Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals Preview & Event Coverage
By Justin Bolduc
*Click here for the Heavyweight Grand Prix Weigh-In Results*
*Click here for Live Results & Coverage from Cincinnati, Ohio*
This weekend Strikeforce continues it’s Heavyweight Grand Prix with the semi-finals. Despite losing tournament favorite and Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem, who is now in the UFC mix, the tournament is still an exciting piece of mixed martial arts – especially now that the previously shallow heavyweight talent pool is growing rapidly.
In the semi-finals PRIDE 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix finalist and former UFC champion Josh Barnett takes on PRIDE star Sergei Kharitonov while Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva – who is riding high off a win over legendary Fedor Emelianenko, takes on tournament alternate Daniel Cormier.
Also on the card is Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza against Luke Rockhold and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal against Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Roger Gracie. The main card, which airs on Showtime, will also feature an exciting lightweight bout between Pat Healy and Maximo Blanco.
On the HDNet preliminary broadcast Mike Kyle faces Marcos Rogerio de Lima and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante takes on Yoel Romero Palacio. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos meets Jordan Mein and the sole women’s bout on the card features Alexis Davis against Amanda Nunes. The opening bout of the night will see middleweights Dominique Steele and Chris Mierzwiak kick things off.
Josh Barnett (30-5) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (18-4)
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals
Josh Barnett has consistently established himself as one of the world’s premiere heavyweights. Making his biggest impact in PRIDE, Barnett compiled a 5-4 record in the promotion with wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Aleksander Emelianenko, and Mark Hunt. Barnett’s most impressive run with the Japanese promotion came when he was the runner up in the organization’s 2006 open-weight tournament.
Following the downfall of PRIDE, Barnett fought twice under the Sengoku Raiden Championship banner where he submitted Olympic gold medalist judoka Hidehiko Yoshida with a heel hook and outpointed former UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson. Barnett then won a pair of bouts in Affliction by avenging a prior knockout loss to Pedro Rizzo with a knockout punch of his own and then submitting Gilbert Yvel with punches.
Barnett returned to Japan where he fought once for Dream, submitting K-1 star “Mighty Mo” Siala-Mou Siliga. “The Warmaster” then traveled to Australia to fight in the first Impact FC event, stopping Geronimo dos Santos with strikes inside three minutes. Most recently Barnett won his Strikeforce debut in the quarter-finals of the promotion’s heavyweight tournament, submitting Brett Rogers with an arm-triangle choke 1:17 into the second round. Barnett is currently riding a seven-fight win streak.
Quick Facts:
Strikeforce Record: 1-0 (1 Sub)
Strengths: CACC background, underrated striking, 18 wins by submission
Weaknesses: Struggles most striking with stand-up specialists
Key Wins: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Aleksander Emelianenko, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Randy Couture, Jeff Monson, Hidehiko Yoshida, Mark Hunt, Siala-Mou Siliga, Semmy Schilt, Pedro Rizzo, Brett Rogers, Gilbert Yvel, Geronimo dos Santos, Yuki Kondo
Notable Losses: Mirko Filipovic (3), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo
Sergei Kharitonov also made his mark with PRIDE where he compiled an 8-3 record with notable victories over Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Fabricio Werdum, Pedro Rizzo, and Semmy Schilt. Since the downfall of PRIDE he has gone 4-1, with two consecutive wins.
In his first post-PRIDE appearance Kharitonov knocked out Alistair Overeem in K-1 HERO’S, avenging a prior loss. He then stopped Jimmy Ambriz with strikes in his Dream debut before submitting to Jeff Monson at Dream 8 due to a north-south choke.
Kharitonov then competed at K-1 Dynamite!! Power of Courage 2010, a major New Year’s Eve event, where he knocked out Tatsuya Mizuno with a knee less than ninety seconds into the bout. Most recently Kharitonov won his Strikeforce debut by knocking out former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in the opening round of the American promotion’s heavyweight tournament.
Quick Facts:
Strikeforce Record: 1-0 (1 TKO)
Strengths: KO power, underrated ground game, Sambo background
Weaknesses: Tends to brawl wildly
Key Wins: Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, Semmy Schilt, Murilo Rua, Mike Russow, Pedro Rizzo
Notable Losses: Aleksander Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Jeff Monson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (16-2) vs. Daniel Cormier (8-0)
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finals
Antonio Silva has made a name originally as a super heavyweight, but most recently in the 265 pound category with his powerful hands, speed, agility, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess. Silva began his career with a 7-1 record, including wins over Tengiz Tedoradze, Ruben “Warpath” Villareal, and Tom Erikson before joining EXC.
