A MySpace message from Tate indicated marital issues as a reason for Couture's withdrawal from the 135-pound bout.
Couture (1-1) had been looking to string back-to-back wins with the Strikeforce organization. Last November, she scored a first-round TKO over Lina Kvokov. In her debut last June, Couture lasted three tough rounds before losing on the scorecards to Kim Rose.
Tate (5-1) has won her last four and considered this fight her big break because of the exposure Showtime would have provided her. Her sole loss was a head kick KO to EliteXC veteran Kaitlin Young.
Fortunately for Tate, Strikeforce is looking for a replacement to allow the Tacoma fighter to remain on the card.
A lightweight bout between undefeated Billy Evangelista (9-0) and BJ Penn-trained Mike Aina (11-6-1) will headline this SHO MMA card at the Save Mart Center.
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