StrikeForce "Melendez vs Thomson" is set to go off tonight at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.

Friends and former training partners, Gilbert Melendez and Josh "The Punk" Thomson will battle it out in the main event of the night for the StrikeForce lightweight belt. The light heavyweight title is on the line as well and will be decided in a bout between the champ Bobby Southworth and the challenger Anthony Ruiz.

RedSweat.com will be bringing you all of the action beginning with quick results for the prelims at 9:30pm ET. Up to the minute play by play commentary for the main televised card will follow at 11pm ET.

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Important news, announcements and interesting moments during StrikeForce

• Ron Kruk interviews Joe Riggs who explains why he was removed from tonight’s card. The Commission was forced to remove Riggs from the card after being informed by Joe himself that he had taken some prescription medications including a prescription pain reliever a few days earlier. After unsuccessfully trying to secure a new opponent for Luke Stewart the bout was completely scrapped.

StrikeForce "Melendez vs Thomson" Quick Results

• Eric Jacob vs Alexander Trivino (Alexander Trivino wins via Armbar at 0:37 in the 1st round)
• Jorge Interiano vs Travis Johnson (Interiano wins via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) after 2)
• Cyrillo Padhillo vs Jesse Jones (Cyrillo Padhillo wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds)
• Bryan Caraway vs Alvin Cacdac (Caraway wins via Rear Naked Choke at 1:39 in the 1st)
• Bobby Stack vs Jose Palacios (Bobby Stack wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds)
• Chris Caraiso vs Anthony Figueroa (Caraiso wins via Rear Naked Choke at 4:34 in the 2nd)
• Jeremiah Metcalf vs Raymond Daniels (Metcalf wins via Rear Naked Choke at 0:59 in 2nd)
• Miesha Tate vs Elaina Maxwell (Miesha Tate wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds)
• Bobby Southworth vs Anthony Ruiz (Southworth wins via Unanimous Decision after 5)
• Billy Evangelista vs Nam Phan (Bobby Evangelista wins via Split Decision after 3 rounds)
• Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson (Thomson wins via Unanimous Decision after 5 rounds)

StrikeForce "Melendez vs Thomson" Main Card Play by Play Commentary

Bryan Caraway vs Alvin Cacdac (140lb Catchweight Bout)

• Round 1: Caraway shoots right in and gets the takedown. He easily passes into side control and transitions onto Cacdac’s back. He sinks in the hooks and sinks in a body triangle. He peppers Cacdac with a few short shots and sinks in the rear naked choke. Cacdac struggles to get out but the choke only tightens. Cacdac taps and the fight is over.
• Round 2:
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Bryan Caraway wins via Rear Naked Choke at 1:39 in the 1st round.

Bobby Stack vs Jose Palacios (Lightweight Bout)

• Round 1: The crowd chants for Bobby as the fighters start to trade. Palacios lands a couple of powerful leg kicks. Stack comes in with a combo and catches a solid right straight that knocks out his mouthpiece and pauses the action. Stack shoots in but gets stuffed. Palacios lands a good kick followed by a knee but gets taken to the ground in the process. Stack starts to work some ground and pound in full guard. Palcios almost catches Stack with a kimura. Stack finishes the round in control on the ground.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Jose Palacios

• Round 2: Stack comes out with a kick and a takedown. Palacios works his butterfly guard and uses the fence to stand up. He immediately gets taken right back down to the mat. Bobby starts to work some more ground and pound and the crowd starts to chant "Bobby, Bobby". Palacios works for the kimura but can’t secure the hold. Stack passes to half guard but gets bucked. Stack transitions into an armbar but loses it. Palacios finishes the round on top.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Stack

• Round 3: The fighters come out trading and Stack misses with a right roundhouse to the head. He takes Palacios back and executes a brutal slam. Palacios transitions into a toe hold but loses it and Stack ends up in full mount. Stack postures up and starts to reign down blows. Palacios ties him up for a moment but Stack explodes with more punches. Palacios escapes out the back door and starts to elbow the body of Stack. Bobby reverses and ends up back on top in full guard. He works a little more ground and pound and the round ends.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Stack and the fight 29-28 for Stack

• Final Result: Bobby Stack wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds.

