Ronda Rousey walking in at Strikeforce / Photo: Esther Lin/publicity
This Saturday night was all about Ronaldo Jacaré, who got a 41-second knockout win over Derek Brunson via strikes, and Ronda Rousey, whose own win took about just as long in coming in the main event of the Strikeforce broadcast live across the United States on Showtime channel from San Diego, California.
With the sixth armbar finish of her career, the American Olympic medal-winning judoka displayed more grit and wherewithal than her Canadian counterpart Sarah Kaufman. In launching an attack and going for the takedown, Ronda swiftly ended up in mount. From there, mere seconds lapsed before she’d sunk the fight-ending armbar.
Click here to watch the fight.
“To catch an arm like this women does, I’ve only seen one guy in MMA: Givanildo Santana. Sinister!” remarked the Jiu-Jitsu black belt Carlão Barreto, who doubles as coach and MMA television commentator. “Also, she’s really focused on this strategy of hers; she stalks her opponent. It’s really exciting to watch her fight. She’s the perfect fighter to sell female MMA, because she’s a lioness, pretty and interviews well.”
To Carlão, a showdown between the bantamweight champ and the much heavier Cris Cyborg, towards whom she has made public her animosity, is a tough one to predict. “Anything can happen in MMA. I think Cris can beat her, but if it goes to the ground, no way. [The Brazilian] has to keep the fight standing the whole time,” opined the Carlson Gracie pupil.
While Ronda defended her bantamweight belt, Ronaldo Jacaré likely set himself up for a shot at regaining the title that was once his.
Check out the complete results from yesterday’s show below:
STRIKEFORCE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
AUGUST 18, 2012
Ronda Rousey submitted Sarah Kaufman via armbar in R1;
Ronaldo Jacaré defeated Derek Brunson via KO in R1;
Tarec Saffiedine defeated Roger Bowling via unanimous decision;
Anthony Smith tapped out Lumumba Sayers via triangle in R1;
Ovince St. Preux defeated T.J. Cook via knockout in R3;
Miesha Tate submitted Julie Kedzie via armbar in R3;
Adlan Amagov defeated Keith Berry via TKO in R1;
Germaine de Randamie defeated Hiroko Yamanaka via unanimous decision;
Bobby Green defeated Matt Ricehouse via unanimous decision.