Strikeforce: Challengers 9 — By the Odds

Filed under: StrikeforceThe midsummer MMA drought is drawing to a close not with one single deluge, but with a few tricking rain showers that will lead us into the August storm. Up this Friday night is the next presentation in the Strikeforce: Challeng…

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The midsummer MMA drought is drawing to a close not with one single deluge, but with a few tricking rain showers that will lead us into the August storm. Up this Friday night is the next presentation in the Strikeforce: Challengers series, this time from Everett, Wash., also known as the city that’s just close enough to Seattle to make you wonder why you didn’t just drive the extra half-hour on your road trip and stop there instead.

We already know that Strikeforce 135-pound women’s champ Sarah Kaufman is none too pleased about being relegated to the undercard of a Challengers event for her title defense against Roxanne Modafferi, but what else is there to see on this card, and who are these people, anyway? As a follow up, what kind of degenerate would you have to be to bet on this action?

The answer to at least one of those questions awaits you below.

Video Hype: UFC 117 Extended Preview, Roxy and Sarah Make Their Final Preparations

(Props: YouTube.com/UFC)
"To talk about me is easy," Anderson Silva says in the above preview vid. "Try to beat me." Ah, there’s the rub. Chael Sonnen’s trash talk has been absolutely epic in the run-up to this fight, but it re…

(Props: YouTube.com/UFC)

"To talk about me is easy," Anderson Silva says in the above preview vid. "Try to beat me." Ah, there’s the rub. Chael Sonnen‘s trash talk has been absolutely epic in the run-up to this fight, but it remains to be seen if he can even back up one tenth of it in the Octagon. Meanwhile, Roy Nelson has finally earned Dana White’s respect with his knockouts of Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve, and is "a definite contender for the heavyweight championship." To get his shot, he’ll have to become the first UFC fighter to endure the fists of Junior Dos Santos, who has been leaving a very impressive trail of bodies in his wake. It’s a matchup that guarantees excitement, as opposed to main event, in which…well, if Silva dances around and mocks his opponent for five more excruciating rounds, don’t act like you didn’t see it coming.

After the jump: E. Casey Leydon follows Roxanne Modafferi and Sarah Kaufman as they prepare for their 135-pound title match at Strikeforce Challengers, tomorrow night in Everett, Washington. The event kicks off on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

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Sarah Kaufman Has Had Enough of This Bullsh*t

(Photo courtesy of Sherdog.)
Yesterday, we wondered why Strikeforce’s next 135-pound women’s title fight was getting second-billing to a barely relevant men’s heavyweight scrap on a Challengers card. Well, Sarah Kaufman doesn’t really understand it e…

Sarah Kaufman Takayo Hashi Strikeforce
(Photo courtesy of Sherdog.)

Yesterday, we wondered why Strikeforce’s next 135-pound women’s title fight was getting second-billing to a barely relevant men’s heavyweight scrap on a Challengers card. Well, Sarah Kaufman doesn’t really understand it either, and she posted a blog on PrettyToughFighter.com earlier today explaining her frustration. Take it away, champ…

Cookies and Man Parts
…seem to be the 2 things that will get me on a main Strikeforce card…that and learning how to shake my assets. [Ed. note: That was her link, not ours.]
I am currently the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion…yet I fought for the title on a Challengers Card. Now, I am set to defend said title against Roxanne Modafferi in just a few days – again – on a Challengers Card.

I know that it’s going to be a fun and challenging fight…and I always welcome that. Roxanne has been around the sport for a long time and will come game to fight; however, I need to take this fight and make a statement.

That statement will be: I deserve to be on a main Strikeforce Card because I am a talented, exciting FEMALE fighter at 135lbs! I will NOT eat a ridiculous amount of cookies to make 145lbs JUST for the opportunity to be on a main card and growing man parts… well that would just be ridiculous 😀 

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Announcements: Make Your MMA FightPicker Predictions for Strikeforce Challengers, Check Out the ‘2010 Great Male Survey’

(Del Rosario’s most recent Challengers appearance against Brandon Cash, 11/6/09)
Strikeforce’s next "Challengers" card goes down this Friday in Everett, Washington, headlined by a heavyweight bout between Shane Del Rosario and Lolohea Ma…

(Del Rosario’s most recent Challengers appearance against Brandon Cash, 11/6/09)

Strikeforce’s next "Challengers" card goes down this Friday in Everett, Washington, headlined by a heavyweight bout between Shane Del Rosario and Lolohea Mahe, and the women’s 135-pound title fight between Sarah Kaufman and Roxanne Modafferi. Two questions come to mind…

– Why is a 9-0 steamroller like Del Rosario fighting a 4-1-1 novice who’s coming off a loss?

– Why is that fight headlining this card, as opposed to the women’s title fight?

The answers are: 1) It’s Strikeforce, do you really expect brilliant matchmaking? 2) As rumor has it, Strikeforce is displeased that Kaufman’s last three fights have gone the distance. So they’re pretty much going to stop pushing her. Anyway. Die-hard fightpickers can check out the full set of pool questions for this event after the jump; please make your selections at fightpicker.cagepotato.com or apps.facebook.com/mmafightpicker.

Unrelated: Our good friends at AskMen.com have released their 2010 Great Male Survey, which is honestly one of the greatest sociological research projects of our time. Over 100,000 men participated, giving their opinions on sex, grooming habits, current events, and so much more. Things we learned: 49% of men would punch a co-worker in the face if they could get away with it. 3% of men feel that MMA is too violent for their tastes. 19% of men would track their partner’s movements ("with a GPS implant, for example") if they had the ability. 53% of men feel that "sex addiction" is just a convenient excuse for guys who get caught cheating. Well, obviously.

Do us a favor and check it out here.

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