Strikeforce – Lawler vs. Shields
Former Elite XC champions Robbie Lawler and Jake Shields head the card at Saturday’s Strikeforce event in St. Louis, MO. This catchweight battle of 182 pounders should be an epic, and Andrei Arlovski returns to take on Brett Rogers.
Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields
Lawler comes off a TKO victory in his rematch against Scott Smith in July 2008, while Shields beat Cage Rage welterweight champ Paul Daley in October of ‘08. Both fighters are excellent wrestlers. Lawler is likely to want the fight to be a standup battle as Shields has superb Jiu-Jitsu skills. Shields has won four out of his last five fights by submission.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers
Andrei Arlovski returns to the cage to clash with former Elite XC heavyweight Brett Rogers. Arlovski, who was KO’d earlier this year by heavyweight sensation Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, is seeking redemption here and hopes to get his stellar career back on track.
Rogers last against Abongo Humphrey. Arlovski, who trains with Hall of Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach and former WBC Heavyweight Champion Michael Moorer, should give Rogers trouble. I don’t seen this one lasting too long. Should he win, as I expect he will, Arlovski would be odds on to follow up with a matchup against Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Nick Diaz vs. Scott Smith
Nick Diaz, on very short rest after defeating Frank Shamrock in SHOWTIME’s first Strikeforce event, takes on middleweight and former Elite XC title contender Scott Smith.
Whoever wins this one is surely on track for a faceoff with with Cung Le.
Smith lost to Lawler in July of ‘08, but has since recovered by knocking out UFC veteran Terry Martin and then cleaning up against Elite XC middleweight contender and UFC veteran Benji Radach.
Diaz’s boxing skills have been sharpened by his training with 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and boxing super middleweight Andre Ward. Diaz holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well, so his combination of offensive weaponry is formidable.
Phil Baroni vs. Joe Riggs
Phil Baroni lost to Joey Villasenor at the first Elite XC event televised on CBS back in May ‘08, and is on a three-fight win streak sinced switching to the welterweight division.
Riggs, a natural welterweight, has wins over Chris Lytle and Nick Diaz.
Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead
Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman is back from a variety of health issues and faces The Ultimate Fighter and IFL contestant Mike Whitehead.
Randleman did defeat Mirko Filipovic back in ‘04, but hasn’t done much since then.
Whitehead is 14-1 in his last fifteen fights and knockout power. A win here puts Whitehead in line for a rematch with Renato Sobral for the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
Similar Posts:
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- Randleman Makes Comeback With Strikeforce
- There Can Never Be Enough of the Gracie Name in MMA
- Brett Rogers On Fedor and Brock
- Andrei Arlovski Seeks Out Greg Jackson To Right the Ship
- The Brett Rogers Fight Has No Upside For Fedor Emelianenko
- Andrei Arlovski Talks Lessons Learned and Future Goals in Strikeforce
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