Strikeforce Challengers’ “Evangelista vs. Gurgel” Preview
Published by Jim Genia on November 5th, 2009 in Current Events

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Mixed martial arts’ “November to remember” kicks off on Friday night with another installment of Strikeforce Challengers, this one headlined by West Coaster Billy Evangelista against UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel and featuring the likes of TUF castoff Jesse Taylor and up-and-comers Luke Rockhold and Shane del Rosario. In a month that will provide fans with two more Strikeforce shows, including one with Fedor Emelianenko on CBS (the day after “Evangelista vs. Gurgel”), as well as two UFCs and a WEC, it’s easy to see the first offering getting lost in the shuffle. But ignoring what this November 6th Showtime broadcast brings to the party would be a mistake. Evangelista likes to bang, Gurgel seems to have forgotten how to do anything but bang, and putting the two together is a recipe for bloodshed. How can any true fight fan overlook that?

Although Evangelista’s last bout, back in May at the premiere Strikeforce Challengers, ended with a loss via disqualification, the previously undefeated American Kickboxing Academy fighter reaffirmed his status as “stud”. Mixing wrestling with striking – constant striking in the form of punishing knees from the clinch and punches galore – the lightweight is one of the West Coast’s best kept secrets. Gurgel, on the other hand, is no secret to anyone who’s followed the sport for any length of time. A TUF 2 competitor and former jiu-jitsu trainer to Rich Franklin, the diminutive Brazilian has long forsaken his grappling roots and converted to an unabashed slugger, a modus operandi that has put losses on his record, seen him cast out of the Octagon, but given him a reputation as a huge crowd-pleaser. At his Strikeforce Challengers debut in June, Gurgel went the distance with wrestler Conor Huen, and if that fistic festival is of any indication, more face-punching will be in store when he and Evangelista meet.

Who will win? With seven UFC bouts to his name Gurgel has clearly faced the stiffer competition; he should have enough of an edge in experience to outpoint Evangelista when the scorecards are tallied.

California-based rising star Rockhold will have his hands full with Taylor when the two clash. Though banished from TUF 7 for his drunken antics and dropped from the UFC entirely after a loss to CB Dollaway, Taylor simply has fought more and faced tougher opponents. Rockhold, a solid grappler in his own right, just doesn’t have anything Taylor hasn’t seen before. Expect the man who favors Jim Beam and Jack Daniels over Dana White and Joe Silva to get on top, drop leather and earn a TKO stoppage.

Experience will also be the difference in del Rosario’s match-up against Brandon Cash. As a wrestler who likes to punch, Cash has had an easy time of it in promotions like War Gods and Palace Fighting Championships, but del Rosario has been around the block, remaining undefeated in King of the Cage, ShoXC and M-1 Challenge in almost twice as many bouts. Watch for Cash to end up on his back, staring up at the ceiling and needing smelling salts.

Every DVR and TIVO on the planet is primed and ready for Saturday night’s Fedor fight. And they should be. However, to neglect what Evangelista and Gurgel have in store for us would be a crime. They’re going to throw down – no doubt about that.

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