Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Jesse Gillespie (1-2-0) vs. Dave Martin (0-1-0)
This fight is actually a rematch from the Strikeforce: Young Guns II event in February 2008, where Jesse Gillespie defeated Dave Martin by decision. After that victory, Jesse Gillespie was not able to string along any further victories after losing to Jesse Hones and Eric Lawson in following Strikeforce events. Those two losses also occurred in quick fashion for Jesse Gillespie, which both happened in the first round and the longest fight was barely over a minute. This fight will be very important fight for Jesse Gillespie, who can give himself an even record with a victory. As I previously mentioned, Dave Martin has only fought once in his career, a decision loss to Jesse Gillespie at Strikeforce: Young Guns II. Dave Martin trains at Undisputed Boxing, which should give him an edge when it comes to striking. Also like Jesse Gillespie, this is a vastly important fight for Dave Martin, who could even up his record with a victory.
My Prediction: Jesse Gillespie
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Brandon Magana (5-1-0) vs. Brandon Thatch (3-0-0)
Brandon Magana scored the first victory of his career in an interesting fashion, when he defeated UFC veteran Jared Rollins by DQ in a Total Combat event in 2005. Brandon Magana started of his career with a five fight win streak that nearly lasted three years from October 2005 to June 2008. The first loss of Brandon Magana’s career occurred at M-1 Challenge Korea in August 2008 to Hyun Gyu Lim by submission. Brandon Magana will be looking to use his striking skills to gain his sixth career victory, with two previous victories coming by knockout. Brandon Thatch is an undefeated fighter who has only competed in the Ring Of Fire promotion thus far in his career. In his three professional fights, Brandon Thatch has yet to have a fight go to decision, which goes to show his finishing abilities. Brandon Thatch is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with all three of his victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Brandon Magana
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Eric Lawson (6-2-0) vs. Kenneth Seegrist (5-0-0)
Eric Lawson is on the verge of becoming a contender in the Strikeforce Middleweight Division, with an undefeated streak of two and zero in Strikeforce competition. Besides competing in the Strikeforce promotion, the only other promotion Eric Lawson competed in was the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he fought six times. Eric Lawson is a fighter known for his finishing abilities, with only two of his eight fights going to a decision. Eric Lawson is a fighter known for his wrestling abilities, with three of his six victories coming by way of submission. Kenneth Seegrist is an undefeated who has fought all five of his previous fights in the Ring Of Fire promotion. Like Eric Lawson, Kenneth Seegrist is a fighter known for his finishing abilities, with none of his fights going to a decision. Kenneth Seegrist is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the ground or on the feet, with all five of his victories coming by submission or knockout.
My Prediction: Eric Lawson
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Jesse Juarez (6-4-0) vs. Luke Stewart (5-1-0)
This could be a make or break fight for Jesse Juarez, who could defeat Strikeforce mainstay Luke Stewart and become an instant contender in the promotion. Jesse Juarez has already fought a big time fighter in Fabio Negao, who is a veteran of the Affliction promotion. It has only been a month since Jesse Juarez last fought, a victory over John Walsh at Long Beach Fight Night in August., so conditioning may come into play during this fight. Jesse Juarez is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with four of six victories coming by knockout or submission. Luke Stewart was easily becoming a top contender in the Strikeforce Welterweight Division until a loss to UFC veteran Tiki Ghosn at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le halted everything. Luke Stewart holds a victory over UFC veteran Jason Von Flue and has fought all six of his professional fights in the Strikeforce promotion. Luke Stewart is also a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the ground or on the feet, with all five of his victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Luke Stewart
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Trevor Prangley (17-5-0) vs. Anthony “El Toto” Ruiz (21-11-0)
This fight is a rematch from a Strikeforce: Tank vs. Buentello event in 2006, where Trevor Prangley defeated Anthony Ruiz by submission. Trevor Prangley is a very underrated fighter who has fought top MMA fighters like Chael Sonnen, Renato Sobral, Matt Horwich, Travis Lutter, Yuki Kondo, Jorge Santiago and Falaniko Vitale. It has been nearly a year since Trevor Prangley last fought, so conditioning may become a factor in the fight. Trevor Prangley will be looking to immediately put the fight on the ground, with seven career victories coming by submission. Anthony Ruiz is coming off a loss to Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Bobby Southworth, so a victory could put Anthony Ruiz right back into contender ship for the title. Anthony Ruiz has fought MMA elite like Eddie Sanchez, Vladimir Matyushenko, Jeremy Freitag and Brad Imes. Anthony Ruiz is a highly touted striker who will look to use his striking ability to gain victory, with twelve victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Anthony Ruiz
