Strikeforce on Jan. 30: Preview and Predictions

This Saturday, Strikeforce holds another interesting fight card. This show has a little bit of everything: a couple borderline freak show fights, some exciting matchups, and a women's MMA title fight makes this card worth talking about.

Jay Hieron vs. Joe Riggs   

I'm starting with this one because I think it's a quality enough bout to get on the main card, and I have no clue who the other fighters are on the undercard.

Both of these guys have great potential but haven't been able to keep consistent momentum in the cage. Riggs lately has racked up some wins with Strikeforce against let's say adequate competition like Luke Stewart and Phil Baroni. Hieron has done the same against I'd say better competition like Delson Heleno, Jason High, and Jesse Taylor.

Riggs has always been a fighter with potential, but it still doesn't sway the fact that against top competition at 170 he's looked like dog shit, whether it was missing weight against Hughes, coming in dehydrated as a motherfucker against Nick Diaz, or getting floored by Diego is less than 2 minutes. It's a shame because when Riggs is on his game he shows the true definition of ground and pound, but he's always been plagued due to injuries, weight cut, and sometimes overconfidence.

Hieron on the same side isn't much better when it comes to inconsistency. Everytime he gets some momentum going he gets stopped cold in his tracks. First it was GSP, then after some wins he was cut by Jonathan Goulet in a bout he was winning, got screwed out of a decision against Chris Wilson, and then got clocked on the side of the head by Brad Blackburn. 

In this fight I'm gonna go with Hieron: He's looked better in his fights, and in my opinion he has the better stand up and takedown defense to thwart Riggs' takedowns.

Prediction: Hieron via Unanimous Decision

Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims

Now we go to a fight between a former pro wrestler and a man who might as well be a pro wrestler.

Lashley vs. Sims is not on this card to benefit anybody but Bobby Lashley. Seeing how this is Lashley's fourth proposed opponent, let's just say Strikeforce hit the proverbial home run with Sims. Sims has a weak stand up game, he won't test Lashley's chin, he has no wrestling to speak of, he won't defend Lashley's takedowns, and his ground game kind of sucks. Lashley can lay and pound on him all day.

While I agree Strikeforce should be careful with Lashley, for fucks sake four proposed opponents? The man has a good wrestling pedigree, and he has already fought four lousy fighters, so I don't see why they couldn't give a step up in competition. Instead they've decided to Kimbo Slice him Elite XC style.

Prediction: Lashley via TKO 1st Round

Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy

Okay, now we're in the deep end of the Strikeforce desperation to get noticed: Herschel Walker is on the main card.

Isn't it bad we don't even have to say Herschel Walker, the 47-year-old former NFL football player who wants to fight in MMA is on the main card above UFC veterans and Strikeforce 170lb title contending fighters Jay Hieron and Joe Riggs, for people to know what were angry about? Walker will be fighting Greg Nagy, which is about as generic a name that I can think of. 

While I hate that Walker is fighting for the supposed second MMA promotion in the world with no fights, I will always pick up the dried up piece of clay that was something than the fresh piece of turd that will always be a piece of shit and nothing else. Walker wins by athleticism.

Prediction: Walker by Unanimous decision

Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef

Now that we've left the dark pit that includes Herschel Walker and Bobby Lashley, we finally have a fight we can get excited about. 

With these two we have a combined 36 knockout wins, so let's expect some fireworks in this bout. Manhoef has fought some good competition like Kazao Misaki and Gegard in addition to becoming the first man in MMA to KO heavyweight Mark Hunt. Lawler racked up some wins over top names in Elite XC on his way to their middleweight title but lost his Strikeforce debut against Jake Shields via submission.

While Manhoef undoubtedly has the power and speed advantage, I'd give the technique to Lawler. Manhoef is really good kickboxer, but he gets sloppy and gasses sometimes. Plus, Lawler has been in there with tough stand up guys like Scott Smith and Ninja Rua. I see Lawler doing what he did in those fights, and that's weathering the storm, taking his time, and then getting the TKO in one of the later rounds.

Prediction: Lawler by TKO 2nd Round

Cristiane Cyborg vs. Marloes Coenen for the Women's 145lb Title

Fresh off her TKO win over Gina Carano, Cyborg takes on Dutch submission specialist Marloes Ceonen, who's coming off a submission win over Roxi Modaferri. 

The Muay Thai specialist Cyborg has been on fire since TKOing Shayna Baszler in her U.S. debut, and all by two of her eight wins are by TKO. Coenen is very talented in submissions with 12 of her 17 coming via submission.

While some people will see this as a stand up fighter vs. grappler match and think automatically the grappler will win, that is not the case here in the women's division, where strength isn't really valued much. Strength is Cyborg's advantage in most fights: She's almost a man among boys when she fights (I don't mean that because of her looks). She displays an aggression that has yet to be matched by her opponents, and I don't think Coenen will be able to withstand it.

Prediction: Cyborg via TKO in the 1st Round

Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromski for the 170lb Title

Now we have the main event which no one is talking about. Nick Diaz, the cocky Cesar Gracie black belt, vs. Marius "The Whitemare" Zaromski from London's Shootfighters Gym.

Zaromski has jumped into the hardcore MMA fan's spotlight since his one night destruction of Mach Sakurai and Jason High in the Dream 170lb tournament. Diaz has always been a top fighter, but cuts, cockiness, and cannabus have stalled his MMA greatness.

While I agree Zaromski's power is something that Nick Diaz wishes he had when he throws his powder puff strikes, I have yet to see his ground game tested by somebody. Diaz has only been TKO'd once by strikes in his career, and it was when he was 19, so I don't think Zaromski will be able to stop him. Diaz is also a very tall welterweight, so I think he'll be able to keep Zaromski at bay with his reach advantage.

Diaz will test the waters early, and I'm sure Zaromski will get his shots in, but don't expect Nick to stay standing and take it. Diaz will land his shots as well, but when it's right he'll get the takedown and finish it.

Prediction: Diaz by submission second round

Feel free to leave whatever comments you like; if you thought I sucked, I would like to get better, so don't pull any punches.