It was an average uninspiring night filled with fence grabbing which seemed to be the theme of the week. Its a bizarro world when Woodley/Marquardt provide the exciting fight and who would've thunk Jardine could lose? Strikeforce just doesn't have an interesting enough or deep enough roster but they're not going anywhere anytime soon so UFC fans don't hold your breath.
Main Card (Showtime):
Luke Rockhold defeats Tim Kennedy by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain his Middleweight Championship. Well that wasn’t all that interesting as the fight went exactly as most predicted. Tim couldn’t get control of Luke on the ground or throw more than a single punch at a time. The lengthy Rockhold controlled the bout with his power left and some kicks but it was mostly a standard affair. A right hand momentarily dropped Kennedy in the 4th round and from there we hit cruise control.
* Luke remains champ but enough of this talk about him being an elite level Middleweight. Rockhold beat a solid but flawed fighter who wouldn’t shake the foundations of the UFC’s 185ers either but a strong test for a champ in the grooming process. Luke is progressing well lets just not get carried away with the young and inexperienced fighter.
Nate Marquardt KO’d Tyron Woodley at 1:39 of R4. Who knew that this would be the most exciting bout of the week? The “Great” and “T-Wood” traded early and both men hit the canvas after a big punch landed and both recovered in the opening round. Nate began to find his rhythm frustrating Tyron who came out aggressive in the 3rd round. Marquardt was wounded but threatened with an armbar from bottom and Woodley had finally won a round. For the 4th, Nate looked in command as he bullied Tyron around the cage. A highlight reel right and left elbow daze Woodley, followed by a left hook rendering Tyron unconscious and on the way down when a right uppercut adds the coffin nails. Amazing 4 strike combination and after a year off of controversy and setbacks, Marquardt is the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion in emphatic fashion!
* One of the best wins of the year as Nate dismantles the formerly undefeated prospect by KO. Perhaps Kazuo Misaki should get the test for the title next the result of another former Middleweight dropping down to 170. The MMA world is Nate’s oyster as he enjoys the big fish in small pond scenario as Tyron gets a much needed loss to force him to become more comfortable and aggressive in the striking game that will lead to him becoming a better and more well rounded fighter.
Roger Gracie dismantles Keith Jardine by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26). Roger took Keith down, gashed him open with elbows and threatened for submissions all night. Credit Jardine for avoiding being tapped but he got owned until the final round when Gracie was tired (yet again) but Keith didn’t jump on the opportunity and kept his weapons holstered.
Lorenz Larkin Upsets Robbie Lawler by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Larkin survived the Lawler assault early and then settled into his game plan throwing elbows and mixing his attack while Rob seemed to become bored with the fight. It seems that if things don’t go Lawler’s way early, he just hits cruise control looking unenthusiastic about fighting. A nice needed “name” win for Lorenz who may get a shot at the Middleweight title. The getting on his knees after the bout and begging Dana White for fight bonuses was awkward and embarrassing. A little decorum please.
Luke Rockhold defeats Tim Kennedy by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain his Middleweight Championship. Well that wasn’t all that interesting as the fight went exactly as most predicted. Tim couldn’t get control of Luke on the ground or throw more than a single punch at a time. The lengthy Rockhold controlled the bout with his power left and some kicks but it was mostly a standard affair. A right hand momentarily dropped Kennedy in the 4th round and from there we hit cruise control.
* Luke remains champ but enough of this talk about him being an elite level Middleweight. Rockhold beat a solid but flawed fighter who wouldn’t shake the foundations of the UFC’s 185ers either but a strong test for a champ in the grooming process. Luke is progressing well lets just not get carried away with the young and inexperienced fighter.
Nate Marquardt KO’d Tyron Woodley at 1:39 of R4. Who knew that this would be the most exciting bout of the week? The “Great” and “T-Wood” traded early and both men hit the canvas after a big punch landed and both recovered in the opening round. Nate began to find his rhythm frustrating Tyron who came out aggressive in the 3rd round. Marquardt was wounded but threatened with an armbar from bottom and Woodley had finally won a round. For the 4th, Nate looked in command as he bullied Tyron around the cage. A highlight reel right and left elbow daze Woodley, followed by a left hook rendering Tyron unconscious and on the way down when a right uppercut adds the coffin nails. Amazing 4 strike combination and after a year off of controversy and setbacks, Marquardt is the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion in emphatic fashion!
* One of the best wins of the year as Nate dismantles the formerly undefeated prospect by KO. Perhaps Kazuo Misaki should get the test for the title next the result of another former Middleweight dropping down to 170. The MMA world is Nate’s oyster as he enjoys the big fish in small pond scenario as Tyron gets a much needed loss to force him to become more comfortable and aggressive in the striking game that will lead to him becoming a better and more well rounded fighter.
Roger Gracie dismantles Keith Jardine by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-26). Roger took Keith down, gashed him open with elbows and threatened for submissions all night. Credit Jardine for avoiding being tapped but he got owned until the final round when Gracie was tired (yet again) but Keith didn’t jump on the opportunity and kept his weapons holstered.
Lorenz Larkin Upsets Robbie Lawler by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Larkin survived the Lawler assault early and then settled into his game plan throwing elbows and mixing his attack while Rob seemed to become bored with the fight. It seems that if things don’t go Lawler’s way early, he just hits cruise control looking unenthusiastic about fighting. A nice needed “name” win for Lorenz who may get a shot at the Middleweight title. The getting on his knees after the bout and begging Dana White for fight bonuses was awkward and embarrassing. A little decorum please.
Prelims (Showtime Extreme):
Pat Healy gets a gift from the MMA judges to best Mizuto Hirota by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Robbery! Hirota came out attacking and the much smaller fighter controlled the 1st 2 rounds before gassing out in the end. Healy was kept off guard all night and only won the last round as the hometown judging saves his ass. Let’s just hope this obvious judging error still keeps Pat from a title shot he no longer deserves against Gilbert Melendez since anyone who saw the fight knows who really won.
Ryan Couture defeats Joe Duarte by Split-Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Still not impressed with Couture and Duarte needs cardio training.
Jorge Masvidal defeats Justin Wilcox by Split-Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27). “Gamebred” took the street fight to the “Silverback” who could not hang.
Jordan Mein defeats Tyler Stinson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) as the “Young Gun” continues to impress and work his way up the ladder.
Jason High taps Nate Moore by Guillotine Choke 0:26, R1. That is not an error. The “Kansas City Bandit” tapped Moore in 26 seconds of round 1! That’s a nice highlight win Jason needed.
Pat Healy gets a gift from the MMA judges to best Mizuto Hirota by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Robbery! Hirota came out attacking and the much smaller fighter controlled the 1st 2 rounds before gassing out in the end. Healy was kept off guard all night and only won the last round as the hometown judging saves his ass. Let’s just hope this obvious judging error still keeps Pat from a title shot he no longer deserves against Gilbert Melendez since anyone who saw the fight knows who really won.
Ryan Couture defeats Joe Duarte by Split-Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Still not impressed with Couture and Duarte needs cardio training.
Jorge Masvidal defeats Justin Wilcox by Split-Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27). “Gamebred” took the street fight to the “Silverback” who could not hang.
Jordan Mein defeats Tyler Stinson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) as the “Young Gun” continues to impress and work his way up the ladder.
Jason High taps Nate Moore by Guillotine Choke 0:26, R1. That is not an error. The “Kansas City Bandit” tapped Moore in 26 seconds of round 1! That’s a nice highlight win Jason needed.
6-3 on the picks as the Upsets upset me.
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