5. Ovince St. Preux

OSP came from humble beginnings (he went 0-2 in his first two fights) but has now emerged as one of Strikeforce’s biggest prospects at 205. He’s won seven straight fights, all of which took place in 2010. He even once competed in Strikeforce three times in three months. OSP is young, hungry, talented, and dedicated. He’s built of the same stuff Mousasi is, although the two have very different styles. This would be OSP’s toughest test to date and a worthy replacement for Mike Kyle.

4. Roger Gracie

The Gracie name is undergoing a bit of a resurgence, and that’s mostly because of this man. Even I can admit that Gracie has begun to win me over: his ground game is what you’d expect of a Gracie, but dare I say it, his stand-up is evolving from “passable” to “good”. In submission fighting, Gracie’s record is 65-7. In MMA, his record is 4-0 with four submissions. Three of those came in the first round, one came in the second. Gracie is on such a hotstreak that not only do I think he deserves a shot at Mousasi, I think the winner of this match fully deserves a title shot.

3. Rafael Cavalcante

What better way to earn a shot at the championship than by beating a former champion? Cavalcante may have stumbled against Henderson, but he’s still one of the best Light Heavyweight fighters in Strikeforce. This would be a very interesting match-up and it would likely end with somebody face-down on the canvas. The big appeal of this match would be to see if Cavalcante’s massive frame and power punching can best Mousasi’s tactical gameplan and crisp counter-striking.

2. Muhammed Lawal

But if there’s one thing bigger than beating a former champion, it’s beating the former champion that became a champion by dethroning you. It’s been almost a year since Muhammed Lawal wrestled his way to a Unanimous Decision win over Mousasi, and since then Mousasi has competed on two separate occasions, winning bout bouts by first-round submission. Lawal has been sitting on the sidelines since August of last year, healing from an injury and his loss to Rafael Cavalcante. I can only think of one bigger match than these two making their Strikeforce returns against each other.

And the number-one opponent I’d like to see Gegard Mousasi face is…

1. Dan Henderson

If it happens, it honestly wouldn’t be the first time a fighter that was supposed to be fighting to crown the next challenger gets bumped up to being the next challenger. It also wouldn’t be the first time Strikeforce has given a title shot to a fighter that’s coming off of a loss. And as I said, Mousasi is coming off of a loss only in Strikeforce, he’s won two bouts overseas. I think this is honestly one of the most interesting fights Strikeforce could make at 205. The young, clever, versatile Mousasi would make a perfect foil to the old lion that’s got dynamite in his hands and a renewed fire in his heart.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Who would you like to see Mousasi face now that Mike Kyle is injured?

First up is the question of the all-mighty dollar. MMA Junkie brings us the official fighter salary totals of Strikeforce’s most recent event, and they stand as such.

Dan Henderson: $250,000 (no win bonus) defeated Rafael Cavalcante: $28,000

Marloes Coenen: $10,000 (no win bonus) defeated Liz Carmouche: $5,000

Tim Kennedy: $50,000 (no win bonus) defeated Melvin Manhoef: $10,000

Jorge Masvidal: $30,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus) defeated Billy Evangelista: $20,000

Roger Bowling: $7,000 (includes $3,500 win bonus) defeated Josh Thornburg: $2,000

Jorge Gurgel: $8,000 ($4,000 win bonus) defeated Billy Vaughn: $1,500

Jason Freeman: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus) defeated Jason Riley: $1,500

Brian Rogers: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus) defeated Ian Rammel: $1,500

Mitch Whitesel: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus) defeated Marc Cofer: $1,500

John Kuhner: $3,000 ($1,500 win bonus) defeated J.P. Feity: $1,500

In addition to those figures, we also have MMA Junkie to thank once again for the official list of fighter injuries and medical suspensions resulting from “Feijao vs. Henderson”. Here they are in their entirety:

Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante is suspended 60 days for precautionary reasons due to his knockout loss. Jorge Masvidal is suspended indefinitely until his hand is cleared by an orthopedic doctor. Billy Evangelista is suspended indefinitely until his eyes are cleared by an ophthalmologist. Billy Vaughan is suspended 30 days for precautionary reasons. Jason Riley is suspended indefinitely until his eyes are cleared by an ophthalmologist; he is also suspended 30 days for precautionary reasons due to his TKO loss. Ian Rammel is suspended indefinitely until medically cleared. Mitch Whitesel is suspended 90 days per the Ohio State Athletic Commission’s mandatory rest period for accumulated bouts. J.P. Felty is suspended 60 days for precautionary reasons due to his knockout loss.

There’s nothing too serious on the injured front, a lot of precautionary layoffs and not much else. Depending on what the doctors say, “indefinite suspensions” could end up being a few weeks maximum. Regardless, I wish everyone the best and hope that everyone is back in the cage healthy and ready before long.

In regards to the fighter’s salaries, I’m honestly bordering on angry at how little Marloes Coenen made. I rarely criticize Strikeforce, but honestly: look at that number and then ask yourself why Cristiane Santos hasn’t stepped into the cage in so long. It’s clear as day. I rarely criticize Strikeforce, but as a converted Marloes Coenen fan, I hate to see her pocket ten thousand as a champion while the other champion of the night, Dan Henderson, made twenty-five times more than her. Twenty. Five. Times.

Now, I know what the response to that is going to be: Marloes Coenen is not Dan Henderson. And I most definitely agree. But even when you consider that, just look at some of the fighters who made more money than her. Billy Evangelista? Jorge Masvidal? Evangelista doubled her paycheck, Masvidal tripled it. Are those seriously two names you think of when you think “champion”? After her incredible come-from-behind victory at “Feijao vs. Henderson”, I certainly think of “champion” when I think of Marloes Coenen.

But what’s your take on this, fans and friends? As I said, I rarely criticize Strikeforce, so I honestly am wondering if I’m misguided in whole or in part, or even if I’m outright wrong, when I accuse them of mistreating Coenen. Let the opinions fly.

First up are the live attendance figures of Strikeforce’s latest “Arena Series” shows, courtesy of MMA Junkie. According to their report, “Feijao vs. Henderson” drew 7,123 fans to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Next up are the TV ratings for the event, again brought to us by MMA Junkie: “Feijao vs. Henderson” averaged 412,000 viewers during the course of its live broadcast on the Showtime network. According to the report, that number is almost half that of the “Fedor vs. Silva” card Strikeforce held in early February.

These numbers do seem a bit deflating at first glance, but I’m actually quite positive about how this show performed. Remember, this is the first event that Strikeforce has ever held in Ohio. When you think of it that way, the live attendance seems like a pretty respectable number. And even if you’d consider this number a loss, you have to at least admit that it’s not a very big one.

Likewise, the ratings decline from this show compared to “Fedor vs. Silva” also doesn’t seem so bad if you put everything into context. As much as I respect all parties involved, there simply wasn’t a whole lot of hype surrounding this main event, nor the co-main event. Rafael Cavalcante was an unproven champion, while Henderson’s status as a top-division star was iffy at best: he scored a big KO over Renato Sobral, but before that he suffered a very deflating loss to Jake Shields.

Also, there just wasn’t a whole lot of hype over Marloes Coenen defending her championship against Liz Carmouche. The main reason for this was simply a matter of timing: Coenen’s expected opponent, Meisha Tate, pulled out very close to fight time and Strikeforce was left to scramble together some promotion for Carmouche. And while Carmouche did prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’s one of Strikeforce’s top females, Strikeforce simply didn’t have enough time to properly promote this match-up.

