After staging its most recent shows in the Denver area and Beverly Hills, Strikeforce returns to its hometown of San Jose Friday night for the promotion's final event of 2008.
An injury to lightweight champion Josh Thomson has forced a reshuffle of the "Destruction" card, with Duane Ludwig stepping up on short notice to take a fight with Thomson's scheduled opponent, Yves Edwards. Ludwig and Edwards will square off in a three-rounder at a catch weight of 164 pounds.
Thomson was set to make the first defense of the 155-pound title he won by beating Gilbert Melendez in June and to try to avenge a 2004 loss to Edwards. However, the Strikeforce champ tore ligaments in a toe during training and will be out for several months. Thomson's departure from the show gives Ludwig a sooner-than-expected opportunity to build on the momentum of an impressive victory over Sam Morgan on Oct. 3.
The 30-year-old Ludwig (17-8 MMA, 2-3 Strikeforce) is coming off an efficient first-round stoppage of Morgan at Strikeforce "Payback" at the Broomfield Events Center near Denver. Ludwig connected early with an overhand right and follow up with additional shots that drew the tap from Morgan.
Ludwig faces a grizzled veteran in the 32-year-old Edwards (34-14-1 MMA, Strikeforce debut), who was looking forward to his second shot at a title in as many fights. The American Top Team fighter had gotten himself back on track after a 1-5 stretch between 2005 and 2007 with a trio of victories late last year and in early 2008. However, Edwards' former trainer partner, then-EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons, halted that streak by knocking out Edwards in 48 seconds in June.
The evening's lone title fight is a match-up of light heavyweights, with Strikeforce titleholder Bobby Southworth (9-5 MMA, 3-1 SF) defending against former UFC contender Renato "Babalu" Sobral (30-7), who's making his debut in the promotion.
It's a step up in competition for Southworth, 38, who has faced Anthony Ruiz twice, along with Bill Mahood and Vernon White in his previous four outings. After his banishment from the UFC for refusing to release David Heath from a chokehold at UFC 74 in August of last year, Sobral has won fights in Affliction and PFP on his road back to respectability. He's long coveted a title and had a shot at a belt against Chuck Liddell at UFC 62, but was punched out. A Strikeforce title would be a welcome consolation prize for the 33-year-old Sobral.
A late addition to the "Destruction" card could prove to be the evening's most entertaining fight, with bangers Scott Smith and Terry Martin meeting in a middleweight tussle.
"This is one of those match-ups where there's no chance it won't be a great fight," said Smith (13-5, SF debut). "A fighter like Terry Martin … ever since I've watched him fight, I always thought he'd be an exciting fight for me. I like taking on guys that bring it and like to fight."
That describes Smith's style, as well. The 29-year-old former UFC fighter has been in some memorable wars, including a pair of exciting give-and-take meetings earlier this year with Robbie Lawler in EliteXC.
Martin, 28, (18-5 MMA, 1-0 SF) was a rising star in the 185-pound ranks in the UFC, but after consecutive losses to Marvin Eastman and Chris Leben, he's fought for three different organizations in his last three bouts. He makes his second start for Strikeforce after knocking out Cory Devela at the Playboy Mansion show in September.
"Cory Devela was a tough guy, and he fought a good fight," Martin said. "I just wanted to show people that I've got knockout power in both my hands. I'm looking to come out and bang in this fight, too."
Also on the card, Joe Riggs (28-10 MMA, 1-2 SF) returns to the welterweight division to take on Luke Stewart (6-1 MMA & SF), and Kim Couture (0-1) makes her Strikeforce debut against Lina Kvokov (0-1) in a 130-pound contest.
"Destruction" at the HP Pavilion will air live on HDNet, beginning at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST).
Strikeforce "Destruction"
HP Pavilion, San Jose
Champ Bobby Southworth vs. Renato Sobral (Strikeforce light heavyweight championship fight)
Joe Riggs vs. Luke Stewart
Yves Edwards vs. Duane Ludwig
Kim Couture vs. Lina Kvokov
Lemont Davis vs. Brian Schwartz
Brad Royster vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Luke Rockhold vs. Nik Theotikos
Tony Johnson vs. Eric Lawson
Alvin Cacdac vs. Jose Palacios
Cyrillo Padilha vs. Bobby Stack
Josh Neal vs. Kurt Osiander
An injury to lightweight champion Josh Thomson has forced a reshuffle of the "Destruction" card, with Duane Ludwig stepping up on short notice to take a fight with Thomson's scheduled opponent, Yves Edwards. Ludwig and Edwards will square off in a three-rounder at a catch weight of 164 pounds.
