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One of the biggest female MMA fights has come to pass in Strikeforce and we have a new champion in the female bantamweight division. Also, if that was not enough, Josh Thomson made his long awaited Strikeforce return and a former middleweight champion returned as well. Let’s not also forget that there is also a new top contender for the new Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion to fight.
Round One: The Trash Talking Was Backed Up
Very few people, myself included, thought that Ronda Rousey was deserving of a title shot after having just four professional MMA fights under her belt. We were all proven wrong on Saturday Night as Rousey blasted her way through Miesha Tate with a sick looking arm bar to win the gold. Ronda Rousey could be the first fighter since Gina Carano to put female MMA back into the forefront of our minds. In the end, Rousey beat Tate so bad that Tate’s boyfriend, UFC veteran Bryan Caraway, felt threatened enough to tweet threats towards the new champion.
Next Round For Ronda Rousey: Sarah Kaufman
Next Round For Miesha Tate: Alexis Davis or Amanda Nunes
Round Two: The Punk Returned To Sh*t
There are very few trilogies I would like to see concluded than that of Josh Thomson and Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. We are all one step closer to that happening as Josh Thomson defeated KJ Noons in a snoozer this past Saturday Night. It has been a little longer than a year since “The Punk†last competed in Strikeforce, so some cage rust was expected. Josh Thomson may have done enough to earn a title shot, but he said it best in the post-fight interview when he said that his performance was “sh*t.â€
Next Round For Josh Thomson: Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez
Next round For KJ Noons: Pat Healy, Jorge Masvidal or Caros Fodor
Round Three: Jacare Is Back
When Strikeforce returned to action this past January, most people were shocked that Keith Jardine was awarded a title shot instead of Ronaldo Souza. All fears about Ronaldo Souza were put to rest this past weekend as “Jacare†returned to form in submitting Bristol Murande. The question now looms as who will get the next middleweight title shot…Ronaldo Souza or Tim Kennedy. If there is a longer wait for Souza, then there are several top notch middleweights for the fighter to be tested against.
Next Round For Ronaldo Souza: Lumumba Sayers, Melvin Manhoef or Robbie Lawler
Next Round For Bristol Murande: A Strikeforce Release
Round Four: The New Top Contender To The Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Title Is…
Sarah Kaufman, who outlasted the very tough Alexis Davis in a brutal blood filled war to earn herself a future title shot. Sarah Kaufman is the former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion, losing the title to Marloes Coenen a little over a year ago. Credit must also be given to Davis, who showed a lot of improved striking against the more dominant striker in Kaufman. The upcoming title opportunity will be a major moment in Sarah Kaufman’s MMA career, as many believed she was passed up for the title shot that Ronda Rousey was given.
Next Round For Sarah Kaufman: Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey
Next Round For Alexis Davis: Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes or Julia Budd
Round Five: “Bam Bam†Stops “The Futureâ€
Pat Healy has been one of those Strikeforce fighters who have not been given his proper due, but that all may have changed on Saturday Night. Despite coming in as the underdog against Caros Fodor, Healy submitted him with an arm triangle in the third round of their fight. This victory over the once undefeated fighter now puts Healy near the top contenders list in the division. While this fight will be a setback for Fodor, the previously undefeated fighter will bounce back soon enough in Strikeforce.
Next Round For Pat Healy: Josh Thomson, KJ Noons or Billy Evangelista
Next Round For Caros Fodor: Jorge Masvidal, Ryan Couture or Lyle Beerbohm
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