Strikeforce: Shields Vs. Henderson on CBS: Live Blog and Results

Bleacher Report is live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., for Strikeforce: Shields vs. Henderson.

Strikeforce President Scott Coker and Co. have done a solid job in choosing this city and venue for the event. The crowd is smaller than expected but lively as the Main Card of the event is set to start.

Preliminary results can be found at: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/380207-strikeforce-nashville-prelim-live-blog  

Stay tuned throughout the event to receive updates on the evening's fights.

In addition, you can follow me on Twitter @JoshDCarey for additional information; enjoy!

8:43 - Main Card Bouts are set to begin momentarily and the Arena is filling up nicely in anticipation of the championship tripleheader.

9:01 - Main Card live on CBS is being introduced with a great highlight reel.

9:06 - Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi . King Mo came out in style with several ladies escorting him to the cage. Definitely the most entertaining entrance thus far through the night. Mousasi made his way to the cage looking determined, focused, and ready to defend his championship.

9:11 - Round 1: King Mo comes out southpaw and a brief exchange from the two ensues but no damage taken from either fighter. Mo working hard for a takedown and eats several punches for his effort but successfully lands it.

Mousasi on his back throwing up kicks as Mo hovers above and the champion eats several punches while on his back. The champ uses Mo's aggression to get back to his feet and lands a few decent strikes while standing.

9:20 - Round 2: Beginning of the round begins with a King Mo takedown but Mousasi lands several hammer fists from his back to the challenger. Mo stands above the downed champion and dives in with a punch.

Mousasi is stalling Mo out on the ground and briefly manages to get back to his feet. Yet again, it's another takedown from the challenger but he isn't doing any damage to the champ while there.

Mousasi reverses and now has Mo against the cage landing strikes and transitions straight to Mo's back. Working for a choke with both hooks in as the round ends.

9:26 - Round 3: The champ looks to clearly have the advantage on the feet as he lands strikes on the challenger and moves Mo against the cage. Mo fires back and the two exchange strikes with it leading to a takedown from the challenger.

However, even with top control, Mo fails to do much damage to the champ while there. Mousasi now eats several punches from his back and Mo controls the final seconds of the third stanza.

9:32 - Round 4: Mousasi begins the frame with a kick to the challenger. Unfazed by the kick, Mo uses his phenomenal wrestling to get the fight where he likes it (on the mat). Much of the fight has taken place on the mat and this round is no different.

Lacking action on the ground, referee John McCarthy stands the action but it is short lived as Mo once again drops the champion to the mat. Round ends with Mo standing and Mousasi on his back.

9:38 - Round 5: Mo shoots for a takedown but is stuffed by Mousasi (briefly) and the challenger places the champ on his back like he has done the majority of the fight.

A illegal strike from the champion causes a break in action and referee John McCarthy deducts a point from Mousasi.

The fight is restarted with Mo on top and both fighters are landing strikes on one another.

Mousasi stands and takes the center of the cage but that only leads to a fight securing takedown from the challenger whom is almost certainly your new Strikeforce champion.

With Jason "Mayhem" Miller in his corner, the group begins to celebrate in anticipation that King Mo will be announced as the new champion. Mousasi stands in his corner with minimal reaction to what just took place for five rounds.

All three judges score the fight a Unanimous Decision to the NEW LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD - MUHAMMED "KING MO" LAWAL.

9:55 - We're at a brief intermission so the fans in attendance can refresh themselves for the highly anticipated light-weight championship fight that is up next.

10:00 - Dream Light-Weight champion Shinya Aoki vs. Strikeforce Light-Weight champion Gilbert Melendez. Aoki made his way to the cage and seemed to enjoy the spotlight of being on network television here in the states.

Champion Gilbert Melendez has by far the best entrance music of the night and is escorted to action by teammates Nick and Nate Diaz.

10:04 - Round 1: Both fighters touch gloves and Gil takes the center of the cage. A lot of respect between the two champions with Aoki throwing a kick and Gil tossing him to the mat.

Eye poke by Aoki leads to a halt in action by referee Mario Yamasaki. Melendez ready to start the action and Aoki drags him to the mat but the stay there is short-lived.

Now standing, Melendez takes the center and lands a body lunch but does minimal damage to his Dream counterpart. The Strikeforce champion takes the action to the mat and lands some solid strikes from the top.

Aoki manages to get back to his feet and lands a solid body kick. The two are starting to exchange and the action between them is heating up along the cage as the round ends.

10:12 - Round 2: Melendez begins the round taking the center and Aoki attempts a takedown and is stuffed. Aoki gets the fight to the mat where he wants it but he's on his back eating strikes.

Melendez is staying at a distance and lets Aoki back to his feet where he seems to have the edge. Body punch landed by the Strikeforce champion and a brief flurry as well opens the challenger up.

