Nick Diaz (left) and Gilbert Melendez (right)
Live results and commentary from Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
SAN DIEGO– HeavyMMA.com is live and on the scene in San Diego, California for “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley” this evening.
The card features a welterweight title fight between champion Nick Diaz and heavy-handed striker Paul Daley, along with a lightweight championship between title-holder Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Also on the Showtime broadcast, former UFC light heavyweight contender Keith Jardine looks to get back on track in a major promotion against former Strikeforce 205 lb. champ Gegard Mousasi, while Japanese submission ace Shinya Aoki faces off against Lyle Beerbohm in the main card’s opener.
Join us at 10 p.m. ET for live round-by-round results for this evening’s main card.
Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm
Round 1 – Fighters touch gloves, and Aoki throws a leg kick. Beerbohm shoots in for the takedown, but Aoki stuffs it. Both fighters are wearing interesting shorts, and Aoki drags the fight down to the floor. This spells trouble for Beerbohm. Aoki moves to his opponent’s back and is cranking Beerbohm’s neck. He forces the tap and displays his stellar submission game once again. The loss is Beerbohm’s second in a row.
Official Decision: Aoki def. Beerbohm via submission at 1:33 of Round 1
Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine
Round 1 – Jardine misses with a right and looks for the takedown. He nearly gets it, but Mousasi defends nicely. Jardine is looking to stay busy, while his opponent looks incredibly calm, as usual. Jardine misses with a jab, but lands a leg kick. Mousasi clinches against the cage, but the separate almost immediately. Jardine now looking for the takedown, trying to pick Mousasi up off the ground. He has the takedown and is looking to transition. He has Mousasi’s back, but can’t hold it. Mousasi stands up, but is taken down almost immediately after. Jardine lets him stand up, but eats a right hand. Mousasi rushes forward. He lands several shots, and Jardine looks exhausted. Still, he manages to land the takedown. He takes an upkick, causing a pause to the fight due to the illegal strike. Jardine is recovering, while the long-bearded referee looks on. He is okay, and Mousasi is deducted a point. The former champion swings after the fight is restarted, but doesn’t land. Solid knee scores for Jardine. 10 seconds remain, and Mousasi lands a kick before the round comes to a close. HeavyMMA scores it 10-9 for Jardine.
Round 2 – Jardine lands a leg kick to start the second frame, but Mousasi lands one of his own. Right hook glances off Jardine, who looks for the takedown. Mousasi stuffs it, thinks about a choke, but lets it go. Leg kick lands for Mousasi. He is hunting his opponent down. Body shot lands flush for Mousasi. Jardine leads with a hook, but eats a leg kick again. He is continuously circling away from the former champ, as blood streams down his face. He takes another leg kick and looks for a takedown, but he can’t get it. Mousasi throws, but Jardine counters with a takedown. He earns it and lands in Mousasi’s guard. Mousasi scrambles and is back to his feet. He lands a body kick, followed by a solid combination. But Jardine earns another takedown with under one minute to go. Mousasi stands back up, and Jardine looks exhausted. 10 seconds to go, and not much action happening. HeavyMMA scores the round 10-9 for Mousasi.
Round 3 – Fighters touch gloves and we are set for the final round. Mousasi swings and lands. Fight is stopped again, this time after a low blow. Action is resumed, and the fighters exchange. Up against the cage now, Jardine looks for the takedown. Elbows score for Mousasi, and the fighters separate. Mousasi scores a very nice takedown and looks for a guillotine choke. It looks deep, but Jardine pulls out of it somehow. Again, Mousasi gets a takedown. He is in half guard right now, working elbows and punches. Full mount for Mousasi. Jardine rolls and avoids any damage. He is back up and looking for a takedown again. They separate again, and the referee separates them again. Mousasi lost his mouthpiece, and they are back in action again. Mousasi lands a right, and Jardine looks spent. Lead jab scores for Mousasi and he looks for a takedown. He has it and is looking for a kimura. One minute remains in the fight. Jardine looks to throw up his legs, but Mousasi brushes it off, looking for ground and pound. 10 seconds to go. Body shots land for Mousasi, but Jardine throws on an armbar. Mousasi escapes, and the round comes to a close. HeavyMMA scores the round 10-9 for Mousasi, but considering the point deduction, a draw seems to be the likely outcome.
Official Decision: Mousasi and Jardine fight to a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Round 1 – The fighters miss early, but Melendez scores a big right hand that drops his opponent. Kawajiri is back up, but eats another right hand. Brief scramble, but they are back up on the feet. Melendez takes a big kick. He comes back by tagging the top contender, dazing him badly. Kawajiri is in trouble, as Melendez takes his back. He has one hook in, throwing elbows. Kawajiri stands back up, but he eats several uppercuts. Almost midway through the round, and the fighters separate. Kawajiri misses with a kick, while Melendez misses with another right, and now a left. The right hand scores again for Melendez. Kawajiri is getting destroyed here. Melendez moves to mount when the fight hits the floor and lands several vicious elbows to force the stoppage. Brutal, brutal, brutal performance by Melendez.
Official Decision: Melendez def. Kawajiri via technical knockout at 3:14 of Round 1
Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley
Round 1 – Diaz taunts the challenger early, but eats a leg kick. Jab scores for Diaz. Daley lands a big shot, and Diaz is floored. He throws a kick that was almost illegal, but Diaz is back up. Clinch against the cage, but they separate. Diaz needs to avoid the striking game, though he probably will not. Body shots for Diaz against the cage. Daley throws a knee and covers up. Daley is getting tagged, but gets the takedown. Diaz on his back here, throwing short punches. Daley stands up, but the champion grabs a leg. The challenger separates, but gets nailed with a combination. Diaz working the body, and they clinch. Elbows from Diaz, but Daley lands a knee. These two are going at it. Diaz gets hit with a big shot and drops. Daley jumps into his opponent’s guard, but Diaz, who looked all but done, seems to have recovered. They are back up with 30 seconds remaining. Diaz hits Daley with several shots. Daley staggers backwards and falls to the floor. Diaz follows with several shots to his downed opponent, forcing the stoppage with just moments remaining. Incredible round.
Official Decision: Diaz def. Daley via technical knockout at 4:57 of Round 1