By Russell Cejas
Stikeforce is reaching with this card, and may come up short. Although their Heavyweight tournament will be one of the best things to happen to American MMA, Diaz vs. Cyborg on the 29th just doesn’t have the match up’s that most fans want to see. Roger Gracie, the newest of the Gracie family to jump into the cage, will try and maintain a spotless record when he faces Trevor Prangley. Herschel Walker who is most known for his football accomplishments will face a most unknown challenger in Scott Carson. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will square off with “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler in his first middleweight championship title defense and Nick Diaz prepares himself for his second welterweight title defense against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos. Here are my fight predictions!
Roger Gracie (3-0) vs. Trevor Prangley (23-6)
It’s a stretch to think that Roger Gracie and Trevor Prangley will put on anything more than a cardio show. Twenty nine year old Gracie has submitted all three of his opponents in the cage. All three opponents who are past their prime and all about forty years old; Trevor Prangley will be no different. While the thirty eight year old Prangley has an impressive record, a submission from Roger Gracie may speed up his winding down career. I believe we will see a strong Trevor Prangley attempt to take down Roger Gracie and try to squeak out an eleventh career decision win, but will not be able to do much on the ground with a very tall and talented world Jiu-Jitsu champion.
Prediction: Gracie via arm bar round two.
Herschel Walker (1-0) vs. Scott Carson (4-1)
With Hershel Walker being such a gifted athlete and fierce competitor, it is a shame that Strikeforce does not give him more of a challenge in what will be his second fight. I’m sure they have learned their lesson with Kimbo Slice and Bobby Lashley, than why throw another easy fight at this one man hype machine. No disrespect to Hershel Walker. He is a genetic freak, and has more athletic ability than ten men. His name is a promotion in itself which is all the more reason to put him against someone that is worthy of fighting him, and giving fight fans something to look forward to. Scott Carson whose previous fights have been at light heavyweight will find himself unbelievably outsized and over worked. Walker’s former teammates from the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings have all on the record stated they were amazed by Hershel’s strength and size that both came by with little effort. His cardio matched with strength is going to be too much for Carson, who has won by submission in all his fights. Walker’s next fight should be along the lines of a Chad Griggs who I have dubbed the “celebrity slayer.”
Prediction: Walker via TKO round one
Ronaldo Jacare Souza (13-2) vs. Robbie Lawler (20-6)
Mr. “Ruthless” needs to be just that in this fight if he wants to keep his name on the list of top ten middleweights. Jacare is a fierce fighter with an amazing set of skills and feels as comfortable standing as he does fighting on the ground. The Brazilian showed his fast hands in his fight with Tim Kennedy and with ten submission victories, clearly is no stranger to Jiu-Jitsu . Robbie Lawler’s legendary career will have prepared him for this very tough fight as his last seven wins have been by knockout, and Souza’s only two losses have been by knockout, but his all around even keeled fighting style will bring a lot of danger to the heavy handed Lawler.
Prediction: Souza via unanimous decision
Nick Diaz (23-7) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (18-13)
Nick Diaz is running through the 170lb division and it may take a former 205er to stop him in his tracks. “Cyborg” has lost forty five percent of his fights but anyone that has seen him in action knows that a win does not come easy against the machine that has fought in several weight divisions and is not afraid to go punch for punch with anyone. He has eleven knockouts and has been knocked out eight times out of his thirteen losses. Nick Diaz has twelve knockouts and has never been knocked out. His fights with heavy handed Robbie Lawler and Sean Sherk may have Nick aware of the exchange he is about to have with a fearless “Cyborg” Santos, though an educated guess is that Nick is aware of the strength behind Santos and that being a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt will be the showcase of this fight. Diaz will not want to risk standing with Santos. There will be no repeat of the Frank Shamrock fight, as Diaz will need to put more behind his punches if he wants to knock out the pit bull that is Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos.
Prediction: Diaz via triangle choke round three.
