It has been a busy month so far but there was no way I could justify skipping this event and the breakdown thereof for my loyal readership (or lack their of). All the hoopla about Jon Jones winning the light-heavyweight championship and Zuffa buying Strikeforce kicked up enough dust to conceal a very compelling Strikeforce card right around the corner. However, Strikeforce: Diaz vs Daley sports an impressive, potentially exciting main card. Each fight has something to watch and the show as a whole will give us insight into the new order of things, as it is the first Strikeforce event overseen by Zuffa
Zuffa’s First SF Card
Lets get this out of the way. The overarching narrative regarding what goes on behind the curtain will be omnipresent throughout the event, but should only truly manifest itself subtlety and relatively infrequently. Being the first event under the Zuffa banner I don’t expect massive changes to the production value of the card, but fans versed in SF’s aesthetics might pick up on differences. We will get our first look at how Zuffa chooses to staff the event and no doubt we will see more UFC fighters as well as Dana White’s bald mug a time or two in the crowd. Keep the recent sale in mind as you watch the event. Now is the time to see if anyone is tipping his or her hand regarding future plans for the support in North America.
Shinya Aoki (#6 LW) vs Lyle Beerbohm
Shinya Aoki (pictured) is one of the most highly touted lightweights in the world. Through multiple conversations with a friend and fellow MMA fan as well as Aoki’s recent performances I have come to the solidified opinion that he is also one of the most highly overrated. Aoki didn’t do much to prove me wrong when he last stepped into a Strikefroce cage, getting utterly dominated by Gilbert Milendez. He squares off with a fighter with just one lose on his record in Lyle Beerbohm. Don’t get too excited though. Beerbohm’s lose was in his last fight and his win list reads as a who’s who of guys I have never heard of. The amazing thing is, I think he has a legit shot to ruin Aoki’s American MMA career before it ever gets started. Beerbohm has finished mostof his fights and should come in bigger and stronger than his Japanese counterpart. Aoiki is the favorite for a reason though. He is a very talented submission and veteran fighter. Aoki will be looking to lock up a leg or arm quickly but he must avoid being overpowered by a hungry fighter seeking a big break. SF is looking to get Aoki o
ver and its Beerbohm’s job to ruin everyone’s plans.
Keith Jardine vs Gegard Mousasi
The MMA gods have smiled upon Keith Jardine (pictured), offering him a boon in the form of a last minute replacement of Mike Kyle. This puts The Dean of Mean back on a major MMA card for the first time in almost a year. Jardine has strung together two wins but his competition level has dropped off significantly since the days of headlining shows against Rampage Jackson and Chuck Liddell. Mousasi also rides a two-fight win streak into this fight. The only difference is that Mousasi w recently considered a top-five light heavyweight while Jardine was seen as on his way out the door of MMA all together. On paper, Mousasi is a heavy favorite but this is one of those last minute replacements that puts me on the edge of my seat. Jardine is hard to prepare for and I suspect his awkward stand-up will give Mousasi trouble, at least initially. A focused Gegard Mousasi should be able to finish this fight but don’t sleep on this one as Jardine must realize how important this opportunity is and will look to make the most of it.
Gilbert Melendez (#3 LW) vs Tatsuya Kawajiri (#9 LW) – Strikeforce Lightweight Title
Tatsuya Kawajiri is looking to make his name in the United States and Strikeforce is looking to further solidify its champion, Gilbert Melendez (pictured) as a (if not the) top lightweight in the world. Japanese fighters have historically had problems dealing with strong wrestlers. They just don’t value that style of grappling as a culture enough to engrain high level wrestling into the majority of their fighters and they don’t cut weight to the same extent that an experienced wrestler will, rendering them smaller and frequently overpowered. That is not to say that this will be a walk in the park for Melendez. Kawajiri has had a mixed bag of success, beating the likes of Gesias Cavalcante and Josh Thomson but dropping fights to Aoki and Alvarez. This places him neatly between two distinct classes of fighters, both of which I feel are inferior to Melendez at this point. I look for Melendez to push the pace and grind out another impressive win.
Nick Diaz (#6 WW) vs Paul Daley – Strikeforce Welterweight Title
I was very high on Nick Diaz (pictured) until he ran into the fists of Cyborg Santos a few too many times and looked to be in trouble against the very mediocre fighter. If Cyborg Santos is able to catch rock Diaz, Paul Daley has a very good chance of knocking him cold. Daley dropped way off my top-10 list when he sucker-punched Josh Koscheck after dropping a decision but his undeniable talent has moved him back to the fringes and this match-up might be just what he needs to catapult up that list. He has some of the best striking in the weight class and serious knockout power. Diaz on the other hand an elusive fighter with precision strikes and a very dangerous ground game. This fight could come down to whom can impose their will. I have trouble imagining how Diaz is going to get Daley down without putting himself in a lot danger. Diaz does not posses the wrestling skills to shoot in from distance so he will have to engage Daley in the clinch, which means coming well within range. Diaz is one of the most highly respected welterweights outside the UFC but this is his most dangerous fight in quite some time. The namesake of the card promises a significant result one way or another: Daley reestablishes himself as a significant and undeniable welterweight force or Diaz solidifies himself a top 5 position in the weight class and silences at least some of the skeptics.
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