Consider that, and consider the promotion behind the start of Strikeforce’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is easily one of the biggest MMA happenings of the year, and at “Fedor vs. Silva” in particular, Strikeforce had months and months to promote the return of Fedor Emelianenko, who fought for the first time since his dramatic submission loss to Fabricio Werdum.

At the end of the day, I’m going to go ahead and call this one a success for Strikeforce. It’s certainly a step in the right direction, and it continued the amazing streak Strikeforce has been on lately, with a majority of their televised fights not going to the judges, with many of them ending dramatically. I’ve still got a lot of faith in Strikeforce, and I still think they’re going to have an amazing year.

But what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the numbers for this show?

The Maiquel Falcao Award For Best Fighter That Coasted To A Victory Simply Because He Didn’t Want To Risk Losing: Jorge Masvidal, who was a classless act through and through in his Strikeforce debut. I’ve had my issues with Masvidal in the past, and nothing he did at “Feijao vs. Henderson” changed my opinion. In fact, I now think even less of Masvidal, and the only opponents I look forward to seeing him fight in Strikeforce will be the ones that will either knock him out or choke him out.

The Cheick Kongo Award For Outstanding Achievement In The Art Of Turtle Mimicry: Melvin Manhoef, as if there could be anyone else. Manhoef and Kongo are so cut from the same cloth that they could be clones of each other. On the feet, they’re wrecking machines. On the floor, they’re still pretty good so long as they’re on top. But the second they get put on their backs on the ground, you might as well give yourself a bathroom break, because you should know by now what’s going to happen. It’s a real shame that Manhoef’s Achilles Heel is weaker than ever, because Strikeforce could really use a great stand-up fighter like him.

The Anderson Silva Award For “Hail Mary” Submission Of The Night: Marloes Coenen, who was pretty much a female Anderson Silva facing a female Chael Sonnen. Like Sonnen, contender Liz Carmouche outright dominated the fight and shut down most, if not all, of the champion’s offense. But like Silva, Coenen never let her will break and always hunted for the submission, eventually getting it late into the fight, in the championship rounds no less. It was a win that proved once again that true champions never give up.

The Last Punch You’ll Never See Award: Dan Henderson, who continues to find a way to land his massive right despite the many years where that one punch has been his calling card. Henderson’s entire fighting stance focuses on keeping that right hand cocked and ready, and yet most of his opponents just haven’t found a way to avoid it. It really is the last punch you’ll never see, even though it’s Henderson’s pride and joy. It’s a tribute to Henderson’s lasting ability, and looking forward, it’s the one thing all Strikeforce Light Heavyweights should be in constant fear of. Because the second you doubt its power, the second you think you’ve found a way to consistently dodge it… that’s the one second you get before you’re on the floor wondering what just happened.

The Gus Johnson Award For Outstanding Achievement In Failing As An Announcer: Mauro Ranallo, for his incessant and idiotic branding of Dan Henderson’s right hand as the “H-Bomb”. This is by far one of the stupidest, most ridiculous nicknames I’ve ever heard in MMA, and that’s saying quite a lot considering how MMA is the home of the goofy nickname. Ranallo is trying way too hard to get this nickname to stick, and I cringe every time I hear it.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. And remember, it’s all in good fun… mostly What about you? Any thoughts/opinions ready to be shared?

As always, let’s give the situation a little context before we dive into the fight itself. Coming into this bout, Rafael Cavalcante was a 10-2 champion, with one loss by disqualification, and was a full decade younger than Henderson. Not so long ago, Cavalcante was being tapped as the next big breakout star that fans should absolutely pay attention to.

Then, of course, he suffered a major TKO loss to Mike Kyle. But that loss was a distant memory in the weeks leading up to this event. What was far fresher in the minds of many fans was Cavalcante’s performances after that loss: three straight (T)KO wins, including one over Muhammed Lawal to win the championship. Like Cavalcante, “King Mo” was regarded as a can’t-miss prospect. And when Cavalcante beat him, many thought that it was the win that signaled that “Feijao” had reached the potential he had shown before his dramatic loss to Kyle.

And then there was Dan Henderson.

“Hendo” had a pretty rough time in his Strikeforce debut: after nearly finishing Jake Shields, he then spent much of the next five rounds on his back with Shields punching him in the face. It was one of the most deflating losses of Henderson’s long career. But in typical Henderson fashion, he rebounded and went on to KO former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral in his second fight under the Strikeforce banner. However, fans still wondered: would Henderson be able to deal with a savvy young champion? He wasn’t able to against Shields, after all.

But in the end, Henderson sealed his comeback by taking “Feijao” into the third round and then knocking him out fifty seconds in. Not only was it another amazing KO from the Olympic-level wrestler, it was a testament to Henderson’s heart and willpower. Henderson spent much of Round 1 and Round 2 recuperating from a punch that nearly knocked him out, and when it was finally time for Henderson to take the lead and start swinging leather, Cavalcante was hit so hard that he turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees before falling to the mat.

And that’s power, my friends. The power to not just survive, but thrive when you yourself were on the brink of defeat just a few minutes ago. The power to look Father Time in the eyes and say “not yet”. The power to one day break the curse of Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champions losing their belts in their first defense.

That’s power. That’s Dan Henderson.

And that’s all I really have to say. I had my doubts, and I couldn’t be happier that “Hendo” shattered them. It was no contest: Dan Henderson fully deserves my unofficial “Performance of the Night” award.

And what about you, fans and friends? Who do you think gave the best performance at “Feijao vs. Henderson”?

Next for Melvin Manhoef: Most likely Manhoef will return to Japan, whether to compete in K-1 or the Japanese-based DREAM promotion. In his immediate future, Strikeforce should entertain the idea of booking a rematch between him and Robbie Lawler. Considering how dramatic their first fight was, and how “Ruthless” is coming off of a loss, I think a rematch makes sense. If not, Manhoef needs another stand-up brawler that won’t take the fight down. That’s where he shines brightest, and that’s where Strikeforce will get the most mileage out of him. The only problem is that Strikeforce doesn’t have many of those fighters in their Middleweight division.

Next for Tim Kennedy: If Strikeforce can convince Jim Miller, Kennedy and “Mayhem” to determine the next Middleweight contender makes the most sense. However, anything can happen when it comes to Jason Miller, and this fight was supposed to happen once before. If it fails to materialize, I think Kennedy made a big enough statement against Melvin Manhoef to earn another shot at the championship outright.

Next for Marloes Coenen: The person she was originally expected to face: Meisha Tate. Depending on the timing of this bout and how fast Tate recovers from her current knee injury, this very well may be a fight that sees Tate come in after a year-long absence. If that happens, ring rust and Coenen’s impressive size, reach, and submission game may be too much for the scrappy Tate to handle. Either way, it should be another excellent bout that stands a great chance of stealing the show.

Next for Rafael Cavalcante: I think it would be very interesting to book a rematch between Rafael Cavalcante and Muhammed Lawal. If “Feijao” beats “King Mo” again, it’s a firm step on the comeback trail. The same goes for “King Mo” beating Cavalcante. If not Lawal, then perhaps Renato Sobral. Either way, look for “Feijao” to bounce back from this loss and face a pretty tough opponent in his next bout. From here on out, it’ll only be Strikeforce’s best for “Feijao”.

