Smith, Melendez win big at Strikeforce: ‘Evolution’

Results

Scott Smith welcomed Cung Le back to the fight world after the kickboxer spent some time in the movie industry. Ironically, Smith’s knockout victory was one fit for the silver screen.

Cung Le was completely dominate over Scott Smith at Strikeforce: “Evolution” for the first 13 minutes of the three round fight, until Scott Smith turned the tables and put away the stellar kickboxer.

Le nearly finished Smith in the first round with spinning-back kicks galore. At one point in the first, referee “Big” John McCarthy seemed very close to ending the contest when Smith ‘s defense against Le’s ground and pound seemed to be a little short of the intelligence standard the officials look for.

After a round that could have gone 10-8 to Le in the judges’ scorecards, and a second round that was not much better, Smith entered the third and final round with a knockout the only means of a victory.

And that is exactly what he got when a huge punch dropped Le shortly after the three minute mark of the round. Smith did not hesitate and continued to put on the pressure, finishing Le in the third and final round.

Prior to the crazy finish from the stone hands of Smith, Gilbert Melendez faced Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson in a bout to unify the belts.

Thomson started off strong, out-boxing Melendez for the entire five minutes of the first round. “The Punk” walked to his corner with his hand raised to the crowd.

However, the tides turned when Melendez managed to clearly outclass Thomson in the third round. That round was followed by another round that went to Melendez. After a very close fourth round, the Strikeforce announcers speculated that “The Punk” needed a finish to keep the grasp on his 155-pound belt.

The fifth round featured some exciting exchanges, but Thomson did not get the finish he was looking for, as Melendez walked away with the belt after a unanimous decision.

In a middleweight match up, Jacare Souza put on an absolute convention on the ground with his stunning Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

After a successful, but short stint in the stand up in the early part of the first round, the action transferred to the floor where Jacare started throwing on the submissions.

After surviving and armbar and an omoplata, Lindland was thrown into an arm triangle choke, causing him to tap out to the superior ground fighter. Jacare took a huge step towards the middleweight title he hopes for.

Also on the card, newly crowned mixed martial arts sensation King Mo Lawal absolutely obliterated Mike Whitehead in the first round of their heavyweight bout.

A sharp hook sent Whitehead to the mat, where King Mo went to work with highly effective ground and pound, putting Whitehead’s lights out.