Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson- Womens Welterweight World Championship Bout (135 lbs) Marloes Coenen (champion) vs. Liz Carmouche

March 5th, 2011

Carmouche takes the cage with some club/techno beat music. I am waiting for the glow sticks to come out, but Strikeforce just keeps the fireworks coming instead.

Coenen looks drowsy. Jetlag from The Netherlands to Columbus?

Round 1

Coenen is throwing bombs, but not landing a lot. Carmouche is moving in and out, looking hesitant to engage. Coenen channels Chuck Liddell with a looping overhand right. Coenen clinches and presses Carmouche against the cage. Footstomps from both ladies and we’re starting back in the center. Not much action, range-finding jabs not landing. 10-9 for Coenen

Round 2

Coenen pressing against the cage and looks for a thai clinch to knee Carmouche, just misses with a knee to the face. Carmouche looking for a takdeown. Coenen looks for a guillotine and Carmouche slips free. Carmouche is in Coenen’s guard and kneeing Coenen in the backside. Unusual technique. Carmouche in North/South and lands some knees to the shoulders of Coenen. Carmouche mounts. Lots of punches. 10-9 Carmouche. Fight’s tied up in my eyes.

Round 3

Carmouche had some success on the ground and looks to get back to the ground. Over/under clinch. Coenen with a nice elbow. Coenen grabs the cage, but can’t prevent a takedown. Carmouche is in sidecontrol, looking for mount, and has it. Carmouche doing a great job of staying flat and not getting bucked off. Carmouche dropping punches but not getting many through. Carmouche picking her shots. 10-9 for Carmouche.

Round 4

Coenen scores a takedown of her own. Apparently, she figured she can’t win from the bottom. Coenen locks in a triangle and Carmouche taps. That’s why Coenen is the champ, stayed calm when things weren’t going her way. Marloes Coenen wins by Triangle Choke.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson- Tim Kennedy vs Melvin Manhoef

March 5th, 2011

Mriddleweight Bout

Manhoef has 23 KO’s out of 24 wins.

Round 1

Manhoef fends off a takedown attempt. There’s no secret Kennedy doesn’t want to stand and slug it out. Manhoef knocks Kennedy down with a leg kick! Kennedy is up and scores a takedown agains the cage. Kennedy into mount. Kennedy into back mount. Manhoef looks like a fish out of water. Kennedy locks in a rear naked choke and Manhoef taps.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson-Jorge Masvidal vs. Billy Evangelista

March 5th, 2011

Main Card!

Lightweight bout

Round 1

Masvidal catches a kick and momentarily dumps Evangelista. Clinch knees from both men. Billy looking for a takedown against the cage and catches a glancing knee. Masvidal is pounding Billy’s abdomen with knees and gets taken down. Evangelista on top against the cage. Back to the feet. Masvidal is sticking the jab right in Billy’s face. Billy with a punch punch leg kick combo. Evangelista looks for a takedown and the round ends. 10-9 Masvidal since he did the most damage and got immediately to his feet after a takedown.

Round 2

Evangelista coming forward. BE looks for a takedown and eats a punch on the way up. Masvidal with some serious snap on the jabs. Masvidal with a takedown. Back to the feet. Masvidal has a loooooong jab. He’s controlling the distance with his long arms. Masvidal is baiting Billy by keeping his hands down and when Evangelista moves in Masvidal snaps a jab. Masvidal with a takedown. Evangelista uses the cage and gest to his feet. Masvidal is using some nifty footwork to frustrate Evangelista. Straight right by Masvidal ends the round 10-9 Masvidal.

Round 3 Evangelista is fighting with some urgency now down 2 rounds. May be too little too late. Masvidal is controlling the fight with some nasty jabs and straight rights. Crowd is getting restless. Evangelista can’t catch the fleeing Masvidal. Masvidal is toying with Evangelista and not looking to score. Evangelista scores a nice combination, but keeps getting stuffed on the takedowns. 10-9 Evangelista but I had it 29-28 for Masvidal.

Official decision: 30-27 for Jorge Masvidal.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson Josh Thornburg vs Roger Bowling

March 5th, 2011

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson- Jorge Gurgel vs Billy Vaughan

March 5th, 2011

Billy Vaughan is sponsored by Intimidation Clothing, and it wearing the White Intimidation Fight Shorts. He is a late replacement, and is fighting at a higher weight than he is used to.

