Strikeforce Challengers Series Live Coverage

So, the press check-in for me is at 6 Pacific, tonight, so I’ll be online shortly after that. Those who want to follow my live coverage of the event can follow it on here, where I’ll be doing the customary play-by-play of the event. I’m also going to be posting on Twitter, so feel free to follow me on there.

Thanks, as always, to our friends at Strikeforce for putting together another exciting event.

6:00 – I’m seated at the event. The undercard starts at 6:45. All of the live results will be below the fold. The undercard fight between Ben Holscher (4-0 MMA) and Alex Trevino (4-1 MMA) has been scrapped, though Ben (who’s a big local name) remains on the posters.

7:00 – They’re late starting the undercard, which is typical, but irritating. Waiting on the amateur guys.

7:10 – First walkout, to Naz and Demian Marley’s Road to Zoin. Even though it’s an amateur fight (the first three bouts are all two minute rounds) I gotta say I dig the taste in music.

Chris Buron vs. Avery Kakeo (Amateur Fight, 2-Minute Rounds)

Avery Kakeo (who trains with local favorite Billy Evangelista) gets a huge ovation and Chris Buron gets booed. The Fresno crowd is always rowdy, which makes for an interesting event.

The two square off and Buron lands a solid leg kick. They exchange kicks, but Buron lands them while Kakeo keeps whiffing. Kakeo lands a solid body kick. Buron pumps the jab as Kakeo whiffs a headkick. Kakeo is frustrated and clinches up against the cage and scores a takedown, but dropped his head into a tight guillotine. He saves his head and works from the closed guard, but doesn’t work very hard as the ten second knock comes and the round ends.

10-9 Buron

Round two opens and both fighters are tentative. Buron stands southpaw and lands a good outside legkick as Kakeo whiffs another head kick. Leg kick after leg kick for Buron, but no real damage to Kakeo. The two get into a good exchange, which Kakeo landing a solid right hand. Kakeo lands a good inside leg kick. Kakeo continues to miss with strikes as Buron lands another leg kick, but still isn’t doing much damage. Solid body kick lands for Buron. Kakeo lands what may be the second groin kick, though the ref doesn’t notice and  Buron shrugs it off.

10-9 Buron

Buron opens up with a good combination and the two start trading. Buron backs off and eats another groin kick, this time he wince. Kakeo catches him up against the cage, shoot and elevates Buron, slamming him to the mat and putting him passed Buron’s guard. Buron gets back to half guard as Kakeo launches no real significant offense. Buron looks for a kimura but is going to have a very hard time securing it from half guard as Kakeo pushes him up against the cage. Kakeo frees his arm and pins Buron up against the cage, but Buron starts to slip out. The round ends before Buron can reverse the position.

10-9 Kakeo (29-28 Buron)

It’s a very close decision, so I’m not sure about the decision. It’s definitely reasonable to score the first round for Kakeo on the basis of the one takedown and maintaining top position.

Scores come back: 29-28 Buron, 29-28 Kakeo, 29-28 Kakeo

Avery Kakeo by Split Decision.

Ricky Jackson vs. Trinidad Valdez (Amateur Bout, 2 Minute Rounds)

The welterweights enter the cage. Jackson, from San Jose, receives no support from the crowd, while there’s a dull roar for the Fresno local in Valdez. The Fresno Kickboxing Academy fans are in full force tonight.

Jackson takes the cent of the ring, but eats a hard right hand from Valdez and the two clinch. Valdez puts Jackson up against the cage, but Jackson moves him off. The two seem fairly even in the clinch, but separate. Jackson lands a solid left hook and continues connecting with strikes. Both are standing orthodox and Jackson lands a vicious body kick with his lead leg. Valdez clinches but backs off as Jackson forces his head down into a guillotine. Jackson lands a right and starts connecting with punches. A vicious combination puts Valdez out of the fight. He’s completely unconscious.

Ricky Jackson by K.O. @ 1:59 of Round 1.

