Strikeforce: Feijao vs Henderson Recap

While many write off Strikeforce as simply as wanna be UFC or as the number two best American based MMA promotion, the recent Strikeforce: Feijao vs Henderson event that took place in Columbus, Ohio did not disappoint as there was action in each bout on the main card. From a lightweight battle between two prospects, to the back & forth battle for the Light Heavyweight title which served as the main event.

Fight Results:
Kuhner receives Rnd2 Technical Submission Win over Felty
Whitesel receives Rnd1 Submission Win over Cofer
Rogers receives Rnd1 TKO Win over Rammel
Freeman receives Rnd1Submission Win over Riley
Gurgel receives Rnd1 Submission Win over Vaughan
Bowling receives Unanimous Decision Win over Thornburg
Masvidal receives Unanimous Decision Win over Evangelista
Kennedy receives Rnd1 Submission Win over Manhoef
Coenen receives Rnd4 Submission Win & Retains Title over Carmouche
Henderson receives Rnd3 TKO Win & Championship over Feijao



Honorable Prelim Mention: Gurgel vs Vaughan
The honorable mention for this Strikeforce card will go to the lightweight bout between former UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel & relatively unknown Billy Vaughan. The bout went quick as there were only around two strikes landed altogether as both went right up to each other using small jabs to simply check their range. Gurgel then threw a kick to the body which Vaughan caught & answered with a short punch that followed with a takedown attempt which sent Gurgel to a sprawl. Immediately while sprawling Gurgel would work for a standing guillotine choke forcing it with his bicep. After losing some grip Gurgel went right back to the choke tightening enough that he jumped to guard & quickly forced Vaughan to tapout. This Rnd1 Submission win over marked Gurgel's first win since June 2009 after two straight losses after being outclassed last against K.J. Noons at Strikeforce: Houston.

Masvidal vs Evangelista
The opening bout for the main card presented a lightweight contest between two prospects as Jorge Masvidal met Billy Evangelista. Mavidal used his striking to beat Evangelista to the punch most of the fight & taking him down almost on cue. The dominant performance saw Masvidal through all three rounds earning a Unanimous Decision with all three judges rewarding 30-27/30-27/30-27 which gave Evangelista his first professional loss.


Kennedy vs Manhoef
This Middleweight bout saw active serving US Army Ranger veteran Tim Kennedy facing dangerous kickboxer Melvin Manhoef. The start of the bout saw both keep distance as Kennedy wanted to avoid the leg power of Manhoef, & Manhoef wanted to avoid the takedown of Kennedy. Kennedy through a leg kick of his own that was followed by an immediate takedown attempt that Manhoef surprisingly fought off very well & slipped away from his grip. For a brief time after the skirmish both would be tentative & keep distance until Kennedy broke the stalemate with a push kick. Kennedy then threw a missing left hook that Manhoef tried to answer with his own also missing as Kennedy set up a shot for a takedown that was again stuffed & shrugged off. After Manhoef threw a signature leg kick that missed, Kennedy would give his own leg kick that was received immediately with a flurry of punches that pushed him back. Manhoef then finally landed a powerful leg kick that swept Kennedy to the ground but quickly got back up. After another landing kick & a miss from Manhoef, Kennedy shoots for the much wanted takedown & gets it. Kennedy quickly gets from side control to the mount carefully picking some strong shots before forcing his bicep in for the Rear Naked Choke quickly receiving the Rnd1 Submission win. During the post fight chat, Kennedy called fellow a fellow runner up for the title in Robbie Lawler hoping to get the bout before he is redeployed to active military service & giving praise to his fellow brothers & sisters in arms.


