Strikeforce: "Nashville" is set to go down TONIGHT (Sat., April 17, 2010) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of "Saturday Night Fights" beginning with the CBS telecast at 9 p.m. ET. Up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action are now underway!
Strikeforce: "Nashville" features a main event between Jake Shields and Dan Henderson for the Strikeforce middleweight championship. Gegard Mousasi will defend his light heavyweight title against Muhammed Lawal while Gilbert Melendez tries to keep Shinya Aoki from taking the promotion's 155-pound strap back to Japan.
Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the event to share their thoughts on the action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment (or 10) before you leave and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show -- it always turns out to be a great discussion.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after "Nashville."
Without further delay, see below for the latest Strikeforce results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action!)
STRIKEFORCE QUICK RESULTS
185 lbs.: Jake Shields def. Dan Henderson via unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Muhammed Lawal def. Gegard Mousasi via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez def. Shinya Aoki via unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Jason Miller def. Tim Stout via TKO (strikes) 3:09-R1
170 lbs.: Zach Underwood def. Hunter Worsham via unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Cale Yarbrough def. Josh Shockman via TKO (strikes) R2
125 lbs.: Dustin Ortiz def. Justin Pennington via submission (rear naked choke) R1
170 lbs.: Andrew Uhrich def. Dustin West via submission (rear naked choke) R1
205 lbs.: Ovince St. Preux def. Chris Hawk via TKO (strikes) R1
145 lbs.: Cody Floyd def. Thomas Campbell via TKO (strikes) R3
STRIKEFORCE PLAY-BY-PLAY LIVE MAIN CARD COMMENTARY:
Nostradumbass here live in "Music City."
Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson for Strikeforce middleweight (185-pound) title
Round one: Help us Hendo-Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope! Hendo looking for the big right hand and knocks Shields down. Shields covers up and grabs a leg and works it until he can get back to his feet. Hendo staggers him briefly. Shields jabs comically but wilts under the Hendo barrage. Hendo lets him up for more abuse. Shields ties him up against the fence but is clearly in deep water. McCarthy separates them and Shields gets a takedown stuffed. Hendo drives knees into him against the cage. Nice shoulder strike by Hendo. Round one to "Dangerous" Dan.
Round two: Shields gets two consecutive shots stuffed and Hendo takes his back in the scuffle. Shields is patient and finds an opening, rolling into top position. Shields now getting his turn as he hops into mount and lands a few shots. Hendo tries to buck him off but Shields has him locked down tight. Shields now teeing off. Hendo in danger, pressed up against the cage and nowhere to go with a minute left. Hendo survives the round. This folks, is what a championship bout is supposed to look like.
Round three: Shields goes right for the shoot but Hendo stays out of it and keeps it upright. Nice uppercut lands for Hendo who gets taken down by an aggressive Shields. Hendo getting smothered by the champ who easily moves to side control. Shields not landing as cleanly as he was in round two and draws a warning from Big John to pick up the pace. He pushes Hendo to the cage and rolls for an armbar but Hendo hangs tough until the bell. 2-1 Shields.
Round four: Shields gets tagged, goes for the takedown but doesn't get it. So he tries again and ends up laying on top of Hendo with a Rikishi stinkface. The crowd giggles in unison. Shields works his way back on top and Hendo clearly looks spent, presumably from the weight cut. From side control, Shields works for the Kimura but Hendo isn't having it. He postures up and rains down punches. Hendo briefly gives up his back but returns to his back when Shields goes for the choke.
Round five: Hendo needs to finish to win. Shields knows it and doesn't fool around on the feet, taking Hendo down and working from the top. McCarthy warns them to keep the action moving. Crowd getting restless. Hendo getting controlled rather easily and has no answer for the ground game of Shields. He tries to spin out but goes nowhere.Shields moves to a leg lock when Hendo tries to escape. Round ends, fight ends and crowd boos. After a Hendo first, the fight was all Shields.
Final result: Jake Shields def. Dan Henderson via unanimous decision to remain Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.
Gegard Mousasi vs. Muhammed Lawal for Strikeforce light heavyweight (205-pound) title
Round one: King Mo tags him with a right and a left. Goes for a takedown and gets it but eats a few in the process. From guard, Mousasi struggles to stay away from the ground and pound. Mo throws a few and backs away and keeps looking to dive in for a big punch but Mousasi ties him up every time. Mousasi to his feet. Mo shoots but gets stuffed. They clinch and trade. Mo with a takedown. Mo looking strong early. McCarthy wants action. Mousasi gets to his feet. Busy first.
