Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson Coverage (Preview)
This is the complete PREVIEW of the event here and will include both the press conference and pre-fight interviews. I will also throw in the weigh-in video and trailer leading up to the event. This is definitely a show that I have been very excited about for many months and it seems that this may even be the best MMA event of the year period. I do not know if the UFC even has put together a better card than this one. I am very impressed with this card and show and Strikeforce continues to put together great cards. Other than the Challengers events, when was the last time that Strikeforce put together a bad show?
With that being said, here is the trailer leading up to the event to hype the show.
Yea, I think this is a main event that gets all long time MMA fans as excited as it gets. These truly are two of the greatest legends in the history of the business going at it with much more than titles on the line here. Will Fedor be able to prove to the doubters that he is not overrated and still belongs in the world of mainstream American MMA? Will Dan Henderson prove that no matter the weight class, he can beat the very best of the best? The story lines are insane for this fight and so are the possible outcomes.
Here is the official Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson PRESS CONFERENCE from fight week along with the conference call...
(Presser Part 1-2-3)
(Conference Call)
(Weigh-In Video)
Now, I am going to address the card itself and go from fight to fight. I will give you my comments on the fights themselves as well as show you the pre-fight interviews from all combatants. As I mentioned before, I truly believe that this is one of the best overall cards that I have seen in a very long time as well as a much better card than UFC 133, which is the UFC's next show. So, here we go to the event itself...
This event itself will be in the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois tomorrow on July 30, 2011. This is a card that went through a few changes as the time has passed. We were originally going to see Rafael Cavalcante and Ovince St. Preux, which was scraped. I really was looking forward to that possible fight, but along with most fights in 2011, it was thrown away. Cyborg Santos was originally supposed to fight Tarec Saffiedine, but it Saffiedine orginally was pulled from the fight and replaced with Paul Daley. Santos was forced out of the fight with a shoulder issue and Tyron Woodley was entered to fight Paul Daley. Saffiedine will still fight on the card, but his fight will be against Scott Smith instead. Yea, I know that all sounded like a bunch of bullshit.
Roger Gracie was also supposed to originally fight King Mo here at the event, but Gracie was injured and the fight was rescheduled for September. Rhonda Rousey and Sarah D'Alelio were supposed to fight, but their fight was moved to Strikeforce: Challengers. Finally, Lyle Beerbohm was originally supposed to fight JZ Cavalcante, but he was replaced by Bobby Green. Now, with the back story dropped, we can move onto the fights themselves!
UNDERCARD
Lightweight bout: Gesias Cavalcante (17-4-1-2) vs. Bobby Green (15-4)
MY PICK – Bobby Green via decision or DQ
Pre-Fight Comments: I truly think that JZ is extremely OVERRATED with everyone inside the MMA Community. I do think he is extremely good, but many people consider him a future world champion. I do not see that out of this young man at all in my opinion. I think that this fight will give us the upset of the night as Bobby Green shocks the world! Green is the current KOTC lightweight champion at the moment and definitely has some talent. JZ has only ONE win in his last six fights and that is the BOTTOM LINE here. Granted, he is losing many decisions, but it doesn't matter, he is STILL losing. Due to Cavalcante never being stopped, I will not say that he is going to get stopped. I am going to take Bobby Green here via decision or DQ! (lol)
Welterweight bout: Eduardo Pamplona (15-2) vs. Tyler Stinson (20-7)
MY PICK – Eduardo Pamplona via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: Pamplona has won ten fights in a row and any time you can do that in this sport at the pro level, its saying something. His last loss was a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler back in 2007. I admit that he wins MOST by decision and that's exactly what I think is going to happen here. I honestly don't know SHIT about Mr. Stinson, so I am not going to speak ignorantly. I have to admit, he has an impressive win-loss record as a pro and that always says a lot in my book. This should be a GREAT fight and obviously the fight of the under card.
Women's Welterweight (135 lb) bout: Alexis Davis (9-4) vs. Julie Kedzie (16-8)
MY PICK – Julie Kedzie via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: Kedzie has won four fights in a row and has a shit load of experience. She has won via decision in all of them last four fights and I think the same thing is going to happen here. She does however have a HUGE gap in her game in terms of getting submitted. The good news for Davis is that she is great with submissions. I am going with Kedzie here based on her experience and ability to grind out decisions. However, I would NOT be surprised if Davis got the submission win.
Middleweight bout: Derek Brunson (7-0) vs. Lumumba Sayers (4-1)
MY PICK – Derek Brunson via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: I know NOTHING about Sayers, but I do know that Brunson looks pretty good so far in his young MMA career. Brunson is a hell of a wrestler and as you all know, that is one of the BEST bases to have in this sport. He also have HEAVY hands and can knock a man out as well. I am going with Mr. Brunson in this fight via decision.
