Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery Re-Cap 5/15

Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Missouri
May 15,2010
Showtime

Tonight Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem defends his title against Brett Rogers. Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andre Arlovski will also be in action as he faces former Elite XC Heavyweight Champion Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. Middleweight contenders Jacare Souza and Joey Villasenor will also fight on this show. Gus Johnson, Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo are the announcers for the show. Jimmy Lennon Jr is the ring announcer.

Light Heavyweight Fight- Antwain Britt (12-3) vs. Rafael Feijao (8-2)

Anderson Silva is in Feijao's corner. Britt has a 3" reach advantage. This is a big fight for both guys as they are both thought of as guys on the brink of being contenders. Feijao has finished all of his 8 wins and has 7 knockouts on his record. Britt is a wrestler but has 10 knockouts out of his 13 wins. Both guys have combined for 12 victories in the first round. Feijao lost in his last fight to current King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion Mike Kyle.

R1- Britt landed some strikes early and Feijao went for a jumping knee but did not connect. Britt landed some good strikes while being clinched by Feijao. Britt is finding a home for the jab. Feijao landed a good overhand right that wobbled Britt. Feijao quickly followed up and chased him down and landed a left and then rocked him with a right hand that sent him to the mat and the ref stops this fight. Britt was winning the fight until that one punch and then it all turned. Explosive finish by Feijao.

Winner: Rafael Feijao by TKO (Strikes) R1 3:45

Light Heavyweight Fight- Roger Gracie (2-0) vs. Kevin Randleman (17-14)

This is Gracie's debut in Strikeforce and it's only his 3rd professional fight. Gracie has a 6.5" height and 9" reach advantage. Randleman should be the stronger fighter. Gracie has finished both of his fights by submission.

R1- Randleman looks tiny compared to Gracie. Mostly stand up in this round with the crowd growing restless as not many shots were landing. Gracie clinched Randleman and tried to get him to the ground but Randleman slipped out. Not a lot of action in this round. I've got Gracie 10-9. Both Shamrock and Ranallo also give the round to Gracie.

R2- Randleman landed a good body shot early. Gracie connected with some strikes that had Randleman backpedaling. Gracie landed a good knee in the clinch and Randleman went to the ground and Gracie quickly jumped on top. Gracie mounted and tried a side choke but Randleman got out so Gracie took his back and went for a Rear Naked Choke. Randleman fought hard but Gracie finally got the move and won the fight. Good win for Gracie. He wasn't spectacular but once he got the fight to the ground he definitely took over. Gracie probably needs to be on the Challengers show at this point in his career but if he works hard he has the opportunity to be pretty good.

Winner: Roger Gracie by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) R2 4:10

Middleweight Fight- Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (11-2) vs. Joe Villasenor (27-6)

Jacare last fought in December for Strikeforce and submitted veteran Matt Lindland in the first round. The last time I saw Villasenor was in June of 2009 when he beat Evangelista Cyborg by decision. Villasenor is on a 4 fight win streak. They say Jacare is the Kobe Bryant of jiu jitsu.We also learn that Jacare means Alligator in Portuguese. Jacare has finished 10 of his 11 wins by submission. This should be interesting because while Jacare has a huge advantage on the ground, Villasenor should have the advantage standing.

R1- Jacare shot early and Villasenor initially avoided it but Jacare clinched him against the cage, threw some strikes and then completed the take down. Jacare lands some good strikes while on top. Jacare mounted and continues to land strikes. Jacare was landing good strikes but Villasenor was able to buck him off. Jacare clinches him and lands some good knees. Jacare went for another take down and got it and then landed some really good strikes. Jacare let him up and landed some strikes as Villasenor got to his feet. Jacare picked him up and landed a double-leg take down/slam. Jacare went for a kimura but Villasenor got out of the hold. Jacare looked great in the first round. Jacare 10-9. Almost a 10-8 round. Villasenor only landed 2 strikes in the first round.

