Strikeforce "Miami": Thoughts And Commentary
by Kelvin Hunt on Jan 31, 2010 3:00 AM EST
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PrintWell Strikeforce has one of their potential events in the books, and I think they got off to a good start in 2010. While a few of the televised fights were pretty predictable, we still got to see some pretty exciting fights. However, the best thing about the entire broadcast was that we saw 5 fights in about 2 hours. Of course the fights ending early had a lot to do with that, but that's great pacing on the part of Strikeforce. On to the fights:
-I hate to say it, but I have to believe I was right when I said that Strikeforce should have canceled the Lashley/Sims fight. I mean Sims didn't come to fight, and we still don't know what Lashely brings to the table. They asked Lashley what this win proved and I don't think I ever heard an answer. Put Lashley in there with Mike Whitehead on the CBS card. It's time to stop wasting our time with this guy and let him fight someone that's halfway credible.
-Although his opponent was handpicked, I have to give Herschel Walker credit where it's due. The guy was all class after the fight, and we got to see a little more of his game since the fight went into the third round. He showed pretty good awareness on the ground as well as positional control. I'm sure they'll get him to fight again, but I'm curious to see just how far they want to ride Walker's fame. I wouldn't mind watching him fight again.
-I knew the Lawler/Manhoef fight was a coin flip and that's just exactly what happened. Manhoef was destroying Lawler for the most part, but just as I said earlier in the week...Manhoef's chin doesn't have granite in it and Lawler put him away. Lawler will probably fight the winner of Shields/Henderson.
-Cris "Cyborg" Santos is an absolute BEAST. She just man handled Coenen and ate Coenen's best shots like they were nothing. I mean she just walked right thru them jawns! So either Coenen has no power, or Cyborg has titanium in her chin. Maybe some of both? I just don't know who will be able to beat Cyborg. Erin Toughill probably has a good shot due to her boxing background and size, but other than her I just don't know. Cyborg needs to be promoted properly in the future, because Strikeforce really dropped the ball with her on this event.
-I'll watch Nick Diaz fight anywhere on earth. The guy just comes to fight, as did Marius Zaromskis and that was an absolute slugfest. The length of Diaz was the difference in the fight, but I can't help but think that Diaz's punches have picked up a little more steam over the years. He hurt Zaromskis early and it appeared that he never fully recovered from those shots even though he dropped Diaz at one point. It looks like Diaz will finally fight Jay Hieron next. However, I honestly don't see Hieron bringing anything to the table to beat Diaz. He might be able to get him to the ground, but if he stands with him it's a wrap.
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Miami
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Mike Whitehead?? Ok . . . I re-watched his fight against Rashad Evans on TUF 2, what a disappointment. But yeah, he would be better than Wes Sims, who obviously does not care and simply is trying to get a quick check. Oh yeah, the Lashley fight should have been canceled but I think these guys are desperate to get more WWE/TNA fans.
Lawlor. WOW. A sweet KO victory fighting off of one leg. Note to self, if my low leg kicks are really really really working against an opponent . . . keep hitting him with low leg kicks. He will eventually fall like Rampage did against Griffin. Manhoef fails.
Walker, hmmm only if he was twenty-something years younger and had time to develop his skills. He looked impressive but Greg Nagy did not look good at all.
Nick Diaz striking looked better but his lack of defense will eventually hurt him. Hieron vs Diaz will be interesting. I don’t think that Diaz will dominate Jay standing but it will be interesting to see how the reach advantage comes into play. With that said, GO DIAZ!!!
People can saw what they want about the verbose Frank Mir but I really appreciate his skills behind the microphone, he’s very informative. The Voice, MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO – he’s on point and great for K-1 or Dream! Mike Goldberg’s precision may not be precise but he works well off Joe Rogan or alone when he’s listing upcoming events for the UFC. Bas Ruten, what is there to not like about El Guapo!
sooo . . . The Strikeforce commentating crew is a little bit annoying. Mauro Ranallo, and Frank Shamrock don’t work well together. I was never crazy about Mauro Ranallo when he was working for Pride. Frank . . . I don’t know what to say. Oh yeah, Gus Johnson is basically a professional broadcaster that really has no business working MMA events. I don’t know, he doesn’t really sound passionate about the sport.
yeah yeah yeah . . .
The Strikeforce commentating crew is a little bit annoying. Mauro Ranallo, and Frank Shamrock don’t work well together. I was never crazy about Mauro Ranallo when he was working for Pride. Frank . . . I don’t know what to say. Oh yeah, Gus Johnson is basically a professional broadcaster that really has no business working MMA events. I don’t know, he doesn’t really sound passionate about the sport.
The other day I heard Jordan Breen and BE’s Luke Thomas talking about announcers, and it’s the same thing. As great as some people seem to think Gus is, to me he’s just a dude who doesn’t know what he’s looking at, and screams like a fool every chance he gets. Ranallo/Quadros are hit or miss, and to a lot of people they’re a miss. I put Shamrock in the same boat as Guy Mezger, and that boat should be floating far, far away from MMA broadcasting. It’s easy to say it from the outside looking in, but man there’s GOT to be a way to get some new talent in the booth for these shows.
