Strikeforce Fedor vs. Henderson Results: Miesha Tate Upsets Marloes Coenen, Wins Title

It is not very often that you get a match-up of two fighters widely considered in the top 5 pound-for-pound in the world. That’s exactly what you get with Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate, who face off for Strikeforce’s 135 pound title.

The first round began with a bang, as both fighters declined to touch gloves and immediately began working up against the cage. Tate got the upperhand initially, pummeling and even working the often underutilized foot stomp. Coenen was able to reverse positions briefly, but eventually found her back back up against the cage. The fighters briefly reset in the middle of the cage, before Tate pushed Coenen back up against the cage. Coenen immediately placed her hands in position for a guillotine, before dragging the fight to the floor. It seemed like she had Tate in legitimate danger from the submission, but ultimately failed to get the stoppage. Tate began working from top control, where she worked her way into side control. She delievered a few shots from the top, and finished the round in this position.

The second began much like the first, with both ladies clinching before Tate pushed Coenen up against the cage. Tate tried to work for a single leg takedown, but Coenen expertly transitioned onto Tate’s back and dragged them down to the floor. On the mat, Coenen cinched up a body lock with her legs and started to deliver strikes in hopes of opening up the lanes for a choke. The two continued an epic battle of hand fighting, as Tate defended her neck. Marloes temporarily gave up on the choke and began to deliver some big shots from back mount. The two continued their battle for positioning as the round came to an end. While there may not have been a ton of action, it was clear that this round was all Marloes Coenen.

The third round saw both women show some intentions to keep the fight standing, as they exchanged kicks and punches. Coenen tried for a leg kick which had initially found success, but saw it caught by Tate who used it to drag the fight down to the mat. As we’ve come to expect, Coenen remained active on her back, using excellent hip movement to always threaten a submission. Miesha Tate did little from the top, which ultimately led to both fighters begin stood back up. This only lasted for a second though, as Tate secured yet another takedown. With 10 seconds remaining, Coenen executed a great sweep to end the round in top position.

The fourth saw another early exchange from both fighters. Tate was able to secure another takedown, which Coenen immediately turned into a guillotine. Tate freed her head and found herself in side control. Coenen tried to walk up the cage to escape bottom position, but found herself on the wrong end of a arm triangle choke. Tate jumped over her hips and sunk the choke in deep. Coenen tried to defend it, but in the end succumbed to the choke and tapped out.

A very impressive display of grappling by Meisha Tate tonight. She was able to take the fight down to the ground whenever she wanted, and applied the fight winning submission expertly and with ease. As for Coenen, it was only a matter of time before her last second, comeback tactics came back to bite her, and tonight was that time.