Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy
September 29, 2012
Power Balance Pavilion
Sacramento, California
Main Card (Showime):
Gilbert Melendez (21-2) vs. Pat Healy (28-16)
Guto Inocente (6-0) vs. Gian Villante (10-3)
Josh Thomson (19-5) vs. Caros Fodor (7-2)
Mike Kyle (19-8-1) vs. Dion Staring (28-7)
Isaac Valli-Flagg (13-3-1) vs. Adriano Martins (23-6)
Preliminary Card (Showtime Extreme):
Jorge Santiago (25-10) vs. Quinn Mulhern (18-2)
Gilbert Melendez, STRIKEFORCE lightweight champion and one of mixed martial arts’ top pound-for-pound fighters, will make his next title defense against veteran and red-hot number one contender Pat Healy, when STRIKEFORCE: MELENDEZ vs. HEALY comes to Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 29.
“There’s no doubt that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but he’s facing a tough test when he defends the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title against Pat Healy in Sacramento,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Pat has been around the sport a long time and has put together an impressive winning streak. This is the biggest fight of his life and he doesn’t want to waste this opportunity.”
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect ‘Guto’ Inocente, who trains with the Blackzilians alongside Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem, looks to keep his perfect record intact as he faces the always dangerous Gian Villante. Boasting a three fight win streak and world class training partners like top UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman, Villante plans to improve his 10-3 record and cement his position at the top of the divisional ranks.
Fresh off a razor-thin decision loss to lightweight king Gilbert Melendez, former STRIKEFORCE lightweight champ Josh Thomson looks to return to his winning ways against his next opponent. Training at AKA with other UFC and STRIKEFORCE vets, including Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier, “The Punk” is eyeing his return to the cage against Washington-born Caros Fodor. “The Future” has amassed an impressive 7-2 record since turning pro in August of 2009 and has gone 5-1 in Strikeforce with his only loss coming by submission at the hands of current title challenger, Pat Healy. A win over Thomson could put him right back in the title picture and he isn’t willing to let that opportunity slip away.
Two 30-fight veterans of MMA square off in an intriguing light heavyweight bout that features the return of the always dangerous Mike Kyle. Also training at AKA in the Bay Area, “MAK” is looking to welcome his next challenge following a no-contest in his rematch with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Experienced Dutchman and training partner of top UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem and former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, Dion Staring makes his STRIKEFORCE debut with a chance to make an immediate impact in the division.
Currently riding a ten fight unbeaten streak that brought his record to 13-3-1 and fresh off a decision over top contender ‘JZ’ Cavalcante, Isaac Vallie-Flagg plans to spoil the STRIKEFORCE debut of seasoned Brazilian Adriano Martins. The well-rounded 23-6 prospect intends to make his mark in the lightweight division by finishing the highly touted Greg Jackson product, Flagg.
With wins over Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, and Kazuo Misaki, UFC and STRIKEFORCE vet Jorge Santiago, who also trains with the Blackzilians, plans to start his journey toward the title with a win over Quinn Mulhern. An equally hungry Mulhern, a submission specialist and Santa Cruz native, looks to fast track his trip toward the welterweight belt by finishing Santiago in impressive fashion.
