Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (203.75) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (203.5)

Tim Kennedy (185) vs. Ronaldo Souza (184.75)

Karl James Noons (156.25) vs. Jorge Gurgel (154.75)

Bobby Lashley (246) vs. Chad Griggs (228.5)

Daniel Cormier (249) vs. Jason Riley (256.5)

Andre Galvao (170.75) vs. Jorge Patino (170.8)

Rocky Long (146.25) vs. Vinicius Magalhaes (144.5)

Kier Gooch (155.5) vs. Adam Schindler (155.5)

Jose Santibanez (154.25) vs. Reynaldo Trujillo (155.25)

Humberto DeLeon (127.25) vs. Chad Robichaux (131)

Chad Cook (205.25) vs. Arteneus Young (204)

As you can see, many fighters took generous use of the one-pound-over allowance given to non-title fights. And still, several fighters couldn’t make the weight. To his credit, Gurgel immediately forfeited his right to decline the match after “KJ” Noons weighed in over the weight limit; the fight will go on as planned. Vinicius Magalhaes also accepted a fight with his opponent that also weighed in over the weight-limit, except his bout with Rocky Long has now been changed to a catchweight fight. Chad Robichaux also missed the mark the first time around, but he was given an extra hour to cut the weight and allowed to try again. He did manage to make the weight the second time around, so his fight with Humberto DeLeon will go forward as planned.

In regards to three Strikeforce fighters missing weight, I don’t think this is all that abnormal, or that it paints Strikeforce in a negative light. MMA fighters seem to miss weight more and more often nowadays. For whatever reason, more and more people are struggling to make their weight class, and the only thing that’s saving them is the one-pound-over rule. I’m not criticizing Strikeforce in particular, but the MMA band of brothers as a whole. Fight in your natural weight class, guys.

Considering all of that, I’m still looking forward to “Houston”. King Mo and Cavalcante should put on a great match. King Mo has some awesome wrestling, but “Feijao” belongs to the prestigious Black House team, home to the Nogueira brothers, two of the best ground wizards you could ever hope to have as training partners. Both Mo and Cavalcante have serious punching power, too, so this one might end early and end brutally.

I’m also excited for the Middleweight Championship fight, even though I generally think that just throwing two guys into a title fight devalues the significance of the championship. However, I think you couldn’t ask for a better Middleweight Champion than Ronaldo Souza. He’s very energetic, has a great ground game, and his striking continues to improve. Plus, he could always face Jason Miller again, the two have quite a rivalry going ever since Souza beat Miller at DREAM 4 and Miller cracked Souza’s skull open at DREAM 9 with an illegal (though inadvertent) soccer kick to the dome. I’m even excited to see Bobby Lashley, on the off chance that Chad Griggs will beat him or, at the very least, make the fight competitive.

And what about you, fans and friends? Now that the fights are official and there’s nothing holding this card back, how excited are you for Strikeforce: “Houston”?

“I’m so happy fighting here in ATT backyard,” Carneiro said after the fight.

In the first round, Carneiro tripped “Macaco” to the mat and landed body punches and a right elbow to Patino’s head; but, Patino swept into half mount. Carneiro countered with an armbar, but the Brazilian veteran “Macaco” wasn’t going to tap. He kicked “Jucao” in the head illegally and the referee paused the action without taking a point deduction. After the pause, Carneiro scored a double leg slam.

Carneiro launched a flying right knee to Patino’s head in the second round. The Brazilians clinched at the cage and “Macaco” defended a Carneiro trip takedown only to pull guard and eat a few lefts to the head from Carneiro. The referee stood the fighters after several moments of wrestling; and, Carneiro pounced with a 1-2 combo to a shoot and slam; but, again “Macaco” swept Carneiro from half guard at the bell.

Carneiro stamped a straight right on Patino’s forehead to begin round three, then shot as Patino backpedaled. Patino grabbed for a guillotine on the way down, but never locked it in. Again, the referee stood the fighters after moments of positioning. On their feet, Carneiro pawled a lazy jab and ate a right overhand from Patino for the effort; but, Carneiro stuck a right knee in Patino’s face as he leaned into another wild overhand late in the round.

The fight card:

“Jucao” Roan Carneiro (12-8) v “Macaco” Jorge Patino (22-11-1)
“Buscape” Luiz Firmino (12-4) v “Irish Assassin” Ryan Healy (10-5-1)
“Sobrevivente” Flavio Alvaro (24-6) v “White Bear” Jean Silva (16-8-3)
Yves Edwards (34-15-1 v James Warfield (12-4)
Junior Assuncao (8-4) v “Gladiator” Gideon Ray (15-10-1)
Micah Miller (11-3) v Anthony Morrison (7-6)
“Whisper” Herbert Goodman (5-4) v James Brasco (5-1)
Phil Friedman (1-1) v Brian Fuery (0-0)
Danny Chavez (2-1) v “Tagarela” Jonatas Gurgel (3-0)

American Top Team vs. The World will be held in Miami 4 September, but broadcast on The Fight Network 12 September.

ATT’s Carneiro enters Shine off of a 2-3 stint in the UFC ending with split decision loss to “Piranha” Ryo Chonan (15-10) at UFC 88 in Atlanta last September.

Patino won a UD over “Blackjack” Beau Baker (7-2) at KAPMMA in Newark last February.

The card also features UFC vet Junior Assuncao (8-4), WEC vets Carlo Prater (24-7-1), “Maverick” Micah Miller (12-3) and “Irish Assassin” Ryan Healy (4-4-1), and PRIDE and DREAM vet “Buscape” Luis Firmino (12-4).