# Strikeforce: Evolution

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{{short description|Strikeforce mixed martial arts event in 2009}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=Strikeforce: Evolution
|image=StrikeforceEV.jpg
|promotion=[Strikeforce](/source/Strikeforce_(mixed_martial_arts))
|date=December 19, 2009
|venue=[HP Pavilion at San Jose](/source/HP_Pavilion_at_San_Jose)
|attendance=14,749<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/17301/strikeforce-evolution-draws-14749-for-634000-live-gate.mma|title="Strikeforce: Evolution" draws 14,749 for $634,000 live gate|publisher=MMAjunkie}}</ref>
|gate=$633,675
|city=[San Jose, CA](/source/San_Jose%2C_CA)
|previousevent= [Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears](/source/Strikeforce_Challengers%3A_Woodley_vs._Bears)
|followingevent= [Strikeforce: Miami](/source/Strikeforce%3A_Miami)
}}

'''''Strikeforce: Evolution''''' was a [mixed martial arts](/source/mixed_martial_arts) event to be held by the [Strikeforce](/source/Strikeforce_(mixed_martial_arts)) on December 19, 2009 in [San Jose, California](/source/San_Jose%2C_California) at the [HP Pavilion at San Jose](/source/HP_Pavilion_at_San_Jose). The event aired live on [Showtime](/source/Showtime_(TV_network)) in the US,<ref name="strikeforce">{{cite web|url=http://www.strikeforce.com/events/index.html|title=Strikeforce Evolution|publisher=strikeforce.com|accessdate=2009-11-20}}</ref> and live on [SuperChannel](/source/Super_Channel_(Canada)) in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/17056/strikeforce-announces-deal-with-canadas-super-channel-evolution-airs-dec-19.mma|title=Strikeforce announces deal with Canada's Super Channel, "Evolution" airs Dec. 19|publisher=MMAjunkie}}</ref>

==Background==
[Robbie Lawler](/source/Robbie_Lawler) was expected to face [Benji Radach](/source/Benji_Radach) on the card, however Radach was not able to get medical clearance to start training in time for the fight.<ref name="RadachOut">{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Radach-Out-Lawler-Awaits-New-Opponent-for-Dec-19-Strikeforce-21221|title=Radach Out, Lawler Awaits New Opponent for Dec. 19 Strikeforce|publisher=sherdog.com|accessdate=2009-11-30}}</ref> Radach was replaced by [Trevor Prangley](/source/Trevor_Prangley); however, Prangley suffered a knee injury while training for the bout and had to withdraw from the fight as well.<ref name="PrangleyOut">{{cite web|url=http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/12/15/knee-injury-forces-trevor-prangley-to-withdraw-from-%E2%80%9Cstrikeforce-evolution%E2%80%9D/|title=Knee Injury Forces Trevor Prangley to Withdraw from "Strikeforce: Evolution"|publisher=fiveouncesofpain.com|accessdate=2009-12-17}}</ref> On December 16, it was announced that Lawler would not be competing on the card as a suitable replacement could not be found on such short notice.<ref>http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/12/16/robbie-lawler-off-strikeforce-card/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

Strikeforce newcomer Bryan Travers was expected to fight [Daisuke Nakamura](/source/Daisuke_Nakamura_(fighter)) but was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/17228/strikeforce-newcomer-bryan-travers-forced-off-saturdays-evolution-card.mma|title=Strikeforce newcomer Bryan Travers forced off Saturday's "Evolution" card|author=John Morgan|publisher=MMAjunkie}}</ref> [Justin Wilcox](/source/Justin_Wilcox_(martial_arts)) took his place on the fight card.<ref name="wilcox">{{cite web |url=http://www.mmamadness.com/2009/12/justin-wilcox-in-against-daisuke-nakamura/ |title=MMA Madness » Blog Archive » Justin Wilcox in against Daisuke Nakamura |website=www.mmamadness.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217152331/http://www.mmamadness.com/2009/12/justin-wilcox-in-against-daisuke-nakamura/ |archive-date=2009-12-17}} </ref>

