Strikeforce Prelims: Fodor Stops Wilcox in 13 Seconds

Caros Fodor upset Justin Wilcox at Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal.” | File Photo: Sherdog.com

Fodor took out Justin Wilcox in a stunning first-round knockout at Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” on Saturday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, as he stopped the American Kickboxing Academy representative in 13 seconds. Wilcox had not tasted defeat since September 2008.

Fodor (7-1, 5-0 SF), a Matt Hume protégé at AMC Pankration in Washington, countered his foe’s aggression with precision. He met Wilcox (11-4, 1 NC, 5-2, 1 NC SF) with a pair of hearty right hands that deposited “The Silverback” on the ground. Fodor followed him to the mat, finishing him in a blink with punches for his fight consecutive victory.

Roger Bowling needed less than a minute to put away Jerron Peoples in a preliminary catchweight affair, as the Team Vision representative won for the second time in three appearances. It was over in 42 seconds.

Bowling (10-2, 3-2 SF) felled Peoples -- a 28-year-old muay Thai stylist who missed weight for the match -- with a stinging flurry ignited by a stout right hand. After a perfect 4-0 start as a professional, Peoples (4-2, 0-2 SF) has suffered back-to-back defeats.

Devin Cole File Photo

Cole outpointed Salinas-Jones.

International Fight League veteran Devin Cole utilized a steady diet of clinches and takedowns, as he captured a unanimous decision from the previously unbeaten Gabriel Salinas-Jones in a preliminary heavyweight bout.

All three judges scored it the same: 30-27 for Cole (20-9-1, 2-1 SF).

Cole short-circuited Salinas-Jones in the clinch and struck for takedowns in all three rounds of a forgettable 15-minute encounter. To his credit, the 35-year-old Oregonian tried to finish it in the third, when he secured a takedown from the clinch and seized back control on Salinas-Jones (5-1-1, 1-1 SF). He was not successful, and the two heavyweights closed out their scrap on the ground.

A takedown-heavy attack carried Strikeforce rookie Eddie Mendez to a split decision over WEC veteran Fernando Gonzalez in a competitive but relatively uneventful middleweight dark match. Two of the three cageside judges -- Gene LeBell and John McCarthy -- ruled in favor of Mendez by 30-27 and 29-28 counts. A third, Lester Griffin, cast a 29-28 score for Gonzalez.

Mendez (6-0-1, 1 NC, 1-0 SF) set the tone with a nice counter right hand and double-leg takedown in the first round, and he took Gonzalez to the ground twice more in the second. With the fight slipping out of reach, Gonzalez (17-10, 0-1 SF) did his best work over the final five minutes, as he landed in combination, secured a takedown of his own and controlled Mendez from top position. It was not enough, however, to swing the outcome in his favor.

The San Diego-based Herman Terrado recorded his fourth consecutive victory, as he submitted Chris Brown with a third-round armbar in a preliminary welterweight matchup. Brown (6-3, 0-1 SF) bowed out 4:05 into round three, his five-fight winning streak a thing of the past.

Needing a finish entering the third round, Terrado (7-2, 2-0 SF) -- who was docked a point for an illegal upkick in the second -- capitalized when an opportunity presented itself. The 22-year-old scored with a late double-leg takedown, worked some ground-and-pound and moved to mount on his fatigued foe. From there, Terrado snatched an exposed limb, secured the armbar and coaxed the tapout with less than a minute left on the clock.