Good evening, everybody. Tonight from the heart of Dallas, Texas, Strikeforce presents “Strikeforce: Overeem vs Werdum” from the American Airlines Center. In quarterfinal action of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Josh Barnett will take on Brett Rogers while, in the main event of the evening, Alistair Overeem looks to avenge a 2006 loss to Fabricio Werdum.
Also on the card, rising star Daniel Cormier faces off against Jeff Monson, KJ Noons squares off with Jorge Masvidal, and Valentijn Overeem battles Chad Griggs.
Join us for our coverage beginning with live results at 8 PM ET, with our play by play kicking off at 10 PM ET.
Hey everyone, welcome to Inside Fights’ coverage of “Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum”. Tonight will see the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Chad Griggs vs. Valentijn Overeem
Round 1
Left hook from Griggs misses. Valentijn misses a high kick and Griggs takes his back. Overeem spins around and ends up pressed into the fence. Toss to the mat by Griggs who ends up in half guard. Griggs and Overeem end up in a wrist control battle. Griggs postures up and begins throwing bombs at Overeem. Overeem has no answer and the ref sees him tap due to strikes.
Winner: Chad Griggs by TKO (R1, strikes, 2:08)
Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson
Round 1
High kick from Cormier from is blocked. Cormier locks up with Monson in the center of the cage, but nothing comes out of it. Left from Monson misses. Inside leg kick from Cormier connect on Monson’s shin. Right hook and left connect on the chin of Monson who locks up with his opponent on the fence. The two break as Monson has a cut on his head. Right hand lands from Cormier. Monson eats a series of hooks. Straight right by Cormier connects in front of a big left that Monson tries to moves away from. Cormier lands several clean combinations before taking Monson to the fence. Left hook-right hand both land for Cormier. Cormier is taking the majority of the striking so far.
10-9 Cormier
Round 2
Head kick from Cormier barely misses. Left to the body from Monson. Monson slips on a strike, but Cormier lets him up. Left from Monson connects. Big hook over the top doesn’t find the mark for Monson. As the fighters break from a clinch on the cage, Monson lands a big right to the chin. Cormier misses on a high kick and Monson cannot shoot and take the takedown. Cormier continues to respond to the jab from Monson with big shots of his own. Cormier gets a hold of Monson against the fence and drives shots into his ribs. Cormier lets Monson free and lands great body kicks and once again lands tight punches. Big right connects for Cormier before he ties him against the fence. Cormier throws Monson to the mat after Monson tries to clinch on the cage. The round ends with both men on their feet.
10-9 Cormier
Round 3
Body kick from Cormier. Right punch and an uppercut land for Cormier. Jab lands for Monson. Monson takes a right hook when he steps in for a punch. Big shot rocks Monson. Left hook rocks Monson who tries to Cormier to the mat. Cormier lets him back to his feet and lets Monson back up, landing a left punch before pressing Monson against the fence. Small flurry from Cormier to the body. Monson tries to pull guard against Cormier and eats a punch on his knees before Cormier walks away to let him up. Cormier shoots in, but Monson stuffs a takedown and presses him against the cage. Both fighters are engaged on their feet and Cormier is able to connect with two leg kicks. Cormier is able to throw a big right high kick that lands right on the chin of Monson, who shrugs it off. Monson chases down Cormier as the fight ends, but he has had no answer all night for Cormier.
10-9 Cormier
Inside Fights scorecard has it 30-27 for Daniel Cormier.
Winner: Daniel Cormier by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
KJ Noons vs. Jorge Masvidal
Round 1
Noons comes in hard and is met with a leg kick. Another leg kick lands for Masvidal. Flying knee from Masvidal doesn’t land. Jab from Masvidal. Hook from Noons. Jab to the body for Masvidal. Noons continues to push the pace but isn’t landing much. Masvidal catches Noons with a knee in the clinch. Another flying knee from Masvidal lands on the neck. He quickly goes for a takedown and gets it. Noons seems to be going for a kimura. The fight kind of stalls there. Masvidal isn’t able to free his wrist. He finally does break free but Noons gets back to his feet. Jab from MAsvidal. Another knee attempt lands on Noons and it busts Noons open. They exchange jabs. Noons is having trouble seeing through the blood. Jab from MAsvidal. Noons comes back with some jabs of his own. Masvidal nails him with a big head kick and Masvidal leaps on him and starts working the ground and pound. Masvidal goes for a rear naked but looses the back. He keeps coming after him, Noons is gushing blood all over the mat. The round ends and Noons is lucky to survive the round. Masvidal 10-9.
Round 2
Noons is back out and ready to fight. Noons is pushing forward hard. The blood continues to flow in the second round. Noons’ right eye is beginning to close shut from swelling. Noons connects with left uppercut. Noons keeps coming at him and Masvidal is not emending properly. Double leg takedown from Masvidal but he is unable to keep Noons down. Noons is throwing big time shots but is not landing many clean. Single leg takedown for Masvidal, ends up in the full guard. Masvidal lands a forearm to the chin of Noons. Noons gets back to his feet. Leg kick lands for Noons. Big hook for Masvidal. Body shot for Masvidal to the liver. He goes for another single leg takedown but it is stuffed. The two are pushed up against the age and Masvidal is able to wrestle him back down to the mat. Noons gets control and tries to take advantage. Masvidal is working a good defense and gets back to his feet. Big right and knee for Masvidal. The round ends and it is another one for Masvidal. 10-9 Masvidal.
