Strikeforce: Miami 1/30/10 Re-Cap

Strikeforce: Miami
Bank Atlantic Center
Miami, Florida
1/30/10

Two title fights are featured tonight as well as the MMA debut of former Heisman Trophy Winner Herschel Walker and Melvin Manhoef. Nick Diaz fights DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis for the vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Title. Melvin Manhoef debuts against Robbie Lawler in what promises to be a slugfest. Woman’s Champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos makes her first defense of her newly won championship. Former WWE Wrestler Bobby Lashley will also make his Strikeforce debut tonight. Mauro Ranallo is joined in the announce booth by Frank Shamrock and Stephen Quadros. Jimmy Lennon, Jr is the ring announcer.

Bobby Lashley (4-0) vs. Wes Sims (22-12-1)

Sims took this fight on one week notice. Sims was a participant on the last season of TUF and lost in a first round fight to Justin Wren when he submitted to an arm triangle. Lashley has been training with American Top Team (ATT). Sims has a 6” height and 4” reach advantage.

R1- To start the fight Sims mocks Lashley by asking for a “Test of Strength”. Lashley got a double leg take down and landed some good strikes. Lashley hit some good strikes and Sims gave up his back and Lashley lands some more strikes and the ref stopped the fight. Possibly was an early stoppage but definitely a dominant performance from Lashley.

Winner: Bobby Lashley by TKO (Strikes) R1 2:06

Gilbert Melendez, Brett Rogers, Scott Smith, Antonio Silva, Mo Lawal, Gegard Mousasi, and Dan Henderson are all in attendance tonight.

Middleweight Fight- Robbie Lawler (16-5-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (24-6-1)

Manhoef is coming off of a first round TKO victory over Kazuo Misaki at the K-1 Dynamite New Years Eve show in Japan. Manhoef has won 23 of his 24 wins by KO (or TKO). Lawler’s last fight was his loss to Jake Shields back in June. This should be fun.

R1- Not a lot of action to start but Manhoef is landing some kicks and then hits a combo against the cage. Manhoef threw a bunch of punches and kicks as Lawler covered up. Manhoef was really controlling the fight but Lawler hit a huge right hand out of nowhere and then landed a left hand on the way down that knocked Manhoef out. WOW. What a finish. Manhoef landed 23 strikes to Lawler’s 3 in this fight.

Winner: Robbie Lawler by KO R1 3:33

Rex Ryan (New York Jets Coach) is ringside and he’s booed and interviewed.

Heavyweight Fight- Herschel Walker (0-0) vs. Greg Nagy (1-1)

Herschel has been training at AKA with Javier Mendes. He was a Heisman Trophy winner but that was in the early 1980s, he’s now 47 and making his MMA debut in this fight. Any winnings of Walker’s will be donated to a charity that gives back to the inner city. Walker has a 4” reach advantage. This is a Heavyweight Fight but neither guy weighs over 215 pounds. Herschel got a good response from the crowd.

R1- Herschel landed some kicks and then stuffed a take down. Why is Nagy trying to tackle a running back? Herschel rolled Nagy over and landed some good Ground and Pound. Herschel got caught in a heel hook but did a good job rolling out and retaking a dominant position. Herschel got side control and landed some good punches. Herschel took this round 10-9, possibly 10-8.

R2- Herschel got a good take down in the first minute of the round. Herschel took Nagy’s back and Nagy rolled over and gave up the mount. Herschel pinned Nagy’s arms and got some strikes but Nagy rolled out. Herschel was hold Nagy and fans screamed for a knee and Walker gave them one. Herschel is just dominating this round. Another borderline 10-8 round.

R3- Nagy came out and tried to throw strikes but Herschel clinched him and took him down. Nagy went for an arm bar but couldn’t get it. Herschel got the mount again and Nagy gave up his back again. The ref stopped the fight as Nagy was just laying on his stomach and not doing anything. Good debut by Herschel. Obviously he has a lot to work on but He showed some good basic skills and dominated this fight. Walker landed 77 strikes to Nagy’s 7 during the fight.

Winner: Herschel Walker by TKO (Strikes) R3 2:17

Woman’s 145 lb Title Fight- Cris Cyborg © (8-1) vs. Marloes Coenen (17-3)

R1- They go right at it after the bell rang. Cyborg got a good trip take down and landed in Coenen’s guard. Cyborg briefly stood up and landed a good right hand. They stood back up and Cyborg landed some good strikes. Cyborg 10-9 after the first round.

R2- Coenen got thrown to the floor early in the round. Cyborg did a good job later in the round in denying a take down and then getting a take down. Cyborg is up 20-18 after the first two rounds.

R3- Cyborg gets some really good Ground and Pound towards the end of this round and the ref stops the fight.

Winner: Cris Cyborg by TKO (Strikes) R3 3:40

Brett Rogers is interviewed ringside.

UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St Pierre is in attendance at the show.

Welterweight Title Fight- Nick Diaz (20-7-1) vs. Marius Zaromskis (13-3)

Diaz has a 5” reach and 2” height advantage. Nick Diaz was last seen in June choking out Scott Smith via Rear Naked Choke in the third round. Zaromskis is the DREAM Welterweight Champion having won their tournament having defeated Seichi Ikemoto, tournament favorite Hayato Sakurai and Jason High.

R1- They come out swinging early and Diaz is using his reach to his advantage. Diaz worked hard to get a take down but could not hold Zaromskis. Diaz is looking good as he is hitting his usual assault of peppering jabs. Zaromskis hit a big time left and then a big time right and Diaz went down. Zaromskis jumped on top but Diaz defended himself and stayed in the fight as they went back to their feet. Diaz is hitting some good strikes. Diaz got him up against the cage and landed some really good strikes. Zaromskis got out of the corner but Diaz kept peppering him with strikes and eventually Zaromskis went down and the ref stopped the fight. Strong fight and another good showing by Diaz.

Winner: Nick Diaz by TKO (Strikes) R1 4:38