Good evening everybody. Tonight, from the heart of the Chicago suburbs, Strikeforce presents “Fedor vs. Henderson” as “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko takes on U.S Olympic Wrestler Dan Henderson in a showdown of MMA legends.
Be sure to follow our exclusive updates and results beginning with the preliminary card around 7:30 PM ET and 10 PM ET for the main card.
And we’re LIVE from The Sears Center in Hoffman Estates, IL!
Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight bout: Bryan Humes vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Humes is the local kid and wins in the third after a strong back and forth. Salinas-Jones came in looking like a small version of Roy Nelson. Won first two rounds, finishes by choke in the third. Judges had it 30-27, Salinas-Jones, as well.
Salinas-Jones by choke at 1:19 in the third.
Middleweight bout: Derek Brunson vs. Lumumba Sayers
Round 1:
Slugfest to start … Brunson wins the exchange and takes it to the mat. Moving for some ground and pound and doesn’t do much. Sayers escapes and gets slammed back to the mat for his efforts. Gets back to his feet and catches Brunson, then takes the fight to him. Brunson again with the double leg, as Sayers goes for the guillotine but can’t lock it in. Sayers behind him and working … Sayers getting up but Brunson holding him down with the occasional light punch. Sayers back to his feet but can’t quite escape. Can’t quite get the hooks in the rear and Sayers is back to his feet. Escapes. Brunson catches him but can’t capitalize at first. Catches him again with a high kick and gets another takedown, tripping him backward. Gets rear mount and Rear naked choke for the win.
Final Result: Brunson by Rear Naked Choke at 4:33 of the first round.
Women’s Welterweight (135 lb) bout: Alexis Davis vs. Julie Kedzie
Matt Hughes is in Davis’s corner for this one. Kedzie is the local favorite.
Round 1:
Davis is the aggressor, not connecting with much at first. Flurry ends with Kedzie against the fence with Davis in the clinch. Working the knees and trying to go for a trip, Davis is keeping her against the fence but Kedzie is landing enough to keep her from being too aggressive. Kedzie gets free but Davis is pushing the fight. Kedzie is on her heels and Davis pushes her against the cage again. Not landing much, going for position. Kedzie pushes her away and eats some shots, Davis clinches against the other side of the cage. Davis is controlling the cage but Davis is connecting more in the clinch, Davis is maintaining position but not doing much with it.
Round 2:
Davis starts same way she ended the first, pushing Kedzie up against the cage. Kedzie reverses and pulls back, connecting with a couple. Davis responds with a flurry, pushing her against the cage in the clinch again. Not much action. Trade positions and Davis hip-tosses her to the ground. Kedzie back up quickly and double leg against the cage. Working a double leg for a while, gives it up and gets reversed as Davis gets the clinch again. Working more for the takedown instead of throwing strikes, though, as Kedzie is throwing much higher knees. Kedzie gets off the cage and Davis looks for the throw, Kedzie pulls her back and is against the cage. Davis throws her down and gets the hooks in right as Kedzie is standing. Locks in the rear naked and Kedzie is slumping down. Has it in tight. Kedzie fights it off and Davis throws punches to the front to finish off the round.
Round 3:
Davis is controlling the center but Kedzie is circling well enough to keep away from the cage. Davis eventually catches her and pushes her back into the cage, again. Kedzie pushes her off again but Davis doesn’t let go, getting her back to the cage in the clinch again. She’s not throwing anything though, looking for the throw. Kedzie is doing a great job landing in the clinch as Davis isn’t doing much with it. Fights off the back and is going for a takedown but Davis fights it off. Davis puts her back up against the fence again and hold her there again. Kedzie is throwing high knees but not connecting with any of them.
They reverse positions a couple times and Kedzie winds up against the cage again. Goes for another throw but Kedzie blocks well, neither doing much though. Kedzie reverses late in the round but neither are doing much with it. Going to a decision.
Judge’s decision: 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 for Alexis Davis
Welterweight bout: Eduardo Pamplona vs. Tyler Stinson
Round 1:
Stinson connects early and then UNLOADS on Pamplona with a flurry. Pamplona gets caught with a massive left hook and goes down. Stinson gets one in before McCarthy stops it as Pamplona is out.
Final Result: Stinson by TKO in :15 of the first round.
Lightweight bout: Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante vs. Bobby Green
Round 1:
Both come out with a flurry but neither really connecting. JZ is moving well and goes for the takedown but misses. Gets the clinch but Green quickly reverses and works for the high crotch single leg out of it. JZ moving well and Green can’t get in. Green releases the clinch and we’re back in the middle of the cage. Both have connected but not on anything strong, just jabs. JZ is bleeding early on from under the eye. Green is owning the center and gets a thai clinch, hitting a big knee to the head. Green is throwing jabs that are keeping JZ off balance, and he’s throwing wild hooks to counter. Goes for the double leg and winds up against the fence.
JZ is controlling the center but not throwing much. JZ connects with a big shot and Green tells us in the media row that it was “nothing.” Winds up in the clinch against the cage to end the round.
Round 2:
JZ comes out strong and is throwing more jabs. Green is slowing down and JZ is pressing the pace. JZ winds up against the cage as Green goes for a throw from the clinch. Green gets him down and doesn’t do much, JZ escapes easy. JZ’s pace is quickening as he’s throwing more than Green. JZ is throwing more with authority, Green is throwing lighter jabs as JZ is controlling the middle. JZ goes for a wild throwing knee and winds up against the cage, Green reverses quickly.
JZ with the trip takedown and lands in Green’s card. Green is keeping him close in guard as JZ can’t do much. JZ is trying to get an arm free but Green is holding on tight, working from the bottom to get away. Gets side control and turns it into the mount an unloads, Green gives us his back and JZ gets hooks and then a rear naked choke. Has it on tight but Green holds on survive the round.
Round 3:
Green looks gassed in the corner, JZ looks like he’s just warming up. Green throws a sloppy uppercut and hook that don’t connect, JZ is hitting him with jabs and leg kicks to the thigh. He’s controlling the middle as Green is retreating often. He’s throwing more and Green looks for the clinch. JZ goes for a double leg but comes up short, Green pressing him against the cage. Has double underhooks on JZ and kneeing him in the thigh. JZ breaks from the clinch and Green is back to letting JZ dictate standing position. JZ presses him back to the cage and Green reverses to the clinch and gets position against the cage, initially getting the takedown but JZ scrambles back to his feet immediately. Some stalking and Green gets the double, JZ locks in a guillotine tight but Green gets out. Round ends with JZ pulling guard tight.
Judge’s Decision: 29-28 JZ, 29-28 Green, 29-28 JZ … JZ Cavalcante by Split Decision
Main Card
During the Showtime promo, Chicago explodes for Fedor’s name.
Welterweight bout: Scott Smith vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Round 1:
Tarec is keeping his distance, throwing leg kicks and jabs to keep Smith at bay to deal with power he has in his hands. Smith is eating some punishment trying to set up the big right and Tarec is letting him come forward to a point. Smith goes in and gets caught up in the muay thai plum, Tarec throwing knees to the midsection. He’s not working for the takedown, but looking for moments to throw. Smith eats an uppercut and a big right before Tarec backs off. Smith goes for a takedown and winds up against the cage and back into clinch position. Tarec fires off a couple knees and a short elbow before the ref breaks it up.
Both are letting the leg kicks fly to end the round, but both are checking them with forearms.
Round 2:
Both exchange with some big shots but Tarec is clearly the aggressor and Smith is again eating some big shots. Smith tries to pull clinch but Tarec gets away and has Smith’s back up against the cage, measuring hit shots. Flying knee attempt slightly connects but some devastating elbows in the clinch connect moreso. Tarec goes for the trip weakly but throws some big shots. MASSIVE leg kick and Smith eats some punishment until he goes for a desperation takedown. Tarec blocks and is lying on him. Smith seems to be hurt and gives up his back. Tarec throws some body shots as Smith looks to stand, Tarec going to rear mount but not completely. Smith gets out and gets him up to the cage, throwing some shots that connect before Tarec circles out to the center. Smith is still back to the cage and maybe a foot away. Tarec throws a stiff combination and then connects with a head kick again before resuming some more clinch work to end the round.
Round 3:
Tarec is controlling the cage again, backing Smith to the cage with a big leg kick. Smith wants Tarec to get close to him and isn’t pursuing, it seems. His corner was holding up his legs between the round so maybe he doesn’t have much left in them. Big head kick and a followup combination from Tarec, again, and he’s controlling the cage. Smith is setting up for a big right hand and Tarec is throwing jabs and low leg kicks to keep him at a reasonable distance.
