Woodley (left) and Marquardt face off (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

By FCF Staff

Strikeforce’s latest event will go down Saturday night in Portland, Oregon, and the deep card will feature not one but two title fights.

The undefeated Tyron Woodley will face UFC vet Nate Marquardt for the promotion’s vacant welterweight belt, and reigning middleweight champ Luke Rockhold will take on veteran contender Tim Kennedy.

All four, as well as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, were on hand at pre-fight presser yesterday, to discuss Saturday’s Showtime event.

What STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker and the world championship competitors said Thursday:

SCOTT COKER

“When I look at this fight card from top to bottom this is an amazing card. Like I’ve said, look at the fights that are on SHOWTIME EXTREME; those fights could really be on the championship part of the card. So from top to bottom STRIKEFORCE is going to deliver another world class match up.’’

(Regarding the vacant welterweight title) “Nate Marquardt is an amazing fighter. If you’ve never seen him fight, he is a dangerous fighter. T-Wood (Woodley) is somebody who came up through the STRIKEFORCE organization on SHOWTIME. This is going to be his toughest test to date.”

Rockhold (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

LUKE ROCKHOLD

(On being a fighter in STRIKEFORCE and the fan’s reaction) “I’m fighting to legitimize myself and keep bettering myself and to prove to everyone that I am one of the best in the world. They need to realize how good we (STRIKEFORCE fighters) are and if they haven’t seen that then they don’t know what they are missing. STRIKEFORCE guys are going over to the UFC and they are killing guys over there.’’

Kennedy (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

TIM KENNEDY

“We both want to demonstrate that we are the best fighter in our division. We are going to step in there and go 25 minutes to prove that. What we say before we step in there is irrelevant.”

“I think the best way for me to represent the military community is for me to win this fight.”

Woodley (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

TYRON WOODLEY

“I think Nate has been around the block for a while. I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he is a well-rounded fighter. I think in this weight class he brings the most name recognition and more skills than the other guys. Most of the guys in the division I’ve already beat or I’ve beat someone who has beat them. I have no issue with him coming over and getting the title shot. ’’

Marquardt (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

NATE MARQUARDT

(About Tyron’s style) “As a fighter I respect his skills. He is a great wrestler and that’s what he does and that’s what he should be using in his fights. The thing is, we’re there to fight. So when you’re a wrestler your job is to fight. And if you are going to use wrestling that’s great and can be super exciting for the fans. If you can get that guy down and ground and pound that’s great, but if you are going take that guy down and hold him and wait for the decision, that’s a different thing.”

(Regarding what kind of a fight he is expecting on Saturday) “I am expecting to knock him out. This layoff has rejuvenated me and I’m ready to go. ’’

Rockhold (left) and Kennedy (photo via Esther Lin / Showtime)

Here is the line-up for the entire event.

Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy

Nate Marquardt vs. Tyron Woodley

Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine

Lorenz Larkin vs. Robbie Lawler

Jorge Masvidal vs. Justin Wilcox

Pat Healy vs. Mizuto Hirota

Jordan Mein vs. Tyler Stinson

Jason High vs. Nate Moore

Ryan Couture vs. Joe Duarte