The Casual MMA Fan’s Guide To Strikeforce: Houston

While it’s easy for hardcore MMA fans such as myself to justify dropping $50 every time the UFC has an event on pay-per-view it’s a different story completely for casual fans of mixed martial arts. Saturday night Strikeforce makes the trek to Houston for an event that will be broadcast on Showtime at 10:00pm ET. While the show isn’t “free” as it costs a subscription to showtime there are plenty of MMA fans who order Showtime for a single night to get the charge prorated. So let’s run down what to expect should you choose Strikeforce over watching preseason football.

- The main event features “King Mo” Muhammad Lawal making the first defense of his Strikeforce light heavyweight (205 pound) title against Brazilian Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Feijao was one of the rising stars of the now defunct EliteXC promotion after running up a string of impressive TKO victories but was sidelined for 11 months before he returned to action against Mike Kyle in June of 2009. Kyle pulled off the major upset and set the rusty Feijao back significantly. The only other loss in Cavalcante’s career to that point was a disqualification. He would return to action in November getting a TKO victory over Aaron Rosa and fighting again this May, demolishing the tough Antwain Britt in the first round. Saturday night represents a chance for the once highly regarded prospect to make good and win his first “major” title in the sport.