Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz
Encyclopedia
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz was a mixed martial arts
event held by Strikeforce
on April 11, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
. It was the first event promoted by Strikeforce after their acquisition of assets from the defunct EliteXC promotion through its parent company ProElite. It aired on the Showtime cable network and online through Strikeforce All Access. Gus Johnson
, Mauro Ranallo
and Pat Miletich
were commentating during the broadcast and Jimmy Lennon Jr. was the ring announcer. The official attendance was announced to be 14,409. The event drew an estimated 364,000 viewers on Showtime.
Brandon Michaels weighed in at 187.5 lb (85 kg), missing the middleweight limit of 185 lb (83.9 kg). His bout with Raul Castillo (183 lb (83 kg)) was changed to a catchweight bout at 187.5 lb (85 kg), with Michaels also being fined 20% of his purse.
. The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income.
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
event held by Strikeforce
Strikeforce
Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
on April 11, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. It was the first event promoted by Strikeforce after their acquisition of assets from the defunct EliteXC promotion through its parent company ProElite. It aired on the Showtime cable network and online through Strikeforce All Access. Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson (sportscaster)
Augustus Cornelius "Gus" Johnson, Jr. is an American sportscaster. Formerly employed by CBS Sports, he currently calls play-by-play for Fox Sports, Showtime, the Big Ten Network and EA Sports.-Education:...
, Mauro Ranallo
Mauro Ranallo
Mauro Domenico Antonio Ranallo is a Canadian sports announcer and commentator, with experience in football, hockey, professional wrestling, and mixed martial arts events. He is best known for his work as a commentator for PRIDE FC and, more recently, Showtime for Elite XC and Strikeforce broadcasts...
and Pat Miletich
Pat Miletich
Patrick Jay Miletich is a retired American mixed martial artist and a current sports commentator. He is known for his fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he became the first UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC 16 tournament champion....
were commentating during the broadcast and Jimmy Lennon Jr. was the ring announcer. The official attendance was announced to be 14,409. The event drew an estimated 364,000 viewers on Showtime.
Event
Gilbert Melendez was originally scheduled to fight Josh Thomson before Thomson broke his leg while sparring. Rodrigo Damm was brought in as a replacement instead.Weigh-ins
All fighters except Cristiane Santos and Brandon Michaels made their contracted weight during the official weigh-ins on April 10. Santos originally weighed in at 152 lb (68.9 kg) for her 145 lb (65.8 kg) fight with Hitomi Akano and had a few hours to cut down to 149.5 lb (67.8 kg) to get within the allowed 6 lb (2.7 kg) disparity. On her second attempt she weighed in at 150.5 lb (68.3 kg) and was cleared to fight. Santos was fined 20% of her fight purse by the California State Athletic Commission for not making weight with half of it going to Akano.Brandon Michaels weighed in at 187.5 lb (85 kg), missing the middleweight limit of 185 lb (83.9 kg). His bout with Raul Castillo (183 lb (83 kg)) was changed to a catchweight bout at 187.5 lb (85 kg), with Michaels also being fined 20% of his purse.
Main card
- Catchweight (179 lb) bout:
Frank ShamrockFrank ShamrockFrank Shamrock is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion...
vs. Nick DiazNick DíazNicholas Robert Diaz is an American mixed martial artist. He is the former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, WEC and IFC Welterweight Champion. He has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride Fighting Championships and Elite Xtreme Combat. Diaz was promoted to black belt in Brazilian...
- Diaz defeated Shamrock by TKO (punches) at 3:57 into round 2.
- Interim Lightweight Championship Bout: Gilbert MelendezGilbert MelendezGilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
vs.
Rodrigo DammRodrigo DammRodrigo Damm is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has competed for World Victory Road, Strikeforce, Jungle Fight, bodogFIGHT, and Shooto promotions. Rodrigo's sister Carina Damm is also a mixed martial artist. Damm made his US debut at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs...
- Interim Lightweight Championship Bout:
- Melendez defeated Damm by KO (punches) at 2:02 of round 2 to become the new Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion.
- Middleweight bout: Scott SmithScott Smith (fighter)Bryan Scott Smith, , is an American mixed martial artist previously fighting at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship making his debut at UFC 59. He also fought for EliteXC before it folded and currently fights for Strikeforce...
vs. Benji RadachBenji RadachBenji Russell Radach is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is a former member of the Los Angeles Anacondas of the International Fight League.-Biography:...
