Strikeforce crowned its second women’s champion tonight at Strikeforce Challengers 6 when undefeated Canadian Sarah Kaufman defeated Japanese standout Takayo Hashi for the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight (135-Pound) Championship. The title fight headlined tonight’s event.
Also on the televised main card, Trevor Prangley battled Karl “Psycho” Amoussou in a middleweight matchup, while rising star Luke Rockhold picked up his sixth straight Strikeforce victory against Paul Bradley. MMARising.com has live play-by-play of the action.
Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight (135-Pound) Championship
Sarah Kaufman vs Takayo Hashi
Round 1:
Kaufman looked to jab early on and Hashi kept her distance with leg kicks. Kaufman dropped her with a right cross, but Hashi quickly recovered and clinched. The fighters traded knees to the body until the referee separated them. Kaufman landed quick combinations of punches and kicks and backed Hashi up with jabs. Hashi dropped to a knee from a stiff jab, but quickly got back to her feet.
Hashi threw a body kick and smiled as Kaufman continued to stalk her around the cage. A big right cross landed for Kaufman and she scored with another combination soon after. Kaufman dropped Hashi with a right hand and sprawled out to defend a takedown attempt. The fight returned to the feet and Hashi smiled again. 10-9 Kaufman.
Round 2:
Kaufman put together combinations of quick punches and leg kicks in the second round and Hashi fired back with a leg kick of her own. More jabs landed for Kaufman and she backed Hashi up to the cage with a looping right. Kaufman connected with a lead left hook and another combination as Hashi struggled to counter.
Kaufman landed a flurry and a right cross and Hashi answered with leg kicks. The action slowed as Kaufman looked to set up combinations and Hashi circled away. A quick flurry landed in close for Kaufman and she landed another quick combo of punches and kicks at the bell. 10-9 Kaufman.
Round 3:
Hashi threw a head kick to begin the third round, but Kaufman blocked it. A one-two landed for Hashi and Kaufman knocked her to the ground with a counterpunch. Hashi stood up and Kaufman landed a three-punch flurry. A nice body kick found the mark for Hashi, but Kaufman immediately answered with a right cross. Hashi kept her distance with leg kicks as Kaufman looked to close in with punches.
Both fighters landed punches over the top in a clinch and they traded kicks seconds later. A big one-two stunned Hashi, but she stayed on her feet. The fighters flurried and Kaufman dropped Hashi with a right cross. Again, Hashi immediately rose to her feet and Kaufman continued to land strikes at will. Hashi landed a knee in a Thai clinch, but Kaufman cracked her with an overhand right. Hashi tried for a takedown and Kaufman stuffed it. 10-9 Kaufman.
Round 4:
Quick strikes landed for Kaufman in the opening seconds of the fourth round and Hashi shot in for a takedown. Kaufman defended and pressed her up against the cage. The fighters exchanged knees until the referee separated them. Kaufman tripled up on her jab and kept Hashi backing up, but Hashi stayed on her feet.
Once again, Kaufman easily stuffed a takedown attempt from Hashi and clinched against the cage. Both landed knees to the body and Kaufman backed away. Hashi pulled half-guard, but Kaufman postured up and returned to her feet. Two more combinations landed for Kaufman before the round came to an end. 10-9 Kaufman.
Round 5:
The final round began with a punching exchange and Kaufman kept Hashi on the defensive. Kaufman landed sparse punches and sprawled out of a Hashi takedown attempt. Both fighters landed leg kicks and Hashi scored with a right cross. More jabs landed for Kaufman and Hashi pulled half-guard.
Kaufman stood over Hashi and was hit with a trio of upkicks. Hashi returned to her feet and landed a front kick to the face. A one-two snapped Hashi’s head back and Kaufman tripped Hashi to the mat. Hashi stood and was poked in the eye. Time was briefly called, but the fight continued and Kaufman landed more jabs. 10-9 Kaufman.
