By FCF Staf
Just hours removed from the promotion’s “Diaz vs. Cyborg” card on Saturday night, Strikeforce has confirmed several bouts for its upcoming March 5th event in Columbus, Ohio. Headlining the card will be a light-heavyweight title fight, as champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante will look to defend his belt against former Pride champ, Dan Henderson. Other bouts confirmed today include women’s 135lb. champion Marloes Coenen vs. Meisha Tate, middleweight Tim Kennedy vs. Luke Rockhold and undefeated lightweight Billy Evangelista vs. Jorge Masvidal.(Pictured: Henderson pursuing Renato Sobral)
The card, which will be hosted by the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, will be broadcast on Showtime.
Cavalcante (10-2) will be competing for the first time since the well rounded fighter unseated former champ, “King Mo” Lawal last August. Henderson (26-8) is also coming off an impressive victory; in December he KO’d Renato “Babalu” Sobral in the first round.
“Everybody knows about Dan Henderson and what he can do and how hard he hits,’’ said Feijao, who trains out of the renowned Black House camp. “This is going to be a very exciting fight. I worked very hard to get back to where I could fight for the title. Now that I have won it, I’ve been working even harder to keep it.’’
"I want to thank Strikeforce for this opportunity to fight for the title,’’ said Henderson, a winner in four of his last five. “That last fight got me back on track. I’ll be ready for anything, but mostly I’m expecting a flat-our war.’’
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| Feijao kneeing Lawal |
Coenen (18-4) laid claim to the lightweight belt by becoming the first woman to defeat Sarah Kaufman in October, tapping out the former champ with a third round armbar. Tate (11-2) earned her title shot in August, by winning Strikeforce’s single elimination tourney with decision victories over Maiju Kujala and Hitomi Akano.
It had been widely expected that Kennedy (12-3) would face Jason “Mayhem” Miller next in a rubber match; however, now the decorated American soldier will face the rising Rockhold. Kennedy last competed in August and dropped a unanimous decision loss to current middleweight king, “Jacare” Souza.
Rockhold (7-1) has not competed since last February, due to a shoulder injury, which prevented him from fighting in October.
Evangelista (11-0) is coming off a UD win over Waachim Spiritwolf in October, to preserve the lightweight’s unblemished record. The well traveled Masvidal (20-6) last fought at Shark Fights 13 in September and lost by decision to Paul Daley.
