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FIVE ROUNDS WITH STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 14

Another excellent edition of Strikeforce Challengers has past us by and let past editions, the future of MMA was featured in five excellent battles. Former WEC competitor Carlo Prater and Ryan Couture both made excellent showings, while an undefeated streak came to an end.

Round One: It Had To End Someday

Lyle Beerbohm had entered the cage on Friday Night riding a fifteen fight undefeated streak, but left the cage with his first loss. Pat Healy, who had an impressive Strikeforce debut against Josh Thomson a few months back, now establishes himself in the Strikeforce Lightweight Division. Lyle Beerbohm, who dealt with a serious addiction to drugs years ago, still has one heck of a bright future in MMA. Pat Healy could now be a victory or two away from being called up to the bigger Strikeforce cards in the future.

Next Round For Pat Healy: Vitor Ribeiro or Jorge Gurgel

Next Round For Lyle Beerbohm: Ryan Couture or Waachiim Spiritwolf

Round Two: The Legacy Continues

After an extended wait due to injury, Ryan Couture made a successful sophomore effort at Strikeforce by defeating Lee Higgins by submission. Ryan Couture displayed a much improved striking game and nearly tapped out Lee Higgins a few times during the fight. Lee Higgins showed a lot of toughness facing the son of a UFC Legend, but succumbed to the ground game later in the fight. Ryan Couture is in an interesting position in Strikeforce, because he is a marketable star with little experience as a fighter.

Next Round For Ryan Couture: Headlining a Strikeforce Challengers card

Next Round For Lee Higgins: A release from Strikeforce

Round Three: That Didn’t Take Long

Carlo Prater was once a challenger for the WEC Welterweight Title and a finalist at the Shine Fights Lightweight Grand Prix. Carlo Prater has now found himself a home in Strikeforce, where he destroyed Bryan Travers in under a minute. Carlo Prater is a marketable MMA veteran who can become a valuable asset to the Strikeforce Welterweight Division. Bryan Travers will get another opportunity in Strikeforce at some point, but submission defense is something he needs to work on.

Next Round For Carlo Prater: Tyron Woodley or Tarec Saffiedine

Next Round For Bryan Travers: Thomas Diagne or Ryan Larson

Round Four: Tarzan Clobbered The Jungle

David Douglas entered the cage as a relative unknown on Friday Night, but left with a ton of fanfare after his fight violently ended. David Douglas, a lightweight, defeated top featherweight competitor Nick Gonzales via TKO in just over a full minute. If David Douglas can keep the momentum going, look for him to make a quick impact in the Strikeforce Lightweight Division. Nick Gonzales better hope that Strikeforce institutes a featherweight division, because he is better suited for that weight class.

Next Round For David Douglas: Pat Healy or Ryan Couture

Next Round For Nick Gonzales: Hoping for a Strikeforce Featherweight Division

Round Five: Six Out Of Seven’s Not Bad

Strikeforce may not have the greatest roster in all of MMA, but one cannot argue that the promotion definitely has a lot of exciting fighters. On Friday Night’s Strikeforce event, six out of seven fights ended via TKO or submission, without a judge’s decision. Only the main event fight between Pat Healy and Lyle Beerbohm actually went to a decision, but that fight was also an excellent encounter. Here’s hoping that all of the future Strikeforce cards will have the excitement that Strikeforce Challengers 14 had.

Next Round For Strikeforce Challengers: Strikeforce Challengers 15 on April 1st

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

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