This is not only a stacked card, it's historic. This card is literally Strikeforce's all star team of talent with a very good chunk of there best fighters. Strikeforce has done a great job and I'm more excited to see this card than UFC 133 which is a PPV! We have two legends fighting to add even more prestige to there already amazing resumes. Two elite women fighters who are going to duke it out for the belt and some great middleweight and welterweight contenders.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson
I have been waiting for this fight for almost two years. When Dan Henderson signed with Strikeforce in December of 2009 the fans immediately started bringing up this matchup. Two legends of the sport both with great grappling, striking, and not to big of a size difference between the Middleweight and Heavyweight it just makes sense. I even went so far as to say then (Fedor still riding his 9 year win streak) that I believed Henderson was the only man capable of beating Fedor. Now off course we know this not to be true with Fedor coming off back to back loses, nevertheless he is still incredibly dangerous. For this fight breakdown I'm going to do what most people seem unable to do and look past Fedor's two previous losses because quite simply they don't matter. People are saying he's not motivated or not the same man he once was. Fedor is still Fedor, he still has every skill and strength that he's always had. All he is guilty of is being human and every man meets his match, Fedor slipped up with Werdum and was completely out muscled by Bigfoot Silva. This matchup is very interesting because both fighters are very dangerous standing and have great ground skills, while Fedor won't have to look out for subs he will have to watch for throws and ground and pound from the former Olympian. On the other hand Hendo will definitely have to be smart on the ground because Fedor's submission game is excellent with 16 of his wins coming by sub. Henderson has only been submitted three times in his career once by each of the Noguiera brothers and Anderson Silva so It's not an easy task as all of them are elite blackbelts. Both fighters have knockout power and can end the fight instantaneously, but both fighters also have never been knocked out themselves and have great chins. I believe the key to this fight for Fedor is to do want most people would never want to do and stand with Henderson, he can't bank on the fact that he'll be able to submit Henderson and get controlled on the ground. Henderson's great wrestling could very well keep him on top and in control of Fedor, especially with Henderson openly saying that's part of his gameplan. Fedor has very strong and fast hands and is the only fighter in recent history that I see as a threat to Hendo standing up, and he could very well knock out Henderson. The key for Henderson in this fight is to keep Fedor guessing. Henderson should mix up some powerful strikes with some well timed takedowns and ground and pound to keep Fedor from ever really getting in a groove. If he can keep Fedor uncomfortable and continually beat him on the score cards he can walk away with a decision win or a late fight stoppage. My pick is Hendo by Decision with Fedor's face looking messed up from some good ol American ground and pound. But honestly with this fight anything and I do mean anything could happen at any second so don't blink.
Marloes Connen vs. Miesha Tate
This is a huge fight for womens MMA and I'm almost as excited to see this as I am the main event. Marloes Connen is the champion at 135lbs and has finished her two last victims by submission both with the title on the line. Being the #1 ranked Women's welterweight and having fought for titles in two weight classes Connen is a tall task for any fighter. I believe Miesha Tate is up for that task with only two losses on her record, and her wins being almost evenly split with 3 subs, 4 KO's, and 4 decisions she is a very well rounded fighter with a great skill set. This fight will be determined by Tate's submission defense, I believe she has the wrestling and strength to control Connen and grind her way to a decision victory but Connen is always dangerous off her back and can end the fight at any moment with a tight submission. The key for Connen in this fight will be to very actively work from her back and try to avoid takedowns when standing. If she can get a few takedowns of her own to even out the points that would greatly help in the case that she can't sub Tate she isn't left high and dry on the score cards. Tate needs overwhelm her opponent with solid takedowns and good ground and pound. But while doing this she absolutely must be watching for the submission attempts that will undoubtedly come. I see Tate fairly easily taking this fight by unanimous decision after numerous takedowns and defending even more submission attempts.
Robbie Lawler vs. Tim Kennedy
This is an important fight for both competitors as a win over the other one could mean a title shot and another crack at middleweight champ Ronaldo Souza. Lawler is a brawler there is no doubt about that and he has some dynamite in his hands, if he lands hard Tim is going down there is no doubt about that. Lawler can KO pretty much anyone he connects with and that is always his weapon of choice with only three of his wins coming by something other than a knock out. So the question mark on this fight is will he connect with Kennedy. Kennedy has some knockout wins to his name but has most of his wins by submission and in this fight thats what he should concentrate on. The key for Lawler is to keep this fight standing and box because eventually he will connect and it will mean goodnight for Kennedy. In doing this though Lawler can't get reckless and leave himself open to takedowns, if he fights defensively and watches for takedowns I believe the knock out will come naturally. Kennedy is not a dumb fighter and coming from the Greg Jackson camp famously known for there game planning I believe he is coming in to this fight well prepared. Kennedy won't be taking an stupid risks by standing with Lawler he'll go for takedowns and lots of them gaining him points and opportunities for submissions all fight long. This is a very tough fight to call but I'll go with Tim Kennedy by third round submission but only because he comes from the stronger training camp of the two.
Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley
A loud mouthed Brit versus a division 1 wrestler, I feel like we've seen this fight before and I'm almost certain history will repeat itself. I give Paul Daley no more than a punchers chance in this fight. His punchers chance is probably higher than most fighters because he has some outstanding boxing and serious punching power. With that said he won't get use any of it. Tyron Woodley is and undefeated division one wrestler out of America Top Team which has some of the best fighters in MMA. Tyron will use his far superior wrestling to control this fight and take all three rounds. Daley's only chance will be to land at the beginning of every round and pray it knocks his opponent out. There really isn't a need to break down this fight more than that, I'm very confident in saying Tyron Woodley by unanimous decision.
Scott Smith vs. Tarec Saffiedine
This might be fight of the night right here. Scott Smith has his back against the wall coming off of two loses both via knockout. Tarec Saffiedine is a hungry up and comer who wants to get back in the winners circle after a unanimous decision loss to Tyron Woodley. The thing that makes this fight so exciting is both fighters willingness to stand and trade. Smith has 14 of his wins coming by KO and Saffiedine has an amateur kickboxing record of 12-1-1. I believe we will see an excellent stand up clinic put on by both fighters. Smith will be the aggressor and with be searching for the knockout in every exchange. The key for Smith is to be patient and technical with his strikes and to not be countered and picked apart by Saffiedine, if he can stick to this and wait for a good counter moment himself he can put his opponent away. Saffiedine will stick and move gaining himself points but also keeping himself out of danger. The key for Saffiedine is to not get caught up in exchanges, to pick apart, and frustrate his opponent into carelessly attacking looking for a big counter strike. Should Smith win this fight he will be back on track to fighting top level competition and should Saffiedine win he could be in title contention. I've got Tarec Saffiedine by unanimous decision but I wouldn't lay any money down on that.
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