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Strikeforce Challengers 7 Predictions: Strikeforce Johnson vs Mahe Preview for March 26, 2010

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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 7 is set for March 26, 2010 in Fresno, California, and our Strikeforce Challengers 7 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 7 fight card!

Strikeforce Challengers VII is set to take place Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The five-fight card showcasing some of the best up and coming talent in MMA will be televised live on Showtime at 11:45PM EST. The show will feature the return of knockout machine Lavar Johnson, who has been sidelined for nearly six months due to life-threatening gunshot wounds. Also featured on the card is the Strikeforce debut of seven time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Andre Galvao, and the return of women’s Bantamweight contender Miesha Tate. Strikeforce has made sure there will be fireworks come Friday night, so tune in and don’t miss some of the best prospects in MMA trade blows. For the ten fighters set to fight, this is their night to shine in Fresno, to show the MMA world who they are and where the stand. Here is a rundown of these ten fighters and their five bouts.

> Find the Strikeforce Challengers 7 March 26 fight card after the fights are complete at Pro Fighting Fans and check out the Strikeforce on CBS April 17 fight card!

Justin Wilcox vs. Shamar Bailey

Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox is a two-time Strikeforce fighter with a record of 8-3. Of his 8 victories, a whopping 6 have come via decision, 1 via KO, and 1 via submission. Wilcox’s most notable win was a unanimous decision victory over PRIDE veteran Daisuke Nakamura at Strikeforce Evolution in December. He also holds a unanimous decision victory over TUF 5 alum and former WEC Lightweight Champion, Gabe Ruediger. Wilcox’s notable losses are to Japanese star Mitsuhiro Ishida and Sengoku veteran Dan Hornbuckle. Justin Wilcox is currently on a 3-fight win streak and has won 7 of his last 8, his lone loss to Ishida.

Shamar Bailey is a hot prospect who has fought in M-1, KOTC, and Strikeforce with a record of 10-1. Of his 10 victories, Bailey has finished half of them, 3 via KO and 2 via submission. Bailey is a late replacement for top prospect Bryan Travers and is more than worthy of filling his shoes. His last fight was his most notable, defeating TUF 6 alum John Kolosci via unanimous decision at Strikeforce/M-1 Global – Fedor vs. Rogers this past November. The only blemish on Bailey’s record comes from a TKO loss to Roger Bowling in ’08, which Bailey claims only occurred because he slipped. Since then, Bailey has rattled off 4 consecutive victories and looks to make Wilcox his fifth.

Both fighters have a significant wrestling background which will neutralize the other’s, leaving the fight to be fought on the feet. Wilcox has yet to show any real power with his hands, putting him in a severe disadvantage with the not so technical, but heavy handed, Bailey. If the fight does end up on the ground, it will be precisely for this reason.

Prediction: Shamar Bailey via decision.

Zoila Frausto vs. Miesha Tate

Zoila”Warrior Princess” Frausto is a rising woman’s fighter with an undefeated record of 5-0. Of her 5 victories, only one came via stoppage, a second round armbar in her last fight against Jessica Rakoczy. Her five opponents have a combined record of 3-9, not exactly fierce competition. This fight will make her second time competing in Strikeforce, having previously fought at Strikeforce Challengers IV in November of ’09.

Miesha “Takedown” Tate is a Strikeforce veteran with a record of 8-2. Of her 8 victories, she has finished 75% of them, 3 via KO, and 3 via submission. She is a tough wrestler with a notable first round dismantling of Jessica Bednark. Her first loss was in her second fight to a surging Kaitlin Young via head kick KO. Her second loss came via unanimous decision in May of ’09 at Strikeforce Challengers I to current Strikeforce Woman’s Bantamweight Champion Sarah Kaufman. Meisha Tate is currently on a 2-fight win streak

Frausto has faced far weaker competition than Tate and has only been able to finish one opponent in five. While Frausto may be able to put up a decent fight for the first half of the bout, expect Tate to pour it on the “Warrior Princess” and finish her off in spectacular fashion. This fight is tailor made for Tate to put on a great performance, but with MMA you never know.

Prediction: Miesha “Takedown” Tate via TKO in Round 2.

