Strikeforce came to the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona tonight with Strikeforce Challengers 10. The card was headlined by a catchweight bout between UFC veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs and Louis “Handgunz” Taylor and also featured the professional mixed martial arts debut of Ryan Couture.

The real story of the event was the much-discussed 135-pound women’s tournament, which was contested in a single evening. Miesha Tate, Carina Damm, Hitomi Akano and Maiju Kujala all battled to determine a tournament champion. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the event.

 

Joe “Diesel” Riggs vs Louis “Handgunz” Taylor

Round 1:
The fighters began the first round cautiously as each kept their distance for quite some time. Quick, single strikes were exchanged and both scored with kicks. Riggs tripped Taylor briefly, but Taylor immediately got to his feet and threw punches to the body. Taylor clinched against the cage and eventually scored a takedown. He was unable to mount much of any offence from the top and the fight returned to the feet.

Again, the fighters cautiously circled and little transpired. Riggs looked to set up a Superman Punch and landed a nice left hand. Taylor resorted to jabs and connected with a right cross. The fighters traded kicks and Riggs landed a left hand that backed Taylor up. Taylor missed with an unorthodox spinning back elbow and Riggs countered with knees to the body. The fighters clinched shortly before the uneventful round ended. 10-10.

Round 2:
The second round began tentatively until Riggs landed a Superman Punch. Taylor tried to counter with a combination, but Riggs followed with a body kick. Riggs began to taunt Taylor, who replied with a stiff leg kick. The fighters exchanged punches and Taylor attempted a weak takedown. Riggs easily stuffed it and Taylor missed with another spinning back elbow. He connected with a flurry, however, and Riggs backed up.

The fighters clinched against the cage and Taylor tried for a takedown. He let it go and threw a one-two as he backed up. Riggs landed a straight left and Taylor took him down. Taylor landed in half-guard and threw elbows to the body. He added short punches to the face from the top, but Riggs defended well and prevented Taylor from landing anything damaging. Taylor tried to move to mount and Riggs had none of it. The close round came to an end. 10-9 Taylor, barely.

Round 3:
Riggs landed a nice body kick to begin the final round and Taylor threw a side kick to the body. Riggs cracked him with a vicious left hand and Taylor clinched to try to recover. Riggs defended a takedown and wound up on top. He threw punches and moved into a crucifix against the cage. More punches followed for Riggs as Taylor’s arms were trapped and Taylor submitted with his partially free hand.

Winner: Joe Riggs by Submission (Punches) at 2:07 of round three. He improves to 33-11-0, 1 NC.

 

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Final

Miesha “Takedown” Tate vs Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano

Round 1:
The fighters exchanged kicks early on and Akano connected to the body. Tate answered with a right hand and jabs. Another hard body kick landed for Akano and she clinched. Tate tried for a takedown, but wound up on the bottom. Akano tried to isolate Tate’s arm for a Kimura and used it to roll, but was trapped by the cage. Akano secured a toe hold from the bottom and Tate was in danger, but she managed to escape. Tate stood over Akano and threw punches from the top. 10-9 Akano.

Round 2:
Tate opened round two with a variety of kicks. Akano answered with one of her own and Tate fired off a kick-punch combo and a hard right hand. Tate clinched and took Akano’s back. She dragged Akano to the mat and a scramble followed. Tate threw hammerfists from the top, but Akano rolled through. Tate secured a partial Twister, then sunk in both hooks. She worked for a rear-naked choke, but Akano spun and punched her way out of a triangle choke at the bell. 10-9 Tate.

Round 3:
Both fighters landed kicks in the third round and Akano caught a body kick. Tate took Akano’s back and dragged her to the mat. She tried for a rear-naked choke and Akano defended. Akano tried to roll to escape, but Tate kept her in place. Tate threw punches from the top and tried to move to mount. Akano scrambled and wound up on top briefly. Tate worked for a keylock from the bottom, then took Akano’s back again. She fired off punches until the bell. 10-9 Tate.

