Strikeforce Challengers 19
September 23, 2011
Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, Nevada
Rising light heavyweight Lorenz Larkin remained unbeaten Friday by punishing an extremely resilient Nick Rossborough in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers at The Pearl arena inside the Palms casino & hotel. Rossborough, a Salt Lake City fighter who took the fight on relatively short notice, pushed the pace early and his aggression produced a closely contested round one.
But the rigors of taxing clinchwork and tense standup exchanges caused Rossborough to slow in the second stanza, while the much fresher and highly unpredictable Larkin began to heat up and crack the Utahn’s chin with increasing regularity over the final 10 minutes. Rossborough deserves credit for possessing a remarkably tough helmet and showcasing extraordinary heart, but the combination of mounting damage and a dwindling gas tank left no doubt by the third round that Larkin was in control. That Rossborough, bleeding heavily by the third round and victimized by ground and pound, survived is a massive credit to his fortitude. Larkin had dropped him in the third with a vicious knee to the body.
“He came to fight,” said Larkin, now 12-0 on the strength of the unanimous decision triumph. “He was hungry. I can’t ask for nothing better, I love how he pushed me, how he hit … this is where fighters show their heart but you push through it. That’s all I ask for.”
Main Card:
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)
Preliminary Card:
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
