April 11th Strickforce – Shamrock vs. Diaz

Thompson Out, Damm in to Face Melendez in the LHW Bout

Apr 8, 2009

Strikeforce puts on it first production of the year, with a main event featuring two veterans Nick Diaz vs. Frank Shamrock.

The main event for Strikeforce’s April 11th show will feature two of the fighters acquired from their EliteXC deal, when veterans Frank Shamrock and Nate Diaz meet. Brazilian Chute Boxe fighter Christine “Cyborg” takes on Hitomi Akano, for the female bout of the card.

Lightheavy Weight Championship Bout Cancelled on Strikeforce April 11th Card

The only scheduled championship fight on the card was cancelled when Lightheavy Weight champion Josh Thompson suffered a broken ankle during one of his training session. Instead, Thompson’s opponent, Gilbert Melendez, will face Brazil’s Rodrigo Damm.

Rodrigo Damm makes his Strikeforce debut, with a record of eight wins and only two losses. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter has stepped up to the plate to take on Gilbert Melendez in the lightheavy weight, non-championship bout. In what would have been his rematch and opportunity to reclaim his lightheavy weight title, Melendez will have to wait, to once again face Josh Thompson. Thompson and Melendez went five rounds in Strikeforce’s July 2008 show, where Thompson emerged as the winner with Melendez lightheavy weight belt.

Main Event

Shamrock vs. Diaz headlines the show in a catchweight bout at 179lbs. The bad blood continues. In his last bout in the octagon Shamrock left with a broken arm and without his Middle weight belt, after losing to Chung Lee at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Lee in March of 2008. Coming in on a three fight winning streak the Stockton, the California Bad Boy Nick Diaz never backs down and will defiantly push the fight. In this veteran vs. veteran fight, we are sure to be treated to some old school MMA.

Main Card Bouts

The female bout on the card showcases the aggressive styles of Christine”Cyborg” Santos, wife of Strikeforce fighter Evangelista Cyborg, taking on Japan’s Smackgirl submission artist Hitomi Akano. Making her first appearance in the United States on a prime time broadcast, Hitomi has plans to make a name for herself. Cyborg on the other hands has her eyes set on one competitor, the face of women’s MMA, Gina Carano.

In the Middleweight division Scott Smith takes on Benji Radach, both fighters are stepping into the octagon off of wins. Smith challenged then middleweight champion, Robbie Lawler, for his title in May 2008, where the fight came to a quick finish and the match was deemed a No Contest after an accidental eye poke. Two months later he was given rematch and lost via TKO. At Strikeforce: Destruction, Smith redeemed his self by knocking out Terry Martin, in just mere seconds of the first round. Coming off a KO victory over famed Brazilian fighter Murilo “Ninja” Rua, the former Independent Fight League (IFL) fighter will definitely want to keep the fight standing up, having won 15 of his 19 fights by way of knockout. This match is sure to be a slobernocker.

The last main card bout will feature Heavyweights Brett Rogers vs. Ron Humphries. Both fighters will put their undefeated records on the line. Out of his 8-0 record 7 of Brett Rogers wins have been by technical knock out or by knock out. The 265lb Minnesota native will keep the fight on its feet, while pressing the action and going for the kill. Ron Humphries brings to this fight, a 5-0 record and an iron fist. All of his fight has ended in a knock out or technical knock out of the first round.

Preliminary Bouts

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