by Adam Lawman
Saturday night packed a punch for sure, but what does all of this mean for MMA and specifically for Strikeforce?
I’ll hypothesize:
Josh Thomson def Pat Healy via Submission, 4:27 into Rd 3
Healy deserves some major props for his performance against Strikeforce’s former lightweight champion. He worked some nice takedowns and and even took a round against Thomson. It wasn’t enough though; Thomson had the better ground game and overcame the wrestling of Healy to score a 3rd round submission win with a rear naked choke.
Healy will most likely go back to the Strikeforce: Challengers circuit but he definitely proved that he can hang with top competition and could earn his way back to the big show before too long.
Next for Thomson should be another shot against Gilbert Melendez. He was out for over a year before losing the belt to “El Nino” and deserves a rubber match to determine who Strikeforce’s elite lightweight is.
Cris Cyborg def Jan Finney via KO, 2:56 into Rd 2
Poor Jan Finney. She got demolished by the world’s greatest female fighter. Finney lasted longer than Carano did against Cyborg and showed that she can take some pain but in the end it wasn’t even close. Cris Cyborg is an unstoppable wrecking machine, the female Fedor perhaps. The women’s fight was by far the most brutal of all 4 televised bouts and the most action-packed.
Finney showed a huge heart and stayed determine not to give up. She deserves a lot of respect for how she did with Cyborg. I’d like to see Finney match up against Gina Carano, but I know that won’t be happening anytime soon so maybe a rematch with Erin Toughill would work well.
No female fighter can compare to Cris Cyborg. She possesses skills and power that I have never seen from any other individual in the women’s division. I’m not sure who Cyborg will meet next but I’d put my money on another TKO victory.
Cung Le def Scott Smith via KO, 1:46 into Rd 2
These two can put on a show. The first fight was dominated by Le but he got tired and careless allowing Smith to capitalize and get a TKO win. The rematch played out much the same but quicker and this time Le did not slip up. Le’s striking was too much for Smith and he simply got beaten up. I don’t see an immediate rubber match being needed since Le is obviously much better.
Scott Smith and Robbie Lawler would be cool to see again. Both are coming off losses and both like to swing for the fences. Lawler and Smith have met twice with the first bout being stopped due to an eye poke and the second fight going to Lawler via TKO.
Cung Le vs Melvin Manhoef…’nuff said!
Fabricio Werdum def Fedor Emelianenko via Submission, 1:09 into Rd 1
This will be the most talked about fight all this year. I’m not even sure a Lesnar loss would be as large as Werdum’s win. Fedor is still one of the best ever but he definitely made some mistakes against “Vai Cavalo.”
A rematch seems to be on the horizon and I can’t disagree. Fedor deserves it and Werdum offered. Sorry Alistair but you’re going to have to wait for these guys to duke it out again.
All in all, Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum, an event filled with action and history, is so far the show of the year.
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