Champion Rockhold Hits Weight for Strikeforce Title Matchup on Second Try

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Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold initially failed to make weight at 185.5 pounds for his showdown with Tim Kennedy (184.5) in the Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” headliner on Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.

Rockhold successfully hit 185 pounds on his second try.

The six other fighters slated for main card duty -- including the unbeaten Tyron Woodley (169.5) and Nate Marquardt (169.5), the two men who will vie for the promotion’s vacant welterweight crown -- met their contracted weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

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Sherdog Fantasy MMA: Strikeforce ‘Rockhold vs. Kennedy’

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Rockhold captured the Strikeforce middleweight strap with a unanimous decision over Ronaldo Souza in September and has defended it once since. The 27-year-old American Kickboxing Academy export sports eight first-round finishes on his resume, six of them by submission, two more by knockout or technical knockout. Rockhold has compiled a perfect 8-0 mark in Strikeforce.

A Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts representative, Kennedy will carry a two-fight winning streak into the cage. The 32-year-old has delivered 12 of his 14 professional victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, including wins over Dutch striker Melvin Manhoef, former International Fight League champion Ryan McGivern and UFC veterans Trevor Prangley and Nick Thompson. A fierce, determined and durable competitor, Kennedy has not been finished in more than a decade.

Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” -- which airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime -- will also feature a pair of middleweight bouts, as 10-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Roger Gracie (186) locks horns with UFC veteran Keith Jardine (185.5) and the unbeaten Lorenz Larkin (186.5) toes the line against former EliteXC titleholder Robbie Lawler (186). Two hours prior, Showtime Extreme will carry the five remaining preliminary bouts: Pat Healy (156) vs. Mizuto Hirota (156), Jorge Masvidal (155.5) vs. Justin Wilcox (156), Jason High (171) vs. Nate Moore (171), Ryan Couture (155.5) vs. Joe Duarte (155.5) and Jordan Mein (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (170.5).

Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” Weigh-In Results:

Luke Rockhold (*185) vs. Tim Kennedy (184.5)
Tyron Woodley (169.5) vs. Nate Marquardt (169.5)
Roger Gracie (186) vs. Keith Jardine (185.5)
Robbie Lawler (186) vs. Lorenz Larkin (*186)
Pat Healy (156) vs. Mizuto Hirota (156)
Jorge Masvidal (155.5) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Jason High (171) vs. Nate Moore (171)
Ryan Couture (155.5) vs. Joe Duarte (155.5)
Jordan Mein (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (170.5)

* Rockhold and Larkin successfully made weight on their second attempt.