Chuck Liddell had to do it while he waited for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, and it looks like Jay Hieron will do the same thing as the perennial contender will take another fight while waiting for a shot at the Strikeforce welterweight title. Hieron will step in to face Joe Riggs at Strikeforce: Miami on Jan. 30 in Sunrise, Fla.
Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz confirmed the bout, and several others, to MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday.
MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday reported former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler would step in to face Melvin Manhoef on the Jan. 30 Showtime telecast. Afromowitz on Tuesday also made that bout official.
Undeterred in his goal of winning a title, Hieron made his Strikeforce debut in August in what was supposed to be a fight for the 170-pound divisional title against Nick Diaz. Days before the event, Diaz dropped out of the fight and Hieron instead took on and defeated former "Ultimate Fighter" alum Jesse Taylor.
Since that time, Diaz has been named as the No. 1 contender for the welterweight crown. He will square off against Dream champion Marius Zaromskis in the main event of Strikeforce: Miami in a battle for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. Hieron is left to do battle with Riggs.
A mainstay in Strikeforce over the last few years, Riggs has made a new home for himself in the welterweight division, winning his last four fights in a row, including wins over Luke Stewart and Phil Baroni.
With Diaz vs. Zaromskis, Lawler vs. Manhoef, a title fight between Cris “Cyborg” Santos and Marloes Coenen, the promotional debut of former WWE star Bobby Lashley, and the MMA debut of NFL veteran Herschel Walker, the fight between Hieron and Riggs isn’t expected to make it to television.
Three preliminary bouts added to the card, according to Afromowitz, include Craig Oxley vs. David Gomez, Sabah Homasi vs. John Kelly, and Pablo Alfonso vs. Marcos Da Matta.
The Strikeforce: Miami main card airs Jan. 30 on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT.