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Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Nik Theotikos (5-1-0) vs. Luke Rockhold (2-1-0)
Nik Theotikos is become a rising MMA star as a middleweight fighter, having already fought rising MMA prospects like Eric Lawson, Raul Castillo and Josh Neal. Nik Theotikos is undefeated in Strikeforce competition, defeating Devin Johnson at Strikeforce: Young Guns and defeating Nikk Covert at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni. Nik Theotikos will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four prior victories coming by knockout. Luke Rockhold is another fighter who is undefeated in Strikeforce competition, having defeated Josh Neal at Strikeforce: Young Guns 2. Prior to coming to Strikeforce, Luke Rockhold fought his first two career fights in the Melee On The Mountain promotion. In his three professional fights, none of them have gone past the first round, which speaks to Luke Rockholdʼs finishing abilities. Luke Rockhold will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with both of his career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Nik Theotikos
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Raul Castillo (5-0-0) vs. Kurt Osiander (3-1-0)
Raul Castillo is an undefeated fighter who has fought once before in Strikeforce, defeating Andrew Montanez at Strikeforce: Triple Threat. Outside of Strikeforce, Raul Castillo fought in the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he went three and zero. In his five fight career, Raul Castillo only had one fight go past the first round, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Raul Castillo will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four wins coming by knockout. Kurt Osiander has fought all four of his previous fights in the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he defeated Luiz Sanchez, Jeff Morris and Cyrillo Padilha, while losing to Nate Moore. Kurt Osiander is another fighter known for finishing fights, with all four of his previous fights ending in the first round. Kurt Osiander will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with two previous victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Raul Castillo
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Zak Bucia (0-1-0) vs. Jaime Rodriguez (0-1-0)
Zak Bucia is a winless fighter whoʼs only previous experience in MMA came in the Gladiator Challenge promotion. That fight in the Gladiator Challenge promotion was a loss to Pat Minihan by unanimous decision, that fight occurred in July of last year, so it has been more than a year since Zak Bucia last fought. Jaime Rodriquez made his MMA debut this Summer for the Gladiator Challenge promotion, losing to Matt Greene by knockout.
My Prediction: Jaime Rodriguez
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Cyrillo Padihlo (2-2-0) vs. Bobby Stack (5-1-0)
Cyrillo Padihlo is a veteran of Strikeforce, where he fought and defeated Jesse Jones at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson. Cyrillo Padihlo is also a veteran of the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he lost to Joey Armstrong and Kurt Osiander. Despite competing in only four professional fights, Cyrillo Padihlo has fought in MMA for over seven years, actually taking a six year break from June 2001 to December 2007. Cyrillo Padihloʼs two prior victories have come by decision, but is susceptible to knockouts, which is how he lost his other two fights. Bobby Stack is a Strikeforce veteran who holds a victory to Jose Palacios at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson, while losing to Isaac De Jesus at Strikeforce: Young Guns 2. Outside of Strikeforce, Bobby Stack has fought in the Gladiator Challenge and Cage Combat Fighting Championships promotions. Bobby Stack will be looking to use his striking skills to gain victory, with three previous victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Bobby Stack
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Alvin Cacdac (4-4-0) vs. Jose Palacios (3-1-0)
Alvin Cacdac, despite the five hundred record, has a winning record in the Strikeforce promotion with victories over Bobby Sanchez and Evan Esquerra, while suffering a loss to Brian Caraway. In April 2008, Alvin Cacdac fought Randy Spence for the International Fighting Championships Lightweight Title, but lost via decision. Alvin Cacdac will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with two of four victories coming by submission. Jose Palacios is a Strikeforce veteran as well, with a victory over Miguel Linares and a loss to Bobby Stack. Outside of Strikeforce, Jose Palacios fought in the Warrior Cup and Valor Fighting Championships promotions. Jose Palaciosʼs last two fights ended by decision, while the first two of his career ended within the first round. Jose Palacios is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with two victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Jose Palacios
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Tony Johnson (3-0-0) vs. Eric Lawson (7-2-0)
Tony Johnson is quickly becoming a top prospect in mixed martial arts, having achieved all three of his victories by knockout. Tony Johnson has defeated Steve Hernandez, Larry Rodriguez and Marcus Gaines thus far in his MMA career. Like I said earlier, Tony Johnson will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victories, with all his prior victories coming by knockout. Eric Lawson is quickly becoming a top fighter in Strikeforce, having fought Josh Neal, Raul Castillo, Marcus Gaines, Jesse Gillespie and Kenneth Seegrist thus far in his career. Prior to coming to Strikeforce, the only other promotion thus far in his career that Eric Lawson has fought in was Gladiator Challenge. Eric Lawson will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with four career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Eric Lawson
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Lemont Davis (2-1-0) vs. Brian Schwartz (0-1-0)
Lemont Davis started off his career in impressive fashion, with victories over Brian Schwartz and William Del Sapp. The only loss suffered by Lemont Davis thus far in his career came to Mike Sorenson at Maximum Fighting Championships 17. Lemont Davis will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with a single career victory coming by submission. Brian Schwartz has only fought once before, a loss to opponent Lamont Davis at Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Survives. This will be the first fight in nearly a year for Brian Schwartz, so conditioning could become a factor in the fight.
My Prediction: Lemont Davis
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
