Overeem To Face Werdum In August

It has been over a year and a half since Alistair Overeem defeated Paul Buentello for the Strikeforce heavyweight championship.

According to a report from MMA Fanhouse, Overeem will finally put that belt on the line in August when he takes on former UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum.

The championship bout will be just a part of a historic night in the world of mixed martial arts as fans will also be treated to the first ever womens MMA championship bout that will consist of five- five minute rounds when Gina Carano takes on Christiane “Cyborg” Santos.

Overeem has been fighting overseas predominately for Dream and K-1 since he defeated Buentello in November of 2007. He was originally scheduled to defend the title last month in St. Louis against an unnamed opponent but suffered a hand injury during an altercation at a nightclub between Overeem, his brother Valentijn and some overzealous bouncers.

Werdum has not fought since being upset by fellow Brazilian Junior dos Santos as UFC 90 back in November. That defeat sent the one time heavyweight contender packing from the UFC despite defeating Brandon Vera and Gabriel Gonzaga in his two previous bouts inside the octagon. Werdum holds a submission victory over The Demolition Man when the two were fighting for the now defunct Pride organization.

Also scheduled for the August 15th card will be a rematch pitting current Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thompson facing the man he defeated for the title interim lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. Although nothing is official there is talk of a Nick Diaz-Joe Riggs bout that would be a rematch of their fight in the UFC back in 2006. Riggs took home a unanimous decision victory that night.