Tim Kennedy impressive again in Strikeforce main event win over Zak Cummings
BIXBY, Okla. – Appearing in his second "Strikeforce Challengers" bout in three months, Army veteran and middleweight Tim Kennedy (11-2) proved he's ready to move on to the organization's big shows.
Kennedy showed a relentless attack as he cruised to a second-round submission win over formerly undefeated prospect Zak Cummings (10-1).
The bout served as the main event of Friday's Showtime-broadcast "Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings" event at SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby, Okla., just outside of Tulsa.
Kennedy picked up where he left off in a June win over Nick Thompson, overpowering Cummings with powerful wrestling and crushing strikes from top position. Cummings proved a game opponent, rolling to avoid blows and submission while absorbing punishment from the top.
It simply delayed the inevitable.
After closing a dominant first round, Kennedy came out aggressive again in the second, leaping to a standing guillotine choke that forced Cummings to scramble. When he did, it was into an even deeper north-south choke. Kennedy squeezed tight, and despite Cummings valiant efforts, he was forced to submit.
The win was Kennedy's third-straight, and pushed him to 2-0 for Strikeforce. Cummings loses for just the first time in his career.
Sefo wins by default; Woodley remains undefeated
Heavyweight Ray Sefo (2-0) walked away with his second career MMA victory in as many attempts, but don't search for his win over Kevin Jordan (11-8) on any upcoming "Sugarfoot" highlight tapes.
After opening the bout with two powerful low kicks, Sefo quickly found himself on the floor. And while the initial transition saw Sefo comfortable on top, Jordan quickly transitioned to top, then mount, leaving the former K-1 champion on the verge of defeat.
Jordan's inability to deliver the finishing blows as Sefo simply covered up would cost him as the second round unfolded.
Jordan shot in on a telegraphed takedown attempt, and Sefo defended well. But as Sefo looked to reset his attack, Jordan remained on the floor. Clutching his leg, Jordan tried to return to his feet. Sefo offered a bit of attack, but it quickly became apparent that Jordan's right knee would no longet support his frame.
Just 24 seconds into the second round, the finish was announced as a verbal submission. The injury was the sole reason for the end, and Jordan was assisted from the cage.
The bout was Sefo's first MMA fight since 2005, while Jordan dropped to 1-2 in 2009.
While welterweight Zach Light's (6-9) record won't necessarily wow anyone on first glance, a quick look at the quality of fighters he's faced shows the grit he brings to the cage. Fast-rising prospect Tyron Woodley (4-0) rendered that toughness irrelevant.
Maintaining the fast-paced onslaught that has become his trademark, Woodley looked fast on his feet but even faster (and more powerful) in his takedown attempts. Tossing Light to the floor at will, Woodley dominated position as he looked repeatedly for a fight-ending arm-triangle choke.
Woodley secured the hold on three separate occasions, but his tendency to stay in knee-on-belly position appeared to give Light the space he needed to remain in the contest. Despite the challenges with the choke, Woodley transitioned into an even-better armbar.
Light appeared to briefly tap, though the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt. Woodley torqued, and a second, more certain tap came at 3:38 of the second frame.
Woodley remains undefeated through four impressive performances to open his career, while Light has now dropped four straight contests.
Longacre wins in thriller, Cormier victorious in debut
While Thomas Longacre (5-0) and Travis Calanoc (4-1) weren't among the most-discussed fighters entering Friday night's card, their performances in the cage may ensure they're considered a bit more highly in future appearances.
Longacre and Calanoc stood toe-to-toe in an entertaining kickboxing affair for the majority of their 15 minutes in the cage, making only the briefest of trips to the mat. Longacre used a mix of punches and kicks at various levels to keep his opponent guessing, while Calanoc scored several big knees that turned the tide of the bout when needed.
The action rarely slowed, and the crowd in attendance was on their feet throughout the contest. Neither fighter was ever in any real danger, but it was the constant attack of Longacre that separated him in the judges eyes.
In a bout that was closer and more entertaining than the score would indicate, Longacre took a unanimous decision, earning a clean sweep on all three judges' cards while remaining undefeated in his first five contests. Calanoc drops the first fight of his career, though there was little shame in the effort.
Former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier (1-0) entered his professional debut with a seemingly predictable gameplan. But while Cormier's ground game was undoubtedly effective, the 30-year-old was also unafraid to stand and trade hands with opponent Gary Frazier (0-1).
The strategy appeared a bit dangerous in the early going, and Frazier was able to sneak in a few stiff shots on the feet while literally running away from Cormier's shots. But the American Kickboxing Academy-trained fighter stood firm in the pocket and measured his opponent well.
