Strikeforce Challengers 18 Results *Spoiler*

[Kemal]

Showtime Bouts
Joe Duarte def. Jorge Gurgel via unanimous decision
Nate James def. Danillo Villefort via unanimous decision
Pat Healy def. Eric Wisely by unanimous decision
Ronda Rousey def. Sarah D'Alelio via submission (armbar)
Derrick Mehmen def. Roy Jones via unanimous decision

Preliminary Bouts
Gian Villante def. Keith Berry via unanimous decision
Nah-Shon Burell def. Lukasz Les via second-round TKO
Mike Bronzoulis def. Chad Leonhardt via third-round TKO
Milton Vieira def. Sterling Ford via first-round submission

[Kemal]

Strikeforce Challengers: Joe Duarte Beats Jorge Gurgel

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Joe Duarte beat Jorge Gurgel by unanimous decision in a close, competitive fight in the main event of Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers event.

It was a decision that easily could have gone either way, as Duarte landed some clean punches and was successful in repeatedly taking Gurgel down, but Gurgel was active from his back.

The big question now is whether Gurgel has anything left. A former UFC fighter and Ultimate Fighter alum, Gurgel is still fairly well-known among MMA fans, but he has now lost three of his last four fights, and five of his last seven. Gurgel isn't good enough to beat high-level UFC or Strikeforce opponents, and at age 34 we may have seen the last of him on a Zuffa-owned fight card.

In other Strikeforce Challengers action:

-- Nate James outlasted Danillo Villefort to win a unanimous decision. Villefort was in control early on, but he quickly tired out and looked exhausted by the start of the second round. James' superior cardio allowed him to take charge as the fight went on, doing enough in the second and third rounds to win the decision.

-- Pat Healy beat Eric Wisely by unanimous decision in a fight notable mostly because of the significant size advantage Healy had: Wisely was game off his back, but he should probably move down to featherweight, while Healy is a big lightweight and was able to control him from the top for 15 minutes.

-- In the bloodiest fight of the night, Derrick Mehmen won a unanimous decision over Roy Jones despite fighting the second and third rounds with an enormous cut over his left eye: At the start of the second round Mehman went for a takedown just as Jones went for a spinning kick, and the result was Jones' heel connecting with Mehman's head, opening up a huge cut. Referee Herb Dean called a pause in the action to allow the ringside doctor to check the cut, and it was surprising that the doctor allowed the fight to go on. But the fight did continue, and Mehmen used his takedowns and wrestling to control the fight and win the decision.

-- The night's biggest controversy came when Ronda Rousey fought Sarah D'Alelio: Rousey quickly took D'Alelio down and sunk in an arm bar, and then referee Steve Mazzagatti stepped in and stopped the fight, even though D'Alelio didn't tap. Rousey got the win by submission, but Strikeforce should book a rematch to let these two settle it themselves -- and Mazzagatti shouldn't be the ref for that rematch.

[Kemal]

Ronda Rousey Beats Sarah D'Alelio; Steve Mazzagatti at Center of Controversy

Former U.S. Olympian Ronda Rousey won her first Strikeforce fight in short order Friday night, beating Sarah D'Alelio with an arm bar in just 25 seconds. Unfortunately, Rousey's performance isn't what everyone will be talking about.

Instead, the story of the fight was that referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight even though D'Alelio didn't tap out.

Rousey used her world-class judo technique to take D'Alelio down and sink in an armbar at the start of the first round, but D'Alelio seemed poised and ready to fight off the arm bar, and she did not tap out. Surprisingly, Mazzagatti stepped in and stopped the fight anyway.

Afterward, Rousey and D'Alelio offered differing accounts of what happened: Rousey claimed that D'Alelio verbally submitted by saying, "tap, tap." D'Alelio said she did no such thing. Mazzagatti did not give a post-fight interview to explain what happened.

UFC President Dana White has called Mazzagatti the worst referee in MMA, and Mazzagatti has been widely derided by MMA fighters, media and fans. This incident will do nothing to change that.

[Kemal]

Strikeforce Challengers 18 Fighter Salaries

With $10,000 paydays, Pat Healy and Gian Villante were the highest earners at this past Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 18 in Las Vegas.

According to salaries released Monday by the Nevada athletic commission, Healy and Villante each received $5,000 to fight and another $5,000 as a win bonus. Jorge Gurgel, Danillo Villefort and Sarah D'Alelio could have also earned $10,000, but failed to pick up the additional win bonus. For his main event win over Gurgel, Joe Duarte made $6,000.

Salaries for all 16 fighters are after the jump.

Please note: The numbers below are the salaries Strikeforce reported to the commission and may not accurately reflect a fighter's final earnings. Fighters earn additionally through sponsorships and perhaps, other bonuses handed out by the promotion.

Showtime Bouts
Joe Duarte: $3,000 + $3,000 (win) = $6,000 def. Jorge Gurgel: $5,000
Nate James: $3,000 + $3,000 (win) = $6,000 def. Danillo Villefort: $5,000
Pat Healy: $5,000 + $5,000 (win) = $10,000 def. Eric Wisely: $3,000
Ronda Rousey: $4,000 + $4,000 (win) = $8,000 def. Sarah D'Alelio: $5,000
Derrick Mehmen: $2,000 + $2,000 (win) = $4,000 def. Roy Jones: $2,000

Preliminary Bouts
Gian Villante: $5,000 + $5,000 (win) = $10,000 def. Keith Berry: $2,000
Nah-Shon Burrell: $3,000 + $3,000 (win) = $6,000 def. Lukasz Les: $2,500
Mike Bronzoulis: $3,000 + $3,000 (win) = $6,000 def. Chad Leonhardt: $2,500
Milton Vieira: $2,500 + $2,500 (win) = $5,000 def. Sterling Ford: $4,000