Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy takes place later tonight at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, and airs live on Showtime at 10pm ET/7pm PT. The Showtime broadcast will be preceded by preliminary card on on Showtime Extreme at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
In the main event, Luke Rockhold defends his middleweight title against Tim Kennedy.
In the co-feature UFC standout Nate Marquardt makes his welterweight debut as he faces undefeated wrestler Tyron Woodley for the vacant welterweight title.
Roger Gracie looks to find some success as he takes on Keith Jardine.
And lastly, longtime Strikeforce veteran Robbie Lawler takes on Lorenz Larkin.
Results and recap after the jump.
Results
- Luke Rockhold def. Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Nate Marquardt def. Tyron Woodley via Knockout (Elbows and Uppercuts) at 1:39 of Round Four
- Roger Gracie def. Keith Jardine via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Lorenz Larkin def. Robbie Lawler via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Pat Healy def. Mizuto Hirota via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ryan Couture def. Joe Duarte via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jorge Masvidal def. Justin Wilcox via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Jordan Mein def. Tyler Stinson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jason High def. Nate Moore via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:26 of Round One
Recap
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy: In the main event of the night, Luke Rockhold, who had a very noticeable size advantage, used his range, wrestling, and quick to the punch striking, to retain his Strikeforce middleweight title. While Kennedy had some good moments, and had his foe on the mat several times, Rockhold was just too much to handle. Neither man found themselves in much danger, and the fight had a slower pace than one might expect from two athletic middleweights, but it was an excellent bout. The judges turned in scores of 49-46 each for Rockhold, who retains his title yet again.
Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley: It’s a good night for fighters dropping weight classes. Nate Marquardt showed absolutely no sign of ring rust after nearly a year and a half away from the cage, and cruised en route to a violent finish to crown the new Strikeforce welterweight title. Despite a close first round, which saw both men drop one another, Marquardt persevered and started to take control in the second, even taking down his foe at times. The third round looked like classic “T-Wood” as he took Marquardt down and punished him from the top, but it would be the championship rounds where the end would come. Early in the fourth, with Woodley against cage, Marquardt landed two nasty elbows that stunned Tyron, and finished him off with two violent uppercuts. The beautiful walk off knockout comes at 1:39 of the fourth round.
Keith Jardine vs. Roger Gracie: If anything, Keith Jardine can take solace in the fact that he has yet to be submitted. Roger Gracie made a very successful 185 pound debut, as he put a beating on Keith Jardine from bell to bell. Leaving Jardine a bloody mess with his violent ground and pound, using elbows to slice his foe open, Gracie showed greatly improved striking and made Jardine almost look amateur. Scores of 29-27, 30-27, and 30-26 go the way of Gracie.
Robbie Lawler vs. Lorenz Larkin: In his middleweight debut, Lorenz Larkin made a statement. While many expected him to falter against the always dangerous Lawler, Larkin instead used his powerful takedowns and nasty ground and pound to punish the Strikeforce veteran. Even when the fight took place on the feet, it was Larkin who looked crisper, and despite the weight cut, had very little trouble dominating. 30-27’s across the board for Larkin.
Pat Healy vs. Mizuto Hirota: Pat Healy continued to rally for a title shot, as he took the fight to Mizuto Hirota through 15 minutes. While Healy started off a little slow, arguably dropping the first frame to Hirota, Healy kicked it into high gear as the fight went on. Healy used his size to hold his foe against the cage, and he laid into him with the occasional elbow and flurries of punches. As the fight entered its final frame, Healy was visibly slower than expected, but he did everything he could to ensure he took the round, and the decision. The scores read 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 for Healy.
Ryan Couture vs. Joe Duarte: He can be slow to start, but when Ryan Couture gets going, he gets going. After arguably dropping the first round to Duarte, who used his quick striking to harm his foe, Couture stepped his game up, and spent the second and third rounds imposing his will and fighting his fight. After 15 minutes, he took home a split decision with scores of 28-29, 29-28, and 29-28.
Justin Wilcox vs. Jorge Masvidal: In a very exciting lightweight affair, the former title challenger, Masvidal, improved upon his already impressive record, as he went toe to toe with the always game Wilcox. In the opening round, Jorge used his scrappy style to punish his foe, while avoiding the ground game. In the second, it was much of the same. Despite obviously slowing as the fight wore on, Masvidal was opening up. The third went the way of Wilcox, as he tried to impose his will, but it was all for naught, as he dropped a split decision with scores of 28-29, 29-28, and 30-27.
Tyler Stinson vs. Jordan Mein: Jordan Mein put together as much of a dominate performance as one could. For the full 15 minutes, the Canadian used his superior striking, and overall abilities to make this his fight, as he cruised through three rounds of action. Scores of 30-27 across the board.
Jason High vs. Nate Moore: This fight was over as quickly as it started. Moore shoots for a takedown, gets choked out. It only took 26 seconds.
Photo Credit: Phil Lambert/TheMMACorner.com
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