Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez set for Strikeforce: Evolution - Dec 19th: Main Card: Josh...

Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez set for Strikeforce: Evolution - Dec 19th:

Main Card:
Josh Thomson (16-2) vs Gilbert Melendez (16-2) [LW Title Unification]
Cung Le (6-0) vs Scott Smith (16-6)
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (5-0) vs Mike Whitehead (24-6)
Matt Lindland (21-6) vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (10-2)
Robbie Lawler (18-5) vs TBA [Rumored Benji Radach (19-5)]

Undercard:
Scott Lighty (5-0) vs. Antwain Britt (9-3)

This Fan Shot was promoted to the front page by Nick Thomas.
HT: Gracie Fighter
Strikeforce: Evolution coverage

2 months ago MMASuPreMaCy 29 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

Even though he probably doesn’t have a chance, I’m rooting for Smith

by Shaun32887 on Nov 22, 2009 11:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, if Smith was smart and spent 5 minutes pre-fight learning a takedown...

then the fight is basically his.

by Razreshat on Nov 23, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You do realize that Le's wrestling is really good right?

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 23, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the jury is still out on whether its really good. Someone with a solid wrestling needs to come in a with a strategy dedicated to getting a takedown before i can say that its really good.

by Rabbit915 on Nov 23, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not 100% sure but I coulda swore I saw Cung at the Mandalay Bay Friday night.

by ufc4 on Nov 23, 2009 1:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

He was there with Anthony Johnson…

by MMAWrestling on Nov 23, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot they train together, I guess that was him. Now can you tell me why Jake Shields was there?

by ufc4 on Nov 23, 2009 2:18 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

He wanted to see some real competition at 170lbs?

by MMAWrestling on Nov 23, 2009 2:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess so, he was just kind of hanging around looking pretty, it was kinda weird.

by ufc4 on Nov 23, 2009 2:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Guys from other events are routinely at shows. Clay Guida and Miguel Torres were walking around at the Rogers/Fedor show…etc

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
MMA Editor - SBNation.com

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 23, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone tell me why Hendo, Nog, and Anderson Silva were at the last few Strikeforce shows? =)

They all train together and promote all over. Jake said he was there on a business trip.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ohmygawd! Hendo, Nog, and Silva are going to Strikeforce.

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really good card for the number 2 MMA promotion

In my opinion, these are some of the best fights that a promotion can get featuring non-UFC fighters. While many MMA fans hate Cung Le for him going to Hollywood, he is really fun to watch fight when he is against another striker. It is also just kind of rare these days to see him fight, so I am very pleased.
While Whitehead isn’t top ten or even top fifteen for Light Heavyweight, he is a very good test for King Mo, and is actually a pretty big step up in competition.

by chrisbboy82 on Nov 23, 2009 2:10 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I’ll watch this card. Very comparable to a Fight Night or TUF Finale.

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 3:36 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Id say its closer to a European UFC card although missing a main event that really jumps out at me.

by Rabbit915 on Nov 23, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

Yeah, its definitely above a TUF Finale, and it would have to be a heck of a Fight Night. I think its closer to a UFC 105, etc, like Rabbit mentioned above..

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cung Le vs Scott Smith is more or less Houston Alexander vs Kimbo Slice. Talent wise I know the Cung Le fight is better, but mostly people are drawn to Kimbo for his image and Cung Le for his style, not for what they’ve accomplished.

King Mo vs. Mike Whitehead= Matt Hamill vs Bones Jones. A top, up-and-coming prospect versus a quality vet.

Lawler vs Raddach is a little better than Nelson vs Marcus (my quess at the finale) only because Marcus has no track record.

Of course, Lindland vs. Jacare is better than anything on either the TUF Finale or Fight Night, but it isn’t quit Couture vs. Vera, so it’s somewhere between TUF Finale and 105. Whatever it is, it’s a pretty good night.

And if Gil and Thompson are on it I’ll say it’s then as good as a European card,

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Consider what they've done before MMA.

Cung Le was a Sanshou champion and undefeated in the ring. Kimbo Slice punched some dudes on Youtube and still had at least one loss. One has a legit combat sports record, the other dude brawls wherever there’s a camcorder. Saying people are drawn to them for the same reasons isn’t valid, and saying it’s not based on accomplishment for Cung is a big stretch.

by pdl on Nov 23, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

You're right

I should have been much more specific. Please revise it to say:

Cung Le vs Scott Smith is more or less Houston Alexander vs Kimbo Slice. Talent wise I know the Cung Le fight is better, and there is no comparison in background or talent level between Cung Le and Kimbo. Tthe only reason I make the comparison is because they both are fighters who draw interest because of what they did before they got in the sport, not for what they’ve accomplished in the cage so far.

I almost feel I should write Mr. Le an apology.

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 8:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about anyone else, but I hate Cung Le...

because he is basically one dimensional and has been fed a diet of fighters who are either completely incapable of taking advantage of his weaknesses, or unwilling…then discussed as some great champion.

by Razreshat on Nov 23, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thus why he let the belt go and is now trying to prove himself against better fighters.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What are the odds Thomson and Melendez actually happens without some freak injury? This fight is cursed.

by The_Gaijin on Nov 23, 2009 9:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What I was gonna say

Pleeeeeease let this fight finally happen..

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Nov 23, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rumored Strikeforce Jan 30th Event From Miami:

Main Card:
Nick Diaz(20-7) vs Jay Hieron (18-4) [WW Title]
Cris Cyborg (8-1) vs Marloes Coenen (17-3) [145 lb Title]
Herschel Walker(0-0) vs TBA

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

MMASuPreMacy, any word on these rumors:
Arlovski signing with Strikeforce
Bobby Lashley signing with Strikeforce and fighting Ron Waterman
Will marius zaromskis be on this card?
Does the Fedor-Barnett rumor have any truth to it?
And isn’t Frank Shamrock supposed to be fighting soon?

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

- Arlovski, Lashley will most likely sign (or make a choice) before the event.
- Marius could fight on this card, but it all depends what happens on his NYE fight in Dynamite.
- Fedor-Barnett could happen in DREAM around Feb-March, but Fedor has as good a chance fighting in Strikeforce against Overeem. They may wait to put Fedor on CBS and hopefully but Gina on the same card.
- Frank Shamrock is supposed to fight in February, I believe.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks. You save me a lot of time.
One idea: why doesn’t Strikeforce let Dream do a Fedor-Barnett fight, and Strikeforce can do a Overeem-Werdum fight to build up either fighters for a future matchup with Fedor. If you do both on the same Saturday you could tape delay the Fedor-Barnett match and broadcast it the same night as Overeem-Werdum. Throw in the much talked about Henderson-Mousasi fight (anyone have any word on Hendo?) and you have a great CBS card to play after the Superbowl and before the UFC’s big stars start coming back. So you have a lineup of:
Bobby Lashley vs Ron Waterman ?
Hendo vs Gegard
Overeem vs Werdum
Fedor vs Barnett (tape delayed)
A great card and you save some money on the main event because Dream picks some of it up. Then later you can do Fedor-Overeem (or Werdum) with Gina on the card. Just an idea.

by nottheface on Nov 23, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Strikeforce is definitely considering all of these options. Another thing to consider is that FEG is in the middle of dealing with WVR right now. Depending how those talks go, it could change some things very quickly.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Nov 23, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs