Lashley fired up about Strikeforce signing

Strikeforce landed its second high-profile heavyweight free agent of 2009 when it signed professional wrestler Bobby Lashley last week.

The first high-profile signing might have been a key factor in getting Lashley's deal done.

Strikeforce signed Fedor Emelianenko, widely considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world, in August.

"I've been watching Strikeforce and they have a lot of good things going on. There was a lot of other organizations throwing their bid in the hat at the time, but the opportunity was here," Lashley said at a news conference following the organization's Saturday night card in San Jose, Calif.

"To be honest with you, the best fighter in the world right now is a heavyweight and he is in Strikeforce. So why not go there. If you want to consider yourself the best fighter in the world, why not come to Strikeforce."

Lashley, who is 4-0 with three first-round victories in his MMA career, will make his debut with the organization against a still-to-be-named opponent on Jan. 30 in Miami.

The card, which will be broadcast on Showtime, also will feature the debut of former NFL star Herschel Walker and a welterweight title bout between Nick Diaz and Marius Zaromskis. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will defend her women's title against Marloes Coenen.

On Saturday night's card in San Jose, Scott Smith was nearly finished, but rallied to knock out Cung Le late in the final round.

Also, Gilbert Melendez earned a unanimous decision over Josh Thomson in a lightweight title unification bout.

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal each scored first-round victories in their Strikeforce debuts.

• WEC 46 -- The World Extreme Cagefighting card scheduled for Jan. 10 in Sacramento, Calif., will feature a pair of former champions looking to get back in contention for the featherweight crown.

The WEC announced Saturday that former champion Mike Brown will make a quick turnaround after losing the belt to Jose Aldo on Nov. 18, and take on Anthony Morrison.

Urijah Faber, who successfully defended the belt five times before losing it to Brown in November 2008, will return to his hometown to face Rafael Assuncao.

Faber has been out of action since breaking his right hand in the rematch against Brown in June.

The main event of the card is a lightweight title unification bout between champion Jamie Varner and Ben Henderson, who won the interim title by beating Donald Cerrone in October.

Varner has not fought since January due to an array of injuries.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.