UFC Champ Fights Kickboxing Champ at Strikeforce

Former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith will fight world kickboxing champion Rick Roufus.

As a former UFC heavyweight champion with extensive experience in mixed martial arts, it's easy to pick Maurice Smith to beat Rick Roufus at Bodog Fight Presents Strikeforce at the Dome on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Tacoma, Wash.

But Smith doesn't think the fight will be so easy, even though it's the MMA debut for Roufus, a world kickboxing champion.

"On the feet, Rick will probably be the most dangerous guy I've fought to date, because he's a striker," Smith explains. "Against a wrestler or a jiu-jitsu guy, all you have to worry about is being taken down to the ground and submitted. Rick is the same caliber striker as I am, so he's dangerous. But on the ground I'll be superior."

Despite having the grappling advantage, Smith says he won't necessarily take down Roufus and look to submit him.

"It's a fight," he says. "I'm sure we'll end up in the clinch, and maybe on the ground or against the fence. Who knows? My focus is to win the fight."

Odds for Bodog Fight Presents Strikeforce at The Dome
Saturday, Feb. 23 - Tacoma, Wash

• Bob "The Beast" Sapp (-800) vs. Jan "The Giant" Nortje (+500)
• Maurice Smith (-340) vs. Rick Roufus (+260)
• Eddy Ellis (+170) vs. Steve Berger (-210)
• Jorge Masvidal (-220) vs. Ryan Healy (+180)
• Joe Riggs (-280) vs. Cory Devela (+220)

Bet on Maurice Smith in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Strikeforce At the Dome is being presented by Bodog Fight. Tickets for the event are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, the Tacoma Dome box office and the official Strikeforce website.