Tonight, Strikeforce presents “Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson” live on Showtime from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The night’s main card airs on Showtime and features a championship doubleheader. Your good friends here at Inside Fights will, as always, have the best coverage of the live card, which begins at 10 PM ET.
The main event of the evening will see Dan Henderson challenging Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title, with Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight champion Marloes Coenen facing off against Liz Carmouche.
Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson Main Bouts (On Showtime) (Results are in reverse order of broadcast)
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Bout
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (c) vs. Dan Henderson
Round 1
Big “Hendo” chant starts, so Feijao counters with a leg kick. Hendo smiles. Feijao misses with a left. Leg kick from Feijao and he takes a big punch and is back against the cage. A big punch comes from Feijao that rocks Henderson who tumbles to the mat. Feijao dives in for a punch, but Henderson scrambles and gets a takedown. Hendo is in Feijao’s closed guard. Referee Dan Miragliotta stands both fighters up. Right hand from Henderson misses and Feijao throws a knee that misses. Hendo gets is pressing Cavalcante against the cage. Body punch from Henderson that is countered by a knee to the body from Feijao. A reversal of position after counter knees. The ref separates them and they circle as the round ends.
10-9 Henderson
Round 2
Big right from Dan just misses. Both fighters swinging wildly with Feijao ducking the right hand of Henderson twice. Hendo presses Feijao against the cage. Feijao tries for a trip takedown that is stuffed. Another attempt by Feijao is reversed and Hendo ends up in half guard. Elbows to the body Feijao, but as Hendo moves to change position, Feijao grabs the leg and reverses and puts Henderson on his back. Henderson appears to stall to get Miragliotta to stand them back up. Head kick from Feijao misses. Overhand right and left hook that Henderson is easily able to move of the way of. Superman from Hendo connects. Outside leg kick from Hendo connects. Hendo clinches against the cage. Good trip takedown from Dan and he’s into half guard on Feijao again. Elbows to the thigh of Feijao as Hendo does damage on the mat.
10-9 Henderson
Round 3
Outside leg kick from Feijao connects. Big right hand from Hendo lands. Feijao scrambles away from the cage by pushing off with his foot. Big, big right hand from Dan Henderson knocks Feijao face down on the canvas. Dan dives in with the hooks in and rains blows to the side of Feijao’s head before referee Dan Miragliotta stops the fight.
Winner and NEW Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion: Dan Henderson via KO (R3, strikes, 0:50)
Great night of fights with two really good title fights. Glad that you were here with me tonight and hope you had as good a time (and as much pizza) as we did! Get my final thoughts and opinions on tonight’s show at 10 Thoughts On…Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Dan Henderson. G’night everyone!
Women’s Welterweight (135 lb.) Championship Bout
Marloes Coenen (c) vs. Liz Carmouche
Round 1
Leg kick from Coenen. Outisde leg kick from Coenen. Inside Leg kick from Carmouche, countered by a straight right from Coenen. Straight right that connects for Coenen as Carmouche comes in. Outside leg kick from Carmouche. High kick by Coenen misses. Both fighters are moving very fast…this is like recapping a UFC bantamweight fight thus far. Inside leg kick from Carmouche. Big right hand from Carmouche, Coenen comes back with a straight right. Carmouche gets Coenen against the fence. The two fighters continue to jockey for position against the cage and Carmouche and Coenen with foot stomps and short rights to the body. The referee separates them and lets them start swinging again. Left right from Carmouche, but Coenen hits a front kick. Another front kick from Carmouche lands and the women clinch to end the round.
10-9 Carmouche
Round 2
Good activity from both fighters in the center of the cage. Coenen takes a Thai clinch and tries to pull Carmouche’s head into her knee but ends up with a standing guillotine. Carmouche ends up powering through the choke and is pulled into Coenen’s guard and she puts three big knees into the back of Coenen’s thighs. Coenen tries for an armbar, but Carmouche pulls free and drops a big right hand. Carmouche throws Coenen’s legs out of the way and jumps over into side control. She levels knees into the right shoulder of Coenen, but Marloes tries to roll through. Coenen tries for an ankle lock, but Carmouche ends up with mount. Coenen eats up ground and pound for over a minute, as she continued to intelligently defend. Great round.
10-9 Carmouche
Round 3
After a missed leg kick, Liz Carmouche shoots and presses Coenen against the fence. Coenen takes control and lands an elbow. Carmouche regains control, but takes an elbow strike. Knee to the body from Coenen puts her back in control. Carmouche is just too strong and takes advantage back. Coenen tries for a trip takedown, but Carmouche remains standing. Carmouche gets trip takedown of her own. Coenen tries to grab the cage to stay upright, but ultimately fails. Carmouche is in the mount and Coenen tries to shrimp out the backdoor, but cannot. Carmouche pins the left arm momentarily and hits short punches and hooks. Carmouche gets a much higher mount on the chest of champion Marloes Coenen, but it does little damage.
