Hello and welcome to another “Top 5 Best Moments”, fans and friends. Whenever a major MMA promotion puts on a show, it always leaves fans talking. Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg” was no different, since it featured dramatic fights, stunning (T)KO’s, and super-slick submissions. But what were the highlights of the night? Here are my picks for the Top 5 Best Moments of Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg”.
5. Herschel Walker steamrolling Scott Carson.
Say what you want about Herschel Walker’s skill level and the skill level of his opponents, but a dominant win is a dominant win. Walker’s performance was one of the best of the night simply because Walker continues to defy people’s expectations. He’s a physical marvel, incredibly humble, and decidedly vicious when it comes time to step into the cage and go to work. Against all odds and despite the harshest cries of his cynics, Walker continues to walk through opponents like it was easy, and that definitely made for a highlight of the night.
4. Souza’s constant submission attempts and Lawler’s uncanny ability to stave them off.
Ronaldo Souza defending his Strikeforce Middleweight Championship against Robbie Lawler was a great fight in general, but one of its best moments came late in the fight. Souza flawlessly and expertly applied a series of submission attempts, transitioning from one to the next with a speed that can only be described as lightning-fast. Somehow, someway, Lawler found a way to get out of each and every one. It made for some incredibly tense moments, and it was definitely a highlight of the night.
3. Roger Gracie giving the Gracie name hope for a new generation.
When was the last time you could truly consider a Gracie fighter as a top-ranked Mixed Martial Artist? The pioneers of the sport haven’t had a lot of luck adapting to the new generation: some have been successful only to falter in the end, others have had outright embarrassing performances before vanishing from the major MMA landscape entirely. Not true for Roger Gracie. Despite my early protests, Gracie is giving the family name hope for a new generation as he continues to face and defeat some of Strikeforce’s best mid-level Light Heavyweights. Gracie made it look almost too easy when he submitted Trevor Prangley. We may finally be seeing the rebirth of the Gracie name, and that definitely made for one of the best moments of the night.
2. Ronaldo Souza becoming a true Strikeforce champion.
I think Souza’s performance against Lawler was so great that he deserves two spots on this list. This performance signaled a change in my outlook on “Jacare”: I’ve gone from a respectful middle-of-the-road semi-follower to an outright fan of the man. Souza showed incredible heart and fortitude when he staved off a Lawler blitzkrieg, he remained calm and collected throughout the bout and even kept the fight standing for awhile after coming so close to going out. Then to top it all off, he snatches up another submission victory. Souza is a true champion, and I’m proud to say that his fantastic performance at “Diaz vs. Cyborg” won me over as a fan.
And my top best moment of Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Cyborg” is…
1. This is why you don’t take Nick Diaz to the ground.
The official time of this bout’s end was listed at 4:50 of Round 2, meaning that Nick Diaz and Evangelista Santos had officially fought for nine minutes and fifty seconds. I want to say that roughly 9:40 of that 9:50 was fought standing up, with Diaz more-or-less dominating even though Santos threw up some good leg kicks. Then the fight went to the ground and it was over almost before I could blink. Everyone, including me, always talks about how Diaz is evolving into one of the best strikers in the game. This fight reminded us that Diaz’s submission skills have been and always will be as sharp or even sharper than his stand-up. It was a classic Nick Diaz performance, and it easily takes the top spot.
And what about you, fans and friends? What were your top 5 moments of the night for “Diaz vs. Cyborg”?
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I want to say that i was sure jacare was going to get put to sleep by lawler, but he proved he is a dominant force on the ground, and in the kennedy fight that he is no joke standing either.
as far as nick diaz goes, people are hating on his performance, but outside of the leg kicks, diaz took a few shots to the dome and mostly blocked or slipped the rest. it wasn’t picturesque like people expect from boxing, but i think it was realistic for all elements of fighting being taken into account, and lacking huge gloves.
not only that he kept walking forward. he coming after it and hitting cyborg flush. it really looked like the smith fight in many parts, but i think diaz has been hitting alot harder. volume striking is the game, but he is setting up crosses and lead hooks like crazy the last two fights. so effective striking has went through the roof. ask cyborg how good diaz ground game is, who had only been tapped once previously. ask cyborg if diaz’ “pitter patter” punches hurt.