Luke Rockhold To Defend Strikeforce Middleweight Title Against Lorenz Larkin on Nov. 3

STUDIO MMA, RIVERSIDE, CA –  Most people were expecting Luke Rockhold to make his third Strikeforce middleweight title defense against the man he took the belt from, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.  However, that is not the case as Rockhold will now face Lorenz Larkin at a November 3^rd Strikeforce event.   MMA Weekly first reported the match-up.

Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier will have his final bout in the promotion against Frank Mir in the main event.

Since capturing the Strikeforce middleweight title, Rockhold [10-1-0 MMA, 9-0-0 SF] has made two successful title defenses.  In January, Rockhold delivered a beating to UFC veteran Keith Jardine en route to a first round TKO, followed by a unanimous decision over Tim Kennedy in July.  The win marked Rockhold’s ninth straight victory within the promotion.

Larkin [13-0-0-1 (NC) MMA, 4-0-0-1 (NC) SF] suffered a devastating knockout loss to Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal back in January, but after Lawal tested positive for PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) the bout was over-turned to a no contest.  In July Larkin made his middleweight debut, earning the biggest win of his career, with a dominant unanimous decision over UFC veteran Robbie Lawler.  Now Larkin will get his first crack at a world title and you can be sure “The Monsoon” will bring it on Nov 3^rd.