Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante Signs With StrikeforceTwo-time K-1 HERO’s Tournament Champion Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante has signed with Strikeforce and may debut for the promotion as early as August. FightHype.com was first to report on the Brazilian’s signing, while the targeted August debut was reported by MMAjunkie.com today.

Cavalcante will look to get back on the winning track in Strikeforce, as injuries have plagued his career since the HERO’s Tournament Final in September of 2007. He has dropped back-to-back fights to current DREAM champ Shinya Aoki and top title challenger Tatsuya Kawajiri.

Cavalcante (14-3-1, 1 NC) tasted defeat just a single time in his first 16 bouts. The loss came via Majority Decision in a 2004 bout with future DREAM Lightweight Champion Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen. Cavalcante holds notable wins over Bart Palaszewski, Michihiro Omigawa, Hiroyuki Takaya, Rani Yahya and Caol Uno. He captured the 2007 HERO’s Tournament Championship with stoppage victories over fellow recent Strikeforce signee Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and Andre “Dida” Amado. However, knee injuries have hindered Cavalcante in recent outings and he is winless in his last three bouts.

Initially pegged as a favourite to win the 2008 DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix, Cavalcante’s first-round bout with Aoki ended controversially due to perceived illegal elbow strikes. The fight was ruled a No Contest and Aoki defeated Cavalcante by Unanimous Decision in a rematch six weeks later. Cavalcante has competed just one time since then, in a losing effort against Kawajiri at Dream.9 on May 26, 2009. Now aiming to put injuries behind him, Cavalcante will look for a fresh start in Strikeforce. He may debut in August, though that is not yet confirmed.

 

 

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)