Strikeforce – Challengers 18
August 12, 2011
Palms Casino Resort,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card (Aired on Showtime)
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Joe Duarte (10 – 2 – 0) defeated Jorge Gurgel (14 – 9 – 0) by unanimous decision. Duarte, who is on a 5 fight win streak (4 by stoppage), surges 121 spots up the ranks from [#308] to [#187]. Duarte should face either [#108] Caros Fodor or [#103] Milton Vieira next. Gurgel, who is 2-3 since washing out of the UFC in 2008, plunges 81 spots down the ranks from [#208] to [#289]. Gurgel could face [#218] James Terry in his next outing.
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Nate James (13 – 7 – 1) defeated Danillo Villefort (13 – 4 – 0) by unanimous decision. James, who is on a 5 fight win streak (4 by stoppage), moves from [#91LHW] into the middleweight “Top 350” at [#27]. He should look for a bout against [#23] Anthony Smith next. Villefort, who was on a 4 fight winning streak prior to this loss, moves 8 spots down the ranks from [#22] to [#30]. Perhaps Villefort vs. [#19] Robbie Lawler could work, since both are coming off of losses (2 losses in Lawler’s case).
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Pat Healy (25 – 16 – 0) defeated Eric Wisely (18 – 6 – 0) by unanimous decision. Healy, who has back to back wins after this bout (5-1 in his last 6), jumps 16 spots up the ranks from [#42] to [#26]. Healy vs. [#30] Justin Wilcox would be an informative fight in relation to where each man belongs atop the Strikeforce lightweight division. Wisely, who was on a 4 fight win streak prior to this loss, falls 28 spots down the ranks from [#49] to [#77]. Wisely is undersized for the division, and should look to face [#9FW] Robert Peralta at featherweight. If he decides to stay at 155, he could face [#96] Magno Almeida.
Women’s Featherweight (145 lbs)
Ronda Rousey (3 – 0 – 0) defeated Sarah D’Alelio (4 – 2 – 0) by technical submission due to an armbar at 0:25 of the 1st round. Rousey, who has rattled off 3 consecutive armbar victories (all under 50 seconds), enters the women’s featherweight “Top 15” at [#8]. She should look to face another up and comer in [#9] Julia Budd next. If she wins that, Rousey may be ready for a title shot. D’Alelio, who is on a 2 fight losing streak, remains unranked. D’Alelio may want to think about fighting her next bout at women’s bantamweight (135 lbs).
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Derrick Mehmen (12 – 3 – 0) defeated Roy Jones (6 – 2 – 0) by unanimous decision. Mehmen, who has back to back wins after this bout (4-1 in his last 5), moves from [#85HW] into the light heavyweight “Top 250” at [#80]. He should face [#100] Trevor Smith for his next opponent. Jones, who is 1-2 in his last 3 (prior to which he won 5 first round stoppages in a row), remains unranked. Despite his loss, Jones looked impressive on the feet in the 1st round, and should be given another opportunity inside the Strikeforce cage, perhaps against [#166] Ron “Abongo” Humphrey in what would be a guaranteed slugfest.
Preliminary Card (Not aired on Showtime)
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Gian Villante (8 – 3 – 0) defeated Keith Berry (10 – 8 – 0) by unanimous decision. Villante, who has back to back wins after this bout (4-1 in his last 5), jumps 25 spots up the ranks from [#197] to [#172]. He could face [#106] T.J. Cook in his next bout. Berry, who has lost 3 in a row, remains unranked. Perhaps a bout with [#228] Joe Cason would be appropriate for his next match-up.
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Nah Shon Burrell (7 – 1 – 0) defeated Lukasz Les (7 – 3 – 0) by TKO due to leg kicks and punches at 2:09 of round 2. Burrell, who is on a 5 fight win streak (4 by stoppage), moves from [#344MW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#209]. Burrell could face fellow victor on the card [#195] Mike Bronzoulis next. Previously ranked [#299] Les, who was on a 5 fight win streak prior to this loss (all by 1st round choke based submissions), falls off the rankings. Les should look to rebound against fellow loser this night in [#497] Chad Leonhardt.
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Mike Bronzoulis (13 – 3 – 1) defeated Chad Leonhardt (8 – 3 – 0) by TKO due to leg kicks and punches at 1:30 of round 3. Bronzoulis, who has won 5 of his last 6, holds his rank at [#195]. He could face [#209] Nah Shon Burrell in his next bout. Leonhardt , who had back to back stoppages prior to this loss, moves from [#328MW] into the welterweight “Top 500” at [#497]. He should face [*] Lukasz Les next.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Milton Vieira (13 – 7 – 1) defeated Sterling Ford (13 – 5 – 0) by technical submission due to a brabo choke at 4:49 of the 1st round. Vieira, who is on a 3 fight win streak (all by submission), moves from [#252WW] into the lightweight “Top 500” at [#103]. He could face either [#108] Caros Fodor or [#187] Joe Duarte as his next opponent. Ford, who was on a 6 fight win streak prior to this loss, plummets 95 spots down the ranks from [#111] to [#206]. Ford could face either [#218] James Terry or [#289] Jorge Gurgel in his next fight.