Strikeforce will follow up its annual show at the Playboy Mansion on September 20 with an event at the Broomfield Event Center in Denver, Colo., on October 3.
Appropriately titled, "Payback," the card will feature a main event rematch between former UFC fighters Sam "The Squeeze" Morgan (19-10) and Duane "Bang" Ludwig (16-8). Morgan was able to score a surprise 52-second knockout victory over "Bang" in a "Ring of Fire" show back in April of 2005.
Ludwig -- a Denver local -- will indeed be looking for some "Payback" October 3.
Phil "The New York Badass" Baroni and Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg are also expected to be in action. Opponents have not been confirmed for either fighter, however, at this time.
Baroni is coming off consecutive first round technical knockout wins over Scott Jansen and Ron Verdadero since dropping down to the welterweight division. His career needed some new direction after dropping three straight middleweight fights -- two of which were for world championships -- over the past year.
Trigg -- still considered by some to be a top 10 middleweight in the world -- has not competed since December of last year -- a first round submission (kimura) win over Edwin Dewees at HDNet Fights: "Reckless Abandon." Before that, Trigg lost his Icon Sport middleweight title to current Elite XC champion Robbie Lawler in an instant classic that ended with a vicious fourth round knockout.
This will be an important event for Strikeforce as the San Jose-based promotion continues to look to expand its fan base with more and more shows outside of its regional strongholda. "That’s been our plan the whole time," said Strikeforce vice president Mike Afromowitz. "We just have to make sure that it makes sense."
With local talent, Duane Ludwig in the main event -- along with the recognition involved with names like Baroni and Trigg -- Strikeforce shouldn't have a hard time creating a buzz and winning over many new fans in the "Mile High City."
There is nothing definitive as far as a television deal to air this event yet, but Afromowitz confirmed that the late Saturday night program "Strikeforce on NBC" will air the action in one or more parts after the event if need be.
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