MMA Junkie gives us a pretty good recap of the story: the event is scheduled for August 27, in Hawaii. Arlovski’s manager recently confirmed that “The Pitbull” would be the headlining attraction. The report also states that former UFC fighters Drew McFedries and even possibly Kendall Grove could compete at the event.

It’s been a very tough few years for Arlovski, one of the most consistently-popular fighters in any promotion he competes in. Arlovski hasn’t won a fight since 2008, and he’s lost his last four bouts. And to make matters infinitely worse, three of those four losses have been by (T)KO. Following his recent, brutal KO loss to Sergei Kharitonov, I openly wondered how many more times I could stand seeing Arlovski limp on the mat again, with a dazed, far-off look in his eyes.

I also have to wonder: what does this mean for Arlovski’s deal with Strikeforce? Doesn’t this basically confirm that Strikeforce no longer has a contract with Arlovski? Or is Arlovski still allowed to work for other promotions while working for Strikeforce? Either way, despite his recent losses I think it’s smart for ProElite to grab up someone like Arlovski if he’s available. Virtually everyone, and I do mean everyone, is now under the Zuffa empire thanks to their recent purchase of Strikeforce.

I also wouldn’t mind seeing Kendall Grove in action, to be honest. I was frank in saying that it was very evident that Grove was no longer at a UFC level, but that doesn’t mean that I have any sort of problem with the man. I think he’s an entertaining fighter, he’s just lost too much recently. I think it’d be very interesting to see how he does outside of the UFC, and if the hunger to get back inside the UFC leads to him winning fights in dominant fashion.

Overall, I’m honestly a bit excited to see the return of ProElite. I mean… it couldn’t hurt, could it? MMA could use another major-level promotion, now that Strikeforce and the UFC exist under the same umbrella. Plus, it’s ProElite in name only, for the most part. The staff has completely changed. And the staff they have hired on, like former Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou, seem to know quite a lot about running a successful MMA promotion. Plus it’s in Hawaii, which should add a unique flavor and atmosphere.

In the end, I think I’d watch this show depending on what, if any, type of broadcast deal emerges. I think any promotion looking to make itself big deserves at least one look at. I’d certainly be down for a broadcast on HDNet, or possibly a Pay-Per-View with a reduced price point. If only to satisfy my own morbid curiosity and see if this new ProElite repeats the mistakes of the old one, I’ll probably end up watching this show.

Courtesy of Sherdog, the world-famous trainer affectionately known as “Yoda” recently said the following: “It’s just having faith in his team and faith in his trainers and faith in myself… You have to pick yourself up and you have to fight again. I think Andrei Arlovski’s a fighter… Andrei Arlovski is a fighter in and out of the cage. I think he’s going to pick himself back up and go at it again because that’s all you can do.”

Now, I hate to play “favorites” here, but Greg Jackson is on the shortlist of my favorite trainers. I never really understood why he gets so much flack, I suppose it has something to do with the old-school mentality of a trainer only being in the background and never coming out with an opinion. It’s a new age now, though, and I think you simply have to respect what Jackson’s done and how he’s been able to turn the careers around for a lot of struggling fighters. He’s also been a pretty big part in the success of such greats as Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, and Georges St. Pierre.

But I have to wonder: is this a lost cause that not even Greg Jackson can overcome? I know that Jackson absolutely does not see it that way, and I applaud him for his ability to never back down and always try his hardest to make sure his fighters win their fights. But it’s becoming more and more apparent that Arlovski’s chin is just plain gone, even as a big Arlovski fan I can admit this. He’s beginning to look a whole lot like Chuck Liddell: he’s still a pretty good fighter, it’s just that whenever he takes a truly hard shot, a KO loss is soon to follow.

I know how some sympathizers like to point out how Arlovski took some pretty hard shots in his fight with Antonio Silva and wasn’t knocked out, but to this I honestly have to say: he still lost that fight, didn’t he? And even if his chin held up during one fight, it’s still failed him in three of his four most recent fights.

Now, here’s some brutal honesty straight from the heart. I’ve really enjoyed watching Andrei Arlovski throughout the years. I know this is going to sound very sentimental, but he’s honestly always been one of my favorite fighters and I can’t help but smile when I remember some of his best moments. Now, with that said, the following will probably be seen as even more sentimental: I just can’t stand to see Andrei Arlovski brutally KO’d again. I just don’t have it in me.

So that’s where I stand in the here and now: if Arlovski wants to keep fighting, if Greg Jackson truly thinks he can turn this ship around, I’m willing to give both men the chance they rightfully deserve. But if it doesn’t pan out, if I have to see Arlovski down on the mat again with that far-off, glazed expression in his eyes… then that’s honestly it. I’m done. And I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your reaction to Jackson’s recent comments about Arlovski?

We head to MMA Junkie for word on why Arlovski is choosing not to hang up the gloves. The folks at Junkie compiled an interesting list of quotes from the YouTube video of a recorded live chat that Arlovski recently had with his fans: “…I’m not going to finish my career like this. Definitely, I’m going to keep fighting… Definitely, I’m going to change some things. Absolutely not I’m going to [expletive] retire. I know it’s impossible to come back on the top, and I know it’s going to be hard, and it’s going to be very difficult for me. But I’m definitely going to do it.”

As an Andrei Arlovski fan, I’m glad that he finally addresses this issue regardless of how pessimistic I am towards his future. I think knowing is always better than not knowing, and now that Arlovski has confirmed that he won’t be retiring, I can now focus on one simple question.

Where does Andrei Arlovski go from here?

Arlovski remains an incredibly popular fighter, I’ve said that several times when talking about him and I think it’s true now more than ever. People still want to see Arlovski fight, they’re still rooting for him and cheering his name. Despite all his recent trials and tribulations, Arlovski is arguably one of Strikeforce’s major stars at Heavyweight.

But when and where does it end, and when does Arlovski start becoming a liability to Strikeforce’s credibility?

Should Strikeforce continue to keep Arlovski around if he keeps losing? I think a comparison to Keith Jardine should be made here. “The Dean of Mean” was also a pretty popular star that was kept around despite an up-and-down record, but it got to a point where it was painfully obvious that he wasn’t able to compete at a UFC level anymore, losing four straight fights in a row. Arlovski’s already on a four-fight losing streak, although one of those fights occurred outside of Strikeforce. Will Arlovski’s next fight be in Strikeforce? And if it is and he loses, what then?

Now that I think about it, that “one simple question” is actually so multi-faceted that part of me wishes that Arlovski had gone ahead and simply retired. I’m trying to be optimistic here, truly I am, but when I think of Arlovski, a section of my mind always thinks of the following names: Keith Jardine, Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver… you get the idea. And I hate to say this, but that section of my mind is growing larger.

However, I’d also hate to end this piece on such a negative note. So I’ll say this: a part of me will always hold out hope for Andrei Arlovski. A part of me will be with him until the end, cheering him on and hoping that he goes on the kind of comeback he went on when he became a serious challenger to the then-unbeaten Fedor Emelianenko. My heart and my head are in firm disagreement on Andrei Arlovski, but in the end, I’m going to remain an Andrei Arlovski fan no matter what happens.

And what about you, fans and friends? Now that Arlovski has confirmed that he’ll keep fighting, what are your thoughts?

Here’s what Jackson had to say over at the one and only Sherdog: “It’s just these guys that he’s fighting, if you make one mistake with any of them, you’re going to get eaten. I’m really identifying the mistake. It went a little deeper than I thought it did. Identifying that mistake and changing what we do there is going to be a big, important factor. I don’t think he has a weak chin. I think he’s fighting in a heavyweight division where these guys would knock down a house if they hit it.”

I tend to agree with Greg Jackson on a lot of issues and have faith in him when he says that he can turn a fighter’s career around. This is the guy that’s been one of the keys ingredients in the success of fighters like Rashad Evans, Georges St. Pierre, and Jon Jones, after all. However, and this is just me being bluntly honest as a longtime viewer and fan of Andrei Arlovski, I don’t think even Greg Jackson can pull Arlovski out of the hole he’s in.

That’s really what this all boils down to: I really respect Greg Jackson. I just wholeheartedly disagree with him.

You can make the case that Arlovski’s recent KO losses only came against deadly strikers with dynamite in their hands, but should that overshadow that Arlovski has lost four fights in a row, with three of those fights ending with Arlovski on the receiving end of a highlight-reel KO? I honestly don’t think it should. If Arlovski’s chin isn’t weak, it’s certainly degrading at a rapid pace.

As I said before, I’m not trying to be disrespectful here, I’m simply trying to be honest. I’ve also said this before: I don’t know how many more times I can stomach seeing Arlovski with his eyes glazed over, lifelessly looking into the distance. It’s a heartbreaking visual and it’s been happening a whole lot lately. This is quickly becoming the kind of downward spiral that you never fully recover from.

Of course, at the end of the day I wish Arlovski nothing but the best. And I sincerely wish I could be as optimistic as Greg Jackson is right now when it comes to Arlovski’s future in MMA. But whereas Jackson sees room to grow and has the tools necessary to get in on the ground floor and help right the ship, as a casual observer all I see is a former champion whose skills are beginning to degrade as he enters the twilight of his career. I suppose that’s something that all champions have to go through, and some do handle it a lot better than others, but Arlovski doesn’t seem to be one of those rare individuals. And truly do I wish that it wasn’t that way.

But what about you, fans and friends? Do you agree with me or Greg Jackson, and why?

Defeating some of the best stars his field has had to offer, Kharitonov compiled a 17-4 record before making the transition to Strikeforce and dedicating himself to a pivotal eight-man heavyweight tournament which features some of the best fighters in the weight class. Arguably, the winner of said tourney will be considered the best fighter in the world, and Kharitonov took one huge step towards realizing that dream last weekend.

Kharitonov recorded perhaps one of the more memorable knockout victories under the Strikeforce banner, especially in the heavyweight field. The Russian striker who part-times as a K-1 kickboxer, took on a daunting task as he met with former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski last Saturday in the co-main event of the evening.

The bout was contested for the Grand Prix quarter-finals, and Sergei offered little to the imagination as far as what his intention’s were as soon as he stepped foot inside the cage. The Golden Glory product walked straight forward towards Arlovski, walking through a few strikes in order to look for the opportunity to get in close with Andrei and make it a brawl. Once clinched up, Sergei dirty boxed the Belorussian up close, stinging him with short hooks and uppercuts,. As Arlovski retreated, Kharitonov connected on a lunging right hook that sent “The Pitbull” crashing to the mat. Additional blows on the ground left Andrei unconscious, declaring Sergei, 30, the winner by way of knockout, just a little over two-minutes in the opening round.

Perhaps what was most impressive was the fact that Arlovski was coming off of three losses, and in the early goings looked every bit the man he was in his heyday as the UFC champ, sticking with stinging blows while dodging out of striking distance. Sergei kept his composure and still closed out the show. And for that, Kharitonov has won the unofficial “Knockout of the Night” award.

So, MMA peeps, do you agree with the assessment? Do you think Sergei rightly deserves the KO honors? Sound off in the comment section below.

Showtime clocked in with 1.1 million viewers for the Fedor / Silva fight.  This is a huge number and bodes well for continued support from Showtime and for the growth of Strikeforce.  However, the next round of fights in the Heavyweight tournament will reveal if Strikeforce can keep this level or if this is all due to the lure of Fedor.  While Dana White tweeted a smiley face… As Fedor went down, the UFC does have some competition here.  This heavyweight tournament has gravitas and respect.  White can’t dismiss this group of fighters as second rate.  With Barnett, Overeem, and Kharitonov still alive, the winner of this tournament will have a legitimate claim as best in the world.

Gian Villante has a lot to learn.  Villante lost badly to Chad Griggs in the second fight of the main card.  Villante had been knocking out guys easily in the Ring Of Combat.  Griggs, I would argue, does not have more athletic ability than Villante, but he was not intimidated by the bright lights and showed more conviction and purpose in his action.  Villante, who once told me that he prefers to just “bang”, must appreciate the need to game plan and strategize.  He will not last long, as a 225lb heavyweight, by simply unloading the chamber in the first minute of a fight hoping he lands something worthwhile.  Villante has the firepower to succeed, but does he have the brainpower to sustain a long career.

Andrei Arlovski may be done.  The way he went down, now the fourth time in a row, instantly had me thinking of Chuck Liddell and how his last several fights unfolded and how he seemed to check out on shots which five years earlier would have been absorbed as the fight continued.  It has to be hard to be near the end of a career, when your hand speed and power may still be intact but your chin just can’t defend itself the way it used to.

I hate the entrance staging Strikeforce employs to bring fighters into the cage.  It reeks of Vince McMahon and the WWE.  The cheapo fireworks and the fighters pimping and dancing up on the stage is a big negative.  There is no rule that Strikeforce can’t copy boxing and the UFC, allowing the fighter to enter on the ground floor surrounded by his team and fans.  This latter approach is just so much more authentic to the history of fight sports and just feels more like a true sport and less like an entertainment product.

Two names we should be hearing about for a long time to come.  John Cholish and Shane Del Rosario.  Cholish is the 155lb Cornell bred wrestler who works on Wall St. by day and trains at Renzo Gracie gym by night in Manhattan.  Cholish submitted Marc Stevens in round two his fight.  The 248lb Del Rosario looked composed and multifaceted, as he weathered the storm brought by Lavar Johnson to take the fight to his home base on the mat, to get the arm bar.

How bout it friends?  What was your big take away from last Saturday’s Strikeforce event?

5. Gina Carano announcing her return to Strikeforce.

It’s been rumored to happen for quite some time, and at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”, the woman known as “The Face of Women’s MMA” announced her impending comeback. Carano’s return is sure to guarantee some great fights in the future, and if it ever happens, a rematch with Cristiane Santos would likely earn main event status once again. I think Women’s MMA needs Gina Carano, so I can’t wait to see how she handles her comeback.

4. Shane del Rosario trapping and tapping Lavar Johnson.

Shane del Rosario and Lavar Johnson were in the middle of a pretty entertaining stand-up war when the fight ended up going to the ground. In an excellent display of his constantly-improving skills, Shane del Rosario flawlessly transitioned to mount and locked in a tight armbar that Johnson had no choice but to tap to. The win was another important milestone in the continuing evolution of SDR, who once again proved why everyone is probably going to be talking about him a whole lot more before 2011 is through.

3. Chad Griggs and Gian Villante swinging for the fences.

Who doesn’t appreciate a good brawl? I can appreciate and enjoy the finer aspects of the fight game, of course, but at the end of the day, isn’t it just plain fun and exciting to see two men swing for the fences and not back down until one goes out? Chad Griggs seemed to be the polar opposite of the tentative fighter we saw beat Bobby Lashley, and while Chad’s win didn’t have much finesse to it, it perfectly displayed Griggs’ serious punching power and formidable heart. It was a one-round war of attrition, and it was definitely one of the best fights of the night.

2. Sergei Kharitonov crushing Andrei Arlovski.

If you didn’t know who Sergei Kharitonov was before “Fedor vs. Silva”, you certainly know now. Sergei gave fans a rude awakening when he put Andrei Arlovski to sleep. Sergei didn’t seem the least bit hurt by Andrei’s punches, he held his own very well, and when the opportunity presented itself, Kharitonov had the kind of killer instinct necessary to quite possibly make a deep run in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, despite the fact that he’s still a “dark horse” candidate. Even though it broke my heart to see Andrei lifelessly gazing up at the lights again, there’s no doubt that this KO was one of the best moments of the night.

But of course, the number one spot just has to go to…

1. Antonio Silva stopping Fedor Emelianenko.

Even if Fedor Emelianenko chooses not to retire coming off of this loss to “Bigfoot”, I truly think we witnessed the end of an era when Silva stopped Fedor. Fedor simply looked… human. From arguably losing the stand-up battle to having his eye swollen shut and reduced to mush when the fight hit the ground, Fedor was a far cry from his previous years of dominance while Antonio Silva put on the best performance of his life. This is a fight we’ll all be talking about and dissecting for a long, long time. It takes the top spot quite easily.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What are your top/favorite moments from “Fedor vs. Silva”?

Next for Valentijn Overeem: I think it’s still a fair question to ask how much Valentijn has left in his tank. He beat someone who’s completely clueless on the ground with a submission that anyone half-decent knows how to break. Nevertheless, he certainly seemed to be holding his own while standing. If “Oldereem” does end up replacing an injured Heavyweight Grand Prix participant, I honestly don’t see him making it past his first fight in the official tournament.

Next for Andrei Arlovski: Retirement. I hate to say it, but at this point it’s better to go out with whatever dignity you have left than to follow in the footsteps of people like Tim Sylvia, finding steady work on the regional circuit but never coming anywhere close to capturing your former fame. With this loss, his third stunning KO loss in his four most recent fights, Arlovski has now officially become an after-thought in the Heavyweight division. As a fan of Arlovski, there’s only so many times I can bear seeing him lifeless on the floor with that glazed look in his eyes. It’s time to pack it in.

Next for Sergei Kharitonov: With his dominating performance over Andrei Arlovski, Kharitonov has now officially become many people’s “dark horse favorite”, including mine. I think Kharitonov does have a chance, however slim, to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. It will all depend on who he faces next: if it’s Brett Rogers, that’s an awesome brawl and I have both men dead even. If it’s Josh Barnett, Barnett’s wrestling will be a formidable (though not impossible) challenge for Kharitonov. Either way, it’s going to be an interesting next couple of fights for Sergei and his new fans.

Next for Fedor Emelianenko: I honestly don’t know, and I suppose this is the question that everyone wants answered. I certainly don’t want him to retire, but I could understand why he did if he chooses to do so. Regardless, I still consider Fedor Emelianenko the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Two losses at the end of a brilliant career should not diminish the incredible victories Fedor has on his record. If this really is the end, I guess all that’s left to say is “thanks for the memories”.

