Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos knee injury forces him out against Tim Kennedy at Strikeforce Challengers

by MMAmania.com on Aug 19, 2009 2:52 PM EDT

Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos recently sustained a knee injury in training that will force him out of his main event bout against Tim Kennedy, which was scheduled for the next Strikeforce Challengers event at the SpiritBank Event Center in Tulsa, Okla., on Sept. 25.

Strikeforce Director of Communications, Mike Afromowitz, today confirmed the bad news, indicating that the search was on to find a suitable opponent to face the Army veteran in Santos’ place.

In his most recent appearance, Kennedy delivered a dominant performance, stopping Nick "The Goat" Thompson via second round technical knockout back in June. It was his second consecutive win since losing to Jason Miller via unanimous decision at HDNet Fights: "Reckless Abandon" in Dec. 2007.

Again, it’s unclear at this time who may step up; however, Kennedy feels that there are options … several of them.

Here’s a snip:

"Strikeforce has a whole bunch of guys in my weight class who I match up very well with. They pretty much have control of the whole 185 pound division barring two exceptions that are in UFC. I want to fight all of these guys and put on a good show for Showtime and Strikeforce."

Strikeforce Challengers is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. The series is designed to provide today’s top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.

This event is slated to begin on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET (tape delayed on the west coast) on fight night.

Stay dialed-in to MMAmania.com for more on Strikeforce Challengers and this developing story.

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Comments

I think it happen when he was sparing with his wife.

by sleeper on Aug 19, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

could be.

by Big Zino on Aug 19, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I think this is his way of saying he didn’t cycle of the roids in time.

by jay on Aug 19, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

They’ve got 7 of the top 10 according to MMA Weekly. Santos isn’t in the top 25 as far as
I could see.

by jay on Aug 19, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

lmfao wooooow cyborg is a joke, he says strikeforce has control of the middleweight division???? news to me, who do they have a middle weight? cung le and shamrock, every1else sucks or they are welterweights just fighting at middleweight

by JG on Aug 19, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait Cung Le and Shamrock don’t suck?

by NameNotRequired on Aug 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

jacare, lindland, lawler, jake shields and possibly mousasi

by shamo84 on Aug 19, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

He hurt himself carrying his wife on shoulders.

The more they acquire the better it’s shaping up for them and us. They don’t have a blockbuster roster but they have enough to make interesting matchups that will be fun for the fans.

by DSmith on Aug 19, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn’t he just beat up on Gina? He should rest a bit before he gets back in there.

by sigpesal on Aug 19, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

his wife has a better chance of beating tim kennedy

by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 19, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

she prob beats the shit out of him

by AzCombat on Aug 19, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Tim Kennedy is a dangerous opponent for anyone. He’s a beast and should learn more and more with each fight.

by Big Zino on Aug 19, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

he is also pretty stupid saying only 2 guys inthe UFC could compete in strikeforce I think its the other way around

by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 19, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh yeah… That was Cyborg not Tim Kennedy.

by Big Zino on Aug 19, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

whoop my bad.. i just re read

by Big Zino on Aug 19, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

ya i meant to say cyborg not he

by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 19, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

wait it was kennedy

by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 19, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

you guys cant read!

by Steve on Aug 19, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

So he thinks that only 2 guys in the UFC’s 185 division could even compete in Strikforce! Tim Kennedy is crazy.

by Smith128 on Aug 19, 2009 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

It was Santos saying it. But I’m sure Tim Kennedy is also crazy.

by jay on Aug 19, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

no it was kennedy. read the stuff before the quote.

by phil on Aug 19, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

no, re read. Kennedy said that.

by kitsunex on Aug 19, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re right. It is confusing.

by jay on Aug 19, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Get his wife to fight, she’s better anyway.

by the_Cannibal on Aug 19, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

no kidding, after the beatdown she gave gina, she would probably kick this guys ass, then head home to a nice dinner cooked by her husband.

by the Slovak on Aug 20, 2009 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

It is too bad that there isn’t some sort of mechanical solution for Santos’ knee injury, sort of replacing flesh with steel to augment his physical capabilities, making him… hey.

by Drake_Labatt on Aug 19, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

I’m sure he’s referencing the two Brazilians in the UFC 185 lbs division as the best. Brazilian pride. Nothing wrong with that.

by JM on Aug 19, 2009 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

I count more than 2

by attakdog on Aug 19, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

woof

by JM on Aug 19, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Even so, he’s not really Strikeforce yet. He’s in Strikeforce Challengers. Isn’t that their “B” league? That means he is in the “B” league of a “B” league and still talking sh*t about the middleweight division?

by Mahde on Aug 19, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

lmao 2 exceptions??lol the 2 exceptions r in strikeforce lmao mousasi and diaz when he isnt blazing lmao robbie lawler is a top ten? benji radach has micheal bisping disease cant beat anybody he shouldnt lmao cung le? lmao i would love to see him with a real 185er knee bar, ankle lock ,guilitine choke, triangle the 4 ways hed lose against a maia, marquart, palhares. Dont even have to mention the ground n pound hed get against hendo against the beating silva would put on him. Smokin joe??lmao gatekeeper Id rather watch old rumble on the rock events then the beautifal cards they r gonna make with this talented roster lmao

by FedorFightsJapeneseSoupCans on Aug 19, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

Oh almost forgot someone is gonna counter with jacare. Dont bother mayhem showed everyone how to fight him. Yes he did look good against mousasi till he ate that up kick Ill give him that, but a press fighter with a good top game will fuck him up now

by FedorFightsJapeneseSoupCans on Aug 19, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

If by “Strikeforce have control of the whole 185 pound division” you mean they have 6 of the top 25, nobody ranked above #7 and “barring two exceptions that are in UFC” you mean 14 of the top 25 including the entire top 5… then yeah I see his point.

by drightler on Aug 19, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions