(Villasenor puts on a brief left hook clinic. Photo courtesy of Strikeforce.)
Despite getting his leg tenderized with kicks for much of the fight, “Smokin” Joey Villasenor took a split decision victory over Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in the main event of last night’s Strikeforce Challengers event in Kent, Washington. Then he did what every Strikeforce middleweight is practically obliged to do: call out Cung Le.
In what was somewhat surprisingly the most exciting fight on the televised card, Jorge Gurgel and Connor Heun slugged it out almost entirely on the feet for three rounds. Gurgel’s face may have looked like a poorly executed attempt at a jack-o-lantern after the fight, but he won the unanimous decision victory and afterward praised Heun’s toughness and impressive chin. Full results are after the jump.
Joey Villasenor def. “Cyborg” Santos via split decision
Tim Kennedy def. Nick Thompson via submission (strikes) at 2:37 of R2
Jorge Gurgel def. Connor Heun via decision
Sarah Kaufman def. Shayna Baszler via decision
Luke Rockhold def. Cory Devala via submission (rear naked choke) at 0:30 of R1
Steve Hadsel def. Taylor Roberts via TKO at 0:17 of R1
Len Bentley def. Marques Daniels via decision
Landon Showalter def. George Stork via decision
Lyle Beerbohm def. Duane Ludwig – Submission (rear naked choke) at 4:27 of R1
Brian Caraway def. Alex Zuniga via decision
Dennis Hallman def. Justin Davis via submission (rear naked choke) at 0:20 of R1
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Comments
Sat, 06/20/09 - 09:30
I still say Dana make a dumbass move cutting Jorge Gurgel, decision or not.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 09:34
Gurgel sucks. What black belt BJJ artist stands and bangs and refuses to use his BJJ. Then gets beat by submission by Cole Miller.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 09:48
Could not agree with you more. WTF is wrong with Gurgel, it's like he has no confidence in his ground game or is just to proud to take it to the ground. Dipsh**t!!!
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:08
Gurgel's yearning to stand n bang has been his demise in the past. He got lucky this time. If he fights again, motherfucker needs to use that goddamn BJJ for once!
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:13
JORGE GURGEL FTW! Cincinnati!
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:16
Gurgel is garbage.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:29
Gurgel is awful but he puts on entertaining fights against people of Conor Huen's skill level, because he is only marginally better. You can't say he's a good fighter but he tries to entertain which a lot of people in the UFC don't do, so I can't see a reason to hate.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:42
I am a frequent visitor to this website and read the comment sections every now and again. Question, is anyone that comments on here an actual MMA fighter?
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:45
A lot of hate for Jorge Gurgel and the guy comes to fight every time. Go figure some idiotic comments on an MMA site by stupid ass fans. Who'd have thought that would ever happen with such an educated fan base right?
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:49
I agree. You people bitch when guys lie on the ground and drag out a decision. Gurgel stands up and bangs it out for three rounds and he catches shit from a bunch of morons who probably cant punch their way out of a paper bag.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:04
Good call jack btw I dont fight but i have been training for about 4 yrs you ? if so where I train at elite mma in texas. Its about time we get more voices of reason in here
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:05
Also great card all of the fights were very entertaining
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:16
No, I don't train or fight. I am just a big fan of the sport of MMA. I have a ton of respect for what these guys do, and it just bugs the shit out of me that people critique the professional fighters all the time. I do understand that they are subject to criticism if you pay money for an event and the person doesn't show up and give it 100%, but even then the guy is standing in a cage getting belted in the face for your entertainment. Unless you do this for a living, train, or you are Rampage Jackson then give these guys some credit. The people on here sit behind their computers and write tough guy comments, when you know damn well you are probably a giant pussy ( I am a total pussy as well) and would piss your pants if ever confronted by anyone in real life.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:17
Don't look at a comment section and expect it to be indicative about the topic it covers. Comment sections are indicative of the internet, not of MMA, or whatever topic a website covers. Taking any of these comments seriously is at best silly and at worst retarted.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:19
@jack26 Your logic is on the right track but ultimately flawed. Just because you don't personally participate in something doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to criticize. I don't know how to make cars, but it's not wrong of me to criticize a certain car make or model. Plenty of people criticize the president but have no idea what he actually goes through. It dosen't make there opinion any less valid.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:25
what Ben, no mention of THE WORST REF IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD? wheres the hate for that fuckin idiot
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:27
