The Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calif., will play host to Strikeforce‘s first ever mid-week event, coinciding with the E3 Expo, and broadcasting live tonight on Showtime beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Strikeforce: Los Angeles” will be headlined by a 195 lb. catch weight bout between the H.I.T. Squad’s Robbie Lawler (17-5) and Renato “Babalu” Sobral (35-8). Also fighting on the televised card will be Marius Zaromskis (13-4) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (17-13), Tim Kennedy (11-2) vs. Trevor Prangley (22-5-1), and K.J. Noons (8-2) vs. Conor Heun (8-3).

The ProMMAnow.com staff has come together once again to give our predictions on tonight’s fights. Feel free to post your predictions as well. As always, we will post live results and play-by-play commentary during tonight’s event.

Former world champions Renato "Babalu'' Sobral (left) and "Ruthless'' Robbie Lawler face-off after Tuesday's weigh-in at Crowne Plaza LAX in Los Angeles, Calif. Photo: Esther Lin/Strikeforce

Robbie Lawler vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral

BRIAN FURBY: Lawler has had some trouble with submission defense, and Babalu has some great submissions but I don’t think he’ll present enough of a problem for Lawler to be in any real trouble. Lawler will put Babalu in trouble early, working inside and landing enough solid punches for a first-round TKO win. Lawler by TKO in Round 1.

RICHARD MANN: Back in the day people thought Lawler was going to be the next big thing. Now, people say that he only lifts weights while training. Babalu has had trouble dealing with big power in the recent past, but I just can’t shake Lawler being submitted by Jason Miller. If “Mayhem the can smasher” can submit Lawler, then I think Babalu can as well. Babalu by Submission.

JACK BRATCHER: If Babalu defeats Lawler, it is going to be on the ground and if Lawler defeats Babalu it’s going to be on the feet. Can I stop right there? I really like this fight and this match up of styles. It should be fun. I don’t think Babalu’s submissions or his takedowns are at the level of a Jake Shields, who was the last person to defeat Lawler. There is not many fighters who will stay standing when Robbie Lawler hits them, no matter how technical their striking may be. We just saw Babalu get knocked out by Mousasi and I think Lawler will do the same. Lawler by first round KO.

DENNY HODGE: Lawler is coming off of a crazy comeback victory over Manhoef after nearly getting his legs kicked off, but has fallen victim to submissions in the past, while “Babalu” has been prone to KO losses, so this one will be a battle of styles, as both guys look to implement their gameplan. In the end, I have to go with “Babalu” to grind out a decision victory over Lawler.

DREAM welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis (left) faces Evangelista Cyborg in Wednesday's semi-main. Photo: Esther Lin / Strikeforce

Marius Zaromskis vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos

BRIAN FURBY: Guess what Zaromskis is good at? Knocking dudes out. Guess what Cyborg is good at? Getting knocked out (or TKO’d). Take a wild guess how I see this one ending. Both guys have good technical striking, but I think Zaromskis’s will rule the night in this instance. Z is looking to bounce back from a TKO loss to Nick Diaz and this is his chance. Zaromskis by TKO in Round 1.

RICHARD MANN: I am not sure what to think about Zaromskis, but I think I am leaning in the direction of “flash in the pan.” Santos should be able to hold his own on the feet and avoid big strikes. He will also have a size advantage, and most importantly he should be able to tap the Dream champion if the fight goes to the ground. Santos by Submission

JACK BRATCHER: If this was Cyborg’s wife fighting I may give her a better chance. That woman trains hard my friend. The Cyborgs really are the first couple of MMA… aren’t they so cute together? No, really. I really do think they are very cool peoples. You don’t see them together much though it seems… I wonder what that’s all about? Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be picking a fight here… Zaromskis by knockout in the third.

DENNY HODGE: Zaromskis was outclassed on his feet by Diaz, but the male version of “Cyborg” is no Nick Diaz. Zaromskis will use his speed and patented kicks to take Santos out early.