"I really like Joey but there is something he said in our meetings. He said "if I get up from the ground." And I just did not like that he said "if"- Frank Shamrock
"He answered the "if"- Frank Shamrock

R2- Villasenor came out aggressive in this round and threw a quick strike. Jacare got a driving take down within the first minute of the round. Villasenor was able to escape but Jacare quickly grabbed him and took him down again. Villasenor was able to get to his feet again with half of the round remaining. Villasenor starts to land some strikes. Jacare threw two strikes and then shot in and got another take down. Jacare is staying in the guard and landing some strikes but nothing as good as he hit in the first round. Villasenor keeps grabbing onto the cage and adjusting his position and got back to his feet with half a minute left in the round. Jacare 20-18 but he's starting to get tired.

R3- Villasenor came in and landing a good strike to start the round. Jacare landed some strikes but then could not get a take down. Both guys land strikes and Jacare got a take down with three minutes left in the fight. Jacare was landing some strikes and the ref stands the fight up with 50 seconds left. Villasenor landed a knee but Jacare took him down again. Jacare finishes the fight on top. Jacare wins on my score card 30-27. Good, tough fight for Jacare.

Judges score cards: 30-27, 29-28, 29-28

Winner: Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza by Decision (Unanimous)

Heavyweight Fight- Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva (13-2)

The last time I saw Arlovski was in June of last year where he got defeated by Brett Rogers in less than half a minute. Silva is coming off of a loss to Fabricio Werdum by decision. Silva has a 23.5 lb and 5" reach advantage. Arlovski is the quicker fighter. Arlovski got a strong reaction from the crowd at introduction.

"I think that's the loudest cheer I've ever heard for someone coming off two back to back losses"- Mauro Rannallo

R1- Both guys are throwing strikes early. Silva landed a good right at the two minute mark but Andrei absorbed it. Silva landed another right but Andrei again took the punch. Silva got Andrei up against the cage and got a take down but couldn't do anything with it. Silva 10-9.

R2- Silva threw a barrage of strikes one minute into the round and Arlovski had to clinch to minimize damage. A lot of clinching in this round with Silva getting the better of the striking. Silva 20-18.

"So far it's been a better night for Andrei Arlovski than the last time he was here in St. Louis. That fight lasted just 22 seconds"- Mauro Ranallo

R3- Both guys are slowing down but still throwing some strikes. Lots of clinching in this round. Silva got a take down with a minute and a half left in the fight. Silva is going to win this fight 30-27 on my score card.

Judges score cards: 29-28 on all three score cards

Winner: Antonio Silva by Decision (Unanimous)

Strikeforce Heavyweight Title Fight- Alistair Overeem (c) (32-11) vs. Brett Rogers (10-1)

Rogers last fought in November and lost to Fedor by TKO in the 2nd round. It's strange that Rogers is getting this title fight after losing and I think it speaks to the general weakness of the Strikeforce Heavyweight division. That being said, Rogers has a chance in this fight with his power. The last MMA fight I saw Overeem in was on New Year's against Kazuyuki Fujita and Overeem won that fight via first round TKO stoppage after a big knee. Rogers has an 11 lb weight advantage and also a 2.5" reach. Rogers has won 9 of his 10 fights by knockout. Overeem has finished 19 fights by submission and 12 by knockout. Despite winning the title several years ago this is his first title defense.

R1- Overeem works leg kicks early. Overeem tosses Rogers to the mat and then gets on top and lands some Ground and Pound. Overeem is landing some elbows to the body. Overeem starts to unload on Rogers. Rogers is covering up but the ref might step in and stop this. Overeem just going to town on him and McCarthy stops the fight. Dominant win by Overeem. Rogers just fought a very defensive fight and never looked like himself. He was just outclassed by Overeem tonight. Let's do Fedor vs Overeem. Can you get that done Strikeforce?

Post-Fight Alistair calls out Fedor and his management. Says that Fedor's management has declined to fight him and that it's time for it to happen.

Winner: Alistair Overeem by TKO (Strikes) R1 3:40