According to a Jan. 16 report from MMA Fighting, Long Island's Gian Villante is one of the 20 Strikeforce fighters headed to the UFC.
Villante, a 27-year-old Wantagh resident, is riding a three-fight win streak, including back-to-back victories over top-ranked contenders.
Villante knocked out Trevor Smith on Jan. 7, 2012 at the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine event, and he earned a decision win over Derrick Mehmen on May 19, 2012 at Strikeforce's Barnett vs Cormier event.
Villante is a graduate of MacArthur High School in Levittown, New York.
With the recent demise of Strikeforce, the promotion is sending several of its top fighters to the UFC.
Besides Villante, Strikeforce's light heavyweight division will be represented in the UFC with the addition of Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2).
Undefeated heavyweight standout Daniel Cormier is also headed to the UFC, along with middleweights Luke Rockhold (10-1), Ronaldo Souza (17-3, 1 NC), Lorenz Larkin (13-0, 1 NC), Tim Kennedy (15-4) and Roger Gracie (6-1).
At welterweight, Strikeforce talents Tarec Saffiedine (14-3), Nate Marquardt (32-11-2), Jason High (16-3), Roger Bowling (11-3) and Bobby Voelker (24-8), earned received UFC deals.
The UFC lightweight division will see the addition of Strikeforce talents Gilbert Melendez (21-2), Josh Thomson (19-5), Pat Healy (29-16), K.J. Noons (11-6), Ryan Couture (6-1), Adriano Martins (24-6) and Kurt Holobaugh (8-1).
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