By James Hirth
In one of the most talent-stacked fight cards of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers series, Shane Del Rosario and Lolohea Mahe go toe-to-toe for a spot on the short list of heavyweight title contenders.
Before that, the Women’s Welterweight Championship is on the line when Roxanne Modafferi, fighting at her natural weight, returns to the STRIKEFORCE cage to battle undefeated champion Sarah Kaufman for the 135 pound title.
The live SHOWTIME® telecast of the main card begins with a battle of “old school” versus “new school” protégé’s as Matt Hume’s student Caros Fodor takes on the Cung Le-trained Thomas Diagne.
Then Cory Devela returns to the cage looking for his first win since 2008 as he takes on the rugged Bobby Voelker who fought in STRIKEFORCE just 10 weeks ago.
And in a battle of hard-hitting light heavyweights, Mike Kyle returns to the STRIKEFORCE promotion to take on Abongo Humphrey in Humphrey’s second bout at 205 pounds.
LIGHTWEIGHT CONTEST (146-155lbs)
CAROS FODOR vs. THOMAS DIAGNE
CAROS “The Future” FODOR
RECORD: 5-2 (0-0 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 0 SUBMISSIONS: 5 (3 chokes,2 armbars) DECISIONS: 0
CAMP: Fodor trains with “The Wizard” Matt Hume at AMC Pankration and Kickboxing in Kirkland, Washington. His brother Ben, once a fierce rival, is now a training partner and professional fighter as well.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Fodor is a U.S. Army veteran with tours of Iraq and Kuwait under his belt. His interest in the armed forces dates back to his preteen days and he enrolled in the military less than a week after high school graduation.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Training with Matt Hume, it comes as no surprise that Fodor is a submission machine with all 5 of his victories coming in the opening round.
THOMAS DIAGNE
RECORD: 1-1 (1-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 0 SUBMISSIONS: 0 DECISIONS: 1
CAMP: Diagne trains with former STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Champion Cung Le and STRIKEFORCE veteran James Terry at Universal Strength Headquarters in Milpitas, California. He rounds out his game with Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the direction of Paul Schreiner.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Originally from Paris, France, Diagne is a 6-time San Shou champion and competed in the first STRIKEFORCE Challengers event.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Diagne’s strength is going to be standing. He has the full complement of devastating kicks and throws one would expect from a San Shou practitioner.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE: It is Fodor’s STRIKEFORCE debut and he enters the cage off his first loss in nearly 5 years. Butterflies could be a factor. Diagne has the chance to get better than .500 with a win over a quality opponent. Styles make fights and these guys are total opposites. This may be quick and it may come down to who gets off first.
WELTERWEIGHT CONTEST (156-170lbs)
CORY DEVELA vs. BOBBY VOELKER
CORY “The One” DEVELA
RECORD: 10-4 (1-2 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 1 SUBMISSIONS: 6 (1 choke,1 armlock) DECISIONS: 2
CAMP: Devela trains at Victory Athletics in Olympia, Washington with UFC and STRIKEFORCE veteran Dennis “Superman” Hallman and STRIKEFORCE veterans Len Bentley and Brian Caraway.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Devela holds a win over former UFC title contender Joe “Diesel” Riggs, slamming his opponent for the finish in less than 90 seconds. Three of Devela’s losses are to UFC veterans (Terry Martin, Ed Herman and Matt Horwich) and the other is to STRIKEFORCE trailblazer Luke Rockhold. He has moved down from middleweight (185lbs) to welterweight (170 lbs) in an effort to accentuate his wrestling skills against lighter opponents. Devela also possess home field advantage as he is a Washington native.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Devela is a wrestler so expect big takedowns and Ground’n’Pound. He also expects to be quicker in his new weight division without sacrificing too much strength so his takedowns and positioning on the mat should be stronger.
