Gilbert Melendez holds onto Strikeforce belt with decision win

Gilbert Melendez holds onto Strikeforce belt with decision win

Gilbert Melendez defended the Strikeforce men's lightweight belt with a methodical decision over Jorge Masvidal in the main event for Strikeforce on Saturday night. On the judges' cards, the champ took it 50-45, 50-45, 49-46.

As the two were feeling each other out in the opening round, Masvidal opened his arms and invited Melendez to hit him, so Melendez obliged and stung Masvidal with straight punches. Masvidal stayed light on his feet, and kicked Melendez's leg out from underneath him. Melendez quickly returned to his feet. Near the end of the round, Melendez caught Masvidal in a front headlock and landed knees to finish the round well.

Masvidal continued to talk smack to Melendez in the second round, and Melendez continued to have an edge in striking. Melendez stayed light on his feet and shook Masvidal with several strikes. Masvidal was unable to find a rhythm or cause any damage.

The third round started with Masvidal thwarting a Melendez takedown attempt. Masvidal threw a knee and knocked out Melendez's mouthpiece and continued to talk smack. Every time Masvidal opened his mouth, Melendez landed a punch. Masvidal appeared to be more comfortable in the third round and was able to create more offense, but still not enough to disrupt Melendez.

Melendez moved forward and landed several unanswered punches in the fourth round. He continued to stay light on his feet and move in to land jabs. In the final minute, Melendez started using a one-two combination effectively.

Masvidal used a knee to try to get inside early in the fifth and final round, but again was unable to create any damage. Melendez stayed calm, kept moving, and used combinations to control the rhythm of the last round. Sensing urgency, Masvidal unloaded in the final minute. He tried for a takedown and to take Melendez's back, but it was too little to make a difference.

After the win, Melendez was asked about his future, and he said he wants a challenge from the UFC.

"I'm proud to be a part of Strikeforce, but they've got to bring over some guys to challenge me. I want to take the UFC champ, whoever it is. Come in my hexagon and let's fight," Melendez said.

He won his last six fights, earning a record of 20-2. Masvidal is now 22-7.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Gilbert-Melendez-holds-onto-Strikeforce-belt-wit?urn=mma-wp10874

Antoni Hardonk Dan Hardy Lee Hasdell Musse Hasselvall

Dana White gives female fighting another shot

Dana White gives female fighting another shotAs shocking as it was to hear a fired up Dana White talk about the long-range future of Strikeforce on Showtime, it was nothing compared to his attitude shift on women's MMA.

The women's divisions will remain in tact in the new Strikeforce/Showtime deal announced yesterday. In the middle of 2011, it appeared female fighting was going to take step back when Strikeforce was dissolved. By popular demand, women's fighting will still be showcased at close to the highest level of the sport. .

"Every weekend you guys are asking me about the women's division ... and women and women and women, and the fans are always terrorizing me on twitter about the women's division. The women's division is very popular. We're gonna keep it," White said during a teleconference (7:45 mark).

Stars like Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Miesha Tate, Sarah Kaufman and Ronda Rousey still have a home where they can get major exposure. White is sticking to guns about the issues he has with women's MMA. It needs work, but he's willing to give it a chance saying both the 135 and 145 pound divisions will stay.

"Again you guys hear me talk about this all the time. The depth in some of these divisions. 'Cyborg's' division has that problem. She's a huge star. She's a champion. We're gonna keep that division. People are excited to her fight. We're gonna keep it," said White (9:40 mark).

Zuffa management may lean toward some crossover fights between the divisions while the depth issues is being worked on.

"If you look at Cyborg's division, it's not a very deep division with a lot of talent. You can stack the other division deep with talent because that's what you have to do," said White comparing it to the early days of UFC when there were no lightweight, bantamweight and featherweight divisions in the promotion (20:15 mark). "In order to run a show and establish champions with great contenders you gotta go deep in every one of those weight divisions."

So as big as the news was for the elite male fighters at 205, 185, 170 and 155, yesterday's announcement benefited female fighting more than anything. With the might and money of Zuffa/UFC plus the ability to talent evaluate, the talent pool in female fighting at the highest levels should explode. Then the question is, will fans want to pay to see it and will it bring eyes to the TV sets? That's a debate for another day. At least right now, women get the opportunity.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Dana-White-gives-female-fighting-another-shot?urn=mma-wp10812

José Aldo  John Alessio  Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida 

Lesnar interview: Former champ says no one can avoid his takedowns

Lesnar interview: Former champ says no one can avoid his takedowns

The clash of the titans is just over a week away. When Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem lock horns at UFC 141 you'll be seeing 521 pounds of beef in the Octagon.

