This is the Strikeforce undercard live blog for the Marquardt vs. Saffiedine event at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.
There will be six fights on the undercard. Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh, Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith, Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith, Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons, Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins, and Mike Bravo vs. Estevan Payan will be featured on the prelims.
Check out the Strikeforce undercard live blog below.
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Mike Bravo vs. Estevan Payan
Result: Estevan Payan def. Mike Bravo via TKO (strikes) at 4:01 of round 2.
Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
Result: Adriano Martins def. Jorge Gurgel via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
Round 1: Referee Mark Carter oversees this middleweight bout. Smith catches a low kick, then shoots and wrestles Kennedy to the floor. Kennedy slowly powers himself to his feet against the fence, then circles and disengages. Huge counter uppercut lands for Smith, who immediately changes levels and drags the fight back to the floor. Kennedy hip escapes and stands, before looking for his own takedown. A little cage grabbing keeps Smith on his feet. Another big uppercut connects for Kennedy, followed by a cracking kick to the ribs. Ooof, a wayward knee crushes Kennedy in the family jewels. You could hear that one. Kennedy takes his time and regains his bearings. Smith grabs a leg once the action resumes, however Kennedy reverses and defends. Front kick smashes Smith, who answers with a takedown attempt. Kennedy avoids any trouble and finds a home for a big knee to the chin inside the clinch. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Kennedy.
Round 2: Smith misses with a wild overhand right. Smith briefly drags Kennedy to the mat. Kennedy stands, works a few short knees, then trips Smith, landing in half guard. Smith powers out, but eats a few big elbows to the midsection in the process. Smith clutching Kennedy’s legs, but Kennedy seems content to stay in the stalled position and rain down shots to the body. Carter has finally seen enough and stands the fight back up. Smith immediately shoots but can’t get anything to work. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Kennedy.
Round 3: Smith bulldozes inside and eats a stiff counter for his troubles. Low kick lands for Smith. Kennedy blocks a high kick and presses forward. Kennedy finds a home for a huge uppercut, and another. Smith grasps for a single leg. Kennedy slams Smith with a right hand, then swoops in with devastating guillotine. Wow, this one is in tight. Smith drops and frantically taps.
Tim Kennedy def. Trevor Smith via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:36 of round 3.
Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
Round 1: Big John McCarthy is the man in charge of the action. Smith wings a left hook from the outside. Leg kick lands on Gracie. Smith staying active with his lead left hand. Gracie paws forward then snatches a leg. Smith briefly grabs the cage while evading the takedown. Smith misses a front kick. Gracie reluctant to engage thus far in the fight. Smith takes a finger in the eye but quickly gets back to work. Straight left lands for Smith, followed by a leg kick. High kick just misses Gracie’s jaw. Slow round. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Smith.
Round 2: Smith immediately tosses out a head kick. Gracie ducks under a looping hook, answering with his own combination. Gracie turns up the pace. Smith clutching his eye a bit. Looks like he may have been poked in the eye again, or that last one is still affecting him. Gracie connects with a combination, closes the distance and trips Smith to the mat. Bad spot for Smith. Gracie advances to side control, then easily passes to mount. Strong elbow from the top slices open Smith. Gracie hunting for an arm triangle choke, and that’s it. Smith taps. Impressive comeback round for Gracie.
Roger Gracie def. Anthony Smith via submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:16 of round 2.
Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh
Round 1: Kevin Nix is the referee in charge. Holobaugh sprints across the cage and engages immediately. Healy lands a pair of strong counter punches. Holobaugh briefly drops Healy, but Healy recovers and muscles Holobaugh against the cage. Low kick lands for Holobaugh. Healy snatches a single leg and slams Holobaugh to the mat. Healy postures up, easily escapes an armbar attempt then rains down a few short punches. Holobaugh seizes a leg and cranks for a kneebar. Healy stays patient, escapes and advances to side control. Holobaugh scrambles and stands, only to be muscled back down by a relentless Healy. Holobaugh looks to take Healy’s back in the scramble, but he fails and Healy eventually takes his back. Healy snakes in a rear-naked choke but Holobaugh is saved by the horn. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Healy.
Round 2: Holobaugh pushing the pace early. Healy dunks under a combination and plants Holobaugh back onto the canvas. Healy easily passes to side control, then to mount. Holobaugh gives up his back, stands and tries to shake Healy off. It eventually works, though Healy immediately grasps for a leglock. Holobaugh scrambles out, with Healy again on his back. Healy is absolutely relentless here. Healy unloads a few short elbows inside Holobaugh’s guard. Healy advances and locks in a reverse arm triangle with his legs. Healy throws out a few punches, then moves to north-south. Holobaugh fights it off and the round comes to a close. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Healy.
Round 3: Holobaugh answers the bell with a frenetic pace. Both fighters trade flurries. Healy drops down and shoots for a double. Holobaugh defends, but ends up on the mat after a sloppy failed armbar attempt. Healy staying active from the top. Holobaugh grasps for an omaplata but Healy stays patient and works his way out. Healy back in half guard, slithers in a side choke. This one is in deep. Wow, great show of heart from Holobaugh, who somehow spins out of danger. Healy still in control, starts working on a twister. He can’t get it. Healy unleashes a wild flurry at the horn. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Healy.
Pat Healy def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)