Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal is an upcoming mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 event to be held by Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

. The event will take place on December 17, 2011 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

.

Background

The main event between Melendez and Masvidal was briefly in question with Dana White's announcement that Melendez was UFC bound, but the match will go on as planned.

Keith Jardine

Keith Jardine

Keith Hector Jardine is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the light heavyweight division and is best known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...

 is expected to make his middleweight debut at this event.

Bouts in the works include:

• Caros Fodor
  Caros Fodor
  Caros Fodor is an American professional mixed martial artist. He competes in the lightweight division and is currently signed with Strikeforce. He is trained by Matt Hume at AMC Pankration.-MMA career:...
  
   vs. Justin Wilcox
  Justin Wilcox
  .Justin Wilcox is an American mixed martial artist from San Jose, California.He is a former professional bodybuilder and a former NCAA Division I wrestler who first began competing as a welterweight...
  
  
• Devin Cole
  Devin Cole
  Devin Cole is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Strikeforce. He is a veteran of the Portland Wolfpack in the International Fight League.-Biography:...
  
   vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones
  Gabriel Salinas-Jones
  Gabriel Salinas-Jones is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the heavyweight division. He is currently signed with the Strikeforce promotion.-Strikeforce:Salinas-Jones made his Strikeforce debut against Bryan Humes at Strikeforce: Fedor vs...
  
  

Main card (Showtime)

• Lightweight Championship bout:   Gilbert Melendez
  Gilbert Melendez
  Gilbert Melendez is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent. Currently fighting out of San Francisco, California, he formerly competed in the lightweight division of PRIDE Fighting Championships and now competes in Strikeforce...
  
   (c) vs.   Jorge Masvidal
  Jorge Masvidal
  Jorge Masvidal is an American mixed martial artist of Cuban descent who trains with American Top Team. Currently signed to Strikeforce, Masvidal's record includes notable wins over Yves Edwards, Joe Lauzon, Satoru Kitaoka, Ryan Schultz, Billy Evangelista and K.J...
  
  
• Women's Featherweight Championship bout:   Cristiane Santos
  Cristiane Santos
  Cristiane Justino Venancio Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and the Strikeforce Women's Featherweight Champion . Santos won the title on August 15, 2009 by defeating Gina Carano via TKO...
  
   (c) vs.   Hiroko Yamanaka
  Hiroko Yamanaka
  , more commonly known simply as Hiroko and nicknamed or Cat's Eye, is a Japanese female mixed martial arts fighter...
  
  
• Light Heavyweight bout:   Gegard Mousasi
  Gegard Mousasi
  Gegard Mousasi, born Geghard Movsesian is an Armenian-Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is fighting out of Team Jurojin in Leiden, Netherlands and is a member of Russian Red Devil Sport Club and Netherlands' Golden Glory...
  
   vs.   Ovince St. Preux
  Ovince St. Preux
  Ovince St. Preux is a Haitian-American mixed martial artist, who competes in the light heavyweight division for Strikeforce.- Early life :...
  
  
• Lightweight bout:   KJ Noons vs.   Billy Evangelista
  Billy Evangelista
  Billy Evangelista is an American mixed martial artist who has fought for World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce in his career. His most notable wins are over former UFC fighters Luke Caudillo, Jorge Gurgel and current UFC fighter Nam Phan.-Early career:...