Photo by Esther Lin/Strikeforce

Main Card:

Fabricio Werdum defeats Fedor Emelianenko by triangle choke w/ an armbar submission at 1:09 of Round 1
Cung Le defeats Scott Smith by TKO (strikes) at 1:46 of Round 2
Cris Cyborg defeats Jan Finney by TKO (strikes) at 2:56 of Round 2
Josh Thomson defeats Pat Healy by rear naked choke at 4:27 of Round 3

Preliminary card:

Chris Cope defeats Ron Keslar by TKO (strikes) at 4:32 of Round 2
Bret Bergmark defeats Vagner Rocha by unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 30-26
Yancey Medeiros defeats Gareth Joseph by KO (strikes) at 1:19 of Round 2
Bobby Stack defeats Derrick Burnsed by split decision 29-28, 29-28, 27-30

Main Card Play by Play:

Pat Healy vs. Josh Thomson

Round 1

Thomson brings some quick punches, but lands nothing.  Thomson shoots, but can’t score on Healy.  Healy pushes Thomson up against the cage, but Thomson pushes him down to the point where Healy is attempting a very low single and Thomson slips to the back.  As Thomson starts sliding back to guard, he latches on an armbar.  Healy rolls out and comes out on top, but Thomson fishes for a triangle.  It’s not tight, but Thomson has control of the arm and is starting to look for an armbar as Healy stalls and starts looking to step over.  Healy frees his arm and comes out on top, but Thomson walks up the cage and starts looking to stand out.  Healy hangs on his back and lands a suplex, but without any power.  Healy sinks his hooks in and is on the back of Thomson.  Healy and Thomson scramble and Thomson grabs a leg, but loses it and Healy stands back up.  The two clinch against the cage, with Healy leaning on Thomson.  Healy looks for a throw, but doesn’t get it. Thomson ends up on top in a weak half guard, but Healy is successful in stalling out the round.  Bell.

Round 2

Healy gets control of Josh’s legs and slams him to the mat with authority.  Thomson turns away from Healy and Healy takes the back.  Thomson gets him back to half guard, then moves him back to full, but Healy gets back to half, looking for an arm triangle. Instead, Healy postures and throws punches.  Thomson hops out, but Healy gets a takedown.  Thomson works for a loose armbar, then a weak leglock.  Healy goes back into half guard, but Thomson latches on a tight armbar.  He’s gotten it straighten out, but Healy slips out.

Round 3

Healy lands a jab as Thomson gets wild with a left hook. Healy shoots, but Thomson shrugs it off.  The two seem comfortable standing for now.  Thomson lands a hard right.  Thomson throws a kick and Healy grabs a leg and closes the distance.  The two are in the clinch, but neither land a big strike.  Healy looks like he’s getting tired, but Thomson’s fatigue seems pretty minimal.  Healy chases Thomson down and pins him up against the cage.  Thomson spins off, but doesn’t throw anything back and Healy pins him against the cage again, this time grabbing control of the legs.  Healy lifts Thomson off of the cage and gets the takedown, but after a scramble, Thomson finds his way to north-south, then takes the back of Healy as he stands out.  Thomson locks on a body triangle as Healy stands up, and starts working for the rear naked choke, sinking it in.  Healy is holding out, but is holding on as the clock crosses the 50 second mark.  Thomson continues adjusting his angle until he finally gets the choke with under 45 seconds left in the round.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Jan “Cuddles” Finney

Round 1

The two step out to the middle of the cage and start trading.  Cyborg lands the heavier shots and immediately pins Finney up against one of the posts, bringing knees to the thighs of Finney.  The two separate and Finney leads with a jab.  Cyborg lands a hard three punch combination that forces Finney to shoot, but she pops up out of the sprawl.  She eats a knee from Cyborg, but fighters her way into the clinch.  Three times Finney has taken shots that could have stopped the fight, but she’s recovered.  She still looks out of it as they separate and Cyborg lands a hard right, but Finney grabs a single.  Cyborg starts pulling away and eventually puts Finney on her back.  The ref asks Cyborg if she wants them to stand up and they do to the applause of the fans.  Cyborg presses forward landing hard shots.  Finney can’t grab the leg and eats too brutal knees to the body as she tries.   The ref stops the fight after issuing her second warning to Santos not to strike the back of the head. She takes a point away from Santos.  A replay of the action shows that Santos did, in fact, land some clearly illegal strikes to the back of the head.  Cyborg pins Finney up against the cage as the action restarts.  They separate and Santos lands some vicious shots, but Finney moves foward, until finally shooting for a knee. Santos lands in a half-passed, half guard position until deciding to stand out of it.  Cyborg steps back in to the full guard, choosing her shots carefully.  Finney turtles as Cyborg works slowly.

