Strikeforce Announces Heavyweight Tournament
With the UFC's heavyweight division in a remission so to speak Strikeforce has upped the bar.Strikeforce has announced an eight-man heavyweight tournament opening on February 12th,2011 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford,New Jersey . The eight heavyweights will consist of Fedor Emelianenko taking on Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva,Andrei Arolovski vs Segei Kharitonov,Brett Rogers vs Josh Barnett,and the final first round bout with current Strikeforce,DREAM,and K-1 Grand Prix champion Alistair Overeem taking on the last man to defeat Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum. On February 12th, the fight card will consist of two opening round fights as well as two other heavyweight fights. The first bout on the main card will be Valentijn Overeem(Alistair's older brother) vs Strikeforce newcomer and ex K-1 heavyweight Ray Sefo. The second bout will be between two undefeated in Strikeforce fighters as Shane Del Rosario (2-0 Strikeforce 10-0 overall)goes to war with Lavar Johnson(3-0 Strikeforce 15-3 overall).There will be two main events to officially open the tournaments first two bouts. In the co-main event it will be a quarterfinal bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski(15-8 overall) and Sergei Kharitonov (17-4 overall holds a 1-1 record against Overeem) in a fight that has very little chance of going the distance.The main event will feature another quarterfinal bout with Fedor Emelianenko(31-2) and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva(15-2). Although Emelianenko has 2 losses they must be explained,one loss was a doctor stoppage for a cut although Fedor was clearly unphased by it in 2000 and the other coming most recently against Fabricio Werdum after dropping Werdum with a punch Emelianenko followed up to aggressively and was caught in a triangle choke and forced to tap. This is why many feel even with two losses Fedor Emelianenko is probably the greatest fighter to ever compete in MMA since he's only been cleanly beaten once in 33 bouts.Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva on the other hand is exactly that a "Bigfoot" of a man who will have a distinct height and weight advantage over Emelianenko at 6'4 265lbs and Emelianenko coming in at 6' 230lbs.Emelianenko although the favorite in this match needs to be extremely cautious of Silva's power.Strikeforce after this evening of fights will benefit a great deal in popularity as well as gain a few UFC viewers in the process with their current issues at heavyweight.The UFC is currently in a standstill in their heavyweight division since champion Cain Velasquez injured his shoulder and will be out for about nine months.UFC number one contender Junior Dos Santos wants to fight for the interim title but there is no suitable opponent.To top that UFC top draw Brock Lesnar who is coming off a humiliating knockout defeat by the hands of Cain Velasquez may have lost his will to fight, as well as Shane Carwin's recent back surgery and Roy Nelson's contract issues the UFC isn't planning much at the heavyweight level anytime soon.Strikeforce's heavyweight division is arguably the best in all of MMA in terms of overall talent and depth but don't have the fanbase or marketing the UFC has. Strikeforce knows this and this is why the tournament is taking place.By placing Overeem in this tournament US fans can finally see what all the hype is about concerning the current and first Triple Crown Winner in all of fight sports.Alistair Overeem spoke to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker personally on their last visit to Japan, which Scott Coker recently stated in an interview in response to their conversation "When I was in Japan last week, he(Overeem) said, "You’ve got to let me fight Fabricio. I want to avenge that loss. It’s important. So that was an easy fight to put together. Werdum says he’s going to make Alistair go to sleep." The one thing making this fight not for the title, is title fights have to be five rounds and the tournament format should require all fights to be three rounds.Coker went on to state a very likely solution for this problem however "We’re trying to talk to all the commissions in all the states that we are attempting to go to work it out,"Coker said. "But I think we’ll have it ironed out in 24 hours. The goal is to have the title on the line and let them fight it out because that’s our world champion and Fabricio beat Fedor. I think that’d be a great representation of the Strikeforce belt." Coker also addressed Overeem's dedication to Strikeforce stating "This year, we sat down in Japan, and he’s fully committed," Coker said. "We have an understanding, and I have no doubt he’s going to fight for us and I think he’s going to fight very well." Overeem although the Strikeforce champion, has only defended the belt once in three years and that was a KO victory over Brett Rogers in early 2010.Overeem now returning to fight in the states after conquering K-1 and taking the DREAM heavyweight title in a 19 second smashing of former UFC heavyweight Todd Duffee, only signifies the growth of Strikeforce.If Overeem should go deep, even win this tournament which he is easily expected to do even considering the talent and depth of fighters, Overeem will have the U.S. MMA success which is needed by Strikeforce as well as met Coker's request of fighting three Strikeforce bouts,leaving him free to return to Japan as planned.Overeem can continue becoming the worldwide icon in MMA the sport so desperately needs to expand globally, which Fighting and Entertainment Group in Japan has already gotten in the works. Strikeforce has offically upped the bar against the UFC since the UFC's only heavyweight tournament under Zuffa LLC was a three fight four man tournament and a UFC tournament is something of a joke considering what Pride FC used to produce.Showtime has also had a major say in this tournament as they are trying to use Strikeforce to defeat the longtime boxing rivals on HBO in the ratings category.Showtime released an Official Press Release on their partnership with Strikeforce and M-1 Global following Strikeforce's re-signing of Fedor Emelianenko which is posted below.
