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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
STRIKEFORCE: DIAZ VS. NOONS 2
OCTOBER 9, 2010
LIVE FROM SAN JOSE, CALIF.
It's that time again, and Strikeforce is back on Showtime for their first major event in two months. With two title fights on the card and two other intriguing matchups set for the Showtime event, there's sure to be plenty of action from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Mauro Ranallo opens up the broadcast running down what is in store for tonight's card. Frank "Braces" Shamrock joins Ranallo as always and discusses the main event, which just so happens to feature the man that beat him in his final fight. He talked about Diaz beating him up and taunting him in their fight in 2009, but being the first one to help him up when the fight was over. Good stuff from Shamrock there. Pat Miletich is in as the third man on commentary tonight and he discussed what Noons did in the first meeting three years ago to defeat Diaz at 160 lbs. in EliteXC.
FIGHT ONE: TYRON WOODLEY VS. ANDRE GALVAO (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Galvao lands a hard jab right off the bat. Woodley tagged him with a right that stunned him. Galvao shot in but Woodley stuffed it and landed a couple of punches in the sprawl. Woodley stood up and let him back up. Woodley drops Galvao with a left but makes him stand back up instead of going to the ground with him. Galvao shot again and Woodley sprawled and landed a couple of hard punches. Galvao stood up and was wobbly. He tried to shoot in again and Woodley sprawled, landed a few more hard punches and referee Josh Rosenthal stopped the fight. Good stoppage, Galvao was hurting badly and was really wobbly. Very convincing win by Woodley and another big statement from the undefeated welterweight.
WINNER: Woodley via TKO at 1:48 of the first round
POST FIGHT: Woodley said it felt awesome to get his first TKO win. Woodley said he thinks he should be up next for the title, and he asked for a fight on the December 4 card in his hometown.
STAR RATING: (**+) There wasn't a whole lot to the fight, as Galvao really couldn't offer up much resistance there. Woodley hit him hard and often, and effectively halted the takedown attempts from Galvao. That was a very good fight for Woodley, and if the Noons-Diaz winner can return in December, a fight against Woodley would be entertaining. I don't know that he's necessarily to the point where he can beat either of the longtime veterans, but he can certainly hold his own. I think a fight with Tarec Saffiedine would make a lot of sense for him at this point, though, and would have more of a chance of getting onto that December card.
-K.J. Noons is interviewed backstage and he talked about traveling and training in different gyms to evolve his game over the last three years.
FIGHT TWO: SARAH KAUFMAN VS. MARLOES COENEN (WOMEN'S 135 LB. CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT)
ROUND ONE: Coenen rushed out to the center of the cage and they circled each other to start. Coenen landed a hard right early. She got in a leg kick. Kaufman tried to step in and Coenen landed a few good punches. She's got a height and reach advantage for sure in this one. She landed a hard leg kick. Kaufman connected on a couple of short punches. Kaufman got close and landed a good right. This is a feeling out process here, but they've each gotten in some shots. Coenen landed a leg kick. Kaufman popped in with a right. Coenen got in close and clinched, but Kaufman turned her around and put her to the cage. They jockeyed for position against the cage. Coenen tried to back off to land an elbow but it didn't connect. Kaufman landed a couple of knees on the cage and then they were separated by the reg. Coenen landed a hard two punch combo and clinched with double underhooks. Kaufman turned her around. They traded knees on the cage. They trade knees some more as Kaufman has a body lock. The crowd starts to boo the clinch. They start trading some knees and they're separated again. Coenen landed a body kick. Kaufman came in and landed a punch and they traded shots before getting in a clinch as the round ended. Very close round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Coenen. It was a close to even round, but she landed the harder shots and they both had positional advantage on the cage at times.
ROUND TWO: Kaufman landed a short combination early and they got into the clinch. Kaufman pressed Coenen to the cage and they each traded knees. The crowd is really quick to boo here and the ref is quick to step in as they're throwing knees and jockeying for position. They trade knees but Coenen keeps her offense to a minimum and the ref separates them. They both land shots in a short exchange. Coenen landed a right and Kaufman countered. Kaufman caught a body kick and pressed Coenen to the fence again. Coenen turned her around briefly but Kaufman put her back against the cage yet again and landed a couple of knees. They're still just turning each other on the cage and the crowd does not like it. More knees are thrown by both in the clinch. Coenen lands a good knee. Kaufman's really not doing much against the cage and the ref separates them again with a minute left. Coenen landed a jab. Coenen tried to trip Kaufman but Kaufman countered as she was going down and wound up on top. She postured up for some ground and pound and got out of an armbar attempt from Coenen as the round ended. Best spot of the fight so far.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Kaufman. She was controlling Coenen on the cage even though she didn't do much and got some ground and pound in at the end. Still close.
