Strikeforce has Amazing Show at Playboy Mansion

Seven days after mixed martial arts frontrunner, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, failed to sell out its UFC 76: Knockout event in Anaheim, Calif., the San Jose-based Strikeforce organization showcased a legendary performance from perhaps its biggest star fighter — in front of the most 'A-list' of audiences.

Strikeforce, the longtime kickboxing organization that expanded into a crowded MMA space last year, may not be ready to challenge the undisputed champ of MMA. However, Saturday's 12-fight event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion should have all the competition taking notice.

Quite simply, the event (which was streamed online for all the world to see) delivered. And in a very big way.

Literally hundreds of organizations of all sizes throughout the world battle for a share of the fight market. Sometimes, though, all it takes is a little buzz to stand out from the crowd.

Strikeforce garnered plenty on Saturday right from Hugh Hefner's backyard.

Playboy Bunnies, Hollywood stars, sports celebrities and MMA legends snatched up the $1,000-per-guest tickets. Event organizers said that even the most optimistic of their bunch were startled by the huge turnout. (In fact, the Mansion's chefs whipped up three times the amount of food it originally planned — and still ran out.)

Like music to the hardcore fan's ears, no guests booed. No one yelled for blood, and the drunken meatheads who ruin any decent event were noticeably absent. And the fighters — a hodgepodge of Strikeforce up-and-comers, UFC veterans and local California-based fighters — were treated as the night's real celebrities.

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, one of the world's top fighters not signed to the UFC, dazzled in his main-event bout against Tetsuji Kato.

Despite a possibly broken right hand suffered in the first round, Melendez relied on his one good fist to fend off his opponent for a gutsy unanimous-decision win.

"I wanted to finish him; I should have finished him," Melendez said after the fight. "I always want to finish fights. At the Playboy Mansion... with this great crowd, you want to be impressive."

The night's other big winner was Joe Riggs, who scored a dominant first-round TKO over fellow UFC vet Eugene Jackson.

It's been a rough few years for the 25-year-old veteran of nearly 40 professional fights: the death of an infant child, overcoming addiction to prescription painkillers and a falling-out with the UFC that eventually led to the termination of his contract.

The popular fighter found a new home on Saturday. Lucky for him, it couldn't have come with a hotter fight promotion.

Source: www.daytondailynews.com