Strikeforce Challengers 4 Predictions: Strikeforce Evangelista vs Gurgel Picks - November 6, 2009
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The Strikeforce Challengers series is slowly but surely gaining steam on its way to the November 6th card, which is headlined by undefeated lightweight Billy Evangelista and former UFC 155-pound gatekeeper, Jorge Gurgel. The event will take place from the Save Mart Center on the campus of Fresno State University in Fresno, California. It can be seen on the Showtime networks beginning with the main card at 10 pm Eastern Standard Time.
Some of the other notable fights scheduled to take place include middleweights Jesse “JT Money” Taylor vs. Luke Rockhold, heavyweights Brandon Cash vs. Shane Del Rosario, and in women’s action Elisha Hellspur vs. Zoila Frausto.
> Find the Strikeforce November 6 fight results after the fights are complete at Pro Fighting Fans and check out the Strikeforce Fedor vs Rogers fight card & results!
Thomas Diangne vs. Merritt Warren
Paris, France-native, Ousmane Thomas Diagne (1-0) will make his second start for Strikeforce after appearing on the first Challengers series card back in May. Diagne will square off against Strikeforce rookie, Merritt Warren (1-4).
Diagne, in his only professional fight to date, used his unique striking style to overwhelm 16-fight veteran Kaleo Kwan in May at Challengers 1. The Cung Le student, who transitioned into MMA after a career in San Shou fizzled out, will again be the favorite against Kentucky-based lightweight Merritt Warren. Warren, 31, submitted to strikes after only 40 seconds in his most recent bout at Revolution Fight League in July 2008.
PREDICTION – It is clear that Warren must get this fight to the ground or possibly catch Diagne with a well-placed strike early in the fight. Diagne, who looks to have some potential, is being given Warren to help build his status with the promotion. Diagne over Warren via TKO
Luke Rockhold vs. Jesse Taylor
Strikeforce takes a risk by matching Luke Rockhold (5-1), one of their future stars, against boringly effective TUF 7 finalist Jesse Taylor (13-4). Taylor has been busy since blowing his chance at a six-figure UFC contract, winning seven of eight fights in a little over a year’s span. Rockhold has been slowly groomed within the organization, posting a 4-0 Strikeforce record in almost two years.
Appearing on Strikeforce’s original developmental series, “Young Guns,” as well as on the undercard of the company’s Shamrock vs. Diaz card and then on the television portion of the Challengers 2 series, the American Kickboxing Academy fighter has slowly moved up the ladder of importance. Taylor will be his stiffest competition to date, however I’m sure he would settle for another submission victory; something he has done in all five of his victories.
Team Quest’s Taylor figures to be left off main cards due to his lay-and-pray fighting style. After defeating four opponents to reach the TUF 7 Finale, Taylor was kicked out of the Finale due to behaviors outside of the house, and when CB Dollaway submitted him in his second chance fight at Fight Night 14, his UFC career was over. He has done a good job since then in righting the ship, defeating seven straight opponents, including Drew Fickett and Dong Sik Yoon before losing to Jay Hieron at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg bout; a bout that was left off of the Showtime television portion.
PREDICTION – Taylor is probably a little more mature than Rockhold, in terms of MMA at least, and it should be evident in this Middleweight bout. In my opinion, Taylor will use his wrestling skills to grind out yet another snoozefest. Taylor over Rockhold via decision
Brandon Cash vs. Shane Del Rosario
Two undefeated Heavyweight prospects will put their records on the line when Brandon Cash “Money” (5-0) meets Shane Del Rosario (8-0) at Strikeforce Challengers 4 on November 6th. Cash built his resume primarily through the War Gods promotion, although he stopped Steve Gavin at Palace FC in his most recent bout in February. Del Rosario, the more recognizable name of the two big fellas, was used by KOTC, No Limits, Elite XC, and M-1 Challenge organizations.
