Strikeforce Challengers 18 Garners $53K Gate

A total of 1,890 spectators attended the event, which went down Aug. 12 from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Challengers 18 was headlined by a three-round lightweight attraction between Joe Duarte (pictured) and Jorge Gurgel in which Duarte earned a unanimous decision to close the show.

Of the 1,890 attendees, 549 of them paid for their tickets. The remaining 1,341 distributed tickets were issued for free, while 66 tickets were neither purchased nor comped. The event outdrew Strikeforce's previous effort at the Palms, which netted $42, 988 and was attended by 1,876 spectators.

Challengers 18 also featured the Strikeforce debut of exciting women's 145-pound prospect Ronda Rousey, who earned a controversial, first-round armbar victory over Sarah D'Alelio in only 25 seconds. The Olympic judo bronze medalist remains undefeated through three pro bouts and has finished each of her fallen foes in less than one minute.