Strikeforce Fedor Vs. Silva: Main Card Results And Recap

Added on Feb 13, 2011 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

The first round of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix took place last night in East Rutherford New Jersey. The event was one for the history books. After Fedor Emelianenko dropped his second straight fight, he announced to the crowd that he was leaning towards retirement. Below is how all the fights played out in the first round of the Grand Prix.

Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo

To kick off the main card entirely made up of heavyweights Valentijn Overeem and Ray Sefo squared off in the strikeforce cage. After exchanging some leg kicks, Ray Sefo charged in with a few combinations, but Overeem was able to circle out and land a nice front kick. Sefo set up another overhand right, when Overeem changed levels and took Sefo to the floor. Overeem quickly moved to side control, and secured the neck crank on Sefo. Sefo was quickly forced to tap out. The official time is 1:37 of the first round.

Gian Villante vs. Chad Griggs

Griggs came in swinging and Villante answers with some uppercuts after clinching with Chad. After becoming somewhat overwhelmed, Villante pushes Griggs to the fence to slow down the action. After working off the fence, Griggs landed a nice combination that prompted Villante to shoot in for a take down. Griggs sprawled from the shot, and was able to land some shots while Villante held on to the leg. Villante gets back to his feet, and lands a nice head kick that splits the ear open of Griggs. Griggs returns fire with a right hand that dropped Villante, but he was able to pop right back up to his feet. However, Griggs closes the distance again and lands another right hand that sends Villante right back down to the ground. Griggs began pounding on Villante until the Ref stopped the fight at 2:49 mark of round one.

Shane del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson

After exchanging some leg kicks, Del Rosario throws a head kick, but runs into a bunch from Johnson. Del Rosario pins Johnson up against the fence but Johnson used the clinch to trip Del Rosario. Johnson works from open guard, but Del Rosario is able to scramble to his feet. After some more clinching, Johnson separates and comes forward with some shots. Del Rosario slips the punches and takes him down to the cage floor. Del Rosario quickly scrambles to full mount, and is able to put all of his weight on the chest of Johnson. Johnson was doing well with his arms up defending the punches raining down on him, but Del Rosario took advantage of the limb that was exposed, and rolled into an arm bar. Johnson stacked up Del Rosario, but it was all in vein as the arm bar was locked in tight. Johnson is forced to tap with 30 seconds left in the round.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov
Even though the broadcasters didn’t bother to look at Arlovski’s record, as they kept on saying he has been knocked out in his last three fights (he lost via decision in his last fight), Arlovski looked pretty composed on his feet. His boxing looked tight, and he was staying on out side throwing low and high kicks. Kharitonov had Arlovski backed up against the cage, and clinched with him to do some dirty boxing. Arlovski was able to land an uppercut that backed up Kharitonov, but he came right back in throwing hooks. He landed a pair of right hands, and the second one sent Arlovski to the floor. Kharitonov threw his legs aside to move into side control, and begins punching him. The second one puts Arlovski out at 2:49.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva

Both came out ready to fight, and Fedor immediately throws some overhand punches that are just missing the mark. Fedor really looked to be throwing wild. After Silva gets a hold of him, he pressed him against the cage, and landed some knees until the ref separated them. Silva landed a heavy shot that left Fedor’s nose bleeding. Silva dove or a leg but didn’t get a hold of it, and ended up on his back, and Fedor dove into his half guard and landed some punches. Silva scrambles his way back up, and they both began throwing wild shots. Silva scored a takedown with 20 seconds left in the round, and landed some shots from the top. Tough round to score, but I gave it to Fedor.

In the second round, Fedor came out with his hand cocked and loaded while coming forward, and Silva took him right down. Silva passes to side control, then moves to north south and back around to end up in full mount. Silva began pounding on Fedor, and Fedor gave up his back, but managed to avoid the rear naked choke. Fedor twists back around, and ends up on his back again, and Silva still in mount. Silva locked up a tight head and arm choke, but Fedor survived and was able to squirm free. With 90 seconds left Silva ended up in half guard, and its now clear damage Silva did to his face. His eye is looking terrible. Silva dropped back for a kneebar, but Fedor resisted and went for a toe hold of his own. Silva wags his finger and that’s where the round ends.

Dan Mirgilotta called a stop to the fight, because Fedor’s eye was swollen all the way shut. He couldn’t see out of the eye, and it was the right call. Fedor said in the post fight interview that he is considering retiring from sport, and the whole crowd was in awe and was cheering for him.