What do you ask for from a regional MMA show?

Do you come to see a few good local prospects get a chance to step up in class? Are you hoping to see a few veterans hungry to get back to the big stage? Maybe… just a good, competive fight or three?

The last Strikeforce show in the Seattle area failed to deliver on these hopes more often than not, as I reported for Total-MMA last year. That night, the co-main events fizzled out quickly, and a undercard heavy on local talent mostly underwhelmed the Tacoma crowd and HDTV audience.

But last night at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Strikeforce washed away any memories of that night as this edition of their new “Strikeforce: Challengers” Showtime series provided solid bell to bell action all night long. Inspired performances from Joey Villasenor and Tim Kennedy led the way, both of whom marked their return from recent inactivity with solid wins.

In the main event, it was a superior workrate which carried Joey Villasenor past the noticably bigger Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in their middleweight bout. The Greg Jackson-trained slugger absorbed some strong leg kicks from Chute Boxe’s Santos, but controlled most of the fights standup as well as its brief ground sequences. His eventual split decision win marked Villasenor’s first since knocking out Phil Baroni in EliteXC last May. In a post-fight interview, Villasenor boasted that he had Strikeforce champion Cung Le “shaking in his boots;” but while his heart is unquestioned, Villasenor’s technique may not be up to the challenge.

Similarly, a year and a half had passed since US Army Special Forces sniper Tim Kennedy had graced an MMA ring. His second round victory over Nick Thompson by submission to strikes would be celebrated by a huge following of supporters from nearby Fort Lewis. Thompson appeared overwhelmed as Kennedy earned takedowns, superior positioning, and finally victory via a series of punches in back control.

One of the night’s better bouts saw rising star (and Victoria, BC native) Sarah Kaufman earn a unanimous decision victory over Shayna Baszler, in the first ever Strikeforce womens bout to be contested with five minute rounds. In contrast to Villasenor and Kennedy, Kaufmann entered the Showare Center just a month removed from her victory over Miesha Tate. Baszler hit the best takedown of the night, a beautiful outside sweep to drop Kaufman to the mat in round one, but failed to capitalize. After a shaky start, Kaufman recovered to outbox the Josh Barnett protégé over the remainder of the bout.

Both veterans of bigger shows, Jorge Gurgel and Conor Huen delighted the crowd by neglecting their jiu-jitsu roots to engage in a three round standup war in their 160 lb catchweight bout, but there was an air of disappointment as neither fought to their true potential. The eventual winner by unanimous decision, Gurgel described the bout as “everything I ever wanted,” but it would have better for this observer to see the Marcus Auerelio black belt go hold-for-hold, rather than toe-to-toe, against the much different approach of Huen’s 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. Still, the pace both fighters kept was commendable.

Full results:

Steve Hadsel d. Taylor Roberts KO (punches) in round one (0:17)

Len Bentley d. Marques Daniels by unanimous decision (one judge scored the bout 30-27 but the others got it right, 29-28; a good action bout)

Landon Showalter d. George Stork by unanimous decision (this was a strong display of clinchwork by the Arlington Kickboxing Academy fighter who won all three rounds)

Lyle Beerbohm d. Duane Ludwig by submission at 04:27 of round one (the finish came via a “bulldog choke,” similar to the way Carlos Newton beat Pat Miletich. Spokane’s Beerbohm has excellent takedowns and top control, but he took this, a terrible style match for Muay Thai standout Ludwig, in a scramble)

Brian Caraway d. Alex Zuniga by unanimous decision (this was a ground and standing clinic for Caraway)

Dennis Hallman d. Justin Davis by submission (rear choke) in 0:20 of round one (not much to be said here but respect is owed Davis for showing up on a day’s notice)

Luke Rockhold d. Cory Devela by submission (rear choke) in 0:30 of round one (Another prospect from American Kickboxing Academy, Rockhold stunned the local with a right hand, then capitalized quickly)

Sarah Kaufman d. Shayna Baszler by unanimous decision

Jorge Gurgel d. Conor Heun by unanimous decision

Tim Kennedy d. Nick Thompson by submission (punches) in 02:32 of round two

Joey Villasenor d. Evangelista Santos by split decision