Paul Ruiz vs. John Chacon (Amateur Bout, 2 Minute Rounds)

Ruiz, another Fresno local, is greeted by the crowd with great support. Chacon, not so much. Ruiz is the most popular fighter from Fresno so far. It’ll be interesting see how worked out the crowd gets for locals like Zoila and Lavar later in the night.

Ruiz and Chacon take the center of the ring. Both are standing weirdly low. Ruiz lands a few good shots and Chacon shoots. Ruiz tries to scramble away, but gets pulled down. Ruiz locks in a guillotine, but the position with his legs is iffy. It’s a half guard, but not very tight. Chacon escapes and scrambles, but Ruiz gets back to his feet. Chacon lands a knee, then a takedown with a slam. Chacon works from the top, but Ruiz gets a high guard and starts to work to control a triangle. Ruiz loses the triangle and the bell sounds.

10-9 Chacon

The fight oopens and Ruiz jumps for a guillotine, but loses it. Chacon grabs a leg, elevates Ruiz, holding him and slams him to the mat. He’s working from inside Ruiz’s guard, but doesn’t seem to know how to pass. He stands up and eats an upkick in the face. Ruiz reverses Chacon and takes side control, but almost gets rolled back over. Chacon gets to his knees and shoots in, taking top position, but giving up his neck for a guillotine from half guard. Chacon lasts the round, though, and finishes on top.

10-9 Ruiz

Ruiz opens with a head kick, but it doesn’t land. Ruiz shoots this time, but gets stuffed and then reversed by Chacon, who works from the top. Ruiz locks his guard up, but gets slammed by Chacon. He pushes Chacon off with up kicks, but gets pinned against the cage. Ruiz stands up, but Chacon locks up a guillotine. Ruiz tries to grab a leg, and scores a tackedown, making it to side control against Chacon. Chacon rolls to his knees, but can’t finish the takedown before the round ends.

10-9 Ruiz (29-28 Ruiz)

The second round is close, but the bout should go to Ruiz.

Paul Ruiz by Unanimous Decision. (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Dan Cormier vs. John Devine

Now we’re into the professional bouts, so all of the rest are five minute rounds. John Devine makes his way to the cage to Eminem and has to duck under the cage door. Gotta love the heavyweights. Olympian Dan Cormier makes his way to the cage to a relatively silent crowd.

Cormier walks to the center of the ring and stands with his hands open, but lands a solid right as Devine hides tentatively behind his jab. Cormier lands a nice right, but the fighters end up in the clinch and Cormier rolls Devine over. Devine makes it back to his feet and the two stand at range. Cormier lands a straight left followed by a straight right that puts Devine out cold. Beautiful, stiff punch.

Dan Cormier by KO @ 1:09 of Round 1.

Alright, now I have to wait a little while for the main card. Always fun.

8:50 - The event is getting underway with the first main card bout of the night.

Shamar Bailey (10-1 MMA) vs. Justin Wilcox (8-3 MMA)

Wilcox vs. Bailey is a 160 pound catchweight bout, and both fighters are totally shredded at that weight. Justin Wilcox is a Strikeforce veteran who’s fought at lightweight, and is coming off a win over Daisuke Nakamura (20-12 MMA) in his last fight. Shamar Bailey last fought on the undercard of the Fedor vs. Rogers card, defeating TUF veteran John Kolosci (13-6 MMA). Both are wrestlers.

Wilcox comes out southpaw and takes the center of the cage. He lands a big right hand on Bailey. Referee Daniel Rosales stumbles and elicits a big cheer from the crowd. Wilcox keeps moving forward and has cut Bailey. It looks like the cut is right above the eye or on the forehead. Wilcox throws a head kick, but it doesn’t land. Bailey wiffs a head kick of his own. Wilcox lands a right, but the rest of the combination misses. Wilcox steps into a hard right that lands. Wilcox lands a glancing left hook. The referee stops the fight to take a look at the cut on Bailey. They clean the cut up and the fans cheer as they restart the fight. Wilcox lands a body kick and Bailey lands a left hook. Wilcox lands a jab that makes Bailey stumble, but Wilcox doesn’t jump on it, so Bailey walks it off. Wilcox continues to land the cross on the cut above Bailey’s right eye. Wilcox throws a leg kick. Wilcox grabs a single leg, but Bailey maintains his balance and breaks the clinch. Bailey’s face is bleeding very badly, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He hides behind a pawing jab and then shoots in, but ends up in a front head lock under the sprawl of Wilcox as the round ends.

