The fantasy matchmaking created by bringing Strikeforce lightweights into the UFC continued on Tuesday night when the company announced a battle between Jim Miller and Pat Healy at UFC 159.
Healy was twice removed from a Strikeforce title fight against Gilbert Melendez when his opponent pulled out due to injury. The Team Quest fighter voiced his belief that Melendez faked the injuries in order to avoid fighting him and moving into the UFC as champion.
Currently, Healy is riding incredible momentum after picking up six straight wins under the Strikeforce banner. A scrap with Miller is a quality matchup for a fighter who didn’t have a guaranteed job heading into the promotion’s final card.
Miller is a New Jersey native who is fighting in his home state for the fourth time since joining the UFC. Currently, the jiu-jitsu expert has won nine of his last 11 bouts and is fresh off of a UFC 155 victory over Joe Lauzon in 2012’s fight of the year.
UFC 159 takes place on Saturday, April 27 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The card is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and loud-mouthed challenger Chael Sonnen.
Other fights for that card which were also announced on Tuesday include a heavyweight matchup between Cheick Kongo and Roy Nelson, as well as a light heavyweight fight between Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes (mmajunkie.com).
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