LAS VEGAS – A trilogy fight between welterweights Roger Bowling (9-1 MMA, 2-1 SF) and Bobby Voelker (23-8 MMA, 3-1 SF) will headline Strikeforce Challengers 17 on July 22. The Showtime-televised event is slated for the new home of all future Challengers shows: The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the details prior to tonight's UFC 130 event.
Strikeforce, which the UFC's parent company recently acquired, traditionally bounced around the country with the Challengers series. Strkeforce Challengers 16, which takes place on June 24, still is being hosted by ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash.
After that, though, Las Vegas (the UFC's home city) will host all the future shows in the approximately 1,700-seat Palms venue.
Bowling, a hard-hitting 29-year-old who trains out of Cincinnati, fought Voelker in his 2010 promotional debut. Bowling clearly was winning the fight before an accidental eye poker left him unable to see. With the bout halted, officials went to the judges, who unanimously scored it 29-28 (with the partial third round also being scored) to take the technical decision.
However, 32-year-old veteran fighter Voelker enacted his revenge in an immediate rematch and delivered Bowling his first career loss. The Kansas native scored a second-round TKO for the definitive win in that rematch.
Like the first two meetings, the third takes place on a Strikeforce Challengers card.
Combined, 24 of the duo's 32 wins have come via stoppage (19 via knockout)
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