We head to MMA Junkie for a report that states that Strikeforce officials are looking to hold the semi-final round of their Grand Prix on September 10. As of this writing, a city, state, and venue are all unknown. In addition to those two fights, September 10 is also being targeted for other potential big fights, like Ronaldo Souza vs. Luke Rockhold, Muhammed Lawal vs. Roger Gracie, and Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle.

The four men advancing to the second round gave very interesting, very varied performances to make their way there. Sergei Kharitonov entered the tournament an unknown and proceeded to set himself up as a “dark horse” with a fantastic KO victory over former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski. Catch-wrestling specialist Josh Barnett dominated and submitted Brett Rogers. Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum both gave baffling performances in what is so far the weakest fight of the tournament, but Overeem did enough to win a decision. And in the biggest, best fight of his life, Antonio Silva managed to defeat MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

I’m really excited for this tournament, and I think these two fights would both be huge, absolutely huge, additions to what is looking to be a great September 10 card.

Something tells me that the winner of Kharitonov/Barnett will have a real shot at winning the entire tournament, no matter if it’s Overeem or Silva that they face. Josh Barnett looked excellent against Brett Rogers, and if for only a few minutes, he reminded us why so many people used to rank him very high on the Heavyweight charts. Meanwhile, Kharitonov showed off some very impressive, very technical striking against Andrei Arlovski. Although it seems to fit the typical “striker vs. wrestler” mold, I think this fight will be entertaining no matter where it goes or how long it lasts.

In regards to Overeem vs. Silva, I think this is the fight where Overeem will re-assert himself as a destroyer. A lot of people criticized Overeem’s performance against Werdum, but in my opinion, it takes two to tango. Overeem wanted nothing of Werdum’s ground game, and Werdum didn’t want to do anything except pull guard and hope Overeem followed him to the ground. The fact that an MMA fight always starts standing means that the ground fighter has to work to take it to the ground, not just pull guard over and over and over. So I honestly blame Fabricio Werdum more than Alistair Overeem.

Against Antonio Silva, Overeem will face someone who loves to strike and just happens to also be pretty good at the ground game. Silva will come out with something to prove and will probably try to knock Overeem out, and that’s going to give Overeem ample opportunity to show off why he won a championship in the most prestigious kickboxing organization in the world.

Overall, I’m very excited for these two fights, and if they occur as planned, September 10 could be the date for one of Strikeforce’s best cards of the year.

Let’s begin as we always do, fans and friends: by putting the situation into context.

When he stepped into the cage late Saturday night, Brett Rogers had lost two out of his last three performances, with one win coming by way of Unanimous Decision and in a smaller promotion. This was a far cry from Brett’s heyday, when “The Grim” was knocking out people left and right and establishing himself as one of the best Heavyweight fighters in Mixed Martial Arts. But unlike UFC notables such as Junior dos Santos or Cain Velasquez, Brett wasn’t a multi-dimensional athlete and that definitely showed in his losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem.

Still, there was some hope. As good as he could be and once was, Josh Barnett was unproven since his big run in the legendary PRIDE FC promotion. He certainly kept active, yes, but his victories weren’t against top-flight competition. And of course, let’s not forget that Barnett was caught taking steroids once again.

So, who would win this match-up between the former UFC Heavyweight Champion and the former “next big thing”? Many people thought Barnett would win, but many people also thought that Rogers wouldn’t make it easy for him. It was expected that Rogers would make it competitive for the first round at the very least.

That was not the case… at all.

I could give a second-by-second breakdown of this fight, but here’s the only detail that matters: Josh Barnett took Brett Rogers down, transitioned to Mount, and then stayed there. In Round 1 and Round 2, Rogers was fully at Barnett’s mercy. Barnett’s style of “catch wrestling” is an interesting mix of submission holds and a smothering wrestling style, and against Rogers, it looked so effective that I began to wonder why more people don’t use this style.

In the end, Barnett had Rogers so worn out by the second round that when Barnett put him in an Arm Triangle, Rogers tapped out while in Mount. Usually, a fighter has to move out of mount and to the side of their opponent to fully lock in that particular submission. But Rogers was spent, outclassed, and just plain done.

Heading into this fight, it was very important for both men to take what should have been a competitive fight and turn it into a statement. With this win, Josh Barnett loudly and proudly announced his return to not only mainstream Mixed Martial Arts, but the top of the Heavyweight rankings. After this win, it would only moderately surprise me if Josh Barnett won the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix. Strikeforce undoubtedly took a major gamble signing Barnett, and it appears that this is a gamble that’s paid off and will continue to pay off. And that’s why Josh Barnett earns “Best Performance of the Night”.

