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Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Rafael “Feijao†Cavalcante (7-1-0) vs. Mike “MAK†Kyle (11-6-1)
Rafael Cavalcante was originally scheduled to face current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral at the event, but he pulled out after an injury. Rafael Cavalcante was on the verge of becoming a top star in Elite XC before it folded, with victories over John Doyle, Wayne Cole and Travis Galbraith. Rafael Cavalcante also fought in the now defunct International Fight League, where he defeated Devin Cole and lost to UFC veteran Marcio Cruz. Rafael Cavalcante will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with six wins coming by knockout. Mike Kyle is a veteran of many MMA promotions like the UFC, World Extreme Cagefighting, Strikeforce and Pancrase. Thus far in his Strikeforce run, Mike Kyle has lost to Wayne Cole and fought Krysztof Soszynski to a draw. Mike Kyle had a successful run in the UFC, with victories over Wes Sims and James Irvin, with a lone loss coming to the late Justin Eilers. Mike Kyle will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with seven prior wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Rafael Cavalcante
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Kevin “The Monster†Randleman (17-12-0) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-6-0)
Kevin Randleman is a well traveled MMA veteran that has spent the majority of his career in the UFC and PRIDE promotions. Kevin Randleman has also fought a list of top MMA fighters like Maurice Smith, Bas Rutten, Pete Williams, Pedro Rizzo, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Renato Sobral, Murilo Rua, Quinton Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Mirko Cro Cop, Fedor Emelianenko, Ron Waterman and Mauricio Rua. It has been over a year since Kevin Randleman last fought after dealing with health and personal issues, so conditioning could play a factor in the fight. Kevin Randleman is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with nine victories coming by knockout and submission. Mike Whitehead has spent time in promotions like the UFC, Affliction, World Extreme Cagefighting and the International Fight League during his career. In July of 2008, Mike Whitehead fought and lost to current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral at the first ever Affliction event. Before suffering that loss to Renato Sobral, Mike Whitehead was on a thirteen fight winning streak that lasted over two years. Mike Whitehead will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with thirteen victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Mike Whitehead
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
“The New York Bad Ass†Phil Baroni (13-10-0) vs. Joe “Diesel†Riggs (29-10-0)
Phil Baroni is a top middleweight fighter who has spent time in promotions like the UFC, PRIDE, Icon Sport and Elite XC. Phil Baroni fell on hard times in early 2008, losing a Strikeforce Middleweight Title Fight to Frank Shamrock and an Icon Sport Middleweight Title Fight to Kala Hose. Phil Baroni would rebound by going on a three fight winning streak, having victories over Scott Jansen, Ron Verdadero and Olaf Alfonso. Phil Baroni also had a terrible run in the UFC, with victories over Curtis Stout, Dave Menne and Amar Suloev, while suffering losses to Evan Tanner (x2), Matt Lindland and Pete Sell. Joe Riggs is a longtime veteran of the Strikeforce promotion, where he defeated Eugene Jackson and Luke Stewart, but has suffered losses to Cory Devela and Kazou Misaki. Joe Riggs has also spent a lot of time in the UFC, where he fought the likes of Joe Doerkson, Ivan Salaverry, Chris Lytle, Matt Hughes, Nick Diaz, Mike Swick, Jason Von Flue and Diego Sanchez. It has been over three years since Joe Riggs last had a fight go to a decision, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Joe Riggs is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with twenty seven victories coming by knockout or submission.
My Prediction: Joe Riggs
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
Nick Diaz (19-7-0) vs. Scott “Hands Of Steel†Smith (16-5-0)
Nick Diaz had a successful debut in Strikeforce at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz in April 2009, when he defeated former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock. Nick Diaz is also a longtime veteran of the UFC, where he fought Robbie Lawler, Karo Parisyan, Drew Fickett, Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, Sean Sherk and Josh Neer. While in Elite XC, Nick Diaz was considered to be the top contender to the Elite XC Lightweight Title before the promotion ceased operations. Nick Diaz is riding a four fight winning streak into this fight and he hasn’t been defeated in over a full year. Nick Diaz will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eleven victories coming by knockout. Thus far in Strikeforce, Scott Smith has been undefeated in the promotion, with victories over Terry Martin and Benji Radach. Scott Smith had a controversial run in the now defunct Elite XC promotion, where he had two controversial fights with Elite XC Middleweight Champion Robbie Lawler. Scott Smith first attained MMA notoriety by being a contestant on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. Scott Smith will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with thirteen victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Nick Diaz
Strikeforce Heavyweight Division Fight
Andrei “Pit Bull†Alaska (15-6-0) vs. Brett “The Grim†Rogers (9-0-0)
Andrei Arlovski will be entering this fight after losing to WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Day Of Reckoning. Andrei Arlovski is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion that fought Ricco Rodriquez, Pedro Rizzo, Ian Freeman, Vladimir Matyushenko, Wesley Correira, Tim Sylvia, Justin Eilers, Paul Buentello, Marcio Cruz, Fabricio Werdum and Jake O’Brien. The loss to Fedor Emelianenko marked the first loss for Andrei Arlovski in over two years and it also ended his five fight winning streak. Andrei Arlovski will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eleven wins coming by knockout. Brett Rogers is an undefeated fighter who made his Strikeforce debut at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz by defeating Ron Humphrey. Brett Rogers also had a dominating run in the Elite XC promotion, where he defeated Ralph Kelly, James Thompson and Jon Murphy. Brett Rogers also spent time in the EFX promotion, where he defeated Chris Clark, Brian Heden, Mark Racine and Josh Melichar. Brett Rogers will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eight wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Andrei Arlovski
Strikeforce Middleweight Division Fight
“Ruthless†Robbie Lawler (16-4-0) vs. Jake Shields (22-4-1)
Robbie Lawler enters this fight after a successful run in the Elite XC promotion, where he was their final middleweight champion. While in the Elite XC promotion, Robbie Lawler defeated Murilo Rua and Scott Smith, all the fights were title fights. Robbie Lawler also spent a lot of time in the UFC, where he fought Tiki Ghosn, Pete Spratt, Chris Lytle, Nick Diaz and Evan Tanner. Robbie Lawler also spent a lot of time in the Icon Sport promotion, where he defeated Frank Trigg and Falaniko Vitale, while suffering a loss to Jason Miller. Robbie Lawler will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with thirteen wins coming by knockout. Jake Shields will be making his Strikeforce debut in this fight, following a run in Elite XC that concluded with Jake Shields being the only Elite XC Welterweight Champion. While in Elite XC, Jake Shields defeated Renato Verissimo, Mike Pyle, Nick Thompson and Paul Daley while reigning as Elite XC Welterweight Champion. Jake Shields will be riding an eleven fight winning streak into the fight, with his last loss coming over four years ago. Jake Shields will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with nine victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Robbie Lawler
(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
