Also on the card is Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. She’ll be defending her own title against Japanese FMMA veteran Hiroko Yamanaka. Rounding out the main card are two more former champions in Gegard Mousasi and KJ Noons, who will be taking on Ovince St. Preux and Billy Evangelista respectively.
Let’s take a look at this entire card and break it down our TXMMA predictions.
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal – Main card (Showtime)
Lightweight Championship bout: Gilbert Melendez (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal
The champion Gilbert Melendez enters this bout as a dominant champion and clear favorite after winning his past 5 in a row. With that being said, Masvidal has proved himself sharp in his own last few bouts. Having beat KJ Noons and Billy Evangelista in his last two, and taking natural welterweight Paul Daley to a decision previous to that, he’ll be a very live underdog in this one.
As far as this matchup goes stylistically, Melendez may have an edge in the wrestling department and grappling overall but Masvidal has proven to be very tough to take down and submit. At the same time, it is also a long shot for Jorge to beat the champ on the ground as well. We’re talking almost impossible. One could presume that this fight could be contested primarily on the feet and that’s where the upset could be brewing. Masvidal did very well against a decorated striker in KJ Noons and has a boxing background of his own. If the upset happens anywhere, it would be there. At the same time, Melendez has a lot riding on this fight and he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure that upset doesn’t happen.
Prediction – Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision.
Women’s Featherweight Championship bout: Cristiane Santos (c) vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Okay, let’s just get this out there… Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is clearly the most dominant force in women’s MMA. Since she’s exploded in the women’s MMA scene there’s been nobody that’s even come close to beating her and that includes names like Gina Carano, Marloes Coenen, and Jan Finney. As for her opponent, well Yamanaka is a highly-ranked featherweight in her home territory of Japan where she’s fought at the Jewels and Smackgirl promotions.
In this fight, “Cyborg” will have the clear advantage wherever it goes. Specifically in the standup, her world-class Chute Boxe style of Muay Thai should far exceed anything Yamanaka can throw her way. We can expect it to go the same on the ground as Santos displayed phenomenal gains in her ground game this year as well while competing at the Mundials this past summer. She should win this fight any way she wants to.
Prediction – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos by TKO, RD1.
Light Heavyweight bout: Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux
Ovince St. Preux is headed into the bout on the heels of an 8-fight win streak while slowly building a reputation as a striker to be reckoned with. With that being said, he’s never faced a fighter (or striker) on Gegard Mousasi’s level. Gegard has been in there with some of best in the world on the feet and beaten them – guys like Mark Hunt, Evangelista Cyborg, and a ton of other veterans.
Mousasi should be able to win out with this one. He’s considering trying out for the 2012 Summer Olympics as a boxer for the Netherlands and won’t be outclassed on his feet. At the same time, he’s well-versed enough in both judo and sambo to avoid getting caught and taken down through the course of a three-round fight. It would take a strong wrestler a la King Mo Lawal to beat Mousasi and St. Preux probably isn’t on that level.
Prediction – Gegard Mousasi by submission, RD2.
Lightweight bout: KJ Noons vs. Billy Evangelista
KJ Noons has had it tough lately, losing in fights that supposedly favored his strengths against Jorge Masvidal and Nick Diaz. Going into those fights, KJ was supposed to be the better striker but did not perform up to his ability. In this one, KJ will be looking to get back to the fighter he once was against an up-and-comer that’s still coming into his own and looking to prove himself.
Both fighter should be headed into this bout determined after losing to Jorge Masvidal. One of them will leave with a career on the right track while the other will face the stigma of an extended losing streak. Noons will have the reach advantage in this one and should technically be a better striker so look for him to edge it out in a hotly-contested battle.
Prediction – KJ Noons by decision.
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal – Preliminary Card
Welterweight bout: Jerron Peoples vs. Roger Bowling
Prediction – Roger Bowling defeats Jerron Peoples
Lightweight bout: Caros Fodor vs. Justin Wilcox
Prediction – Caros Fodor defeats Justin Wilcox
Heavyweight bout: Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
Prediction – Gabriel Salinas-Jones defeats Devin Cole
Light Heavyweight bout: Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez
Prediction – Cole Fernando Gonzalez defeats Eddie Mendez
Welterweight bout: Herman Terrado vs. Chris Brown
Prediction – Herman Terrado defeats Chris Brown
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