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It is truly a sad moment in the history of mixed martial arts when a major promotion closes its doors, that moment will be repeated on Saturday Night as Strikeforce shuts down. The promotion will be going out with a bang as Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nate Marquardt defends the gold. Also, the winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix competes and former champions will compete.
Kicking off the action is a catchweight division fight as Ed “Short Fuse†Herman (20-8-0-1NC) does battle with Ronaldo “Jacare†Souza (16-3-0-1NC). Herman will be making history in this fight as he becomes the first UFC contracted fighter to compete in Strikeforce since Zuffa purchased the promotion. Souza is a former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and he will enter the fight riding a two fight winning streak. Souza has looked dominant since losing the middleweight title and that dominance will continue as he defeats the UFC invader.
Light heavyweight fighters will step into the cage next as Mike “MAK†Kyle (19-8-1-2NC) competes against Gegard “The Dreamcatcher†Mousasi (32-3-2). Kyle has won five of his last seven fights entering Saturday Night, but his last fight was a no contest against Rafael Cavalcante. Mousasi enters the fight having won four fights and competing to a draw, but has yet to lose since dropping the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title to King Mo. This fight has been a long time in the making for both Strikeforce and the fighters themselves, but it will be Mousasi picking up the victory.
We move to the heavyweight division for the next fight as Josh “The Warmaster†Barnett (31-6-0) battles Nandor “The Hun†Guelmino (11-3-1). Barnett will be competing for the first time since losing to Daniel Cormier in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Guelmino enters the fight riding a seven fight winning streak and once fought UFC/PRIDE veteran Semmy Schilt. Barring one of the bigger upsets in the history of MMA, Barnett will pull out a victory on route to a UFC return.
Up next is a heavyweight division fight as Daniel Cormier (10-0-0) takes on Dion “The Soldier†Staring (28-7-0). Cormier competes for the first time since winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, defeating Josh Barnett in the finals. Staring enters the fight riding a six fight winning streak, with only one of those six fights going past the opening round. Just like in the other heavyweight fight, huge MMA upset aside, Cormier should easily breeze through his final Strikeforce encounter.
Headlining this card is a Strikeforce Welterweight Title bout as champion Nate “The Great†Marquardt (32-10-2) faces Tarec “Sponge†Saffiedine (13-3-0). Marquardt will be making his first defense of the championship, he defeated Tyron Woodley back in July 2012 to win the gold. Saffiedine enters the fight riding a three fight winning streak, which includes a victory over UFC veteran Scott Smith. Marquardt is far better than Saffiedine in just about every way and he will hold the belt on route to a UFC return.
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