Strikeforce’s plans for one final mega-event in January before they bring the curtain down on the promotion have been rocked by the news that middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is injured, while lightweight title holder Gilbert Melendez is also reported to be out.
Rockhold is believed to have suffered a recurrence of the wrist injury that ruled him out of a title defense against Lorenz Larkin earlier this month, and that has left him unable to make Strikeforce’s final show against the same opponent.
Meanwhile, according to Dana White last weekend, Melendez is more than likely out of his title fight with Pat Healy due to a shoulder injury, though there’s not been any official confirmation of that so far.
Strikeforce have already had to cancel their last two events due to injuries, and you have to wonder whether some of the fighters are now looking for any excuse not to fight since they know that they are going to be bound for the UFC next year as the promotion will fold after this last event in January.
As it stands their January 12th event does still have some good fighters on-board though, such as welterweight champion Nate Marquardt Vs Tarec Saffiedine, heavyweight GP winner Daniel Cormier taking on Dion Staring and former light-heavyweight title holder Gegard Mousasi Vs Mike Kyle.
