World Series of Fighting (WSOF) 14 preview and predictions for 'Ford vs. Shields'

World Series of Fighting (WSOF) returns to NBC Sports on Saturday night (Oct. 11, 2014) for the "Ford vs. Shields" event at the Edmonton Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It's the fourteenth event of the WSOF schedule, and follows the headlining bout between WSOF bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes and former TUF fighter Cody Bollinger at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

An exciting four-fight card headlines the main televised portion of the show. "The Real Deal" Ryan Ford puts his six fight winning streak on the line against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields, returning to MMA for his first bout since a loss to Hector Lombard at UFC 171. The rest of the card is stacked with familiar MMA names like "Caveman" Derrick Mehmen and Chris "The Polish Hammer" Horodecki.

Without further ado, here's our preview of the event and predictions for the top four fights!

170 lbs.: Ryan Ford (22-4) vs. Jake Shields (29-7-1, 1 NC)

Once in a while you are presented a fight where you can make a perfect case for either man to get the "W." Ford is a proven finisher, only going to a decision twice in his 22 wins, which is arguably how you get a nickname like "The Real Deal." He's got one-punch stopping power (12 KO/TKO wins) and fighters need to protect the neck when he goes for a rear naked choke.

He even tapped Pete Spratt twice with the same finish.

Shields brings more than being a former UFC fighter and Strikeforce champion to the table, however, as he brings a world of experience. While Ford's career dates back to 2007, Shields has a career span running back to 1999. His victories read like a who's-who of fighters: Carlos Condit, Yushin Okami, Robbie Lawler, Dan Henderson, and so on. The best line ever uttered about Jake Shields is "He makes good fighters look bad." He can outpoint many men in striking if it goes to decision (16 career decisions) but he's also deadly on the ground (10 submissions).

The biggest advantage Ford has is standing. Shields is not a power striker, but Ford most certainly is. The biggest advantage Shields has is tactical experience, knowing how to scout an opponent and pick them apart at the subtle aspects of their game others would overlook. For the 35-year-old Shields this is a turning point in his career and he hasn't looked great in his last three fights (two split decision wins and a unanimous decision loss before being cut by UFC). For the 31-year-old Ford time is still on his side, but the longer this main event goes, the more likely it works against him.

Final prediction: Jake Shields wins via decision.

265 lbs.: Smealinho Rama (8-1) vs. Derrick Mehmen (18-5)

Rama is a Calgary prospect built for excitement, with only one career fight so far going to a decision. His TKO win over UFC and WSOF veteran Tim Hague shows the kind of power he packs, but almost 50 percent of his career wins are by submission, so there's no fear for him standing or on the ground.

Mehmen may be best remembered for finishing Rolles Gracie in the second round of WSOF 5, but he's on a six fight win streak and undefeated in World Series of Fighting. He prefers knockouts to submissions or decisions, getting 11 of 18 wins with strikes, and his chin has withstood every test so far: no KO or TKO losses in his career. Rama will try to be the first.

Final prediction: Derrick Mehmen wins via knockout.

145 lbs.: Chris Horodecki (20-5-1, 1 NC) vs. Luis Huete (6-1)

"The Polish Hammer" has been almost everywhere you can be in MMA other than the active UFC roster, although he comes close with a two-year stint in the ZUFFA-owned WEC. He's also found a home in the International Fight League (IFL) and Bellator, though a recent loss there to Marlon Sandro freed him up to make his WSOF debut.

As for Huete, he's almost an unknown by comparison and there's nobody on his fight finder record you'd know, either. That's not to say Horodecki can look past the Calgary fighter, as he seems to have a lights-out rear naked choke. On the other hand, Horodecki has only been submitted once in his entire career.

Final prediction: Chris Horodecki wins via decision.

205 lbs: Luke Harris (10-2) vs. Jared Hamman (13-6)

Harris returns to the cage after being out for over a year, with his last bout being a neck crank submission of Jason Zentgraf at MFC 37. Hamman also returns after being gone for over a year, but he didn't leave for time off with a "W."

In fact, Hamman was beaten like a drum in three straight UFC fights before being cut: knocked out by Costas Philippou and Michael Kuiper before being losing via technical submission to Magnus Cedenblad at UFC 164, passing out just as he was about to tap.

Hamman may have more high-level experience, but Harris will have the hometown crowd and the knowledge that he's 100-percent successful at finishing by submission (10 out of 10 career wins).

Final prediction: Luke Harris wins via submission.

Stay tuned to MMAMania.com this week for full coverage of World Series of Fighting 14: "Ford vs. Shields" including live fight results on Saturday night!