Update #2: Strikeforce director of communications, Mike Afromowitz, informed FanHouse that Fabricio Werdum is back on the card, and will be facing Mike Kyle in a heavyweight fight. The bout is currently scheduled for the untelevised portion of the undercard.
Update: FanHouse has learned that Werdum's status is now "uncertain" for the August 15 card. The heavyweight may fight on the card after all. Stay tuned.
Fabricio Werdum will have to wait a little longer to make his Strikeforce debut. The Brazilian heavyweight, who was supposed to face Alistair Overeem for the Strikeforce heavyweight title on August 15 before Overeem pulled out of the fight due to a hand injury, will not be fighting on the upcoming card against a replacement opponent.
Strikeforce director of communications, Mike Afromowitz, confirmed the news with FanHouse on Monday.
No word on when Werdum (11-4-1) will make his Strikeforce debut at this point. He has yet to fight since being released from the UFC following his October loss to Junior dos Santos.
Strikeforce recently announced that the hand infection Overeem suffered following his May altercation in an Amsterdam nightclub has not fully healed.
Of course, the Strikeforce heavyweight division has received a major face lift with the recent signing of Fedor Emelianenko. Is Werdum being saved for an October showdown with Emelianenko? Only time will tell.
The televised portion of the Strikeforce card will feature four title fights: Gina Carano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos for the women's 145-pound title, Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida for the interim lightweight title, Nick Diaz for Jay Hieron for the welterweight title and Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Gegard Mousasi for the light heavyweight title.
The event airs live on Showtime from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Above is a video interview I conducted with Werdum in July, which never ran due to Overeem's injury. While it is a little outdated now, Werdum does discuss signing with Strikeforce and his rivalry with Overeem.
Get the latest gear
