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Booker DeRousse (1-1-0) vs. James Wade (3-6-0)
Booker DeRousse began his mixed martial arts career in early 2008, fighting in the International Sport Combat Federation and Take That promotions. Booker DeRousse won his professional MMA debut by defeating Dan Bolden, but suffered his first career loss a few months later to Jordan Smith. Booker DeRousse will be looking to use his striking skills to gain victory, with his lone victory coming by knockout. Despite the losing record, James Wade has fought two UFC veterans in Steve Berger and Rob Kimmons. James Wade has spent the majority of his MMA career in promotions like Shooto, Submission Fighting Championships and MMA Genesis. In the nine career fights that James Wade has participated in, none of them have gone past the opening round. James Wade will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with one previous win coming by knockout.
My Prediction: James Wade
Strikeforce Lightweight Division Fight
Pat Benson (3-5-1) vs. Dave Cochran (16-19-0)
Pat Benson is becoming a well traveled MMA veteran that has fought in promotions like Hook N’ Shoot, Shooto and Submission Fighting Championships. Early in his MMA career, Pat Benson fought UFC Ultimate Fighter 5 runner up Manny Gamburyan at a Reality Submission Fighting 2 event. At two different points in his career from 2001 through 2008, Pat Benson took extended breaks of multiple years from active MMA competition. Pat Benson will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with two previous victories coming by way of submission. Despite the losing record, Dave Cochran has fought top MMA fighters like Clay Guida, Ryan Schultz and Kit Cope. Of his thirty five career fights, Dave Cochran has seen thirty two of them end within the opening round, which speaks to his finishing abilities. This fight will be the first one in over a year for Dave Cochran, so conditioning could become a factor in the fight. Dave Cochran will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with ten career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Dave Cochran
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Scott Ventimiglia (12-5-1) vs. Lucas Lopes (9-8-0)
Scott Ventimiglia is a well traveled MMA veteran who has spent the majority of his career competing in the Submission Fighting Championships and World Vale Tudo Federation promotions. Scott Ventimiglia has also fought top MMA and UFC veterans like Joe Doerkson and Jeremy Horn, in the Hook N’ Shoot and Rings USA promotions. This will be the first time in over two years that Scott Ventimiglia has fought in professional MMA, so conditioning could become a factor. Scott Ventimiglia will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with eleven victories coming by submission. Lucas Lopes is a rising MMA veteran who has fought top MMA names like Antonio Mendes, Evangelista Santos, Seth Kleinbeck and Sean Salmon. Lucas Lopes has fought in international MMA competition in the promotion Jungle Fight and fought nationally mainly in the Fight Fest promotion. Prior to his last fight against Herbert Goodman, the last five fights for Lucas Lopes have ended by way of submission. Lucas Lopes will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with five victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Scott Ventimiglia
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Tyron “T-Wood†Woodley (2-0-0) vs. Sal Woods (2-4-0)
Tyron Woodley started off his professional MMA career a little over three months ago and he is already competing in his third MMA fight. Tyron Woodley made his MMA debut in February 2009 by defeating Steve Schneider, then he defeated Jeff Carstens in April of this year. Tyron Woodley has fought in the Headhunter Productions and Respect Is Earned promotions thus far in his career. Tyron Woodley will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with all of his career victories coming by submission. Sal Woods started off his MMA career in impressive fashion with a victory over Alex Rothedoutsh, before suffering four straight losses to Brandon Griffin, Jason Pierce, Steve Ward and Dom O’Grady. Sal Woods rebounded from the four fight losing streak by defeating Ryan Scheeper at the Take That Promotions event in April 2009. Sal Woods is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with his two career victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Tyron Woodley
Strikeforce Welterweight Division Fight
Jesse Finney (3-0-0) vs. Josh Bumgarner (7-0-0)
Jesse Finney fought the majority of his career in the Rumble Time Promotions company, where he defeated Shawn McCully and John Price. The other victory thus far in Jesse Finney’s career came over Lamont Davis in the International Sport Combat Federation promotion. All three fights thus far in Jesse Finney’s career ended within the opening round, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Jesse Finney will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with two victories coming by way of submission. Josh Bumgarner is another undefeated fighter that has spent the majority of his career in the Iowa Challenge promotion. Like Jesse Finney, Josh Bumgarner has finished all of his fights within the opening round, which speaks to his finishing abilities. This will be the first fight in 2009 for Josh Bumgarner, so conditioning may become a factor in this fight. Josh Bumgarner is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with all of his victories coming by knockout or submission.
My Prediction: Josh Bumgarner
(Note: I will be doing live coverage of Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields on Saturday June 6th at 10pm. EST. right here on PWInsiderXtra.com)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
