Apparently the Cristiane Cyborg vs. Yoko Takahashi fight was a potential fight of the night–hopefully they’ll find a way to fit this in on the live show. We won’t give you any more details in case CBS is able to get it on but if they do don’t miss it because its not just filler quality…

Affliction TV commercial just now showing the Sylvia/Fedor fight in its entirety with the caption at the end ‘Fedor Will Return’. And, no, he won’t be fighting Kimbo Slice.

Here’s the backstory on Shamrock’s injury–he was rolling doing some light sparring today and took at accidental headbut to the eyelid that required six stitches to close. He wanted to fight but none of the doctors he consulted would clear it.

Kobold is a tough opponent–Carano definitely didn’t get a pushover here. We’ve become big Kelly Kobold fans here at SAVSCI, so that’s a disclaimer for you people. Some big dude slaps Kobold around for a moment before she enters the cage. Gina comes to the cage next–or at least she will as soon as they show her promo video. We’re definitely not Gina haters–she’s a cool chick and a powerful puncher–so we’re not going to be one sided here or anything. Carano gets a huge ovation as she quickly makes it to the cage. Mauro Ranallo just referred to the fight as a “distaff divocation”, giving him one of the best examples of announcer alliteration in the sport this year. Kobold hears some boos–not the “we hate you” kind of boos, but just random “you’re fighting someone we really like” kind of boos….

ROUND ONE:

Troy Waugh your ref…thought it was Midnight Oil singer Peter Garrett for a moment. Anyway, here we go–Cris Cyborg at ringside watching the ‘distaff divocation’. Gina lands a big overhand right and Kelly goes for a takedown which is being defended well so far. She trains at Extreme Couture Las Vegas, led by a guy name Randy who is no slouch as a wrestler. Kelly still bulling her and trying for the takedown–fighting not unlike Randy Couture herself. Carano gets some distance and the two women trade strikes with Carano getting the best of it. Carano throws a knee to the midsection using her height and Muay Thai skills. Now Kelly slows down the pace and tries for another takedown–Carano defending well with just over a half minute left. They’ve got to let women fight 5 minute rounds like the men. Kobold tries for the takedown again but no go as the round ends. Tough round to score–Carano spent most of the round defending Kelly’s takedown attempts but when she got separation she landed the most effective blows. We’ll call it 10-9 Carano but it could go the other way…

ROUND TWO:

Gina trying to keep the disnace with a leg kick and now she opens a barrage of strike that has Kelly in trouble. She ties Gina up again and now Ranallo does his bit about how women should fight 5 minute rounds. Wonder if he’s reading our round by round. Nice right by Kelly as she tries for the takedown again. She’s utilizing the same strategy that Couture did against Gonzaga–Gina gets away and tries to work the low kick again. She’s scoring with her strikes but Kelly keeps coming forward. Gina’s striking very sharp now but Kelly not going away. :35 seconds in the 2nd round–Kelly gets the double leg takedown but only 10 seconds left in the round so she won’t be able to do anything with it as the bell rings…another close round but Kobold gets this one. 19-19 entering the third…

ROUND THREE:

Kobold has a nasty cut above her eye, Gina has a busted lip. Kobold runs across the cage and bulls Gina to the fence. Kobold trying for the takedown but Gina defending for the moment. Kelly is a powerful fighter but Carano using her leg strength. Footstomp by Kobold, fans booing because Gina not getting to punch. Now the ref moves them out to the center and Kelly swinging wild, Carano lands a couple of knees and Kobold bulls her to the fence again. 1:10 left and Kelly eats another knee. A minute left and Kelly working for the takedown–out of nowhere Carano locks in a rear naked choke from the side but she can’t finish. Big punch by Carano–big push kick by Gina with 10 seconds left. Carano makes like Cung Le at the end landing several kicks that may have won the fight for her. We’ll give round three to Carano 10-9, giving her the win 29-28. Win or lose, Kelly Kobold put up a hell of a fight–definitely someone we’d pay to watch fight anytime…props to Carano for finding a way to prevail despite not being able to fight “her” fight for most of the way.

Now Shamrock gives his props for three five minute rounds for the women. Here’s the announcement….its unanimous meaning Gina wins it…

29-28
30-27
30-27

GINA CARANO WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

Gutsy win for Carano but a hell of a fight put up by Kobold. Carano’s CompuStrike numbers are very one sided–indicating Kobold’s toughness….credit to Carano, who used her superior technical striking ability to prevail. They’re teasing Cyborg/Gina now….hopefully that’ll come to pass…