Strikeforce Events
STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 20 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round-by-round report for "Britt vs. Sayers" event
Nov 18, 2011 - 11:30:06 PM STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 20 LIVE RESULTS: Penick's round-by-round report for "Britt vs. Sayers" event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 20: BRITT VS. SAYERS
NOVEMBER 18, 2011
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

-Mauro Ranallo opens the broadcast at the Palms running down the fights scheduled for the night's broadcast. Stephen Quadros joins the broadcast and throws to a couple of video packages for the night's main event fighters. Pat Miletich is then brought in as the third man in the booth to talk about the women's co-main event tonight between Ronda Rousey and Julia Budd.

FIGHT ONE: DEREK BRUNSON VS. NATE JAMES (MIDDLEWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: James took the center and Brunson landed a couple of early leg kicks. Brunson shot in and grabbed a body lock, avoided a trip and took James down into side control. Brunson tried to pass to mount, but didn't get all the way over and James caught him in half guard. James got back to guard and went for a triangle. Brunson had to stand up, and then he just moved his legs aside and again gained side control. Brunson got the mount, but James pulled off a good escape and popped back up. Brunson immediately put his back on the cage, however. Brunson landed an inadvertent low blow as they separated and James was given time to recover. After they got back into action they circled for a bit. Brunson through an open hand strike and poked James in the eye. Referee Kim Winslow called the doctor in. James was cleared to continue. Brunson engaged with a left but it was blocked as James stalked him down. Brunson scored another takedown against the cage but James got up as the round ended.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. He scored three takedowns, and though he didn't do much on the ground, James also didn't do much and was on his back for a bit.

ROUND TWO: Brunson scored a takedown to start the round. Brunson stood up out of James' guard. He avoided upkicks and moved down into side control. James rolled over and gave up his back. Brunson grabbed a rear naked choke but it wasn't locked in and he had to give it up. He set it up again and tried to get both hooks in but James spun towards him. Brunson took his back again, and as James stood up Brunson suplexed him. James stood again and rolled through for a leg, but Brunson got out and took his back again. James got to the cage and his knees again, but Brunson dragged him down again and took side control before getting James' back again. James stood up and finally got loose. Brunson ducked a punch and got another takedown. The ground ended with Brunson on top.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. He's not doing much with his positional control, but James isn't doing anything but defending in the fight thus far.

ROUND THREE: James took the center and tried to walk Brunson down. Brunson threw a head kick that was blocked. Brunson wildly flung a few strikes as he danced around a bit. James stuffed a takedown attempt. He stuffed another one as Brunson backed off and backed up. Brunson dropped James with a straight left and Brunson took his back. James eventually got back to his feet but got pressed against the cage. Brunson landed a few knees to James' thigh. They were separated with a minute left. Brunson missed on a wild left. James walked him down but Brunson avoided much offense. He grabbed a single leg, picked him up and took James down again, ending the round on top.

Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Brunson. Knockdown and a takedown. It wasn't a good fight, but Brunson was clearly ahead the whole way.

WINNER: Brunson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

STAR RATING: (*) Not an entertaining fight. Brunson was the better wrestler, but while he was able to score his takedowns, there wasn't much that happened in the fight. Brunson couldn't keep control, neither had much to offer in the striking department, and it just wasn't good.

FIGHT TWO: T.J. COOK VS. TREVOR SMITH (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Smith landed a few hard kicks to the legs and body early. Smith has a significant size advantage in the bout. Cook got in a couple of short strikes. He landed a few to the body. Smith went high with a kick but it was blocked. Cook caught a kick and took Smith down after a brief struggle. Smith then countered and wound up briefly in mount. Cook got him back to half guard. Smith grabbed a headlock as Cook rolled to his side. He let it go and landed a left. Smith briefly went for an ankle, but Cook blasted him with a couple of punches and he let it go. Smith finally passed to side control. Smith grabbed an arm but Cook exploded and wound up on top. Smith grabbed a guillotine choke and rolled him over into mount. Cook tried to fight it but he was forced to tap out.

WINNER: Smith via submission (guillotine choke) at 4:28 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**-) It was a low level grappling affair, but Smith used his size well, kept position and scored a decisive victory by locking on the choke.

FIGHT THREE: ADLAN AMAGOV VS. ANTHONY SMITH (188 LB. CATCHWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Amagov engaged first with a leg kick. Each fighter missed on some swinging wild punches and Amagov shot in for a single leg. Smith tried to hold it off and hopped to the cage, but Amagov finally got him to the ground. Amagov landed some short punches to the body as Smith held him in guard. Amagov continued throwing punches to the body as Smith just held control of him. They were finally stood up. Amagov landed a nice left. He hurt Smith and Smith through one back at him. As they exchanged, Amagov blasted him with a swinging right that dropped him, and he landed a few on the ground to earn the knockout win. Nice finish from Amagov there.

WINNER: Amagov via KO at 2:32 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**-) The action stalled early as Smith just held control in the guard for the first minute and a half, but Amagov scored a nice knockout to finish things with a right to the button and some good follow up strikes.

FIGHT FOUR: RONDA ROUSEY VS. JULIA BUDD (WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Rousey engaged and grabbed the clinch right off the bat. She dragged her to the ground and immediately gained mount. She went right for the armbar. She rolled it over and wrenched the arm in sick fashion and forced the eventual tap, but not before putting Budd's arm out of place. Yikes. The replays of the arm are just disgusting; Rousey is a dangerous woman.

WINNER: Rousey via submission (armbar - what else?) at :39 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**+) Rousey's ability to get to that armbar in such quick fashion is incredible to watch, and when you include her amateur fights she's now stopped seven straight opponents by armbar with none of them lasting longer than 57 seconds. Just incredible work from Rousey.

MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: ANTWAIN BRITT VS. LUMUMBA SAYERS (MIDDLEWEIGHT)

ROUND ONE: Britt took the center early, and engaged first with a clinch. Sayers turned him around on the cage and started unloading with a flurry. He hurt Britt, and continued throwing strikes until Britt dropped. That was quick. Replay showed the first short right landed on the jaw, he then landed a left, then another right and an uppercut to put him down.

WINNER: Sayers via KO at :28 of the first round

STAR RATING: (**) That didn't take long. Sayers landed a very nice right to the jaw to get things going in the clinch, and finished things with a very good flurry on the cage. Good win.

-Well, that brings an end to tonight's card a bit early, but it provided some fun action, especially in the final two fights. Join us tomorrow as we'll have full coverage of UFC 139 from San Jose1!