Fedor Emelianenko (top): D.Mandel/Sherdog.com
Strikeforce has its sights set on April for its second CBS event coming off a solid premiere showing in November featuring Fedor Emelianenko.
The card is expected to feature the Strikeforce debut of Dan Henderson, most likely against Jake Shields, Sherdog.com reported. Emelianenko is also possibly on tap for the show. His Nov. 7 win over Brett Rogers reached 5.46 million viewers on CBS and several million more on Russian network television and other outlets worldwide. CBS is looking at more than one date and venue as possibilities in April.
The card will set the pace for the first quarter of an intensive year for the San Jose-based promotion, which debuted on Showtime in April. Promoter Scott Coker told Yahoo Sports that Strikeforce is planning 20 events in 2010, as many as the UFC, and would look to pay-per-view for certain marquee bouts. Coker said an Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem fight would fit that mold if Overeem is first able to pick up a win and exposure on a CBS show.
Coker also told Yahoo he’ll begin working shortly on a deal for a broadcast from Japan that pits Strikeforce fighters against Dream fighters, leveraging a talent-sharing relationship between the two companies. Dream lightweight standout Shinya Aoki plans to fight in Strikeforce in March or April against the winner of the Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez lightweight fight Saturday on Showtime. Also on Saturday, Strikeforce will officially present its two biggest recent acquisitions -- Henderson and pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley -- for a press conference that could include fight announcements.
MMAWorldwide.com reported heavyweight Shane del Rosario has agreed to fight Lashley on Jan. 30 in Sunrise, .
It wasn’t all positive news for Strikeforce this week. The promotion was forced to drop a bout from Saturday’s card after Trevor Prangley pulled out of his fight with Robbie Lawler on Monday due to a knee injury. The promotion did not have enough time to find a solid replacement and dropped Lawler from the show. The Showtime broadcast will now be a four-fight bill.