Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz” Results: Diaz Stops Shamrock, Melendez Knocks Out Damm
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Apr 12, 2009 at 12:29 am ET26 Comments
Nick Diaz
- Nick Diaz def. Frank Shamrock via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 3:57
- Gilbert Melendez def. Rodrigo Damm via KO (punches) — Round 2, 2:02
Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Championship - Scott Smith def. Benji Radach via KO (punches) — Round 3, 3:24
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos def. Hitomi Akano via TKO (strikes) — Round 3, 0:35
- Brett Rogers def. Ron “Abongo” Humphrey via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 1:38
- Luke Rockhold def. Buck Meredith via submission (head and arm choke) — Round 1, 4:07
- Eric Lawson def. Waylon Kennell via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 4:54
- Raul Castillo def. Brandon Michaels via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 1:45
- James Terry def. Zak Bucia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Shingo Kohara def. Jeremy Tavares via KO (knee) — Round 2, 0:04
For complete Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz coverage check out our live blog replay.
Tags: Benji Radach, Brandon Michaels, Brett Rogers, Buck Meredith, Cristiane Cyborg, Eric Lawson, Frank Shamrock, gilbert melendez, Hitomi Akano, James Terry, Jeremy Tavares, Luke Rockhold, Nick Diaz, Raul Castillo, Rodrigo Damm, Ron Humphrey, Scott Smith, Shingo Kohara, Waylon Kennell, Zak Bucia
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I felt like Damm was put in there to get beat up, I personally overrated his ground game, but in that fight, it was obvious that he was out classed.
Shamrock v. Diaz: I was really disappointed in Frank’s performance, I really hoped to see him beat Diaz. Frank looked outclassed, and that was wholly unexpected. I also found it odd that Shamrock got booed in his hometown.
*side note- I guess when Diaz called Melendez “my partner” he meant “my training partner”… just struck me as odd, especially when he was like “get my partner in here, get my partner in here, let my partner in, let my partner in”.
Those are the only two fights I’ve seen so far, watching the others now.
I think you’ll largely enjoy what you see. It was a great night of fights for the “new” Strikeforce. I really liked the production, even with the numerous annoying quotes (young lion, old lion) and Cung Le’s interview.
The partner thing cracked me up. I knew what he meant but couldn’t stop thinking about him meaning “life partner” or something. I think the rib injury hampered Frank more than he’ll admit, but I think he’s still got some fights left in him.
I’m not sure I overestimated Damm as much as I underestimated Melendez’s wrestling and ability to completely neutralize everything Damm brought to the table. A lot more excited so see Melendez-Thomson II now though.
Yeah, definitely more interested in Melendez v. Thomson 2 now after that fight.
Just finished watching Rogers’ fight, he pounded that guy. His striking is pretty good, and he’s a huge fighter, taller than Lesnar, weighs about the same, and seems to carry that weight a little better. Abungo was outmatched, but I do think Rogers v. Overeem could be a very interesting fight later this year for the Strikeforce HW belt.
I was just impressed by Diaz’s whale tail during the fight
Just finished watching the rest of the fights. I read on some sites going into tonight that some people thought some of the matches were setup to be smash matches, and I can see where those people were coming from, especially with Rogers v. Abungo, and Cyborg v. Akano (Akano normally fights at 128 and this fight was at 145, WTHeck?!)
Smith v. Radach was a pretty good fight, and I definitely think that Smith was out a few times. At least one of those times, when smith had the single leg, I think the lack of elbows to a downed opponent really helped Smith to be able to survive at that point.
side note – T~shirt guy is a masseuse… more interesting info on Atencio from Smith.
Great night for the Diaz camp! That Cung Le interview was painful to watch… is he dim witted and/or just high?
get in there diaz. man i wish he’d come bak into the ufc, ne1 no were i can see this fight?
MMALinker
Pretty good night of fights i thought i’m glad most agree from what i read.Very dissappointed in shamrocks perfomance i wanted him to knock that pissed off grin off of diaz’s face.Frank did not seem himself at all.I can’t help but think frank was still injured.But props to diaz he looked good.My only problem with the event was mauro what ever his name is,he looked so uncomfortable.I thought he might look different this time around.And gus johnson looked like he was in there at gun point.He looked very disinterested.but other than that good job strikeforce.
great night of fights from strikeforce, was excited to see big john back inside… anyone know if he is back for good or just with strikeforce/affliction? like to see him ref ufc main events agian in the future…
Big John is back in California, and maybe a couple other states. If the UFC goes to CA you may see him back in there, but then you may not. When he “retired” he came out with a lot of negative stuff about the UFC and some of the Athletic Commissions (Nevada included). To date he hasn’t reapplied to any athletic commissions besides the ones he is already licensed in again. (CA, and the “couple other states” I mentioned above)
I know the athletic commissions send their own refs to mma events, but can the UFC or Strikeforce request certain refs and exclude others?
