Tag: Ovince St. Preux

Strikeforce Melendez vs. Masvidal Predictions

Filed under: StrikeforceWill Gilbert Melendez make a statement that he deserves to be fighting for the UFC lightweight belt, or will Jorge Masvidal pull off a major upset? Will Cris Cyborg continue to look like the toughest woman in the world after a l…

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Will Gilbert Melendez make a statement that he deserves to be fighting for the UFC lightweight belt, or will Jorge Masvidal pull off a major upset? Will Cris Cyborg continue to look like the toughest woman in the world after a layoff of more than a year? Can Gegard Mousasi stop a takedown? Will MMA fans remember to watch Strikeforce on Saturday, more than three months after the last major Strikeforce card? We’ll answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal below.

What: Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Where: Valley View Casino Center, San Diego

When: Saturday, the Showtime broadcast begins at 10:00 PM ET

Predictions on the four televised fights below.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal
For Melendez, this fight is less about defending his Strikeforce lightweight title than it is about demonstrating that he deserves to be brought into the UFC and given huge pay-per-view fights, like the Strikeforce champions at heavyweight (Alistair Overeem) light heavyweight (Dan Henderson) middleweight (Jake Shields) and welterweight (Nick Diaz) have been. Melendez needs more than just a victory — he needs a sensational performance, a spectacular submission or knockout that has everyone clamoring to see Melendez fight the winner of the upcoming Frankie Edgar-Ben Henderson fight.

Melendez should beat Masvidal handily, but finishing him in highlight-reel fashion is going to be tough to do. Masvidal has only been finished three times in his 28-fight MMA career. Melendez will win, but it’s going to be tough for him to win in a way that convinces the UFC that he deserves the next crack at the belt.
Pick: Melendez
Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Cyborg is finally returning to the cage a year and a half after she demolished Jan Finney in a serious mismatch. Give Strikeforce credit for the matchmaking this time around, however, because Yamanaka is no mismatch — she’s probably the second-best145-pound woman in the world, after Cyborg, and she presents some interesting matchup problems for Cyborg. The 5-foot-11 Yamanaka taller and longer than Cyborg, and Cyborg’s tendency to swing wildly with her chin up and her hands down could leave her exposed to an opponent with a reach advantage.

But Yamanaka isn’t much of a finisher (eight of her 12 wins are by decision), and in a 25-minute title fight, eventually Cyborg is going to hit her and hit her hard. Look for Cyborg to win, but look for Yamanaka to give her the toughest test she’s had since she made her EliteXC debut three and a half years ago.
Pick: Cyborg
Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
 Mousasi has much more experience than St. Preux and a much, much more well-rounded game than St. Preux. Some fans view this fight as a mismatch that Mousasi should win easily.

I’m not so sure about that. I think St. Preux, a former University of Tennessee defensive end who has gone on a tear in the cage over the last couple of years, has just the kind of style to drive Mousasi crazy: St. Preux is stronger than Mousasi and has good takedowns, and Mousasi has shown in his loss to Mo Lawal and his draw with Keith Jardine that he has a really, really hard time staying off his back. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see St. Preux take Mousasi down enough to grind out a decision.

However, while Mousasi isn’t very good at staying off his back, he is good at finishing his opponents from his back. And that’s what I see him doing: Look for him to catch St. Preux in a triangle choke or an arm bar and force him to tap.
Pick: Mousasi
KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista
Noons and Evangelista are both coming off losses to Masvidal, and the loser of this one may be done in Strikeforce, where no fighter on a losing streak can expect to be safe. I see this fight going the distance, and Noons landing more effective strikes and winning the decision.
Pick: Noons

 

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Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Set for Dec. 17 Strikeforce Card

Filed under: StrikeforceFormer Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi is set to make his return to the cage on Dec. 17, when he’ll take on the up-and-coming Ovince St. Preux in a fight that should answer a lot of questions about just wha…

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Gegard MousasiFormer Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi is set to make his return to the cage on Dec. 17, when he’ll take on the up-and-coming Ovince St. Preux in a fight that should answer a lot of questions about just what kind of competition St. Preux is ready for — and whether Mousasi has learned to stop a takedown yet.

St. Preux is a former University of Tennessee football player who shifted his focus to MMA in 2008 and has taken enormous strides in the last year and a half. At the start of 2010 had a 3-4 record and hadn’t done anything noteworthy in the cage. But he has really come on of late, improving his record to 11-4 and beating solid opponents including Jason Day, Antwain Britt, Benji Radach and Abongo Humphrey.

None of those opponents is on the same level of Mousasi, who’s one of the most talented fighters in the world. Then again, while OSP has been dramatically improving, Mousasi has had an up-and-down couple of years: While fighting in Japan, he’s won three easy first-round stoppages over Jake O’Brien, Tatsuya Mizuno and Hiroshi Izumi. But he’s struggled in the United States, losing to Muhammed Lawal and fighting Keith Jardine to a draw. In both of those fights, Mousasi showed serious problems stopping takedowns, and until he solves those problems, he’s going to have a tough time winning a decision in the United States, where judges frequently favor the fighter who’s on top on the ground.