10-8 Carmouche
Round 4
Coenen gets a takedown on Carmouche, who moves to rubber guard. Carmouche fights Coenen off. Carmouche pops up and shoots for a double leg takedown and gets it. Coenen, on her back, gets Carmouche’s arm trapped from inside and locks on a triangle. Carmouche tries to power out but finally has to tap out.
Winner: Marloes Coenen by submission (R4, triangle choke, 1:29)
Tim Kennedy vs. Melvin Manhoef
Round 1
Manhoef has creepy eyes and looks super focused. Kennedy shoots for a takedown, but Manhoef fights out of it like. Front kick from Kennedy is blocked. Kennedy misses with a hook over the top and shoots for a takedown, but Manhoef circles away. Kennedy kicks, but it is caught and Manhoef counters with a big right. Outside leg kick rocks Kennedy. Another big leg kick connects. Kennedy press Manhoef against the fence and gets the takedown. Manhoef gives up his back after being mounted. Kennedy with ground and pound from behind. Kennedy begins fighting for the rear naked choke and gets it tight. Melvin Manhoef has no choice but to submit.
Winner: Tim Kennedy by submission (R1, submission, 3:41)
Billy Evangelista vs. Jorge Masvidal
Round 1
Evangelista with two early punches that miss. Jabs from Masvidal. Outside leg kick from Evangelista. Evangelista pursues with right hook that misses, Masvidal counters. Masvidal catches a kick and rains blows against the fence, gaining the takedown. Evangelista gets back to his feet, but it taking shots on the gloves. Clinched up against the fence, Evangelista is using the thai knees to get damage. Masvidal picks at Evangelista before Billy shoots for a double leg takedown. Masvidal gets a guillotine slapped on, but Evangelista gets free from the choke. Back on their feet, Masvidal gets knees in to the body of Evangelista. Leg kick caught by Masvidal, but he doesn’t follow. Left hook misses for Evangelista. Left hook by Masvidal. Body shot from Masvidal. Evangelista shoots for a takedown, but Masvidal stuffs and eats a knee for his efforts.
10-9 Masvidal
Round 2
Inside leg kick from Evangelista. Evangelista goes for a takedown on the fence, but Masvidal fights it off. Masvidal with a high body lock and he’s working Evangelista. Another kick from Evangelista is caught by Masvidal and Evangelista is forced to pull guard. Several quick shots from Evangelista on the mat before he scrambles back to his feet. Jabs from Masvidal setting up his punches to the body. Inside knee from Masvidal after Evangelista misses a takedown. Masvidal with a big right that connects. Evangelista is taken to the mat by Masvidal. He’s cradled up and gets back to his feet before getting back to his feet. Another takedown by Masvidal, who is using his superior size. Masvidal lets Evangelista back against the fence, and Billy gets free. Masvidal drops his hands and just moves under several punches, grinning. Evangelista misses on a hook, frustrated that he can’t get his hands on Jorge as the round ends.
10-9 Masvidal
Round 3
Right connects for Evangelista, but Masvidal circles away. Inside leg kick connects for Evangelista. Accidental groin kick from Evangelista. No stoppage, though. Single leg attempt by Evangelista is stuffed by Masvidal. As they separate, Masvidal connects with a shove and big elbow. Big overhand right from Masvidal, but he doesn’t continue. Good head movement from Masvidal who ducks big hooks. Evangelista balances on one leg after Masvidal tries to take him down. Evangelista fights his way free. Fans begin to boo as neither fighter is engaging. Masvidal is moving away from Evangelista, similar to Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia. Big right from Masvidal. Uppercut from Evangelista connects and he follows it with a big punch, but Masvidal grins. The two fighters clinch and put knees into one another’s body to end the round.
10-9 Masvidal
Winner: Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised)
Roger Bowling beats Josh Thornburg via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jorge Gurgel defeated Billy Vaughan via submission (R1, guillotine, 0:44)
Jason Freeman beats Jason Riley via submission (R1, strikes, 1:52)
Brian Rogers TKOs Ian Rammel (R1, strikes, 4:23)
Mitch Whitesel defeats Marc Cofer via submission (R1, guillotine, 3:55)
John Kuhner beats J.P. Felty by submission (R2, submission, 4:31)
