Former WEC title contender Jeff Curran will face Dustin Neace instead of Sam Thao on the undercard of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers on Nov. 7 in Hoffman Estates, Ill.Neace (17-13-1) is entering the featherweight bout after Strikeforce's proposed matchup between Curran and Thao was not approved by the Illinois athletic commission.
The fight will be the 23-year-old Neace's most high-profile in his three-and-a-half years of fighting.
Neace is a submission fighter out of Indiana. All 17 of Neace's wins were finishes and 14 came by way of submission. Neace fought once this year in a TKO loss to former Strikeforce and Bellator competitor Nick Gonzalez in the main event of King of Kombat on Aug. 29 in Austin, Texas.
Curran (29-12-1) signed with Strikeforce this month following his WEC release after four consecutive losses against top contenders. After this fight he will take on DEEP veteran Tomohiko Hori (10-7-5) at XFO 33 on Dec. 5.
CBS Bouts:
- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers
- Jake Shields vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller
- Gegard Mousasi vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
- Fabricio Werdum vs. Antonio Silva
Preliminary Bouts:
- Mark Miller vs. Deray Davis
- Christian Uflacker vs. Jonatas Novaes
- Shamar Bailey vs. John Kolosci
- Louis Taylor vs. Nate Moore
- Jeff Curran vs. Dustin Neace
