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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
STRIKEFORCE: FEIJAO VS. HENDERSON
MARCH 5, 2010
LIVE FROM COLUMBUS, OHIO
=====PRELIMINARY CARD=====
FIGHT ONE: JP FELTY VS. JOHN KUHNER (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Felty shot for the takedown immediately and got Kuhner to the ground. Kuhner eventually worked back to his feet and landed a nice combination. Felty closed the distance and took Kuhner down again. After som brief work Kuhner got back to his feet. He stuffed another takedown on the cage and landed a couple of punches to back Felty off. Kuhner landed a few more punches that had Felty in trouble and Felty took him to the ground again with two minutes left in the third. Kuhner landed some strikes from his back before Felty got back in his guard. Felty tried to work as Kuhner continued throwing strikes from his back. Kuhner scooted his back to the cage. Felty stood and dropped a punch as the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Felty. Kuhner landed some good strikes but continuously got taken down in the round.
ROUND TWO: Kuhner came out swinging but Felty quickly took him down. He transitioned to his back, then attempted a guillotine, but didn't have it locked and wound up on his back. Felty gave up his back and Kuhner too it. He locked both hooks in and went for the rear naked choke. Felty turned around and Kuhner got mount and started landing some hard punches. Felty rolled to his stomach again and Kuhner took his back. Rinse and repeat. Felty's getting beat up here right now. Kuhner continued working and flattened Felty again, landing a number of hard punches. Felty's just trying to block strikes but he's doing nothing to get out of this. Kuhner's attack has slowed and then he went for the rear naked choke, but lost it again. Kuhner got to a near triangle position on top and then rolled over, landing strikes as he tried to set it up. Felty rolled into it but tried to hold him off. Kuhner rolled over putting his full body weight on him and Felty went out. Nice finish.
WINNER: Kuhner via technical submission (triangle choke) at 4:31 of round two
STAR RATING: (*+) A nice finish from Kuhner, but the fight wasn't anything more than expected from a debuting fighter and a previously 0-2 Kuhner.
FIGHT TWO: MITCH WHITESEL VS. MARC COFER (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Whitesel came out and landed an early kick, but Cofer pressed him to the cage in the clinch fairly quickly. They jockeyed for position, landing knees in the clinch. They finally separated. They circled each other and were tentative to engage. Cofer landed some jabs. Whitesel threw an overhand right and Cofer ducked under and they clinched again. Whitesel turned him around on the cage and they once again jockeyed for position. Whitesel eventually took Cofer down, though Cofer held onto his torso and scrambled to the sprawl position. Whitesel threw a knee that came very near hitting the head. He locked on a guillotine choke submission and pressed Cofer to the cage. He stood and tightened the hold, forcing the tap. Slow fight, but good finish once Whitesel saw the opening.
WINNER: Whitesel via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:55 of the first round
STAR RATING: (*+) Not much to that fight until the finish. Both were tentative to really engage, and there was a lot of battling for position against the cage. However, once Whitesel took it to the ground, he quickly went for that finish and it was a good win.
FIGHT THREE: IAN RAMMEL VS. BRIAN ROGERS (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Rogers hurt Rammel with an early two punch combo and Rammel smiled. Rammel shot in and Rogers stuffed it. He stalked Rammel down. He landed a nice straight right. He battered Rammel with a combo including knees up against the cage and sent him to the ground. He made Rammel stand up with him. He took a kick and delivered a hard one in responce. Rammel tried to throw a side kick as Rammel tried to walk him down. He knocked Rammel down with a punch but again made him stand. Rogers barely missed ending the fight with an uppercut. Rogers landed an inside lef kick. Rammell again got hurt with a punch but took it alright. Continued the punishment with more punches and knees against the cage. Rammel covered up and survived. Rogers dropped Rammel with a hook and landed a number of strikes on the ground. Rammel tried to cover up, but Rogers stayed on him and eventually the ref stepped in to stop the fight.
WINNER: Rogers via TKO at 4:23 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**-) Exciting one round fight. Rogers was dominant, and it was clear that Rammel wasn't much of a challenge on short notice.
FIGHT FOUR: JASON FREEMAN VS. JASON RILEY (HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Riley landed a hard leg kick early in the round. He scored with a jab. Freeman landed a good body kick. He tried a spinning kick and missed. Riley landed some more after stuffing a takedown. He then dropped Freeman with a huge right and started landing some bombs. He dropped into side control but then backed off and let Freeman stand. Freeman came back and dropped Riley with a huge right! Freeman got on top of Riley and started dropping bombs. He sat down on him and landed a bunch of punches and Riley tapped to the strikes.
