We’ve had plenty of in-depth coverage of tonight’s Strikeforce event here at Inside Fights over the past week, so there’s no need for me to do my standard preview & predictions column. What I will do, however, is give you some quick predictions:
Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields: Shields by decision
Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers: Rogers by KO
Nate Diaz vs. Scott Smith: Smith by TKO
Phil Baroni vs. Joe Riggs: Baroni by decision
Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead: Randleman by TKO
I like Shields in the main event. I think his ground game is going to be enough to stifle anything Lawler might throw at him.
Andrei Arlovski is almost certainly a better fighter than Brett Rogers, but Rogers hits really hard and Arlovski’s chin is seemingly made of porcelain. I see Rogers catching the Belarussian with one punch and knocking him out cold, much like the Fedor Emelianenko fight.
The Diaz/Smith fight is the same story as Arlovski/Rogers. Diaz is a better fighter, but Smith hits like a champion, and I think Smith will catch him with a punch and then finish him with strikes on the ground.
Baroni is in crazy shape, the craziest shape I’ve ever seen him in. He may finally have enough in the tank to grind out a decision win without gassing in the process.
Kevin Randleman is going to be a beast. Either that, or he’s going to flame in spectacular fashion.
