Fan Bias

Strikeforce produced yet another quality MMA card Saturday night with Strikeforce: Miami, which drew over 8,000 fans, according to a Strikeforce press release. Those in attendance and those watching on Showtime were treated to a card that I would say was between UFC Fight Night and UFC PPV caliber. Not bad for the premium channel price tag.

While I enjoyed the card and was certainly entertained by it (and also feel that Strikeforce has proven that women’s MMA is here to stay), I’d also like to see Strikeforce begin to aim for more consistency with its shows and a more discernible order to its weight classes. By this I mean that I hope that even as the San Jose-based company’s roster grows and even as we are treated to the debuts of the likes of Melvin Manhoef and Herschel Walker that we also see the other fighters on the roster in a regular rotation. One thing I’ve come to realize with the UFC is that part of its success has included making fans familiar with its top fighters.

So, even though UFC 109 next weekend doesn’t really have any A+ caliber-fights, the card does have a number of fights, especially on the dark card, that will attract hardcore eyes because they involve fighters we are all familiar with and have watched fight a number of times. Those bouts allow us to follow the progress of certain fighters as they work their way up (or down) the ladder.

While Strikeforce has proven it can build very good cards with spectacular fights, now I need to see more than one-off contests. I would like to see more established pecking orders within each weight class and an attempt, especially at light heavyweight and welterweight, to fill out the classes, including up-and-coming fighters into the mix. In other words, I think Strikeforce has to begin working on an overarching storyline that threads all these disparate events together. Right now, each event stands up very well on its own but in totality I don’t necessarily see a connection that would help tell a story about a given fighter or a given weight class.

I have no doubt Scott Coker and Co. are working on this very thing (and don’t forget how young Strikeforce MMA is.) Regardless, I’m very impressed with where the promotion is headed, especially given its Showtime and CBS affiliations and the constant improvement of its roster.

On to my thoughts about the night.

Give Bobby Lashley Time

Bobby Lashley vs. Wes Sims

The one thing about critics is you can’t win with them, no matter what you do. When Brock Lesnar skyrocketed up the UFC heavyweight ranks, some thought he was being given opportunities he didn’t deserve and needed to be brought up more slowly. Now, with a fellow WWE performer and collegiate wrestler, Bobby Lashley, we are seeing the opposite. Some critics believe Lashley is coming up the ranks too slowly.

I disagree with this assessment. Lashley is currently only five fights into his professional career. While he hasn’t yet stepped into the deep end of the pool, I think that fact shows a remarkable self-awareness and the enactment of an appropriate plan by Lashley. He knows what his limits are as a fighter right now and is simply trying to gain experience that will make him better. Is his list of opponents necessarily impressive? Maybe not. But, let’s not discount it so readily either.

The latest foe Lashley discarded Saturday night — Wes Sims — is a UFC veteran who has fought the likes of Tim Sylvia and Frank Mir. Sims also sports over 20 MMA victories in his career. Against Lashley, he posed a unique challenge with his extraordinary height.

Ultimately, Lashley did what he needed to do and did so quickly. He used his wrestling to take the fight to the ground before pounding Sims out.

As long as Lashley continues to improve his game (especially in stand-up and submission grappling) and as long as Strikeforce gives him progressively more difficult and more accomplished opponents I’m fine with his career trajectory. I’m sure Lashley understands that one day he will lose. Even Fedor has a blemish on his record, deserved or not. I don’t think Lashley is somehow running away from a loss. Instead, I think he’s trying to create a strong foundation for a long MMA career.

Herschel Walker’s Debut a Success

Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy

Everyone connected to Herschel Walker’s pro MMA debut — American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), Strikeforce, the regulatory bodies, and Walker himself — deserves kudos for Walker’s performance Saturday night. Walker, a man I consider an athletic genius who has excelled in a number of demanding physical endeavors throughout his life, came into the event looking absolutely phenomenal (just ask my wife, who had no problem openly ogling the 47-year-old.)

But, what impressed me more was Walker’s apparent understanding of some MMA fundamentals as he took Nagy down, achieved superior ground position and even escaped a submission attempt or two. His conditioning appeared to be superb and his humility was refreshing. Walker brings a team-based ethos to MMA, unwilling to take sole credit for his accomplishments but rather giving thanks to his teammates and sparring partners at AKA.

