Champion Rockhold Misses Weight for Strikeforce Title Matchup

Rockhold successfully hit 185 pounds on his second try.

The six other fighters slated for main card duty -- including the unbeaten Tyron Woodley (169.5) and Nate Marquardt (169.5), the two men who will vie for the promotion’s vacant welterweight crown -- met their contracted weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

A Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts representative, Kennedy will carry a two-fight winning streak into the cage. The 32-year-old has delivered 12 of his 14 professional victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, including wins over Dutch striker Melvin Manhoef, former International Fight League champion Ryan McGivern and UFC veterans Trevor Prangley and Nick Thompson. A fierce, determined and durable competitor, Kennedy has not been finished in more than a decade.

Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” -- which airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime -- will also feature a pair of middleweight bouts, as 10-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Roger Gracie (186) locks horns with UFC veteran Keith Jardine (185.5) and the unbeaten Lorenz Larkin (186.5) toes the line against former EliteXC titleholder Robbie Lawler (186). Two hours prior, Showtime Extreme will carry the five remaining preliminary bouts: Pat Healy (156) vs. Mizuto Hirota (156), Jorge Masvidal (155.5) vs. Justin Wilcox (156), Jason High (171) vs. Nate Moore (171), Ryan Couture (155.5) vs. Joe Duarte (155.5) and Jordan Mein (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (170.5).

Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy” Weigh-In Results:

* Rockhold and Larkin successfully made weight on their second attempt.