ProMMAnow.com “Strikeforce: Nashville” staff picks

Nashville is getting a real treat with this card; three great title fights, “Mayhem”, and a host of local talent will make this one of the most exciting cards (if not THE most exciting) in the city’s history. And ProMMAnow.com will be on-the-scene for all the action leading up to and throughout the event.

Our core staff has come together once again to give you our thoughts and predictions on the fights. Remember, these are just our opinions, and you know what they say about those. Tune into “Strikeforce: Nashville” Saturday night, April 17, at 9:00 p.m. only on CBS!

Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson

RICHARD MANN: This is a terrible stylistic match up for Jake Shields. Dan Henderson should be able to stop Shields’ takedowns rather easily. From there it will be Henderson looking for a big right hand. At some point during the course of five rounds it will land and end Shields’ night. Henderson by TKO

BRIAN FURBY: Shields is tough, but severely outmatched against Henderson. The only area where Shields has an edge on Henderson is BJJ, and I don’t think Henderson will let it get anywhere he could be in danger. If Palhares couldn’t submit Henderson, I don’t see Shields doing it. Unlike Bisping, Shields should be smart enough to circle away from Henderson’s dominant hand, but he’ll still find himself on the wrong end of a TKO late in the fight or a unanimous decision.  Henderson wins via TKO in Round 3.

DENNY HODGE: Shields is in the last fight of his contract, and this will be Henderson’s first fight for the Strikeforce organization. Shields will obviously look to get this one to the ground as soon as possible and stay away from Henderson’s dangerous right hand. I see Henderson nullifying Shield’s take down attempts, thus neutralizing the champ’s jiu jitsu game, and expect Henderson to win this one on the feet. Henderson via TKO, Round 4.

JACK BRATCHER: Henderson’s former Olympic wrestling should be enough to keep him safe from Jake on the ground. Look for Hendo’s big right hand to land somewhere within five rounds to knock Shields out and win the Strikeforce Middleweight Title. This is a very interesting match up and Shield’s biggest test to date. Hendo’s man strength should help him out-muscle Shields where it counts most.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Muhammed Lawal

RICHARD MANN: Muhammed Lawal should have no problem getting on top, staying there and avoiding submissions. He will probably try to strike a bit, which might get him into trouble. However, in the end, Lawal’s wrestling will be the story of this fight. Lawal by decision

BRIAN FURBY: King Mo absolutely has the speed and power to KO Mousasi, but Mousasi’s overall game is absolutely more well-rounded than Mo’s.  This is a tough fight to call, because on one hand, King Mo could overwhelm Mousasi early and catch him like he has done five of his six previous opponents.  But given that Mo has only gone past the first round twice in his six professional victories, the longer the fight goes on, the more it favors Mousasi. Mousasi should have seen enough tape on Mo to know to avoid him early in the fight and try to wear him out. That said, if Mo doesn’t catch Mousasi in the first, he’s going to lose it in the second or third.  I’d like to see Mo pull out the win but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Mousasi wins via submission in Round 2.

DENNY HODGE: This one is going to be nuts!!! It could go quick for either guy… Mousasi could catch “King Mo” with his stand up, or “King Mo” could get a brutal slam with a side order of G&P to go with it and finish it quick. In reality, I see both guys being careful out the gates, and I see the “King Mo” star getting brighter with an upset over the highly regarded Mousasi via TKO.

JACK BRATCHER: There are still plenty of doubters out there about King Mo. This will be his coming out party for the MMA world. With each fight he shows marked improvement. Also, I think he’s in Mousasi’s head a bit. Mo is such a smart fighter on top of his athleticism and skill. He definitely has the confidence to know he can win which is what any champion needs. King Mo via second round (T)KO.

Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki

RICHARD MANN: This fight seems close on paper. However, if you look at Shinya Aoki’s losses this fight is actually not close. In all of Aoki’s losses his opponents flurry on him after a knee or kick to a downed opponent. In Strikeforce there is no knees or kicks to downed opponents and no elbows to the head. How will Melendez hurt Aoki? Look for Aoki to control the pace and positions throughout the fight en route to a decision victory. Aoki by decision.

BRIAN FURBY: Another great fight on the card, one that could end up being fight of the night. The odds-makers have this fight almost even and I think that’s a good call. Melendez will have a size and strength advantage on Aoki, but Aoki is squirrelly, to say the least, and I think he’ll set the pace over most of the three rounds, winning on the scorecards due to his multiple submission attempts and speed at moving in and out on Melendez. Aoki wins via Unanimous Decision.

DENNY HODGE: Gil is going to push the pace from the start on Aoki, and despite his wrestling advantages, I think Melendez will try to outbox the slick submission artist.  Aoki is one of the best in the world on the ground at any weight class, and I think this is where he will catch the lightweight champion in a submission in the third round.

JACK BRATCHER: What an exciting match up this is! I like Gilbert’s striking advantage in this one. I think Gil works with enough great grapplers and is such a good wrestler himself to keep him safe on the ground, but his striking seems to keep improving. Aoki is one of the most respected and dangerous submission fighters, but I can see Gilbert either gaining position on the ground and landing some big ground and pound or knocking him out on the feet. Aoki won’t have his lucky pants on either! Melendez by third round TKO.

Jason “Mayhem” Miller vs. Tim Stout

RICHARD MANN: I am so glad that Strikeforce added this fight. I have often stayed up at night wondering what a fight between “Mayhem” and an 8-7 fighter would look like. Mayhem by submission.

BRIAN FURBY: Stout is simply outmatched, and a fight against Miller isn’t a great idea when 6 of Stout’s 7 losses are submission defeats, and 13 of Mayhem’s 22 wins were due to submissions. Mayhem will play around a little bit like he usually does, but then drop Stout and lock up a rear naked choke for the win. Miller wins via submission in Round 1.

DENNY HODGE: This should be one of the most lopsided fights on the card, but as “Mayhem” himself admitted to us at ProMMAnow.com, Stout has nothing to lose and this is a dangerous fight for him.  That being said…. Miller by TKO, Round 1.

Josh Schockman vs. Cale Yarbrough

RICHARD MANN: In this fight Josh Schockman will have a size and power advantage. Cale Yarbrough’s strongest skill set in his striking, and in this fight he will get lose a striking battle. My ProMMAnow.com brothers have informed me that the Schockman threw some serious hays in his last fight. Schockman by TKO.

BRIAN FURBY: I think Schockman is going to be the shocker on this card (pun intended), and if Aoki/Melendez doesn’t get fight of the night, there’s a good chance this one could. It should be an exciting fight. Both guys lean towards the standup game as their winning method and these two will be looking to put a show to make some noise on an already stacked card. If Schockman can’t end the fight late in the third, he should be able to pull out a unanimous decision win. Schockman wins via unanimous decision.

DENNY HODGE: From what I’ve heard Yarbrough is coming in very small for this light heavyweight bout with the “Warhammer.”  If Yarbrough decides to stand up and swing with Schockman, this one will be over quick.  Schockman via KO, Round 1.

JACK BRATCHER: Schockman’s only two losses came early in his career against wrestlers like Jake O’Brien. Since then, Schockman has not only worked extensively on his wrestling and BJJ, but his striking is more lethal than ever. His last win took oh, about nine seconds. Schockman by first or second round TKO.