LAS VEGAS – Late replacement Nick Rossborough did all he could to upset undefeated light heavyweight Lorenz Larkin, but he would ultimately fall short in a hard-fought decision affair.
Larkin and late-replacement Rossborough met in the main event of Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 event, which took place at Las The Pearl at Las Vegas' Palms Casino Resort.
The night's main card aired on Showtime.
The opening round was tightly contested, as the taller Rossborough tried to work dirty boxing from the clinch. Meanwhile, Larkin focused on chopping away at the legs with kicks and knees.
In the second, Rossborough started well, but Larkin took control in the latter stages of the frame. The sharp leg kicks continued to find their mark, and Larkin simply seemed to get the better of each exchange. Nevertheless, the fight was anything but locked up heading into the third round.
Rossborough again started well in the final frame, flurrying with punches. But Larkin pushed the fight to the floor and went to work in top position. Punches and elbows opened a nasty gash on Rossborough's forehead, but he refused to give up and looked unsuccessfully for submissions from his back. However, Larkin was too much on top and sealed the win by riding out the round from the top and earning the unanimous-decision nod.
Larkin (12-0 MMA, 3-0 SF) is now undefeated through the first 12 fights of his career. Rossborough (20-15 MMA, 0-1 SF) loses in his Strikeforce debut but likely earned another look with a gutsy performance in a late-notice appearance.
Jordan taps Johnson, Couture decisions Watson
In the night's heavyweight co-feature, 26-year-old Shawn Jordan landed an early left hand that seemed to dictate the course of the fight, busting up Lavar Johnson's eye.
Referee Kim Winslow granted Johnson a bit of a reprieve, as he was in poor position on the floor, in order to inspect his eye, and the bout carried on. But Johnson was unable to score with his heavy hands, and Jordan again brought the fight to the floor.
In the second, the two came out firing, and after an entertaining striking exchange, Jordan again brought the fight to the floor. Once there, Jordan latched onto a keylock from top position, and a quick crank earned a Johnson tap at the 3:08 mark of the second frame.
"I feel great," Jordan said after the win. "I'm coming off of an awesome camp with Greg Jackson. It really taught me how to compete and push through the difficulties in a fight.
"I had him with an Americana, so I slid my body to the side when he locked up his hips and was able to finish. Thanks to the fans for watching."
Jordan (12-3 MMA, 1-1 SF) improves to 3-1 in his past four fights. Johnson (15-5 MMA, 3-2 SF) has now dropped two-consecutive fights.
Ryan Couture, the famed son of UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture, returned to the win column with a decision win over Wand Fight Team product Maka Watson.
Couture utilized a strong grappling game to attack Watson from the opening bell. A first-round elbow opened up a cut on Couture's forehead, but the blood did not present an issue as the fight wore on. Watson's best moments came in the second round, as he gained top position and rained down punches, but Couture survived until the third, where his submission attempts once again earned him control of the fight as he worked for a choke that just wouldn't come.
The action went back-and-forth throughout, but it was Couture who was awarded a majority decision at the end of the third round. Two judges scored the fight in his favor while the third judge saw it as a draw.
"It was very hard to get the choke I wanted with the gloves," Couture said after the win. "We wear them grappling, but with the tape it makes it more difficult. I tried to finish but it was a nightmare trying to landing the choke.
"I'm going to get stitched up, rest up and be back with a first round finish next time."
Couture (3-1 MMA, 3-1 SF) bounces back from a June loss to Matt Ricehouse. Watson (4-2 MMA, 0-2 SF) is now winless in two Strikeforce outings.
High, Melancon score decision wins
In welterweight action, Jason High took another step toward the big stage with a impressive win over a tough Todd Moore.
High was able to bring the fight to the floor early and often, and he avoided Moore's submission attempts while controlling the position. High opened up a cut on Moore's head in the final frame, and he worked hard for an arm-in choke finish for a lengthy stretch, but he was unable to secure the finish. Instead, High was awarded a unanimous decision with a clean sweep of all three judges' scorecards.
There was a brief moment of confusion when Moore was initially announced as the winner, but the correct call was quickly made.
"I was a little confused with the announcement," High said after the win. "I was like, 'That can't be right.' But I was sure they were confused.
"I wanted to come out and strike a bit then submit him, but he was stronger than I expected. I felt like I was able to do everything I wanted in there."
High (15-3 MMA, 2-0 SF) is now riding a six-fight win streak. Moore (14-5 MMA, 1-1 SF) sees a two-fight win streak snapped.
In the night's first televised contest, Brian Melancon used crisp striking and a controlling ground attack to net a unanimous-decision win over the previously undefeated Felipe Portela.
Floored at the close of the second frame, Portela continued to press forward in the third, but Melancon was up to the challenge, avoiding any serious damage while countering with well-placed counters. In the end, it was clear Portela's efforts had fallen short, and Melancon was awarded a clear-cut unanimous win.
"I needed to stay inside his leg range to throw my punches," Melancon said after the win. "I wanted to lull him into a standup match, and I was able to do that."
With the win, Melancon (6-2 MMA, 1-1 SF) improves to 3-1 in his past four fights. Portela (7-1 MMA, 0-1 SF) loses for the first time as a professional.
Terry, Green net impressive stoppage wins
Following a disappointing decision loss to Caros Fodor this past June, James Terry was in need of an impressive outing. He had one, besting Magno Almeida via first-round knockout.
After Almeida landed a pair of early kicks to the groin, Terry exploded with a series of heavy punches that left his opponent wobbled against the cage. A crisp combination followed shortly after, and Almeida dropped to his knees, where the fight was mercifully halted at the 3:27 mark.
"I preformed really well tonight," Terry said after the win. "I trained really hard, my diet was great, my nutrition was on hit.
"I feel great. I got a knockout. I hope Showtime puts me on the main card next time. I fought with a chip on my shoulder, and it went well tonight."
Terry (11-3 MMA, 6-2 SF) improves to 4-1 in his past five fights. Almeida (9-3 MMA, 0-2 SF) has dropped back-to-back Strikeforce fights.
In a lightweight matchup, longtime King of the Cage veteran Bobby Green picked up his first Strikeforce win with a second-round submission win over Charon Spain.
Green dominated the fight early, working to top position and battering his foe with elbows. Spain survived well underneath but wasn't able to offer much in terms of a counterattack.
In the second, Spain actually pulled Green on top of him, but he missed a submission attempt and then quickly fell victim to one from his foe. Green locked in an arm-triangle choke as Spain looked to spin free, but he was forced to tap at the 2:54 mark.
Green (16-5 MMA, 1-1 SF) bounces back from a July decision loss. Span (6-7 MMA, 0-1 SF) has now dropped two consecutive fights.
Spang, Mulhern rack up early wins
In welterweight action, undefeated prospect Chris Spang kept his unblemished record intact with a unanimous-decision win over Joe Ray.
The striking-heavy affair saw Spang land the more effective blows throughout the contest, even with Ray landing several stinging low kicks. The third round saw an unfortunate exchange of low blows and a missed guillotine choke from Spang. The frame saw some of Ray's best work, but he came up short on all three judges' cards, 29-28.
Fighting past the first round for the first time in hi short career, Spang (4-0 MMA, 1-0 SF) remains unbeaten. Ray (5-3 MMA, 0-2 SF) loses his second consecutive Strikeforce contest.
In the evening's first fight, late additions Quinn Mulhern and Danny Davis went back and forth on the feet and the mat over the course of three rounds. However, with time winding down in the final frame, Mulhern latched onto a nifty submission.
Working first to the back and then to mount when Davis rolled, Mulhern locked in an arm-triangle choke from top position. Rather than dismounted to finish, Mulhern simply squeezed the choke and earned the tap at the 4:08 mark of the frame. Mulhern (16-2 MMA, 1-1 SF), who came in at 176 pounds for what was supposed to be a welterweight bout, earns his first win under the Strikeforce banner. Davis (6-5-1 MMA, 0-1 SF) falls short in his Strikeforce debut.
OFFICIAL MAIN CARD RESULTS
Lorenz Larkin def. Nick Rossborough via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Shawn Jordan def. Lavar Johnson via submission (keylock) - Round 2, 3:08
Ryan Couture def. Maka Watson via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jason High def. Todd Moore via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brian Melancon def. Felipe Portela via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
James Terry def. Magno Almeida via TKO (punches) - Round 1, 3:27
Bobby Green def. Charon Spain via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 1, 2:54
Chris Spang def. Joe Ray via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Quinn Mulhern def. Danny Davis via submission (arm-triangle choke) - Round 3, 4:08
Source - MMAJunkie
