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Strikeforce Challengers 9 Predictions: Strikeforce Challengers Washington Preview for July 23, 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. ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 9 is set for July 23, 2010 at Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington, and our Strikeforce Challengers 9 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 9 fight card & results!

Strikeforce Challengers is coming to Washington – Washington State, that is. On July 23, 2010 at the Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington, the ninth installment of the Strikeforce Challengers series will air live on Showtime.

The event features undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Shane Del Rosario, King of the Cage light-heavyweight champion Mike Kyle, and the women’s bantamweight title fight, where Canadian and current titleholder Sarah Kaufman defends the belt versus Roxanne Modafferi.

The Strikeforce Challengers series is part of Strikeforce’s mission to feature up-and-coming fighters, as well as introduce new blood into the sport. Here’s a breakdown of this Friday’s event.

The Strikeforce Challengers Washington fight card:

Heavyweight bout: Shane Del Rosario versus Lolohea Mahe
Women's Bantamweight Championship bout: Sarah Kaufman versus Roxanne Modafferi
Light Heavyweight bout: Abongo Humphrey versus Mike Kyle
Welterweight bout: Cory Devela versus Bobby Voelker
Lightweight bout: Caros Fodor versus Ousmane Thomas Diagne

> Find the Strikeforce Challengers 9 July 23 fight card after the fights are complete at Pro Fighting Fans and check out the Strikeforce: Houston fight card for the August 1 event!

Caros Fodor (5-2) versus Ousmane Diagne (1-1)

Ousmane Diagne’s professional experience is two fights for Strikeforce, and he’s .500 so far with a decision victory and a round one submission loss. He’s a San Shou stylist from Paris, France. Caros Fodor is 5-2, and every one of his five wins were by round one submission. This is his Strikeforce debut. Opening night jitters aside, this is a pretty easy one to call.

Cory Devela (9-4) versus Bobby Voelker (21-8)

Devela is debuting at 170 pounds after back to back losses in Strikeforce. With ample experience in several American promotions including Sport Fight and XFC, Devela certainly hopes to return to his winning ways, as he’s a finisher – only a single fight, win or lose, has gone to submission. He is the guy who finished Joe Riggs with a body slam back in 2008. Voelker is a 29-fight veteran who is making his third appearance in Strikeforce with a 1-1 record in the promotion. Also a punisher and finisher (three straight TKO victories in 2009), this could be the best fight of the evening.

Abongo Humphrey (8-1) versus Mike Kyle (16-7-1)

Humphrey’s first fight for Strikeforce was at heavyweight where he was promptly dispatched by Brett Rogers. He dropped to light heavyweight and came up with his first submission victory, after four TKOs and two KOs to his credit. Mike Kyle is a huge test for this developing light heavyweight. As mentioned, Kyle is the KOTC light heavyweight champ, with a win over Rafael Cavalcante (soon to fight for the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt), and four consecutive victories, including one over Travis Wiuff, since his loss to Fabricio Werdum last year. No shame there. Style-wise, both men’s records attest to their striking prowess, but Humphrey is a dedicated grappler. If it stays on the feet, expect a quick finish.

> Find all of the ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 9 results as the fights become official online here at Pro Fighting Fans!

Sarah Kaufman (11-0) versus Roxanne Modafferi (20-5)

Kaufman is the hometown girl, fighting out of Victoria, B.C. which is about 50 miles from Everett as the crow flies. Doubtless, the crowd will be cheering “USA” for Modafferi, and well they might, as Modafferi is an extremely dedicated MMA fighter who has trained from Boston to Japan, and with some of the best in the business, including Mark DellaGrotte. Primarily a striker, Modafferi has a brown belt in judo and has been know to win by submission. This is her second fight in Strikeforce. Kaufman has three under her belt, all in the Challenger’s series, and overall is undefeated. While boasting a purple belt in jiu jitsu, she has somehow managed to rack up eight KOs. Kaufman is the clear favorite but Modafferi is no tomato can. She is an experienced and gritty fighter, and could walk away with an upset as the new Strikeforce Women's 135 Pound Champion.

Shane Del Rosario (9-0) versus Lolohea Mahe (4-1-1)

Topping off a night boasting quite possibly the oddest collection of names on a card in a while is a heavyweight bout that will definitely shake the rafters. Mahe tips the scales at 270+ pounds, and clearly faces the task of cutting weight to enter the Strikeforce cage. Del Rosario is a mere 240 pounds, although he’s not the first “small” heavyweight to make a run for a title (think Cain Velasquez). While both men are relative newcomers to the sport, together they combine for 11 TKO wins. Rosario’s gig is Muay Thai, fighting out of Team Oyama, while Mahe is a freestyle fighter who’s also rounded out his resume with Thai boxing. Rosario is definitely the favorite with a resume featuring multiple wins in M-1 and the now defunct ShoXC organization – but he’s not the “heavy” favorite.

By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer

Strikeforce fighter pictures used with permission from Strikeforce