Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine Play By Play

Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine is set to take place on January 12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and, as usual, Fighters.com will be bring you all the play-by-play and live results you can handle. In the main event, Nate Marquardt looks to defend his Strikeforce welterweight belt against Tarec Saffiedine, while Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier will be taking on Dion Staring in a co-headlining clash. Join us for the last Strikeforce event right here when things kick off on Showtime Extreme at 7:00 PM EST followed by main card action at 10:00 PM EST.

 

Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Round 1
Marquardt takes the center, and Saffiedine comes out southpaw. Still feeling each other out at the one minute mark. Marquardt teeing up some nice low kicks, and Saffiedine is returning fire. Marquardt being cautious, Marquardt gets caught, slips down a bit not sure if its a slip but Saffiedine closes the distance. Marquardt looks ok, might have woke him up. Both guys tradng big leg kicks. Saffiedine clinches and hold Marquardt on the fence. They grapple back and forth but Marquardt seems to be winning the scrambles. Saffiedine gets the double under hooks, and we have a pummeling war in the last 20 seconds.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Saffiedine

Round 2
Marquardt takes the center again, and Saffiedine is switching stances and confusing Nate. Marquardt eats a shot and slips again, Marquardt gets the takedown, but Saffiedine scrambles right back up. Saffiedine clinching with Marquardt and landing nice knees to the body. Marquardt goes for a takedown and Saffiedine stuffs it. Reset in the middle, Saffiedine pressing the action. Marquardt eating leg kick after leg kick, and is looking desperate after getting stuffed from another takedown.The round ends with Marquardt throwing a spinning back kick that comes nowhere near to landing and he falls over.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Saffiedine

Round 3
Saffiedine coming forward, and  lands another solid leg kick to start the round. Marquardt is missing big with punches now, and he clinches with Saffiedine on the fence. Saffiedine scrambles out, and closes the distance  on Marquardt landing shots. Saffiedine eats a solid punch, but back to the low kicks for Saffiedine. Saffiedine lands a nice combination, and Saffiedine is beginning to wear on Marquardt. Saffiedine really lighting up the front leg with the kicks. its bright red. 10 seconds in the round Marquardt shoots, and gets stuffed.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Saffiedine

Round 4
Saffiedine comes forward and is backing down Marquardt. Saffiedine is fired up, and the fresher fighter. Saffiedine is wrecking Marquardt’s leg. Over and over again. Marquardt is throwing punches but nothing is on them, and Saffiedine just keeps pounding it. Marquardt fighting on one  leg, and is now hobbling on one leg. “He is going to need medical attention this is serious” from Miletich on Nate’s leg. Clean sweep so far.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Saffiedine

Round 5
Saffiedine fired up, and smells blood. Marquardt is coming forward, and landing shots but there is nothing on them with his leg like this. Marquardt doing some decent grappling on the fence, but Saffiedine is running away with this fight. Note: its round 5, and Nate blocked a kick. Marquardt’s left leg is twice the size of his right. Nate is showing a lot of heart, but now Saffiedine takes down Marquardt and finishes strong with some ground and pound.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Saffiedine (50-45 Saffiedine)

Tarec Saffiedine def. Nate Marquardt via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46 x2) becomes last welterweight champion

Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
Round 1

Staring looking for the uppercut early. Cormier coming out cautious, and Staring is coming forward. Cormier takes Staring right to the floor with a lateral throw, and is working from side mount. Staring scrambles to his feet, but Cormier is staying tight on him. Cormier lands some jabs, and Staring is backing straight back eat shots. He is stunned, Staring eating punches and Cormier takes him down. Side mount now, Cormier landing elbows and cutting up Staring. Staring scrambles out again, they clinch on the fence again, Cormier keeping the pressure on. Cormier gets the takedown again, and moves to mount. Elbows from mount, round ends with Cormier landing GnP.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Cormier

Round 2
Staring comes forward and clinches with Cormier, and Cormier presses him up against the fence and knees his thighs for his troubles. Cormier gets the inside trip, and Staring is on his back again, he stacks him up and moves to side. On the fence, Cormier takes the back. and Staring rolls through. Cormier landing some rough ground and  pound, and Staring is just surviving. Big John stops the action.

