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Strikeforce Heavy Artillery Predictions: Strikeforce St. Louis May 15 Preview & Predictions

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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 news as well as the latest preview & predictions. Strikeforce is set for another great event on May 15, 2010 and our Strikeforce "Heavy Artillery" predictions & fight previews are posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the May 15 Strikeforce Heavy Artillery results and don't miss out on our ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers 8 predictions and buy Strikeforce tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery Fight Previews

Strikeforce: Nashville has come and gone, leaving in its wake an ocean of ink spilled over the ramifications of the televised post-Shields-victory brawl, with a little head scratching by one and all over the wisdom of televising three title fights in one event. They were all timely, but they all took five rounds each. As the UFC has learned, title defenses don’t often lead to highlight reel finishes.

Granted, no one minds an upset: Muhammad Luwal over Gegard Mousasi keeps the light heavyweight division spicy, and it was satisfying to see Gilbert Melendez set Shinya Aoki straight (not to mention keep his belt). Unfortunately, the only fireworks came at the end of the event, when Jason “Mayhem” Miller ‘provoked’ an on-screen fracas, in what was obviously a scripted confrontation between the lone showman and an entire ring chock full of Cesar Gracie camp-mates.

But never mind all that. Strikeforce St. Louis, televised on Showtime this May 15th carries zero repercussions from the previous prime time CBS event. The main card of Strikeforce: Nashville had three fights; all title fights: lightweight, middleweight and light-heavyweight. Strikeforce: St Louis has five fights on the main card: two light heavyweight bouts, one middleweight fight and two big heavyweight matches.

Only one of the five fights is a title fight, and to MMA fans’ delight it is the headliner. Finally, we witness the return to the United States of Alistair Overeem, who squares off against the soft-spoken, heavy-handed Brett Rogers with the belt on the line. With that, let’s take a look at what’s on the line this May 15th.

Antwain Britt vs. Rafael Cavalcante

Rafael Cavalcante, 8-2, is a stablemate of both Anderson Silva and the Nogueiras, coming off a TKO victory in the ShoMMA promotion (the co-promoted Strikeforce/Showtime TV series intended to showcase up-and-coming fighters). Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt is 11-3 with a single win so far in Strikeforce, defeating Scott Lighty at Strikeforce: Evolution by TKO (Doctor Stoppage).

At 31, Britt is a bit older, yet hasn’t faced the quality of fighters that Cavalcante has. Cavalcante is an inch taller and two years younger. These minor discrepancies wouldn’t mean much if it weren’t for Cavalcante’s elite sparring partners and his depth of experience in the Elite XC cage. Britt, however, has heavy hands (3 KO and six TKO wins), which is one reason why this fight landed the two pugilists on the main card.

Cavalcante’s experience is the other reason. He is being set up to make a run for the belt. Should he win this fight, he should see a bigger name the next time around and title contention soon thereafter. If not immediately – after all, Lawal faced Mousasi after defeating Mike Whitehead.

Prediction: Cavalcante by TKO, round 1

Roger Gracie vs. Kevin Randleman

The Gracie name graces a title card once again. This particular Gracie is the grandson of Carlos Gracie via Carlos’ daughter. Roger arrives in the promotion with a fledgling two-fight MMA career, but holds victories over the venerable (if slightly aged) Japanese grappler Yuki Kondo, and the venerable (if rapidly aging) American grappler Ron Waterman. Kevin Randleman has had nine losses in his last twelve fights, including five in a row in his last five PRIDE outings and one loss in his single Strikeforce bout. Randleman only lost to the best in PRIDE, but his performance since then has been shaky, although it includes a controversial split decision loss to Stanislav Nedkov in late 2009.

That said, Randleman fought off a life-threatening staph infection in 2007, not to mention other health issues. He lost to Mirko Crocop in a rematch after knocking him out, and lost to Fedor Emelianenko and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at their prime. With a background in wrestling, he currently fights out of Xtreme Couture, Las Vegas and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Roger Gracie is a Gracie. ‘Nuff said. At 6’4”, with a 2nd-degree black belt an only 28 years old, he is a dark horse. Sure, he’s only beaten has-beens, but they are still worthy names in the MMA business. Gracie’s BJJ resume is phenomenal – just recently, in 2009, he won the finals in two separate weight divisions of the World Jiu Jitsu Championship. Assuming he has more than rudimentary stand-up and actually wants to make a career of it, he could take the fight.