Chris Caraiso vs Anthony Figueroa (Bantamweight Bout)

• Round 1: Figueroa misses with a wild head kick. He moves in with punches but gets taken down by Caraiso. He postures and comes down with some big punches against the cage. He passes to half guard and then into side control. He lands a nice knee to the body, looks for an arm and gets full mount. He sinks in a figure armbar but Figueroa escapes and gets to his feet. Caraiso gets it right back to the ground. He starts to unload some more ground. He drops another knee to the body from side control. Figueroa scrambles to escape and almost gets caught in a guillotine. Caraiso gets it back to half guard but Figueroa escapes and lands a punch on the way up. Caraiso finishes the round with a kick to the body.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Chris Caraiso

• Round 2: After getting his kick deflected, Caraiso takes Anthony down to the mat into half guard. He passes to side control but Figueroa escapes and Chris is back to full guard. He stands up and comes down with some shots passing to half on his way down. He passes to full mount and starts to pick his shots. He continues to look for the figure four armbar. He sinks it in but can’t extend it. He moves up high in the mount and comes down with some good punches. Figueroa gives up his back and Caraiso starts to work the choke. He has one arm in but rolls back on top. He comes down with more shots. Figueroa gives up his back again but this time it’s going to cost him the fight. Caraiso sinks in the choke tight and Figueroa is forced to tap.
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Chris Caraiso wins via Rear Naked Choke at 4:34 in the 2nd round.

Jeremiah Metcalf vs Raymond Daniels (Middleweight Bout)

• Round 1: Metcalf goes right in for a body lock and they tie up against the fence. He starts to land some foot stomps and they work for position. Jeremiah drops down and gets the takedown. Daniels has a guillotine locked in but Metcalf has an arm inside and escapes. Metcalf trapping an arm starts to work some ground and pound. Jeremiah starts to lands some vicious shots and Daniels is in trouble. Daniels struggles and Metcalf mounts. He unloads with a barrage of punches as Raymond tries to buck and escape. Metcalf continues to pummel Daniels in mount and the round ends.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-8 for Jeremiah Metcalf

• Round 2: Metcalf comes right out, landing a right hand and shooting in for the takedown. Jeremiah mounts and almost executes a side choke. He postures up and starts to reign down blows. Metcalf starts to set up a triangle choke from mount but Daniels escapes. Jeremiah transitions into a rear naked choke and the undefeated kickboxer is forced to tap.
• Round 3:
• Final Result: Jeremiah Metcalf wins via Rear Naked Choke at 0:59 in the 2nd round.

Miesha Tate vs Elaina Maxwell (Women’s 145lb Bout)

• Round 1: Maxwell lands a kick and gets pushed up against the fence. Maxwell lands a knee and gets taken down to the mat. Tate works for the pass and gets to half guard. She moves to full mount and works to get in a good position to punch. Maxwell tries to escape but gets caught in an armbar. Tate works to extend and get leverage. Maxwell has her legs locked around Tate’s head making it hard for her to secure the armbar. She finally extends the arm but runs out of time.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Miesha Tate

• Round 2: Tate immediately rushes in and gets the takedown into full guard. Miesha works for a good position and worms her way into full mount. She starts to unload with some good punches. She continues the barrage of punches as Maxwell just hangs on. Maxwell actually catches Tate with her legs and uses it to almost reverse the position. Tate is now in side control but the round ends.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Miesha Tate

• Round 3: Tate rushes right in for a takedown and works on the single leg. Maxwell, exhausted, defends it well. She uses the cage to avoid a takedown. The crowd boos and the ref splits them up because of the stalemate. Tate goes right in for a takedown but Maxwell takes her back in the scramble. Maxwell has an arm trapped as tate struggles to hold on. Maxwell lands a few short shots to the head and the round ends.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Elaina Maxwell and the fight 29-28 for Tate

• Final Result: Miesha Tate wins via Unanimous Decision after 3 rounds.

