This is the Strikeforce live blog for Mike Kyle vs. Fabricio Werdum, a battle of heavyweights on the Showtime card Saturday night. Werdum would have challenged for the belt had champion Alistair Overeem not withdrawn due to a lingering hand injury. In taking on Kyle out of the American Kickboxing Academy, Werdum is accepting the risk that an upset loss may pull him away from a title shot or a possible bout against Fedor Emelianenko.
Follow the live blog below.
Round one: Longtime Japanese referee Yuji Shimada officiates. Kyle opens up with punches and Werdum counters. Werdum reaches down for a takedown and goes back up with a combo of punches. Kyle catches a leg but Werdum avoids the takedown. Werdum shoots for the single and takes Kyle down. Kyle attempts a slick armbar but Werdum escapes. Werdum locks in a guillotine in closed guard and Kyle taps.
Werdum wins via submission (guillotine choke ) - first round, 1:24
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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