Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine Results And Post-Fight News

Standing a stout 5'11", with a reach dwarfed by the division's elite, Lorenz Larkin has often brushed aside questions about his size disadvantage at light heavyweight, preferring to travel the road of ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Now, after getting dominated by "King Mo" en route to a second-round stoppage at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, "The Monsoon" has decided it's officially time to shed the pounds.

Larkin's manager, Arnold DeWitt, broke the news to MMA Fighting on Thursday.

"Eventually we were looking at 185, but we wanted to test the waters at 205 first," DeWitt said. "He came into Strikeforce at 205 and we got a chance to see how things played out. If he had beat 'King' Mo [Lawal], there would have been no point talking about it. But we think Lorenz is going to be a monster at 185, and there are a lot of fighters there who should be concerned."

Despite the fact that his first professional loss will likely be overturned to a ‘no contest' because of Lawal's popped steroid test, the 25-year-old Larkin (12-1) was self-aware enough in defeat to realize the 185-pound division, bereft of 205's athletic giants, was a far more promising path for his career.

"At 205, he had a great speed advantage, but at 185, we think he's going to have huge power to go with his speed," DeWitt said. "You have to understand, he was knocking out 250-pounders in amateurs with either hand. Now that he's coming down to a smaller weight class, that's not going to abandon him. His power and speed aren't going to go away."

Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone following his January 7th win against Lorenz Larkin, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer.

Lawal will likely be fined for the failed test and could face a suspension stretching upwards of a year. In addition, his victory over Larkin would likely be reversed to a "no contest."

News of the failed test was sent to MMA Nation late Tuesday morning.

Drostanolone, generally referred to as Drolban or Masteron, is a common steroid in the realm of bodybuilding due to its ability to increase muscle capacity while simultaneously limiting the addition of body weight. As such, the drug is often used by athletes in the midst of cutting cycles.

Lawal (9-1), one of Strikeforce's few marketable light heavyweights, cruised through Larkin en route to a second-round TKO win at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. The 31-year-old's victory vaulted him into title contention for the vacated Strikeforce 205-pound strap.

According to NSAC reports, Lawal earned $95,000 for his work.

Strikeforce fighters Luke Rockhold, Keith Jardine, Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffiedine, Tyler Stinson, Nah-Shon Burrell, James Terry, Gian Villante, Trevor Smith, Ricky Legere, Chris Spang, Estevan Payan and Alonzo Martinez all tested negative for banned substances, according to NSAC officials.

Lawal has the right to appeal his failed test.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission released the official list of medical suspensions for last Saturday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine event. Ten fighters from the card received suspensions, with four landing sentences upwards of six months.

Surprisingly, middleweight headliner and Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold faces the steepest penalty despite blasting through Keith Jardine in just four-and-a-half-minutes. The 27-year-old will be suspended until July 6th unless his right hand can be cleared by a physician.

Similarly, main card fighters Tarec Saffiedine and Tyler Stinson could ride the pine until July 6th due to fight-related injuries. Saffiedine must have an MRI or x-ray of his left elbow be and cleared by a physician, while Stinson will be required to clear his left thumb and right knee with a physician.

Undercard participant James Terry also will be sidelined until July 6th unless both his shoulders can be cleared by an orthopedic doctor.

Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine took place on January 7th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The complete list of medical suspensions can be read below. (via MMA Weekly)

Luke Rockhold - Must have right hand cleared by a doctor or he is suspended until July 6.

Keith Jardine - Suspended until March 8 with no contact prior to Feb. 22.

Adlan Amagov - Suspended until Feb. 7 with no contact prior to Jan. 29.

Lorenz Larkin - Suspended until Feb. 7 with no contact prior to Jan. 29.

Tarec Saffiedine - Must have an MRI or x-ray of his left elbow and be cleared by a doctor or he is suspended until July 6. He faces a minimum suspension until Feb. 22 with no contact prior to Feb. 7 due to a left eye laceration.

Tyler Stinson - Must clear his left thumb and right knee with a doctor or he is suspended until July 6. He faces a minimum suspension until Feb. 22 with no contact prior to Feb. 7 due to a right eye laceration.

James Terry - Must have both shoulders cleared by an orthopedic doctor or he is suspended until July 6.

Trevor Smith - Suspended until Jan. 29 with no contact prior to Jan. 22.

Estevan Payan - Suspended until Feb. 7 with no contact prior to Jan. 29 due to a right eye laceration.

Alonzo Martinez - Suspended until Feb. 22 with no contact prior to Feb. 7 due to a laceration on the bridge of his nose.

We'll be talking to a lot of MMA journalists today. Strikeforce talk. Cyborg talk. All the good stuff.

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Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold made no secret that he didn't think UFC veteran Keith Jardine deserved an immediate title shot in his first middleweight fight. He went out and proved his point in the cage with a brutal first round stoppage.

Official result: Luke Rockhold defeats Keith Jardine by TKO (referee stoppage) at 4:26 of round 1.

Jardine (17-10-2) looked drawn and withered at the weigh-ins on Friday. He's 36 years old and probably needs to either retire or move back up to light heavyweight. At 205lbs, there are several intriguing fights for him in Strikeforce. A bout against Lorenz Larkin, who lost to Muhammed Lawal last night would be one intriguing possibility.

Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine
Live Results | Post-Fight News

For Rockhold, he's probably looking at a bout with ex-champ Tim Kennedy. If he can clear that formidable hurdle, he'll probably face Robbie Lawler. After that he'll need to start recycling opponents in Strikeforce's thin middleweight division.

