MMA Roundup: Strikeforce - Evolution

Strikeforce continued to blossom as a martial arts promotion this weekend with Strikeforce: Evolution. In the main event Cung Le made his long awaited return after going all Hollywood on us and in the co-main event of the evening Josh Thomson managed to remain healthy just long enough to get through a five round war with Gilbert Melendez. Strikeforce continued to show their growth as an organization and in some ways even bested the UFC with their production (namely the pre-fight interviews with the combatants), though in other ways they fell short (Stephen Quadros is totally creepy).

Big Winners:

Scott Smith KO'd Cung Le in the third after being bossed around the cage for most of the fight. In Smith's case you can't call it luck as he is making a habit of this whole getting the shit kicked out of him and then pulling out a knock out punch thing, something I perfected in my college years, except I was too drunk for the second part. Beating the ex-champ will certainly throw Smith into the top of the heap of contenders in the 185 lb division, though he will likely need another impressive win coming off his loss to Nick Diaz at a catch weight of 180 lbs. last June.

Cung Le was also a big winner. Despite getting his lights knocked out in front of millions of viewers the Vietnamese star raked in the most dough among the fighters on the card. The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the numbers and Le pocketed $150,000 for his thirteen and a half minute scrum, nearly $100,000 more than the winner of the fight, Smith, who earned $55,000.

Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thompson were both "winners" as well even though Thompson had to give the lightweight belt back to Melendez. The two slugged it out in a fast paced, five-round battle, allowing both fighter's stock to raise. The fight left most viewers clamoring for a rubber match between the two, but each expressed interest in competing against the best lightweights from Japan in the post-fight press conference.

King Mo defeated veteran Mike Whitehead by brutal ground and pound in the closing minutes of round one.  In the post-fight interview King Mo said from here on out he'd be fighting at "money-weight," implying he will fight at whichever weight division gets him the most cheddar. Well the cheddar is coming folks, and he made sure of it by whoring himself out chugging two RockStar Energy Drinks in front of the cameras. None the less the King seems poised for a huge 2010 that couldend with him in a position to go up against the greatest MMA fighter in all time, Fedor Emelianenko.

Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza beat ex-UFC Middleweight Champion Matt Lindland by arm triangle in round one. Lindland is an impressive feather in Jacaré's hat, as Lindland's recent loses have come to big-name fighters in heavier weight classes such as Fedor and Rampage, as well as current number-one-contender to Anderson Silva's middleweight throne, Vitor Belfort.

MMA fans seem to have a legitimate second organization to help push the sport to the next level. With the UFC and Strikeforce duking it out for our love and devotion, we can expect to see high-caliber, big-name cards all throughout 2010 and beyond. What's your move, Dana?

Comments

[Cindy0002hui]

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[Jeff4-e]

strikeforce is still the bridesmaid but they are looking much much better, cooker is the real deal

[MMAman]

i was really impressed by strikeforce! they are on their way for sure, im excited to see lashley against some real talent!!! get rid of quadros too haha he's a kevin bacon look-a-like