Next for Antonio Silva: With this win over Fedor, Antonio Silva has finally achieved his dream: he is now unquestionably a top-division Heavyweight fighter. It’s been a long and slow journey up the ranks, but Silva has grown from humble beginnings as a “freakshow fighter” and emerged as one of the best Heavyweights on the planet. No matter who Silva ends up fighting next, they’re in for a war. With his crushing victory over Fedor Emelianenko, Silva is now on the short-list of the most likely candidates to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think is next for the winners and losers of Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”?

Antonio Silva defeats Fedor Emelianenko by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 3. Sergei Kharitonov defeats Andrei Arlovski by KO (Strikes) at 2:49 of Round 1. Shane Del Rosario defeats Lavar Johnson by Submission (Armbar) at 4:31 of Round 1. Chad Griggs defeats Gian Villante by TKO (Strikes) at 2:49 of Round 1. Valentijn Overeem defeats Ray Sefo by Submission (Neck Crank) at 1:37 of Round 1. John Cholish defeats Marc Stevens by Sumbission (Kneebar) 3:57 of Round 2. Igor Gracie defeats John Salgado by Submission (Arm Triangle) at 3:04 of Round 2. Sam Oropeza defeats Don Carlo-Clauss by Verbal Submission (Strikes) at 4:10 of Round 1. Josh LaBerge defeats Anthony Leone by TKO (Cut Stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 1. Jason Maclean defeats Kevin Roddy by Split Decision.

I really enjoyed the three reserve bouts that started off the evening, and I think it’s a testament to Strikeforce’s booming nature that so many of their main card fights are ending via stoppage. It appears that Valentijn Overeem does have some gas left in the tank, while Chad Griggs looked infinitely more impressive in his win over Gian Villante than he did when he defeated Bobby Lashley. And then we saw the continuing evolution of Shane del Rosario. While I hope that no one in the main Heavyweight Grand Prix gets injured, the quality of the reserve bouts leads me to believe that we may still be in for some very interesting fights if any of the major players do have to pull out.

It broke my heart to see Andrei Arlovski get knocked out again. It’s hard to see a fighter you once really enjoyed watching continue to stumble again and again. At this point, I just don’t want to see Arlovski get knocked out again. I understand that he’s still immensely popular and that he can probably find fights for the next several years based on his popularity alone. But I just don’t want him to. My knee-jerk reaction, which I’m sure I’ll contemplate a lot in the next several days, is that Andrei Arlovski may be better off retiring.

And in the main event, we saw what could be the end of Fedor Emelianenko. A close first round was followed by a dominant round by “Bigfoot” that seemed to sap all the will out of Fedor. I don’t know who would have won if the fight had gone a third round, but I suppose that doesn’t really matter anymore. Like the loss to Arlovski, I’m heartbroken that one of my favorite fighters lost and lost in a big way.

I honestly don’t know where Fedor goes from here. As a fan, I certainly don’t want him to retire. But looking at it honestly and openly, I could see why he would. If this was the final time we see Fedor Emelianenko compete, at least he went out with the heart and determination that made him a champion. There’s not an ounce of quit in Fedor Emelianenko, and he remained active until the end. No excuses and no regrets: thank you, Fedor.

While I’m pretty sad that two of my favorite fighters won’t be able to continue in this Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, I think this show was the colossal success that it needed to be. Once again, every single one of the main card fights ended via stoppage. Every fight had something to offer, every fight was exciting. Regardless of who wins, this is going to be an utterly amazing tournament.

And what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of “Fedor vs. Silva”?

For preliminary action you can check out HdNet at 7:30pm EST, and for the main-card fighters, tune into Showtime, beginning at 10pm EST.

Preliminary fights (HdNet):

-Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy (145-pounds)

Round 1: Kevin Roddy gets brownie points from me by coming out to Korn. Don’t judge me. Inside low kicks traded by both men in early action. Low kicks are landing for McLean. Uppercut misses for Roddy. Kevin catches a kick and works McLean to the cage, then breaks away. Roddy continuing to paw away with the jab. Tentative first few moments of action here. And just as I say that Roddy storms through with a flurry and throws a high kick, though it’s deflected. McLean lands a solid takedown in the final moments of the round. 10-9 for Roddy based on aggressiveness.

Round 2: High kick again for Roddy deflected. A four punch combo lands for Kevin, however Jason takes it well. It looks like McLean is having a hard time with the reach advantage, with Roddy continuing to extend the jab and land some solid low kicks. McLean answer with a flurry, though there’s little there. Roddy catches the shorter fight with a kick to the boys and the action is halted temporarily. “Oh’s” resonate in the arena once the replay airs. McLean drops Roddy with a stunning right hook. Kevin regains his composure and scrambles to get back to his feet. Straight to the body lands for McLean, followed by an overhand right. McLean catches another low kick at the bell, however takes the round 10-9.

Round 3: Anybody’s fight at this point. High kick misses again for Roddy who’s missing the shorter McLean. He should abandon them at this point. Right hook lands for Jason, who goes for a takedown. In a scramble, Roddy lands on top in half-guard. Roddy mounts and unleashes some great ground and pound. Roddy takes his back and is fishing for a rear-naked choke. Jason is defending well. McLean rolls him over and Roddy quickly throws up an arm bar, though he doesn’t have enough time. Fighters.com scores the round for Roddy 10-9, and 29-28 for the fight.

Official Result: Jason McLean takes a split-decision (29-28, 28-29, and 29-28)

-Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone (145-pounds)

Round 1: Again, brownie points are awarded to Leone for his choice of the classic “Notorious B.I.G” as his walkout anthem. Anthony feeling the love from the crowd here, as the New York native. Hard low kick lands for LaBerge. Another one catches Leone’s attention. Both men jockey for position against the cage, and eventually break away. Boo’s from the crowd wake up these featherweights, as they exchange in a quick flurry. Leone beginning to work in low kicks. Anthony initiates a takedown and catches a nice kneefollowed up by some hard hammer fists from Laberge. Leone is bleeding bad, however secures LaBerge’s back and scores the takedown. He settles in half-guard and eventually works to side-mount. Looks like he’s just holding for position here so far. Fighters.com scores the first round to Laberge, 10-9, based on damage.

Round 2: Doctor’s are taking a good look at Leone and his nasty cut, which appears to be on the bridge of his nose. Could be broken, and they stop the fight.

Official Result: Rd. 1 at 5:00 TKO/Doctors Stoppage, winner LaBerge.

-Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza (155-pounds)

Round 1: Don Carlo extremely reminiscent of UFC fighter Clay Guida with his robust mane of hair. “The Carpenter” would be proud. Oropeza the crowd favorite here. Sam works Carlo to the cage and works in some short punches to the body and knees as well before breaking away. Spinning back fist BARELY misses for Oropeza. Sam looking much more fluid on his feet, looking to pick his spots and bouncing around on his toes. Solid hook to the body lands for Sam. Don Carlo continues to trudge in with hooks though nothing lands. A high kick from Orpeza catches Carlo with his knee as he’s diving on a takedown. Sam follows him to the ground, takes his back and unleashes a heavy dose of ground-and-pound. Referee has seen enough and calls a halt to the bout.

Official Result: Sam Orpeza defeats Carlo via TKO at 4:10 of the opening round.

-Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado (170-pounds)

Round 1: These fighters are on the money tonight. Salgado walks out to Rage Against the Machine, my man. Igor gets a load ovation from the crowd. Igor presses Salgado against the cage, eats a knee however takes John’s back and hoists him for a ride, slamming him to the canvas. Igor immediately works to the back and searches for a rear-naked choke. Salgado defending well so far, and the Brazilian has a body triangle cinched up. Igor still hunting for that neck, though Salgado will not let up. The crowd boos the inactivity. Round ends with the Gracie fighter mounted and landing a few blows, though none of them “telling”. 10-9 for Igor.

Round 2: Low kicks traded early before Igor takes Salgado back to the ground with ease. Igor jockeys for position on the ground before transitioning to full mount very smoothly. Short punches to the body land for the New Yorker. Salgado scrambles and is in half-guard, however only momentarily before the Igor has him mounted yet again. He’s looking for an arm-triangle choke from the mount, before transitioning to side-mount to tighten the hold. Looks deep. And before you know it, Salgado is left unconscious on the mat. Fight’s over.

Official Result: Igor Gracie submits Salgado with an arm-triangle choke in Round 2, at 3:04.

-John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens (155-pounds)

Round 1: Stevens gets a warm reception from a responsive New York supportive crowd. This marks his first apperance inside the cage since his stint on “The Ultimate Fighter”. His opponent Cholish earns my respect with his Beastie Boys walkout tunes. John has the crowd on his side, as he is a product of the Renzo Gracie academy. A knee to the head prompts Stevens to shoot in, however is out muscled to the ground by Cholish, who settles in full guard. Cholish fishes for a guillotine choke early, the crowd roars as we all know Stevens’ problems with the particular submission in the past. John pushes away and lands some good strikes on the ground before Marc stand back to his feet. Cholish has Marc in a Muay Thai plumb, landing knees to the body, though Marc deflects most of them. Back in the center, Stevens looks for a high kick, but nothing there. John takes Marc down again, and this time ends up in side mount. Stevens regains half-guard, however Cholish is out working him on top with short punches and superior position. 10-9 Cholish, handily at that.

Round 2: A low kick early from Stevens is answered by another takedown by the Renzo Gracie protege. Short hooks on top from Cholish. Stevens looks for a triangle, though John shrugs it off and settles in half-guard. Cholish brings Marc’s head against the cage, and begins opening up with hooks to the head. Pace slows and the Referee stands them up. Kick to the body lands for Cholish. Marc catches a leg and takes Cholish down. In a scramble, John secures a leg and quickly forces a tap from a knee bar. Good stuff from Cholish, looking super impressive in his organizational debut.

Official Result: Second round Knee Bar submission 3:57

-Ray Sefo vs. Valentijn Overeem (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Round 1: Over hand right from Overeem countered by quick right hand from Sefo. Ray quick with the jab early on, keeping Valentijn at bay for the time being. Valentijn shoots and scores a takedown and has him pinned against the cage in side mount. Overeem immediately begins working Sefo’s neck, and with more brute strength then technique submits the Xtreme Couture product with a neck-crank in less than two-minutes in.

Official Result: Valentijn submits Sefo at 1:37 of the opening round with a neck-crank.

-Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Yves Lavigne the third man in the cage as the next heavyweight contest is underway. Clinch early with Griggs getting the better of the exchange with some sharp hooks on the inside. Gian answers with knees to the body. Fast pace early on from the heavyweight, who would have known? Both men throwing everything but the kitchen sink at each other. Griggs drops Villante with a right hook swung from the hip. Gian works back to his feet and is dropped again with a right hand. Some more punches follow, but it’s all academic. Extremely exciting performance turned in by Chad.

Official Result: Chad Griggs earns the TKO win at 2:49 of the opening round.

-Lavar Johsnon vs. Shane Del Rosario (heavyweight reserve bout)

Round 1: Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre for Johnson, good on you, sir. Punches traded early and Del Rosario clinches quickly and presses Johnson against the cage. Johnson scores the trip takedown and Rosario is on his back. They work back up the feet and Shane fires off a high kick. Johnson lands a good knee to the head followed by a strong hook to the body. Back against the cage, Shane is landing short hooks to the body then a knee high, though it misses the mark. High kick rocks Johnson and he clinches with Shane who later works the American Kickboxing Academy product to the mat, and quickly mounts. Ground and pound from up top scores for Del Rosario. Shane works for an arm bar from mount, locks it up and forces the tap.

Official Result: Del Rosario submits Johnson via arm bar at 4:31 of the first-round, keeping his undefeated record intact.

-Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight grand prix quarter-final match)

Round 1: Russians flags galore as Sergei makes his way to the cage. Arlovski has the loudest applause this evening, with nearly everyone applauding him with a standing ovation. When you have your own walk out song dedicated to you, you know you’ve made it (Arlovski). Andrei looks extremely focused, but only time will tell if his demeanor will hold up. A high kick from Arlovski and a quick right hand land flush. Short uppercuts on the inside from “The Pitbull”. Sergei stalking the Belorussian, though has only landed some punches to the body. And just like that, Sergei lands a vicious combination against the cage, rocking Arlovski with a right hook. He’s relentless. He follows up with a barrage of strikes eventually dropping the former heavyweight champion. Additional blows leave Andrei out cold. Sergei makes an impressive Strikeforce debut with the vicious knockout, and hands Arlovski his fourth straight loss.

Official Result: Sergei defeats Andrei 2:49 of the first-round via knockout. With the win, Kharitonov now moves onto the semi-finals of the tournament and will face the winner of Josh Barnett/Brett Rogers.

-Antontio Silva vs. Fedor Emelianenko (heavyweight grand prix quarter-final bout)

Round 1: Scratch that. Fedor receives a ruckus ovation from the crowd here in East Rutherford. It’s obvious here who the crowd favorite is. Dan Margliotta is the third man in the cage, and he’ll need to be against these two hard hitting bruisers. Silva pawing away with a jab while Fedor wades in with hooks. Antonio tests the chin early with a big right hand, but Emelianeko is un-phased. Another right hand lands for “The Last Emperor” and he clinches, though Silva muscles him against the cage. Referee separates them and they meet back in the center. Both men winging punches, and Fedor doing his best Anderson Silva impression by bobbing and weaving out of the way. Antonio presses Fedor against the cage. Fedor holds on to a guillotine choke, and “Big Foot” pulls him to the ground. Fedor in half-guard searches for a kimura, though Silva uses the momentum to work back to his feet where he meets the Russian with a big right hand. Slugging against the cage, Silva eventually works the former PRIDE champion to the ground. Round ends with the Brazilian on top with a late takedown. Silva 10-9.

Round 2: Silva scores a takedown early and immediately settles into half-guard. Like a blanket the Brazilian is smothering Emelianenko. You can really see the size difference when both men are locked up on the ground togethor. Silva works to side mount, and eventually mounts the Russian. He takes his back briefly, but Fedor is surviving. Heavy ground and pound on top and it looks like Margliotta could be close to stopping this. Fedor surviving and Silva locks up an arm triangle choke. It looks deep, but the Russian survives. He’s still in this, and is looking to ride out the clock as Silva settles in half-guard again. Silva drops back for a knee bar, Fedor escapes and looks for one of his own, and the Brazilian reminds everyone he’s okay as he waves “no” to the crowd. Fight’s over. Fedor took some serious damage in that second-round and his right eye is swollen shut.

Official Result: Silva wins via TKO/Doctors Stoppage at 5:00 in the second-round. Antonio will now move on to the semi-finals and will face the winner between Alistair Overeem/Fabricio Werdum.

Here’s what Kharitonov had to say over at MMA Fighting: “To be honest with you, it’s OK for me not to get all the attention… I understand I haven’t fought in the United States since 2007… So people don’t know me right now, but that’s OK. I’d rather not get the attention until I do something to deserve it… I’d like to fight as often as possible whether it’s MMA or boxing or sambo… In fact, I’d rather fight every month if I can.”

For those who need a quick refresher course, here’s all the relevant information you’ll need to know about Sergei Kharitonov as he heads into his battle with Andrei Arlovski on February 12.

Kharitonov has been fighting in MMA since 2000, and has amassed a record of 17-4, with eight (T)KO’s, eight submissions, and one decision victory. He’s been (T)KO’d twice, submitted once, and lost via decision once. Kharitonov is 1-1 in his last two fights, but has won four of his last five. Kharitonov’s last loss was when Jeff Monson submitted him in April 2009. Kharitonov last competed (and won) when he TKO’d Tatsuya Mizuno on the New Year’s Eve 2010 super-show “DYNAMITE!! 2010”.

Kharitonov was most active from 2003 to 2007, amassing impressive victories over Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Murilo Rua, and others. After competing four times in 2005, Sergei only fought twice in 2006 and 2007, then once per year for 2008, 2009, and 2010. Sergei has yet to fully comment on why he was so relatively inactive following some of the biggest wins in his career in 2007, which included a TKO win over current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem.

I honestly don’t know what to think of Sergei Kharitonov. I vaguely recall his fight with Jeff Monson, and to be honest, that version of Kharitonov didn’t impress me in the slightest. Against Tatsuya Mizuno, however, Sergei got back some of his luster and stepped back into his role as a crusher and a destroyer. But Mizuno wasn’t exactly top competition, he held a record of 8-6 before stepping into the ring with Sergei.

But at the end of the day, I think Arlovski is in for a tough test against Kharitonov. Both men are at difficult points in their careers, Kharitonov is basically a non-entity in this tournament while Andrei’s stock in Strikeforce is sinking fast. Whoever wins this fight will have an honest shot at Strikeforce relevancy, and if it’s an exciting fight, either man could emerge as a “dark horse favorite” to win it all. Even though it’s mostly overlooked in favor of the upcoming showdown between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Silva, I really am looking forward to this fight and I hope it reminds fans of what these two men used to be.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on the upcoming showdown between Andrei Arlovski and Sergei Kharitonov?

