In 2009 when Mike Kyle and Rafael Cavalcante met up it was Kyle who knocked out the Brazilian in his ninth professional fight, but “Feijao” wasn’t going to let history repeat itself.
Since they last met Cavalcante has met top-tier light-heavyweights in Dan Henderson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal while winning the top-crown at 205-pounds in the San Jose-based organization, since losing the title he has returned to his winning ways finishing Yoel Romero Palacio.
Kyle has bounced between light-heavyweight and heavyweight over the past few years, the 33-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product has won four of his last five outings, most recently edging Marcos Rogerio de Lima in his return to 205-pounds.
Cavalcante had spoke in the past of being better than ever before and he might have shown that tonight, within seconds he has rocked the long-time veteran with a overhand right and a knee to the cage forcing Kyle against the cage – As Kyle looked to recover he locked in standing guillotine-choke before leaping into the air with the chokehold.
His larger adversary looked to slam him to the canvas to break the choke but it only got deeper which forced him to tap out to the choke in just 33 seconds.
Post-fight he made the call to fight for the Strikeforce light-heavyweight championship that he held merely 18 months ago, with this victory he might have that opportunity to fight Gegard Mousasi to crown the next champion.