Going out with a bang for the year of 2010 was exactly what Showtime’s Strikeforce did this past Saturday night, as the ferocious fighting series ended the year with a hellacious card that is going to be hard but can possibly be matched in 2011.
The main event was supposed to be revenge for the Brazilian Renato Sobral (36-9), better known as “Babalu”, who lost a decision to Dan Henderson (26-8) ten years ago, but age didn’t prove to be factor for the forty-one year old Henderson who power punched his way to a spectacular knock out victory.
Henderson who has stopped the likes of Renzo Gracie, Wanderlei Silva and Michael Bisping throughout his thirteen year career was coming off a loss to Jake Shields, and was in dire need of a win to stay afloat as a major player in the industry. His opponent on the other hand Sobral was coming off a decision win over Robbie Lawler, and looked to gain revenge for his past defeat.
But retribution would not be in the cards for Babalu as he was down and out within 1:53 in the opening round by a vicious double right hand followed by a short flurry from Henderson. The victory keeps Henderson in the spotlight and a possible future fight against Cavalcante and has Sobral pondering his career.
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (18-6) got back in the win column in a devastating way with a sadistic knockout over the always game Matt Lindland.
The knockouts were many as the “Big Foot” Antonio Silva (15-2) took out a very strong as well as tough as nails mike Kyle (18-8-1), who did not go down without a fight.
Mike who moved up to heavyweight was outweighed by at least forty-four pounds, but the little man did not let size scare him as he took down and nearly took out Silva in the opening round, but Big Foot would recover and lay down the punches to earn himself the victory in the second round via (TKO Punches).
The card proved to be a night full of fiery fistic festivities with seven of the thirteen bouts.
Non- televised professional results: Fernando Bettega (7-4), split decision over Wayne Phillips (4-4), at 170 pounds; Justin Lawrence (1-0), unanimous (technical) decision over Max Martynuk (0-1), at 155 pounds; Matt Ricehouse (4-0), unanimous decision over Tom Aaron (8-2), Booker DeRousse (4-4), TKO 2 (strikes) Coltin Cole (1-1), at 185 pounds; Pat Cummins (1-0), TKO 1 (strikes) over Terrell Brown (2-1), at 205 pounds; Cortez Coleman (6-1), submitted (guillotine choke) Lucas Lopes (19-11), in the first round (2:04) at 185 pounds; Mike Glenn (7-4), first-round TKO over Lee Brousseau (7-3), of, at 205 pounds; and J.W. Wright (1-0), submitted (guillotine choke) Josh “The Loose Cannon’’ Epps (2-3), in the first round (1:29) at 130 pounds.
Benny Henderson Jr.
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