Strikeforce officials have announced a middleweight matchup between Tim Kennedy (13-3) and ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler (18-7, 1NC) for the upcoming Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson event at the end of July. The promotion posted the notice on Twitter (@Strikeforce) on Thursday afternoon.
The Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson event is scheduled to take place on July 30 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The bout between Kennedy vs. Lawler likely completes the main card for the event which should include bouts between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson, a women’s 135 lb title bout between champ Marloes Coenen vs. Miesha Tate, a welterweight bout featuring Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos vs. Paul Daley, and a light heavyweight matchup between Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal vs. Roger Gracie.
Kennedy was last in the cage back in March at the Feijao vs. Henderson show, earning a fist round rear-naked choke submission over Melvin Manhoef. It was the former U.S. Special Forces member first win since his unanimous decision loss to Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title. Kennedy’s record with Strikeforce stands at 4-1.
Lawler enters the fight after a title loss to ‘Jacare’ last January at the Diaz vs. Cyborg event. Souza secured a third round submission to stop ‘Ruthless’ in the nights co-main event. Before that loss Lawler stopped Matt Lindland in December by first round knockout at 0:50 of the first round. His record under the Strikeforce banner is currently 2-3 with catchweight bouts at 182 lbs and 195 lbs.