Strikeforce Signs Vera, Postpones Women's Tournaments
by Robert Sargent
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker made a pair of announcements today regarding the future of his promotion's women's division. Kerry Vera, wife of UFC star Brandon Vera, has signed with Strikeforce, but women's tournaments have been postponed.
The 135-pound and 145-pound women's tournaments will now take place in early 2010, which will allow new members of the roster to become more familiar among fans.
Vera, who made her professional MMA debut in May at Bellator Fighting Championships 7, first rose to fame when she won the second season of the Muay Thai-themed "Fight Girls" reality show. Training alongside Gina Carano, husband Brandon and famed instructor Master Toddy, Vera was later victorious in her Muay Thai fight in Thailand.
Her MMA career has thus far been just as successful, as she won her debut via dominant Unanimous Decision. A talented striker, Vera could prove to be a force within the 135-pound division if she develops the other aspects of her MMA game. She is expected to make her Strikeforce debut in November.
The postponement of the Strikeforce women's tournaments is potentially for the best, as it will allow the promotion time to bring in new female stars so that they become more familiar to the Strikeforce audience. The tournament will then showcase the best fighters available and will determine challengers for the 135- and 145-pound titles, respectively.
The brackets for the 135-pound tournament will be easily filled, but the 145-pound division is much less rich in talent and the promotion will need to work harder in order to fill up the eight-woman grouping.
It was also confirmed today that Strikeforce Challengers 4 will be headlined by a lightweight bout between undefeated star Billy Evangelista and former UFC contender Jorge Gurgel. The event will take place in November in Fresno, California.
Strikeforce Challengers 3 takes place on September 25th in Tulsa, Okalahoma, and is headlined by a middleweight bout between decorated Army Ranger Tim Kennedy and the ever-dangerous Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos. MMARising.com will be live on-site.
