Roger, his shorts soaked in blood, with his team at Strikeforce in Portland, Oregon: Renzo, Joinha, Ed Soares, Rilion and Chinzo Machida / Personal archive photo

The Strikeforce promotion put on a memorable evening in Portland, Oregon, thanks to the two title fights; a handful of ex-UFC fighters; a win from Ryan Couture, the son of a legend; and the Gracie on the card. In the audience, stars like MC Hammer brightened up the night.

Roger Gracie made his debut as a middleweight and demonstrated confidence, after suffering a knockout at the hands of King Mo and bidding farewell to the light heavyweight division. Having done a stint training with Lyoto Machida at Black House in Los Angeles, Roger displayed his newfound skill at slipping punches and safely closed the distance on Keith Jardine to take him to the ground.

With exception to the third round, Roger managed to wrestle his opponent to the ground and masterfully control the former UFC fighter throughout. Round one saw him mount and rain punches and elbows down on Jardine’s face, opening up gashes in the process. The Gracie looked set to bring a close to the bout in the final seconds, but the bell cut short his attack.

In the scond round, Roger got his chin out of harm’s way in the nick of time and again drug Jardine down. There, the Gracie saw his best shot at a decisive win, mounting, sinking his hooks, then a figure-four around the waist, before mounting and launching an arm-and-neck-choke assault. Again the bell sounded, and the five minutes of the round were not enough to conclude the encounter.

In the third and final round, with both fighters showing fatigue, Roger only managed to keep Jardine at a distance with jabs and push kicks, biding his time till the final bell.

“I’m glad I got to put my game to practice. I took him to the ground and controlled him but he was slippery from so much blood and knew how to hang on. I kind of wore out in the third round, but I think I left a few too many kilos to lose till the last minute, and that resulted in my fatiguing at the end,” explained Roger while still in the gray cage. “But I’m satisfied; every time I step into the ring to represent Jiu-Jitsu and my family makes me happy.”

When it was all over, the score cards came in deeming the three-time absolute world champion of Jiu-Jitsu the victor by unanimous decision.

“It’s a really important result for me, especially because I’m coming off a knockout loss. Keith’s a tough guy who’s beaten a lot of good guys before. I hope to tire less next time around. I was affected some by the weight-cut. That’s the biggest lesson for me in this fight—cutting weight properly and smoothly. It was good that he got tired too, though,” remarked Roger.

In the rest of the card, former UFC star Nate Marquardt had his work cut out for him in overcoming a game Tyron Woodley and his mother, who cheered the fighter on from start to finish. Following a three-round, back-and-forth standup firefight, the fourth frame saw Marquardt land two elbows that unseated Woodley, and a hook sealed the deal.

Now in the evening’s main event, Luke Rockhold got the better of Tim Kennedy for five rounds and took the unanimous decision. Check out the complete results:

Strikeforce
Portland, Oregon, USA
July 14, 2012

Luke Rockhold defeated Tim Kennedy via unanimous judges’ decision;
Nate Marquardt defeated Tyron Woodley via KO in R4;
Roger Gracie defeated Keith Jardine via unanimous decision;
Lorenz Larkin defeated Robbie Lawler via unanimous judges’ decision;
Jorge Masvidal defeated Justin Wilcox via split decision;
Pat Healy defeated Mizuto Hirota via unanimous decision;
Jordan Mein defeated Tyler Stinson via unanimous decision;
Jason High tapped out Nate Moore via guillotine in R1;
Ryan Couture defeated Joe Duarte via split decision.

Roger, bermuda suja de sangue, com a equipe no Strikeforce, em Portland: Renzo, Joinha, Ed Soares, Rilion e Chinzo Machida. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal

Foi uma noite memorável para o Strikeforce em Portland, Oregon, graças a um card com duas disputas de cinturões, alguns tantos ex-lutadores do UFC, uma (boa) luta de Ryan Couture, filho da lenda, e ainda um Gracie no card. Na plateia, astros como MC Hammer enfeitavam a noite.

Roger Gracie estreou no peso médio (até 84kg) e mostrou confiança, ele que estava vindo de um nocaute no peso meio-pesado, pelos punhos de King Mo. Após uma série de treinos com Lyoto Machida na Black House, em Los Angeles, Roger apresentou boas esquivas e investidas com segurança para colar em Keith Jardine e botar para baixo.

Com exceção do terceiro assalto, Roger conseguiu derrubar e exercer amplo domínio no ex-lutador do UFC. Na primeira parcial, montou e desceu os murros e cotovelos no oponente, abrindo cortes no rosto de Jardine. O Gracie partiu para definir nos últimos segundos, mas o gongo soou sem a finalização.

