Select a List:

 Email Address:

Subscribe
Unsubscribe


Enter Search Terms


Advanced Search

· Trio Of Reserve Bouts Added To Strikeforce Grand Prix

· Article author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Posted on 01/12 at 07:25 AM

Three reserve bouts have been added to the upcoming Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, slated to begin on February 12.

The first of these bouts is a battle between two graduates of the Strikeforce Challengers series. California-based fighters will square off when Shane del Rosario (10-0, 2-0 SF) meets Lavar Johnson (15-3, 3-0).

Del Rosario has kept his undefeated record intact since signing with Strikeforce in 2009. The 6'3", 242-pound knockout specialist is a member of Team Oyama and has finished nine of ten opponents inside the first stanza. Originally thought to be solely a fighter who likes to stand toe-to-toe with opponents, del Rosario surprised fans when he submitted Brandon Cash with a rare omoplata in his Strikeforce debut. He then returned with a devastating TKO victory over Lolohea Mahe in the main event at Strikeforce Challengers 9.

Johnson, who nearly died after being shot in the abdomen in July 2009, returned to the cage less than a year later and has also remained undefeated during his time in Strikeforce. The 6'3", 251-pound slugger has earned knockout victories over Carl Seumanatafa, Lolohea Mahe, and Virgil Zwicker during his Strikeforce career.

The second reserve bout will feature Chad Griggs (9-1, 1-0 SF) and Ring of Combat Heavyweight Champion Gian Villante (7-1). Griggs, a veteran of the IFL, stunned former WWE star Bobby Lashley with a second round TKO victory at "Strikeforce: Houston" in August. The Arizona native has earned eight of his nine career victories via knockout. Villante, a rising star on the Northeast MMA scene, has stopped six of his seven victims inside the first round. The New York native makes his Strikeforce debut after a first-round TKO over Joseph Reyes at Ring of Combat 33 in December.

The final reserve bout will feature Valentijn Overeem (28-25), the brother of Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, taking on Ray Sefo (2-0, 1-0 SF). Overeem signed with Strikeforce in 2010 but has yet to compete for the organization after being forced to pull out of a December bout with Antonio Silva. Sefo, who transitioned to MMA after nearly 80 kickboxing matches, debuted in Strikeforce in 2009 with a victory over veteran fighter Kevin Jordan.

All three reserve bouts will take place on the main card of February 12's all-heavyweight "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva" event in Newark, N.J. Tournament bouts featuring Fedor Emelianenko (31-2, 1-1 SF) vs. Antonio Silva (15-2, 2-1 SF) and Sergei Kharitonov (17-4) vs. Andrei Arlovski (15-8, 0-2 SF) will also be part of the event. Two more fights featuring Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (34-11, 3-0 SF) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1, 3-0 SF) and Josh Barnett (29-6) vs. Brett Rogers (11-2, 2-2 SF) will take place at a later event to be announced.

Share Share Share Share Share
Top of Page

<< Back to Homepage

Total Readers Online: 124


remember me
Register