COLUMBUS, Ohio — As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. Bloody Elbow will be live from Nationwide Arena and our live blog will start with the beginning of the unaired preliminary bouts (7:30 p.m. ET) and will continue through the Showtime broadcast (10 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
The show will be headlined by a Strikeforce light-heavyweight title bout between Rafael Cavalcante and Dan Henderson and a Strikeforce women’s welterweight title fight between Marloes Coenen and Liz Carmouche. Also on the main card, Tim Kennedy battles Melvin Manhoef in a middleweight bout and lightweights are in action when Jorge Masvidal meets Billy Evangelista.
Scott Haber here, filling in for Matt for the main card.
Main Card (10 p.m., Showtime)
Jorge Masvidal vs. Billy Evangelista
Round 1 — Ty Wheeler is the ref in charge for this lightweight contest. Evangelista stalking and winging some wild punches as Masvidal works his jab. Masvidal still keeping Evangelista at bay. Masvidal grabs a leg and pops Evangelista with a few punches as he tries to get this one to the ground, but Evangelista gets back to his feet. They clinch against the cage now as Masvidal outmuscles him, but has to defend some knees to the ribs from Evangelista. Billy tries to grab a single-leg now, but Masvidal defends and they separate. A bit of a slugfest erupts, but Evangelista takes Masvidal down as he starts getting tagged. Masvidal looking for a guillotine from his back, but Evangelista escapes and throws an elbow as they return to standing. More knees to the legs against the cage from Evangelista Another kick caught by Masvidal but no result. Masvidal still popping him with the jab and Evangelista’s hands are low. Close round, but 10-9 Masvidal for landing the better shots and the submission attempt.
Round 2 – Still no head movement from Evangelista as we start the second frame. Masvidal gets muscled against the fence but he defends the takedown with a nice whizzer, and now he throws some knees to the body. Evangelista looking frustrated with Masvidal’s reach and strength in the clinch. Masvidal with a takedown into full guard and he tries to take the back as Evangelista stands, but they’re both on the feet again. Another Evangelista takedown shrugged off by Masvidal. More wild punches miss badly for Evangelista, and another sloppy takedown defended by Masvidal. Masvidal’s boxing really taking over here and he now drags Evangelista down with a single-leg, and then another slam as Evangelista tries to get up. Masvidal just muscling Billy around on the ground, and he throws a stiff knee to the ribs against the cage. Masvidal bobbing and weaving and smiling as Evangelista whiffs yet again with haymakers. Clear 10-9 for Masvidal.
Round 3 – Tentative striking from both men for the first minute of this round. Another Evangelista takedown defended by Masvidal. A Masvidal body shot seems to hurt Evangelista but he doesn’t follow up and instead goes for another takedown. Masvidal just cruising now, taunting as he avoids Evangelista’s telegraphed strikes and pops him with the jab over and over. Evangelista tries to open up with strikes but he can’t land anything as the fight draws to a close. A tactical, but less-than-exciting gameplan from Masvidal should give him the round 10-9, and the fight 30-27.
Jorge Masvidal def. Billy Evangelista via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3 – 5:00
Tim Kennedy vs. Melvin Manhoef
Round 1 — Mark Matheny officiating this contest. A lot of movement and feinting from Kennedy as Melvin looks very intense. A quick single-leg attempt from Kennedy and Melvin actually defends well, getting back to his feet. Kennedy ducks under a haymaker, but again gets stuffed on his takedown by Manhoef. Manhoef catches a kick and just misses with a hard right hand. Huge leg kick from Manhoef drops Kennedy, but he’s back up. Another takedown stuffed by Manhoef, but Kenendy hanging on and finally gets him down into side control. Kennedy moves into mount and now takes the back. Manhoef bucks back into mount but gives up his back again and starts eating shots from Kennedy. Kennedy sinks in the choke and Manhoef taps. Impressive takedown defense from Manhoef early on, but the one he couldn’t defend quickly led to his demise.
