There has been little to zero attention on tomorrow night’s Strikeforce event from the Rose Garden in Portland, OR. Sure, it’s not the sexiest lineup of fights, but it should provide some exciting action and answer some intriguing questions both in and outside of the cage. Showtime is really to blame for the lack of promotion, and it’s a shame because these fights are just wasting their time putting their bodies through a grueling training camp for little pay and even smaller recognition.
Robbie Lawler (19-8) vs. Lorenz Larkin (12-0): Lawler has difficulty with technical fighters. Larkin often deviates from his technical prowess, and Lawler, the veteran, will find his opening to catch Larkin on the jaw.
Prediction: Robbie Lawler via 3rd Round TKO
Roger Gracie (4-10) vs. Keith Jardine (17-10-2): A dedicated Roger Gracie is a dangerous Roger Gracie, but his striking is nonexistent. Jardine will use his very unorthodox striking to eke out an ugly decision.
Prediction: Keith Jardine via decision
Welterweight Championship Tyron Woodley (10-0) vs. Nate Marquardt (31-10): In theory, Marquardt should win this fight because he has way too much experience. This will be his first fight since March, and his TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) debacle got him fired from the UFC.
This is also his first fight at welterweight. He is no longer taking TRT because he doesn’t want to deal with the testing process and the questions about the validity of any win under a therapeutic use exemption.
Woodley wins all of his fights with wrestling and Marquardt has problems with elite wrestlers. But is Woodley elite? That is the question going into the bout. Woodley has been itching for a chance to fight for the Strikeforce title and has had to wait his turn since Nick Diaz left the promotion.
There comes a time in every fighter’s career when they take that vital step up in competition. This is Woodley’s time as he fights a three-time King of Pancrase and a UFC Middleweight title challenger.
Will we see the best Nate Marquardt, or was he only productive because of the TRT? Will the first-time weight cut be a factor, or is this the weight class he should have been fighting in all along? In the end, Woodley hasn’t shown anything outside his wet blanket approach to fighting, and his striking is subpar at best.
Prediction: Nate Marquardt via decision
Middleweight Championship Luke Rockhold (9-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3): Kennedy is constantly improving, but Rockhold is a well-rounded fighter with superior striking that will give anyone problems. Rockhold will quickly find his range, but Kennedy will push the pace, but he will have to find his range inside.
Consistent takedowns are the name of the game for Kennedy, but I haven’t seen anything in his game suggesting that he can do this for five rounds. Rockhold is on a roll right now, and I believe he will pick apart the army ranger with strikes for the majority of the 25-minute affair.
Prediction: Luke Rockhold by decision
RingsideLogic.com 