Ryan Couture is set to face off with one time welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons at “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy.”  

Couture, the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, earned his most recent “W” outpointing Joe Duarte at “Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy.” Before that, he earned another “W” decision over vet Conor Heun at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey.” 

Noons is coming from a decision loss to ex-champ Josh Thomson at “Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey,” which reversed his course following an impressive “W” over Billy Evangelista. 

The ex – pro boxer and EliteXC champ moved up to welterweight gunning for then-champ Nick Diaz’s belt, but was outpointed after five excruciating rounds. His return to lightweight was in hopes to challenge champ Gilbert Melendez, but instead lost a decision to Jorge Masvidal. 

“Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy” is headlined by a lightweight title bout between champ Melendez and Ryan Healy, which originally was scheduled for a Sept. 29 event that was cancelled  in part, by Melendez’s injury withdrawal.  Another fight scrapped for Nov. 3 between middleweight champ Luke Rockhold and Lorenz Larkin co-headlines, which follows a welterweight title bout between champ Nate Marquardt and challenger Tarec Saffiedine. 

The latest card for “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy” includes:

• Champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy – lightweight title
• Champ Luke Rockhold vs. Lorenz Larkin – middleweight title
• Champ Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine –  welterweight title
• Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
• Ryan Couture vs. K.J. Noons

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