NICK DIAZ & CYBORG SANTOS TOP MMA SHOW
Oklahoma City, OK– Saturday night on Showtime, Strikeforce the #2 MMA entity behind the UFC presents a stellar card from Miami, FL. On top, welterweight (170 lbs) champ Nick Diaz, Stockton, CA, will meet Marius Zaromskis of Lithuania (13-3, 10 KOs, 1 SUB) While Zaromskis is an unknown to most American fight fans, he is an exciting and powerful fighter who likes to stand and throw both with his fists and feet. That being said Diaz (20-7, 11 KOs, 6 SUBs) is very hard to hurt, and if Zaromskis stands a chance at winning here, he will have to “bust up” Nick’s facial features for a TKO. The more likely scenario here is that Diaz wins via submission.
AND THAT CHICK THAT NEARLY KILLED GINA CARANO!
In the co-feature, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will defend the women’s title against Marloes Coenen of the Netherlands. A real killer, Cyborg of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil (8-1, 6 KOs) will make her first Strikeforce appearance since becoming the organizations’ first female champion last August by nearly beheading previously unbeaten Gina Carano. Coenen, 17-3, 3 KOs, 12 SUBs, has a wealth of experience but not much is known about her on this side of the Atlantic. We may be in for another pretty face getting smashed in by Cyborg. Prediction: Too much pop, Cyborg by TKO.
ALWAYS EXCITING LAWLER ON BILL TOO!
Robbie Lawler (Granite City, Illinois, 16-5, 13 KOs, 1 SUB) vs. Melvin Manhoef (Amsterdam, Holland, 24-6, 23 KOs) If you have not seen Manhoef fight before, you are in for quite a treat. Lawler usually holds a power advantage over his opponents but not in this fight. Manhoef has truly world class power and if he connects he could knock out a horse. Lawler needs to be very careful on his feet against the Dutchman. Give Lawler credit for jumping right back into the mix after his defeat to middleweight champion (185) Jake Shields (24-4-1, 3 KOs, 10 SUBs) last June. Prediction: Manhoef by KO.
EX-WWE CHAMP LASHLEY IN REAL FIGHT!
Current Total Nonstop Wrestling star Bobby Lashley, himself a formerly ranked collegiate wrestler and WWE champ will take on big Wes Sims (Lancaster, Ohio, 22-12-1, 9 KOs, 11 SUBs) I give Lashley credit for not picking on tomato cans and taking on solid challengers in his young MMA career. Wes Sims is a tough, towering (6’10) veteran and certainly should not be overlooked. If Sims can survive early and drag the fight into the later rounds, he could submit a tiring Lashley. I would assume Lashley (Junction City, Kansas, 4-0, 1 KO, 2 SUBs) will use his incredible wrestling skills to shoot in on the long legs of Sims and look to ground and pound his way to victory-as early as possible. Prediction: Lashley by TKO.
EX-NFL STAR WALKER MAKES DEBUT
Herschel Walker (Wrightsville, Georgia, MMA debut) vs. Greg Nagy (Tempe, Arizona, 1-1, 1 KO) I don’t even know what to say here really. Walker is a former pro football player and 1982 Heisman trophy winner, and who turns 48 in March, will be taking on an opponent more than 20 years his Jr. and although not holding an impressive record, has a little MMA experience. As a life long athlete I would certainly think that Walker would know MMA isn’t something you just “try.” I would expect him to come in fully prepared but I just don’t know what he can offer coming in this late in the game.
Prediction: Not quite sure what to expect, but I think the young buck pulls out a win, Nagy by UD.
Matthew Grizzle