Strikeforce Recap: Luke Rockhold defends his belt, Marquardt wins Welterweight title
Posted on July 14, 2012, 11:35 PM by Mike Drahota
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy is in the books from Portland with two title fights. Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold came out and controlled his opponent against the cage early on. He landed some shots, but Kennedy fought back with a good double leg. Rockhold went for the choke early in the econd, but Kennedy escaped. Rockhold continued to use his range and kicks to win the round. The champion landed a right hook in the third, followed by a left. The fourth round saw Rockhold land a hard right and a mount on Kennedy. Tim Kennedy fought a tough fight, but Luke Rockhold controlled the cage and pushed the action. Ultimately he defended his title with a unanimous decision victory.
Nathan Marquardt made his Strikeforce debut this evening against the undefeated Tyron Woodley in a Welterweight title fight opportunity. Woodley rocked Marquardt with a right hand and took his back. Marquardt came back with a vicious right of his own and went for a guillotine. In the second Marquardt landed a good spinning back kick and a trip takedown. Woodley rocked Marquardt in the third and scored some ground-and-pound. Marquardt came out aggressive in the fourth round, knocking Woodley out with a great elbow and two vicious uppercuts against the cage.
Roger Gracie came into his fight with Keith Jardine by dropping more weight to fight at 185 lbs. Gracie used his touted ground game to land strikes from top position in the first two rounds.He had only one loss on his MMA record, and did not add to that tonight with a clear-cut decision win over the veteran Jardine.
Lorenz Larkin also dropped a weight class to Middleweight after his no-contest bout with Muhammed Lawal, who was found to have used steroids. After surviving a vicious bomb from Robbie Lawler in the first round, Larkin was able to come back and use his effective kickboxing. Lawler appeared to gas later on in the bout, allowing Larkin to have a successful debut at 185 lbs. with a unanimous decision victory.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy Full Results:
Main Card:
Luke Rockhold def. Tim Kennedy via unanimous decision
Nate Marquardt def. Tyron Woodley via KO (elbows and punches)
Roger Gracie def. Keith Jardine via unanimous decision
Lorenz Larkin def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision
Preliminary Card:
Pat Healy def. Mizuto Hirota via unanimous decision
Ryan Couture def. Joe Duarte via split decision
Jorge Masvidal def. Justin Wilcox via split decision
Jordan Mein def. Tyler Stinson via unanimous decision
Jason High def. Nate Moore via submission (guillotine)
LowKick.com Awards:
Performance of the Night: Nathan Marquardt made his Strikeforce debut with a bang, winning the promotion's Welterweight championship by knocking out the undefeated Tyron Woodley.
Finish of the Night: Marquardt again earns the nod with his emphatic combo of elbows and power uppercuts to answer all of his doubters afrer a log, controversy-filled layoff.
Upset of the Night: Lorenz Larkin defeated one of Strikeforce's most powerful and well-known strikers in Robbie Lawler tonight.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy is in the books from Portland with two title fights. Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold came out and controlled his opponent against the cage early on. He landed some shots, but Kennedy fought back with a good double leg. Rockhold went for the choke early in the econd, but Kennedy escaped. Rockhold continued to use his range and kicks to win the round. The champion landed a right hook in the third, followed by a left. The fourth round saw Rockhold land a hard right and a mount on Kennedy. Tim Kennedy fought a tough fight, but Luke Rockhold controlled the cage and pushed the action. Ultimately he defended his title with a unanimous decision victory.
Nathan Marquardt made his Strikeforce debut this evening against the undefeated Tyron Woodley in a Welterweight title fight opportunity. Woodley rocked Marquardt with a right hand and took his back. Marquardt came back with a vicious right of his own and went for a guillotine. In the second Marquardt landed a good spinning back kick and a trip takedown. Woodley rocked Marquardt in the third and scored some ground-and-pound. Marquardt came out aggressive in the fourth round, knocking Woodley out with a great elbow and two vicious uppercuts against the cage.
Roger Gracie came into his fight with Keith Jardine by dropping more weight to fight at 185 lbs. Gracie used his touted ground game to land strikes from top position in the first two rounds.He had only one loss on his MMA record, and did not add to that tonight with a clear-cut decision win over the veteran Jardine.
