PORTLAND, Ore. – Pat Healy made a case that he’s next in line for
Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, but it certainly didn’t come
easy.
Healy, a massive favorite against Japanese product Mizuto Hirota, fought
through a difficult opening round to rally back for a gutsy unanimous-decision win.
The lightweight bout closed out the preliminary card of
Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy” event at Rose Garden
Arena in Portland, Ore. The fight aired on Showtime Extreme prior to the
main card on Showtime.