10-9 Wilcox

Wilcox continues moving forward and lands a hard right on Bailey, chasing him down and pinning him up against the cage. Bailey recovers and the two stand at range, with Bailey backing up slowing. Bailey pokes Wilcox in the eye and the referee stops the fight. The two square off again in the middle of the cage. Bailey looks a little more confident as he leans into his punches, but doesn’t land anything. Wilcox throws combinations while Bailey throws singles. Wilcox lands a kick on the groin of Bailey and the fans boo as they stop the fight for a third time. Wilcox presses forward and lands a hard kick as they restart. Bailey flicks out a jab, but doesn’t extend enough to hit anything. Wilcox lands another hard right. Wilcox lands a right hand and Bailey covers up. Wilcox hesitates but eventually follows him forward and sweeps Bailey to the mat. Wilcox takes side control as the round ends.

10-9 Wilcox

The round starts as Wilcox takes the center of the cage. Bailey paws with a left hook and then throws a right, but the right misses. Bailey stays on his back foot and Wilcox cuts under the cross, but doesn’t land a counterpunch. Bailey uses his reach effectively until Wilcox lands a hard cross, but he doesn’t chase Bailey down. Another hard cross, but he lets Bailey walk it off for a second and record.  Wilcox is giving Bailey second, third and fourth chances as Bailey bleeds profusely from above his eyebrow. Wilcox fakes a single and Bailey trips, but Wilcox doesn’t do anything with the opportunity. Bailey overcommits and Wilcox grabs a double and lands in side-control with just over two-minutes left in the round. Wilcox secures the mount as we pass the two minute mark. Bailey holds on to the body of Wilcox and Wilcox lands rabbit-punches to the head of Bailey. Wilcox continues to deliver rabbit-punches, but makes no real progress towards finishing Bailey. Wilcox rolls for an armbar, but its incredibly slopped and he ends up back in half-guard.

10-9 Wilcox (30-27 Wilcox)

Justin Wilcox by Unanimous Decision. (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Wilcox says, in his post-fight interview, that he wants a shot at the title. He’s going to have to actually chase people down and finish if he’s ever going to be in that position.

Miesha Tate vs. Zoila Frausto

Miesha Tate (8-2 MMA, #7 IWMMAR) is the only top ten fighter on this card and is a huge favorite over Zoila Frausto (5-0 MMA) but the hometown fans don’t know that. Zoila is the local girl and gets huge support whenever she appears on a card. Even if her ground skills are mediocre (and they are) she’s going to have the fans behind her.

Tate and Frausto square off in the middle of the ring. Tate lands a hard leg kick with her lead leg and pushes Zoila back against the cage. Frausto looks tentative as Tate runs in and pins her up against the cage. Tate utilizes some knees and works for control of Zoila’s legs. Tate grabs a single and rolls Zoila to the mat, taking side control. Tate secures a tight side control for a second, but Zoila switches back to card and starts to flail with up kicks. Tate scores a slick guard pass. Tate works the transition to knee-on-belly, but the position isn’t tight as Zoila tries to roll out. Frausto gives up her back, but tries to stand up as Tate tries to sink the hooks in. Zoila escapes, but Tate pins her up against the cage again. Tate looks for a trip, but can’t secure it. The crowd starts chanting “ZOILA” but Tate doesn’t seem to care as she secures a takedown and lands in side control again. Tate maintains side control, but Frausto looks for an inverted triangle. Tate slips out easily and the round ends.

