The Weekly Wrap: Nov. 7 - Nov. 13

Strikeforce Challengers

Billy Evangelista passed his most significant test to date, as he defeated Jorge Gurgel before a hometown crowd in a bout that headlined the fourth installment of Strikeforce “Challengers” on Nov. 6. Both lightweights weighed in at 159 pounds and agreed on a 160-pound catchweight.

Evangelista kept a deliberate pace on the feet, getting in and out on Gurgel. He switched to takedowns to earn an edge when Gurgel rushed in. Gurgel landed a big head kick in the second round and squeezed on a guillotine, but Evangelista popped out. Evangelista was cut in round three. He took the fight by two 30-27 scorecards and one 29-28 tally.

The event, which took place before an announced 4,157 spectators at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., aired live on Showtime the night before the promotion’s CBS debut. Boxing announcer Al Bernstein assumed play-by-play duties and was joined by Stephen Quadros and Pat Miletich. The next “Challengers” event on Nov. 20 will cap the busiest month in Strikeforce’s history.

The Nov. 6 show also saw 25-year-old surfer Luke Rockhold, a lauded prospect out of American Kickboxing Academy, notch his most impressive victory to date, using takedowns against UFC and Dream veteran Jesse Taylor to maneuver into a rear-naked choke for the first-round submission. It was Rockhold’s fourth consecutive rear-naked choke victory.

Despite giving up 15 pounds, heavyweight Shane del Rosario found a rare omaplata submission and toppled undefeated Brandon Cash. Also, 135-pound rookie Zoila Frausto mixed up her striking to defeat Elisha Helsper via decision, and lightweight Merritt Warren used a heel hook to tap out Ousmane Thomas Diagne.