Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine Bold Predictions
The time has come to say goodbye to the former #2 MMA promotion in the US this Saturday as the promotion holds their final event, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine. When first announced this final event was to be a night of champions, a way to go out with a bang. The end result though albeit is still pretty stacked, lacks the championship bouts it once thought to have.
The Strikeforce card will air on Showtime Extreme and Showtime during a free preview weekend but will have to deal with the NFL playoffs happening at the same time. Thankfully though someone invented the DVR and remote controls so take a break from those NFL Playoff Betting Lines and review the Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine fight card for possible underdogs.
The only title fight that actually made it onto the fight card was the welterweight title fight between Nate Marquardt and Tarec Saffiedine. Marquardt will be making his first title defense after defeating Tyron Woodley for the vacant welterweight title back in July. Saffiedine’s lone loss in Strikeforce was to Woodley two years ago but has won three in a row since.
The rest of the main card is filled with some high-profile names like Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett in bouts versus guys even most MMA media don’t even know. Luckly the main card will open up on Showtime with two somewhat closer match-ups between light heavyweights Mike Kyle and Gegard Mousasi, as well as middleweights Ed Herman against Ronaldo Souza.
The Strikeforce preliminary card though is where the event shows just how deep it actually is. The four bout televised portion of the prelims on Showtime Extreme include names like Pat Healy, Ryan Couture, Tim Kennedy, Roger Gracie and KJ Noons. To add a little something for those in attendance there are even two bouts before any of the action hits the TV’s of fans at home.
The New Year means the bold predictions record goes back to 0-0 but let’s quickly recap where we finished last year at. Following a 6-6 record at the UFC 155 event we ended up with an overall record of 206-147 or a 58.3 winning percentage. We’re aiming for over 60% this year!
MAIN (Showtime @ 7pm PT / 10pm ET)
Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine – Nate Marquardt
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring – Daniel Cormier
Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino – Josh Barnett
Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi – Gegard Mousasi
Ed Herman vs. Ronaldo Souza – Ronaldo Souza
PRELIMINARY (Showtime Extreme @ 5pm ET / 8pm ET)
Pat Healy vs. Kurt Holobaugh – Pat Healy
Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith – Roger Gracie
Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith – Tim Kennedy
Ryan Couture vs. KJ Noons – KJ Noons
PRELIMINARY (Untelevised, 4 pm PT / 7pm ET)
Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins – Adriano Martins
Michael Bravo vs. Estevan Payan – Estevan Payan
The final Strikeforce event will take place from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Category: MMA, Predictions, Strikeforce
We only disagree on one, sir. I’m picking Couture over Noons. Couture gets the fight to the ground and rides out a decision.
Noons is not easy to get to the ground which is why i picked him, though I’d like to see couture win. LOL