Strikeforce middleweight fighter Tim Kennedy (12-3) had been scheduled to meet Luke Rockhold at an upcoming Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson event on March 5, but a report from MMAjunkie.com on Thursday afternoon has him fighting Melvin Manhoef (24-8-1) instead.
No reason was provided by the website for the change in opponents but did note that contracts were in the process of being finalized by both fighters camps.
Manheof recently announced his participation on the March 5 event on his Twitter account (@team_manhoef).
#Strikeforce just added me on the fightcard of march 5th! Great! It’s #MELVIN #MANHOEF time! Against who? That’s still a little surprise!
The Dutch kickboxer suffered back to back losses and is 2-4 in his last six mma bouts. He fought twice in 2010 losing to Tatsuya Mizuno at DREAM.15 in Japan by first round submission and was knocked out by Robbie Lawler after controlling most of the first round of their Strikeforce: Miami fight.
Kennedy is coming off a loss to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title back in August of last year, losing a unanimous decision to the Brazilian. The defeat ended a four fight win streak for the former US Special Forces soldier. Three of those wins were under the Strikeforce banner, all by submission against Trevor Prangley, Zak Cummings and Nick Thompson.
Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson will take place on March 5 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio and the main card is expected to air on Showtime.