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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The earthquake that devastated Japan this week has put in doubt some scheduled fights in multiple organizations, and for the newly-acquired-by-Zuffa Strikeforce, their April 9 event has two fights at risk.
With Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki both in high profile fights on the card, Strikeforce officials have put K.J. Noons and Jorge Masvidal on standby in case one or both of the Japanese competitors is unable to take their fight due to issues in their home country.
However, according to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Kawajiri at the least is expected to stay on the card, where he'll meet Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.
The event takes place from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., and airs live on Showtime with an expected headliner between Nick Diaz and Paul Daley.
Penick's Analysis: It's good to hear that Kawajiri and Aoki are alright. From reports, it appears that most if not all of the major Japanese fighters survived last week's disaster, though that's but a small bright spot for us here in North America involved with this sport. The UFC already had Yoshihiro Akiyama pull out of a bout on next week's UFC 128 card, and Kawajiri and Aoki would have been well within their rights to do the same. But it looks like this card will go forward with the planned fights, provided Daley doesn't follow through on his talk of pulling out of the main event with Zuffa now in control of Strikeforce.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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