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(Note: Due to Strikeforce not announcing which fights are preliminary fights and which fights are on the televised card as of this writing on June 27th, I decided to simply preview half the card on part one of this column and part two will preview the second half of the card.)
Prior to beginning this preview, Joe Riggs was pulled from his fight with Luke Stewart at the weigh-ins by the California State Athletic Commission for using a banned substance. Drew Fickett was going to be his replacement against Luke Stewart, but the Maximum Fighting Championships vetoed the fight due to a 45 non-compete contractual clause.
Strikeforce Women’s 150lb. Division Fight
Miesha Tate (1-1-0) vs. Elaina “Beef” Maxwell (2-2-0)
Miesha Tate has only fought two professional fights, competing in a Bodog Fight/Hook N’ Shoot Tournament, making it to the semi-finals. In that tournament, Miesha Tate defeated Jan Finney by decision, before losing to eventual tournament winner Kaitlin Young by knockout. Along with her opponent Elaina Maxwell, Miesha Tate is also competing to give herself a winning record instead of leaving the fight with a losing record. Despite fighting four times in her career, Elaina Maxwell has only fought two different opponents, the ultra popular Gina Carano and Michelle Mahar, whom she won two of three fights against in their series. Three of four fights in Elaina Maxwell has gone to decision, so she has the stamina to bring the fight late in the rounds and she has good knockout ability. Elaina Maxwell has previously competed in Strikeforce, as well as the Warrior Cup and Melee On The Mountain promotions.
My Prediction: Elaina Maxwell
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Jeremiah Metcalf (8-4-0) vs. Raymond Daniels (0-0-0)
Jeremiah Metcalf is the more experienced fighter heading into this fight, but Raymond Daniels is easily getting more hype as the “next Cung Le.” Jeremiah Metcalf has already fought some top MMA fighters like Aaron Wetherspoon, Luke Stewart, Dennis Hallman and Ronald Jhun. Jeremiah Metcalf is a fighter known for finishing his opponents, with seven of eight victories coming by knockout and submission. Jeremiah Metcalf has also competed in MMA groups like King Of The Cage, Strike Force, ShoXC, Gladiator Challenge and Palace Fighting Championships. Raymond Daniels is getting tons of hype heading into his MMA debut, but has competed already in Chuck Norris’s World Combat League. Many people are considering Raymond Daniels to be the next Cung Le, who is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.
My Prediction: Raymond Daniels
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Nam Phan (14-4-0) vs. Billy Evangelista (6-0-0)
If it wasn’t for a loss to Josh Thompson at Strikeforce: Triple Threat in December of 2006, you could possibly be seeing Nam Phan compete for the Strikeforce Lightweight Title against Gilbert Melendez, instead of Josh Thompson. Nam Phan is a fighter who is comfortable keeping the fight on the feet or putting it on the ground, with ten victories coming by knockout or submission. Besides competing in Strikeforce, Nam Phan has also competed in King Of The Cage, World Extreme Cagefighting and K-1 Hero’s. A victory in this fight for Nam Phan could easily put him in the top contender spot for the Strikeforce Lightweight Title. Billy Evangelista has competed for Strikeforce in half of his career fights, also he has competed in World Extreme Cagefighting and Gladiator Challenge. Despite being an excellent wrestler, Billy Evangelista has yet to achieve victory by submission, but does have four victories by way of knockout. The same thing I said about Nam Phan also is true for Billy Evangelista, a victory here could earn him a Strikeforce Lightweight Title opportunity.
My Prediction: Nam Phan
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Bobby Southworth *Champion* (8-5-0) vs. Anthony “El Toro” Ruiz (20-10-0)
Most MMA fans will likely remember Bobby Southworth best as a cast member on the first season of the UFC Ultimate Fighter reality show. After his stint in the UFC came to an end, Bobby Southworth has been competing primarily in the Strikeforce promotion. Bobby Southworth has previously fought top contender Anthony Ruiz, where he suffered a loss due to a cut at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives. On the road to becoming the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, Bobby Southworth has fought top MMA names like Vitor Belfort, Floyd Sword, Sam Hoger, James Irvin, Vernon White and Bill Mahood. Anthony Ruiz is currently one of the most under recognized fighters in MMA today, achieving fourteen career victories by way of knockout. Despite being a dangerous striker, Anthony Ruiz has been caught and finished by submission in eight of ten career losses. Before coming to Strikeforce, Anthony Ruiz was a mainstay in the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he fought twenty of thirty career fights. As I previously mentioned, Anthony Ruiz has already defeated Bobby Southworth, so he does have the mental advantage heading into the fight.
My Prediction: Anthony Ruiz
Strikeforce Lightweight Title Fight
Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez *Champion* (14-1-0) vs. Josh “The Punk” Thompson (14-2-0)
Gilbert Melendez is becoming one of the most dominant lightweight fighters in MMA right now, having previously fought in PRIDE, World Extreme Cagefighting, Shooto and Yarennoka before becoming the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion. Gilbert Melendez won thirteen straight fights, before losing his first career fight at a Yarennoka event in December of 2007. Known as a knockout artist by trade, Gilbert Melendez has achieved eight of fourteen career victories by knockout. Like Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth, Josh Thomson was a cast member on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. Josh Thomson is entering this fight on a six fight win streak, last losing to UFC veteran Clay Guida at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie. Unlike his opponent Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson is a fighter known for his submission skills, with eight of fourteen career victories coming by submission. Josh Thomson has fought in the big fights before against top MMA names like Rob McCullough, Hermes Franca, Yves Edwards, Clay Guida, Duane Ludwig and Nam Phan.
My Prediction: Gilbert Melendez
You can e-mail David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