Next for Dan Henderson: Henderson will likely meet the winner of the upcoming Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle bout. In Mike Kyle, Henderson faces a man ten years younger than him, but a veteran nonetheless, and someone who loves knocking people out. Against Gegard Mousasi, “Hendo” faces a man fifteen years younger that many once considered the future of the sport. Although I personally believe he’ll be the one to break “the curse”, there’s definitely a chance that Henderson’s first title defense will be his last. Both men pose very interesting, very different threats to the newly-minted champion.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”?

5. Tim Kennedy submitting Melvin Manhoef.

Once again Tim Kennedy put on an excellent display of heart and talent when he stepped into the cage against one of the most dangerous pure strikers in MMA: Melvin Manhoef. And for a while, Manhoef seemed to be controlling the fight. At one point, Manhoef nailed a leg kick so vicious that Kennedy’s leg gave out right underneath him. But like the warrior that he is, Kennedy survived Manhoef’s initial onslaught, took him down, and choked him out. At “Feijao vs. Henderson”, anyone who thinks Tim Kennedy isn’t one of Strikeforce’s best Middleweights got a firm reminder that they’re wrong.

4. Everything Liz Carmouche did up until she was submitted.

I was honestly shocked at Liz Carmouche’s performance against the very tough Marloes Coenen, but in a good way. Carmouche simply seemed to have all the answers. Coenen has a big reach advantage? Carmouche closed the distance and kept it a close-quarters brawl, which she was winning. Coenen has super-long legs? Carmouche simply powered out of anything and everything. It was a dominating performance, and it set Carmouche up as one of the can’t-miss females of Strikeforce’s growing female divisions.

3. Rafael Cavalcante nearly knocking out Dan Henderson.

Sometimes even a jaded internet journalist can have his jaw hit the floor. That’s pretty much how I reacted when “Feijao” landed a punch that sent “Hendo” crashing down to the canvas. It was one of those “OH!” moments, and as a matter of fact, that’s exactly what I shouted (and yes, I literally shouted) when it happened. It was a firm reminder that Cavalcante packs quite a punch, and the tense few seconds between the punch connecting and Henderson recuperating were some of the most thrilling seconds of the night.

2. Marloes Coenen submitting Liz Carmouche.

A true champion doesn’t just survive under pressure, he/she thrives. And that’s exactly what Marloes Coenen did against Liz Carmouche. Coenen was down but never out, she was beat up but never beaten. A true champion never gives up and always looks to finish no matter what position he/she is in, and that determination and sheer willpower allowed Coenen to trap Carmouche in a Triangle Choke and make her tap. Marloes Coenen is definitely one of the best female fighters in Strikeforce, and seeing her win was a big highlight of the night.

And my personal pick for the best moment of Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson” is…

1. Dan Henderson knocking out Rafael Cavalcante.

As a fan of the old-school through and through, it really didn’t get much better than seeing Dan Henderson earn yet another KO in his long line of KO victories. And he won another championship to boot. MMA may have found itself another ageless wonder in Dan Henderson, and I can’t wait to see how far Henderson goes as a Strikeforce champion. I believe in Henderson, and I think he could be the one to “break the curse” and become the first-ever champion to successfully defend the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship more than once.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. But what about you? What do you think everyone will be talking about in the days/weeks to come?

Dan Henderson defeats Rafael Cavalcante by KO (Strikes) at 0:50 of Round 3. Marloes Coenen defeats Liz Carmouche by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:29 of Round 4. Tim Kennedy defeats Melvin Manhoef by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:41 of Round 1. Jorge Masvidal defeats Billy Evangelista by Unanimous Decision. Roger Bowling defeats Josh Thornburg by Unanimous Decision. Jorge Gurgel defeats Billy Vaughan by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at :44 seconds of Round 1. Jason Freeman defeats Jason Riley by TKO (Strikes) at 1:52 of Round 1. Brian Rogers defeats Ian Rammel by TKO (Strikes) at 4:23 of Round 1. Mitch Whitesel defeats Marc Cofer by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:55 of Round 1. John Kuhner defeats JP Felty by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 4:31 of Round 2.

To be completely and bluntly honest, I wasn’t a fan of Jorge Masvidal coming into this fight and I’m certainly not a fan of him after this fight. This was a typical performance from a guy that just oozes cockiness out of every pore. He clearly won, but he displayed very little killer instinct. The only good thing I have to say about this fight is that the other fights made up for it.

I knew Melvin Manhoef was done for the second his fight with Tim Kennedy hit the ground and Manhoef wasn’t on top. Any longtime Manhoef fans knows what to expect when that happens. Manhoef has some good takedown defense thanks to his tree trunk legs, which is also why he has some of the most vicious leg kicks in the business, but as far as submission defense goes? It’s just not there. But I will give credit where credit is due: Tim Kennedy is a warrior and once again displayed why people should really start considering him one of Strikeforce’s best at 185.

As a converted Marloes Coenen fan, I never lost hope and I was positively thrilled when Coenen snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Liz Carmouche is definitely the real deal, and I think this performance has easily set her up as one of the best female fighters in all of Strikeforce. However, as the old saying goes… it’s not over until it’s over.

And in the main event, Dan Henderson added another championship to a trophy case that by now must be overflowing. There’s really no other way to describe Henderson’s victory than to say that he fought like the champion he is. He fought through a rough stretch where he was dropped, he got his wits back, he readjusted, and eventually, the cinder block masquerading as his right hand found a home on Rafael’s chin. I honestly don’t know if Henderson will be the one to break the Light Heavyweight curse, but if he does? It wouldn’t surprise me. And I certainly wish him all the best.

Overall, this was another very solid event courtesy of the folks at Strikeforce. Strikeforce has been hitting it out of the park a whole lot lately, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. But what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of “Feijao vs. Henderson”?

In the Nationwide Arena, two titles will be on the line as 205-pound champion Rafael “Feijao” of the famed Blackhouse camp will be taking on arguably his toughest test to date as he meets with former dual PRIDE champion Dan Henderson, and in the co-main event Marloes Coenen will be defending her women’s welterweight crown against the undefeated Liz Carmouche.

All competitor’s were on weight for tonight’s festivities.

Also on the main card, former title challenger Tim Kennedy will be taking on K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef in what promises to be an explosive middleweight affair, and undefeated prospect Billy Evangelista will be meeting with the returning Jorge Masvidal in a pivotal lightweight match up.

Here are the full weigh-in results, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com.

MAIN CARD

* Champ Rafael Cavalcante (204.5) vs. Dan Henderson (204.5) – for light heavyweight title
* Champ Marloes Coenen (135) vs. Liz Carmouche (134) – for women’s welterweight title
* Tim Kennedy (186) vs. Melvin Manhoef (185)
* Billy Evangelista (155.5) vs. Jorge Masvidal (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Roger Bowling (170) vs. Josh Thornburg (170)
* Billy Vaughan (152.5) vs. Jorge Gurgel (155)
* Jason “Jay” Freeman (221.5) vs. Jason Riley (259)
* Ian Rammel (180.5) vs. Brian Rogers (184.5)
* Marc Cofer (185) vs. Mitch Whitesel (182.5)
* J.P. Felty (170.5) vs. John Kuhner (170.5)

I find myself pretty conflicted when it comes to the Tim Kennedy vs. Melvin Manhoef match-up. Part of me definitely wants Manhoef to win, because when he’s “on”, the man is a destroyer and incredibly entertaining. Up until Robbie Lawler KO’d him, Manhoef looked amazing in his Strikeforce debut. I think Strikeforce needs someone like Manhoef in their growing Middleweight division, someone who will always go after it and brings Strikeforce some international appeal. Manhoef may always be a one-trick pony, but I respect him for constantly trying to finish his fights.

But then again, I’ve also got a whole lot of respect for Tim Kennedy, and that’s only partially because of his history as a decorated war veteran. Most of my respect for him has to do with what he’s shown inside the Strikeforce cage: he’s a pretty humble person and also as tough as they come. He came pretty close to beating Ronaldo Souza, and he’s definitely emerged as one of Strikeforce’s premiere Middleweight fighters.

All I hope is that this fight turns out to be as entertaining as I think it will be.

I’m also really looking forward to seeing Marloes Coenen back in action. I’m definitely a converted fan, and I think it’s going to be very interesting to see how Coenen performs now that she’s a champion. She’s got quite a tough battle ahead of her: Liz Carmouche is no joke, and I can see her beating Coenen if presented with an opportunity to do so. This is definitely worthy of co-main event status, and I look forward to seeing the women steal the show once again.

Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante is another one of those fights where I really don’t want either man to lose. I really respect Dan Henderson, and part of me feels an outright obligation to support the old-school fighters simply because they’re trying their best to stay relevant in today’s world of rapidly-evolving, ever-changing techniques and styles.

However, Rafael Cavalcante is a very entertaining fighter and I think he has it in him to be a dominating champion. This fight is very, very important for him: it’s going to set the tone for the rest of his championship reign, if he does manage to beat Henderson. Since its inception, the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight division has never had a truly dominant champion, in fact, only one champion has ever successfully defended his championship after winning it. I absolutely believe that Cavalcante possesses the heart, talent and raw potential to turn that tide… all that’s left for him to do is seize the opportunity.

In the end, I’m definitely looking forward to this card. It’s not the greatest Strikeforce card ever, but sometimes the events that don’t feature the absolute best also end up being really solid and entertaining. I have faith in this card and faith in Strikeforce in general, so I feel confident in saying that we’re going to have a fun, free night of fights on our hands.

And that’s that, fans and friends. But what about you? Any last thoughts on “Feijao vs. Henderson”?

Billy Evangelista vs. Jorge Masvidal: It’s tough to say, really. Evangelista has never lost, but as a whole, Masvidal has fought (and sometimes beaten) higher quality competition. However, every time I think of Jorge Masvidal, my mind goes to one of two places: one is his recent, deflating loss to Paul Daley. The other is the epic Inverted Triangle Toby Imada used to choke Masvidal unconscious. I think it’ll be a tough fight for both, but in the end I think Billy Evangelista will win by Unanimous Decision.

Tim Kennedy vs. Melvin Manhoef: I hate to pick against Tim Kennedy, really I do. But Melvin Manhoef’s Achilles Heel comes in the form of two fighters: submission specialists, and strikers with epic one-hit knockout power. Tim Kennedy is neither of those things. Here’s what Kennedy is: he’s a very tough brawler with good hands, good cardio, and not an ounce of quit in him. But Manhoef is simply far better in the stand-up game. This will be the dominating victory that his loss to Robbie Lawler should have been. Melvin Manhoef wins by TKO in Round 1.

Marloes Coenen (c) vs. Liz Carmouche for the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship: This will all come down to experience. Both women want this championship badly, but Coenen has over four times as many fights as Carmouche. Coenen knows both defeat and victory, and she’s a force at 135 given her size, reach, submission ability, and power. Carmouche isn’t going down without a fight, so expect a tough first round. However, it’ll all end before the third round. Marloes Coenen wins by Submission in Round 2.

Rafael Cavalcante (c) vs. Dan Henderson for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship: And now we get to the million-dollar question of today’s “Picks and Predictions” post. I’m honestly a bit conflicted: I wouldn’t call myself a super-fan of either of these two, but I honestly don’t want either of them to lose. I respect Dan Henderson a lot, he’s a great veteran and he can usually still go. I also think Rafael Cavalcante has all the makings of a great and prestige-building champion. Both of these two match up so well with each other, so it’s a pretty difficult choice to make. I could easily see this fight going either way, I can even see it ending by dramatic finish in any round at any time, but because I have to choose, I’m picking Rafael Cavalcante by Split Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What are your picks and predictions for Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”?

5. Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson at UFC: “Fight Night 24”.

Both men are at a pretty interesting crossroads in their careers right now. Dan Hardy was the tough Brit who would never quit and had an iron chin… until Carlos Condit knocked him out. Anthony Johnson was supposed to be the next big can’t-miss prospect at Welterweight… then Josh Koscheck submitted him in November 2009 and “Rumble” hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since. Both men have a lot to prove in this fight, and it should be a fantastic fight.

4. Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland at UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”.

This entry definitely makes the list mostly because I’m an unabashed WEC fanboy, but this is one occasion where I have no problem letting my fanboy flag fly free. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Urijah Faber, and I think he’s found his fire again after dropping down to Bantamweight. I’m really looking forward to seeing Faber debut in the UFC and letting all the non-WEC UFC fans know what they’ve been missing, especially given the disappointing debut of Miguel Torres.

3. Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”.

I’m going to enjoy this fight even if Diego Sanchez loses, simply because it has all the makings of an epic encounter. This is the type of match perfect for the main event of a TV card: it’s two semi-big names in a smartly-booked fight that plays to both men’s strengths. Whoever emerges the winner takes a big step towards championship relevancy, and this should motivate both men to perform at their best. And when they perform at their best, they’re very entertaining. And performing at their best against each other? That will be even more entertaining.

2. Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante at Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”.

As a massive fan of the old school, part of me really wants Dan Henderson to beat Rafael Cavalcante. But as a moderate fan of Rafael Cavalcante, another part of me wants “Feijao” to beat Henderson in order to both legitimize his championship reign and bring stability to Strikeforce’s Light Heavyweight division. It’s a tough fight to call, and it could go either way, and very few things are for certain until these two step into the cage. But one thing is for certain: if it lives up to its potential, this will be an awesome match.

And by quite a large margin, my number-one most-anticipated fight of March 2011 is…

1. Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones at UFC 128 “Shogun vs. Jones”.

I’ve talked about this match a whole lot, and I’ve had to deal with my fair share of criticism for my views. But I can’t wait to be proven right, because I wholeheartedly believe that I know exactly what is going to happen. I think Mauricio Rua’s mega-hyped comeback is all smoke and mirrors, and I think Jon Jones will prove once again that he’s the future of the Light Heavyweight division. A new era is about to dawn: Jon Jones will break the streak of Light Heavyweight Champions losing the belt in their first few defenses, a chain that has remained unbroken since Quinton Jackson famously dethroned Chuck Liddell all the way back in 2007. I absolutely cannot wait for this match.

And there you have it, fans and friends! But what about you? What bouts are you most looking forward to for March 2011?

