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Bao Quach enters this fight after having his nine fight winning streak ended by LC Davis at Affliction: Day Of Reckoning in January. Bao Quach is a well traveled MMA veteran that has fought top fighters like Richard Crunkilton, Jeff Curran, Wagney Fabiano and Doug Evans. Bao Quach was undefeated in Elite XC competition before the promotion shut down, with victories over Doug Evans and Bobby McMaster. Bao Quach will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four previous victories coming by knockout. Tito Jones will be making his Strikeforce debut in this fight, but is a longtime veteran of the Palace Fighting Championships and Rage In The Cage promotions. In his final appearance at Rage In The Cage in October 2007, Tito Jones lost to UFC Ultimate Fighter 8 contestant George Roop. Tito Jones is entering the fight on a two fight winning streak, with victories over Hussein Rousali and Justin Smitley. This fight in Strikeforce will mark the first time Tito Jones has fought outside of the Palace Fighting Championship or Rage In The Cage promotions in over two years. Tito Jones will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with two prior wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Bao Quach
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Division Fight Anthony “El Toro†Ruiz (21-12-0) vs. Aaron Rosa (11-2-0)
Anthony Ruiz is a veteran of Strikeforce competition, having defeated Bobby Southworth, while losing to the aforementioned Bobby Southworth and Trevor Prangley. Anthony Ruiz has fought more than half of his career fights in the Gladiator Challenge promotion, where he fought Palace Fighting Championships headliner Jaime Jara three times. Anthony Ruiz even fought the only International Fight League Light Heavyweight Champion in Vladimir Matyushenko at Extreme Wars 3 in 2006. Anthony Ruiz will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with twelve wins coming by knockout. Aaron Rosa hasn’t fought in nearly a year, last defeating Ron Fields at the debut event for the Adrenaline MMA promotion. Aaron Rosa is a longtime veteran of the Renegade Extreme Fighting promotion, where he went undefeated with victories over Shane Faulkner, Matt Thompson, Patrick Miller, Lance Ramoth, Robert Masko and Jesse Vasquez. Aaron Rosa will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with five victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Aaron Rosa
Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight Lavar “Big†Johnson (11-3-0) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (4-2-0)
Lavar Johnson started off his MMA career in interesting fashion, losing to former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Doug Marshall. After that loss to Doug Marshall, Lavar Johnson went on a seven fight win streak and is now currently on a four fight win streak. Lavar Johnson is a fighter known for finishing fights, with only one of his fourteen career fights going to the third round. This fight will mark Lavar Johnson’s Strikeforce debut, but he has fought in the World Extreme Cagefighting and Palace Fighting Championships promotions. Lavar Johnson will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with ten wins coming by knockout. Carl Seumanutafa started off his MMA career in impressive fashion with a four fight undefeated streak that lasted a little over a year. Those four victories during that streak for Carl Seumanutafa came over Chris Garrison, Pete Werve, Chris Bostick and Mike Cook. Carl Seumanutafa recently fought in the M-1 Challenge promotion, losing to Edson Franca by split decision. Carl Seumanutafa will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with all of his prior victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Lavar Johnson
Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Division Fight Sarah Kaufman (8-0-0) vs. Meisha Tate (5-1-0)
Sarah Kaufman comes into this fight as a late replacement for Kim Couture, who pulled out of the fight after personal issues arose. Sarah Kaufman is an undefeated fighter known for finishing fights, with none of her fights going to a decision. This fight will mark the Strikeforce debut for Sarah Kaufman, but she has fought in the King Of The Cage and Palace Fighting Championships promotions. Sarah Kaufman fought less than a month ago at Palace Fighting Championships: Best Of Both Worlds 2, so conditioning could play a factor in this fight. Sarah Kaufman will be looking to use her striking skills to gain the victory, with all of her previous wins coming by knockout. Meisha Tate will be returning to the Strikeforce promotion, last defeating Elaina Maxwell at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thompson in 2008. In her first night of her MMA career, Meisha Tate made in to the finals of the Hook N’ Shoot: Bodog Fight Women’s Tournament, defeating Jan Finney in the semi-finals before losing to Kaitlin Young in the finals. Since that loss, Meisha Tate has gone on to defeat Elaina Maxwell, Jamie Lynn Walsh, Jessica Badnarek and Dora Baptiste. Meisha Tate will be looking to use her striking skills to gain the victory, with two victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Sarah Kaufman
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight Billy Evangelista (9-0-0) vs. Mike Aina (11-6-1)
Billy Evangelista is a longtime veteran of Strikeforce, with victories over Isaiah Hill, Clint Coronel, Marlon Sims, Luke Caudillo and Nam Phan. Billy Evangelista recently fought in the Palace Fighting Championships promotion, where he defeated Harris Sarmiento. Billy Evangelista is an undefeated fighter that has won nine straight and the streak has lasted over three years. Billy Evangelista also spent time in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, where he defeated Ryan Healy. Billy Evangelista will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four wins coming by knockout. Mike Aina is a veteran of MMA that has fought top MMA names like Ryan Schultz, Roger Huerta, Kaleo Kwan and Nick Diaz. Mike Aina is a longtime veteran of the Rumble On The Rock promotion, where eleven of his eighteen career fights took place in. Mike Aina has also competed internationally in the Spirit MC promotion, where he lost to Young Choi by unanimous decision. Mike Aina enters this fight on a two fight winning streak, with his last fight occurring in August of 2008, a victory over Ismael Gonzalves. Mike Aina will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with six victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Billy Evangelista
(Note: I will be doing live coverage of Strikeforce Challenger Series: Evangelista vs. Aina on Friday May 15th at 11pm. EST. right here on PWInsiderXtra.com)
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