Tim Kennedy def Melvin Manhoef via submission (rear naked choke), R1: 3:41
Women’s Welterweight Championship: Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche
Round 1 — Greg Franklin, brother of Rich, is the referee in charge of the women’s title fight. Hard leg kick from Carmouche as Coenen wings an overhand right. Carmouche moves frantically but eats a hard leg kick. Coenen pumping a jab and landing more good leg kicks. A hard counter right from Coenen cracks Carmouche. A leaping left hook from Coenen misses. Head kick following a combination from Coenen just misses. Carmouche eats another inside leg kick, and another. Carmouche clinches Coenen up against the cage as Coenen tries to grab the plum. A mouse is forming under Conenen’s right eyes, as the two jostle for position against the cage. Foot stomps traded now, but Franklin breaks them up. Carmouche targets the damaged eye with a 1-2 combo. Front kick from Coenen lands stiff. Carmouche hanging in there nicely, but Coenen’s technical striking earns her the round 10-9.
Round 2 – They trade leg kicks to open the round and Coenen’s lands harder. Carmouche bullies Coenen up agianst the cage and grabs the waist lock, but Coenen spins around and throws a knee to the thigh. Coenen with the thai clinch and another knee to the ribs as Carmouche tries for the takedown, but Coenen defends against the cage and now she has a tight standing guillotine…Carmouche in trouble but she slips free as she ends up in Conenen’s guard! Coenen throws up an armbar, but Carmouche postures out of it and lands some stiff ground and pound. Carmouche defends another armbar and passes to north-south! Knees to the body from Carmouche. Coenen squirming to escape but Carmouche maintains her base. Coenen spins for a leglock, but Carmouche ends up in mount! Carmouche throwing punches as Coenen tries to hang in there. Carmouche not landing anything heavy, but Coenen can’t escape from mount as Carmouche is now throwing double-punches. Coenen saved by the bell, but that was a dominant round for Carmouche. Close to a 10-8, but Coenen was active looking for subs from her back, despite getting pounded, so I’ll be conservative with 10-9 Carmouche.
Round 3 – Carmouche again bullies Coenen up against the fence as the champ tries to create distance. Good elbow from the clinch from Coenen but she can’t shake Carmouche off of her. Coenen working knees to the thighs of Carmouche again. Coenen grabs the cage but she gets taken down anyway with Carmouche in side control. Carmouche passes to mount as Coenen tries to tie her up and shrimp out. High mount from Carmouche as Coenen protects her face tightly. Coenen looking to hook her legs under Carmouche’s arms but to no avail. More ground and pound from Carmouche. Coenen looks absolutely helpless here. Steady blows rain down from Carmouche but nothing heavy enough to make the ref think about stopping it. Pitter-patter hammer-fists aren’t going to end it either, but Carmouche dominates on the ground yet again. I’ll give Carmouche the 10-9 again this time, as Coenen did nothing but cover up on the bottom, but wasn’t exactly getting brutalized.
Round 4 – Coenen with a takedown to try to reverse her fortunes, but Carmouche tries a defensive rubber guard, and springs into a takedown of her own. Coenen locks up a triangle! Carmouche taps! Gutsy come-from-behind win for the champ! Carmouche really impressed tonight, and Coenen is certainly the worse for wear, but the champ shows yet again, that her guard is to be respected.
Marloes Coenen def. Liz Carmouche via submission (triangle choke), R4: 1:29
Light-Heavyweight Championship: Rafael Cavalcante vs. Dan Henderson
Round 1 — Dan Miragliotta officiating this main event title fight. A touche of the gloves and we’re underway. Hard leg kick from Feijao backs Hendo up quickly. Swing and a miss for a Feijao left hook, and now Hendo tries to land the right, but Feijao cracks Hendo with an overhand right and Hendo’s on wobbly legs! Feijao all over him but somehow Hendo regains his composure and ends up on top in Feijao’s guard. Feijao working for wrist control but Hendo stays tight to his chest. Miragliotta stands them up for inactivity, and Henderson again looks to flurry with his fists once they’re on the feet, but Feijao clinches up and they’re up against the cage. Hendo working his dirty boxing against the cage, but has to defend knees to the body from Feijao, before throwing a few of his own. Miragliotta separates them again with 12 seconds remaining, and that’s the round. Feijao landed the only damaging strike of the round, but Henderson controlled him for the rest and earns the round 10-9.
