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Elite XC Lightweight Division Fight
David Douglas (3-1-0) vs. Marlon Matias (5-1-0)
Despite only competing in four professional fights, David Douglas has already competed in a major MMA fight, losing to UFC veteran Jeff Curran. David Douglas has fought three of his four fights in the International Fighting Championships promotions, his other fight was in the Combat Cage Fighting Championships. This fight could all be about conditioning for David Douglas, who hasn’t fought in over a year, his last fight was in May 2007. David Douglas will look to keep the fight standing, because all of his career victories have come by knockout. Marlon Matias has recently competed in the Sho XC promotion, but has spent the majority of his career in the Storm Samurai promotion. After starting off his career with a five fight winning streak, Marlon Matias recently lost his first career fight to Conor Huen in March 2008. Like his opponent David Douglas, Marlon Matias will want to keep the fight standing, with three of his five victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: David Douglas
Elite XC Women’s 140lb. Division Fight
“The Queen Of Spades” Shayna Baszler (9-4-0) vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (4-0-0)
Outside of Gina Carano, Shayna Baszler is one of the most dominant female competitors in mixed martial arts today. In her career, Shayna Baszler has fought top female MMA fighters like Tara LaRosa, Jennifer Tate and Julie Kedzie. The last three fights that Shayna Baszler has competed in all came from the Sho XC promotion, where she went undefeated. An excellent ground and submission game is what Shayna Baszler is known for, because all nine of her victories came by submission. Cristiane Santos has fought her entire career in the Storm Samurai promotion, where she has gone undefeated. Besides her professional debut in MMA that went to a decision, none of the other three fights Cristiane Santos has competed in went past the first round. It has been over a year and a half since Cristiane Santos competed in a MMA fight, so physical conditioning can become a factor in this fight. Unlike her opponent Shayna Baszler, Cristiane Cyborg has scored three of four victories by knockout and will want to keep the fight standing.
My Prediction: Shayna Baszler
Elite XC Lightweight Division Fight
Thomas “Wildman” Denny (26-16-0) vs. Nick Diaz (17-7-0)
Thomas Denny could easily be one of the best fighters in the world that the casual MMA fan doesn’t know about, with over forty professional fights. In his long career, Thomas Denny has fought top MMA fighters like Yves Edwards, John Alessio, Duane Ludwig, Georges St. Pierre, Joe Stevenson, Alex Karalexis and Tony Fryklund. Along with the list of opponents, Thomas Denny has competed in King Of The Cage, Sho XC and World Extreme Cagefighting.. Thomas Denny will want to use his ground fighting skills to gain victory, with fifteen career victories coming by submission. Nick Diaz is a former UFC Welterweight Division top contender and the top contender to the Elite XC Lightweight Title. Nick Diaz has stood across the octagon/ring from many top MMA fighters like Chris Lytle, Robbie Lawler, Karo Parisyan, Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, Sean Sherk, Josh Neer, Takanori Gomi and KJ Noons. Many Elite XC fans thought that Nick Diaz’s next fight would be against Elite XC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons, so a loss here could put that potential fight in jeopardy. Nick Diaz will want to look to keep the fight on the feet, because Nick Diaz has achieved nine of seventeen victories by knockout.
My Prediction: Nick Diaz
Elite XC Welterweight Title Decision Fight
Jake Shields (20-4-1) vs. “The Goat” Nick Thompson (36-9-1)
Jake Shields has long been considered to be the top welterweight in Elite XC and finally has a chance to become the first Elite XC Welterweight Champion. Jake Shields has also been considered one of the top fighters in MMA as a whole with fights against Hayato Sakurai, Dave Menne, Carlos Condit, Yushin Okami, Renato Verissimo and Mike Pyle. Jake Shields has also competed in top promotions like Shooto, Pancrase, Gladiator Challenge and K-1 Hero’s. Jake Shields will want to use his wrestling skills to get his opponent on the ground, with seven career victories coming by submission. Despite making his Elite XC debut Saturday Night, Nick Thompson is currently riding a twelve fight win streak. Nick Thompson has competed around the globe in promotions like Senguko, Bodog Fight, Ultimate Fighting Championships and Absolute Fighting Championship. Nick Thompson has also fought top MMA fighters like Yushin Okami, Ed Herman, Josh Neer, Karo Parisyan, Eddie Alverez and Mark Weir. Nick Thompson does have the skills to match the ground skills of Jake Shields, with twenty one career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Jake Shields
Elite XC Middleweight Title Fight
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler *Champion* (17-4-0) vs. Scott “Hands Of Steel” Smith (13-4-0)
This fight is a rematch from the first fight that ended in controversy at Elite XC On CBS I, where Robbie Lawler accidentally poked Scott Smith in the eye. There has only been two months between the fights, so conditioning may become a factor for both fighters. Robbie Lawler is one of the most decorated fighters in Elite XC, having already fought Tiki Ghosn, Pete Spratt, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz, Evan Tanner, Jason Miller, Joey Villasenor, Frank Trigg and Murilo Rua. Robbie Lawler is one of the most dominant strikers in MMA today, with fourteen career victories coming by knockout. Most casual MMA fans will remember Scott Smith as a cast member on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. Scott Smith has fought Justin Levens, David Terrell, Pete Sell, Patrick Cote and Ed Herman in his rising career. Early in his career, Scott Smith won a World Extreme Cagefighting Middleweight Tournament defeating Tait Fletcher and Tim McKenzie. Scott Smith does have the striking power to match that of Robbie Lawler, with eleven career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Robbie Lawler
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
