Strikeforce Challengers 13: Surprising Results
By Sean Farrell
Strikeforce held Challengers 13 last night a series that pits Strikeforce’s up and coming fighters against one another to put them on notice to the mixed martial arts world.
Tyron Woodley Dominates Saffiedine
An emerging presence at 170,Tyron Woodley met Tarec Saffiedine in a bout in which Woodley would use his wrestling skills and give Saffiedine no room to work. Woodley clinched often threw his shots when he had to and repeatedly landed well timed takedowns earning the unanimous decision. Woodley now 6-0 in Strikeforce and 8-0 overall spoke on his bout with Saffiedine “I did well,” said Woodley. “Tarec’s a very tough guy, has some power, got some pop, switches his stance, a difficult guy to find his timing on. I endured. I pressed him. I think I kept the pressure on him and stopped him from doing a lot of striking. I did a good job tonight.”
The two time All-American wrestler from the University of Missouri used his collegiate base and experience to stuff anything of relevance Saffiedine attempted to land. Saffiedine who is an excellent striker couldn’t must up much the entire fight, as every time he found some range Woodley clinched immediately and pressed him to the cage. The defeat ended a three fight streak for Saffiedine,who has still never been finished by an opponent.
Cormier shows skill set dominates Cole
Daniel Cormier a two-time Olympic wrestler stepped into the cage last night to face International Fight League veteran Devin Cole. Devin Cole took face literally as Cormier had all three rounds to impose his will and do as he pleased with Devin Cole who was on a five fight winning streak. Cormier showed improvement with his stand up but the most impressive thing he did was improved his Olympic wrestling base, landing a takedown in every round Cormier beat on Cole with heavy ground and pound and almost finished the fight in the second with a rear naked choke. But to Devin Cole’s credit he never quit. Cormier in his post fight interview said “He did an incredible job. He fought hard. I don’t think we expect that kind of performance at AKA. I feel like I let them down. It was a hard fight.” Cormier remains undefeated moving to 7-0 in his MMA career.
St. Preux Seven and Counting
Former linebacker for the University of Tennessee Ovince St. Preux claimed his seventh victory in a row last night, his third in seven weeks, by defeating Ron Humphrey. All three judges saw the bout 30-27 but it was a rather easy one to score, St. Preux battered Humphrey the entire fight, except for a flurry at the end of round two that seemed to hurt St. Preux but he survived to round three where he reasserted his dominance and cruised to the decision. The 27 year old Knoxville native also showed his superiority on the ground outwrestling and out-grappling Humphrey pushing his Strikeforce mark to a perfect 4-0.
Nunes Destroys Budd
In a fight card dominated by men it was the women who brought the fireworks and brought the pop.
After a stare down for the ages at the weigh-in Amanda Nunes and Julia Budd finally got to hook up. The 22 year old Nunes let go and inside leg kick to start and followed by firing away punches, the burst backed up Budd before Nunes’ straight left hand dropped Budd.Seven hammerfist followed prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight at just 14 seconds of round 1.Nunes has stopped six in a row with strike stoppages four of which came in round 1.
Ferguson Submits Richard via Highlight Kneebar
Rhadi Ferguson four-time national judo champion and 2004 Olympian returned to the Strikeforce cage with an impressive victory over John Richard. Ferguson submitted Richard with a second-round kneebar in a light heavyweight tilt at 2:00 into round two. The 35-year-old American Top Team member Ferguson, weathered a quick burst from Richard at the start of the fight, as the South Carolina-based wrestler secured a takedown in 11 seconds and transitioned to Ferguson’s back when the judoka then rolled for a leg lock. Richard’s attempts at a rear-naked choke submission went unrewarded against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Ferguson, as he moved into top position and worked his ground-and-pound.
Clearly gassed, Richard was deducted a point in the first round for repeatedly spitting out his mouthpiece had little to offer if anything in round two. Richard landed what appeared to be a kick to the groin a little over than a minute in, as Ferguson doubled over in pain, back pedaled and dropped to his back. However, the referee didn’t see it and allowed the match to go on. Operating from the bottom, Ferguson trapped Richard’s left leg, and turned it into a highlight reel kneebar securing the tapout victory.
MAIN CARD
Tyron Woodley def. Tarec Saffiedine via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ovince St. Preux def. Ron “Abongo” Humphrey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel Cormier def. Devin Cole via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Amanda Nunes def. Julia Budd via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:14
Rhadi Ferguson def. John Richard via submission (heel hook) – Round 2, 2:00
PRELIMINARY CARD
Thomas Campbell def. Jeremy Wallace via sub (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:26
John Salter def. Casey Huffman via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:59
Dustin Ortiz def. Matt Horning via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:10
Dustin West def. Daniel Schmitt via KO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:09
Charles McTorry def. Krishaun Gilmore via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 3:46
Chris Barnhizer def. Karl Willis via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:35
Jason Blackford def. Jeremy Boczulak via submission (heel hook) – Round 2, 1:54
Luke Sanders def. Josh Jarvis via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:15
Stoney Hale def. Gerric Hayes via split decision (28-29, 29-28. 29-28)