Scott Coker Hopes To Have Strikeforce Titles Filled By Mid-Year

Source: MMAJunkie

While talking during Thursday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine pre-fight press conference, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker discussed the filling of several vacant titles in the new year. Currently, both the Strikeforce light heavyweight and welterweight titles need champions, as the open heavyweight title will not be filled due to the division being absorbed by the UFC.

"I think by mid-year, we'll have all titles pretty much filled in Strikeforce's vacant divisions," said Coker (thanks to MMAjunkie.com for transcribing).

The 205-pound title was left unclaimed after Dan Henderson signed with the UFC, and the same fate hit the welterweight crown when Nick Diaz departed for the Octagon. This Saturday night's card could go a long way in helping figure out who contends for those belts.

Tyron Woodley, sporting a perfect 9-0 record, meets Jordan Mein on the card at welterweight, while former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal tackles rising star Lorenz Larkin.

"We're definitely going to keep our eyes on the fight," I know that in the next couple fights that we have, we're going to have some top welterweights fighting, but that's something that we're going to sit down with Sean (Shelby, matchmaker) after this event and plan something out, just like we're going to plan out the light heavyweight division and get our champion in that division."

FightLine will have complete coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, which features middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his title for the first time against Keith Jardine on Showtime.

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