I don’t think I could ever accurately convey in words how big of a fan I am of Fedor Emelianenko. There are fans, and there are super-fans, and I’ve only ever considered myself a super-fan of two men: Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva. I’ve followed Fedor Emelianenko for a long time, and throughout his entire fighting career he’s never ceased to amaze me. I can’t wait to see him return, because I think these really are the last few years of his career, and I don’t want to see Fedor sitting on the sidelines in contract negotiations when he should be doing what he does best. I think Emelianenko has a great shot of beating Antonio Silva, and I even think Emelianenko could go all the way and win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

But if Fedor does lose, at least he’s losing to someone like Antonio Silva. I’ve disagreed with “Bigfoot” in the past, I’ve even outright called him out on what I felt were some pretty idiotic comments, but I think Silva has really begun to emerge as a world-class fighter. This will be the toughest test of Silva’s career, and if he passes it, I think we as MMA fans have no choice but to accept “Bigfoot” as a top-ranked Heavyweight. My money is on Fedor, but I’d be lying if I said that I think Antonio Silva can’t beat Fedor Emelianenko.

I really wish I had more to say about Andrei Arlovski, but when he falls off the deep end, he falls off hard. Most of the time I really enjoy seeing Andrei Arlovski fight, and I personally think that the buildup leading to his fight with Fedor Emelianenko showed an Arlovski that was on the verge of an epic comeback. But unfortunately, we all know how that fight ended. Now Arlovski’s lost three straight, and I shudder to think what happens to him if Sergei Kharitonov makes it four in a row.

While I don’t think Arlovski would let himself go the same way that Tim Sylvia did, I do think Arlovski would mirror Sylvia and flop around the lower-tier promotions, winning some and yet still losing to fighters that don’t really register on anyone’s radars. It’ll be a sad sight to see, for sure, and I hope that future doesn’t come to fruition. I’ve got no major problems with Sergei Kharitonov, but nevertheless I sincerely hope Arlovski knocks him out. Because as an Arlovski fan, I don’t like imagining the alternative.

Overall, I’m very excited for this show. I think it’s going to be a great night of fights, and it’s going to keep Strikeforce on the hotstreak it’s currently on. I think we’ll see some epic KO’s before the night is through, and I think the Heavyweight Grand Prix will get off to an amazing start. It should be quite an event, so I’ll definitely be tuning in to watch this one.

And there you have it, fans and friends: my “finally final” thoughts on “Fedor vs. Silva”. What about you? Any last thoughts on this show?

Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo: I hate to say this considering how big of an Alistair Overeem fan I am, but Valentijn doesn’t give me a whole lot of reason to believe that he’ll be successful in Strikeforce. I don’t normally judge a book by its cover or judge a fighter solely by his record, but “28-25″ flashes at me like a bright neon sign, telling me that Overeem’s up-and-down career singles him out as a fighter that never fully realized his potential. Sefo will take a KO victory in the second round.

Chad Griggs vs. Gianpiero Villante: Griggs looks to breathe new life into his career and focus more on fighting now that he holds a victory over Bobby Lashley, while Gianpiero Villante simply hopes to make waves in his Strikeforce debut. Both men have only lost once, and both men have a majority of their wins by (T)KO. I’m honestly going to pick Villante to win, since Griggs didn’t impress me at all during his fight with Lashley and seemed to only win because Lashley was gassed out. Villante wins by first-round TKO.

Shane del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson: I’m a semi-fan of Shane del Rosario, and I think this is a big match for him. Rosario shines when the pressure is on, so look for him to continue his unbeaten streak even though Lavar Johnson has the makings of a tough challenge. Johnson has only lost three times in his seven-year career, and is currently on a seven-fight win-streak with all seven wins coming by way of (T)KO. This one may end up becoming the sleeper hit of the night. I’m picking Shane del Rosario to win by submission in the second round after a great first round of action.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov: I don’t think I’ll ever stop being an Andrei Arlovski fan, but even I can admit that the man is more than likely past his prime. It’s been over two years since Arlovski won a fight, although Kharitonov isn’t in the best position either, having taken several long layoffs throughout the recent years and having gone 1-1 in his last two fights. In the end, I think this will be a tough battle, but I just have to go with Arlovski. Andrei Arlovski wins by Unanimous Decision.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: I believe in Fedor Emelianenko. I won’t say “I still believe” because that insinuates that I once thought about no longer believing in him, and that never happened. I think Fedor Emelianenko is going to make his loss to Fabricio Werdum a distant memory by putting on a classic performance against the super-tough Antonio Silva. Emelianenko will duck and dodge, counter at will, and eventually Silva will find himself dazed and confused and on the ground, where Fedor will lock up his favorite and deadliest submission. Fedor Emelianenko wins by Armbar in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? When it comes to “Fedor vs. Silva”, who do you see winning, how, and why?

5. What does “The Other Overeem” have left to give?

It’s tough to be the brother of a more-famous fighter, especially when you’re the older brother with more fights. At “Fedor vs. Silva”, Valentijn Overeem makes his Strikeforce debut only six days before he celebrates his fifteenth year as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. The brother to Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem has had a career that’s been filled with as many ups and downs as his 28-25 record implies. Now that he’s in Strikeforce, does Valentijn really have anything left to offer? It will certainly be interesting to find out.

4. The continuing evolution of Shane del Rosario.

He’s not a known name in Strikeforce just yet, but Shane del Rosario has the potential to be a major player in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight division within the next few years. The man is unbeaten at 10-0 with ten stoppage victories, only one of which has ever escaped the first round. If Rosario wins his reserve bout, he may be the first one Strikeforce gives a call if any of the main fighters get injured. And if that happens, we could be talking about Shane del Rosario a whole lot more before the year is over.

3. Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov should be an amazing brawl.

Both men are “dark horse” picks to win this tournament, but that doesn’t mean that their fight against each other will be bad. Actually, this quite possibly may be the best fight of the night. Combined, these two men hold a total of nineteen wins by (T)KO. Both men are both incredibly motivated to win this fight: if Arlovski loses it’s his fourth loss in a row and it’ll basically signify his removal from Heavyweight relevancy. Kharitonov, meanwhile, is fighting for mainstream MMA relevancy to begin with. At least on paper, this should motivate both fighters to push themselves to new heights and give us a fantastic war.

2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally gets started.

This is an incredibly important milestone for Strikeforce, and if you tune in to watch this show, you’re literally watching history in the making. I believe Strikeforce is strong enough that this tournament isn’t a “make or break” type of deal, but if it lives up to its potential, this will be the largest step Strikeforce has yet taken to emerge as a viable alternative to the juggernaut that is the UFC. Without hyperbole, this one show may set the standard for an entire year’s worth of fights and events. It’s definitely one of the biggest factors to tune in and see what happens.

And the number one reason to look forward to Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva” is…

1. The return of Fedor Emelianenko.

There is only one Fedor Emelianenko, and I (like many) consider him the greatest Mixed Martial Artist ever. And even if you personally don’t, you can’t deny the significance of this match. Does Fedor still have “it”? Can he rebound after such a deflating loss? Is the magic gone, or will his first legitimate loss push Fedor to come back strong and possibly better than ever? Whether you love him or hate him, everyone wants to know what’s left for Fedor, and now we’ll finally get a chance to find out.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”. What about you? As the date draws ever-closer, what are you most looking forward to for this event?

The Event: Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Silva”, scheduled for February 12, 2011 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Select preliminary fights will be shown live on HDNet starting at 8:00 PM ET. The live main card will be broadcast on Showtime starting at 10:00 PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: This event starts off the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, the biggest MMA tournament in ages. Eight of Strikeforce’s best Heavyweight fighters will compete to determine who is the best in the world, with the winner getting a shot at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. This card also features the legendary Fedor Emelianenko as well as major Strikeforce stars like Andrei Arlovski and Antonio Silva.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will step into the Strikeforce cage fully prepared for the toughest test he’s ever been faced with… and that’s exactly what he’ll get. Expect Silva to come on strong and try to beat Fedor Emelianenko, expect Emelianenko to dazzle fans once again with his surprising speed, takedown ability, and powerful hands. It probably won’t last very long, but the pace of this match should be outstanding and it should be an awesome fight in general.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Both Andrei Arlovski and Sergei Kharitonov know where their bread is buttered, and they’ll both step into the Strikeforce cage looking to knock their opponent unconscious. This has a lot of potential to become a wildly entertaining brawl, and a war of attrition that only stops when one man is lying face-down on the canvas and far removed from his senses.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Both the main and co-main event are awesome fights that fully encapsulate just why so many Strikeforce fans can’t wait for this tournament to finally get underway. These are four of the best fighters Strikeforce has to offer, period, regardless of weight class, and they’re fighting each other in match-ups tailor-made to bring out the best in everyone involved. And in addition to all of that, you’ve got three “reserve bout” fights filling the rest of the main card that also feature some solid stars and should also result in several entertaining fights.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: It all comes down to personal preference. Do you still believe in Fedor Emelianenko? Do you think Antonio Silva deserves to be in a main event after coming so close to losing his last fight against a man that normally competes at Light Heavyweight? Do you still enjoy seeing Andrei Arlovski fight, even after all this time and all the KO losses he’s been through? Do you know who Sergei Kharitonov is? Are you o.k. with watching a Showtime card that consists completely of Heavyweight bouts? If you answered “yes” to more than one of those questions, this is the card for you. But if your answers to those questions were a mix of “no” and “maybe”, you might want to pass on this one.

Closing Thoughts: As a huge Strikeforce fan, I’ve spoken at length about my feelings on the Heavyweight Grand Prix. I devoted an entire fourteen-part “maxi series” to my varied picks and predictions, remember? Now that the first date of the tournament is finally almost here, I find myself waiting in excited anticipation. My gut and my heart tells me that this is going to be an awesome show, and I can’t wait to see it.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on “Fedor vs. Silva”?

Saturday’s Strikeforce event in New Jersey offers numerous reasons to plan your night around dialing up Showtime or finding your way in person to the Izod Center.

Strikeforce is clearly making a play to carve out their niche as the home of the heavyweights. The current tournament starting on Saturday offers some the best talent in the division in Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Josh Barnett.  However, I see this sport through the personalities and the rolling state of a fighter’s career and the added drama that brings to the cage … whether one needs a win to revive a career or stave off a second loss in a row to preserve his priceless cache.

Saturday night offers up many of these storylines and more.

Something New: Gian Villante

Villante is a Long Island sports legend.  He was a stud linebacker at Douglas Macarthur High School and a top wrestler in the state during his prep years.  He followed that up as a first team 1-AA linebacker at Hofstra leading to a spot in the New York Jets Training camp.  The NFL ultimately passed on Villante and he turned to MMA.  He quickly started knocking guys out and won the Ring Of Combat Heavyweight title over Strikeforce vet, Mike Cook in early 2010.  Now, the big time beckons, and Saturday night he will face his first national audience test against Chad Griggs.  Villante should pass this test.  Griggs made his name stopping Bobby Lashley, but the weight of Viallante’s overall athletic talent should be too much.

Something Old: Andrei Arlovski

Why did Arlovski leave the UFC after beating Jake O’Brien?  Was it career suicide?  It appears he chased the cash signing with the short-lived Affliction organization.  After two post UFC wins, Arlovski skidded with three straight losses, most recently to Big-Foot Silva last year.  Arlovski is still one the best boxers in the heavyweight class and carries loads of talent.   Can Arlovski recapture his earlier form?  If he can’t pass Sergei Kharitonov his career could be in the lower leagues if he chooses to carry on at all.  Arlovski carries a big name in MMA, but can the fumes of former glory carry this fight, or has he truly returned to peak form?

Fedor:

One word.  It evokes fear, adulation, respect, honor, but also now carries a question mark it.  Before his last fight and loss, the word “Fedor” also meant “invincible” to most MMA watchers.  However, Fedor Emelianenko must now do something he has not had to do in a long time.  He has to not just dazzle, but prove his last lost, via triangle choke to Fabricio Werdum, was an aberration and not a sign the legend’s best days are past.  If Fedor comes through this event, he will again be touted as the best fighter pound for pound on the planet and the mystique will be back.   Question? If Fedor wins this tournament is there any chance his M-1 Global management returns to negotiating with Dana White and the UFC.  After this tournament, there would be nothing left for Fedor to do but go the UFC.  MMA fanatics can only dream.

—

What up folks.  Why are you going to watch Strikeforce on Saturday?

Let’s start with the meat of this post: what follows is a listing of all fourteen parts of the “Heavy Wait” series, and below that, individual links to each and every article. So without further ado…

Heavy Wait Part 1: What Will Happen If The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Lives Up To Its Potential

Heavy Wait Part 2: What I Like The Most About The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Heavy Wait Part 3: What I Dislike About The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Heavy Wait Part 4: What Fedor Emelianenko Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 5: What Antonio Silva Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 6: What Alistair Overeem Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 7: What Fabricio Werdum Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 8: What Andrei Arlovski Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 9: What Sergei Kharitonov Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 10: What Josh Barnett Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 11: What Brett Rogers Needs To Do In Order To Win It All

Heavy Wait Part 12: Top 5 Dream Matches For The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Heavy Wait Part 13: Why Alistair Overeem Will Win The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Heavy Wait Part 14: My Final Thoughts On The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

And now, for a few final comments.

It’s recently been announced that each tournament bout will have three five-minute rounds, and that the winner is effectively competing for a shot at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. So, in a nutshell, Alistair Overeem is competing to win his own championship, and if he loses, whoever beats him will have to beat him again. I know some fans are already shouting “typical Strikeforce” at this rather confusing turn of events, but to be completely honest, I’d rather have a tournament with some slightly confusing rules and some unfair possible outcomes rather than no tournament at all. I can’t say this is the most ideal situation, but I’m not going to pretend like it’s the end of the world either. I’m still going to watch this one with vested interested, and I’m still really looking forward to seeing all of Strikeforce’s best Heavyweights fight each other.

If I could pick one Strikeforce Heavyweight that’s in the reserves to make it into the official tournament, it’d be Shane del Rosario. Of course, I hope no one gets injured so that we, the MMA fans, can get the dream matches we all want to see. But if it has to be anybody, I’d like it to be him. I’m very impressed with the man and I think he has the potential to be a real threat in the Strikeforce Heavyweight division in the next few years. He probably wouldn’t win the tournament, but if he did get into the main tournament he’d fight tooth and nail and with every fiber of his being, and that would surely make for some very interesting and entertaining bouts.

So, that’s it fans and friends! One final time, I’d like to thank all of you who gave “Heavy Wait” a read. As always, I just have to ask: what about you? Any last opinions?

The main event of the evening will pit for PRIDE heavyweight champion and all around mixed martial arts legend Fedor Emelianenko as he takes on former EliteXC titleholder Antonio Silva.

Along with heavy-handed stars, Strikeforce has now released the full-main card lineup with six additional fighters set to be featured on the Showtime broadcast.

The quarter-finals are set to begin first at the IZOD center on Feb. 12 first with former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski taking on PRIDE and K-1 veteran Sergei Kharitonov, with Emelianenko and Silva set to headline the N.J. event.

Additional heavyweight’s will be featured on the Showtime broadcast, though not officially part of the stellar Grand Prix, they may have a chance to vie for a spot in the tournament should a fighter fall out due to injury.

Chad Griggs who defeated Bobby Lashley in his last appearance in Strikeforce will be featured in a special reserve match with 7-1 Gian Villante.

An Overeem–not the Overeem–will be making his debut inside the cage as Valentijn will take on former kickboxing world champion Ray Sefo in a reserve match as well. Valentijn was scheduled to make his debut in the organization last December against Antonio Silva however bowed out due to injury and Mike Kyle stepped up to the plate. Overeem counts Randy Couture amongst his 16 career submission victories. Sefo is a perfect 2-0 since transitioning to MMA.

Finally a special attraction which will pit two stars from the Strikeforce Challenger Series will also go down at the IZOD center as Lavar Johnson takes on Shane Del Rosario. Johnson survived a brutal shooting in 2009 and was left in critical condition however survived to fight another day, and has gone 2-0 in 2010, both knockouts. Del Rosario remains undefeated in his career, and is currently 5-0 with the San Jose based promotion and is coming off of an impressive first-round TKO over Hawaiian striker Lolohea Mahe last July.

The full lineup in it’s order is as follows:

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva (quarter-final)
Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov (quarter-final)
Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson (reserve match)
Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo (reserve match)
Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante (reserve match)

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the full lineup? East coast, buy your tickets. Sound off in the comment section below.

I’ll start off with this: I’m a Strikeforce fan for several reasons, and I wish them nothing but the best when it comes to this tournament. Writing so much about this tournament has really helped me figure out just why I’m looking forward to it so much, because as I’ve said in the past, I’m incredibly hopeful about this tournament. If I had to narrow it down to one single sentence, it’d be this: I love the idea of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix because it’s wonderfully simplistic.

It’s as simple as this: Strikeforce has a fantastic roster of Heavyweight fighters, and now they’re all going to fight each other. It sounds so simple on paper, but anyone with even a small knowledge of how promoting works knows that the simplest ideas are usually the hardest ones to put together. I know some fans are thinking the following: everyone wants to see these guys fight each other, why is it so difficult to get them to fight each other? To which I say: there are a lot of reasons, and in fact, the situation is far more complicated than most can even imagine.

I absolutely do not believe that this tournament was easy to put together. I think it took a lot of careful negotiating, I think Strikeforce had to navigate some very difficult political waters to put this all together. But they did, it’s happening, and I couldn’t be happier. We’re getting what we want, we’re practically guaranteed some of the best, most interesting Heavyweight fights since the fall of the legendary PRICE FC promotion, and for that we should all be both incredibly thankful and incredibly hopeful. I sure am.

I know I could be criticized of sugar-coating this tournament and blowing its appeal out of proportion, but is it really so bad to get my hopes up? In a medium filled with journalists and fans that routinely and almost-exclusively focus on the negative, shouldn’t someone out there bring a little positivity to the mix? I’m not saying that we should be all “sugar and rainbows” when it comes to everything, since controversial topics do need to be examined and critical thinking can lead to progress. But negativity for the sake of negativity just leaves everyone feeling like crap.

