For their second event on broadcast live on CBS, Strikeforce went all out, stacking the fight card with three title bouts.  With the lightweight, middleweight, and light-heavyweight belts all on the line, and a worthy line-up of champions and challengers, this was promising to be an amazing night of MMA.  Unfortunately things don’t always go as planned:

Champion Gegard Mousasi vs. Muhammed Lawal (205 lbs title bout)

Round 1: Mousasi leads with a high kick.  Lawal uses a combination of punches to set up a takedown.  Mousasi sprawls; Lawal eats several shots but completes the takedown.  Mousasi attempts a triangle.  Lawal passes into side control and tries to work his ground-and-pound.  Mousasi regains guard, blocks most punches and counters with up-kicks.  Mousasi back to the feet; he blocks another takedown attempt and punishes Lawal with punches.  Lawal is persistent and scores another takedown but Mousasi gets up quickly.  Round 10-9 Lawal

Round 2: Lawal is blocked on the first takedown attempt.  He succeeds on the second one but Mousasi is active with hammer-fists and up-kicks off his back and Lawal can’t control him from the top.  Mousasi gets up and is taken back down but once again does more damage off his back.  They stand up and Mousasi lands a solid combo backing Lawal up, then jumps on his back and looks for a choke as the round ends.  Round 10-9 Mousasi

Round 3: Lawal looks tired and Mousasi lights him up with kick and punch combinations.   Nevertheless Lawal scores another takedown.  Very little action on the ground;  Lawal is laying on top of Mousasi throwing an occasional punch.  Mousasi is starting to look tired as well, and is not able to get off his back.  Round 10–9 Lawal

Round 4: Mousasi lands leg kicks to start the fourth round and is taken down again.  Not much happens on the ground and the referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy calls for a standup.  It doesn’t last long as Lawal takes Gegard right back down.  Very little action on the ground; both fighters are tired and the fans boo.   Round 10-9 Lawal

Round 5: Lawal’s face shows signs of damage.  Mousasi needs a knockout or a sub at this point.  Mousasi swings for the fences but is taken down again.  Mousasi lands an up-kick as one of Lawal’s knees is on the ground; referee catches the foul and deducts a point from Gegard.  They restart in the same position.  Mousasi escapes and is looking to strike but Lawal slams him down again.   Up and back down, not much action but Lawal has controlled almost every round for an easy win.  Round 10–8 Lawal

‘King Mo’ Lawal defeats Gegard Mousasi by unanimous decision (49-46 on all scorecards).  Lawal is the new Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.

Aftermath: Muhammed Lawal passes his first big test and wins a title.  Unfortunately there is very little competition available for him at this weight outside of the UFC.  Should he remain in Strikeforce, the only obviously available options for King Mo’s first title defense would be Renato Sobral or Dan Henderson.

Many fans have doubted Gegard Mousasi’s ability to defend against a strong wrestler, and he showed that the concerns were valid.  Having recently signed a contract extension with Strikeforce, Mousasi is now facing the same problem as Lawal: lack of available competition at his chosen weight class.

Rankings Impact: Muhammed Lawal makes his debut at #4 LHW (he was previously ranked at #16 HW).  Gegard Mousasi falls 6 spots to #10 LHW.

Fight Grade: 2/5

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UFC 112 marked the entry of UFC into yet another foreign territory: this time the event took place in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).  Unlike some of the European cards, 112 was stacked with two title bouts:  BJ Penn defending the lightweight title against Frank Edgar, and the middleweight champion Anderson Silva taking on Demian Maia (stepping in for Vitor Belfort, who was forced to give up his title shot due to a shoulder injury).  The featured matchups were rounded out by a battle between two legends: former welterweight champion Matt Hughes taking on Renzo Gracie in Renzo’s UFC debut.

Kendall Grove vs. Mark Munoz (185 lbs)

Round 1: Grove wants to strike but Munoz scores a takedown quickly.  Grove right back to his feet, eating a couple of punches as he gets up.  Munoz goes for another takedown but is rocked with a big uppercut coming in.  Munoz is on his knees, holding on to Grove’s leg as Kendall pounds away at Mark’s head.  Munoz looks almost out but somehow keeps trying to secure a takedown.  Grove is warned about holding the fence.  Eventually the referee breaks up the fighters.  Munoz goes for another takedown and gets it but Grove counters with a guillotine attempt.  Munoz escapes and Grove gets up; Munoz takes him down again and is caught in another tight guillotine.  Munoz survives and is free of the choke as the round ends. Round 10-8 Grove

Round 2: Both fighters come out swinging.  Munoz lands a hook that knocks Grove’s mouthpiece out, but Grove seems unfazed and responds with a knee that drops Munoz.  Grove takes Mark’s back and looks for a choke, then an armbar.  Munoz escapes and ends up in Grove’s guard.  Munoz punches from the top.  Grove keeps him away with leg kicks.  Munoz lands a big punch that stuns Grove, then follows up with a series of punches until Grove rolls over and covers up, causing the referee to stop the bout.

Aftermath: Mark Munoz has now won three straight since dropping down to middleweight after his loss to Matt Hamill.  He should next take on Jorge Rivera or Yushin Okami.    Kendall Grove proves to be an inconsistent and chinny fighter as usual, and next on his plate should be Nate Quarry or a rematch with Ed Herman.

Ranking Impact: Mark Munoz moves up 32 spots to #28 MW.  Kendall Grove falls 20 spots to #50 MW.

Fight Grade: 4/5

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