St. Louis - Strikeforce's second event since buying the assets of ProElite and EliteXC will take place this Saturday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tune into WatchKalibRun this Saturday night for round-by-round updates and commentary.

Jake Shields (22-4-1) vs. Robbie Lawler (16-4)

This fight pits two former EliteXC champion and two top-ten fighters against each other. What more could a fight fan want?

Jake Shields is the #4 ranked welterweight in the world and is widely considered to be the best welterweight outside of the UFC. Shields has demonstrated an ever-improving stand-up game. But his go to skill set has to be his ground game. Shields holds a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt and submitted Nick Thompson in just over a minute.

Robbie Lawler is a former UFC fighter but since leaving the organization he has developed into a top middleweight fighter. Fans often forget that when Lawler started fighting for the UFC he was only 20 years old. Seven years later and Lawler has developed into the #4 ranked middleweight in the world. A victory over Jake Shields could cement his position in the top of the middleweight division despite being outside the UFC.

Lawler likes to stand and trade and will most likely wish to avoid the ground for fear of Shields submissions skills. Can Jake out box Lawler? Probably not, so the question is how will Shields get the fight to the ground to utilize his submissions.

Andrei Arlovski (15-6) vs. Brett Rogers (9-0)

This fight was a surprise addition to the fight card. It was rumored that Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem would fight Rogers, but an injury due to a brawl with bouncers sidelined the fighter.

That's when Arlovski stepped in to fight Brett ‘The Grim' Rogers.

Rogers made a name for himself as a top heavyweight prospect with his debut in the now defunct EliteXC. Rogers is most famous for his verbal challenge to Kimbo Slice after Kimbo defeated Josh Thompson.

Brett Rogers is huge! One writer described him as a small truck, hopefully a Toyota and not a GM or else it would break down in the middle of the fight. Besides cutting weight to make the 265lbs. limit for heavyweight Rogers has legitimate striking skills. Eight of his nine wins came via TKO with five knockouts. Then again Rogers is making a huge jump in competition with Andrei Arlovksi.

Arlovski is the former UFC heavyweight champion and since he dropped back to back fights to Tim Sylvia he is 5-1 beating Fabricio Werdum and Ben Rothwell while being KO'd by Fedor Emelianeko. Arlovski made big news by training with standout boxing trainer Freddie Roach. At one point it appeared that Arlovski was walking away from MMA in favor of boxing.

While Rogers is the underdog he may be able to use his size to wear Arlovski down in the clinch. Roy Nelson used this strategy coupled with takedowns and transitions to great affect though Nelson ultimately lost.

Due to Arlovksi's resume and training partners many feel that he will be able to win the fight if it turns into a kickboxing match.

Nick Diaz (19-7) vs. Scott Smith (16-5)

This fight is another mixed division bout. Diaz should be fighting at lightweight, though he ahs fought at both

Scott Smith personifies the phrase ‘puncher's chance.' In almost every one of Smith's fights he comes from behind to land a knockout punch (hence the nickname ‘hands of steel').

Smith is coming off another come-from-behind victory against Benji Radach at Strikeforce's March event.

Diaz also fought at that event but was the headliner facing off against Frank Shamrock. Diaz also won that night. Diaz was so impressive and thorough in his victory that many thought it could end Shamrock's career.

There is no question that Diaz holds the advantage on the ground. Diaz holds a black belt under the revered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher Cesar Gracie.

Despite this advantage Diaz has shown tremendous improvement in his boxing and has predominantly fought on his feet in his past several bouts.

If the fight turns into a standing affair Diaz will try to use his reach to pepper Smith with jabs while Scott will look for the homerun punch.

Phil Baroni (13-10) vs. Joe Riggs (29-10)

The critical question going into this fight is the status of Baroni's cardio.

Phil Baroni is infamous for starting strong and then flaming out in the first round. Much talk has centered on Baroni's newfound training regime at Xtreme Couture but opponent Joe Riggs isn't buying it, labeling his opponent ‘pharmaceuticallyy enhanced' a clear dig at Baroni's former positive steroid test.

If Baroni has in fact improved his cardio than this fight could be a three round war. Far more likely though will be a typical flameout by Baroni with Riggs winning the latter rounds.

Kevin "Monster" Randleman (17-12) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-7)

Both of these fighter's tend to lose to big names in mixed martial arts.

Randleman has lost to Fedor Emelianeko, Mauricio Rua, Mirko Filipovic, Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. Whitehead has lost to Tim Sylvia, Keith Jardine, Brandon Vera and Renato Sobral.

Despite each fighter's propensity to lose to top talent this should be an interesting fight.

Randleman has only fought once since 2007 and was just recently married. How much will the ‘ring rust' affect his fighting style is a big question going into this fight.

Whitehead is also coming off a long layoff of eight months but he fought four times in 2008. Whitehead fights out of Xtreme Couture so there should be no lingering affects from the layoff.

 WKR"s picks and predictions

Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields coverage