PRESS RELEASE –
World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL, in association with premium television network SHOWTIME have signed a new, multi-year agreement to co-promote events headlined by the MMA legend Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC).
In addition, STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio "Big Foot" Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (16-4), the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair "The Demolition Man" Overeem.
The other two quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) will face the only man to tap out Fedor, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1), while the heavy-handed Brett "The Grim" Rogers (11-2) will meet a hungry Josh Barnett (29-5). The location and date for these quarterfinal tournament fights are to be announced.
"We are thrilled to have come to a long-term agreement with Fedor and M-1 GLOBAL," said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. "To have the greatest MMA fighter of all-time put his legacy on the line in a single-elimination tournament will truly captivate MMA fans worldwide. STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweight division in the world; the athlete who runs the gauntlet in a tournament such as this would have to be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world."
"I’m very pleased to be working with SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE and Mr. Coker and Mr. Hershman personally. Thanks to their interest and efforts, we’ve created what will go down in history as MMA’s greatest heavyweight tournament of all time," said Vadim Finkelchtein, co-founder of M-1 Global. "M-1, STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME have built a partnership committed to the future growth of MMA—a sport where organizations represent a working collaborative that enable the best fighters in the world to fight each other. This agreement benefits everyone, especially the fans who’ll see Fedor in action more often.
"With SHOWTIME’s significance in the U.S. and M-1’s development of the European and Asian MMA markets, the cooperation will also deliver a global roster of talented fighters to viewers," Finkelchtein continued. "During the coming year, we’ll be showcasing spectacular Grand Prix events using the same M-1 Selection tournament format, a series of events generating enthusiastic spectator interest keeping fans glued to their screens."
"I can’t think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement," said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. "Fedor is universally known to sports fans throughout the world and it is an honor to continue our work with M-1 GLOBAL and STRIKEFORCE in presenting this legendary fighter to SHOWTIME subscribers.
"SHOWTIME has enjoyed great success with its two most recent boxing tournaments—the Super Six World Boxing Classic and The Bantamweight Tournament," Hershman continued. "And now, with the breadth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight division, we have the privilege of staging one of the biggest tournaments in the history of this growing sport. With the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix’s single-elimination format and the biggest names in the sport today, this tournament is something that no sports fan will want to miss."
"I have been training very hard since my last fight and can’t wait to get back in the cage," said the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko, who hails from Stary Oskol, Russia and is promoted by M-1 GLOBAL. "STRIKEFORCE has assembled a roster filled with the best heavyweights in the world and, together with M-1 GLOBAL, we have the opportunity to fight the best in a great tournament format."
Fedor’s unprecedented, record-setting run of 28 professional MMA bouts without a defeat has prompted many MMA enthusiasts to label Fedor as the greatest of all time. Since his career began 10 years ago, Fedor has faced and defeated many rival superstars and champions of this era including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski and Mark "The Hammer" Coleman.
In what ranks among the most watched MMA fights in the United States, Fedor made his live primetime network television debut on Nov. 7, 2009 on CBS, when he defeated unbeaten rising star Brett Rogers in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Despite a difficult first round in which he sustained a deep cut above his eye, Fedor turned the tide early in the second round with one vicious right-hand punch and finished Rogers shortly after.
Then, on June 26, 2010, Fedor suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Werdum, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., in one of the most watched MMA bouts on SHOWTIME. Werdum, who has defeated a host of top rivals including Overeem, Silva and Brandon "The Truth" Vera, trapped Fedor’s arm in a triangle armbar that forced Fedor to tap out at the 1:09 mark of the opening round.
Fedor has only one other official loss on his record, the result of a doctor stoppage due to a cut he sustained seconds into a matchup with Japan’s Tsuyoshi Kosaka on Dec. 22, 2000. Fedor avenged the TKO loss with his own first-round TKO of Kosaka at a PRIDE Fighting Championships event in Japan on April 3, 2005.
Strikeforce has now staked its claim in American MMA and with HBO's boxing special's becoming secondary to MMA, Strikeforce could eventually expand to them as well.This tournament should be something the casual fan and even boxing fans should take the time out to observe, since many tournaments aren't happening in fight sports the way they used to with the exception of K-1. This should be something fight fans will remember for many years or until the UFC attempts to one up Strikeforce.-Sean Farrell
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