With female champion Cris Cyborg and Fedor Emelianenko’s next opponent Fabrício Werdum in attendance, the crowd that showed up at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles liked what they saw. This Wednesday evening’s Strikeforce show once again served up an evening replete with submissions and knockouts.
Babalu back to his winning ways. Photo: Esther Lin
The evening’s main event saw Renato Babalu have his work cut out for him in facing a game Robbie Lawler, but won the unanimous decision. In the first round the black belt looked to clinch and managed to take the fight to the ground on two occasions, while Lawler connected with solid strikes on standing. The second stanza was all Babalu’s, who found his mark mainly with kicks while dominating the standup action. Lawler put his opponent in danger in the third with strikes. When all was said and done, Babalu’s face looked to haven taken the greater punishment, but his victory was well deserved.
Cyborg got the knockout win over Marius Zaromskis. Photo: Esther Lin
The Cyborg family representative to put on a show this time was Evangelista, who came up with a spectacular knockout on Marius Zaromskis. Cyborg controlled the center of the cage and landed the better shots in the standup exchanges. The beginning of the end came with a kick flush to his opponent’s face. Evangelista recognized Marius was stunned and went for the kill with a barrage of strikes, prompting the referee to step in and save the downed Lithuanian from further damage.
Nor did the bout between Tim Kennedy and Trevor Prangley last very long. Kennedy ended the encounter in the first with a rear-naked choke at the 3:35 min mark. Now KJ Noons had his hands full, but overcame Conor Heun via split decision.
Check out the complete results:
Strike Force
Los Angeles, California, USA
June 16, 2010
Renato “Babalu” Sobral defeated Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos defeated Marius Zaromskis via TKO at 2:38 min of R1
Tim Kennedy submitted Trevor Prangley via rear-naked choke at 3:35 min of R1
K.J. Noons defeated Conor Heun via split decision
Jeremy Umphries submitted. R.J. Clifford via rear-naked choke at 2:27 min of R2
Hugo Sandoval defeated Marcus Kowal via TKO at 0.43 min of R2