If you’ve followed me at all during my time writing for fighters.com, you know that I absolutely do not shy away from a controversial topic, and that I’ve had a strong negative reaction to several stories and/or controversies in the past. But that’s more about me not having a problem loudly stating and vigorously defending my opinion, rather than me being a negative person. You can call me an aspiring journalist, an opinion columnist, a blogger, or any number of other terms that describe a person that does what I do, and many of you have called me all manner of four-letter words, but first and foremost, I consider myself an MMA fan.

And the MMA fan in me knows that this will be an amazing tournament.

So I think it’s time we all live a little, fans and friends. Let’s get our hopes up and believe that this tournament will fully live up to its potential. There’s always the chance that it won’t, but just this once, let’s all remember what brought us here in the first place: amazing fights that feature incredibly gifted individuals. I love the idea of this tournament. I can’t wait to see it happen. I believe in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. And so should you.

And finally, I’d simply like to thank everyone that’s followed “Heavy Wait”. I’ve had a lot of fun writing this fourteen-part “maxi-series”, and I’m very thankful that it’s gotten the kind of attention and reaction that it has. So whether you agree or disagree with anything I’ve said throughout these long articles, I’d just like to say: thanks for reading.

And that’s it, fans and friends! “Heavy Wait: The Hunt For Strikeforce Gold” has reached its official conclusion. So, for one last time, here’s my question: what about you? What are your feelings on the Heavyweight Grand Prix? And now that it’s all over, what did you think of “Heavy Wait”?

5. Sergei Kharitonov vs. Brett Rogers

Just imagine the potential of this match if it turns into a brawl. Brett has a good chin, even though he’s been TKO’d twice recently. Once was due to a huge counter, another was due to some dominant ground control. A close-quarters brawl favors neither outcome, instead, slugging it out is where Brett seems to shine brightest. This one would be bloody and brutal, neither man would give an inch and eventually someone would fall face-first to the mat. But not before we got an incredibly wild brawl that would probably end up being a highlight of entire tournament.

4. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett

It’s the match that pretty much killed a promotion, and for several reasons I’d love to see Fedor take on Barnett. These two have a long history that spans all the way back to the PRIDE FC promotion, and after the beating Fedor gave Andrei Arlovski back in 2009, many at the time thought that Josh Barnett was one of the last credible threats to Fedor Emelianenko’s unquestioned dominance. Even though it was one of the chief contributing factors to the fall of the short-lived Affliction promotion, this is one fight I’d thoroughly enjoy seeing even with its somewhat morbid backstory.

3. Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett

This is another Affliction-inspired match that I hope sees the light of day. Before Barnett/Fedor there was Barnett/Arlovski, the fight was scrapped due to low ticket sales for the planned Affliction event this fight was supposed to headline. Still, this fight has a lot of potential for many different reasons. First and foremost, it should end up being a wildly entertaining brawl between two veterans that are known for their fierce determination and heart. For that reason alone, I’m already looking forward to this match and really hoping that it ends up happening.

2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum

I’m trying to think of a bigger rematch in MMA that could possibly be put together, and nothing comes close to Emelianenko/Werdum 2. It doesn’t get much better than seeing the second chapter of the most unexpected rivalry in MMA history. Can Werdum do the seemingly-impossible once again? Or will Fedor’s previous years of flawless performances return in full force? It’s the rematch that everyone wants to see, and that definitely includes me.

But my top pick simply has go to go to…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem

It seems as if this is the one bout that just about everyone is universally looking forward to, and I just can’t help but join in on the festivities. In this bout, we see someone who I consider the greatest Heavyweight fighter of all time (and the greatest MMA fighter of all time, period) face the man that I and many others are predicting will dominate the Heavyweight rankings for years to come. There’s just too much to look forward to in this match: how will Fedor’s chin hold up to Overeem’s hands? Will Overeem’s K-1 prestige keep Fedor’s deceptively deadly striking at bay? Who wins this one on the ground? Without a doubt in my mind and without an ounce of hyperbole, I think this fight could end up being one of the greatest MMA fights of all time. It takes the number one spot quite easily.

So that’s one part down and two to go as we count down to the finale of “Heavy Wait”, fans and friends. As always, I just have to ask: what about you? Play matchmaker for a bit and let me know: what fights do you hope to see happen?

In a new interview with MMA Junkie, “The Pitbull” recently shared the following sentiments: “I just (need to) train hard and be focused, and don’t do mistakes that I did before… I have to be ready. I have to correct my workouts… I’m one point down to Russia, and Emelianenko beat me, so I have to get a victory. It’s going to be Belarus one, Russia one.”

Even though the man has been met with some very hard times recently, I’ve never shied away from the fact that I’m an Andrei Arlovski fan. Arlovski remains an incredibly humble athlete who seems very appreciative of all that MMA has given him, even during this recent tough period. Arlovski remains an incredibly popular fighter, with a very dedicated fanbase that has seen him through thick and thin. Despite his recent, deflating losses, I’m still proud to be one of those fans.

But I’m also a realist, and the realist in me knows that Arlovski is a longshot to win this Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. To start, it’s filled with guys that have already beaten him, some of them in dramatic fashion. Consider this: three people in this tournament (Brett Rogers, Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Silva) have beaten Arlovski before. Two people in this tournament are known for their heavy-handed KO power (Sergei Kharitonov and Alistair Overeem), and that’s a big problem for a man that’s been KO’d six times in eight professional losses. That only leaves Josh Barnett, a high-level threat that’s a danger to anyone despite his numerous controversies, and Fabricio Werdum, who Arlovski does hold a victory over.

But anything can happen in MMA, right? Arlovski fans know that Andrei can come back against near-impossible odds. He went on to avenge his first two-fight losing streak by winning six straight fights, all by (T)KO or submission, and becoming the UFC Heavyweight Champion. He then avenged his next two-fight losing-streak by winning five straight fights, with four coming by way of (T)KO. Who’s to say he can’t break this three-fight losing-streak just as spectacularly and win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

Sure, that outcome may not be as likely as some of heavily-picked favorites (Fedor and Overeem, chiefly) winnings it all, but don’t tell me I can’t hope for a comeback. Arlovski is still a marketable star, time and time again he’s gotten one of the largest reactions of the night whenever he fights. He’s still a feared striker, eleven of his fifteen career wins have come by some form of (T)KO. He’s fallen on hard times, sure, but a three-fight losing-streak isn’t a death sentence for a former UFC Heavyweight Champion that’s been facing top-of-the-world competition for the last several years running.

I’m not saying Arlovski will win it all, I’m just saying that it’s always darkest before the dawn. I look forward to seeing Arlovski compete, and a part of me does indeed hope that he’ll eventually emerge the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner. But what about you, fans and friends? What do you think Arlovski’s chances are in the tournament?

And don’t forget, this section of “Heavy Wait” follows a modified “Top 5” format.

Fedor Emelianenko: Don’t even try to throw haymakers, Fedor’s counter-striking is too good. Don’t take it to the ground, either, Fedor has too many submission options. Brett’s best bet is to smother Fedor against the cage, and when that happens, Brett needs to knee Fedor’s gut and try to bust him open with short-arm punches, even elbows. I just don’t see Brett KO’ing Fedor, so Brett would be best served to “embrace the grind”, as the saying goes.

Antonio Silva: The giant likes to brawl, I say: give him that brawl. Dig those heels in, load up with the power punches, and have at it. Silva’s long arms mean that his punches hurt no matter where they’re thrown, but they hurt the most when he swings them from afar. Brett needs to close the distance and dirty-box with Silva. He should try to take Silva to the ground at least once, just to see if he can control the big man and dish out some Ground and Pound. It’s going to be a down-and-dirty fight, Rogers will do best if he embraces that fact.

Alistair Overeem: Do not, absolutely do not allow Alistair Overeem the chance to close the distance and grapple. Overeem is a monster Heavyweight, but his chin is not made of granite. Rogers needs room to throw, because if it becomes a close-quarters brawl, Overeem’s K-1 background will be too much to handle. “The Grim” should use jabs to create distance, he shouldn’t leg kick because he doesn’t want to risk being taken down, and when Overeem tries to rush in and engage, Rogers needs to counter quickly and move away if Overeem’s chin holds up. If he keeps this strategy in mind, eventually Rogers can clip Overeem in an exchange and get the TKO.

Fabricio Werdum: I think the key to victory here will be if Rogers can land damaging shots without telegraphing them. If Werdum gets too comfortable with Brett’s rhythm, he’ll be able to counter Brett, and eventually one of those counters will involve a takedown. Rather than headhunt, Rogers should land cumulative damage to all areas of the body, softening Werdum up for a late-round TKO. Going for the brilliant KO may have brought Rogers to the dance, but it opens him up to far too many negative outcomes if he tries it against someone as versatile and tough as Werdum.

Andrei Arlovski: Andrei will be too focused on not letting history repeat itself, so if he shows up in any proper shape to fight, Rogers shouldn’t immediately bull-rush and hope that lightning strikes twice. Not now, not after he’s lost two straight by TKO. What Brett needs to do is pace himself and, although it goes against his nature, look to take this fight to the ground. With Arlovski’s outright abandonment of the ground game in his recent fights, Rogers would be best served taking Arlovski down, controlling him on the ground with his power and bulk, and then dishing out some brutal Ground and Pound until Arlovski’s lights are once again turned out.

Sergei Kharitonov: In a way, my thoughts on Rogers’ strategy against Kharitonov is very similar to the strategy I think he should use against Antonio Silva. If Sergei wants to brawl, Brett should meet him in the middle of the cage and start slugging it out. But if Sergei switches modes and instead tries to tactfully take out “The Grim”, Rogers should also change up his gameplan and focus on the ground game. Even if he’s not successful with his takedown attempts, it’ll bring both men right back into a close-quarters exchange, and that should favor Rogers.

Josh Barnett: The key to victory here is pretty simple: counter often, don’t get taken down, and don’t get lured into a brawl. Make no mistake, Rogers should still look for the (T)KO, but Josh Barnett fights best when he’s in a bloody brawl. It brings out his killer instinct and warrior spirit, so if Rogers wants to make a definitive statement, he needs to try to counter-KO Barnett instead of slugging it out and seeing which one of their chins holds up, because nothing short of a straight KO will take Barnett out after he gets fired up.

And so that wraps up the eleventh entry into the “Heavy Wait” series, fans and friends. Check back tomorrow for the three-part finale! And what do you think? What does Brett Rogers have to do to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

As always, this portion of “Heavy Wait” follows a modified “Top 5” format.

Fedor Emelianenko: Damn the consequences and go for broke. If Fedor wants to strike, start striking. If he wants to make it a ground war, follow him to the ground and try to get the best of him. There’s no one perfect way to beat Fedor Emelianenko, but Barnett can afford to take chances and play Fedor’s games until one man comes out with the clear advantage. Barnett has the heart, will, and skill to beat Fedor Emelianenko, so for this fight, it all comes down to Barnett’s physical and mental preparation. If he trains like this is the biggest fight of his life and fights like this is the biggest fight of his life, he’s got a shot.

Antonio Silva: I think effective cage control is Barnett’s best bet for taking out “Bigfoot”. Barnett needs to shove Silva against the cage and keep him there, peppering him with knees and punches until Silva inevitably shoves Barnett off of him. Constantly using his strength to push Barnett away will both tire out and frustrate Silva, and he’ll likely start headhunting. If Barnett can avoid any flurries and continue to close the distance, he should be able to dirty-box his way towards a very convincing Unanimous Decision victory.

Alistair Overeem: I think Barnett’s best shot of winning is to figure out what Overeem wants to do and then counter that. He may lose some points or even a round adopting this reactionary gameplan, but it’s realistically one of the few options Barnett has. Whatever Overeem wants to do, Barnett needs to do the opposite in order to keep Overeem guessing and throw off his timing.

Fabricio Werdum: It’s all about attacking at angles and not letting this one get to the ground, which Barnett should be able to do since he has a good wrestling game. So long as he uses his wrestling in reverse in order to keep it standing, Barnett should be able to beat Werdum. Trading in the clinch or against the cage is a bit iffy, Barnett may want to risk it but he also may be taken down because of it. If Barnett keeps his distance but also keeps active, he should be able to out-strike Werdum and may do enough cumulative damage to score a late-round TKO.

Andrei Arlovski: Don’t give Arlovski a chance to get comfortable, because he’s still a pretty dangerous striker. Barnett should look to land peppering blows to throw Arlovski off his gameplan. Barnett should focus on short, close-quarters engagements and try to get the best of Arlovski when the two start trading. Arlovski is a better technical striker but Barnett is a better brawler, so the key here is to lure Arlovski into his world while not getting lured into Arlovski’s.

Sergei Kharitonov: This is one fight that Barnett can afford to take to the ground, because realistically, Barnett has never been submitted: his first submission loss was an injury, he second was a submission to strikes. Barnett should be able to wrestle Kharitonov to the ground, and he should also be able to nail some good Ground and Pound while also avoiding any submission attempts.

Brett Rogers: Rogers has shown a susceptibility to counter-strikes, so Barnett should focus on that almost exclusively if he faces “The Grim”. It’s been a long time (over four years) since Barnett last lost by TKO, so only a full-on power shot that lands flush stands any chance of wobbling Barnett. Josh should absorb as little damage as possible while counter-striking, but he should also know that eventually Rogers will land something. If Barnett can lure Rogers into continually swinging for the fences, and not get KO’d in the process, eventually Rogers will tire himself out and then Barnett can launch a final counter-striking flurry to get the TKO.

And so, that wraps up the tenth edition of “Heavy Wait”. But as always, fans and friends, I just have to ask: what about you? What do you think Josh Barnett needs to do in order to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

As always, today’s entry will follow a restructured “Top 5” format.

Fedor Emelianenko: Sergei’s best chance against Fedor is standing up, on the ground Fedor is too controlling. The key here is finding out what Fedor does and doing the opposite. If Fedor wants to get into a striking exchange, Sergei should fight defensively and counter-strike. If Fedor wants to pick his shots, Sergei should try to lure Fedor into striking exchanges. By forcing Emelianenko to constantly change his gameplan while attacking “The Last Emperor” throughout with hard and smartly-timed shots, Sergei just might have it in him to beat Emelianenko.

Antonio Silva: Sergei has fought giants before, so he’s definitely got some experience fighting an athlete like Silva. Kharitonov may have the best shot at finishing the fight if he takes Silva down and starts hunting for a ligament. Don’t forget, Kharitonov has as many wins by submission as he does by (T)KO, and he’s submitted some big giants. If Sergei can work his way into mount, he may be able to finish Silva with some brutal ground and pound, and if he can’t, he should work for an armbar.

Alistair Overeem: Even though Sergei is a very credible threat standing up, Overeem is just too good on his feet. He hits too hard, his precision and technique is too good, and he requires virtually no room to throw a KO strike, whether it be a knee or a fist. It’ll definitely be a hard-fought war on the ground that Kharitonov may or may not win, but even that is better than a one-sided thrashing, which Sergei will more than likely receive if he tries to beat Overeem standing up.

Fabricio Werdum: Werdum will inevitably shoot for a takedown, and when that happens, Sergei needs to make him pay. The key here will be to block the takedown and then grapple with Werdum very briefly in order to set up a dirty-boxing exchange. Sergei should avoid the leg kick as well: if he wants to use his legs, he needs to either utilize the high kick or attempt to knee Werdum in the face while they exchange in the pocket. Sergei’s best bet is to grind away with Werdum and look for a lucky shot, because even if it doesn’t come, Sergei could win on points alone so long as he makes Werdum play his game and doesn’t get lured into playing Werdum’s.

Andrei Arlovski: Sergei is going to need room to strike, because Arlovski’s chin held up to Antonio Silva’s fists when Silva attacked from short range. Sergei needs to try and constantly create distance, but he should also try hard not to telegraph his punches. It’s all about finding the sweet spot and catching Arlovski at the right time, with the right strike, utilizing the right momentum. Sergei needs to pick his shots, but the second an opportunity presents itself, he should let loose full-force and look for the stoppage.

Josh Barnett: Sergei needs to counteract Barnett’s brawling style by focusing on tact rather than brawling right back. If Sergei picks his shots, he probably will lose a few stand-up encounters but stands a better chance at landing that one big shot right on the sweet spot. If Sergei lures Barnett into thinking he’s winning, eventually Sergei can clip Barnett with the shot that matters most, and then follow it up for the TKO.

Brett Rogers: Sergei needs to dig in and brawl with Rogers for several reasons. For one, Sergei’s chin is very tough and should hold up to repeated blows in the pocket. Second, Rogers punches hard period, but he punches hardest when he has room to throw. If Sergei forces Rogers to dirty-box, he may end up getting the better of him. In particular, Sergei should look to stuff Rogers against the cage, and when Rogers attempts to shove Sergei off of him, Sergei should look for the counter-KO.

And that’s the end to part 9, fans and friends. But what do you think? What does Sergei Kharitonov need to do in order to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

Remember, this sub-section of “Heavy Wait” uses a modified “Top 5” format.

Fedor Emelianenko: Never, never ever (and I do mean never) throw another flying knee at Fedor Emelianenko. Just don’t do it. Arlovski looked to be doing a pretty good job against Fedor before he was on the wrong end of what many consider the year’s best KO. Arlovski needs to avoid running into any of Fedor’s power punches period, and that applies to a lot more than just not doing any stupid flying knees. Arlovski needs to circle away constantly from Fedor’s power shots and open him up with peppering strikes. Arlovski’s best chance of beating Fedor is to constantly figure out Fedor’s range and constantly adapt to Fedor’s changes.

