Olympian added to Strikeforce Challengers card
Dr. Rhadi Ferguson, a four-time U.S. judo champion and 2004 Olympian for Team USA, was added to the Strikeforce Challengers card on Jan. 7, 2011, in Nashville.
Ferguson, a light heavyweight will fight Ion Cherdivara at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, televised on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
The only athlete to compete in the Olympic Games, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships and the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships, Ferguson trains with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla. He's 2-0, both wins coming by TKO.
"I don't think MMA is ever a natural transition," said Ferguson, 35. "I did judo, I did BJJ, I'm a strength and conditioning coach and a judo coach for some top MMA fighters. After training these guys for a while the sport caught me a little bit. I'm 35, but I feel like I still have some stuff in the tank."