Chad Griggs (photo by Esther Lin, Strikeforce)
Griggs makes UFC debut in March
Chad Griggs has his first UFC assignment.
The Strikeforce heavyweight, who recently crossed over to the UFC banner, will meet Travis Browne at UFC 145. The UFC announced the fight over the Christmas holiday.
Griggs (11-1) enters the UFC on a six-fight winning streak that includes a 3-0 mark in Strikeforce with three finishes. Griggs first came to the promotion last year to face Bobby Lashley. A massive underdog in the fight, Griggs pulled one of the year’s biggest upsets by pummeling Lashley at the end of Round 2, winning by TKO when the former WWE star couldn’t return to his corner.
Griggs followed up that upset win with a fight against Gian Villante – and again won as an underdog with a first-round TKO in a February reserve fight for the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament. He got more respect his last time out in another tournament reserve bout against Valentijn Overeem in June, and as the 2-to-1 favorite won with another first-round TKO. Griggs, a firefighter in Tucson, Ariz., has never gone to a decision in his 12-fight career and has nine of his 11 wins by knockout.
Browne (12-0-1, 3-0-1 UFC) has yet to lose in his career, with his lone blemish being a draw against Cheick Kongo last year at UFC 120. Since that draw, he has a Knockout of the Night win over Stefan Struve at UFC 130 and a decision win over Rob Broughton at UFC 135.
Though the UFC has not yet announced the date and venue for UFC 145, it is expected to take place March 24 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The only other fight announced for the card is a welterweight fight between Rory MacDonald and Che Mills.