Radach vs. Smith: Clash of KO Artists

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Grappling ace Demian Maia wants to end fights without hurting his opponents and without his opponents hurting him. Fellow middleweights Benji Radach and Scott Smith do not subscribe to that philosophy.

As professionals, neither man wants the other seriously hurt, but they bury that notion under malicious strikes once the cage door closes. Radach and Smith borrow their nicknames --“Razor” and “Hands of Steel”-- from boxers, and with good reason. They posses some of the hardest-hitting four-ounce gloves in the business. Radach owns 15 knockouts or technical knockouts among his 19 victories. Twelve of Smith’s have come by that route.

When the heavy hitters signed a contract to stand across from each other at Strikeforce “Shamrock vs. Diaz”, Showtime’s offering this Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., was energized with a knockout-or-be-knocked-out clash between two middleweights looking for footing in a division currently ruled by Cung Le.

“I thought it would be some pretty good excitement,” Radach said. “We’re gonna go out there and see who hits harder in this thing.”

The C-4 presence immediately labeled their bout a potential show stealer, which says a lot on a card featuring a main event between mixed martial arts pioneer Frank Shamrock and Nick Diaz -- a Cesar Gracie black belt who does not mind taking shots to the jaw, as long his adversary pays tenfold. Given recent performances from Radach (19-4, 1 NC) and Smith (14-5, 1 NC), the hype behind their showdown comes as no surprise.

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