By Alex Mattis
This past Wednesday, February 16, Strikeforce hosted on open workout at the South Austin Gym in Austin, TX. Featured at the gym were three of the headliners of this Friday’s Challengers card. Lightweights Lyle Beerbohm, Carlo Prater, and Lee Higgins were all on hand taking part in last-minute workouts for the media and public.
The main event set for Friday night will feature undefeated lightweight, Lyle Beerbohm (16-0) taking on his most experienced opponent to date, Pat ‘Bam Bam’ Healy (25-17). The inspirational Beerbohm is proud of his flawless professional record but keeps a realistic view on what it entails. “It’s a lot of pressure. It is. I’m 26-0 after all my amateur fight. Just never losing a fight… It is a lot of pressure.” The man they call ‘Fancy Pants’ isn’t looking past Friday night, but has his future sights set high. “I want the belt,” Beerbohm said as he motioned to his waist. “I want that strap! I want to be the Strikeforce champ.”
Headlining the event will be a 160-pound catchweight bout between Texas native, Carlo Prater (25-10-1) and Bryan Travers (14-2). Coming off of a rough 2010, Prater is looking to get back in the winning column and bolster his career in the coming year. “In 2011 I plan on going undefeated, totally reinvigorating my career, and realizing my full potential. Becoming the fighter I’m supposed to be.”
Also on the card, a featured lightweight bout will see Ryan Couture (1-0 and son of UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture) clash with Lee Higgins (2-0). Higgins isn’t overly concerned with the loaded last name of his opponent. “So many people have asked me that,” referring to the ‘Couture’ word. “My answer’s still the same: I’m fighting Ryan… not Randy.” Nevertheless, Higgins is aware of how good the name could look on his resume. “It’s definitely gonna’ look good on my wall, for sure.” In the end, the whole name situation seems to be the last thing on the Houston resident’s mind. “Going into the fight, I’m worried about the fight not the last name.”
All this and more go down this Friday night. Live from the Cedar Park Center in Cedar Park, Texas. Tickets are still available for y’all in TX. If not a resident of the Lone Star State, be sure to tune into SHOWTIME at 10 PM CT!
