Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza is the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion after a Unanimous Decision victory over Tim Kennedy
Posted on August 21, 2010, 10:52 PM by Anton GurevichAfter five rounds, which can be easily described as War of Attrition, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza became the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Souza outpointed Tim Kennedy with a more precise striking, and a good control during a few times the fight was on the ground. Souza improved his Mixed Martial Arts record to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in Strikeforce.
Both fighters should be concerned with the lack of killer instinct showed during the fight, as both of them failed to gain a dominant position on the feet or on the ground. Tim Kennedy was probably a better man during the final 7 minutes, but it did not change the mind of referees, who scored the bout 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 for Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.
Tim Kennedy was the more aggressive fighter of the bout, with a few takedown attempts and a bigger striking arsenal, but the judges preferred the effectiveness of Jacare Souza.
Jacare will definitely have to show more than he did tonight if he's up to defend his title, but it's clearly a well-deserved belt for the Brazilian. Souza will now have to wait for the outcome of the Strikeforce Middleweight Tournament, which will determine the identity of his next opponent. A rematch against Jason Mayhem Miller is more than a welcome match-up.
Comments
Kennedy got robbed
Give me your reasoning please.
Jacare won that fight and the Judges got it right this time.
did any1 see the #s? kennedy landed more strikes and took jacare down twice. Jacare was 0/4 in takedowns. It was a close fight but jacare won because he had the bigger name, like in the lil nog vs brilz fight
Jacare probably won because Kennedy had blood pouring down his face for 3 rounds. A lot of judges associate that with damage.
if all you see is a cut that a fighter recieved with one punch and judge the whole fight on that then you are a fool
man that was a good close fight.
I picked Kennedy to win i do think he did just enough to win based on more landed strikes and takedowns.
Jacare did seem to do more damage with his strikes which i think tipped the judges into his favour
I think it was very close but I give it to jacare. maybe Kennedy landed more, but Jacare landed better and harder. Kennedy didn't commit and could not control Jacare.
But the total amount of strikes landed is irrelevant as is how a guys face looks, scoring goes by the round, souza won the first 2, kennedy the last 2 probably so it is all about who you give the 3rd round to in my opinion