As a young heavyweight known for his wrestling skills, Cash “Money” has also done a solid job in the stand-up game. Three of his five wins have been ended by way of TKO, including three of his last four bouts. His 3-0 run in the California-based War Gods promotion came within a span of four months.
His Team Oyama opponent, Del Rosario, has been very efficient over the last three plus years. Elite XC secured his services after recording two wins in two chances. While with Elite XC, Del Rosario was only used to fill the Sho XC cards; effectively filling the need with three straight stoppages. His final Elite XC win came at the expense of Carl Seumanutafa in September 2008 and helped in launching him into the M-1 Challenge. Since joining the M-1 Global family, the undefeated heavyweight posted wins in Japan, Korea and the U.S. His most recent bout was less than a month ago, using a knee to finish Lloyd Marshbanks at the 2009 Challenge Semifinals.
PREDICTION – It should be an entertaining bout that shouldn’t last all that long. While the skill-sets are fairly similar, Del Rosario holds the experience edge, which only sometimes plays a role in the decision. Del Rosario has been in different venues, in different cultures, with different spectators; I like Del Rosario to pull out this one. Del Rosario over Cash via KO
Strikeforce Challengers 4 Main Event: Billy Evangelista vs Jorge Gurgel
Undefeated Lightweight, Billy Evangelista (9-0) will try and forget the controversial No Contest that stopped his May bout with Mike Aina, by headlining the Strikeforce Challengers 4 card against The Ultimate Fighter 2 contestant, Jorge Gurgel (13-5). At Strikeforce’s debut of the Challengers series in May, Evangelista was disqualified for kneeing a downed Aina, however after further review proved that the strikes landed on Aina’s shoulder, the DQ was overturned to a No Contest. Gurgel, an accomplished BJJ black belt, once again chose to stand and trade punches with Conor Heun, rather than take the fight to the ground, where he would have had the distinct advantage; winning a fairly decisive decision.
Evangelista has been around Strikeforce for much of his 3½ years as a professional posting a 5-0 record within the organization. Four of his last five fights have been inside the Strikeforce cage, defeating Marlon Sims, Nam Phan, and Luke Caudillo along the way. The Team Buhawe/AKA fighter has also appeared for the WEC, Gladiators Challenge, Melee on the Mountain, and Palace FC organizations. In the middle of his recent run through the Strikeforce lightweight division, Evangelista took a fight outside of the organization outscoring Harris Sarmiento on the Palace FC 12 card in January after 3 x 3:00 rounds. Evangelista has an aggressive style, stopping four career opponents via TKO, but lately has shown a tendency to drag an opponent into the late rounds winning five bouts via decisions, including his last three..
Team Extreme lightweight Jorge Gurgel, 32, built a 9-1 record prior to catching his big break as a participant on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. Although he was ousted from the tournament in the first round, Gurgel was given a chance to continue his career in the UFC octagon. He went on to earn hard fought victories against Danny Abbadi, Diego Saraiva, and John Halverson while fighting in the world’s most respected MMA promotion. At UFC 91 in November 2008, Gurgel once again chose to stand and trade with his opponent, Aaron Riley, instead of using his superior BJJ skills; ultimately finding himself on the wrong end of a decision and soon after receiving his walking papers. He used the same strategy in his first bout at Strikeforce Challengers 2 in June, coming out on top of Conor Heun in a wildly entertaining lightweight clash.
PREDICTION – I don’t see Gurgel switching up his stand-and-trade strategy after his last fight. Using the same style that made him a two-time “Fight of the Night” bonus winner in the UFC, Gurgel will try and trade leather with Evangelista. Evangelista can take a punch as good as he can give one, helping him drag this fight into the later rounds. Evangelista over Gurgel via decision
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By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Strikeforce fighter pictures used with permission from Strikeforce
Past Strikeforce Challengers Predictions, Picks & Fight Previews
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- Strikeforce Challengers 2 preview & predictions
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