Strikeforce "Shamrock vs. Diaz" Preview

Gilbert Melendez vs. Rodrigo Damm

The matchup
A late substitute for an injured Josh Thomson, Damm, 8-2, has some good showings on his record. With a KO stoppage of Jorge Masdival in last June’s Sengoku, he also logged three wins in Bodog Fight against decent competition. He has nothing to lose coming in late against Melendez, who will be fighting in front of a hometown Bay Area crowd. It may not be the recipe for a Buster Douglas-type upset, but he could certainly have a moment in the sun he could capitalize on, a la Bert Cooper-Evander Holyfield.

Keys to victory
For Melendez, 14-2, pushing the pace defines his style. A good wrestler with willing and active strikes, he likes to take guys down and batter them, quickly transitioning to superior positions so he can threaten with more strikes and assorted punishment. Coming in on short notice, Damm, a jiu-jitsu stylist with decent hands, has to have something go right in a big way before Melendez overwhelms him.

Intangibles
Melendez’ conditioning is second to none, and despite preparing for a revenge rematch against Thompson -- who beat him via definitive decision in their first bout -- the opponent switch shouldn’t bother him too much. If anything, he’ll be buoyed by the fact that he won’t be trying to take down Thompson, who proved superior in that department and figures to be more resistant than Damm.

Damm will have to tag Melendez hard and stuff his takedown attempts, and work every inch of the ring to keep giving Melendez angles. Melendez is especially good at making something out of nothing, particularly in scrambles, and Damm will have to make him pay in the transitions and land effectively on the feet.

The pick
Melendez is still a juggernaut, and figures to grind out a clear-cut decision or late stoppage.