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While it was the UFC that got all the attention earlier in the week, it will be Strikeforce that will get it all at the end of the week. The Strikeforce Middleweight Title is up for grabs on Saturday Night as champion Luke Rockhold defends against Tim Kennedy. The preliminary card for this event features a host of top lightweight competitors, with a former title challenger in action.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Ryan Couture (4-1-0) does battle with Joe Duarte (10-2-0). Ryan Couture is coming off of the biggest victory of his career, which came over Conor Heun at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Joe Duarte enters the fight riding a five fight winning streak, which includes a victory over UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel. Joe Duarte is just on too big of a roll right now to lose this fight, which is why he will be gaining the victory here.
Welterweights will be seeing action next as “The Kansas City Bandit†Jason High (15-3-0) competes against Nate Moore (8-2-0). Jason High is riding a six fight winning streak into Saturday Night, which includes victories over Hayato Sakurai and Rudy Bears. Nate Moore has won two of three in Strikeforce competition, last defeating Nathan Coy at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg. This fight should mostly be contested on the ground and it will be Jason High winning both on the ground and the fight itself.
Another welterweight division is up next as Jordan “Young Gun†Mein (24-8-0) is in action against Tyler “The Evolution†Stinson (23-8-0). Jordan Mein has won six of his last seven, which includes victories over Joe Riggs, Marius Zaromskis, Evangelista Santos and Josh Burkman. Tyler Stinson is coming off of his first Strikeforce loss, which came to Tarec Saffiedine at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. The winner of this fight should be in line for a potential title shot and that fighter is going to be Jordan Mein.
Up next is a lightweight division fight as Pat “Bam Bam†Healy (27-16-0) will be taking on Mizuto Hirota (14-4-0). Pat Healy enters the fight riding a four fight winning streak, with his last victory coming over Caros Fodor at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Mizuto Hirota will be making his North American MMA debut in this fight, but he does have experience in K-1, Shooto and Sengoku. Pat Healy needs a victory here to score a potential title shot and he will get one as he earns the victory here.
Headlining this portion of the card is a lightweight division fight as Jorge “Gamebred†Masvidal (22-7-0) faces Justin “The Silverback†Wilcox (11-4-0). Jorge Masvidal is coming off of a Strikeforce Lightweight Title loss to Gilbert Melendez this past December. Justin Wilcox has won six of eight entering this fight, including a victory over UFC veterans Shamar Bailey and Rodrigo Damm. These are two fighters who are both in need of a victory and it will be Jorge Masvidal getting that victory.
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