Cormier-Devine Added to March 26 Strikeforce Challengers

A heavyweight bout between Daniel Cormier and John Devine has been added to Strikeforce Challengers 7 on March 26 at the SaveMart Center in Fresno, Calif., the promotion confirmed on Saturday.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said the preliminary matchup could air on Showtime if times permits. Returning heavyweight Lavar Johnson will meet undefeated Lolohea Mahe in the main event.

Cormier, who placed fourth in the 2004 Olympics in freestyle wrestling and captained the U.S. squad en route to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, won his MMA debut against Gary Frazier with second-round technical knockout at Strikeforce Challengers 3 last September in Tulsa, Okla. The 30-year-old fighter trains with the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif.

Devine, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, hails from JJ’s Performance Training Center in Pacifica, Calif. A 2010 Abu Dhabi West Coast trials regional champion, the 31-year-old Devine is 5-1 in professional action, which includes a third-round TKO over Buddy Roberts at the Cage Combat Fighting Championships last July in northern California. Devine is the CCFC heavyweight champion.