Louis Taylor takes on Joe Riggs in the Strikeforce Challengers 10 main event. Photo by Esther Lin / Strikeforce

Strikeforce Challengers 10 takes place tonight at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., and airs live on Showtime starting at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT. In the main event, MMA veteran Joe Riggs takes on Louis Taylor.

Also, Ryan Couture makes his pro debut against Lucas Stark, and then for the first time ever, Strikeforce will hold a women’s one night 135 lbs. tournament. In the opening round Miesha Tate will fight Maiju Kujala and Hitomi Akano takes on Carina Damm. The winner of each of those fights will fight again tonight with the winner being awarded a shot at the 135 lb. women’s title.

ProMMAnow.com will provide live results and play-by-play commentary of all of tonight’s Strikeforce Challengers 10 action.

Strikeforce Challengers 10 quick results:

  • Joe Riggs def. Louis Taylor by submission (strikes) Rd 3 (2:07)
  • Miesha Tate def. Hitomi Akano by unanimous decision Rd 3 (3:00)
  • Ryan Couture def. Lucas Stark by submission (triangle choke) Rd 1 (1:15)
  • Hitomi Akano def. Carina Damm by submission (arm bar) Rd 2 (1:48)
  • Miesha Tate def. Maiju Kujala by unanimous decision Rd 2 (3:00)
  • Liz Carmouche def Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision Rd 2 (3:00)

Strikeforce Challengers 10 play-by-play

Miesha Tate vs. Maiju Kujala

Round 1 – Touch of gloves to start. Tate with a left hook, then sets up the take down but fails to get the body lock and ends up clinched with Kujala. Tate with knees to the thighs. Kujala doing a good job keeping the fight on the feet. Tate tries to drop for a single but Kujala defends. Tate with left hands to the body and thighs. Tate with the high crotch, and gets the take down. Tate in side mount then goes to the knee on belly, with Kujala holding on to a guillotine attempt. Kujala still keeping her grip on the neck of Tate. Kujala works to half guard and just as she locks up a guillotine, the referee stops the action and stands them up. Horrible, restart by the ref. Both fighters swing until the bell sounds on the very short 3 minute opening round. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 1 for Miesha Tate, 10-9

Round 2 – Both fighters land jabs, and Tate lands an inside leg kick. Kujala comes forward and eats a couple of punches. They disengage and Kujala takes the center of the cage. Kujala comes forward and throws, as both fighters clinch. Both exchange knees to the body. Tate just misses with the high kick immediately after they separate. Kujala comes forward and is busier throwing strikes. Tate closes, clinches and lands some knees. Another kick to the body, then Tate changes levels and drives through and gets the take down. That may have sealed it for Tate. 20 seconds to go with Tate on top and trying to stay busy, but Kujala is controlling her posture as the bell sounds. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 2 for Tate, 10-9, and the fight overall to Miesha Tate, 20-18.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Miesha Tate def. Maiju Kujala by unanimous decision

Hitomi Akano vs. Carina Damm

Round 1 – Damm with head kicks to start. Damm misses with the kick to the body but then lands one. Akano closes the distance but gives up her back and Damm muscles her to the mat. Damm now in the full guard of Akano. Damm postures up just as Akano throws her legs up. Damm very tight in the guard of Akano. Akano looking to isolate an arm, and is also throwing punches to the head of Damm to soften her up. Damm postures and lands a right hand, and Akano goes for a triangle, but Damm quickly gets back and tight into the guard. The referee stands them up after a delay. Damm with a spinning backfist, but Akano gets a nice throw and ends up on top. Akano goes for a leg and as the whistle blows to let the fighters know there is 10 seconds to go, both fighters stop for a second, then get back to it at the bell. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 1 for Carina Damm, 10-9.

Round 2 – Damm with nice leg kicks to start, then throws another spinning back fist. Akano lands a right hand, then closes, and goes for another throw. Akano, works Damm to the ground and is in the half guard of Damm. Akano is looking to pass, and almost has her leg free, but Damm retains guard, then sweeps. Akano grabs an arm, and goes for the submission attempt but Damm is out and back in the full guard. Akano throws her legs up and goes for a triangle, rolls Damm extending an arm as she went, and finishes her off with a slick arm bar. Very impressive finish for Akano, as she advances to meet Tate.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Hitomi Akano def. Carina Damm by submission (arm bar), Round 2

Ryan Couture vs. Lucas Stark

Round 1 -Stark just misses with the leg kick then misses to the body with another. Couture catches nothing but air with the jab. Leg kick by Couture, but Stark counters with the right hand. To the clinch. Couture lands a knee, then goes back to the body, before locking up the body and taking Stark down. Couture on top then goes north/south and goes for a front headlock. Stark drops, and gets the take down with the fireman’s carry, but falls right into a triangle. The tap comes quick and it’s all over.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ryan Couture def. Lucas Stark by submission (triangle choke), Round 1

Tournament final – Miesha Tate vs. Hitomi Akano

Round 1 – Both fighters just miss with kicks to start. Akano scores with a kick to the body. Tate misses with the jab but lands the right hand. Front kick by Tate. Tate works the jab, head kick combo but misses. Akano with another kick to the body. Tate to the clinch.Tate drops for the double, then takes the back of Akano. Akano gets works to the ground, and Tate is working to take the back of Akano. Tate has it for a moment, but Akano rolls and is looking to grab an ankle. Tate tries to get a hook in, and gives up the foot. Akano gets the ankle, and torques it but Tate works out and attacks the guard of Akano. She stacks Akano against the cage and lands a couple of good strikes as the bell sounds on Round 1. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 1 for Miesha Tate, 10-9.

