Strikeforce fighter Mike Kyle (19-8-1) has suffered an undisclosed injury and has been forced to withdraw from next months Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event where he was supposed to have faced Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2).
News of the injury was first reported by MMAjunkie.com who spoke with a source close to the fight.
No news from Strikeforce has surfaced at time of writing on their plans to find a replacement opponent for Mousasi, or whether they plan on pulling the former champ from the card entirely.
Kyle and Mousasi had been scheduled to meet last April at the Diaz vs. Daley event but Kyle was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury.
Kyle is 2-1 with Strikeforce, losing a heavyweight matchup with Antonio Silva in December 2010. Kyle’s last fight was in September, a light heavyweight tilt versus Marcos Rogerio de Lima at the Barnett vs. Kharitonov show, ending with a decision in Kyle’s favor.
Mousasi was to have faced ‘King Mo’ Lawal in a rematch till Lawal’s positive steroid test and was given Kyle as a replacement. Now the former Strikeforce champ awaits a new opponent or a new card. Mousasi is 4-0-1 in his last five appearing last December against Ovince St. Preux at the Melendez vs. Masvidal show, and earning a unanimous decision in the bout.