StrikeForce Houston Results and Analysis

StrikeForce delivered Saturday night as two fighters claimed championship belts for the first time. Lets dive into the results and analysis:

Bobby Lashley VS Chad Griggs

Results: As the second round came to a close, Griggs laid a beat down on the gassed Lashley, and he could not continue.

Analysis: Lashley's conditioning is very suspect after this fight. His inability to do any real ground and pound damage from mount is also disheartening.

Chad Griggs via 2nd Round TKO

KJ Noons VS Jorge Gurgel

Results: Noons slowly and surely felt out Gurgel till the imminent TKO early in the second.

Analysis: Gurgel likes to stand and bang, but Noon's boxing is phenomenal and he had the power and killer instinct to finish it. 

KJ Noons via 2nd round TKO

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza VS Tim Kennedy

 Results: The middleweight championship between Souza and Kennedy was very close, with Jacare edging out a decision based on more effective striking.

Analysis: I wouldn't be surprised to see Kennedy back here very soon if Souza successfully defends his title once or twice.

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza via Unanimous Decision

King Mo VS Rafael Cavalcante

Results: The fight looked to be going either way up till the 3rd round where Cavalcante rocked King Mo with a big knee that sent him backing up and caught him with a right and sent him to the mat, where Mo held on for dear life untill the ref stopped it.

Analysis: Mo's first professional loss will most likely teach him a lot as a fighter, and he should adapt his game plan around the outcome of this fight. He is a very solid fighter who could contend for the belt again soon.

 Rafael Cavalcante via 3rd Round TKO

Total Prediction Record for StrikeForce Houston: 2 - 2

 

StrikeForce Houston Preview and Predictions

The latest edition of the fight promotion Strikeforce, takes us down to Houston, Texas.With the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight championships on the line, lets dive into some previews and predictions for the main card:

August 21, 2010

Toyota Center,
Houston, Texas, United States

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Tim Kennedy
K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel
Bobby Lashley vs. Chad Griggs
Daniel Cormier vs. Jason Riley
Andre Galvao vs. Nate Moore
Vinicius Magalhaes vs. Rocky Long
Kier Gooch vs. Adam Schindler
Jose Santibanez vs. Reynaldo Trujillo
Humberto DeLeon vs. Chad Robichaux
Chad Cook vs. Arteneus Young

Bobby Lashley

Lashley comes into this fight undefeated with over Bob Sapp and Wes Sims. His strong wrestling base and large frame allow for good power as well as ground and pound

VS

Chad Griggs

Griggs has a fairly impressive MMA record with only one loss and eight wins, but he does not really hold any victories over notable opponents. Griggs will make his Strikeforce Debut in his fight with Lashley. While Griggs has a big frame, similar to lashley, he lacks a major base, such as Lashley's wrestling.

Analysis: While Lashley has stated recently that he wants to use more stand up in this fight then he has previously done before, if that angle fails him, his superior wrestling and strength will put Griggs away.

Prediction: Bobby Lashley Via 2nd Round TKO

KJ Noons

 Noons has a record of 9-2, with 7 KO/TKO victories, and a notable win over Nate Diaz. Noons supports a boxing skill set and is very smooth and powerful with his technique and can pick apart most fighters.

VS

Jorge Gurgel

Gurgel is coming not only off a loss, but off a almost year long layoff between his last fight. Gurgel has very credible BJJ but lacks wrestling and grappling. Gurgel loves to slug it out despite his BJJ background.

Analysis: KJ Noons has very impressive boxing and should match up well to Gurgel's need to fight a stand up war.

Prediction: KJ Noons by Unanimous Decision

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza

Jacare is finally up for the belt in a bout against fellow contender Tim Kennedy. Jacare, has great grappling, judo and submissions. Jacare won 10 of his 12 fights by submission.

VS

Tim Kennedy

Tim Kennedy is coming of a four fight win streak as he fights to win the Middleweight title.He has credible grappling and solid stand up.

Analysis: Kennedy is a solid fighter, but with Jacare's improved striking and great BJJ, he should be able to take the belt home.

Prediction: Jacare Souza by 3rd Round Submission

King Mo

This will be King Mo's first title defense in the Light Heavyweight Division and is undefeated overall.King Mo has incredible wrestling and can take opponents to the mat at will, and also has heavy enough hands to put them away on the ground or mat.

VS

Rafael Cavalcante

Cavalcante comes into the title fight with a two fight win streak. He has won 8 of his 9 victories by way of KO/TKO.His great striking has finished 5 opponents in the first round.

Analysis: Cavalcante is indeed a dangerous striker, but stylistically, this is a horrible match up for him. Not only is King Mo a solid boxer with KO power, but Cavalcante will not be able to defend Mo's take downs. Puncher's chance aside, King Mo retains the belt.

Prediction: King Mo by 3rd Round TKO

Results to follow event