American military hero Tim Kennedy (left) takes on dangerous veteran Trevor Prangley in one of the featured fights on Showtime. Photo: Esther Lin / Strikeforce

Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Prangley

BRIAN FURBY: Two tough guys here in a fight that has potential title implications in light of the Jake Shields situation. Prangley will look to repeatedly put Kennedy on his back and try to do some damage from inside Kennedy’s guard. Prangley has the better wrestling experience, and more experience overall, but Kennedy has a better all-around fight game, and should be able to do enough to keep Prangley at bay on his way to a decision win. And now that my constant picking of split decisions was finally validated with Dunham’s split decision win over Tyson Griffin last weekend, I’m going to keep it up. One judge will score the fight 29-28 for Prangley due to his work from the top, but the other two will have it 29-28 Kennedy. Kennedy by split decision.

RICHARD MANN: Kennedy wins a lot of fights because he is an above average grappler. In this fight, look for Prangley to keep the fight on the feet and land crisper strikes. The end result will be similar to Prangley’s fight with Emanual Newton. Prangley by decision.

JACK BRATCHER: This is a fun fight I do believe, a nice match up I do declare. Prangley is sort of a more experienced version of Kennedy. Even though they’ve been fighting about the same length of time, Prangley has about twice as many fights because Kennedy was off becoming a war hero. Somebody’s got to do it right? Did you ever notice how damn good looking the women on Bonanza were for back in that time? They were damn hot man. Prangley is what Kennedy would have been if he had kept fighting in the cage instead of using guns. Prangley wins by submission in the second.

DENNY HODGE: Kennedy vs. Prangley. This is a battle of two really tough guys. Everybody knows the story of Kennedy, and Prangley is coming off a technical draw after an eye poke. Youth will prevail as Kennedy will use constant pressure to keep the heat of Prangley en route to a decision victory.

Former world champion KJ Noons (left) will be opposed by Conor Huen in the opening bout of the telecast. Photo: Esther Lin / Strikeforce

Karl James Noons vs. Conor Heun

BRIAN FURBY: Back in action just under three months after a decision win over Andre Amado, Noons will be shaking off much less ring rust than Heun who dropped a decision loss to Jorge Gurgel just under a year ago. Noons’s punches pack a lot of power, and Heun will do well to try and keep Noons on the outside so he can’t unleash a barrage of body shots. However, even with a good reach, Heun will likely fall prey to some solid shots by Noons because of his penchant for not using faster footwork. Against a guy like Noons, speed and staying light on your feet is imperative, and unfortunately for Heun, he is lacking in these areas. Expect Heun to weather the first round after taking some hard shots, but dropping to a KO loss early in the second. Noons by KO in Round.

RICHARD MANN: Noons should be able to use his footwork and jab to keep Heun at a distance. Heun is probably the better submission grappler, but if he can’t get the fight to the ground he will be in trouble. Noons did not look like he fully integrated an MMA game for his last fight, and he probably won’t need to for this fight either. Noons by TKO.

JACK BRATCHER: We were supposed to have an interview with Noons this week. I was talking to him over the phone on Monday as he was driving in his car. It was a terrible connection and we couldn’t complete the interview, but what I gathered from the few minutes we did speak was that he sounded very focused, had a good camp, and was excited to be fighting in front of friends and family in Southern California. Heun is coming off a decision loss to Jorge Gurgel. Noons hasn’t lost a fight since 2007 and was the last person to defeat Nick Diaz. Personally, I would like to see those two fight again if Noons wins this one. Diaz’s stand up has gotten a lot better since their fight almost three years ago. Heun will have the advantage on the ground but I don’t think he will get it there. Noons by knockout round two.

DENNY HODGE: I was really looking forward to the rematch between Noons and “Krazy Horse,” but Heun is definitely a legitimate replacement and a tough fight for Noons. Heun has 3 losses but has never been KO’d, and Noons will be coming out fast looking to be the first to change that stat. I’m going with Heun to get this fight to the ground and win by submission.

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