Prediction: Gracie by submission, round two. NOTE: assuming he fights – at the time this article was written, it was announced that Randleman may have to withdraw.

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Ronaldo Souza vs. Joey Villasenor

This is the only middleweight fight on the card, and after Jake Shields defeated Dan Henderson – and considering the fact that Shields is being courted by Dana White (you may have seen him cage-side at UFC 112 alongside Dana White), the winner of this fight could see a title fight in his not-so-distant future.

Other than Scott Smith, Melvin Manhoef, Robbie Lawler and Cung Le (who are not currently signed to fight anyone), there aren’t much to challenge for middleweight, which is arguably Strikeforce’s most anemic division. It’s possible that Scott Coker is keeping his top-tier middleweights in the wings for the outcome of this very fight.

Joey Villasenor, 34, trains at highly-touted Jackson’s Submission Fighting alongside Rashad Evans and Georges St. Pierre. At 27-6, he’s currently on a roll in two promotion (the former EliteXC and the current Strikeforce), winning four straight fights including a 2008 TKO of Phil Baroni.

Ronaldo Souza (10-2-1, age 30) has had consistent success overseas, compiling a 4-1-1 record in Japan’s DREAM promotion (losing only to former Strikeforce lightweight champ Gegard Mousasi), and defeated Matt Lindland at Strikeforce: Evolution via arm triangle. He trains out of the highly respected Brazilian camp, Black House, along with Rafael Cavalcante, also on the card.

Prediction: a typical Brazilian grudge match, Muay Thai striker versus BJJ black belt. Villasenor’s on a roll with more cage experience. Villasenor by TKO.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Antonio Silva

Do or die. Well, maybe not die, and maybe the pressure’s a little heavier on Andrei Arlovski (2-2 since he left the UFC, 0-1 in Strikeforce). Arlovski has to convince Strikeforce, pundits and fans that there is a little moxie left in either his chin or his fists. Antonio Silva also has a single loss in the promotion – that’s to Fabricio Werdum (recently greenlit to fight Fedor Emelianenko), but doesn’t have nearly as much to prove. Silva is a solid heavyweight who has only been fighting since 2005. This is an excellent fight for him as he can build off of a forgivable loss, while Arlovski has to face another heavy-handed up-and-comer, not unlike his last fight (and loss) versus Brett Rogers.

Andrei Arlovski has been fighting for longer against better fighters. His chin, as mentioned, is suspect (two consecutive KOs), but he’s taken a year off. That gives the brain and ego time to heal. He’s also got a new team: Jackson’s Submission Fighting, like Villasenor (see above). Things might be looking up for the Belarussian.

Antonio Silva has fought in eight separate promotions in only 15 professional fights, including Elite XC (Elite XC is to Strikeforce what PRIDE is to DREAM). He’s primarily a standup fighter, training with America Top Team, and holds an impressive total of ten wins out of thirteen via TKO.

Prediction: Arlovski by TKO

Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship Fight: Alistair Overeem vs. Brett Rogers

By all accounts, this is a strange, if interesting fight. Talks between M-1 and Strikeforce over Fedor Emlianenko's inevitable challenge were dragging. Alistair became the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion in November of 2007 and hasn't defended it (or fought on North American soil) since. He's fought seven times (and won six, with one no contest), but never with the Strikeforce belt in contention. The logical challenge comes from the undefeated Emelianenko, but obviously they couldn't wait months longer for terms to be hashed out. Hence, Brett Rogers has been recruited to battle the Dutch behemoth, hot on the heels of his second round defeat at the hands of Emelianenko, in the Russian sambo player's Strikeforce debut.

It's not the best outcome, but it is the best solution given the fighters at hand.

Overeem moved up to heavyweight in 2007 and never looked back. Moving up in weight isn't nearly as common as moving down, but for a lanky, bulky Overeem it was a natural choice. 6'5", now a gargantuan 260 lbs, with equal capacity to strike or submit (his day job hobby is professional kickboxing), Overeem is a tour-de-force.

Brett Rogers catapulted up the ranks after a 22-second TKO beatdown of highly-ranked UFC veteran Andrei Arlovski in the summer of 2009. Although he lacks the experience of Overeem, he's faced more than stellar opposition. As Coker pointed out, Rogers lasted well into the second round with the Russian legend (and no one's done that since Coleman in 2006, who incidentally did not last as long as Rogers). Rogers has taken his fame with a grain of salt, relying upon powerful striking and aggressiveness to end fights swiftly and painfully.

Prediction: Rogers will get the upset. KO

By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer