Not too impressed with the Strikeforce night

[200lbhockeyplayer]

I was curious to see Lashley, but Sims wasn't going to provide much of a contest...and he didn't. Was the fight stopped early? Perhaps, but regardless, it wasn't going to show anything. Lashley got in a lot of short punches, but Sims didn't look injured in the slightest.

Herschel Walker against Nagy also drew my interest because of how much of a physical freak Walker is. In fact, I was probably more impressed with Walker than Lashley.

Nick Diaz looked good, and was probably the most skilled fighter last night in my opinion...in probably the most solid overall fight. He doesn't have the most potential as he was outclassed so much by the upper echelon of UFC talent, but he's probably marketable enough for Strikeforce.

What do I think of Strikeforce overall? When they get a decent match-up I'll pay more attention, but until then, it's a one-sided freak show of completely outclassed opponents going against their big fighters.

I think an easy comparison for Lashley is Brock Lesnar, both former professional wrestlers or tremendous size, each now have 5 professional fights...but there are key differences. For and foremost, Lesnar has flat out abused everyone that he fought, even in his loss to Mir, Mir was getting destroyed. Would I like to see Lashley fight Lesnar? Absolutely. But then again, I'd like both of them fight a guy like Fedor.

Lashley needs to fight someone who was at least at one point in their career an "MMA someone," not these "who are they" fighters and castoffs.

I just don't see Strikeforce trying hard to make great fights, just keep their breadwinners winning.

 

[mazarazz]

I pretty much agree with all your points. I'd like to see Diaz back in the UFC now with a few more years under his belt.

Women's mma doesn't do it for me. I won't deny their talent but I'll never seek it out.

I can only assume Strikeforce wanted to ride the promo wave of Walker and Lashley, thus pitting them up against two cans. To me it backfired(as a fan) as I don't think their opponents brought enough to the table to make me say wow, but from a business perspective we'll find out if it brought in new sets of eyes.

Lawler/Manhoef was fun to watch with Manhoef controlling and absolutely killing with those leg kicks until that counter. It was the type of fight as a fan where you say to the TV the guys dropping his hands and then BAM.

Nice gesture by Walker donating his purse to charity and I truly believe he was in there 100% to test himself.

 

[Super Mario]

Honestly, I didn't think Sims did too bad last night, and had it not been stopped so early and he got through that, I could have seen him submitting Lashley. He about had him a few times.



And where in the bloody blue Hell did that come from by Robbie Lawler?!?! That was awesome! I've never seen someone bring up their leg so high after getting kicked. Lawler was getting crushed. But it just goes to show you, anything can happen in MMA.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

To be honest, that entire card was a disgrace to MMA.

Aside from Diaz and Lawler, it was just extremely painful to watch.

I feel embarrassed for Strikeforce on this one.

 

[bigredmachine]

To be honest, that entire card was a disgrace to MMA.

Aside from Diaz and Lawler, it was just extremely painful to watch.

I feel embarrassed for Strikeforce on this one.

I agree 100%. I feel bad for Dan Henderson. I mean I know it was his decision to sign with Strikeforce but when they showed him on TV is just wasnt right. He looked embarrased to be there. Wonder why GSP was there? Warm weather maybe.

 

[Ty Hope]

It was entertaining. Melvin is one of my favorite fighters and it sucks that he got careless and caught at the end. He was kicking some ass big time.

Diaz looked good too.

Say what you will about Walker, but he came in in great shape and showed he has balls. Also, with all the media attention that he received, it was a brilliant move on SF's part.

Lashley is still up and coming. Hopefully they can find a better opponent next time.

Overall, it was a fun event for me to watch. All my friends enjoyed it as well. I'm pulling for SF. All the people that think the UFC should be the only org out there are idiots.

 

[HPC]

I hope SF is planning on giving Lashley someone decent soon.

Im getting tired of Lashley saying "I need to beat more contenders before I get the shot."

If what he means by that is SF giving him a bunch of guys who he can demolish in an attempt to build him into something he isnt, please give him Fedor now so everyone can see that Lashley isnt what people are trying to make him.

Ive got nothing personal against Lashley, but I agree with Sam about him. Maybe when he fights someone decent and wins, I will change my mind, but for now....

 

[JzWand]

To be honest, that entire card was a disgrace to MMA.

Aside from Diaz and Lawler, it was just extremely painful to watch.

I feel embarrassed for Strikeforce on this one.

I disagree 100%.
Walker showed at the very least he is capable in there.
Should he be on the main card?
Maybe not but if it makes SF money, well guess what? In the long run that benefits us as fans so no problem from me.

Lashley took out a pretty seasoned vet in Sims. Not surprising but the guy is a powerhouse.

I thought Cyborg/Coenen was a pretty good fight as well.

Diaz/Zaromskis and Lawler/Manhoef were 2 really good fights.

Not sure why everyone has a huge issue with this yet all these idiots gladly pay $50 for $hit cards the UFC puts on.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

While Sims is indeed "seasoned," he hasn't ever beat anyone of any great MMA stature to my knowledge. His doughy body up against Lashley was kind of a joke to look at. Plus, for the amount of direct punches landed on Sims face, Sims certainly didn't show much damage.

I respect Lashley and the potential, but much like it was for Lesnar, for anyone to take him seriously, he needs to fight some top tier guys. Strikeforce doesn't really have the "stepping stones" in division before Fedor.

If Lashley is all that Strikeforce can offer Fedor, it's a shame. And if that fight ever happens, Lashley probably understands that there will be drug screens...unlike the fight against Sims.

 

[Bornagaincollector]

I think Lashley should face Bigfoot Silva or Rogers next.And i believe he would beat Silva,Rogers i doubt.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

To be honest, that entire card was a disgrace to MMA.