Antonio Silva: What does that first “M” in MMA stand for, again? Arlovski’s main fault in his first fight with Silva is that he used an ultra-traditional boxing stance. It’s time to mix it up to bring the big man down, because Arlovski’s chin seems able to withstand Silva’s blows. Arlovski should start taking more chances. He also needs to attack at angles, utilize leg kicks and knee strikes and, for the sake of my sanity, he needs to remember that he’s got a pretty good Sambo background. Even if he pops right back up or forces “Bigfoot” to stand right back up, some good takedowns go a long way.

Alistair Overeem: I hate to say this, but I’m having a hard time picturing Andrei Arlovski beating Alistair Overeem. Arlovski’s best bet may simply be to pull the trigger the second the first bell rings and go for broke. Arlovski shouldn’t give Overeem a chance to get comfortable, and he shouldn’t give Overeem a chance to take the lead. I know this is pretty much a “Hail Mary” as far as fight strategies go, but it’s honestly one of the few ways I think Arlovski could beat Overeem.

Fabricio Werdum: Arlovski needs to keep it standing, but he also should play it smart. Werdum probably won’t KO him, but unless Arlovski is sure that Werdum is a few punches away from going into the land of dreams, he should follow Werdum to the mat with an extreme level of caution. Likewise, Arlovski would be best served stuffing takedowns rather than trying to force Werdum to eat a knee, because there’s always a chance that Werdum will simply absorb that knee, continue to drive through, and score the takedown. As a pure stand-up affair, Arlovski has all the tools necessary to once again beat Fabricio Werdum.

Sergei Kharitonov: It’s all about counter-striking until an opportunity presents itself, and then bull-rushing to get the finish even if he absorbs some damage when doing so. Sergei swings wildly and hits hard, but Arlovski has fought and beat opponents who use that style, so he’s very familiar with what Sergei brings to the table. If Arlovski uses his head and not his heart, he stands a very good chance of beating Sergei.

Josh Barnett: I think Arlovski can afford to slug it out with Barnett if Barnett tries to brawl, but Arlovski needs to back up and adjust the second he feels that he’s not getting the better of the striking game. Barnett is a gamer, he won’t go down easy and he’s not really fighting to his full potential until he tastes his own blood. If Arlovski continues to win exchanges in the pocket, he should stick to engaging and engaging frequently, and if he doesn’t, he may be better suited to adapting frequently and focusing more on counter-striking Barnett.

Brett Rogers: Arlovski needs to not give Rogers one single chance to bum-rush, because if he does “The Grim” can always hit another fast flurry that knocks Arlovski down and puts him out. If Rogers comes in like a bull, Arlovski shouldn’t even try to counter, he should either shoot for a takedown or get out of the way. The key here is to play the matador: Rogers will come in headhunting, hoping for history to repeat itself, and if Arlovski knows what’s good for him he’ll duck, dodge, and land peppering shots until Rogers tires himself out. When that happens, then it’s time to let loose and look to win some rounds or even possibly finish Rogers.

So there you have it, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think Arlovski’s chances are in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

And remember, this sub-section of “Heavy Wait” features a modified “Top 5” format. Let’s dive right in.

Fedor Emelianenko: Werdum stands the best chance of winning if he does his best to make the impossible happen again. Werdum needs to lure Emelianenko into a war of attrition on the ground, because that type of fight simply favors the submission specialist. As great as Emelianenko’s ground game is, if Werdum is given fifteen minutes to work off his back, he can catch Fedor again. The key here will be avoiding Fedor’s hardest shots and most brutal Ground and Pound, in order to have a clear head. If Werdum isn’t rocked early and often, if he’s in full control of his mental faculties as the fight continues to go to the ground, eventually Werdum will force open an opportunity or be presented with one, and that’s when he should explode and go for a submission.

Antonio Silva: Effective grappling is the key to neutralizing many of Silva’s more-obvious advantages, like his crazy reach. Werdum needs to attack at angles and constantly hunt for the takedown, but he should also do his best to switch gears constantly in order to confuse “Bigfoot” and add an element of surprise to his takedown attempts. If Werdum simply shoots and shoots often, it leaves him open to too many possible counter-shots. The key to victory here will be Werdum’s versatility at setting up his takedowns and smothering his opponent.

Alistair Overeem: It’s all about catching Overeem on the ground. Even if it means jumping into guard, Werdum can’t give Overeem a chance to get the better of him standing up. Overeem is a K-1 Champion, and Werdum’s striking has always teetered somewhere between “average with flashes of slightly-above-average” and “slightly underwhelming”. Even if he has to eat some Ground and Pound, Werdum needs to take this one to the floor and constantly hunt for submissions whether he’s on top or on his back.

Andrei Arlovski: Hit smarter, not harder. Arlovski is still a pretty good striker, I just don’t think Werdum can beat him on striking alone. Arlovski has virtually abandoned his ground game, Werdum should utilize that every chance he gets. If it goes to the ground, Werdum should look to Ground and Pound Arlovski and get a dominating Unanimous Decision victory. If Arlovski leaves himself open Werdum should of course try to lock something in, but if Werdum wants to guarantee victory, an active ground game spent mostly on top looks to be the easiest way.

Sergei Kharitonov: Sergei likes to throw bombs; Werdum needs to make him pay for doing so. Werdum needs to close the gap, and when Sergei begins blasting, Werdum needs to smother him against the cage, take him down, and work for a submission. Sergei’s chin is too good, Ground and Pound should only be used to open Kharitonov up for passes. Werdum needs to get Sergei in mount, pound on him a little, and when Sergei tries to buck Werdum off or give up his back, Werdum needs to latch onto an arm or lock in a choke. If Sergei gives Werdum even the slightest opening for a submission, Werdum should pursue it vigorously, because he’ll get it eventually.

Josh Barnett: Werdum should play the striking game only until he figures out Barnett’s methods. Werdum should be able to hold his own against Barnett standing up, he’ll most likely lose a round but I don’t see Barnett being able to straight KO Werdum. Werdum needs to take a round to dodge, counter sparingly, and figure out Barnett’s gameplan. In the later rounds, Werdum needs to pounce, countering Barnett constantly and shooting for a takedown the second Barnett gets a bit too overzealous. Werdum needs to figure out Barnett’s aggressive style and then use it against him, because if he does, he stands a good chance of winning it two rounds to one, or possibly winning via submission if Barnett gets careless enough.

Brett Rogers: The gameplan that Werdum needs to beat Sergei almost-perfectly applies to Brett Rogers as well. I would only caution Werdum not to take as many chances, because Rogers hits a bit harder and he’s shown an ability to get good ground guys off of him so long as they’re not hulking behemoths like Alistair Overeem. Rogers may be able to buck off Werdum a few times, he may even power his way out of a submission or two, but Werdum should still stick to taking the big man down. Eventually, Rogers will tire himself out and practically gift-wrap a ligament to Werdum. And when that opportunity presents itself, that’s when Werdum should try to finish the fight.

So, fans and friends, that wraps up Part 7 of “Heavy Wait”. We’re now four competitors down with four to go. And what about you? What must Fabricio Werdum do in order to win it all?

Remember, this sub-series of “Heavy Wait” follows a modified “Top 5” format.

Fedor Emelianenko: This is the match that everyone wants to see, and believe me, it’s the one I’m most eagerly anticipating. For this fight, Overeem needs to use his size to get the better of Emelianenko and use his brain to know when to switch gears. Overeem is a K-1 Champion, but Fedor could still get the better of him standing up. If that happens, Overeem needs to try and slam Fedor to the ground and implement his Ground and Pound. If Fedor begins working for submissions or blocking most of Overeem’s punches, Overeem needs to stand back up and try the striking game again. It’s going to be a multi-faceted fight, and the winner will be the one who utilizes all facets of the MMA game to their utmost.

Antonio Silva: Overeem needs to close the distance and do it quickly, Silva can’t be given room because he’s become really good at utilizing what is normally a sizable reach advantage. Overeem may be best served taking this one to the ground; he’s shown a lot of skill in maneuvering and even overpowering big men on the ground. Overeem is not Mike Kyle, and that’s said with absolutely no disrespect towards Mike Kyle. But the point stands: if Overeem gets a chance to land a Ground and Pound barrage, he will stop Silva. If subjected to repeated blows, Silva’s impressive chin will falter to Overeem’s gigantic, well-placed fists.

Fabricio Werdum: Going to the ground with Fabricio Werdum is a risky endeavor, no matter how skilled you are. If Overeem tries to implement his Ground and Pound, he’ll have to avoid submission attempts constantly. I honestly think Overeem stands the best chance of winning if he forgoes the ground game entirely and focuses on one-hit KO’ing Werdum. I think Overeem needs to pepper Werdum in order to make Werdum attempt a takedown. And when that takedown comes, Overeem needs to launch a knee right into Werdum’s dome and score a KO. On the feet, Overeem should be able to maul Werdum. On the ground, it’s anybody’s ballgame. I think Overeem is best suited playing it safe and keeping it standing, in order to advance in the tournament and hopefully one day win it all.

Andrei Arlovski: I hate to do this to Arlovski, I’ve actually really enjoyed watching him fight throughout the years. But Overeem needs to headhunt the second the first bell rings, because if he does, he’ll get a first-round KO. Overeem is simply too good of a striker, he’s too powerful, he swings too hard and with too much precision. Arlovski is going to crumble the second Overeem lands a semi-powerful shot, so Overeem’s best bet is to bull-rush and end this before it has a chance of beginning.

Sergei Kharitonov: Counter, counter, counter. And then counter again. One of the reasons Overeem won the K-1 World Grand Prix was his ability to block and/or dodge and then unload with a barrage. Sergei is crazy enough to come out throwing bombs, Overeem needs to play it smart and maybe even play a bit safe, because Sergei will get frustrated and he will tire himself out. And when that happens, Overeem should immediately switch tactics and go for the kill, because he’ll likely get it.

Josh Barnett: It may be time to brawl if Overeem fights Barnett. Barnett has a good ground game, but Overeem’s ground game is very under-rated. Barnett does have KO power, but Overeem’s tactile style has made him a K-1 World Champion. If this turns into a war of attrition, Overeem’s striking game almost eclipses Josh Barnett’s. Overeem should go for the KO, for sure, but if he doesn’t get it, he needs to dig his heels in and switch modes, engaging often and trying his best to get the better of every encounter.

Brett Rogers: It’s all about utilizing his effective grappling and dirty-boxing. Overeem knows how to beat Rogers, he can do it again if he sticks to closing the gap and not giving Rogers a chance to load up, arch back, and try to land some bombs. Overeem needs to take Rogers down with authority and once again utilize his dominant top control to score a TKO victory. Even as a K-1 Champion, Overeem should not get overconfident and engage in a brawl, since Rogers still has dynamite in his hands. Overeem’s best bet is to take it to the ground, smother Rogers, then Ground and Pound him until the ref breaks it up.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What does Overeem have to do in order to win it all?

Fedor Emelianenko: Silva needs to throw bombs, but more importantly, he needs to throw them with precision and accuracy. Fedor knows what it takes to submit a big man on the ground, but he hasn’t faced a big man with the kind of skill that Silva has. If it goes to the ground, Silva needs to be very, very careful. Standing up, Silva needs the confidence to take chances, because he just might get them, and when you’re Antonio Silva, everything you throw is thrown with lots of power and plenty of bad intentions.

Alistair Overeem: Above all else, Silva needs room to throw. If Overeem closes the distance and turns this into a grappling match, Overeem will knee Silva all to hell, plus, Overeem possesses uncanny short-arm KO power: he knocked Todd Duffee out and barely had a few inches to swing. Silva needs to make the absolute most out of his reach advantage, because the last thing “Bigfoot” needs is for Overeem to dirty-box with him.

Fabricio Werdum: It’s all about control. Silva needs to control where this fight goes, he needs to control where he positions himself, and he needs to control his opponent. If Werdum starts advancing, start throwing bombs to back him up. If Silva gets cornered, he needs to immediately switch to “takedown defense” mode, because we all know what’s coming. On the ground, Silva needs to smother Werdum and, above all else, protect his various ligaments at all times.

Andrei Arlovski: With the confidence he gained from beating Arlovski the first time, I think Silva can afford to open up with his striking and really try to KO Arlovski the second time around. Silva knows he can last against Arlovski for three rounds, so he can certainly do the same thing again if he wants to, more than likely it’ll work and he’ll win again. But if he wants to make an emphatic statement, he should hunt for Arlovski’s chin, which remains suspect, and look for the KO that he stands a good chance of getting.

Sergei Kharitonov: It’s a battle of staying power vs. stopping power. Silva needs to tire Sergei out because, let’s be honest, Sergei has one thing and one thing only going for him: his punching power. If Silva can avoid the early-round onslaughts, he should be more than able to tire Sergei out and dominate the next two round with relative ease.

Josh Barnett: Silva needs to prepare for a war of attrition, because I think that’s exactly what this match will be. It’ll be a give-and-take affair with both men really dishing it out and taking it in. The key to Silva’s victory in this fight is that he needs to remain calm and not let the multiple exchanges fluster him and cause him to start getting sloppy. Silva stands the best chance of beating Barnett if he comes in mentally and physically prepared for a tough three-round war.

Brett Rogers: I honestly think “Bigfoot” has the best chance of winning if he takes this fight to the ground. Rogers still has a whole lot to learn when it comes to fighting off of his back, and if the Mike Kyle fight proved anything, it’s that Silva can outright blast through his opponent’s blocks and score a TKO. If Silva can keep Rogers on the ground, he should get him there early and often, and consistently look for the stoppage victory while doing so.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Do you see Antonio Silva winning it all? And if you do, what do you think he’ll have to do in order to beat his many possible opponents?

This eight-part series will feature a restructured “Top 5” format in order to give fans a quick rundown on what I think a Heavyweight Grand Prix participant needs to do in order to beat all seven of his possible opponents. Everything else is pretty much self-explanatory, so let’s get right to it.

Antonio Silva: Fedor needs to avoid Silva’s hands as much as possible. The man is a gargantuan behemoth, any shot he throws hurts simply because of how big he is and how long his arms are. If it goes to the ground, Fedor needs to grab one of those arms quick and get an armbar, or else Silva may be able to finally crack Fedor’s chin with those big fists of his. If Fedor relies on his super-effective counter-striking, it should come through for him.

Alistair Overeem: Fedor needs to find some way to crack Overeem’s chin, and he needs to do it early. If Overeem is caught in the early minutes of the bout, it’s going to be very demoralizing to him even if he survives. If Fedor can test Overeem’s chin and weaken his resolve, he should be able to come through with a Unanimous Decision win. Going for the power KO or submission simply leaves Fedor open to too much, the master strategist must stick to his gameplan or else Overeem stands a good chance of winning.

Fabricio Werdum: Two words: don’t grapple. As hard as this is to say as a Fedor fan, Emelianenko should abandon the ground game entirely and focus on his stand-up, which is far superior to Fabricio Werdum’s. I honestly don’t think Fedor should even risk it if he knocks Werdum down, anything less than a straight KO leaves too much of an opportunity for the impossible to repeat itself. If Fedor plays it safe and stays on his feet, this fight is his to win.

Andrei Arlovski: It’s time to be aggressive, you can’t duplicate magic and Andrei Arlovski will probably never throw another flying knee at Fedor ever again. If Fedor gets one clean opening, Arlovski is as good as KO’d. What Fedor should do is hunt for such an opening, because if the first fight proved anything, it’s that Arlovski could possibly take Fedor to a close decision but lacks the power to outright KO him. With the power clearly in Fedor’s hands, he honestly stands the best chance of winning this fight if he starts headhunting.

Sergei Kharitonov: Kharitonov is the odd man out in this tournament, but he still poses a threat to Fedor as a high-level striker. But Fedor has beaten high-level strikers in the past, and the gameplan he used against them should be the one he uses against Kharitonov. If Fedor can duck, dodge, and counter, Sergei realistically doesn’t stand much of a chance.

Josh Barnett: Again, it all comes down to crafting a good gameplan and sticking to it. These two probably won’t knock each other out, but Fedor should do his best to take a commanding lead by smothering Barnett on the floor and countering him on the feet. If Fedor is able to assert his control on Barnett early and often, Barnett won’t be able to do much to regain the favor of the judges.

Brett Rogers: Just like when he beat him the first time, Fedor Emelianenko needs to fight smarter, not harder. He needs to avoid Brett’s bombs, out-grapple him when he can, and look to land the same sweet counter that nearly knocked Brett’s head off his shoulders in their first encounter.

So, that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What does Fedor have to do to beat the various opponents he may end up facing before all is said and through?

5. The chances of seeing Fedor/Werdum 2 anytime soon look pretty remote.

Quite a lot has to happen before we get to see the rematch to arguably the most shocking upset in MMA of all time. If Fedor Emelianenko beats Antonio Silva (likely), Fabricio Werdum would have to beat Alistair Overeem (not so likely). If Overeem beats Werdum, Silva would have to beat Fedor (again, not so likely). Both Fedor and Werdum would have to be injury-free following their bouts, and with both men’s history with injuries, it’s basically a toss-up. There is potential that we’ll finally get to see this match, but there’s also a strong potential that we’ll have to continue to wait.

4. Who is Sergei Kharitonov, again?

The last time Sergei Kharitonov competed in America was in 2007. While his record and the quality of opponents he’s beaten are certainly good enough to earn him an entry into this tournament, at the end of the day, his name value in America is basically non-existent. This is supposed to be a Heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Strikeforce’s best and brightest, and “brightest” refers to their popularity and relevancy to the fans. And Kharitonov simply isn’t relevant to a vast majority of American MMA fans.

