Scott Coker (via Sherdog) has someone in mind -- Tatsuya Kawajiri:
"We're definitely having that conversation. I'm going to try to work that out and get Kawajiri in there with Gilbert. I think that that's a fight we're interested in. I know that Kawajiri wants to come fight here in America. We had some conversations [in Japan] before left... We've been talking to Dream for a long time about coming to Japan and doing a Dream versus Strikeforce type of event. We've had conversations. There's nothing set in that sense, but I sure think it'd be a lot of fun to go to Japan and throw a big Strikeforce event in Saitama Super Arena."
Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has had problems finding competition as of late. The dynamic 155-pound Cesar Gracie fighter has lost just twice in his professional career -- and he's avenged both of those defeats. When Josh Thomson beat Gesias Cavalcante at the "Diaz vs Noons 2" event in October of last year (2010), it looked like he was the leading candidate to challenge for the title. Then "The Punk" took a short notice fight against Kawajiri at Dynamite!! 2010 and now it looks like Coker has decided that victory by "Crusher" was enough to catapult him to the front of the line, short as it may be. Not only that, but Strikeforce would also apparently like to stage a big show over in Japan with the Saitama Super Arena being a prime candidate for the event. Is that where "El Nino" would defend his belt? Should it be against Kawajiri? Have at it, Maniacs.
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