Before tonight’s action kicked off in Las Vegas for UFC 130, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, who is back wearing the cap as the promotions top executive, held a press conference to announce some big news for the promotion.
Besides officially announcing the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson bout, as well as the deal with HDNet to broadcast the June 18 prelim bouts, Coker announced to the gathered media that the July 22 Strikeforce Challengers, as well as all future Challengers shows, would take place at the Pearl at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
Coker identified a welterweight bout between Bobby Voelker (23-8) vs. ‘Relentless’ Roger Bowling (9-1) as the Challengers show main event. This meeting represents the third meeting between the two fighters, who have both earned a win over the other.
This will be a back-to-back rematch for Voelker who headlined his last fight, a Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker event last October, against Bowling. He won their second meeting by second round TKO and is 3-1 in his last four fights.
Bowling was undefeated until that loss to Voelker, but has appeared in the Strikeforce cage one time since that loss. He earned a unanimous decision over Josh Thornburg in Columbus last March at the Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson event. He won their first fight in May of last year by Technical Decision after receiving an eye poke that left him unable to continue.
HT: MMAFighting.com