Strikeforce Middleweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Lindland
Odds: ( Lawler / Lindland )
Betting Pick: lindland
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In the semi-main event, two long-time veterans and former UFC fighters will go at it in an old-school style vs. style matchup as prolific wrestler Matt “The Law” Lindland faces off against powerful striker “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler. Both of these guys have had mixed results recently, due largely to their lack of versatility, but both of them are still among the best in the world at what they do. Will Lindland be able to control Lawler and bruise him up from top position, or will Lawler make Lindland pay for his takedown attempts with powerful strikes?
Lawler, a long-time UFC mainstay, is a very dynamic and effective striker. He is actually a fairly decent wrestler also, but that is irrelevant against a guy with wrestling of Lindland’s caliber. Lawler will definitely dominate the standup exchanges, though, and any punch he lands has the potential to be the one that ends Lindland’s night.
It is unlikely that Lawler is going to have many opportunities to land those punches on Lindland, though, if he has his way. An Olympic silver medalist, Lindland has the best wrestling pedigree of anyone competing in MMA, and he will no doubt look to use that wrestling to put Lawler on his back for as much of this fight as he possibly can.
This one basically comes down to whether or not Lindland can get Lawler to the ground and keep him there. Lindland is not going to last very long on the feet with Lawler, but Lawler doesn’t have the ground game to prevent Lindland from controlling him if he can get him down. I really think it’s going to be hard for Lawler to stop Lindland’s takedowns. If he tries to bullrush in and throw shots, he is going to get dumped to the ground and worn out from top position. I think that ultimately Lindland’s wrestling is going to prove too much, and he will grind out the decision.
Prediction: Matt “The Law” Lindland via Unanimous Decision.
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