Take Your Pick
Full Tip-Sheet for Strikeforce: Miami
With rookie promotional company Strikeforce seeking to gain a foothold on the American market while facing stiff competition from the Zuffa virtual-monopoly, the upcoming Strikeforce: Miami event should attract plenty of attention from both hardcore MMA fans and newcomers alike.
Featuring some of the most popular fighters to compete in DREAM, and available free to Showtime subscribers, this event focuses on all the important aspects of MMA that the UFC disregards. The stacked main card includes a female championship title fight, Asian sensations Melvin Manhoef and Marius Zaromskis squaring off against Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler, a chance for Bobby Lashley to explode onto the fight scene, and the MMA debut of 47-year-old Herschel Walker. Strikeforce has successfully put together a fight card that has the potential to establish the upstart league as a legitimate rival to the UFC.
MAIN CARD PREDICTIONS
NICK DIAZ VS. MARIUS ZAROMSKIS: Strikeforce's first ever welterweight championship belt is on the line as the popular trash-talking Nick Diaz takes on rising star Marius Zaromskis. Training with London Shootfighters, Marius "The Whitemare" Zaromskis is coming to the states off a 5-fight win streak finishing his last 3 by way of highlight-reel head kicks. Always an underdog, "The Whitemare" has destroyed the likes of Hayato Sakurai and Jason High in the same night with vicious high kicks and powerful, straight punches to win the 2009 DREAM 10 Welterweight Grand Prix.
Fortunately for 6-foot Nick Diaz, he towers over the 5'9" Zaromskis with a height advantage that gives Nick the longer reach and may even keep his head out of range from the Lithuanian's signature head kick. Because of his power, Zaromskis still poses a threat standing but his ground game is questionable as it hasn't been tested by the likes of a world-class Cesar Gracie student.
Notorious for wanting to stand and brawl, if Diaz can overcome his pride and do the smart thing by taking Zaromskis down, then he dominates from top position to secure a late (4th minute) choke submission in the 3rd round. (Opinion - 65% chance of victory)
If Zaromskis can stick and move to avoid the takedown while working leg and body kicks early, then he frustrates his opponent into a standup war to win a unanimous decision. (Opinion - 35% chance of victory)
CRISTIANE SANTOS VS. MARLOES COENEN: A female championship belt is on the line as Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos makes her first title defense since upsetting the foxy Gina Carano. The buff female champion, nicknamed "Cyborg" after her husband Evangelista Santos who is also a professional fighter, train together at the renowned Chute Boxe in Brazil. This pair really suits each other well and they could probably win the "World's Ugliest Couple" contest. She is set to face submission specialist Marloes "Rumina" Coenen in a classic striker versus grappler matchup. Having finished half of her 8 wins by referee stoppage due to punches, look for Santos to keep it standing. On the other hand Coenen may have an advantage on the ground with 12 of her 17 career wins by way of rear naked choke and armbar submissions. The Dutch contender claims she wants to stand with the hard-hitting Cyborg, but this sounds like a dangerous game to play with the only woman to beat kickboxing star Gina Carano.
If Cyborg can keep it standing then she pounds out Coenen with a late (3rd minute) TKO stoppage in the 2nd round. (Opinion - 60% chance of victory)
If Coenen can take the fight to her comfort zone and get Santos' back, then she pulls off a late (4th minute) rear naked choke in the 3rd round. (Opinion - 40% chance of victory)
ROBBIE LAWLER VS. MELVIN MANHOEF: This is potentially one of the most exciting fights of the year with 2 of the best MMA strikers facing off in a cage. "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef is a Dutch kickboxing legend whose sheer power translates so well to mixed martial arts that he has been extremely successful with 23 of his 24 wins coming by way of TKO or KO. I personally think he has the heaviest hands in the entire sport, period. Manhoef boasts a 1st minute knockout of Mark Hunt, a warrior who had never been KO'd in his entire PRIDE Fighting or K-1 kickboxing career, not even by the likes of Mirko Crocop at his prime landing roundhouse kicks flush on the chin.
