Strikeforce Challengers 17 Preview

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Women’s Welterweights
Sarah Kaufman (13-1, 4-1 SF) vs. Liz Carmouche (5-1, 2-1 SF)

The Matchup: This is a strong pairing between two solid 135-pound women’s contenders, both of whom bring solid wrestling into the fray. Carmouche’s title challenge against Marloes Coenen in May was akin to Chael Sonnen’s encounter with middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 117; she dominated from the start, only to be finished with a miracle submission while she was well ahead on points.

Against Coenen, Carmouche showed a great instinct for scrambles and transitions on the mat, as well as strong initiative in tie-ups and clinches to dictate where the fight went.

Kaufman, meanwhile, has busy hands and likes to come forward with combinations. She is not really a one-hit banger but more of a steady plugger who uses hands to set up other tactics. Still, she can lay a lot of leather on opponents if she feels they are hurt.

This one definitely comes down to wrestling. Kaufman can get a key edge by stuffing Carmouche’s early tie-ups and takedown attempts, but if she fails to do so, Carmouche’s steady pressure and positional improvements could exert a high price on her stamina. Kaufman needs to keep distance and counter cleanly when Carmouche closes the gap.

Carmouche, with just six fights under her belt, has only lost to Coenen as a late-replacement in a title bout. She has enormous upside, and her standup will only improve. This looks like a very close match, but Carmouche really showed some ability and mojo in the Coenen bout and does not figure to be submitted by Kaufman.

The Pick: Left to a wrestling-based duel with some frenetic exchanges on the feet, that spells Carmouche by close decision.

Continue Reading » Next Fight: Ovince St. Preux vs. Joe Cason