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Strikeforce Live Predictions: Strikeforce June 16 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 June 16, 2010 featuring Robbie Lawler facing Babalu Sobral in the main event and our Strikeforce Live from Los Angeles predictions & fight previews are posted below for MMA fans across the globe to enjoy. Check out the June 16 Strikeforce results and buy Strikeforce tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

Strikeforce Live (Strikeforce Los Angeles) June 16 Fight Previews

Robbie Lawler versus Renato “Babalu” Sobral (catchweight – 195 lbs)
Marius Zaromskis versus Evangelista Cyborg (welterweight – 170 lbs)
Trevor Prangley versus Tim Kennedy (middleweight – 185 lbs)
KJ Noons versus Conor Heun (lightweight – 155 lbs)

Now Scott Coker knows how Joe Silva felt for most of 2009. Three big draws for the upcoming Strikeforce Live event - scheduled for June 16 on Showtime - all dropped out: one to injury, a second to a pending suspension and the third to a scheduling conflict. Bobby Lashley, former pro wrestler and undefeated 5-0 MMA heavyweight, had to drop out due to a knee injury. Jason “Mayhem” Miller is likely to be suspended after the post-fight fracas at Strikeforce: Nashville, in which Miller tussled with members of Jake Shields’ retinue after Shields defeated Dan Henderson. Last, Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennet forgot to check his calendar, as apparently a scheduling conflict is his excuse for withdrawal.

Lashley’s opponent, Ron Sparks, will just have to wait – there is no scheduled substitute. Miller was slated to battle Robbie Lawler, and so is replaced by Renato “Babalu” Sobral (arguably a tougher and better match). Bennet was selected to welcome veteran KJ Noons on a later card; he was replaced by Conor Heun and their dust-up rounds out the mid-week event. Notably, this is Strikeforce’s first mid-week event, capping the LA-bound 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Here’s a breakdown of what still promises to be a punchy, if not premium night of combat.

KJ Noons (8-1) versus Conor Heun (11-3)

KJ Noons is another welcome signing for Strikeforce, albeit unsurprising given that the bulk of fighters from the now-defunct Elite XC were herded en masse into the Strikeforce stables. Noons was on a tear in Elite XC, and it’s not that surprising: he’s a lanky lightweight, towering at 5’11; at that height he’s a natural striker and boy howdy does he deliver: of eight wins, only one was by decision. He also holds notable victories over top-ranked Nick Diaz (who now fights at welterweight) and Yves Edwards.

Conor Huen is no slouch. He may not have faced the same caliber of competition, but he cut his teeth in the shark-infested waters of the IFL. Although he lost his last fight to Jorge Gurgel, he gained a legion of fans after waging a grueling brawl against the former UFC gatekeeper. The means to victory are simple for Noons: keep it standing. He’s a professional boxer whose bread and butter is his fists and shins, and has the pinpoint accuracy to defeat a brawler. Huen has the opposite task: keep it grounded. Although he may take Noons down, Noons should eventually outpoint him.

Prediction: Noons by decision

Trevor Prangley (22-5-1) versus Tim Kennedy (11-2)

This is truly a cosmopolitan card, boasting a Lithuanian (Zaromskis), the usual sampling of Brazilians and even a South African in Prangley. Kennedy, one of four Americans on the card, is a contrast in terms, never having fought outside of the US. Prangley versus Kennedy is a pivotal clash between two quality middleweights relatively new to an organization in need of a deeper pool of talent at 185. Prangley is, literally, the cagier veteran with experience in both the UFC and Strikeforce. He’s also enjoying a five fight win streak, capped by a rare draw in his last match.

Kennedy is making his cable TV debut, and it’s hard to say who is the underdog. Kennedy is 3-0 under the Strikeforce banner, with every victory requiring a referee stoppage, including the lesser-seen north/south choke in his last Strikeforce appearance versus Zak Cummings. Momentum is a huge x-factor in sports, yet both men have a veritable heap of it coming into this fight. There will be blood, folks.

Prediction: Kennedy ekes out a split decision victory

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Marius Zaromskis (13-4) versus Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (17-13)

The Lithuanian-born Zaromskis returns to Strikeforce on the same mission as DREAM lightweight compatriot Shinya Aoki: the quest to unify the belts. Aoki went about it somewhat backwards at first (by losing to a determined Gilbert Melendez); Zaromskis, too, couldn’t bring home the bacon when he tried to nab the vacant welterweight title in his fight against the robotically super-fit Nick Diaz (current Strikeforce welterweight champion). Both Aoki and Zaromskis retain their respective DREAM titledom, though.

“Cyborg” is one of those MMA mercenaries who’s won and lost in virtually every international promotion outside of the US. Nevertheless, this is only his second fight on American soil. With a less than stellar record, nearing .500 in fact (and 2-4 in his last six), Santos could be seen as a warm-up fight for martial Marius. Granted, under-dogging is synonymous with upset in this sport, not to mention, it’s Santos’ first fight at welterweight. No doubt the Chute Box stalwart is hungry to rebound. Still, he’s facing a southpaw striker who’s faced elite competition of late, with demonstrably impressive cardio (he won the DREAM belt via the 2009 three-round welterweight Grand Prix) and lethal kickboxing.

Prediction: Zaromskis by TKO

Strikeforce Main Event: “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (19-5-1) versus Renato “Babalu” Sobral (35-8)

Maybe 195 lbs should be a new weight class, and maybe it should be called “catchweight,” because that’s been one heck of a popular weight to fight at lately. Some pundits fear this trend will lead to pointless clashes between popular non-contenders. Others believe this will lead to spectacular fights between former champions and contenders logically moving between divisions. We’re of the latter camp, and this classic style-matchup will no doubt be violent. Both Lawler and Sobral are former UFC veterans and former champions of an MMA promotion.

Babalu was summarily defeated attempting to defend his lightweight belt against Gegard Mousasi. That was his last fight – nearly a year ago. A wrestler by trade, he never looks more comfortable then when he’s cinching up a nasty choke on the floor. He has an Achilles chin, however, never so prevalent as when he faces elite striking talent. Lawler, by contrast, has a low survival rate on the mat and as suggested relies heavily on his KO power, which fortunately for him rests in more than one limb. Lawler is coming off of a big knockout win over fellow pugilist Melvin Manhoef, but never does weight become so apparent an advantage as when it favors the grappler. Sobral would do well to play it safe: single leg, takedown, submission attempt, repeat.

Prediction: Sobral by submission