Daniel Cormier def. Dion Staring via technical knockout at 4:02 of round 2

Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino

Round 1
Barnett comes forward, and ties up Guelmino and brings him to the floor. Barnett just smother Guelmino and drops for a leg lock. Guelmino gets out  of it, and Barnett is presuring. Takes him down again and moves to mount. Guelmino gives up his head and arm, and Barnett laces up the choke.

Josh Barnett def. Nandor Guelmino via submission at  2:11 of round 1 (head and arm choke)

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
Round 1
Kyle coming forward early, but Mousasi is relaxed. Mousasi stalking Kyle now, and landing. Mousasi shoots for a takedown on the fence, but Kyle does well to defend. Mousasi landing a nice jab coming forward. Kyle landing nice kicks, but Mousasi is feinting him well and keeping him busy thinking.Mousasi walking down and gets the takedown. Mousasi is smothering Kyle, and landing some decent elbows from half. Mousasi moves to mount. Mousasi landing shots and Kyle is giving up his back. Mousasi sinks in the rear naked choke and gets the tap.

Gegard Mousasi def. Mike Kyle via submission at 4:09 of round 1 (rear naked choke)

Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Ed Herman
Round 1

Herman opening up with low kicks. Jacare closing the distance, and staying calm. Jacare clinches and they are on the fence. Jacare lands some shots on the break. Jacare shoots, and Herman goes right down.  Herman pulls for a leg lock, and the fight is stopped for an illegal shot. Herman lands two headkicks on the ground.  No Point is taken. Fight is stood back up. Don’t know why, Jacare was on top. Herman walking down Jacare but Jacare was lighting him up. Jacare gets him down, moves to side, and sets up a kimura on Herman.

Ronaldo Jacare Souza def. Ed Herman via submission at 3:10 of round 1(Kimura)

Ryan Couture vs. KJ Noons
Round 1
Noons takes the center, and Couture is circling. Both cautious so far, but Couture lands a solid low kick. Fighters clinch and Couture lands a big knee on the exit. Noons starting to open up a bit. Couture still landing those lowkicks. Noons lands a solid one two. Couture is coming forward but Noons is picking him apart. When Couture forces the clinch, Noons just turns on the jets out of danger. Noons hanging his hands low, has no respect for the hands of Couture. Noons control. Couture throws a spinning back kick and then Noons closes the distance and lands shots that drop Couture. Saved by the bell.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Noons

Round 2
Noons in the middle waiting to counter on Couture. Now Noons is walking down Couture. Couture dives for a very telegraphed shot, and Noons gets out  of the way. Fighters collide heads and Noons complains, Ref lets it go. Couture is hurt, and Noons swarms and lands dozens of shots, but would NOT go down. Couture still on his feet and Noons has slowed but he is still landing shots on Ryan. End of round Couture swarms but Noons lands a big knee and some shots as the round ends.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Noons

Round 3
Noons still looking to counter. Couture is coming forward but is being more cautious, and is still being clipped. Couture dives for a takedown, but Noons gets away and lands some punches. Couture lands a big knee on the break, but Noons is ok from it. Couture lands a nice right hand, but it doesn’t phase Noons. Couture is coming forward but Noons is landing great counters on him. Ryan Couture has a chin. wow. Eating huge shots, and he is a ok. Win or lose this is a great showing from him. Noons just waiting for the low kicks, and landing straight rights. Couture swarms at the end of the round, but nothing to worry about for Noons.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Noons (30-27 Noons)
Ryan Couture def. KJ Noons via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29 )

Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith

Round 1
Kennedy is staying very calm and is measuring up a jumpy Smith. Smith forces a scramble and gets him down. Smith really looking to turn this into a wrestling match. Kennedy scrambles up, and eats a shot for his troubles. Smith still clinching him on the fence. Kennedy breaks free and lands a huge uppercut, and Smith bull rushes Kennedy and gets him down. Kennedy scrambles up and breaks free. Kennedy is picking his shots and they are landing. Kennedy eats a shot to the pills-you can hear it around the arena. Smith dives for a takedown, but Kennedy isn’t having it. Kennedy lands a front kick that forces Smith to shoot, but again Kennedy stopping it.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Kennedy

Round 2
Smith landing early but Kennedy is walking him down. Smith gets a quick takedown but Kennedy pops up. Kennedy starts grappling and he gets Smith down. Kennedy moves to mount, but Smith is still driving forward and gets out of it. Smith diving for takedowns, but its Kennedy winning a majority of the scrambles. Also Kennedy is landing punches elbows in the scrambles. They stand, Kennedy throws a knee and Smith pulls him to the floor. Kennedy ends on top in the scramble, and the round ends.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Kennedy

Round 3
Kennedy the fresher fighter, and is walking down Smith. Smith forces the clinch but Kennedy creates space. Kennedy is walking down Smith and landing shots. Smith shoots on Kennedy, and Kennedy laces up a tight guillotine and turns him over. Smith taps.

Tim Kennedy def. Trevor Smith via submission at 1:36 of round 3 (guillotine choke)

Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh

Round 1

Holobaugh is coming out swinging, and Healy either slipped or get dropped. Holobaugh is being very aggressive but Healy is starting wake  up. Healy clinches and pulls Holobaugh to the floor. Healy is working from side mount and has Holobaugh stacked. Holobaugh is working on a toe hold, but Healy swings around out of it. No way Healy was tapping to that, but Holobaugh is being active from his back. Holobaugh scrambles up, but Healy has him tied up and pulls him to the floor again. Healy is just out wrestling Holobaugh. Healy attempts a choke, but the clock runs out.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Healy

Round 2
Holobaugh is coming out swinging but Healy pulls him right down to the floor. Healy moves to side, and Holobaugh gives up his back. Healy already looking for the RNC. Healy gets shaken off, and now its Holobaugh working from the top. Healy is winning every scramble, and coming out on top. Holobaugh retains guard. Healy ends  up on top in a reverse triangle, but Holobaugh escapes, but again Healy wins the scramble and ends  up on top.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Healy

Round 3
Holobaugh starts working the low kicks. Healy clinches and Holobaugh starts landing. Holobaugh landed a nice shot and Healy forces a scramble. Holobaugh almost secured an omoplata, but Healy survives and surprise wins, the scramble. Healy locks up an arm triangle, came close to finishing it Holobaugh scrambles out of it. A lot of heart for two weeks notice against Healy. Healy ends up on top landing strikes as the round ends.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Healy (30-27)

Pat Healy def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2 )

Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith

Round 1

Smith opening up with low kicks early, but Gracie is walking him down. Gracie coming forwad but its Smith who is landing random jabs and low kicks. Smith coming forward and Gracie goes for a takedown, but after a cage grab he stopped it. Half way through Smith is the more active fighter, and it looks like Gracie just won’t pull the trigger. Smith is just dancing on the outside and jumping in to score points. Big John calls time for an eye poke. Smith is really working the front leg of Gracie, and its starting to pay dividends. Smith throws a flurry that does do much, and the round ends.

Fighters.com Score: 10-9 Smith

Round 2
Smith back to work with the kicks, and now Smith is pushing forward on Gracie. Smith throwing body shots and now Gracie smells blood. Smith clinches with Gracie, and he pulls him to the floor.  Smith is working a high guard, and Gracie moves to mount and starts landing elbows. Gracie cinches up the head and arm choke, and forces the tap. The last elbow really opened up Smith.

Roger Gracie def. Anthony Smith via submission at 3:16 of round 2 (arm triangle)

Photo: Strikeforce