Robbie Lawler's only option is to take this fight to the ground. As much as he is known for being a great boxer, Manhoef is in a completely different league and will absolutely destroy him if he tries to throwdown. I don't even think Lawler's wrestling is good enough to get Manhoef to the mat, though he does have experience fighting in a cage while the Dutchman is accustomed to the ring.
If Lawler falls back on his wrestling background and can take advantage of Manhoef's inexperience in a cage by taking and keeping him down, then he can work his ground and pound to win a unanimous decision. (Opinion - 20% chance of victory)
If Manhoef simply lands one punch then its lights out for Lawler. 2nd minute, 1st round KO. (Opinion - 80% chance of victory)
HERSCHEL WALKER VS. GREG NAGY: The MMA debut of 47 year old, UGA running back Herschel Walker seems to be more of a publicity stunt than a serious fight. Meant to garner an upstart organization some much-needed attention, the aging Walker has made the rounds on ESPN sports shows and radio networks to hype up what I see as a novelty act. The fact that he's donating all of his earnings to charity further proves this.
Either way his opponent is a no-name being offered up by Strikeforce as a lamb for the slaughter. With a record of 1-1 Greg Nagy is a big underdog on the sportsbooks and rightly so going up against such a natural athlete as Herschel Walker. The Heisman Trophy winner is also known for being a longtime Tae Kwon Do student in addition to having the genetics of a bull. The big question of course, is how much of a factor the legendary running back's age will play if the fight goes to the later rounds.
If Walker can charge across the cage and drop his opponent then he wins an early (2nd minute) TKO stoppage with ground and pound from the top in the 1st round. (Opinion - 75% chance of victory)
If Nagy can weather the storm and take the aging Walker into deep water to test his stamina, then he can land some shots and edge out a split decision. (Opinion - 25% chance of victory)
BOBBY LASHELY VS. WES SIMS: Touted as the next Brock Lesnar, Bobby "No-Neck" Lashley has some serious power, and the wily veteran Wes Sims should be an interesting test for the newcomer. Boasting a win over kickboxing giant Bob Sapp, and training with American Top Team, Lashley has to be considered a huge favorite.
Taking the fight on short notice (literally a week), the comedic Sims gets one more chance for a shot at the big time, though based on the caliber of his opponent, he is destined to fall short and either retire or make his rounds on the amateur league circuit.
If Sims can remain conscious then he has a slim chance of landing a hard punch late (4th minute) of the 3rd round. (Opinion - 15% chance of victory)
If Lashley can hit Sims flush then he drops him and finishes with solid ground and pound from the top for a late (3rd minute) TKO in the 1st round. (Opinion - 85% chance of victory)
Preliminary Card Predictions:
JAY HIERON VS. JOE RIGGS: Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron looks to keep his 6 fight win streak going with a win over Joe Riggs. The former IFL Champion's most recent loss at the hands of Brad Blackburn seems a distant memory as Hieron has picked up notable wins recently over Jesse Taylor and Jason High. Hieron is a very well rounded fighter but training with Randy Couture and having never lost by submission, I think he will look to take Joe Riggs down and dominate from top position.
At one time weighing over 300 pounds, Joe "Diesel" Riggs looks to keep his career afloat with an upset over "The Thoroughbred." On a 4 fight win streak including a unanimous decision victory over a gassed Phil Baroni, look for Riggs to utilize his boxing strength and keep the fight standing.
If Hieron can frustrate his opponent with leg kicks and takedowns then he wins an easy unanimous decision. (Opinion - 75% chance of victory)
If Riggs can calm his nerves and close the distance to score some punching combos then he can drop Hieron with a late (4th minute) TKO in the 2nd round. (Opinion - 25% chance of victory)
Also featured on the preliminary card which will not be televised, are the following matchups:
Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos da Matta
Michael Byrnes vs. David Zitnik
Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly
David Gomez vs. Craig Oxley
Hayder Hassan vs. Ryan Keenan
[Wes Sims photo provided to MMATorch courtesy Spike TV]
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