SAN JOSE, Calif. – STRIKEFORCE middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare’’ Souza outlasted Robbie Lawler to retain his 185-pound title, and Nick Diaz defended his welterweight title as he defeated Evangelista Cyborg Santos here at the HP Pavilion before 9,048 fans.

The victory was the ninth in a row for Diaz (24-7, 1 NC), of Stockton, Calif. and the second defense of the 170-pound world title. Cyborg, of San Diego, Calif., by way of Brazil, dropped to 18-14.

The Diaz-Cyborg event was a slugfest. The southpaw Diaz landed solid punches with both hands while the gallant challenger did significant damage with an array of leg kicks and counter punches.

But shortly after Cyborg, the husband of STRIKEFORCE Women’s middleweight (145 pounds) champion Cris Cyborg, scored an ill-advised takedown late in the second, Diaz finished him with an armbar at 4:50.

“He was eating a lot of punches,’’ Diaz said. “For all the leg kicks he was throwing, I was landing more punches. He had taken too many punches and had to take me down. It was a mistake, and I was able to finish him.

“(But) I respect the way he fights. He doesn't mess around. He came out here and fought me. He didn't play games."

In a bit of a pleasant surprise, for him, the talented Diaz was the clear choice of the crowd. The fans chanted “Dee-As, Dee-As’’ several times throughout the action-packed fight.

“I think it’s great to get a fight in front of a hometown crowd,’’ Diaz acknowledged. “When I fought here before, I was fighting against San Jose when I fought Frank Shamrock. It’s nice to have a home here now.’’

JACARE vs. LAWLER
Both Jacare, a slick submission specialist, and Lawler, the puncher, displayed their greatest strengths throughout the exciting fight. The hard-hitting Lawler almost knocked out the champion in the opening round, but Jacare survived and went on to retain his title for a first time.

Jacare captured the vacant STRIKEFORCE middleweight crown last Aug. 21 with a unanimous decision over American military hero Tim Kennedy in Houston on SHOWTIME.

“I love my job,’’ said Jacare, who forced Lawler to tap out at 2:00 of the third. This was a great night. “I don't know what's next, but I'm ready to fight again and defend my belt.

“He fought with courage and a lot of guts. He got me hard in the first. I really felt it. But I used my heart to come back. He fought me off well in the second, but he was tired in the third.’’

Said Lawler, who was coming off a devastating, 50-second, first-round knockout over Matt Lindland last Dec. 4 in St. Louis on SHOWTIME. “I just got tired. I wanted to keep it standing, but I didn't have the energy to keep him off me’’

WALKER vs. CARSON
Look for Herschel Walker, who seemingly never gets fatigued, even at age 48, to get back in the gym quickly after a dominant triumph over Carson.

“I'm happy I won, and I'm happy I took it to the ground,’’ Walker said. “My ground game has definitely improved. That's something we've been working on in the gym with all the guys since the last fight.”

“I think I was a little bit too excited in the beginning. I let him kick me, and that was a mistake. It made me a little upset, but it fired me up. I don't have time to play. When I do something I do it with all my heart. I have to train more. I'm still a young MMA fighter. I'm happy with the win, but I still have a lot to learn. I love MMA and look forward to fighting again.’’

ROGER GRACIE vs. TREVOR PRANGLEY
The submission victory was the fourth in four starts for Gracie. “I'd like to get to the top of my division,’’ he said. “That's the goal.’’

RESULTS
Souza (14-2, 1 NC), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kept his 185-pound crown with a hard-fought third-round submission (rear-naked choke) over former two-time world champion Robbie Lawler (18-7, 1 NC) of Gilbert, Ariz.

The remarkable Walker, a former college football and NFL standout who fights out San Jose, Calif., improved to 2-0 in MMA with a 3:13, first-round TKO (punches) over Scott Carson (4-2) of Costa Mesa, Calif..

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standout Gracie (4-0), of Rio de Janiero, submitted Trevor Prangley (23-7-1) of San Jose with a rear-naked choke at 4:10 of the first.

OTHER WINNERS
Nate Moore

Isaiah Hill

Ron Keslar

Germaine de Randamie

James Terry

Jenna Castillo

Anthony Dariano

Ricky Jackson

Armin Safiari

SPECIAL THANKS to the Strikeforce PR department for this story.