Jorge Masvidal vs Justin Wilcox

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

Just watched the DVR of David Haye-David Chisora fight on Epix. Justin Wilcox looks beastly. Jorge Masvidal had a title shot recently against Gilbert Melendez and didn’t look too great. This is actually a good card as far as Strikeforce has been considered. They’ve done a bad job of hyping it, but the card is probably just as good as UFC 147, which was a fucking pay per view. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]

Round 1: Masvidal seems to be landing the better punches so far.  Wilcox throws a leg kick.  Wilcox lands a right.  One minute down and we haven’t seen a shot from Wilcox.  He is so much more muscular than Masvidal, that you would think that he would have a huge advantage on the ground, but he was apparently a natural bodybuilder, so those might be beach muscles rather than fighting muscles.  Takedown attempt by Wilcox.  Works a trip, Masvidal pops up, but Wilcox still has a hold of him.  Masvidal gets up and the fighters exchange.  Wiclox is not looking bad in the striking portion, especially given his massive reach disadvantage.

Masvidal pops Wilcox with a right.  Masvidal unloads a big flying knee and Wilcox is hurt.  Running awsay as Masvidal follows him around the ring popping him.  Masvidal is really beating Wilcox has his wits about him again.  Wilcox eats another massive knee.  Nice chin on this guy, but he’s taking a beating.  Nice head kick by Masvidal and the round ends.

Round 2: Wilcox is coming forward, but not landing very hard.  Masvidal throws the knee again, but it doesn’t land.  Wilcox keeps coming forward, but the reach difference is too much.  Masvidal lands a jab.  Wilcox misses a few punches.  Masvidal with a nice leg kick.  Wilcox lands a head kick, but Masvidal doesn’t seem to be hurt by it.  Masvidal lands an uppercut.  Masvidal is now landing was more punches and is using range effectively.  Masvidal lands another nice jab.

Wilcox throws a superman punch, but he had to jump up so much to land it at the right height that he didn’t make it far enough.  Wilcox is whiffing a ton, but he is coming forward and could win this round on the cards.  Wilcox shoots, but Masvidal is out of it.  Masvidal with a left hand and then a knee.  Wilcox lands a left jab.  Masvidal lands another.

Masvidal is still landing the better punches so I give him this one 10-9, but way closer than the last round. 

Round 3: Wilcox is coming forward throwing bombs.  He needs a knockout to win it and I think he knows it.  Masvidal rips a big leg kick.  Wilcox is coming forward swinging.  Judges like a man who comes forward, so he didn’t necessarily lose the second round on the cards, even though it looked to me like he wasn’t landing a lot.  Masvidal lands a nice kick.  Wilcox’s punches are still falling short.  Wilcox shoots and has Masvidal’s back, but is having difficulty getting him to the ground.  Masvidal is down, but is sittling up against the fence. Two minutes left.

Masvidal is back up.  Wilcox coming forward.  Masvidal throws a kick, but it is blocked.  Wilcox gets the single, but Masvidal sprawls out of it.  Wiclox isn’t following through on his shot enough.  He is grabbing, but not driving through the shot to complete the takedown.  Wilcox misses another takedown.

Wilcox was way more active that round.  10-9 Wilcox

I’ve got it 29-28 Masvidal, but that was a way closer than it should have been.  Masvidal really wasn’t working.

29-28 Wilcox, 29-28 Masvidal, and 30-27 Masvidal. Masvidal by split decision. Wide array of scores there, but fights without a lot of action are tough to judge. First round was Masvidal’s for sure.