What You Should Know, and What I Think of It.
Strikeforce is making some moves this week, having announced the World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament. It is a three-stage, single-elimination tournament taking place over several events in this year. Further, they have signed a multi-year agreement to co-promote events headlined by Fedor Emelianenko in partnership with MMA jerkoffs M-1 GLOBAL – starting with the Grand Prix. “The Last Emperor” will certainly be a force to be reckoned with during this tournament.
The first two Quarterfinal fights of the Grand Prix will begin on Saturday, February 12th. In the main event, Emelianenko will fight Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. Also on that card, former World Champion Andrei Arlovski will face Sergei Kharitonov. Sergei is the last man to defeat current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. These matchups will be broadcast live on Showtime from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J.
Rounding out the Quarterfinals are the following fights: Alistair Overeem will face Fabricio Werdum (the only man to tap Fedor) and Brett Rogers will square off against Josh Barnett. The location and dates for these fights are yet to be announced.
(Also, if you didn’t know by now, “The Reem” is currently the DREAM Interim Heavyweight Champion, and K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. He made history by being the only fighter in combat sports to hold a world title in both MMA and in K-1 kickboxing at the same time.)
While the idea of the tournament is great in theory, here are my issues with it.
- If “The Reem” is your current Champ, WHY is he even in this thing? A fight against Alistair should be the final match, for the title. If Alistair loses to Werdum, which has happened before, he loses the title. IN THE FIRST ROUND. This is moronic. Way to shit on your champion Strikeforce.
- Further, if you have a Champ, why are you having a tournament in the first place? The title is not vacant. Make matchups much like the quarterfinals and have all the other guys fight it out in single fights until you get a top guy. Then make a Title match. Isn’t that how it is usually done?
Either Scott Coker and Strikeforce think that Overeem will mow through everyone and retain the title, or they have a bone to pick with him for winning all these different titles across the board. I don’t know. That, in my opinion is stupid, since “The Reem” is HUGE right now and is bringing all types of publicity to the organization.
Also, side note: get off the Fedor bandwagon. I can’t stand him.
What do you think of this Heavyweight Tournament? Excited for a Fedor return? Hit the comments.
