Predictions for Strikeforce: "Evolution"

The last Strikeforce installment of the year is scheduled for Saturday on Showtime, and sadly it’s pretty Fedor-deficient.  However, there are some other big names on the card, like Asian Guy Not Fedor and Brazilian Guy Not Fedor, as well as American Guy Not Fedor.  So, predictions!

• Cung Le, the organization’s former middleweight champ (he gave up the belt because he was too busy making films to fight) is facing Scott Smith.  Smith is great in an iron-chin-knockout-puncher-bring-his-family-into-the-cage type of way, but I feel like Le is just going to act him to death.
• Josh Thomson may defeat Gilbert Melendez, but he will never defeat Gilbert Melendez’s hair.
• Matt Lindland can still fight?  After what Vitor Belfort did to him, it’s surprising he can still walk.
• I wonder if Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has ever tried the Brazilian berry acai and explored its many health benefits?  Do you think he has?
• It’s great that Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal can find time out of his busy schedule of ruling his subjects and governing his kingdom, but all it takes is one loss to run afoul of Queen Mo. 

Legalized MMA in NY or Legalized MMA on Long Island: Which Will Come First?

Professional mixed martial arts would be legal in New York right now if not for the legislative issues that plagued the state during the past year, and the bill to make it all happen must start back at square one in the upcoming session, with some projecting MMA's legalization happening anywhere from April to the end of 2010. However, yesterday's ruling from the federal government that the Shinnecock Indians in Southampton are officially a tribe, and therefore not subject to any statewide ban on MMA, could mean events on Long Island within six months. Sure, this same issue arose back in 2006 when a federal court acknowledged the Shinnecock's newfound status, but there were still hurdles to them hosting shows - particularly, their own reluctance (more than anything, the tribe wants to open a casino). But with yesterday's milestone, plus the explosion of MMA events on Indian reservations upstate, they might feel differently about it now.