Daniel Cormier with the Strikeforce Grand Prix title – Photo via Strikeforce.com
After cancelling two events this past fall, Strikeforce and Showtime are preparing to hold a blockbuster event this January featuring three title bouts and the return of it’s Heavyweight Grand Prix champion.
Undefeated heavyweight Daniel Cormier (10-0) will take on Golden Glory fighter Dion ‘Soldier’ Staring (28-7), and not former UFC champ Frank Mir after the two were scheduled to meet in November till an injury forced Mir out.
Lightweight champ Gilbert ‘El Nino’ Melendez (21-2) and Pat ‘Bam Bam’ Healy (28-16) will get a chance to meet once again, after their original September bout was scrapped after a shoulder injury to Melendez.
While middleweight title holder, Luke Rockhold (10-1) will look to defend his belt for a third straight time when he meets undefeated fighter Lorenz ‘Monsoon’ Larkin (13-0, 1NC).
And finally, newly minted welterweight champ Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt (32-10-2) has been matched up against the ‘Sponge’ Tarec Saffiedine (13-3).
The Strikeforce event is expected to take place on January 12, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The venue was to have hosted the now cancelled Nov. 3rd Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir event.
News of the blockbuster card was first reported by MMAjunkie.com today and confirmed by MMAWeekly.com.
Cormier won the Grand Prix this past may with a unanimous decision over Josh Barnett, having beaten Antonio Silva and Jeff Monson to earn his way into the finals.
Staring has competed in Europe mostly and is currently riding a six fight win streak. The Dutch fighter has twenty-two finishes under his belt, fourteen via (T)KO and eight by submission, along with six decision victories.
Melendez has won seven straight, all of which have involved the Strikeforce belt in some capacity. His last win came in May with a split decision win over Josh Thomson in their trilogy meeting.
Healy earned his title shot by defeating Mizuto Hirota by decision this past July, earning his fifth win in a row. ‘Bam Bam’ is 8-1 over his last nine matches.
Rockhold made his second straight title defense in July by defeating Tim Kennedy by decision for Rockhold’s ninth straight victory.
Larkin recently dropped to middleweight, debuting against Robbie Lawler in July and winning a unanimous decision for his first fight at 185-lbs.
Marquardt debuted with Strikeforce at the same July event, finishing the previously undefeated Tyron Woodley in the fourth round via TKO to capture the vacant 170-lbs title.
Saffiedine is riding a three fight win streak and is 6-1 over his last seven fights. The ‘Sponge’ was in action this past August, earning a decision against Roger Bowling in San Diego.