Luke Rockhold to Defend Strikeforce Middleweight Title Against Keith Jardine

Well, it appears that Strikeforce will continue into the next calendar year, as an event scheduled for January 7 now has three fights announced, including a main event.

Newly crowned middleweight champion Luke Rockhold will make his first title defense against former UFC light heavyweight Keith Jardine, who will be making his middleweight debut, according to mmaweekly.com.

Rockhold won the title when he defeated Ronaldo Souza in an epic back-and-forth war, which ended with scores of 50-45, 48-47, 48-47.

Jardine will be coming into the fight after a long layoff. His last fight was back in April, when he fought to a draw with Gegard Mousasi. Mousasi had one point deducted for an illegal upkick.

This has got to be one of the most questionable matchmaking choices for Strikeforce, giving a title shot to a fighter coming off a draw in a fight he would have lost.

Especially since the UFC took over, it was assumed that the matchmaking and everything else would take a step up.

However, Jardine will get the nod, and this fight will likely be the main event for Strikeforce 38 on January 7.

Other bouts on the card include Miesha Tate vs. Sarah Kaufman and Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.