A long-rumored matchup for Strikeforce's vacant welterweight title is now official.

Strikeforce broadcasters announced during Saturday night's "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" that Nate Marquardt (31-10-2 MMA, 0-0 SF) and Tyron Woodley (10-0 MMA, 8-0 SF) will meet on July 14 with the belt on the line.

The card, which also features Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold defending his belt against Tim Kennedy, takes place at Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. The evening's main card airs on Showtime and prelims air on Showtime Extreme.

The official announcement is undoubtedly music to the ears of both fighters, who have seen extended time on the shelf. As recently as March, Woodley pined for confirmation of the bout, though he admittedly preferred it to take place at Saturday's event. Regardless, he said then he was moving forward with training for the bout.

Marquardt, who signed with Strikeforce in February, could also use the activity. He was released in January from a contract with British MMA promotion BAMMA. Although scheduled to make his promotional debut at BAMMA 9 against UFC vet Yoshiyuki Yoshida, the fight never came to fruition. He hasn't fought since UFC 128, when he outpointed Dan Miller.

Marquardt was released from the UFC after failing to gain medical clearance to fight Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the event this past June, wouldn't clear him when pre-fight blood tests revealed his testosterone levels to be outside the commission's allowable limits. He later revealed the failed test was the result of doctor-recommended testosterone replacement therapy.



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