Also on the Showtime televised main card, Strikeforce newcomer Kerry Vera earned a first round TKO victory over Kim Couture, Bobby Voekler weathered an early storm to defeat Erik Apple with a second round TKO, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante bounced back from his previous loss, defeating Aaron Rosa via second round TKO, and Kevin Casey submitted Chad Vance in the opening round.

The complete results for Strikeforce Challengers 5 were:

• Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears via submission (arm triangle) — 2:52 Round 1
• Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture via TKO (strikes) — 3:35 Round 1
• Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple via TKO (strikes) — 1:23 Round 2
• Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa via TKO (strikes) — Round 2
• Kevin Casey def. Chad Vance via submission (rear naked choke) — 1:41 Round 1
• Lee Gibson def. Joe Wilk via TKO (strikes) — 4:39 Round 1
• Brian Davidson def. Russel Patrick via TKO (strikes) — 0:29 Round 1
• Nick Nolte def. Andrew Waters via submission (triangle choke) — 3:45 Round 1
• Darryl Cobb def. Gary Tapasua via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Mike Chandler def. Rich Bouphanouvong via TKO (strikes) — 2:07 Round 2
• Lucas Lopes def. Dominic Brown via TKO (strikes) — 0:45 Round 2

Pictured: Tyron Woodley and Rudy Bears

The event takes place at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas and airs live on Showtime at 11pm ET (delayed on west coast).

The card’s complete weigh-in results were:

MAIN CARD

• 170: Tyron Woodley (171) vs. Rudy Bears (170)
• 135: Kerry Vera (135) vs. Kim Couture (136)
• 170: Erik Apple (170.5) vs. Bobby Voelker (170)
• 205: Aaron Rosa (206) vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (205)
• 185: Kevin Casey (185) vs. Chad Vance (185)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• 155: Lee Gibson (155) vs. Joe Wilk (155.5)
• 145: Brian Davidson (147) vs. Russell Patrick (144)
• 170: Andrew Walters (171) vs. Nick Nolte (171)
• 185: Darryl Cobb (184) vs. Gary Tapasua (185)
• 165: Mike Chandler (166) vs. Rich Bouphanouvong (164)
• 190: Dominic Brown (190) vs. Lucas Lopes (191.4)

Stop back to MMAFrenzy.com tomorrow for Strikeforce Challengers 5 results and also be sure to check out a photo gallery from today’s weigh-ins.

Pictured: Tyron Woodley and Rudy Bears

Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem, who has yet to fight again for the promotion since winning the title in November 2007, returned to MMA action overseas over the weekend, dominating Tony Sylvester at Ultimate Glory 11 in Amsterdam, Netherlands before finishing the fight with a guillotine choke in just 83-seconds. Overeem will fight again this weekend at DREAM 12 against James Thomson before he’s expected to return to Strikeforce to defend the title.

Pictured: Alistair Overeem

Previously unbeaten hometown favorite Billy Evangelista lost by disputed, controversial second-round disqualification to Mike Aina Friday in the main event of the inaugural Strikeforce Challengers telecast on SHOWTIME.

At the finish, neither fighter was satisfied with the outcome at the Save Mart Center.

Evangelista (9-1), of Fresno, was disqualified for “intentionally” kneeing Aina (12-6-1), of Hilo, Hawaii, in the head while the Hawaiian fighter was down. The rule is a fighter can knee a downed opponent to the body, but not the head.

“I feel bad at what happened, but I am definitely planning to protest,’’ Evangelista said. “Nothing I did was on purpose. I thought I had timed the knee perfectly and that he was on his feet when it was delivered.’’

Said Aina: “No one likes a fight to finish this way. I don’t look at it as a win for me, and he should not look at it as a loss for him. It should have been a no contest.’’

The five-fight telecast aired on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

In other SHOWTIME fights: Sarah Kaufman (9-0) of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, remained unbeaten with a hard-fought unanimous decision over determined Miesha Tate (6-2) of Olympia, Wash., in a women’s match at 135 pounds; Lavar Johnson (12-3) of Fresno scored an 18-second, first-round knockout over Carl Seumanutafa (4-3), a Samoan based in San Francisco, in a heavyweight fight; San Antonio’s Aaron Rosa (12-2) registered a 4:29 first-round TKO (choke) over Anthony Ruiz (21-13) of Coarsegold, Calif., takes on in a light heavyweight bout and Bao Quach (16-9-1) of Huntington Beach, Calif., won a unanimous decision over Tito Jones (6-3) of Sacramento, Calif., in a featherweight scrap.