- Middleweight bout:
- Smith defeated Radach by KO (punch) at 3:24 of round 3.
- Women's 145 lb (65.8 kg) bout: Cristiane SantosCristiane SantosCristiane Justino Venancio Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and the Strikeforce Women's Featherweight Champion . Santos won the title on August 15, 2009 by defeating Gina Carano via TKO...
vs.
Hitomi AkanoHitomi Akano, is a Japanese female mixed martial artist. She uses a song she penned herself called "Between the Sky" as her entrance music.Akano is a former Smackgirl Middleweight Champion at 128 pounds...
- Women's 145 lb (65.8 kg) bout:
- Santos defeated Akano by TKO (punches) at 0:35 of round 3.
- Heavyweight bout: Brett RogersBrett RogersBrett Charles Rogers is an African-American mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. Rogers has fought in EliteXC and Strikeforce.-Biography:...
vs.
Abongo HumphreyAbongo HumphreyRon Humphrey is a Ghanaian American mixed martial artist who currently fights in the Strikeforce promotion in the Light Heavyweight Division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
- Heavyweight bout:
- Rogers defeated Humphrey by TKO (strikes) at 1:38 of round 2.
Undercard
- Middleweight bout: Luke RockholdLuke RockholdLuke Rockhold is an American mixed martial artist. He is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.Rockhold holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Dave Camarillo.-Early Life:...
vs. Buck Meredith
- Rockhold defeated Meredith by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:07 of round 1.
- Middleweight bout: Eric LawsonEric LawsonEric Lawson is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently competes in Strikeforce.-Mixed martial arts career:Eric Lawson began his professional mixed martial arts career on February 12, 2004 for the California based mixed martial arts promotion Gladiator Challenge at Colusa Casino in...
vs. Waylon Kennell
- Middleweight bout:
- Lawson defeated Kennell via TKO (punches) at 4:54 of round 1.
- Catchweight 187.5 lb (85 kg) bout: Raul CastilloRaul CastilloRaul Castillo is an American mixed martial artist from Half Moon Bay, California .Raul has been practicing martial arts since the age of four. Achieving the rank of Black Belt at the age of eleven, under George Marenco in the style of Kami-Do-Ryu, Raul later went on to once again achieve the rank...
vs. Brandon Michaels
- Catchweight 187.5 lb (85 kg) bout:
- Castillo defeated Michaels via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:45 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout: James TerryJames Terry (fighter)James Terry is an American mixed martial artist from San Jose, California.. James has an extension college wrestling background. He moved to Northern California in 2005 when he began to sharpen his kickboxing under the guidance of Cung Le. James now trains in MMA and work as an instructor and...
vs. Zak Bucia
- Welterweight bout:
- Terry defeated Bucia via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
- Bantamweight bout: Jeremy Tavares vs. Shingo Kohara
- Bantamweight bout:
- Kohara defeated Tavares via KO (knee) at 0:04 of round 2.
Reported Payout
The following is a list of fighter salaries as provided by the California State Athletic CommissionCalifornia State Athletic Commission
The California State Athletic Commission regulates professional boxing, professional and amateur kickboxing and professional mixed martial arts throughout the State by licensing all participants and supervising the events....
. The figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income.
- Nick Diaz: $39,950 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Frank Shamrock: $369,790
- Gilbert Melendez: $49,890 (no win bonus) def. Rodrigo Damm: $9,190
- Scott Smith: $49,940 ($25,000 win bonus) def. Benji Radach: $16,940
- Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos: $18,000 ($10,000 win bonus) def. Hitomi Akano: $1,450
- Brett Rogers: $39,940 ($20,000 win bonus) def. Ron "Abongo" Humphrey: $3,205
- Luke Rockhold: $6,000 ($3,000 win bonus) def. Buck Meredith: $1,540
- Eric Lawson: $9,950 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Waylon Kennell: $1,950
- Raul Castillo: $7,890 ($3,500 win bonus) def. Brandon Michaels: $1,500
- James Terry: $3,940 ($2,000 win bonus) def. Zak Bucia: $1,500
- Shingo Kohara: $940 (no win bonus) def. Jeremy Tavares: $940