5. Conor Heun battling past what could be a broken arm to beat Magno Almeida.

Although Strikeforce’s preliminary card available on HDNet wasn’t as good as the UFC’s preliminary events, this fight in particular stood out as the best the prelims had to offer. Conor Heun is one tough fighter, with serious fighting skill. He was taken to the limit by Magno Almeida, who had him in deep, deep trouble several times with several good submissions. After the end of the fight, it became clear that Heun’s arm was either dislocated badly or perhaps even broken. Yet he struggled on and won the fight, and that’s something you have to both respect and even admire.

4. Chad Griggs dominating Valentijn Overeem.

A lot of people continue to count out Chad Griggs, but he just continues to prove everybody wrong. Griggs basically came out of nowhere, and now he’s finished three straight opponents. With this fight, I think I’m finally ready to start taking Griggs seriously as a “dark horse” Top 10 Heavyweight in Strikeforce. He’s not there yet, but he deserves a high-caliber opponent in his next outing. Seeing Griggs go out and knock somebody senseless once again was a big highlight of the night.

3. Josh Barnett obliterating Brett Rogers.

Brett Rogers was once one of Strikeforce’s biggest attractions, and now he’s lost three of his last four bouts. Even worse, all three of those bouts have seen him controlled and finished, with his flaws becoming clearer and clearer. Against Barnett in particular, it became painfully evident how one-dimensional Rogers really is. The highlight of this fight came when Rogers charged in with a full head of steam… only for Barnett to counter and land in Mount as if it were nothing. That’s pure domination, and it made for an entertaining fight.

2. Jorge Masvidal outclassing KJ Noons.

I don’t like Jorge Masvidal, I’ve made that abundantly clear for some time now. But in this fight with KJ Noons, he earned a measure of respect from me. Who knows? Perhaps Masvidal could one day become one of those fighters I used to hate but then ended up accepting, like Tito Ortiz or Nick Diaz. However, I don’t think he’ll ever fully undergo a Diaz-like transformation, where I used to loathe him and now I can’t wait to see him fight and consider him one of my favorite fighters. But in the end, respect is due: Jorge Masvidal didn’t just beat KJ Noons, he outclassed him. I didn’t think that was possible, but apparently it is.

And my personal pick for the best moment of “Overeem vs. Werdum” is…

1. Josh Barnett’s post-fight speech.

Aside from how the main event went down, this is what’s on everybody’s mind right now. Did Barnett go too far? Is there any place for a “promo” in MMA? Doesn’t that borrow a bit too much from pro wrestling? Or was it an inspiring speech by a controversial man that remains a great fighter and a very entertaining speaker? Does one great fight and one very interesting speech make up for a career defined by a series of steroid scandals? I don’t know, but I do know this: Barnett’s speech was definitely the best moment of this entire event.

So there you have it, fans and friends: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from “Overeem vs. Werdum”.

Next for Valentijn Overeem: Strikeforce may or may not decide to keep “the other Overeem” employed. If they do, he’ll serve a decent role as a gatekeeper until he loses a few in a row. If they don’t, he’ll go back overseas and compete in smaller organizations.

Next for Chad Griggs/Brett Rogers: Each other, which is why I’m grouping them together. I think that Griggs is due for a shot to get into the upper-echelon. Plus, this fight would prove once and for all if Brett Rogers has anything left to give. If Rogers wins he takes the first step on a badly-needed comeback, if Griggs wins he continues his Cinderella story and emerges as a legitimate top Strikeforce Heavyweight. It’s a win-win.

Next for Jeff Monson: If Strikeforce doesn’t keep Monson employed, he’ll drop to Light Heavyweight and go back to demolishing people in smaller promotions and fighting three or four times per month (yes, per month). If they do keep him employed, Monson will likely be dropping to Light Heavyweight anyway, unless Strikeforce wants him to stay at Heavyweight. Either way, I think either division could use a veteran talent like Monson and I hope Strikeforce keeps him employed.

Next for Daniel Cormier: In terms of his immediate future, I think Cormier will be the first man that receives a phone call if any of the remaining Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix participants gets injured. If everyone stays healthy, Cormier may get a Heavyweight like Andrei Arlovski, and it’s possible that a showdown with Chad Griggs could be in his future.

Next for Josh Barnett: A battle with Sergei Kharitonov, who has as much knockout power as Brett Rogers and a whole lot more experience. Barnett put his “catch wrestling” system on display against Brett Rogers, and he showed that his style is still very effective. If Barnett can use his powerful base and ground prowess to get Sergei to the floor, it’ll then just be another waiting game until Sergei slips up and gets himself caught in a submission.