5. Is Jorge Masvidal really ready for the big time?

I’ve had my disagreements with Jorge Masvidal in the past, but in general, I don’t think of him as a boring fighter. But the fact remains that Masvidal registers relatively low on my radar. That may change soon, depending on his performance at this event. Masvidal faces the very tough Billy Evangelista at “Feijao vs. Henderson”, and if he’s able to win dramatically, we could see him become an overnight star in Strikeforce’s admittedly-shallow Lightweight division.

4. Once again Strikeforce has booked a women’s MMA fight with serious show-stealing potential.

I’ve said this before, but it does bear repeating considering the harsh stance I took against her in the weeks leading up to the fight where she won the championship. So here it is again: I’m a converted Marloes Coenen fan. Not only was her win against Sarah Kaufman a very dominating performance, it was also a very entertaining fight. On March 5, Coenen faces an opponent that’s never been beaten and has finished four of her five professional MMA bouts. I learned a while back that the women are pretty good at stealing the show, so I’ve got high hopes for this match.

3. Can Melvin Manhoef erase the mistakes he made in his Strikeforce debut?

Up until the last few seconds of his fight with Robbie Lawler, Manhoef debuted in Strikeforce the best way possible: by pummeling and even outright dominating one of Strikeforce’s bigger names at Middleweight. Of course, that fantastic debut would come screeching to a halt when Lawler landed a Hail Mary blow that put Manhoef down and out. Has Manhoef learned from his mistakes? Can he really beat the tough Tim Kennedy, especially now that he (Manhoef) is on a two-fight losing-streak? It’ll certainly be interesting to find out.

2. How many tricks does the old dog still have up his sleeve?

Even the staunchest Dan Henderson supporter has to admit that he’s been pretty hit-or-miss since the legendary PRIDE FC promotion went under. The hits: a brilliant performance against Michael Bisping, a huge KO win over Renato Sobral. The misses: deflating losses to both Anderson Silva and Jake Shields, two opponents that managed to thoroughly dominate Henderson before their fight was through. So which Dan Henderson shows up to take on Cavalcante? It’s arguably the biggest question that needs to be answered at this event, and it’s one of the main reasons I’m going to be tuning in.

And the number one reason to watch this show is…

1. The ascension of Rafael Cavalcante.

It’s the big leagues for “Feijao” now, and there’s no going back. At one time Cavalcante was supposed to be the next big thing, and once again he’s been put into that position. Not only does a big win over Dan Henderson stabilize and legitimize Rafael Cavalcante, it stabilizes and legitimizes the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight division as a whole. This will be the toughest test of Cavalcante’s career, and I can’t wait to see him prove himself or die trying.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event

The Event: Strikeforce: “Feijao vs. Henderson”, also known as Strikeforce: “Columbus”, currently scheduled for March 5, 2011 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main card will be broadcast live on the Showtime network starting at 10 PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: There are a lot of questions surrounding the two champions defending their titles at “Feijao vs. Henderson”. Is Rafael Cavalcante really championship material, especially considering how the last two Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champions (Gegard Mousasi and Muhammed Lawal) lost the title in their first defense? Did a drop to 135 truly resurrect Marloes Coenen? These are important questions that all Strikeforce fans should be thinking about, and they’ll be answered at this show.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Dan Henderson wants to capitalize on the wave of momentum he’s riding since knocking out Renato Sobral, and he wants to do it by knocking out Rafael Cavalcante and becoming the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile, Cavalcante wants to legitimize himself as champion and would do just that if he were to finish the grizzled MMA veteran. Both men have a whole lot riding on this match and should show up at their best, and if they do, Strikeforce fans are in for one epic encounter.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Marloes Coenen will look to duplicate her recent performance at Strikeforce: “San Jose”, except now she’ll try to do it against the unbeaten Liz Carmouche. Coenen will use her long reach to constantly assault Carmouche while taking minimal damage herself, and if the fight goes to the ground, Coenen’s sizable frame and long legs make her a submission threat to anyone. As a finisher, Carmouche will come in looking to swing leather. It has all the makings of a great brawl.

Why You Should Watch This Card: If you’re a Dan Henderson fan or an old-school MMA fan in general, you really should think about watching this card. This may or may not be Dan’s “swan song”, this is the fight that will once and for all prove if Dan Henderson can still be a force in today’s MMA. In addition to that, Strikeforce has put together several solid fights, including another championship bout, to anchor this championship bout.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: Unless you’re a fan of Women’s MMA (and you should be, by the way), this is pretty much a one-fight card. Most mainstream fans either don’t know or don’t really care about Jorge Masvidal and Billy Evangelista. Tim Kennedy certainly turns a few heads since he’s a war veteran and a pretty solid fighter, but anybody who hasn’t followed the international scene only knows Melvin Manhoef as the guy that put a beating on Robbie Lawler right before Lawler KO’d him. Strikeforce is saving all its best talent for the upcoming second part of the opening round of their Heavyweight Grand Prix, and depending on how you feel about that, you may not lose too much sleep if you miss this card.

Closing Thoughts: I honestly like how this card is shaping up, and I think Strikeforce fans are going to be treated to a very fun night of fights. All the fights sound very solid on paper, and in particular, I’m really looking forward to the two championship fights. Strikeforce has been on an incredible hotstreak lately, with many awesome shows, so I have faith in their ability to put on quality shows even if this card in particular isn’t as filled with as many A-list talents as their last major outing.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your thoughts on this upcoming card?

March 3, 2011: “UFC  on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”: A reinvigorated Diego Sanchez looks to stake his claim to the UFC Welterweight Championship by beating Martin Kampmann, an always-dangerous elite-level 170 pounder that most recently nearly spoiled the UFC debut of Jake Shields. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles will also be making his UFC debut, taking on the super-tough Damacio Page. Other interesting bouts include Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman and Joe Stevenson vs. Danny Castillo.

March 5, 2011: “Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson”: Former PRIDE FC and UFC veteran Dan Henderson looks to make the most out of his most recent comeback by taking the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship away from the man who just won it, the tough and talented Rafael Cavalcante. Also, former Strikeforce Middleweight Championship contender Tim Kennedy will be in action, taking on Middleweight powerhouse and wrecking machine Melvin Manhoef. Other interesting bouts include Jorge Gurgel vs. Tyler Combs and Marloes Coenen defending her Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship against Liz Carmouche.

March 19, 2011: “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones”: Mauricio Rua makes his long-awaited first defense of his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against the man many consider the future of the division, Jon Jones. Also, WEC legend Urijah Faber makes his long-awaited UFC debut against the tough Eddie Wineland, who is on a four-fight win-streak. Other interesting bouts include Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub.

March 26, 2011: “UFC Fight Night 24: Nogueira vs. Davis”: Grizzled veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira looks to remain relevant in the UFC’s super-competitive Light Heavyweight division by beating the fast-rising Phil Davis. Also, former UFC Welterweight Championship contender Dan Hardy takes on Anthony Johnson in what should be a fantastic war. Other interesting bouts include Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan and Alex Caceres vs. Mackens Semerzier.

And now, here are some thoughts on how I think the month of March 2011 will unfold.

I think “UFC on Versus 3” will be a quality event from top to bottom, and I also think that Sanchez will more than likely beat Kampmann. Urijah Faber will also most likely win his UFC debut too. While I think Dan Henderson is definitely on the comeback trail, I think he’s being given a title shot too soon, and I also think that Cavalcante will be able to beat him. It seems as if Strikeforce is trying their hardest to make “Hendo” a champion after going through so much to acquire his services, and I just don’t see that happening.

