Rafael (Feijao) Cavalcante.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

HOUSTON -- Brazilian Rafael (Feijao) Cavalcante upset Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed (King Mo) Lawal, knocking him out in the third round.

In the co-feature Saturday night at the Toyota Center, Brazilian Ronaldo (Jacare) Souza won the vacant Strikeforce middleweight mixed martial arts title with a unanimous decision over Tim Kennedy.

Lawal (7-1) was the aggressor in the first round and led after two, but Cavalcante (10-2) came out swinging in the third. He landed a knee and then battered the champion with a string of elbows to the head, knocking him out at 1:14.

Lawal was making his first title defence.

"I hit him hard with the right hand and the knee," Cavalcante said. "I saw he was hurt, but I was just going to continue to hit him."

Said Lawal: "I just got to make a few adjustments. He fought a hell of a fight, but I'm not worried. I'll come back stronger."

Jacare (13-2-1) wasn't able to get Kennedy to the ground, but had success with his counter-punching. Kennedy (12-3) was cut over the left eye early in the third round.

"I felt through the fight that he felt my hand," Jacare said. "I was landing some big punches and I thought I was winning the fight. I was ready to fight everywhere in the cage, but I was surprised how strong he was. He was strong, but I was the one connecting and landing the damaging punches."

In lightweight action, K.J. Noons (10-2) knocked out UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel (13-7) 19 seconds into the second round.

Veteran heavyweight Chad Griggs handed former pro wrestler Bobby Lashley his first MMA loss.

Lashley (5-1) took the fight to the ground in the first and second but couldn't do much damage and was cut in the process. The fight was stopped at the end of the second round

"I think he was tired and he was hurt already. I think it was a good call to end it," Griggs said.