Strikeforce returned to familiar territory at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for Strikeforce Challengers 20. The card was capped off by a middleweight matchup between Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt and Lumumba Sayers, as both fighters looked to rebound from tough losses.

In the much-discussed co-feature, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist in judo “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey looked to keep her unblemished mixed martial arts record intact when she battled Julia “The Jewel” Budd, and Adlan Amagov faced Anthony Smith. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

Lumumba “Heavy Hands” Sayers vs Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt

Round 1:
Britt looked to clinch right away, but Sayers stuffed it and flurried with punches. Britt buckled against the cage, but stayed on his feet. A right uppercut melted Britt to the mat and the fight was stopped.

Winner: Lumumba Sayers by KO (Punches) at 0:28 of round one. He improves to 5-2-0.

“Rowdy” Ronda Rousey vs Julia “The Jewel” Budd

Round 1:
Budd landed a couple of nice counter hooks right away, but Rousey clinched and took her down. She moved straight to mount and into an armbar. Rousey fell back on the armbar and Budd tried to roll to escape. She wound up belly-down, but refused to tap out. Rousey torqued back on Budd’s right arm again and dislocated her elbow. Budd finally tapped out.

Winner: Ronda Rousey by Submission (Armbar) at 0:39 of round one. She improves to 4-0-0.

Adlan Amagov vs Anthony “Lionheart” Smith

Round 1:
The fighters traded wild punches early on, but neither landed. Amagov took Smith down and Smith tried to set up a triangle choke. Amagov punched to the ribs and the fighters were stood up. Big punches were exchanged and Amagov rocked Smith. A right hand put Smith down for good and Amagov turned his lights out with three punches on the ground.

Winner: Adlan Amagov by KO (Punches) at 2:32 of round one. He improves to 9-1-1.

Trevor “Hot Sauce” Smith vs T.J. Cook

Round 1:
Both fighters landed right hands and leg kicks early in the fight and Smith followed with a head kick. Cook caught a body kick and tried for a takedown, but Smith wound up on top in mount. Cook regained half-guard, but Smith landed short punches with his free hand. Smith tried for a toe hold, but Cook punched his way free. Smith moved to side control and then the back. He tried for an armbar, then switched to a guillotine choke and rolled to mount. Cook held on briefly, but tapped out.

Winner: Trevor Smith by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:28 of round one. He improves to 9-1-0.

Derek Brunson vs Nate James

Round 1:
Brunson opened the fight with a combination and James answered with one of his own. Brunson tripped James to the mat and moved to side control. He tried to move to mount, but James got back to guard. Brunson landed an elbow and escaped a triangle choke. He returned to side control and passed to mount, but James scrambled out and stood up.

The fighters traded knees and time was called after James was kneed in the groin. Action resumed and both fighters landed kicks. Brunson threw a flying switch knee, but James sidestepped and looked to set up punching combinations. A stiff right cross landed for James, but he was poked in the eye. The fight continued after a break and James landed a one-two. Brunson took him down before the bell. 10-9 Brunson.

Round 2:
Brunson took James down right away in the second round and postured up to land punches. Brunson stood and James kicked at his legs. Brunson dove into side control and took James’s back in a scramble. He tried for a rear-naked choke, but James managed to escape. Brunson secured a second choke, but James spun and got out. James stood and Brunson slammed him down to the mat.

James managed to get back to his feet again and rolled for a kneebar. Brunson squirmed free and took back control. He kept James pinned down and looked for a rear-naked choke, but James stood and avoided a left hand. Brunson took James down against the cage and landed hammerfists from the top. Little transpired in the final seconds. 10-9 Brunson.

Round 3:
Punches were exchanged in the final round and Brunson circled on the outside. He landed a leg kick and threw a head kick, but James blocked it and closed the distance. James stuffed a takedown and the crowd began to boo the lack of action. A straight left dropped James and Brunson took his back. He was unable to do anything on the ground and James stood.

Brunson threw knees to the thigh of James in a clinch and kept him pinned up against the cage. The fighters were separated after a stalemate and James looked to land a big punch. Brunson kept his distance and scored with a pair of kicks, then slammed James to the mat. James tried for a gogoplata, but Brunson easily evaded and punched until the bell. 10-9 Brunson.

Winner: Derek Brunson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 9-0-0.