Tarec Saffiedine (photo via Strikeforce / Showtime)

By Joshua Molina

Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Tarec Saffiedine moves to primetime when he takes on Robbie Lawler at UFC on FOX 8 on July 27.

This should be a barnburner. Lawler throws like a hammer and Saffiedine has a great chin and excellent kickboxing.

Both of these guys are in line for a title shot if they put a couple wins together so look for a furious three rounds.

Two Strikeforce guys tearing the house down at a UFC on FOX show . . .

. . . Lawler is getting a second chance in the UFC after his stunning knockout of Josh Koscheck.

Lawler seemed on the decline after losing three of his last four, but proved in the JK fight that he’s still competitive if he can land a punch.

. . . Along those lines, where is Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith? He has been written off by most, but Lawler had shown that power is always the last thing to go.

No doubt Smith would pop a good TV rating if he got to fight on national television.

. . . Saffiedine turned in a sweet performance against Nate Marquardt to win the Strikeforce title on the organization’s final show in January.

A quiet, but deadly type, Saffiedine may continue to surprise people in the UFC. If he can survive Lawler’s first round assault, he will put himself in prime position for a title shot.