Rockhold said he was in MMA to fight the best after the fight and that the best were all in the UFC. He called on UFC fighters to come to Strikeforce to face him, but seriously, who would take that offer?

Middleweight Robbie Lawler (19-8) continued the trend of proven Strikeforce veterans obliterating the best prospects coming from the Strikeforce Challengers series by crushing Adlan Amagov (9-2-1) at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine in the first round. Lawler came back from a break necessitated by an illegal knee thrown by Amagov to drop the Russian with a flying knee. He quickly followed up with some cruel ground and pound for the referee stoppage.

Official result: Robbie Lawler defeats Adlan Amagov by TKO (referee stoppage) at 1:48 of round 1.

Lawler, who lost two fights and won none in 2011, needed to get back on the win column. Despite his losses to Tim Kennedy and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Lawler could be in the title hunt with just one more win. That's more a commentary on the thin Strikeforce middleweight division than it is on Lawler's merits.

Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine
Live Results | Post-Fight News

With KO power in both hands and both knees, Lawler is a threat to beat anyone in the division.

Amagov will be back to the drawing board after the loss. He didn't look completely outclassed for most of the fight, but it's going to be remembered as a one-sided beat down.

Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (9-1) proved a point last night by absolutely pasting Lorenz Larkin (12-1) and handing the rising prospect his first pro loss: there's a great big difference between being a long-time title contender and a long-time star of the now defunct Strikeforce Challengers series.

Official result: Muhammed Lawal defeats Lorenz Larkin by TKO (referee stoppage) at of 1:32 of round 2.

Larkin was one of the most promising talents coming out of the Challengers series, a sort of minor league within the minor league of Strikeforce. A skilled Muay Thai kickboxer with speed and athleticism, Larkin had looked very good against lesser competition.

He wasn't facing lesser competition last night. Lawal, one of the most highly decorated amateur wrestlers to ever compete in MMA, is a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ. Lawal is also a natural 205 pounder where Larkin could easily trim down and make middleweight. The size and strength differential, and the yawning abyss between the respective wrestling abilities of Lawal and Larkin, made this a mission impossible for Larkin.

Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine
Live Results | Post-Fight News

Lawal repeatedly managed to clinch with Larkin and apply trip take downs. Larkin has good take down defense but Lawal has world-class wrestling and it wasn't an even struggle. Once on the ground Lawal took his time in the first round, content to stay in guard and score points if not damage.

In the second round, Lawal got his right hand free, got some elevation and really battered Larkin senseless. Referee Kim Winslow, fresh off a premature stoppage in Gian Villante's win over Trevor Smith on the undercard, let Larkin take several punches more than necessary.

Lawal complained about the late stoppage immediately, but after the decision was announced he told announcer Mauro Ranallo that WInslow told him she liked to give fighters every chance to recover and that he could respect that.

Lawal will now be at the front of the line to fight for Dan Henderson's vacant Strikeforce light heavyweight title. Larkin will be back to the drawing board, and hopefully looking into diet plans and a move down to 185 pounds. Lawal just signed a new four fight deal with Strikeforce even while complaining about not being allowed to move up to the UFC.

Tyron Woodley (10-0) didn't take any chances with Jordan Mein (23-8) at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Thanks to his advantage in wrestling skills, Woodley didn't need to. He took down Mein in every round and held him down long enough to win a split decision.

Official result: Tyron Woodley defeats Jordan Mein by split decision (29-28 Mein, 29-28 Woodley, 30-27 Woodley).

Woodley has now won eight straight in Strikeforce's welterweight division. He didn't show a great deal of fire in the win over Mein, but he was never in any danger either. Woodley beat Tarec Saffiedine in January but may have to fight the Belgian striker again for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title.

Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine
Live Results | Post-Fight News

That title was abandoned by Nick Diaz who jumped to the UFC where he'll be fighting for the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 143. Woodley had long hoped for a shot at Diaz, who has struggled with wrestlers. He'll have to settle for Saffiedine.

Tarec Saffiedine had to call on all his skills and strategic wiles to get past a dangerous Tyler Stinson at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Saffiedine began the fight intent on beating up Stinson on the feet. After nearly losing by knock out in the first. Saffiedine switched gears and spent the final two rounds taking Stinson down and earning the decision.

Official Results: Tarec Saffiedine defeates Tyler Stinson by split decision (29-28 Stinson, 30-27 Saffiedine, 29-28 Saffiedine).

Saffiedine started the first round outpointing Stinson with smooth striking, landing punches and kicks at will. Then he made the mistake of clinching up with the bigger Stinson and caught an elbow that rocked his world and nearly ended his night.

Once Saffiedine was hurt, Stinson was quick to follow up with punches, knees and kicks and had Saffiedine on the run for the almost the rest of the round. Suddenly at the end of the round Saffiedine locked on a choke and nearly had Stinson tapping.

Strikeforce: Rockhold Vs. Jardine
Live Results | Post-Fight News

In the second and third, Saffiedine took no chances and shot in for quick take downs on Stinson. It took him a while to do more than lay and pray but by the end of the second and most of the third, Saffiedine was landing sharp elbows to Stinson's face.

A late standup wasn't enough of a chance for Stinson but he still seemed to have Saffiedine intimidated on the feet as the fight ended.

The judges saw it in Saffiedine's favor though and the Belgian could be looking at a fight for the title with Tyron Woodley. Unfortunately Woodley beat Saffiedine only a few months ago in a not very exciting fight.