Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine - Live results and play-by-play for Showtime broadcast

Tonight marks the end of the "Strikeforce Era" in mixed martial arts as the promotion, once seen as a potential rival to the UFC prior to being acquired by Zuffa, puts on it's last ever show. Bloody Elbow will have complete results and play-by-play for the show starting with the Showtime Extreme undercard (8 p.m. ET) and continuing through the main card on Showtime (10 p.m. ET).

This post will cover the results from the main card on Showtime.

The evening's main event sees Nate Marquardt defending his Strikeforce welterweight title against Tarec Saffiedine. Heavyweight star Daniel Cormier will be in action, facing massive underdog Dion Staring in the evening's co-main event.

Another heavyweight mismatch according to the oddsmakers sees Josh Barnett taking on Nandor Guelmino. Mike Kyle will get a shot at former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. And Ed Herman takes on Ronaldo Souza to round out the card.

Ed Herman vs. Jacare Souza - Round 1 - Jacare getting in with a few punches, Herman tries to throw an elbow inside but gets clinched and pushed into the cage. Jacare with a nice combo and now a takedown. Herman tries to gake a leg, Herman lands a few illegal upkicks while on his back. For SOME reason the referee stands them up, lectures Herman that he "can't do that there" and then as Jacare goes back to start on the ground the ref tells him no and restarts them on the feet. Horrible officiating. Jacare ignores it, beats on Herman, takes him down and takes an arm home with him. Jacare Souza wins by submission (kimua), round 1.

Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi - Round 1 - Mousasi feeling out with some punches, Kyle missing some return shots. Mousasi with a hard leg kick. Mousasi pushes in and is looking for the takedown now. Kyle keeps his feet well though and they're still standing. Mousasi with a hard jab. Mousasi misses a punch and Kyle flurries but doesn't land anything. Mousasi gets the takedown now and he's grinding away from on top. Mousasi moves into full mount and he's punching away. Now he locks in the rear naked choke and that'll do it. Gegard Mousasi wins by submission (rear naked choke), round 1.

Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino - Round 1 - Barnett with a quick takedown. Nandor gets up, is taken right back down, but gets up again. Now taken down again, this time Barnett is in mount. Head and arm triangle and it's over. Josh Barnett wins by submission (arm triangle), round 1.

Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring - Round 1 - Cormier with a hard kick and Staring looks lost in there already. Cormier goes for a takedown but gets blocked, now Cormier tosses him to the ground and is in side control. Cormier had the crucifix on the ground briefly but Staring to back to his feet. Cormier busts him up, takes him back down and he's pounding away again. 10-8 Cormier. This is not a good fight.

Round 2 - Cormier punches him. Cormier takes him down. Cormier is doing anything he wants. Now he punches away until the fight is stopped late in the round. Daniel Cormier wins by TKO (punches), round 2.

Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine - Round 1 - Leg kick by Tarec. Now Marquardt returns fire with a leg kick of his own. Tarec caught him and Marquardt went to the ground briefly but bounced up. Marquardt tries for a takedown by Tarec turns him into the cage. Marquardt looks okay now as they're back to distance but Tarec blasts him with another leg kick. Saffiedine clinches with him and lands an elbow. 10-9 Saffiedine I suppose.

Round 2 - Saffiedine landing early again and Marquardt ducking down for a takedown. Now Marquardt goes for a single leg and sweeps the other leg to get the takedown. Saffiedine scrambles and gets back to his feet. Marquardt really pushing for a takedown but they're restarted in the center of the cage. Saffiedine popping some sharp leg kicks. Marquardt looking for the takedown again and again can't get it. Another hard leg kick by Tarec. Saffiedine with a hard counterpunch. Marquardt slips after a spinning head kick attempt. 10-9 Saffiedine in a closer round.

Round 3 - Tarec again with the hard leg kick. He has that in his bag for pretty much whenever he wants. Marquardt just isn't doing enough here and Saffiedine is outworking him. Marquardt with a right hand but Tarec returns. Now Tarec lands a few more punches. Marquardt looks lost in there. Marquardt's thigh is a deep shade of purple. 10-9 Saffiedine.

Round 4 - More leg kicks and Marquardt is starting to limp. His leg is in horrible shape at this point. Marquadt opening up and actually landing, but Tarec blasts the leg again. Tarec is starting to open up with the hands too. Marquardt's leg is near useless and now Saffiedine lands a hard combo to Marquardt's face. 10-9 Saffiedine.

Round 5 - Just more of the brutality to Marquardt's leg. Marquardt is trying hard to fight back. Saffiedine is dominating with punches and kicks to that leg though, this is shockingly one sided even though Marquardt is still trying. 10-9 Saffiedine. Domination.

Official scorecards: 48-47, 49-46, 49-46. Tarec Saffiedine wins by unanimous decision.