“Strikeforce – Challengers Series 5” results & play-by-play commentary

Strikeforce – Challengers Series 5 takes place this evening at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event, which features a welterweight headliner between undefeated Tyron Woodley and Rudy Bears and a co-main event between Kerry Vera and Kim Couture, airs on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m CT / 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on west coast).

Follow along with us here at ProMMA.info, as we will be providing live results and play-by-play commentary coinciding with the televised portion of the card.

QUICK RESULTS:

MAIN CARD
•Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears by submission (arm triangle) Rd 1 (2:52)
•Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (3:35)
•Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple by TKO (strikes) Rd 2 (1:23)
•Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (3:25)
•Kevin Casey def. Chad Vance by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (1:41)

PRELIMINARY CARD
•Lee Gibson def. Joe Wilk by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (4:39)
•Brian Davison def. Russell Patrick TKO (punches) Rd 1 (:29)
•Nick Nolte def. Andrew Walters by submission (triangle) Rd 1 (3:45)
•Darryl Cobb def. Gary Tapasua by split decision Rd 5 (5:00)
•Mike Chandler def. Rich Bouphanouvong TKO (punches) Rd 2 (2:07)
•Lucas Lopes def. Dominic Brown by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (:45)

PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTARY:

Kevin Casey vs. Chad Vance

Round 1 – Casey gets a body lock. Casey still putting on the pressure, gets the takedown and takes Vance’s back. Casey trying to sink in the rear-naked choke. He’s softening up Vance at the moment and has Vance flattened out. It’s all over. Casey, before the fight said he wanted to bring back the old days of BJJ when you didn’t have to use anything but that one style of fighting. And well, he was successful here. They showed a video of Casey rapping before his fight that lasted longer than the match.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kevin Casey def. Chad Vance by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 1 (1:41)

Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs. Aaron Rosa

Round 1 – Rosa lands some punches and then clinches with Feijao. Feijao gets the takedown, lands some punches, but Rosa bounced straight back to his feet like he had springs on his butt. Still clinched against the cage. Both fighters pattering each other with knees and rabbit punches. Feijao gets double under hooks, but still pretty much a stale mate (with an emphasis on STALE). Ref finally re-starts them. Rosa lands a punch from a combination of punches. Feijao clinches again, press him against the cage. One minute left in the round. Feijao drops a level, looks for a takedown, but Rosa defends. Crowd not happy with the round… but oh well, that’s the way it goes sometimes… beats the hell out of baseball. I give that round to Feijao 10-9.

Round 2 – Rosa throws a combo but hits only air. Lands a couple of leg kicks. Feijao comes in swinging, clinches with under hooks, and crowd immediately starts booing. This looks mighty similar to Randy Couture’s game plan against Brandon Vera. They separate, and Feijao lands a nice left hook. Feijao lands a big right hand, then a big takedown. Feijao lands a couple of punches from top position. Rosa has full guard on Feijao. Feijao threw an elbow to the face, Ref makes him lose position and stands them up. Feijao immediately hits Rosa with a right hand and drops him to the ground. He pounces on his wounded prey with a flurry of strikes as if to say “F – U ref” for standing him up. Rosa is done and the ref stops it. After the fight Feijao said he and Anderson (Silva) planned to tire out his opponent in round one, then pour on the pressure with a much faster pace in the second round.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (3:25)

Bobby Voelker vs. Erik Apple

Round 1 – Apple drops Voelker right away with some big punches. He tries to finish but Voelker gets to his feet, clinches up, and is surviving. Apple lands a big right, Voelker fires back with a shot of his own. Clinch again. Apple pressing on Voelker , lands a righ, backs up, lands front kick, shoots, gets the takedown, and is in Voelker’s half guard. Apple putting on the pressure but Voelker gets back to his feet, Apple is swinging but Voelker fires back and connects on Apple’s jaw, causing Apple to shoot. Voelker stuffs it, reverses and gets his own takedown. Voelker on top of Apple dishing out his own punishment from half guard. Voelker landing some big rights to Apple’s face as the bell sounds. Close round, and I would give it to Voelker for the strong finish, but the judges in the U.S. have to give it to Apple.

Round 2 – Apple lands a right hand, Voelker is firing back, turning it into a slug fest. Voelker gets the takedown, gets on top and is pounding away just like the end of the last round. Apple gets up but gets dropped by a huge shot, Voelker pours it on strong and the ref is forced to stop the fight. This was a great show of heart and ability to come  back for Voelker. He was rocked early in the fight, and it looked for a moment like Apple was going to take him quickly. However, that was not part of Voelker’s plans.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple by TKO (strikes) Rd 2 (1:23)

Kerry Vera vs. Kim Couture

Round 1 – Apparently Kim has put on ten pounds of muscle, and has moved up a weight class. This is interesting considering Randy Couture just defeated Kerry Vera’s husband Brandon one week ago at UFC 105. Vera will certainly be looking for revenge. Our good friend Ed Clay, along with Master Lloyd Irvin is in Kerry’s corner. Five minute rounds for the ladies. Kim does look bigger and more filled out. Kerry lands the first big punches. Kim moves in and gets the clinch. Kerry lands a knee to the head. Kim eats another big punch. Kim presses on Kerry against the cage. Kerry lands an elbow to the face. Couture is still in kerry’s face and is pressing the action. Kim lands a right hand. Left straight hand by Kim pops Kerry’s head back. Kerry returns the favor and rocks Kim’s head back. They clinch. Kim looks for a single leg, is forced to let go, Kerry pours on the heat with a flurry of big punches that drop Kim Couture. Her face is bloodied and she is down on her back being looked at by the doctors. It was a brutal finish by Vera. Kim was just totally outclassed. Kim has guts for sure but damn… you kinda feel sorry for her. She had her jaw broke in her first bout, now this, maybe this will be enough for her.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture by TKO (punches) Rd 1 (3:35)

Tyron Woodley vs. Rudy Bears

Round 1 – This should be an intense, great fight. Bears vs. Woodley. Do Bears play in the Woods? Woodley throws the first punch but misses. The clinch, Woodley lands some body shots, a knee to the body, then a huge takedown a la King Mo, puts Bears on his back with a very strong takedown, he ran right through him like a linebacker. Woodley gets the mount. Bears trying to pop out, Woodley tries to transition to an armbar and Bears escapes to his feet. Woodley gets a muay thai clinch, tries to lay on the heat, Bears moves back throws a high kick that smacks loud against Woodley’s block. Woodley shoots strong, gets the takedown strong again. Puts on the arm triangle and Bears taps out for his fifth straight submission with an undefeated record of 5-0.  Pat Miletich just said Woodley is the best athlete in MMA “without a doubt.” The Fight Professor concurs. Not sure about the best athlete – definitely one of the best but Wow! Woodley is going to be a FORCE for sure!

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears by submission (arm triangle) Rd 1 (2:52)

After the bout Woodley mentions he thinks he matches up good against Jake Shields. One day hopefully we can see this.