I have a theory that says that there isn’t really anybody out there who watches Strikeforce because they are a Strikeforce fan, rather they are just insatiable UFC fans who cannot wait to get their next fix. I bring this up because right now if you truly were a diehard Strikeforce you would have much reason to celebrate. For once Scott Coker has kept his word and has organized, as of this writing, an 8 man elimination tournament in his strongest division (Heavyweight) along with two bouts to determine the alternates if need be. He hasn’t explained what role Alistair Overeem’s title will play in all this or whether this is all just basically for fun but there is no way that you can argue with Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva. The other two bracketed bouts are Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov and Brett Rogers vs. Josh Barnett. If I had a vote I would have inserted Shane del Rosario in there, probably into Kharitonov’s slot, but as it stands he will face Lavar Johnson and Ray Sefo will battle Valentijn Overeem in the reserve bracket. I would say that it is safe to say that MMA fans worldwide now have a lot to look forward to in the new year.
One of the side effects of this sudden burst of matchmaking is that quality fighters and fights are being pushed aside and onto the Challengers cards. Two of the stars of this show, Tyron Woodley and Ovince St. Preux, were most recently victorious on different major league Strikeforce cards. That means that this Friday at 11pm EST when Strikeforce presents Strikeforce Challengers 13, the five matches booked for Showtime should provide nonstop action (though they’ll be hard pressed to top the violence of their last card) put on by some of their best. Here now is a quick look at each of the televised fights along with predictions to go along with them.
Tarec Saffiedine (10-2) vs. Tyron Woodley (7-0)
The main difference between these Challengers cards and the UFC prelims that take place before every one of their events is that here it is being broadcast across the country so there is a need to provide a somewhat worthy main event. I think most would agree that this scrap would fit in nicely on any regular Strikeforce card. Woodley, as mentioned above, was just there back in October when he took just 1:48 to whup World Jiu-Jitsu champ Andre Galvao and send him directly into the unemployment/TUF 13 casting line. Here he faces a much taller task in Saffiedine, 10-2 and coming off an easy victory over Brock Larson at Shark Fights 13 where he maintained ground control throughout and stuffed every takedown attempt Larson went for. Woodley still seems to be the bigger stud in this match, stronger and more technically sound. He also knows that unlike the Heavyweight division Strikeforce’s Welterweight division leaves a lot to be desired and he could really be a win away from a title shot. Look for the fight to take place primarily on the ground, where both excel, and I expect to see Woodley prove that he is a step or two more advanced than his opponent. There’s no way Saffiedine walks into any of Woodley’s fists the way Galvao did and he will make life difficult on the former All American but Woodley is perfectly capable of grinding out a decision victory here.
Pick: Woodley via decision
Devin Cole (18-8-1) vs. Daniel Cormier (6-0)
Here are two men who are not taking place in the Heavyweight Grand Prix but are fighters who could certainly be on the cusp of making a name for themselves. I am really looking forward to the future of Cormier, he’s 31 years old but he only started fighting professionally last year and since then has only amassed a 6-0 record and been a coach of Team Koscheck on The Ultimate Fighter 12. What was he doing with his life up until then? Slumming it as an Olympic wrestler and compiling the most impressive wrestling resume I have ever seen. He’s finally turned towards the money, perhaps too late in the game to make any massive pay checks out of the deal, but he’s still young enough to leave his mark. Standing across from him will be Devin Cole who has three years on him and six years experience as a pro. He’s fought top level competition over the years but his only win against somebody like that came over Mike Kyle at WEC 18. He’s openly accused Strikeforce of conspiring against him claiming that he’s being brought in to lose on national TV to Cormier. Maybe it’s true and maybe it’s not but unless he has radically upgraded his wrestling game I don’t see him getting very far against him. I will say that while Cormier has yet to go the distance in a fight, Cole should have the wherewithal to avoid Cormier’s nasty fists and ultra dangerous ground game long enough to get at least that far but as for spoiling the rest of Strikeforce’s plans I just don’t think he has enough.
Pick: Cormier via decision
Abongo Humphrey (7-2) vs. Ovince St. Preux (9-4)
For my money the drama surrounding Ovince St. Preux as he goes out there, once again, on short rest and tempts fate is the best storyline for my money. Two months ago, at the last Challengers event, he got scheduled to fight Antwain Britt, he won via decision, no big thing. Then there was an opening on the Henderson/Babalu card, which took place a mere two weeks later, and St. Preux jumped at it. This time he got to slug it out with Benji Radach and once again he went the entire 15 minutes but claimed victory. So now he should almost be over rested because that fight took place almost an entire 5 weeks ago, luckily he is taking on a tougher opponent just to make things interesting. Humphrey, a veteran of the Challengers series, would be very wise indeed to try and lure St. Preux into a brawl here. As long as he can keep the fight standing and banging the better chance he has. I myself have jumped aboard the St. Preux bandwagon and feel as though he’ll take a route similar to that one taken by Mike Kyle wherein he will avoid the standup wars (hopefully even better than Kyle did) and then capitalize on Humphrey’s weak submission defense.
Pick: St. Preux via 1st Round Submission
Julia Budd (1-0) vs. Amanda Nunes (5-1)
Seeing as how these two are fighting to move their way up the 145 pound ladder and thus closer to the prize (?) of fighting for Cris Cyborg’s championship you have to wonder how high their motivation to win is. You may remember Budd from Strikeforce Challengers 11 where she made her professional debut and stole a win away from favorite Shana Olsen. Her transition from Muay Thai to MMA was a little bumpy as she had a point taken away for landing what was deemed an illegal elbow. Still she was far and away the more dominant fighter that night and demanded that the matchmakers pay attention to her. Here she hopes to keep that momentum flowing as she takes on Amanda Nunes who is making her Strikeforce debut after compiling a 5-1 record in Brazil. There isn’t much video footage of her available (Sherdog did stream one of her fights from early last year) but what I was able to lay eyes upon showed me a surprisingly polished fighter who threw heavy, heavy punches and was very difficult for her opponent to maneuver. I was impressed. I’ll admit that there isn’t enough out there about either of these two fighters to make a super educated prediction but my instinct is telling me that Nunes is somebody to watch so I’m going to go with her.
Pick: Nunes via Round 1 Submission
Rhandi Ferguson (2-0) vs. John Richard (3-1)
Two of Strikeforce’s greener and more curious prospects face off in this impromptu bout that was slapped together early Wednesday. Originally Ferguson was set to fight Ion Cherdivara but he couldn’t quite make it over the Canadian border in time and thus John Richard was kind enough to step up to the plate. For those who don’t already know Ferguson is both a PhD and cousin of Kimbo Slice. He kicked around the Appalachian MMA scene for two fights and is now ready to leave his own mark on the sport. Richard’s claim to fame at this early stage of his career is the fact that all three of his victories have come via 1st Round Submission. He’s known to be a strong, talented wrestler who will be more at home in the Light Heavyweight division than the Heavyweight one where he has been moonlighting for most of his professional career. This also falls into the category of too obscure to call but I think the safe money is always on betting against Kimbo and, hopefully, his relatives.
Pick: Richard via decision
Be sure to check in with Inside Fights this Friday at 11pm EST for live play by play coverage as I will be bringing you all the action of this gloriously stacked Challengers card.
