Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

The main event between Melendez and Masvidal was briefly in question with Dana White's announcement that Melendez was UFC bound, but the match went on as planned.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/25498/dana-white-strikeforce-champ-gilbert-melendez-is-headed-to-the-ufc-asap.mma|title=Dana White: Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez is headed to the UFC, ASAP|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2011-10-01}}

Keith Jardine was expected to make his Middleweight debut at this event.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/24998/keith-jardine-im-returning-to-strikeforce-in-december-headed-to-middleweight.mma|title=Keith Jardine: I'm returning to Strikeforce in December, headed to middleweight|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2011-08-29}} However, he would instead debut at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine the following year.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/26345/luke-rockhold-vs-keith-jardine-title-fight-targeted-for-jan-7-strikeforce-event.mma|title=Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine title fight targeted for Jan. 7 Strikeforce event|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2011-12-02}}

The Bowling/Peoples bout was supposed to be fought at Welterweight, however it was changed to a 179-pound catchweight. Peoples still missed weight and the fight went on as a 181-pound catchweight fight with Peoples fined 20 percent of his purse.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/26565/strikeforce-melendez-vs-masvidal-live-and-official-weigh-in-results.mma|title='Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' weigh-in results: Title fights are official|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2011-12-16}}

The bout between Devin Cole & Gabriel Salinas-Jones was the last heavyweight fight in Strikeforce's full Heavyweight division. Two days after this event was held, Strikeforce announced the end of the division (save for Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament finalists Josh Barnett & Daniel Cormier) due to a lack of depth, and six of the promotion's remaining heavyweight fighters were folded into the UFC shortly afterwards.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/15/strikeforce-to-eliminate-heavyweight-division-in-2012|title=Strikeforce to Eliminate Heavyweight Division in 2012|publisher=mmafighting.com|date=2011-12-15}}

Former World Extreme Cagefighting announcer Joe Martinez announced this event in place of Jimmy Lennon Jr., as Lennon was announcing that same night's Showtime-broadcast Super Six World Boxing Classic boxing card headlined by Carl Froch & Andre Ward.{{cite web|url=

http://www.heavy.com/mma/strikeforce/2011/12/strikeforce-melendez-vs-masvidal-live-blog|title=Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Results and Recap|publisher=heavy.com|date=2011-12-17}}

{{MMAevent}}

{{MMAevent card|Main Card (Showtime)}}

{{MMAevent bout|Lightweight|Gilbert Melendez (c)|def.|Jorge Masvidal|Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 49–46)|5|5:00|For the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Women's Featherweight|Cris Cyborg (c)|vs.|Hiroko Yamanaka|No Contest (overturned)|1|0:16|For the Strikeforce Women's Featherweight Championship. Originally a TKO win for Cyborg, the result was overturned to a "No Contest" when Cyborg subsequently tested positive for Stanozolol in a post-fight drug test.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/26854/csac-strikeforce-champ-cris-cyborg-santos-tests-positive-for-anabolic-steroid.mma|title=CSAC: Strikeforce champ Cris 'Cyborg' Santos tests positive for anabolic steroid|publisher=MMAjunkie.com|accessdate=2012-01-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120710060122/http://mmajunkie.com/news/26854/csac-strikeforce-champ-cris-cyborg-santos-tests-positive-for-anabolic-steroid.mma|archivedate=2012-07-10}}

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Light Heavyweight|Gegard Mousasi|def.|Ovince St. Preux|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)|3|5:00

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Lightweight|K. J. Noons|def.|Billy Evangelista|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card|header=no}}

{{MMAevent bout|Catchweight (181 lb)|Roger Bowling|def.|Jerron Peoples|KO (punches)|1|0:42|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Lightweight|Caros Fodor|def.|Justin Wilcox|KO (punches)|1|0:13|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Heavyweight|Devin Cole|def.|Gabriel Salinas-Jones|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Welterweight|Herman Terrado|def.|Chris Brown|Submission (armbar)|3|4:05|

}}

{{MMAevent bout|Middleweight|Eddie Mendez|def.|Fernando Gonzalez|Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)|3|5:00|

}}

{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}

The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the California State Athletic Commission. It does not include sponsor money or locker room bonuses.

• Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Jorge Masvidal: $23,000
• Cris Cyborg: $66,000 (includes $33,000 win bonus) def. Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000
• Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Ovince St. Preux: $17,000
• KJ Noons: $65,000 (includes $30,000 win bonus) def. Billy Evangelista: $20,000
• Caros Fodor: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Justin Wilcox $12,000
• Roger Bowling: $14,000 (includes $7,000 win bonus) def. Jerron Peoples: $2,000
• Devin Cole: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones: $3,000
• Eddie Mendez: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000
• Herman Terrado: $6,000 (includes $3,000 win bonus) def. Chris Brown: $3,000

{{reflist}}

{{Strikeforce Events}}

Melendez vs. Masvidal

Category:2011 in mixed martial arts

Category:Mixed martial arts events in San Diego

Category:2011 in sports in California

Category:Sports competitions in San Diego