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Roxanne Modafferi (13-4, 0-0 Strikeforce) vs. Marloes Coenen (16-3, 0-0 Strikeforce)

The Story So Far

Originally slated as a #1 Contender elimination bout to determine who would be the first to face Strikeforce 145-pound Women's Champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos, Coenen's initial opponent Erin Toughill was forced to withdraw from the event due to undisclosed medical reasons.

In her place, Strikeforce has brought in another fighter who holds a victory over the Dutch kickboxer; tough-as-nails American Roxanne Modafferi, who defeated Coenen to become the K-GRACE Open Weight champion in May 2007.

Conventional Wisdom

Both Toughill and Modafferi hold wins over Coenen, though it was the Golden Glory student who was speculated to be the first opponent for the newly crowned Queen of Strikeforce until an injury made Cyborg unavailable.

Though Modafferi resembles that quiet girl from your office who works in accounting, hasn't said three words to you in the seven years you've worked together and asks if you've played the new Tekken yet, she is an extremely talented fighter riding a six-fight winning streak and has faced some of the best in the business thus far.

Coenen, on the other hand, doesn't have the high profile names on her resume that her opponent can boast, but comes from the very dangerous Golden Glory gym in Holland, home of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

WKR Analysis

Let's get one thing clear: whoever wins this fight is going to get slaughtered by Cyborg somewhere down the line. Why? Because Cyborg is a killing machine sent back from the future to beat the bejesus out of everyone.

Now, as far as this fight goes, Modafferi always holds a win over her Dutch counterpart, so what should make anyone think things will change a second time around? Coenen looks to have some skills, but the two times she's faced name opponents (Modafferi and original opponent Erin Toughill), she's come out on the wrong side of the results page.

The only potential hiccup to things could be that rather than fighting at an open weight as they did in their first encounter, this fight is set at 145 and marks a step up for Modafferi, who normally competes at 135.

Fun Facts:

Check out Modafferi rocking a Fightlinker t-shirt in this vlog that validates some of the stereotypical things I said earlier.

Is it just me or does Coenen have a Salma Hayek / Penelope Cruz combo look to her?