Strikeforce ‘Overeem vs. Werdum’ Preview

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Heavyweights
Daniel Cormier (7-0) vs. Jeff Monson (42-11)

The Matchup: Cormier’s great wrestling has definitely spearheaded him to a 7-0 MMA career, as his standup remains a work in progress. Monson, a veteran who has faced a who’s who of the sport’s best, fought for the UFC heavyweight crown in 2006.

For a 5-foot-9 densely muscled heavyweight with limited standup, Monson is about as durable as they come. He is exceptionally tough to stop or submit, which presents interesting questions for the still-developing Cormier, whose physicality and wrestling chops typically overwhelm foes early in the bout.

This is a definite test-the-waters fight for Cormier, as Monson’s the exact kind of opponent to extend him in a fight, at which point he can address some challenges previous opponents have not brought to the table. If there is one danger area for Cormier, it is getting tired in a long, drawn-out ground battle against Monson, who is an exceptional submission artist.

Moreover, it is hard to be sold on Cormier being a legitimate heavyweight, as his body is pretty soft in the 245-pound range. That is something you can get away with at this stage; it is another thing entirely trying to beat the top-of-the-food-chain competitors while packing excess flab. He was much more toned as an Olympian, so it is not like he has not gotten into that kind of shape previously.

Cormier has a great wrestling pedigree -- he was a 2004 Olympian, and medical problems prevented him from competing in 2008. Monson can present some tactical problems on the ground in a drawn-out, slow-paced fight; the faster the pace, the more that means Cormier is likely to do something significant early.

The Pick: Cormier by decision.

Continue Reading » Next Fight: Valentijn Overeem vs. Chad Griggs