MMA Content: Strikeforce Schedule - Strikeforce Division Rankings - Strikeforce Results - Tickets - Forums - MMA Merchandise - Strikeforce Profiles

Strikeforce Challengers 5 Predictions: Strikeforce Woodley vs Bears Picks - November 20, 2009

Find Intimidation MMA clothing & apparel online available through Pro Fighting Fans!

Pro Fighting Fans is the home of Strikeforce MMA fans across the globe and we now bring you the best place to find the latest Strikeforce Challengers series preview & predictions. Strikeforce Challengers 5 is set for November 20, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri, and our Strikeforce Challengers 5 predictions & preview are posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Be sure to check out the great MMA t-shirts & apparel and buy Strikeforce tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans and keep checking back for updates to the Strikeforce Challengers 5: Woodley vs Bears fight card!

The Strikeforce Challengers resumes just two weeks after Billy Evangelista defeated Jorge Gurgel at Challengers 4. The Strikeforce Challengers 5 event will take place in Kansas City, Missouri and can be seen on the Showtime networks.

> Find the Strikeforce November 20 fight results after the fights are complete at Pro Fighting Fans and check out the Strikeforce Evolution December 19 fight card & results!

Sarah Kaufman vs. Takaya Hashi

Undefeated Strikeforce Challengers veteran Sara Kaufman (10-0) will match-up with nine-time Smackgirl fighter, Takayo Hashi (12-1) in an intriguing 140 pound female division bout. Kaufman has been on Challengers cards twice before, defeating her opponent on the 1st and 2nd series events. Hashi was a Smackgirl staple for three solid years, but has only fought once this year, a GCM bout in April.

Sarah Kaufman, a Canada citizen, debuted in June of 2006 for a small Canadian organization known as the North American Challenge. She produced stoppages in all of her first nine bouts, fighting in organizations such as King of the Cage, UCW, TKO, HCF, and Palace FC. However, her two Strikeforce fights have both gone to decisions, a May unanimous decision over Miesha Tate and a June decision over Shayna Baszler.

Takayo, a Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo student, won her first four bouts before losing an August 2005 bout after submitting to Hitomi Akano. She has been untouchable as of late, winning her last eight bouts. She outpointed Amanda Buckner in a FFF fight last April and then submitted Chisa Yonezawa a year later in GCM (Japan). She is known to drag her opponents along and into a decision, where she has never lost in eight tries.

Prediction – Kaufman over Takayo via decision

Refael Cavalcante vs. Aaron Rosa

A light heavyweight battle between two former Elite XC prospects as Brazilian Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (7-2) meets Aaron Rosa (12-2) on the main card at Strikeforce Challengers 5. Cavalcante recently was knocked out by Mike Kyle at the June Strikeforce show headlined by Lawler vs. Shields. Rosa, in his only Strikeforce bout, won via (technical) submission at Challengers 1 in May over Anthony Ruiz.

“Feijao” works out with Team Nogueira, normally a camp specializing in grappling and jiu-jitsu and although he is skilled in those two areas, he is best when striking in a stand-up war. He is a fighter that has bounced back each time he has been defeated. The two-time IFL fighter put together three impressive wins before losing in his most recent bout. He was 3-0 for Pro Elite’s Elite XC organization.

Aaron Rosa, a 6’3” 205 pound Texas resident, comes into this bout off the strength of two stoppage wins. First was Ron Fields at Adrenaline MMA 1 last June and then it was Ruiz in the Challengers 1 event. Prior to the back-to-back wins, he suffered two losses, one coming by UFC fighter Jared Hamman. Rosa is an exciting fighter who rarely leaves it in the judges’ hands; finishing eight of his opponents early.

Prediction – Cavalcante over Rosa via submission

Bobby Voelker vs. Erik Apple

Both Bobby Voelker (20-7) and Erik Apple (10-1) are experienced veterans who are trying to make a good impression in their Strikeforce debuts. Kansas-based Voelker had put together three consecutive victories before losing to Brendan Seguin in his most recent bout just last month. Apple, a submission specialist, won nine straight to start off his career before suffering his first defeat while fighting on the big stage at WEC 26 in March of 2007.

Voelker is an American Jiu-Jitsu Academy fighter who has been professionally active for over three years. In those three years, Voelker has fought in the MCC, Titan FC, Extreme Challenge, M-1 Challenge, EFP, and CSC Fight Night shows. Among the tough losses that he has suffered, Voelker fell to recent UFC-signee Jacob Volkmann at a VFC 25 show in December 2008. He has won three of his last four bouts overall and among his twenty wins; he has stopped his opponent in fifteen of them.

Apple, a Ruas Vale Tudo student, is a 32 year-old submission style fighter who hails from California. He began his career with nine wins, among them were eight stoppages. After dropping his biggest fight of his life at WEC 25, he rebounded with a submission win over Matt Makowski at a ShoXC event in September 2008. Apple has been inactive since that Pro Elite bout over fourteen months ago. Apple has stopped his opponent in nine of ten victories.

Prediction – Apple over Voelker via submission

Kerry Vera vs. Kim Couture

It’s not the main event for the UFC 105 event in England, but it still looks to be an intriguing match-up. Kerry Vera (1-0), the wife of UFC LHW contender Brandon Vera, will go head-to-head with Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-1), the former wife of UFC Hall-of-Famer, Randy Couture.

Vera has only one fight under her belt; a unanimous decision victory over Leslie Smith at Bellator FC 6 in May. Vera was eager to throw down with Smith in a one-sided women’s division bout. She seems to have the same skill set as her famous husband, including solid boxing and muay-thai.

Couture, who looked to have started her career as more of a hobby, has taken a serious attitude toward her career after splitting with her former husband this past year. After losing a unanimous decision to Kim Rose last June, Rose earned a TKO on the big-show at Strikeforce “Destruction” last November over Lina Kvokov.

Prediction – Vera over Couture via TKO

Strikeforce Challengers 5 Main Event: Tyron Woodley vs Rudy Bears

In the main event for the Strikeforce Challengers 5 event, both Tyron Woodley (5-0) and Rudy Bears (10-3) come in riding high with mounds of confidence. Bears, an M-1 Global, C3 Fights and Freestyle Cage Fighting veteran, has been in the winner’s circle in his last six bouts. Woodley, who works out with top-notch talent on a regular basis at American Top Team, is undefeated, including 2-0 inside of the Strikeforce cage.

Woodley is one of the hottest prospects within the organization at this time. The 5’9” wrestling standout stopped Sal Woods with a 1st round submission at Lawler vs. Shields in June. He took a slight step up in competition at Challengers 3 in September when facing former Team Punishment fighter, Zach Light. “T-Wood” neutralized Light’s striking with takedowns until he locked in a submission halfway through the 2nd round.

Bears is a Strikeforce rookie, who has been in some tough fights through the minor leagues. In early 2008, Bears soundly lost to Strikeforce’s Zak Cummings at a FM Productions event for the second loss of his career. He has four stoppages in his recent 6-fight win streak, including a TKO win in his latest action in August at M-1 Breakthrough against Brendan Seguin. Overall, he has stopped opponents in eight of his ten victories.

Prediction – Woodley over Bears via submission

> Find all of the Strikeforce Challengers 5 results as the fights become official online here at Pro Fighting Fans!

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer