Strikeforce Light Heavyweight bout: Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley
Odds: (-200 Gracie /+160 Prangley )
Betting Pick: Gracie
Bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com
In the second fight of the evening, UFC veteran Trevor Prangley looks to put the first blemish on the record of jiu-jitsu ace Roger Gracie. Prangley is a very experienced and well-rounded veteran who has fought all over the world, but Gracie is easily one of the most decorated grapplers ever to compete in Mixed Martial Arts, so Prangley is going to have his hands full.
Prangley, who trains at AKA with the likes of Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, has been around the block more than once. A veteran of UFC and a variety of other promotions, Prangley has put together a very successful career courtesy of solid wrestling, good standup defense, and dangerous grappling. The problem Prangley faces in this fight is that if he tries to force this fight to the ground like he tends to, he is playing directly into Roger Gracie’s strengths. Prangley is not known for his striking prowess necessarily, but if he wants to come out of this fight with a win he is going to need to spend as much time on his feet as possible.
It would pretty much be impossible to overstate Roger Gracie’s grappling prowess. Gracie has won every major title in both jiu-jitsu and no-gi grappling, from the World Champions to ADCC to the Pan-Ams. Prangley is a huge step up for him in competition, and he has only had three fights ever, but there is no question that Gracie can hang with anyone in the world on the ground.
This is not a particularly attractive stylistic matchup for Prangley. He is not inept on his feet by any means, but he is also not a dangerous striker, and that is what it will take to stop Gracie. Prangley is a ground fighter at the core, but getting on the ground with Roger Gracie does not bode well for anyone, ever. Gracie by submission.
Prediction: Roger Gracie via second round rear naked choke for a third time in a row.
To add a little excitement come fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…
