After an extended absence from the cage, one that will last for over 20 months, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le (6-0) will headline the December 18 “Strikeforce: Evolution” show in a fight against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith.

Le announced his return this past weekend, citing a delay in his next film project as the reason for his return.

“I wasn’t planning to fight this year,” Le admitted to MMAWeekly.com. “I was getting ready to do a movie, a project that I’ve been working on from scratch – working with a writer on a script, getting a director – and the project got pushed to next year.

“My plan was to come back after I finished this project and start training to get back into the cage next year, but when I found out a couple weeks ago that the project would be pushed to next year, I spoke to (Strikeforce promoter) Scott Coker, and he asked me if I’d be interested in coming back.”

Le hasn’t fought since March 29 of 2008 when he defeated Frank Shamrock for the Strikeforce middleweight title. Le’s movie career took off shortly afterward, and the South Vietnamese mixed martial artist found he had no time to schedule a title defense. Earlier this fall Le handed the belt back to the Strikeforce organization because of the uncertainty of his availability.

“I know there are a lot of people who thought I wouldn’t return; well they can eat their words now,” he stated. “I’m going to fight in December, and then I’m going to try to push this project, and then get in another fight next year or maybe two.

“I’m not going to overlook Scott Smith, he’s one of those dangerous fighters who has a powerful punch and is a game fighter. I’ve got to treat this like a title fight, and whatever happens after this fight, happens. Right now I’ve just got to take it one fight at a time and see how it goes.”