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.

MMA Heavyweight Rankings: September Edition

The heavyweights! The weight class that was once a bunch of tough guys is now filled with talent. Let’s take a look

Antonio Silva (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

10. Antonio Silva – Silva is on a two fight losing streak. But those losses were HUGE. His last fight against #2 Cain Velasques was a devastating loss that left Silva a bloody mess. But Silva still has a lot of potential to crack the top 5 at some point. And defeating Travis Brown in October will help him get there.

Mark Hunt (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

9. Mark Hunt – How did Mark Hunt make the top 10 in 2012? By defeating big names like Ben Rothwell and Cheick Kongo. It is some crazy stuff and I hope he keeps on rolling. He is 38 and his days are winding down so I hope he keeps getting fights and can end his career on a high note.

Big Nog (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

8. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Big Nog has been relevant for so many years that it is starting to get ridiculous. He is coming off of a loss to #6 Frank Mir but before he was caught in a fight ending kimura he was on his way to actually knocking Frank Mir out cold. Big Nog has a fight in October against Dave Herman which will likely be highly entertaining.

Josh Barnett (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

7. Josh Barnett – Barnett’s last appearance in the cage had him on the wrong end of an absolute beat down from #5 Daniel Cormier. There is no news on his next fight but it will most likely be a big name and a lot of fun.

Frank Mir (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

6. Frank Mir – in May Mir got to become another victim of champ Junior dos Santos. Mir was scheduled to fight #5 Daniel Cormier by going over to Strikeforce to fight Cormier. However, Mir was injured. Now we have to wait and see who is next for Mir.

Daniel Cormier (MMAjunkie.com)

5. Daniel Cormier – Cormier is one of the most exciting heavyweights today. He is currently 10-0 with big wins over #10 Antonio Silva and #7 Josh Barnett. There does not seem to be a ceiling for this guy and I believe that he could drop to 205 and give #1 Light Heavyweight Jon Jones the toughest test of his career. 

Fabricio Werdum (MMAjunkie.com)

4. Fabricio Werdum – Werdum has had a flawless return to the UFC by absolutely man-handling Roy Nelson and then brutally KO’ing Mike Russow. Werdum is about 1 fight away from a title shot but whoever he fights they better watch out for Werdum’s improved standup. 

Alistair Overeem (MMAjunkie.com)

3. Alistair Overeem – Overeem has been on an absolute destructive tear since the end of 2007. His last fight was a brutal win over former champ Brock Lesnar. Overeem later tested positive for PEDs and cannot reapply for a fighting license until December of this year.

Cain Velasquez (photo by MMAjunkie.com)

2. Cain Velasquez – Cain may be the best overall heavyweight alive. His standup striking is good but not on the level of #1 Junior dos Santos’ striking but he has amazing wrestling that dos Santos has not had to go up against just yet. Cain lost to dos Santos by KO before he had a chance to even try to take him down. When they fight again and if Cain fights smart he could win.

Junior dos Santos (photo by mmaweekly.com)

1. Junior dos Santos – Junior might be the best pure boxer in MMA and he has left a path of destruction in his wake on his way to being one of the most fearsome champs alive. If he beats Cain, I am not sure who can beat him.

Let us know what you think!