Strikeforce Challengers 5 Results & Recap - November 20, 2009
The fifth edition of the Strikeforce Challengers Series took place on November 20, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas, on Showtime. Find the results from Strikeforce Challengers 5 below as undefeated Tyron "T-Wood" Woodley took on Rudy Bears in the main event. Find our recap of the televised fight below as well as the official Strikeforce Challengers 5 results and find historic Strikeforce results online here at ProFighting-fans.com.
Kevin Casey vs. Chad Vance
Kevin “King” Casey (3-1) continued his forward progression with an easy 1st round rear naked choke submission at the 1:41 mark over Chad Vance (5-4).
After an immediate clinch Casey worked into dominant position with little resistance from the 35 year-old Vance. As soon as Casey got the fight to the ground he immediately transitioned to take his opponents back where he went for the fight-ending choke.
Casey, who was making his Strikeforce debut, has now won his last three bouts and looked to be experienced beyond his four career fights. Vance, who was also debuting for Strikeforce, has been finished in back-to-back bouts and in four of his last five career fights overall.
Aaron Rosa vs. Rafael Feijao
Rafael Feijao (8-2) began his resurgence up the light-heavyweight division ladder with a solid striking display and 2nd round TKO of Aaron Rosa (12-3) at the 3:25 mark.
Feijao took control early winning all but the last minute of the initial round, using mostly clinches and dirty boxing. Rosa came back to win the last minute or so of the 1st, but was overwhelmed in the 2 nd. Feijao got Rosa to the ground with a takedown but was stood back up after receiving a warning for elbows while on the ground. Shortly after standing back up, Feijao caught Rosa with a grazing right hand to the head and then finished him with several unanswered ground and pound bombs.
Feijao bounces back after losing his in his previous bout on the undercard of the Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” event. Although he is only 1-1 in Strikeforce, he has won four out of his last five bouts overall. Rosa, who began his pro career with 10 consecutive victories, has been defeated in three out of his last five bouts. He is also 1-1 inside of the Strikeforce cage.
Erik Apple vs. Bobby Voelker
In a back-and-forth action-filled welterweight battle, Bobby Voelker (21-7) earned a come-from-behind 2nd round TKO victory at the 1:23 mark due to strikes over Erik Apple (10-2).
Apple dominated the 1st round, catching Voelker right off the bat with some hard punches that put him to the floor. Voelker survived and even recovered enough to secure a takedown late in the round to give him some much-needed momentum. He continued his good standing after catching Apple with a nice uppercut at the beginning of the 2nd. Voelker finally dropped Apple with an uppercut of his own and then finished it with ground and pound bombs from top position.
American Jiu-Jitsu Academy’s Voelker gets back on track with a victory in his Strikeforce debut. He has been victorious in four of his last five fights. Apple, a WEC, Total Combat, and Elite XC vet, loses for the second time in his last three fights after winning his first nine bouts of his career.
Kerry Vera vs. Kim Couture
Muay-Thai specialist, Kerry Vera (2-0) put on a striking clinic on Kim “Sugar-Free” Couture (1-2) on her way to a 1st round TKO victory in her Strikeforce debut.
Vera started right off the bell with her assault, catching Couture and making her pay for her lack of head movement. Couture hung tough, taking several shots to the head and body, and actually popped Vera with her left hand several times throughout the duration of the fight. It was Vera; however that connected with a flurry of punches, including a left hook and a straight right hand, used to finish Couture.
Vera, whose only other MMA fight came in May for Bellator FC, earned her first stoppage in her young career. And while the Strikeforce debut fighter should have plenty of options when it comes to her next fight, Couture may have a hard time finding a co-main event fight in the near future. She is 1-1 in Strikeforce after defeating Lina Kvokov in Strikeforce “Destruction” one year ago in her promotional debut.
Tyron Woodley vs. Rudy Bears
Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley (5-0) showed why he is so highly respected; defeating Rudy “Bad News” Bears (10-4) with a routine arm triangle choke submission at 2:52 of the 1st round.
Bears decided to go right at Woodley, trying to catch him with a well-placed punch and end the fight quickly. It didn’t work, as Woodley got Bears to the ground twice, and after the second time, he locked in the fight-ending arm triangle choke which caused Bears to tap.
Bears, a Missouri-native, has his six-fight winning streak stopped in his organizational debut. Woodley wins his second straight Strikeforce fight and posts his fifth consecutive submission stoppage. He is quickly becoming one of the sports fastest rising stars and most dangerous submission threats.
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Main Card Strikeforce Challengers 5 Results from November 20:
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Tyron Woodley defeats Rudy Bears via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) - Round 1 @ 2:52
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Kerry Vera defeats Kim "Sugar Free" Couture by TKO (Strikes) - Round 1 @ 3:35 - Women's Featherweight (135 lb) fight
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Bobby Voelker defeats Erik Apple by TKO (Strikes) - Round 2 @ 1:23
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Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante defeats Aaron Rosa by TKO (Strikes) - Round 2 @ 3:25
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Kevin Casey defeats Chad Vance via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) - Round 1 @ 1:41
Preliminary Fight Card Strikeforce Challengers 5 Results:
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Lee Gibson defeats Joe Wilk by TKO (Punches) - Round 1 @ 4:39
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Brian Davidson defeats Russell Patrick by TKO (Punches) - Round 1 @ 0:29
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Nick Nolte defeats Andrew Waters via Submission (Triangle Choke) - Round 1 @ 3:45
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Lucas Lopes defeats Dominic Brown by TKO (Punches) - Round 2 @ 0:45
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Darryl Cobb defeats Gary Tapasua by Split Decision
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Mike Chandler defeats Rich Bouphanouvong by TKO (Punches) - Round 2 @ 2:07