Round 1

Gurgel is hard to miss in his hot pink trunks. Gurgel looks lots bigger than Vaughan, which is not a shock since Vaughan told me he was looking to cut to 135 this one is at 155. Vaughan catches an early kick and looks for a takedown. Gurgel sinks in a guillotine, and Gurgel drops to his back. The choke is tight and Vaughan taps. :44 seconds in the 1st round.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson-Jason Riley vs. Jason Freeman

March 5th, 2011

Freeman is sponsored by Intimidation Clothing and wearing black & white MMA board shorts.

Round 1

Riley has a huge size advantage. Freeman is doing his best to stay at a distance, and Riley floors him with a right. Freeman covers up and gets to his feet. Freeman drops Riley with a left and is on the big man with strikes. Riley taps out due to strikes and Freeman is your winner at 1:52 of Round 1.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson- Brian Rogers vs. Ian Rammel

March 5th, 2011

Brian “The Predator” Rogers is a product of northeast Ohio, doing his training at Strong Style MMA in Independence, Ohio. I had the opportunity to speak with Rogers this week, and he was very excited to show his skills to the folks at Strikeforce.

Rammel is a tall, lanky fighter, and has a record of 4-2. He hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, and receives a decent welcome.

Rogers is sponsored by Intimidation Clothing, and comes to the cage in the black/blue Intimidation Sponsorship t-shirt and the blue Intimidation Fight shorts. The blue shorts appear to be the most popular color so far, with Rogers and Mitch Whitesel each sporting them. Rogers looks cool and calm, while Rammel is bouncing around in his corner. Rogers sold a huge amount of tickets for the fight, and has an entire section of Nationwide Arena cheering for him. This one is going to get loud!

Round 1

Rogers lets loose off of the bell and smokes Rammel with a right. Rammel looks to quickly shoot and Rogers stuffs it. Ramell eats a hard right and a knee. Rogers dodges a front kick that was intended to set up a takedown, but Rogers stayed back and allowed Rammel to stand up. Rogers is drilling Rammel everytime he looks to close the distance.  Rogers floors Rammel with a right hand and lets him stand up. Rogers is absolutely huge for a middlweight. He looks to have the weight advantage, though Rammel is taller. Rammel throws a spinning backfist just as Rogers throws a hook, and it’ss like two bulls butting heads. Rogers is stalking his prey lands a nasty series of punches. Rammel looks for a leg and Rogers pours on the fists. This one is over at 4:23 of the 1st round. Brian Rogers is your winner and jumps up on the cage with his trademark Predator mask to go along with the dreadlocked hair.

Strikeforce Feijao vs. Henderson- Mitch Whitesel vs Marc Cofer

March 5th, 2011

Mitch Whitesel vs. Marc Cofer

Whitesel is sponsored by Intimidation Clothing, and is sporting the blue Intimidation Fight shorts.

Round 1

Dan Miraggliotta is our referee, and we’re ready to go. Cofer is the much taller fighter and clinches with Whitesel, pressing him against the cage. Both men are momentarily pressing the other into the cage, and we’re back to the center. Both men trade leg kicks and both look hesitant to really let loose. Whitesel scores a takedown and Cofer gets to his knees in a front headlock position. Whitesel locks in a guillotine and Cofer taps at 3:55 of Round 1. Mitch Whitesel is your winner.

Strikeforce:Feijao vs. Henderson- JP Felty vs. John Kuhner

March 5th, 2011

Our action kicks off tonight with a Welterweight fight between two Ohioans: JP Felty is making his pro debut, while John Kuhner is 0-2. Both hail from the Columbus area, and both received a warm welcome from th

Strikeforce: Feijao versus Henderson Preview

March 5th, 2011

I’m here live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio for an action-packed night of Professional MMA Action. This card is crammed with fighters with Ohio roots, including JP Felty, John Kuhner, Mitch Whitesel, Marc Cofer, Iam Rammel, Brian “The Predator” Rogers, Jason Freeman, Jason Riley, Jorge Gurgel, Tyler Combs, and Roger Bowling. This liveblog is brought to you by Fighters Guard Management and Intimidation Clothing. The  main card, televised live on Showtime, is headlined by Dan Henderson and Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in a Lightheavyweight Title fight.