"Strikeforce: Houston" live results
August 21, 2010
Houston, Tex. at the Toyota Center
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

We're live inside the Toyota Center for Strikeforce: Houston about an hour away from the undercard match-ups. I'll mainly be covering Bobby Lashley's MMA return in the opening match of the Showtime broadcast against Chad Griggs. Meanwhile, back to more Gus Johnson pre-show rehearsals.

6:00 p.m. update: Doors are open. The distinction between a WWE crowd and an MMA crowd couldn't be more obvious. Last month's WWE Raw house show at Toyota Center was about 90 percent kids with their parents. This is your older teenagers, 20-30-somethings crowd that, instead of going to the club or bar tonight, they're at the Strikeforce card.

7:30 p.m. update: Bobby Lashley is in the house going through his mental preparation in his locker room while the preliminary fights are going on. He looks ready to hurt someone tonight.

8:30 p.m. update: The prelim fights are over, leaving 30 minutes until the Showtime broadcast. If Lashley gets by Chad Griggs tonight, it would be a good match up against fellow heavyweight Daniel Cormier, who won the final prelim fight tonight in 60 seconds. Cormier checked in for his fight at 249 pounds, compared to Lashley at 246 for his fight. Cormier (now 5-0) looked absolutely dominant, albeit against weak competition. It would seem to be a step up in competition for Lashley (5-0 before facing Griggs).

Live Showtime TV broadcast

Here we go with the main fight card, starting off with Bobby Lashley in the opening bout. It's a heavyweight fight against Chad Griggs, at 8-1 in his MMA career. Lashley was introduced as a "two-time WWE champion" to a very strong reaction. Pro-Lashley crowd.

Bobby Lashley (5-0) vs. Chad Griggs (8-1)

First Round - Lashley had an early take down ten seconds into the fight. Remember that. He controlled Griggs and tried to land short jabs. Back to their feet, Griggs landed a right hand, but Lashley took him down again. After a clean break, Lashley landed a third take down. Griggs again blocked any jab attempts and it was apparent Lashley had a big cut around his left eye. Remember that. The round ended with Lashley controlling, but vulnerable.

Second Round - Lashley started with another big take down. There was a huge pop for the loud thud it created. Griggs tried to open up the cut again responding to the take down with right hands. The crowd booed as Lashley continued to control on the mat. He got into mount position and landed rights, but he couldn't finish off Griggs. With 33 seconds remaining in the round and with Lashley in control on the ground, the referee paused for Lashley's cut to be tended to.

After the pause, the fighters were stood up. Lashley went for another take down, but Griggs blocked. Griggs got in a ton of right hand blows to the back of the head as Lashley was face-down on the mat and the bell sounded to end the round. End of the Round and third round to come...not so fast. Griggs was two seconds away from victory, but the ref checked Lashley, who was out on his feet with a far-away look in his eyes. He declared the fight over, giving Griggs the win via TKO after the second round. And the crowd exploded, shocked the fight was ended at this point, and with Griggs the winner. Surreal moment.

Winner: Griggs via TKO at 5:00 of the second round. Lashley now 5-1, Griggs now 9-1.

Post-match: After collecting himself, Lashley walked off, not doing a post-fight interview. Controversial referee decision, for sure. Remember that tonight. Griggs did the babyface promo on "no one gave me a chance to win this fight." He said Lashley's punches while in control weren't landing, so Lashley was inefficient with his attack.

Fight Analysis: Lashley looked one-dimensional not wanting to stand up and fight. He looked dominant at times taking control with the take downs, but he became so predictable with his punches from the mount or side control position that Griggs was able to wait out the blows, wait for Lashley's cut to come into play, and wait for another take down attempt to block and win the fight.

What's Next: Back to the drawing board for Lashley, who looked one-dimensional in his second-longest career MMA fight. Dave Batista probably thinks he has a fighting chance against Lashley now. A potential Lashley vs. Batista fight loses some luster, and Lashley has nothing to gain from taking that fight now. If he loses, his career would take a major setback losing back-to-back and against a first-time fighter. If he wins, he beat a first-time fighter.

***

Backstage: After the fight, Bobby Lashley was taken off on a stretcher. Media members were grabbing interviews with Chad Griggs after the win and Lashley came by on a stretcher to share a word with Griggs on the way out.

-- Follow the rest of the Strikeforce fight card airing on Showtime with MMATorch.com editor Jamie Penick's live results.

-- For my detailed notes on the preliminary fights prior to the Showtime broadcast, Click here on MMATorch.com.

-- For in-depth coverage of the Strikeforce broadcast on Showtime, as well as the undercard matches, be sure to follow live coverage on MMATorch.com.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PUNK INJURY: C.M. Punk's UFC debut delayed (MMATorch)

WM32 NEWS: Ronda Rousey rules out WrestleMania appearance

MOVIE NEWS: C.M. Punk & A.J. Lee to co-star in horror movie