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The days are getting fewer and fewer between as we head to the final Strikeforce event before the promotion shuts its doors for good. That means that the Showtime Extreme preliminary card specials will be done, just as the promotion is done as well. The Strikeforce faithful will be rewarded with four top notch preliminary card fights, with several divisional top contenders in action.
Kicking off the action is a lightweight division fight as Ryan Couture (5-1-0) competes against KJ “King†Noons (11-5-0). Couture will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, with notable victories coming over Conor Heun and Joe Duarte. Noons has only won one of his last four fights under the Strikeforce banner, with that lone victory coming over Billy Evangelista. Noons has fallen on hard times as of late inside the cage and Couture is going to capitalize on that to get the biggest victory of his career.
Middleweights will step into the cage next as Tim Kennedy (14-4-0) does battle with Trevor “Hot Sauce†Smith (10-2-0). Kennedy is looking to rebound from a failed opportunity to capture the Strikeforce Middleweight Title back in July 2012. Smith has won six of his last seven entering Saturday Night, most notably defeating Keith Berry at Strikeforce Challengers 16. Kennedy is a top notch fighter in the middleweight division and will cap off an excellent run in Strikeforce with a victory.
Up next is another middleweight division contest as Roger Gracie (5-1-0) takes on Anthony “Lionheart†Smith (17-8-0). Gracie is currently undefeated as a middleweight in Strikeforce, having defeated Keith Jardine at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy. Smith enters the fight riding a three fight winning streak, with his last victory coming over Lumumba Sayers at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman. Smith called out Gracie for his final Strikeforce fight, but that decision will prove to be a bad one as Gracie notches another victory.
Headlining this portion of the card is a lightweight division fight as Pat “Bam Bam†Healy (28-16-0) faces Kurt Holobaugh (9-0-0). Healy was originally set to challenge Gilbert Melendez for the lightweight title at this event, but Melendez suffered an injury. Holobaugh is an undefeated fighter who has only seen one of his nine professional fights go to a decision. It will be Holobaugh’s undefeated streak coming to an end on Saturday Night as Healy picks up another win on route to a job in the UFC.
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