The regulatory body and Strikeforce deserve credit for giving Walker a respectable opponent in the form of Greg Nagy, who had two pro fights entering this card. Nagy clearly has some skills on the ground and fantastic flexibility but on this night Walker’s superior strength and athleticism was the key. It was a fair first test, and Walker passed for sure.

While Walker wouldn’t guarantee another fight in his post-fight interview, I certainly hope we see him in the cage again. Win or lose, he’s proven he belongs in the sport.

Lawler Proves One-Punch Power

Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef

The rest of the Showtime card featured top-notch bouts between high quality opponents. The first such fight pitted middleweights Robbie Lawler and Melvin Manhoef in a stand-up war that didn’t disappoint. Manhoef controlled much of the fight by repeatedly kicking Lawler all over his body and mostly his legs (much like one might do to a soccer ball), leading Lawler to limp out of the cage. But, even as Manhoef gained confidence and pushed the attack, Lawler was never truly out of it.

And the HIT Squad fighter proved as much by taking advantage of Manhoef’s tendency to drop his hands in pursuit. Lawler rocked the Dutchman with an overhand right and followed up with two shots on the ground that left Manhoef stiff as the fight ended.

It was a remarkable display by both men in what is easily Strikeforce’s deepest and most compelling weight class. While I’d like to see current 185 lb. champ Jake Shields fight Dan Henderson next, I’d also like to see Lawler face another comeback kid, Scott Smith, for a third time to face the winner of that title fight.

Manhoef is a welcome addition to the Strikeforce ranks and joins men like Jason “Mayhem” Miller who’ve made their names in Japan. Let’s hope we see much more from him Stateside.

 ”Cyborg” Asserts Herself at the Top of Women’s 145 lb Class

Cris Cyborg vs. Marloes Coenen

While mainstream fans may have been convinced about Cristiane Santos’ ability by her previous victory over Gina Carano to capture the Strikeforce title, hardcore MMA fans knew that there were other, maybe more able, opponents lurking at 145 pounds. Holland’s Marloes Coenen was one of them. Quite capable on the ground, Coenen also represented a near physical match for the Brazilian.

But, one thing became clear early even as Coenen surprisingly stood her ground standing up — “Cyborg” is simply too explosive for most of her opponents. On this night she used this fast-twitch ability to pressure Coenen on their feet, but even so did most of her damage with forceful takedowns and unrelenting ground-and-pound that eventually subdued the game Dutchwoman in the third round.

Coenen proved she was good enough to not get knocked out and to last three rounds with “Cyborg” but not good enough to mount any real offensive attack that would threaten Santos. What was especially surprising was how little Coenen could do on the ground.

The legend of “Cyborg” continues to grow. Now, the question is, who does Strikeforce have lined up for her next? And, for Coenen, why not pit her against Carano in a battle of Santos’ last two vanquished foes?

 Diaz Impresses with Hands

Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis

Whatever you think of Nick Diaz, you have to admit the man from Stockton can fight. Against Marius Zaromskis – the Dream welterweight tourney winner –Diaz proved once again that despite his Cesar Gracie BJJ pedigree, he needs to be taken seriously as a boxer, too.

While Diaz doesn’t necessarily hurt opponents with a single punch, he peppers them over and over, accurately reaching his target and finally putting them away via an accumulation of blows. Diaz won the Strikeforce welterweight belt against Zaromskis, withstanding kicks to assert himself, in much this manner. Diaz seemed calm and collected as he picked apart Zaromskis in impressive fashion.

And, it seems to me that welterweight may be a good weight for Diaz, who has fought at lightweight all the way up to middleweight in recent years. Diaz showed his length against Zaromskis, who was constantly out of range during the bout, while also showing some power with his punches. He also used his smarts to recover from an early blow that knocked him to the ground.

The amazing thing about Diaz is that in winning his last six fights in a row, he has relied quite a bit on his boxing, which continues to mature in devastating fashion. This has to be scary news for future opponents, who certainly know that Diaz is perhaps even more prolific on the ground.

While a bout against newly-signed foe KJ Noons would be nice (though that would probably have to take place at a catchweight), other options in a relatively weak Strikeforce welterweight division include Jay Hieron, who also won in Miami. Of course, a bout against fellow Cesar Gracie pupil and 185 pound champ Shields would be tantalizing but will probably never happen, given that they train together.

In the meantime, Diaz needs to be included in pound-for-pound rankings discussions and maybe, just maybe, also included in fantasy bout discussions involving UFC 170 pound champ Georges St. Pierre.

(All photos courtesy of Esther Lin/Strikeforce.)