Tarec is still using jabs and straights, with the occasionla kick, as Smith is controlling the middle. He’s looking to set up a big right hand by how he’s holding his hands and Tarec sees this. Smith is getting desperate with more high leg kicks and Tarec is hitting him with jabs. Smith gets desperate, going for a wild kick and a superman punch that don’t connect. He knows he’s lost this fight and is going for a Hail Mary shot to win. Tarec is seeing this and moving away from him. Round ends with Smith throwing wild but not connecting as Tarec moves away.
Judge’s Decision: 30-26, 30-27,30-27 for Tarec Saffiedine
Welterweight bout: Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley
Round 1:
Woodley comes out cautiously, looking to shoot. Daley with the accidental groin shot as Woodley gets time to recover.
Woodley is keeping his hands inside and Woodley seems to want to trade with him. He gets him in the clinch against the cage and almost connects with a high knee. Daley is taking some knees to the thigh as Woodley isn’t going for the immediate takedown like he was predicted to going in. Daley is also doing a good job keeping Woodley from getting double underhooks, using the cage for good position. McCarthy breaks it up and we’re back apart.
Daley goes wild and Woodley uses it to go for a double, which he changes to underhooks and Daley against the cage. Daley gets out after reversing and is watching his distance. woodley is dropping his hands and Daley charges, getting Woodley against the cage. Woodley reverse and Daley eats some uppercuts to the ribs. They trade position against the cage and the round ends.
Round 2:
Daley is controlling the distance as Woodley seems to be respecting his power more. He goes for a takedown which Daley catches into the clinch, but Woodley gets position against the cage. several knees and Woodley is leaning on him, not really working. crowd responding accordingly. He’s trying to go for a trip but Daley isn’t buying, but a quick drag and Woodley gets him down. Daley in full guard and tight with his hands. Woodley doesn’t have much room to operate.
Woodley isn’t doing much on top as Daley is really holding tight, looking for a standup. Woodley with some light body shots but Daley isn’t allowing him to do much. Daley gets near the cage and wall scoots back to his knees, Woodley looking to take back.
Round 3:
Woodley comes out looking for the takedown and Daley connects a handful of times. Woodley gets the takedown and hold him there, Daley gets up and connects with a handful of shots of his own. Gets the takedown, gets a shoulder lock using his lower body and scrambles back up. Woodley eats some shots and gets the takedown, fight ends with Daley on his back.
Judge’s Decision: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 for Woodley.
Crowd boos it mercilessly.
Crowd explodes for Kennedy. Good sized pop for Lawler, and one for Herb Dean too.
Middleweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Tim Kennedy
Round 1:
Lawler is loading up for the big right hand and Kennedy is using distance and side movement to keep him from loading up. A couple of solid kicks from Kennedy connect as he seems to want throw a high kick but isn’t pulling the trigger. Accidental groin shot from Kennedy and Lawler walks it off.
Kennedy with a double leg and Lawler sprawls out of it, and another from Kennedy spawns a flurry from both. Scramble leaves neither hurt. Both seem to want throw big rights but Kennedy is finally rewarded. Lawler fights him for it but Kennedy manages to get him to the ground but he’s scrambling well. He’s not allowing Kennedy to keep him there for a while and Lawler eventually escapes. Great bit of grappling there.
Both are stalking each other and Kennedy is rewarded with a takedown and side control. He looks to pass to mount but Lawler manages to get him in half guard. Kennedy gets him into mount but Lawler escapes AGAIN. Eats a big head kick from Kennedy, then a front kick jab combo as the round ends.
Round 2:
Kennedy opens up with some leg kicks and Lawler isn’t responding. Kennedy goes for a takedown and Lawler grazes him with a big uppercut on the way back up. Kennedy is really using his kickboxing this time to keep the distance, using it to set up his takedowns. Lawler seems content to eat a couple shots to get in close for something big. Kennedy is controlling the cage as Lawler keeps moving backwards. Kennedy eats a huge uppercut en route to a takedown attempt, which Lawler defends across the cage fence until winding up in half guard.
Kennedy is cut but postures up and unloads on Lawler for a bit. Lawler seems content to stay in guard and wait it out but Kennedy is posturing up and making him pay for it. Round ends with some hammerfists from Kennedy as Lawler stalls it out on bottom.
