Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine Predictions

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffeidine: Heading into this fight, Saffeidine is being extremely overlooked, and for good reason. Marquardt was one of the best middleweights in the world before he made his drop down to welterweight and went to war with Tyron Woodley. Lots of people were predicting Woodley to ride out a decision, but instead it was a standup war. Marquardt did eventually demolish him in the 4th though, with one of the sickest combos of 2012. Saffeidine is an extremely talented fighter who has been under appreciated throughout his MMA career. His well-rounded attack can leave anyone at 170 flustered.  But his greatest enemy is wrestling and a constant forward attack. Marquardt is a very aggressive fighter with great wrestling, I see Marquardt out-grappling Saffeidine from the get go = Marquardt via unanimous decision.

Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring: The only aspect that Staring has an advantage in is the size and intimidation factors. Other than that, Cormier will demolish him = Cormier via 1st round TKO (ground and pound).

Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino: This is a very similar case with the Cormier/Staring fight. Intimidation and size goes to Guelmino but Barnett will dispatch of him with ease = Barnett via 1st round submission (arm triangle).

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle: This is another easy pick. Kyle is a scrapper with little technique and a poor ground game. Mousasi has some of the best kickboxing in MMA and an improving ground game that is starting to actually turn out pretty decent. Kyle has a lot of power but Mousasi has never even really been rocked. The best idea for Gegard is to punch down the pipe and pick Kyle apart = Mousasi via unanimous decision.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Ed Herman: This is a really interesting matchup. I’m really leaning towards picking Herman but Souza is the safer pick. Herman has the standup advantage and a great ground game and submission defense but Souza’s standup is starting to get better and his ground game is possibly top-5 P4P. Herman is the scrappy-enough fighter to ride out a close decision win but I have a feeling that Souza will fight similarly to Jake Shields = Souza via unanimous decision.

Prelims

Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh = Healy via 2nd round submission (guillotine).

Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith = Gracie via 1st round submission (armbar).

Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith = Kennedy via 3rd round submission (RNC).

KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture = Noons via 3rd round TKO.

Jorge Gurgel vs. Antonio Martins = Martins via unanimous decision.

Estevan Payan vs. Mike Bravo = Bravo via split decision.

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffeidine: This will be a much closer fight then anyone will see coming. Tarec is a phenomenal fighter who can do everything and do it well. However, so can Nate but Nate is also a little bit better everywhere. This fight might not be a ton of fun to watch for some because I believe it will be very technical but I can’t wait. I think Nate will be the aggressor and take control early on. Nate is just more proven at this point but believe me it will be a close one. = Nate by unanimous decision.

Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring: This fight sums up why I am so glad Cormier is finally coming over to the UFC: he needs stronger competition. I know Cormier was supposed to fight Mir at first but even then I think Cormier would KO Mir quickly. Cormier will berserk Staring and will not let up until it’s over. = Cormier by KO in round 1.

Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino: Oh boy. This fight will be fun for the casual fan who wants to see quick finishes. Barnett is better everywhere but especially on the ground. = Barnett by submission in round 1.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle: This fight will be nuts. Mike Kyle fights are always crazy…mainly because Mike Kyle is crazy. But Gegard is just way too technical for the wild Kyle. Kyle could KO anyone in the world if he lands cleanly but I don’t see that happening here. I see Gegard keeping him at bay and then finding openings for solid strikes. I am not sure if Gegard can finish him but for his sake he better try because as long as Kyle is conscious he is dangerous. = Gegard by unanimous decision.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Ed Herman:  This fight is going to be very close in my mind. I know Souza’s BJJ is way better than Herman’s but Herman is no joke and is a tough as they come. However, Souza will just be too much for Herman on the ground. My only fear is that Souza will try and keep it standing and will get KO’ed. But I think Souza wants a UFC contract so he will fight smart. = Souza by unanimous decision.

Prelims

Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh = Healy by submission in round 1.

Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith = Gracie by submission in round 1.

Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith = Kennedy by submission in round 2.

KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture = Noons by KO in round 2.

Jorge Gurgel vs. Antonio Martins = Martins by unanimous decision.

Estevan Payan vs. Mike Bravo = Payan by split decision.

Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman: Sarah Kaufman seems to be extremely overlooked heading into this fight. She has amazing striking with great cardio and amazing chin. Of course her ground game is her one weakness and that is Ronda’s specialty. Rousey still hasn’t shown much improvement in the striking department, as it is still rather rudimentary. I’m sure that she has diligently at that aspect of her career but Kaufman will certainly be better on the feet. Although I do see Rousey continuing her dominance = Rousey via 1^st round armbar.

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Derek Brunson: Once again, another big underdog that shouldn’t be so overlooked. Brunson is a very powerful wrestler but that could very well be his downfall. Souza is arguably the best BJJ in MMA today. Although Souza did technically lose to Grove, Dave didn’t watch that fight, I did and Brunson won that fight, even the cocky Grove admitted it to Derek afterwards. But that doesn’t change much heading into this fight. I see Brunson going for the takedown early and Souza snapping on the triangle = Souza via 1^st round triangle.

Roger Bowling vs. Tarec Saffiedine: Now this is an awesome fight. I agree with Dave on the fact that Tarec is one of the more underrated fighters in MMA. Bowling is extremely explosive but if Saffiedine can survive the first round onslaught, he should take an easy decision after picking him apart and even possibly finishing him = Saffedine via unanimous decision. (For our interview with Tarec click here)

Lumumba Sayers vs. Anthony Smith: Sayers has really impressed me lately with his KO power and submission skills. Because he has such heavy hands, I can see him knocking Smith out early as Smith’s chin is very suspect = Sayers via 1^st round KO.

TJ Cook vs. Ovince St. Preux: OSP has a very bright future ahead of him. With only 1 loss in his last 9 to Gegard Mousasi, OSP is very well rounded and TJ Cook hasn’t beaten anyone with a name to show me that he can beat someone like OSP. Cook’s submission defense is very bad so I see a submission after a close first round = OSP via 2^nd round guillotine.

Prelims

Julie Kedzie vs. Miesha Tate = Tate via unanimous decision. (Click here for the prelim preview)

Bobby Green vs. Matt Ricehouse = Ricehouse via split decision.

Adlan Amagov vs. Keith Berry = Amagov via 1^st round submission

Germaine de Randamie vs. Hiroko Yamanaka = Yamanaka via unanimous decision.

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman: This one is for the 135-pound title. This fight will be amazing and a ton of fun. Rousey is arguably the best female fighter alive and I think her perfect streak will continue here. Rousey has won every fight by way of first round armbar and if you include her amateur career that is 7 armbars in a row…and by the way all of those came in the first round! She is an incredible athlete and Kaufman will be overwhelmed here. I think at this point in their careers Meisha Tate is better than Sarah Kaufman and Rousey just broke Tate’s arm in half. = Rousey by armbar in round 1.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson: Souza is a BJJ freak and he is facing a guy who just lost to Kendall Grove. Not much to think about in this one. Brunson’s only chance is to land a big punch or kick and KO Souza but if Souza can take out Robbie Lawler then he can handle Brunson. = Souza by submission in round 2.

Roger Bowling vs. Tarec Saffiedine: This fight is going to be a brawl. Tarec is a very good technical striker with a great chin and a very solid grappling style. He is one of the most underrated fighters in the sport and is incredibly well rounded. Bowling is more of a sloppy brawler and has a chance to win but Tarec is better in every aspect and has never been KO’d. I see Tarec picking him apart and, if need be he can take it to the ground and control him there. = Tarec by unanimous decision. (For our interview with Tarec click here)

Lumumba Sayers vs. Anthony Smith: Sayers has been impressive as of late with his KO of Antwain Britt in 28 seconds and submitting Scott Smith in 1 minute and 34 seconds. Smith did not have a great start to his career but has gone 11-2 in his last 13 fights. However Sayers has faced and defeated better competition than Smith and I think he will take this one. = Sayers by TKO in round 2.

T.J. Cook vs. Ovince St. Preux: OSP is a superb athlete and is pretty well rounded. Cook, in my opinion, has not proven himself enough to say he could hang with OSP. I think Cook has a problem with submission defense and OSP has good enough submissions to pull it off. = OSP by submission in round 3.

Prelims

Julie Kedzie vs. Miesha Tate: Tate by submission in round 2. (Click here for the prelim preview)

Bobby Green vs. Matt Ricehouse: Green by unanimous decision.

Adlan Amagov vs. Keith Berry: Amagov by TKO in round 1.

Germaine de Randamie vs. Hiroko Yamanaka: Hiroko by unanimous decision.