Aside from Diaz and Lawler, it was just extremely painful to watch.

I feel embarrassed for Strikeforce on this one.

I disagree 100%.
Walker showed at the very least he is capable in there.
Should he be on the main card?
Maybe not but if it makes SF money, well guess what? In the long run that benefits us as fans so no problem from me.

Lashley took out a pretty seasoned vet in Sims. Not surprising but the guy is a powerhouse.

I thought Cyborg/Coenen was a pretty good fight as well.

Diaz/Zaromskis and Lawler/Manhoef were 2 really good fights.

Not sure why everyone has a huge issue with this yet all these idiots gladly pay $50 for $hit cards the UFC puts on.

Sims might be a seasoned veteran, but he is absolutely awful. Not to mention he STILL thinks he could have demolished Lashley. The dude is a complete joke and should be ashamed of himself for that showing.

Cyborg/Coenen was OK, but Coenan didn't look anything like her usual self.

Same with Zaromskis. He usually fights much more aggressive and smart, but he didn't move his head at all, nor did he care to keep his hands up. He looked like he was in a daze.

The Lawler/Manhoef fight was the only fight I really watched with enjoyment. I really thought Manhoef was going to take out Lawler, which he should have done when he had the chance (Lawler was backed against the cage, completely covered up for dear life before the KO).

I'll give props to Walker for having cajones, but the fight was still awkward to watch.

 

[Super Mario]

I still don't understand all the hate on Sims for his performance.

He was given 8 days to prepare, and it still looked like he was about to catch Lashley in a submission a time or two.

He didn't do THAT bad.

I think Sims might be able to submit Lashley given proper time to prepare.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

I still don't understand all the hate on Sims for his performance.

He was given 8 days to prepare, and it still looked like he was about to catch Lashley in a submission a time or two.

He didn't do THAT bad.

I think Sims might be able to submit Lashley given proper time to prepare.

HA! That's funny...

You do realize that Lashley trains daily with an insane number of quality black belts @ ATT, right?

Genetic freak + superior athletic ability + superior strength + MUCH better training camp = demolition.

 

[JzWand]

Genetic freak + superior athletic ability + superior strength + MUCH better training camp = demolition.

You see, the great thing about MMA is that what you posted isnt always the case. GSP had all of that and yet Serra beat his A$$.

Also, your right that Lashley trains with a better team.
But so did their BJJ coach who was submitted by a purple belt Saturday night.

ANYTHING can happen!

 

[NECpilgrims8]

Genetic freak + superior athletic ability + superior strength + MUCH better training camp = demolition.

You see, the great thing about MMA is that what you posted isnt always the case. GSP had all of that and yet Serra beat his A$$.

Also, your right that Lashley trains with a better team.
But so did their BJJ coach who was submitted by a purple belt Saturday night.

ANYTHING can happen!

Yes, you're right. Anything can happen. I guess I'm stating the majority half of the equation.

The same can be said for the Manhoef/Lawler fight. Manhoef is arguably a better striker, stronger, more experienced, but he got dropped by one punch. Yup, anything can happen.

I still think Sims is a joke though....

 

[Super Mario]

Well, I don't disagree that Sims is a joke, but at least a joke in a good way.

If Lashley wasn't WWE Superstar Lashley, I doubt ATT would have him. I see him as a Bob Sapp upgrade when he starts fighting real MMA fighters, and not cans. He went to a decision with Jason Guida for Christ's Sake I believe.

Lashley will not amount to much. Poor man's Lesnar. Was in WWE, and will be in MMA.

 

[HPC]

Before people say "give him Fedor" (like me), lets be real...he would lose the same way Brock did to Mir.

Inexperience.

Fedor is lighter, faster, and more trained.

For starters, it's a bad move to give Rogers to Lashley, basically since both guys are the same, except Lashley is in better condition.

Rogers is a KO machine who relys on his power to get wins. He isnt conditioned well enough to withstand a real fight. Lashley is a one-dimensional wrestler with above average strength. He hasnt show he can sub somebody, or how his chin is (at least Brock has taken hits from experienced guys like Couture and Mir).

A better test for Lashley would be an Arlovski or Tim Sylvia type.

Arlovski is conditioned like a maniac, and his experience in every aspect of the game. Tim isnt as conditioned, but he can last 5 rounds and take a beating, and has real MMA experience.

Of course, SF is attempting to build him into something he isnt by feeding him a bunch of UFC wannabees and it is obvious by the level of competition they consider Simms, that Lashley will continue to win until a real challenger is put in his way.

SF could've delayed the fight to find better competition, and they are lucky Simms didnt put them in the spot Petruzelli put Elite when he beat Kimbo.

Im not saying Simms is a complete dud, but, there are many choices for better fighters than him to give Lashley. But SF does not want a real competition for Lashley, just as Elite didnt want real competition for Kimbo because they want to be like Elite and make a bunch of money and cross their fingers he doesnt tap or fall fast

 

[kdailey4315]

What's an even bigger joke is the fact that Florida wouldn't give Lashley's first opponent a liscense because they thought the fight wasn't competitive enough. As of now Lashley and SF are just a freak show a la Elite XC and Kimbo. Lashley needs to ditch the Pro Wrestling stop juicing and fight quality fighters to be taken seriously.

 

[HPC]

Lashley needs to ditch the Pro Wrestling stop juicing and fight quality fighters to be taken seriously.

Wrestling aside, I dont believe Lashley is as strong as he looks.

I believe his body is the biproduct of heavy steroid usage.

The story goes, when he was boxing in the Navy, that he gained 100lbs of muscle in a short time span...I think under a year.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

Robbie Lawler talked about his failed gameplan after the Manhoef KO.

http://dammagecontrol.com/?p=1879