Strikeforce/EliteXC "Shamrock vs. Cung Le" Thoughts

Strikeforce/EliteXC "Shamrock vs. Cung Le"
Saturday, March 29, 2008
HP Pavillion at San Jose, CA
Showing on: Showtime on 9pm ET/PT


185 lbs: Joey Villasenor (185) vs. Ryan Jensen (186)

Villasenor controlled this match. It started out slow and then opened up when Villasenor landed some punches. Jenson looked like he got woke up and briefly became the aggressor but then Villasenor baited him with two jabs and then just blasted him for a knockout.


265 lbs: Mike Kyle (225) vs. Wayne Cole (209)


Both these guys looked to be in really good shape. When they stood up at the beginning of the fight Cole looked a little uncomfortable in his stance but quickly took down Kyle and almost immediately tapped him out in what had to be 30 seconds into the fight. Cole looked really good in his quick victory.


155 lbs: Gilbert Melendez (154.5) vs. Gabe Lemley (153)

This was for Melendez’s Strikeforce lightweight title and Melendez just dominated and controlled this fight until the ref finally called for the bell in the middle of the second round as Lemley just wasn’t defending himself anymore. Melendez looked impressive.


172 lbs: Drew Fickett (171) vs. Jae Suk Lim (170)
This was real quick. Fickett took Suk Lim down, Lim used some good takedown defense but Fickett rolled over on top. Suk Lim then got out of the guard and stood up but Fickett quickly grabbed a tight guillotine on him and then Suk Lim went down and tapped out. Fickett is another guy who looked really good in victory tonight. Everybody who has one tonight has been impressive in one way or another.


185 lbs: Frank Shamrock (185) vs. Cung Le (183)

These are the first two guys that get the superstar treatment from the crowd. Shamrock seemed to get as many boos as he did cheers but this quickly turned to cheers when he came out in a San Jose Sharks hoodie. This is for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. Crowd seems to have woken up for this match. Crowd turns on Le during intros and then turns to mostly cheers. Crowd seems to be split tonight as Shamrock gets pretty much the same treatment. Either way the guys are getting a reaction and that’s a good thing.

Round 1: Good early feeling out process as Le goes for a back kick but Shamrock grabs him around the waist. Le gets out and Shamrock plays to the crowd as they are really into this. Both guys going for kicks and then throwing hard punches. Le gets a right hook in. They are feeling each other out mid way into the round. Lee has some good quick kicks. Le goes for a spinning back kick and misses and Shamrock gets an opening and is all over him as Le’s momentum takes him down and Shamrock gets in a couple of good shots but they are back to their feet. Shamrock bullys him into the cage with a shot or two but Le is quickly out. Shamrock is visably smiling. Shamrock gets in a couple of shots on the cage at the end of the round. Really good close opening fight. Le really seemed to have the advantage for the first half of the round but Shamrock really controlled the cage, had a takedown and got some good offense in at the end of the round. I would barely give this round to Shamrock 30-29 but could see it going either way.

Round 2: Le connected with a kick to the side of Shamrock’s face. Shamrock is welted and his mouthpiece flew out but he didn’t seem to look any worse for the wear as Le gave him the opportunity to put his mouthpiece back in. Le takes down Shamrock but lets him back up as Frank was calling for Le to come to the ground. Things are slowing down here in the second round as there is not as much action as the first. Le seems to be controlling the offense again in the first half of this round (like in the first). Quadros notes that this round has taken almost like a sparring match. Le then unloads with a solid right hand that staggers Shamrock but he quickly shrugs it off. Le definitely takes this round.

Round 3: Le gets a good roundhouse kick tha glances off of Shamrock’s head early but Shamrock shrugs it off no-selling it. Le hits a nice punch combo. Le still looks pretty sharp and hits another close call on a nice kick that is partially blocked by Shamrock. Le hits a spinning back fist that pops the crowd. Le grabs Shamrock’s leg on a leg and knocks his leg out from under him. Le is definitely seizing control of this fight as the crowd chants for Le. Shamrock seems to be moving in closer and trying to get better shots in on Le and finally pops him with one. Shamrock hits a couple of shots and is really throwing punches at Le and hitting some of them. Shamrock has Le on the fence and is measuring. Shamrock barely misses with a hard knee. Le comes back with a spinning back fist. Shamrock is really looking for the knockout. Let gets in a lot of shots right at the end of the round and the crowd is really into this as the round ends. Le dominated the early part of this round, Shamrock hit a really great flurry but then Le ended on top. I’m saying 2-1 right now for Le but could realisitically see it be 3-0 in favor of Le.

The fight is called after the third round and Le is awarded the victory. Shamrock is unable to answer the bell for Round 4. Great fight, really weird finish. They are saying that Shamrock has an arm injury and that’s why he can’t finish the fight. Probably from Le’s continued kicks. Great fight, Le is the new champ. Would love to see a re-match and/or see Le fight his next opponent. Le wins by TKO.