Bobby Southworth vs Anthony Ruiz (Light Heavyweight Title Bout)

• Round 1: After a short feeling out process, Southworth comes in with a combo and follows with a good takedown. After a few shots, he easily passes to side control. Ruiz works to escape but gives up his back in the process. Southworth with the hook in, looks for the choke. Ruiz spins out and ends up in Bobby’s guard. He starts to throw some nice shots. Southworth pops up to his feet and they work for position. Bobby drops down for the single and gets the takedown. Southworth transitions into an armbar and extends it. Ruiz works to escape and gets caught in an omaplata. Ruiz escapes and lunges at Southworth to finish the round.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Southworth

• Round 2: Ruiz misses with a kick and a wild punch. Ruiz rushes in and they clinch against the fence. Ruiz gets the takedown into Bobby’s full guard. Southworth almost gets to his feet but gets taken right back down. Bobby gets back to his feet, gets the double and takes Ruiz down. He easily passes to side control. Ruiz rolls and Bobby takes his back from the side. They scramble on the mat and Ruiz gets the reversal. Anthony works to keep a wily Southworth on the ground. He almost gets caught in a triangle choke but gets out. Bobby uses the scramble to take top control. He passes to full mount and the horn sounds.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Anthony Ruiz

• Round 3: Ruiz comes out swinging and shoots in for the takedown. He gets it and ends up in half guard. Bobby gets it back to full guard and works to get to his feet. The crowd boos as the fighters work their way to the feet. They clinch up against the cage and Bobby uses a single leg to get the takedown. Neither fighter has throw any effective punches on the ground so far. Bobby gains full mount and Ruiz gives up his back. Ruiz, now bleeding from his nose, works his way back on top. Southworth lands a nice shot from his back. Back on their feet, Southworth gets the takedown. The round ends with neither fighter mounting much of any offense.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Southworth

• Round 4: They start to bang it out, trading some nice shots. Southworth gets his sixth takedown of the fight. He works his way into full mount and Ruiz once again escapes. Bobby controls Ruiz from his back, landing some decent strikes. Southworth eats a knee that was south of the border. Ruiz fires with some punches and Southworth returns with a good knee and punch of his own. Southworth sinks in a kimura and starts to apply pressure. He loses it and Ruiz is now on top throwing punches. Bobby once again sinks in a kimura but loses it and they are back to their feet. Southworth gets another takedown into side control. The round ends with Bobby not really doing much of anything on top.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Southworth

• Round 5: Ruiz swings wildly looking for the knockout. Bobby gets the takedown into half guard. So far he is winning the fight with his takedowns. He passes to side control and into north south for a moment. They both stand and start to work for position against the cage. He gets the single and executes another takedown. Bobby sinks in a reverse figure four but can’t finish it. Southworth continues to control Ruiz on the ground although he isn’t doing much with it. Ruiz scrambles to escape but gets taken right back to the canvas. Southworth almost locks in an armbar but loses it. He ends the round on Anthony’s back.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Bobby Southworth and the fight 49-46 for Southworth

• Final Result: Bobby Southworth wins via Unanimous Decision after 5 rounds. (48-47, 49-46, 50-45)

Billy Evangelista vs Nam Phan (Lightweight Bout)

• Round 1: Phan starts things out with a leg kick. He follows with some punches and they clinch. Phan drags Billy to the mat on his back. Evangelista starts to work some punches from the top. Phan goes for an armbar but it is easily defended by Billy. Phan almost gets to his feet but Billy drops him right back down to the mat and starts to unload with more strikes. Phan attempts another armbar but Billy once again denies. Billy continues to control working some nice ground and pound. Phan works in a head lock but doesn’t have anything. Evangelista unloads with another good flurry of strikes. Phan works for the escape but Billy continues to ground and pound. The rounds comes to end.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Billy Evangelista

• Round 2: They come out swinging and Phan starts to land some nice combos. He lands a another solid combo that shakes things up and follows with a good knee. The tie up and start to work for position in the clinch. They separate and start to trade. Phan continues to load up the right. Phan is starting to get in some good shots. Billy says ok that’s enough stand up and takes Phan to the mat. Evangelista can’t keep Nam down until finally Nam drops back on his own into guard. Someone is now bleeding pretty bad. Billy works some ground and pound in full guard. He lands one more shot and the horn sounds.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Nam Phan

