This is the Strikeforce live blog for Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley, a welterweight bout for Saturday night’s Strikeforce event at the Rose Garden.
Marquardt, who is making his Strikeforce debut, will fight Woodley, who is 10-0 in his career, on the main card.
Check out the live blog below.
Round 1: The vacant Strikeforce welterweight title is on the line. Woodley eats a kick to the junk immediately but valiantly presses on. Marquardt desperately ties up after being rocked by a short right hook. Woodley barely misses with a knee in the clinch, then nearly gets blasted by a Marquardt knee. Woodley is floored by a straight right. Marquardt jumps on it and nearly seizes a choke, but Woodley scrambles out and ties up. Woodley disengages and he still seems wobbly. Marquardt pushes Woodley against the fence and works his dirty boxing. Marquardt catches Woodley with another right hand before getting tied up. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Marquardt.
Round 2: Marquardt stalking Woodley to kick off the round. A pair of hard leg kicks crush Woodley, who unsuccessfully shoots in for a double-leg. Another leg kick for Marquardt, who starts pawing out jabs to gauge his distance. Woodley’s mother is incensed ringside. Marquardt blasts Woodley’s midsection with a spinning back kick. Another straight right stumbles Woodley, and Marquardt quickly takes it to the ground. Woodley claws back to his feet and finds his mark with a counter right hand. Marquardt chases after a backpedalling Woodley as the horn sounds. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Marquardt.
Round 3: Woodley opens with pressure combinations and Marquardt crumbles. Woodley pounding Marquardt against the fence and this doesn’t look good for “The Great.” Woodley lunges for an arm then switches to top control. Marquardt seems to have recovered and referee Dave Hagen stands the fight back up. Neither fighter willing to engage until Marquardt jumps in with a wild right. A lead left hook grazes Marquardt, who promptly counters with a leg kick. Marquardt wings a looping right then ties up and lands an elbow inside the clinch. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Woodley.
Round 4: A flat-footed Woodley immediately eats a right hand, then a tremendous three-punch combination. Marquardt starting to open up on his feet. A pair of right crosses daze Woodley, who ties up with his back against the cage. Marquardt unloads a pair of massive elbows. Oh wow. Woodley slumps over. Another vicious right hook following by an uppercut and Woodley hits the floor. Marquardt struts away and the ref has no choice but to call it. What a finish.
Nate Marquardt def. Tyron Woodley via knockout (strikes) at 1:39 of round four.