Comier to headline January 7th Strikeforce card.

Daniel Cormier will be back in action come January.

The former Olympic freestyle wrestler will reportedly headline a to-be-announced Strikeforce Challengers event on Jan. 7, squaring off against Devin Cole in the show's main event. The news was first reported by Five Ounces of Pain, and Sherdog has confirmed the report with sources close to the matchup.

Cormier (Pictured) made the U.S. Olympic team twice during his decorated wrestling career. He came in fourth at the 2004 Games and became U.S. team captain in 2008 before kidney failure prevented him from competing.

A former two-time junior college national champion and NCAA runner-up, Cormier made his mixed martial arts debut in 2009 at Strikeforce Challengers 3, defeating Gary Frazier by second-round TKO. After another win inside the Challengers cage, the 31-year-old won the Xtreme MMA heavyweight title, knocking out Aussie Lucas Brown in his home country.

The American Kickboxing Academy standout was not done, however, as in his very next fight he would submit Tony Johnson to garner the King of the Cage heavyweight strap. Cormier successfully defended his XMMA title earlier this month, earning his sixth professional victory in as many outings. He has finished each of his opponents by either knockout or submission, and only one of his opponents has gotten out of the first round.

Like Cormier, Cole was a standout collegiate wrestler, earning All-American honors while leading Southern Oregon University to a national title. Though Cole's grappling pedigree isn't quite as impressive as his opponent's, the Oregon native will hold a large experience advantage in MMA heading into the fight.

Cole began his pro career in 2003 in the Full Contact Fighting Federation before graduating to Sportfight and eventually the International Fight League. The Team Quest product has taken on notable competitors such as Jeff Monson and Ben Rothwell and holds 10 of his 18 career wins by KO.

Most recently, he fell to Aaron Rosa at Shark Fights 13 in September, dropping a unanimous decision and snapping his five-fight win streak.

Sherdog.com




I like that they're showcasing him, but too bad he is facing a guy coming off a loss. However Cole is a cagey enough veteran to be somewhat of a challenge. This isn't that different from the fights Carwin and Cain were given while they were working their way up.

Except they never fought any sex offenders.

Because he fights so often, it makes me want to say he should be facing higher comp, but he's been at this for a little over a year, so I guess Cole is a decent opponent.

I think Tony Johnson, Jason Riley and Soa Palelei are really good wins for somebody this early in his career. Especially considering he's been dominant in all of them.

Cole is as good or lesser than those guys. Not really who i wanted to see him fight next but he's not far off from trying his hand against better competition.

Cole has actually recently KO'd Riley.

his 18 wins are not far off the accumalted win total of those 3 fighters.

Yeah I'd like to see a bigger fight, but in truth this fight is right in line with his progression.