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I had the volume real low
so I didn’t have to punishement myself like that.
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Good man
Although from what little I heard over the shemale jokes (thank you Cyborg) most all of the banter was between Quadros and Ranallo; Shamrock didn’t even seem to be watching when the camera was on him.
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i agree with your comment about frank mir.
he is a good commentator and is very informative. i got lit up saying that last time but since he has been on his winning streak which will continue right thru carwin more people are giving him respect. i don’t like the guy either but liking someone has nothing to do with his fighting abilities and he is making me money. when he commentates for wec he never talks down to the smaller fighters. some heavyweights would have no interest at all in wec shows. he shows respect to most fighters regardless of weight class.
i'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. i was building a house, i don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. bang. "unforgiven"
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jan 31, 2010 3:59 PM EST up reply actions
Put Lashley in there with Mike Whitehead on the CBS card. It’s time to stop wasting our time with this guy and let him fight someone that’s halfway credible.
They CAN’T do that! If he fights someone credible, he probably gets whupped. If he gets whupped, they don’t have someone to bring in casual fans. He’s no different than walker; the man is there to bring in people who may otherwise not watch. They’re not going to be “somebodies” any time soon, if ever, and using them up today means they don’t have a “star” to bring in folks next time.
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What a terrible event. Good thing I didn’t spend money on it. Sop cast ftw!
by cauliflower_ears on Jan 31, 2010 5:53 AM EST reply actions
Terrible event?
I think everyone knew that Lashley and Herschel were in the equivalent of squash matches, but the three relevant fights on this card were all outstanding.
by RJ8842 on Jan 31, 2010 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
-I think Robbie wants to be in UFC. He didn’t sound to excited about a rematch or maybe it’s just Robbie being Robbie.
-Lashley, I’m under the impression that this dude is content with fighting cans.
by The Bronzeville Bully on Jan 31, 2010 8:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Fortunately Lashley has said that he wants bigger and better opponents like Overeem or Fedor.
yeah yeah yeah . . .
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 31, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
yep
then he turns right around in the next breath and says he wants to build himself up…lol.
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Coker wants Rogers and Lashley next. I seriously Lashley takes this fight.
by The Bronzeville Bully on Jan 31, 2010 8:53 AM EST via mobile reply actions
i love how nick diaz after the fight does not even listen to the interviewer.
he just congratulates his sponser’s and training crew and then goes on to say his brother won his last fight. the interviewer just gives up and says nick “great fight”
i'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. i was building a house, i don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. bang. "unforgiven"
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jan 31, 2010 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
Diaz usually gives the best interviews in the sport.
You get to hear about his brother’s fights, how he only really loss once, then he later states that Diego Sanchez did get the W, Sherk was no match for him, triathalons, Ceasar Gracie, how weed can be good for the sport, etcetera, non-stop.
And yes, he can beat Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva. How do I know this? Well because Nick Diaz said it and apparently he believes it.
yeah yeah yeah . . .
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 1, 2010 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
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![From MMAJunkie.com:
Strikeforce heavyweight and former NFL great Herschel Walker (1-0 MMA, 1-0 SF) suffered a deep cut in training and has been forced to withdraw from next month's "Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu" event.
Strikeforce officials today confirmed the change with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Featuring a light heavyweight matchup between Dan Henderson and Renato "Babalu" Sobral, "Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu" takes place Dec. 4 and airs on Showtime.
"I feel terrible about this," Walker stated in today's official release. "I know things like this happen in all sports, but I had trained very hard and was excited to be returning to the cage again."
Walker had been expected to face one-time WEC veteran Scott Carson (4-1 MMA, 0-0 SF).
According to Strikeforce officials, a Daniel Cormier knee strike opened a "deep cut under [Walker's] left eye that required multiple stitches"...
Despite the setback, Walker said he hopes to return to action quickly.
"I hope to fight again as soon as the cut heals," Walker said.](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/161814/herschel-walker-2_small.jpg)
![According to MMAJunkie
Diaz is going to fight at an event planned for Oct. 9 currently dubbed "Strikeforce: San Jose." But he will compete welterweight, and Miller is not his opponent.
Instead, recent winner K.J. Noons, who defeated Diaz nearly three years ago for the EliteXC lightweight title, is expected to get a shot at belt.
UPDATE by Matt Bishop [8/25/10 at 1:13 p.m. ET]: It's official via a Strikeforce press release and they have offered some quotes.
"Nick has no class, he’s a bum, a piece of (expletive) and he and his team disrespected my family and I with their gestures and trash talk and tried to upstage my fight,’’ said Noons after the near-fracas (in 2008).
Offered Diaz: "I’m sorry about what happened in the cage afterward, but I didn’t start it. His guys were talking (expletive) to us.’’
Image via MMAJunkie.com](http://cdn3.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/140131/nick-diaz_small.jpg)
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
