Photo Credit: Sal Hernandez/STRIKEFORCE
Hometown favorite Zoila Frausto answers questions from the media during Tuesday's workout at GB3 gym in Fresno. The undefeated women's prospect will square off with another standout fighter, Miesha "Takedown" Tate, on Friday night at the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at Save Mart Center.
Lavar Johnson will cap off a miraculous comeback to MMA on Friday night in the main event when he takes on the undefeated Lolohea Mahe on SHOWTIME (11:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
The heavyweight sensation was gunned down and nearly killed by Central Valley-area gang members on July 4, 2009, while attending a family barbeque near his home in Madera. Johnson was recently cleared by a physician to return to training and will step into the cage for the first time since he scored a crushing 18-second KO on Carl Seumanutafa in STRIKEFORCE Challengers action at Save Mart Center on May 15, 2009.
The 6-foot-4, 250 pound Johnson is a dangerous puncher with knockout power in his fists, knees and kicks. He'll have his hands full against Mahe, an experienced kickboxer who walks around at 320 pounds.
A former soccer player for Fresno City College, Frausto is a dangerous striker who has trained in Taekwondo since she was a child.
Although Frausto is experienced in the ground game, she is much more comfortable standing and fighting. She'll have to be prepared to fight on the mat on Friday night against Tate, who won the 2005 women's state wrestling championship in Washington and has unparalleled experience on the ground.
Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office and select Save Mart Supermarkets as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (http://www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE's official website (http://www.strikeforce.com). Save Mart Center doors will open for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at 6 p.m. PT. The first live, non-televised, preliminary bout will begin at 6:45 p.m. The SHOWTIME® telecast begins at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