While some of the criticism of Jorge Gurgel is a little over the top, I think that a lot of it is warranted. Just take a look at his record. Prior to coming to the UFC, he was 9-1, and all of his wins were by submission. He was hardly a lay-n-pray, grind-it-out type of fighter. But once he made it to the big show, he decided that decisive wins were boring for whatever reason and he became a mediocre kickboxer who went 3-4 in the UFC. To me, that's akin to a pitcher who was a fastball-chucking strikeout machine with a 0.86 ERA in the minor leagues deciding to lob floaters in the majors because pitching a no-hitter would put the fans to sleep. Jorge Gurgel might not be boring, but he is infuriating.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:27
That is where you are incorrect. People do have the right to their own opinion, and many people are educated enough to provide a logical one in which ever forum they please. On the other hand though don't you think it is pretty hard to criticize people in an area that you ultimately have no experience or knowledge of what goes into that particular subject matter? Maybe I am going a little over board, but back to the subject at hand, give Gurgel some credit for throwing hands with a guy to make a fight entertaining.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:30
@greenseed I totally agree man...I think that was one the worst reffing I have seen in a long time. Pretty much every fight the ref should have been knocked in the teeth for stupid calls.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:33
And what's with calling for "action" every 2 minutes by the ref...like jack26 said, the guys are in there banging and trying to out smart each other and this fucker is calling for more action. Like he does not know himself what is involved in the art of mma. I wanted to knock him in the face for being so stupid.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:34
I never meant to take any credit away from Gurgel at all... What I was saying tho, is what I got out of your comment was that since I don't train, I can't have an opinion on a fighter. I don't train MMA, but I know a good deal, and I do think I can have my own opinion. For the record tho, props to Gurgel for trying to make the fight exciting. Unfortunately, thats probably not his best career path. I submission victories just as exciting as knockouts, if not more exciting because more goes into it.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:43
Great article on "fightlinker.com" about strikeforce fights and awesome comments on what the ref were doing. A must read.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 11:53
"jack26 Says: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 10:42 I am a frequent visitor to this website and read the comment sections every now and again. Question, is anyone that comments on here an actual MMA fighter?" what fucking business is that of yours? why does it even matter? Does every football fan play football? every basketball fan play basketball? what about baseball? who fucking cares! Do YOU think you have to have participated in a sport to be a fan or have knowledge of it? Do yourself a favor and get off your high horse.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 12:22
You are a prime example of what I am talking about UFC fan. You do all of that tough talk behind your computer screen. Must make you feel cool huh? I am not on any high horse at all pal. I really don't even know how that comment pertains to what I was saying. I just think when people on MMA sites call pro fighters pussy's and bitches is one of the most ridiculous things in the world. You can be a fan of anything you want, and critique anything you want, even if you have no prior experience. I don't care. I wont lose sleep over it. I just think it's pretty funny how people with zero experience in an area can call people out for shit every single fucking day. There is a reason why they fight professionally and you type in comments sections. Good luck to you and your tough guy typing in the future UFC fan.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 12:51
Gurgel = Crap
Sat, 06/20/09 - 01:02
Don't you see that what you are saying is bullshit? You wanna try and twist it back on me, BUT I responded to your bullshit with an honest reply...sarcastic yes, but honest and truthful and my reply has EVERYTHING to do with your post so don't act confused. People with zero experience in a sport can sometimes be called a coach! You see , you do NOT have to have participated in the sport to know what you are talking about, that what I just fucking told you, and you ignored it and rambled on how tough my typing was. stay on topic moron! Don't want to be chastised? don't fucking say stupid shit....let me clarify for you, cause you seem lost in your own little world..: "I just think it's pretty funny how people with zero experience in an area can call people out for shit every single fucking day".....that statement is bullshit, YOU assume that because people post on a website that they have no experience with this sport? are you daft? Do you assume that 99% of these guys are full of shit and have never fought a day in their life? maybe you are right, but it still doesn't mean they do NOt have a working knowledge of every aspect of MMA. They have a right to critique whomever they want in this business, as in any sport. fans are smart, stop acting like they aren't. And stop acting like just cause I am in your face and being a prick to you that I am not 100% right. As fans we pay their salary's, we can call them pussy's and bitches all we want, so can you. Your problem is you think you know more than everyone else, or that we all are dumbasses, that makes you a prick in my opinion. (ok you are right about Hal, and armfarmer, and those kinda guys they don't shit from shinola....but don't assume the rest are like them)
Sat, 06/20/09 - 01:12
WARRRRRRR GURGEL f the haterz, they need to get stevia in their bodies and join the stampede!!!!!!
