Strikeforce ‘Marquardt vs. Saffiedine’ Preview

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Heavyweights

Josh Barnett (31-6, 2-1 SF) vs. Nandor Guelmino (11-3-1, 0-0 SF)

The Matchup: Barnett deserves high praise for lasting five rounds against Daniel Cormier in May. Five-round bouts are a rarity in heavyweight MMA, and the fact that Barnett did so against one of the sport’s top big men while battling through a broken left hand makes his effort -- even in defeat -- all the more impressive.

Like Cormier, Barnett must fulfill his Strikeforce and Showtime obligations before he can move on to the next phase of his career. While it is not clear if Barnett will receive a warm welcome back into the UFC fold, a dominant performance certainly would not hurt his chances.

The 37-year-old Guelmino carries a seven-fight winning streak into his meeting with Barnett. A tae kwon do specialist, Guelmino has finished nine of his 11 victories by way of knockout or submission. The Austrian captured the Southern Europe-based World Free Fight Challenge promotion’s heavyweight crown in October with a decision over Emil Zahariev in a bout in which Guelmino relied heavily on a his left jab and right low kick to keep his opponent at bay.

“The Hun” will have to do his best to create space against Barnett, one of the game’s top submission specialists. “The Warmaster” uses underrated striking and athleticism to close the distance and force tie-ups and takedowns. Barnett is durable enough to walk through heavy fire to force the action to the mat, and once there, he is adept at softening his adversary with punches and elbows while working for a fight-ending submission.

Barnett is suffocating from top position, so it is paramount that Guelmino keep the fight upright for as long as he can. A Pride Fighting Championships veteran, Barnett is as cerebral as they come inside the cage, and he will not wait long to make it his type of fight. In the unlikely event Barnett is taken down, he is more active and dangerous from his back than most heavyweights.

Cormier’s wrestling was able to dictate the location of his fight with Barnett, and his standup was too dynamic for “The Warmaster” to handle. Guelmino’s takedown defense leaves something to be desired, however, and Barnett’s pressure will likely be too much to overcome.

The Pick: Barnett will not waste much time, as he initiates a tie-up and dumps Guelmino to the floor. From there, he will methodically pound his way to a dominant position before submitting Guelmino in the opening frame.

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