Strikeforce "Shamrock vs. Diaz" Preview

Scott Smith vs. Benji Radach

The matchup
With two sluggers squaring off and 27 KOs in their combined 33 wins, this middleweight throwdown could be the fight of the night, and it’s matchups like these that have helped Strikeforce keep the crowds coming back. Smith’s rock-em-sock-‘em first brawl with Robbie Lawler at Elite XC -- which ended in an anticlimactic no-contest after Smith absorbed an eye poke and was unable to continue -- was largely overlooked because of the Kimbo Slice-James Thompson bout. In the rematch, Smith shattered his hand early in the bout, and was eventually knocked out.

Radach, meanwhile, continues to rebuild a career nearly derailed by injuries and bad luck. After sustaining a broken jaw in a loss to Chris Leben in 2004, “Razor” was inactive for nearly three years before returning to the game via the IFL. After winning five of six in that promotion, he scored a big-time stoppage win of Murilio Rua in EliteXC last October, rallying in a bout that saw both guys in trouble. Radach may be one of the game’s more underrated middles as he, like Smith, carries legit knockout power, good wrestling, and the kind of killer instinct you can’t teach.

Keys to victory
In any MMA matchup, there’s a laundry list of skill sets to compare, often with flavorful differences suggesting a wide range of outcomes. This one is about as close as you can get to a dead heat. Both Smith and Radach share the same strengths as mentioned above, but also the same stylistic tendencies and shortcomings. Both have a wrestling base with heavy hands, and are unlikely to be submitted if the other guy is on the bottom. Both need to land first and avoid being taken down, lest they be subject to the vicious ground-and-pound likely to ensue. And both have a tendency to fire back -- immediately -- when hurt. It’s a recipe for a violent bout.

For Smith, years of working his Thai clinch seemed to be paying off in the first Lawler bout, as he was comfortable wielding inside elbows, short knees, and the kitchen sink. He also rebounded from defeat with a 24-second stoppage of Terry Martin at last November’s Strikeforce. Smith usually prefers to work standing up, while Radach seems a bit more willing to shoot for a takedown if it suits him. Radach’s strikes are equally dangerous though.

Both men have to land first, and pick smart counters while avoiding the inevitable missile launched by the other guy.

Intangibles
Smith has the edge in competition and consecutive experience, while Radach’s resurgence may mark him as the better long-term investment. Can Radach differentiate between a hurt Smith and a dangerous, wounded foe? Can Smith put together a gameplan that plays to his strengths instead of slugging it out and relying exclusively on his heavy hands? Will either of these guys shoot for a takedown despite the inclination both have for trading shots on the feet?

The pick
The guy who lands hardest the most or is on top most on the ground wins this one. Radach and Smith are so evenly matched that it’s a true toss-up.