Strikeforce Considering 185 Title Bout, Tourney

With Strikeforce’s decision to release its middleweight champion Jake Shields from any contractual obligations on Wednesday, plans to host a tournament this fall to crown Shields’ successor are fully underway.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” radio show this week that the promotion has identified which fighters they’d like to invite into the 185-pound tournament, which could be a 4-, 8-, or even 16-man undertaking.

In addition, Coker reiterated the news that Sherdog/IBN Sport’s “Fight Week” TV show broke last week: the promotion is strongly considering hosting a championship match as early as Aug. 21 to name a new titleholder right away. In this scenario, the tournament’s victor would earn a shot at the champion afterward.

Those mentioned as possibilities for the tournament include former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler, Melvin Manhoef, Kazuo Misaki, Tim Kennedy, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Luke Rockhold, as well as Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.

Diaz and Miller are currently serving three-month disciplinary suspensions for their involvement in the in-cage post-fight brawl that occurred following the main event of Strikeforce “Nashville” on April 17 in Nashville, Tenn. Their suspensions have been enacted and will run into September. Coker said the promotion could postpone a portion of the tournament to ensure both can participate.

“We would have to unless we broke it up into two four-man tournaments (per event),” Coker told “Beatdown” on Wednesday. “It’s up in the air. Those are the details we need to work out.”

The pair that could vie for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title are also among the aforementioned group, Sherdog.com has learned. Souza, who blasted past Joey Villasenor to an impressive unanimous decision in May, is a clear-cut frontrunner.

Logistics for both routes are still being worked out, said Coker.

“The thing about the tournament is (the contracts) and does this count as one fight or two fights,” said Coker. “These are all the negotiations that are most challenging and those are what were trying to work out with those guys.”