3. It’s clear that Arlovski/Barnett wasn’t made due to the fact that nobody would be interested in Kharitonov/Rogers.

Why do I have to wait a round to see Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett? That’s a great fight and it would have made the Grand Prix feel even more special if it was an opening bout. But Brett Rogers has been dealt two deflating losses recently and, as already stated, many fans simply aren’t familiar with Kharitonov. Rogers and Kharitonov are the odd men out in this Grand Prix, and it’s clear that Strikeforce didn’t want to risk a lack of interest in the tournament by having them fight each other in the first round.

2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship is basically being vacated.

A lot of people are using the term “classic Strikeforce” when it comes to the fact that the Heavyweight Championship is pretty much being vacated at the start of this tournament. Alistair Overeem just got done winning the K-1 World Grand Prix, he should be ready to commit to MMA full-time for the foreseeable future. I was really looking forward to seeing him defend his Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship, and now he’ll have to get through several fighters to claim the championship that’s already his.

And the #1 thing I dislike about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is…

1. Since anything can happen in MMA, it’s going to take a lot of dominoes falling into place before we get all our dream-matches.

Fedor/Werdum 2 is such a huge match that I had to single it out specifically, but in general, the “anything can happen” nature of a tournament leaves open several very negative possibilities. Let’s not forget, the UFC ran into several massive roadblocks back in their early tournaments: at one point a man won a UFC tournament despite the fact that he had never competed a single time during the event. There’s a lot of veteran talent on this card, and while that should mean great fights, it also means that a lot of these fighters are more susceptible to injuries. And of course, there’s always the potential for an upset. So while I’m looking forward to the Grand Prix with some incredibly high hopes, I have to admit: there’s a lot that could happen before all is said and through, and there’s a lot that could sideline the dream matches I’ve waited years to see.

So, fans and friends, agree or disagree? What don’t you like about Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix?

5. Even the fill-in matches in case someone gets injured look pretty appealing.

Currently, the reserve bouts for this tournament include Shane Del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson and Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo. And, to be honest, all four men definitely deserve to be in reserve bouts. They aren’t well-known enough to warrant a slot in the main tournament. Nevertheless, both fights should be very entertaining, especially Shane Del Rosario’s, who could become a major star in the near-future.

4. If it all works out, we’ve got some incredible dream-matches to look forward to.

The one thing I hear fans consistently talk about in regards to this tournament is the crazy number of dream-matches we might get because of it. Depending on who wins, we could be looking at anything from Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers 2 to Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem. We might see Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett, or even Alistair Overeem vs. Josh Barnett. With eight of the best Heavyweight fighters Strikeforce has to offer all possibly fighting each other, the possible dream-matches that could happen are one of the best reasons to watch this tournament.

3. On paper, every single fight has something to offer and has the possibility of being wildly entertaining.

Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum is an interesting rematch with both men at very different points in their careers from when they first met. Fedor Emelianenko will face a tough opponent in the iron-chinned Antonio Silva, while “Bigfoot” faces the toughest test of his life when he fights Fedor. Andre Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov should be a fantastic brawl, Brett Rogers vs. Josh Barnett should be a great brawl too. At least on paper, I wouldn’t miss a single one of these fights even if they weren’t part of a larger tournament, and several could outright headline a stand-alone Strikeforce show.

2. It’s nostalgic as all hell, and as a PRIDE fan it’s basically required viewing.

The hardcore MMA fan in me just can’t resist the possibility of an MMA tournament featuring top competition. After the amazing tournaments held in the PRIDE FC promotion, anything with “Grand Prix” in its title and related to MMA practically becomes required viewing.

And the #1 thing I like the most about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is…

1. It’s finally happening.

Let’s not mince words: Strikeforce had a rough 2010. Fedor lost right when he finally looked to be becoming a legitimate American draw. The man that beat him, Fabricio Werdum, was out the rest of the year with an injury. The brawl at Stikeforce’s “Nashville” event got them kicked off of CBS. They brought in Dan Henderson, cast Jake Shields as the sacrificial lamb, and then Shields promptly beat Henderson and left to the UFC with the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. But the past is the past, the puzzle pieces are all finally coming into place, and this long-rumored tournament is now fact, not fiction. As a Strikeforce fan, I sincerely feel that this is the best move Strikeforce has made since acquiring the bulk of the assets of the now-defunct EliteXC promotion.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you like the most about the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

5. Strikeforce will be back on national television.

If this tournament lives up to its potential, what we’ll be getting is all the best Strikeforce talent competing against each other in fantastic matches, with several fights getting into Fight of the Year contention. And that’s incredibly appealing to a network like CBS, which has engaged in a prolonged political war with Strikeforce ever seen the notorious post-fight brawl that broke out at Strikeforce “Nashville”. Money talks, and if the Grand Prix delivers big ratings for Showtime, CBS is going to want some of that action, and more than likely we’ll see Strikeforce back on CBS, perhaps even before the tournament is over.

4. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship will become the organization’s most prestigious championship.

Strikeforce’s other divisions do have a lot of good talent, but the Heavyweight division is where all the top stars and notable names are. Now that they’re all going to fight each other, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship stands to become a hotly-contested and highly-valued title. It even has the possibility of becoming one of the biggest championships in the entirety of MMA, not just in Strikeforce.

3. Both Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem will be able to shrug off the cynics that say they don’t fight enough.

Fedor has been embroiled in contract negotiations ever since losing to Fabricio Werdum, while Overeem has been off in Japan hunting down a K-1 championship. Now that Fedor and his management team have signed a new contract, Emelianenko should be able to make a deep run in this tournament and compete multiple times in 2010, maybe even multiple times in one night. The same goes for Overeem: now that he’s won the K-1 World Grand Prix, he should also be able to fully commit to MMA and fight several times in 2011. Not only will this give both men a big popularity boost with the casual fans, it’ll rebuild some of their lost credibility with a section of the more hardcore MMA audience.

2. Strikeforce will prove that it has one of the best Heavyweight divisions in the entirety of MMA.

There’s really no effective counter to this argument if the tournament lives up to its potential. You could say that a lot of these fighters used to be in the UFC, but the UFC is the largest and longest-lived organization in the history of this sport. If all eight fighters give their all, what we’ll get is a firm indication that Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Division is one of the best in all of MMA.

1. Strikeforce will take a big step in becoming a viable alternative to the UFC.

Those that thought the battle-lines were already drawn haven’t seen anything yet. If this tournament lives up to its potential, the war over which promotion is better will reach a fevered pitch. Sides will be taken, stances will be declared, and arguments will abound. And that’s a great thing for Strikeforce, because controversy creates cash. Strikeforce still probably won’t be on equal footing with the UFC even if this tournament lives up to all of its potential… but mark my words, they’ll be within shouting distance.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What’s your early opinion on the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

The former PRIDE champion was originally rumored to be facing the Brazilian several times, however all signs point to a Feb. 12 meeting at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

In addition to Emelianenko and Silva, a proposed match up pitting former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski against DREAM and K-1 veteran Sergei Kharitonov is also slated for the February event.

Sherdog.com was able to report the validity of the matches earlier today. In the case of Fedor and Antonio, the two heavyweight stars have been rumored to face one another for sometime now, and now looks like they will finally meet in New Jersey.

“The Last Emperor” has been on the sidelines since an upset loss to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Fabricio Werdum. The Brazilian stud was able to submit the Sambo expert with a tight triangle choke in just 69 seconds of the first round in their April meeting under the Strikeforce banner in 2010. The loss snapped a 10-year unbeaten streak for Emelianenko.

Silva, though, has fared better recently, notching up his second-consecutive victory under the Strikeforce banner. The American Top Team product was last seen inside the cage when he took on the resurgent Mike Kyle this past December. While “MAK” was pegged as an underdog heading into their heavyweight tilt, he acted like anything but a roll over when he knocked down “Big Foot” early with a crackling right hand. After a shaky first round where Silva spent most of his time surviving, he turned it all around when he was able to eventually work the fight to the mat and notch a quick TKO victory after Kyle was unable to defend himself from the ground-and-pound onslaught.

In the second-heavyweight quarterfinal, striking sensation Andrei Arlovski will put his new found chin to the test when he meets the gritty Sergei Kharitonov at the February event.

After posting a five-fight win streak beginning in 2006 (four of which came by some form of knockout) Arlovski succumbed to crippling knockout losses to hard hitters Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers consecutively. Andrei then attempted a comeback when he met with the aforementioned Antonio Silva this past May, who is regarded as one of the hardest hitting men in the heavyweight division. Absorbing many punches throughout the three-round tilt, Arlovski went the distance without being wobbled or knockdown throughout the affair, however went on to lose a decision. The loss is the Belorussian’s third in-a-row.

Kharitonov, though, will be the man to test the mettle of Andrei when they meet in East Rutherford. Sergei is coming off of a knockout victory over Tatsuya Mizuno on Decemeber 31 for DREAM’s annual “Dynamite!!” show. The year-end extravaganza helped the Russian cap off a hot-and-cold 2010 where the Golden Glory protege won two of his three professional bouts, albeit in different sports.

The win over the DREAM light heavyweight 2010 Grand Prix finalist was his lone mixed martial arts bout, however two other fights were contested under K-1 rules this past year, where the Russian went 1-1. He began his year right with a knockout victory over former Japanese prospect Takumi Sato, however succumbed to a knockout loss of his own at the hands of Singh Jaideep at K-1′s biggest stage, the World Grand Prix 2010 Final on December 11.

There is a lot of ways these bouts could play out, however all signs are pointing to knockouts galore amongst these hard hitting gentleman, and those in attendance for the East Rutherford affair (me) will be in for a treat.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the match ups? Who do you favor? Sound off in the comment section below.

5. The continued push to legitimize the various Strikeforce championships.

Strikeforce needs to find its footing in several of its major divisions, and I think 2011 will see a considerable amount of prestige added to a lot of Strikeforce’s championships. Now that Alistair Overeem has lived his dream and became a K-1 champion, he should be back in Strikeforce full-force in 2011. Ronaldo Souza will face Robbie Lawler in what should be an excellent striker vs. grappler match-up. Rafael Cavalcante will have a lot to prove but plenty of time to prove it as he eyes potential fights with Dan Henderson and several other high-profile Strikeforce Light Heavyweights. Then you’ve got Cristiane Santos dominating as always and Marloes Coenen realizing her full potential as a 135-pounder. It’ll be a great year for champions and championship defenses.

4. The continually improving quality of the “Strikeforce Challengers” series of shows.

I need a new underdog, fans and friends. Now that the WEC, my “little promotion that could”, has been folded into the UFC, I’m left without one. Heading into 2011, I think “Strikeforce Challengers” will fill that role quite nicely. The per-fight quality of these events keeps increasing, and the shows continue to showcase entertaining fights featuring up-and-coming fighters. 2011 has a great chance of seeing “Strikeforce Challengers” emerge as the show that everyone loves and not nearly enough people watch. And if they do fill that role, you can definitely expect to see me right back up on the soapbox and urging fans to give them a watch, vocally supporting them just as loudly as I did the WEC.

3. The return of Alistair Overeem.

Overeem has spent the last several years chasing a dream that’s kept him away from MMA for a considerable length of time, and now he’s finally lived that dream. Alistair Overeem is a K-1 champion, and now that he’s knocked that off of his bucket list, it’s very likely that we’ll see him fight a lot more often in Strikeforce. I’ve always been a gargantuan fan of “The Reem”, so his 2011 return to dominance is one thing I can’t wait to watch unfold.

2. The return of Fedor Emelianenko.

The only thing that really comes close to my excitement surrounding the return of Alistair is my excitement over the return of Fedor. I know how just saying the man’s name invites controversy and intense debate, but in the spirit of Christmas, I’m going to say the following: love him or hate him, people want to see Fedor return. I personally can’t wait to see him back in action, and I can guarantee that I’ll be glued to my TV screen from the moment I first hear his entrance music.

And my #1 spot goes to…

1. Several epic match-ups at Heavyweight, with or without the rumored Grand Prix.

This is not to say that I don’t want a Grand Prix, oh no. Rest assured: I want that Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. I want it bad. How could I not? Fighters like the aforementioned Alistair and Fedor, as well as Antonio Silva, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, and Brett Rogers could all end up competing against each other. But my point is this: even if the Grand Prix doesn’t happen, we’ve got an incredible amount of amazing Heavyweight fights to look forward to in 2011.

So there you have it, fans and friends: part 3 is over and done with. Stay tuned for the finale of “All I Want for Christmas”, and until then, what about you? What are you looking forward to for Strikeforce in 2011?

Why? Because after “The Demolition Man” tore through this years’ K-1 World Grand Prix claiming the promotion’s GP heavyweight championship, he’ll be right back in action for another tournament of epic proportion’s.

It’s rumored that Overeem, in addition to 7 other high-profile heavyweight stars will be competing in an 8-man heavyweight tournament under the Strikeforce banner.

MiddleEasy.com picked up the beat from TATAME.com whom first reported the future Grand Prix, which is said to begin with an originally aniticapted fight pitting former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko against the former EliteXC heavyweight title holder in Antonio Silva.

The bout had previously been rumored for January however sources have since pegged the fight to take place in February of next year.

In March, Sergei Kharitonov is rumored to be facing Fabricio Werdum in the quarter-finals. The fight is actually a rematch of an earlier meeting in 2005, which the Russian fighter was able to claim a split-decision victory over the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

Also for the March Strikeforce event, which is rumored to coincide with the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, Brett Rogers is said to be partaking as well. He will be looking to get back in the win column with the San Jose based promotion, since dropping back-to-back fights against Emelianenko and Overeem, respectively. Rogers has since bounced back with a unanimous decision victory over journeyman Ruben “Warpath” Villareal. Brett will meet with top heavyweight star, Josh Barnett. “The Baby Faced Assassin” was in action last against Geronimo dos Santos, a Brazilian who’s faced the likes of UFC veterans Junior dos Santos (no relation) and Assuerio Silva. Barnett finished him in less than three minutes of the opening round via TKO.

And finally, current Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem will meet with former UFC heavyweight title holder Andrei Arlovski. Overeem capped off a perfect 2010 when he captured the K-1 World GP 2010 title, having defeated the likes of Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki, and Peter Aerts in a single night. In his lone mixed martial arts bout of the year, “The Reem” soundly defeated the aforementioned Rogers last May by first-round TKO, defending his Strikeforce title for the first time since capturing it in 2007 opposite of Paul Buentello.

Arlovski however, has seen better days. The Belorussian once held UFC gold around his waste, however is now the victim of unfortunate circumstances. The Sambo expert is currently riding a three-fight losing streak, with his most recent loss coming to the hands of top contender Antonio Silva last May, via unanimous decision. Andrei last claimed victory when knocked out UFC star Roy Nelson under the now defunct EliteXC banner, in 2008.

Eight fights with eight great fighters, competing towards—well, who knows what. This wouldn’t be the first time that Scott Coker and the fellow great minds behind the number two mixed martial arts promotion have concocted such a tournament. In 2007, a 4-man one night middleweight field was put together where eventually Jorge Santiago was left the victor, having defeated both Sean Salmon and Trevor Prangley by knockout. The American Top Team product got a shiny belt for his efforts, but nothing else came of it.

Whatever the case may be, we will all still bear witness to some extraordinary fights with a multitude of possible outcomes. A potential ex-teammate grudge match against Sergei and Fedor, Werdum vs. Overeem II, etc.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Who do you think will win their respective quarter final matches? Who do you see standing as the final two? Sound off in the comment section below.

Courtesy of Sherdog, here’s what Coker had to say: “[Fedor Emelianenko’s] not going to be back this year because the schedule is already full. Who he fights (next), that’s something that we’ll probably have an announcement in the next, I would say, four weeks…. The message that I got from [Fabricio Werdum’s] manager is that he will be available probably late first, early second quarter of next year… One thing I can tell you is all these guys … Alistair [Overeem], Fedor, Fabricio, Josh Barnett, ‘Bigfoot’ (Antonio Silva), (Sergei) Kharitonov, Andrei Arlovski, Brett Rogers, all those guys are all going to fight each other in 2011. We’re not going to hold anything back.”

If this really is Coker’s plan for 2011, it’s the absolute best one possible. Strikeforce’s divisions are steadily growing in star quality, with some lagging behind others, but their Heavyweight division outright eclipses all their other divisions. Strikeforce has a Heavyweight division that is rightfully the envy of all other promotion’s Heavyweight divisions aside from the UFC’s. If all those dream matches fans have been wanting and waiting for finally go down in 2011, next year should be one of the best in the history of Strikeforce.

For my money, here are some fights that I’d love to see in 2011: Josh Barnett vs. Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum vs. Alistair Overeem 2, Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko 2, Brett Rogers vs. Antonio Silva, and Josh Barnett vs. Fedor Emelianenko. Every single one of those fights has marquee value, major-name attraction, and a huge amount of earning potential. If Strikeforce can hammer out the contracts necessary to make these fights a reality, I have little doubt that at least three out of these five fights are good enough to headline a show on CBS.

But let’s not get our hopes up just yet. Or better yet, let’s ground our hopes in reality. Strikeforce could make some of the most interesting fights of 2011 if they get their Heavyweight division in order. But anything could happen: injuries could occur, contract negotiations could go south, other obligations could prevent possible showdowns. Nothing is certain in MMA, and that even applies to the big-money fights that all us MMA fans want to see. While I think that Strikeforce does indeed have amazing potential heading into 2011, I’ll have to see it to believe it. But I’m certainly pulling for them.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think the future holds for the San Diego-based promotion?

