Strikeforce Columbus: Melvin 'No Mercy' Manhoef To Face Luke Rockhold?

UFC 126—arguably the most stacked UFC card so far this year—takes place this Saturday live from Las Vegas, Nevada, but over on the front of its competition, there's quite a commotion being created about the debut of Strikeforce in Columbus, Ohio on March 5.

MMA Junkie originally reported that the March 5 event was to see a Tim Kennedy-Luke Rockhold bout—one that would wind up replacing a previously-reported bout between the US Army Ranger and the consummate entertainer that is Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

MMA Junkie later reported that in fact it would be Kennedy facing "No Mercy" Manhoef, but ever-vigilant fight fan Bloodstain Lane—always one to keep an eye out for the going-downs in mixed martial arts and never one to be anything less than vocal—stated that Manhoef would not be fighting Kennedy at the March 5 card, though Manhoef would be fighting.

Via the official Twitter of Manhoef, LiverKick.com was able to confirm that indeed it would be Manhoef facing Rockhold in what is sure to not only be a very intriguing stand-up affair, but it's also sure to test out Rockhold's ability to battle one of the sport's most dangerous pure kickboxers.

Rockhold himself is far from unimpressive in his own right, carrying a 7-1 pro record coming into this fight, with the lone loss coming by TKO in his second pro MMA fight.

Rockhold is an AKA standout who holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, along with a kickboxing game and some wrestling that some fans know of, but few are truly aware of.

Whatever skills Rockhold possesses, they'll have to be in top form when he faces Manhoef—that is, IF he faces Manhoef in Columbus this March.