The fight card for Strikeforce and M-1 Global’s “Fedor vs. Henderson” received an intriguing lightweight addition Wednesday, as promotion officials announced that Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante and Lyle Beerbohm will clash at the July 30 event.
Once a star lightweight in Japan’s K-1 Hero’s promotion, 28-year-old Cavalcante (Pictured) has been plagued by injuries and inactivity in recent years, winning only once in his last six starts. The Brazilian scored a July 2010 decision win over Katsunori Kikuno, but was narrowly outpointed by Josh Thomson in his Strikeforce debut three months later. Cavalcante took part in Strikeforce’s June 11 event in Dallas, but his bout with Justin Wilcox was deemed a no-contest after Wilcox received an accidental eye-poke in the second round.
Beerbohm, 32, will look to halt his first losing skid with a win against Cavalcante. After beginning his professional career with 15 consecutive wins -- including seven submissions and six TKOs -- the Washingtonian was handed his first loss in a February decision against veteran Pat Healy. On April 9, Beerbohm returned against Dream lightweight ace Shinya Aoki, but was outgrappled and submitted via neck crank in just 93 seconds.
Emanating from Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., the Showtime-televised “Fedor vs. Henderson” will be topped by the titular heavyweight tilt between former pound-for-pound ruler Fedor Emelianenko and current Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Dan Henderson. Strikeforce women’s 135-pound champ Marloes Coenen is also set to make her second title defense on the bill, as the Dutchwoman takes on top contender Miesha Tate.
Source: Strikeforce Lightweights ‘JZ,’ Beerbohm Matched for July 30