Winners, Losers From Final Strikeforce Card


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Winners, Losers From Final Strikeforce Card

Winners, Losers From Final Strikeforce Card
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Last Saturday, Strikeforce effectively closed its doors, ceasing all promotional activities and leaving a number of fighters, anxiously questioning their careers. Some of Strikeforce’s finest will inevitably transition to the UFC, while most will be left to traverse more difficult and less substantial paths. It is really difficult to anticipate how many of Strikeforce’s fighters will be welcomed to the UFC. These are thoughts that are worth pondering later. Instead, let us focus on Strikeforce’s final cards and its winners and losers.

I must confess, Strikeforce’s final card, Marquardt vs. Saffiedine, was not the greatest MMA event as of late. I’m not sure how many MMA fans really cared all that much about the dying promotion at this point. Incidentally, it was a remarkable task, trying to locate a bar in Chicago, playing the event. It was an event that not all will remember; naturally I believe the fights will be forgotten rather soon. But the fighters, at least, will not be forgotten so soon, people are hard to forget in the grand scheme of things, despite what they have or have not accomplished.

The wonderful thing about fighting is that the fighter will likely stay in our often convoluted memory banks. This is because, unlike a team sport, your individual effort will always be the center of attention, win or lose. Strikeforce’s final fight card of winners and losers will always stand in glory for the hard work and effort they displayed that night. Regardless of who won or loss or where these fighters will end up, their final display of fighting prowess will live on. Here are some more that respectable winners and losers from the final Strikeforce card.

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KJ Noons Lost via Decision (split)

KJ Noons Loss via Decision (split)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

KJ Noon’s loss at Strikeforce’s final card will be remembered as the league’s most controversial decision. Noon’s suffered a loss to Ryan Couture, despite being the dominant fighter. Noon’s as usual, played to his strengths that have gotten him numerous victories. Noon’s quick head movements and accurate strikes should have won him that match.

Despite this very controversial loss, Noons is still expected to fight in the UFC. Yet his track record of late has not been great, near the end of Strikeforce. Out of his last five fights, Noons has only won one. Noons will have to push harder if he makes it to the UFC. He definitely has the chops for it. I hope he will make a good addition to the UFC.

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Ryan Couture Won via Decision (split)

Ryan Couture Won via Decision (split)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

I am a fan of Ryan Couture and yes, some of that has to do with his father, Randy Couture. But to be fair, I am a fan of his work ethic, unorthodox striking and the patient attitude he displays in the cage. Couture is awesome, but he did not deserve to win against KJ Noons, but the decision was not his to make, that blunder of a call is on the judges. After the fight, Ariel Helwani, interviewed Couture, even Couture felt that the decision should have gone to Noons.

Despite everyone rightfully thinking Couture lost, he put up a damn good fight against Noons. Couture has fought tough opponents in the past, but Noons is one of the toughest in the league. All in all, Couture showed a lot of heart and courage to keep up with Noons. Hopefully we can see some of that heart in the Octagon. With Couture’s father’s experience, and his own talents, he could get very far in the UFC.

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Roger Gracie Won via Submission (arm triangle)

Roger Gracie Won via Submission (arm triangle)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Roger Gracie’s victory over Anthony Smith was a good fight lesson. What was that lesson? If grappling is your bread and butter, go for it immediately. One of the key aspects about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is to take your opponent to the ground, where his strikes are severely disabled. Gracie’s an incredible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, he’s a Gracie; I think it’s a prerequisite to be in that family. In his final Strikeforce match against Smith, Gracie kept it standing, which would prove to be a mistake. Gracie changed his game plan and took it to the ground where he is a beast. Gracie secured an arm triangle for the win.

It looks as though Gracie will be one of the few Strikeforce fighters to fight in the UFC. Roger Gracie, will be the fourth Gracie to fight in the UFC, continuing this families martial arts legacy. Gracie is a solid ground fighter, but the UFC has legions of incredible ground fighters. Gracie is good, but he needs to really step up if he wants to play with the big dogs.

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Ed Herman Lost via Submission (kimura)

Ed Herman Lost via Submission (kimura)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

In a rather unusual match set up, Ed Herman took on Ronaldo Souza. Herman, being a UFC fighter was allowed to compete in Strikeforce’s final card, after many other UFC fighter’s turned it down. For that, Herman deserves much respect even though he did suffer a rather painful first round loss to Souza. Souza’s awesome, aggressive power got him the upper hand, as he took Herman to the ground. Herman was at the mercy of Souza’s vicious ground and pound. Herman defended himself with illegal up kicks. The referee separated the two and resumed the match.

Once again, Souza’s overwhelmingly aggressive standup was too much for Herman. Souza landed a solid punch and took Herman back down. Souza had Herman in his world and easily trapped him in a kimura. It was not one of Herman’s finer MMA moments. Perhaps some might think it was a mistake for Herman to enter a lower tier MMA event. Look what happened, he got destroyed. But again, I give much respect for a fighter like Herman, willing to take a fight, knowing the risk it could have on his career. We’ll see you in the Octagon Herman.

