The major mixed martial arts’ promotions are back in full swing this weekend as both Strikeforce and World Victory Road will entertain fans worldwide with events airing back-to-back on Saturday night into Sunday morning. To kick it all off, Strikeforce brings a main event light heavyweight title showdown between champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and challenger Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The card will also feature a middleweight title bout between Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Tim Kennedy, a sure-fire slugfest between KJ Noons and Jorge Gurgel, and an appearance by former WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley.
Sherdog.com will also air two preliminary card bouts: A heavyweight tilt between former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier and rising prospect Jason Riley, and a welterweight battle between World Jiu-Jitsu champion Andre Galvao and old school, vale tudo fighter Jorge Patino.
The first main card bout of the evening will feature a heavyweight showdown between former WWE/TNA wrestler Bobby Lashley (5-0, 1-0 SF) and IFL veteran Chad Griggs (8-1, 0-0 SF). Lashley’s last outing was successful as he knocked out UFC veteran Wes Sims in only two minutes and six seconds of the first round back in January. While Lashley has had success in his transition from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts, fans are still on the fence as to whether he legitimately wants to make a career out of fighting or not. His less than stellar strength of competition has certainly earned him some criticism from the media, and his thoughts that he should be in line for a shot at the heavyweight title in 2011 have been rather wishful since Lashley really hasn’t stepped up to even mid-echelon talent yet.
Griggs certainly has a record that would indicate he’s a legitimate challenger to Lashley’s dominance, and the fact that he’s knocked out seven opponents in nine career fights should give fans a sense of what he brings to the table. The problem, however, is that his strength of competition is terrible, almost resembling that of Jason Reinhardt, the man who held the best record in mixed martial arts by beating up on MMA newcomers in the mixed martial arts deficient region of Central Illinois. Griggs is physically appealing to fans who believe a great physique equals success, and his 6’3″ frame should give him a slight advantage in the clinch. Unfortunately, I don’t think those two attributes will be enough to stifle the wrestling that Lashley brings to the table.
While there are some members of the MMA community who believe this is a dangerous battle for Lashley, I would only give Griggs the “puncher’s chance” and lump him into the category of fighters who had a less than 10% chance of miraculously winning by the “unpredictability” factor. If Lashley tries to impress us with an improving stand-up game, perhaps Griggs has a solid chance of bombing Lashley’s chin, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
Lashley brings this fight to the floor quickly and unloads his power from the top destructively to win in the first or second round. I don’t see how Griggs will stop Lashley’s takedowns, unless he can backpedal to the fence and gain the clinch. From there, maybe we’ll see some knees into the midsection that could open up Lashley’s chin. It’s a small chance, but I have to go with the fighter who has the background that has a proven track record of success in this sport. Bobby Lashley via TKO.