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Strikeforce “Lawler vs Shields” will take place tomorrow, June 6, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri and will air on Showtime at 10PM ET/PT.

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The Fights

Minus (-) = favorite | Plus (+) = underdog

With a line of -150 & +150, you would have to wager $150 to win $100 if you’re picking the favorite. You would win $150 for every $100 if you bet on the underdog assuming he won.

Good luck!

Preview and picks after the jump.

Robbie Lawler (-125) vs Jake Shields (-105)

Mike Moffatt: In the main event of the evening, Jake Shields will be taking on Robbie Lawler at a catchweight of 182 pounds. It doesn’t take too much research to determine that Lawler will want to keep this fight standing for as long as he can, while Shields will be looking to dominate on the ground if he can take the fight there. Though Shields does hold the advantage on the ground and Lawler will have to respect that while striking, I think that Lawler will eventually be able to catch Shields and end the fight before Shields is able to tie him in any knots or choke him out. Lawler by TKO in Round 2

Zak Woods: Strikeforce did a great job with their main event. Any time two top-ten fighters from different weight classes fight it is a big deal. This particular bout will tell us a lot about both fighters; namely how good each fighter really is. Robbie Lawler has reinvented himself into a well-polished fighter since his stint as a rabid but wild UFC fighter. Can Lawler’s new found skills handle Jake Shields and his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt? I don’t think so. Shields by Submission in Round 2

Mark Dorsey: I hope Shields doesn’t really think his striking is on par with Lawler or he’s gonna get knocked out. Lawler is susceptible to submissions so if Shields has a good game plan, he submits Lawler in the second after getting roughed up a little bit. Shields by Submission in Round 2

Gregory Monskie: Coming up to a catchweight of 182, I expect Shields to have to struggle with a power disparity in the larger Lawler. On the flipside, Lawler’s cut may have an impact on his cardio. In Jake Shields, I see one who has trouble finishing his more dangerous opposition, with most high profile wins coming by decision. I don’t believe he can stand with Lawler and I don’t think he will come out on top. Lawler by TKO in Round 2

Steve Barry: I keep going back to Jake Shields performance against Paul Daley on this one. Everyone watching knew Jake had to get Daley to the ground or risk getting knocked out. He eventually did, but had a rather difficult time doing it and finishing him off. This is the same type of fight except his opponent his opponent is bigger and better. Like Daley, Shields must get Lawler to the ground and submit him to win this fight. If he can’t, and I don’t think he can, he’s probably going to get knocked out. Lawler by TKO in Round 2

Nick Diaz (-400) vs Scott Smith (+250)

Mike Moffatt: Last time we saw Nick Diaz, he was using some superb boxing to floor Frank Shamrock and bring up questions of retirement. Now, he is faced with the task of facing Scott Smith who seems to find ways to win, even when the odds are against him. In his last fight against Benji Radach, Smith was able to land a hard shot that put him away just when it looked like Radach might walk away with the victory. Though Diaz has some great stand-up, Smith simply possesses too much power in his hands for Diaz to stand in front of him and trade. If Diaz wants to win this fight, I believe he will have to take it to the ground and use his jiu-jitsu game. I don’t think he will choose to employ this strategy and that it will cost him early in the third round. Smith by KO in Round 3

Zak Woods: We should start calling Smith the ‘cardiac kid.’ Has there ever been a fighter who constantly comes back to win fights as often as Smith? The common thread in all of those fights is that they remained standing. How good of ground game does Smith have? Probably not enough to hang with Diaz if he takes the fight to the ground. Diaz by Submission in Round 3

Mark Dorsey: Damn excited for this fight. Both are going to bang and both can take a hell of a beating. I bet against him last time and I swore not to do so again so Diaz by unanimous decision. Diaz by Unanimous Decision

Gregory Monskie: Nick Diaz is an all around better fighter than Scott Smith. However, Smith has huge power, huge heart, and a granite chin. I think this one will be a slug fest on the feet, with Diaz dropping Smith in the second round and submitting him on the ground. Diaz by Submission in Round 2

Steve Barry: Definitely the fight I’m most excited about on this card. I’d say this fight was more even if Smith hadn’t got the crap beaten out him a little over a month ago while Diaz came out of his fight relatively unscathed. I don’t want to speak for him, but I suspect Smith could really use more time to recover. That said, Smith always has a chance to win with his “hands of steel.” I’m just afraid Nick is going to be in too good of shape and overwhelm him in rounds two and three. Diaz by Decision

Andrei Arlovski (-500) vs Brett Rogers (+300)

