Strikeforce Challengers 15 Preview

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Welterweights
Josh Thornburg vs. James Terry

The Matchup: Thornburg steps in to replace the injured Conor Heun on less than a week’s notice in a 165-pound catchweight bout.

Thornburg utilizes a good defensive guard, breaking his opponent’s posture and keeping his leg high on the back. It is one of the least glamorous elements of defensive MMA, yet one of the most critical. It changes the template of what is available to the top man, forcing him to be cautious and work, instead of flailing and scoring with bombs.

Thornburg also has a knack for making things happen when he should not. Drilled hard in fights against Marcus Gaines and Lee Taylor, he immediately responded with submission attempts that ultimately won the bouts.

Terry, a protégé of former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le, gave Tarec Saffiedine a good go in a February 2010 decision loss and showed some resilience en route. The last-minute opponent switch figures to be a push, as Thornburg fought a month ago and should be in shape. However, Terry had prepped for Huen’s wrestling and pressuring pace.

The Pick: Look for Terry to use better standup and to get in and out on the feet en route to a clear-cut decision win.

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