Rounding out the fight card, Tarec Saffiedine met Cincinnati brawler Roger Bowling. Throughout the fight, Tarec used his reach advantage and Muay Thai clinch to out point Bowling en route to a unanimous decision. The unanimous score doesn’t fully reflect the fight, however, as Bowling was able to land regularly and heavily on his opponent.
Strikeforce: Rousey Vs. Kaufman – Tarec Saffiedine wins unanimous decision over Roger Bowling
Tentative exchanges to start the bout as Bowling attempts to get inside Saffiedine’s reach. The first round turns into a clinch battle. Saffiedine establishes dominance, denying any takedown attempts by Bowling and landing as much as he can from his own Muay Thai clinch. In the second, Bowling suffers an eye poke as the two strike from distance. Saffiedine looking more composed and effective as the striking battle continues. Tarec spends a couple minutes pinning Bowling against the cage. Third round, both men are engaging early. Bowling still struggling to get inside on Tarec. With less than a minute left, Saffiedine counters a takedown attempt and gets backmount. Tarec attempts a choke as the bell sounds.
Bowling and Saffiedine stepped into the Hexagon trying to extend a two fight win streak to three. In Bowling’s last fight he knocked out Brandon Saling at Strikeforce: Tate Vs. Rousey in March. Saffiedine inched past Tyler Stinson in a split decision victory in January.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman