Rockhold retains the Strikeforce middleweigh title (Photos by Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Getty Images via Forza LLC)
Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold (16-1) has reportedly suffered a wrist injury forcing him out of an upcoming title defense versus Lorenz ‘The Monsoon’ Larkins for January 12th.
This is the second title match scheduled for the Strikeforce: Champions event that will likely be scrapped after news last weekend surfaced that event headliner, lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez had not yet recovered from a shoulder injury suffered earlier this fall, and would not be competing against Pat Healy.
News of the injury to Rockhold surfaced at TheMMACorner.com who announced the news on Saturday after learning from “sources close to the camp of Rockhold.”
Strikeforce: Champions is expected to take place on Jan. 12, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The event was to feature three title defenses but looks like it will be just one if welterweight champ Nate Marquardt and opponent Tarec Saffiedine can stay healthy.
Rockhold and Larkin had been scheduled to face each other at a Nov. 3rd Strikeforce event but a wrist injury to the champ, likely the same one that is keeping him off the New Year’s card, forced him off the card. The event was later cancelled by promotion officials.
Rockhold has won nine straight including back-to-back title defenses. Fans last saw him defend that belt in July of this year in Oregon, defeating Tim Kennedy via unanimous decision. The other win, a first round TKO finish, took place in January over Keith Jardine.