Swinny
11-23-2012, 10:23 AM
Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi slotted for 'Strikeforce: Champions'
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm ET
The fourth time hopefully will be the charm for Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) and former champion Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 SF).
The light heavyweights have been targeted for a fight at January's "Strikeforce: Champions" event, Kyle today announced.
"Strikeforce: Champions" takes place Jan. 12 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Main-card fights air on Showtime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.
It's not clear where Kyle vs. Mousasi will be placed on the card.
The fighters were slated to meet on three prior occasions, but none of the fights came to fruition due to injuries.
Kyle fights for the first time since a 33-second loss to Rafael Cavalcante in May, though "Feijao" failed a post-fight drug test and prompted the fight to be overturned to a no-contest. Prior to that bout, Kyle, a WEC and UFC vet, was on a 5-1 run, and the lone defeat came in a short-notice booking against heavyweight Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
Mousasi, meanwhile, fights for the first time in more than a year due to an ACL injury. Most recently, the former DREAM and Strikeforce titleholder earned a decision victory over Ovince St. Preux. It moved him to 4-0-1 since losing his Strikeforce belt to Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal in 2010.
The latest "Strikeforce: Champions" card now includes:
Champ Luke Rockhold vs. Lorenz Larkin - for middleweight title
Champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine - for welterweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle*
Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons*
Pat Healy vs. TBA*
* - Not officially announced
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Nov 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm ET
The fourth time hopefully will be the charm for Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) and former champion Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 SF).
The light heavyweights have been targeted for a fight at January's "Strikeforce: Champions" event, Kyle today announced.
"Strikeforce: Champions" takes place Jan. 12 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Main-card fights air on Showtime following prelims on Showtime Extreme.
It's not clear where Kyle vs. Mousasi will be placed on the card.
The fighters were slated to meet on three prior occasions, but none of the fights came to fruition due to injuries.
Kyle fights for the first time since a 33-second loss to Rafael Cavalcante in May, though "Feijao" failed a post-fight drug test and prompted the fight to be overturned to a no-contest. Prior to that bout, Kyle, a WEC and UFC vet, was on a 5-1 run, and the lone defeat came in a short-notice booking against heavyweight Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
Mousasi, meanwhile, fights for the first time in more than a year due to an ACL injury. Most recently, the former DREAM and Strikeforce titleholder earned a decision victory over Ovince St. Preux. It moved him to 4-0-1 since losing his Strikeforce belt to Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal in 2010.
The latest "Strikeforce: Champions" card now includes:
Champ Luke Rockhold vs. Lorenz Larkin - for middleweight title
Champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine - for welterweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle*
Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons*
Pat Healy vs. TBA*
* - Not officially announced