Herschel Walker Wins Strikeforce MMA Bout by First-Round TKO

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Jan 29, 2011 - Former football star Herschel Walker improved to 2-0 as a professional mixed martial arts fighter, beating Scott Carson on Saturday night's Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg fight card.

Walker won a one-sided beatdown against an opponent who didn't have much to offer. The question now is whether Walker is interested enough in MMA to stick with it and take a chance against an opponent who might actually hit back, which Carson didn't do.

"I was OK," Walker said when asked to assess his own performance. "I've got to be on offense. Being a young MMA fighter I've got to control what I'm doing in the cage."

The 48-year-old Walker knocked Carson down just 20 seconds into the fight and jumped on top of him, then took Carson's back a minute into the first round and started raining punches down. Carson briefly got to his feet, only to have Walker pick him up and slam him to the ground again. Walker stayed on top of Carson, who was doing nothing to defend himself except cover his head with his arms, eventually knocking Carson's mouthpiece out of his mouth. Carson managed to get back up to his feet briefly, only to have Walker drill him and knock him down again. With that, the referee stopped the fight 3 minutes, 13 seconds into the first round.

More: Walker vs. Carson Fight Video | Diaz vs. Cyborg Results

Carson, who had only fought once in the last nine and a half years and lost that one fight, was a hand-picked opponent for Walker, and he simply didn't have the skill or athleticism to deal with Walker, who may be old but is still a chiseled 220 pounds.

Walker's victory wasn't a particularly good MMA fight, but it was enough that he'll surely get a third chance to fight for Strikeforce on Showtime if he wants it. And he sounded after the fight like he does want it.

"I love MMA," Walker said.

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Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Herschel Walker celebrates after beating Scott Carson in a Strikeforce heavyweight mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Walker won by technical knock out in the first round. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Jeff Chiu, AP

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Nick Diaz, left, punches Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, from Brazil, in the second round of a Strikeforce Welterweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Diaz won by submission in the second round to retain his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Nick Diaz, top, punches Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, from Brazil, in the second round of a Strikeforce Welterweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Diaz won by submission in the second round to retain his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, from Brazil, reacts after losing to Nick Diaz in the second round of a Strikeforce Welterweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Diaz won by submission in the second round to retain his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Nick Diaz celebrates after beating Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, from Brazil, in a Strikeforce Welterweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Diaz won by submission in the second round to retain his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, from Brazil, top, punches Robbie Lawler in the second round of a Strikeforce Middleweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Souza won by submission in the third round to retain his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, from Brazil, celebrates after beating Robbie Lawler by submission in the third round of a Strikeforce Middleweight Championship mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Souza retained his championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Former NFL football player Herschel Walker, left, punches Scott Carson during the first round of a Strikeforce heavyweight mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Walker won by technical knock out in the first round. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Former NFL football player Herschel Walker, top, tackles Scott Carson during the first round a Strikeforce heavyweight mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Walker won by technical knock out in the first round. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos

Roger Gracie, from Brazil, right, chokes Trevor Prangley in the first round of a Strikeforce light heavyweight mixed martial arts fight in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. Gracie won by first round submission. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Diaz vs. Cyborg Photos