Fight fans have been asking for a couple of budding Strikeforce prospects to get a step up in competition and the San Jose based promotion has obliged them.
Rising contenders Daniel Cormier and Shane Del Rosario have been booked to square off against one another at the upcoming June 18 event set to go down at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
The promotion officially announced the bout last night.
The placement of the contest on the Dallas card is likely a strategic one, as the "Lone Star State" will now play host to an event comprised almost entirely of heavyweights.
Both fighters come in sporting spotless career resumes, but as Cormier remarked on his Twitter upon the announcement of the bout, "someone's O must go."
Cormier and Del Rosario were both names bandied about as potential replacements in the heavyweight grand prix tournament and that may very well still be the case for the winner of this contest.
Riding a seven-fight win streak since his debut in Sept. 2009, Cormier has looked every bit the monster destroyer he's been billed as, finishing all but one of his opponents, a game Devin Cole in his most recent bout.
Del Rosario will represent the toughest test of the NCAA Champion wrestler's career, as he comes in having finished all 11 of his opponents including eight by way of knockout.
He's even 8-1 as a professional kickboxer. Should be one hell of a fight.
Strikeforce is set to invade Dallas on June 18 with the opening leg of its heavyweight tournament, featuring match-ups pitting Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers.
Gina Carano has also been announced for the card, though her opponent is still unknown at this time.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.
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