Strikeforce interim title

Strikeforce has had enough of middleweight champ Cung Le’s acting career, which has sidelined him for more than a year, and are setting up an interim belt until he decides he’s had enough of Hollywood.

This comes as no surprise as Cung mentioned the possibility of an interim belt when I spoke with him last month and Strikeforce president Scott Coker confirmed the news on TapouT Radio on Monday.

Coker also confirmed one-half of the interim title bout: Cesar Gracie black belt Jake Shields. Shields is 23-4-1 and undefeated in 12 straight. He has welterweight wins over the likes of Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit and Paul Daley and made the jump to 185 pounds to face Robbie Lawlor in June, whom he submitted in the first round.

The interim title bout is scheduled for October, possibly on the same card that will feature the Strikeforce debut of Fedor Emelianenko.