Strikeforce Challengers 17 Preliminary Adds Two New Bouts

New matches were listed to the preliminary card of the Strikeforce Challengers 17 event, which will be held on July 22 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. This includes, middleweights Ben Lagman vs Louis Taylor and lightweights Bill Cooper and Maka Watson. The night’s main card, which also highlights the bout between Roger Bowling and Bobby Voelker, will be aired on Showtime.

Michigan-based fighter Ben Lagman (6-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) has been fighting under the King of the Cage (KOTC), and has turned pro several years ago. He faced most of the best MMA fighters in the industry, including Kenny McCorkell (10-5) and Angelo Popofski (15-9). Ben Lagman is known for finishing his opponents in less than two minutes — which is what he did to his five victories.

Challenging him is Louis Taylor (7-2 MMA, 0-2 SF), who is aiming to have his first victory under the promotion. He obtained submission losses from the powerful punches of Nate Moore and Joe Riggs, but recently rebounded from this downfall with a submission victory over Jason Louck (14-8) at an event in Illinois.

See the complete Strikeforce Challengers 17 fight card after the jump.

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Strikeforce Challengers: Weigh-in Results Have Finally Come

Strikeforce Challengers will open with a single-elimination one-night tournament. Here Hitomi Akano is set to face Carina Damm in the first round. Miesha Tate will clash against Maiju Kujala. They weighed in ahead of the Friday fights that will air live on Showtime from the Dodge Theatre.

The main event will feature Joe Tiggs and Louis Taylor in a 182-pound catch weight match-up. Ryan Couture, The UFC Legend Randy Couture’s son, is also pitched in a face off with Lucas Stark in a lightweight fight.

Strikeforce Challengers Weigh-in Results

Joe Riggs (181.6) vs. Louis Taylor (181.2)
Ryan Couture (155.6) vs. Lucas Stark (153.2)

Women’s Welterweight Tournament
Miesha Tate (134.2) vs. Maiju Kujala (134.4)
Carina Damm (134.8) vs. Hitomi Akano (135.0)

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Joe “Diesel” Riggs vs Louis Taylor in STRIKEFORCE Challengers Main Event

Live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT, the Phoenix native and MMA star Joe “Diesel” Riggs will take on Louis Taylor at the STRIKEFORCE Challengers Main Event at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on August 13, Friday. Tickets for the August 13 Challengers event will be available starting Saturday, July 17 at 10 a.m. PT via livenation.com, STRIKEFORCE.com, Dodge Theater Box Office and any ticketmaster outlet. You can also purchase tickets via phone at (800) 745-3000.

The event will also feature a four-woman single elimination welterweight tournament. The winner will likely to face the champion of the July 23 STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight Title fight between the defending champion, Sarah Kaufman and challenger Roxanne Modafferi in Everett, Washington.

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