Round 2 – Akano coming forward at the start of the round. Both throw kicks that just miss. Akano back to the body. Tate counters with the leg kick then a right hand. Tate with a jab then right hand that scores. Tate comes forward with headkicks then takes Akano to the ground. Akano is turtled up with Tate on her back. Akano looking to roll and isolate an arm. Tate has the back, but Akano is holding on and looking to reverse. Tate finally gets her hooks in, but Akano is keeping really good wrist control to stop the choke. Tate working for the RNC but cannot get the arm under the chin with 10 seconds to go. Akano reverses, but gets caught in an armbar as the bell sounds. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 2 for Tate, 10-9.

Round 3 – Tate feints with the kick and the right hand. Akano is bouncing all over the place then lands a kick. Tate lands a kick to the body, immediately shoots and takes the fight to the ground, then quickly gets the back of Akano. Tate with one hook in and looking to secure the other. Akano still controlling the wrists of Tate, but Tate is locking up the RNC now, but it’s across the chin not the neck. Tate lets go and Akano rolls but then gets flattened out, but Akano quickly rolls and stays active and looks to come out the back door. Very technical grappling in this one. Tate on top and tries to rip out an arm for the kimura. Akano rolls and Tate looks to ground and pound. Tate is on the back again and finishes strong. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 3 for Tate, 10-9, and the fight overall to Miesha Tate 30-27.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Miesha Tate def. Hitomi Akano by unanimous decision

Joe Riggs vs. Louis Taylor

Round 1 – Southpaw stance for Riggs to start. Taylor with the kick to the body. Riggs goes upstairs but misses with the kick. Leg kick scores for Taylor, tentative start for both. Riggs grabs a single,as Taylor comes forward, but Taylor slips right out then comes forward and clinches, pushing Riggs against the cage. Riggs with a knee to the body. Taylor goes for the single and gets the take down. Good wrist control by Riggs from his back. Riggs throws up his legs but Taylor postures up. Riggs is working a high guard and is controlling the arms of Taylor. Not much from Taylor from the top. Taylor pulls out and steps back and away. Back to the feet now. Riggs still in a southpaw stance. Superman punch from Riggs misses. Riggs follows up and misses iwth a leg kick. Taylor fires off a leg kick, and Riggs connects with a straight right hand. Taylor scores with the right, and Riggs comes back with a nice inside leg kick. Both guys are loosening up now. Taylor misses with a wild right hand. Riggs scores again with a left hand. Leg kick by Taylor. Winging left hand by Taylor, then he follows up with a spinning back elbow. To the clinch, and Riggs scores to the body with a knee. Taylor working for a take down with seconds to go in the first round. ProMMAnow.com scores Round 1 for Louis Taylor, 10-9.

Round 2 – Taylor misses with the left hand. Taylor fakes the jab then goes to the body. Leg kick scores for Riggs. Lots of feinting from Taylor so far. Riggs comes forward and lands with a left superman punch. Taylor’s hands are low after he throws the right hand. Leg kick lands for Taylor. Taylor lands an uppercut in the brief clinch. To the body from Taylor, and Riggs comes forward with the left hand, then a right hook. Taylor shoots from way outside and gets stuffed. Big left hand from Riggs. Taylor breathing out of his mouth and is slowing down. Riggs is remaining very patient. Taylor throws to set up his shot and clinches. Taylor ducks a punch then shoots again. He doesn’t get the take down immediately, but keeps driving and gets the fight to the ground. Elbows to the body from Taylor from the half guard of Riggs. Riggs is looking to hip escape but Taylor is maintaining top control. Taylor finishes on top and takes the Round, 10-9.

Round 3 – Taylor with the leg kick then follows up with the right hand. Riggs checking the kicks of Taylor effectively. Taylor still feinting with his jab. Taylor again to the leg kick, then throws an inside leg kick. Taylor steps in to engage and gets caught with a big left hand, and also eats a knee. Taylor immediately shoots and gets stuffed. Riggs pushes forward and is on top now. Riggs looks patient on top and is trying to pass from half guard into a more dominant position. Riggs is looking to crucifix Taylor. He traps the arms and is landing big left hands. Taylor is tapping from the strikes, and Riggs lets the referee know, and it’s all over.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Joe Riggs def. Louis Taylor by TKO (tapout due to strikes), 2:07 of Round 3

4 thoughts on “Strikeforce Challengers 10 results, play-by-play”
  1. Good win for Riggs. He should get paid for doing the ref’s job too. Always nice when you have to tell the ref when to stop the fight.

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