Chad Griggs Latest Heavyweight Moving From Strikeforce to UFC

Griggs went 3-0 in Strikeforce

The recent announcement that Strikeforce will dissolve its heavyweight division in 2012 could mean a steady stream of fighters moving over to the UFC.

The latest to make the switch is Chad Griggs. Multiple media outlets are reporting the heavyweight will jump from Strikeforce to the UFC and will make his promotional debut in 2012. MMA Weekly first reported the news.

Griggs (11-1, 3-0 Strikeforce) is riding a six-fight winning streak that includes an unbeaten mark in Strikeforce with three finishes. Griggs first came to the promotion last year to face Bobby Lashley. A massive underdog in the fight – Lashley was as high as a -1200 favorite at some online sportsbooks – Griggs pulled a shocker by pummeling Lashley at the end of the second round, 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 was a big underdog. But again, Griggs pulled the upset 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.

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