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Round One: Give The Girl A Showcase Already
If you have tuned into Strikeforce in the past, the most pushed female star in the promotion is easily current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cristiana “Cyborg†Santos. However, if you have tuned into past Strikeforce Challengers events, you would have noticed the dominance of another female fighter, current Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman. Sarah Kaufman power bombed top contender Roxanne Modafferi into unconsciousness to retain her title this past Friday. Following her victory, Sarah Kaufman said that it was time to put her on the bigger Strikeforce cards that air on Showtime, which is something long overdue for the champion.
Next Round For Sarah Kaufman: Bigger Strikeforce Card, competing against Marloes Coenan and then the tournament winner
Next Round For Roxanne Modafferi: The runner up in the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament
Round Two: 11-0 Means Your Ready For The Next Level
As much as I believe that Sarah Kaufman deserves to be on the more important Strikeforce events, I also feel Shane Del Rosario needs to move up as well. Shane Del Rosario clobbered Lolohea Mahe on route to a TKO victory in the fights opening round this past Friday Night. In a post fight interview, the undefeated Shane Del Rosario called out the undefeated Bobby Lashley and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. One must also give it up for Lolohea Mahe, who stepped in for an injured Lavar Johnson, who was originally set to face Shane Del Rosario.
Next Round For Shane Del Rosario: Bobby Lashley, Andrei Arlovski or Lavar Johnson
Next Round For Lolohea Mahe: Fighting outside of Strikeforce
Round Three: He May Have Lost The Fight, But He Won In Life
There are a very few times in which the result of the fight doesn’t matter and Friday Night was host to one of those times. Cory Devela, who lost to Bobby Voelker via split decision at Strikeforce Challengers 9, recently returned from a year long layoff from MMA competition. The reason he was gone for so long, was because he gave up his career to help his girlfriend, and mother of his children, win her battle over cancer. When it is all said and done, Bobby Voelker walked away with an important MMA victory, while Cory Devela walks away from the cage a winner in life.
Next Round For Bobby Voelker: A rematch with Roger Bowling
Next Round For Cory Devela: Tyron Woodley, Nathan Coy or Rudy Bears
Round Four: Give That Man A Title Shot
Mike Kyle has been everything in MMA from an MMA “bad boy†to now, nearing an opportunity to get a Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title shot against Mohammed Lawal. Mike Kyle entered the fight on Friday Night as a supposed stepping stone for Ron Humphrey, who recently came off a victory over George Bush III. However, instead of being a stepping stone, Mike Kyle used his striking skills to drop Ron Humphrey and force the tap out with a rear naked choke. Ron Humphrey will remain a part of the Strikeforce Challengers Series, while Mike Kyle could be ready for a title opportunity.
Next Round For Mike Kyle: A title fight with Mohammed Lawal
Next Round For Ron Humphrey: The loser of the Mohammed Lawal/Rafael Cavalcante fight.
Round Five: He’s No Cung Le
Thomas Diagne has fought at two separate Strikeforce Challengers events and he has lost at both Strikeforce Challengers events. Thomas Diagne, whenever he enters the cage, is talked about as a Cung Le trained fighter who fights in a similar style to Cung Le. However, unlike Cung Le, Thomas Diagne has yet to make an impact of any kind inside the Strikeforce cage. While Thomas Diagne may be trained by Cung Le, he must also account for a ground game, which at this point, is pretty terrible for high level competition.
Next Round For Thomas Diagne: Fighting outside of Strikeforce
Next Round For Caros Fodor: Connor Heun or the KJ Noons/Jorge Gurgel loser
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
