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Outside of the Gina Carano versus Cristiane Santos fight, there has been no female MMA fight that has gotten as much hype as the Miesha Tate/Ronda Rousey headliner. That is not to say that the rest of the card is lackluster because this is a potential title eliminator in the lightweight division and the return of a former welterweight title challenger. In case that was not enough to satisfy the MMA fans, there is also the return of a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and the MMA comeback kid.
Kicking off the action is a middleweight division fight as Lumumba Sayers (5-2-0) does battle with Scott “Hands Of Steel†Smith (17-9-0). Lumumba Sayers has split both of his Strikeforce appearances, defeating Antwain Britt and suffering a defeat to Derek Brunson. Scott Smith enters the fight riding a three fight losing streak, with his last victory coming over Cung Le in late 2009. This will be an excellent slugfest to kick off the Showtime card, but it will be Scott Smith ending the losing streak.
We remain in the middleweight division for the next contest as Bristol Marunde (12-6-0) stands across the cage from Ronaldo “Jacare†Souza (14-3-0). Bristol Marunde will be making his Strikeforce debut in this fight, but holds victories over UFC veterans Jay Silva and Shane Primm. Ronaldo Souza is the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion as he lost the gold to Luke Rockhold at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitanov. Being a late replacement fighter is going to hurt Bristol Marunde in this fight as Ronaldo Souza picks up an important victory.
Up next is a welterweight division affair as Paul “Semtex†Daley (29-11-2) takes on Kazou “Hitman†Misaki (24-11-0). Paul Daley returns to Strikeforce after a nine month break, where he defeated UFC veteran Luigi Fioravanti at Ringside MMA XII. Kazou Misaki returns after a near four year absence, when he defeated veteran Joe Riggs at Strikeforce At The Playboy Mansion II. This fight has the striking festival potential written all over it, but it will be the more decorated fighter in Paul Daley getting the win.
The co-main event is a lightweight title eliminator as “King†KJ Noons (11-4-0) battles Josh “The Punk†Thomson (18-4-0). KJ Noons has won three of five fights in Strikeforce, last defeating Billy Evangelista at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Josh Thomson returns to Strikeforce after a year plus long layoff, where he won two straight over Pat Healy and Gesias Cavalcante. This fight will determine the next challenger to the Strikeforce Lightweight Title and that challenger will be Josh Thomson.
Headlining this card is a Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Title Fight as champion Miesha “Takedown†Tate (12-2-0) defends against “Rowdy†Ronda Rousey (4-0-0). Miesha Tate became the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson when she defeated Marloes Coenen by submission. Ronda Rousey is an undefeated fighter who has finished all four of her professional fights in fewer than three minutes of total cage time. This fight is the most highly anticipated women’s fight of the last few years, but it will be Miesha Tate holding onto the title.
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