Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full video and photo gallery to folow shortly so be sure to look out for it as we were live at StrikeForce for tonight’s fights.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
•Renato “Babalu” Sobral def. Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
•Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos def. Marius Zaramoskis via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:38
•Tim Kennedy def. Trevor Prangley via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:35
•K.J. Noons def. Conor Heun via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD
•Jeremy Umphries def. R.J. Clifford via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:27
•Hugo Sandoval def. Marcus Kowal via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:43

by Adam Lawman

Tonight, Strikeforce invades the “City of Angels” for a mid-week show at the Nokia Theatre that marks the beginning of a 4 event MMA super-week that takes place over the next 5 days.

This is also the first of two Strikeforce events that are planned for this month in the state of California; the second being June 26th’s “Fedor vs Werdum” event which will take place in San Jose.

Strikeforce: LA should be an exciting night of fights featuring some intriguing match ups, including the catchweight main event that will award the winning fighter with a title shot at their respective weight class.

Here’s what I see happening tonight:

Robbie Lawler vs Renato “Babalu” Sobral (Catchweight, 195lbs) -

This should really be a slug fest and a fun fight to watch. Both fighters are also adequate on the ground with Sobral holding the edge. So I see a hard fought 1st round leading into an early submission win for Sobral in the 2nd. BABALU VIA SUBMISSION, RD 2.

Mariusz Zaromskis vs Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (Welterweight) -

Zaromskis wowed many fans with his decapatations via head kicks in DREAM but once he faced a top 10 fighter (Nick Diaz) with a diverse skill set he was exposed and quickly excused. Santos is far from the level of fighter that Diaz is but he comes to battle and will surely put on a good show. Expect for the two to engage in a vicious stand up battle and watch for a Zaromskis KO somewhere in the 1st round. ZAROMSKIS VIA KO, RD 1.

Tim Kennedy vs Trevor Prangley (Middleweight) -

Tim Kennedy is a rising star that could soon contend for the middleweight title after the dust settles on the Jake Shields soap opera. Prangley is a good fighter who looked better than his last opponent, Karl Amossou, before an unintentional eye poke ended the bout in a technical draw. The two should tentatively feel each other out, maybe for the first round, before the action heats up. I see Kennedy pushing the pace first and winning the technical striking game which will lead him to a decision victory and elevate his status in the division. KENNEDY VIA DECISION.

KJ Noons vs Connor Heun (Catchweight, 160lbs) -

Noons is a good fighter but he didn’t look 100% against Andre Dida in DREAM. I expect him to win but don’t expect it to be as easy as some may think. Heun will get a few good shots in but Noons should leave L.A. with a unanimous decision victory. NOONS VIA DECISION.

Wednesday night at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and Renato “Babalu” Sobral will meet in the cage for what seems to be your traditional striker vs. grappler matchup at Strikeforce: Los Angeles. However, there is more to this fight than just a striker vs. grappler match up, mainly on the behalf of Sobral.

Lawler is known for his power and explosiveness, 14 of Lawler’s 17 career victories have come via (T)KO, and if you want to see how deadly his hands are just take a look at his last fight with Melvin Manhoef at Strikeforce: Miami. Lawler was getting punished by Manhoef with punches and kicks for most of the fight, and wasn’t offering much offense, but when he finally decided to strike he did so with authority, as a Lawler limped after having his lead right leg destroyed by Manhoef’s powerful kicks, it seemed it was matter of moments before Manhoef would put his exclamation mark on the fight, instead we saw one right hand from Lawler send Manhoef crashing to the canvas, and then a left from Lawler was delivered for good measure, and just like that it was over. That is the kind of power that Lawler possesses, as far as his submission defense, well that’s a different story.

Of Lawler’s five losses, four have come by submission (however one was caused by an injury due to leg kicks). With his latest loss coming in June of last year when he was submitted in a title fight against Jake Shields by guillotine choke in 2:02 of the first round. Lawler has run into issues when facing high level grapplers, Jason Miller submitted him with an arm-triangle in September of 2006. Sobral is what you can consider a high level grappler. That is most likely an understatement, as Sobral is one of MMA’s better submission specialists.

