The two women opened up the second round with an immediate clinch. It was Coenen who could get the fight to the ground by riding Miesha's back. She locked in a body triangle and worked for a choke. For the full round she was unable to submit Tate but was able to meticulously picking the challenger apart.
Coenen worked leg kicks as the third round began. Tate was able to pick up the timing and used it to get the takedown. Tate worked from the top though she failed to improve her position. Coenen would work for a submission but due to inactivity Big John stood them up. Tate was breathing heavily but got a second takedown to end the round in top position. The round ended with Coenen sweeping the challenger and ending up in mount.
Tate looked slow as the championship rounds began. Coenen was working leg kicks which began to bruise the thigh of Miesha. Tate got the double against the cage and had the dominant position with side control. Tate would pass to mount and then to the opposite side to finish Coenen with an arm triangle submission.
The fight would be the first time that Marloes Coenen tapped to a submission and with the loss is no longer the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion. The fight was decided by the superior wrestling of of Miesha Tate. Tate imroves to 5-1 in Strikeforce and is the new Strikeforce champion. She will likely fight former champion Sarah Kaufman in a rematch from their fight two years ago at Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Aina. Coenen is now 3-1 in Strikeforce and 19-4 overall.