Strikeforce - Melendez vs. Masvidal Preview: Card, Odds, & Predictions

Written by Jake Thompson
Friday, 16 December 2011 18:48

Let’s preview the Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal card with predictions and a look at the odds.

The Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal card will be held this Saturday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California, and our fight predictions will attempt to figure out the card.  In addition to the lightweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal, you will also be treated to Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos taking on Hiroko Yamanaka, Gegard Mousasi trying to get back on the path to stardom against Ovince St. Preux, and professional boxer K.J. Noons going up against Billy Evangelista.  Other name fighters on the card include Caros Fodor, Roger Bowling, Justin Wilcox, and Devin Cole.

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Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal Card & Betting Odds:

Gilbert Melendez -320

Jorge Masvidal +260

Cristiane Santos -1165

Hiroko Yamanaka +750

Gegard Mousasi -300

Ovince St. Preux +250

K.J. Noons -235

Billy Evangelista +195

Justin Wilcox -230

Caros Fodor +170

Devin Cole -180

Gabriel Salinas-Jones +140

Roger Bowling -390

Jerron Peoples +270

Fernando Gonzalez

Eddie Mendez

Chris Brown

Herman Terrado

Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal Predictions:

Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal

Masvidal has some big power, solid wrestling, and a great chin, but he’s over his head here.  Melendez is the superior wrestler and I think his hand speed and movement will give the challenger some problems.  It’s never safe to count out a gamer like Masvidal, but I have to do with Melendez to get the decision in a hard fought war.

Cristiane Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka

Yamanaka is tough and has a well-rounded fight game, but she won’t have anything to offer “Cyborg”.  Santos will determine where this fight takes place, and she’ll be dealing out punishment throughout.  Go with the champion via 2nd round TKO.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux

Mousasi has had issues with takedown defense in the past, but he’s been working on it and has also added some muscle.  That should be enough to fend off St. Preux’s takedown attempts while using his excellent kickboxing to get a 2nd round TKO.

K.J. Noons vs. Billy Evangelista

Evangelista is another tough-as-nails gamer that will put on a show, but ultimately I don’t think he has the wrestling pedigree to get Noons to the ground.  Look for Noons, a professional boxer with big power, to outwork his opponent en route to a 1st round KO after a big punch.

Justin Wilcox vs. Caros Fodor

Wilcox is going to use his big wrestling advantage to take a decision here.  Fodor is not an easy fight because of his ability to hold his own no matter where the fight goes, but dominant wrestling will get the job done for the favorite.

Roger Bowling vs. Jerron Peoples

Bowling by 1st round KO.

Devin Cole vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones

Salinas-Jones is a small underdog but I feel he can use his athleticism to be a 3rd round submission win.

Fernando Gonzalez vs. Eddie Mendez

Gonzalez by 1st round TKO.

Chris Brown vs. Herman Terrado

Terrado by 2nd round KO.