Let’s start out the series as we always do: let’s put this fight into context.

Heading into “Challengers 15”, Caros Fodor was an 7-2 five-year veteran that had won a majority of his fights by submission. Fodor had competed on “Challengers” on two separate occasions prior to fighting “Tarzan” Douglas, and his last win came by the complicated but deadly Brabo Choke. It was the sixth first-round submission win of his career, and it was another addition to quite an impressive streak: to this day, all of Fodor’s submission wins have occurred in the very first round.

His opponent, David Douglas, was coming off of an equally if not more impressive performance at “Challengers 14”. “Tarzan” rushed and blitzkrieged Nick Gonzalez, heinously assaulting his opponent with fast and furious punches before dropping him and ultimately choking him out. No one had ever beaten Douglas when he competed in the short-lived EliteXC promotion, and heading into “Challengers 15”, the only man that had ever beaten Douglas in Strikeforce was the night’s headliner, Justin Wilcox.

This had all the makings of a fast, excellent “striker vs. grappler” encounter. Could Douglas rush Fodor the same way he rushed Gonzalez? Would that leave “Tarzan” open for one of Fodor’s slippery submissions? Would Fodor be able to work his ground game against a very muscular, very powerful fighter? It was a fight rooted in the old-school discipline vs. discipline showdown.

At least, it was supposed to be.

But then something strange happened, something I don’t think most people expected. I certainly didn’t see it coming.

What we thought we were getting: submissions vs. striking. What we got: Caros Fodor dismantling David Douglas.

That’s what the announcers called it, and that’s the best way to describe this fight. Fodor solved all of his opponent’s riddles, he figured out the perfect way to beat “Tarzan”. With a  combination of smartly-timed counters, knee strikes, and leg kicks, Fodor kept Douglas at bay and never gave “Tarzan” the chance to explode in the kind of flurry that’s won him so many fights in the past. By the time Douglas did find some openings, he was already too tired by Fodor’s grinding style that he just couldn’t put any real power behind his shots.

A lot of fans and insiders refer to the “first round onslaught” as the thing a fighter needs to avoid when fighting an opponent who has cardio problems. But Fodor did so much more than just avoid that onslaught: he stopped it dead in its tracks.

Don’t get me wrong, I think we should definitely applaud fighters that are smart enough and come in with a good enough gameplan to put a cardio-lacking fighter into the later rounds. But at least in my opinion, it’s far more praise-worthy to tackle that onslaught head-on and beat your opponent to the punch. Fodor and his immediate circle of friends and family may have been the only one that thought he could hang with “Tarzan” on the feet and especially during the first round, but that self-confidence was all he needed.

In the end, Douglas absorbed so much damage that the referee had no choice but to stop the fight. Douglas may have still been conscious, but there was no doubt that he was hurting quite badly and offering up almost no defense to Fodor’s continued barrages.

There may have been more complete dominations at “Challengers 15”, but Fodor’s was the best simply because of his skill level and the skill level of his opponent. This wasn’t a mismatch, this was two highly-skilled up-and-comers fighting each other. And Fodor dominated. There’s no doubt in my mind that he deserves “Best Performance of the Night”.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who took home your unofficial end-of-night accolades?

5. Vitor Ribeiro

Unfortunately for “Shaolin”, Ribeiro is now on a three-fight losing streak. I think Couture would be a very interesting opponent for the former highly-regarded prospect. It would be an interesting stand-up fight, and both men would likely benefit from the experience. On the ground it’s anyone’s ballgame, as Ribeiro has twelve wins by submission. If Ribeiro wins, he basically saves his career and pulls it off of life support. If Couture wins, he’s beaten a very decorated ground specialist and a former “Challengers” headliner.

4. David Douglas

“Tarzan” had an equally impressive showing at “Challengers 14”. It took Douglas barely over a minute to finish his opponent, and with an added five pounds of muscle (Douglas fought at a catchweight of 150 at “Challengers 14), Douglas would be a pretty tough test for Ryan Couture. Douglas has power, speed, fluidity, and lots of raw potential. This would be a real proving point for both fighters.

3. Jorge Gurgel

Gurgel seems to be on the decline, but he’s still a tough test for a surging fighter like Couture. If Couture wants to test his stand-up, Gurgel will be right there willing to give and take. If it goes to the ground, Gurgel is an incredibly skilled submission master. This fight would go a long way towards proving where both men stand in Strikeforce’s increasingly-crowded Lightweight division.

2. Carlo Prater

Wow, there’s impressive debuts, and then there’s snatching a guy up in a D’Arce the second the fight gets underway. This would be an awesome fight on the ground, I can see both men basically setting the cage on fire because of how fast they move on the ground. Both men have long limbs and impressive squeezing power, and it’s likely that both men won’t tap and will have to be choked unconscious. This match would be awesome to watch.

