Strikeforce Challengers 16 Live Play-By-Play & ResultsMMARising.com reports live from the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington for coverage of Strikeforce Challengers 16. The event was headlined by a lightweight bout between rising star Caros “The Future” Fodor and James Terry, with the winner looking to graduate from the Challengers Series.

Also on the card, Ryan Couture made his third appearance for Strikeforce when he faced unbeaten prospect Matt Ricehouse, while Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie faced Julia “The Jewel” Budd in a rematch from a past Muay Thai bout. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

 

Caros “The Future” Fodor vs James Terry

Round 1:
Fodor closed the distance right away and threw short punches and knees to the body. Terry landed a right hook and Fodor answered with one of his own. He punched his way into a clinch, but Terry reversed against the cage. Terry landed a body kick and backed away, but Fodor walked forward with more punches and clinched once more. the fighters traded knees and Fodor scored with a big combination that backed Terry up.

Terry recovered and both landed punches in a clinch. Fodor pressed Terry up against the cage and threw a standing elbow. Terry answered with punches and the fighters briefly separated. Both landed big punches and knees and clinched again. Back in the centre of the cage, Terry landed a knee and Fodor responded with a one-two. Terry threw Fodor to the mat and avoided a triangle choke. Good round. 10-9 Fodor by a small margin.

Round 2:
Fodor immediately backed Terry up to the cage with a flurry of punches and a knee in round two. He remained very aggressive and continued to strike to the body in close. Terry reversed the clinch and scored a takedown near the cage. He landed on top in half-guard and looked to set up an arm-triangle choke. Fodor scrambled to his feet and landed a quick combination.

The fight returned to a clinch against the cage and Terry prevented Fodor from moving. Eventually, Fodor managed to circle out and he landed two punches in succession. Fodor backed Terry up and another clinch followed. Terry put Fodor against the fence and tried for a takedown. Fodor stayed on his feet until the bell. Another close round. 10-9 Fodor due to more effective striking.

Round 3:
As in the first two rounds, Fodor was ultra-aggressive in the final round and even dropped Terry briefly with an opening salvo of punches. The fighters clinched briefly and Fodor backed Terry up to the cage with punches. Time was called after an accidental low blow. Action quickly resumed and Terry complained about a kick to the groin. Referee Anthony Hamlett waved the fight on and Fodor landed punches and a leg kick.

Terry scored with two jabs, but Fodor landed another leg kick and a one-two. Terry shot in for a takedown and Fodor defended against the cage. Knees were exchanged and Terry managed to score a takedown late in the round. He could do little with the position before time expired, but ended the round on top. Another very close round. 10-9 Fodor, again for more effective striking.

Winner: Caros Fodor by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 6-0-0, 1 NC.

 

Matt Ricehouse vs Ryan Couture

Round 1:
Ricehouse threw a grazing head kick early on and the fighters clinched. Couture landed a knee to the body and one to the face. Both landed leg kicks and Couture followed with a stiff jab. A nice right hook found the mark for Ricehouse and the fighters clinched again. Couture landed a knee and Ricehouse fought out with two punches.

Both fighters landed strikes in close and Ricehouse backed Couture up to the cage. Couture reversed the clinch and targeted the body with punches and a knee. The fighters separated and Ricehouse tripped Couture to the mat after catching a kick. Couture fought back to his feet and clinched up before landing a knee as the close round ended. 10-9 Couture.

Round 2:
Ricehouse landed a right hook and a knee to the body to open the second round. He kept Couture on the defensive and landed a solid kick to the body. Couture rushed in with three punches, but Ricehouse circled away. A head kick from Couture was blocked by Ricehouse, who promptly returned the favour with a kick of his own.

Ricehouse clinched and tried for a takedown. He nearly got it, but Couture stayed on his feet. The fighters separated and Ricehouse threw another head kick. He backed Couture up with a lead left hook and stayed one step ahead in the striking exchanges. A devastating kick to the body scored for Ricehouse, but Couture shook it off and recovered. Ricehouse landed kicks and punches late in the round. 10-9 Ricehouse.

Round 3:
Couture looked to land leg kicks in the final round, but Ricehouse remained effective with punches. He missed with one, however, and Couture took his back while standing. Ricehouse spun out and backed away. Couture landed a one-two and a knee, but Ricehouse showed no ill effects. He landed a leg kick that sent Couture off-balance and just missed with a jumping knee. Couture blocked a head kick and landed a leg kick.

Knees and overhand rights landed for both fighters in close and Ricehouse followed up with a one-two. A grazing head kick connected for Ricehouse and Couture answered with a kick to the body. Ricehouse slammed him to the mat and worked from the top in Couture’s guard. He stood and Couture followed. Ricehouse landed a body kick and Couture answered with a knee. Ricehouse clinched and avoided a takedown from Couture. 10-9 Ricehouse.

Winner: Matt Ricehouse by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 5-0-0.

 

Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin vs Gian Villante

Round 1:
The fight opened with an exchange of kicks and Villante scored a violent slam takedown. He fought off a guillotine choke attempt and landed elbows. Larkin got back to full guard and the action slowed somewhat as Villante punched to the head and body while Larkin kept him tied up in rubber guard. Villante closed out the round on top and landed a few more strikes to the body. 10-9 Villante.

Round 2:
More leg kicks were exchanged in the second round and Villante landed a lead left hook. Larkin responded with a one-two and Villante caught a kick. He backed Larkin up to the cage and looked for a takedown. Larkin countered with hammerfist strikes to the thigh. Villante landed a hard knee to the body and retained the clinch against the cage.

