By FCF Staff
Strikeforce has announced that NFL veteran and former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor, Wes Shivers, will face heavyweight Goldman Butler, at the promotion’s upcoming Challengers card in Jackson, Mississippi. The card, which will be hosted by the Jackson Convention Center, will be broadcast on Showtime.
Shivers will head into the bout with a 7-1 record according to the Strikeforce press release announcing the bout. The 6’8 heavyweight and Rankin County Deputy Sheriff will be returning to MMA competition after taking a break from the sport.
“I didn’t really have any motivation to get back to training. I got the phone call from (local promoter) Dave Ferguson who asked me if I wanted to fight again,” Shivers was quoted saying. “I thought it was a great opportunity to be able to fight in front of my home crowd. Not to mention it’s a Strikeforce show. I had to take the opportunity.”
“Any kid growing up in America wants to play a pro sport and I accomplished that goal,” Shivers noted while discussing his pro football career. “When I got in there I realized what the whole business was about and it really wasn’t my cup of tea. I saw an opportunity to walk away from the game without any regrets and I did it. Looking back, I still don’t have any regrets. It’s a business. Like any sport, if you take the fun out of it, it’s not worth playing anymore.
Butler’s record was listed at 1-3.
The November 19th, Challengers card will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (20-4) and Justin Wilcox (9-3).
