Strikeforce returned to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada this evening for Strikeforce Challengers 19: “Larkin vs Rossborough.” The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between unbeaten rising star Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin and Nick “Leatherface” Rossborough.

In other action on tonight’s main card, Ryan Couture rebounded from the first professional loss of his career by defeating Maka Watson in lightweight action. Shawn Jordan submitted Strikeforce veteran Lavar “Big” Johnson with a second-round keylock in the night’s heavyweight co-main event.

 

Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin vs Nick “Leatherface” Rossborough

Round 1:
Rossborough jabbed and flurried with punches early on and Larkin countered with leg kicks and a flying kick to the body. Larkin used solid head movement to avoid Rossborough’s punches, but Rossborough clinched against the cage. Larkin reversed and landed knees to the thigh. Both fighters landed punches to the body and Larkin broke free with an elbow.

Rossborough closed the distance with punches and Larkin landed an uppercut. Rossborough answered with one of his own and looked for a takedown. Larkin heel kicked at Rossborough’s legs and avoided another takedown. Both landed knees to the thighs and Rossborough flurried late in the close round. 10-9 Larkin, barely.

Round 2:
Larkin opened round two with leg kicks and avoided a combination from Rossborough. A lead right hook landed for Larkin just as Rossborough threw a left. Larkin landed a hard overhand right and a left hook, but Rossborough countered nicely with a right cross. Rossborough threw standing elbows and Larkin pinned him against the cage. The fighters were separated and Larkin missed with a looping hook.

Larkin scored with a hard leg kick and Rossborough closed in with punches. Larkin defended against a takedown and punched to the body. Rossborough landed a front kick to the body, but Larkin’s kicks were much more effective. Rossborough clinched and landed elbows. Both fighters connected with uppercuts and elbows over the top. Larkin took Rossborough’s back and kneed his thigh. Another close round. 10-9 Larkin.

Round 3:
Larkin was active again with kicks in the final round and both fighters teed off with punches. Rossborough scored with a flurry and Larkin drilled him with a devastating knee to the body. Rossborough wilted to the mat and Larkin pounced with punches. He stood and allowed Rossborough to follow. Larkin continued to target the body, but Rossborough became the aggressor. He clinched and tried to take Larkin down.

Larkin stuffed Rossborough’s takedown attempt and Rossborough wound up on the bottom. Larkin landed occasional elbows and punched with his left hand. Rossborough tried to posture for a triangle choke, but Larkin easily avoided danger. A big elbow scored for Larkin and Rossborough attempted an armbar. Larkin cut him badly with elbows and moved to side control. Rossborough bled everywhere from the cut and the round came to a close. 10-9 Larkin.

Winner: Lorenz Larkin by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 12-0-0.

 

Shawn “The Savage” Jordan vs Lavar “Big” Johnson

Round 1:
Jordan landed a hard left hook to the right eye early on and countered a clinch by throwing Johnson to the mat. He pinned him against the cage and used short elbows to move to side control. More elbows scored for Jordan and time was called to check Johnson’s badly swollen right eye. The fight resumed on the feet and Johnson landed a knee. He clinched and landed more knees. Jordan countered with an uppercut, but Johnson landed knees and tried pull guard with a guillotine. Jordan escaped and moved to mount, then punched until the bell. 10-9 Jordan.

Round 2:
Johnson landed a nice uppercut in round two and Jordan fired back with a right hook. Johnson looked to land big right hands and scored with a knee. Jordan clinched and backed Johnson up to the cage, then took him down. From half-guard, Jordan set up a top-side keylock on Johnson’s right arm. He torqued back on Johnson’s arm and Johnson tapped out.

Winner: Shawn Jordan by Submission (Keylock) at 3:08 of round two. He improves to 12-3-0.

 

Ryan Couture vs Maka Watson

Round 1:
Watson landed a right hook to open the fight, but Couture took his back and tried for a standing rear-naked choke. He dragged Watson to the mat and secured a body triangle. Couture switched to an arm-triangle choke, but Watson maintained space and Couture moved to back control again. Couture alternated between rear-naked and arm-triangle choke attempts as Watson tried to roll to escape. Watson scrambled to his feet and threw punches as Couture attempted a triangle choke. 10-9 Watson.

