Event: Strikeforce Challengers17: Voelker vs. Bowling III

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Venue: Palms Casino Resort

Date: Friday, July 22

Broadcast: Showtime and Primetime (UK)

Strikeforce Challengers 17 Live Odds

The Strikeforce Challengers 17 fight card will feature the rubber match between Roger Bowling and Bobby Voelker on July 22 at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

In the first meeting between the two welterweight prospects, Bowling took a unanimous decision win after receiving an unintentional eye poke that left him unable to continue in the third round. Voelker avenged the loss last October with a second-round TKO. Now, the two will meet again in this best of three.

Bowling, a veteran of the Ohio-based MMA Big Show promotion, makes his long-rumored Strikeforce debut with seven stoppage victories in seven pro fights. Six of the wins, including those over notables Seth Baczynski and Shamar Bailey, came in the first round.
Werdum has won four of his last five bouts, and is currently riding a two fight win streak, both of which have come under the Strikeforce banner.

Rubber matches carry their own unique flavor, and this one has the taste of unfinished business. After splitting their first two fights -- the second in October, with Voelker taking out Bowling with punches in the second round -- the third and final one will settle it. Voelker showed improved standup in the second match and figures to come in confident. Bowling will have to make adjustment

Voelker’s vast advantage in experience makes him a difficult guy to get rid of, even in a fight where he is not the most talented competitor. Bowling presents the picture of the better athlete, but Voelker’s ability to make him expend energy in the second bout was a perfect example of veteran savvy. Tying up Bowling on the ground, making him constantly exert himself in every fashion possible, he was playing the percentages perfectly en route to exploding in the second round for the stoppage.

Voelker, a Midwesterner who's kept a busy fight schedule since his 2006 pro debut, looks to build off his recent Strikeforce-debut victory, which came over Erik Apple via TKO at Strikeforce Challengers 5. He's now won four of his past five fights and seven of his past nine.

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Strikeforce Challengers 17 MAIN CARD:

Roger Bowling vs Bobby Voelker

Devin Cole vs Shawn Jordan

Joe Cason vs Ovince St. Preux

Liz Carmouche vs Sarah Kaufman

Ronald Stallings vs Adlan Amagov

Strikeforce Challengers 17 Preliminary Card:

Lionel Lanham vs T.J. Cook

Anthony Smith vs Ben Lagman

Maka Watson vs Bill Cooper

Sterling Ford vs Brian McLaughlin