Mousasi-Kyle Slated for March 3 Strikeforce Card in Ohio

Kyle (Pictured) broke news of the matchup Monday via Twitter. MMAJunkie.com subsequently reported that the bout will co-headline Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey” and could serve as a title bout for the promotion’s vacant 205-pound belt.

Taking place at Columbus’ 19,000-seat Nationwide Arena, the Showtime-televised event will be topped by a women’s 135-pound title tilt between champion Miesha Tate and unbeaten judo convert Ronda Rousey. Also confirmed for the card is a lightweight bout pitting ex-champ Josh Thomson against former welterweight contender K.J. Noons, plus a 170-pound scrap between British slugger Paul Daley and Japanese vet Kazuo Misaki.

Mousasi, 26, has not been defeated since dropping his Strikeforce strap in a five-round decision loss to “King” Mo Lawal in April 2010. In the time since, the “Dreamcatcher” has gone 4-0-1, the lone blemish coming in a controversial April 2011 draw with Keith Jardine. Mousasi returned to Strikeforce on Dec. 17 and earned a unanimous decision over rising prospect Ovince St. Preux.

A product of the lauded American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., 31-year-old Kyle has competed for Strikeforce off and on since 2006, compiling a 3-3-1 record with the promotion. After a busy 2010 which saw “MAK” fight six times and win five, the Idaho native entered the cage only once in 2011, handing Brazilian prospect Marcos “Pezao” de Lima his first defeat via unanimous decision last September.