Justin Davis by rear-naked choke submission in Round 1 (0:27).
MAIN CARD
Cory Devela vs. Luke Rockhold
Rd. 1- Rockhold lands a stiff right imediately that drops Devela. After landing many blows, Rockhold jumps on Devela’s back and sinks the RNC. The referee, Joe DeRobbio calls a halt to the fight at :30 of round 1. Luke Rockhold defeats Cory Devala by submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 1 (0:30).
For the first time in Strikeforce history the ladies will be fighting for 3, 5-minute rounds.
Sarah Kaufman vs. Shayna Baszler
Rd. 1 – Both women square off in the center of the cage, Baszler seemingly the quicker of the two. They clinch and Kaufman jumps guard. Baszler passes and gets north south position. Kaufman reverses and gets top position. Kaufman works a little ground and pound while Baszler looks to pull rubber guard. The ref stands the fighters up. After they both throw a couple of punches, they clinch and Baszler has her throw attempt thwarted. After an actionless clinch, the ref again separates the fighters and they square off for a couple of seconds before the round ends. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Baszler.
Rd. 2 – They square off again, Kaufman seeming to miss with most of her punches. Kaufman gets the body lock and attempts to throw Baszler to no avail. Kaufman lands a solid right but Baszler fires back. Kaufman buckles Baszler with a stiff right hand. Kaufman starts to pick her shots, landing a few good blows. Baszler has no answer for Kaufman’s power. With her back against the cage, Baszler tries to regain her composure. Both women trade a flurry of blows to end the round. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Kaufman.
Rd. 3 – Kaufman lands a decent right and Baszler immediately attempts a takedown. Kaufman stuffs the attempt and is on top in Baszler’s half guard. Baszler gets full guard but Kaufman scrambles and gets to her feet. Baszler lands a couple of punches then they clinch. Kaufman gets the takedown and lands a punch before standing back up. Baszler throws a couple of standing elbows, landing one flush. Kaufman has some obvious swelling over her left eye. Kaufman lands a couple more then throws a flurry of punches. Baszler ties her up and clinches to avoid the punches. Baszler rolls for a knee bar attempt, but fails. The bell sounds. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Kaufman, making our score 29-28 for Kaufman. – Official Decision: Sarah Kaufman defeats Shayna Baszler by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jorge Gurgel vs. Conor Heun
Rd. 1 – Jorge is down low looks like he’s expecting a shoot. Leg kick by Jorge. Left hand by Jorge. Big leg kick by Jorge. Jorge moving well. Big body shots by Conor. Conor grabs Gurgel’s head and punishes the body, however, Gurgel lands two big shots that rock Heun. Gurgel lands a nice leg kick and another. Gurgel lands some good shots and pushes Heun to the ground. Big inside kick from Gurgel. Gurgel with some nice feints. Low kick by Gurgel and countered by a body shot. Leg kick Gurgel. Gurgel getting a mouse under an eye. Inside kick from Gurgel and another. Leg sweep by Heun but Gurgel catches himself. Overhand right from Gurgel connects and two big leg kicks. Left hand from Heun connects. Body kick from Heun. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Gurgel.
Rd. 2 – Both guys exchanging. Heun grabs the plum and lands some knees. Jab from Heun. Leg kick from Heun followed by a jab. Heun connects with a couple of shots. Head kick by Gurgel smacks loud. Uppercut from Heun but is countered by Gurgel and rocks him. Leg kick and then a right hand connects from Gurgel Body kick by Gurgel. Leg kick Heun. Left hand by Gurgel followed by a couple of shots from Heun. Head kick misses from Heun. Leg kick Gurgel. Leg kick from Gurgel and Heun lands a shot. Right hand from Gurgel. Head kick by Gurgel followed by a huge flurry but Heun is still standing strong. Nice right hand by Gurgel. Head kick by Gurgel followed by another flurry and another head kick. Heun looks dazed as the round ends. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Gurgel.
Rd. 3 – Leg kick by Gurgel. Nice left hand by Gurgel. Big leg kick from Gurgel. Right hand by Heun but countered immediately by Gurgel. Heun goes for a spinning heel kick but misses. Body kick caught by Heun and takes Gurgel down but Gurgel pops up. Heun chasing down Gurgel but not cutting him off. Heun catches Gurgel’s kick and takes him down. Gurgel sweeps and gets top position and Heun pulls rubber guard. Ref calls for action. They are back up. Head kikc by Gurgel and a right hand by Heun. Head kick from Gurgel. Head kick by Gurgel and a counter right by Heun. Heun is stalking but eats one. Heun looks exhausted. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 Gurgel and 30-27 for Gurgel to win the fight. Official Decision: Jorge Gurgel defeats Conor “Hurricane” Heun by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
Nick “The Goat” Thompson vs. Tim Kennedy
Rd. 1 – Kennedy lands the opening right and a couple of quick leg kicks. Kennedy shoots in and gets the takedown, but ends up on his back. Thompson grabs his arm but Kennedy gets his back. Thompson shakes and rolls only to lose his back to Kennedy again. Thompson stands up but they both go down again. Kennedy gains side control and mounts Thompson quickly. Kennedy again gets Thompsons back. Kennedy works a little GnP from the side control position. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Kennedy.
Rd. 2 – After half a minute or so, Kennedy lands a solid looping right and then secures the takedown. Thompson gets mounted then rolls to give up his back. Thompson tries to shake him and Kennedy gets side control once again. Kennedy starts raining down punches and Thompson rolls to his belly where he then taps out due to strikes at 2:37 of the second round. Tim Kennedy defeats Nick Thompson by submission (strikes) in Round 2 (2:37).
Joey Villasenor vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Rd. 1 – Both fighters start out throwing cautiously, feeling each other out. Cyborg lands a crushing leg kick and they clinch. Villasenor gets a takedown and stands over Cyborg, then drops into his guard. Villasenor stands up, lands a good right then comes down in side control. Cyborg rolls to his belly and then stands up. They trade low kicks as the round closes. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Villasenor.
Rd. 2 – Villasenor lands a body kick as they begin the round. Cyborg eats a mean left jab but returns with a couple of his own. After landing a couple of rights, Villasenor stuffs Cyborgs half hearted takedown attempt. Villasenor lands a few punches then goes on a flurry, throwing a sequence of unanswered strikes. Cyborg throws the leg kick, only to have Villasenor check them. Cyborg throws a spinning heel kick that catches Villasenor in the gut. The two then begin to trade blows with Villasenor landing the more meaningful punches. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Villasenor.
Rd. 3 – Cyborg attempts another spinning heel kick but misses wildly. Villasenor lands a very loud body kick to the midsection of Cyborg. Villasenor shoots but Cyborg ends up getting the takedown. Villasenor gets to full guard but Cyborg passes. They scramble and both stand up. Villasenor lands a couple of good rights after measuring his punches. Both fighters look to have tired as the action slows. Cyborg wipes the blood off of his left eye and licks his hand. Villasenor lands a one two combo that rocks Cyborg. Both fighters thorw for the fences to end the round. PRO MMA scores the round 10-9 for Villasenor and the fight as well with a score of 30-27. Official Decision: “Smokin'” Joey Villasenor defeats Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
(Editor’s Note: We got to the ShoWare Center a bit late so that’s why the first couple of preliminary fights are not on the play-by-play.)
By: Jeff Howard