Three additional fights have been announced for the upcoming Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs Jardine” event on January 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Former EliteXC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler faces rising star Adlan Amagov in a featured 185-pound matchup on the card.
One-time Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal looks for his second straight win when he faces unbeaten prospect Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin. Tarec “Sponge” Saffiedine clashes with Tyler “The Evolution” Stinson in a battle of potential contenders at 170 pounds.
Lawler (18-8-0, 1 NC) has struggled since joining the Strikeforce ranks and has posted just two wins in six fights. He remains a threat to anyone in the middleweight division, however, and holds 15 knockout victories to date. In Amagov (9-1-1), Lawler faces a fellow striker who has not lost since his 2007 pro debut. Lawler has been stopped by strikes only once, but Amagov brings a speed advantage into his biggest fight to date and his unorthodox strikes could pose problems for the veteran Lawler.
Lawal (8-1-0) was sidelined for over a year due to a knee injury after losing his Strikeforce title to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante last August. He made a successful return by knocking out the previously unbeaten Roger Gracie in September and aims to end the hype behind Larkin (12-0-0), who has won all three of his Strikeforce fights. Larkin looks to be one big win away from graduating from prospect status to title contendership and a victory over Lawal, a standout wrestler and former champion, would be the biggest of Larkin’s two-year career.
Saffiedine (11-3-0) had hoped to receive a second shot at Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley for the now vacant Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, but will instead face off with Bellator veteran Stinson (22-7-0) in a bout that could determine a top contender. Saffiedine rebounded from his razor-thin loss to Woodley by defeating former EliteXC title challenger Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith in July and has won four of his past five fights. Stinson made a big impact in his Strikeforce debut on the same July card by knocking out Eduardo Pamplona in 15 seconds. He has finished 20 of his opponents to date.
Strikeforce: “Rockhold vs Jardine” takes place on January 7, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is headlined by a Strikeforce Middleweight Championship bout between Luke Rockhold and “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)