Round 2:
Left hooks landed for both fighters in the second round and Couture just missed with a knee. He took Watson down and moved to side control. Couture transitioned to back control and used punches to try to set up a rear-naked choke. He switched to mount briefly and then to the back again. Watson scrambled and took top position. He landed a series of punches and short elbows in the final minute. Close round. 10-9 Watson, barely.

Round 3:
Watson took Couture down in the final round and punched until Couture postured for a Kimura. Couture stood and was slammed down again. Watson stood and landed an axe kick to the body. Couture swept into mount with a triangle choke and landed elbows. He took Watson’s back and tried for a rear-naked choke. Couture switched back and forth from mount and back control and landed punches and elbows throughout. He attempted an arm-triangle choke before the bell. 10-9 Couture.

Winner: Ryan Couture by Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28) after three rounds. He improves to 3-1-0.

 

Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High vs Todd “Maniac” Moore

Round 1:
High landed a left hook and a grazing head kick early in the fight and followed with a looping one-two. He took Moore down and immediately tried for an arm-triangle choke. High punched with his left hand and continued to look for the choke. He let it go and switched to elbows from half-guard. High tried for another arm-triangle and then a guillotine choke. Moore escaped and High moved to side control, then mount. High landed two big punches and an elbow. 10-9 High.

Round 2:
The fighters exchanged leg kicks in the second round and High was kicked in the groin. Time was called, but action soon resumed and High took Moore down. High once again looked to set up an arm-triangle choke, but Moore swept and worked from High’s guard. High reversed and retook top position. He alternated between arm-triangle and guillotine choke attempts. Moore got back to full guard, but High passed back to half-guard and attempted another guillotine. 10-9 High.

Round 3:
High immediately took Moore down in the final round and countered an armbar attempt by moving to half-guard. He landed a short elbow and Moore began to bleed heavily from the back of his head. High struck from the top and tried for arm-triangle chokes. Moore attempted to stand and High countered with a guillotine. The fighters exchanged short strikes on the ground and High landed elbows in the final 30 seconds. 10-9 High.

Winner: Jason High by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 15-3-0.

 

Brian Melancon vs Felipe “Balboa” Portela

Round 1:
Melancon opened the fight with a flurry of punches and Portela countered with a leg kick. A lead left hook scored for Melancon and he followed with a one-two. Both fighters landed leg kicks and stiff jabs. Portela continued to find success with kicks and he landed a nice combination in close. Melancon countered a body kick with a three-punch combo. He jabbed and landed right hands.

Melancon pushed forward with an uppercut that just missed, then tried for a takedown. He slammed Portela down and moved to North-South position. Portela stood and the fighters clinched against the cage. Portela circled away and landed a hard right hook and a front kick. Melancon began to target the body with punches, but Portela answered with kicks. Melancon stuffed a takedown and threw Portela to the mat. Good round. 10-9 Melancon.

Round 2:
Power punches were exchanged in round two and both fighters landed. Time was called after Melancon was kicked in the groin. Action resumed and Portela landed kick-punch combos. Portela jabbed and Melancon answered with a right hand that set off an exchange of hard punches. Portela ducked under a right hook and landed one of his own. Melancon flurried, but came up short. He tried for a takedown and Portela stuffed it.

The fighters clinched against the cage and traded knees. Portela landed a right hook and backed away. A left hook to the body and an overhand right scored for Melancon and he just missed with an uppercut. Portela landed a leg kick and a pair of right hands. He took Melancon down against the cage and landed a knee to the chest. Melancon dropped Portela with a hook right at the bell. 10-9 Portela, despite the late knockdown.

Round 3:
Both fighters landed leg kicks in the final round and Melancon connected with a lead left hook. He followed with an uppercut and a right cross. The fighters traded hooks and Portela attempted a head kick. Melancon blocked it and landed a left hook to the liver. Another left hook scored for Melancon, but Portela answered back with a head kick and the fighters teed off with punches.

Melancon took Portela down against the cage and Portela tried to sit up. Melancon kept him down and landed short left hands. Portela scrambled to his feet and landed a combination and a knee. Melancon took him back down and struck from the top. Portela stood and ate a left hand, but landed a knee. He tried unsuccessfully for a takedown. 10-9 Melancon.

Winner: Brian Melancon by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 6-2-0.