By FCF Staff
Strikeforce continues to keep a busy schedule, as just days before its latest Challengers card in Cedar Park, Texas, the promotion held an open workout at the South Austin Gym featuring several of Friday night’s competitors. The card, which will be hosted by the Cedar Park Center, will be broadcast on Showtime.
Headlining the event will be a lightweight tilt between Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm (15-0) (pictured) and Pat “Bam Bam” Healy (25-17). Other featured bouts include Carlo Prater (25-10-1) vs. Bryan Travers (15-2), Lee Higgins (2-0) vs. Ryan Couture (1-0), Erik “Bad’’ Apple (10-2) vs. Ryan Larson (5-2), and David “Tarzan’’ Douglas (5-2) vs. Nick “The Ghost’’ Gonzalez (16-8, 1 NC).
Beerbohm, Prater and Higgins were on hand at yesterday’s workout in Austin, and offered these comments about Friday’s fights.
Lyle Beerbohm
“My ultimate goal is to become Strikeforce world champion but my immediate goal is to get my hand raised and beat Pat Healy.”
“This is going to be a fun, tough, hard fight that I expect will go everywhere. There’ll be stand-up, wrestling, a little but of everything. Pat is definitely an all-around great fighter who is coming off a great performance, but the bottom line is I want to win.”
“This is a great matchup and I am very excited about fighting in my first main event for Strikeforce on Showtime. There are so many great, tough, talented fighters at 155 pounds in Strikeforce. I’m looking to build off the fight Friday and show what I can do and show that I belong in that company.”
“My time has come and I am really looking forward to the fight. l want that title shot.’’
 |
| Prater |
Carlo Prater
“I am very honored to be fighting for Strikeforce on Showtime. I remember fighting for Strikeforce at the HP Pavilion (in San Jose, Calif.) before they started promoting MMA.”
“This is going to be a great fight. Travers is a tough and durable and I know I need to be at my best. I’ve trained very hard. I want to make a statement and be around a long time.”
“I want Travers to be at his best so when I win, I can say I beat him at his best.’’
 |
| Higgins |
Lee Higgins
"I’m really happy for this opportunity to fight on Showtime and for Strikeforce. For some people, this is a really big deal but, as a fighter, for me, this is just another fight.”
“I can’t and won’t allow myself to get caught up in the hype of fighting a fighter with a very famous last name. Sure, there is extra motivation but I am not going to put any more pressure on myself.”
“So, I have to treat this as just another fight. Besides, I’m fighting Ryan, not Randy. I’ve watched his tapes and broken them down. I’m ready to fight the fight. There is no pressure. If anything, the pressure is on Ryan.”