Sobral returns to action for the first time since losing his Strikeforce light heavyweight title by (T)KO to Gegard Mousasi in one minute flat last August at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg. In 35 career victories Sobral has notched 18 submission wins, but has also been at the end of four devastating knockouts. Sobral however does not shy away from the stand up game, this is a man who once charged a vintage Chuck Liddell at UFC 62 in his quest to capture the UFC light heavyweight title, although unsuccessful in doing so (Liddell stopped Sobral at 1:35 of the first round) you have to give the man credit for having the courage to go after Liddell with such conviction, Liddell was coming off of five straight (T)KO victories.

Sobral’s willingness to stand is what keeps this fight from becoming your traditional striker vs. grappler match up. Sobral, although the dominant fighter on the ground has a good stand up game, the difference between Lawler and Sobral is that Sobral can survive on the feet against some heavy hitters but Lawler hasn’t faired well against grapplers. Sobral has defeated some top level strikers, and some that pack a serious punch, he submitted Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (The only man to ever knockout Antonio Rogerio Nogueira), Cyrille Diabate, and a young Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. In an interview with MMA Prime TV’s Aaron Tru, Sobral made it clear he wasn’t afraid to stand with Lawler but was aware he had to stay away from his right hand.

“My game plan is to try to beat him up standing if I have a chance to beat him” Sobral said. “Stay away from his right hand and that’s it”.

Sobral seems willing to engage with Lawler on the feet, but it won’t be likely that Lawler will follow Sobral to the ground unless he is delivering some fight ending blows following a knock down. Sobral’s ability to stand and trade keeps this from being your classic striker vs. grappler, it doesn’t mean that Sobral shouldn’t take this to the ground however; his best route to victory is still his submission game. Will he try and beat Lawler at his own game or will he go with what seems proven, and that is get Lawler to the mat, and work for the submission? Will Lawler come out swinging for the fences like the Robbie Lawler of old, or will the new and more patient Robbie Lawler show up, the one that bides his time, and waits for his opportunity to pounce? I can’t answer those questions, but on Wednesday night, we will get our answers.

-Nathan Aripez

(Aaron Tru interview with Renato “Babalu” Sobral)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sherdog.com is reporting that Jason “Mayhem” Miller has been pulled from the Strikeforce: Live card that is scheduled for June 16th in Los Angeles, CA due to his part in the Strikeforce on CBS brawl. Coker expects some kind of suspension to be handed down to Miller and decided it would be best that he didn’t headline their next event.

Now one has to question what type of penalties could be given out to the Cesar Gracie team that includes Nick and Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields.

On the brighter side of this news, a new opponent has been announced for Lawler. Set to be fought at a catchweight of 195 pounds, Lawler will meet Renato “Babalu” Sobral whose plans just opened up when DREAM cancelled their Light Heavyweight tournament.

“Babalu” will have almost a year between his last fight against Gegard Mousasi, which was in August of 2009 and when he steps inside the cage against Lawler this June. Lawler, himself, last met Melvin Manhoef and gutted out a real beating to score a thrilling KO win.

This unexpected match up should be a pure adrenaline filled adventure into face-punching paradise.

Another MMAPrime.tv original video from Aaron Tru and Michael Mardones

Aaron Tru and LayzieTheSavage were at the Affliction gym in Southern California with Rafael Cordeiro, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, and Rob Emerson.
Aaron Tru and LayzieTheSavage were at the Affliction gym in Southern California with Rafael Cordeiro, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, and Rob Emerson. Category: Sports
Tags: MMA UFC Affliction Tom Atencio Renato Babalu Sobral Rob Emerson Rafael Cordeiro KINGS Aaron Tru LayzieTheSavage Tapout Hitman 109 Relentless Grapple Jiu Jitsu BJJ