It looks as if Pat Healy will be staying on the Strikeforce: Champions card on January 12th in Oklahoma City after all. Initially, it was thought that he might be on the sidelines again after Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez pulled out of his second straight fight with Healy, but MMA Junkie says another 155er will step in to face Bam Bam:
Sources close to the event on Monday told MMA Junkie that Jorge Masvidal (23-7 MMA, 5-1 SF) has filled a slot left vacant by the injury withdrawal of lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez.
Masvidal is coming off a split decision win over Justin Wilcox in July, a bout he says that Strikeforce hasn’t even paid him for yet. He challenged Melendez for the title in December 2011 but dropped a decision.
Healy, winner of five straight, was originally set to face Melendez in Sacramento in September, but the bout was scrapped due to a late injury to the champ. The injury has yet to heal completely, hence this matchup being made again.