Pat Healy reacts to his win against Caros Fodor during the Strikeforce event at Nationwide Arena on March 3, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Esther Lin/Forza LLC/Forza LLC via Getty Images)
After injuries forced his two previously scheduled opponents out of the Jan. 12 event, Pat Healy will face Kurt Holobaugh at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine, company officials told GRACIEMAG.com on Wednesday.
Both fighters have agreed to the match-up, and bout agreements will be signed soon.
Healy (28-16) was first preparing to fight Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez for the title at the event, but a lingering shoulder injury forced Melendez off the card.
“Bam Bam” was then tapped to face Jorge Masvidal, but he too bowed out of the fight due to injury.
Holobaugh (7-0) is a Gracie Barra submission specialist, and most recently fought in June at a regional event in Biloxi, MIss., where he defeated his opponent by rear-naked choke in the second round. The win was the sixth of his career by submission.
The upcoming Strikeforce card will be its final one, and Zuffa, the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC, will shut down operations of the promotion thereafter. The evening is headlined by Nate Marquardt defending his welterweight title against No.1 contender Tarec Saffiedine.
MMAJunkie.com first reported the Healy-Holobaugh bout.
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