Report: Strikeforce scraps Mousasi bout, promotes 'Smith vs Sayers' to televised card

With just over two weeks until the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event in Columbus, Ohio, promotion officials will ask Gegard Mousasi to step down, with little time to find him a replacement for Mike Kyle, who was forced to withdraw from the March 3 extravaganza due to injury.

In their absence, the undercard bout between Scott Smith and Lumumba Sayers has been promoted to the Showtime televised fight card, according to a report from MMA Weekly.

Smith (17-9) is no stranger to bright lights and big cities; however, "Hands of Steel" has been on a dramatic downturn as of late, dropping three straight fights and getting pasted in two of those three defeats. He'll need that big game experience to handle Sayers (5-2), who turned some heads with his knockout finish over Antwain Britt back in November.

Here's a look at the revamped Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card and line-up.

Main Event:

135 lbs.: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey

Main card (Showtime):

155 lbs.: K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thomson
170 lbs.: Paul Daley vs. Kazuo Misaki
185 lbs.: Ronaldo Souza vs. Derek Brunson
185 lbs.: Scott Smith vs. Lumumba Sayers

Preliminary card (Showtime Extreme):

135 lbs.: Sarah Kaufman vs. Alexis Davis
155 lbs.: Caros Fodor vs. Pat Healy
155 lbs.: Ryan Couture vs. Conor Heun

For all the news and notes surrounding the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" Showtime card check out our extensive news archive by clicking here.