Strikeforce 37: Gilbert Melendez Vs. Jorge Masvidal

Herb Dean will be the referee for tonight's main event, a lightweight title fight.

Round 1: No glove touch to the start the night's main event. Melendez throwing the first punches, which Masvidal avoids. Masvidal with a leg kick. Melendez working straight punches, unable to connect with Masvidal yet. Masvidal pecking away with the jab, using his superior reach. Melendez finds Masvidal with a one-two that land hard. Masvidal trying to clown some, dropping his hands and sticking his chin out there, but it only eggs Melendez on, who comes forward and lands a combo punctuated by a leg kick. Both men engaging readily, Melendez countering well and working inside his opponent's reach. Masvidal kicks Melendez off-balance but Melendez spins right to his feet. Masvidal puts together a pair of jabs. Melendez catches a kick and puts Masvidal down, slapping on the guillotine and muscling Masvidal around. He switches to a front head lock before letting Masvidal up and cracking him with a right hand. Melendezz tagging Masvidal up now.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Melendez

Round 2: So far, Melendez has been the busier, more aggressive and more effective fighter. Let's see if Masvidal can adjust. Melendez settling into a nice rhythm, landing the first punches of the round. Melendez catches a quick kick and tags Masvidal with a right. Melendez backs Masvidal into the cage and lands a good left. Masvidal goes high with a kick, but Melendez catches it on the shoulder and comes right back at him. Melendez backing Masvidal up with kicks and hard punches. Masvidal is getting frustrated. Masvidal with a left. Melendez backs masvidal up, landing kicks to the leg and body. Masvidal gets in some shots, but Melendez is powering forward and landing the harder punches. They're both slugging it out, Masvidal landings some nice straight shots and Melendez landing with more power. The action slows as the round winds down, both men pacing themselves. Melendez staying the aggressor though, stifling the challenger with punches and kicks.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Melendez

Round 3: Melendez keeps it right back up, throwing off Masvidal's rhythm by feinting, changing levels and going from body to head. Melendez goes for the shot and is stuffed. Melendez showing very solid head movement, avoiding Masvidal's long punches to get inside and crack him with several shots. Masvidal keeping his jab in Melendez's face, but Melendez walking through it, Masvidal tries the flying knee again. Masvidal knocks out Melendez's mouthpiece with a counter right. Melendez comes right back at the challenger, tagging him up with punches and kicks. Melendez is pouring it on Masvidal, who's egging him on. Masvidal goes to the body well with a left hook. Melendez's face looking the worse for the wear somehow, his right eye showing swelling. Melendez backing Masvidal up with hard punches still. Masvidal tries a head kick that's blocked. Melendez comes right back, slipping several punches to land a hard right. Masvidal whiffs on a spinning back kick at the bell.

FightLine scores the round 10-9 for Melendez