Muhammed Lawal and Mike Whitehead will meet in a heavyweight bout at Strikeforce “Evolution” on Dec. 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., Sherdog.com has confirmed with multiple sources with knowledge of the matchup.

The bout will be one of five broadcast live on Showtime.

The undefeated Lawal, a 2005 U.S. world team member in freestyle wrestling, made a name for himself with four straight victories in the Sengoku Raiden Championship (formerly Sengoku) over the last year. Three of those wins have come by stoppage from strikes, while Lawal’s only decision came after he tore his ACL in the first round of his match with Ryo Kawamura at Sengoku “Seventh Battle” last March.

Most recently, Lawal finished an expired Mark Kerr in only 25 seconds at M-1 “Breakthrough” on Aug. 28.

Whitehead outwrestled former UFC heavyweight champion and Ohio State alumnus Kevin Randleman to a unanimous decision at Strikeforce “Lawler vs. Shields” on June 6 in St. Louis. Whitehead, a two-time NAIA All-American for Southern Oregon University, has won 15 of his last 16 appearances.

Strikeforce “Evolution”
Dec. 19
HP Pavilion
San Jose, Calif.

Matt Lindland vs. Ronaldo Souza
Scott Smith vs. Cung Le
Muhammed Lawal vs. Mike Whitehead
Robbie Lawler vs. TBA