Mike Moffatt: I want to pick Rogers here by arguing that he is younger and hungrier, that Arlovski’s chin has been known to be suspect, that Rogers could use his size to control Arlovski on the ground, and that in this sport of mixed martial arts anything can, and often does, happen. The fact remains, however, that the experience and great stand-up game that Arlovski possesses should be enough to get by Rogers on Saturday night. Rogers has had an impressive career up until now and a loss to Arlovski shouldn’t derail him too much, but this step up in competition may prove too much for him at this point. Arlovski by TKO in Round 1

Zak Woods: Brett Rogers is massive. He fights right at the edge of the 265lbs. weight limit for heavyweights. Despite that size his footwork is solid and he has demonstrated great stand up. The problem is he is fighting a striker under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, Andrei Arlovksi. If this is a stand up fight it favors Arlovski though in the clinch Rogers may have the advantage simply due to his size. Expect Rogers to impress the observers but ultimately come up short similar to Ben Rothwell. Arlovski by Decision

Mark Dorsey: I think this one is closer than a lot of people might expect. Arlovski hasn’t exactly been testing himself out against the best fighters – besides Fedor, obviously, who knocked him out in the first round. I’m gonna go out on a limb and pick Rogers by second round KO. Rogers by KO in Round 2

Gregory Monskie: Which Arlovski trait will tell the story, his technical superiority or his glass jaw? Certainly Rogers is a huge step down in competition after Fedor, and I think that Arlovski will come out on top. He is just simply too good for Rogers. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Rogers pulled off the upset with one solid punch. Arlovski by TKO in Round 2

Steve Barry: Sorry guys, but I really think Rogers is going to be outclassed on the feet in this one. He has the power to knock out Arlovski if he catches him on the button, but outside of that I don’t see how he wins this one. Arlovski outpoints him till Rogers gasses and goes in for the kill in round two. Arlovski by KO in Round 2

Kevin Randleman (-115) vs Mike Whitehead (-115)

Mike Moffatt: I can’t find myself getting excited for this fight and really could care less about the outcome. Having said that, I believe that if Whitehead is able to put Randleman on his back, he will be able to submit him. I sense that will happen on Saturday night late in the fight and Whitehead will come out on top. Whitehead by Submission in Round 3

Zak Woods: Some say that you can only measure a fighter by what he did in his past two fights. Both are 1-1 except that Randleman’s last two fights are in early of 2008 and late 2006. That is a lot of rust coupled with the excesses of his wedding and I expect a focused Mike Whitehead to be able to preserve. Whitehead by Unanimous Decision

Mark Dorsey: Should be a big test for Randleman. In his prime, he would have no problem with Whitehead. Not sure I’ve got faith that at 37 he’s in the best shape of his life but I think he outmuscles Whitehead for a decision. Randleman by Decision

Gregory Monskie: I think Randleman is reaching the end of his shelf life, and there may not be many more opportunities for him in the future after this. Mike Whitehead is a good fighter with some tough fights on his record, but I’m going to give it to Randleman by decision

Steve Barry: I have a feeling this might be boring one. A lot of clinching and wrestling. It’s been over a year since Randleman fought, and a year and half before that when Shogun tapped him out. We really don’t know what kind of shape he’s in or what he has left. Gotta go with Whitehead on this one. Whitehead by Decision

Joe Riggs (-120) vs Phil Baroni (-110)

Mike Moffatt: The trash talk has definitely heated up for the first fight on the card on Saturday night. From claims that Baroni might be taking something to enhance his performance, to the possibility that Riggs is too scared to show up for their fight, this one should involve fireworks. I think that Baroni might be able to get the best of Riggs in a fight that I envisioning going the distance. Baroni by Unanimous Decision

Zak Woods: Expect Baroni to come out and look fantastic then to fade away (like Baroni always does). If Riggs can survive that first onslaught he should have enough left to beat the gassed Baroni. Riggs by Split Decision

Mark Dorsey: Baroni is in shape and pissed. He should crush Riggs. First round KO. Baroni by KO in Round 1

Gregory Monskie: No love lost between these two, as the rhetoric has heated up this fight over the past few days. It should very much be a grudge match, and I think we’ll see these two slug it out. In a battle of haymakers, I’ll take Joe Riggs who I think is the superior striker. Riggs by TKO in Round 1

Steve Barry: Baroni’s been disappointing in the cage recently. He’s due for a win, and from what I’ve seen he’s been working hard to match his performances outside the cage. I think he’s going to redeem himself here with a win over Riggs. Baroni by TKO in Round 2