Melendez and Rockhold await challenges in Strikeforce

After defeating Keith Jardine, Luke Rockhold made a plea for Strikeforce
to give him more challengers and challenged middleweights from the UFC.

As 2011 was coming to an end, Strikeforce was finding it difficult to look far into their future. There was no word of a television contract, if they would fold into the UFC (i.e., PRIDE FC, WEC) or would they be able to thread water and stay alive as a promotion.

Answers came and they came rapidly. They continued their already existent television contract with Showtime Sports and 2012 is heading upward in the first quarter of the year. There still remains one problem, one that will likely loom for quite some time.

The level of competition in Strikeforce is becoming to dwindle. Heavyweight stalwarts like Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem have jumped to the UFC. Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists, Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, are also rumored to be heading over. Current champions like Luke Rockhold and Gilbert Melendez have called for more competition as well. Whether that means they jump to the UFC or Strikeforce brings people in for them is yet to be seen.

Being the optimist that I am, I’ve compiled a list of possible fighters to battle either Rockhold or Melendez.

Here are my three for Melendez:

1)      Shinya Aoki (30-5, 1 NC): After his gruesome beating of Satoru Kitaoka at Dream – Fight for Japan: Genki Desu Ka!, in which he won via rear-naked choke that caused Kitaoka to choke on his own blood, Aoki is still awaiting to find a fight in 2012. It will be difficult for Strikeforce to convince him to come to the promotion, but a Melendez-Aoki bout will be well worth it.

2)      Melvin Guillard (29-10-2, 1NC): Two straight losses in the UFC have possibly derailed a promising career of the “Young Assassin”, his most recent coming at the hands of Jim Miller. Both losses have been in the first-round by way of rear-naked choke. He will likely get one more shot in the UFC lightweight division, but a bout in Strikeforce should not be out of question for Guillard if he wants a shot at the top.

3)      Clay Guida (29-12): “The Carpenter” has been on the cusp of UFC-title talk several times in his storied career. He is one of the most beloved fighters in MMA and always puts on a show for fans no matter the opponent. A fight between Guida and Melendez, two guys with great cardio and highlight reel fights, would be a big draw and expand fan bases across the country.

My three for Rockhold:

1)      Tim Kennedy (14-3): The man that should’ve fought Rockhold, if not for a lingering injury, still deserves a title shot. He is 5-1 in Strikeforce with his only loss coming against Ronaldo Souza. Kennedy is a dangerous striker and submission artist and could prove to be a handful for the current middleweight champion. He has the perfect skill set to complement Rockhold in the heptagon and also challenge for the title.

2)      Anthony Johnson (10-4): Johnson, who is coming off a loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 142, is currently looking for a promotion to sign him after being cut for missing weight by 11 pounds. Although this is the second time he has missed weight, I believe that Johnson can be a dominant middleweight if he focuses and trains properly. Is he most deserving of a title shot? Not in the UFC, but Strikeforce needs names and opponents for their champions. Johnson offers both of those.

3)      Ronaldo Souza (14-3): Let’s be honest, when news broke that Kennedy wouldn’t be facing Rockhold for the title many hoped there’d be a rematch between him and the man he beat for the title. Sadly, the bout was given Keith Jardine. Think about…the two had a great five-round battle in September at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov and it is likely they’d have another great fight. The former champ, Souza, was riding a four-fight win streak before being defeated by Rockhold. “Jacare” is expecting a return in the spring of 2012, why not have that return be against Rockhold for the title?

This is all speculation on my part and I am sure all of you have your own thoughts of who should be next in line for Melendez and Rockhold. So, let me know in the comment box below.

Follow me Twitter @NiteshDutt.