Technically the promotion can’t pick and choose refs, but the fighters can.
Fighters can only petition to not have certain refs involved in their respective matches ie Brock not wanting the Maz to ref the rematch with Muur, its not as tho they get to ask for specific refs………
*Happy Easter and such
rogers looked good, his muay thai was nice and had great knees. cyborg destroyed her opponent but she had at least 15 pounds on her. its like gsp-bj. cyborg wont walk through gina the same way but I think she will beat gina. I was unimpressed by frank and nick. nick was talking trash the entire fight which I thought would have fired up frank, but frank just didnt look like he was a 100%. the cung le interview was weird. mauro asked how he liked doing movies and cung said he enjoyed strikeforce… I was like wtf. mauro’s voice gets on my nerves I cant stand it. he tries to get excited liked joe rogan or goldberg, it just doesnt work. overall I think it was a decent card, I would like to see overreem in strikeforce though.
Cung L(am)e: “I like MMA more, until I punched. then I like movies more.”
Really? Then turn your belt in a gtfo you nancy poser.
Overeem is the Strikeforce champ at HW.
Mauro was a commentator in the beginning on a local show where I lived called “All STar Wrestling ” out of Vancouver BC . He was 16 and I think he won the position of announcer for a day on the radio as a promo . He basically sounds the same as he did then with the over toned voice and the nerdy dramatics .For some reason they kept him on the show and it went off the air a year or two later . He’s done alot of wrestling programs in the past and should have stuck to that avenue of broadcasting. Other than him it was a good show … not a bunch of BS in between the fights , and the smith -benji fight was classic . The no elbows to the grounded opponent makes for a better fight IMO .Less needless cuts and bad stoppages .
Mauro knows a poop load more about mma and basic command of English and its nuances than Goldberg could ever dream. Yeah, Goldberg sounds a lot cooler and dare I say, manlier, but he’s garbage as far as knowledge and English. The guys been in the game for over 10 years and he still calls hooks jabs and straights uppercuts. And listen to how often he misuses the simple term irony. At least 3 times per UFC he misuses irony. And lets not forget how much he gets in Rogan’s face when they’re doing pre event promos.
Yeah, I know it’s not a “Let’s go Mauro, I hate you Goldberg” thread, but I like Mauro and think he always does a good job with the partner he’s given. He also does a great job on Inside MMA on HDNet, although I do agree that he can be over the top; but, hey, it’s his job to at least make the events sound exciting even when they may not be.
I watch inside the MMA every week and i’ve never noticed mauro.What roll does he play on the show?Kenny,bas,kruck,thats all i ever see.And i think people are annoyed by his manorisms than anything else.
It was a very enjoyable production. The Cyborg fight did look a little questionable given the weight difference. Props to Damm for taking the fight on short notice. Nice to see Nick win and prove he is a sportsman…
Well, I have to officially eat my own words. I really thought Diaz was going to be the sacrificial lamb to Shamrock’s comeback after his surgery. I have NEVER been impress with Diaz’s boxing, despite what MMAWeekly has said, and probably others. His weird unorthodox style is often design to throw a lot of punches, but do no real damage, and often times he leaves his chin facing sky high, but last night he was seriously frustrating Shamrock to no end. Shamrock has outboxed Phil Baroni (who is a slugger, I know, but it still says something) and really looked pretty good in the stand-up against Cung Lee before the arm breaking. Diaz went in there and fought a great fight. Hate his attitude, but he got it done.
Scott Smith REALLY needs to work on head movement. I just don’t understand how he can have this many fights and train with really good boxers at Xtreme Couture and still come out so stiff. He does have a great chin and powerful punching but man he really needs to change levels more often.
Cyborg scares me. Yes I also think she was fed a fairly easy win, but she weight in at the same weight I use to fight at!!! (155) Scary woman.
On the contrary i’ve always thought diaz’s boxing is kool dude. He’s shown great boxing in the lawlor, gomi and shamrock fights.
I’m happy nick diaz won. I don’t like the shamrocks
It was awesome to see Diaz beat Shamrock. Frank thinks he’s better that what he actually is. I know Diaz talks a lot of crap, but he’s still a good fighter and i just plain in simple don’t like Frank Shamrock.