Luke Stewart vs. Andre Galvao

Luke Stewart is a Strikeforce veteran who has fought his entire career with the organization and holds a record of 6-2. Of his 6 victories, he has finished them all, 3 via KO and 3 via submission, and has finished 5 of the 6 in the first round. He holds a notable first round armbar win over MFC veteran Jesse Juarez, a first round TKO via punches over UFC veteran Sam Liera, and a first round rear naked choke victory over Jeremiah Metcalf. Luke has suffered his two losses in his last three fights, dropping a unanimous decision to UFC veteran Tiki Ghosn in ’08, and a TKO loss to UFC veteran Joe Riggs at Strikeforce Destruction in November of ’08.

Andre Galvao is a World Jiu-Jitsu champion with a 3-1 record. Galvao has won via submission in all three of his victories, including a win over WEC veteran John Alessio and Jeremiah Metcalf. His lone loss came in his last fight via split decision at DREAM 10 to Jason High in the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals. Galvao won the 08’,05’,’04’,03’, and ’02 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and the ’08 Medium Heavy and Absolute Pan American Championships to go along with his gold in 06’, 05’, and ’04.

Ring rust plays a role in MMA just like it does in boxing, so for Luke Stewart, who hasn’t fought in nearly 18 months, expect a slow start out the gates and an empty gas tank in Round 3. That is if it goes 3 rounds. This is a bad match up for Stewart, BJJ is his main asset and it plays right into the hands of Galvao who is a BJJ wizard. Galvao, who some believe was robbed of a decision victory over Jason High at DREAM 10, shouldn’t have much of a problem taking care of Stewart after such a long lay off.

Prediction: Andre Galvao via armbar in Round 3.

“Abongo” Humphrey vs. George Bush

Ron “Abongo” Humphrey is a soaring prospect with a record of 6-1. He has finished all 6 of his wins via KO in the first round. He holds a notable KO win over Brian Heden and his lone loss occurred in his latest fight at Strikeforce Shamrock vs. Diaz when he was TKO via knees to top heavyweight fighter Brett Rogers in April of 2009.

George Bush hasn’t fought since 2008 when George Bush was the President but holds an impressive record of 5-1. Of his five victories, he has finished 4, 3 via KO and 1 via submission. He holds a notable unanimous decision win over TUF 8 Finalist Vinny Magalhaes. His only loss came in his last fight, a unanimous decision loss to former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez at Yamma – Pit Fighting 1 in April of ’08.

Humphrey and Bush are two more fighters who haven’t been in the cage for quite some time. Humphrey’s only been out of action for 11 months, but Bush hasn’t fought in nearly two years. Before Humphrey ran into the bulldozer that is Brett Rogers, he himself was plowing through the competition. Now with a drop from heavyweight to light heavyweight, Humphrey looks to keep his devastating power and increase his speed. Bush is a decent wrestler, but his wins have not been nearly as impressive as “Abongo”. This fight will be over quick, as both guys try to prove they still belong in the ever evolving sport of MMA.

Prediction: “Abongo” Humphrey via KO in Round 1.

Main Event: Lavar Johnson vs. Lolohea Mahe

Lavar Johnson is a hot prospect who almost lost his life six months ago after being gunned down while attending a family 4 th of July barbeque. Lavar holds a 13-3 record, finishing all of his wins, 11 via KO, 2 via submission. Since suffering back to back losses in July and August of ’08, Johnson has gone on a tear, rattling off 5 first round KO victories in a row, including Dave Huckaba. One of his two losses came to 9-2 fighter, Brian Olsen. Lavar Johnson looks to increase his win streak to 6 come Friday night.

Lolohea Mahe is an undefeated fighter with a record of 4-0-1. He has finished all four of his wins, 3 via KO and 1 via submission. Mahe has currently beaten no fighters of note, but does share a draw with TUF 10 alum Scott Junk. Mahe looks to extend his unbeaten record to 5-0 against a very game Lavar Johnson.

The main event for the night is the epitome of a “Don’t Blink” fight: at any moment either fighter could be put to sleep by their opponent’s powerful hands. But with Mahe’s inexperience, and Lavar’s new outlook on life, expect the Hawaiian native to be the one catching some Zs. Johnson has gotten a lot of press because of his near-death experience, and with the press has comes high expectations, look for him to meet those expectations and then some.

Prediction: Lavar Johnson via KO in Round 1.

> Find all of the Strikeforce Challengers 7 results as the fights become official online here at Pro Fighting Fans!

By Jeffrey Concerto
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer