Rousey Retains, Submits Kaufman in 54 Seconds
Written by Jordan Maskell
It didn’t take long for Ronda Rousey to retain her bantamweight title in one of the most highly anticipated women’s bout in MMA history. Last night’s Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman saw the champion dispose of her opponent Sarah Kaufman in a familiar style via armbar submission at 0:54 of the first round. Kaufman (15-2), a former champion, came into the event on a three-fight winning streak but stood little chance against the Olympic bronze medalist. Rousey (6-0-0) has now won all of her six professional fights with a first round armbar. After the fight she called out former featherweight champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, who is currently on a one-year suspension after testing positive for an anabolic steroid earlier this year, suggesting Cyborg “come down to 135 and let’s settle this.”
The co-main event featured Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza making quick work of Derek Brunson, knocking out the middleweight at 0:41 of the first round. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had indicated the winner of the Souza-Brunson bout may very well be next in line to face middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, and it seems likely Souza will get his rematch. The former champ lost the belt to Rockhold in a five round unanimous decision last fall.
Elsewhere, middleweight Anthony Smith finished Lumumba Sayers with a triangle choke at 3:52 of round one; welterweight Tarec Saffiedine defeated Roger Bowling by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), while light heavyweight Ovince St. Preux knocked out T.J. Cook at 0:20 of round three.
On the preliminary card, former bantamweight champ Miesha Tate was able to get a hold of an arm and submit Julie Kedzie at 3:28 of the third round. It was Tate’s first fight since losing the title to Rousey in early March. Others fights included middleweight Adlan Amagov stopping Keith Berry by TKO at 0:48 of the first round, lightweight Bobby Green winning a unanimous decision over Matt Ricehouse (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), and Germaine de Randamie defeating Hiroko Yamanaka by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in a women’s featherweight bout.
Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman Results
Main Card
Strikforce Women’s Bantamweight title bout
Ronda Rousey def. Sarah Kaufman via submission (armbar) – 0:54 of Round 1
Middleweight bout
Ronaldo Souza def. Derek Brunson via KO (punches) – 0:41 of Round 1
Welterweight bout
Tarec Saffiedine def. Roger Bowling via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight bout
Anthony Smith def. Lumumba Sayers via submission (triangle choke) – 3:52 of Round 1
Light Heavyweight bout
Ovince St. Preux def. T.J. Cook via KO (punch) – 0:20 of Round 3
Preliminary Card
Women’s Bantamweight bout
Miesha Tate def. Julie Kedzie via submission (armbar) – 3:28 of Round 3
Middleweight bout
Adlan Amagov def. Keith Berry via TKO (kick and punches) – 0:48 of Round 1
Women’s Featherweight bout
Germaine de Randamie def. Hiroko Yamanaka via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight bout
Bobby Green def. Matt Ricehouse via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
