Contenders and Pretenders Strikeforce Edition

Posted By RJ Clifford on the Jan 29 2010

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Contenders and Pretenders

Strikeforce: Miami

Welcome to the first edition of Contenders and Pretenders where we break down the major fights of the week and which fighters are here to stay and which are just buying time. A contender can be a lot of things but he has be a real fighter with real skills and a future. No one trick ponies or fighters without a real future in the sport.

Pretenders are fighters that are not necessarily bad but are missing some things. Maybe they can’t decide on a weight or a promotion. Or maybe they don’t fight regularly enough.

The fight itself is also rated as a contender or pretender match. Does the fight have title implications? Doe the winner really gain something and the loser lose something? Is it relevant at all and will it be entertaining? Check it out.

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis

Match: Contender - Diaz: Contender - Zaromskis: Contender

No one could have predicted the first fight for a Strikeforce welterweight title would be between UFC veteran Nick Diaz and Lithuanian slugger Marius Zaromskis. Just a year ago Diaz was fighting at middleweight and Zaromskis was a little known fighter cutting his teeth in Lithuania.

This fight is going to answer a lot of questions for both fighters. Diaz has fought in three different weight classes, in three different organizations, in two different countries over the last two years culminating in a five fight win streak. However, this will be the toughest opponent Diaz has faced since he fought Takanori Gomi in 2007.

Zaromskis’ star has never shown brighter than it is right now. Also on a five fight win streak, Zaromskis exploded on the international MMA scene by winning the DREAM welterweight Grand Prix as a huge underdog. However, his toughest opponent to date is against a downhill Hayato “Mach” Sakurai who is only 3-3 in his last six fights.

The X factor here is whether or not Diaz decides to stand and trade with a Zaromskis on a current three head kick KO run putting Zaromskis in the same breadth as other 170 pound KO artists like Dan Hardy and Paul Daley. If Diaz obliges Zaromskis and plays his game strike for strike on his feet, he faces a real threat of being put out. Even if Diaz decides to take Zaromskis down, Diaz’s wrestling is one of his weakest assets and Zaromskis’ takedown defense has been improving with every fight.

Still, Diaz is far too experienced for the foreigner fighting in the US for the first time. Diaz’s striking ability and durable chin keep him safe long enough to set up a scramble that brings the big striker to the ground. Once there, count the seconds until Diaz has Zaromskis tapping away. It won’t be many.

Prediction: Diaz by Submission RD2

Strikeforce Women’s Championship
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Marloes Coenen

Match: Contender – Cyborg: Contender (Big Time) – Coenen: Contender (For now)

All eyes are on Cris “Cyborg” Santos in this championship fight since she beat down the former, but possibly still, face of women’s MMA, Gina Carano. Strikeforce now has to play the balancing act of hyping up their new champion while still cashing in on the popularity of Carano.

Santos’ aggressive Chute Boxe Muay Thai style is her bread and butter and what has made her become the most dominant female fighter in America today. It’s her ability to stay upright however that will decide this fight. Coenen has 11 submission wins in 17 wins and decent enough takedowns to boot. Although Santos is far from a slouch on the mat, this is a classic case of striker vs grappler.

All eyes are on Cyborg to repeat in dominating fashion and I believe she will. Despite Coenen’s wrestling skills; clinching or shooting in on the bull rush that is Santos will only result in a knee to the dome. Once Santos smells blood, it’s over.

Prediction: Cyborg TKO RD1

Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef

Match: Pretender(But still must see) – Lawler: Contender – Manhoef: Pretender

Sometimes a gold old fashioned, meaningless slugfest has its place on an otherwise respectable card. Lawler/Manhoef is the one night stand to Diaz/Zaromskis’ meaningful relationship.

After spending the bulk of his career decapitating unsuspecting Dutchmen, Brits, Brazilians and Japanese, Manhoef is returning to the US a second time to face his first American. Lawler is a powerful slugger himself knocking out the likes of Scott Smith, Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Frank Trigg.

Because of Manhoef’s inability to even be able to spell “jiu-jitsu”, he will never be considered a legitimate threat in the grand scope of things but he can still knock anyone, and I mean anyone, out with both hands. For that you must watch. Even if Lawler does manage to get Manhoef down he doesn’t have the submission skills to put him away. Then it’s just a matter of time before one of Manhoef’s bombs finds its mark and ends this guilty pleasure fight.

Prediction: Manhoef KO RD1

Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims

Match: Pretender - Lashley: Contender (Being optimistic) – Sims: Pretender

TNA wrestling superstar turned MMA fighter Bobby Lashley has won his first six professional matches and is looking to make Wes Sims his seventh. Sims has far more experience but his best days, and I use the term “best” loosely, are behind him. He often comes into matches out of shape even when he has a full training camp. So with only a week’s notice, don’t expect too much from Sims.

Because Lashley should be fighting better opponents by now this is a pretender match. Sims is not going to help Lashley’s progression as a fighter but at this point, Lashley needs matches anyway he can get them.

Prediction: Lashley TKO RD1

Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy

Match: Pretender(morbid curiosity at best) – Walker: Pretender – Nagy: Who knows?

47 year old Heisman Trophy winner Hershel Walker has kicked off his cleats and traded in for a pair of 4oz gloves. One of the best athletes America has ever known is looking to test himself in the steel cage against the unknown-to-instant-celebrity Greg Nagy out of Arizona.

Little is known about Nagy as a fighter in his two fight career but even less is known about Walker. Walker is a huge betting favorite so with this fight being a coin flip, try taking the odds and betting Nagy if you can stomach rooting against someone as nice as Walker. Still, I find it hard to believe Scott Coker and company would risk the media magnet Walker losing so I have to go with the football player.

Prediction: Walker UD

Jay Hieron vs. Joe Riggs

Match: Contender(Because Scott Coker says so) – Hieron: Contender – Riggs: Pretender

Waiting in the wings while Diaz and Zaromskis fight for Strikeforce gold is Jay Hieron on the short list of welterweight contenders. Riding a four fight win streak is UFC veteran Joe Riggs looking to steal Hieron’s thunder.

Hieron is all around a little better at everything that Riggs is good at. Riggs will have the size but Hieron will have the wrestling, speed and skill. Look for Hieron to pick Riggs apart for a round or two before a power punch finds its mark.

Prediction: Hieron KO3

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