More Bouts Added to Melendez vs. Healy Card

LAS VEGAS – Gilbert Melendez, STRIKEFORCE® lightweight champion and one of mixed martial arts’ top pound-for-pound fighters, will make his next title defense against veteran and red-hot number one contender Pat Healy, when STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. HEALY comes to Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 29. The main event, scheduled for five rounds, will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

“There’s no doubt that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but he’s facing a tough test when he defends the STRIKEFORCE lightweight title against Pat Healy in Sacramento,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Pat has been around the sport a long time and has put together an impressive winning streak. This is the biggest fight of his life and he doesn’t want to waste this opportunity.”

STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. HEALY will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE®: MELENDEZ vs. HEALY, presented by Musclepharm®, are on sale now and are priced at $100, $75, $50 and $40. Tickets are available at the Power Balance Pavilion Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at Ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Applicable service charges may apply.

Undefeated light heavyweight prospect ‘Guto’ Inocente (fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla. by way of Brasilia, Brazil), who trains with the Blackzilians alongside Rashad Evans and Alistair Overeem,  looks to keep his perfect record intact as he faces the always dangerous Gian Villante (fighting out of Bellmore, N.Y.). Boasting a three fight win streak and world class training partners like top UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman, Villante plans to improve his 10-3 record and cement his position at the top of the divisional ranks.

Fresh off a razor-thin decision loss to lightweight king Gilbert Melendez, former STRIKEFORCE lightweight champ Josh Thomson (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) looks to return to his winning ways against his next opponent. Training at AKA with other UFC and STRIKEFORCE vets, including Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier, “The Punk” is eyeing his return to the cage against Washington-born Caros Fodor (fighting out of Shoreline, Wash). “The Future” has amassed an impressive 7-2 record since turning pro in August of 2009 and has gone 5-1 in Strikeforce with his only loss coming by submission at the hands of current title challenger, Pat Healy. A win over Thomson could put him right back in the title picture and he isn’t willing to let that opportunity slip away.

Two 30-fight veterans of MMA square off in an intriguing light heavyweight bout that features the return of the always dangerous Mike Kyle (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.). Also training at AKA in the Bay Area, “MAK” is looking to welcome his next challenge following a no-contest in his rematch with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Experienced Dutchman and training partner of top UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem and former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, Dion Staring (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla) makes his STRIKEFORCE debut with a chance to make an immediate impact in the division.

Currently riding a ten fight unbeaten streak that brought his record to 13-3-1 and fresh off a decision over top contender ‘JZ’ Cavalcante, Isaac Vallie-Flagg (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.) plans to spoil the STRIKEFORCE debut of seasoned Brazilian Adriano Martins (fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil). The well-rounded 23-6 prospect intends to make his mark in the lightweight division by finishing the highly touted Greg Jackson product, Flagg.

With wins over Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, and Kazuo Misaki, UFC and STRIKEFORCE vet Jorge Santiago (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.), who also trains with the Blackzilians, plans to start his journey toward the title with a win over Quinn Mulhern (fighting out of Santa Fe, N.M.). An equally hungry Mulhern, a submission specialist and Santa Cruz native, looks to fast track his trip toward the welterweight belt by finishing Santiago in impressive fashion.

For more information or the latest STRIKEFORCE news, visit www.strikeforce.com. All bouts live and subject to change.