Arlovski recently posted the following message on his official Twitter account: “I would like to confirm that I am not participating in the K-1 on October 2^nd”. No explanation was given by the heavy-handed striker, but a report by Head Kick Legend gave us the scoop. Here’s what they had to say: “The word has been spreading around that Arlovski has possibly suffered an injury in training, which could account for the last minute change in the card. The injury being talked about is a broken nose, and while broken noses in fighting are not uncommon at all, one before a fight could be detrimental for Arlovski, as a broken nose can lead to swelling of the nose as well as the eye, making it difficult to see. A simple tap on the nose could cause swelling and ruin his vision.”

As a fan of Arlovski I’m gutted that he won’t be competing in K-1. Maybe I was fooling myself, but I honestly thought that Arlovski could have done pretty well against the right opponents in that organization. If his last few fights are any indication, Arlovski has virtually abandoned everything but his striking game, which is looking more and more like a traditional boxer’s, so he could have been at least marginally successful in K-1. I know it’d be a glorified publicity stunt, but facing the losing streak he’s on right now, anything helps. I’ll take an Arlovski win any way I can get it.

But now that it’s been confirmed that he won’t be competing, I have to honestly ask himself: would he really have been able to go far in the K-1 World Grand Prix? I have to at least grudgingly admit that no, he likely wouldn’t go very far at all. Even as a big Arlovski fan, and despite how hard it is to come to terms with this, I also have to admit that the man has had a glass jaw for a long while now. It’s true that his big KO losses have all come against heavy-handed strikers, but still, with the right power level in your hands or legs you can reduce Arlovski’s chin to dust. And this is K-1 we’re talking about, home to the most-feared strikers in the world. More than likely Arlovski would have been crushed if he came anywhere within shouting distance of actually winning the tournament.

Yet at the end of the day, I at least would have liked to see him try. With this K-1 deal now off the table, I don’t know what’s next for Arlovski. He certainly needs to drastically change whatever he’s doing, because it’s not working. I’ll follow him no matter what path his career takes, but Arlovski is walking down a dark road and I don’t see any easy way off of it. I’ll certainly be pulling for him, though.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Arlovski pulling out of K-1? And what’s next for the former champion as he struggles to get back into the win column in MMA?

Current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, who recently defended his title for the first time against knockout artist Brett Rogers last May, was said to be in talks with the Japanese organization in order to vie for the promotion’s first ever heavyweight title against none other than Andre Arlovski.

“The Pitbull”, who at one point in time was considered to be the top dog in the heavyweight division after claiming and defending the UFC’s heavyweight title in devastating fashion, has since fallen on hard times. The Belorussian has lost his last three bouts, two of which came by way of definitive knockouts at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko and the aforementioned Brett Rogers, respectively.

Since contract negotiations fell through for both Overeem and Andrei in preparation for the proposed bout, for undisclosed reasons, FEG, the parent company which runs both DREAM and K-1, will now gear towards another go around with both competitors. While Alistair has already been confirmed for the K-1 World Grand Prix this year, Arlovski has since been rumored for the 16-man field as well.

However, for either competitor to face one another in the Grand Prix, both must win their opening bouts–this, according to MiddleEasy.com.

“The Demolition Man” is scheduled to face Ben Edwards, the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Canberra Champion, on the October 2 event, which Arlovksi is rumored to be facing fellow Wild Card fighter Raul Cătinaş, of Romania.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of this potential match up? Should Arlovski and Alistair get past their own respective opponents, who do you think will take this match? Sound off in the comments section below.

In an interview with Sherdog, here’s what “Vai Cavalo” had to say: “I believe that by March, I’ll be back to the ring…I thought [signing Josh Barnett] was a great acquisition to the event. Barnett is a really tough heavyweight. I haven’t thought about facing him yet. My goal now is either a rematch with Fedor or (one) with Overeem for the belt. But actually the most important thing for me is not who they will choose, but that my body is 100 percent recovered, so I can show to the ones who thought I was lucky that I was actually ready and pretty well-trained to fight Fedor.”

I’m glad to see that Werdum has been healing up well from elbow surgery. I have no problem in admitting that I was among the legion of MMA fans that counted out Werdum from the second his fight with Fedor was announced. I remember remarking that Fabricio Werdum had “decent striking” and “a good ground game”. I think he showed us all that night that his ground game is several levels above “good”. I think Werdum is one of the best ground technicians in the game right now.

When Werdum does return, I think he’ll have a huge amount of options in regards to potential opponents. The focus has honestly shifted somewhat: instead of everyone wanting to be the first man to beat Fedor, it now looks like people are lining up to take out the person who took out Fedor. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Emelianenko rematch was the first fight to happen, but in all honesty, I think Werdum has earned his shot against Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. He’s won three in a row, he’s lost four times in his eight-year career, and his popularity and market value have never been higher. Werdum/Emelianenko 2 will likely make more money, but I honestly believe that Werdum/Overeem makes more sense.

But do you know what the really great thing about this situation is? No matter who Werdum faces next, we’re guaranteed some great Heavyweight match-ups in the near future. The UFC’s Heavyweight division has been lauded with near-unending praise for the leaps and bounds it’s taken in recent years in regards to filling its ranks with quality fighters, but Strikeforce deserves a lot of credit too. They’ve got Fedor, Overeem, Werdum, Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett…it’s honestly Strikeforce’s best division right now. I’m looking forward to seeing Werdum compete against the best Strikeforce has to offer, no matter who he faces first, because the best Strikeforce has to offer just keeps getting better.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think is next for Fabricio Werdum once he returns from healing up his injury?

MMAMania brings word that Arlovski has been scheduled to compete in the upcoming K-1 World Grand Prix. The announcement came courtesy of Michael “The Voice” Schiavello, who had this to say: “October 2nd in Seoul, live on HDNet, in a superfight making his K-1 debut, former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, yes we will have live October 2nd from Seoul only on HDNet. Andrei Arlovski makes his K-1 debut.”

I think it will be very interesting to see Andrei Arlovski in a K-1 ring, and even though I barely watch K-1, I’m almost positive that I’ll be watching his fight. I’ve been an Arlovski fan for years, and I think he could possibly make the transition to K-1 and be moderately successful. It all hinges on how he’s able to translate the power in his hands into a K-1 setting, which is pretty different from traditional MMA. Alistair Overeem has already proven that it can be done, so I’m really pulling for “The Pitbull” and I hope that a stint in K-1 would rejuvenate his career.

Because honestly, the alternative is pretty grim. If Arlovski flops in his K-1 debut, or worse yet, if he gets knocked out again, I don’t see him having many options left. If he finishes his Strikeforce contract without any legitimate wins to his credit (wins against competition that matters) he may even be in the same boat as Tim Sylvia should this not work out for him: scraping and crawling his way back towards Heavyweight relevancy in the lower-end/bottom-tier promotions.

And if you want my opinion? I think Arlovski will be successful in K-1. His last fight showed that he is becoming more and more of a pure striker (and in MMA, that’s both a positive and a negative), and he’ll excel with K-1’s rules. It won’t be easy, not by a long shot, because K-1 has been the home of the best pure strikers in the world for what feels like forever. But Arlovski has always had great hands, and even though he’s hit a tough losing skid recently, those hands still have their power. If Arlovski can get his footwork and pacing down, he’ll probably have a pretty decent run as a K-1 fighter.

But if it doesn’t work out, I think it’s time that Arlovski started from scratch. Whatever he’s doing isn’t working, whoever he’s working with isn’t making the grade no matter how accomplished they may be. If this K-1 excursion results in more losses, nothing short of a complete overhaul will rejuvenate Arlovski’s career. It’s tough to say that about a fighter I’ve been following for so long, but some difficult days are ahead of Arlovski win or lose. But I wish him all the best.

And what about you, fans and friends? How successful do you think Andrei Arlovski will be in K-1?

Here’s what Barnett had to say over at MMAWeekly: “I spoke with several other companies prior to this, and what kind of visibility they were able to offer, and what they could offer in terms of opponents, and just keeping me active… [Strikeforce’s visibility] matters big time. Cause [sic] when I dislocate and tear somebody’s head completely off their shoulders and spew blood all over the ring, and then drink it, I want the whole world to see it… I’d love to fight on CBS. Punch somebody so hard that their eyeballs pop out of their head… We haven’t really hit on any solid dates yet or anything like that, or even opponents… In due time. There’s not too many people all that chomping at the bit and so ready to meet their death.”

Well, I’m glad to see that Barnett is so motivated as he comes into Strikeforce. It remains to be seen if he can redeem himself, but he sounds ready, willing, and able to go into Strikeforce and dominate the division. I won’t lie, there are some big-money and very interesting fights for Josh Barnett in Strikeforce. Fights even I, who still feels extremely hesitant about Barnett, would love to see. If Barnett shows up clean, Strikeforce will have made an excellent acquisition of a top-ranked Heavyweight. If Barnett roids up again and once again gets caught, both Strikeforce and Barnett will have a huge black mark on their record. If Barnett succumbs to the juice yet again, it will likely be the final nail in his coffin. I don’t see any major promotion ever trusting Barnett again if he gets caught juicing in Strikeforce. This is Barnett’s  final “second chance”. As a former fan, I sincerely hope he doesn’t blow it.

But honestly…I have to grimace when Barnett says things like this. It’s not intimidating. It’s moronic. And worse yet, it could turn into a PR nightmare. It’s happened before. Frank Mir stirred up a hornet’s nest when he claimed that he wanted to hurt Brock Lesnar so bad that he (Lesnar) would be the first man to die of Octagon-related injuries. WEC star Donald Cerrone just got through a media firestorm of his own when he claimed that he wanted to kill Jamie Varner in their hotly-anticipated rematch. Bold statements like these may have gone over decently in the “human cockfighting” days, back when blood was better, the sport was underground, and a scary personality and halfway-decent fighting skills were all you needed to become a star. But in today’s world, with near-global MMA acceptance/legalization hinging on the fighters being taken seriously as legitimate athletes and MMA as a whole being taken seriously as a legitimate sport, there’s no place for head-ripping, blood-drinking, or eye-popping.

Plainly put, Josh Barnett needs to watch his mouth and his behind if he wants to be successful in Strikeforce. No matter what else happens, Barnett faces some incredibly tough challenges in the form of fighters like Alistair Overeem, Brett Rogers, Andrei Arlovski, Antonio Silva, Fabricio Werdum, and of course, Fedor Emelianenko. And if he wants the visibility that comes with competing on a Showtime or CBS card, he should leave the blood and gore at home.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Barnett’s desire to maul his opponents?

MMAWeekly recently talked to Alex Davis, the manager of Antonio Silva, and the man had this to say: “Right now, I’m working close with Strikeforce. It looks like it’s possible that it’s going to be Fedor.”

The only man to ever hold the Elite XC Heavyweight Championship, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva has seen his credibility as an elite-level Mixed Martial Artist grow by leaps and bounds after a tough loss to Fabricio Werdum and a dominating win over former ufc Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Silva is at the perfect point in his career for a showdown with Emelianenko, and has in fact called him out in the past, going as far as to say that the drama surrounding the would-be fight with Overeem was nothing more than daytime soap opera nonsense.

Fedor Emelianenko is widely regarded as one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists of all time, but he’s come under heavy criticism recently for his continued absence from the world’s best MMA promotion, the UFC. Fedor cynics were quick to pounce on the Werdum loss, claiming that Fedor was never all that good to begin with, wouldn’t cut it in the UFC, and couldn’t even stand up to a “UFC reject”. For his part, Emelianenko says that he never wanted to have the image of an undefeated destroyer, and most famously said in a post-fight interview that “a man who does not fall does not stand up.”

This fight sounds like it could be a great match. I still don’t think Antonio Silva is ready or has faced enough elite-level Heavyweights to fully justify getting a fight with Fedor, but he’s a “victim” of circumstance and is the only elite-level Strikeforce Heavyweight that makes sense for Fedor to fight right now: Josh Barnett just barely signed his contract, Overeem is off to K-1 once again, Werdum is sidelined with an injury, and Emelianenko has already beaten Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski so decisively that no rematch should be made until both get a solid win-streak going. “Bigfoot” may not be Emelianenko’s toughest test, but he is a test. And coming off the huge loss to Werdum, Emelianenko needs big wins in a big way.

And I honestly think he’ll get one against Antonio Silva. Fedor excels against freak-of-nature athletes. Even if they’re all glorified freak-show fighters, he’s dominated them thoroughly. Against someone like Antonio Silva, who started out as a glorified freak-show fighter but is now being taken seriously due to his increasing skill and prowess, Fedor may not run through him quite as quickly as he did fighters like Hong Man Choi or Zuluzinho. But his skill is still far greater than that of Silva’s. Emelianenko will be more motivated than ever coming into this fight, and with Silva being more or less a striker, I see Emelianenko picking the big man apart with counter-strikes before getting the takedown and locking in one of his trademark Armbar submissions.

This is a pivotal moment in Fedor Emelianenko’s career, and I think this fight with Silva will go a long way towards laying all the rumors and uncertainties to rest. As an Emelianenko super-fan, I’m very hopeful that “The Last Emperor” will return to his winning ways and once again establish himself as the best Heavyweight MMA fighter of all time.

And what about you, fans and friends? If it happens, how do you see Emelianenko/Silva going down?

In a statement released through Facebook of all places, Antonio Silva, the only man to ever hold the Elite XC Heavyweight Championship, had this to say: “I come from Paraiba, in Brazil, where we don’t back down from things! I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me; you will never see me picking and choosing opponents. It’s sad when the heavyweight champion starts whining that he will only fight this guy or that. What kind of a professional is this guy? He is the champ, isn’t he? Why be afraid to fight me? And Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport. Is this how he got to be a legend, by declining fights?”

“I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the public thinks about him. To me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing off, but these guys are disappointing me. They are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.”

“We are fighters, supposed to be some of the best in the world, and our job is to get up there, perform, and put on a good fight for the fans. I am ready to do this, just tell me who is next and I will be there. I am not a woman who wants to be involved in soap operas, looking forward to the next episode.”

“I think that STRIKEFORCE needs to put an end to this. Give me whoever and I will fight him, and, win or lose, people will know I came to fight that day and put my heart into it. To me, this is the only way.”

Strong words from a big man, but do they have any substance? I think Antonio Silva would fight Fedor or Alistair on a day’s notice, I’ll give him that. He’s got a lot of guts and heart…but he’s also digging his own grave. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem will happen one day, it’s just a matter of timing. There is such a thing as wanting to be adequately prepared for your opponent, especially when you’re fighting the best fighters.

And again, I have to bring up the obvious: who does Silva think he is to say things like this? He’s only just begun to become accepted as a legitimate Heavyweight and not a freak attraction. Did Antonio Silva ever really beat anyone of note before he beat Andrei Arlovski, which I can admit was a very good performance? Antonio Silva isn’t throwing stones in a glass house…he’s got an Uzi on rapid fire and he’s spraying like his life depended on it. Silva hasn’t gotten enough wins to be taken seriously as a threat to either Fedor or Alistair, and if he keeps calling them out, sooner or later they’re going to answer and send his championship dreams crashing back down to reality.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do you agree with Silva, and why or why not?

I’ll give him this: Chad Griggs may be the toughest test Lashley has faced so far. Griggs is 8-1, has seven (T)KO’s to his name, he’s never once been to a decision, and all but two of his wins have occurred before the end of the first round of action. He’s on a three-fight first-round TKO streak. I admit that I haven’t seen all that much of him, but his status as an unknown may work in his favor. If Bobby Lashley underestimates and/or overlooks Chad Griggs, which Griggs himself claims Lashley will do, it’s quite possible that Griggs could land a good, clean shot that knocks Lashley out.

So fans may be wondering why Strikeforce and Lashley’s management team, both of whom have grown increasingly notorious due to their insistent need to coddle Lashley, would agree to a fight with a heavy-handed striker with undeniable KO power. The reasoning is simple: it’s all smoke and mirrors. If Lashley beats Griggs, it will give his team somebody to point to as a legitimate opponent, a knockout artist that couldn’t stand up against the man known as “The Dominator”. It will certainly look like Lashley is finally ready to step it up and become a serious threat in Strikeforce. If you dig just an inch below the surface, however, that reasoning begins to fall apart. Chad Griggs is not world-tested, he’s not elite-caliber. He’s 8-1 with seven knockouts, but he’s not a battle-scarred veteran used to the spotlight. If nerves don’t get the better of Griggs, his undoing will be due to the simple fact that he hasn’t competed in a professional Mixed Martial Arts fight in over a year.

It’s been proven time and time again that ring rust is very real and very prevalent in MMA fighters that take prolonged absences from the sport. It’s become the exception, not the rule, for a fighter to win his first fight back after a prolonged period of inactivity. And despite all the crap I give him, Lashley is a tough opponent even on a fighter’s best day. His power is undeniable and he has very prestigious amateur wrestling credentials. Ring rust has affected some of the biggest names in this sport: Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira…the list goes on. Chad Griggs won’t be immune to it, and Lashley will have no problem taking him out. That’s why Lashley defeating Chad Griggs won’t raise his status one single iota in my book.

If Lashley really wants to prove himself as an MMA fighter, I think the time is right to throw him to the sharks and see if he survives or gets eaten alive. Give him Shane Del Rosario and see which one is really ready for Strikeforce’s Heavyweight elite. Put him against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and let’s see just how far Silva has come from his freakshow beginnings. Hell, give him Andrei Arlovski and let’s see if “The Pitbull” can prove once and for all that he still deserves a place among the elite-level Heavyweights. But give him somebody of actual worth. Anybody.

And what do you think, fans and friends? How successful do you think Bobby Lashley has been and will be in Strikeforce?

