By FCF Staff
Strikeforce has begun unveiling the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming January 29th event in San Jose, California, and the card will feature two championship fights. At welterweight, champion Nick Diaz will look to defend against challenger Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, while middleweight champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will face veteran Robbie Lawler. (Pictured: Souza hitting Tim Kennedy)
The event, which will be hosted by San Jose’s HP Pavilion, will be broadcast on Showtime.
Diaz (23-7) continued to impress throughout 2010, earning victories over Dream champion Marius Zaromskis, Hayato Sakurai and former Elite XC champ, KJ Noons. The Cesar Gracie fighter will head into the bout riding an eight fight winning streak.
The former middleweight Santos (18-13) is coming off back-to-back stoppage victories over Daniel Zarate and the aforementioned Zaromskis. The Brazilian vet is 3-2 in his last five bouts.
Souza (13-2) further entrenched his status this year as an emerging top rank middleweight; as the decorated grappler scored a decision win over Tim Kennedy in August, to become Strikeforce champ. In May, Souza also defeated Joey Villasenor by UD.
Lawler (18-6) is coming off a brutal knock-out win over the veteran Matt Lindland earlier this month. In other 2010 bouts, Lawler KO’d Melvin Manhoef in January, before losing by unanimous decision to Renato Sobral in June.
Strikeforce has also announced that undefeated light-heavyweight, Roger Gracie (3-0), will fight veteran Trevor Prangley (23-6-1).
Gracie fought for the first time since 2008 this past May, and submitted Kevin Randleman with a second round, rear-naked-choke. The renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner has previous wins over Yuki Kondo and Ron Waterman.
Prangley last competed in September, when he scored a split decision victory over fellow UFC vet Keith Jardine. In June, Prangley lost by first round submission to the aforementioned Kennedy.
The promotion has also confirmed that NFL legend Herschel Walker (1-0) will take on Scott Carson (4-1) at the January 29th event. The two had originally been scheduled to fight December 4th; however, Walker sustained a cut in training and the bout was postponed.
