(Video courtesy of ShoSports)
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Strikeforce wrapped up a disappointing year with a barnburner of a card in St. Louis – full results can be found here – that may well have determined #1 contenders for the promotions Welterweight, Middleweight, and Light Heavyweight titles.
In the main event, Dan Henderson proved that he’s still a force at 205 by stopping Renato Sobral in the first frame. Hendo moved from #8 to #3 in the Light Heavyweight Rankings, while “Babalu” falls from #5 to #17 with the loss. Strikeforce Light Heavyweight prospect Ovince St. Preux enters our rankings at #29 following his dominant decision win over Benji Radach, who re-enters our Middleweight Rankings at #78 after a period of inactivity.
Paul Daley’s return to the big leagues was successful as he knocked out Scott Smith in the first round. The win didn’t help his standing in the Welterweight Rankings, though, as he stays put at #14. Scott Smith fell from #36 to #46.
At Middleweight, Robbie Lawler thrilled his hometown crowd with a quick KO of formerly top-ranked Matt Lindland. Lawler jumps back into the top 20 with the win, moving from #23 to #12, and Lindland limps closer to retirement, crashing from #31 to #47 after his third ugly loss in his last four fights.
The only other movement in the rankings comes from Booker DeRousse, who enters the Middleweight poll at #66.
Check back later today for a gallery of Keith Mills’ best shots from STRIKEFORCE: Henderson vs. Babalu.
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