“I’m happy with the win,” Misaki said through an interpreter.

There was a frustrating seven-minute build-up to the fireworks finale in which both veterans circled and strategized while  the crowd begged for action.

Riggs struck first in the second round, nailing Misaki with a big left and a kick; but, Misaki countered with a right cross that floored “Diesel”.

Misaki followed Riggs to the mat and landed several shots before referee Josh Rosenthal ended the fight.

“I had my hands covering my head,” argued Riggs after the stoppage.  “But it is what it is.”

Strikeforce Lightweight Champion “Punk” Josh Thomson (16-2) knocked “Archer” Ashe Bowman to the fence with a right and followed up with a flurry before referee Herb Dean ended the fight at 1:14 of round one.

Strikeforce debuting lightweight “Endless Warrior” Mitsuhiro Ishida (17-4-1) also won a quick stoppage over “Silverback” Justin Wilcox by armbar submission at 1:21 of round one.

Terry Martin (18-5) returned from a brutal knockout by “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) in July and dropped Cory Devela (9-2) with left hook at 2:08 of round three.

Light heavyweight Trevor Prangley (18-5) picked up a UD over “El Toro” Anthony Ruiz (21-12) in a fight he took on late notice.

Luke Stewart (6-1) tapped Jesse Juarez (6-5) in an armbar at4:55 of round one.

Eric Lawson (7-2) tapped Kenneth Seegrist (5-1) in a rear naked choke at 3:07 of round one.

Brandon Magana (6-1) and Jesse Gillespie (2-2) each won split decisions over Brandon Thatch (3-1) and Dave Martin  (0-2) respectively.

Prangely tapped Ruiz in an armbar in Fresno,southeast of San Francisco, in 2006.

More recently, Prangley won a referee’s decision over Falaniko Vitale (26-8) in San Jose last November in Strikeforce’s middleweight tournament, but was TKO’d the same night in the tournament final by Jorge Santiago (17-7).

Ruiz most recently won a UD over Jeremy Freitag (6-7).

The original main event was to have pitted Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (9-5) versus Sobral; but, both fighters have pulled up lame.

Southworth spoke about where he’s come from and where he’s going, the prospect of landing bigger fights, and the crowd’s reaction to his victory.

Thompson has been Strikeforce’s top contender at 155-pounds for awhile.  Last September “The Punk” TKO’d Adam Lynn (11-8) in front of Hef’ and the bunnies at the Playboy Mansion.

Melendez mopped up an over-matched Gabe Lemley (11-7) in March after losing his first professional fight last December to “Endless Fighter” Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-3-1).

MMA Junkie reports Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth (8-5) will defend his title versus Anthony Ruiz (20-10) on the same card.