Ronda Rousey and Sarah D’Alelio will have to wait a couple extra weeks to make their Strikeforce debuts, but they’ll now get to do so before a considerably larger audience.
Originally tabbed for the untelevised undercard of Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Henderson” on July 30, Strikeforce officials announced Sunday that the 145-pound contest has been shifted to the televised main card of Strikeforce Challengers 18 on Aug. 12.
Rousey, 24, is a decorated judoka unbeaten in her nascent fighting career. After claiming bronze at 154 pounds during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Californian turned her focus to MMA, eventually making her amateur debut in August 2010 and quickly racking up three first-round finishes. Rousey (Pictured) debuted professionally against Ediane Gomes in March and submitted the more experienced Brazilian in just 25 seconds. The Gokor Chivichyan pupil improved to 2-0 on June 17 with a 49-second submission of Charmaine Tweet. All five of Rousey’s wins, pro and amateur, have come via armbar in under one minute.
Fighting out of Olympia, Wash., D’Alelio will make her Strikeforce debut after very nearly doing so in June. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist was set to welcome Gina Carano back to the cage before Carano was forced from the bout less than two weeks prior. D’Alelio will look to rebound from the first loss of her career, a December decision against Julie Kedzie. Prior to that loss, “The Monster” had finished four opponents in a row, three inside the first round.
Headlined by a lightweight tilt between Jorge Gurgel and Joe Duarte, Strikeforce Challengers 18 will take place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
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