Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le
Encyclopedia
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le was a mixed martial arts
event co-promoted by Strikeforce
and EliteXC. The event took place on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose
, California
. The main card aired live on the Showtime premium cable channel. The event originally featured the anticipated Gilbert Melendez
vs. Josh Thomson
, but it was called off because Thomson injured himself training. Nick Diaz
was also scheduled to fight but was pulled from the card due to undisclosed reasons. Referees assigned for the event were Mario Yamasaki
, Herb Dean
and Jon Schorle.
MAIN EVENT
MAIN CARD FIGHTERS
PRELIMINARY MATCH FIGHTERS
DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $667,850
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 co-promoted 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...
and EliteXC. The event took place on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose
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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The main card aired live on the Showtime premium cable channel. The event originally featured the anticipated Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
Gilbert 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. Josh Thomson
Josh Thomson
Joshua Joseph Thomson is an American mixed martial arts fighter training with American Kickboxing Academy. He has fought in Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships and America's UFC, as well as Strikeforce and the World Fighting Alliance. Thomson is a former Strikeforce World Lightweight Champion...
, but it was called off because Thomson injured himself training. Nick Diaz
Nick Díaz
Nicholas 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...
was also scheduled to fight but was pulled from the card due to undisclosed reasons. Referees assigned for the event were Mario Yamasaki
Mario Yamasaki
Mario Yamasaki is a mixed martial arts referee licensed in many states, most recognizable from his duties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as founder and chief instructor of the Yamasaki Academy in the USA...
, Herb Dean
Herb Dean
Herb Dean is an American mixed martial arts fighter and referee. Dean is one of the most seen and well respected referees in mixed martial arts with well over 3,500 professional matches worldwide...
and Jon Schorle.
Under card
- Middleweight bout: Jesse Jones vs. Jesse Gillespie
- Jones defeated Gillespie via TKO (Punches) at 0:35 of round 1.
- Feartherweight bout: Darren UyenoyamaDarren UyenoyamaDarren Uyenoyama is an American mixed martial artist currently signed with the UFC fighting in their bantamweight division...
vs. Anthony Figueroa
- Feartherweight bout: Darren Uyenoyama
- Uyenoyama defeated Figueroa via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:27 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout:
Tiki GhosnTiki GhosnTiki Ghosn is an American mixed martial artist veteran, competing since 1998 in the Welterweight division .-History:Tiki started his MMA career in high school when he discovered Muay Thai Kickboxing as a form of cross training for football, while attending MaterDei High School in Santa Ana,...
vs. Luke StewartLuke StewartLuke Stewart is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently competes in Strikeforce, a California based mixed martial arts promotion.-Martial Arts background:...
- Welterweight bout:
- Ghosn defeated Stewart via Unanimous Decision.
Main card
- Middleweight bout: Joey VillasenorJoey VillasenorJoey Villaseñor is a Mexican American mixed martial arts fighter. He is a PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran, as well as the middleweight champion in King of the Cage. Joey has also fought in Showtime's EliteXC promotion and took part in PRIDE's welterweight grand prix. He currently trains...
vs. Ryan JensenRyan Jensen (fighter)Ryan James Jensen is an American mixed martial artist.-Background:Jensen began training at the age of 15. Following his first fight against Travis Fulton in February 1997, he did not compete again until June 2002...
- Villasenor defeated Jensen via KO (Punch) at 4:45 of round 1.
- Heavyweight bout: Mike KyleMike KyleMike Kyle is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a light heavyweight and heavyweight. He fights primarily for Strikeforce and King of the Cage. He is the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion...
vs. Wayne Cole
- Heavyweight bout:
- Cole defeated Kyle via Submission (Armbar) at 0:45 of round 1.
- 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. Gabe Lemley
- Lightweight Championship bout:
- Melendez defeated Lemley via TKO (Punches) at 2:18 of round 2 to retain the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship
- Welterweight bout: Drew FickettDrew FickettDrew Fickett is an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the Lightweight division. He holds notable victories over Josh Koscheck, Dennis Hallman, Kenny Florian, Kurt Pellegrino, Josh Neer, Matt Veach, and Dennis Bermudez....
vs.
Jae Suk LimJae Suk LimLim Jae-Suk , often anglicised to Jae-Suk Lim, is a South Korean middleweight mixed martial artist and is the current Spirit MC Middleweight Champion. Lim has fought for Strikeforce, Elite XC, and Spirit MC...
- Welterweight bout:
- Fickett defeated Suk Lim via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:14 of round 1.