Round 2 – Henderson starts to tag Feijao against the cage, but then looks to shoot and gets stuffed by the champ. Back against the cage they go. Hendo looking to lift the champ off his feet…Feijao defends at first, but eventually ends up on his back in half-guard. Feijao hits a slick half-guard reversal and now Hendo’s on his back. Henderson tying up the champ from the bottom and Miragliotta obliges with a stand-up. Head kick misses for Feijao. Superman punch from Henderson, but the champ backs away and then eats a leg lick and another superman punch. Now Henderson hits a trip takedown is back in on top in Feijao’s half guard. 10-9 Henderson for the two takedowns and the higher volume of punches on the feet.
Round 3 – Leg kick from Feijao countered by Hendo with a stiff punch and now a few more land from the challeneger as Feijao backs up. Henderson rocks Feijao in a flurry and ends up in back mount, dropping huge bombs! Feijao’s getting blasted and Miragaliotta stops the fight! Dan Henderson is the new Strikeforce light heavyweight champion! The replay shows that it’s Henderson’s infamous straight right that dropped Feijao, even though it didn’t look to connect solid.
Dan Henderson def. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante via TKO (punches), R3 – 0:50
Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson coverage
Quick results:
John Kuhner d. J.P. Felty (Submission/Triangle Choke) R2 4:31
Mitch Whitesel d. Marc Cofer (Submission/Guillotine Choke) R1 3:55
Brian Rogers d. Ian Rammel (TKO/Strikes) R1 4:23
Jason Freeman d. Jason Riley (Submission/Strikes) R1 1:52
Jorge Gurgel d. Billy Vaughan (Submission/Guillotine Choke) R1 0:44
Roger Bowling d. Josh Thornburg (Decision/Unanimous)
Jorge Masvidal d. Billy Evangelista (Decision/Unanimous)
Tim Kennedy d. Melvin Manhoef (Submission/Rear Naked Choke) R1 3:41
Marloes Coenen d. Liz Carmouche (Submission/Triangle Choke) R4 1:29
Dan Henderson d. Rafael Cavalcante (TKO/Punches) R3 0:50
Preliminary Bouts (7:30 p.m.)
J.P. Felty vs. John Kuhner
Round 1 — Mark Matheny is your official. Felty with an early takedown. Kuhner stands. Clinch work against the cage. Felty gets on his back but Kuhner stands. Felty misses on a jab. Kuhner with a right hook but he gets taken down again. Felty on his knees in the guard and Kuhner punching from the bottom. Butterfly guard now. Felty not doing much from on top in his professional debut. Kuhner can’t do anything from the bottom, either. Kuhner pushes him away at the 10 second clapper and the round ends. 10-9 Felty.
Round 2 — The two clinch and Felty gets a takedown but he ends up on his back going for a failed guillotine. Kuhner working from the top for the first time now and he lands a shot that appears to hurt Felty. He takes his back and is looking for the choke but gives that up and starts punching from mount. Landing some nice shots with a crossface. Felty getting pounded. He gives up his back but Kuhner can’t find the finishing combination. Kunger measuring his shots and he tries another RNC but can’t find it. Kuhner goes for the makings of a topside triangle. He flips it over and after a struggle, pulls down the head and Felty goes unconscious. John Kuhner d. J.P. Felty (Submission/Triangle Choke) R2 4:31
Marc Cofer vs. Mitch Whitesel
Round 1 — Dan Miragliotta officiating. Cofer pushes Whitesel up against the cage. They break. Back against the cage. Good high knee from Cofer and then Whitesel drags it to the mat.