WINNER: Freeman via submission (strikes) at 1:52 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**) That was a fun two minutes of action there. Riley made a huge mistake in giving up side control voluntarily, and Freeman made him pay for allowing him to comeback.
FIGHT FIVE: BILLY VAUGHAN VS. JORGE GURGEL (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Gurgel rushed out to the center and kept Vaughan backing up. Vaughan shot in and Gurgel grabbed for a standing guillotine. Vaughan pressed him to the cage and Gurgel dropped down with the hold. Vaughan tried to hold off but he was forced to tap. Gurgel needed a win like that.
WINNER: Gurgel via submission (guillotine choke) at :44 of the first round
POST FIGHT: Gurgel played to the hometown crowd and said everyone he fights for is in the crowd tonight and the win is for the Ohio crowd.
STAR RATING: (**) That was quick, but it was exactly what Gurgel needed. After years of standing and trading in fights when he'd have been better off using his superior submission skills, a submission win for Gurgel is huge to halt the 1-4 slide he had been on.
FIGHT SIX: JOSH THORNBURG VS. ROGER BOWLING (WELTERWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: After an initial takedown, Thornburg grabbed for a guillotine choke. Bowling picked him up and slammed him down hard to the canvas but didn't break the hold. After working on it he finally broke out of the hold and turned to some ground and pound. He trapped Thornburg's arm and started landing punches against the cage. He had him in a near crucifix and continued the assault. He stood up and dropped down with some big punches. Thornburg stood and got tagged and dropped immediately. He recovered and got back to his feet. Bowling began stalking. He landed a nice two punch combo and pressed Thronburg to the cage. They jockeyed for position on the cage. Bowling landed a knee tot he jaw. He separated witha two punch combo right on the button but Thornburg took it. Bowling through a great kick the the body and then landed one to the head. Thornburg's got a chin to take this punishment right now, that's for sure. Bowling got in close, landed a two punch combo and then shot in to complete a takedown against the cage with a minute and a half left in the round. He landed some hard rights and passed to half guard. He landed more hard punches and tried to posture up but got pulled to full guard. He then passed to mount, and Thornburg gave up his back. He nearly got the choke locked in but Thornburg turned out of it. Bowling finished the round with strikes in the half guard.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-8 Bowling. That was a dominant round, and I don't know how Thornburg survived that assault. Could be a 10-9 because of Thornburg's early guillotine attempt, btu Bowling laid on a vicious assault on him in that round.
ROUND TWO: Bowling came out swinging, then got an early takedown and went back to work with his ground and pound. He landed some punches to the body and head in half guard and continued to stay bust. He again trapped Thornburg's arm and started landing punches. He used the trapped arm to try to get out of half guard but Thornburg defended well. Thornburg regained full guard with just over three minutes left in the round. Bowling passed to half guard and trapped the arm again. He landed a bunch of strikes before Thornburg could get his arm free. Just like that his arm was trapped again and more shots rained down. Thornburg got his back to the cage but Bowling dragged him down and again got back to half guard and pinned the arm. He began trying to set up a choke but let it go. Thornburg can't do anything but defend from his back and after a short stall, they are stood up. Bowling landed a two punch combo. He
missed a big overhand punch. Thornburg cracked Bowling with a left. Bowling landed a head kick but it wasn't flush. Bowling grabbed a clinch and attempted a trip takedown, but Thornburg reversed and took him down into mount. Bowling then immediately swept and got on top in his guard and stayed there until the round ended.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Bowling. He's well in control of this one into the third. He slowed down a bit, but he still scored big in that round.
ROUND THREE: Bowling started the round circling. Thornburg hit him with a right. Bowling got in a leg kick and a jab. He continued circling on the outside and Thornburg tried stalking him. Bowling popped in with a hard right. He missed a big right. Thornburg took him down on the cage but Bowling again swept him and got into side control. Beautiful sweep from Bowling. He put his knee on the belly and attempted the mount pass, but Thornburg regained guard. Bowling passed to half guard and landed a few more strikes. Bowling continued working in the half guard and then almost passed to side control before Thornburg got him back in guard. Bowling again attempted to trap an arm with his knee but Thornburg stayed resilient and regained guard again. Thornburg tried to throw his legs up for a triangle but Bowling held him off and they were stood up with a minute left in the round. Bowling barely missed a front face kick. He cracked Thornburg with a nice two punch counter. Thornburg grabbed a standing guillotine but Bowling slammed him. He held onto the choke tight as the fight came to a close, but Bowling survived to the horn. Great fight from Bowling.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Bowling. Clean sweep for the hometown Bowling. He continued to out-strike Thornburg and dominate him positionally on the ground.
