UFC Unveils List Of Fighters Moving From Strikeforce To UFC

[No More Sorrow]

A number of fighters were mentioned during Tuesday night's episode of UFC Tonight as signing UFC contracts from Strikeforce. The promotion folded after its last show this past Saturday night.

Strikefore middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and Gegard Mousasi were among those mentioned, along with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Tim Kennedy, Roger Gracie and Lorenz Larkin from the 185- and 205-pound divisions.


Tarec Saffiedine, who captured the Strikeforce welterweight title from Nate Marquardt, is headed to the UFC, along with Roger Bowling, Jason High and Bobby Voelker. At lightweight, Josh Thomson will join Gilbert Melendez inside the Octagon.


Lightweights K.J. Noons, Pat Healy and Adriano Martins have moved over, along with Ryan Couture, the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy. They will become the first father-son duo to compete for the UFC.


Kurt Holobaugh, who debuted in Strikeforce at lightweight and lost to Healy, has signed with the UFC and will enter the featherweight ranks.

Nice to see that Ryan Couture made the cut and he'll get a chance in the UFC. No real surprises here though as these were the rumored guys from the beginning. No word yet on Josh Barnett's status. I also think it's safe to say that the Lightweight division in the UFC is beyond stacked and is going to make for an interesting 2013.

Also like that the UFC is giving Nate Marquardt another shot.

HEAVYWEIGHT
Daniel Cormier (11-0 MMA, 8-0 SF)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2 MMA, 4-1-1 SF)
Gian Villante (10-3 MMA, 3-2 SF)

MIDDLEWEIGHT
Roger Gracie (6-1 MMA, 4-1 SF)
Tim Kennedy (15-4 MMA, 6-2 SF)
Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 4-0 SF)
Champ Luke Rockhold (10-1 MMA, 9-0 SF)
Ronaldo Souza (17-3 MMA, 7-1 SF)

WELTERWEIGHT
Roger Bowling (11-3 MMA, 4-3 SF)
Jason High (16-3 MMA, 3-0 SF, 0-1 UFC)
Nate Marquardt (32-11-2 MMA, 1-1 SF, 10-4 UFC)
Champ Tarec Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 6-1 SF)
Bobby Voelker (24-8 MMA, 4-1 SF)

LIGHTWEIGHT
Ryan Couture (6-1 MMA, 6-1 SF)
Pat Healy (29-16 MMA, 7-1 SF, 0-1 UFC)
Kurt Holobaugh (8-1 MMA, 0-1 SF)
Adriano Martins (24-6 MMA, 1-0 SF)
Champ Gilbert Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF)
K.J. Noons (11-6 MMA, 3-4 SF)
Josh Thomson (19-5 MMA, 10-3 SF, 2-1 UFC)​

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Barnetts holding out for more money if he's going to be exclusive to the UFC. He still wants to be able to act, wrestle and race cars.

 

[Troy]

Can't help but think that Couture's surname definitely gave him a leg up in getting this chance. Good list of guys being brought over, with all the lightweights I wonder if we will see a few of them drop down to the lower divisions in UFC as well rather than all heading to the 155 division.