Winner: Sarah Kaufman by Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) after five rounds. She improves to 11-0-0 and becomes the first Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion.
Trevor Prangley vs Karl “Psycho” Amoussou
Round 1:
The fighters circled early on and Prangley rushed in with punches, but Amoussou drilled him with a barrage of counterpunches. Prangley was unfazed and Amoussou landed another combination. Amoussou landed a one-two and clinched, but Prangley shrugged him off. Prangley scored a takedown and landed in half-guard. He landed short punches and tried to pass, but the overzealous referee stood the fighters up.
A nice right hand landed for Amoussou and he followed with kicks. Both fighters landed knees in a clinch and Amoussou rocked Prangley’s head back with a right hand. Prangley returned the favour seconds later and the fighters traded punches. Time was called after Amoussou was inadvertently poked in the eye. Amoussou could not see out of his eye and the doctor instructed the referee to stop the fight.
Result: Technical Draw (Accidental Eye Poke) at 4:14 of round one. Prangley is now 22-5-1 and Amoussou moves to 11-2-2.
Luke Rockhold vs Paul Bradley
Round 1:
Rockhold opened the fight with a head kick and clinched, but Bradley broke free with an overhand right. The fighters exchanged kicks and Rockhold floored Bradley with a short counter right hook. He swarmed Bradley with big punches, but Bradley held on and regained butterfly guard.
Bradley scrambled to his feet and Rockhold dropped him like a rock again. He stood and Rockhold landed a big knee to the midsection that him doubled over. More knees followed from Rockhold and the referee stopped the fight.
Winner: Luke Rockhold by TKO (Knees To The Body) at 2:24 of round one. He improves to 7-1-0.
Tarec “The Sponge” Saffiedine vs James Terry
Round 1:
Terry threw a head kick and a one-two early in the fight and Saffiedine replied with three punches and a leg kick. Saffiedine landed a nice right cross and followed with a left hook. More punches connected for Saffiedine and he landed a grazing knee. An overhand right scored for Saffiedine and he began to target the body. Saffiedine remained the aggressor as Terry could mount little offence.
Head kicks were exchanged, but neither landed. A second head kick from Saffiedine rocked the jaw of Terry and Saffiedine rushed in with a lunging punch and a jumping knee. Saffiedine continued to land punches at will, but Terry finally scored a takedown. Saffiedine scrambled to his feet and evaded wild punches from Terry. Saffiedine cut Terry with a right hand and followed with a knee. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 2:
The second round began with more punches from Saffiedine and Terry countered with a leg kick. An uppercut partially landed for Saffiedine and he backed Terry up against the cage. He just missed with a jumping knee and Terry circled free. Saffiedine scored with a combination and mixed in kicks. Terry stumbled backwards after a head kick from Saffiedine and the fighters exchanged kicks.
Quick punches found the mark for both fighters, but Saffiedine got the better of the exchange with an overhand right. Leg kicks followed and Saffiedine unleashed a barrage of punches. Terry began to walk Saffiedine down and he tried to clinch, but Saffiedine shrugged him off. Terry landed jabs and Saffiedine fired back with stiff leg kicks and stuffed a takedown. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Round 3:
Big haymakers opened the final round for both fighters and Saffiedine continued to pick Terry apart with quick punches and hard leg kicks. Terry scored a very brief takedown and Saffiedine rose back to his feet. Saffiedine landed a combination and Terry clinched. The fighters separated and exchanged strikes. Terry began to bleed heavily from the cut below his left eye. Big shots landed to the body for Saffiedine, but Terry held strong and threw back a combination that just missed.
A right cross jacked the jaw of Terry and he tried to clinch. Saffiedine punched free and landed a knee. The fighters exchanged kicks to the body and Terry tried to clinch again. Saffiedine punished him with punches and Terry began to throw looping hooks that missed the mark. Saffiedine landed a spinning back kick and reversed a takedown. He struck from mount until the bell. 10-9 Saffiedine.