Thomson was set to make the first defense of the 155-pound title he won by beating Gilbert Melendez in June and to try to avenge a 2004 loss to Edwards. However, the Strikeforce champ tore ligaments in a toe during training and will be out for several months. Thomson's departure from the show gives Ludwig a sooner-than-expected opportunity to build on the momentum of an impressive victory over Sam Morgan on Oct. 3.
The 30-year-old Ludwig (17-8 MMA, 2-3 Strikeforce) is coming off an efficient first-round stoppage of Morgan at Strikeforce "Payback" at the Broomfield Events Center near Denver. Ludwig connected early with an overhand right and follow up with additional shots that drew the tap from Morgan.
Ludwig faces a grizzled veteran in the 32-year-old Edwards (34-14-1 MMA, Strikeforce debut), who was looking forward to his second shot at a title in as many fights. The American Top Team fighter had gotten himself back on track after a 1-5 stretch between 2005 and 2007 with a trio of victories late last year and in early 2008. However, Edwards' former trainer partner, then-EliteXC lightweight champion K.J. Noons, halted that streak by knocking out Edwards in 48 seconds in June.
The evening's lone title fight is a match-up of light heavyweights, with Strikeforce titleholder Bobby Southworth (9-5 MMA, 3-1 SF) defending against former UFC contender Renato "Babalu" Sobral (30-7), who's making his debut in the promotion.
It's a step up in competition for Southworth, 38, who has faced Anthony Ruiz twice, along with Bill Mahood and Vernon White in his previous four outings. After his banishment from the UFC for refusing to release David Heath from a chokehold at UFC 74 in August of last year, Sobral has won fights in Affliction and PFP on his road back to respectability. He's long coveted a title and had a shot at a belt against Chuck Liddell at UFC 62, but was punched out. A Strikeforce title would be a welcome consolation prize for the 33-year-old Sobral.
A late addition to the "Destruction" card could prove to be the evening's most entertaining fight, with bangers Scott Smith and Terry Martin meeting in a middleweight tussle.
"This is one of those match-ups where there's no chance it won't be a great fight," said Smith (13-5, SF debut). "A fighter like Terry Martin … ever since I've watched him fight, I always thought he'd be an exciting fight for me. I like taking on guys that bring it and like to fight."
That describes Smith's style, as well. The 29-year-old former UFC fighter has been in some memorable wars, including a pair of exciting give-and-take meetings earlier this year with Robbie Lawler in EliteXC.
Martin, 28, (18-5 MMA, 1-0 SF) was a rising star in the 185-pound ranks in the UFC, but after consecutive losses to Marvin Eastman and Chris Leben, he's fought for three different organizations in his last three bouts. He makes his second start for Strikeforce after knocking out Cory Devela at the Playboy Mansion show in September.
"Cory Devela was a tough guy, and he fought a good fight," Martin said. "I just wanted to show people that I've got knockout power in both my hands. I'm looking to come out and bang in this fight, too."
Also on the card, Joe Riggs (28-10 MMA, 1-2 SF) returns to the welterweight division to take on Luke Stewart (6-1 MMA & SF), and Kim Couture (0-1) makes her Strikeforce debut against Lina Kvokov (0-1) in a 130-pound contest.
"Destruction" at the HP Pavilion will air live on HDNet, beginning at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST).
Strikeforce "Destruction"
HP Pavilion, San Jose
Champ Bobby Southworth vs. Renato Sobral (Strikeforce light heavyweight championship fight)
Joe Riggs vs. Luke Stewart
Yves Edwards vs. Duane Ludwig
Kim Couture vs. Lina Kvokov
Lemont Davis vs. Brian Schwartz
Brad Royster vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Luke Rockhold vs. Nik Theotikos
Tony Johnson vs. Eric Lawson
Alvin Cacdac vs. Jose Palacios
Cyrillo Padilha vs. Bobby Stack
Josh Neal vs. Kurt Osiander