EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- This is the Strikeforce live blog for all the preliminary bouts on tonight's Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event at the IZOD Center.These five local bouts are in support of the Showtime broadcast beginning at 10 p.m. ET. The first undercard bout is scheduled to begin around 7:30 p.m. ET.
The live blog is below.
Kevin Roddy vs. Jason MacLean
Round 1: The taller Roddy opens with leg kicks. Roddy stalking Maclean around early. Roddy catches a Maclean leg kick and locks up with him, but they break soon after. Roddy is using his size and reach advantage well, keeping Maclean at a distance. Roddy nearly landed a head kick with a minute left. Maclean scores a takedown with about 15 seconds left, but doesn't have enough time to work anything out of it. MMA Fighting scores it for Roddy, 10-9.
Round 2: Roddy early with scoring combos as Maclean continues to struggle with the distance. Seconds later, Maclean steps in and lands a hard left, followed moments later by another. He suddenly seems to find his rhythm as another left finds its mark. A low blow forces a timeout. Maclean floors Roddy after a furious rally, but Roddy gets back to his feet with 1:30 left. Maclean takes the round 10-9.
Round 3: Maclean's figured out spacing and gets inside with a right hook. He scores a takedown moments later. Roddy back to his feet quickly and after a scramble ends up on top in Maclean's half-guard. Roddy moves to full mount with 2:30 left, then takes Maclean's back, looking for the choke. He's got the body triangle but Maclean pulls out and on top. Roddy looks for the arm bar but Maclean lasts to the horn. Still, it's Roddy's round and he probably takes the fight.
Winner: Jason Maclean via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone
Round 1: Leone opens with a body kick and LaBerge fires back a right. Very slow pace as they both circle and the crowd grows restless. Leone shoots in for a takedown at the midway point but Laberge defends and hurts him with a right. Leone is cut from an elbow and can't continue.
Winner: Josh LaBerge via TKO, Rd. 1 (doctors stoppage)
Sam Oropeza vs. Don Carlo-Clauss
Round 1: Oropeza closes the distance early and scores with knees to the body. He's looking for the takedown. Carlo-Clauss ducks under a kick and goes for the takedown but Oropeza defends. Oropeza scores with a long jab and straight left. He drops Carlo-Clauss and looks to finish but Carlo-Clauss hangs tough. Back mount and body triangle from Oropeza, who continues with the assault until Carlo-Clauss verbally submitted.
Winner: Sam Oropeza via verbal submission, Rd. 1
Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado
Round 1: Salgado tests the waters with leg kicks. Gracie throws hands but they are wide and open. Gracie shoots and although Salgado initially defends near the cage, Gracie eventually picks Salgado up for a big slam. On the ground, Gracie immediately attempts the rear-naked choke. Salgado gives a back headbutt and receives a warning from the referee. Gracie continues to work for the choke with a body triangle attached. Gracie peppers short punches to stay busy. In a desperate attempt to defend, Salgado grabs a schoolyard headlock to land some punches. Gracie recomposes to the top position and the round ends. Clear 10-9 for Gracie.
Round 2: Salgado lands leg kicks. Gracie finally responds with a leg kick of his own and then shoots for the double-leg. Gracie scores it, planting Salgado on his butt with his back against the cage. Gracie wiggles his way into full mount. Gracie is high in mount and Salgado escapes, but only briefly, as Gracie takes Salgado's back with ease. Salgado turns over and Gracie attaches the arm-triangle choke. Gracie passes from halfguard to side and puts Salgado to sleep.
Gracie via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) - Rd. 2, 3:04
Marc Stevens vs. John Cholish
Round 1: Cholish circles and the two are measuring up. Cholish goes for a Superman punch and puts himself in position for a kick as Steven ducks. Cholish takes down Stevens and drops punches, causing Stevens to bleed out of his nose. They stand up in clinch. Cholish goes for the knees from the Muay Thai clinch. They separate and Stevens wipes the blood off his own nose. Stevens shoots for the double and gets stuffed. Instead, Cholish trips Stevens, taking side control. Cholish attempts to slide his left knee across Stevens' stomach for full mount but is pushed into halfguard. Stevens gets full guard with 37 seconds left in the round. 10-9 Cholish.
Round 2: Stevens drops levels for a double-leg but Cholish just reverses Stevens. Stevens is known for his wrestling, but he's getting dominated in the grappling department by another wrestler. Cholish attacks with punches from inside of Stevens' guard. Stevens throws up a triangle choke but Cholish calmly escapes by posturing up. Cholish advances to halfguard. Cholish wants side control, but ends up walking Stevens towards the cage. Stevens recomposes to closed guard. Cholish scores points with punches. The referee stands them up and the fight is restarted at 2:11. Cholish lands a nice kick to the body. Stevens catches the next kick and tries to take Cholish down, setting for back control standing. However, Cholish goes for the rolling leglock and nails it.
Cholish wins via submission (kneebar) - Round 2, 3:57
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