Strikeforce
Strikeforce "Fedor vs. Henderson" winners Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine could fight for vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Title
Jul 31, 2011 - 8:30:18 PM Strikeforce "Fedor vs. Henderson" winners Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine could fight for vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Title

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Strikeforce's Welterweight Title was vacated earlier this year when former Champion Nick Diaz jumped ship to the UFC, where he will meet Georges St. Pierre in October for the UFC's Welterweight Championship.

So with no champion in the division, Strikeforce needs a couple of fighters to put into a title fight for the belt, and Saturday's event in Hoffman Estates, Ill. may have determined which two will be getting the call.

Both Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine picked up big wins on the card, and according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker after the event, they could be squaring off in a rematch, only this time with a belt on the line.

"That's something we're going to go back to the office and have a conversation internally (about)," Coker said in comments made to MMAjunkie.com. "But I would think that Tyron and Tarec are going to be frontrunners for that vacant title when it gets done.

"They both looked great tonight."

Woodley took on the most highly ranked opponent he'd ever faced in Paul Daley on the card, and earned a unanimous decision after being able to dictate the pace of the fight for the most part. Daley showed off a vastly improved wrestling game in the fight, but Woodley was still able to keep the fight on the ground for a majority of the bout, and took a unanimous decision from the juges to stay undefeated.

Saffiedine took on a lower level opponent than Woodley did in Scott Smith, but he was definitely the more impressive on the card. Through three rounds of action, Saffiedine hit Smith from all angles with punches, kicks and knees, hurting him multiple times throughout the fight. Smith showed a continued ability to keep moving after taking punishment, but he was plodding and slow and found himself completely out-classed in the fight.

If the two get paired up for the title, it could mean an opportunity for the 24-year-old Saffiedine to avenge his last loss. The two fighters squared off in January in a Challengers series main event fight, with Woodley's wrestling being the deciding factor in neutralizing Saffiedine and taking a decision. The fight may play out the same way, but it will have a lot more on the line if it takes place.

Penick's Analysis: Considering this fight will likely take place within 10-11 months from their first meeting, I don't know how much Saffiedine will have been able to improve to stop what Woodley was able to do to him in January. Still, he looked excellent against Smith, and Woodley did enough to pick up his biggest win to date. With very few welterweight challengers in Strikeforce, if they have another title fight these two would certainly work as the participants in the bout.