The Gains and Losses of the MMA: Strikeforce Examined
By Ben Bieker
Gains:
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos to me was the clear winner for gaining worth on the fight card. He took on an opponent no one thought he could beat, and while he didn’t, he did extremely well. He took it to Nick Diaz hard for two straight rounds, battering his legs, catching him with shots, and putting him back on his heels. Most of Nick’s fights so far no one has been that effective, but Cyborg was.
This, to me, means that he had a very intelligent game plan, but only made one fatal flaw. He took it to the ground. If he did not take it to the ground, who knows how the fight would have went. He could have been the new champ and proved almost all the critics wrong, but he didn’t. Even though he didn’t come away with a belt though. He did come away with the respect of many fighters and officials, and secured himself a job for his next few fights with that performance.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza showed something that all champions need in this fight. He showed heart. If that is the one thing that can be taken away from this performance it is that Jacare showed he is able to come back from the brink of losing. In that first round he could have easily been finished after being on the receiving end of some of Robbie Lawler’s biggest bombs. If he turtled up and received too many shots, or if Robbie made him stand and he couldn’t then the fight could have been over, but it wasn’t.
He came back in the second round and used his effective judo and BJJ background to nullify anything Robbie could offer. That planned worked until the third when he was finally able to finish the fight with a submission. While people now have a game plan to how to beat Jacare by using striking, that was never a big secret. The thing his future opponents have to worry about though is if they will be able to finish him off is they catch him, and not just about his unworldly ground game.
Roger Gracie just did what he needed. He came in got the fight to the ground with minimal damage and submitted his opponent. That is what he professes he can do. He does not come in saying he can knock people out or anything like that, he just says he is going to submit his opponent and so far he has. Stopping two good veterans in Trevor Prangley and Kevin Randleman. here is no where, but up for the heir to the Gracie throne. He is only four fights into his career, but with performances like this it will be hard to see him not fighting bigger names soon because after the way he fought his last two opponents he needs to.
Losses:
Scott Carson easily had the biggest loss of his short career this Saturday. He came into the fight against an opponent that has some of the most press behind him for such a short career. He could have easily been on the level of Seth Petruzelli if he pulled off the upset in this fight. Instead he got the beat down laid on him by Herschel. Now, he will most likely not be brought back as he was essentially only brought in as an opponent for Herschel and without a win he does not mean much to the sport or to Strikeforce, but with a win he could have supplied himself with work for years to come, unfortunately for him that is not the case.
Robbie Lawler had a chance to make himself a champion again and beat a top ten opponent, but he didn’t. He said after the fight that he felt lethargic and after a few minutes couldn’t keep his pace up. Furthermore, in this fight he suffered essentially from the Shane Carwin effect. In that he had his opponent on the ropes, but gassed out in an attempt to finish him, then lost later by submission. The cardio issues was not the only issue in this fight either.
Robbie could have done a lot more in this fight and before hand. He could have let Jacare up when he had him hurt instead of letting himself get tied up in the ground game, Jacare’s world. He could have also trained his wrestling. I don’t understand for someone that has trained with Matt Hughes essentially all his career how his wrestling could be so weak. It has always been his hindrance along with his submission defense. So, at the end of the day Robbie will always be a good fighter with the ability to end a fight when he can, but he needs more to be on the next level. He needs to tighten up his game and work on the issues that have been issues if he ever wants to hold gold around his waist again in a major organization.
Many people are praising Nick Diaz’s performance Saturday night, but I just don’t see it. Yes, he puts on a show for the fans taking repeated punches and kicks, but why is he like that. He should not allow himself to be hit or beat on that way even if he is still going to win. That cockiness and bravado in the ring will eventually get him hurt. You do not see GSP or Anderson Silva taking damage to show off how tough they are. They are smarter than that and GSP learned first hand when you’re not on your guard always you can get put out. Pus, when fighting a fighter everyone thinks you should beat, why does it take two rounds?
It was obvious once it went to the ground Diaz was able to take control and win the fight. He used his superior ground skills to submit his opponent with only ten-second left in the round. With such a great tool in your arsenal why would you take the damage on the feet when you could take Cyborg out on the ground so quick? It does just not make sense; it would be like Jacare wanting to have stood with Lawler to prove a point. It is not needed and obviously would be a stupid idea. That is why to me Nick is the biggest loser of the show because even though it worked out for him this time. If he continues to fight to prove a point, instead of fighting to finish and win eventually he will get caught, and it won’t be pretty.