Luke Rockhold vs Tim Kennedy
Photo by Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
by Dr. Octagon, J.D.
MMAJunkie has a really good story about Luke Rockhold (left) and Tim Kennedy whining about how little press coverage there was for this fight. There are so few good middleweights in Strikeforce, these guys are just counting the minutes until it gets folded into the UFC, so they can actually prove they are world-class fighters. Rockhold’s last title defense was against Keith Jardine, who was previously dropped from the UFC. Live updates after the jump:
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Round 1: Big punch from each fighter and Rockhold has Kennedy against the cage. The fighters separate. Rockhold is throwing bombs, but missing. He pushes Kennedy against the cage and works the body. Rockhold catches Kennedy with a hook and Tim looks dazed. Rockhold follows Kennedy around the ring and pins him against the cage, but Kennedy picks up Rockhold and drops him on his ass.
Rockhold is going for a kimura, but he lets it go and Kennedy has his back with thirty seconds left. Rockhold gets back to his feet. High kick by Rockhold blocked. Close round; I think Rockhold landed more strikes, but Kennedy had the takedown.
10-9 Rockhold.
Round 2: Rockhold kicks the head and Kennedy ties him up, but Rockhold ends up on Kennedy’s back in the scramble. Kennedy lands an elbow. Kennedy turns around and stands up. Rockhold lands a punch. Rockhold lands a big right. Rockhold with a kick to the body. Rockhold got popped with a Kennedy right, but keeps coming forward and lands two punches. Kennedy gets a leg, Rockhold goes for an armbar, but then lets it go and Kennedy now has him pushed against the cage. Rockhold throws Kennedy off.
Rockhold lands another left. Rockhold lands a left, Kennedy lands a right in response. Both fighters connect. Rockhold lands another right hook.
10-9 Rockhold.
Round 3: Rockhold throwing kicks to the body. Kennedy shoves the champ against the cage. Rockhold is grabbing the fence and gets warned. Kennedy warned for the low blow. Big right from Rockhold, but Kennedy seems to have an iron chin. Kennedy ducks under a Rockhold punch, but Rockhold pushes him up against the fence. Fighters disengage. Kennedy lands a head kick. Left by Rockhold. Kennedy lands a leg kick. Rockhold attacks, Kennedy grabs him and drags him to the canvas, but Rockhold is close to the cage. Kennedy is on the champ’s back, but the champ is able to stand.
Round 4: Kennedy is throwing leg kicks. Kennedy shoots, Rockhold sprawls. Kennedy lands another leg kick. Body shot by Rockhold. Leg kick by Kennedy. Kennedy needs to pick up the pace. Rockhold lands a right hook and falls into a full mount on top of the dazed Kennedy. Kennedy has a guillotine in, escapes, and is back up the feet. Kennedy shoves the champ against the cage. Kennedy hops off Rockhold’s back with 20 seconds left. He doesn’t have enough time to do anything and the round ends.
10-9 Rockhold.
Round 5: Kennedy is still going backwards. Not enough urgency. Kennedy shoots, and pushes the champion against the fence. Left by Rockhold. Fighters scramble and Kennedy is working on a guillotine, but can’t get anything. Kennedy shoots, but can’t complete a takedown. Rockhold working knees from the clinch. Not much happened there. That round was hard to score. I guess I’ll give that one to Rockhold for being slightly more aggressive.
10-9 Rockhold.
I’ve got it 49-46 Rockhold
Judges score it 49-46 for Rockhold unanimously.