STRIKEFORCE:
"Heavy Artillery" - Results
05-16-2010
Denver,
CO
Live on
SHOWTIME® From Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
ALISTAIR
OVEREEM DEMOLISHES BRETT ROGERSTO RETAIN STRIKEFORCE
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
BIG FOOT SILVA DOMINATES ARLOVSKI; JACARE SOUZA,
ROGER GRACIE AND RAFAEL FEIJAO CAVALCANTE ALSO
VICTORIOUS ON SOLID STRIKEFORCE FIGHT CARD
ST. LOUIS (May 16, 2010) – Alistair “The Demolition
Man’’ Overeem lived up to his nickname and his
billing as one of the most dangerous heavyweights in
the world on Saturday as he easily retained his
STRIKEFORCE World Heavyweight Championship with a
3:40, first-round knockout over Brett Rogers in the
main event of an action-packed mixed martial arts
card before 8,136 enthusiastic fans who turned out
for “STRIKEFORCE St. Louis: Heavy Artillery” at
Scottrade Center on SHOWTIME®.
In other televised results: Brazil’s Antonio “Big
Foot” Silva (14-2), of Coconut Creek, Fla.,
registered the biggest victory of his career with a
unanimous decision over Andrei “The Pitbull”
Arlovski (15-8) of Chicago in a matchup of former
world champions; world-ranked Brazilian middleweight
“Jacare” Souza (12-2), of Rio de Janiero, Brazil,
scored an impressive three-round decision over
hard-trying Joey Villasenor (27-7), of Albuquerque,
N.M., unbeaten Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sensation Roger
Gracie (3-0) of London, England, won his STRIKEFORCE
and United States MMA debut with a 4:10,
second-round submission (rear-naked choke) over ex-
UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman (17-15), of
Las Vegas; and Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2) of
Rio De Janiero, produced a 3:45, first-round
knockout (strikes) over Antwain “The Juggernaut”
Britt (11-4) of Virginia, Beach, Va.
For Overeem (33-11), of The Netherlands, it was a
brilliant performance and it marked the eighth time
in nine fights that he has won in the first round
since becoming the first STRIKEFORCE heavyweight
champion in history with a second-round knockout
over Paul Buentello on Nov. 16, 2007.
In a dominant performance, Overeem overwhelmed the
outclassed Rogers (10-2) on the feet and on the
ground from the outset. “It’s been a while, but now
I’m back and I’m still STRIKEFORCE champion,’’
Overeem said. “Rogers has my respect.’’
The loss was the second in a row for Rogers, of St.
Paul, Minn. In his last outing on Nov. 7, 2009, he
came perilously close to becoming the first fighter
to legitimately defeat the famed Fedor Emelianenko
before falling, but styles make fights and he never
had a chance against the talented Overeem. Rogers,
known for his two-fisted power, hardly got an
opportunity to let his fists go.
Silva performed in an intelligent, controlled manner
throughout as he outpointed Arlovski by the scores
of 29-28 three times. Silva dictated the pace and
had an answer for whatever Arlovski attempted to
throw at him. Arlovski fought with a bloody cut
around his nose from early in the match.
The defeat was the third in a row for Arlovski, who
was knocked out by Rogers and Fedor in his two
previous starts.
Souza was also an impressive winner on an evening
full of stalwart performances. A submission wizard,
Jacare couldn’t get close to making the always-tough
Villasenor to tap, but he was in control throughout
and won by the scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice.
The 6-feet-4 Gracie towered over Randleman, who
stood his ground for one round, but was no match for
the Brazilian when he turned it up a notch in the
second. Gracie has now won all three of his MMA
outings by submission.
A devastating striking with a fierce killer
instinct, Feijao turned what had been an even,
competitive fight around with a huge right hand that
staggered Britt. He followed with a left hook and
another right hand and the referee stopped it
shortly thereafter.
By winning, Feijao, who has won all eight of his
wins inside the distance, moved a step closer to
challenging recently crowned STRIKEFORCE 205-pound
champion “King Mo’’ Lawal. The victory was the
second in the row for Feijao.
STRIKEFORCE: St. Louis will be available On Demand
beginning Wednesday, May 19.
Versatile play-by-play broadcast veteran Gus Johnson
called the action on SHOWTIME with MMA expert Mauro
Ranallo and MMA superstar Frank Shamrock serving as
expert analysts.
Saturday’s non-televised results: Jesse Finney
(6-0), St. Louis, submitted (guillotine choke)
Justin DeMoney (14-3-1), Ottumwa, Idaho, at 3:32 of
the first round (170 pounds); Lyle Beerbohm (14-0),
Spokane, Wash., split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)
over Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro (20-4), Rio De Janiero,
Brazil (155 pounds); Darryl Cobb (4-1), East St.
Louis, split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) over
Booker DeRousse (2-3), St. Genevieve, Mo. (185
pounds); Michael Chandler (3-0), St. Louis,
submitted (rear-naked choke) Sal Woods (4-8),
Granite City, Ill., at 0:59 of the first round (170
pounds); Tom Aaron (7-2), St. Louis, submitted
(guillotine choke) Erik Steenberg (3-1), St. Louis,
at 0:56 of first round (155 pounds); Francisco
“Kiko” France (5-1), Rio De Janiero, submitted
(rear-naked choke) Lee Brousseau (4-2), Wood River,
Ill., at 1:27 of the first round (205 pounds), and
Matt Ricehouse (2-0), St. Louis, submitted
(rear-naked choke) Greg Wilson (0-1), Cobden, Ill.,
at 0:45 of third round (155 pounds).