Next for Fabricio Werdum: I honestly don’t know what to think about Fabricio Werdum now. I don’t know how some people are saying that Werdum won against Overeem. For the majority of this fight, Werdum’s only response to Overeem’s striking was to pull guard. Werdum simply looked like he didn’t want to fight. Other than a rematch with Fedor Emelianenko, I have almost zero interest in Fabricio Werdum right now.

Next for Alistair Overeem: Antonio Silva, another tough opponent in a long line of tough opponents that will help Overeem establish his legacy and assert his dominance. Even though Silva is an accomplished grappler, I think both men will come out looking for the KO the moment the cage door closes. With this victory over Werdum, Overeem has got to be the favorite to win the entire tournament. He’s certainly who I’ve got currently pegged to emerge the victor.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

Alistair Overeem defeats Fabricio Werdum via Unanimous Decision. Josh Barnett defeats Brett Rogers via submission (arm triangle choke) at 1:11 round two. Jorge Masvidal defeats K.J. Noons via unanimous decision. Daniel Cormier defeats Jeff Monson via unanimous decision. Chad Griggs defeats Valentijn Overeem via TKO at 2:08 round one.  Gesias Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox results in a no contest because of an accidental eye poke in round two. Conor Heun defeats Magno Almeida via unanimous decision. Nah-Shon Burrell defeats Joe Ray via unanimous decision. Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeats Brian Melancon via split decision.

I was able to watch the preliminary card of this event on HDNet, and it’s very apparent that Strikeforce’s prelims are not at the same standard of the UFC’s. Nothing was bad, I did enjoy myself, but nothing came out and stole the show. The preliminary card was about as average as it gets, with some good fights and some decent ones. But “UFC Prelims LIVE” prelims outright steal the show occasionally. Those fighters are the the ones getting more and more post-fight award bonuses, they’re my “dark horse favorite”. The commentary team of Mike Schiavello and Bas Rutten were amazing as always, though.

Although it only took him one round instead of what I predicted, I did predict that Griggs would stop Overeem if he started landing. This fight proved that Valentijn Overeem will continue to be a hit-or-miss fighter until he retires. Chad Griggs is quickly becoming a “dark horse” contender in Strikeforce, and I’m increasingly interested in seeing him fight.

I feel bad for Jeff Monson, I knew he would get dominated but I still held out hope that maybe it wouldn’t happen. But it did, and Daniel Cormier once again proved that he’s an amazing talent. I sincerely hope Jeff Monson gets another shot in Strikeforce, though. Monson is considering a drop down to Light Heavyweight, hopefully that will be enough to get Strikeforce interested in booking Monson again.

As much as I dislike Jorge Masvidal, I have to admit that he impressed me by controlling and dominating KJ Noons, reducing the former champion to a bruised and bloody mess. I don’t want to say much more than that or else I’ll be in danger of starting a rant. I’ll end by saying this: Jorge Masvidal looked great, but I don’t see him beating Gilbert Melendez.

Josh Barnett… what to say about Josh Barnett. He’s a puzzling man. He’s controversial and brash and arrogant and he likes to cut shoot promos like he was back in a pro wrestling ring in Japan… but the man is still a brilliant fighter, he’s always been a brilliant fighter. Josh Barnett dominated Rogers and mounted him so easily that it looked like he was practicing the mount position with a sparring partner. I’m not sure if I’m fully ready to forgive Josh Barnett, but I have no problem giving credit where credit is due and recognizing greatness when it presents itself. And part of me quite frankly loves Josh Barnett, simply because he took the mic away from Gus Johnson for a few seconds.

And in the main event… well, the main event was just plain weird. What was Fabricio Werdum thinking? Honestly, I can’t remember another time when a fighter has pulled guard so many times. It was an incredibly bizarre performance. Overeem couldn’t really get going because whenever he started landing, Werdum would just pull guard again. It bordered on disgraceful. With this loss, I think Werdum’s five minutes of fame for beating Fedor Emelianenko may finally be over.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this event and I’m immensely happy that Strikeforce is putting on shows again. But man… what a weird main event.

5. The return of KJ Noons.

I’ve had my issues with KJ Noons in the past, but I’ve never had anything bad to say about his abilities. Noons is a championship-level fighter, and he’s heading back down to a weight class that is much more natural for him. His opponent, Jorge Masvidal, is a brash-talking all-rounder who’s just begging to be put in his place. Depending on who wins and how they win, the winner of this fight could very well get the next shot at the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.

4. Can Jeff Monson beat Daniel Cormier?

Notice the wording of that sentence, and how it’s not “Can Cormier beat Monson?” As skilled as Jeff Monson is, Daniel Cormier is a huge threat to him. Cormier is a former Olympic-level wrestler, he’s never been submitted, he’s never even been beaten. He also has knockout power in his hands. Monson deserves another shot in a major promotion, but in order to do that he’ll have to find a way to beat one of the biggest, baddest, most “can’t-miss” prospects in the entire world, and not just Strikeforce.

