Noons-Heun Moved to June 16 Strikeforce

Conor Heun will step in to face Karl James Noons in a featured lightweight bout at Strikeforce “Live” on June 16 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, the promotion announced on Thursday.

MMAWeekly.com was the first to report the revised bout on Wednesday.

Heun, who lives and trains in Los Angeles, replaces Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett, who was dropped from the card due to a conflict with another upcoming bout, said Strikeforce officials. The Noons-Bennett rematch had been scheduled for Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Werdum” on June 26 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Noons, who signed with the U.S.-based promotion in December, represented the promotion as part of a cross-promotional talent alliance at Dream 13 on March 22 in Japan, boxing Andre “Dida” Amade to a convincing decision win. The 26-year-old kickboxer has key MMA victories over former UFC contender Yves Edwards and Nick Diaz, Strikeforce’s 170-pound champion.

Heun, a student of Brazilian jiu-jitsu innovator Eddie Bravo, lost a unanimous decision to former UFC lightweight Jorge Gurgel at Strikeforce Challengers 2 in June 2009. The former IFL lightweight notched three consecutive wins prior to that.

In the headlining bout, Iowan striker Robbie Lawler faces Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Renato “Babalu” Sobral in a 195-pound catch-weight bout. Strikeforce “Live” airs live on Showtime.