In an eagerly anticipated women’s bout, Kaufman outlasted Tate in a non-stop, see-saw battle. It was the first time Kaufman was taken the distance, but she was the stronger fighter at the finish and won by the scores of 29-28 on all three scorecards.

A relentless puncher with good stamina, Kaufman bloodied Tate’s nose, but was taken to the mat twice, the first times she has ever been down.

“I give Miesha credit but I am very happy with my performance,’’ Kaufman said. “I wish I could have done more in the second round, but three rounds go by so fast. I wish they’d let us fight five-minute rounds like the guys.

Tate took down Kaufman in the closing seconds of the first round and in the first 35 seconds of the second. She kept Kaufman on her back for much of the second but couldn’t sustain her momentum in the third.’’

Johnson, a standout football player as an outside linebacker ay Madera (Calif.) High, caught an off balance Seumanutafa with a quick, brutal right uppercut that knocked the Samoan unconscious and sent him face down to the canvas. Seumanutafa tried to shoot with his head down but was nailed flush.

“This is exactly what I had practiced. I had watched tapes of Carl and knew he might try that kind of thing.

“This was an important win for my. I had my two young sons with me. No way was I going to let them see their Dad get beat up. No way they’d listen to me after that.’’

Rosa rallied after getting caught early. “He got me, but then I rocked him good with a right hand off the cage,’’ Rosa said. “I feel good. This was a big win and I am grateful for Strikeforce giving me this opportunity. He was a slick guy but he didn’t do anything that I wasn’t prepared for. did, slammed Ruiz, and was in control until the referee stopped the bout.

The victory was the second in a row for Rosa, who won the first 10 fights of his career.

In the telecast’s opening bout, Quach survived two knockdowns in the final round to win by the scores of 29-28 on the three judges scorecards. Winning for the 10th time in 11 starts, Quach appeared hurt after going down a second time but Jones didn’t follow up.

“I stuck to my game plan, which was to stick (kick) and move, and I did,’’ Quach said. “I know I won the first two rounds and he definitely got me in the third. I was dazed but he didn’t capitalize. But until the third round, he didn’t do anything. There was no doubt in my mind that I won the fight.’’

Non-televised results: Ben “The Teacher” Holscher (2-0) of Fresno submitted (rear naked choke) Cody Cantebury (1-4-1) of Sacramento at 2:47 of the first round (160 pounds); Thomas Diagne (1-0) of San Jose, Calif., won a decision over Kaleo Kwan (7-10) of Kailua, Hawaii (lightweights); Fabricio “Morango” Camoes (10-4) of Brazil submitted (rear naked choke) Torrance Taylor (7-6-1) of Cleveland, Ohio at 3:31 of the first round (155 pounds) and Spencer Herns (1-0) of San Jose won a majority three-round decision over Chad Sutton (2-2) of Fresno in a bout at 185 pounds.

Official Strikeforce Challengers 1 Results:

• Mike Aina def. Billy Evangelista via DQ (illegal knee) — Round 2, 3:40
• Sarah Kaufman def. Miesha Tate via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lavar Johnson def. Carl Seumanutafa via KO (punch) — Round 1, 0:18
• Aaron Rosa def. Anthony Ruiz via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 4:29
• Bao Quach def. Tito Jones via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Spencer Herns def. Chad Sutton via majority decision
• Fabricio Camoes def. Torrance Taylor via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 3:21
• Thomas Diagne def. Kaleo Kwan via unanimous decision
• Ben Holscher def. Cody Cantebury via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 1, 2:07

Strikeforce Challengers 1 Photos (courtesy of Strikeforce):

Billy Evangelista and Mike Aina

ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 1 Weigh-In Results (Fresno, CA)

• Mike Aina (157.2) vs. Billy Evangelista (157.5)
• Sarah Kaufman (135) vs. Miesha Tate (135.4)
• Lavar Johnson (246.4) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (250.5)
• Aaron Rosa (205.4) vs. Anthony Ruiz (205.2)
• Tito Jones (145.6) vs. Bao Quach (145.8)
• Cody Cantebury (160) vs. Ben Holscher (160.2)
• Zolia Frausto (129.8) vs. Avery Vilche (122.8)
• Ousmane Thomas Diagne (155.6) vs. Kaleo Kwan (155.4)
• Fabricio Camoes (156.2) vs. Torrance Taylor (155.8)
• Spencer Herns (180.6) vs. Chad Sutton (184)

Bellator 7 Weigh-In Results (Chicago, IL).