3. What’s left for Josh Barnett and Brett Rogers?

Both men have fallen on very hard times of late: Brett Rogers is 1-2 in his last three with both losses by (T)KO stoppage. Josh Barnett has pretty much vanished from almost everybody’s radar. Can Rogers re-assert himself as the knockout artist that seemed destined to take Strikeforce by storm? Can Barnett remind everyone why he was once consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 best in the world, even Top 5, for several years? Whoever wins this fight will be given a second chance, the loser will only slide further into obscurity. And that kind of incredible motivation tends to result in spectacular fights.

2. Can Fabricio Werdum do the unthinkable… again?

Fabricio Werdum can’t beat Alistair Overeem… right? Of course not, Overeem is just too good… isn’t he? Admit it, fans and friends: when you think of this match and you’re an Overeem fan, you get an uneasy feeling in your gut and you wonder if lightning can strike twice and miracles do give repeat performances. I should know, I’m a gigantic Overeem fanboy and that’s exactly how I feel heading into “Overeem vs. Werdum”. I want to say I have complete and utter faith in Alistair Overeem, but in the back of my head, some part of my brain continues to whisper “anything is possible in MMA”. I don’t think Fabricio Werdum will beat Alistair Overeem… but I don’t know. I just don’t know. And I certainly want to find out.

And the number-one reason to watch this event is…

1. The return of “The Reem”, Alistair Overeem

Fans of Overeem know that despite all the cynics, Alistair Overeem is easily one of the Top 5 Heavyweights in the world. Some people thought  that the only reason he looked so amazing lately was because of the quality (as in, the lack thereof) of the opponents he had been facing, and then Overeem went out and demolished Brett Rogers and made it look easy. And yet Overeem still has his fair share of doubters and cynics. Me, personally? I think Overeem is going to prove everybody wrong once again, he’s going to dominate once again, he’s going to knock someone out once again… and I can’t wait to see it happen.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see Strikeforce: “Overeem vs. Werdum”.

Valentijn  Overeem vs. Chad Griggs: I think this fight is going to be a tough war, and I think it has a good chance of going to a decision. Then again, it has a good chance of ending in the first round, too. I don’t think Overeem can knock Griggs out, Griggs has too tough of a chin. So here’s what I think: if Overeem’s chin holds up and he doesn’t get caught with a vicious counter, he’ll win by Unanimous Decision. But if Griggs starts landing, Griggs will win by TKO in either Round 2 or 3.

Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson: This is a rare moment for me: my heart and my head are in total disagreement. I want Jeff Monson to win very badly, I think he’s sorely under-rated and is long overdue for a big comeback in a major promotion. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that Cormier is the epitome of this recently-emerging new breed of wrestler, with ridiculously good wrestling skills and ridiculously good camps that know how to utilize that skill. And that new breed of wrestler is finding it easier and easier to neutralize anyone on the ground, even really good submission fighters. My heart wants Jeff Monson to win by TKO in Round 2 or Submission in Round 3, my head thinks both situations are far less likely than Daniel Cormier winning by Unanimous Decision. As much as I love being an optimist, I’m a realist first, so I’ll pick Cormier by Unanimous Decision.

KJ Noons vs. Jorge Masvidal: It’d be hard for me to pick against KJ Noons no matter who he was facing, but I’m practically giddy that I get to side with KJ Noons while consequently siding against Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal needs another rude awakening, he needs another “Inverted Triangle Choke” moment, and I think Noons is going to give it to him. Noons has KO power and is fighting in his domain, at Lightweight. KJ Noons wins by KO in Round 1.

Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers: In the end, I think experience will win out and Josh Barnett, for all his flaws, will prove that he’s still a Top 10 fighter. In this fight. I think Barnett is going to pick Rogers apart standing, avoiding any major one-hit KO blows before forcing the fight up against the cage. After that, Barnett will then smother Rogers with tight clinch wrestling and some precise, hard-hitting dirty boxing. Eventually Rogers will weaken and Barnett will take him down, and from there, it’s just a matter of transitioning from one submission or another once Rogers throws his hands up, shifts his weight, and attempts to buck off his opponent. Josh Barnett wins by submission in Round 2.

Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum: I’m not counting out Fabricio Werdum, I’d like to make that very clear before making this prediction. I just think Overeem is unstoppable and would be supremely shocked if Werdum beat him again. So, can Werdum defy the odds and make us all eat some humble pie once again? Certainly. But I think it’s far, far more likely that the second “Ubereem” starts letting the “Reem Hammers” go, Werdum isn’t going to get stunned and dropped, he’s going to get stone-cold KTFO’d. And unlike the fight against Fedor Emelianenko, Werdum won’t be able to stay conscious long enough to scramble and trap Overeem in a submission. Alistair Overeem wins by KO in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

The Event: Strikeforce “Overeem vs. Werdum”, currently scheduled for June 18, 2011 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Five free preliminary fights will be shown live on HDNet starting at 8:00 PM ET. The five-fight main card will be broadcasted live on the Showtime network starting at 10 PM ET/PT.

Why You Should Care: This fight is packed with great Heavyweight talent, from young up-and-comers like Daniel Cormier to grizzled veterans like Jeff Monson. You’ve got former UFC fighters, former UFC champions, knockout artists, and submission specialists. And you’ve also got the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion competing in one of the two final quarterfinal bouts of the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Don’t blink. Alistair Overeem is a juggernaut, a hulking behemoth, and virtually no one has been able to withstand his incredible blend of speed, technique, and massive punching power. But Fabricio Werdum is a submission wizard and has beaten Overeem once before. Whoever wins this fight will likely emerge as the favorite to win the entire tournament. It’s a fight that absolutely should not be missed.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Josh Barnett is a master of catch-wrestling, and his many years of experience means that he’ll know how to do with the awesome power of Brett Rogers. Brett Rogers has been outclassed and dismantled recently, but even if he is just a one-dimensional power-puncher, the power he packs into his punches is still phenomenal. Barnett has the technique, the savvy, and the mind to not only beat Brett Rogers, but possibly dominate him. But that all goes right out the window the second that Brett Rogers lands a good, solid punch to the chin. It’s just a matter of not giving “The Grim” that opportunity.

Why You Should Watch This Card: There’s just so much potential in all five of these main card fights. Plus you get several more fights for free if you’ve got an HDTV and are subscribed to HDNet. I encourage anyone wanting to know why to watch this card to take a look at my “A Closer Look” series, which gives a lot of detail on all five main card bouts and why you should be excited for them. To summarize: it’s the best of both worlds and all five of these fights should be vastly entertaining.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: I can’t think of one, and that’s not the Strikeforce fanboy in me talking. Strikeforce has been on an incredible roll as of late, putting on amazing events back and forth and, to be honest, outright outshining the UFC on several occasions. If Strikeforce and the UFC were still separate promotions right now, I think this would be the type of show that turns a lot of heads and would have taken a huge step towards legitimizing Strikeforce as a very real, very powerful, very worthy alternative to the UFC. It’s one of the best-looking cards of the season, perhaps of the year, and it simply shouldn’t be missed.

Closing Thoughts: I can’t wait for this event, and I honestly feel like I’ve waited too long as it is. Strikeforce took a month off last month, and I’m ready for more Strikeforce. They’ve had so many awesome shows lately that my anticipation for their upcoming events has never been higher. Even though they now belong to Zuffa, for the time being Strikeforce is still Strikeforce, and Strikeforce is an amazing promotion that gets better on a per-show basis.

A man known as “The Grim”, the story of Brett Rogers is one of rags-to-riches. Rogers started training MMA in the garage of his lead trainer, and debuted in the sport professionally in 2006. For his next ten fights, Rogers would spend no longer than seven minutes inside the cage before he would ultimately knock out his opponent. On several occasions, Rogers would knock out his opponent barely a minute into their bout. On several other occasions, Rogers would separate an opponent from consciousness in under thirty seconds. In 2007, “The Grim” knocked a man out in under ten seconds.

This all lead up to a fateful showdown against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, and in what continues to be a major defining moment in his career, Rogers stone-cold KO’d Arlovski in twenty-two seconds. The dramatic finish made him an instant star, and he was soon given the task of welcoming the one and only Fedor Emelianenko to Strikeforce. Rogers would go on to lose that fight and his next, a match-up against current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. Both were major setbacks, with Rogers being (T)KO’d in both fights. However, Rogers recently rebounded with a Unanimous Decision win in a smaller promotion.

His opponent, Josh Barnett, is “The Babyfaced Assassin”. Barnett is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, one of the youngest champions in UFC history. Barnett started his career a perfect 10-0, lost once, and then went 18-1 before losing twice in back-to-back bouts with Mirko Filipovic. Currently, Barnett is on a six-fight win-streak and holds a very respectable record of 29-5.

But no conversation about Barnett is complete unless it involves a discussion of Barnett’s history of substance abuse. Barnett holds the rather dubious distinction of being the only professional MMA fighter to have ever tested positive for steroids three times (here’s proof). Not only did steroids cost him his UFC championship, his steroids scandal was one of the final nails in the coffin of the short-lived Affliction promotion, which basically gambled their future on their third event that was supposed to be headlined by Josh Barnett taking on Fedor Emelianenko.

