(Lolohea Mahe’s body is eerily similar to what my legal pad looks like during boring conference calls. Photo courtesy of Esther Lin/Strikeforce.)

As a light appetizer to tomorrow’s big show, Strikeforce is having its latest Challengers event tonight at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. The main card will be broadcast on Showtime starting at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT. If you don’t subscribe to Showtime, you’re in luck — the network will be available for free this weekend in 54.4 million households as part of their All Access Free Preview Weekend.

So why is tonight’s event worth DVR’ing? Well, you’ve got Hottest Women in MMA honoree Miesha Tate (8-2) taking on undefeated prospect (and former Fresno City College soccer player) Zoila Frausto (5-0) in a 135-pound contest. Jiu-jitsu phenom Andre Galvao (3-1) will try to rebound from his first MMA loss — a split-decision against Jason High at the DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix semi-finals — against Strikeforce veteran Luke Stweart (6-2). And in the main event, Fresno native Lavar Johnson (11-3) will take on Hawaiian heavyweight Lolohea Mahe (3-0-1). It will be Johnson’s first cage-appearance since his 18-second knockout of Carl Seumanutafa last May. In July, Johnson was shot in the abdomen by an unidentified gunman while attending a family barbecue. Four other people were shot during the incident, with one of them dying at the scene. Expect a hero’s welcome from the hometown crowd tonight.

The full lineup and weigh-in results are after the jump. No, not all fighters made their contracted weights, but they all tried, which I think is totally admirable.


Main Card
Lavar Johnson (241) vs. Lolohea Mahe (267)*
Ron "Abongo" Humphrey (203.6) vs. George Bush III (206)
Luke Stewart (171.2)* vs. Andre Galvao (170.4)
Zoila Frausto (132.4) vs. Miesha Tate (136)
Justin Wilcox (160.8) vs. Shamar Bailey (161)

Preliminary Card
Daniel Cormier (242) vs. John Devine (253.2)
Paul Ruiz (134.8) vs. TBA
Trinidad Valdez (168) vs. Ricky Jackson (169)
Avery Kaleo (143.2) vs. Chris Buron (144)

* Missed weight, but fight will proceed as planned.