On paper, this could have been the grudge match to end all grudge matches. With his good looks, vampire-teeth mouthguard, and penchant for knocking opponents senseless, Andrei Arlovski quickly became a hot commodity for the UFC, having scored three straight KO’s before utterly devastating Tim Sylvia in under 50 seconds, knocking him down and then finishing him with a heel hook. To his credit, Sylvia had also earned a reputation as a feared striker, and with his gigantic stature, it was near-impossible for other fighters to counter his bullying tactics. Sylvia had even earned a measure of revenge against Arlovski, nearly getting knocked out in their second match only to rebound and instead knock Arlovski out in dramatic fashion. When combined, both fights lasted a mere three and a half minutes. With the score even at 1-1, with both men having tasted a crushing defeat and a stellar victory, another wild, bomb-tastic brawl was almost guaranteed. If only it were that simple.

What we got was three rounds full of timidity, the unwillingness to engage, and the sheer boredom and frustration of seeing two fighters so afraid of getting humbled again that neither one had the intestinal fortitude to go for broke and pull the trigger. Up to this fight, both men were probably guilty of a few things. Tim Sylvia was always sloppy. Andrei Arlovski always looked great against nobodies and struggled with the Heavyweight elite. But damn it all, I found myself consistently entertained by both men. That’s got to count for something, right? In this fight I was confused, then frustrated, then downright angry. Champions don’t hover around the ring, trying to avoid their opponent at all times. Champions, real champions, will seize any opportunity even if it opens them up to a counter-attack. That’s the nature of this business, folks.

Perhaps the saddest thing about this fight is that both men’s careers were never the same. Both men would get kicked out of the UFC. Tim Sylvia would go on to get obliterated by Fedor Emelianenko and Ray Mercer, in the process gaining about forty pounds of pure fat. His recent wins may put him on the comeback trail, but let’s not kid ourselves, it’ll be a difficult road back to relevancy. Andrei Arlovski seemed poised for a career comeback, winning five straight and getting back to his once-dominant ways…and then Fedor Emelianenko sent him crashing down to earth with a mid-air KO, which was quickly followed by Brett Rogers bull-rushing him and knocking him out as well. Now 0-3 in his last three fights, a career resurrection seems more and more like a distant pipe dream.

Despite my varying levels of fandom, I think both men have only themselves to blame for their career woes, which began with this utterly atrocious fight. It was boring beyond belief, and would ultimately serve as a prelude to the career downfalls of two of the best the UFC had to offer at that point in time. For how it played out, and especially due to it having such a powerfully negative effect on both fighters, Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski 3 is an “Infamous Moment in MMA History”.

The first is a no-brainer: a rematch with the first man to ever legitimately defeat Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum. I’m not going to call Werdum’s win a “fluke” or “luck”, as I’m one of the ones that think there’s no such thing as luck in MMA, only skill and the ability to use it. But it seems like everyone wants to see this match: Fedor fans want it in order to prove that Fedor’s loss was a momentary lapse in judgment, while Fedor haters will look to this fight as further proof that Fedor was always all hype and no substance. Me, I just think this would be a very different fight between a very different Werdum and a very different Fedor. Even if it ends quickly once again, I don’t see anything happening in the rematch that happened in the first match. And that’s as good a reason to book a rematch as any.

The second fight is also a no-brainer: “The Demolition Man”, Alistair Overeem. Before Werdum shocked the world, it seemed that both M-1 Global and Strikeforce were banking on Fedor vs. Overeem on Pay-Per-View. For his part, Overeem has been vocal in wanting to fight Fedor, even going as far as to say that Fedor was “ducking” him. Also, Overeem returned to Strikeforce in a big way, re-introducing himself to North American fans by completely demolishing Brett “The Grim” Rogers, tossing him about as if he were a child and then ultimately punching him into submission. I would love to see how Fedor’s striking would match-up against Overeem’s, whose striking has never looked crisper and deadlier. Also, both men possess some vastly under-rated ground games (even when you consider Fedor’s loss via Triangle Choke), so I think this one would be entertaining no matter where it went.

The last fight I have in mind would put Fedor against Antonio Silva, who has finally emerged as one of the non-UFC Heavyweight elite. Silva is coming off of the biggest win of his career, a three-round out-boxing of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Fedor has faced giants before, and not only has he always won, his fights against giants have always been entertaining. It could be argued that Fedor has never faced a giant with actual skill, and he’d get all that and more against “Bigfoot”.

And that’s about it. I guess you could make a case that all three of those fights could have rematches (that includes a third match against Werdum), but fighting rematch after rematch is something hardly befitting a man who once ruled the Pound-for-Pound rankings with an iron fist. Who else does Strikeforce have for Fedor? He’s already beaten Andrei Arlovski. Herschel Walker or Bobby Lashley would be nothing more than freak show attractions. Strikeforce could always bring in Josh Barnett, but it’s been over eight years since he was in the UFC (and thus on the mainstream’s radar), and with his penchant for testing positive for steroids, there’s a very real argument to make concerning him being more trouble than he’s worth. Bottom line: even the most hardcore Fedor fans (see: the author of this article) are beginning to believe that Fedor belongs in the UFC and nowhere else.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do 4-6 more Fedor fights in Strikeforce sound interesting to you, and if so, who would you like to see him face?

Should Dos Santos find himself staring across the Octagon at Cain Velasquez, Junior’s best bet is to pace himself and fight smarter, not harder. However, if he can rock Cain the way Cheick Kongo rocked Cain, he may have to throw it all out there and go for the kill. If Dos Santos finds himself on his back, people seem to forget that Dos Santos trains BJJ with the Nogueira brothers. I don’t see Dos Santos dominating Cain on the ground, but I do see him being able to get the fight standing after absorbing minimal damage. I think Cain may find it hard to even get Dos Santos down, since “Cigano” looked almost insulted and easily blocked the takedowns of Gabriel Gonzaga in their recent fight. So long as the fight remains standing and Dos Santos picks his shots while possessing the cardio to last five rounds, Junior Dos Santos would have a great shot at winning via KO or TKO.

Against Brock Lesnar, Dos Santos wins this one so long as he is once again able to keep it standing, and this will be a tall order against someone that possesses one of the fiercest takedowns in the business. This would simply be a case of a regular-sized Heavyweight going up against the freakishly athletic behemoths that are quickly becoming the norm for the UFC’s Heavyweight division. Even with his BJJ background, I think Dos Santos would be taken down at will in a fight with Brock Lesnar. Junior’s best bet would be to make Lesnar pay each time he tries a takedown: even if it results in him still getting taken down, Dos Santos needs to knee Brock in the face or land an uppercut before inevitably getting dragged to the ground. Constantly getting taken down will likely be Dos Santos’ downfall if the fight goes to the judges, but if he can land just one good counter, Dos Santos has a shot at knocking Lesnar out or TKO’ing him.

If it’s Roy “Big Country” Nelson that takes on Cain Velasquez, Nelson would actually be better suited taking Velasquez to the ground. If Nelson trades with Velasquez for too long, he could find himself getting TKO’d by a superior striker, which is exactly what happened when Nelson met Andrei Arlovski. The Arlovski fight suffered from a clearly biased judge that stood the fight up right as Nelson was making his way into a dominant position, and since then, people seem to have attached this stigma of Roy Nelson just lying on his opponents whenever the fight goes to the ground. If Nelson can remain active on the ground, I don’t see Cain having the power to brute-force Nelson off of him. Nelson needs to advance to his beloved Crucifix position and rain down enough blows to force a stoppage. It’s worked wonderfully in the past, and if he can get it on Cain Velasquez, it’ll work again.

Nelson’s gameplan is almost entirely reversed when it comes to fighting Brock Lesnar instead of Cain Velasquez. Lesnar has enough freakish strength to both take down Nelson with relatively little struggle, and to also shove Nelson off from on top of him through brute force alone. Nelson should only take this one to the ground if he’s close to scoring a TKO, otherwise I see Lesnar getting the better of him. Big Country’s striking has never looked better since he came into the UFC, and Lesnar’s striking has never looked as bad as it did during his recent fight with Shane Carwin.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you think Junior Dos Santos or Roy Nelson have the ability to beat Cain Velasquez or Brock Lesnar? Also, who do you see winning the fight between Dos Santos and Nelson?

The first and perhaps most obvious choice is Cain Velasquez. Velasquez is seemingly the perfect amalgam of Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin: Cain possesses both brutal ground and pound and vicious one-hit knockout power. Cain is also relatively new to the sport of MMA, and like Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, his quick and relatively painless run to the top leaves the door open for years of domination. Velasquez is also one of the UFC’s most marketable stars. The son of an illegal immigrant, Velasquez will likely be a key figure in developing and continuing any sort of UFC deal with Mexico, up to and including an event in Mexico or even coaching a “Team Mexico” for The Ultimate Fighter. Even without his heritage, Velasquez’s seemingly unstoppable mix of grounding, pounding, and striking makes him one of the best Heavyweights in the world, a fact that I don’t see changing for quite some time.

Another choice that will likely come as a shocker to none is Junior Dos Santos. I’ve said it in the past, and it bears repeating: I’ve learned to never again bet against Junior Dos Santos. For all the MMA purists that swear up and down that a good ground fight is just as good as and even better than two guys sloppily swinging for the fences, nobody can deny that the chance to see a highlight-reel KO is one of the main reasons we all tune in to this sport of ours. And Junior Dos Santos has delivered at least one highlight-reel moment in every single one of his UFC fights to date. Most fans are well aware that his ground skills have yet to be truly tested, and while I think he will have his hands full if he takes on wrestling powerhouses like Lesnar and Velasquez, I truly believe that Dos Santos could separate any and every man currently competing in the UFC’s Heavyweight division from his consciousness. The UFC Heavyweight Division has lacked a championship-level “pure striker” since the days of Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia, and Junior Dos Santos fits that mold perfectly. Even if he won’t be able to stand up to the ground game of some of the Heavyweight elite, I see Junior Dos Santos consistently near the top of the cards for the next several years.

My final choice may shock a few people, it may not. But here it is: Roy Nelson. I’ve been a fan of “Big Country” since his days in the IFL, and his performances inside the Octagon have got me thinking that Roy Nelson has only just begun to realize his potential. His striking has never looked sharper, and his ground game continues to evolve and improve. Plus, he’ll always have the appeal of being a non-standard Heavyweight. Seeing Big Country rub his big belly after turning in another exciting performance will likely never get old. While it’s anyone’s guess as to if he can get past Junior Dos Santos in their upcoming fight, I think Nelson has more than enough skill to consistently be “in the mix”. He may not reach the same heights as Junior Dos Santos or Cain Velasquez, but if he continues to improve, the top-tier better be ready to handle the weight of Big Country.

So what do you think, fans and friends? Who do you see sitting atop or consistently being contenders to the UFC Heavyweight throne?

For Fighters.com and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar (5-1) it’s been a three-year roller coaster from MMA novelty to undisputed heavyweight champion.  But, after former top-ranked “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko’s (31-2) stunning loss to “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)  at Strikeforce/M-1 Global in San Jose June 26 and Lesnar’s arm triangle submission of Shane Carwin (12-1) at UFC 116 Saturday, there can be no dispute among any rational fan, fighter, journalist, or promoter that indeed Lesnar now sits atop the mountain in the world heavyweight rankings.

The debate is over, for now.

Lesnar already has second-ranked Cain Velasquez’s (8-0) name on his dance card to defend his new status.

Throughout the last year’s Emelianenko-Lesnar debate, UFC President Dana White repeated “the best fighters in the world fight the best three times per year.”  Yet, Lesnar has never passed that threshold.  Of course, Lesnar suffered from diverticulitis for several months, which postponed his UFC title defense until Saturday.  However, even without the illness, Lesnar would’ve only fought twice in 2009.

Fighters.com challenges White to make good on his promise to keep Lesnar on a four-month fight schedule, which would perch the Lesnar-Velasquez matchup at the top of the UFC 121 card rumored to be heading for Oberhausen, Germany.  More likely though, White will end the year with the matchup at UFC 122 in Las Vegas.

At UFC 117 in Oakland August 7, it seems the next top UFC contender will be decided betwen third-ranked “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (11-2) and The Ultimate Fighter 10 champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-4).

Werdum ascends to the fourth spot with his submission of Emelianenko in the matchup promoted to determine the next Strikeforce title challenger to ninth-ranked “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (33-11).  However, it seems that was only if Emelianenko had won. Since the inconcievable Werdum victory, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has thrown just about every potential matchup at the wall to see what sticks except the natural Overeem-Werdum title fight to crown a clear Strikeforce champion.  Maybe Werdum and Emelianenko will rematch.  Maybe Overeem and Emelianenko will fight for the title to determine who gets the next crack at higher-ranked Werdum.  It’s all confusing and Fighters.com encourages Coker to go with plan A and match the champ Overeem with the top contender Werdum.

Carwin drops to the fifth spot with his loss to Lesnar.  Carwin…dare I use the word…dominated Lesnar in round one, but exposed a weakness on his back in round two that must be fixed if 35-year old Carwin expects to make another run to the top.

Emelianenko drops to the sixth spot.  I’m willing to have a reasonable discussion about where Emelianenko ranks, but not with anyone who’ll continue to rank Emelianenko first.  You’re delusional.  Part of Emelianenko’s ranking is just circumstantial.  For right now, Werdum is a better fighter than Emelianenko as evidenced by the actual fight in which Werdum defeated Emelianenko.  There’s no would’ves, should’ves, or could’ves to discuss after two fighters fight.  Therefore, Werdum must rank above Emelianenko.  Similarly, Werdum was knocked out by dos Santos at UFC 90 west of Chicago in October 2008.  In an effort to rank fighters presently and not historically, Fighters.com limits the considered record of fighters to their work in the previous two years.  Therefore, dos Santos must rank above Werdum who must rank above Emelianenko.  That’s Fighters.com’s method and why Emelianenko ranks sixth after losing to Werdum.

Neither seventh-ranked Frank Mir (13-5) nor eighth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) have any scheduled or rumored fights on their calendars.

Though Coker had mentioned rematching tenth-ranked “The Grimm” Brett Rogers (10-2) and former UFC heavyweight champion “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (15-8), Fighters.com has confirmed both with Rogers’s camp and Strikeforce that the rematch has never been officially offered to Rogers.

Fighters.com’s July Heavyweight Top Ten

1. Brock Lesnar (5-1)
2. Cain Velasquez (8-0)
3. “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (11-2)
4. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)
5. Shane Carwin (12-1)
6. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-2)
7. Frank Mir (13-5)
8. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1)
9. “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (33-11)
10. “The Grimm” Brett Rogers (10-2)

Alistair is the heavyweight champion in Strikeforce although a casual fan of the organization probably doesn’t know this fact. This would be due to his inactivity here in the states. The last time he fought for Strikeforce or in the U.S was back in November of 2007. Since then he has been active in Japan and Holland but has yet to defend his title.

He has gone 6-0 with six first round stoppages, dealt with an injury received as the result of a night-club incident as well as constantly mentioned concerns over his massive frame that many believe is due to performance enhancing drugs.

Media and fans alike called for Overeem to be stripped of the title but Scott Coker did not feel it was the correct move. “There was dialogue about [stripping Overeem of his title], but I was really against that,” Coker said. “In 2007, I think he fought for us in November, and in 2008, I don’t think we really had a fight for him. In 2009, when we launched the TV deal, that was just last year. Since we’ve had the TV relationship with Showtime and CBS and went from a regional promotion to a national promotion, it’s just been a year.

“We had an opportunity to have a fight with him last year, but then he was injured, and then he had a fight with K-1. But with Golden Glory (Overeem’s management team), we had a clear understanding that he was going to have to fight for us in the spring of this year and then fight for us and have the U.S. be the priority from here going forward, which they agreed to. I know he wants to fight in K-1 at the end of the year, but he’s going to be available between now and December, and that was part of the deal.”

Saturday he steps into the cage to finally defend that title against Brett Roger who possesses serious knockout power.

I am not alone in questioning the match-up between the champion and a man coming off a loss to Fighters.com top-ranked heavyweight and arguably the best pound for pound fighter in the world, “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1).

I had an extremely difficult time remembering the last time a challenger received a title shot immediately following a loss until I remembered Justin Eilers (19-7-1) getting a shot against then current UFC champion “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7). Typically a loss would knock you out of title contention rather than catapult you into a main event for the strap.

This match-up is a direct result of the lack of depth in Strikeforce which in turn makes it difficult to give fans fights that have a significance in the overall division as well as exciting fights the casual fan will pay to see take place.

This is an issue that plagues Strikeforce and if not corrected could spell the end of the organization.

Typically the lack of depth in Strikeforce has been in the middleweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions as the UFC and Bellator have been active in signing some of the best known talent as well as the high level prospects. Yet here we are discussing a fight in the heavyweight division that is illogical to say the least.

The casual fans will eat up the story of Brett Rogers considering he was a tire changer at a chain store and now is a full-time fighter. However, they will also see a man who got beat by “the Russian guy” in his last fight and likely be confused by why he his now fighting for the title. Strikeforce needs to be bringing fighters up through the ranks and giving them some television time even if the ranks are very shallow.

The end to Strikeforce is near if they can’t bring in more fighters while retaining the fighters on their current roster as well as spending time to properly promote the up and comers.

The UFC has a unique avenue for just that in “The Ultimate Fighter” and the “Ultimate Fight Nights” on Spike TV. They can use these to give people exposure to the young fighters so when they get a bug fight the fans are already invested one way or anther in the fight. Strikeforce does have their Challenger series but the number of people actually watching that pales in comparison to the same style UFC events. I would guess the people watching that series is those of us in the media as well as the hardcore MMA fans that can never seem to get enough of the sport.

Hopefully we can see a change come about in Strikeforce as I feel the organization could be good for the sport but that will need to happen soon or they will be forced to close up shop.