After wearing his opponent down in spots on the ground, Cormier looked to end the bout in the second. A missed Frazier knee left him vulnerable as he slipped to the floor, and Cormier pounced. A barrage of shots followed on the ground, and while the damage wasn't overly effective, the non-stop nature of the blows forced the stoppage at the 3:39 mark of the second frame.
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy wrestler earned the victory in his professional debut, much to the delight of the pro-Cormier crowd.
Sitzes wows, Bradley dominates in prelim features
As is often the case, the lone female fight of the evening turned into a show-stealer.
In a contrast of styles, Jeri Sitzes (4-1) used a powerful striking game to punish her opponent, while Lacey Schuckman (2-1) looked to utilize her grappling prowess to gain an advantage on the floor. Shuckman looked sharp early, but she appeared to lose steam after clutching firmly onto a missed guillotine choke, and the momentum took a decided turn.
Sitzes began to find range for her punches in the second, and Schuckman's face showed the wear. Despite the damage, Schuckman continued to fight valiantly into the final frame, but Sitzes speed and power quickly became too much to handle. Sitzes opened with a barrage of punches that forced the stoppage at the 2:18 mark and brought the prelims to an end with the crowd on their feet.
Former "The Ultimate Fighter 7" cast member Paul Bradley (11-1) used a familiar recipe to dominate Tulsa native Levi Avera (12-6) for 15 minutes.
Bradley worked jabs briefly on the feet, but it was a constant barrage of takedown attempts and ground and pound that left Avera unable to answer from his back. Avera tried to stall on the bottom, but Bradley stayed busy enough throughout the affair to secure a one-sided unanimous decision win.
The victory was Bradley's first since suffering the lone loss of his professional career, while the defeat snapped a two-fight win streak for Avera.
Houston, Giddens impress; Pulsifer, Smith earn quick stoppages
Despite having just one prior professional contest, middleweight Trey Houston (2-0) looked utterly dominant in his bout with Brandon Gaines (4-11).
Gaines missed on judo tosses in both the first and second rounds, and Houston used the gaffes to gain dominant position and control the action throughout the bout. Gaines showed heart by fending off choke attempts and a ground-and-pound attack, but the offense was coming solely from Houston.
A scramble in the second left Houston with an opportunity to lock in the arm-triangle choke. It wasn't the cleanest choke, but Houston wrenched the hold and powered Gaines into submission at the 1:28 mark of the second round.
Tulsa natives Kenny Giddens (9-5) and Jon Carson (7-2) each received a warm reception from the gathered crowd, but the action in the cage turned out a bit more one-sided than the welcome.
Giddens kept his opponent off-balance with a constant attack of snapping low kicks and stiff jabs on the feet, and Carson never looked comfortable in the cage. Carson survived the first round, but his hesitance would cost him in the second.
After Giddens landed a few stiff shots to the head inside, Carson looked for a takedown. He shot directly into a D'arce choke, and the hold proved secure. Carson tried to roll out to no avail, tapping with 45 seconds left in the second frame.
In a matchup of two Oklahoma products, Josh Pulsifer (12-4) offered little regard for his opponent's previously undefeated record.
Pulsifer scored an early takedown of Nick Gibbons (13-1), and set up quickly in half-mount. Gibbons tried to slide out from underneath his opponent, but Pulsifer locked in a D'arce choke and forced the tap just 65 seconds after the bout began.
In the evening's first contest, Oklahoman Dillon Smith (2-0) waste little time in his attack on Lemont Davis (2-4).
After Davis tries a few initial low kicks, Smith secured a trip takedown, worked to mount, and locked in a rear-naked choke, forcing the tap. The entire process took just 75 seconds.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
* Tim Kennedy def. Zak Cummings via submission (north-south choke) - Round 2, 2:43
* Ray Sefo def. Kevin Jordan via TKO (injury) - Round 2, 0:24
* Tyron Woodley def. Zach Light via submission (armbar) - Round 2, 3:38
* Thomas Longacre def. Travis Calanoc via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
* Daniel Cormier def. Gary Frazier via TKO (punches) - Round 2, 3:39
PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
* Jeri Sitzes def. Lacey Schuckman via TKO (punches) - Round 3, 2:18
* Paul Bradley def. Levi Avera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
* Trey Houston def. Brandon Gaines via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 2, 1:28
* Kenny Giddens def. Jon Carson via submission (D'arce choke) - Round 2, 4:15
* Josh Pulsifer def. Nick Gibbons via submission (D'arce choke) - Round 1, 1:05
* Dillon Smith def. Lemont Davis via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 1:15