Round 2

Cyborg lands hard straight punches on Finney, bringing the jab hard as the two stand at range.  Cyborg starts teeing off and Finney shoots.   Cyborg decides to throw her punches to the body.  Finney gives up on the shot and when she sits back, Cyborg lands a punch to the face.  The two scramble as Cyborg continues to strike, and Cyborg lands in side control, though she stands up out of that position as well.  Winslow stands Finney up.  The two exchange again and this time its Cyborg who locks up the clinch, pinning a bruised and bloodied Finney up against the cage.  The two separate and Cyborg tees off with a hard straight right-left combination before going back tot he clinch.  It looks like the champion is patiently working, but Winslow separates the two.  Finney paws with the jab, but Cyborg circles out and drops her to the mat with a hard series of punches.

At 2:56 of round two, Cris Cyborg is declared the winner by TKO.

Round 1

Smith charges forward and lands a right.  It looks like Smith is looking for the takedown as he pins Le up against the cage.  He may just be looking for that close range striking, as he lands a short right to the head of Le.  The chants of “Cung Le” errupt as the San Shou fighter is pinned against the cage.  Smith works slowly until Le pushes him off.  Le misses a straight right, but Smith doesn’t counter.  Smith comes forward with the jab followed by a huge overhand right.  Le throws a fast jab-cross-hook combo that falls short.  The two circle in the middle of the ring.  Le throws a kick, but catches nothing, then lands a punch, and Smith backs off, and then shoots.  Le sprawls out and throws knees to the shoulder of Smith, then punches to the ribs.  Le is incredibly efficient at working to the body, and forces Smith back to his knees from the sprawl as Smith tries to stand out of the front headlock.  Smith reshoots, but grabs nothing.  He pins Le up against the cage, and starts bringing the hands.  Le lands a straight right, then a kick.  Le throws a big head kick that deflects off of Smiths hands, then lands some good punches followed by two knees that drop Smith to his knees. Smith is hanging on to the knee of Le, looking for a takedown as the ten second mark passes. Le lands one more hard shot to the ribs as the round ends.

Round 2

Le opens strong, but Smith is pressing forward. Smith blocks another head kick before eating a hard punch. Smith turtles up and covers against the cage as Le lays into Smith, going after the ribs and shoulder with punches and knees. Smith stands with Le behind him. The two separate and Smith continues to press forward. A spinning back kick to the body drops Scott Smith, who curls up, eating shots against the cage, as Jason Herzog stops the fight.

Winner by KO, Cung Le.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum

Round 1

The two step out to the center of the cage and Fedor takes the center of the ring.  The larger man, Werdum, is showing respect for the hands of Fedor, and effectively using his lateral movement.  He is immediately dropped, but looks for an armbar, then a triangle, and the triangle sticks tight.  Fedor lays one tap on Werdum's thigh as Werdum straightens the arm. It’s all over. Werdum by submission.

Bobby Stack  vs. Derrick Burnsed

Round 1

The fight opens and Stack takes the center of the cage.  Burnsed lands a good left.  Burnsed eats a leg kick, but lands a nice jab. Stack throws a jab and misses. Stack lands a hard punch and is taken down.  He gets right back to standing and gets to the back of Burnsed.  Both still standing.  He puts Burnsed’s back against the cage and starts to work in the clinch. The two exchange shots. Burnsed lands a knee. Stack lands a nice knee. The two get into an exchange after the break, and Stack lands a takedown. The referee stands the fight up and Stack gets another takedown. The round ends.

Round 2 

Stack throws a left head kick, but misses and eats a hard right from Burnsed.  Stack goes down.  He recovers and puts Burnsed up against the cage.  He tries to pass the guard and puts him against the cage.  Burnsed scrambles to his feet as Stack shoots again.  Stack pulls Burnsed up slams him to the mat. Stack stays in his guard for a while.  Burnsed gets back to his feet and Stack pushes him against the cage and throws a hard knee. Burnsed reverses the position against the cage.  Stack trips him to the mat landing in half-guard. Burnsed rolls Stack over and gets to mount. Burnsed goes for an arm-triangle but can’t finish. Burnsed postures and goes into some ground and pound. Then back to the arm triangle.

