SOUTHWORTH DEFENDS AGAINST RUIZ AT STRIKEFORCE

[keithlewis]

http://www.mmaweekly.com

Strikeforce vice president Mike Afromowitz on Friday confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Bobby Southworth will defend his light heavyweight championship at the promotion’s June 27 event in San Jose. He will face Anthony Ruiz.

Southworth and Ruiz met for the first time in November of last year in a non-title affair. Ruiz won their initial pairing by TKO due to a cut early in the second round.

Prior to the loss to Ruiz, Southworth, a veteran of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, had won back-to-back bouts defeating Vernon White for the vacant title and defending it against Bill Mahood.

Since losing to Trevor Prangley in October of 2006, Ruiz has turned things around, currently riding a six-fight winning streak. His defeat of Southworth was the fourth victory in that streak. He has since added wins over super heavyweight Jimmy Ambriz and Brad Imes, another Ultimate Fighter veteran.

The event, to be held at the HP Pavilion, is headlined by another title bout. Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, currently ranked No. 6 in the world in the weight class, will defend his belt against American Kickboxing Academy fighter and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Josh Thomson.