WINNER: Bowling via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
POST FIGHT: Bowling thanked Thornburg for giving him a tough fight and then played to his hometown crowd.
STAR RATING: (**+) That was a really fun fight. Bowling was in control from the outset, and pushed the pace, outstruck Thornburg and dominated him on the ground. There were some slow stretches, but overall that was a really good fight.
-Ten minute break and then the Showtime broadcast begins.
=====SHOWTIME BROADCAST=====
FIGHT SEVEN: BILLY EVANGELISTA VS. JORGE MASVIDAL (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Evangelista stalked early and pressed with punches that miss their mark. Masvidal threw a few jabs and connected on one. Evangelista landed a leg kick. Masvidal landed a punch. Masvidal caught a leg kick from Evangelista and dropped him with a right. Evangelista scrambled and got to his feet, where they spun each other around against the cage, throwing knees. The action stalled and the crowd started getting restless. Masvidal separated with a nice knee to the face. Masvidal landed a nice combo against the cage, then landed a number of knees to the body. He overshot a punch and Evangelista dropped down and took him down. Masvidal grabbed for a guillotine choke, however. He let it go and Evangelist grabbed a arm triangle choke standing before Masvidal broke out. Evangelista pressed Masvidal to the cage. Masvidal got free with another vicious knee to the body. Evangelista connected on a right. Masvidal caught another leg kick but Evangelista kept his balance. Masvidal connected on a jab with ten seconds left. Evangelista shot in and was stuffed at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Masvidal. Close round, but Masvidal landed a series of brutal knees, had a guillotine choke attempt and a brief takedown of his own.
ROUND TWO: Evangelista pressed in again to start the second. Masvidal avoided the strikes and circled away. Evangelista came forward and landed a punch and they clinched again. Masvidal held off a takedown attempt and landed a knee on the way up and the wound up back in the clinch. Masvidal broke free with a punch. Masvidal landed a right. He caught a kick and took Evangelista down. Evangelista stood back up in a scramble. Masvidal landed a nice jab and then stuffed a takedown attempt from Evangelista. Good body punch landed for Masvidal. Masvidal with a left and then weaves out of the way of the counter. Evangelista wildly swung and missed, and ate a knee to the body for his troubles. Masvidal landed a nice right to counter a leg kick. Evangelista shot again and Masvidal stuffed him. He then shot to take Evangelista down and wound up doing so. Evangelista got back to his feet and then Masvidal took him down immediately with a double leg. He held control of Evangelista's head in a scramble but Evangelista got to his feet. Masvidal went for a single leg against the cage, let it go and separated. The crowd booed the tentativeness of the round. Masvidal avoided strikes from Evangelista and landed a right. He did it again as the round came to an end.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Masvidal. Much more convincing round for Masvidal. The fight isn't great thus far, but Masvidal is doing enough to win.
ROUND THREE: Evangelista pressed in early again and swung for the fences, missing Masvidal and literally hitting the fence. He landed a leg kick and continued to press forward. Masvidal got out of his way. Masvidal landed a nice body punch, avoided the counter and landed two more punches in succession. Evangelista shot for a single leg and got stuffed against the cage. Masvidal separated with an elbow to the head. Masvidal began pressing in and missed a right. He landed a couple of jabs. He countered a shot with a right to the face. He cracked Evangelista with a big punch to the jaw. Evangelista staggered but he was alright. Masvidal ducked under a punch and shot in for a single leg. He pressed Evangelista to the cage and grabbed a brief body lock before letting it go. The crowd grew restless for the tentative nature of the fight. Evangelista landed a left. Masvidal is just dancing now. He landed a jab. He backed off from an Evangelista advance. The crowd booed again. Masvidal landed a nice left. Evangelista tried to shoot in but failed. He landed a right and pressed Masvidal to the cage. Masvidal landed a knee as Evangelista got in close. More boos with no sense of urgency from either. Evangelista shot with ten seconds left and failed and they ended the fight in the clinch to the disapproval of the crowd.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Masvidal. Not a good fight overall. Masvidal did enough to win, played a showboating game and cracked Evangelista at times, but it wasn't anywhere near impressive. It will spell the first loss for Evangelista either way.
WINNER: Masvidal via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
STAR RATING: (*+) Not a good fight. No urgency from either fighter at any point in the fight, and far too much stalling overall in the cage. The crowd hated it, and let them both know. Masvidal did what he wanted to in the fight, and toyed with Evangelista throughout, it just wasn't a great fight. Good performance, bad fight.
