Two Strikeforce Challengers regulars are set to meet on the big stage. Rising lightweight prospects Caros Fodor (6-1) and Justin Wilcox (11-3, 1 NC) have been tapped for the December card of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. Fodor revealed the matchup on Wednesday's The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo.
Fodor makes his major Strikeforce debut after four straight victories on the Challenger Series, including an unanimous decision win over longtime veteran James Terry in late-June. The 27-year-old is affectionately nicknamed "The Future" and trains out of AMC Pankration in Kirkland, Washington. As a side note, Fodor is the older brother of Ben Fodor -- aka Phoenix Jones -- Seattle's self-appointed superhero.
Meanwhile, Wilcox returns after an unfortunate no-contest against Gesias Cavalcante due to a second-round eye poke at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum. The result snapped a six-fight win streak that stretched back to 2009 and including victories over Brazilian veteran Vitor Ribeiro and UFC lightweight Shamar Bailey.
'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal' is slated for December 17th at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Headlining is a title bout between Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and number-one contender Jorge Masvidal.