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Strikeforce's Jorge Masvidal eyes Japan if he's unable to fight for Strikeforce

Standing in a queue of fighters hoping to work on a possible Jan. 12 Strikeforce card, Jorge Masvidal (23-7 MMA, 5-1 SF) has a contingency plan if the promotion can't find space or the event is canceled.

He plans to take an offer from the recently revived Japanese promotion DREAM to fight Hayato Sakurai or Satoru Kitaoka at "DREAM.18: Special NYE 2012."

"I'd much rather fight here in America because I'd get more money ... but if I have to, (I'll fight on) Dec. 31," Masvidal recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com). "I'll be kicking ass in Japan."

Kitaoka is one of three Japanese vets expected to compete at the DREAM event, which takes place Dec. 31 event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, with a broadcast partner to be announced. The January Strikeforce event was announced following the cancellation of a Nov. 3 event that was scrapped following injuries to two of its headliners.

Masvidal was among several displaced by that event's cancellation. He was scheduled to meet Bobby Green in what would have been his second fight this year and his sixth overall for Strikeforce.

The 27-year-old Masvidal has heard conflicting rumors about whether the January show will actually take place.

"I hear January is the last show, and then January isn't the last show," he said. "I don't know. I just hope that if it's completely and utterly dead, I want to go to Strikeforce's funeral, because what's going on is not cool.

"I know a lot of fighters want to be on that January show, so if I get on it, I'll be very thankful. But I don't know if I'm going to be on it. They haven't told me anything."

Video: Strikeforce's Jorge Masvidal eyes Japan if he's unable to fight for Strikeforce | MMAjunkie.com