Strikeforce HW Grand Prix Live Coverage

Main Card (Showtime)

Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo

Referee: Dan Mirgliotta

Round 1

The fighters come out and exchange feints. Both look to be interested in striking, Sefo needing to strike. Overeem throws a front kick that looks to land on Sefo’s gloves. Sefo lands a couple of stiff jabs and looks to wobble Overeem slightly with a left hook. Overeem shoots for the takedown and secures it easily against the cage, landing in side control. From here Sefo puts up little fight as Overeem secures a neck crank from side control and ends the fight by submission just 37 seconds in.

Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante

Referee: Yves Levigne

Round 1

Frenetic start to this fight as both men exchange knees from the clinch right away. Both men exchange huge overhand rights and look to clinch again. Griggs is landing the more meaningful shots early and Villante is visibly wobbly. He looks to control Griggs against the cage but can only hold him there briefly before eating punches from Griggs as they separate. Villante shoots for a takedown that is easily stuffed by Griggs who again lands heavy shots and has Villante hurt. They come together in the center of the ring and Griggs drops Villante with a big right hand, Villante does well to even continue, but Griggs swarms and drops him again against the cage. He lands a few more heavy punches on the ground before Levigne steps in at the 2:49 mark ending the fight. Griggs wins his fifth straight.

Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson

Referee: Yves Levigne

The fighters touch gloves and look to start quickly, exchanging blows from the clinch. Del Rosario lands a big body kick as they separate, you could hear the thud as it hit Johnson’s side. Del Rosario gets control against the cage briefly before Johnson spins out and lands a takedown. Del Rosario thinks about the triangle as Johnson stacks him against the cage and tries to ground and pound. Del Rosario rolls out and escapes, getting to his feet. They exchange punches, Del Rosario looks to be landing more consistently, Johnson takes a deep breath as they circle. Del Rosario lands a nice leg kick and follows it with a two punch combo, backing Johnson against the cage. They clinch and Del Rosario lands a single leg, quickly securing the full mount. Johnson does a decent job of protecting himself but Del Rosario is relentless. Del Rosario looks to set up the armbar but opts to continue ground and pound. He sets up the armbar again but this time secures it quickly and gets the tap at 4:31 of the first. Improving to 11-0 in MMA

Wow. Three fights, three first round stoppages!

Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov

Round 1

Referee: Kevin Mulhall

Intense staredown from the the Russian and the Belarusian. The heavy eastern Bloc attendance are making themselves heard for this fight as chants of Andrei rain down here at the Izod Center. As the fight starts Kharitonov takes the center of the cage and looks to stalk down the faster Arlovski. Arlovski looks to land a front kick, perhaps Anderson Silva is in the back of these fighter’s minds as we see yet another of this type of kick attempted. Arlovski throws a head kick that lands and follows up with a stiff combo that looks to hurt Kharitonov. They clinch and exchange big right uppercuts, both men utilizing the single collar-tie. As they separate Arlovski lands a crisp legkick to Kharitonov’s lead leg. Kharitonov lands a nice body shot and follows it up with a powerful uppercut against the cage. Kharitonov gets the muay thai clinch again and lands another heavy uppercut that wobbles Arlovski. As Arlovski backs away he leaves his hands down and Kharitonov lands a lunging hook and drops Arlovski. he follows up with three bombs on the ground, the second of which knocks Arlovski out cold. Mulhall rushes in quite late and ends the fight at 2:49 of the first round. One has to question if Arlovski should continue as he loses his fourth straight by KO.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva

Referee: Dan Mirgliotta

Round 1

A deafening roar from this predominantly Russian crowd as Fedor enters the ring. A chorus of boos as Silva enters. Fedor comes out swinging, landing a couple of good shots. Silva clinches and does little against the cage. After about thirty seconds Mirgliotta breaks them up and restarts the fight. Fedor lands a couple more big shots, swinging wildly but this time Silva counters with a straight right that stands Fedor up. Silva attempts a front kick that only backs Fedor up to the cage where Silva looks to clinch again, he drops low for a takedown but uses the time to rest. As Silva leans low, Fedor looks to have a guillotine secured but Silva backs away, falling to the ground in the process. Fedor looks to jump into Silva’s guard and does so, only to stand again and survey the situation. Fedor passes Silva’s guard and gets to side control. He looks to land punches but then tries for a straight armbar on Silva’s far arm. As Silva defends, Fedor transitions to a Kimura but Silva escapes. Silva lands perhaps the most significant punch of the round with a big right hook and looks to control on the cage again. With twenty seconds left in the round both men throw a flurry of wild punches, Fedor’s seem to be landing more cleanly and Silva shoots to avoid them, securing the takedown and ends the round on top.

Replaymma scores the round 10-9 Silva

Round 2

Immediately Fedor throws a strong right and Silva ducks under, taking Emelianenko down again. Silva controls from half guard but does little damage. He looks to be setting up to pass, and does so quite fluidly, achieving side control. He then transitions through north-south position to Fedor’s other side. Once there he secures the mount in no time. Silva lands some big shots and Fedor rolls, Silva maintaining control and taking his back. From here Fedor continues to take damage and rolls again giving up the mount. With relentless ground and pound raining down on him Fedor again attempts to roll and gives up his back once more. Silva is showing great ability to control from the top here. From the back Silva looks to flatten Fedor out and finish by choke but again he rolls back to mount. Silva lands brutal hammerfists from this position, Mirgliotta is giving Fedor plenty of chances here as the fight could have been stopped a number of times. Silva looks to secure an arm triangle, and hops to side control. The choke is very deep but miraculously Fedor escapes only to find himself in a kneebar attempt. He rolls out and tries his own as the round ends but Silva waves his finger, saying “No way”. The round ends in this position.

Replaymma scores the round 10-8 Silva

Emelianenko’s face is battered and his right eye is entirely closed. The ringside doctor calls a stop to the fight. Granting Silva the victory by TKO.

Boos and waterbottles rain down on the cage, a lot of people are disappointed.

Through his translator Fedor all but says he is retiring. Saying it “May be the will of God.” We may have witnessed the end of an era here tonight.

Overall an amazing night of fights with some great stoppages here in New Jersey.