FIGHT EIGHT: MELVIN MANHOEF VS. TIM KENNEDY (MIDDLEWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Both fighters came to the center. Manhoef threw a front kick early. Kennedy shot in for a single leg and Manhoef stuffed it. Kennedy stayed on a leg but Manhoef pulled his foot out. Kennedy threw a straight kick. Both guys are tentative here. Both overthrew punches and then clinched in the center briefly before separating. Manhoef caught a kick and sent Kennedy backward across the cage. Kennedy stayed on his feet. Manhoef nearly kicked Kennedy's leg out with a hard kick. He threw another one. Kennedy had enough of that and shot in. Manhoef held him off and got on his feet, but Kennedy had a body lock and slammed him into side control. He easily got the mount and then took Manhoef's back. Manhoef rolled and then Kennedy flattened him out. Kennedy started throwing punches and landed a few to the back of the head. He went for the rear naked choke and forced the tap.
WINNER: Kennedy via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:41 of the first round
POST FIGHT: Kennedy said there was no hidden gameplan as Manhoef is weak off his back. He said he wants to fight the best, and said if he can't get Jacare next he'd like Robbie Lawler next.
STAR RATING: (**) It was tentative to start, but had some exciting spots. Manhoef has zero ground game to speak of, and as soon as the fight hit the ground it was over. Kennedy's top game is too good for a guy like Manhoef, and he wasn't getting out of that at all.
ROUND ONE: Coenen landed some early leg kicks and pressed in on Carmouche. Coenen continued pressing the action, landing short punches and kicks. Both fighters slowed down and they felt out the distance. The crowd booed the inactivity in the cage. Coenen landed a hard leg kick. Carmouche landed an overhand right. Carmouche landed a nice counter-right when Coenen missed a punch and then she clinched and pressed Coenen to the cage. Coenen turned her around and they traded knees. Carmouche stomped Coenen's foot a few times and they jockeyed for position on the cage. The ref separated them with a minute left in the round. Coenen landed a leg kick. She threw one high but it missed. She landed a nice two punch combination to the face. Coenen landed a right. Carmouche landed a left but ate the counter. Coenen threw a straight kick. Coenen landed a hard push kick and they clinched at the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Coenen. She pressed the action and landed more strikes in the round. Slow start to the fight, but they picked it up late in the round.
ROUND TWO: Coenen landed a nice punch to start the round. She landed a good inside leg kick and then one to the outside. Carmouche pressed in with strikes and clinched Coenen on the cage. Coenen turned her around and landed a knee. Coenen grabbed a Thai clinch and landed a knee and Carmouche drove for a double leg. Coenen stuffed it on the cage and went for a standing guillotine. Carmouche pushed her to the ground and popped her head out. She postured up and landed a few knees to the back of Coenen's thigh. Coenen tried to kick Carmouche off but Carmouche stood in her guard and landed a few punches. Coenen attempted to go for an arm but Carmouch got out. Carmouche passed to side control and nearly north south and landed some knees to the shoulder of Coenen. Coenen tried to sweep but somersaulting over but Carmouche regained side control. Coenen attacked a leg but Carmouche got out and into mount and started throwing bombs. Coenen threw her legs up to try to get Carmouche off, but Carmouche continued to hold the position and rain down punches. Coenen continued defending but the onslaught continued from Carmouche. Coenen was covering up and survived to the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Carmouche. Coenen was winning until the last minute and a half, but Carmouche had a big finish to the round and took it for herself to even it up into the third.
ROUND THREE: Coenen came forward and landed a straight kick to the leg. Carmouche shot in and grabbed a clinch on the cage. She stomped on Coenen's feet and Coenen turned her around. Carmouche went for a trip but Coenen held it off. They continued spinning each other around on the cage. Coenen got some brief separation and landed a short forearm. Coenen got in a knee and they continued to jockey for position. Coenen got in another good knee. Both are tiring out here and are resting on the cage. Coenen landed a few more knees and the circling continued. Carmouche finally got Coenen off balance and took her down into side control. Carmouche easily got back to mount again with two minutes left. Carmouche postured up to throw punches and Coenen covered up. Coenen continued to try to get out but Carmouche kept position. She postured up and trapped an arm. Coenen got her arm loose but Carmouche landed more punches in the mount. Coenen continued trying to get her legs up into Carmouche to sweep. Carmouche moved high in the mount and threw more punches. She's not doing much damage here, but Coenen can't get out of the position and this will be another round for Carmouche as the horn sounds.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Carmouche. She's getting to mount very easy when she gets the fight to the ground, and Coenen's going to need to find some way to avoid that or she'll lose her title tonight.
