So what does the general public think about Strikeforce:Miami? Well, I’ll give you my 2 cents…
I’ll tell you something…I think the Strikeforce promoters think all MMA fans are those belligerent, idiot fan out in the audience decked out in their Tapout gear who probably knows very little about MMA and claims to be a so-called expert. You know the type. They watch the fights, get all liquored up, and pretty much by that point they are ready to unleash their inner MMA-self. Oh it’s true…these cats think the sport of MMA is relatively easy…they think it’s strictly entertainment much like my beloved ‘professional wrestling’ is. The promoters know it’s so easy to entertain those types and keep them coming back for more. As far as the sport of MMA has come, don’t you think this is what can set this sport back some? Let me explain further…
The Showtime televised Strikeforce event last night was very circus-like in my opinion. The first match was between Bobby Lashley and Wes Sims. Lashley has made a big name for himself as a former WWE superstar, but he was a standout amateur wrestler in college and in the US Army. In my eyes, Lashley isn’t really putting in the time or work necessary to excel in this sport like Brock Lesnar (another WWE alum) has. Lashley is still moonlighting as a professional wrestler with TNA wrestling and is taking this sport as a joke. Sure, he’s now 5-0 after getting a TKO win against Wes Sims last night, but it means nothing when you beat a bunch of nobodies. All it’s doing is padding your record and hasn’t proven anything. My question is this: Why did the announcers introduce Bobby Lashley as a 2-time Professional Wrestling champion? Do they think being a WWE champion is even relevant to being a MMA fighter? OMG man! Get a grip! You want to know how much of an insult his match was last night? Wes Sims is a big joke and always has been. Sure, he’s a big dude at 6’8 250+lbs, but he has no skills, discipline, and is just a big joker. He started off the match last night trying a ‘test of strength’ to Lashley. For those of you who don’t watch wrestling(the WWE/TNA entertainment versions), it’s basically a game of ‘mercy.’ WTF was he doing? The fight goes to the ground and Lashley starts punching Sims in the face. Sims isn’t really defending himself but doesn’t really appear hurt either. What does this idiot ref do? You got it…he stops the fight because Sims wasn’t responding. In a situation like that, the ref should have either let it keep going or just pulled them apart and let the fight continue standing up. Premature stoppage is an understatement.
Robbie Lawler vs Melvin Manhoef was probably the best fight of the night and best matchup. Manhoef is a powerful, fast striker and was hammering Lawler early. He was crippling Lawler’s lead leg and I thought Lawler was on his way to getting knocked out. Manhoef kept working on the leg and left his guard down too much and Lawler caught him with a hook to the jaw that put him down. A couple follow up punches as he was on the ground solidified the knockout. Dude was out cold!
Herschel Walker vs Greg Nagy—I commend Walker for coming in and proving age is not a factor. The dude was in great physical condition, looked stiff as a board…almost robotic but had great defensive skills. For someone who is a 5th or 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I expected better striking abilities, but he didn’t really show much of that. Nagy was clearly inexperienced and the fight should have been on the undercard if it wasn’t for Herschel Walker’s ‘name.’ Walker was given the TKO victory in Round 3 because Nagy basically stopped defending himself. He either couldn’t or didn’t want to do anything. He threw very few punches or kicks and preferred taking it to the ground where Walker controlled the mount and pummeled him throughout the fight.
Nick Diaz vs Marius Zaromskis—this was for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship. I thought Zaromskis could have beaten Diaz considering he caught him with several good punches. Diaz had an obvious reach advantage and used it with his jabs and straights. Personally, I think Diaz is a good fighter but a bit overrated and has a bad attitude problem. He’s a black belt under Cesar Gracie and is supposed to represent him? If I was Gracie, I would be disappointed in how Diaz carries himself.
There were more matches on the card but none I cared to comment on. Strikeforce really is a ‘minor league’ fight promotion compared to the UFC from the announcers to the fighters. Sure, Joe Rogan can get annoying at times with his ‘Captain America’ and all the other monikers he has for Randy Couture and other legends but at least he knows the sport…he legitimately knows fighters backgrounds…their strengths and weaknesses…plus him being actively involved in martial arts allows him to be completely engaged in what the fighters are trying to do in the cage.
Dana White putting UFC 107 on Spike during the same time as StrikeForce’s event is ingenious. Sure, I’ve seen those fights before, but it gives me an option if Strikeforce starts turning into a circus of some sorts.
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