Sat, 06/20/09 - 01:19
UFC Fan FTW!!! Also, Strikeforce was DVR'ed... Can we get a post on Bellator? Because it was fucking great last night... Minus watching a woman getting KTFO. That kind of sucked.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 01:28
Awww, I'm a prick. Damn that really hits home. The name calling on the internet has been so hard on me today, and it is finally starting to hurt. First of all you make valid points that I wont dispute, but the constant swears really lowers your argument to one that is slightly uneducated in nature. Use big boy words next time and maybe the argument will have some validity.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 02:31
I disagree that huen/gurgel was exciting. I watched it with the sound off while multitasking and couldn't be bothered to turn the sound on. Gurgel is boring even when he tries against strategy to be exciting.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 03:04
UFC fan, FTW jack26, STFU MyFightWiffaCheeto: woman getting KTFO Cheeto, stop beating yer girlfriend, OK?
Sat, 06/20/09 - 03:13
Lyle Beerbohm's submission was not a rear naked choke. At the fight it was refered to as a School Boy Choke. Straight up head lock from the side put Bang to sleep.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 03:29
@jack26: You have to be honest, the whole "You can't comment on stuff if you haven't participated in it" is a very lame counter-argument used by so many. You conveniently ignored schwm39's response which proved as such then flipped out on UFC Fan to save face.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 04:08
there is an old addage that goes those who cant do teach that is pretty self explanatory
Sat, 06/20/09 - 04:57
@ Jack26, I aint no MMA fighter but I do fight whenever it needs to go down (people that think they are hard and shit). Street fights homeboy. And Ive been in plenty of fights and gotten my ass handed to me once or twice. Doesnt mean I am the only one worthy of commenting. And anyone can put in their two cents on any subject bro.. Agreed though that alot of people are morons about fighting, But like other people pointed out, your generalization was hasty and not fully on point. schwm39 has a good response though. I am just rambling.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 04:58
Grugel stands and trades because he's garbage on the ground. I've seen him spend minutes on his back in the UFC not even coming close to subbing his opponent, and just taking damage the whole time. It's not that he doesn't use his ground game, it's that he's learned not to by now. Or maybe he's brilliant at BJJ but just can't figure out how to merge that know-how into a fight. Either way, the guy has never looked impressive to me against anyone either on the ground or standing up. I can't say he's not trying, but he just can't seem to put it together. And that's just hard to watch after a while.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 05:37
I'm glad someone didn't completely ignore my point.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 05:56
All I know is it was pretty sweet to see Shayna Baszler's banging ass back in the cage. Too bad she lost.
Sat, 06/20/09 - 10:15
"jack26 Says: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 13:28 Awww, I'm a prick. Damn that really hits home. The name calling on the internet has been so hard on me today, and it is finally starting to hurt. First of all you make valid points that I wont dispute, but the constant swears really lowers your argument to one that is slightly uneducated in nature. Use big boy words next time and maybe the argument will have some validity." FAIL! now that everyone has told you that you are a loser do you FINALLY get it? Do I need to use big boy words to help you grasp it? good, now go suck a cock you smegma head :) ( see I like those big boys words better)
Sun, 06/21/09 - 01:47
I was there live, I can tell you Beerbohm choked the dude out with a straight headlock crane... He was very motavated and sprinted to the cage tore his training clothes off and went in there and domanted Ludwig, this was easily the most entertaining fight on the card. Gurgel always stands and bangs and many people in the crowd where chanting for him to take him down. Overall I was quite surpised at how many people were enjoying the ground game and were quite upset by not enough action on the ground and the ref standing them up (both Refs Hamlett and De piaso)
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