ROUND THREE: Coenen landed a right early. Kaufman landed a short fight. Coenen took Kaufman down but Kaufman immediately reversed and got into Coenen's guard. Kaufman avoided the triangle attempt by Coenen. Kaufman drove her to the cage. She postured up and landed a nice body punch. She postured up and landed some more hard hammer fists and punches. She's throwing some wild punches and Coenen throws up for an armbar and she locks it on, there's some confusion after. It looks like the submission was held on a little long and Kaufman's arm is hurting. Coenen has a concerned look on her face after for hurting Kaufman. Looking at the replay the referee was slow on stopping the submission after Kaufman tapped. Kaufman left her arm out there while trying to ground and pound there and it cost her.
WINNER: Coenen via submission (armbar) 1:59 of the third round
POST FIGHT: Coenen apologized to Sarah for hurting her but said the referee came in too late there. As for her next bout with Meisha Tate, Coenen said "let's get it on."
STAR RATING: (***-) It was a slower fight through two rounds, but a very action packed third round with a great submission by Coenen. It's too bad Kaufman got hurt in that one, but Coenen let go as soon as she could after the ref stepped in, which was unfortunately late. But Coenen looked good at 135 lb. here, and the fight with Meisha Tate should be a very good matchup.
-Nick Diaz is interviewed backstage. He said he's not an emotional fighter, he just wants to get in and out. He said he just "keeps it real."
-Gilbert Melendez is interviewed cageside and he accepted the talk that he's the number one lightweight in the world. He's not, but he's up there. He predicts a JZ victory.
FIGHT THREE: JOSH THOMSON VS. GESIAS "JZ" CAVALCANTE (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Mutual respect shown from both before the fight. Cavalcante quickly came out to the center and tried to walk Thomson down. Thomson landed a knee and backed off the cage. Thomson threw a kick but JZ blocked it. Cavalcante walked him down, landed a kick and grabbed double underhooks and pushed Thomson to the cage. Cavalcante tried to complete a takedown but Thomson held it off. They traded knees and Cavalcante then backed off. Thomson threw a push kick. Cavalcante missed a big left hook. Thomson landed a body kick. Cavalcante rocked Thomson with a right. Thomson tried to shoot and JZ locked on a tight guillotine choke. Thomson is holding it off and Cavalcante is squeezing with everything he's got. If Thomson gets out Cavalcante's arms may be shot. Thomson started throwing shots to the body and he popped out to the delight of the crowd. Thomson postured up and landed a couple of punches. Cavalcante worked for a triangle but Thomson finally got out and into half guard. He locked on an arm triangle choke as the round was coming to an end but Cavalcante survived. Wow what a round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cavalcante. Thomson nearly stole it late but the first two thirds of the round were JZ's.
ROUND TWO: Cavalcante walked Thomson to the cage, landed a punch and grabbed the clinch. Thomson landed a knee and turned Cavalcante around. Thomson landed a few knees to the thigh and body. Cavalcante tried to trip Thomson up but Thomson stayed on his feet and they jockeyed for position again. Cavalcante gets in a knee to the body. Thomson then pushes off the cage and gets a takedown. He tried to take Cavalcante's back but JZ held it off. Cavalcante tried to stymie Thomson's attempts to improve his position. Thomson then went for an arm triangle but Cavalcante popped right out and put Thomson into his half guard. Thomson continued to try to go for the arm triangle but he couldn't get it locked on. He postured up and landed a couple of punches as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Thomson. Clear round for him with the takedown and positional control throughout the rest of the round. Even going into the third.
