Strikeforce came to Northwest yet again for another in their Strikeforce Challengers series, this time taking over the ShoWare Center in Kent WA on June 24th. A sparse crowd of just over 1900 people were on hand which was a shame as NW fight fans who didn't make it missed out on some great fights. In the main event at 155 lbs, hometown hero Caros Fodor, training out of Matt Hume's AMC in Kirkland WA took it to Cung Le trained James Terry from the opening bell, moving forward, pushing the pace, and all the while landing with accurate punches. Terry spent most of the fight on the defensive and was never able to let his dangerous hands fly. After three rounds, it was Fodor who took home the well deserved unanimous decision win.

In the co-main event, Matt Ricehouse proved to be too much for Washington born Ryan Couture in an entertaining high-paced lightweight fight. Ricehouse was the more accurate in landing counters and controlled the center of the cage well. Couture battled his heart out with his ultra famous father Randy in his corner, but after 3 rounds the fight went to Ricehouse with all the judges seeing it 29-28.

Lorenz Larkin out of Riverside CA started out slow but put on a striking clinic in the 2nd & 3rd rounds once he found his rhythm against Gian Villante, mixing it up with an impressive display of kicks, knees, jabs, and punches that Villante had no answer for. After three rounds, the victory was Larkin's with all judges scoring it 29-28.

Julia Budd out of Port Moody BC outwrestled dangerous striker Germaine de Randamie, scoring with takedowns and controlling on the ground. De Randamie was able to land some solid strikes that had Budd's face looking the worse for wear as the bout wore on, but it was too little too late and all judges gave it to Budd 29-28. With the win Budd avenges a previous loss to de Randamie in a Muay Thai bout and moves to 2-1 in MMA.

In other action, Jason High scored takedown after takedown and took home a 30-27 victory on all judges cards over Quinn Mulhern. 

Derek Brunson outstruck and outfought Jeremy Hamilton through 3 rounds for the decision win.

Longtime veteran Eduardo Pamplona overwhelmed a game but outmatched Jerron Peoples, gaining a TKO victory half way through the first round.

In the night's opening bout, local fighter Trevor Smith, out of Eric Dahlberg's Ring Demon in Tukwila WA, scored the night's only submission, choking Keith Berry into lullaby land by North-South Choke in Round 2. Smith continues to impress in his growth and is one to look for as he makes his way onto the national stage.

A number of NW MMA celebrities  were in the house including UFC fighters Demetrious Johnson, Cody McKenzie & Dennis Hallman, TUF 13 alumni Len Bentley, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith, and Strikeforce fighter Miesha Tate. Victory Athletics fighter Sterling Ford was to have made his Strikeforce debut in Kent but the fight was scrapped before weighins due to his opponent not being cleared by the doctors. He is now scheduled to fight at Strikeforce Challengers 19 in Las Vegas July 22nd against Brian McLaughlin. More at strikeforce.com