• Round 3: It appears in the replay that Phan cut Billy with a an elbow to the back of the head. Phan starts to tee off with some good combos. Billy has enough and comes in for the takedown. They clinch and Phan gets off a few good knees. Nam lands another good combo followed by a solid body shot. He lands a nice knee followed by another. Phan is starting to turn up the heat. Billy shoots in for a single leg but Phan denies. Evangelista, relentless, finally gets Phan to the mat. Billy starts to work some short shots to the body and head. The ref stands the fighters up with one minute left. Phan starts to move in with punches. He lands a nice combo with a left hook. Phan lands a good knee inside. Nam lands one more punch and the fight comes to an end.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Billy Evangelista and the fight 29-28 for Evangelista

• Final Result: Bobby Evangelista wins via Split Decision after 3 rounds. (29-28 Phan, 29-28 Evangelista, 29-28 Evangelista)

Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson (Lightweight Title Bout)

• Round 1: Melendez starts to work his jab. He rushes in on Thomson with jabs and drops down for the takedown. He lands a nice knee to the body as he backs away. Thomson shoots in and gets the first takedown. They struggle for position on the ground. Josh lands a couple of shots in the scramble. He gets to half guard and lands a short knee to the body. Melendez escapes and gets on top but Josh is working his way back to his feet. They are back on their feet. Josh fires off a kick to the body. After a few small exchanges the round comes to an end.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Josh Thomson

• Round 2: Melendez comes out and eats a nice kick from Josh. He comes back with some good combos. Thomson lands some solid punches and kicks followed by a good knee that shakes him up a bit. Thomson unloads with another good combination. They have another nice exchange and Melendez turns up the heat. They continue to slug it out. This time Melendez gets in some good shots. They continue to exchange strikes with a minute left. Gilbert is starting to stalk Thomson. Thomson gets the takedown right before the horn sounds.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Josh Thomson

• Round 3: They come out trading and Josh lands a good leg kick. He lands another nice kick and comes in with a flurry that once again shakes up the champ. Melendez hangs in there and comes back with some strikes. Thomson slips and almost falls down. He smiles and they start to bang it out with more punches. Thomson lands a nice right hand and another good front kick. Josh cracks another good low kick. Melendez almost eats a head kick but makes Josh pay with a good solid combo. Gilbert lands some more good strikes and Thomson comes right back. He shoots in for a takedown but Melendez denies. They scramble and Thomson almost has the back of Gilbert before time runs out.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Josh Thomson

• Round 4: Melendez rushes in a lands a nice combo topped off with some good elbows. Thomson comes right back with a solid kick followed by another good front kick. Josh is now stalking Melendez. Thomson backs him off with another front kick. He lands another low kick and so far Thomson’s kicks have been the story of the fight. He lands another good low kick. Melendez tees off but pays with a couple of solid kicks. Gilbert eats a big knee from Thomson. Gilbert applies the pressure and throws some more punches. Thomson scores a takedown and takes Gilbert’s back. He tries to sink in the choke but Melendez escapes. He has his back again and this time has the choke in deep with seconds left in the round. Melendez barely escapes the round and they high five each other for the efforts.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Josh Thomson

• Round 5: They come out trading. Josh grabs a single leg and switches to the double to get the takedown. Gilbert gives up his back but escapes. Melendez feels the pressure and must put Thomson away to win. Melendez lands a nice right hand. Gilbert is reaching as Thomson backs away keeping him on the run. They clinch against the cage and work for position. A little blood trickles from the nose of Thomson. They trade punches and Melendez comes in. Thomson lands a good knee but Gilbert comes right back at him. Josh almost gets a takedown. They both connect with good punches and the crowd goes crazy with less than a minute left. Josh has his back up against the fence but they break away. Melendez unloads one more time but the round ends. Thomson walks over and kisses his new belt before the decision is even read.

  RedSweat scores the round 10-9 for Josh Thomson and the fight 50-45 for Thomson

• Final Result: Josh Thomson wins via Unanimous Decision after 5 rounds. (All three judges score it 50-45 for Thomson)