Round 3

Stack misses a head kick and Burnsed misses an overhand right. Stack throws up a spinning back kick and misses.  Stack shoots but Burnsed ends up on top and then to half-guard. Stack can’t get his hips out.  Burnsed gets to mount and Stack rolls over.  Burnsed can’t get hooks in.  Stack reverses and gets to top. Burnsed attempts an arm bar.  Stack scrambles out and the fight gets back up.  Stack pins Burnsed up against the cage. Stack tries for a takedown but Burnsed sprawls and gets to his back.  Stack gets on top when Burnsed attempts to pass guard.  Stack shoots and comes out on top and Burnsed a goes for a guillotine attempt.

29-28, 27-30, 29-28 Bobby Stack wins

Yancy Medeiros vs. Valdir Araujo

Round 1

Araujo opens up with a heavy legkick.  Araujo throws a right hand feint that backs Medeiros up. Medeiros steps in with a light flurry.  There’s another exchange and Medeiros lands a left hook, then the two tie up.  Araujo pushes Medeiros against the cage.  The two separate.  Medeiros throws a right followed by a left hook that misses. Araujo and Medeiros exchange again.   Medeiros lands big with a jab to the body and a right to the head.  Medeiros throws a huge right cross.  Medeiros lands a body kick. Araujo lands another hard leg kick.  Medeiros continues to move forward and is backed off by a flurry by Araujo. Araujo with another hard leg kick. Medeiros throws a weak push kick.  Araujo shoots.  Bell

Round 2

Medeiros lands a leg kick. The exchange some more but miss each other.  Medeiros lands a hard shot.  Medeiros backs Araujo up against the cage and lands a straight right that puts him down Referee stoppage.

Vagner Rocha vs. Brett Bergmark

Round 1

Rocha lands a good straight left and right.  The two seem just fine standing up as Bergmark throws a solid leg kick.  Rocha shoots, but Bergmark sprawls.  Rocha gets a  takedown.  Rocha works from inside the guard, and starts to stand up looking to pass.  Rocha drops punches down on Bergmark and then goes back into guard. Rocha lifts Bergmark off of the mat a little and then slams him down.  Bergmark scrambles out and the two go back to standing.  Bergmark lands another good leg lick then followed by a jab. Rocha shoots and puts Bergmark against the cage.  Then he gets the takedown.  Rocha works to pass the guard.  He drops some short punches from inside the guard.  Then some big punches.

Round 2

Bergmark comes forward and Rocha throws him off.  Bergmark lands a hard leg kick.  Rocha lands a solid left hand then gets a takedown. Bergmark stands up getting out. Rocha throws a left hook then takes a shot in. He ends up in the clinch with Bergmark.  Rocha’s back is against he cage.  He doesn't stop working throwing knees and punches. Bergmark throws a good knee to the head and then scores a takedown. Bergmark trys to pass. Guard gets passed but Rocha gets to his knees.  Rocha shoots, but Bergmark lands on top.  Rocha secures half-guard then Bergmark stands up. Bergmark

Round 3

Rocha slips but comes back to standing. Rocha lands a few good jabs as Bergmark works the inside leg kick.  Rocha throws some good shots.  Bergmark answers with a combination, but hits nothing.  Rocha shoots and ends up in an anaconda choke.   Rocha shoots for half-guard.  Bergmark drops the anaconda and they go back to standing. Rocha lands a short right. Bergmark tees off with a leg kick and then follows it up with a solid left hook and straight right. He drops punches on Rocha, who falls to his back.  Bergmark lands a huge right hand. The straight right drops Rocha.

29-28, 30-27 and 30-26 for Brett Bergmark

Chris Cope vs. Ron Keslar

Round 1

Keslar goes in and gets the single leg, passes Chris's guard, and gets to mount.  Cope rolls to give up his back.  Keslar locks up a body triangle and starts throwing punches to the side of the head.  Keslar tries for a rear naked choke. Cope tries to slip out.

Round 2

Keslar gets to the back and locks a body triangle.  Cope escapes.  They get up.  Cope lands a groin kick. Ref stops.  Cope throws a spinning back kick that almost lands on Keslar’s head. Cope lands a spinning kick to the face of Keslar.  Keslar shoots in immediately. Cope gets the sprawl.  Keslar is hanging on to one leg.  The referee stops the fight from that position.  Keslar just was holding the leg and not defending himself.