10-9 Tate

Zoila lands a nice leg kick to open the round. Tate presses forward and eats a cross. Frausto lands a solid push kick, but continues to back off. Tate secures the clinch against the cage again and works for Frausto’s legs. She secures another takedown and gets to side control. Frausto has a guillotine, but no leverage from guard. Zoila secures half guard but loses it almost immediately. Tate stays in the guillotine, applying pressure to the neck of Frausto. Frausto keeps fishing for the leg and loses the guillotine. Tate maintains side control and lands some punches. Tate takes the mount and postures up, delivering unanswered punches. Zoila bucks, but Tate takes the armbar and extends her hips through. She continues to extend and adjust the angle as Zoila flails. Finally, Frausto taps.

Miesha Tate by Submission (Armbar) @ 4:09 of Round 2.

Miesha won with a sick armbar. Stephen Quadros made a point of asking about the length of time it took her to finish the armbar, and Miesha gave her opponent lots of respect. Clearly, though, Miesha just outclassed her on the mat.

Andre Galvao vs. Luke Stewart

Andre Galvao (3-1 MMA) is making a return to the cage in his first fight since losing to Jason High (9-2 MMA) in the semifinals of the Dream welterweight grandprix. The two time BJJ world champion should be a heavy favorite to win. Luke Stewart (6-2 MMA) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter taking on one of the best BJJ practitioners in the world. This, realistically, looks like the most lopsided matchup on the card. That said, I’m a huge Andre Galvao fan, so I’m excited.

Galvao and Stewart meet in the center of the cage and Stewart connects with a punch but is immediately taken down by Galvao. Galvao works from inside Stewart’s guard, no really looking to pass. Stewart isn’t attacking as Galvao postures up, opens Stewarts guard and tries to pass. Stewart looks for an omoplata, but Galvao shrugs it off. The two scramble and Galvao fishes for a leglock, but it’s not tight, so he turns to transition to the back, and then back to the leglock. The two stand and Galvao takes control against the cage, catching his breath  little bit. Galvao drops to look for a leg and secures a single, but Stewart turns out and escapes. Stewart swing for headkicks, and the two clinch, with Stewart taking the back of Galvao for a second. Galvao has his back tot he cage, but delivers knees from the thai clinch. Galvao has a whizzer, but chooses to transition back to the thai clinch.

10-9 Galvao

Galvao lands a nice jab to open the second round. Stewart looks for a head kick and the two end up in the clinch. Galvao continues to land knees with his back against the cage. Stewart lands a nice leg kick and Galvao lands a left hook. Stewart’s moving forward, but looks tired. Galvao takes a few punches and then tries to bait Stewart into his guard. Stewart stands, but slips and Galvao comes down on top. The two scramble, and Galvao ends up standing with his back against the cage, again. Stewart’s gaining momentum, but can’t trip Galvao to the ground. Galvao reverses the position and pins Stewart against the fence as he looks for a leg. Galvao lands a knee as they come off the fence. Galvao throws a glancing left hook and eats a leg kick. The left hook is working well for Galvao, but he keeps eating the leg kick. Galvao shoots and secures a takedown. He is in Stewart’s half guard, and passes, but gets rolled by Stewart. Galvao regains full guard as the round ends.Galvao’s performance is less than expected. Stewart’s jiu-jitsu is alright, but Galvao looks sluggish.

10-9 Stewart

Galvao throws up a head kick and Stewart looks to clinch. Galvao pins him up against the cage and slams him to the mat. Galvao is inside Stewart’s closed guard. Stewart opens his guard, then immediately closes it again. Galvao stands, throws a few punches, and then works for the pass, making is to the half guard of Stewart, and then to side control.  Galvao gets rolled again, but regains half guard quickly. He’s staring at the leg of Stewart as Stewart sits in his open half guard. Galvao slips out and back to his feet, but Stewart has him pinned up against the fence. Stewart controls one leg and Galvao, standing on one leg, jumps up and lands a knee that connects flush. Galvao takes Stewart the mat but gets reversed again. Stewart works for Galvao’s back, but Galvao puts Stewart against the cage. Galvao looks for a leg and gains double underhooks for a moment against Stewart as the round ends.

