Strikeforce: Rockhold v. Jardine - ShoExtrme Prelims

Tonight on Showtime, Luke Rockhold will make his first Middleweight title defense against Keith Jardine, who's also making his Middleweight debut. It's definitely an odd bit of matchmaking as Jardine is coming off a draw against Gegard Mousasi and has never fought in the division, but thin rosters will cause this sort of thing. Regardless of the legitimacy of the title shot this promises to be a fun fight.

Before that, however, Showtime is airing the prelims (for the first time, I believe) on ShoExtreme. Strikeforce has done a good job of picking up talented prospects like Tyron Woodley and Daniel Cormier, let's hope some of these undercard fights deliver some action.

Estevan Payan v. Alonzo Martinez

Round 1 - After a quick glove tap the fighters comeout swinging. Each of them land hard right hands in separate exchanges. After eating a couple shots, Martinez slows the pace by keeping his distance. Martinez dives in for a single from way outside and eats a kick to the face for his efforts. Payan working some leg kicks. Payan is easily coming out as the better striker, landing counters and punishing the body with kicks. Martinez not even trying to check the leg kicks. He desperately jumps in, trying to work a takedown from the clinch. Martinez's strikes are very ugly looping hooks. Payan 10-9

Round 2 - Payan comes out with a quick combo. Martinez is still struggling to figure out how to close the gap without getting lit up. Martinez tring some leg kicks of his own, but Payan is still controlling the striking with effective counters and combos. Martinez eats a powerful combo, he looked hurt, but was able to shoot for a leg. Payan leaps in with a big hook and Martinez lands a counter of his own. Payan goes back to the jab. Payan counters Martinez with a powerful uppercut. Another big right from Payan after a quick exchange. Martinez was trying to change up his strategy toward the end of the round, but is finding only limited success. Payan 20-18

Round 3 - Martinez comes out trying to pressure Payan with low kicks. Martinez is getting hit less, but distance striking against a better striker is not going to win this for him. Payan lands hard in a single collar clinch. Payan tees off with a 3 punch combo. Martinez has absolutely no offense at this point and Payan is trying to throw with more power. Martinez dove in for a desperate takedown only to get thrown to the mat. Payan working the jab again. Martinez has no answer for it. Payan seems content to point strike his way to the finish. He sprawls on another takedown with 10 seconds left. Payan 30-27.

Chris Spang v. Ricky Legere

Round 1 - Legere wants to pressure and is trying cut off the cage. He lifts Spang in the air for a slam. Spang working hard from the guard, controlling posture and tries an armbar. Spang tries to wall walk up the cage but can't get Leger off him. Legere working some heavy body punches and sneaks a few underneath to Spangs face. Legere passes to side control. Spang staying active on the bottom and regains guard. Legere trying to stack Spang, but is unable to free his head. Spang pushes off the hips and gets back to his feet with less than a minute left. Legere instantly pressures again and puts Spang against the fence. Spang jumps for a guillotine, but Legere holds on through the bell. Legere 10-9

Round 2 - Legere throws a quick kick, but gets lit up with a quick combo. Spang throws a flying knee into Legere's takedown and still ends up on his back. Spang trying to work wrist and head control. His hips are less active than in the first and he seems to be looking for a stand up. Spang rolled for an unsuccessful leg lock, but Legere defends well. Ref stands them up with 2 minutes left. Spang looking to strike with urgency and leaves himself open to the takedown attempt. They're back against the fence and Legere gets another slam. Legere has half guard, but Spang is locking him down. Legere 20-18

Round 3 - Spang a little more conservative with his striking in this round. Controlling distance well and not letting Legere get inside. Landing well, but Legere is keeping his guard high. Big body shots by Spang, but Legere is able to grab a leg and finish the takedown with a trip. Back in the guard, Spang looking to tie Legere up for the stand up. Spang gets back to his feet, but Legere immediately wraps him up again and secures another takedown. Spang gets back up, and throws a quick combo. Legere dives in for a single and Spang sprawls and scrambles for back mount and looks for the rear naked choke. Legere defends and gets mount after a desperate armbar attempt by Spang. Legere 30-27.

The judges disagree - 29-28 Legere. They must have given Spang the 3rd round for his striking.

Trevor Smith v. Gian Villante

Round 1 - Villante grabs a leg kick in the opening seconds and goes for the trip. Smith defends well but ends up against the fence taking some punishment. Smith throwing some low kicks, but with very little behind them. Villante responds with some power and drops Smith with a big right hand. Villante pounds him out for a Griffin-esque half guard to get the finish. Questionable stoppage, as Smith was still fighting, but Villante was dropping some serious bombs on his head. Villante by TKO

Nah-Shon Burrell v. James Terry

Round 1 - Some pawing shots from distance and a low kick. Burrell hits Terry hard with a lead left hook. That shot has Terry on his bycicle for a second before he jumps for a superman punch. Not looking to strike, Terry ducks a lead hook for a doubleleg, that puts Burrell on his back. A struggle for control with no strikes and neither man getting anywhere. Terry passes to half from a wide open guard. Burrell able to regain his feet after getting an underhook, but it doesn't last long. Another scramble and back to his feet, but Terry maintains control of the head. He works from sprawl, and transitions to back control. Herb Dean calls for them to work, I'm not sure why. Burrell is able to stand again, but can't get Terry off him. A single leg by Terry. Not a lot of damage in this round, but the defensive grappling seems to be wearing Burrell down. Finally, back to his feet, Burrell lands a quick uppercut to counter Terry superman punch. Terry 10-9

Round 2 - Burrell lands a big uppercut when Terry tries to close the gap. Terry lands a big overhand right and uses the opportunity to grab another takedown into half guard. Again fighting for control with no striking. Terry's got his backbut fails to get over/under hooks. Terry landing big single punches from distance, but Burrell backs him off with the jab. Big right hand by Burrell. Terry gives one back to him. Burrell finally defends a clinch without ending up on his back. Another shot by Terry. Burrell tries to defend, but ends up on his back. Terry hits hard in the scramble in the closing seconds. I'd like to give this round to Burrell for more effective striking but it's much more likely Terry 20-18.

Round 3 - We have another ice fiasco, but without Rogan, its just not the same. Burrell looking good, trying to cut off the cage. Terry is circling well and making Burrell miss. In an odd turn of events Burrell has Terry against the fence and lands some big shots coming out. He lands a big knee to the body on a failed takedown attempt. Burrell starting to follow it more than cutting off the cage. Burrell lands a huge combo. He's winning the round but he's probably going to need more than this round to win the fight. Burrell getting lazy with his footwork, crossing his feet and walking towards Terry. But he's still able to land a big right hand. And another! Terry looked shook, but he's recovering well. Terry jumps in for a clinch and neutralizes Burrell. Burrell makes a weak attempt at a guillotine, but doesn't even try to close his guard. I gave it to Terry 29-28, but the judges gave it to Burrell by Split Decision.

Overall, some fun fights. Look for my impressions on the full event recap later tonight.

SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine