MMA Betting – Strikeforce Challengers 9 Main Event Features Heavyweight Showdown
by Dave Bond
Strikeforce is on tap for this Friday night and it gives the MMA Betting world an overdue opportunity to lie down on the first MMA card in what seems like an eternity.
Shane Del Rosario puts an unblemished record on the line against Lolohea Mahe in a bout to join a long cue of legitimate Strikeforce Heavyweight contenders.
July 23, 2010
Comcast Arena, Everett, Washington, United States
Strikeforce - Challengers 9
Broadcast: Showtime
Shane Del Rosario (9-0): -350
Current WBC Muay Thai Champion Shane Del Rosario and Elite XC and M-1 Challenge veteran will try to take another step up the Heavyweight ladder in the Strikeforce Heavyweight division on Friday night.
Known for his superb striking, Del Rosario has worked diligently on his ground game in attempts to move from MMA prospect to MMA player.
Del Rosario has nine stoppages in his career, eight of which have come in the first round. He has seven knockouts and two submissions to his credit proving that his all around game cannot be ignored.
Although his strength is definitely striking, his latest win, a submission victory against Brandon Cash confirms that he is certainly no slouch on the ground.
He is an extremely athletic fighter who will look to use his power, his quickness and his movement to keep Mahe off balance.
Lolohea Mahe (6-1-1): +225
Lolohea Mahe is a decent fighter who has turned his troubled life into an MMA career. He is heavy handed and is somewhat one dimensional inside the Octagon.
A win on Friday night would certainly legitimize his place in the sport and put his name on the Heavyweight landscape.
All but one of Mahe’s victories has come by way of knockout. There is no secret as to what he will look to do inside the Octagon.
He likes to strike and hates to go to the ground. A recent move to Hawaii to train with Kendall Grove should help his ground game but he is still considered green when the fight hits the mat.
For Mahe to beat Del Rosario, he is absolutely going to have to keep this fight standing and hope to land a bomb that puts Del Rosario to sleep.
MMA Wagering Outlook:
Both of these fighters are strikers at heart but the one that demonstrates patience and a better ground game should prevail. Del Rosario’s Muay Thai pedigree just may be enough in this fight but it will likely be his willingness to take Mahe to the ground that will determine the outcome.
Mahe has had a history of troubles making weight and could come in to the fight showing some effects of having to cut some of the bulk.
Look for sharp, crisp strikes to set up a Del Rosario take down and for Del Rosario to induce a referee stoppage with a lethal ground and pound.
MMA Betting Pick: Shane Del Rosario by 1st round TKO
