Strikeforce vet Derrick Mehmen signs with WSOF, moves to heavyweight

World Series of Fighting has bolstered its heavyweight ranks with the signing of Derrick Mehmen.

Sources close to the fighter confirmed his signing to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), saying Mehmen (15-5) has inked a multi-fight deal with the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Mehmen will move up from light heavyweight to fight at heavyweight for WSOF. His debut with the promotion likely will come later this year.

“Caveman” Mehmen has a pair of Strikeforce fights on his resume, going 1-1 with a decision win over Roy Jones on a 2011 “Challengers” show before dropping a decision to Gian Villante 13 months ago. Mehmen also has a Bellator fight on his docket, a 2010 loss to UFC vet David Branch at Bellator 15.

Since his loss to Villante, the Iowa native, who trains at American Top Team, has three straight wins, including a pair of first-round stoppages. Of his 15 victories, 12 have come within the distance, including 10 knockouts.

When he debuts with WSOF, he’ll be looking to match his previous career-long win streak with four. He started his career 4-0 with four TKOs on the local Iowa circuit before a submission loss to UFC vet Mike Ciesnolevicz for Monte Cox’s short-lived Adrenaline MMA promotion. He then went on another four-fight run of stoppages before his Bellator 15 fight against Branch.

All five of Mehmen’s losses have come at the hands of fighters with UFC or Strikeforce experience. While a first opponent or debut card for Mehmen are not yet known, WSOF has two events already penciled in for later this year. WSOF 4 will take place Aug. 10 in Ontario, Calif., and WSOF 5 takes place five weeks later on Sept. 14 in Atlantic City, N.J.

WSOF is coming off its third card, which took place this past Friday at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The NBC Sports Network-aired main card featured a 41-second submission stoppage by Josh Burkman against Jon Fitch.

For more on WSOF’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.