I’ve already vocally supported Jon Jones and picked him to win against Mauricio Rua, and I’d just like to note that nothing has happened to change that opinion. Mark my words: “Shogun” will have nothing for “Bones”. I also think Brendan Schaub is going to KO Mirko Filipovic. And finally, I think Davis may have it in him to beat “Little Nog” by Unanimous Decision so long as he doesn’t get careless on the ground. Because if he does, Nogueira could end it anywhere at any time.

All in all, it looks to be a great March 2011, fans and friends! But what about you? How do you think the month will shake out, and what’s your take on this new series?

Officials confirmed the fight following the post-fight proceedings for their most recent event, which was held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California with a dual-title headliner featuring both Nick Diaz and Ronaldo Souza successfully defending their titles against Evangelista Santos and Robbie Lawler, respectively.

The bout between the two heavy-handed strikers will taking place this March, to coincide with the Arnold’s Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Cavalcante recently captured the light heavyweight strap when he knocked out then-undefeated star “King Mo”, with a barrage of knees and elbows in the third round of their championship bout, last August.

Since then, Henderson, a former PRIDE welterweight (183-pound) and middleweight (205-pound) champion, has become the number one contender to the promotion’s light heavyweight belt. Dan first debuted for Strikeforce last April in a disappointing-upset decision loss to then middleweight champion Jake Shields, however the Team Quest co-founder has since rebounded with a knockout win over perennial contender and former champ Renato “Babalu” Sobral last December, in a rematch that was more than 10-years in the making.

The two-men are to serve headlining duties for the “Strikeforce: Columbus” event in Ohio on March 5 at the Nationwide Arena to coincide with the annual Arnold’s event, which has usually been a hotbed for the mixed martial arts community to rally together for a great weekend of festivities. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has regularly made the Arnold’s a stop on their yearly-calender with their sell-out events, however the worlds leading mixed martial arts promotion will be skipping the festival in 2011.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the light heavyweight tilt? Who do you think will win? Sound off in the comment section below.

The event is rumored to take place on March 5 to coincide with the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio at the Nationwide Arena.

MMAFighting.com has been able to confirm the title fight with sources close to the event.

The former dual PRIDE champion was last seen in action when he defeated former rival and former Strikeforce champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral on December 4. Dan wasted no time in finishing the Brazilian submission specialist when he knocked out Sobral inside of the first-round with less then two-minutes of ring time clocked in.

The win helped set up a light heavyweight showdown with reigning champion Rafael Cavalcante. The Black House product was last seen in action in August of last year when the Brazilian defeated former titleholder Muhammed Lawal who is better known simply as “King Mo”. A considerable underdog against the heavy-handed wrestling Olympian, Cavalcante made quick work of Mo, knocking him out with a barrage of knees and elbows in the second-round.

A match pitting Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem is also rumored for the March event–which will also be a featured title fight as well as a quarter-final match up for the heavyweight Grand Prix which will run its course through 2011.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the 205-pound title fight? Will Henderson be able to defeat the Brazilian, or will Cavalcante be able to successfully defend his title and venture into the deeper waters of the weight class (ie Gegard Mousasi, Mike Kyle, Muhammed Lawal, Ovince St. Preux etc.). Sound off in the comment section below.

5. The continued push to legitimize the various Strikeforce championships.

Strikeforce needs to find its footing in several of its major divisions, and I think 2011 will see a considerable amount of prestige added to a lot of Strikeforce’s championships. Now that Alistair Overeem has lived his dream and became a K-1 champion, he should be back in Strikeforce full-force in 2011. Ronaldo Souza will face Robbie Lawler in what should be an excellent striker vs. grappler match-up. Rafael Cavalcante will have a lot to prove but plenty of time to prove it as he eyes potential fights with Dan Henderson and several other high-profile Strikeforce Light Heavyweights. Then you’ve got Cristiane Santos dominating as always and Marloes Coenen realizing her full potential as a 135-pounder. It’ll be a great year for champions and championship defenses.

4. The continually improving quality of the “Strikeforce Challengers” series of shows.

I need a new underdog, fans and friends. Now that the WEC, my “little promotion that could”, has been folded into the UFC, I’m left without one. Heading into 2011, I think “Strikeforce Challengers” will fill that role quite nicely. The per-fight quality of these events keeps increasing, and the shows continue to showcase entertaining fights featuring up-and-coming fighters. 2011 has a great chance of seeing “Strikeforce Challengers” emerge as the show that everyone loves and not nearly enough people watch. And if they do fill that role, you can definitely expect to see me right back up on the soapbox and urging fans to give them a watch, vocally supporting them just as loudly as I did the WEC.

3. The return of Alistair Overeem.

Overeem has spent the last several years chasing a dream that’s kept him away from MMA for a considerable length of time, and now he’s finally lived that dream. Alistair Overeem is a K-1 champion, and now that he’s knocked that off of his bucket list, it’s very likely that we’ll see him fight a lot more often in Strikeforce. I’ve always been a gargantuan fan of “The Reem”, so his 2011 return to dominance is one thing I can’t wait to watch unfold.

2. The return of Fedor Emelianenko.

The only thing that really comes close to my excitement surrounding the return of Alistair is my excitement over the return of Fedor. I know how just saying the man’s name invites controversy and intense debate, but in the spirit of Christmas, I’m going to say the following: love him or hate him, people want to see Fedor return. I personally can’t wait to see him back in action, and I can guarantee that I’ll be glued to my TV screen from the moment I first hear his entrance music.

And my #1 spot goes to…

1. Several epic match-ups at Heavyweight, with or without the rumored Grand Prix.

This is not to say that I don’t want a Grand Prix, oh no. Rest assured: I want that Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. I want it bad. How could I not? Fighters like the aforementioned Alistair and Fedor, as well as Antonio Silva, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, and Brett Rogers could all end up competing against each other. But my point is this: even if the Grand Prix doesn’t happen, we’ve got an incredible amount of amazing Heavyweight fights to look forward to in 2011.

So there you have it, fans and friends: part 3 is over and done with. Stay tuned for the finale of “All I Want for Christmas”, and until then, what about you? What are you looking forward to for Strikeforce in 2011?

That much we already knew. What we didn’t know, which was revealed recently, that the winner of the bout will in fact be granted a light heavyweight title shot against current champion Rafael Cavalcante.

The Black house fighter recently claimed championship gold when he was able to knockout the previously undefeated Muhammed Lawal for the 205-pound title last August at “Strikeforce: Houston”, in the second round.

There should be more incentive to win for each competitor, now that the title is at stake. A win here is especially important for Dan Henderson. The Team Quest co-founder is coming off of a loss to current UFC welterweight, Jake Shields. The two fought last April for Shields’ then middleweight title. Henderson was able to drop the decorated grappler in the first round, and it looked like it would be only a matter of time before he finished the Cesar Gracie product.

However, Jake battled through and would end up controlling the rest of the match by taking down a tired Henderson seemingly at will. In the end, Shields was declared the winner by unanimous decision.

Henderson later revealed that the weight cut to the middleweight division became tedious and taxing on his body and was thought to attribute to his lack luster performance. The return to light heavyweight is ideal for Dan and he will look to revitalize his career with a potential win over the former champion in “Babalu”.

