View Full Version : StrikeForce - Frank Shamrock vs Diaz
This weekend they are fighting at a 179 pound catchweight, Im a massive Frank fan and I hope he smashes the stoner, I cant see him losing because he has heaps better standup than Diaz and will also dominate the wrestling.
Was looking like a pretty good card until Josh Thomson got injured
MAIN CARD (BEGINNING AT 7:00PM - PST):
Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) vs. Nick Diaz (18-7) – 3X5 – 179lbs (Catch Weight)
Gilbert Melendez (14-2) vs. TBA
Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith (14-5) vs. Benji “Razor” Radach (19-4) – 3X5 – Middleweights
Chris “Cyborg” Santos (6-1) vs. Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (14-5) – 3X5 – 140lbs
Brett “Grimm” Roger (8-0) vs. Abongo Humphrey (12-0) – 3X5 - Heavyweights
RobbyRoy
7 Apr 2009, 01:56
Thomson off the card really brings it down, unless of course Melendez is given someone worthy as a replacement. Anyway, I predict all fights on the left will win, although Radach is a big chance against Smith.
Rodrigo Damm is replacing Thomson, fairly decent replacement but Melendez will be too good for him.
It's tough to predict a Frank Shamrock fight these days. Is he fighting to win or just fighting to entertain the crowd? Even if Diaz can get Shamrock down he won't do it so this fight will stay standing and I'm leaning towards a Shamrock win, unless he stupidly decides he wants to prove a point by trying to outgrapple Diaz.
Smith and Radach could be a good brawl, I'm expecting Smith's hands to be too heavy for Radach though and he'll get put away with a big shot.
Cris Cyborg's opponent has an awesome nickname but she's pretty clearly just there to keep Cyborg active and set up a fight with Gina in a few months time.
No idea on Rogers's opponent, presumably another fight set up for the better known fighter to win.
Good Event Overall.
Smith Vs Radach was awesome.
agreed Smith Vs Radach was damn cool.
I knew Diaz would manhandle Shammy. Still, it was an entertaining event. They did a few things that I think the UFC could learn from.
Overall, very polished and a good 2nd string entree in between UFC's.
They look to be building a decent roster too with Werdum, Overeem, Arlovski, Tito and Babalu in attendance.
Bit sad to see Shamrock look so terrible, he was pretty much the last of the original generation of fighters that could still go. Surprised that Diaz looked so much bigger than him too. If Lawler can take care of Shields a rematch with Diaz would be pretty cool.
Smith vs Radach was great stuff.
Frank looked past it, I think the Cung Le fight took a lot out of him confidence wise
I was impressed with Diaz standup but I dont know why Frank was trying to box with a guy who doubled his reach. He had to shoot more and use his size on the ground.
smith v radach was very good, smith is never in bad fights and has a ton of heart
Todd_Gack
15 Apr 2009, 18:24
Well the bitchfight of the century went pretty much how I thought it would.
And Frank was trying to outbox Diaz because that's pretty much all he can do. He's admitted in the past he basically can't shoot properly anymore. And Frank has been past it for a while....
Good Strikeforce card coming up this weekend, even if two of the fights are catchweights.
Catchweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs Jake Shields
Heavyweight bout: Andrei Arlovski vs Brett Rogers
Catchweight bout: Nick Diaz vs Scott Smith
Light Heavyweight bout: Kevin Randleman vs Mike Whitehead
Welterweight bout: Phil Baroni vs Joe Riggs
Shields and Lawler is a bit of a toss-up, leaning towards Shields by submission though unless Robbie's ground game has improved out of sight since his UFC days. Rogers has a massive step-up in competition though Arlovski's weak chin means a heavy hitter like Rogers has some kind of a chance, even if AA's striking is far superior. Diaz vs Smith and Baroni vs Riggs should be slugfests, no idea who's going to take either fight.
Catchweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs Jake Shields - I'd be impressed to see Lawler subbed, but I don't think it's going to happen and will lead to sheilds being beaten up, especially considering he's the smaller man.
Heavyweight bout: Andrei Arlovski vs Brett Rogers - AA to give Rogers his first loss, TKO, 2nd.
Catchweight bout: Nick Diaz vs Scott Smith - Diaz takes this.
Light Heavyweight bout: Kevin Randleman vs Mike Whitehead - Tough to call, depends on what Randleman turns up. I'll root for him though.
Welterweight bout: Phil Baroni vs Joe Riggs - I think will be too big for Baroni and edge out a decsion.
You know that's a damn fine card. Strikeforce continues to interest, wouldn't be surprised if it became a real rival to the UFC in future years.
RobbyRoy
5 Jun 2009, 22:39
You know that's a damn fine card. Strikeforce continues to interest, wouldn't be surprised if it became a real rival to the UFC in future years.
This card actually has me more interested that UFC 98. Some real hard fights to pick here.
Catchweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs Jake Shields - Shields is a really good fighter, but Lawler is a big bloke and he hits damn hard. Like Magnum I'd be impressed to see Shields submit him.
Heavyweight bout: Andrei Arlovski vs Brett Rogers - I can see AA being knocked out, but I think he should handle Rogers pretty easily.
Catchweight bout: Nick Diaz vs Scott Smith - I'm not really sure here. Smith has looked good since he left the UFC, but Diaz is is just awesome. I'll go with a Diaz TKO in the 3rd.
Light Heavyweight bout: Kevin Randleman vs Mike Whitehead -Haven't seen Randleman in a while so this should be interesting. Whitehead's not great, but he's tough for anyone. Randleman KO 2nd?
Welterweight bout: Phil Baroni vs Joe Riggs - This could be a good fight. I think Riggs will TKO or sumbit Baroni in the 2nd.
RobbyRoy
7 Jun 2009, 21:14
Well I was impressed by Shields win, but at the same time Lawler could've done more. Anyone know why this fight was at catchweight? Shields stated after that he was aiming to take Cung Le's title, so why didn't he just come up to middleweight against Lawler?
The rest of the card was pretty good. Randleman/Whitehead was horrible, and Riggs/Baroni wasn't quite the slugfest many thought it would be. However, the Diaz/Smith first round was excellent and then Diaz just destroyed Smith. I would like to see him back in the UFC, he's looking even better than he did back when he was with the UFC. Arlovski/Rogers wasn't surprising, but it's sad to see such a good fighter getting let down by a weak chin time and time again.
I noted the way the two main event upsets could go down. Lawler's a good fighter but is somebody who has benefitted hugely from fighting less than stellar opposition in the last few years, some sites were ranking him ahead of everyone in the division other than Silva. I think he'd struggle with at least a dozen fighters in the UFC middleweight division. Still think Shields would more than hold his own with the likes of Fitch, Hughes and Kos but GSP and Alves would be too much.
Hopefully this KO will at least get Arlovski to realise he has no shot of succeeding in boxing. Jury is still out on Rogers though other than being able to hit hard.
Diaz has been on a roll, looks a lot better since he hasn't been cutting a ton of weight. Smith isn't much more than a slugger though, it's hard to forget a decent striker like Noons picking Diaz apart in 2007.
Not surprising that Randleman looked awful, he's even more washed up than Coleman and Baroni. He and Baroni both showed a ton of heart but not much else, Whitehead and Riggs didn't really gain much after not being able to put them away.
NitroFan
13 Jun 2009, 14:53
I was thinking of putting $50 on Rogers at 3/1. Dammit.