Strikeforce: Columbus (2 Title fights)

[Liquidrob]

http://mmajunkie.com/news/22281/strikeforce-official-for-march-5-in-ohio-four-main-card-bouts-set.mma

Strikeforce official for March 5 in Ohio, four main-card bouts set

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jan 31, 2011 at 12:10 pm ET
Strikeforce's Ohio debut is now official.

Executives today confirmed a long-rumored March 5 event, which takes place at Nationwide Arena in Columbus in conjunction with the Arnold Sports Festival.

Four fights are official for the card, including a pair of championship five-round bouts in the men's and women's divisions. They all air as part of the night's Showtime broadcast.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously reported, the headliners include light-heavyweight champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (10-2 MMA, 3-1 SF) vs. Dan Henderson (26-8 MMA, 1-1 SF) and women's welterweight champion Marloes Coenen (18-4 MMA, 2-1 SF) vs. Meisha Tate (11-2 MMA, 4-1 SF).

Also slated for the card are lightweights Billy Evangelista (11-0 MMA, 7-0 SF) vs. Jorge Masvidal (20-6 MMA, 2-0 SF). Additionally, a new addition includes middleweights Tim Kennedy (12-3 MMA, 3-1 SF) vs. Luke Rockhold (7-1 MMA, 6-0 SF). (As we reported earlier today, a planned third bout between Kennedy and Jason "Mayhem" Miller has been scrapped.)

Strikeforce takes an open event slot previously taken by the UFC and WEC, which hosted shows with the Arnold Sports Festival from 2007 to 2010. The Arnold Sports Festival is three-day sports and fitness exhibition that draws tens of thousands of attendees.

Strikeforce never has held an event in Ohio, though the company did visit Florida, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas for the first time in the promotion's history in 2010. Ohio regulates more shows per year than any other U.S. athletic commission.

For the latest on "Strikeforce: Columbus," stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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Dan Henderson vs Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante for LHW Title
Meisha Tate vs Marloes Coneon for WW Title
Billy Evangelista vs Jorge Masvidal
Luke Rockhold vs Tim Kennedy

[Warner2BruceTD]

Nice bait and switch, "two title fights", everyone knows broads don't count unless it's Cyborg.

I like this card, even with the sock folders.

sidenote-Rockhold v Kennedy has got to be the most charisma deprived major fight we've seen in years. If those guys were any more vanilla, they'd be one of those generic white UFC prelim guys with no sponsers on their trunks.

[CrimsonGhost56]

dangerous dan hollywood hendo henderson gonna get that belt back

[Liquidrob]

Nice bait and switch, "two title fights", everyone knows broads don't count unless it's Cyborg.

I like this card, even with the sock folders.

sidenote-Rockhold v Kennedy has got to be the most charisma deprived major fight we've seen in years. If those guys were any more vanilla, they'd be one of those generic white UFC prelim guys with no sponsers on their trunks.

I bet Rockhold will be trending on twitter all night

[clovett]

manhoef rumored to be on the card as well......another solid card from strikeforce

[clovett]

Tim Kennedy won't fight Luke Rockhold, after all.

A few days after Strikeforce officials announced that middleweight matchup, MMAjunkie.com has learned Kennedy instead will fight Melvin Manhoef at next month's show.

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Manhoef is in for a tough one. Kennedy is tough as nails and really well-rounded. He needs to put him out early or Kennedy will put him on his back.

My first feeling is that Coenen is putting Tate to sleep. Her submission game is too strong. Tate did well against Akano, but Coenen is a bigger and better grappler.

[Liquidrob]

Figured Rockhold must have got hurt, poor kid cant stay healthy

I dont like this fight, but Kennedy wants to fight bad, Manhoef is always in shape and doesnt care that much about winning or losing, just getting in there and fighting, not many guys would take Kennedy on short notice

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SHOWTIME BOUTS:
- Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (10-2) vs. Dan Henderson (26-8) **LHW Title Bout**
- Marloes Coenen (18-4) vs. Miesha Tate (11-2) **135 lbs Title Bout**
- Tim Kennedy (12-3) vs. Melvin Manhoef (24-8)
- Billy Evangelista (11-0) vs. Jorge Masvidal (20-6)

RUMORED PRELIM BOUTS:
- Roger Bowling (7-1) vs. Josh Thornberg (4-1)
- Jorge Gurgel (13-7) vs. Tyler Combs (14-5)
- Jessica Eye (3-0) vs. Jan Finney (6-8)
- Brian Rogers (6-2) vs. Mojo Horne (5-1)
- Jason Riley (9-5) vs. Jason Freeman (5-4)
- Marc Cofer (6-5) vs. Mitch Whitesel (15-19)
- JP Felty (0-0) vs. John Kuhner (1-2)

[Liquidrob]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QrWxMLtW5X0

[Liquidrob]

Meisha Tate out with injury, Liz Carmouche to fight Maroes for the title

[SHOGUN]

Meisha Tate out with injury, Liz Carmouche to fight Maroes for the title

Disappointing. Was really looking forward to that one.

I don't think Carmouche is ready for the jump in talent.