Strikeforce Challengers Fight Cards - Billy Evangelista vs. Jorge Gurgel and Tyron Woodley vs. Rudy Bears
by Nick Thomas on Oct 26, 2009 11:52 AM EDT
in MMA News
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PrintHere are how the upcoming cards are looking so far:
Strikeforce Challengers: Evangelista vs. Gurgel - Friday Nov 6th at 11pm
Billy Evangelista (9-0) vs. Jorge Gurgel (13-5) 
Jesse Taylor (13-4) vs. Luke Rockhold (5-1)
Shane Del Rosario (8-0) vs. Brandon Cash (5-0)
Thomas Diagne (1-0) vs. Merritt Warren (4-2)
Elisha Helsper (1-0) vs. Zoila Frausto (3-0)
Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears - Friday Nov 20th at 11pm
Tyron Woodley (5-0) vs. Rudy Bears (10-3)
Rafael Cavalcante (7-2) vs. Aaron Rosa (12-2)
Kim Couture (1-1) vs. Kerry Vera (1-0)
Sarah Kaufman (10-0) vs. Takayo Hashi (12-1)
Bobby Voelker (20-7) vs. Erik Apple (10-1) 
HT: Strikeforce.com
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Strikeforce Challengers
You know, if you combined these two cards, removing just a few of the matches, you’d have one pretty solid show.
Instead, we get one mediocre show and one show I kind of like even though it’s not exactly some great line up.
But, consider the following card with the fat trimmed:
Billy Evangelista (9-0) vs. Jorge Gurgel (13-5)
Rafael Cavalcante (7-2) vs. Aaron Rosa (12-2)
Tyron Woodley (5-0) vs. Rudy Bears (10-3)
Kim Couture (1-1) vs. Kerry Vera (1-0)
Jesse Taylor (13-4) vs. Luke Rockhold (5-1)
Shane Del Rosario (8-0) vs. Brandon Cash (5-0)
Sarah Kaufman (10-0) vs. Takayo Hashi (12-1)
I just don’t see the point of having two (well, three if you count the Fedor/Rogers shows on Nov. 7) shows within a month, spread what little star power Strikeforce purports to have even thinner than they already do. I understand that the challengers series is about promoting the up and coming talent, but to me it makes more sense to sort of stack these cards to the extent possible instead of filling out these cards with Erik Apple, for example.
I point out that the Elisha Helsper v. Zoila Frausto will probably be great (I’m stereotyping here, but who will complain?). Even so, its a match that means nothing to anyone not directly associated with either fighter.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
Really?
Instead, we get one mediocre show and one show I kind of like even though it’s not exactly some great line up.
These Challenger cards are great, and they are meant to put focus and give attention to up and coming fighters. If you merge the card, then some of those fights would not be aired and less fighters would get the attention they deserve. Another huge loss by doing that would be the women fighting on the cards, who would most likely get bumped down to the non televised portion.
Anyways, here is the problem with your thinking. You don’t know who Thomas Diagne (1-0) is, like many other MMA fans. How would you know that he is a French and World San Shou champion who is now training with Cung Le to make the transition to MMA. By leaving out these prospects, we would miss out on them and their stories. The same could have been said about Woodley 3 fights ago.
Why the dig on Erik Apple? He is a pretty good fighter (10-1) and is one of the fighters Strikeforce will support to build up as a prospect. He isn’t being put on the card as a filler fighter.
I agree that three cards in one month is too much, but don’t expect this to be the norm. 1 Challengers and 1 Arena event will be the norm per month.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 26, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that three cards in one month is too much, but don’t expect this to be the norm. 1 Challengers and 1 Arena event will be the norm per month.
Well that’s what I’m getting at. If you’re going to have two of these shows withing so short a time frame, why not create one card with the best talent of the bunch?
As for Erik Apple, he’s not very good and he means nothing not anyone not named “Apple” (as a last name, not Gweneth Paltrow’s kid). He’s fought exactly one worthwhile fighter in his career, and his was summarily dispatched. Maybe he’s gotten better, and it would be great to be proven wrong, but maybe he could find himself on the undercard of a show or two until he’s actually beaten anyone.
You don’t know who Thomas Diagne (1-0) is, like many other MMA fans. How would you know that he is a French and World San Shou champion who is now training with Cung Le to make the transition to MMA. By leaving out these prospects, we would miss out on them and their stories.
If his story was any good, folks would have heard about it. But the fact that he trains with Cung Le means about nothing in 2009. Unless, of course, he’s taking a stage fighting class with Le. I blame you for not getting the word out on a Strikeforce fighter. Apparently his story is so interesting that…you didn’t even make a post about it. Get to work already! That’s why they’re paying you the big bucks!
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
If I am getting paid, someone needs to start writing checks quickly.
If his story was any good, folks would have heard about it. But the fact that he trains with Cung Le means about nothing in 2009.
Sorry, but this is BS. No one knew who Woodley was a few months ago, but now, he is being talked about left and right in the mma blogs. This is what the Challengers event can do for prospects.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 26, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
was that a reply to me?
cause so is Brandon. what’s your point?
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 26, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Two half Filipinos make one full Filipino. Still a great month for Manilla.
by John Nash on Oct 26, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
cant wait for SF on nov 7 FREE MMA RULES!
i just wasted 50 $ on a BS UFC 104…im so happy i dont have to pay another 50. 104 was a disaster…people not making weight, BS stopages, and a BS decision. WTF. GO SF ! FREE MMA RULES!
by 1WAYtiket on Oct 26, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
For some reason I’m a lot more interested in Kaufman-Hashi than I am in Couture-Vera.
But maybe that’s just me.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Oct 26, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions
Absolutely. That is a pretty big matchup in the womens 135 lb weight class. Pretty big fight right there.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Oct 26, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
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