After numerous injuries, bout changes, last minute fight matchmaking and fan outcry about the televised main card, Strikeforce: Miami is finally here.  You can bet Scott Coker and his team are happy this one in almost in the books and they can move forward towards their next event after the roller coaster they have been on for the last six weeks.  The bright side after all of the craziness is that the fight is a can’t miss event in the middle of the two week NFL party leading up to the Super Bowl in South Florida.

Diaz Fights For Welterweight Title

The evening is highlighted by two championship bouts and two major name debuts.  Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will defend her championship against contender Marloes Coenen and  Nick Diaz and Strikeforce newcomer Marius Zaromskis will square off for the vacant welterweight championship that was vacated by Cung Le.  Former NFL running back Herschel Walker and former WWE professional wrestler Bobby Lashley will make their debuts with Strikeforce on the undercard.

Here’s the breakdown of the night’s main fights:

Jay Hieron vs Joe Riggs

Hieron is the jilted former lover of Strikeforce.  Signing a contract with the promotion with the understanding he’d fight for the welterweight title, his bout with Nick Diaz was canceled in August after Diaz was unable to obtain a fight license.  Now he’s fighting on a Diaz undercard, his title shot given to another fighter, and to top it off his fight won’t be telecast on Showtime.  Something tells me I wouldn’t want to be Scott Riggs on Saturday night.

Hieron (18-4) will look to apply his boxing and wrestling skills to his advantage against the journeyman Riggs (32-10).  Making his return to Strikeforce, Riggs poses a solid matchup for Hieron to prove the hype that is surrounding him.  Riggs, a former UFC vet, holds victories over Diaz, Kendall Grove and Phil Baroni and is no slouch, ending 29 of his 32 victories before the bell.

Expect Hieron to exact some damage and send a message that he’s next in line for the title shot that was rightfully his.  The Hierson vs. Riggs fight will be available via free internet video stream live at EASportsMMA.com.

Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy

Former NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker will make his MMA fighting debut versus Greg Nagy (1-1).  Given the marketing dollars put behind Walker, you can expect that Nagy is a carefully chosen opponent that will make Walker look good.  At age 47, Walker’s best days are way behind him and his body is worse for wear after the pounding he took in his NFL career.  Expect a carnival show as Walker gets his first MMA victory.

Bobby Lashley vs Wes Sims

The former WWE’s pro wrestler’s debut had been up in the air as two fighters backed out on Lashley in recent weeks.  Strikeforce was able to obtain a solid last minute replacement in securing former UFC vet and recent TUF 10 contestant, the resident comedian Wes Sims.  Lashley (4-0) will make his Strikeforce debut and significantly step up his level of competition with the veteran Sims (22-12-1).  After watching Sims get choked unconscious and having the cockiness slapped out of him by Justin Wren, expect Lashley to pound it out and dispatch of Sims with relative ease.  It will be a solid stepping stone for Lashley as he becomes acclimated with the sport.

Robbie Lawler vs Melvin Manhoef

The likely fight of the night candidate for the event.  Lawler (16-5) is coming of a bad loss to Jake Shields and hops back into the cage against the dangerous striker Manhoef (24-6-1).  Both are finishers on their feet, with Lawler registering 13 stoppages in his 16 victories, while Manhoef has finshed 23 of his 24 victims with his strikes.  You can bet the house that this fight will not end by submission.  The key for Lawler is to get this fight to the canvas and take advantage of Manhoef’s weak defense.  If Lawler keeps it on his feet, expect him to get rocked consistently by Manhoef’s shots.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Marloes Coenen

The champ Santos returns to the cage to make her first defense of her belt after a brilliant and dominating performance that ended the reign of Strikeforce’s female face, Gina Carano.  Cyborg (8-1) will be pushed a little more by the  accomplished Coenen (17-3).  Coenen will want to get this fight to the ground quickly and test Cyborg’s cardio by taking the fight deep.  The Carano fight showed some weaknesses in Cyborg’s game on the ground and Coenen will look to exploit this and fend off the expected all-out assault Cyborg will deliver in the first period.  If Coenen can take this fight past the 2nd round, her chances of victory increase dramatically.  Don’t be surprise if Coenen pulls out an unexpected victory.

Nick Diaz vs Marius Zaromskis

Diaz (20-7) has been on a tear since his departure from the UFC, with only a doctor’s stoppage loss to K.J. Noons blemishing his record.  Zaromskis (13-3) makes his USA and Strikeforce debut after winning the Dream 10 Welterweight Grand Prix with a vicious knockout of Jason High.  For Diaz to pull out the victory, he will need to rely on his ground game as it appears that toe-to-toe, Zaromskis will eat him alive.  Expect to see Diaz bring this fight to the mat and display the wide range of skills he has honed against top-level talent to hammer out a victory against the untested Zaromskis.

Strikeforce: Miami will air live on Showtime this Saturday night, with the main card beginning at 10pm EST.