With Strikeforce having now officially confirmed that their last ever event will takes place on January 12th, the UFC’s roster is set to be significantly bolstered and the matchmakers have been busy lining up some of the incoming talent with their first fights in the Octagon.
It should be noted that many of Strikeforce’s biggest name fighters are either taking part on the final show or are out injured so the bouts unveiled so far generally feature up and coming talent with the exception of the previously announced Robbie Lawler Vs Josh Koscheck fight at UFC 157.
First up, lightweight prospect Caros Fodor will take on Sam Stout at UFC 157 in February.
Fodor was originally a product of the Strikeforce: Challengers series, winning his first four bouts there before being recruited to take part in the promotion’s bigger shows where he’s since experienced mixed results, going 1-1 to date.
In Stout he’ll be facing a UFC veteran who’s been struggling a little of late with just one win in his last three fights, but should still prove to be one of Fodor’s toughest opponents to date.
Meanwhile, Bobby Green draws a tough first assignment in the shape of Jacob Volkmann at UFC 156.
Another lightweight fighter, Green is coming off a four-fight winning streak over at Strikeforce, but hasn’t faced anyone of Volkmann’s caliber yet, with the UFC fighter having lost just once in his last seven Octagon outings.
Another Strikeforce Challengers product Bobby Voelker has been picked as Patrick Cote’s next opponent at UFC 158 in March.
Voelker put together a 4-1 record in the Challengers series and has amassed a lot of experience with an overall 24-8 professional career spanning over six years, though it should be noted that he hasn’t fought since the summer of last year.
Cote will move down to the welterweight division for this fight, coming off the back of a ‘DQ’ decision in his last fight with Alessio Sakara – a fight which he at first appeared to have lost before the referee ruled that Sakara had struck him several times illegally to the back of the head.
Overall it looks like the UFC are adopting a ‘sink or swim’ approach with this crop of fighters by putting them up against notable UFC veterans. It’s understandable as these three have yet to make a significant impact over at Strikeforce and while the UFC’s roster certainly has room for more stars, it doesn’t need any more hangers-on, so these guys will have to stamp their authority early on if they want to stick around.
