Filed under: Strikeforce, News
Undefeated in two Strikeforce fights this year, lightweight Pat Healy will look for the hat trick against Maximo Blanco (pictured) at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov on Sept. 10 in Cincinnati.
Strikeforce’s recent confirmation of Healy’s entry to the televised card comes a week after word came out that former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson would be out of the Blanco fight due to a foot injury.
Coincidentally, Healy is replacing the most recent person to hand him a loss. But ever since that rear-naked choke submission fall to Thomson in June 2010, Healy has scored two unanimous decisions over Lyle Beerbohm and Eric Wisely on Challengers cards. Healy, who turned 28 a month ago, holds a busy 27-17 record and has competed in the past for just about every significant North American promotion in the UFC, IFL, WEC and MFC.
Healy will welcome former Sengoku star Blanco to America. Blanco (8-2-1) is a dangerous striker who won the lightweight Pancrase crown in August 2009 and then continued his tear with five straight Sengoku wins. Having signed with Strikeforce in May after the collapse of Sengoku, this will be Blanco’s first fight of 2011.
Note: During Tuesday’s Strikeforce conference call, Scott Coker announced Dominique Steele vs. Chris Mierzwiak for the undercard.
Showtime Bouts – 10 p.m. ET
Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov
Antonio Silva vs. Daniel Cormier
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Luke Rockhold
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal vs. Roger Gracie
Pat Healy vs. Maximo Blanco
Preliminary Bouts on HDNet – 8 p.m. ET
Mike Kyle vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Yoel Romero
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos vs. Jordan Mein
Alexis Davis vs. Amanda Nunes
Dominique Steele vs. Chris Mierzwiak