Riggs battles Stewart, tickets for Strikeforce “Destruction” on sale Monday

SAN JOSE, Calif. —Only two months after injuries to both fighters postponed their scheduled showdown, a healthy Strikeforce World Light Heavyweight (205 lb. limit) Champion, Bobby Southworth (9-5), will make his highly anticipated title defense against surgically repaired superstar, Renato “Babalu” Sobral (30-7), in the main event of Strikeforce “Destruction” at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on Friday, November 21st.

Joe “Diesel” Riggs (28-11) will make his return to the welterweight (170 lb. limit) division in a featured contest with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Luke Stewart (6-1). Strikeforce World Lightweight (155 lb. limit) Champion, Josh “The Punk” Thomson (16-2), will set out to defend his crown for the first time and notch his ninth consecutive victory against an opponent to be announced.

Tickets for Strikeforce “Destruction,” priced from $30, go on sale Monday at 10 AM PST and can be purchased at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070) as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (408-998-TIXS), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), and on Strikeforce’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).

“It’s my title and I plan on defending it,” said Southworth, who had originally been slated to put his belt on the line against Sobral in the main event of Strikeforce’s second affair at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September 20th. Stabilization problems stemming from a past knee injury, however, sidelined Southworth. “The stabilization in my knee is back and so is my strength.”

Southworth successfully retained his title at HP Pavilion on June 27th by neutralizing the wrestling skills of Anthony “A Train” Ruiz for five rounds before walking away with a unanimous judges’ decision.

A veteran of the first season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, the 38-year-old Southworth is recognized as a founding member of Team AKA, the fearsome San Jose-based fight squad that boasts the likes of Thomson; Strikeforce World Middleweight (185 lb. limit) Champion, Cung Le; Josh Koscheck; Mike “Quick” Swick; and Cain Velasquez.

“Babalu’s a tough fighter. He matches up well with anybody because he’s strong in every area,” said Southworth. “I’m the same. I feel I have good wrestling, good standup, and good Jiu-Jitsu skills. This is a step up in competition, but my camp is working hard to prepare me and we’re coming to win.”