On Weds., Strikeforce announced that Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (#6 Welterweight) would defend his belt against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (#35) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 29. Winner of his last eight fights and 11 of 12 since his submission win over Takanori Gomi in 2007 was overturned due to Diaz’s failed drug test, Diaz will face a whittled-down version of the fighter who began his career fighting north of 200 pounds. The as-yet-unnamed event will also feature a title fight between Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (#10 Middlweight) and “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (#12), a rubber match between reality show host and FIGHT! contributor Jason “Mayhem” Miller (#21 Middleweight) and Tim Kennedy (#27). Miller lost to Kennedy in the semi-finals of a tournament at Extreme Challenge 50 in 2003 and defeated him at an HDNet Fights event in 2007. The main card will be rounded out by a light heavyweight bout between Trevor Prangley (#37 Light Heavyweight) and Roger Gracie (#20) and match featuring Heisman Trophy-winning former NFL star Herschel Walker and one-time WEC vet Scott Carson.
Tickets for the event go on sale Mon., Dec. 27 and the main card will air live on Showtime at 10 p.m. EST/PST.
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