Silva went 4-0 with Elite XC, winning his promotional debut over Wesley “Cabbage” Correira by TKO before submitting Jonathan Wiezorek with a rear naked choke. Silva then edged out a decision over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez before knocking out Justin Eilers. Following his run in EXC, Silva went to Japan where he fought for SRC.
With SRC, Silva earned wins over Yoshihiro Nakao (injury) and Jim York before joining Strikeforce. In his promotional debut Silva lost a decision to Fabricio Werdum, but has since put together a three-fight win streak. Silva’s rebound came as a unanimous decision over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski and was followed up by a knockout over Mike Kyle. Most recently Silva won the biggest fight of his career when he won by TKO due to a doctor stoppage over Fedor Emelianenko in the opening round of Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament.
Quick Facts:
Strikeforce Record: 3-1 (2 TKO)
Strengths: Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, most wins by TKO, size
Weaknesses: Struggles most in bouts he can’t score the takedown
Key Wins: Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Mike Kyle, Tengiz Tedoradze
Notable Losses: Fabricio Werdum, Eric Pele
Daniel Cormier entered mixed martial arts with a strong wrestling background. Cormier was a two-time junior college national champion and an NCAA Div I runner-up. Cormier competed at the 2004 Olympic games, finishing fourth. He was set to compete at the 2008 Olympic Games but did not due to suffering kidney failure from weight cutting.
He holds a perfect record in professional mixed martial arts. He debuted in the Strikeforce Challengers series with a TKO stoppage before winning by knockout in his second Challengers appearance. Cormier then competed once under the XMMA banner where he won by TKO.
After a win in King of the Cage, Cormier returned to Strikeforce, stopping journeyman Jason Riley with strikes. Cormier then picked up a win over one-time UFC veteran Soa Palelei with XMMA before making a more permanent return to Strikeforce. In his most recent performances he earned unanimous decisions over Devin Cole and one-time UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson. Following Alistair Overeem’s removal from the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, Cormier finds himself as the dark horse for fans and critics alike.
Quick Facts:
Strikeforce Record: 5-0 (2 TKO, 1 Sub)
Strengths: Olympic wrestler, athleticism, improved stand-up
Weaknesses: Experience, size
Key Wins: Jeff Monson, Devin Cole, Soa Palelei
Notable Losses: None
Additional Thoughts
*In PDG’s Match-Up of the Night Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (14-2, 1 NC) defends his Strikeforce middleweight title against once-beaten Luke Rockhold (7-1). Souza is currently on a four-fight win streak, all under the Strikeforce banner. In his promotional debut he earned a first round submission over Matt Lindland. Souza then rattled off decisions over Joey Villasenor and Tim Kennedy before most recently submitting Robbie Lawler in January. Rockhold, who holds a Strikeforce record of is currently on a six-fight win streak. Rockhold scored his first significant win over Cory Devela at Strikeforce Challengers 2, which he followed up with an impressive rear naked choke submission over Jesse Taylor at Strikeforce Challengers 4. Most recently Rockhold stopped Paul Bradley with strikes, but has not competed since February 2010.
*In a high-profile bout, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (7-1) faces Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and ADCC champion Roger Gracie (4-0). Lawal, who holds a 2-1 Strikeforce record, enters Saturday’s bout coming off the sole loss of his career following a knockout by Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Under the Strikeforce banner Lawal has earned wins over Mike Whitehead and Gegard Mousasi. Gracie is 2-0 with Strikeforce and undefeated in his short four-fight mixed martial arts career. In his MMA debut he submitted Ron Waterman in 2006, then returned to action in 2008 with a submission over Yuki Kondo. In his Strikeforce debut in 2010, Gracie submitted Kevin Randleman, and most recently earned a rear naked choke submission over Trevor Prangley.
*In a lightweight bout Pat Healy (25-16) steps in as a short notice replacement for an injured Josh Thomson to face international fighter Maximo Blanco (8-2-1, 1 NC). Healy is 3-1 in Strikeforce and is currently riding a two-fight win streak. After losing a decision to Thomson, Healy became the first fighter to defeat Lyle Beerbohm. Most recently Healy earned a decision over Eric Wisely. Healy owns notable career victories over former WEC champion Carlos Condit, former MFC champion Ryan Ford, UFC veteran Mike Guymon, former UFC contender Dan Hardy, and Paul Daley. Blanco enters his Strikeforce debut on a six-fight win streak. Competing primarily in SRC, Blanco has also competed in Pancrase where he has earned notable victory over Katsuya Inoue. Blanco’s last five bouts have taken place in Sengoku where he knocked out Kiuma Kunioka and Rodrigo Damm.
