Strikeforce ‘Carano vs. Cyborg’ Preview

Mike Kyle vs. Fabricio Werdum

The Bottom Line: Two of the heavyweight division’s most talented yet mercurial fighters square off here with Werdum and Kyle both looking to get their names entered into the Fedor Emelianenko sweepstakes. Unfortunately for Kyle, his brawling style doesn’t feature the takedown defense or jiu-jitsu credentials needed to keep Werdum from turning him into a heap of twisted limbs. It’s certainly no secret that Werdum has gotten himself in trouble on the feet before -- just ask Junior dos Santos -- but Kyle consistently makes the mistake of bull-rushing his opponents, which plays right into Werdum’s hands.

Even if Werdum can’t score a speedy takedown, his clinch game is far more refined than Kyle’s, who often resorts to spastic flailing and ineffective knees when he can’t break out of the clinch with strength alone. Barring another face-first leap into his opponent’s fists, Werdum should be able to rough up Kyle in the clinch before moving to the mat and finishing the fight.

Mike Cook vs. Scott Lighty

The Bottom Line: One of Strikeforce’s more promising prospects, Lighty puts his undefeated ledger on the line against the man Strikeforce is hoping plays the showcase role to a tee, Mike Cook. Strikeforce executives can breathe easy as Lighty may not be some ceiling-busting blue-chipper, but Cook is basically a canvas for any young prospect looking to paint a picture of his own potential. Expect Cook to do as he usually does and charge in headfirst before Lighty responds by wrestling him down to the mat.

From there, it won’t take long for Lighty to pound out a TKO stoppage against the overmatched Cook. Here’s hoping Lighty’s management team has the good sense to keep him on the prelims for the foreseeable future so their boy has a chance to develop properly before jumping into the deep end of the increasingly dangerous Strikeforce heavyweight division.

David Douglas vs. Justin Wilcox

The Bottom Line: A battle of up-and-comers pits Douglas and Wilcox, both of whom are looking to carve out a spot in the still nascent Strikeforce hierarchy. Both fighters have suffered from being pitted against competition out of their league, but this time around you can expect a wild back-and-forth between two evenly matched fighters. While Wilcox has seen more top-tier competition, Douglas’ rabid style and endless gas tank make him tough to corral.

While Wilcox has the balanced game to keep Douglas from getting too comfortable, it won’t be enough to keep him from dropping a nip-tuck decision. Expect a case of too much top control and ground-and-pound from Douglas and too little time to answer back for Wilcox.

Zak Bucia vs. James Terry

The Bottom Line: A rematch of their first battle earlier this year on the “Shamrock vs. Diaz” card, Bucia will try to even the score against Terry, who is one of the promotion’s best welterweight prospects. That status will be on the line against Bucia, who will look to shut down Terry’s diverse and unpredictable style that’s likely the product of training with san shou wizard Cung Le. While Bucia had some success the first time around, Terry is still the better fighter and has more options in the cage.

It may not be any easier this time, but Terry will gradually outpoint Bucia en route to another solid decision win. Of course, I’m hoping he busts out a triple spin ninja kick in honor of his mentor.

Isaiah Hill vs. Alexander Trevino

The Bottom Line: Let’s not mince words on this one, Trevino is an intriguing lightweight prospect with a surprisingly well-rounded skill set while Hill hasn’t won a fight in more than two years. You have to go back an extra year to find the last time Hill won two fights in a row. In other words, just about the only things Hill has on Trevino are experience and losses.

This is a pure showcase fight for Trevino, who will quickly turn Hill’s face into a post-modern art project. Sooner or later, the referee’s sense of compassion will kick in and Trevino will walk away with a one-sided TKO win while Hill keeps closing in on the Mendoza line.