Strikeforce Challengers 7 Fight Results - March 26 Strikeforce Results & Recap
The 7th edition of the Strikeforce Challengers Series took place on March 26, 2010 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, and was televised on Showtime. Find the fight results from Strikeforce Challengers 7 below as well as our recap of the televised fights followed by the official Strikeforce Challengers 7 results and find historic Strikeforce results online here at ProFighting-fans.com.
Strikeforce Challengers VII took place Friday night in Fresno, California at the Save Mart Center live on Showtime in what featured an eventful night of submissions, knockouts, and controversy. In the span of two hours, Strikeforce Challengers VII offered the hardcore MMA fans some solid fights to wet the palette for Saturday Night’s UFC 111. From the impressive kickboxing showcase of Justin Wilcox and the controversial Stewart/Galvao decision, to the Lavar Johnson climatic KO finish, the MMA universe was changed forever. 10 fighters entered the Strikeforce cage hoping to fulfill their dreams and propel themselves to the top of the organization. Some succeeded, some failed. Here is where the 10 mixed martial artists stand now in their respective divisions, Strikeforce, and MMA following the event.
Justin Wilcox vs. Shamar Bailey
Loser: Shamar Bailey – For all the heart Bailey showed in the fight, he looked slow and sluggish having to cut down to 160 pounds. From the beginning of the fight to the final bell, Bailey looked uncomfortable and awkward in the cage. His now 10-2 record is misleading, as there are numerous holes in his game that must be fixed if he ever wishes to compete against top competition. It is nearly impossible nowadays for a one-dimensional fighter to win in the top organizations, and even the more unlikely when that fighter’s one dimension, in Bailey’s case wrestling, isn’t the best in the division. There is a lot for Bailey to take away from this fight, hopefully he learns from it and improves his stand up game drastically, otherwise he will never make it in this fast-evolving sport.
Winner: Justin Wilcox– Wilcox was a tremendous surprise Friday night, showcasing an adequate striking game to go along with his solid wrestling. It was evident from the start of the first round, when he cut Bailey’s forehead open with a right high kick, that his training at AKA is really starting to pay dividends. The only flaw in Wilcox’s performance was his inability to finish a floundering Bailey. As he takes on better opponents Wilcox’s striking will not come so easy, he will need to continue to improve his stand-up with AKA coach Javier Mendez if he hopes to have a chance one day at a title shot.
Zoila Frausto vs. Miesha Tate
Loser: Zolia Frausto – Frausto demonstrated some powerful, though inaccurate, strikes which make her a threat each time she steps into the cage. But her takedown defense left something to be desired. Tate, a good wrestler, was able to put Frausto on her back too frequently for Frausto to have a good chance at winning the fight on her feet. Her will to overcome Tate’s choke in round 2 was impressive, and her courage to wiggle free from the eventual fight ending armbar was the mark of a future contender. At 26, she has plenty of time to improve and someday be that contender, but whether or not she can in a financially unstable woman’s division is another story.
Winner: Miesha Tate – Tate implemented her game-plan and in the process added another impressive win to her record. Her wrestling is good, but her striking needs work. If she wants to take the title away from Kaufman, she can’t rely solely on her ability to take the fight to the ground. A Miesha Tate with adequate striking skills would be a nightmare for any woman in the 135 pound division. At 23, she too has plenty of time to improve, but with a diminished pool of talent, her title shoot will come sooner rather than later. So Tate better start hitting the pads again on Monday or the opportunity to capture the most prestigious women’s 135 pound title will continue to elude her.
Luke Stewart vs. Andre Galvao
Loser: Luke Stewart – Many will argue, as the Showtime Strikeforce commentary team did, that Stewart was robbed, but the fact is, he didn’t do enough to warrant the decision a “robbery.” For every beautiful sweep Stewart pulled off, he was also taken down; for every submission he escaped, he was pounded on the ground. While this goes down as a loss, all the publicity garnered from the so called “robbery” decision will only help his marketability, combined with the fact that he was able to hang, and in some cases, out-point the jiu-jitsu champion on the ground, makes Stewart a threat to any man who isn’t a 7-time jiu-jitsu champion. Let’s hope Stewart doesn’t take another 18 months layoff after this loss, he is too skilled a mixed martial artist to let his talent waste away.
Winner: Andre Galvao – For all the hype surrounding Galvao’s jiu-jitsu skills coming into the fight, he certainly was one-upped in the BJJ department by Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt Luke Stewart. Galvao’s striking looked much improved from his last fight with Jason High, but could certainly use some more technique and defense on the feet. Surprisingly, it was Galvao, and not the “ring-rusted” Stewart, who started to gas in the later rounds. Galvao got lucky Friday night, the judges could have easily given Stewart the win, and if Galvao wants to build a career he can’t rely on the judges always being in his favor. At least not in MMA. So if Galvao wants to be a legitimate contender in Strikeforce, he will need to improve his MMA jiu-jitsu so he doesn’t get swept from side-mount, and sure up the holes in his boxing game.