Round two: Mo shoots and gets the takedown. Mo knees the body. Mousasi with punches from guard. Mousasi very generous with upkicks. Mousasi to his feet and tags Mo who immediately drags him to the ground. McCarthy wants more action. Mousasi up but dragged back down. He springs to his feet and backs Mo to the cage and fires off punches. Mo turns away and Mousasi jumps on his back for a choke but time expires.
Round three: Mo sucking wind and gets tagged but fires back. Both fighters trading big leather. And again. Mo with a trip takedown and takes a break on the ground. McCarthy warning. Mousasi trying valiantly to get up but Mo too strong. Crowd boos the lay and sometimes pray. Mo turns it up and lands a few. Mousasi getting controlled by the wrestling.
Round four: Mo opens with another takedown. It's winning him the fight. Not much to report after a minute because Mo is on top mugging Mousasi just like rounds 1-3. McCarthy stands them up -- but it goes right back down. One minute left and Mousasi just looks ill-prepared for the wrestling attack. Not exactly a barnburner but Mo clearly in the lead.
Round five: Mousasi needs a finish to win. Huge takedown by Mo. More mugging on the ground for a minute or two. McCarthy stops the action and docks Mousasi a point for an illegal upkick. They return to the ground and resume. Mousasi finds his way out and goes for broke but Mo slams him back down to the ground. Slow action and McCarthy stands them up to no avail. Mo just slams him back down and that's the fight. Mousasi had no answer for the wrestling.
Final result: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal def. Gegard Mousasi via unanimous decision to become new Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
Shinya Aoki vs. Gilbert Melendez for Strikeforce lightweight (155-pound) title
Round one: Feeling out process. El Nino stalking. Aoki kicks and gets tripped. Melendez does not follow. Aoki finds the eye socket of Melendez and action is halted. They resume. Aoki shoots and briefly ties him up but Melendez escapes. Melendez fires in and Aoki flops into guard. Somewhere in Brazil, Thales Leites files a suit for copyright infringement. Back to the feet and El Nino closes the distance and eats a body kick.
Round two: Melendez chases him and Aoki ends up on the ground, taking El Nino with him. Not much happens and they get stood up. Melendez definitely the aggressor but the fight itself is a little light on action. Aoki avoids a bumrush and lands a nice knee to the body. More circling. Aoki with a lazy shoot and Melendez stuffs him and turns him over. Crowd boos. Yamasaki stands them up. Aoki to his back and Melendez jumps on him.
Round three: They touch gloves and so far that's the only clean shot either fighter has landed. Aoki shoots and gets stuffed. And again. This time Melendez doesn't let him up and jumps on him with bad intentions. Unfortunately he's unable to execute anything from top. More crowd boos. CBS executives are seen face-palming in the distance. Aoki with a butt-plant that transforms into a reverse worm. Crowd lets him have it. Melendez jumps on him again and boos are filling the arena. This is turning into a disaster. Melendez suddenly goes batshit and fires off a massive attack. Then stops. Yamasaki stands them up. Aoki dances until time expires.
Round four: Aoki shoots and Melendez rolls him over. Aoki butt-scoot in effect. Back to the feet and a butt-scoot redux. Back up. Melendez to the body. Aoki circling like he's stuck on the merry-go-round. Awful shoot and El Nino stuffs it. Aoki butt-scoot across the cage and the crowd loses their mind. Yamasaki runs in halts the action. They resume. Aoki failed shoot. Melendez pounces and gets stymied.
Round five: Poor striking followed by stalled groundwork. That sums up the opening minutes of round five. I'm running out of ways to say the same thing. The broadcast must be hemorrhaging viewers. Melendez on top and muscles him to the cage. I look up and they're standing. Lazy shoot by Aoki. Another. Melendez punishes him with a hammer fist. He goes nuts and charges guns blazing and Aoki crumbles but is saved by the bell. Hideous fight.
Final result: Gilbert Melendez def. Shinya Aoki via unanimous decision to remain Strikeforce Lightweight Champion.
Jason Miller vs. Tim Stout (185-pound limit)
Round one: Miller working kicks while Stout looks for a clean punch upstairs. Mayhem with a takedown. Miller goes to mount like he was climbing out of bed and starts dropping bombs. Stout taking punishment and gives up his back. Miller content to whale on him until referee Mario Yamasaki shows mercy.
Final result: Jason Miller def. Tim Stout via TKO (strikes) 3:09-R1
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