A couple of Strikeforce light heavyweights have verbally agreed to tangle in the New Year when former Strikeforce and DREAM champ Gegard Mousasi (32–3–2) takes on Mike Kyle (19-8-1, 2 NC) this January at the promotions expected last event.
Kyle made the announcement on Youtube , while MMAWeekly.com confirmed verbal agreements from both sides with “additional sources.”
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy is expected to take place on January 12, 2013 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Three Strikeforce titles will be on the line as well as an appearance by the Heavyweight Grand Prix champ.
Mousasi is undefeated in his last five bouts going 4-1 with a unanimous decision victory against Ovince St. Preux last December under the Strikeforce banner. His other bout was a DREAM title defense against Hiroshi Izumi in Japan in July 2011, with first round TKO stoppage. Previous to that, Mousasi fought Keith Jardine to a majority draw after suffering a point deduction for an illegal upkick in April 2011 at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley.
Kyle had a submission loss to Rafael Cavalcante last May after ‘Feijão’ tested positive for a banned substance and had the result changed to a “No Contest.” Kyle earned his last win over a year ago in September 2011, with a unanimous decision over Marcos Rogerio de Lima. That victory erased a loss to Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in a heavyweight bout in December 2010.