Author: Ben Fowlkes

Scott Coker: Nothing Stopping UFC vs. Strikeforce Fights from Happening

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceSAN DIEGO – Good news for fight fans who are eager to see the best from Strikeforce take on the best from the UFC now that Zuffa owns both promotions: there’s nothing stopping it from happening. It’s only a matter of who an…

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SAN DIEGO – Good news for fight fans who are eager to see the best from Strikeforce take on the best from the UFC now that Zuffa owns both promotions: there’s nothing stopping it from happening. It’s only a matter of who and when.

At least, that’s the story according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who seemed as anxious to see some cross-promotional dream fights as anyone after Saturday night’s Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley event.

“I think, you know what? Let the Strikeforce guys fight the UFC guys,” Coker said. “I’d love to see it. To me, Alistair Overeem versus Cain Velasquez? Let’s do it. Or Fedor fighting Brock Lesnar. …There’s nothing to say these guys can’t fight each other.”

Fighter vs. Writer: Strikeforce Predictions with Dominick Cruz

It’s been a while, but Fighter vs. Writer is back for Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, and this time I’m going head-to-head with a UFC champion.

Last time I barely edged out a victory over Jason Brilz, thanks largely to a questionable decision for Nick Ri…

It’s been a while, but Fighter vs. Writer is back for Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley, and this time I’m going head-to-head with a UFC champion.

Last time I barely edged out a victory over Jason Brilz, thanks largely to a questionable decision for Nick Ring.

This time I face UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in a prediction contest that’s as intense as a Nick Diaz-Paul Daley staredown. Okay, maybe not, but it’s only because I prefer to keep my emotions tightly bottled up until they boil over at the most inopportune time. You think you can handle that, Dominick?

Paul Daley Says His Power Will Be Brand New Experience for Nick Diaz

SAN DIEGO — When asked whether he expected Nick Diaz to put his dangerous, but rarely seen ground game to work on Saturday night, Paul Daley had a simple response: “I expect Nick Diaz to fight. … It ain’t going to be no lay-and-pray b–ching out. We…

SAN DIEGO — When asked whether he expected Nick Diaz to put his dangerous, but rarely seen ground game to work on Saturday night, Paul Daley had a simple response: “I expect Nick Diaz to fight. … It ain’t going to be no lay-and-pray b–ching out. We’re going to be in a fight, and that’s what I do best.”

It was the kind of statement that made for a good sound byte, but it was hard not to wonder whether it was meant for the media’s benefit or for Diaz’s.

It’s no secret that, if the fight goes to the ground, the edge will almost certainly belong to Diaz. The thing is, lately he’s showed very little interest in getting fights to the mat even when he holds a clear advantage there. His willingness to stand and trade has helped make him a fan favorite, but against a slugger with one-punch power like Daley’s those same tendencies could make him an ex-champion, and Daley knows it.

Keith Jardine: Mousasi Fight Is Next Step Toward ‘Reinventing Myself’

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceSAN DIEGO — When Keith Jardine heard that Gegard Mousasi had only watched one round of his fight with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 96 to prepare for their bout on Saturday night, a sly smile spread across “The Dean of …

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SAN DIEGO — When Keith Jardine heard that Gegard Mousasi had only watched one round of his fight with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 96 to prepare for their bout on Saturday night, a sly smile spread across “The Dean of Mean’s” face.

“I love that fight,” Jardine said in his soft, low voice. “It’s one of my favorite fights, but I definitely didn’t do well in that one.”

When he thinks back on it now, he was too flat-footed in that bout, and he got exhausted early on. In fact, maybe it’s good that Mousasi chose that fight to watch a single round from.

“It might have made him a little more confident,” Jardine said.

But even though he lost a decision in that bout, it’s what people don’t know about it that helped make the performance one of Jardine’s personal favorites.

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley Weigh-In Results

Filed under: StrikeforceSAN DIEGO — It took all week, but tensions between Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz and challenger Paul Daley finally boiled over at Friday’s weigh-ins. The two shared an intense staredown after making weight, exchangin…

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SAN DIEGO — It took all week, but tensions between Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz and challenger Paul Daley finally boiled over at Friday’s weigh-ins. The two shared an intense staredown after making weight, exchanging a few choice words before being separated by officials.

Despite the ubiquitous concerns about his weight, Daley made it in just below the 170-pound limit, though he needed to disrobe entirely to do it. Full results from the Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley weigh-ins are below.

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley — By the Odds

Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley goes down in San Diego on Saturday night, and while there are no odds on whether the organization’s first big event following the Zuffa purchase will look or feel any different on Showtime, there are …

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Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley goes down in San Diego on Saturday night, and while there are no odds on whether the organization’s first big event following the Zuffa purchase will look or feel any different on Showtime, there are odds on just about everything else.

Let’s take a look at how online oddsmakers see it going down and do a little armchair handicapping, shall we?