The Bobby Stack vs. [David Douglas](/source/David_Douglas_(fighter)) bout was cancelled. Douglas, who took the fight on a week's notice, reportedly had difficulty with his weight cut and was hospitalized after having issues holding fluids down.<ref name="Bobby Stack vs. David Douglas canceled">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Strikeforce-Evolution-Results-amp-Play-by-Play-21638|title=Strikeforce 'Evolution' Results & Play-by-Play|publisher=Sherdog}}</ref>

The event drew an estimated 341,000 viewers on [Showtime](/source/Showtime_(TV_network)).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/strikeforce-evolution|title = Strikeforce: Evolution &#124; MMA Event}}</ref>

==Results==
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Middleweight
| [Scott Smith](/source/Scott_Smith_(fighter))
| def.
| [Cung Le](/source/Cung_Le)
| TKO (Punches)
| 3
| 3:25
| MMAFighting.com <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2009/12/19/scott-smith-kos-cung-le|title = Scott Smith TKOs Cung Le}}</ref>
}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Lightweight
| [Gilbert Melendez](/source/Gilbert_Melendez) (ic)
| def.
| [Josh Thomson](/source/Josh_Thomson) (c)
| Decision (unanimous)
| 5
| 5:00
|  [Strikeforce Lightweight Championship](/source/List_of_Strikeforce_champions) unification bout.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Middleweight
| [Ronaldo Souza](/source/Ronaldo_Souza)
| def.
| [Matt Lindland](/source/Matt_Lindland)
| Submission (arm-triangle choke)
| 1
| 4:18
| 
}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Heavyweight
| [Muhammed Lawal](/source/Muhammed_Lawal)
| def.
| [Mike Whitehead](/source/Mike_Whitehead)
| KO (punches)
| 1
| 3:08
| 
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Light Heavyweight
| [Antwain Britt](/source/Antwain_Britt)
| def.
| [Scott Lighty](/source/Scott_Lighty)
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| 1
| 5:00
| 
}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Lightweight
| [Justin Wilcox](/source/Justin_Wilcox_(martial_arts))
| def.
| [Daisuke Nakamura](/source/Daisuke_Nakamura_(fighter))
| Decision (unanimous)
| 3
| 5:00
| 
}}
{{MMAevent bout
| Featherweight
| Alexander Crispim
| def.
| A.J. Fonseca
| Decision (unanimous)
| 3
| 5:00
| 
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes = yes}}

== Reported payout ==
The following is the payout to the fighters as reported to the [California State Athletic Commission](/source/California_State_Athletic_Commission). It does not include sponsor money or "locker room" bonuses often given by Strikeforce.<ref name="purse">{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/17300/strikeforce-evolution-salaries-cung-le-earns-150k-king-mo-lawal-fined.mma|title="Strikeforce: Evolution" salaries: Cung Le tops fighter pay with $150K, "King Mo" fined|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=2009-12-21}}</ref>

*Scott Smith: ($55,000, no win bonus) def. Cung Le: ($150,000)
*Gilbert Melendez: ($55,000, no win bonus) def. Josh Thomson: ($30,000)
*Ronaldo Souza: ($65,000 includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Matt Lindland: ($50,000)
*Muhammed Lawal: ($20,000 includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Mike Whitehead: ($30,000) ^
*Antwain Britt: ($10,000 includes $5,000 win bonus) def. Scott Lightly: ($5,000)
*Justin Wilcox: ($5,000, no win bonus) def. Daisuke Nakamura: ($200)
*Alexander Crispim: ($4,000 includes $2,000 win bonus) def. AJ Fonseca: ($2,000)

^ ''Muhammed Lawal was reportedly fined 10 percent of his purse for splashing a sponsors [energy drink](/source/energy_drink) around the cage. The CSAC's initial report did not include information on the penalty.''

==See also==
* [Strikeforce (mixed martial arts)](/source/Strikeforce_(mixed_martial_arts))
* [List of Strikeforce champions](/source/List_of_Strikeforce_champions)
* [List of Strikeforce events](/source/List_of_Strikeforce_events)
* [2009 in Strikeforce](/source/2009_in_Strikeforce)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Strikeforce Events}}

Evolution
Category:2009 in mixed martial arts
Category:Mixed martial arts events in San Jose, California
Category:2009 in sports in California
Category:December 2009 sports events in the United States
2009

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Strikeforce: Evolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strikeforce%3A_Evolution) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strikeforce%3A_Evolution?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.