And the number one fighter I’d like to see Ryan Couture face is…

1. Shinya Aoki

I admit, Aoki takes the number one spot purely because I think this would be an amazing ground fight. Aoki has never had good stand-up, but on the ground, he’s a submission wizard. This would be a defining moment for Couture if he were to win it, because let’s be honest and give credit where credit is due, not many people can hang with Aoki on the ground. If Couture ends up proving that he can, it would be a gigantic feather in his cap.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Is Couture ready for a step up in competition? Why or why not? And who would you like to see him fight?

The Pit 205-pound prospect, former kickboxer Scott Lighty (5-0) TKO’d Mike Cook (7-7) on the undercard at Strikeforce in San Jose Friday. The referee stepped in to end the beating at 2:05 of the first round.

The fight night opened with lightweight Alexander Trevino (5-0) remaining undefeated by tapping out Isaiah Hill (3-6-1) in a keylock at 3:56 of round one.

Cung Le-trained welterweight James Terry (6-1) TKO’d Zac Bucia (4-3) in 23 seconds. The ref stepped in to grant Bucia a reprieve just after the fight got underway.

And, the jungle got its revenge as “Silverback” Justin Wilcox (6-3) tapped out “Tarzan” David Douglas (4-2) at 2:16 of round three.

Defending champion “Babalu” weighed 201 pounds while challenging prospect Mousasi weighed 204 pounds.

Heavyweight UFC cast-off “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) weighed 228 pounds. His late replacement opponent, American Kickboxing Academy’s “MAK” Mike Kyle (11-6-1), weighed 219 pounds.

Interim Strikeforce lightweight champion “El Niño” Gilbert Melendez (15-2) and challenger “Endless Fighter” Mitsuhiro Ishida (19-4-1) were both at the 155-pound limit.

“I know I’m in the best shape I can be right now and I’m just ready to get in there and fight,” said Melendez, though he remains annoyed by the circumstances leading to Ishida replacing Strikeforce lightweight champion “Punk” Josh Thomson (15-2-1). “I was training a lot of wrestling and stand-up for a taller, conventional fighter and now my opponent is a short, southpaw wrestler. So there have been some changes and there’s not really a lot you can do. I’ve been training wrestling so I’m OK there but I wish I had more time to train specifically for Ishida. At the end of the day I train hard to fight whoever they put out there so I’ll be ready.”

Welterweight “Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (14-4) weighed 169 pounds. He’ll match-up versus “JT Money” Jesse Taylor (8-2), who weighed one-half pound more.

The Pit light heavyweight Scott Lighty (4-0) had three pounds to spare while his opponent Mike Cook (7-6) was spot on the 205-pound limit.

Lightweight “Tarzan” David Douglas (4-1) was the admissable one-pound over and “Silverback” Justin Wilcox (5-3) was one-pound under the 155-pound limit.

Cung Le-trained welterweight James Terry (5-1) weighed 169 pounds. His opponent, Zac Bucia (4-2), weighed 170 pounds.

Lightweights Isaiah Hill (3-5-1) and Alexander Trevino (4-0) matched each other at 156 pounds.

Reis earned the title over three head-to-head rounds versus strong and crafty Cullum.

Reis took Cullum down repeatedly, but was unable to cinch a submission through Cullum’s defense.

Cullum landed several strikes; but, Reis’s takedowns and ground aggression convinced the judges.

Shane DelRosario (5-0) notched another stoppage in his belt in a second-round TKO of Carl Seumanutafa (4-1) at 1:07.

DelRosario floored Seumanutafa with a left hook as he rose from a takedown attempt and stuck a pair of punches in his face before the referee ended the fight.

Muay Thai champion Malaipet Team Diamond (3-3) continues to find the transition to MMA tough with a third-round TKO loss to “Tarzan” David Douglas (4-1).

After absorbing crippling leg kicks for two rounds, “Tarzan” caught Malaipet mid-flying knee and put the kickboxer on his back for a desparate G’n'P onslaught from full mount that convinced the referee to step in.

“El Cucui” Jaime Jara (20-5) won a split decision over middleweight Givanildo Santana (11-1) by scores of 29-28 twice for Jara and 29-28 once for Santana.

Middleweight Erik Apple (10-1) tapped Matt Makowski (3-1) in a rear naked choke at 2:04 of round two in Apple’s return from an 18-month hiatus from professional MMA.

K-1 2005 World GP finalist and The Pit gym mate of “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-6) Scott Lighty (4-0) remained undefeated in his MMA bid with a first-round TKO over Jamiah Williamson (3-1) 4:51.

Damian Douglas (3-1) tapped Joe Schilling (1-3) in a guillotine at 46-seconds of round one.

Fernando Betega (3-2) tapped Mono Otero (3-3) in a rear naked choke at 2:27 of round one.

Luke Riddering (2-0) TKO’d John Corstphino (1-2) at 3:44 of round one.

Steve Gable (3-0) won an SD over Josh McDonald (3-4) by scores of 29-28 twice for Gable and 29-28 once for McDonald.