Whitesel locks in a guillotine from the top and has Cofer’s back against the cage. With nowhere to go, Cofer has to tap. Mitch Whitesel d. Marc Cofer (Submission/Guillotine Choke) R1 3:55
Brian Rogers vs. Ian Rammel
Round 1 — Rogers tags Rammel right off the bat. A Rammel shot is met by a huge sprwal. Not even close. Rogers goes to town on Rammel against the cage but he survives. Rogers just too quick. Another failed takedown attempt. Huge right knocks Rammel down but Rogers doesn’t go into his guard. Back up. Rogers just misses with a huge left. Rammel has not landed one significant strike through three minutes. Rogers tags him again. Rammel taking a pounding as Rogers lands another flurry. He’s tough. A left puts Rammel down. Rogers with hammerfists. Rammel tries to grab a leg but Rogers gets out and puts another pounding on him and referee Greg Franklin jumps in to end it. Brian Rogers d. Ian Rammel (TKO/Strikes) R1 4:23
Jason Riley vs. Jason Freeman
Round 1 — Freeman showing a variety of kicks early, none of them landing. Riley drops Freeman and pounds away. In side control now and Freeman gets back to his feet but he is not OK. Now Freeman drops Riley and he is going to town against the cage and Riley taps. Jason Freeman d. Jason Riley (Submission/Strikes) R1 1:52
Jorge Gurgel vs. Billy Vaughan
Round 1 — Gurgel almost immediately catches Vaughan’s neck and locks in a guillotine choke. Vaughan fights it for sometime but has to tap when Gurgel drops into guard. Jorge Gurgel d. Billy Vaughan (Submission/Guillotine Choke) R1 0:44
Roger Bowling vs. Josh Thornburg
Round 1 — Dan Miragliotta officiating. Hot start and Thornburg immediately locks in a guillotine choke. He has full guard but Bowling is keeping his butt high in the air. He escapes. Now Bowling landing some solid shots from half-guard. He gives Thornburg space and he stands and Bowling tags him with a 1-2. Thornburg pushes him against the cage. Knee by Bowling and he staggers Thornburg with a right. He cranks him with a head kick flush as Thornburg ducks down and he eats it. Unbelievable. Nice body blow by Thornburg. Thornburg with a right and Bowling takes the opportunity to go in for a nice double-leg. Half-guard against the cage. Bowling takes his back and locks in the rear-naked choke but Thornburg manages to wiggle out. The round ends. 10-9 Bowling.
Round 2 — Bowling with an early takedown. Full guard now. Not much happening. Now Bowling passes to half-guard and lands some shots. Still not much action here. Finally it’s stood up with 1:30 left in the round. Bowling misses a left hook. Big left connects for Thornburg and Bowling responds with another head kick. Bowling goes for a trip takedown but can’t get it so Thornburg likes this idea and does one of his own but is almost immediately swept. Again, not much from Bowling on top, but he controlled the action for much of the round. 10-9 Bowling
Round 3 — An interesting exchange on the ground sees Bowling push off the cage and take top control. He moves to knee-on-belly but Thornburg regains full guard. Half-guard now but Bowling again isn’t doing much from the top. Back to full guard. Ninety seconds left and Thornburg needs a miracle here. Boo birds starting to come out and the two are restarted on the feet with a minute to go. Bowling scrapes Thornburg’s face with a roundhouse kick. Another 1-2 lands hard for Bowling and Thornburg just takes it. Another head kick. Bowling goes for a double but Thornburg latches on a guillotine with about 25 seconds left. Bowling hanging tough and there’s the bell. 10-9 Bowling, 30-27, if not 30-26 overall.
Official decision: Roger Bowling d. Josh Thornburg (Decision/Unanimous – 30-27×3)
About the author