No segundo assalto, Roger tirou o queixo da reta na hora certa e levou Jardine novamente para baixo. Foi a melhor chance do Gracie na luta, quando ele montou, botou os ganchos, encaixou o triângulo nas costas, voltou a montar e tentou o katagatame. Novamente, na última hora o gongo soou, e os cinco minutos não foram suficientes para o bote certeiro.

No terceiro e último assalto, com ambos cansados, Roger apenas manteve Jardine à distância com jabs e chutes frontais, esperando o gongo soar.

“Fiquei feliz por ter conseguido botar meu jogo em prática, levei ele para o chão e controlei, mas ele estava escorregadio, muito por causa do sangue, e soube resistir. Cansei um pouco a mais no terceiro assalto, mas acho que deixei para perder muitos quilos na última hora, e isso acabou resultando no meu cansaço no fim”, explicou Roger ainda no cercado cinza. “Mas estou satisfeito, cada vez que piso nesse ringue para representar o Jiu-Jitsu e a família isso me faz mais feliz”.

No fim, as papeletas decretaram a vitória do tricampeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu por decisão unânime.

“Foi importante o resultado, especialmente por eu ter vindo de um nocaute. Keith é um cara duro que já venceu muita gente boa por aí. Espero cansar menos na próxima vez, senti um pouco o esforço de perder peso. Foi minha maior lição na luta, como perder peso de forma mais correta e suave. O bom foi que ele estava cansado também”, comentou Roger.

Nas demais lutas, o ex-astro do UFC Nate Marquardt teve que suar para vencer o duro Tyron Woodley e sua mãe, que apoiou o lutador do início ao fim. Depois de três rounds de pura trocação e domínio alternando para ambos os lados, no quarto tempo Marquadt acertou duas cotoveladas que desmontaram Woodley, aí mais um gancho selou o resultado final.

Já na confronto principal, Luke Rockhold foi melhor que Tim Kennedy nos cinco assaltos, e levou por decisão unânime dos jurados. Veja os resultados:

Strikeforce
Portland, Estados Unidos
14 de julho de 2012

Luke Rockhold venceu Tim Kennedy por decisão unânime dos jurados
Nate Marquardt venceu Tyron Woodley por KO no R4
Roger Gracie venceu Keith Jardine por decisão unânime
Lorenz Larkin venceu Robbie Lawler por decisão unânime dos jurados
Jorge Masvidal venceu Justin Wilcox por decisão dividida dos jurados
Pat Healy venceu Mizuto Hirota por decisão unânime dos jurados
Jordan Mein venceu Tyler Stinson por decisão unânime dos jurados
Jason High finalizou Nate Moore com uma guilhotina no 1R
Ryan Couture venceu Joe Duarte por decisão dividida dos jurados

Henderson against Fedor / Photos: Esther Lin

On Saturday Chicago was treated to an installment of Strikeforce providing more than its fair share of excitement, even with Dan Henderson’s quick dispatch of Fedor Emelianenko in the main event.

The heavily anticipated showdown between light heavyweight champion Henderson and Fedor didn’t last very long. The two veterans and legends of now-defunct Pride FC went toe to toe on their feet, where the Russian connected with a glancing upper cut that dropped the American to the canvas. On the ground, Fedor grinded away with ground and pound but didn’t have the time to finish the business before Hendo floundered out and to the Russian’s back – proof his Jiu-Jitsu training with Ricardo Pantcho is paying off.

In the superior position, Hendo landed two punches that sent the once seemingly invincible heavyweight down. Seeing the sambo stylist turtling vulnerably on the ground, referee Herb Dean called an end to the bout at 4:12 minutes of the first round, as Fedor seemed to be awaking from the knockout.

“I don’t want to complain, but I think the fight was stopped a little early,” Fedor protested while still in the cage, after his third poor result in a row.

The female welterweight title fight saw challenger Miesha Tate submit Marloes Coenen with fourth-round arm-and-neck choke, capturing the belt.

In other highly touted fights, Tim Kennedy defeated Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley overcame Paul Daley, both by unanimous decision.

The Brazilian ambassadors on the night had a 50% success rate, with Gesias Cavalcante eking out a split decision against Bobby Green after coaxing a tapout in the second round that the referee failed to see, and Eduardo Pamplona was swiftly knocked out by Tyler Stinson.

