Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor Edges Cyborg, Gurgel Tops Huen in Standup Brawl
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Jun 20, 2009 at 9:41 am ET4 Comments
Joey Villasenor edged Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos via split decision in the Strikeforce Challengers main event on Friday in Kent, Washington, but a “Fight of the Year” candidate between Jorge Gurgel and Conor Huen stole the show, as Gurgel topped Huen by unanimous decision in a standup brawl.
Tim Kennedy, Sarah Kaufman, and Luke Rockhold were also victorious on the Showtime-televised main card.
The event’s official results were:
- Joey Villasenor def. Evangelista Cyborg via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
- Tim Kennedy def. Nick Thompson via submission (strikes) — Round 2, 2:37
- Jorge Gurgel def. Conor Heun via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Sarah Kaufman def. Shayna Baszler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Luke Rockhold def. Corey Devela via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 0:30
- Dennis Hallman def. Justin Davis via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 0:20
- Brian Caraway def. Alex Zuniga via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Lyle Beerbohm def. Duane Ludwig via submission (schoolyard choke) — Round 1, 4:27
- Landon Showalter def. George Stork via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Len Bentley def. Marques Daniels via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Steve Hadsel def. Taylor Roberts via knockout (punches) — Round 1, 0:17
[Pictured: Jorge Gurel (left) and Conor Huen]
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gurgel looked really good, he gave out a beating and took one really well. so did his opponent huen. interesting that two jiu jitsu black belts decided to stand and bang, but that was a good fight.
the army ranger/sniper kennedy was too much for thompson imo, and even with 18 months in iraq/off he beat thompson. thompson may have a case about being hit in the back of the head, but thats on him. he turned away while kennedy was hitting him, thats his fault, its not like kennedy intentionally hit him in the head from my point of view.
cyborg looked like he gassed halfway through the second, even though that happened it was a good fight. cyborg was telegraphing that leg kick, and joe was telegraphing his right overhand the whole fight.
Maybe Gurgel and Huen decided to turn their match into a stand-up fight because they assumed their BJJ blackbelts would just sort of neutralize each other?
I also attributed the severity of the mutual beatdown partially to the fact that these ARE primarily grapplers, and strikers second, so maybe their stand-up defense isn’t all that they’d like it to be, and partially that these 2 guys just wanted to go out there and get after it and really entertain the crowd.
Regardless was a great fight to watch…
Good night of fights, kinda crzy thet the “worst” fight of the night was the main even, not saying that Cyborg (the guy version DbiZ) v Villasenor was a bad fight just imo it wasn’t the best fight of the night..
Gurgel v huen (?) Was an exciting fight forsure, but I do get frustrated with Gurgel why not use your jits hey guess whay guyy you’re pretty good at it use it once and a while… Never the less that was a good fight… And. Gurgel can do some good things in the LW division once he competes there, but if he stands with either Melendez or Thomson he will get ko’d
I went to my friend justin (s) place he had a lot of people over and emma brought the TV, and I realized that a majority of people viewing the StrikeForce card with me were immature ignorant and just well dumb as F, this ofcourse peaked during the Kaufmann v Baszler fight which was pretty good actually and we got to see the fight for 15mins which for most of us was the first time we had ever seen that… Good fight and well I think Tate v Bazler should be next. But hey I don’t do the match making I wonder who Kaufmann is going to fight?
My boy Rockhold again puts the beatdown on someone, in the Forums section there is a thread saying something about up and comers hey watch this kid 5~1 with 5 subs, plus he is actually quite humble…. His jitz is really good and he uses it WOW anyways good for Luke, he is better than cowboy karate
Tim Kennedy has always been awesome, and Nick was fighting a guy way stronger than him in a weight class that isn’t his… By no means is Thompson #10 in the world @ WW but he is good… Kennedy ownd Thompson from bell to Tappity Tap Tap, I wonder where Kennedy falls in the MW picture of StrikeForce..? I would like to see Nick Diaz fight either Kennedy or Thompson honestly
Remember when you didn’t need like 7 guys to do a broadcast? Remember when Murillo use to be good, and Qudros just annoyed u a bit yet didn’t want to make you throw your computer I mean tv threw the window… Pat Miletich com’on really? All I’m saying is damn it was brutal listening to them talk and well lie to the world about rankings and well how good so and so is… It just annoyed me a little that is all../rant
Hate I didn’t get to see these fights last night, will try to see them sometime soon.
I tried to leave a comment earlier from the mobile site but it didn’t go through, that comment was going to be, “Good to see Gurgel finally showed off some of those great ground skills… oh wait… never mind”.