Dissection by Dallas: Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos x Marloes Coenen

In the first title defense since she emerged victorious from the biggest female fight in the sport's history, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos faces Marloes Coenen in a Strikeforce 145 pound championship fight.

Coenen is a solid opponent from the Golden Glory team with a legit 17-3 record.  She's a proficient grappler, winning 12 fights by submission, and another 3 by TKO.  She latched a quick armbar on feisty Roxanne Modaferri, a fighter who had previously bested her in controversial fashion, on the monumental "Fedor vs. Rogers" card to earn a crack at Cyborg's title.  She's got a great guard and busy hips that enable her to constantly angle for submissions, which immediately puts her opponent on the defense.

A complete package, Coenen is quite comfortable standing as well, and she has a monstrous straight right hand that she sets up well with her jab. She holds a good stance, and stays light on her toes while using a level of footwork and head movement that is not often seen in women's MMA. 

Perhaps most importantly, Coenen is very experienced, very composed, and a complete professional.  She will come in to the bout well trained and focused, and Coenen has had her sights set on Cyborg since she first signed up with Strikeforce, even commenting before the Modaferri fight last year that it's the challenge that would motivate her the most.

Still, the betting odds have the Strikeforce champion favored as high as -800, and although I think it's a much closer balance than that, Cyborg is the rightful favorite.  The Chute Boxe demolitionist embodies the camp's well-renowned style to a tee by stalking forward aggressively with a cyclone of ill-intended punches.  She is powerful in every aspect of the game:  heavy-handed, a strong wrestler, and a handful in the clinch. 

To top it all off, Santos holds a purple belt in BJJ, and frankly, it just seems like she's on a different level than any other female fighter.  Her submission background will keep her out of trouble on the mat, and any counter-strikes that Coenen is able to retaliate with in between Cyborg's flurries must land solidly enough to wobble her.  Although Coenen's stout right hand may cause Cyborg some problems, I think this champion will keep the crown for a while.  My guess:  Cyborg by TKO