On Saturday night Gilbert Melendez proved once again that he is among the best in the business. Melendez dominated challenger Jorge Masvidal over five rounds to cruise to a unanimous decision victory. Melendez lost only one round on the three judges' scorecards.
Melendez was the more aggressive fighter over the course of the fight and landed the more effective striking combinations. Masvidal countered with some solid jabs but Melendez was never in trouble during the fight. It was Melendez's third straight defense of his Strikeforce Lightweight Title.
It did not take Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos nearly as long as long to defend her Strikeforce Women's Featherweight Title. Santos knocked out Hiroko Yamanaka in 16 seconds to retain her belt.
Santos, who was fighting her first fight in 18 months, showed no ring rust as she dropped Yamanaka with a straight right hand in the opening seconds of the fight and preceded to follow her to the mat. After Santos let Yamanaka back up to her feet, Santos dropped her again forcing the stoppage.
Santos has now won 11 fights in a row and is 5-0 in Strikeforce, she has finished every single one of her Strikeforce victories.
Full "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" results listed below:
- Gilbert Melendez def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to retain title
- Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos def. Hiroko Yamanaka via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 0:16 to retain title
- Gegard Mousasi def. Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- KJ Noons def. Billy Evangelista via unanmious decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Caros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:13
- Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:42
- Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
- Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) - Round 3, 4:05