• 170: Lyman Good (171) vs. Jorge Ortiz (170)
• 170: Omar De La Cruz (169.5) vs. Dave Menne (171)
• Lorenzo Borgomeo (154) vs. Troy Gerhart (155.5)
• Eddie Sanchez (231) vs. Jay White (259)
• Alonzo Martinez (157) vs. Victor Meza (156)
• DeRay Davis (171) vs. Jesse Juarez (171.5)
• Anthony Lapsley (171) vs. Ryan Williams (170)
• Kevin Knabjian (171) vs. Jacob Volkman (171)
• Leslie Smith (136) vs. Kerry Vera (136)

MFC 21: Hard Knocks Weigh-In Results (Edmonton, Canada)

• Trevor Prangley (205.5) vs. Emanuel Newton (204.5)
  MFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Mike Cook (234.0) vs. Bobby Lashley (249.0)
• David Heath (205.5) vs. Travis Galbraith (205.0)
• Andrew Buckland (171.0) vs. John Alessio (169.5)
• Mychal Clark (205.0) vs. Ryan Jimmo (205.0)
• Marvin Eastman (204.0) vs. Aron Lofton (205.5)
• William Richey (232.5) vs. Ryan Fortin (262.5)
• Jeremy Combrink (170.5) vs. Jason Heit (170.5)
• Dwayne Lewis (203.5) vs. Jay Whitford (214.5)
• Nolan Clarke (170.0) vs. George Belanger (170.0)

Kim Couture

PRESS RELEASE: NEW YORK (April 20, 2009)—Mixed martial arts (MMA) upstart Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-1), wife of MMA legend Randy Couture, will take a major step up in competition when she squares off with fearsome submission expert Miesha Tate (5-1) in a live SHOWTIME-televised 135-pound limit contest at the inaugural SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event at Fresno, California’s Save Mart Center on Friday, May 15.

SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. SHO MMA provides today’s top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.

In addition, Aaron Rosa (11-2) will face Anthony “A Train” Ruiz (21-12) in a light heavyweight (205-pound limit) fight on a fight card headlined by undefeated lightweight (155-pound limit) Billy Evangelista (9-0) versus BJ Penn protégé “Iron” Mike Aina (11-6-1).

The SHOWTIME telecast will air live beginning at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and feature up to five live fights.

“I think she’s definitely in for a surprise and this is going to be a little bit over her head,” said the 22-year-old Tate, who has been on a tear of late, stopping each of her last three opponents in the first round.

“I do respect the fact that she chose to fight me,” said Tate, who is considered a veteran over the inexperienced Couture. “I think she’s really tough and, at heart, she’s a fighter. She wants to fight people who are going to push her.”

A native of Olympia, Wash., Tate was introduced to wrestling during her teen years when a girlfriend convinced her to join their all-boys high school wrestling team. Tate’s passion for the sport developed as she learned. Eventually, wrestling led Tate to join the MMA club at Central Washington University.

Last year, Tate enlisted with Victory Athletics, the elite fight squad headed by MMA star and two-time Matt Hughes conqueror Dennis “Superman” Hallman.

“He’s got so much to offer technically,” she said about her mentor. “He comes from a wrestling background so his fighting style is very similar to the one I want to develop.”

The 33-year-old Couture said, “(Tate)’s been wrestling for a long time and I’ve only been wrestling for four years, but I’ve been learning from Randy Couture.

“My training partners are Xtreme Couture fighters so I feel like I have the Cliff Notes I need to be successful in this fight. I’ve been pushed and supported by the best guys in the business.”

Couture earned her first professional victory by pummeling an overmatched Lina Kvokov in the first round of their Strikeforce meeting at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 21, 2008. The victory came shortly after she had adopted K-1 superstar Ray Sefo as her new kickboxing trainer.

It is in the area of punching and kicking that Couture feels she will have the upper hand against Tate.

”Her stand up is not strong. Before she gets to the clinch or a takedown, she’s going to have to get past my hands,” said Couture. “My Muay Thai is really good right now and I’m very confident that, if we get to the clinch, she’s gonna have a hard time taking me down.”

Rosa, of San Antonio, Tex., was victorious in his first 10 starts as a professional. Following two straight defeats, he stopped Ron “Killing” Fields in the second round in Chicago, Ill., on June 14, 2008.