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Gegard Mousasi Won via Submission (rear naked choke)

Gegard Mousasi Won via Submission (rear naked choke)
Mark D. Smith

Gegard Mousasi against Mike Kyle was one of the better matches of the evening. Mousasi came back strong after roughly two years out of commission, due to a torn ACL. Despite his injury, Mousasi looked great in this match, Kyle looked strong to. Both men showed aggressive, fast punches in the first round. Mousasi, calmly and patiently kept advancing towards Kyle, effectively putting him in an ideal position to secure a takedown. Mousasi managed to get in a rear naked choke ending the match in the first round.

Mousasi had an impressive victory over someone as ferocious as Kyle. Mousasi is a great fighter, who we will have the fortune to see in the UFC.

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Dion Staring Lost via TKO (punches)

Dion Staring Lost via TKO (punches)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Dion Staring is a Dutch veteran of the sport. He’s been competing for almost fifteen years and he has a pretty respectable record of 36-8. None of that seemed to matter when Staring took on the wrestling juggernaut, Daniel Cormier. The odds were reasonably stacked against Staring, 20-1. I can see why. Cormier threw the 6’1, 240lb Staring around like a training dummy. This was Staring’s biggest mistake. Staring should have known better than to grapple with an Olympic class wrestler like Cormier. Staring survived Cormier’s onslaught long enough to round 2, where the onslaught continued. The referee had seen enough of a beating and wisely stopped the fight.

Give respect to Staring, he went in and took a beating, but didn’t stop or get KO’d. It took the conscious decision of the referee to stop the fight. Staring is a tough fighter. I think he deserves a chance in the UFC. He’s been around long enough and is experienced. This man has paid his dues and it would only be fair to see how he favors in the UFC.

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Daniel Cormier Won via TKO (punches)

Daniel Cormier Won via TKO (punches)
Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Coming off the opposite end of Dion Staring’s brutal beating is Daniel Cormier. Cormier stepped in that ring and gave us a one sided fight, that didn’t surprise any of us. It was nothing we haven’t seen from Cormier before, save for maybe a bit more striking. Staring made the fatal mistake of trying to tie up with Cormier, giving Cormier the opportunity to throw him to the canvas and ruthlessly pound the life out of him, until the referee was willing to call it quits for Staring.

With Cormeir’s triumphant victory over Staring, his next agenda will be Frank Mir. There will be no guessing when this fight happens. These two monsters of men will face each other on April 20th, 2013 at UFC on Fox 7. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present, thank you UFC. Cormier has had a magnificent MMA career so far. I cannot wait for him to start kicking asses and taking names in the UFC.

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Tarec Saffiedine Won via Decision (unanimous)

Tarec Saffiedine Won via Decision (unanimous)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Tarec Saffiedine is the last Strikeforce Welterweight Champion. Saffiedine surprised us all last Saturday night at Strikeforce’s finale, where he beat Nate Marquardt. It was truly a bittersweet, defining moment in MMA. Saffiedine’s glory as the Welterweight Champion would only last moments, before Strikeforce lowered its curtains. Never the less, his taxing victory will be remembered for a long time.

Saffiedine’s cardio and speed was his saving grace against Marquardt. Not to mention those accurately landed, low roundhouse kicks that turned Marquardt’s thigh into a grotesque, black, crimson slab of flesh. Saffiedine was the underdog going in and crowned the top dog coming out. His journey will resume in the UFC, where he will find himself once again an underdog, but one worth keeping watch on.

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Ronaldo Souza Won via Submission (kimura)

Ronaldo Souza Won via Submission (kimura)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Ronaldo Souza dominated UFC veteran Ed Herman, like a Caiman dominates a Capybara in the animal kingdom. Souza played to his strengths and they served him well; he made Herman look like an amateur. Souza’s strikes were fast and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was tactically beautiful.

Souza has signed a five fight deal with the UFC. It will be a pleasure to witness Souza’s natural ability, along with his wealth of knowledge in BJJ in the UFC’s middleweight division.

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Nate Marquardt Lost via Decision (unanimous)

Nate Marquardt Lost via Decision (unanimous)
Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Sadly, all things will end; a lovely day, a case of the chickenpox, a major sports corporation and a champion’s title reign. Nate Marquardt’s time as the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion was short. Not many of us expected for Marquardt to lose his title to the lesser known Tarec Saffiedine, but no one is safe from being fooled. Marquardt could never keep up with Saffiedine’s pace, but he certainly tried. Despite Marquardt’s leg taking one of the worse beatings in MMA history, he never yielded and showed the true heart of a champion.

Marquardt’s pride may have cost him. The repeated impact to his leg may have done permanent damage. Marquardt may develop large calcium deposits in his leg muscles, making it very hard to use. With proper rest and rehabilitation, hopefully we’ll see Marquardt get another chance to compete in the UFC.

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