Filed under: Strikeforce
In theory, Strikeforce: Challengers is the event where the prospects carve a name for themselves before moving on to the big show. You know that because the ham-fisted opening sequence tells you, in the most direct and stilted way possible.
In reality, there are usually two types of fighters on Challengers: the prospects, and the guys the prospects are supposed to beat up.
Friday night’s main event showdown between up-and-comers Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine was a welcome departure from that. It was a showdown between two tough guys who had come up through the ranks in Strikeforce and were looking to make the jump to the next level.
The first Strikeforce event of 2011 takes place on Friday in Tennessee, and it’s a Challengers card that has a good array of young talent and five fights on Showtime that should do a lot to identify some of the up-and-coming contenders on the Strikeforce roster.