Strikeforce Diaz vs Cyborg Recap

Nick Diaz vs Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos

Both fighters came in the fight trying to find their range, but Cyborg was able to find a home for his leg kick early in round 1 giving some problems for Nick because Nick’s distance is usually closer to the opponent enabling him to land at will with his boxing.  Cyborg continues using the right leg kick throughtout the 1^st round.  Nick tags Cyborg through out the fight with combinations of straights and hook, without commiting 100% to any punch it lets his hands fly faster, doing so, he is able to overwhelm his opponents with multiple punches.  Each shot may not have knockout written on it but if you don’t dodge it, it will do damage.  Cyborg doesn’t use his distance well, when Diaz walks in he can’t land clean because he doesn’t have space to throw, he doesn’t use his feet.  His conditioning is questionable unable to keep what was working for him in the first round, the right leg kick to Nick’s lead leg.  He throws a lot of hooks and winging punches, though Nick takes a few he can see most of them coming and only getting caught here and there.  Nick straighter punches keep Cyborg moving back, the pressure of a taller fighter coming towards you is hard to train for.  The only time you see Nick back up in this fight was when Cyborg was using his leg kicks.  Only landing a big uppercut and a few hooks, Cyborg was getting gassed, unable to handle Nick’s stand up and decided to take Nick down.  Cybrog being gassed and Nick slap on a tight arm bar and finish the fight.  Nick Diaz improves his record to (24-7) with a 9 fight win streak.

Robbie Lawyer vs Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

Round 1 both fighters get their jitters out with movement on their feet, all that ends with a Souza takedown and easily works in to side control.  Souza, being a top BJJ practitioner, shows the difference skill levels on the ground with great ground control and always threatening with submissions.  Lawler does a great job of scrambling to his feet from side control using hand control to get out of any threats of head choke when scrambling.  They both trade punches as Souza back petals he is caught with a lead left knee by Lawler and starts doing the chicken dance while moving back as he is caught with another huge right hook.  Robbie spends time in Souza’s guard but is unable to put on any offense in passing or strikes.  Lack of action referee John McCarthy stands them up.  Robbie lands a big right liver kick and both fighters throw a flurry ending the round with a takedown attempt by Jacare.

Round 2 Jacare gets a takedown and gets side control and peppers Robbie with strikers trying to set up to mount or a submission.  Robbie is unable to maintain guard on the ground letting Jacare move back to side control quickly after a scramble.  With a leg bar attempt Souza chains an armbar attempt when Robbie tries to escape, and tries to slap on another armbar attempt but Robbie shows his own BJJ IQ by jumping over Jacare relieving the danger of another armbar.

Round 3 Souza starts his attack his a thai clinch landing some knees partially blocked by Lawlers arms as Lawler tries to counter with punches inside the muay thai plum.  The clinch ends up against the fense and Souza is able to take Robbie down again.  Robbie tries to get up giving Souza his back and Souza quickly does a wrestling “suck back” pulls Robbie quickly to the ground and Jacare quickly circles to Robbies back slaps on a body triangle and finishes the fight with a rear naked choke.  Ronaldo Souza ups his record to (14-2).

Herschel Walker vs Scott Carson

Round 1 Herschel Walker takes the center of the ring, Carson throws a right high kick that clips Walker but walker is unfazed and instead pumped up by the kick as he puts his hands down and yells at Carson.  They trade right hands both missing but Walker follows this up with a left hook, right hook combination, the left knocking Carson down.  Herschel follows him to the ground controlling him in the guard and from the back position hammering away.  Carson tries to escape by rolling to his guard and get up using the fence but is caught by a left hook by Walker and ends the fight.  Hershel Walker improves to (2-0) with 2 Tkos.

Roger Gracie vs Trevor Prangley

Round 1 Both fighters were slow to get started on their feet, both trying to find their range no one committing with any combinations or one punch.  Gracie being the taller fighter tries to establish his jab but ends up landing a few knees in the clinch pushing Prangley against the fence.  As they clinch again Gracie gets a front trip takedown.  Prangley stuck against the fence after the takedown was unable to use his legs to get into a good guard giving Gracie a full mount.  Gracie slowly works to get better position cross facing Prangley, as Prangley feels the danger he rolls to escape giving Gracie his back.  Gracie slaps on a body triangle and works to end the fight with a rear naked choke.  Gracie adds another submission win improving his record to (4-0) with 4 submissions.