Cung Le Vacates Strikeforce Middleweight Championship

by Robert Sargent

With another acting role on the horizon, Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le has opted to vacate his title. As a result, final EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields will face Jason "Mayhem" Miller to crown a new champion.

The fight between Shields and Miller is expected to be a part of the upcoming November 7th Strikeforce event on CBS, which the promotion announced yesterday.

Le (6-0-0) was not stripped of his title, and voluntarily chose to relinquish the belt due to his interests outside of MMA. He is thought to be returning to compete for Strikeforce in 2010, but will step aside to allow other worthy challengers to compete for the title that he has held since defeating Frank Shamrock in March of 2008.

Shields (23-4-1), the first and only EliteXC Welterweight Champion, has won 12 straight fights and has finished his last eight opponents. He has faced and beaten a who's who of the sport's welterweight division, but moved up in weight to challenge final EliteXC Middleweight Champion "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler at a Strikeforce event in June. He shocked many by submitting Lawler in the first round and is now poised to add more title gold to his collection.

Miller (22-6-0, 1 NC) is often known more for his antics and elaborate entrances, but he is a talented fighter and a former ICON Sport Middleweight Champion. He has competed in promotions all over the world and has won all but four of his fights by stoppage. Ever the showman, Miller will no doubt be in fine form in front of a massive CBS viewing audience.

The CBS event is set for November 7th and is rumoured to be taking place at the Sears Centre in Chicago, Illinois.