Scott Smith KOs Cung Le in a Comeback Win for the Ages
By Jim Genia (Dec 21, 2009) DoghouseBoxing  
He may not be the best, but Scott Smith sure can entertain. At Saturday night’s Strikeforce: “Evolution” event, which was broadcast on Showtime, the man nicknamed “Hands of Steel” took on the undefeated former Strikeforce 185-pound champ Cung Le (Le vacated his title pursue a career in film). Heavily favored for his unique striking style based on San Shou kung fu, Le completely dominated for two and a half rounds, landing colorful kicks at will and sending Smith to the canvas time and time again. But Smith – a veteran known for his heart as much as his dangerous fists – persevered, and in the third and final round he dipped right and caught Le with a left hook, the first of a series of punches that soon had Le dazed and flat on the canvas. It was a dramatic end to a great fight.

Elsewhere on the Evolution card, Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson abdicated his throne to interim champ Gilbert Melendez after five rounds of hotly-contested action. Throughout the bout the two stood in the pocket and traded with reckless abandon, with the shorter Melendez landing harder and more accurately. However, neither man waivered despite the accumulated damage, and the pace left this one as a definite “fight of the year” candidate.

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal made short work of UFC veteran Mike Whitehead, needing less than a round to knock the bigger man out. Meanwhile, Brazilian grappling master Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza had little trouble submitting Olympic wrestling Silver Medalist Matt Lindland.
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