Thread: 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Santos stops Yamanaka in 16 seconds

'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' results: Santos stops Yamanaka in 16 seconds
by Dann Stupp and John Morgan on Dec 18, 2011



Her layoff lasted 18 months; her latest title defense lasted 16 seconds.

After a year-and-a-half-long layoff due to stalled contact negotiations, Strikeforce women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" needed little time to make short work of overmatched opponent Hiroko Yamanaka.

The bout co-headlined the Showtime-televised main card of "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal," which took place at Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Santos, who closed as an approximate -1450 (94 percent) favorite, proved the oddsmakers correct with a blitzkrieg of offense. She quickly dropped Yamanaka with a right hand and then followed her to the mat with additional punches. Santos then briefly considered a rear-naked choke before giving it up and allowing Yamanaka to stand. But with her opponent pinned against the fencing, Santos unloaded more punches and dropped to her to force a merciful stoppage.

The abbreviated performance earned Santos her quickest win to date.

"I'm very happy," Santos said. "I trained very hard. This is amazing. I love fighting. I want to fight more."

Santos said she'd like to remain at 145 pounds, though officials have struggled to find suitable opponents. They could come at 135 pounds, which is a much deeper division. However, when it comes to the outspoken and fast-rising Ronda Rousey, Santos doesn't care where that fight happens.

"I think she speaks too much," Santos said. "I'm ready, anytime, anywhere."

Santos (11-1 MMA, 5-0 SF) has now won 11 straight fights, and all of the Strikeforce victories have ended in knockouts. Yamanaka (12-2 MMA, 0-1 SF), a JEWELS vet who made her Strikeforce debut, snaps an eight-fight win streak.

The official "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" results included:

MAIN CARD

Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos def. Hiroko Yamanaka via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 0:16 - retains women's featherweight title
Gegard Mousasi def. Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
K.J. Noons def. Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Caros Fodor def. Justin Wilcox via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:13
Roger Bowling def. Jerron Peoples via knockout (punches) - Round 1, 0:42
Devin Cole def. Gabriel Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eddie Mendez def. Fernando Gonzalez via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Herman Terrado def. Chris Brown via submission (armbar) - Round 3, 4:05

Cyborg is one bad woman! Good to see her in the cage again.