ProMMAnow.com ‘Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2’ staff picks

Two Strikeforce champions will attempt to defend their titles this Saturday night as Showtime broadcasts “Diaz vs. Noons 2” live from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Welterweight (170 lbs.) champ Nick Diaz (22-7, 1 NC) will put his title on the line in a bad blood rematch against one of the sport’s best boxers KJ Noons (12-2).

Undefeated Strikeforce women’s welterweight (135 lbs.) champ Sarah Kaufman (12-0) will defend her title for the second time as she faces submission specialist and highly respected veteran Marloes Coenen (17-4).

Also fighting on the televised portion of the card at 170 lbs., two-time All-American NCAA wrestling champion Tyron Woodley (6-0) will look to keep his undefeated streak alive as he takes on BJJ black belt and multiple time World Jiu-Jitsu and Pan American champion Andre Galvao (5-1).

And former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (17-3, 1 NC) will try to take one step closer to a title shot as he faces K-1 Hero’s 2007 Middleweight Tournament champion and American Top Team fighter Gesias Cavalcante (15-3-1, 1 NC)).

The ProMMAnow.com staff has come together to share our thoughts and predictions on each of these “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2” main card bouts. Let us know what you think, who’s right, who’s wrong, who’s nuts and who’s the genius. Also, share your own picks if you so desire. Most of all, don’t place any bets until you’ve read the ProMMAnow.com Staff Picks.

Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons

RICHARD MANN: Normally, I believe what I see. In their last fight, Noons used straight punches to continually land on Diaz’s face. Why should this fight be any different? First, Diaz took a few years off his life trying to make Gary Shaw’s 160-pound Frankenweight. At welterweight, Diaz will not be entirely drained. Second, a five-round fight seriously favors Diaz. His “battle of attrition” style will wear out pretty much everyone over 25 minutes. Third, Noons has not looked the same since returning to MMA. He can still throw a pretty two-piece combination, but he has looked out of shape at lightweight. The fact that he will not have to make lightweight, will not help his cardio. Look for Diaz to grind down Noons and finish by submission. Diaz by submission.

JOHN BUHL: I think Diaz will look a lot healthier at 170 than he did moving down to 160 in the first fight with Noons. Noons has crisper boxing, but I don’t think he has the punching power to stop Diaz barring another cut. Diaz will wear him down, work the body, get the fight to the mat and either submit Noons or get the TKO in round four.

BRIAN FURBY: Diaz is a favorite going into this one. Perhaps that’s because people didn’t like Noons’s new hairdo that he was sporting against Gurgel. Or it could be because of Diaz’s better ground game and solid striking. Their first fight ended due to excessive cuts, and if Noons can get an edge striking early perhaps he could triumph over Diaz again. Both guys have gone undefeated since their first match. I’m going with Diaz, because if he wants to take it to the ground he’ll be able to, and unless Noons catches Diaz early, I see Diaz getting a submission about halfway through. Diaz by submission in Round 2.

JACK BRATCHER: I really like Nick Diaz and I would honestly rather see him win this bout. However, I’m going to pick Noons for a couple of reasons. First of all, we’re in a tight race here at ProMMAnow.com for our staff picks and the standings right now are very close and if Richard and I keep making the same picks, I will never surpass him for that number one spot! Secondly, I’m a big fan of Diaz’s boxing, but I still think Noons has more power in his punches and I think he is faster. There is so much heat between these two and from the interviews I have heard Diaz wants to prove he’s the better boxer, so I see these guys going toe-to-toe in an all out brawl that could give us fight of the year. The fact that it’s at welterweight could give Diaz an advantage as the overall bigger and taller guy with the longer reach, but I think Noons’ unflinching confidence, his speed and power will allow him to get  inside and just wear Diaz out with the big shots. Noons via TKO round three.

DENNY HODGE: Noons is buying too heavily into his first victory over Diaz, which has absolutely no bearing on how a full fight between the two would have went if Diaz wasn’t at that time prone to cuts, causing the fight to be stopped as he gushed blood all over the cage.  I don’t even see this fight being that competitive.  Diaz is 7-0 since his loss to Noons and has faced significant competition all over the globe, while Noons stepped away to try his hand(s) at boxing.  Diaz will outbox Noons and will win by TKO.

Sarah Kaufman vs. Marloes Coenen

RICHARD MANN: This fight will probably be closer than most people expect. With that being said, Kaufman should still be the favorite. She should be able to use her technical striking game to take a decision. Kaufman has shown that she willing to upset the crowd in order to stick to a game plan, and that will pay dividends against Coenen. Kaufman by decision.