(With the collaboration of Junior Samurai)

Check out the results:

Strikeforce
Illinois, United States
July 30, 2011

Dan Henderson knocked out Fedor Emelianenko in R1
Miesha Tate submitted Marloes Coenen via arm-and-beck choke in R4
Tim Kennedy defeated Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision
Tyron Woodley defeated Paul Daley via unanimous decision
Tarec Saffiedine defeated Scott Smith via unanimous decision
Gesias Cavalcante defeated Bobby Green via split decision
Tyler Stinson knocked out Eduardo Pamplona in R1
Alexis Davis defeated Julie Kedzie via unanimous decision
Derek Brunson submitted Lumumba Sayers via rear-naked choke in R1
Gabriel Salinas-Jones finalizou Bryan Humes com um triângulo de mão no 3R

Henderson contra Fedor. Fotos: Esther Lin.

O sábado foi dia de Strikeforce em Chicago, e não faltou ação e emoção, mesmo na rápida luta entre Dan Henderson e Fedor Emelianenko.

O esperado combate entre o campeão de meio-pesados Henderson e Fedor durou pouco. Os dois veteranos e mitos do Pride mandaram ver na trocação, até que o russo aplicou um upper, que fez o americano descer. No chão, Fedor tentou trabalhar no ground and pound, mas não teve tempo, Hendo esperneou e saiu para as costas, prova de que os treinos de Jiu-Jitsu com o brasileiro Ricardo Pantcho fizeram efeito.

Em posição superior, Hendo encaixou dois socos que fizeram o ex-invencível beijar o solo. Vendo o campeão de Sambô na lona, o arbitro Herb Dean tratou de encerrar o duelo aos 4min12s, quando Fedor parecia ter acordado no nocaute.

“Não quero reclamar, mas acho que, sim, a luta foi parada um pouco cedo”, reclamou Fedor nas grades do Strikeforce, após amargurar o terceiro revés.

No combate válido pelo título feminino dos meio-médios, a desafiante Miesha Tate finalizou a campeã Marloes Coenen com um katagatame, no quarto giro, e roubou o cinturão.

Em outras lutas aguardadas, Tim Kennedy venceu Robbie Lawler e Tyron Woodley bateu Paul Daley, ambas por decisão unânime.

Já os brasileiros ficaram no 50%, com Gesias Cavalcante vencendo Bobby Green por decisão dividida, depois de finalizar no segundo round e o arbitro não ver, e Eduardo Pamplona, nocauteado de forma rápida contra Tyler Stinson.

(colaborou Junior Samurai)

Confira todos os resultados:

Strikeforce
Illinois, Estados Unidos
30 de julho de 2011

Dan Henderson nocauteou Fedor Emelianenko no 1R
Miesha Tate finalizou Marloes Coenen com um katagatame no 4R
Tim Kennedy venceu Robbie Lawler por decisão unânime
Tyron Woodley venceu Paul Daley por decisão unânime
Tarec Saffiedine venceu Scott Smith por decisão unânime
Gesias Cavalcante venceu Bobby Green por decisão dividida Tyler Stinson nocauteou Eduardo Pamplona no 1R
Alexis Davis venceu Julie Kedzie na decisão unânime
Derek Brunson finalizou Lumumba Sayers com um mata-leão no 1R
Gabriel Salinas-Jones finalizou Bryan Humes com um triângulo de mão no 3R

Tytschyo finishes with a guillotine in the Maracanazinho gymnasium. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Tytschyo, who beat Fausto Black at the last installment of the event enters in the place of Eduardo Pamplona, who pulled out due to injury. “I’m stoked. After I fought at the last event, in the Maracanazinho, I went on to get a lot of offers and it will be even better to fight in São Paulo, my homeland,” he told promoters of the event Amaury Bitetti and Fernando Miranda.

Tickets may be purchased at www.ingressofacil.com.br or at Barueri’s José Correa gymnasium.

“A student ID takes half off the ticket price, even for the VIP area. Anyone who buys at the gymnasium, at any time, can also pay half price with 1kg of non-perishable food,” announces Fernando Miranda.

Check out the current card:

Paulo Filho vs Tatsuhiko Nishizaka
Murilo “Ninja” vs Jason Jones (Holland)
Fábio Maldonado vs Travis Wiuff (USA)
Gustavo Ximu vs Ricco Washington (USA)
Glover Teixeira vs Jeff Monson (USA)
Cassiano Tytschyo vs Tyler Stinson (USA)
Alessandro “Alemão” Steffen vs Francimar “Bodão”