This is the Strikeforce live blog for Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg, the women's 145-pound championship and the main event on the Showtime card Saturday night.Because the fight is a championship bout, Carano and Cyborg will have up to five rounds to battle it out. Also, for the first time in Strikeforce, a women's bout will go for five minutes per round instead of three.
Follow the live blog below.
Round one: Cyborg tries an early takedown and Gina ends up on top. Cyborg tries a leg lock. Gina escapes. Cyborg gets her back and Gina gets to her feet. Cyborg tries another takedown and Gina ends up on top again. Gina blasts her with a right, then backs away. Crowd is amazingly pumped for this fight. Cyborg hurt her with a couple punches against the fence. Gina backs away and looks OK. Carano landed a superman punch. Cyborg hurt her with another punch, Carano fell down and Cyborg landed more shots. Both women look tired. Cyborg scored a trip takedown with just less than a minute left. With 15 seconds left, Cyborg opened up on the downed Carano. Carano was trapped against the cage and Cyborg mounted her as Carano fell to her side. Cyborg landed a series of right hands as Carano turtled and covered up. Referee Josh Rosenthal stopped the fight at the bell. For a moment, there's some confusion if the fight is over, but Rosenthal called the fight just before the bell, and the official decision is a TKO at 4:59 of the first round.
Winner: Cyborg via TKO
With the win, Cyborg becomes the first-ever women's champion in a major U.S. MMA organization.
Carano vs. Cyborg
Cris Cyborg punches Gina Carano in the face at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Gina Carano's leg gets caught by Cris Cyborg at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (L) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Gina Carano punches Cris Cyborg in the face at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (R) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, top, punches Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Jeff Chiu, AP
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (Top) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, celebrates after beating Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, celebrates after beating Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Jeff Chiu, AP
Cris Cyborg celebrates her victory over Gina Carano to win the Strikeforce title on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Gegard Mousasi dominates the fight against Babalu Sobral, winning the fight in one minute at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
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