Riggs vs. Baroni on Tap for June 6 Strikeforce

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

A welterweight contest between Joe Riggs and Phil Baroni is in the books for the second Showtime-televised Strikeforce on June 6 in St. Louis.

Riggs confirmed the fight during a recent appearance on MMAWeekly Radio, and Baroni followed on Tuesday. An announcement from Strikeforce is expected in the coming days.

The bout was a popular “what-if” fight amongst hard-core fans in the heyday of their UFC careers.

Baroni faces his stiffest challenge yet since dropping to the welterweight division in 2008 on the heels of three consecutive losses. The “New York Bad Ass” has racked up three wins as a welterweight, most recently a decision win over Olaf Alfonso at Palace Fighting Championships 10. He carries an overall professional record of 13-10.

The hard-hitting fighter hopes a fourth win will put him at the top of Strikeforce’s recently expanded division.

“Riggs is a test, and it’s an important fight for me,” said Baroni. “I’ve got to be prepared.”

To put it mildly, Riggs was none too happy about a shift in opponents that took him from a proposed match-up with Jake Shields on Strikeforce’s April 11 card, but thought Baroni was a good change.

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