Roger Gracie Slated For May 15 Strikeforce Event, Could Meet Kevin Randleman

Discussion in 'MMA Forum' started by snakerattle79, Mar 11, 2010.


  1. snakerattle79

    snakerattle79 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    http://mmajunkie.com/news/18262/rog...ikeforce-event-could-meet-kevin-randleman.mma

    Roger Gracie (2-0 MMA, 0-0 SF), a 2005 ADCC champion, finally is set to make his Strikeforce debut on May 15.

    Sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman (17-14 MMA, 0-1 SF) is the leading candidate to face the grappling ace at the as-yet-unannounced show, which is likely to be hosted by the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., and air live on Showtime.

    Randleman, however, is not confirmed as an opponent, and PRIDE and UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokodjou (7-6 MMA, 0-1 SF) is also under consideration should the original matchup fizzle.

    Gracie, a second-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu under Carlos Gracie Jr., announced he had signed with Strikeforce this past December at "Strikeforce: Evolution," though his promotional debut was rumored and did not materialize on two fall 2009 cards.

    Gracie, 32, is one of the most decorated grapplers to transition into MMA and made his fighting debut in December 2006 with a submission victory over Ron Waterman. He has appeared only once since then and posted a submission victory over Japanese veteran Yuki Kondo in May 2008 at World Victory Road's Sengoku Second Battle.

    Randleman returned to active competition in May 2008 after a year-plus layoff due to injuries and personal problems. He fell short in his two most recent appearances: a unanimous-decision loss to Mike Whitehead this past June at "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" and a split0decision loss to Stanislav Nedkov at Sengoku 11th Battle this past November.

    Sokodjou, meanwhile, is also on a two-fight slide with TKO losses to Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (in a non-title fight) at at "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers" and Ikuhisa Minowa at "K-1 Dynamite!! 2009."

    The May 15 Strikeforce event is expected to feature the return of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem as he takes on the hard-hitting Brett Rogers. Another heavyweight match-up pitting Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is also expected for the card.

    Gracie’s debut is slated for the televised portion of the May 15 event.
     
    snakerattle79, Mar 11, 2010
    snakerattle79, Mar 11, 2010
    #1
  2. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    Excellent stuff. Although Roger is not 32. More like 28-29
     
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    #2
  3. jimmie

    jimmie Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hope it turns out better then Rolles debut.
     
    jimmie, Mar 11, 2010
    jimmie, Mar 11, 2010
    #3
  4. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    Roger is on a different planet. Rolles was a very good grappler, Roger is the best BJJ guy in the world.
     
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    #4
  5. sugarngold

    sugarngold RIDDUM Full Member

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    Roger is the real deal. If he can secure a couple wins - it would be worth seeing him fight Fedor - provided Fedor is actually going to fight in Strikeforce again. If he can put Fedor on his back - the fight is over.
     
    sugarngold, Mar 11, 2010
    sugarngold, Mar 11, 2010
    #5
  6. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    I love Roger Gracie as much the next guy but two things:

    1. No way is he puting Fedor on his back Fedors Judo is miles and miles better than Rogers.

    2. Roger has a great top game but there is no way that just getting on top of a world class grappler like Fedor is, and he is world class, the fight would be over. No Gi chokes so Roger's top game is not anywhere near as brutally effective.
     
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    #6
  7. LHL

    LHL Captain Freedom Full Member

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    Thought you were talking to yourself there 196osh :lol:
     
    LHL, Mar 11, 2010
    LHL, Mar 11, 2010
    #7
  8. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    :lol:
     
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    196osh, Mar 11, 2010
    #8
  9. Polymath

    Polymath Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not a bad fight...Randleman even in his aged injury prone state still has the wrestling instincts to slam/maul Roger for at least the beginning of rd 1 :lol: I'd like to see him fight a serious wrestler soon though (he isn't that young). As Rogan rightly mentioned about Nate Marquadt; you can be a great grappler but you never truly know how good you are until you've had a dominant wrestler smashing you in the face.
     
    Polymath, Mar 11, 2010
    Polymath, Mar 11, 2010
    #9
  10. sugarngold

    sugarngold RIDDUM Full Member

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    I'm not disagreeing with you - I was just stating IF Roger could put Fedor on his back that he could win.
     
    sugarngold, Mar 11, 2010
    sugarngold, Mar 11, 2010
    #10
  11. Polymath

    Polymath Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sure. But thats not how I see Fedor losing...I'd be more worried if Lesnar was in his guard, or Randy pressed him against the fence.
     
    Polymath, Mar 11, 2010
    Polymath, Mar 11, 2010
    #11
  12. 196osh

    196osh Mendes Bros. Full Member

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    I wouldnt be worried about Randy, Randy would have to do that for 3 rounds, unless he gets a shitty cut. His chin is not what it was and Fedor would KO him at some point. The hand speed difference is a lot.

    Lesnar in his guard I would not be worried about. If Lesnar got to half or side control then yeah that would be a problem.

    Still Fedor has way more ways to win than either of them though.
     
    196osh, Mar 12, 2010
    196osh, Mar 12, 2010
    #12