STRIKFORCE LOOKS TO CHALLENGE UFC
Las Vegas, NV– For whatever reason, Strikeforce chieftain Scott Coker and his crew have decided to hold a live card tonight from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. This midweek action will air on Showtime and features a few good scraps. The main event is a fight that almost certainly guarantees excitement as Robbie Lawler (17-5, 14 KOs, 1 SUB) takes on Renato “Babalu” Sobral (35-8, 5 KOs, 18 SUBs) in a fight that will take place at a catch weight of 195 lbs. Lawler will be making his first appearance back since his spectacular come from behind knockout win over Melvin Manhoef (24-7-1, 23 KOs) at Strikeforce-Miami in January. As for Sobral, he hasn’t fought since being knocked out by fellow former Strikeforce light heavyweight (205 lbs) champ Gegard Mousasi (32-3-1, 17 KOs, 9 SUBs) last August on the underneath Cris Cyborg’s near beheading of Gina Carano. I lean towards Babalu in this one being he is the bigger man and having an excellent submission game; something Lawler is susceptible to. Verdict: Sobral by Submission.
UNDERCARD LOOKS COMPETITIVE
The rest of the bill includes promising bouts when Marious Zaromskis (13-4, 10 KOs, 1 SUB) taking on Evangelista Santos (17-13, 10 KOs, 5 SUBs), the husband of the aforementioned Strikeforce women’s featherweight (145) champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos as well as Tim Kennedy (11-2, 5 KOs, 5 SUBs) vs. Trevor Prangley (22-5-1, 4 KOs, 9 SUBs). To kick things off Conor Heun (8-3, 1 KO, 5 SUBs) will take on K.J. Noons (8-2, 7 KOs)-the last man to beat Strikeforce welterweight (170) champ Nick Diaz (22-7, 12 KOs, 7 SUBs). Former amateur and pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley (5-0, 2 KOs, 2 SUBs) was scheduled to fight on the card but had to pull out due to a knee injury. Strikeforce will return to Showtime just ten days from today when Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 8 KOs, 16 SUBs) makes his return to Strikeforce as he takes on Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1, 4 KOs, 7 SUBs) Saturday July 26th.
First bout 10 PM ET on Showtime.
Matt “All Meat” Grizzle