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STRIKEFORCE HEADS TO OKC WITH THREE TITLE FIGHTS ON JAN. 12‏


STRIKEFORCE heads to the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Saturday, Jan. 12 with three championship fights, plus the return of Oklahoma State University star Daniel Cormier, all televised live on SHOWTIME. With a collection of some of the best fighters in the world today, STRIKEFORCE has put together a memorable and historic card for the fans in the Sooner State.


The action-packed night includes the following bouts:

Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez (champion) vs. Pat Healy for the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title
Luke Rockhold (champion) vs. Lorenz Larkin for the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title
Nate Marquardt (champion) vs. Tarec Saffiedine for the STRIKEFORCE welterweight title
Daniel Cormier (Grand Prix champion, OSU All-American) vs. Dion Staring


“We’ve built an absolutely stacked card for Oklahoma City and the SHOWTIME viewers,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “We have three awesome title fights featuring some of the best fighters to ever grace the STRIKEFORCE cage. Plus, we have Daniel Cormier, one of the fastest-rising heavyweight stars today, returning to his roots in Oklahoma to fight Dion Staring. January 12 is going to be a really special night.”

“The biggest stars in STRIKEFORCE are putting their titles on the line in competitive fights,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, “and that is precisely what fans of STRIKEFORCE on SHOWTIME have come to expect. We are excited to be part of the event.”

http://mmajunkie.com/news/31664/reports ... -healy.mma


There's almost no other way to put it: Here we go again.

Two months ahead of his title defense at Strikeforce's next card – and reportedly its last card – lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has been sidelined again.

The news comes from Tatame, and UFC/Zuffa President Dana White said on a fan chat with the Montreal Gazette earlier in the day Friday that he believed Melendez was going to be off the January show.

Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF) has been in this situation before. He was scheduled to defend his title against Pat Healy (28-16 MMA, 6-1 SF) in September in Sacramento. But when he injured his shoulder, Strikeforce canceled the card altogether when broadcast partner Showtime decided to not air the card without Melendez on it as its headliner.

And not long after that, Strikeforce's follow-up show, scheduled for Nov. 3 in Oklahoma City, also was scrapped when Frank Mir pulled out of a headlining bout with Daniel Cormier and co-main event middleweight champ Luke Rockhold also was sidelined.

The cancellation of back-to-back fight cards left fighters, fans and analysts wondering just what the future was for the promotion – and many speculated that the organization likely would fold, with select fighters being folded into the UFC.

But not long after the cancellation of the Nov. 3 show, Strikeforce and Showtime said a blockbuster card was being planned for January. And recently, details began to emerge of that show, which is scheduled for Jan. 12 in Oklahoma City at Chesapeake Energy Arena, site of the canceled Nov. 3 show.

Melendez again was to headline against Healy, with Rockhold vs. Lorenz Larkin in the co-main event and welterweight champ Nate Marquardt defending his belt for the first time against Tarec Saffiedine. Plus, Cormier is to meet Dion Staring in a heavyweight bout.

TMZ reported earlier this month that the event will be the last for Strikeforce, which would mean Melendez's career with the promotion is over.

Melendez trainer and coach Cesar Gracie told Tatame that the fighter will concentrate on moving over to the UFC.

"I think he never recovered from the shoulder injury and will not be able to fight in January," Gracie said. "He had a doctor's appointment this week and the doctor said that he will not be able to fight. We will focus on his recovery. With the end of (Strikeforce), he should migrate to the UFC."

Strikeforce and UFC officials could not immediately comment on Melendez's status. It is not known if Healy will remain on the card in some fashion. Without a Melendez-Healy headliner, the Rockhold-Larkin or Marquardt-Saffiedine title fights could move into the main event.

Put a fucking stake in Strikeforce, they are done!

Strikeforce can’t seem to catch a break over their last few shows and there’s been another injury to a main card bout for their upcoming final card in January.

Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has been forced off the card with an injury, and his bout against Lorenz Larkin has been scrapped for a second time.

Sources close to the situation confirmed the change to www.MMAWeekly.com on Sunday with Rockhold’s nagging wrist injury the likely suspect in the fight being cancelled.

Strikeforce: Champions
January 12, 2013
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine - Strikeforce welterweight title bout
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Starin
Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
Lorenz Larkin vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture
Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
Estevan Payan vs. Michael Bravo

Who the fuck are Dion Starin and Nandor Guelmino?

STRIKEFORCE welterweight champion and seasoned UFC veteran Nate Marquardt will defend his title against current number one contender Tarec Saffiedine on Saturday, Jan. 12 as STRIKEFORCE visits Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. In the night’s co-main event, Oklahoma State University All-American wrestler and STRIKEFORCE Grand Prix heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier takes on kickboxing veteran Dion Staring. The event will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) as part of the premium network’s Free Preview Weekend whereby more than 80 million households nationwide will have access to SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND and more.

This will mark the final STRIKEFORCE event on SHOWTIME.

“Since 2009, SHOWTIME has been a great partner and we appreciate its support of STRIKEFORCE and our athletes,” Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO, said. “For our final event, we’ve loaded the card with some outstanding fights. This is going to be a memorable night for the sport of mixed martial arts.”

“We are proud of our association with Scott Coker and the entire STRIKEFORCE team,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “From Gina Carano to Ronda Rousey, Fedor Emelianenko to Daniel Cormier, Nick Diaz to Gilbert Melendez, SHOWTIME Sports and STRIKEFORCE have built some of the biggest stars in the sport and have produced many of the most watched and most intriguing fights in the history of MMA. We look forward to another night of competitive and explosive STRIKEFORCE fights on SHOWTIME on January 12 in OKC.”


Fight Card:

Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Ed Herman (coming over from the UFC)
Pat Healy vs. opponent to be determined
Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture
Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
Estavan Payan vs. Michael Bravo


STRIKEFORCE will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.