- Welterweight bout: Marlon Sims vs. Billy EvangelistaBilly EvangelistaBilly Evangelista is an American mixed martial artist who has fought for World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce in his career. His most notable wins are over former UFC fighters Luke Caudillo, Jorge Gurgel and current UFC fighter Nam Phan.-Early career:...
- Welterweight bout: Marlon Sims vs.
- Evangelista defeated Sims via KO (Punch) at 0:39 of round 3.
- Middleweight Championship 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.
Cung LeCung LeCung Le is a Vietnamese-American Sanshou kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and actor from Saigon, Vietnam currently competing in the UFC. He is the former IKF Light Heavyweight San Shou World Champion and has a professional San Shou record of 16-0 before moving to mixed martial arts...
- Middleweight Championship bout:
- Le defeated Shamrock via TKO (Broken Arm) at 5:00 of round 3 to win the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
Fighter salaries
Below are the disclosed purses for each of the fighters http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6007&zoneid=13:MAIN EVENT
- 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...
: $300,000 (no win bonus listed) - Cung LeCung LeCung Le is a Vietnamese-American Sanshou kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and actor from Saigon, Vietnam currently competing in the UFC. He is the former IKF Light Heavyweight San Shou World Champion and has a professional San Shou record of 16-0 before moving to mixed martial arts...
: $200,000 (no win bonus listed)
MAIN CARD FIGHTERS
- 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...
: $50,000 (defeated Gabe Lemley; no win bonus listed) - Joey VillasenorJoey VillasenorJoey Villaseñor is a Mexican American mixed martial arts fighter. He is a PRIDE Fighting Championships veteran, as well as the middleweight champion in King of the Cage. Joey has also fought in Showtime's EliteXC promotion and took part in PRIDE's welterweight grand prix. He currently trains...
: $36,000 (defeated Ryan Jensen; win bonus was $18,000 - Wayne Cole: $10,000 (defeated Mike Kyle; win bonus was $5,000)
- Drew FickettDrew FickettDrew Fickett is an American mixed martial artist. He competes in the Lightweight division. He holds notable victories over Josh Koscheck, Dennis Hallman, Kenny Florian, Kurt Pellegrino, Josh Neer, Matt Veach, and Dennis Bermudez....
: $10,000 (defeated Jae Suk Lim; win bonus was $5,000) - Mike KyleMike KyleMike Kyle is an American mixed martial artist who competes as a light heavyweight and heavyweight. He fights primarily for Strikeforce and King of the Cage. He is the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight champion...
: $10,000 (lost to Wayne Cole) - Gabe Lemley: $7,000 (lost to Gilbert Melendez)
- Billy EvangelistaBilly EvangelistaBilly Evangelista is an American mixed martial artist who has fought for World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce in his career. His most notable wins are over former UFC fighters Luke Caudillo, Jorge Gurgel and current UFC fighter Nam Phan.-Early career:...
: $10,000 (defeated Marlon Sims; win bonus was $5,000) - Jae Suk LimJae Suk LimLim Jae-Suk , often anglicised to Jae-Suk Lim, is a South Korean middleweight mixed martial artist and is the current Spirit MC Middleweight Champion. Lim has fought for Strikeforce, Elite XC, and Spirit MC...
: $3,000 (lost to Drew Fickett) - Ryan JensenRyan Jensen (fighter)Ryan James Jensen is an American mixed martial artist.-Background:Jensen began training at the age of 15. Following his first fight against Travis Fulton in February 1997, he did not compete again until June 2002...
: $6,000 (lost to Joey Villasenor) - Marlon Sims: $2,500 (lost to Billy Evangelista)
PRELIMINARY MATCH FIGHTERS
- Tiki GhosnTiki GhosnTiki Ghosn is an American mixed martial artist veteran, competing since 1998 in the Welterweight division .-History:Tiki started his MMA career in high school when he discovered Muay Thai Kickboxing as a form of cross training for football, while attending MaterDei High School in Santa Ana,...
: $8,000 (defeated Luke Stewart; win bonus was $2,000) - Luke StewartLuke StewartLuke Stewart is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently competes in Strikeforce, a California based mixed martial arts promotion.-Martial Arts background:...
: $6,000 (lost to Tiki Ghosn) - Darren UyenoyamaDarren UyenoyamaDarren Uyenoyama is an American mixed martial artist currently signed with the UFC fighting in their bantamweight division...
: $4,000 (defeated Anthony Figueroa; win bonus was $2,000) - Jesse Jones: $2,150 (defeated Jesse Gillespie; win bonus was $500)
- Anthony Figueroa: $2,000 (lost to Darren Uyenoyama)
- Jesse Gillespie: $1,200 (lost to Jesse Jones)
DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $667,850