Strikeforce 

The battle cage won’t remain empty for long. Strikeforce mixed martial arts fighting comes to the Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City with title fights and some of the most amazing action from eight of the franchise’s biggest stars. The Showtime network will televise the night’s fights live all around the world, but fans can see it up close and personal beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 12. Better known as the homecourt for the OKC Thunder, the Chesapeake Energy Arena will see a different sort of battle. The night’s schedule includes four bouts. Oklahoma State University All-American and Grand Prix champ Daniel Cormier will face Dion Staring leading up to three Strikeforce title fights between Nate Marquardt and Tarec Saffiedine (welterweight), Luke Rockhold and Lorenz Larkin (middleweight) and Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez and Pat Healy (lightweight). Tickets run $50-$150 each, and are available online at www.chesapeakearena.com.