This fight is a major gamble for both men. Brett Rogers looked like the next big thing before he lost to Emelianenko and Overeem, but right now he needs a big win very badly. Josh Barnett needs a win in Strikeforce too since he’s basically a non-entity in the Heavyweight scene right now and most mainstream MMA fans simply don’t remember him. Brett Rogers still packs dynamite in his hands, but Barnett has only been (T)KO’d once in over thirty fights, although he does have one submission loss due to punches.

It’ll also be interesting to see what happens when this fight goes to the floor. If Josh Barnett lands on top, he’s got a good chance of submitting Brett Rogers even though he’ll have to deal with the brute strength of “The Grim”. If Brett Rogers lands on top, Barnett can still submit him but he’ll have to avoid some major Ground and Pound.

Make no mistake, this is a fight where anything could happen, and I think it’s going to be very exciting.

First up, we head to MMA Weekly for official confirmation that Josh Barnett has been licensed by the Texas athletic commission to compete at Strikeforce “Overeem vs. Werdum”, which is set to take place this weekend. A representative from the commission told MMA Weekly the following: “Mr. Barnett has met all licensing requirements… He has received a license for his fight this weekend.”

Rumors of Barnett’s removal from the upcoming Strikeforce event were fueled by two things: one, Barnett is still unlicensed to fight in the state of California, and many athletic commissions respect and enforce the bans/suspensions imposed by other athletic commissions. Two, Barnett was cutting it close to the deadline to get all his papers turned in to apply for his fighter’s license.

Speaking to the one and only Sherdog recently, Barnett shared some interesting thoughts on his upcoming opponent and how he sees the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix. Here are some highlights: “I’m going to put [Brett Rogers] somewhere that he doesn’t want to be no matter what… Plain and simple, I’m the best fighter in this tournament. I’ve got the most experience. … I’ve been fighting longer. I’ve been in the sport longer… I’ve got the biggest skill set and I think I’ve got the best overall, all-around ability and I’m just the meanest, angriest, most bloodthirsty bastard out of them all.”

As always, I find myself conflicted when it comes to Josh Barnett. Back in the day, back when he was scheduled to face Fedor Emelianenko, a lot of people believed that Barnett represented the last great, legitimate threat to “The Last Emperor”. And to be honest, I also held that opinion. But then Barnett got caught with steroids once again, and his actions were a huge piece of the puzzle that ultimately led to the short-lived Affliction promotion going belly-up.

So, what to do with Josh Barnett? In all honesty, I think the best thing to do is what Strikeforce is doing: try to get him to fight, see if he stays clean, and reap the rewards of Josh Barnett fighting at his best. Because make no mistake, Barnett is easily a Top 10 Heavyweight when all cylinders are firing and nothing illegal is coursing through his system. He’s a bizarre man, a controversial man, but at times he can be one hell of a fighter.

But how many second chances does Barnett deserve, really? I suppose the only realistic answer is “as many as other MMA promotions are willing to give him”. Barnett doesn’t have many bridges left to burn… but there are some important ones still intact, and if you can believe it, some of the bridges he burned with the UFC may be in the process of being rebuilt. So who knows what the future holds for Josh Barnett? I suppose we just have to wait and see.

5. Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers

Both men have an avalanche of questions surrounding their careers right now. Is Brett Rogers just a flash in the pan? Is Josh Barnett worth the risk, given his many scandals? The fight between these two should answer all that and more. If Brett Rogers can knock out a skilled wrestler like Josh Barnett, he’ll have given his career the shot in the arm that it so very desperately needs. The same goes for Josh Barnett if he’s able to beat the man who became famous as a wrecking ball on legs.

4. Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo

A lot of people don’t like Cheick Kongo, considering him a journeyman and one-dimensional. Both of those statements are not without merit, but when in his element and when against a certain caliber of opponent, Cheick Kongo is a great and very entertaining fighter. He’ll be in his element against Pat Barry, and Barry is the right kind of opponent for Kongo. Win or lose, it’s going to be a great war of attrition between two powerful strikers.

3. Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin

Something tells me that this fight won’t go past the first round. I would only be slightly, slightly surprised if it went past the third minute. I’d be utterly flabbergasted if it went to a decision. These two men swing with bad, bad intentions, and they’ve left a trail of cracked chins in their wake. Junior dos Santos is an expert striker with smart timing, pacing, and laser precision. Shane Carwin can throw a whole lot of punches in a short amount of time (even if he gasses out immediately afterward), and any single one of them can knock a man out. It should be very violent and it will probably end very quickly, but it’s definitely one of the biggest can’t-miss fights of the month.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum

I truly believe that Alistair Overeem is unstoppable. He’s a champion in Strikeforce, in the Japanese-based DREAM promotion, and in K-1, which is the largest and most prestigious kickboxing organization in the world. But if anyone could stop him, it’d be someone like Fabricio Werdum, who possesses a tremendous heart, an iron will, and one of the best ground games in MMA, regardless of weight division. Whoever wins this fight has got to be the favorite to win the entire Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.

