In the Cage – 12.20.21

Each day, The MMA Corner will provide a recap of results, event announcements, fight matchups, and injuries/cancellations from throughout the world of MMA.

When Strikeforce rolls into Oklahoma on Jan. 12, it will be the last time the promotion holds an evening of fights.  While this information has been known, the bulk of the card was still a mystery prior to this news release.

The main event of the evening will be Nate Marquardt defending his welterweight title against Tarec Saffiedine while the co-main event will be heavyweight grand prix winner Daniel Cormier taking on promotional newcomer Dion Staring.

The rest of the card is as follows:

Heavyweight: Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino
Light Heavyweight: Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
Middleweight: “Jacare” Souza vs. Ed Herman
Lightweight: Pat Healy vs. TBA
Middleweight: Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
Middleweight: Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
Lightweight: KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture
Lightweight: Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
Lightweight: Estevan Payan vs. Michael Bravo

The fights for UFC 157 continue to be announced as more fights for the card have been revealed today.

At welterweight, Robbie Lawler will make his official Octagon return as he takes on Josh Koscheck at the event.  Also, it will be a quick turnaround for Chad Mendes as he will fight Manny Gamburyan in a featherweight contest.  In other featherweight competition, Dennis Bermudez and Matt Grice will square off.

UFC 157 takes place in Anaheim, Calif. on Feb. 23.

Due to injuries, both Chris Leben and Leonard Garcia will have a change in opponents for their fights at next weekends UFC 155.

Leben will now take on Derek Brunson due to his former opponent suffering an injury, and with Cody McKenzie out of his fight with Garcia, he will instead face Max Holloway.

Additionally, the fight between Jamie Varner and Melvin Guillard that was supposed to take place at the TUF 16 finale will take place at this event.

UFC 155 will take place on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas.

Bellator continues to roll out title fights as this time bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas will defend his title against Marcos Galvao at Bellator 89.  The two bantamweights are former teammates, which could provide further fireworks in the fight.

In addition to the title fight it is expected that the season eight middleweight tournament will start at the event.

Bellator 89 is expected to take place on Feb. 14 in Charlotte.

Glory continues to add to its roster of elite stand-up fighters today with the addition of seven fighters.  The fighters are:

• Kevin “El Presidente” Ross (36-9, 12 KOs)
• Eddie “Showtime” Walker (9-1, 7 KOs)
• Stephane Susperregui (32-4-1, 27 KOs)
• “Bazooka” Joseph Valtellini (6-1, 6 KOs)
• Yong Soo Park (14-7, 8 KO’s)
• Roman “Thunder” Mailov (23-3, 12 KOs)
• Max Baumert (17-1, 10 KOs)