Winner: Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision after three rounds. She improves to 11-2-0 and becomes the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Champion.

 

Ryan Couture vs Lucas Stark

Round 1:
Stark missed with a head kick early on and fired off a pair of wild overhand rights. Couture clinched and the fighters exchanged knees. Couture tripped Stark to the mat and attempted a guillotine choke. Stark stood and escaped the choke, then took Couture down. Within seconds, Couture locked on a triangle choke from his back and Stark quickly tapped out. Impressive pro debut for Couture.

Winner: Ryan Couture by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:15 of round one. He improves to 1-0-0.

 

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final

Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm vs Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano

Round 1:
Damm opened the fight with kicks to the head and body, then clinched and took Akano’s back. She dragged Akano to the ground and a scramble ensued. Damm wound up in Akano’s guard and the fighters exchanged short punches on the ground. Damm postured up and landed two solid punches and Akano tried for a triangle choke. Damm avoided danger and the fighters were stood up. Damm landed a spinning backfist, but Akano took her down with a judo throw. Akano worked for a kneebar and a toe hold before the bell. No surprise, even round. 10-10. The abbreviated rounds are dreadful.

Round 2:
Damm opened round two with another spinning backfist. Akano clinched and took Damm down. She landed in Damm’s half-guard and isolated Damm’s arms. Akano threw punches from the top and transitioned into an omoplata in a scramble. Damm escaped and wound up on top. Akano locked on a triangle choke from the bottom and rolled Damm to the side. She extended Damm’s arm and Damm had nowhere to go. She quickly tapped out.

Winner: Hitomi Akano by Submission (Triangle Armbar) at 1:48 of round two. She improved to 16-7-0 with the win and advanced to the finals of the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament.

 

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final

Miesha “Takedown” Tate vs Maiju Kujala

Round 1:
Tate jabbed and clinched right away, but Kujala defended a takedown attempt. Tate threw knees and Kujala reversed against the cage. More knees followed for Tate and she managed to take Kujala down. Tate landed in side-control, but Kujala regained half-guard and maintained a guillotine choke. As Tate worked for a shoulder choke, the referee stood the fighters up in one of the worst standups ever. Both fighters were completely confused and the round ended seconds later. Terrible officiating. 10-10 round.

Round 2:
The fighters traded jabs in the second round and Tate landed a body kick and a flurry. Kujala clinched, but Tate broke free. She ducked her head and threw a looping combination. Kujala clinched again and threw uppercuts in close. Tate landed a knee to the body and backed up, then threw a head kick. Kujala pressed forward with stiff jabs and stuffed a takedown. A big knee to the body landed for Tate and Kujala answered with uppercuts. Tate took Kujala down and tried to move to side-control. Kujala worked for a guillotine choke from the bottom. 10-9 Tate, barely.

Winner: Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. She improved to 10-2-0 with the win and advanced to the finals of the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament.

 

Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Reserve Bout

Liz Carmouche vs Colleen Schneider

Round 1:
Carmouche pushed forward aggressively right away with punches and clinched. The fighters exchanged knees against the cage and Carmouche used an ankle pick to take Schneider down. Schneider worked back to her feet, but Carmouche took her down again. Carmouche landed a big hammerfist from the top and threw punches to the body until the bell ended the abbreviated round. 10-9 Carmouche.

Round 2:
Carmouche clinched against the cage early in the second round, but Schneider broke free and landed a kick to the upper body. Carmouche answered with a combination and clinched briefly. Schneider shot in for a takedown and Carmouche defended. Both fighters landed short punches to the body until the referee separated them. Schneider missed with a head kick and a spinning back kick. Carmouche backed her up to the cage, but Schneider took her down. She threw punches and dove into side-control as the round ended. 10-10.

Winner: Liz Carmouche by Unanimous Decision after two rounds. She improves to 3-0-0 with the win and will advance to the finals of the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament in the event of an injury.

 

 

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