Tonight at 9pm [EST], EliteXC and CBS will team up again to present their second offering of MMA on basic cable to the fans. While this card lacks the big eyeball magnet names like Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano, it does have some very exciting fights, including 2 with title implications.
Robbie Lawler v. Scott Smith, Second Go-Around
Those who watched the first CBS card will remember their first fight. A stand-up war where we saw both men give as much punishment as they took. Smith was the underdog, and for sure was losing (on points) in their first meeting, but we never got to see the end thanks to an accidental eye poke from Lawler that led to the doctor stopping the fight early. Well, now we get to see them go at again. Look for the Champ (Lawler) to play the same game he did last time, spend a round or two feeling Smith out, avoiding the power and picking his openings carefully. The competitiveness of this fight lies in the hands of Scott Smith. If he does as he usually does, he’ll probably punch himself out by the middle of round two and then start dropping his hands. Perhaps having already fought this fight once will lead him to a more tactical approach.
Prediction: Lawler by TKO.
Nick Thompson v. Jake Shields
EliteXC has been trying to crown Jake Shields their welterweight Champ since 2007, there’s just one problem…no one will fight him. With a 9 fight win streak and one of the meanest wrestling games in the Welterweight division, the only reason he isn’t EliteXC’s champ is because he’s hard to find opponents for. In short, he makes good fighters look bad. The guy they finally found to fight him for the title, however, is not someone who is too concerned with appearance. Nick Thompson is basically the hardest working man in MMA, a guy who has fought in multiple promotions, racking up solid wins over the likes of Eddie Alvarez and Josh Neer, while at the same time studying for his BAR exam. With a 12 fight win streak, and 11 of those wins coming from either submissions or knockouts; Thompson presents Shield’s toughest fight in several years. Shields has underrated boxing but he won’t test it here. Look for Jake to go for a quick takedown and work Nick over from the top. This one is hard to call, but I feel like Shield’s top game will be too much for Nick to handle.
Prediction: Shields by decision. A very close one.
Nick Diaz v. Thomas Denny
Diaz returns to the ring after his WWE style debacle at the last EliteXC card to fight in his home town of Stockon, CA. He’s fighting a bit of a nobody. A tough nobody, but a nobody in terms of big name shows and tough opponents. Thomas Denny is 1-1 in his last two bouts with his win coming from a DQ. Not a sterling resume, to say the least. Nick Diaz, weight issues aside, is a world class competitor. Assuming nothing goes wrong for Nick in the way of a cut, he should take this without any real issue.
Prediction: Nick Diaz by submission.
(Image via Combatlifestyle.com)