“Abongo” Humphrey vs. George Bush III
Loser: George Bush III – We should have known from the minute we heard Mark Coleman screaming from Bush’s corner that he was vulnerable to a submission. Hammer House, known for their wrestling, bad cardio, and lack of submission defense, was on full display Friday night when fight member George Bush was guillotined in the first few minutes of the fight. Up until that point, Bush seemed to have a good game plan, frustrate “Abongo” with leg kicks, pepper him with some shots, then take him down and pound him out. All was going well until he went for the takedown and left his head open for the guillotine. “Abongo” is no submission specialist, a pure brawler, so being tapped out by the man is unacceptable. But Bush is young, and hopefully, will bounce back from this loss. Up until the flash submission, Bush was in complete control of the fight, and on his way to victory. Let’s hope they get some submission defense training over there at Hammer House pronto, the fighters there are just too good to be losing fights in such an amateur fashion.
Winner: “Abongo” Humphrey – Honestly, “Abongo” looked terrible on the feet, but his guillotine submission was perfectly executed. I said it before and I’ll say it again, weight cutting doesn’t improve a fighter’s ability to fight. While “Abongo” made the drop to 205, his kickboxing technique remained unchanged and undisciplined. Thus far in his career, his power has given him a one-up on his opponents, but as he goes in there against better competition, his power will be nullified and his lack of technique exposed. At 32, “Abongo” doesn’t have much time before his prime is over, even still, getting with a solid boxing/kickboxing coach would do wonders to his game and make great use of the awesome power that rests in his hands.
Main Event: Lavar Johnson vs. Lolohea Mahe
Loser: Lolohea Mahe – Mahe was looking good until his gas tank went empty in the last minute of round 1. He was clearly the faster puncher of the two, landing the cleaner blows for the greater part of the fight, but cardio is huge in MMA, and once Mahe’s gas tank imploded, he was no better than Mauro Ranallo himself. It’s a shame, because the Hawaiian fighter looked poised to make a name for himself by defeating the much-hyped Lavar Johnson, but Friday night just wasn’t his night. Mahe has the talent to be a solid mid-level fighter if he can improve his cardiovascular and continue to work on his stand up. Hopefully this is not the last we hear of the Hawaiian fighter who, as commentator Stephen Quadros kept repeating, “went out on his shield.”
Winner: Lavar Johnson – Johnson got lucky. This fight had upset written all over it as Mahe was getting off first and Johnson looked as if he was stuck in mud. But the same miracle that kept this man alive after suffering three gunshot wounds, also kept him on his feet after several powerful punches from Mahe. For as much time as Johnson reportedly spent training with Cain Velasquez, the top UFC heavyweight’s speed and technique sure didn’t rub off on “Lazarus” Lavar Johnson.
He was just moments away from death in July, and that could have something to do with his lackluster performance, but I just can’t see Johnson being anything but a first round knockout for all the top heavyweights in Strikeforce. And at the tender age of 32, time is not on the side of the “ Miracle Man.” He had a terrible tragedy happen to him that Strikeforce is now milking like he’s Kimbo Slice, but much like Kimbo Slice, all the hype is unworthy of his actual in cage ability. Johnson seems like a good human being who has overcome tremendous adversity, but I wouldn’t call him a great fighter. Hopefully the sluggishness he displayed in this fight is due to it being his first fight back since the terrible events, and not a characteristic of his overall ability.
Biggest Loser of the Night: Shamar Bailey
Biggest Winner of the Night: Justin Wilcox
By Jeffrey Concerto
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Results for Strikeforce Challengers March 26 Fights:
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Showtime Televised Strikeforce Challengers VII Fight Results:
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Lavar Johnson defeats Lolohea Mahe by TKO (Strikes) – Round 2 @ 3:28
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Abongo Humphrey defeats George Bush III via Submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1 @ 1:44
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Andre Galvao defeats Luke Stewart by Split Decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
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Miesha Tate defeats Zoila Frausto via Submission (armbar) – Round 2 @ 4:09
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Justin Wilcox def Shamar Bailey by Unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary Strikeforce Challengers 7 Fight Results:
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Daniel Cormier defeats John Devine by KO (Strikes) – Round 1 @ 1:09
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Paul Ruiz def John Chacon by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
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Avery Kakeo defeats Chris Buron by Split Decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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Ricky Jackson defeats Trinidad Valdez by KO (Strikes) – Round 1 @ 1:59