(C) Coenen vs Carmouche
The co-main event of the night was set with defending Women's Welterweight champion Marloes Coenen taking on the undefeated Marine Corps veteran Liz Carmouche. Rnd1 started as expected with Coenen using her experience & training at Golden Glory as the entire first round saw the champ keep Carmouche at bay with strikes including strong leg kicks & punches that catch Carmouche as she comes in. With just over two minutes left in the round Carmouche closes in & clinches Coenen against the cage giving small but good strikes. The two switch repeatedly against the cage as they exchange positions, knees, & even foot stomps before the ref splits them exactly at a minute left. The rest of the round saw Coenen dish out some kickboxing even using a push kick to keep Carmouche away, as that adds to give the round to Coenen in my view 10-9. Rnd2 saw both meet in the center immediately exchanging good leg kicks & punches. Carmouche then forces a clinch against the cage that the champ quickly turns on her & gives good knees to the challenger. Carmouche then forces forward moving down to a takedown but is reveived with a knee & is stuffed against the cage. While against the cage Coenen locks on a standing guillotine that in a few glimpses looked to have made the challenger tapout, though the ref does not see them & fans do not look at them as well. Carmouche swings around & Coenen pulls her down still holding the guillotine, though while positioning her legs for guard Carmouche slips out. While in guard, Carmouche does what not many fighters do & gives knees to the thighs of Coenen. While using her feet to push around off the cage, Coenen begins to hook an armbar that the challenger sees coming & instantly pulls out of as she is now postured up in open guard giving some strikes from standing position. After diving back into guard, Carmouche quickly moves to side-control & delivers knees to the shoulder carefully aiming away from the head. After ending up in North-South position, Coenen tries to take the back of Carmouche by arching her back trying to hook her legs around her body, but Carmouche realizes it & moves back to side-control. After slipping out of an ankle lock attempt, Carmouche quickly moves to the mount where she delivers some G&P. Coenen would toss her legs upward repeatedly trying to hook the challenger & pull her down, though she is unsuccessful. the round ends with me awarding Carmouche a 10-9. Rnd3 begins with Carmouche going for the takedown against the cage. For much of the round the two trade position along the cage & exchanging knees & small shots. Carmouche then pushes for a takedown & lands atop in side-control & moving back to the mount. Like the last round, Carmouche remains atop in mount for the remainder as Coenen repeatedly tries to hook her legs upward. The round ends with Carmouche receiving a 10-8 from me. Rnd4 starts fast with both clinching & trying to trip the other, with Coenen being successful ending up in the guard. Coenen is then pushed off & Carmouche powers forward trying for a double-leg. Immediately getting the takedown, Carmouche ends up in a triangle choke that is more difficult to escape with the longs legs of Coenen locking tighter every second. Attempting to escape, Carmouche had no choice but to submit which awarded Coenen with her first victory as champion with a Rnd4 Submission win. Even while receiving her first professional defeat, Carmouche boosted her stock proving that even while serving as a late replacement, she was a true contender.


(C) Feijao vs Henderson
The main event of the night did not disappoint as fans were entertained with a back & forth three round exchange between defending Light Heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante & former two division champ Dan Henderson. The opening Rnd1 proved the predictions of bloggers, fans, & journalists as Henderson kept his signature right hand close to his chin like a shotgun waiting to let loose. Only while watching the bout could you see the size difference between the two with Feijao being the larger mass & bigger hands than the traditional Middleweight Henderson. Both were tentative for some time knowing that the other had knockout power. Feijao was first to strike with a good leg kick that Henderson just answered with a grin. Backing Feijao against the cage in range, Henderson unleashed his right hand grazing his chin & land a good shot before backing off. After which Feijao answers with his own overhand right that clips Henderson actually sending him on his back before quickly scrambling up holding Feijao's lower body pushing through to a takedown.Simply holding down Feijao, Henderson uses the time on top to recover waiting for the stand up. Stalking Feijao against the cage, Henderson throws another right that missed the jaw but hit the body & they both clinch. Both switch along the cage exchanging knees until a split from the ref leads to another stalemate to end Rnd1 which I scored to Feijao 10-9. Rnd2 starts with Henderson giving a leg kick & later throws the right hand again tagging the champ & followed with a left body shot which is answered with a missing right from Feijao. Immediately after Henderson does his signature combo of setting up the right hand with a light left leg kick that included a good left jab. Another Henderson left jab is followed by a missing right as Feijao ducks for a takedown that is stuffed as he is pushed against the cage. Henderson uses the time against the cage to simply regain energy while making Feijao hold up his weight. Going for a single, Henderson's attempt at a takedown is stuffed & he pushes it back to the cage. Both then try to swing the other to toss for a takedown which both fail on the first attempt, though the second attempt sees Feijao try to trip the Greco-Roman wrestler which is reversed when Henderson swings his body around to use the momentum to end up on top in half-guard as gravity sucked Feijao down. While Henderson goes for side control Feijao grabs a leg & reverses to top position in full-guard. Taking some small but still strong punches, Henderson holds Feijao waiting for the ref to finally stand them up. A missing head kick & 1-2 combo from Feijao gets answered with a superman punch that is blocked. Henderson sets up with a good leg kick that follows with another superman punch partially connecting & follows with a powered through takedown that sees him in half-guard for the final thirty seconds which leads to scoring Rnd2 to Henderson with 10-9. Rnd3 opens with Feijao landing a right leg kick answered by Henderson with a blocked counter right. Henderson again stalking to the cage faking a left that sets up a straight right including an uppercut & into a clinch that Feijao quickly slips away from. Visibly setting up his signature combo, Henderson throws a test left leg kick that follows with a real one & a 1-2 that catches & spins Feijao with the right sending him face first into the canvas where he is followed by ground-&-pound shortly before it is stopped. With a Rnd3 TKO win, Henderson becomes the new Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion at age 40.