Gurgel fights for the first time since a March event in Columbus, where he defeated Billy Vaughan in just 44 seconds.
The victory, which was relegated to an untelevised preliminary card, followed a career-worst 1-4 skid that nearly cost Gurgel his Strikeforce job. Instead of free agency, though, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt now has earned headliner status.
“I think I put on crazy fights, and people like to watch me,” Gurgel said after the win. “I don’t fight for money. I never did. I really fight for the love of the sport. I’ve been doing that for 12 years. I have a successful business on the side.
“They treat me great, but being on an undercard was a little bit insulting.”
Coincidentally, Strikeforce Challengers 18 will be the second show headlined by an area fighter. Cincinnati’s Roger Bowling (9-1) headlines Strikeforce Challengers 17 on July 22, when he meets Bobby Voelker (23-8) in a rubber match.
UFC on Versus 4's big mystery: By the time you read this, Sunday's UFC on Versus event at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center will be over. However, questions about its headliner will remain.
The event, which aired live on Versus, originally was scheduled to feature a headliner between Nate Marquardt and Rick Story. But an hour before the event’s weigh-ins, officials revealed Marquardt wasn’t medically cleared for the fight and was pulled from the card.
Story went on to fight replacement Charlie Brenneman.
Like Marquardt — a former title challenger — both UFC and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission officials aren’t saying what the issue is. But it was a serious enough breach that UFC president Dana White announced immediately after the weigh-ins that Marquardt’s contract has been terminated.
Despite the mystery, the potential scandal may have been the best thing to happen to the show, which had garnered little traction in recent weeks.
Additionally, as with other recent major MMA events in the region, ticket sales were sluggish. If nothing else, TV ratings (which will be released later this week) likely got a boost due to all the speculation.
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to MMAjunkie.com.
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