BOBBY VOELKER
RECORD: 21-8 (1-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 13 SUBMISSIONS: 3 (1 choke) DECISIONS: 4
CAMP: Voelker trains out of the American Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Kansas City, Kansas with Brad Jones.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Voelker trained in boxing and kickboxing as a teenager and amassed a 15-0 amateur MMA record. After establishing a respectable 14-4 record fighting on the local circuit, Voelker fought Kevin Burns in VFC 23. Bobby was KO’d in the loss but he started to see a better level of talent including PRIDE FC vet Amir Rahnavardi and UFC veterans Jacob Volkmann and CJ Fernandes. He debuted in STRIKEFORCE last November, stopping with hard-hitting Erik Apple with strikes in a back-and-forth battle. His most recent bout ended in an unfortunate decision loss to Roger Bowling after Bowling was scraped in the eye by Voelker’s glove. He also carries a loss to STRIKEFORCE upstart Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox from a bout early in both men’s MMA careers.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Voelker works well from the clinch, unleashing his potent overhand right. He recovers quickly and can never be counted out of a fight. Few fighters will take more abuse than Voelker and come back to even up or win the fight.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE: We have another strong contrast in styles. Voelker is looking to get back on track after a difficult loss. Devela has is motivated by his girlfriend’s personal struggle. Both men want STRIKEFORCE gold around their waist so it comes down to which fighter is able to impose their will on the other first…or more effectively.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST (186-205lbs)
MIKE KYLE vs. ABONGO HUMPHREY
MIKE “MAK” KYLE
RECORD: 16-7-1 (1-2-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 13 SUBMISSIONS: 0 DECISIONS: 3
CAMP: Kyle trains out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California with an army of talent including former STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson, legend Herschel Walker and trainers Javier Mendez and Bob Cook.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Kyle has fought in both the WEC and King of the Cage and had 3 fights in the UFC (2-1, knocking out both James Irvin and Wes Sims). He made an impressive return to the STRIKEFORCE cage after a year away, stopping Anderson Silva protégé and current light heavyweight title contender Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. He’s also exhibited his share of unsportsmanlike conduct, including punching after the bell, but appears to have reformed. Since his loss to Fabricio Werdum in his last STRIKEFORCE appearance, “MAK” is on a 4-fight win streak including a stoppage of UFC veteran Travis Wiuff.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: There’s no mystery here; Kyle is a no-nonsense striker. He’ll go out on his shield in a cloud of dust and someone is going to be bleeding.
ABONGO HUMPHREY
RECORD: 7-1 (1-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 6 SUBMISSIONS: 1 DECISIONS: 0
CAMP: Humphrey trains Combat Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing with Paul Chambers, Bobbie and Gary Brown and George Allen at Top of the Line Fitness in Atlanta, Georgia. He also works with UFC veteran Roberto Traven at Unit 2 Fitness.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Humphrey runs a non-profit organization called The Meet Africa Movement and is a former middle linebacker for Tuskegee University. He started fighting in Georgia and was 4-0 before he won the BET Iron Ring Heavyweight Tournament. None of Humphrey’s pro fights have gone the distance, finishing 6 victims with strikes. Only Humphrey’s STRIKEFORCE debut, against Brett Rogers, lasted into the second round. He returns to the cage having stopped George Bush III with surprising guillotine choke in the opening round.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Humphrey uses powerful leg kicks and impressive flexibility to keep opponents at bay. He’s also shown some new submission skills in his most recent trip in the cage.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE: One thing is for sure, this one is unlikely to go the distance. But in reality, fights like this aren’t signed to be technical chess matches. Kyle is significantly larger than Humphrey but Ron has adjusted to the light heavyweight division and is now more dangerous than his previous incarnation.
STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (126-135lbs)
ROXANNE MODAFFERI vs. SARAH KAUFMAN
ROXANNE MODAFFERI
RECORD: 15-5 (0-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 1 SUBMISSIONS: 4(2 chokes, 2 armbars) DECISIONS: 10
CAMP: Modafferi does not claim one gym as “home” but she has trained extensively over the years in the US and Japan. Recently she has trained in Tokyo, Japan with DREAM and WEC veteran Kenji Osawa.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Modafferi began fighting MMA professionally in 2003 for the Smackgirl promotion in Japan while studying abroad. Compiling a 3-1 record in the promotion, she continued to fight stateside and beat highly touted Jennifer Howe (for the second time) to claim the IFC Women’s Middleweight Champion. Modafferi would continue to bounce back and forth from the US to Japan and won both the Fatal Femmes Fighting Lightweight Champion (in the US) and the K-GRACE Women’s Open-Weight Championship (in Japan) in the same year. The K-GRACE event in ’07 was an 8-woman tournament and she beat STRIKEFORCE veteran Marloes Coenen for the title. Coenen and Modafferi are now 1-1. Her most recent victory was a split-decision win over Tara Larosa who had not lost a fight in 6 years.
KEYS TO HER GAME: Modafferi has trained everything from judo and tae kwon do to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and muay Thai. She can take the fight anywhere and has the heart to go the distance every time.
SARAH KAUFMAN
RECORD: 11-0 (3-0 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 8 SUBMISSIONS: 0 DECISIONS: 3
CAMP: Kaufman trains out of Zugec Ultimate Martial Arts in Victoria, Canada with Adam Zugec for boxing, muay Thai, BJJ and wrestling and Ty Goodale for strength and conditioning.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Kaufman started fighting MMA professionally in 2006 and quickly moved to the King of the Cage promotion where she went 2-0. She fought for the TKO promotion and claimed the first Hardcore Championship Fighting women’s bantamweight (135 pound) title beating Ginele Marquez. After defending the title she made her STRIKEFORCE debut in May of ‘09 as a replacement for Kim Couture. She won a unanimous decision over Miesha Tate in her first 3-round fight and went on to beat Shayna Baszler by decision in the first women’s bout contested under five-minute rounds. Kaufman claimed the title in February taking a decision over highly regarded Takayo Hashi and the fight at STRIKEFORCE Challengers 9 will be her first title defense.
KEYS TO HER GAME: Kaufman throws solid leg kicks and exhibits excellent movement in the cage. She avoids submissions better than she applies them and knows how to stay out of trouble standing or on the mat.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE: Both women have a habit of going the distance but the champ needs to make a statement in the 135 pound division with a decisive win over a highly ranked opponent. Modafferi gets a chance to show her wares at her natural weight and gets a crack at the highly-coveted welterweight title.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTEST (206-265lbs)
LOLOHEA MAHE VS. SHANE DEL ROSARIO
LOLOHEA MAHE
RECORD: 6-1-1 (0-1 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 5 SUBMISSIONS: 1 DECISIONS: 0
CAMP: Mahe fights out of Maui Militia with Mark “The Bear” Smith and UFC veteran Justin McCully. He supplements his training with UFC veterans Kendall Groves and Troy Mandaloniz at I & I Gym, Rilley Dutro of I & I Training Center and Central Boxing and at Impact Zone Submission Grappling Club with Travis Pennington.
WORTHY OF NOTE: In 2002 the half Samoan/half Tongan fighter went to prison for 5 years for assault and lost 130 pounds during his time there. UFC veteran Kendall Groves helped him channel his aggression into MMA. Mahe is the Up N Up Heavyweight Champion and has fought to a draw with UFC veteran Scott Junk. He fought Lavar Johnson in his debut and though he lost, he showed huge heart and determination.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Mahe has a big right hand and will not go away. He showed against Johnson that he will fight until his last breath and there is no quit in him. Mahe had trouble making weight the last time and started to fade in the second round. Hopefully adjustments have been made in his training camp.
SHANE DEL ROSARIO
RECORD: 9-0-0 (1-0 in STRIKEFORCE competition)
WINS: (T)KOS: 7 SUBMISSIONS: 2 (1 armbar, 1 omoplata) DECISIONS: 0
CAMP: Del Rosario trains with Team Oyama in Irvine, California under the direction of Colin Oyama. The fight team features STRIKEFORCE veteran Bao Quach and M-1 Challenge veterans Giva Santana and Fabio Nascimento.
WORTHY OF NOTE: Del Rosario is the US WBC Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion and has been fighting MMA since 2006. He debuted in King of the Cage and fought 3 times in both the Elite XC and M-1 Challenge events before signing with STRIKEFORCE. Del Rosario was in trouble early in his debut against Brandon Cash but he came back to submit the then undefeated fighter via omoplata in the opening round.
KEYS TO HIS GAME: Del Rosario is a potent striker with polished Muay Thai skills. His ground game, and specifically his submission skills, has continued to evolve. His time working with Giva Santana has paid off and this was apparent in the omoplata victory in his last performance.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE: There’s no flash to Mahe’s game. He is coming to bang. He may try to take the fight to the mat for some Ground’n’Pound but Del Rosario has shown he’s even more comfortable on the mat now. We also know his stand-up is top shelf so expect Del Rosario to be the more patient fighter. This is going to be quick if Mahe’s stamina hasn’t improved.