Round 3
Noons opens with a two punch combo. Noons lands another right though it has no steam behind it. Jab for Masvidal. Noons pushes in with another combo. Hook from Masvdal catches Noons coming in. Mor boxing though nothing significant. A few shots land for MAsvidal. Masvidal goes for a single leg and it is also stuffed. Uppercut from Noons glances off its target. Spinning back kick from Masvidal lands but does no damage. Hook from Noons. Noons misses a big shot. Single leg takedown for Masvidal. Noons gets up again, it seems to be at will but is certainly taxing the gas tank. Masvidal gets another takedown. He lands a shot to the busted up forehead of Noons. Masvidal is doing a good job of neutralizing Noons and lands a few shots. Noons finally gets back to his feet and slips in his own blood. Masvidal is holding on to that one leg for dear life. Noons tries to roll for a kneeler but can’t pull it off. The round ends and we’ll give the last round to Masvidal again 10-9. That gives Masvidal a clean 30-27 victory on the Inside Fights scorecard.
Jorge Masvidal def. KJ Noons via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Round 1
Leg kick from Rogers that is partially caught by Barnett. Barnett presses Rogers against the cage and scoops him for a big slam, despite Rogers trying to grab the top of the cage. Barnett ends up in side control after the slam. Rogers tries to scramble away but Josh Barnett gets him back to the mat and takes full mount. Rogers tries to push off the cage and get free, but Barnett ends up further onto the chest of Rogers. Barnett is peppering Rogers with several small punches and Rogers tries to burst out the back door. Barnett controls him again on the mat. The round ends with Barnett raining small punches.
10-9 Barnett
Round 2
Combination lands for Rogers. Rogers shoots in for a takedown, but Barnett rolls through and ends up in full mount again. Barnett gets the side choke locked in from mount and Rogers has to tap before he goes to sleep.
Winner: Josh Barnett by submission (R2, arm triangle, 1:17)
After the fight, Josh Barnett cuts a promo about skulls and gold. He’s a showman, for sure.
Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Round 1
Head kick from Werdum misses. Combination from Werdum misses, but he follows with a knee that just misses. Werdum shoots for a takedown, but Overeem shrugs it off. Leg kick from Werdum is caught and Overeem slams him to the mat. Overeem eats a leg kick that leads to Werdum on his back. Fabricio Werdum is getting frustrated with his early takedowns blocked. Overeem lands a big shot, but is dragged into guard. Werdum lands a leg kick and follows up with a series of punches. Werdum shoots in for another takedown that Overeem shrugs off. Big left from Alistair Overem connects. Overeem steps in and throws Werdum to the mat. Werdum motions to Overeem to come to fight on the mat with him, but Overeem smiles and walks away. With ten seconds to go, Werdum is tossed to the mat, but he maintains control of his opponent and works for a short time before the round ends.
10-9 Overeem
Round 2
Big right just misses by Overeem. Knees to the body in the clinch from Overeem. Werdum is able to wrestle Overeem to the mat. Werdum lands some dirty boxing on the fence. Werdum takes Overeem to the canvas with him, but he’s unable to get a triangle. Overeem continues to escape the guard of Werdum. Three big punches from Overeem connect clean and Werdum ties Alistair Overeem on the mat. Werdum is working hard on the mat but Overeem gets out of his guard. Big knee from Overeem lands on Werdum’s chin and Werdum works for an armbar that never materializes. The fighters are stood up by the referee and once again a knee lands cleanly on Werdum’s chin. He pulls guard and looks more like he’s resting than working at this point and Overeem is trying to free his arms to strike. The round expires with Overeem smothering Werdum.
10-9 Overeem
Round 3
Werdum comes out with several small shots and a knee that lands on the forearms of Overeem. Big right from Overeem lands and Werdum pulls guard that Overeem gets out of quickly. Again, a big right from Alistair Overeem sees Fabricio Werdum pulls guard again. Overeem stands back up. Werdum connects with a right and pulls guard again working for a submission. Overeem ends up on the top and Werdum has wrist control. Off the break where the ref stood them up, Overeem lands a knee to the body. Werdum pulls guard with under 30 seconds to go and rolls through for a knee bar but he cannot get the proper leverage need to get the submission as the clock ticks down to zero.
10-9 Overeem and 30-27 on Inside Fights scorecard for Overeem.
Winner: Alistair Overeem by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Main card (Showtime)
Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals
Preliminary Card (HDNet)
Todd Moore vs. Mike Bronzoulis
Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox (No decision following an accidental eye poke at 0:31 in round 2)
Conor Heun defeated Mango Almeida via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nah-Shon Burrell beat Joe Ray via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Isaac Vallie-Flagg beat Brian Melancon via unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