And my personal pick for the number-one can’t-miss fight of June 2011 is…

1. Anthony Pettis vs. Clay Guida

A lot of people, even Clay Guida himself, are already calling this a Fight of the Year contender. Not only am I in that bandwagon, I’m up in front and leading the charge. Clay Guida may be a journeyman, but he’s one of the most entertaining journeyman fighters I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. Anthony Pettis is an amazing fighter that has already given me a fight that I consider one of the best of all time. No matter who wins this fight, it’s a perfect match-up between two fantastic fighters. You absolutely must not miss this fight.

Since the acqusition of Strikeforce over the weekend, Dana White and the other head honchos of the UFC have now made themselves responsible for the success of an entirely new organization, and with that it’s fighters, which include the likes of Nick Diaz and Paul Daley, whom Dana has a less than comfortable relationship with.

Chief among those rocky relationships is “The Babyfaced Assassin” who is once again a Zuffa employee, and though him and White have had their differences, Josh is now willing to play ball, and even make a return to the UFC in the future.

“Things have changed,” said the former UFC champion while speaking with Sherdog.com, concerning the playing field of mixed martial arts.

“This is major and great things can come from it and I just want to be a part of that, and the way I can best do that is be the best fighter I can be.”

Barnett’s tone is a far cry from some of his earlier statements regarding both the UFC and Dana White. It appears now that the veteran, who became a UFC champion in his early twenties some years ago, is ready to put all the resent aside, if it means making more money and being part of big fights for the remainder of his career.

In 2002, Barnett defeated Randy Couture at 36 for the promotion’s heavyweight belt. He was shortly thereafter stripped of his title when he tested positive for steroids. Over the course of his career, Barnett has tested a total of three times for the performance enhancing drug, however attested that the last two times were not of his doing.

Regardless, he was in bad standings with the organization then, and now is back under the Zuffa banner. Those decisions he made some years ago effected the rest of his career. Since then, Barnett has fought almost exclusively overseas in organization’s such as Pancrase, PRIDE, and Sengoku, all in Japan.

“There is a part of me that absolutely wishes that things between myself and the UFC had worked out differently,” said Barnett.

“I was 23, 24-years-old at the time and I took advice from where I took it and I tried to do what I thought was the best thing at the time, but this guy that is sitting here talking to you now would tell that kid [that] he was a moron.”

Now it looks like he has turned over a new leaf, and while he never outright says he wants to return to the UFC, all of his implication’s lead him to that very conclusion.

So, MMA peeps, would you like to see Josh back in the UFC, or will all that depend on his performance in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix? Sound off in the comment section below.

SBNation reports that Dave Meltzer, head of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, recently said that he had talked to Dana White and that White had personally picked Barnett to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Dana White also said that he believed that Barnett would meet Fabricio Werdum in the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, effectively giving fight fans a complete look at how he thinks the Strikeforce tournament will shake out.

If you’ll remember, fans and friends, I put together a list of what I thought Barnett had to do in order to win the Heavyweight Grand Prix. As with all the tournament participants, I think Barnett has a shot of winning it all. It’s just that a lot of people, including me, believe that he has less of a perceived chance than some of the tournament’s heavy hitters, like Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. Then again, the same was said about Sergei Kharitonov and Antonio Silva, and we all know how those fights ended up turning out.

I think that it’s honestly very possible that Josh Barnett will end up in the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Brett Rogers has dynamite in his hands, of that there can be no doubt, but Barnett has tons of experience on him. I think “The Grim” is a tough test for anyone, but Barnett is the odds-on favorite to win the match and I like those odds.

Getting past Sergei Kharitonov will be equally tough, but if the fight with Rogers goes the way many think it will, what Barnett does to beat Brett Rogers will also work against Kharitonov. If Barnett can utilize his catch wrestling while weathering the storm of Kharitonov’s punches thanks to some good footwork and a solid chin, Barnett should end up neutralizing Sergei with some intense Ground and Pound.

But then we come to the finals, and that’s definitely where I find myself disagreeing with Dana White.

I hate to sound like an unabashed fanboy, but I absolutely believe that Alistair Overeem is going to be the one to win this tournament. Overeem knows better than to fall into Fabricio Werdum’s many traps, he’ll go in for the kill only when Werdum is already half-unconscious to begin with. Against Silva, even the mighty chin of “Bigfoot” won’t be able to withstand the blows of the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. And in the finals, you’ll have Barnett face Overeem in a bout that shows Barnett’s true toughness, but eventually Overeem’s superior technique will shine through once again and Barnett will be dropped and stopped.