They met some time ago, when both fighter’s were still a bit green in their careers, especially Dan who had spent just two-years in the realm of MMA after a life long career as a wrestler, making his way to the Olympics on two-occasions.

Dan beat Sobral in the finals of “RINGS: King of Kings 1999″ tournament, with a close split decision victory, claiming the promotion’s 1999 tourney open-weight title.

“Babalu” recently has come off of a unanimous decision victory over former ICON and EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler, in a catch-weight bout of 195-pounds. The affair was largely decided on the feet, where most believed Robbie would have the decided advantage. However, Sobral, who has been working recently with former Chute Boxe trainer Rafael Cordeiro, showed a vastly improved stand up arsenal, and was eventually declared the winner on all three judges score cards after the three-round battle.

MMAWeekly.com first reported the news of the title shot opportunity.

So, MMA peeps, who do you think will claim the victory here in this light heavyweight battle? Will history repeat itself, or will Renato claim victory this time around? Sound off in the comment section below.

In an interview with MMA Weekly, Kyle let loose on the newly-minted champion with some very harsh words: “I want it known that I want Feijao, and if he’s a real champion, he’ll want to avenge his loss. I have a lot of fans that have been calling me, telling me, texting me and telling me that the (next title) fight should be mine. It was a good show to watch, an exciting fight. I was a little disappointed that Mo didn’t put on a better fight. The inexperience of both fighters showed, and that’s where I believe I will beat Feijao, because I have more experience than him. Feijao worked a lot on his cardio, I think, but I wasn’t super impressed. At the end of the second round he was really down, and whatever his corner said to him to get his head back on straight, he came back out and finished the fight, but he showed a big weakness in his game. I saw him quit in the same way he quit against me. No disrespect to him or his camp, but he has my belt, and I’m better than him in every category and that I can beat him in every category. If you put me in the cage with him again, it’s going to be the same fight as last time.”

Strong words from a strong man. Mike Kyle is a nine-year veteran in MMA, having 25 fights and 17 wins, a majority of them coming by way of (T)KO. Kyle was thrust into the role of glorified sacrificial lamb against Cavalcante when the two first met in June 2009, back when “Feijaio” was regarded as a can’t-miss prospect destined to quickly ascend to the top of his division. Instead, Kyle scored the TKO victory near the end of Round 2 and put a serious dent into Cavalcante’s aura. Since then, Kyle would go on to lose to Fabricio Werdum and has only just returned to Strikeforce, his last fight being on the lower-end “Strikeforce Challengers” series of shows. Meanwhile, Cavalcante would come back in a big way and most recently handed Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal the first loss of his professional career.

That’s what I think will be the deciding factor in this match: Kyle’s win over Cavalcante was the best thing that could have ever happened to Rafael Cavalcante. It caused Cavalcante to take a good, hard look at himself and work towards a rebirth that has played out masterfully. “Feijaio” is a very different fighter from when he first met Kyle, and I think the rematch would end up the way the first fight was supposed to: with Mike Kyle eating canvas and Cavalcante scoring yet another impressive (T)KO victory.

In its continued efforts to add some prestige to its Light Heavyweight Championship with a long-reigning champion, I think Kyle vs. Cavalcante would go a long way towards legitimizing Cavalcante in particular and the championship in general. If Cavalcante can score a big win over the only man to have ever truly beaten him, it will set an impressive precedent and prove that Cavalcante is here to stay both as a Strikeforce Champion and an elite-level Light Heavyweight. If Mike Kyle wins, it will prove at the very least that the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight division is very competitive, even if it lacks true best-in-the-world fighters. Either way, this rematch makes sense, would be very different from the first match, and I’d definitely like to see it happen.

But what about you, fans and friends? How excited would you be for Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle 2?

Next for Chad Griggs: Even though he was the first man to ever bring Bobby Lashley down to earth, I don’t see “The Grave Digger” being anywhere close to a championship opportunity in the near-future. Lashley had been dominating on Griggs up until that point, and aside from the smartly-timed uppercut to cut Lashley open in Round 1 and the all-out flurry he closed out Round 2 with, Griggs didn’t show that much in the way of offense. Chad Griggs is the next Seth Petruzelli, basically. He may have a few decent undercard/lower-card fights in him, but I see him having major trouble with any of Strikeforce’s elite.

Next for Bobby Lashley: Relative obscurity, plain and simple. Now that the hype train has derailed, Lashley is just another jacked-up Heavyweight that has above-average looks and below-average fighting skills. Lashley looks awesome on a poster due to his hulking physique, but as well all know, and as Lashley learned in his fight with Griggs, that physique comes at a price. Lashley needs better cardio, better striking, any sort of submission offense…he’s a work in progress and there’s a lot of work to be done. In the here and now, I see the Strikeforce promoters as well as his management trying to play damage-control and giving Lashley more cans, and unfortunately for Lashley, I see them beating him just like Griggs beat him.

Next for KJ Noons: A shot at Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Noons has serious boxing skill and has no love for Team Cesar Gracie. With Strikeforce’s relatively weak Lightweight division, Noons/Melendez is one of the few matches I’m actually looking forward to in the near future. A rematch with arch-rival Nick Diaz will happen eventually, but only after either Noons beats Melendez or Diaz loses his Welterweight Championship.

Next for Jorge Gurgel: Not a whole lot. Gurgel has stated that he’s only in it to have fun nowadays, meaning that he wants to stand and trade rather than fall back on his extensive Brazilian Jui Jitsu credentials. Unless he goes back to what made him a player in the game in the first place, he’ll continue to get (T)KO’d. If he does switch back to being a predominantly ground-based fighter, he’ll hover around the mid-level.

Next for Ronaldo Souza: Dan Henderson, Jason Miller, or Cung Le. Souza needs a tough test to prove that he’s a legitimate champion, which I personally think he is, and all three men pose some very interesting threats to “Jacare”. It’s also very possible that he’ll be faced with an immediate rematch with Tim Kennedy.

Next for Tim Kennedy: If it’s not an immediate rematch with Souza, Kennedy will get fights with people like Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith, or maybe even Melvin Manhoef: all good strikers that Kennedy could either strike or grapple with. And while none are at championship-level, a string of victories over mid-level opponents is really all you need in Strikeforce’s generally-limited weight divisions in order to get a shot at the title.

Next for Muhammed Lawal: A rematch with Gegard Mousasi. Mo looked excellent against Mousasi but floundered against “Feijaio”. Mo would prove that he’s here to stay with another victory over the man people were calling the future of the business up until Mo defeated him.

Next for Rafael Cavalcante: Most likely Renato Sobral, maybe Dan Henderson. It’s too soon for Gegard Mousasi or a rematch with King Mo, so it’ll be slim pickings for Cavalcante unless Strikeforce signs away a big-name star. Look for “Feijao” to continue his winning ways regardless.

And what do you think, fans and friends? What does the future hold for these fighters?

First off, Mo is biting the hand (hands, more like it) that feed him. Fans are the people that show up to watch you perform; they pay for tickets and buy your merchandise. The entire Mixed Martial Arts industry, and for that matter, just about all entertainment/sports industries known to man, live and die on fan interest and attendance. It’s not like King Mo has hurt anybody’s feelings, we’re all big boys here, but if a professional athlete tells me that he couldn’t care less about my support, I’m going to rethink supporting him. If he shuns us, the least we could do would be to shun him right back, whether it be through not buying his merchandise or not paying to see a card that he is headlining. I realize that Mo may draw a lot of unnecessary criticism due to his cocky attitude and his status as a relative newcomer. But by telling everybody to go screw themselves, Mo is ostracizing the loyalists as well as the doubters.

