The Frank Shamrock vs Cung Le fight that is set to headline the next Strikeforce/Elite XC card on March 29, in San Jose is a Middleweight tilt that has more ramifications than just the Strikeforce Middleweight Title. Shamrock vs Le is a fight that has been in the making for years and it will ultimately decide who the King of San Jose is.
The fight is going to be the biggest test that both fighters have had as Le, a San Shou champion, is still relatively new to MMA and Shamrock, who has only fought four times since 2003, has not fought a fighter that is as dynamic a striker as Le is.
San Jose fight fans love San Jose fighters and there are no fighters in San Jose that are as popular as Shamrock or Le. Anyone who saw the “Shamrock vs Baroni” card in person or on Pay Per View know that when Shamrock and Le enter “The Shark Tank” that a border-line earthquake will ensue.
In 2006 I wrote in my college’s newspaper that a potential fight between Frank Shamrock and Cung Le would be huge for San Jose and that sentiment was only the tip of the iceberg as the winner on March 29 will not only be the Strikeforce Middleweight, but will show everyone in attendance and those watching on Showtime who runs the San Jose fight game.
The bout that was originally slated to headline the March 29 event between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson for Melendez’s Strikeforce Lightweight Title is off the card. Melendez vs Thomson has also been a fight in the making as both fighters have gone a combined 8-1 under the Strikefoce banner. A fight was imminent but you are going to have to wait as Thomson had to withdraw from the title bout due a shoulder injury.
A match-up of two fighters that call the Bay Area home is a fight that would have Dana White salivating to have on a UFC card and the match-up would have been a great compliment to Shamrock vs Le. The exposure would have been great for both Melendez and Thomson, but all in all the delay is actually for the better.
Melendez vs Thomson is a fight that should headline its own card and having it play second fiddle to any fight would do both fighters an injustice. Most MMA circles will agree that Melendez is a Top 10 lightweight and while Thomson is certainly a fighter that is on the cusp of the top 10, a victory would propel the underrated “Punk” up the ratings.
Whenever Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson does end up happening, it should be the main event of whatever card they are fighting on and it will put both fighters on display and further show them as elite fighters among the lightweight division.
That being said, the match-makers need to find Melendez an opponent as soon as possible. Not using Melendez on such a pivotal show would be flat out stupid as his skills need to further be put on display for the U.S. audience. A fight with perhaps Jorge Masvidal would be quite the fight to promote just under Shamrock vs Le.
As the Elite XC and Strikeforce collaboration continues to develop, the card will be filled with fighters from both promotions’ rosters. If the card follows the mold that Strikeforce shows tend to follow then you will see many fighters that have ties to the Bay Area.
As such, both Jake Shields and Daniel Puder have been rumored to be on the card, and Joey Villasenor has been confirmed for the card in a bout against Joe Riggs. Though Villasenor was not born in the area, the Greg Jackson trained fighter does appeal to the San Jose’s heavy Mexican population and will probably have the crowd on his side come fight time.
One person who is at Elite XC’s disposal that won’t be on the card is Nick Diaz. Gary Shaw has stated that you will be fighting for Elite XC at an April event in Hawaii. Not utilizing Diaz, who is born and raised in Stockton, Ca doesn’t make sense.
A potential Diaz fight on the “Shamrock vs Le” card would put even more seats in the arena as people would be driving the hour and a half trip from Stockton to see their hometown boy fight and on top of that, there are few fighters that can sell a fight like Nick Diaz. Having Diaz fight on this card would boost attendance and T.V. ratings and it is hard to believe that Diaz won’t be fighting on the card.
The last time Strikeforce and Elite XC collaborated on a show was the “Shamrock vs Baroni” event that was considered one of the best cards of 2007 and now on March 29, these two rival promotions’ second joint venture will continue to build on the momentum that they have set forth with another stellar card that is going to be headlined with a fight that will crown the Stikeforce Middleweight Champion and the King of San Jose in the same fight.
Shamrock vs Le: winner takes the belt and the home crowd.
