Strikeforce on Thursday made official a pair of bouts for its Aug. 18 fight card in San Diego, which features bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey defending her belt against Sarah Kaufman in the main event.
Thursday’s announcement firmed up the Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Derek Brunson middleweight bout that MMAWeekly.com had previously reported, as well as a welterweight clash between Tarec Saffiedine and Roger Bowling.
Saffiedine (12-3) would be in the thick of the battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title that Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt will battle over in July, if it weren’t for the fact that his sole Strikeforce blemish was a decision loss to Woodley.
He has since won back-to-back bouts over Scotty Smith and Tyler Stinson, and a win over Bowling would go a long way towards putting him in contention for the top contender spot for the winner of Woodley vs. Marquardt.
Bowling (11-2) is in a similar situation, having twice lost to Bobby Voelker under the Strikeforce banner. He has also won his last two fights, albeit to Brandon Sailing and Jerron Peoples, not quite the caliber of opposition Saffiedine has face.
Defeating Saffiedine would be the victory that Bowling needs to launch him into the contenders’ mix.
Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman takes place on Aug. 18 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.
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