Ricardo Arona to Return Against Marvin Eastman

Some of us still love those old striker versus grappler match ups. And, if we're being honest, there are more than a handful of longtime MMA fans out there that still root for former PRIDE fighters when they take on other competitors just because. Well, if you're one of these people, then you'll be happy to know that SuperLutas.com is reporting that former PRIDE star Ricardo Arona will return to MMA competition after a nearly two and a half year layoff to take on Marvin Eastman at Bitetti Combat in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 12.

Eastman is a very good striker that is perhaps best known for a cut he received in a UFC 43 fight with Vitor Belfort back in 2003. Arona possesses outstanding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills and is probably best known for two things: his decision victory over Wanderlei Silva at PRIDE: Final Conflict 2005, and the knockout loss he sustained via slam to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at PRIDE: Critical Countdown 2004.

It will be nice to see Arona back in action.