Strikeforce officials on Wednesday announced the change. The event will be headlined by a welterweight showdown between prospects Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine.
According to a press release, Richard has fought mostly as an undersized heavyweight, registering just 230 pounds for bouts against larger competition.
“In my last couple fights, I was outweighed by 30 to 40 pounds, so getting back down to 205 is a big deal for me,’’ Richard said. “I’m really looking forward to fighting at this weight and excited to get the opportunity to step up and showcase my skills. I’m extremely grateful to Strikeforce for getting this chance.”
Richard, fresh off a third-round stoppage over Stephen Eakin in June, predicts he will hold a power advantage now that he has dropped to light heavyweight.
“You’ll see,” he said. “At 205, I’m one of the biggest and strongest at this weight around.”
Ferguson holds black belts in judo and jiu-jitsu, as well as a Ph.D in education from Capella University. Now a strength and conditioning coach at American Top Team in Florida, Ferguson is a four-time national judo champion and a 2004 Olympian. He made his mixed martial arts debut in August and did not register much ring time, knocking out his opponent in just seven seconds. The judoka’s second bout was more competitive but still ended 81 seconds in, with a TKO victory.
“The change in opponents doesn’t mean much,” Ferguson said. “It’s what you do the night of the fight, the changes you make and don’t make, that count. You can only fight who shows up the night of the fight.”
Tyron
Woodley vs. Tarec
Saffiedine
Daniel
Cormier vs. Devin
Cole
Ovince St.
Preux vs. Ron
Humphrey
Amanda
Nunes vs. Julia
Budd
Rhadi
Ferguson vs. John
Richard
Casey
Huffman vs. John
Salter
Matt
Horning vs. Dustin
Ortiz
Daniel
Schmitt vs. Dustin
West
Stoney
Hale vs. Gerric
Hayes
Chris
Coggins vs. Chris
Wright
Thomas
Campbell vs. Jeremy
Wallace
Chris Barnhizer vs. Karl Willis
Josh
Jarvis vs. Luke Sanders
Charles
McTorry vs. Krishaun Gilmore
Jason Blackford vs. Jeremy
Boczulak