Round 3:
Crowd shows some love for both fighters. Lawler is not controlling the position and Kennedy is backing up a bit. Kennedy throws a leg kick to maintain the distance but Lawler backs him into the cage. Kennedy eats a big punch and is staying away from his power. Lawler throws high and misses, Kennedy goes for a takedown and Lawler scrambles out of it. Lawler is really pushing this round as he’s letting his hands go a bit more. Kennedy seems to be content with throwing a low leg kick and avoid the big power shots from Lawler, who is letting Kennedy dictate octagon position more than he was earlier in the round. Kennedy with a couple jabs to keep it up and Lawler isn’t responding in kind. Kennedy is content to throw leg kicks to the shin and jab. Double leg takedown and he has half guard, just unloading on Lawler. Round ends with Kennedy on top.
Judge’s Decision: all three have it 30-27 for the winner, Tim Kennedy.
Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout
Marloes Coenen (c) vs. Miesha Tate
Round 1
Tate in control and she presses into Coenen into the fence. Reversal of position by Marloes temporarily, but Tate takes control again on the wall. Big left hook by Coenen. Muay Thai clinch and knee by Coenen, but Tate drives through and holds Coenen against the cage. Tate gets a takedown on the mat and Coenen grabs a deep choke. Tate looks as though she might tap, but fights her way free. Tate in North-South position and quickly over to side control, trying to pass to mount on Coenen. Hammerfists to the belly from Tate on the champion. Tate maintains control of the ground work as the round ends.
10-9 Tate
Round 2
Both women come out swinging to start the round, with Tate resuming control on the fence. Great transition from Coenen who takes Tate’s back on the mat. Marloes has one hook in, but switches it to a body triangle. Elbows and short hooks on Miesha from the back position. Tate begins to work free, but Coenen postures up with Tate on her stomach and levels some long punches. Tate begins to work free as the round ends, but doesn’t get free.
10-9 Coenen
Round 3
Leg kick from Coenen is anticipated by Tate, who catches it and drives through for the takedown. In full guard, Tate levels Coenen. Tate remains on top. Coenen is in full guard and stopping most of Tate’s offense. Tate stands, threatens to throw a bomb, Coenen goes for a triangle and Tate falls back into her guard. Tate throws a few body shots but the ref stands them up. Coenen lands a hook but Tate plows through it and gets another takedown. They roll up against the cage. Tate stays on top but can’t get much going. Tate lands some nice body shots and the round starts to come to a close. Coenen reverses it with about a second to go, not enough to win her the round.
10-9 Tate
Round 4
First big action of the round comes from Tate, who drives for a big takedown. Coenen tries for a guillotine, but Tate pops her head free. Side control from Tate, but Coenen puts her feet on the cage and tries to walk out. Tate holds her back on the mat. Tate gets a knee on Coenen’s body and slides through with an arm triangle. Coenen tries to get her right arm free but has to tap to the choke.
Winner and NEW Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion: Miesha Tate by submission (arm triangle, 3:03)
Heavyweight bout: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson
crowd absolutely explodes for Dan Henderson. Absolutely deafening for Fedor. Fedor may have weighed in 15 or so pounds heavier than Henderson but the size difference isn’t all that noticeable.
Round 1:
Fedor and Henderson start out throwing wild and neither is stopping to take a breath. Henderson gets the clinch against the cage and the crowd is going crazy. The pop for Fedor was deafening; you could barely hear Lennon over him. Henderson presses Fedor against the cagem throwing knees. Henderson almost trips him down but Fedor grabs the cage. Warning from Herb Dean. Henderson is going for the trip takedown but Fedor is blocking it.
Henderson breaks and they swing wildly, not connecting. Fedor is controlling the center as Henderson is looking for the big right, throwing leg kicks. Fedor connects but can’t capitalize. Fedor capitalizes and Henderson bucks him aside, THEN FINISHES HIM. Herb Dean stops the fight by strikes.
Henderson by TKO at 4:12 in the first round
Afterwards Fedor is rocked in his corner. I’m right behind it and Fedor is slumped, his head busted up.
Interviews after: Henderson wants to defend the Strikeforce title. Fedor talks of an early stoppage and Gus asks him about his future. Fedor calls it “God’s will.”
