Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold celebrates title defense versus Tim Kennedy – Photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
Press Release – PORTLAND, Ore. (July 14, 2012) – Luke Rockhold retained the STRIKEFORCE middleweight championship Saturday on SHOWTIME® by clearly outpointing Tim Kennedy in the main event from Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. STRIKEFORCE newcomer Nate Marquardt beat previously unbeaten Tyron Woodley (10-1) in an impressive fourth-round stoppage for the vacant STRIKEFORCE welterweight championship.
The SHOWTIME telecast will replay tomorrow/Sunday, July 15, at 10 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and again Tuesday, July 17, at 11 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. The fights will be available On Demand from July 15-Aug. 12.
Rockhold (10-1) earned his second defense of the 185-pound title by outworking the challenger, earning a unanimous decision after five hard-fought rounds. Rockhold had the better striking and grappling and was able to control Kennedy (14-4) in most areas throughout a fight scored 49-46 by the three cageside scorers. Rockhold remains undefeated in the STRIKEFORCE organization.
Tim Kennedy (L) vs. Luke Rockhold (R) – Photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
After a 16-month layoff, Marquardt (32-10-2) made a loud statement about his return with a brutal knockout win over Woodley at 1:39 in the fourth round of an exciting and fast-paced slugfest.
In other fights on SHOWTIME, Roger Gracie (4-1), who fought for the first time in his MMA career in the middleweight division, won a three-round decision over veteran Keith Jardine (17-11-2) and middleweight Lorenz Larkin (13-0, 1 NC) remained undefeated with an impressive three-round decision over Robbie Lawler (19-9, 1 NC).
In live undercard fights on SHOWTIME EXTREME, hometown hero Pat Healy (30-17) won a three-round unanimous decision over Mizuto Hirota (14-5-1) in a welterweight bout; Ryan Couture (5-1) son of MMA legend Randy Couture, took a three-round split decision over Joe Duarte (10-3) by the scores of 29-28 twice and 28-29 in a welterweight bout; Jorge Masvidal (23-7) recorded a three-round split decision over Justin Wilcox (11-5, 1 NC) by the scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 28-29 in a welterweight scrap; and Jordan Mein (25-8) earned a three-round decision over Tyler Stinson (23-9) in a welterweight match. On the non-televised undercard, Jason High (16-3) impressively submitted Nate Moore (7-3) in an exciting fight to begin the night with a 26-second finish in round one with a guillotine choke.
Nate Marquardt finishes Tyron Woodley to capture Strikeforce welterweight title – photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
STRIKEFORCE returns to SHOWTIME on Aug. 18 with a highly anticipated card headlined by female star and current bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who takes on former bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman live at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Nate Marqurdt celebrates Strikeforce title win – Photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
Roger Gracie gets his hand raised versus Keith Jardine – photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
Lorenz Larkins wins his middleweight debut versus Robbie Lawler – Photo by Esther Lin for Showtime
Lorenz Larkins (R) lands a kick to the midsection of Robbie Lawler (L) – photo by Esther Lin for Showtime