JOHN BUHL: Don’t have a good feeling either way in this fight. Coenen has a good submission game, but I think Kaufman can hold her own on the ground and do enough damage on the feet to win a decision.

BRIAN FURBY: Coenen is outmatched in this fight. Kaufman may not be able to finish Coenen, but she’ll be able to beat on her for the duration of the fight and pick up a solid decision win. Kaufman by Unanimous Decision.

JACK BRATCHER: Kaufman will use the Greg Jackson game plan to piss off everyone in the arena and out-point Coenen with strikes. Before she got the freak KO slam in her last fight, Kaufman had three decision wins in a row. She’s undefeated, she’s the champ and she’s going to do what it takes to keep her record in tact and the belt around her waist. This means she’s going to take as few chances as possible, play it safe and kickbox her way to a five round decision victory. Coenen will try to submit her but won’t be able.

DENNY HODGE: Kaufman is undefeated and never seems to be too concerned with fighting cautiously to preserve her championship run.  Coming off her power bomb of Roxanne, many fans would have preferred to see her step up in weight and bang with Cyborg, but Coenen is a worthy opponent, one who has tasted the power of Cyborg firsthand.  Kaufman is going to be too much with her straight punches, and crisp boxing.  Kaufman by TKO.

Tyron Woodley vs. Andre Galvao

RICHARD MANN: Two years ago, Galvao looked like a can’t miss prospect. However, in his last two fights, he has looked about as bad as a fighter can and still get the win. If “Macaco” can put it on Galvao like that, then what is Woodley going to do? Woodley will be the better striker. Plus, if he takes it to the ground, he should be able to avoid submissions and do plenty of damage from the top position. Woodley by decision.

JOHN BUHL: An interesting matchup between two prospects in their physical prime who both train with good teams. No doubt Galvao has the tools to win this bout, but I think Woodley has done a better job putting everything together in his fights and the former wrestling standout can choose whether he is more comfortable standing or testing Galvao’s impressive ground game. Woodley in a close decision.

BRIAN FURBY: Galvao won’t have an answer for much of what Woodley throws at him. Galvao has a solid submission game, but so does Woodley, and Woodley is the much stronger of the two, and all other things being equal, I bet on the big guy. Woodley also has a reach advantage and looks to be the first to finish Galvao. Woodley by TKO in Round 1.

JACK BRATCHER: Tyron Woodley by decision. The wrestler Woodley will avoid the submission game of Galvao and control the fight from the top. He will use ground and pound but won’t be the first to finish Galvao. Woodley will keep his undefeated record in tact and advance to 9-0.

DENNY HODGE: Woodley is a fast rising prospect that is now 8-0, and will be getting a real test in his bout vs. Galvao. Woodley has the advantage with his wrestling, while Galvao’s jiu jitsu will be his best opportunity to win the fight, which means we will likely see a kickboxing match. I see Woodley controlling position and cage control in this fight en route to a unanimous decision victory in this one.

Josh Thomson vs. Gesias Cavalcante

RICHARD MANN: There is still time for this fight to fall through. You have got to love Strikeforce matching up the two most injury prone fighters in the history of the lightweight division. If the fight stays on the feet Thomson should have the advantage. Cavalcante scored a big win in his last fight, but he still does not look all the way back on the feet. Thomson by decision.

JOHN BUHL: Despite all of the supposed hype around a Diaz vs. Noons rematch, this fight is definitely the most intriguing. Both guys are top-ten caliber without a doubt when healthy. JZ’s brute strength and athleticism are difficult to deal with in any area of the fight game, but I think Thomson can outpoint him if he’s back in the shape he was in when he took the Strikeforce belt from Gilbert Melendez. Thomson by decision in the fight of the night.

BRIAN FURBY: If you’re looking to bet on an “underdog” on this card, look to Cavalcante. The odds are close on this one, and I look for it to be the dominant candidate for Fight of the Night. Thomson wants to get back into title contention and Cavalcante looks to impress in his Strikeforce debut. Should be a lot of action. Cavalcante by Unanimous Decision.

JACK BRATCHER: Gesias has had great success in Japan, but this will be his Strikeforce debut and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the changes. Both fighters each only have three losses on their record. It really is a great match-up, and definitely has that fight of the night potential as my cohort has stated. I think that home field advantage will also help Josh. Everything leans toward Thomson in this fight for me so I’ll take Thomson via decision.

DENNY HODGE: Both fighters have had their share of significant injuries in the past, and this fight is very important to the landscape of the 155 pound Strikeforce division. Cavalcante has a power advantage, but will he be able to keep up with Thomson’s pace in this fight?  I see this going to the judges, where Thomson will edge out Cavalcante on the cards with his wrestling and top control.