As a relatively new promoter in the mixed martial arts world, Strikeforce has two objectives during events. First of all, it hopes for excitement. Second, it hopes to create new stars.
Both goals were reached during Saturday night's card on Strikeforce.
Jake Shields, Brett Rogers and Nick Diaz emerged as forces to be reckoned with after wins during Strikeforce's St. Louis event.
Amongst all the participants, perhaps no one left making a bigger impression than 262-pound heavyweight Brett "The Grim" Rogers, who knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in just 22 seconds.
Strikeforce Photos
Brett Rogers, right, drills Andrei Arlovski early in the first round during their match at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Brett Rogers celebrates his knockout win against Andrei Arlovski at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Jake Shields pulls off a guillotine submission against Robbie Lawler during their match at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Jake Shields celebrates his victory over Robbie Lawler at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Nick Diaz punches Scott Smith during their match at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Nick Diaz celebrates his victory over Scott Smith in a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Phil Baroni attempts to punch Joe Riggs during their match at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Joe Riggs defeated Phil Baroni via a unanimous decision at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Mike Whitehead takes down Kevin Randleman en route to a unanimous decision win at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Kevin Randleman and Mike Whitehead trade punches during their match at a Strikeforce event in St. Louis on June 6, 2009.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Rogers knocked Arlovski against the cage with a right, then managed a left-right combo that put Arlovski out. As Arlovski fell to the canvas and Rogers moved in for the kill, referee Big John McCarthy stepped between them and put a stop to the action before things could get worse for the Belarussian.
"I've been working hard and that's what happens when you work hard," Rogers said shortly after the bout.
Arlovski had come in a heavy favorite, still talking up a potential rematch with world top heavyweight and WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko, but the decisive loss puts him in a must-win situation next time out while Rogers' win gives him a legitimate claim to fight for the Strikeforce heavyweight title owned by Alistair Overeem. Rogers (10-0) and Overeem were originally scheduled to fight for the belt until Overeem was injured in a bar fight. It is still a fight Rogers wants.
"Most importantly," he said, "I want that title."
Strikeforce announced a likely Aug. 15 return date for Overeem, so Rogers may have to be ready to go in short order for a shot at the title.
Former EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields also made a major impact, defeating ex-middleweight champ Robbie Lawler with a first-round guillotine choke submission.
Shields, a Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt, took advantage of a quick lapse in Lawler's defense, hooking on a standing guillotine and refusing to surrender it even after being slammed down.
"I felt the strength difference and I just got a chance on his neck. Once I got it, I wasn't letting go," Shields said.
The 30-year-old Shields improved his record to 23-4-1 and increased his winning streak to 12 straight fights with the first-round stoppage.
Immediately after the fight, Shields asked for a chance at the middleweight championship. Just as he mentioned during a recent interview with FanHouse, Shields said he's ready for Cung Le.
"I want the title," he said. "Cung Le is a friend, but step up and give me that belt."
In a hard-fought catch weight fight, Nick Diaz defeated Scott Smith via third-round submission.
Diaz got the better of Smith with precise striking and unrivaled conditioning in the first two rounds before finishing it out in the final frame. After beating Frank Shamrock and Smith, Diaz, like his buddy Shields, has a legitimate case at fighting for the 185-pound title.
In other featured fights, Joe Riggs won a unanimous decision over Phil Baroni and Mike Whitehead also earned a decision over Kevin Randleman.
In the possibly the night's biggest upset, Mike Kyle scored a second-round TKO over Rafael "Feijao" Cavalacante. But Strikeforce also scored another coup, announcing the long-awaited women's bout between Gina Carano and Cris "Cyborg" Santos.
Undercard results
Jesse Finney def. Josh Bumgarner via kimura, Rd. 1
Mike Kyle def. Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante via TKO, Rd. 2
Booker DeRousse def. James Wade via TKO, Rd. 1
Tyron Woodley def. Sal Woods via north-south choke, Rd. 1
Lucas Lopes def. Scott Ventimiglia via DQ due to illegal knee strike, Rd. 1
Pat Benson def. Dave Cochran via triangle choke submission, Rd. 1
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rogers win was a fluke. Let him fight an upcoming heavyweight such as Shane Carwin, before allowing him to move up to the real big boys.
I see another Kimbo Slice in the making...that would make Strikeforce a joke...so, congrats, because one lucky shot got through.
Thats dumb for comparing him to kimbo slice. 10-0 record kimbo is 3-1
Funny you say that since Kimbo is now signed to the UFC and TUF and Rogers already KOed Lesnar in sparring. =)
i think big john mccarthy is a horrible ref, maybe worse than yve lavigne
'Deadeye' You are dead on! most of the punks on here spouting off their fighting knowledge probably have never even been in a fight in their lives, let alone compete at the top level of fighting as these fighters do. but they will all speak as experts. EVERYONE IS A LOUDMOUTH, TOUGHGUY, HARDASS UNTIL THE FIRST PUNCH LANDS!
