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

Strikeforce Houston Predictions: Strikeforce Houston Preview & Predictions - August 21

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 news as well as the latest preview & predictions. Strikeforce is set for another great event on August 21, 2010 featuring two title fights as the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight belts are up for grabs, and our Strikeforce Houston predictions & fight previews are posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the Strikeforce Fedor vs Werdum results and buy Strikeforce tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Andre Galvao vs. Nate Moore

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist and DREAM veteran Andre Galvao (4-1) will try and make a significant climb in the promotion’s welterweight division when he faces California-based welterweight Nate Moore (6-2) on the Strikeforce: Houston preliminary card. Galvao won his Strikeforce Challengers 7 bout in March, whereas Moore dropped his last bout on the Strikeforce Challengers 8 fight card in May.

Galvao, 27, is a Sao Paulo, Brazil-native who splits his training between the Wand Fight Team and Black House. After accomplished submission wrestling and jiu-jitsu careers came to an end, Galvao decided to try his hand in mixed martial arts in 2008. He won his first two professional bouts before joining the DREAM roster as a participant in their welterweight grand prix. He finished John Alessio in the opening round of the DREAM WW GP, but lost to Jason High at DREAM 10 in July 2009 in the semifinal round against Jason High, ending his quest for the tournament crown. He rebounded this past March with an impressive split decision victory in his Strikeforce debut over Luke Stewart.

Moore, 26, is 6’0” American Kickboxing Academy-trained fighter who began as a professional in July 2007. He won five of his first six while fighting in organizations like the United Fight League, Gladiator Challenge, and Fight Fest. He joined Strikeforce in late 2009 defeating Louis Taylor on the Strikeforce/M-1’s “Fedor vs. Rogers” undercard, before losing his Challengers 8 bout this May via TKO against Tarec Saffiedine. All six of Moore’s victories have come by way of stoppage, two via TKO and four by submission.

Prediction – Galvao submission

Daniel Cormier vs. Jason Riley

Former NCAA Division 1 wrestling runner-up Daniel Cormier (4-0) continues his transition into mixed martial arts with his Strikeforce: Houston preliminary card bout against Jason “Juggernaut” Riley (9-3). This will be Cormier’s fifrth professional bout, all of which have ended in stoppages; for Riley, this will be his fourth bout of 2010.

Cormier, 31, is a Louisiana-native who had a successful wrestling career at Oklahoma State University. The AKA-trained heavyweight began fighting as a professional in September 2009 for Strikeforce on their Challengers series events. He won both his Sho MMA 3 and Sho MMA 7 bouts by TKO, and then added a victory in Australia this summer for his third win. Cormier was the winner of the KOTC Heavyweight title on August 14 and has an Xtreme MMA bout scheduled in November.

Riley, 34, is an Ohio-born heavyweight who began his career in May 2007. He won six of his first seven fights while competing for mid-level organizations such as NAAFS, Fight Fest, and Judgment Day. His biggest fight to-date came last September when he was TKO’ed by former UFC Heavyweight Champ Tim Sylvia for the Adrenaline MMA organization. He has since won 3 of 4 fights, winning a November fight for the UMMAXX promotion, but losing this past March against prospect Devin Cole. Riley has since won two straight with wins on June 18 and July 17, 2010.

Prediction – Cormier TKO

> Find the Strikeforce August 21 fight results after the fights are complete at Pro Fighting Fans and check out the great Jaco MMA shorts & clothing!

Bobby Lashley vs. Chad Griggs

Former WWE and TNA superstar Bobby Lashley (5-0) continues his quest into mixed martial arts with his sixth career bout, this time taking on part-time firefighter Chad Griggs on the Strikeforce: Houston main card. Griggs hasn’t been in action for over 16 months; Lashley won his most recent fight in January.

Lashley, 34, is a former collegiate wrestler turned professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist. The American Top Team-trained fighter made his professional debut in late 2008 and won his first five bouts, four of which have come by stoppages. He owns victories over mid-level talent such as Jason Guida (decision), Bob Sapp (submission), and Wes Sims (TKO). His victory over Sims came this January on the Strikeforce: Miami card.

Griggs, 32, is an Arizona-based fighter who also makes a living as a Tucson city firefighter. Griggs began fighting as a pro in late-2005 and won his first four while fighting for Total Fighting Alliance, Rage in the Cage, and the WFC promotions. He split a pair of bouts in the team-based IFL while fighting on the Tucson Scorpions squad. He has won his last three fights since suffering his only career loss, however his most recent action came over 16 months ago. He defeated Jon Alexander in April 2009 by way of 1 st round KO; the victory marked his seventh career TKO victory. All of his victories have come by way of early stoppage; he looks to serve as Lashley’s toughest challenge yet in his career.

Prediction – Lashley submission

KJ Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel

Former Elite XC title-holder KJ Noons (9-2) will look for his sixth straight victory on the Strikeforce: Houston main card when he meets grizzled UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in an important lightweight bout. Noons picked up his fifth consecutive victory in June on the “Los Angeles” card; Gurgel lost last November on the Challengers 4 card.

