Cormier Headlines Jan. 7 Challengers Event
Mike Whitman Nov 28, 2010
Daniel
Cormier will be back in action come January.
The former Olympic freestyle wrestler will reportedly headline a to-be-announced Strikeforce Challengers event on Jan. 7, squaring off against Devin Cole in the show's main event. The news was first reported by Five Ounces of Pain, and Sherdog has confirmed the report with sources close to the matchup.
Cormier (Pictured) made the U.S. Olympic team twice during his
decorated wrestling career. He came in fourth at the 2004 Games and
became U.S. team captain in 2008 before kidney failure prevented
him from competing.
A former two-time junior college national champion and NCAA runner-up, Cormier made his mixed martial arts debut in 2009 at Strikeforce Challengers 3, defeating Gary Frazier by second-round TKO. After another win inside the Challengers cage, the 31-year-old won the Xtreme MMA heavyweight title, knocking out Aussie Lucas Brown in his home country.
The American Kickboxing Academy standout was not done, however, as in his very next fight he would submit Tony Johnson to garner the King of the Cage heavyweight strap. Cormier successfully defended his XMMA title earlier this month, earning his sixth professional victory in as many outings. He has finished each of his opponents by either knockout or submission, and only one of his opponents has gotten out of the first round.
Like Cormier, Cole was a standout collegiate wrestler, earning All-American honors while leading Southern Oregon University to a national title. Though Cole's grappling pedigree isn't quite as impressive as his opponent's, the Oregon native will hold a large experience advantage in MMA heading into the fight.
Cole began his pro career in 2003 in the Full Contact Fighting Federation before graduating to Sportfight and eventually the International Fight League. The Team Quest product has taken on notable competitors such as Jeff Monson and Ben Rothwell and holds 10 of his 18 career wins by KO.
Most recently, he fell to Aaron Rosa at Shark Fights 13 in September, dropping a unanimous decision and snapping his five-fight win streak.
The former Olympic freestyle wrestler will reportedly headline a to-be-announced Strikeforce Challengers event on Jan. 7, squaring off against Devin Cole in the show's main event. The news was first reported by Five Ounces of Pain, and Sherdog has confirmed the report with sources close to the matchup.
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A former two-time junior college national champion and NCAA runner-up, Cormier made his mixed martial arts debut in 2009 at Strikeforce Challengers 3, defeating Gary Frazier by second-round TKO. After another win inside the Challengers cage, the 31-year-old won the Xtreme MMA heavyweight title, knocking out Aussie Lucas Brown in his home country.
The American Kickboxing Academy standout was not done, however, as in his very next fight he would submit Tony Johnson to garner the King of the Cage heavyweight strap. Cormier successfully defended his XMMA title earlier this month, earning his sixth professional victory in as many outings. He has finished each of his opponents by either knockout or submission, and only one of his opponents has gotten out of the first round.
Like Cormier, Cole was a standout collegiate wrestler, earning All-American honors while leading Southern Oregon University to a national title. Though Cole's grappling pedigree isn't quite as impressive as his opponent's, the Oregon native will hold a large experience advantage in MMA heading into the fight.
Cole began his pro career in 2003 in the Full Contact Fighting Federation before graduating to Sportfight and eventually the International Fight League. The Team Quest product has taken on notable competitors such as Jeff Monson and Ben Rothwell and holds 10 of his 18 career wins by KO.
Most recently, he fell to Aaron Rosa at Shark Fights 13 in September, dropping a unanimous decision and snapping his five-fight win streak.
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