9 Bouts Official for Strikeforce Challengers 16

Nine fights are now official for the final Strikeforce Challengers card to be held outside Las Vegas, as Strikeforce officials recently booked two untelevised preliminary contests for the June 24 show.

Emanating from the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., the event will now feature a welterweight scrap between Eduardo Pamplona and Jerron Peoples, as well as a lightweight confrontation pitting Sterling Ford against Charon Spain. The main draw of Strikeforce Challengers 16 will air live on Showtime in the East, but will be delayed on the West Coast.

Headlining the show will be a lightweight matchup between James Terry and Caros Fodor. The event will also feature the return of Ryan Couture to the Strikeforce cage, as the son of “The Natural” squares off with undefeated Matt Ricehouse. Additionally, powerful light heavyweight prospects Gian Villante and Lorenz Larkin will lock horns, while striking specialists Julia Budd and Germaine de Randamie toe the line in a 135-pound women’s affair. Rounding out the main draw will be a welterweight contest between Quinn Mulhern and Jason High, which was promoted to the televised card after a bout between Danillo Villefort and Antwain Britt was scrapped due to injury.

Representing Black House gym, Pamplona rides a nine-fight win streak into his showdown with Peoples. The Brazilian is a veteran of Shooto and Pancrase competition and has earned eight of his 14 career wins by decision. Peoples will make his pro debut at the event.

A three-year veteran of the sport, Ford has won five straight starts, four of which came in 2010. Representing Victory Athletics, the Washingtonian last fought in March, outpointing Scott Thometz in a three-round affair.

Like his foe, Spain also hails from Washington and is a CageSport veteran. The F-1 Fight Team representative has finished all but one of his career victims and was last seen in April submitting Ken Sitsler via first-round kimura.