STRIKEFORCE
Results - Fabricio Werdum Submits Fedor
06-27-2010
Denver,
CO
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 27, 2010) – On a historic
night of Mixed Martial arts presented by STRIKEFORCE
and M-1 GLOBAL and televised on SHOWTIME®, two-time
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Fabricio “Vai
Cavalo” Werdum (14-4) registered the most
spectacular upset in MMA history with a 1:09,
first-round submission (triangle choke) over the
world’s No. 1 heavyweight and pound-for-pound
fighter, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (31-2)
before 12,649 Saturday at HP Pavilion.
Fedor, a six-footer, had Werdum in trouble in the
opening moments after dropping him with a right
uppercut that was followed with several more
punches. But from his back, Werdum, a Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt and member of Brazil’s vaunted
Chute Boxe fight squad, got Fedor into a combination
triangle- and arm-choke. Within seconds, the fight
was over. The famed Fedor had tapped out.
“I am so very, very happy,’’ the six-foot-four
Werdum said. “He is such a strong man. He is a great
fighter. I would be glad to fight him again.’’
It was the first “legitimate’’ defeat in Fedor’s
legendary career. His other loss, while official,
came as a result of a disputed doctor stoppage due
to a cut he sustained seconds into a matchup with
Japan’s Tsuyoshi Kosaka on Dec. 22, 2000.
“One that doesn’t fall doesn’t stand up. I was
concentrating on the strikes and made a mistake,’’
Fedor said. “I will have to go back and analyze what
happened.’’
Saturday marked the first time in MMA history, the
No. 1 male and female fighters in the world fought
in the same cage on the same night.
While Fedor failed in a stunning shocker, the top
women’s fighter, Cris Cyborg (10-1) of Curitibia,
Brazil, was her usual brutal self as she retained
the STRIKEFORCE Women’s World Middleweight (145
pounds) title with a dominant second-round (2:27)
knockout (strikes) over game, determined challenger,
Jan Finney (8-8) of Springfield, Ohio, in one of the
featured fights on SHOWTIME.
In other televised fights, former STRIKEFORCE
middleweight champion and hometown favorite,
southpaw Cung Le (17-3) of San Jose, convincingly
stopped Scott “Hands Of Steel’’ Smith (18-7) of Elk
Grove, Calif., at 1:46 in the second round; and
popular, local fan favorite and former STRIKEFORCE
world lightweight belt-holder Josh “The Punk’’
Thomson (17-3), of San Jose, turned back a
determined bid of Pat “Bam Bam’’ Healy (23-16) of
Portland, Ore., to score a hard-fought, third-round
submission. A tight, even fight ended via rear-naked
choke at 4:27.
In an emotional moment midway through the telecast,
MMA pioneer and San Jose’s original favorite MMA
son, Frank “The Legend’’ Shamrock, made one last
walk down the ramp, in a suit, no less, and into the
cage where he formally announced his retirement.
As the respectful fans stood and listened in
appreciation, Shamrock, who is an expert analyst for
SHOWTIME MMA telecasts, took the microphone,
surrounded by family, promoters and executives, and
said: “I’m 37. My time has come. Tonight, I announce
my retirement. Tonight, I enter the cage for the
last time as a fighter. I want to thank the people,
my friend and an honest promoter, Scott Coker, for
always keeping his word. In 2006, I threw one punch
and STRIKEFORCE was born. Again, I want to thank all
the people, the HP Pavilion and my family who put up
with my craziness that was MMA. You, the fans were
there when I won, and when I lost, and it was an
honor for me to bleed and to break bones and
entertain you.’’
Shamrock then slowly bowed to each side of the cage,
precipitating one final roar of cheers from those in
attendance.
By defeating Fedor, Werdum’s record now against the
Emelianenko’s is 2-0. On Nov. 26, 2006, Werdum
submitted Fedor’s brother, Aleksander, via arm
triangle choke at 3:24 in the first round in
Rotterdam, Holland.
Werdum may also have earned an immediate shot at
STRIKEFORCE heavyweight world champion, Alistair
“The Demolition Man” Overeem, whom he’s already
defeated once. “I am ready to fight anybody,’’
Werdum said.
Cyborg, who had a meaningless point deducted for
hitting behind the head in the opening round,
praised Finney, who went down several times, but
felt the fight could have been halted earlier.
“I was really surprised the fight wasn’t stopped in
the first round,’’ said Cyborg after her 10th
consecutive victory. “I know she was trying hard,
but I could tell I was hurting her, especially when
she was down and covering up like she was. But it is
my job to keep fighting until the fight is over.’’
Cyborg was crowned the first STRIKEFORCE women’s
champion in history on Aug. 15, 2009, after she
stopped Gina Carano in the first round at HP
Pavilion.
Finney fought as hard as anyone could expect and,
true to her word, kept firing back.
“I think this, being a world title fight, could have
gone on a little longer,’’ she said. “If I was
really hurt, I would have tapped.’’
Southpaw Le, who had dominated Smith before getting
stopped last Dec. 19, left little to doubt this time
around. A spinning leg kick to the body dropped
Smith and after a succession of punches, the referee
stepped in. Afterward, an ecstatic Le back-flipped
out.
“I want to thank Scott Coker and SHOWTIME. I know
what happened last time and was determined not to
have it happen again. I knew I was in shape. I was
pushed really hard during training. I was totally
focused. I didn’t eat pizza. I didn’t eat chocolate
for six or seven weeks.
“If Scott Coker wants a rubber match, that would be
fine with me. Last time was Scott (Smith’s) night.
This was my night. I am the one standing.’’
Saturday’s amazing event will re-air as follows:
DAY CHANNEL - Monday, June 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
SHOWTIME 2
The fights will be available On Demand beginning on
Tuesday, June 29.
Saturday’s non-televised results: Bret Bergmark won
a unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26) over
Vagner Rocha; Chris Cope (TKO 2, strikes, 4:32) over
Ron Keslar, Yancey Medeiros, (KO 2, punches, 1:19)
over Gareth Joseph and Bobby Stack won a split
decision (29-28 twice and 27-30) over Derrick
Burnsed.
MMA/SHOWTIME Schedule: On July 23 at Everett, Wash.,
undefeated heavyweight Shane Del Rosario (9-0) will
face fellow heavy hitter Lolohea Mahe (4-1-1) in the
main event on STRIKEFORCE Challengers (11 p.m.
ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast). In the
co-feature, unbeaten STRIKEFORCE Women’s World
Welterweight (135 pounds) Champion and former ballet
dancer Sarah Kaufman (11-0) will put her perfect
record and crown on the line against international
star Roxanne Modafferi (15-5). In other featured
action, Abongo Humphrey (7-1) will take on Mike
“Mak” Kyle (16-7-1) at light heavyweight (205
pounds).
Catch
Replay On Monday, June 28, 2010, At 10 P.M. ET/PT On
SHOWTIME 2
