Strikeforce and EliteXC stepped it up a notch when they paired Frank Shamrock and Cung Le together to fight for Shamrock’s Strikeforce Middleweight Title, and the crowd showed it. 17,000 people at the HP Pavilion in San Jose paid to see what turned out to be one of the best displays of talent, heart and skill that MMA has to offer.
The match that had the area split between their heroes Cung Le and Frank Shamrock was exciting from the start to the finish. I would have to give the edge in the first round to Shamrock and the second to Le, but it was the third round where both fighters really showed their hearts. Le came out and pounded on Shamrock in the early part of the round, then in the last two minutes of the round, Shamrock had Le in trouble. Shamrock hit him with vicious punches and a Knee strike to the face drawing blood from both sides of Le’s face and a large gash in his mouth. Then it happened, with about 10 seconds left in the round. Le threw a kick, Shamrock tried to block it with his right arm, breaking it in half. Shamrock back peddled towards the cage. Le quickly moved in throwing a combination. Shamrock tried to block with his left then answered with a right at the bell. Shamrock never made it back to his corner, going to a knee in pain. The ringside Physician stopped the match, giving the title to the new Champion Cung Le, and possibly starting a new era.
Team Sheilds Fighter Gilbert Melendez (14-1) retained his Strikeforce Lightweight Title with a KO victory over Miletich Fighter Gabe Lemley (11-7) at 2:18 of the 2nd round. Melendez took Lemley to the ground early in the 1st round. Lemley’s ground defense was able to hold off Melendez for about a minute. Then Melendez started to shower Lemley with straight rights, right hooks and hammer punches. Lemley was saved by the bell. In the 2nd round, Melendez took Lemley to the ground securing a side mount and dropped straight rights and hammers until referee Herb Dean stepped in to halt the match at 2:18 of the 2nd round due to strikes.
The big punch of the night belongs to Joe Villasenor (25-6) out of Albuquerque, NM in his match with Ryan Jensen (11-4). Villasenor is known for his heavy hands and thrilled the crowd with a straight left right combination that sent Ryan flying across the cage. The referee quickly jumped in to stop the match for a KO victory at 4:45 of the 1st round.
Submission specialist Drew “the Master” Fickett (32-5) submitted Jae Suk Lim (9-4) by guillotine choke at 1:14 of the 1st round.
Submission of the night goes to former University of Oklahoma All-American wrestling sensation Wayne Cole (11-6) out of Oklahoma City, OK. In his match with Mike Kyle (9-5-1) of San Jose, Ca. Cole locked in an arm bar and got Kyle to tap out at: 45 of the 1st round.
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