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Cory Devela (9-1-0) vs. Terry Martin (17-5-0)
Cory Devela is a fighter who could turn a potential victory over Terry Martin into a chance to become a top contender in the Strikeforce Middleweight Division. Cory Devela has also fought top MMA veterans like Ed Herman, Lodune Sincaid and this events headliner, Joe Riggs. After suffering the only loss of his career to Ed Herman in June 2004, Cory Devela is currently riding a seven fight winning streak. Cory Devela will be looking to put this fight immediately on the ground, with six career victories coming by submission. Terry Martin is a fighter who has always been on the cusp of being a top fighter in promotions like the UFC and Affliction, but always suffered career making losses. Terry Martin has fought top MMA fighters like Chael Sonnen, James Irvin, Jason Lambert, Jason Guida, Jorge Rivera, Ivan Salaverry, Chris Leben, Marvin Eastman and Vitor Belfort. Unlike opponent Cory Devela, Terry Martin will be looking to keep the fight standing, with ten of seventeen career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Terry Martin
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Mitsuhiro “Endless Fighter” Ishida (16-4-1) vs. Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (5-2-0)
Mitsuhiro Ishida is a highly touted fighter coming out of Japan, where he has fought in promotions like PRIDE, Dream, Shooto and Yarennoka. Mitsuhiro Ishida has fought some of the best MMA has to offer like Marcus Aurelio, Takanori Gomo, Gilbert Melendez and Caol Uno. Mitsuhiro Ishida last fought in the Dream Lightweight Grand Prix 2008, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Caol Uno. Mitsuhiro Ishida has won the majority of his fights by decision, which tends to tell you how he got his nickname. In his young career, Justin Wilcox has already fought top MMA names like Chad Reiner and Gabe Ruediger. Justin Wilcox has fought the majority of his fights in the Extreme Challenge promotion, where he has four wins and a single loss. In a similar fashion to his opponent Mitsuhiro Ishida, Justin Wilcox has achieved the majority of his victories by decision, four in total.
My Prediction: Mitsuhiro Ishida
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Non-Title Fight
Josh “The Punk” Thomson (15-2-0) - Strikeforce Lightweight Champion - vs. Ashe “The Archer” Bowman (9-4-0)
Josh Thompson is a vastly experienced fighter who has seen fight time in such promotions as the UFC, Bushido, Strikeforce and PRIDE. In what could turn out to be a mistake, Josh Thompson is seemingly looking past Ashe Bowman to his next potential fight in November. Josh Thompson has fought top MMA fighters like Doug Evans, Rob McCullough, Hermes Franca, Yves Edwards, Clay Guida, Duane Ludwig, Nam Phan and Gilbert Melendez, whom he defeated to win the Strikeforce Lightweight Title. Josh Thompson will be looking to put this fight right on the ground, with eight of fifteen career victories coming by submission. Despite not being a well known fighter, Ashe Bowman has fought in top promotions like Ken Shamrock Productions, World Extreme Cagefighting and World Pankration Championships. It has been nearly a year since Ashe Bowman last competed, so conditioning could become a factor in this fight. Ashe Bowman does have the ability to make the ground skills of Josh Thompson, with six career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Josh Thomson
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Joe “Diesel” Riggs (28-10-0) vs. Kazou “Grabaka Hitman” Misaki (20-8-2)
Joe Riggs is one of the most underrated fighters in MMA right now, having already fought Wesley Correira, Herb Dean, Joe Doerkson, Ivan Salaverry, Chris Lytle, Matt Hughes, Nick Diaz, Mike Swick, Jason Von Flue, Diego Sanchez and Eugene Jackson. At one point in his UFC career, Joe Riggs was to face Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight Title at UFC 56, but Joe Riggs couldn’t make weight to earn the title shot. Joe Riggs is a fighter known for keeping the fight on the feet or on the ground, with twenty six career victories coming by knockout or submission. Kazou Misaki is a highly respected fighter from Japan who has fought in promotions like PRIDE, Pancrase, Yarennoka and Sengoku. Kazou Misaki has also fought top MMA fighters like Chris Lytle, Nate Marquardt, Jake Shields, Ed Herman, Dan Henderson, Phil Baroni, Paulo Filho, Dennis Kang, Frank Trigg and Logan Clark. Kazou Misaki will be looking to put this fight on the ground with eight career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Joe Riggs
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