10-9 Galvao

This was a hard one to call, and it may very well go for Stewart.

Andre Galvao by Split Decision. (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)

The hometown crowd, and the bikers in front of me, whine about the decision. Galvao is very humble and polite in his post fight interview. He may get the W, but he shouldn’t feel good about it. He looked really bad against a guy he should have absolutely outclassed on the mat.

George Bush III vs. “Abongo” Humphrey

Bush lands a nice jab and eats a headkick from Abongo. Bush scores a takedown. Abongo stands up, and moves in. Bush clearly thinks standing with Abongo is a bad idea, as he pushes him up against the cage.  Bush scores with a takedown, but gives up the guillotine choke and taps.

“Abongo” Humphrey by Submission (Guillotine Choke) @ 1:44 of Round 1.

Abongo looked awesome, and despite the obvious stupid jokes that get thrown around by fans about a black guy fighting George Bush, Abongo did what he does. He showed up strong, landed a few big shots and made his opponent do something stupid.

Lavar Johnson vs. Lolohea Mahe

Mahe isn’t going to get any respect from the crowd in Fresno, but the guys in front of me are here with him, so they stand while the rest of the crowd is quiet. Lavar Johnson on the big screen elicits a roar from the crowd as they show video of his scar on his stomach. A number of the other hardcore reporters are sick of talking about his being shot. Frankly, I’d rather talk about how explosive his hands are. The last time I saw him fight, he knocked his opponent out before many of the guys had the opportunity to look up from their keyboards. He’s a lot lighter now (the story is he dropped down to 220ish after the shooting) so we’ll see if the power is still there.

The fighters touch gloves and Lavar works his jab. Mahe misses with a left hook, then throws another that lands. He lands a straight right flush, but Lavar recovers quickly. Lavar gets poked in the eye and they stop the action. They restart the action and Lavar lands a nice leg kick. Lavar jabs with his chin up, but the reach makes it irrelevant. Mahe chases Lavar up against the cage and pins him, grabbing the legs and looking for a takedown. He reshoots against the cage, but Lavar secures an arm-in guillotine grip. Mahe continues to work the double, but seems tentative. Lavar throws a knee to the midsection. He refuses to give up the guillotine position as Mahe tries to straighten up. Finally Mahe pops his head up and works a clinch. Mahe scores a big takedown and works from the butterfly guard of Johnson. Johnson works for underhook, but Mahe advances to side control. Lavar regains half guard, but he’s pinned up against the cage. Mahe delivers punishment for about ten seconds before Lavar escapes. The crowd is very excited that Lavar gets out, but he’s taken back down immediately, to the same half guard position against the fence as the round ends.

10-9 Mahe

The fighters trade punches until Lavar lands a big shot. Mahe shoots but Johnson shrugs him off. They stand at range until Mahe changes in again. Again, Mahe pins Lavar against the cage, but is caught in a guillotine. Lavar lets go of the guillotine and opts to stand at range, using his jab and leg kick against Mahe as Mahe backs away. The two start brawling, with Johnson clearly doing more damage. Mahe ducks under a hook and clinches, but Lavar breaks and lands another shot. Johnson brings the left hook again and again, then mixes it up with a jab as he backs down Mahe. Lavar gets to the thai plum and lands a couple of kknees, but Mahe shoots again, again into a guillotine. Lavar is patient against the cage, but slips under a left hook from Mahe and the two are back at range. Lavar starts teeing off with punch after punch as Mahe curls up. But Mahe stays standing for a moment, then takes a knee until the ref steps in to save him.

Lavar Johnson by TKO @ 3:21 of Round 2.

Lavar didn’t hit as hard with the weight loss, but he still looked good. He landed his shots and he moved effectively. He got the W and now he gets to go home at the top of a sizable card, looking towards a career in Strikeforce for a long time to come.