The 31-year-old Ruiz, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight championship challenger, last saw action at Strikeforce’s second event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he lost a unanimous decision to former South African national wrestling champion Trevor Prangley.

Tickets for the first SHO MMA: Strikeforce Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office and select Save Mart Supermarkets as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

For the latest Adrenaline MMA rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.

MAIN CARD

• Jeff Monson (23-7) vs. Mike Russow (9-1)
• Daiju Takase (7-11) vs. Terry Martin (16-4)
• Zac George (11-2) vs. Clay French (14-2)
• Tony Fryklund (14-9) vs. Brian Gassaway (25-17-1)
• Jeff Cox (9-6) vs. Bart Palaszewski (28-11)
• Tiawon Howard (6-1) vs. Rory Markham (14-4)
• Anthony Lapsley (13-3) vs. Mark Miller (9-3)
• Herc Hayes (7-5) vs. Kerry Schall (22-9)
• Rob Kimmons (15-3) vs. Hector Urbina (11-3)
• Aaron Rosa (10-2) vs. Ron Fields (23-24-1)
• Louis Taylor (4-0) vs. Adam Maciejewski (6-4)

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

• Dom O’Grady (5-0) vs. Mike Stumpf (9-1)
• Joe Jordan (41-11) vs. Ryan Williams (6-1)
• Joe Pearson (22-9) vs. John Hosman (8-3-1)

The promotion officially announced the main event and the entire 13-bout card for the event earlier today.

The event also includes notables Terry Martin, Tony Fryklund, Brian Gassaway, Brad Imes, and Bart Palaszewski as well as a handful of other current and former UFC, IFL, and EliteXC fighters.

The official fight card and press release for the event are after the jump.

Official Fight Card
MAIN CARD

• Jeff Monson vs. Mike Russow
• Daiju Takase vs. Terry Martin
• Alberto Crane vs. Clay French
• Tony Fryklund vs. Brian Gassaway
• Logan Clark vs. Mike Marrello
• Chris Guillen vs. Brad Imes
• Jeff Cox vs. Bart Palaszewski
• TBA vs. Rory Markham
• Herc Hayes vs. Kerry Schall
• Aaron Rosa vs. Ron Fields

PRELIMINARY BOUTS

• Dom O’Grady vs. Mike Stumpf
• Joe Jordan vs. Ryan Williams
• Christian Reynosa vs. John Hosman

PRESS RELEASE

As a Chicago policeman, Mike Russow has become accustomed to dangerous situations.

So, it is understandable when Russow only smiles and refers to fighting veteran Jeff Monson in a professional mixed martial arts bout as a “great opportunity.” Russow, 9-1 in his pro career, takes on Monson, 23-7, in the heavyweight main event of Adrenaline MMA on June 14 at the Sears Centre.

A total of 13 pro bouts are scheduled in the inaugural Adrenaline event. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and fights begin at 6 p.m.

“Monson is far more than just a veteran,” said Adrenaline CEO Monte Cox. “He has fought in every major event in the world and competed for countless titles, including the UFC heavyweight title. He comes into the event having won 18 of his last 20 bouts and is looking to prove Russow is not yet ready for the big time.

“Russow, on the other hand, has been crushing opposition and has been tested twice in major events… losing to then No. 6 ranked Sergei Kharitonov in Pride, then crushing Roman Zentzov in Japan’s Yarennoka event last New Years Eve. He’s ready to show he should be considered among the world’s best.”

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Sears Centre Box Office, online at www.searscentre.com or by calling 1-888-SEARSTIX.

A foursome of UFC veterans make up the two feature bouts. Chicago’s Terry Martin (16-4) will face Japan’s Daiju Takase (7-11) while Chicago’s Brian Gassaway (25-17) takes on Las Vegas’ Tony Fryklund (14-9).

Martin is a knockout artist, but will need to be cautious of the submission ability of Takase, who owns wins over UFC champion Anderson Silva and former UFC champ Carlos Newton.

Gassaway and Fryklund are two of the sport’s true veterans and both prefer the standup game, which should make for an exciting bout.

The International Fight League has allowed two of its standouts with Chicago ties — Bart Palaszewski and Mark Miller — to compete on the card as well as Zac George. And EliteXC provided striker Aaron Rosa and all-around standout Hector Urbina.

Other Chicago area fighters include Rory Markham, Herc Hayes, Kerry Schall, Clay French, Mike Stumpf, Ryan Williams and John Hosman.

For more on Adrenaline MMA check out the MMAFrenzy.com rumors section.