ROUND THREE: Thomson threw a high kick early as Cavalcante walked him down but it missed the mark. He shot in but Cavalcante stuffed it. Cavalcante came in and landed a knee before Thomson grabbed a body lock. Thomson tried to power Cavalcante down but then Cavalcante picked him up and took him down and got into the mount. Depending on how the first was scored JZ may need to finish here to win. Thomson is holding onto him and the crowd boos. Thomson tried to powed out and got Cavalcante to half guard. He got it back to butterfly guard and then brought the leg up for rubber guard and he mugged to the camera. Cavalcante then stepped out and landed a couple of punches. Thomson scrambled and got to his feet with two minutes left. Cavalcante dropped Thomson and then started landing some punches before dropping into his guard. Thomson landed a few punches from his back and got his back to the cage. Cavalcante is holding him down at the cage ans Thomson tries to got for a guillotine choke but it wasn't close. Cavalcante has position but isn't doing anything with it. He lands a couple of punches and kept Thomson down. He's grinding this round out. He postured up and landed a couple of punches. Thomson threw some up kicks and Cavalcante dropped back down with a few punches and the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Cavalcante. JZ had a takedown and a knockdown, did some damage on the ground and held the positional advantage in the round. I've got him winning this two rounds to one, but it's going to come down to the really close first round.
WINNER: Thomson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
POST FIGHT: Thomson said he was knocking on the door for another fight with Gilbert Melendez. He said he was disappointed in the fight going to the judges. He said there's no way he won that 30-27 and said the judges need to get a clinic together and figure out what they're doing. Good for him.
STAR RATING: (***-) The first round was really, really exciting, but the second two weren't at that level. It was still a fun fight and definitely an enjoyable one. Both fighters had a case for winning it with one clear round each and a tough first round to score, and I don't know how that third round was scored for Thomson on one of the judges' scorecards. I thought JZ took the first, but Thomson finished it on top and that left the final impression in the judges' minds. Still, 30-27 is not a good scorecard, and Thomson said so himself.
-Dan Henderson and Renato "Babalu" Sobral are interviewed cageside ahead of their fight in December.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT FOUR: NICK DIAZ VS. K.J. NOONS (WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)
ROUND ONE: Diaz lands a kick early. Noons missed a big shot. Diaz lands a right. Diaz got in a right. Noons tried to walk him down. Diaz pressed back with a kick. Both fighters traded jabs. Diaz landed a two punch combo and Noons got in with a punch to the body. Noons landed a hard left hook. He landed an uppercut and Diaz landed a punch that stunned him and he took him down and into side control. He threw some shoulder strikes to the head. Noons finally kicked Diaz off of him and scrambled back to his feet. Diaz dropped his hands briefly in a taunting fashion. Diaz landed a right hook. He got in a couple of jabs. Noons' hair keeps getting in his eyes and he keeps wiping it away. Diaz gets in with a few more punches but then eats a hard jab from Noons. Noons landed some really hard body shots and Diaz landed a couple of punches to the head. Diaz with a nice combination. Diaz is connecting on the jabs. Noons landed one. Diaz dropped his hands and taunted Noons. Noons landed a couple of punches as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Diaz. He's really accurate with his shots so far and he's getting the better of the exchanges. Good stuff from Diaz so far.
ROUND TWO: Noons got in a good right to the body and a left hook that cut Diaz. They both drop their hands and jaw back and forth. Noons got in a jab and they exchanged furious punches. Diaz bleeding here. He shot in but Noons walked out of it. Noons landed another big left. Diaz scored with a good right. He landed a couple of jabs. Noons landing some more punches with the jabs.Diaz lands a few short jabs and lands a kick. Noons lands a body shot. Diaz gets in with a couple of punches. Diaz lands a lef kick. Noons with a left hook. Noons landed a knee to the body. Diaz landed another punch and Noons is bleeding from the nose. They both exchange punches. Big body punches land from both fighters. Noons lands a right. Diaz landed a right. He tried to walk Noons down. Noons landed a hard combination. Diaz landed a body kick and threw a few more kicks. Noons walked him down with the jab and landed a hard knee to the body against the cage. He landed another body shot. Diaz landed a good combination. Noons countered with a couple of body shots. Noons presses in late and lands a knee and a big kick to finish the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Noons. He looked much better in that round and slowed Diaz down there. They're both landing a ton of punches here though.