Winner: Tarec Saffiedine by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 8-2-0.
Yancy “Frisson” Medeiros vs Raul Castillo
Round 1:
Medeiros stalked Castillo around the cage with jabs and he scored with a nice right hand. Castillo finally answered with a leg kick, but Medeiros remained the aggressor. Castillo clinched and took Medeiros down, but Medeiros immediately returned to his feet. Castillo continued to try for a takedown, but Medeiros broke free with a knee.
Castillo shot in once more and Medeiros stuffed the takedown attempt, then ducked under a wild looping hook from Castillo. A one-two landed for Medeiros and Castillo tried again to take the fight to the mat. Medeiros landed a knee and a big combination that backed Castillo up. Medeiros stunned Castillo with a pair of overhand rights and followed with a big knee and more punches. 10-9 Medeiros.
Round 2:
Medeiros landed some hard punches early in round two and kept Castillo on the defensive with a Superman Punch. More punches and body kicks found the mark for Medeiros and he connected with a spinning back fist. Medeiros remained calm as he stalked Castillo around the cage once again and picked his shots with punches.
Castillo threw a quick combination that was immediately answered with a one-two and leg kicks. Medeiro walked Castillo down as the crowd grew restless. Castillo attempted a takedown and met with no success. Two quick punches landed for Medeiros, but Castillo fired back with a knee. Both landed punches at the bell. 10-9 Medeiros.
Round 3:
A kick from Medeiros strayed low early in the final round, but the fight continued and he battered Castillo with punches. Castillo shot in for a takedown and Medeiros stuffed it. Castillo refused to give up the takedown attempt, but made no progress and the referee separated the fighters. Short left hooks connected for Medeiros, who remained in full control.
A big combination and a pair of knees hurt Castillo, but he unleashed a flurry of counterpunches and drilled Medeiros with a knee. The knee hit Medeiros below the belt and time was briefly called, but the referee insisted that Medeiros continue fighting. He dropped Castillo briefly with a one-two, but Castillo recovered and threw a head kick. The fighters swung for the fences in the final 10 seconds. 10-9 Medeiros.
Winner: Yancy Medeiros by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 8-0-0.
Wayne Phillips vs Eric Lawson
Round 1:
Phillips fell while throwing a kick early on and Lawson clinched. He landed knees to the body and tried for a takedown, but Phillips defended well and escaped the clinch. Lawson scored with a flurry and clinched again, then followed with short uppercuts in close. He took Phillips down and struck from the top, but the referee stood the fighters back up and warned Lawson for striking the back of the head.
Lawson clinched a third time and returned to uppercuts, then dragged Phillips to the mat and took his back. Phillips escaped and worked from the top, then took Lawson’s back in a scramble. He tried for a rear-naked choke, but Lawson defended. Phillips then transitioned into an armbar and Lawson was forced to verbally submit. Big win for Phillips.
Winner: Wayne Phillips by Verbal Submission (Armbar) at 4:27 of round one. He improves to 4-3-0.
Amateur Fights:
Samuel Bracamnonte defeated Chris Stewart by TKO (Punches) at 0:59 of round three.
Tristan Arenal defeated George Miller by TKO (Punches) at 0:30 of round two.
Jesse Tobar defeated Johnson Nguyen by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:24 of round two.
Renee Robinson defeated Lilia Salas by TKO (Punches) at 1:06 of round one.
Steve Dickie defeated Alan Lummel by TKO (Punches) at 0:33 of round one.
Ronald Carillo defeated Anthony De Los Santos by Submission (Armbar) at 1:20 of round two.
Despite the unfortunate ending to the middleweight bout between Trevor Prangley and Karl “Psycho” Amoussou, and an uncharacteristically passive performance from new Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman, Strikeforce Challengers 6 was largely a successful event. The promotion is set to make a major announcement on Monday.