Scott Coker and company invade “The Sunshine State” this evening with the promotion’s first event of the new year, Strikeforce: “Miami”. The event is set for the BankAtlantic Center in Miami, Florida and will be live on Showtime with the main card beginning at 10p.m. ET.
The card features the debut of two extremely-hyped heavyweights in Herschel Walker and Bobby Lashely. The main event of the evening is a welterweight title showdown between Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis for the vacant 170-pound title. A middleweight bout between stand up sensation Melvin Manhoef and top contender Robbie Lawler is also set for the main card.
However, the men will not be the only ones throwing down this night, as Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Marloes Coenen will battle for the women’s 145-pound title that “Cyborg” won after defeating Gina Carano at Strikeforce: “Carano vs. Cyborg”.
The event will be live on Showtime, but for those of you without access to the channel, Inside Fights will be bringing you live blow-by-blow updates for tonight’s fights. Keep up with every round tonight and don’t miss a beat by joining us for the evening’s festivities.
Live blog will begin in a few hours.
Quick Results:
Nick Diaz defeats Marius Zaromskis for vacant 170-pound title via technical knockout
– Strikeforce women’s 145-pound champion Cristiane Santos defeats Marloes Coenen via technical knockout
– Herschel Walker defeats Greg Nagy via technical knockout in Round 3
– Robbie Lawler defeats Melvin Manhoef in Round 1
– Bobby Lashley defeats Wes Sims via technical knockout at 2:06 of Round 1
– Jay Hieron defeats Joe Riggs via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
– Pablo Alfonso defeats Marcos DaMatta via submission (arm bar) at 1:47 of Round 1
– Michael Byrnes vs. David Zitnik (postponed)
– David Gomez defeats Craig Oxley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
– Joe Ray defeats John Clarke via technical knockout at 3:14 of Round 1
– Hayder Hassan defeats Ryan Keenan via knockout at 2:42 of Round 2
– John Kelly defeats Sabah Homasi via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:48 of Round 2
ROUND BY ROUND UPDATES FROM STRIKEFORCE: “MIAMI” MAIN CARD
Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis for vacant welterweight title
Round 1-
Zaromskis comes right out with a kick. The two exchange and Diaz seems to be getting the better of Zaromskis. Diaz looks for a single-leg takedown and works some knees. And some more knees. Diaz continues delivering knees and gets a takedown, but Zaromskis stands up. Diaz continues with the combinations, but Zaromskis nails him with a big shot. Zaromskis ends up on top of Diaz, who is bleeding. The two stand and bang again. Diaz catches a kick and the two clinch. The crowd begins to scream Diaz’s name, as the Stockton, Calif. native works the knees again. The two separate and Diaz continues to throw punch after punch. Zaromskis is getting abused by Diaz’s clear reach advantage. Huge shot by Diaz, who moes in for the kill. Zaromskis is extremely shaky on the feet and Diaz nails with another shot. Zaromskis hits the floor and is saved by the referee. What an incredible performance by Nick Diaz, the new Strikeforce welterweight champion.
Result: Diaz defeats Zaromskis via technical knockout in Round 1
145-pound women’s Strikeforce champion Cristiane ”Cyborg” Santos vs. Marloes Coenen
Round 1-
The two women come out swinging. The two clinch, throw some punches, and clinch again. Santos scores a takedown, and Coenen works for a submission. Santos jumps out of Coenen’s guard, delivers some bombs, and falls back into Coenen’s guard. “Cyborg” continues to throw down on Coenen, who is up against the cage. Coenen continues to work for a submission, but nothing seems to be open. Coenen starts with the upkicks, as Santos stands. The referee stands them back up, and Santos starts landing some big blows. Coenen needs to get a takedown if she wants to avoid these bombs. Coenen has Santos up against the cage and issues some knees and foot-stomps. Santos reverses the positions and starts with some knees of her own. Coenen exits the clinch with an elbow. Coenen continues to stand and bang with the superior striker, as the round ends with a spinning-back kick, courtesy of “Cyborg”.
Round 2-
Coenen gets knocked to the ground right off the bat. “Cyborg” goes in for the kill, but Coenen nails her with a vicious up-kick to the body. Santos moves to side-mount, but Coenen gets the full guard back. The two begin to go to work on the ground, and Coenen continues to look for a submission, as Santos issues a little ground and pound. Coenen is up against the cage in a closed guard. Santos stands up and calls Coenen up. Coenen misses with a big left hook. Santos lands a big shot. Coenen goes for the takedown, but Santos sprawls and avoids it. Coenen ends up on her back again and works for a submission, but fails to secure one. Santos dives back into Coenen’s guard and begins to throw down on her opponent. Santos pushes Coenen back up against the cage. The bell rings, as “Cyborg” wins the second round of the fight.
Round 3-
Coenen goes for a takedown and drives Santos into the cage. Coenen has Santos up against the cage. Santos breaks out and begins throwing some big punches. Santos gets Coenen down and is in half-guard. “Cyborg” working some ground and pound. Coenen gets back to full guard and seems to be working at a submission. Santos jumps out of guard, and the two are back to their feet. Coenen lands a huge right hand, but Santos seems unaffected. Coenen is back on the floor, and Santos is throwing down some bombs. Coenen clings to “Cyborg’s” leg as the referee stops the fight due to strikes.
Result: Santos defeats Coenen via technical knockout in Round 3
Melvin Manhoef vs. Robbie Lawler
Round 1-
The two spend the first thirty seconds without much action. Both men start the action with some kicks, but immediately go back to the feeling out process. Manhoef lands a nice body kick, followed by a solid left punch to the body. The two continue to exchange kicks. Lawler takes a shot and looks a little shaky, but it certainly could have been a mind game of sorts. Manhoef continues to bring the strikes with some incredible combinations. Manhoef moves in, as Lawler has his back to the cage, and continues to throw kicks. Lawler is getting completely outclassed on the feet. Out of nowhere, Robbie Lawler lands a huge shot that puts Manhoef to the floor. Lawler finishes the fight and limps around the octagon with what appears to be an injured leg.
Result: Lawler defeats Manhoef via knockout in Round 1
Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy
Round 1-
Each fighter lands a quick jab, as they circle around the ring with Walker in the center. Walker lands some leg kicks and begins to do a little dance. Walker tries to get Nagy into an exchange, and Nagy shoots. Herschel stuffs the takedown and gets on top of Nagy and works towards the back. Walker gets the mount and begins throwing heavy shots down onto his opponent. Nagy seems to be looking for a submission, which is probably his only chance at victory. Walker is still on top, but Nagy appears to be working towards a leg lock. Nagy moves for the heel hook, but Walker is able to move out of it and immediately resumes his position of top control. Walker moves to north-south position and back to side control. Nagy is getting smothered, but doesn’t appear to have taken any excessive damage. Walker traps Nagy’s right arm and begins to throw down some ground and pound. Nagy struggles for a better position and is saved by the bell. Round 1 was all Herschel Walker.
Round 2-
Nagy and Walker begin the second round with a “feeling out” process. The two clinch in the center of the ring, and Walker gets a powerful takedown. Walker is smothering Nagy, who is simply covering up. Walker takes the back and works for some hooks. Nagy is completely flattened, as Walker patiently works. Walker gets a high mount, and Nagy tries anything to work him off, but to no avail. Nagy gets out, but Walker quickly gets back on top. The crowd screams for a knee, and Walker gladly obliges. The two hit the mats again, and, you guessed it, Walker is back on top. Nagy struggles, while Walker effortlessly moves around on the ground, controlling Nagy every second of the way. Walker flattens Nagy out and issues some ground and pound. Nagy is going to have to do something, or the referee is going to call a stop to this one. Nagy gives Walker the mount, and the former professional football player goes back to work. Walker finishes another solid round on top of Nagy, who is definitely down on the scorecards.
Round 3-
Walker clinches with Nagy and the two are up against the fence. The two end up on the ground once again with Walker on top. Walker takes the full mount effortlessly and traps Nagy’s left arm. Nagy tries to walk the cage, but Walker continues to dictate the fight. Strikeforce announcers are calling for a finish from Walker, who takes Nagy’s back once again. Nagy doing little to defend the ground and pound, as the referee stops the fight. Walker dominates in his mixed martial arts debut.
Result: Walker defeats Nagy via technical knockout in Round 3
Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims
Round 1-
Wes Sims begins with some mind tricks, perhaps attempting to make up for the poor shape he is in. Lashley throws a flurry, but none land. Lashley gets a takedown and gets peppered with some short right hands. Sims attempts a submission, but comes nowhere close. Lashley continues to pound away on the ground with Sims on his back in the full guard. Sims takes some huge bombs, as Lashley continues to pound away. Lashley takes his back, issues some blows, and the referee pulls Lashley off, ending the fight at 2:06 of Round 1. Sims is clearly upset with the stoppage, and, for what it’s worth, he may actually have a case.
Result: Lashley defeats Sims via technical knockout in Round 1
Thanks for joining Inside Fights for this evening’s live blog. Stick around for further coverage of tonight’s fights, along with all the fights in the future.
