Antonio Silva survived a scary first round to knock out Antonio Silva at 2:49 of round two.
Kyle opened the bout with a big right hand that sent the Silva on his back. Silva looked slow and groggy on the ground as Kyle Donkey Konged him for the next ninety seconds. Kyle slowed his attack around the 3:00 mark, but remained in top position until the bell sounded to end round one.
Silva came out for round two looking recovered from the punishment he suffered in round one. Silva took Kyle down after a big straight right. The 44-pound size advantage was readily apparent as Silva was able to overpower Kyle from top position. Kyle attempted to regain his vertical base, but got caught in an anaconda choke. Kyle escaped after a gator roll, but couldn’t improve his position. Silva passed into mount and unloaded Sakuaraba’s double hammerfists and a flurry of positions before referee John McCarthy stepped in to stop the bout.
Mike Kyle replaced Valentijn Overeem, who suffered an elbow injury in training. Kyle fought his last three bouts at light heavyweight and had last competed for Strikeforce at the Challenger’s show in Everett, Washington, where he defeated Abongo Humphrey by rear-naked choke. Antonio Silva won a unanimous decision over former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce’s last show in St. Louis in May of this year.