MMA Combat - Strikeforce - Overeem vs. Werdum Pick 'em

MMA Combat - Strikeforce - Overeem vs. Werdum Pick 'em

Saturday June 18, 2011, Strikeforce - Overeem vs. Werdum will go live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas where promotion champion Alistair Overeem (34-11-1) will get his shot at redemption against the surging submission specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1); a rematch of their 2006 encounter that saw Werdum tap Overeem via Kirmura to come from behind during PRIDE - Total Elimination, Overeem looks to erase those memories after gaining significant confidence in his striking ability this past year when be was crowned the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion.

Below you will find our picks for Saturday's main-card; I will attempt to get straight to the point without any filler...

Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (15-4-1, 1 NC) vs. Justin Wilcox (11-3)
Brazilian standout "JZ" Cavalcante has managed only one victory in his last five appearances and really hasn't found his rhythm since 2007 when he rattled off wins against Nam Phan, Vitor Ribeiro, and Andre Amado on the tail end of an eight-fight winning streak. Wilcox is just coming into his own and although "The Silverback" is much greener in the sport, a winner in six-straight outings, he should have enough in the tank to take a decision here. It's highly unlikely that he'll stop the crafty Cavalcante, but within the limit of three rounds, and with the judging system as it stands today I expect Wilcox to control the action en-route to a decision win.

Valentijn Overeem (29-25) vs. Chad Griggs (10-1)
In 54 professional fights Valentijn Overeem has gone the distance twice. He is a winner in three-straight including a neck-crank submission most recently against K-1 legend Ray Sefo; but Overeem has shown a tendency time and time again to not only catch, but get caught in submissions and/or bad spots that result in finishes. Griggs, out of Tucson, Arizona, is a ferocious competitor with a taste for blood. His relentless pursuit of a finish has earned him nine [T]KO victories in ten professional fights including recent wins against WWE star Bobby Lashley and Gian Villante. Look for this fight to go into the second and third rounds with Griggs proving to have more in the gas-tank down the stretch as he earns himself a late TKO victory and a step up the Strikeforce heavyweight ladder.

Daniel Cormier (7-0) vs. Jeff Monson (42-11)
Daniel Cormier has started his MMA career a perfect 7-0-0; the former Olympic wrestler has all the tools to be a star in this sport, and his fight this Saturday represents a considerable step-up in competition from past opponents who Cormier has simply overwhelmed with his wrestling ability. Monson is a perfect opponent for the AKA standout to test his skills, as his ability on the feet is limited by his stocky frame and at 40 years of age is at the tail-end of his career. Since his exit from the UFC in 2006, Monson has remained extremely active fighting both oversees and inside the United States. The American Top Team veteran has compiled eight consecutive wins dating back to last summer, and is a powerhouse on the ground with respect to his submission abilities. I expect Monson to threaten Cormier at several points in this bout, as he enjoys a rare opportunity to face someone nearly as stout as himself. His experience will play a factor down the stretch as he emerges victorious via unanimous decision or late submission stoppage.

K.J. Noons (10-3) vs. Jorge Masvidal (21-6)
In a bout that promises its share of fireworks, the slick boxing of K.J. Noons will test the fortitude of "Gamebred," Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal last fought March 5, at Strikeforce - Henderson vs. Feijao when he pulled off a unanimous decision win over the previously undefeated Billy Evangelista. Utilizing his range effectively, Masvidal put together the perfect game plan against the smaller Evangelista, but will be in tough with a more technical striker in Noons. A native of Hawaii, now fighting out of San Diego, California, K.J. Noons strung together six consecutive wins before dropping his welterweight title shot against champion Nick Diaz in a rematch of their 2007, Elite XC encounter. At 170lbs Noons was noticeably under-sized, but I expect him to pick his shots in this one before stopping Masvidal late on strikes as he accumulates damage throughout the bout. Noons will thereafter present an interesting style match-up for champion Gilbert Melendez who has lit up the lightweight ranks of late.

Strikeforce Heavyweight GP Quarterfinals
Josh Barnett (29-5) vs. Brett Rogers (11-2)
Brett Rogers will enter this fight the underdog and for good reason. At 11-2-0, Rogers began his career a perfect 10-0 before dropping consecutive bouts to world ranked Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem respectively; "The Grim's" knockout power will always present a threat to anyone opposing him, but Barnett has been here before. Retrospectively, Rogers would have been better served to climb the heavyweight ranks a little more tentatively with concern to his competition, but at this point there is no going back and he'll have to find a way to get it done against perennial top-ten heavyweight, Josh Barnett on Saturday. Josh Barnett is a winner of six straight contests and has 17 submission stoppages to his name in 29 career victories; "The Babyfaced Assassin" simply has too much in the way of experience and skills for his opponent to stand much more than a puncher's chance on the night of the bout. I expect him to pull this one out via second round stoppage, likely a submission on the back of a solid ground and pound beating.

Strikeforce Heavyweight GP Quarterfinals
Alistair Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)
With only three fights under his belt since departing from the UFC ranks in 2008, Fabricio Werdum has made the most of those appearances notching victories against Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva, and the World's former #1 ranked heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko in what most believe to be the Russian's first professional defeat. Werdum can be magic once the fight hits the mat with Jiu Jitsu skills matched by very few, if any in the weight class; but the hulking figure before him this Saturday is on a similar 'confidence plateau' coming off a K-1 World Grand Prix victory in 2010 and having not tasted defeat in ten consecutive MMA bouts. At this point in time, Alistair Overeem's kickboxing could very well be the best the heavyweight ranks have ever seen in the sport's young history (with notable mention going to a prime Mirko Filipovic). I expect Overeem to take advantage of the fact that Werdum does not possess high-level takedown ability, and control where this fight takes place. The Strikeforce heavyweight champion will utilize well-timed knees in clinch situations, the strength advantage he'll own, and rangy strikes from the outside to capture a first round stoppage win, otherwise a dominate unanimous decision.

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