Wow Deadeye, You need to calm down.I work-out 5 to 6 days a week and train a couple of MMA fighters also. I have to say that as fighters "in the ring" these guys are very skilled, but "on the street" it usually happens to be a different story. And in the gym, they come around with some pretty good excuses why they can't do the work-out...I'm not taking anything away from the MMA guys because for what they do, it is impressive,but like many other intelligent persons, I'm not about to step into a ring just to get my face punched in for little or next to nothing. My face is way to pretty for that! So, although I do enjoy watching it from time to time, it takes far more than a little money to make me(Or any other rational human being) to want to throw fists.
DEADEYE SOUNDS LIKE YOUR A LITTLE UP TIGHT. NOW WE ARE STARTINE TO SEE THE MONSTERS COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK. THIS ALL THE BETTER FOR THE SPORT. MAYBE AT LAST WE WILL GET TO SEE A GOOD-BY TO PRO WRESTLING AND BOXING. THIS SPORT SHOWS SHOWS MUCH BETTER TRAINED ATHELETES AND SPORTSMAN.
All I have to say is did anyone see Grims wife? With her big deodorant chunks in her arm pits and her muffin top gut? Walking around the outside of the ring with arm raised and swiveled hips like a ring babe? Hilarious. People that do not know how gross they are crack me up.
Lol, the man can't even get any respect for his win haha. Anyway I think who Deadeye was referring to was the people above him. Of course there are respectful, intelligent people on blogs (though we're the minority) and then you have your . . well, just read Deadeye's post.
Anyway I thought Arlovski would take this fight because I saw a couple of Brett Roger's fights on EliteXC and wasn't too impressed. I guess I was proven wrong. I'm sure he'll get that title fight . . we'll see where he stacks up then. Oh, and you REALLY can't be a fluke when you're 10-0. Not even Brock Lesnar's 10-0 (though the UFC champ's supposed to be a fluke too . .).
Oh, and I don't think fighting has anything to do with a lack of intelligence or anything. I, and I'm sure a lot of the guys in these organizations, either really enjoy competition, or simply HATE working a 9-5. I am both ways, haha. So why not compete in the most competitive one on one competition there is for 15 minutes or shorter. Of course there's a lot more involved but that's my opinion on the matter. A lot of these fighters have college degrees (or are working on them), so they're not completely stupid . .
Deadeye said...
But one thing is certain, All you couch potate's who make these "anonymous like a faggot hiding behind a computer screen" comments wouldn't last 50 seconds in the ring with any of these fighters. So shut up, ...
this from "Deadeye", did Momma put that name on your birth certificate or are you talking about yourself.
I expected Shields and Diez to win, the big surprise for me was Riggs showing up with his mind in the game. Riggs is a guy i thought had way more potential that he showed. It was good to see him hang tuff in the third round and put a beating on Baroni.
Did Arlovski even throw a punch? i think if you got some 260 pound guy wanting to knock your head off you need to be a little more active.
Do you think this might effect his boxing career?
It is hard to be more active in 22 seconds.lol.But I know what you mean.
Try the "spell check" feature. DORK!
Whats disappointing is I think we'll never see a Diaz-Shields fight, which would be very entertaining. Too bad they're training partners. That fight would be more exciting than either one of them pitted against "the movie star", Cung Le. Compare Diaz's results against Frank Shamrock against Cung Le's and tell me that would be not be a one-sided affair. Smith's a much deadlier knockout threat than Cung Le, and he was put down pretty fast. Maybe cutting the extra pounds so fast after another fight did it. I'd like to see a rematch at 185. But either way, I just want to see someone put Diaz in his place. He can say it's an act all he wants. When he doesn't show respect to a fighter in the ring, it portrays him as a disrespectful, narcissistic punk. He is entertaining because it's fun to boo at someone. Good look getting fans with your attitude, Nate.
Another Don King promotions. Sad to see him as the fall guy. Strikeforce gets all the UFC can't make it guys. So whats the point of the show anyway.
all these guys are the washed up fighters from the ufc, they are a joke!!!!
I don't give much credit to an MMA knockout. I am a boxer/ boxing fan, and watching MMA makes me crazy. I'll say 75% of MMA fighters do not keep their hands up, don't keep their chin down, and don't use head movement. MMA fighters do not need to just learn how to strike, but proper defensive techniques, IMO.
I've been training for a long time and I get incensed when these boxing people try and put down MMA. I totally respect (and train) in boxing, but a boxer's stance and hand positioning is not your one stop solution against a talented wrestler/ shootfighter...that being said, boxing has a definitive place in mma and is a great platform. But don't critique an MMA fighters stance/ game if you don't properly understand the intricacies of the game. That's just my opinion. If you REALLY dont respect MMA, Im sure theres a school near you(its fairly prolific nowadays.) See if you can ko any fighter before they take you down/ clinch up with you and execute their gameplans. It comes down to the fighter, and not the style imo.
i am six two- two thirty five and train every day.. will knock out any of you queens who care to meet me... i hate the girly talk