It turns out Lorenz Larkin will fight on Jan. 12 after all.
Just days after his fight with Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold fell out for a second time — prompting Larkin to all but call Rockhold a faker on Twitter — the company announced that Larkin will meet former champion Ronaldo “Jacare” da Souza on the Oklahoma City card.
Larkin, who fights out of Riverside, Calif., is 13-0 on his career (although that includes a loss which was later turned to a no-contest, after “King” Mo Lawal tested positive for steroids). The former light heavyweight won his 185-pound debut when he scored a decision win over veteran Robbie Lawler in July.
Souza (16-3, 1 no-contest), meanwhile, held the Strikeforce title in 2010-11 before losing to Rockhold. He’s rebounded with wins in both of his fights since, including his 41-second knockout of Derek Brunson in San Diego on Aug. 18.