Noons, 27, is a Hawaii-born professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist. Noons, who trains out of several gyms throughout California, began fighting MMA in 2002 and won four of his first five bouts while fighting throughout Texas and Hawaii. He lost his February 2007 Elite XC debut; however after picking up back-to-back victories over James Berto and Nick Diaz, he was crowned the organization’s lightweight champion. He defended his belt once, but after refusing to rematch Nick Diaz, he was stripped of his title. He took almost two years off from MMA before reappearing this March in Japan for the DREAM organization, where he earned a hard-fought decision victory over Andre Amade on the DREAM 13 fight card. In his Strikeforce debut on the “Los Angeles” card, Noons earned a close split decision victory over Conor Heun.

Gurgel, 33, is a Brazil-native who has relocated to the Ohio area where he has blossomed as one of the region’s best jiu-jitsu trainers. The BJJ black belt began fighting professionally in 2002 and won nine of his first ten competing for organizations like Extreme Challenge, ZST, and KOTC. He earned a spot on the original The Ultimate Fighter, and although he didn’t win the show’s tournament, found a spot on the roster nonetheless. He won three out of seven bouts inside the octagon from June 2006 through November 2008. He was let go after losing back-to-back bouts, but landed on his feet for the Strikeforce organization. He has split a pair of Strikeforce Challengers bouts, defeating Conor Heun at Challengers 2, but losing to Billy Evangelista at Challengers 4. Gurgel has nine submission victories to his credit.

Prediction – Noons decision

Strikeforce Middleweight Title Fight: Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs Tim Kennedy

After former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields was not resigned, it left a void at the top of the 185-pound division. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2, 1 NC) and former US Army Special Forces member Tim Kennedy (12-2) will get the first opportunity to fill that vacant position. The two will meet in the co-main event slot on the Strikeforce: Houston fight card. Souza comes in winning both of his bouts under the Strikeforce banner; Kennedy has been just as impressive, winning all three of his organizational bouts.

Souza, 30, is a Brazil-native who utilizes BJJ, Judo, and muay-thai in his bouts. Training at the Black House, Souza began fighting professionally in 2003, and after shaking off a loss in his pro debut, won his next seven fighting mostly in Brazil. He competed in the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix, where he made it through Ian Murphy, Jason Miller, and Zelg Galesic before falling to Gegard Mousasi in the final. Since that September 2008 loss, he hasn’t lost in three bouts. After suffering a no contest against Jason Miller, he left Japan and DREAM and won back-to-back bouts for Strikeforce. He defeated Matt Lindland last December on the “Evolution” card, and then Joey Villasenor by decision in May on the “Heavy Artillery” card.

Kennedy, 30, is a San Luis Obispo, California-native who is a veteran on the United States Army Special Forces. He began fighting on the pro circuit in August 2001 and lost his debut, but won his next eight fighting in notable organizations like Extreme Challenge, WEC, and the IFL. His only career loss came in a December 2007 HDNet Fights bout against Jason Miller, but followed that up with four consecutive victories. The first of those wins came while still in the IFL, however the next three came under the Strikeforce banner. He defeated Nick Thompson and Zak Cummings for the Challengers series, and Trevor Prangley this June on the “Los Angeles” card.

Prediction – Kennedy decision

Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title Fight: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante

Current Strikeforce Light-Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal (7-0) will face Brazilian knockout artist Rafael Cavalcante (9-2) in his first title defense in the main event at Strikeforce: Houston. Lawal earned his title after an April upset of former champ Gegard Mousasi. Cavalcante popped up as a contender when Renato Sobral consistently refused to fight for the title, due to him being friends with Lawal. He has won back-to-back bouts under the Strikeforce promotion.

Lawal, 29, is a Tennessee-native who had experience as a Division I wrestler prior to turning to mixed martial arts. He made his professional debut in September 2008 and won his first four bouts while fighting for the Japanese-based Sengoku promotion. He earned a victory over Mark Kerr before signing on with Strikeforce. He earned a 1 st round KO over Mike Whitehead on the “Evolution” fight card last December, but earned the title in his second promotional fight by defeating Mousasi by decision on the “Nashville” card in April. He has five stoppages out of his seven career victories.

Cavalcante is a Sao Paulo, Brazil native who trains with the legendary Black House fight team. The 6’2” 205-lbs. muay-thai specialist debuted in February 2006 and won four of his first five professional bouts, three coming in his homeland of Brazil. After suffering his first career loss in June 2007, he joined the Elite XC organization and won all three of his bouts putting him in position for a title opportunity. However, that opportunity never came, as Elite XC shut down, which in turn allowed Cavalcante to sign with Strikeforce. He lost in his June 2009 debut against Mike Kyle, but rebounded and won back-to-back bouts against Aaron Rosa and Antwain Britt to earn his title chance.

Prediction – Lawal TKO

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