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There will be two titles on the line this weekend as Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy takes place on Saturday Night. While the middleweight title is being defended by Luke Rockhold, the welterweight title will finally get an owner after Nick Diaz vacated it. Also, there are two key middleweight division fights with multiple former title challengers returning to the cage.
Kicking off the action is a middleweight division fight as Lorenz “The Monsoon†Larkin (12-0-0) competes against “Ruthless†Robbie Lawler (19-8-0). Lorenz Larkin is coming off of a no contest against King Mo, which was initially declared a loss until King Mo failed a drug test. Robbie Lawler recently snapped a two fight losing streak at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine when he defeated Adlan Amagov. This fight has strikers battle written all over it and it will be Robbie Lawler ending his foe’s undefeated streak.
We stay in the middleweight division for the next fight as Roger Gracie (4-1-0) battles “The Dean Of Mean†Keith Jardine (17-10-0). Roger Gracie is looking to rebound from his first career loss, which came to King Mo at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitanov. Keith Jardine is coming off of a Strikeforce Middleweight Title fight loss to Luke Rockhold at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. This is a classic striker versus grappler encounter and it will be the grappler in Roger Gracie picking up the victory.
Up next is a Strikeforce Welterweight Title decision fight as Nate “The Great†Marquardt (31-10-0) takes on Tyron “T-Wood†Woodley (10-0-0). Nate Marquardt is fighting for the first time since getting released from the UFC, which came after a UFC On Versus IV incident. Tyron Woodley will be competing for the first championship of his MMA career, which started over three years ago. Cage rust is going to be a huge factor for Nate Marquardt as Tyron Woodley remains undefeated and captures the gold.
Headlining this card is a Strikeforce Middleweight Title fight as champion Luke Rockhold (9-1-0) faces Tim Kennedy (14-3-0). Luke Rockhold has successfully defended the welterweight title once, defeating Keith Jardine this past January. Tim Kennedy earned a second title opportunity after achieving victories over both Robbie Lawler and Melvin Manhoef. These are two evenly matched competitors inside the cage and it will be Luke Rockhold retaining his title in the end.
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