Aoki is bleeding from his nose and has his back against the cage circling but not doing anything while on the feet. Aoki pulls guard and eats a few punches from the champion and the round ends with Melendez on top control.

10:18 - Round 3: Aoki iniates a touch of gloves and then becomes the aggressor in the fight. The challenger is working hard for a takedown but is denied by Melendez and the champion now ends up on top.

The fight is stood up by referee Mario Yamasaki and Aoki pulls guard against the cage. Melendez is now in the challenger's closed guard and begins to rain down heavy strikes. Aoki somehow manages to stand up and Melendez flurries alongside the cage.

10:24 - Round 4: Aoki briefly takes the center of the cage to begin the round and within 45 seconds pulls guard. Melendez backs out and the referee stands Aoki up.

The Strikeforce champion lands a heavy knee to the challenger and dropping him to the mount but only for a moment. Aoki's gameplan is to pull guard in hopes of luring the champion into a jiujitsu-based fight.

Aoki is on his back and Melendez lands strikes,but the fight is stood up much to the dissatisfaction of the crowd.

10:31 - Round 5: Aoki shoots and is stuffed by Melendez but takes a finger in the eye for his efforts. The fight is very briefly stopped and the action resumes with Melendez bringing Aoki to the mat.

Aoki working for rubber guard but is unsuccessful and takes a few strikes before Melendez backs out. Now, on the feet the challenger circles and again pulls guard with no success.

Ninety seconds left in the fight and Melendez is motioning for Aoki to stand and exchange. Aoki stands reluctantly and Melendez is aggressive and flurries him as the round ends.

All three judges score the fight a UNANIMOUS DECISION and STILL THE STRIKEFORCE LIGHT-WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, GILBERT MELENDEZ.

While being interviewed by commentator Gus Johnson, Melendez states that he believes he deserves more respect as being a Top 3 light-weight in the world.

10:45 - A brief intermission is taking place so the fans can gear up for the Middleweight championship Main Event.

10:56 - We're set for the Main Event of the evening live on CBS and the attraction is a highly anticipated Middleweight title fight.

10:58 - Dan "Hendo" Henderson vs. Strikeforce Champion Jake Shields. Hendo makes his walk to the cage to a HUGE ovation from the fans in attendance with Team Quest. Strikeforce Middleweight champion Jake Shields arrives to the cage with title in hand.

11:01 - Round 1: The championship begins with Hendo dropping Shields to canvas with his patented right hand. Shields locks on to a leg but only briefly keeps Hendo on the canvas.

Hendo storms Shields but has yet been able to finish the champion. Hendo clearly dominating the fight thus far. Shields lands a kick to the challenger and the action is briefly tied up along the cage.

Referee John McCarthy breaks the tie up and Shields lands a takedown but cannot hold Hendo down. Clinched against the cage, Hendo has the champion pinned and the two exchange as the bell sounds. B/R scores round one for Hendo, 10-9

11:09 - Round 2: Shields begins the round by taking the center of the cage and shoots for a takedown. Hendo stuffs it and has his back but fails to capitalize on the position. Shields reverses, transitions, and now has Hendo in full mount.

Dominant position for the champion and he's capitalizing by not letting Hendo up and raining down strikes.

Hendo briefly gets Shields out of mount but the champion regains the position and is dominating the challenger along the cage.

Shields throwing heavy strikes from top but the ever tough Henderson manages to escape the round. B/R scores round two for Shields, 10-9

11:15 - Round 3: Henderson briefly placed on his back and the two break with Hendo taking the center of the cage. Shields shoots places Hendo on his back and transitions into side control.

Impressive display of wrestling and ground control by Shields in rounds two and three. Shields is working from half guard and transitions into full mount landing punches and transitions into an arm bar as the round ends. B/R scores round three for Shields 10-9

11:23 - Round 4: Shields shoots and has Hendo on the ground but is caught in an awkward position following the ground transitioning. The challenger attempts to stand but Shields immediately places him on his back.

Shields into side control and attempts a kimura on the challenger's left arm. Unsuccessful in the submission, the champion transitions into full mount and is delivering strikes to Hendo's body. B/R scores round four for Shields 10-9

10:28, Round 5: Henderson takes the center of the cage but within a minute of action is placed on his back by the champion. Like clockwork, Shields moves into full mount and is working strikes from the top.

The strikes aren't going to finish the challenger but Shields is thoroughly dominating him. With 60 seconds remaining, Shields remains in full mount and attempts a submission as the final bell sounds. B/R scores round five for the Shields 10-9

All three judges score the Middleweight championship fight for THE STRIKEFORCE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD JAKE SHIELDS.

Henderson had the champion in trouble early on in the first but failed to capitalize on it and Shields dominated the rest of the bout with superior top control. Shields' dominant jiujitsu and wrestling reigned supreme throughout the bout.