Fresh fish: the Strikeforce haul
STRIKEFORCE came to an end last Saturday, leaving behind a legacy of some interesting fights, fighters and legendary upsets. On the plus side, the UFC plucked the ripest fruits to generate a new wave of match-ups, rivalries and title contenders. Here are some of the new hires I really dig.
At LIGHTWEIGHT I'm most looking forward to Strikeforce Lightweight Champ Gilbert Melendez- and so is the UFC since they immediately matched him up against Benson Henderson with the belt on the line for UFC on Fox 7. Gilbert trains out of the Cesar Gracie camp with the Diaz brothers and Jake Shields who all swear by his outstanding talent. K.J. Noons's striking adds more sharp boxing technique to the 155ers. And who isn't excited to see Ryan Couture, the spawn of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, mixing things up with his ground skills and genetically inherited dirty boxing?
Before Nate Marquardt's disappointing showing on Saturday, the WELTERWEIGHT division thought his brute power and toughness might rattle the upper echelon. Previously in the UFC at middleweight, Marquardt fought well until a steroid suspension cost him his job. Reformed, he dropped to welterweight and re-booted his career- until Tarec Saffiedine tenderized his left leg over five cringe-worthy rounds.
The MIDDLEWEIGHT division appears to be the big winner here with its last champion Luke Rockhold no more than one or two fights away from challenging the sublime Anderson Silva. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza shows spurts of mastery with his hands and ground skills that echo the 185's long reigning king. Tim Kennedy's work ethic and abs bolster the ranks. And who doesn't love another Gracie and BJJ world champion in the company that made it's bones on a Gracie run in it's very first special?
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT tentatively welcomes the enigmatic Gegard Mousasi. The former Strikeforce champ looks great at times- like when he submitted Mike Kyle on Saturday in the first round. If he can't stay focused, gatekeeper might become his status quo, and that would be a shame.
Did HEAVYWEIGHT just add a future champion? That remains to be seen but Daniel Cormier looks the part in the way he's dismantled competitors like Antonio Silva and former UFC champ Josh Barnett. Only Cain Velasquez looks to be tougher- and he's the guy he spars with three times a week. A two-time Olympian, Cormier's stout, brute force hunkers down against the veteran prowess and BJJ of Frank Mir soon. With a victory, he may forego another premier heavyweight challenger and instead drop down to 205 to take on wunderkind champ Jon Jones.
Thanks, Strikeforce!
At LIGHTWEIGHT I'm most looking forward to Strikeforce Lightweight Champ Gilbert Melendez- and so is the UFC since they immediately matched him up against Benson Henderson with the belt on the line for UFC on Fox 7. Gilbert trains out of the Cesar Gracie camp with the Diaz brothers and Jake Shields who all swear by his outstanding talent. K.J. Noons's striking adds more sharp boxing technique to the 155ers. And who isn't excited to see Ryan Couture, the spawn of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, mixing things up with his ground skills and genetically inherited dirty boxing?
Before Nate Marquardt's disappointing showing on Saturday, the WELTERWEIGHT division thought his brute power and toughness might rattle the upper echelon. Previously in the UFC at middleweight, Marquardt fought well until a steroid suspension cost him his job. Reformed, he dropped to welterweight and re-booted his career- until Tarec Saffiedine tenderized his left leg over five cringe-worthy rounds.
The MIDDLEWEIGHT division appears to be the big winner here with its last champion Luke Rockhold no more than one or two fights away from challenging the sublime Anderson Silva. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza shows spurts of mastery with his hands and ground skills that echo the 185's long reigning king. Tim Kennedy's work ethic and abs bolster the ranks. And who doesn't love another Gracie and BJJ world champion in the company that made it's bones on a Gracie run in it's very first special?
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT tentatively welcomes the enigmatic Gegard Mousasi. The former Strikeforce champ looks great at times- like when he submitted Mike Kyle on Saturday in the first round. If he can't stay focused, gatekeeper might become his status quo, and that would be a shame.
Did HEAVYWEIGHT just add a future champion? That remains to be seen but Daniel Cormier looks the part in the way he's dismantled competitors like Antonio Silva and former UFC champ Josh Barnett. Only Cain Velasquez looks to be tougher- and he's the guy he spars with three times a week. A two-time Olympian, Cormier's stout, brute force hunkers down against the veteran prowess and BJJ of Frank Mir soon. With a victory, he may forego another premier heavyweight challenger and instead drop down to 205 to take on wunderkind champ Jon Jones.
Thanks, Strikeforce!
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