Luke Rockhold retains title with first-round finish of Keith Jardine

Strikeforce kicked off 2012 on a relatively high note minus some curious refereeing/scoring blunders with not only a card full of solid match-ups but live preliminary bouts on Showtime for the first time in promotional history. Headlined by middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against crafty cagefighter Keith Jardine, the show featured a handful of knockouts and hotly contested brawls. Rockhold exited the arena with his title-reign intact after a spirited effort from Jardine fell short in the striking department with Jardine getting rocked, then finished. The win improved the American Kickboxing Academy product’s record to 9-1 including eight straight.

Other bouts on the lineup included former light heavyweight title-holder Muhammed Lawal taking on undefeated striker Lorenz Larkin, who he knocked out in the second round as the result of relying on his grappling background and attacking from above, as well hard-hitting fan-favorite Robbie Lawler duking it out with Adlan Amagov where he picked up a TKO victory and a battle that surely determined a top contender to the vacant welterweight championship involving Tyron Woodley‘s convincing decision win over Jordan Mein.

Woodley Feels He Should Be Fighting for a Title

Check out a complete rundown of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine outcomes below:

Estevan Payan def. Alonzo Martinez via Unanimous Decision
Ricky Legere def. Chris Spang via Unanimous Decision
Gian Villante def. Trevor Smith via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Nah-Shon Burrell def. James Terry via Split Decision
Tarec Saffiedine def. Tyler Stinson via Split Decision
Tyron Woodley def. Jordan Mein via Split Decision
Mo Lawal def. Lorenz Larkin via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Robbie Lawler def. Adlan Amagov via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Luke Rockhold def. Keith Jardine via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)