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NEW YORK (April
2, 2009) -- The exciting, stylistic mixed martial arts (MMA)
match between top-ranked fighters “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler
(16-4) and Jake Shields (22-4-1) has been set for Saturday, June
6 , at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo ., it was announced
today by Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker. In addition,
Coker confirmed the addition of a thrilling Strikeforce
Championship fight between light heavyweight titlist “Babalu”
Sobral and top-rated contender Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante .
The event will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT
(delayed on the West Coast).
Tickets for Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields”, priced from $30,
go on sale on Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m. CT, at the Scottrade
Center box office as well as at all Ticketmaster locations
(800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (
www.ticketmaster.com
) , and Strikeforce’s official website (
www.strikeforce.com
).
Lawler, a world top-10 middleweight, and Shields, ranked among
the top-5 welterweights in the world, will face off at a catch
weight of 182 pounds.
Sobral (32-7) will be making the first defense of his
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship against vaunted
striker and fellow Brazil native “Feijao” (7-1).
“It’s a great opportunity to fight another top-ranked fighter,”
said the hard-hitting, 27-year-old Lawler, a former high school
football star known for the stunning knockout power in his
fists.
“Scott Coker really stepped up and I’m glad to be fighting for
him and Strikeforce,” continued Lawler, who was one of many
fighters acquired in Strikeforce’s asset purchase from ProElite,
Inc., earlier this year. “We were all unsure of where our next
fight would be (referring to the former EliteXC stable of
fighters), so we’re glad someone with his experience stepped in.
He has been good to us.”
A seven-time veteran of UFC action, Lawler attracted his biggest
audience to date during his live CBS Television Network
broadcast rematch with Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith , whom
Lawler stopped with an onslaught of kicks and punches in the
second round of their headlining matchup in Stockton, Calif., on
July 26, 2008.
Born in San Diego, Calif., as an adolescent, Lawler relocated
with his family to Bettendorf, Iowa, where at the age of 16 he
became a protégé of MMA legend Pat Miletich . Two years ago,
Lawler joined the fight squad captained by former Miletich
teammate and all-time great Matt Hughes .
The 30 year-old Shields, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, is
looking to notch his 12 th consecutive victory. In his last
start, he submitted the explosive Paul Daley with an armbar in
the second round of their live CBS broadcast match in Sunrise,
Fla., on October 4, 2008.
“It’s a fight that makes sense,” said Shields of his upcoming
challenge. “We’re both already known to the SHOWTIME viewers.
He’s a top middleweight and I’m a top-ranked welterweight. It
makes me want to train really hard. I know I’ve got to be ready
because, if I’m not, he’s going to kick me in the head or punch
me and knock me out. I’m super-excited to come in at my best.”
Shields, who began wrestling at the age of nine, acknowledged
that his advantage in the match with Lawler lies on the canvas.
“My grappling’s better than his striking. I’ve been working on
my striking a lot, though,” said Shields, “and I think it’s a
lot better than some people give me credit for. I’m not going to
say I’m a better striker than Lawler because that would be
stupid. Lawler is one of the better strikers out there.”
Also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, the 33-year-old Sobral
was crowned the first-ever Strikeforce Light Heavyweight
Champion after landing an elbow strike that opened a deep cut
around the eye of Bobby Southworth in the first round of their
bout at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 21, 2008.
Southworth survived the round, but was deemed unable to continue
the fight by the ringside physician before the start of the
second round.
Over the course of 39 career starts, Sobral has faced and
defeated some of the sport’s best competitors including
legendary K-1 and UFC champion Maurice Smith , Chael Sonnen ,
and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou , whom he submitted with a choke in
his last appearance on January 24, of this year.
On Sept. 6, 2003, Sobral knocked off three top-tier rivals—
Jeremy Horn , Mauricio “Ninja” Rua , and Trevor Prangley —during
a single-elimination tournament.
Since relocating to Orange County, Calif., Sobral has taken the
opportunity to elevate his striking skills, to couple with his
mastery of submissions, by taking on former world championship
boxing contender Justin Fortune as a trainer.
Referred to simply as “Feijao” by MMA fans, Sobral’s opponent
has been on fire of late, stopping all of his last three
opponents inside the first round. Only the last of these, Travis
Galbraith , whom Feijao faced on July 26, 2008, survived the
three-minute mark against the Brazilian sensation.
Like Sobral, the 28-year-old Feijao brings to the cage fearsome
submission capabilities honed on his native soil. Through his
Muay Thai kickboxing training, he also has developed a dangerous
kicking and punching arsenal that has helped facilitate his
current win streak.
Doors at the Scottrade Center will open for Strikeforce: “Lawler
vs. Shields” at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 6. The first
non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7 p.m.
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