Heavyweight bout: Bryan Humes (6-1) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (4-0)
MY PICK – Bryan Humes via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: I do NOT know anything about either fighter, so I will be watching them both for the first time here. I like seeing fighters for the first time, so I am interested definitely.
MAIN CARD (SHOWTIME)
Heavyweight bout: Fedor Emelianenko (31-3-1) vs. Dan Henderson (27-8)
MY PICK – Fedor Emelianenko via submission
Pre-Fight Comments: Does it get ANY BETTER than this? Anyone that is a long time fan of this sport is 100% in love with this fight. I think that Henderson has the ability to beat anyone, but Fedor is a legit legend as well. Fedor is NOT going to lose three fights in a row after winning 30 in a row. I just do not see it happening for several reasons. First off, the only way Henderson can win his fight is by a decision win fueled by take down points. I do NOT think that will be happening here today. I think Fedor's submission game is what we will see here shine. Much like Anderson Silva did with Hendo back in their epic fight, I think Fedor will expose the ground game in terms of submission game of Henderson one more time. This is going to be a legendary fight, but I got Fedor via submission late in the fight. I honestly cannot believe that people got Fedor losing to a MIDDLEWEIGHT.
Women's Welterweight (135 lb) Championship bout: Marloes Coenen © (19-4) vs. Miesha Tate (11-2)
MY PICK – Miesha Tate via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: This is the baddest female fight in the history of female fights right here in my book. I love Coenen and her story, but Tate is just amazing in terms of RAW TALENT. Miesha Tate's takedowns are just unstoppable and I think she is gonna stay on top throughout the entire fight. I got her taking a 30-27 decision in the end of this fight based on her top game. Don't get me wrong, she could also pull off a submission. She trains at Alpha Male and everyone knows that the choke is something that is legendary out of that camp.
Middleweight bout: Robbie Lawler (19-7-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (13-3)
MY PICK – Robbie Lawler via KO
Pre-Fight Comments: This is ANOTHER amazing fight on this card. Lawler has actually lost two of his last three and three of his last five, which seems like a misprint to me. Yes, I know he really has lost them fights, but he seems like one of the most exciting fighters in the game right now. Lawler's KO ability is so good though, he can catch anyone at any time and I think that is exactly what we are going to see here. Kennedy's submission game is top notch and that is the REAL threat towards Lawler. The real question is whether Lawler can prevent the takedown or not. I think he will and actually catch Kennedy with an uppercut or something at the same time. Regardless, this has fight of the night potential here and there is no doubt in that.
Welterweight bout: Paul Daley (27-10-2) vs. Tyron Woodley (7-0)
MY PICK – Tyron Woodley via decision
Pre-Fight Comments: Wow, what a fight this is, but I agree with Daley that this fight was stupid to even make. I will explain why and give you my reason for picking Woodley in this fight. As much as I like Paul Daley and wish he would shut all the haters mouths for good, Tyron Woodley's wrestling is just too superior here. Daley says that Woodley's wrestling is not as good as Koscheck's and I am going to have to disagree there. I think Woodley is young, strong, and VERY solid. I appreciated Woodley being a guest on MMA Affiliates Radio a while back and he told me THEN that he wanted this fight way before it was signed. I think Daley did NOT want this fight and Woodley did. That will be the difference in this fight in my opinion. We all know that Daley's wrestling ability and take down defense is pretty horrible and we should see it all again here. I love Daley, but Woodley is gonna grind this one out in my opinion. I think Strikeforce just messed up with this fight however. If Woodley loses, then their up and coming prospect is no longer undefeated. If Daley loses, that's TWO in a row and now he all of the sudden loses SERIOUS drawing power and looks destined for a BAMMA fight with Nate Marquardt. I just do NOT like this fight with a title NOT being on the line here.
Welterweight bout: Scott Smith (17-7-1) vs. Tarec Saffiedine (10-2)
MY PICK – Tarec Saffiedine via TKO
Pre-Fight Comments: When it comes to OPENING UP a show, it doesn't get much better and exciting than this fight right here. Scott Smith likes to take a bunch of shots just to give one major shot. I think that will be his problem here as Saffiedine will land a few good ones FIRST and that will be the difference. Scott Smith is getting old and looks more stiff each time we see him. I do think this fight will be exciting while it lasts and that's a GUARANTEE for the most part.
Here is the former owner of Strikeforce, Scott Coker on a few things including the event...
BREAKING NEWS: ALISTAIR OVEREEM HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM STRIKEFORCE!!!
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