Press Release – Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin (11-0) battles the heavy-handed Virgil Zwicker (10-2) in the hard-hitting main event at next month’s STRIKEFORCE® card from the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 23. The Larkin-Zwicker clash headlines STRIKEFORCE Challengers, which will air live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
STRIKEFORCE Challengers, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, will also feature a sure-fire slugfest between heavyweights Lavar Johnson (15-4) and Shawn “The Savage” Jordan (10-3), as well as the return of lightweight Ryan Couture (2-1) as he takes on Wand Fight Team prospect Maka Watson (4-1)
“Larkin could be the next big thing at 205-pounds, but he faces a huge test in Zwicker on Sept. 23,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “This fight is going to help propel one of them in the light heavyweight division. When you add in bouts like Johnson vs. Jordan and Couture vs. Watson, this is going to be a really solid card for the fans at the Palms.”
Tickets for STRIKEFORCE® Challengers are priced at $95, $65 and $40 and go on sale Friday, August 19, at 12 p.m. PT. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.
UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event TOMORROW, August 18, from 10 a.m. PT until 12 p.m. PT via UFCFightClub.com. A special internet ticket pre-sale will also be available to UFC Newsletter and STRIKEFORCE Insider subscribers TOMORROW starting at 12 p.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through UFC.com or the STRIKEFORCE Insider at Strikeforce.com.
Currently riding an undefeated streak that includes two wins in STRIKEFORCE over Gian Villante and Scott Lightly, light heavyweight standout Lorenz Larkin is looking to burst into contender’s status. The Riverside, Calif. native has finished eight of 11 opponents by knockout and seeks his ninth when he Virgil Zwicker. Raised on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in San Diego, Zwicker displays an incredible toughness when he fights. The 29-year-old has amassed an impressive record that includes recent wins over Ovince St. Preux and Brett Albee.
Heavyweight Lavar Johnson returns to active competition after an injury briefly sidelined him for his last scheduled bout with Devin Cole in July. Training out of Madera, Calif., Johnson, who has won seven out of his last eight, is ready to get back to his winning ways when he takes on former LSU football player Shawn Jordan. The 13-fight veteran stepped in for the injured Johnson to meet Cole, and now the two will have their chance to find out who the better man is in this explosive heavyweight bout.
Ryan Couture, the son of UFC® Hall of Famer Randy Couture, locks horns with Maka Watson, who trains under the tutelage of UFC and PRIDE® veteran Wanderlei Silva on Sept. 23 in the fight capitol of the world. Couture and Watson have scored all of their victories by stoppage leading to this lightweight showdown at the Palms next month.
For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.
About STRIKEFORCE® – www.strikeforce.com
Owned and operated by Forza, LLC, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, which also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand, STRIKEFORCE® is a world-class mixed martial arts promotion based in San Jose, Calif. that currently holds 16 live events annually across the United States. First established as a mixed martial arts entity in 2006, STRIKEFORCE now broadcasts its events live on Showtime® Networks, Inc. and has produced two live, primetime events on the CBS Television Network. With a growing roster featuring the world’s elite competitors, STRIKEFORCE has cemented its place as a leader in providing quality mixed martial arts action.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD™, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®.
About the Pearl
The Pearl is Las Vegas’ premier concert theater boasting accommodations for up to 2,500 ticket holders. Featuring a stage just four feet from the floor and the furthest seating area being a mere 120 feet from the stage, The Pearl offers the utmost in intimate viewing of your favorite acts. Private and semi-private skyboxes are located on each side of the venue offering private bars, lounges and restrooms. The Pearl is a marvel of modern technology using only top quality sound and video equipment throughout. Hard wired to The Studio at The Palms, The Pearl allows artists to create a cost-effective live album with efficiency and without additional venue set-up. For more information, please visit www.palms.com.