ROUND FOUR: After a few brief exchanges Carmouche shot in again. This time, however, Coenen got on top and into her guard. Carmouche pulled rubber guard and Coenen stood up over her. Carmouche kicked her off and then rolled back to her feet and immediately shot for a single leg. She got the takedown into Coenen'ts guard. Coenen went for the triangle choke and got it locked on. Carmouche tried to fight it off but finally had to tap. Nice come from behind win for the champ, and a great showing from Carmouche on short notice.
WINNER: Coenen via submission (triangle choke) at 1:29 of the fourth round
STAR RATING: (***) Lots of drama in that fight with Carmouche having a lot of success on the ground. Coenen pulled off a great submission in that fourth round, and set it up beautifully when she got taken down again in that round. She got beat up in the second and third, but that's why there are five rounds in Championship fights. Good stuff from both.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT TEN: RAFAEL "FEIJAO" CAVALCANTE VS. DAN HENDERSON (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND ONE: Henderson took the center of the cage and Feijao circled the center with him. Feijao landed a hard leg kick for the fight's first strike. Henderson had the right hand cocked and looking for a chance to throw it. He stalked Feijao down to the cage. He landed the right, but it wasn't flush and Feijao took it. Feijao then knocked Henderson down with a punch. Henderson recovered and drove through with a big takedown into the center of the cage. Feijao pulled guard and held him tight. Neither fighter did anything for a bit, prompting a warning from Dan Miragliotta. Feijao continued to neutralize Henderson, who was content to wait out a stand up himself, and finally they were stood up. Henderson stalked again and threw the right but it landed on Feijao's arm. They clinched at the cage and stalled again. Henderson landed a body punch and Feijao threw a knee. Henderson threw a couple of knees. Feijao turned him around and they traded knees. Henderson turned him around and they traded knees. They were separated with 15 seconds left. The round came to a close with both staring each other down.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Henderson. Feijao got the knock down punch, but didn't do much of anything else the rest of the round. Henderson pressed the action, landed a few hard strikes, and just edge it. Barely.
ROUND TWO: Henderson threw an ugly looking leg kick early. He pressed with a jab and landed the right. He got Feijao to the cage and started swinging but Feijao avoided the big blow. They clinched at the cage and Henderson just pressed him on the fence. Henderson's just looking to stall here again. He landed a knee to the body and Feijao threw a punch. Henderson grabbed a single leg but Feijao held him off. They grappled against the cage and Henderson finally scored a takedown into half guard. He elbowed Feijao in the ribs. Feijao grabbed a leg and swept Henderson, getting into his guard. Henderson held closed guard and Feijao threw short punches to the ribs. More stalling, leading to boos from the crowd. Feijao with more punches to the ribs and they were stood up. Feijao threw a high kick but it missed the mark. He threw two wild punches that also missed. Henderson popped in with a short right. He stalked and landed a leg kick. He then landed a short combo and they clinched again. Henderson then completed another takedown and landed some shoulder strikes. He threw some elbows to the body and rode out the rest of the round in half guard.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Henderson. He was again the aggressor, completed two takedowns and landed a few good combinations. He's ahead early here.
ROUND THREE: Feijao landed a nice leg kick early and avoided the counter. Henderson walked him down and landed a few punches before clinching. Feijao got separation. Henderson landed a few leg kicks. Henderson then dropped Feijao with a huge right, pounced immediately, got Feijao's back and pounded him out until Dan Miragliotta pulled him off. Feijao remained on the canvas for a bit after the stoppage. Vicious right hand.
WINNER: Henderson via KO at :50 of the third round
POST FIGHT: Henderson said leading up to the fight he didn't give the belt much thought, but now it's going to be an honor to hold the belt. Henderson said he wanted to be patient, and would have liked to knock him out in the first minute, but gave Feijao credit for being a tough guy.
STAR RATING: (***) That was an ok fight until the third round, and Henderson brought it up with an exciting and convincing finish. He's always looking to land that right hand, and that's just what he did. The finish was nasty, and he got through with a bunch of strikes to finish Feijao off. Feijao said he made a lot of mistakes in the fight. He said he'll come back strong.
-That's another event in the books. Stick with us throughout the week for follow-up as we return from Columbus on Sunday night and move ahead to UFC 128 in two weeks on pay-per-view.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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