Gian Villante returns to Strikeforce on May 19

Gian Villante of Levittown said Saturday that there's a bout agreement in place for his fifth bout with Strikeforce. While at the one-year anniversary of East Coast MMA in Rockville Centre, Villante said he signed the paperwork on Friday.

The former All-American football player at Hofstra said he will fight Derrick Mehmen on May 19 in San Jose, Calif. Although it is not yet clear if Villante's bout will air as part of the main card on Showtime or the prelims on Showtime Extreme, it creates a bit of a full circle for the 27-year-old light heavyweight.

Villante's first fight in Strikeforce came on Feb. 12, 2011, on the opening night of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix tournament. Now his fifth fight comes on the same night as Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier battle for the grand prix title. Villante (9-3), a two-division champion in Ring of Combat, lost his first two Strikeforce fights and then won his next two.

Mehmen (12-3) made his Strikeforce debut in August 2011 with a unanimous decision win over Roy Jones. Mehmen fought Saturday night against UFC veteran Rodney Wallace in a WMMA bout,