—MAIN CARD (Showtime)—
Main event: Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley: Diaz via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 4:57
Co-main event: Strikeforce Lightweight Championship
Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri: Melendez via TKO (Elbows), Round 1, 3:14
Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine: MAJORITY DRAW (29-27, 28-28, 28-28), Round 3, 5:00
Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm: Aoki via Submission (Neck Crank), Round 1, 1:33
—MAIN CARD (MTV2)—
Main Event
Ben Askren vs. Nick Thompson: Askren via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final
Lloyd Woodard vs. Michael Chandler: Chandler via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final
Jay Hieron vs. Brent Weedman: Hieron via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Nick Thompson (white shorts) will represent the first fighter beyond the journeyman level that Ben Askren has faced and likely the first person to have the experience to handle his one-dimensional wrestling game. (Photo courtesy of Rob King and Sherdog)
Oklahoma gets a second dose of Bellator Fighting Championships when the organization returns to the Sooner State for Bellator 40 tonight with a main event superfight between welterweight champion Ben Askren (7-0) and UFC, bodogFIGHT, Strikeforce, Sengoku, and Elite XC veteran “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-12). Askren will have his hands full with this seasoned fighter, and Thompson is coming to fight for the 15 minutes that three of Askren’s four Bellator bouts have lasted. Opening the night for the champ will be the second pair of semi-final tournament bouts. Welterweight semi-finalists step in first as Brent Weedman (18-5) takes on former UFC and Strikeforce fighter and former IFL Welterweight Champion “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (17-4) with the winner moving on to face undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) in the tournament finals. Then former semi-pro boxer and heavy handed striker Lloyd Woodard (11-0) takes on Strikeforce veteran and quick finisher Michael Chandler (6-0) in the lightweight semi-finals with the winner slated against ”Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-0). Overall the night should promise another evening of excellent Bellator action for the fans. Continue reading »
Nick Diaz will put his iron chin, solid boxing, and stellar Jiu-Jitsu to the test tonight against UFC veteran Paul Daley in San Diego. (Photo courtesy of DREAM)
An intriguing welterweight battle projected to send ripples through the 170lbs. division in both Strikeforce and the UFC is set to commence tonight at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley. The main event sees heavy-handed Brit and UFC castaway “Semtex” Paul Daley (23-10-2) facing off against Cesar Gracie protege and reigning Strikeforce Welterweight Champion “Diablo” Nick Diaz (23-8) in a bout that will potentially determine the pecking order in the welterweight division of not only Strikeforce, but also its new sister company the UFC. Since both men have previously fought under the UFC banner where they found moderate success, tonight’s match-up is an opportunity to eliminate competition they would’ve otherwise faced later in their road to the top. In Diaz’s case this may be as far as he wants to go as long as his teammate Jake Shields (26-4-1) wins against the seemingly perpetual UFC welterweight king “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) in their UFC title bout April 30. In any case, with the very real potential that the UFC and Strikeforce may do some roster jockeying, Nick Diaz now more than ever must concrete his position as one of the world’s two most elite 170lb. champions.
UFC veteran and Cage Rage champion Paul Daley will attempt to add Nick Diaz's Strikeforce welterweight title to his resume Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Cage Rage)
This Saturday at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley the welterweight title will be on the line when “Semtex” Paul Daley (23-10) faces off against a game champion in “Diablo” Nick Diaz (23-8). Daley will attempt to stop the three-year, nine-fight win streak of Diaz and set himself up for some intriguing fights within the Strikeforce organization following the recent Zuffa purchase. At first glance this may look like a boxing match, however, with Daley’s lack of ground game, this may be just a way for Diaz to stay active and put another notch on his belt. Daley can certainly end any fight that remains on the feet in short order and is by no means out of his league against the champ. Regardless of the outcome, this fight will more than likely be one of the most exciting bouts of the year, as both men come to finish and throw their strikes and submissions with obvious bad intentions.