This Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, two former Elite XC champions will fight to prove their claim as being one of the best in the sport as Robbie Lawler takes on Jake Shields in an epic clash at 182 pounds. Also, Andrei Arlovski makes his return to the cage as he takes on heavy-hitting heavyweight contender Brett Rogers in a bout that promises fireworks.
Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields
In the main event, former Elite XC champions square off at a catchweight of 182 pounds as middleweight champion and HIT Squad member Robbie Lawler takes on welterweight champion and Rumble on the Rock winner Jake Shields. It's been a while since either fighter has stepped into the cage. Robbie Lawler is coming off a decisive TKO victory in his rematch against Scott Smith back in July, while Jake Shields defeated Cage Rage welterweight champion Paul Daley in October of last year. Both fighters have spectacular wrestling abilities, but Robbie Lawler will be hesitant to use them against Shields, who has strong Jiu-Jitsu skills and is capable of submitting any opponent. Shields has won four out of his last five fights by submission. If the fight stays on the feet, Shields may very well get outclassed and eventually pummelled to the canvas. Lawler has excellent standup skills, as evidenced in his fight with Joey Villasenor. As good as the striking ability of Lawler is, I think Shields will get the takedown and the eventual submission in the second round.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers
After losing the biggest fight of his career, Andrei Arlovski returns to the cage to clash with former Elite XC contender and heavyweight prospect Brett Rogers. Arlovski was KO'd in Janurary by heavyweight phenom Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Day of Reckoning. That being said, he actually didn't look too shabby against the pound-for-pound king prior to the knockout. Brett Rogers last fought at Strikeforce's debut card on Showtime, defeating Abongo Humphrey. That fight was supposed to make Rogers look good before taking on a top heavyweight like Alistair Overeem or Arlovski. Unfortunately, it took him a little while to get used to Humphrey's speed, which could cause him problems in a fight with Arlovski, who trains with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach. Rogers won't have the same kind of time to get acquainted with Arlovski's handspeed as he did with Humphrey. This is the first time Rogers has been tested and I don't think it's the right opponent for him to take that test. I think it will be a very quick fight come Saturday night with Arlovski winning in the first round enroute to a showdown with Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Nick Diaz vs. Scott Smith
After defeating Frank Shamrock in the main event of Strikeforce's debut card on Showtime, Nick Diaz quickly returns to face yet another middleweight, former Elite XC title contender Scott Smith. This fight could have the potential to give the winner an eventual showdown with Cung Le, who will soon be looking to make his own return to the cage. Diaz defeated Frank Shamrock in dominant and brutal fashion, causing people to raise their eyebrows about his potential to be a force at middleweight. Now, this is his fight to prove those beliefs. In his most significant fight, Scott Smith was defeated by Robbie Lawler in July of 2008, but since then, he has made a name for himself in Strikeforce, first by viciously knocking out UFC veteran Terry Martin and then defeating Elite XC middleweight contender and UFC veteran Benji Radach in the same fashion. Diaz may be one of the scariest guys to step into the cage with. His boxing skills have been showcased as of late, having trained with 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and rising boxing super middleweight Andre Ward. Unfortunately for opponents, that is not his only strength. Diaz also has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He rarely showcases it unless he has to. This could be the fight for him to get another submission win under his belt as Smith suffered submission losses to Ed Herman and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt David Terell, who, like Diaz, also received his black belt under Cesar Gracie. Expect Diaz's submission background to get him the win in this fight somwhere in the second round.
Phil Baroni vs. Joe Riggs
After both of these men were unsuccessful at middleweight, they both dropped down to 170 to try to prove that they can still be a force in MMA. Phil Baroni lost to Joey Villasenor at the first Elite XC even on CBS back in May of 2008. After that, he dropped to welterweight and has is riding a three-fight win streak. The thing that worries people the most is that he couldn't finish the lackluster Olaf Alfanso at PFC 10. Riggs, however, has fought at welterweight for a while now and holds victories over some of the division's best, including Chris Lytle and Nick Diaz...yeah, the same Nick Diaz I was just talking about. His last fight was in November against Luke Stewart, a fight that he won via TKO in the second round. Give the inexperience of Stewart, in most people's eyes, it wasn't an impressive victory. Both men have a lot to prove in this fight. It could very well be the last time we see either one of them in a cage. As of late, Baroni has belittled Riggs, saying that he may back out of the fight when Riggs missed a media conference call. We'll soon find out if that's true at the weigh-ins. Assuming Riggs does show up, I think he'll defeat Baroni with no problem at all, grinding out a decision.
Kevin Randleman vs. Mike Whitehead
Making his return to the cage is former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman as he steps into the world of Strikeforce against TUF and IFL vet Mike Whitehead. Randleman hasn't won an important fight since his KO victory over Mirko Filipovic back in 2004. That fact could very well be indication of what will be the outcome in this fight. Whitehead has only been defeated once in his last fifteen fights and he rarely walks away with a decision win. Randleman will obviously have the wrestling advantage in this fight, but it won't do him much good as Whitehead posses knockout power as well as an extensive wrestling background of his own. This shouldn't be much of a fight at all. This is more of a way to build up Whitehead for a potential rematch against Renato Sobral under the Strikeforce banner (the two originally fought at Affliction: Banned) for the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship. I'm predicting Whitehead to win this fight via TKO in the first round.