Lorenz Larkin also dropped a weight class to Middleweight after his no-contest with bout with Muhammed Lawal, who was found to have used steroids. After surviving a vicious bomb from Robbie Lawler in the first round, Larkin was able to come back and use his effective kickboxing. Lawler appeared to gas later on in the bout, allowing Larkin to have a successful debut at 185 lbs. with a unanimus decision victory.
Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy Full Results:
Main Card:
Luke Rockhold Tim Kennedy
Nate Marquardt def. Tyron Woodley via KO (elbows and punches)
Roger Gracie def. Keith Jardine via unanimous decision
Lorenz Larkin def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision
Preliminary Card:
Pat Healy def. Mizuto Hirota via unanimous decision
Ryan Couture def. Joe Duarte via split decision
Jorge Masvidal def. Justin Wilcox via split decision
Jordan Mein def. Tyler Stinson via unanimous decision
Jason High def. Nate Moore via submission (guillotine)
LowKick.com Awards:
Performance of the Night: Nathan Marquardt made his Strikeforce debut with a bang, winning the promotion's Welterweight championship by knocking out the undefeated Tyron Woodley.
Finish of the Night: Marquardt again earns the nod with his emphatic combo of elbows and power uppercuts to answer all of his doubters afrer a log, controversy-filled layoff.
Upset of the Night:Lorenz Larkin defeated one of Strikeforce's most powerful and well-known strikers in Robbie Lawler tonight.
Comments
Tim Kennedy is a good top 20 MW but got outclassed by a dominant Luke Rockhold. Rockhold could UD a lot of top 10 UFC MWs but he struggles to finish against quality opponents.
I think Luke's style would go good against guys like Bisping, Munoz etc. that he has a good speed and athleticism advantage over but wouldn't fair well against someone like Vitor who outspeeds him or someone like Belcher who is just a better veteran.
Just my take on the guy.
oh yea and so happy Woodley got KTFO, tweeted and wrote everyone that I was hoping he would get brutally KO'd and thank you Nate for fulfilling my wish.
Marquardt finished with one of the most vicious and clean standing KOs, karma finally bit Tyron in the ass for all his boring fights.
and yea Nate loks like a beast, as usual his striking is superb but he easily manhandled the All-American Woodley
Why would you hope for someone to get brutally ko'd? Especially after one of the best fights SF has had in a long time.
The only I could hear during the entire fight was Woodley's damn mother shouting non-stop. Man I felt sorry for the people sitting around her
it sounds douchey and I don't wish any real permanent damage but he needs and deserves it after all the wrestling matches he has put on, he totally disregards the fans and any entertainment value of the sport.
Best match in a long time in SF? Gil vs. Thomson 3 was much better
No, as much as i dislike his style, and any lay n prey or point sparring technique at that. If you can't stop someone from fulfilling their game plan on you ( ALA wrestling or pitter patter point sparring) then you deserve to lose in the first place. You don't belong at the top of the heap in any sport if you can't defend certain techniques.
I agree but if he has such a dominant advantage in wrestling, like most of his fights, he should be trying to advance position and finish rather than lay in the guard and throw no offense.
He is barely active in a lot of his fights when he's on top, even Fitch active!
Well done Nate!!! I always knew he is going to make it. Boooo for Lowler and even more boooo for Jardine(he starting to remaind me Bob Sapp when he fights he always loooose!)
Sapizo the Moron
I thought Nate looked to be in top form at this weight, I didnt expect him to lose this fight at all, it goes to show in most cases an X-top UFC fighter can defeat anyone in the Strike Force promotion ....with the exception of Jardine who looked horrible and maybe should hang up the gloves before his Face looks more like a roadmap.
Btw...that elbo ,elbo cross ,cross upper cut looked FN awsome in slow mo
No way Luke has a chance in hell against Anderson Silva. They should have a unification title fight , so Anderson can have the SF belt too.
Another lay n pray artist / wrestler went down last night, It was a GREAT night for MMA. Great job, Nate
Marquardt should be charged with attempted manslaughter. KO of the year next to Edson Barboza's.
Rockhold is good. Good to see that Strikeforce is going to keep fighters like Rockhold and Gil. IMO,
3 strikeforce title defenses should get you in to the UFC where having the belt actually matters.