Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale Predictions

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier: This fight is going to be very interesting and should be highly entertaining. Cormier improves by leaps every time he is in the cage. I have never seen anyone get so much better in such a short time. As many of you know I am somewhat of an expert in amateur wrestling and I can say with authority that Daniel Cormier is the best wrestler in the heavyweight division in all of MMA and is at least top 5 in the whole sport. He is undersized for heavyweight but refuses to cut weight because he had a very bad reaction to it once where his kidneys failed. However, he has enough strength to hand with anyone at 265. One of the biggest heavyweights in the world, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva lasted under 4 minutes against Cormier. This fight however will be Cormier’s hardest test to date. Josh Barnett is extremely experienced and has faced many of the top heavyweights in the world. However, he has only fought 5 times in the last 3.5 years and not one of them was that big of a test. Like I said this fight will be interesting. Interesting to see where Cormier is in term of skill level and a look into how far he may be able to go in his career. This fight could go either way but when in doubt go with the Olympic wrestler! = Cormier by unanimous decision.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson: These guys have went at it twice already in their careers; splitting wins. However, at this point in their careers Melendez has matured into an elite fighter. Thompson has plateaued awhile back. I see Melendez controlling this fight throughout and getting an easy win. =  Melendez by unanimous decision.

Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle: Cavalcante by split decision.

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang: Burrell by unanimous decision.

Prelims

Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg: JZ by submission in round 2.

Guto Inocente vs. Virgil Zwicker: Virgil by TKO in round 1.

Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante: Gian by split decision.

Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort: Quinn by unanimous decision.

Bobby Green vs. James Terry: Green by submission in round 2.

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett: I can’t wait to see Cormier finally be able to truly show the potential that he has. He was an amazing NCAA wrestler and has had a very impressive MMA career so far, with KO’s and submissions alike. But Barnett is just such a seasoned veteran, that you simply can’t ever count him out of a fight. He is extremely well rounded with the ground game as his strong point. My gut says Barnett but my mind says Cormier. Lately, my gut has betrayed me. I vision this fight with Cormier landing some big shots, scaring Barnett. Barnett tries to take him down, gets on the bottom and getting TKO’d. I feel that this is a big possibility = Cormier by 1st round TKO. My pick for KOOTN!

Champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson: I don’t see this fight being as close as their previous two meetings. Once Thomson won, and Melendez won. Since those two fights, Melendez has become a whole new fighter. Someone who truly poses a threat to any lightweight champ, shall it be Frankie or Henderson. Thomson, on the other hand, is virtually the same fighter. He still tries to grind out decision wins with unimproved wrestling. I don’t see Melendez finishing this fight, but I see it being very dominant = Melendez by unanimous decision. My pick for FOTN!

Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle = Feijao by 1st round submission (choke). My pick for SOTN!
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Chris Spang = Burrell by split decision

Prelims
Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg = JZ by 1st round TKO
Virgil Zwicker vs. Carlos Augusto Filho = Zwicker by unanimous decision
Derrick Mehmen vs. Gian Villante = Villante by unanimous decision
Quinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort = Villefort by split decision

Bobby Green vs. James Terry: Green by split decision