Strikeforce put up its cage in San Jose, California, this Saturday for a two-title-fight card. Nick Diaz kept his belt, while Marloes Coenen walked off with Sarah Kaufman’s. Josh Thomson and Tyron Woodley won their commitments, beating Gesias Cavalcante and André Galvão, respectively.
The fight between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons was an evenly matched affair. Diaz took advantage in the opening round landing solid strikes in the standup exchanges. The second round was the other way around, with Noons getting the better of the standing action. The three remaining rounds were hotly disputed, with both fighters on their feet the whole time. Diaz pursued the action more, which made the difference ultimately, as he took a unanimous decision to retain his welterweight-title belt.
Josh Thomson didn’t make Gesias Cavalcante’s return to the USA an easy one. JZ started out well, landed a hard-felt punch and sunk a guillotine. Thomson retorted with an arm-triangle choke. The second round was all the American’s, getting the better of the ground action. In the third, JZ took it to him, mounted and worked the ground-and-pound. Once the final bell had sounded, though, Thomson got the nod from the judges with a unanimous decision. The result could very well have been the other way around, though, depending on who was interpreting the fight.
Challenger Marloes Coenen used her ground savvy to submit Sarah Kaufman and capture the welterweight belt of the female division. Victory came in the shape of a third-round armbar.
In the opening fight of the television broadcast, Tyron Woodley maintained his undefeated record – now counting nine fights – against André Galvão. Woodley shrugged off the Brazilian’s takedown attempts and concluded the altercation with strikes in the first round.
Check out the results:
Strike Force
San Jose, California, USA
October 9, 2010
Nick Diaz defeated K.J Noons via unanimous decision
Josh Thomson defeated Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante via unanimous decision
Marloes Coenen submitted Sarah Kaufman via armbar at1:50 min of R3
Tyron Woodley defeated André Galvão via TKO at 1:48 min of R1
James Terry defeated Bret Bergmark via unanimous decision
Josh McDonald defeated Ron Keslar via unanimous decision
Jess Bouscal submitted Luis Mendoza via armbar at 2:00 min of R2