St. Preux is a great athlete who’s physically stronger than Mousasi, and it’s entirely possible that he could take Mousasi down repeatedly and beat him by decision. The more likely scenario, however, is that the much more sophisticated Mousasi finishes St. Preux.

The Mousasi-St. Preux contest is the first fight Strikeforce has announced for the December 17 card, but other fights expected to take place at that event include Gilbert Melendez defending his lightweight belt against Jorge Masvidal, and Cris Cyborg defending her women’s 145-pound belt against an as-yet undetermined opponent.

 

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Fedor vs. Henderson (Unofficially) Officially Signed for July 30th Strikeforce Card

Different styles make for an interesting fight.

Though Zuffa officials have yet to announce the fight, Sherdog.com reports that Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko have officially signed bout agreements to face one another. This match-up has been in the works for a while now and will add some major firepower to the July 30th event at the Sears Center in Chicago.

This is a big fight for everyone involved. Following two consecutive stoppage losses to Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, Fedor’s unbeatable mystique has been shattered. With Strikeforce’s top heavyweights competing in the Grand Prix Tournament from which he was exiled, this bout gives Fedor a shot at a meaningful win against a highly respected legend. After all the talk of his possible retirement from the sport, a victory here would prove that Fedor is still very relevant in the MMA landscape.

Different styles make for an interesting fight.

Though Zuffa officials have yet to announce the fight, Sherdog.com reports that Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko have officially signed bout agreements to face one another. This match-up has been in the works for a while now and will add some major firepower to the July 30th event at the Sears Center in Chicago.

This is a big fight for everyone involved. Following two consecutive stoppage losses to Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, Fedor’s unbeatable mystique has been shattered. With Strikeforce’s top heavyweights competing in the Grand Prix Tournament from which he was exiled, this bout gives Fedor a shot at a meaningful win against a highly respected legend. After all the talk of his possible retirement from the sport, a victory here would prove that Fedor is still very relevant in the MMA landscape.

Henderson comes into this bout riding a two fight win streak that saw him exit the Nationwide Arena as the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Although the two will meet at heavyweight and Henderson’s title won’t be on the line, belts always lose a little of their luster when their owner suffers a loss.  [UPDATE: Scott Coker says this fight will take place at a catchweight of 220lbs).

The pairing also gives Strikeforce some much needed time to determine the number one contender at Light Heavyweight. The Mousasi-Kyle fight was expected to yield Henderson’s next opponent, but that bout got scrapped and replaced with Mousasi-Jardine, which resulted in a painful draw. This fight allows Henderson to stay active while Strikeforce determines a worthy challenger. To that end, some of the evening’s other fights should clear up the division’s hierarchy.

Other expected bouts for the event include:

Roger Gracie vs. Muhammed Lawal

JZ Cavalcante vs. Ovince St. Preux

Evangelista Santos vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Rafael ‘Feijao’ Cavalcante vs. Ovince St. Preux Targeted for July

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsStrikeforce is targeting a light heavyweight fight between former 205-pound champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and Ovince St. Preux at a yet to be announced July event, MMA Fighting has learned from so…

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Strikeforce is targeting a light heavyweight fight between former 205-pound champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and Ovince St. Preux at a yet to be announced July event, MMA Fighting has learned from sources close to the fight.

Feijao vs. OSP has been discussed by all parties involved, however, Strikeforce officials recently told MMA Fighting that “nothing (is) finalized” just yet.

Cavalcante (10-3) lost his title to Dan Henderson in March via third-round TKO. He won the title last August when he defeated Muhammed Lawal via third-round TKO.

Strikeforce Narrowing Down List of Opponents for ‘King’ Mo Lawal’s Return

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, News Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is already confirmed to make his return on an upcoming event in Texas, but he’s still waiting on an opponent.

According to Strike…

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Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal is already confirmed to make his return on an upcoming event in Texas, but he’s still waiting on an opponent.

According to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, the options are being narrowed down, with three potential matchups in mind.

Surging contenders Roger Gracie and Ovince St. Preux are possibilities, along with a potential rematch with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, Coker told MMA Fighting.

Strikeforce Live Blog: Ovince St. Preux vs. Abongo Humphrey Updates

Filed under: StrikeforceThis is the Strikeforce live blog for Ovince St. Preux vs. Abongo Humphrey, a light heavyweight bout on tonight’s Strikeforce Challengers 13 on Showtime card from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

OSP (9-4)…

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This is the Strikeforce live blog for Ovince St. Preux vs. Abongo Humphrey, a light heavyweight bout on tonight’s Strikeforce Challengers 13 on Showtime card from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

OSP (9-4) is coming off a destruction over Benji Radach last month at Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu. Humphrey (7-2) is probably best known for winning the BET Iron Ring tournament as well as losing to Brett Rogers in his Strikeforce debut. As a 205er, Humphrey is 1-1 in Strikeforce with a win over George Bush and a loss to Mike Kyle.

The live blog is below.