ROUND THREE: Noons walked Diaz down immediately and stuffed a shot from Diaz. Noons landed some body punches and then popped Diaz's head back with a jab. Diaz landed a good shot. Noons avoided some of Diaz's punches and countered. Noons landed a good body shot. Diaz landed a big left and ate a shot from Noons. Diaz connects on a few punches. Diaz paws in with the jab and lands a right. They exchange punches again. Diaz lands a right and follows with a jab. Diaz gets in with another right. Noons counters with the body shot. They trade leg kicks. Diaz walked Noons down and landed a couple of punches. Noons came back at him with a couple of his own. Diaz with a two punch combo and he backs away from the counter. Noons barely misses an uppercut. Diaz lands a few more punches. He throws a body kick and eats a jab. Noons got in close with some body punches but ate a knee. They traded leg kicks and Diaz landed a body punch. Noons landed a hard body shot. Diaz pressed with a two punch combo. He walked Noons down again and landed a couple more. Diaz landed a nice combination again. Noons missed a left. Diaz landed a couple of kicks as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Diaz. He got the better of the exchanges that round, even though both are still landing a bunch of punches. Great fight so far.
ROUND FOUR: Diaz lands a good leg kick early. He throws a spinning kick but it is nowhere close to landing. He landed a big body shot and connected with the jab. He tried to grab a Thai clinch but Noons blasted him with a short combo. Diaz landed some more punches and avoided the counter. Noons got in with a right hook. Diaz landed a couple of punches. Both fighters have slowed a bit here. Noons landed a few body shots as Diaz tried to tie him up. Diaz landed a few big punches. He connected nicely with a few punches and Noons countered. Diaz with a three punch combo. Noons right back with a double jab. Noons landed a big left but Diaz came right back at him. They exchanged big punches in the center of the cage. Both are landing big shots here. Diaz gets in a right and Noons lands a big body shot. Diaz landed a knee in the Thai clinch and Noons got out. Diaz landed a leg kick. Noons landed a big right and followed up with another. Diaz covered up and Noons landed some shots. Diaz hurt Noons with a knee and landed a big left. Diaz walked Noons down with some taunting kicks but he ate a body shot. Diaz tried to land a knee but landed a couple of punches as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Diaz. Some fast and furious stuff in that round. This is a crazy standup fight so far and it's been a lot of fun.
ROUND FIVE: Both fighters exchange leg kicks early. Noons tried to walk Diaz down but Diaz got away and nearly took him down. Noons popped out of it, though. They exchanged punches. Diaz got in with a kick to the head,. Diaz landed a couple of punches. Diaz is landing more again. Noons gets in with a couple of body shots. They started throwing short punches in the clinch. Diaz landed a right. He threw a couple of half hearted kicks. Diaz landed a few more punches. Noons needs to do something here as time is running out. Diaz grabbed for a body lock on the cage but Noons stuffed it. Diaz landed a couple of short punches in close. Noons tried to press in but Diaz avoided the shots. Diaz landed a couple of punches. Diaz tried to clinch but Noons bounced out. Noons landed a nice right but Diaz closed the distance and clinched. Noons pushed him off with a minute and a half left. Diaz landed a couple of short punches and Noons landed an uppercut. Diaz landed a couple of short punches. They traded punches in close. Diaz landed a knee. Both fighters landed pucnhes in the center of the cage. Diaz landed another knee and they started swinging as the round came to an end.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Diaz. He was winning the exchanges, landed a few knees in there as well. Noons didn't have any sense of urgency in that round at all.
WINNER: Diaz via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-47, 49-46)
POST FIGHT: Diaz said after that he could beat Noons anywhere, and shooting for the takedowns is just to show he can do it all. Noons said Diaz beat him fair and square and said "good job, Nick." He said he'll either do it again or work his way back up as Mauro Ranallo tried to hard sell the rubber match.
STAR RATING: (****-) Not quite the instant classic that Mauro Ranallo was trying to sell it as, but it was a hell of an entertaining fight with tons of punches being thrown and landed by both fighters. Very good stuff from Diaz, and he showed off a hell of a chin as well as a vastly improved boxing game from their first fight. Great stuff, and a great way to cap off the night.
That's another fight in the books! Thanks for joining us tonight; make sure to stick with us throughout the week as we head into UFC 120 next Saturday. Join us this Tuesday at BlogTalkRadio.com/MMATorch from 9-1030PM ET for our weekly Livecast, where we'll recap tonight's event, look ahead to UFC 120 and interview Bellator season two welterweight tournament winner Ben Askren!
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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