And you know what? It’s a shame that this latest tirade seems so half-hearted, coming from a guy whose mouth can run a mile a minute on any given day. King Mo has given us some great trash-talking antics in the few fights he has had, but it seems like he’s just phoning this one in. The whole “uneducated fan” thing has been done to death. The “hardcore fan vs. casual fan” debate has been both killed and revived so many times that it’s almost like Dracula in all the Castlevania games:  it just won’t die. I enjoy some good trash-talk, I even called Chael Sonnen “The Man I Love to Hate”, but Mo hasn’t said anything I haven’t heard before. So not only is he alienating a large portion of his fanbase, he’s not even all that entertaining while doing it.

To be honest, I’m still a fan of “King Mo”. I’m just going to roll my eyes, shrug my shoulders, sigh, and chalk this all up to a failed attempt at being controversial. At the end of the day, it’s very possible that King Mo could become one of Strikeforce’s major players, and a very dominant Light Heavyweight Champion. All the right ingredients are there: he’s got phenomenal wrestling, very impressive cardio, and good stand-up. And if he can keep the trash-talked centered in squarely on his opponent and not the fans, he could be one of Strikeforce’s most entertaining fighters ever.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do you think King Mo spoke out of line, or do you think he’s just “playing the game” in order to increase interest in his upcoming fight? And speaking of that fight, do you have Mo or Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante winning?

The two-time All-American wrestler, Woodley, attended the University of Missouri and is from St. Louis, across the state.  Woodley  tapped out “Lisbon Outlaw” Zach Light (6-9) in an armbar at 3:38 of round two at Strikeforce Challenger Series 3 in Tulsa September 25.

Bears TKO’d Brendan Seguin (18-15-1) at M-1 Global’s Breakthrough in Kansas City August 28.

Also confirmed, light heavyweights “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (7-2) and Aaron Rosa (10-3) will fight for a potential title shot versus Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1).  Fighters.com broke the matchup Monday.

“Feijao” was TKO’d by “MAK” Mike Kyle (11-7-1) at Strikeforce in St. Louis June 6.

Rosa finished former Strikeforce light heavyweight title challenger “El Toro” Anthony Ruiz (17-14) in a rear naked choke at Strikeforce in Fresno May 15.

Welterweights Bobby Voelker(20-7) and Erik Apple (10-1) will also matchup on the card.

All three fights will be televised on SHOWTIME® at 11:00 PM EST, delayed on the west coast.  The doors at Memorial Hall will open at 7:15 PM CT.  Tickets starting at $35 can be purchased at the Memorial Hall ticket office and will be available at Ticketmaster via the Internet or by calling (800) 745-3000.

No contract has been signed, but the fighters have agreed to the matchup.

Unless the signing of an elite 205er changes things, Fighters.com speculates based on solid information that the winner will become the top Strikeforce contender and challenge champion Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) for the light heavyweight title.

“Feijao” was TKO’d by “MAK” Mike Kyle (11-7-1) at Strikeforce in St. Louis June 6.

Rosa finished former Strikeforce light heavyweight title challenger “El Toro” Anthony Ruiz (17-14) in a rear naked choke at Strikeforce in Fresno May 15.

“Cyrille Diabate is not going to fight (Rafael) ‘Feijao’ for the title. We offered him the fight, but he felt like he didn’t have enough time to get ready,” Lappen said.

“We’re still looking for an opponent for ‘Feijao.’”

Lappen said that Diabate is interested in facing Cavalcante, and “wants to do that fight in the future.”

EliteXC: A Night of Champions will feature Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) and Joey Villasenor (26-6) in a title match, and a fight for the vacant 160-pound title between third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Nick Diaz (18-7).

Shaw said, “We’re going to have a huge card in November.  We’re going to be in Reno, Nevada.  It’s going to be fantastic.”

Shaw also confirmed that “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (7-1) will be on the card and may face “Snake” Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1), although whether it will be a title fight is yet to be determined.

“[We've] spoken about Cyrille Diabate, but it’s not definitive that that’s going to be his opponent,” Shaw said.

“Until we have a definitive opponent, we do not know if we will introduce the light-heavyweight title.  When we are ready to introduce the light heavyweight title, there is no doubt that ‘Feijao’ will be in a fight for that title.  He’s without a doubt the No. 1 fighter that we have in the light heavyweight division.”

Cavalcante last fought in July, TKO’ing “Gladiator” Travis Galbraith (15-6) in round one.

Diabate won a unanimous decision over Jaime Fletcher (6-4) in August.

Another bout under consideration is “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) versus “Shango” Hector Lombard (17-2-1).

Shaw said, “We have a tentative agreement for Scott Smith to take on Hector Lombard.  I think that would be a fantastic fight.”

Smith is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) in July.

Lombard last fought in September versus Brian Ebersole (36-15), who verbally tapped in the fourth round.

One fighter who may not make it onto the card is “Grim” Brett Rogers (8-0).

“Brett Rogers hasn’t been decided yet,” Shaw said.  “We’re still talking with his camp.  He had a couple of personal issues, and we’re just making sure that he has enough time to be prepared.  We spoke, and it’s nothing else.  It’s not contracts, it’s just a couple personal issues.

“We want to make sure we get the best possible Brett Rogers at all times.  If we’re able to go with him, then he’ll be there.”

Rogers TKO’d Jon Murphy (4-3) in 1:01 in May.

The event will be headlined by Lawler in a title fight with Joey Villasenor (26-6) and also features a 160-pound title bout between Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Nick Diaz (18-7).  It airs on Showtime.

Nick Diaz (18-7) TKO’d “Wildman” Thomas Denny (26-17) at :30 of round two.

Jake Shields (21-4-1) defeats “The Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1) by guillotine submission at 1:03 of the first round for the EliteXC Welterweight Championship.

“Big Foot” Antonio Silva (11-1) TKO’d Justin Eilers (20-8-1) at :19 of round two for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship.

“Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante TKO’d “Gladiator” Travis Galbraith (15-6) at 3:01 of round one.

Wilson Reis (5-0) won a unanimous decision over Bryan Caraway (10-3).

Carl Seumanutafa (4-0) KO’d Mike Cook (5-2) by slam at 1:21 of round one.

Drew Montgomery (5-3) TKO’d Brandon Tarns (1-2) by doctor stoppage at 4:23 of round three.

Touted Cavalcante is 2-0 at EliteXC, most recently defeating Wayne Cole (11-7) with a first-round TKO on 14 June.

“Feijao” trains with UFC and Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (21-4).

King of the Cage Canada champion Galbraith is coming off two consecutive wins, most recently submitting Martin Desilets (7-2; 1NC) with a first-round triangle choke at Raw Combat last month in Calgary.

Galbraith also fought at PRIDE 32, but was TKO’d in round two by “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8).

EliteXC’s one-hour Showtime telecast airing before the CBS show also includes a featherweight bout between Wilson Reis (4-0) and Brian Caraway (9-2), and a title match between “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (10-1) and Justin Eilers (19-6-1) for the new EliteXC heavyweight belt.