Strikeforce Evolution Results: Strikeforce Fight Results & Recap - December 19, 2009

Strikeforce returned to the MMA headlines as they put on Strikeforce: Evolution in San Jose on December 19, 2009. The Strikeforce December 19 event saw several fights cancelled due to injuries but proved to be an exciting event throughout. Find the official Strikeforce Evolution results online and check out our live Strikeforce Evolution blog. Fans can also find historic Strikeforce results including the Strikeforce Fedor vs Rogers results event here at ProFighting-fans.com.

King Mo Lawal vs. Mike Whitehead

In what was supposed to be the stiffest challenge of “King Mo” Lawal’s (6-0) young career, this main card heavyweight bout turned out being another quick and easy finish by the Team Quest standout. Lawal finished Mike Whitehead (24-7) with a series of punches resulting in a 1st round KO at the 3:08 marker.

Lawal came out in his usual unconventional stance while Whitehead tried to keep a safe distance by using several leg kicks. After a lull in action and a couple more leg kicks by Whitehead, Lawal struck with a counter right cross that sent the Las Vegas-based fighter to the deck. The fight continued on the ground as Whitehead scrambled to gain his composure, however Lawal landed a series of ground strikes from guard that put a stop to the one-sided action.

Lawal records his second straight victory on North American soil after putting together four wins in Japan’s Sengoku promotion. Lawal also finishes his fifth fight in six attempts. Whitehead has his mini-win streak snapped after putting together back-to-back victories, the last being in his Strikeforce debut. The former The Ultimate Fighter participant and Affliction fighter can still claim victory in 15 of his last 17 fights.

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Matt Lindland

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (11-2) was impressive in his American and Strikeforce debut after submitting UFC/Affliction/IFL veteran Matt “The Law” Lindland (21-7) with a 1st round arm triangle choke submission at the 4:18 mark.

Lindland expected to take advantage in the stand-up exchanges, but it was Jacare that used his striking to get the fight to the canvas. From that point, it was all about survival for Lindland, who impressively escaped a number of times from submissions and dominant positions. When Lindland went on the offensive with his submissions, Jacare defended and was able to lock in a choke around Lindland’s neck and arm for a fight-ending submission.

The win does much for Jacare’s progression, giving him his first since September 2008 when he stopped Zelg Galesic at the DREAM 6 Middleweight Semifinals. He is now among the top contenders for the 185-pound title. Lindland, fighting for the first time in almost a year, is on the losing end of a bout for the third time in his last four fights. It was also Lindland’s first fight for the San Jose-based Strikeforce promotion.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson – Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

New Strikeforce Lightweight Champ Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez (17-2) was dominant in his unanimous decision victory over the rusty Josh “The Punk” Thomson (16-3) in their five-round title bout in the co-main event at Strikeforce “Evolution.”

Melendez was the aggressor, consistently beating Thomson in the striking game and landing almost two punches to one. It was Melendez, that dropped his opponent in both the 2nd and 5th rounds with punches. Thomson did show the heart of a champion, hanging tough throughout all five rounds, but just couldn’t muster up enough offense to amount any serious threat on “El Nino.” As the fight grew older, it became evident that Thomson would need the KO if he wanted to maintain his title belt. He chased Melendez around the cage, swinging wildly, however missed either partially or totally and therefore had to settle for the decision. After at least four of the five rounds clearly went to Melendez, it was clear that there was a new champion.

Melendez lays claim to sole possession of the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship and with three straight wins, is one of the hottest fighters in the organization. His only loss in the last two years was the June 2008 Strikeforce loss to Thomson. Thomson, on the other hand, loses for the first time in almost four years. Both, his reign as the Strikeforce Lightweight Champ as well as his lengthy 8-fight win streak, is halted with the decision loss. Thomson is now 7-2 while fighting for the Strikeforce promotion.

Cung Le vs. Scott Smith

Scott Smith (17-6) again showed why he carries the “Comeback Kid” moniker after almost being finished by the former Middleweight Champion, Cung Le (6-1), he bounced back to land a heavy punch and secure the main event victory at Strikeforce “Evolution”. His 3rd round KO victory vaults him back into the discussion as one of the top 185-pounders in the very-deep Strikeforce Middleweight division.

It was Le, who used his unique spinning back kicks to drop Smith on three different occasions throughout the 2½ rounds but when he ran out of wind during the last round, Smith took advantage. “Hands of Steel” faked a right hand, landed a short left hand to the head of Le, sending him crumbling to the canvas. He sealed the KO up with another hard right hand and a couple of ground strikes for good measure before referee, “Big” John McCarthy intervened.

Smith, who last fought in June, bounced back from his 3rd round submission loss to Nick Diaz to record his third win in four Strikeforce fights. He now has 14 TKO/KO finishes out of his 17 career victories. Le, who recently relinquished the Middleweight strap to pursue a Hollywood acting career, was fighting for the first time in 21 months when he originally won the 185-pound title. The loss is Le’s first of his four plus year career; he is also 6-1 in the Strikeforce organization.

Fight Card for Main Strikeforce December 19 Fights:

• Scott Smith defeats Cung Le by TKO (Strikes) - Round 3 @ 3:25- Strikeforce Evolution Main Event

• Gilbert Melendez defeats Josh Thomson (c) by Unanimous Decision (49-47, 49-46, 49-46) - Strikeforce Lightweight Championship

• Ronald "Jacare" Souza defeats Matt Lindland via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) - Round 1 @ 4:18

• Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal defeats Mike Whitehead by KO (Strikes) - Round 1 @ 3:08

• Robbie Lawler vs Trevor Prangley - fight cancelled due to Prangley injury

Fight Card for Preliminary Strikeforce Evolution Fights:

• Antwain Britt defeats Scott Lighty by TKO (Strikes) - Round 1 @ 5:00

• Justin Wilcox defeats Daisuke Nakamura by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

• Alex Crispim defeats A.J. Fonseca by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

• Bobby Stack (6-1) vs David Douglas - fight scratched due to post weigh-in medical issue