Overeem is huge, but Lesnar still questions whether anyone can avoid his takedown game.

"Honestly I feel comfortable on my feet and I don't feel threatened in any area by this guy at all," Lesnar told ESPN1100/98.9 FM in Las Vegas. "There hasn't been anybody in the UFC that I haven't been able to take down. The issue is we just have to be able to keep them there."

On Overeem's troubles with the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his tardy prefight drug test, Lesnar said he barely kept up with the story. He was ready to face Overeem, Frank Mir or anyone else the UFC put in front of him. He was determined to fight on Dec. 30 come hell or high water.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Lesnar-interview-Former-champ-says-no-one-can-a?urn=mma-wp11060

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UFC 140 gallery: Big Nog?s arm, Jones? choke and more

Start your day with pictures from UFC 140 by Tracy Lee. Check out Jon Jones' choke of Lyoto Machida, how Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira reacted to his wrecked arm, Mark Hominick knocked out by Chan Sung Jung and more from the UFC's trip to Toronto.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-140-gallery-Big-Nog-s-arm-Jones-choke-and?urn=mma-wp10658

Marcus Davis  Tony DeSouza  Edwin Dewees  Nick Diaz 

?King Mo? interview: Former international grappling star breaks says Lesnar might have trouble getting Overeem down

?King Mo? interview: Former international grappling star breaks says Lesnar might have trouble getting Overeem downThere's little mystery about what happens Friday night when Brock Lesnar faces Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.

If the fight hits the mat for an extended period of time, Lesnar wins it. If Overeem stays on his feet and it's a battle of strikes, Lesnar's in for a long night.

Lesnar says no one has been able to avoid his takedowns, but that's not entirely true because both Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez did so in spots and battered Lesnar. They're also both former high level college wrestlers. Overeem is not, but he is powerful and very experienced.

Muhammed Lawal, a light heavyweight with Strikeforce, knows his wrestling and says that Lesnar can't just run across the cage and tackle Overeem.

"He has to Chael Sonnen or Jon Fitch him, and close the distance right away with a jab or a fake. Just keep him guessing," Lawal told "The MMA Insiders" on ESPN1100/98.9 FM in Las Vegas (0:40 mark). "He has a tough task with Overeem. All he has to do is be Overeem, He can keep the fight close and use his knees or keep his distance with leg kicks and a good 1-2."

?King Mo? interview: Former international grappling star breaks says Lesnar might have trouble getting Overeem down

Lawal, a former star on the international wrestling scene after a decorated career at Oklahoma State, further explained the fakes.

"If I were Brock, I would establish a good jab, fake ... jab, fake ... fake, jab. Look to shoot off the fakes. You know in wrestling. if the person doesn't respond to your fakes then you shoot next time. If the person responds to your fakes then you throw punches," said Lawal.

If Overeem can read those fakes, Lesnar is going to be left with few options.

"It's going to be very important for Brock to set up his takedowns because without the setups, he's getting knocked out or hurt," Lawal said. "Overeem is the wrong person to shoot on out of the blue."

Watch UFC 141 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/-8216-King-Mo-8217-interview-Former-internat?urn=mma-wp11098

Todd Duffee  Marvin Eastman  Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards 

K.J. Noons starts Strikeforce card with exciting decision

K.J. Noons starts Strikeforce card with exciting decision

Hometown boy K.J. Noons took an exciting decision over Billy Evangelista at the Strikeforce show in San Diego on Saturday night. The judges saw it 29-28 on all three cards for Noons.

Early in the first round, the pair traded takedowns, but Evangelista landed some short strikes that rocked Noons with around two minutes left. Noons answered with a jab that gave him room, and combinations that showed off his striking prowess. Evangelista finished the round strong with a headlock and a knee.

Noons started the action-packed second round with a spinning backfist and kick. The rest of the round featured Evangelista happily moving forward and surviving Noons strikes. He even asked for Noons to hit him, and Noons obliged. Evangelista tried for a takedown, but couldn't do much with it.

After beating up Evangelista for most of the rounds, Noons came close to losing the fight when Evangelista caught him in a D'Arce choke. Though it was tight, Noons maneuvered out. The two finished the round exchanging strikes, smiling and enjoying the end of their bout. Noons got the better of every exchange.

Both fighters were coming off losses to Jorge Masvidal, the headliner for Saturday's card. Noons is now 11-4, while Evangelista is 7-2.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/K-J-Noons-starts-Strikeforce-card-with-exciting?urn=mma-wp10852

Jason Guida Melvin Guillard Cody Guinn Jorge Gurgel