Larkin scored with two knees to the thigh and a series of punches. Villante shook them off and landed a head kick. Larkin quickly replied with two hard leg kicks and a left hook. More leg kicks followed from Larkin and he connected with two big punches in close. Larkin continued to score with kicks in the final 30 seconds, but time was called after one strayed low. He closed out the round with a jumping switch kick. 10-9 Larkin.

Round 3:
Larkin landed kicks to the legs and body in the final round, but time was called after Villante was poked in the eye. The fight quickly resumed and Villante flashed out a head kick. Larkin blocked it and avoided a takedown. He landed a straight right that snapped Villante’s head back, then scored with a hard leg kick and a one-two combo.

Larkin remained aggressive with strikes as Villante circled away. A lead left hook and a body kick landed for Larkin and he stepped out of a single-leg takedown attempt. Larkin defended another takedown and landed two quick punches as Villante struggled to score with anything. He landed a body kick, but Larkin circled to the side and scored a takedown before the bell. 10-9 Larkin.

Winner: Lorenz Larkin by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 11-0-0.

 

Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High vs Quinn Mulhern

Round 1:
Mulhern landed a flurry of punches and a knee early on and remained aggressive with strikes as High circled and countered with jabs. A nice leg kick landed for High and he tripped Mulhern to the mat. High stood and Mulhern followed. Once more, High slammed Mulhern down and stood up to escape an armbar. Mulhern got back to his feet and ducked into a head kick. The kick struck just below Mulhern’s jaw and he was unfazed.

High attempted a takedown and Mulhern looked to counter with a heel hook. High spun out and the fight returned to the feet. Mulhern landed a kick to the chest and a right hook that prompted High to take him down. Mulhern again latched onto a leg, but High escaped. High landed a three-punch flurry on the feet and took Mulhern down. He stood and Mulhern drilled him with an upkick. High landed a left hook and scored another takedown before the bell. 10-9 High.

Round 2:
High missed with a left hook, but scored another takedown to open the second round. Mulhern tried to stand up, then attempted a triangle choke on the ground when he couldn’t. High wound up in Mulhern’s guard, but he stood up soon after. Mulhern tried to grab hold of a leg, but High countered by slamming him down to the mat against the cage.

Mulhern stood and landed a body kick, only to be taken back down again. High landed short elbows from Mulhern’s guard and Mulhern looked to counter with a modified triangle choke. High powered out and postured up. Back on the feet, Mulhern looked to strike, but High tripped him once more. He remained on top until the bell. 10-9 High.

Round 3:
Mulhern landed an uppercut to begin the final round and was predictably taken down. He got back to his feet, but High landed a lunging one-two and scored another takedown. The fighters were stood up and High wasted no time in taking Mulhern right back down. The crowd grew restless with the strategy, but High quickly worked for a guillotine choke.

Mulhern tried to stand to escape the choke, but wound up on his back with High in his guard. Mulhern nearly scrambled up and free of the clinch, but High tripped him and struck from the top. Once more, Mulhern stood and was immediately slammed down. High ended the round on top. 10-9 High.

Winner: Jason High by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 14-3-0.

 

Julia “The Jewel” Budd vs Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie

Round 1:
Budd clinched immediately and backed de Randamie up to the cage, but could not get her down. She finally managed to secure a takedown and de Randamie countered with a guillotine choke. Budd fought her way out and landed short strikes from de Randamie’s half-guard. Budd then moved to mount and landed punches.

De Randamie defended well, but Budd managed to move her up against the cage and scored with some big shots. De Randamie swept out of an armbar attempt and struck from Budd’s guard, then stood and allowed her to follow. Budd clinched and de Randamie countered with a knee. Budd took her down and landed short strikes from the top until the bell. 10-9 Budd.

Round 2:
De Randamie landed a one-two in the second round and Budd returned to the clinch. She backed de Randamie up to the cage and tried for a takedown. The fighters battled for position in the clinch and Budd kept de Randamie’s back up against the fence. She tripped de Randamie to the mat and landed in side control.

De Randamie managed to battle back to her feet and scored with a succession of knees to the body. Budd managed to drag her to the mat again and de Randamie tried for another guillotine choke. Budd escaped and threw weak punches and hammerfists with her free hand until the end of the round. 10-9 Budd.

Round 3:
Budd tried for a takedown in the final round, but was stunned by a punch coming in. She dropped to her knees and de Randamie swarmed with more shots from the top. Budd scrambled to her feet, but not before eating some more punches. De Randamie rolled into a guillotine choke and used it to sweep to top position. Budd pushed her off and landed a nice upkick. De Randamie stood over Budd and rained down punches.

Budd attempted to stand and de Randamie secured a front headlock. She landed knees, but Budd took her down. Budd worked from de Randamie’s guard until de Randamie attempted a triangle choke. Budd escaped and de Randamie tied her up. The crowd grew restless and referee Ryan Hoisinton stood the fighters up. De Randamie landed an impactful flying knee, but Budd clinched and took her down. 10-9 de Randamie.

Winner: Julia Budd by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 2-1-0.

 

(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)

 

  1. I said I thought Julia would win.

    I am growing more and more fond of Germaine, because she seems to be really cool and nice, and I didn’t know who I was rooting for, to be honest. But she needs to learn how to fight with her back against the cage and from the bottom. She seems to be easy to control.

    Other than that, Julia fought a very careful fight. Germaine’s few strikes busted her face up badly. So, when she was on top, she was more concerned to protect her own face than trying to G’n’P or to do something meaningful.

    And Julia is definitely not ready for Cyborg. Nor is Germaine…

    Now, let’s have Germaine de Randaime vs Holly Holmes. This is one fight that I would die to see (and I’d bet my money on Germaine…).