But of course, that’s just what I think will happen. So let’s get some debate going, fans and friends. Who do you side with, me or Dana White? Or do you think someone entirely different will win the Grand Prix?

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?

Here’s what Finkelchtein had to say over at LowKick: “Two out of eight fighters in the tournament previously failed a drug test… We want fair competition for everyone, so that’s why I will ask the commission to perform a strict drug testing. Fedor is not using any kind of substance to enhance his performance, and will be ready for any kind of testing… Our organization paid a heavy price after the cancellation of the fight between Josh Barnett and Fedor…That’s why as a promoter and manager, I don’t want this to happen ever again.”

For those of you that need a quick history lesson, Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett have both had run-ins with positive steroid tests. To this day, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, the first and only EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, staunchly denies that he used steroids. Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko were supposed to meet in the main event of the short-lived Affliction promotion’s “Trilogy” show, but Barnett failed a drug test days before the event was supposed to happen. The subsequent scramble to find a replacement opponent ended with the fight being called off altogether, and then the entire event soon received the axe. Affliction ceased operations as an MMA promotion shortly thereafter.

While I think that there’s always a kernel of truth in even the craziest conspiracy theory, so long as you know where to look, I do think that Vadim Finkelchtein has unfairly been put into the role of a scapegoat. Whenever an issue revolving around Fedor arises, a certain section of the fanbase practically falls over each other in their rush to blame Vadim. I absolutely do not think that Vadim is blameless, but I also don’t think that everything is as black-and-white as the cynics would have you believe. This is why I’m able to side with Vadim on this issue and don’t feel an ounce of regret in doing so.

I’m one of the many MMA fans that absolutely can’t wait to see this tournament. Remember, this is the guy that’s so pumped for this to go down that he wrote a fourteen-piece series on it. I hope that this tournament goes off without a hitch and gives us the dream matches we’ve been waiting years to see… because the alternative is quite grim.

If all doesn’t go according to plan, this could be as big a disaster for Strikeforce as Kimbo Slice getting KO’d in fourteen seconds was to EliteXC. If the credibility of this Heavyweight Grand Prix or its performers is called into question in any way, it will have ceased being the epic tournament we were all hoping for and it will become little more than a joke. And one of the easiest ways to ruin the credibility of this tournament is for one of its fighters to get caught with steroids.

So while I won’t point any fingers like Finkelchtein did, at the end of the day I do honestly and completely agree with him: there needs to be very strict drug testing to ensure that this tournament remains credible, and that no one is given an unfair advantage.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you agree or disagree, and why?

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?

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?

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?

We head to the one and only Sherdog, which brings word that Fedor Emelianenko, his management team M-1 Global, and Strikeforce have all finally come to an agreement on a new Strikeforce contract. Emelianenko has signed on for four more fights with the surging San Diego-based promotion, and has one fight left on his pre-existing contract. The head of M-1 Global, Vadim Finkelchtein, had this to say regarding the announcement: “It was just a matter of making sure that everyone was happy. We got there, and I’m very thankful for it… What Fedor wanted was not out of the ordinary. It was just a matter of security… It was just a matter of both sides respecting each other.”

However, Sherdog also reports that the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is not free and clear of all potentially-sidelining problems. And one of its biggest problems also revolves around one of the tournament’s biggest stars: former UFC champion Josh Barnett, who has yet to become relicensed in California, Strikeforce’s home base, after a prolonged battle with the California State Athletic Commission. According to the report, Strikeforce’s solution to this is simple: Barnett just won’t fight in California.

Even though it’s a temporary fix that completely ignores the larger problem… I have to say, Strikeforce’s plan for Barnett is so simple that it’s probably going to work. I’m still not a fan of Josh Barnett, it takes a lot for a fighter to get back in my good graces after they get popped for steroids, and Barnett is a repeat offender. But I’d be lying if I said that I don’t look forward to seeing how he competes in such a stacked tournament. It’s pretty much the lesser of two evils: I’d rather see him fight and compete against the best and really build the credibility of the tournament and Strikeforce in general, rather than having him pull out of the tournament because he can’t figure out a way to get his license back after he served his suspension.

In regards to Fedor Emelianenko, I breathed a big sigh of relief over this recent bit of news for several reasons. First and foremost, this means that Fedor is going to fight at least five more times before he calls it a career, and it’s still a very up-in-the-air situation regarding Fedor’s looming retirement. Nevertheless, as I said: five fights are five fights, and as someone who considers Fedor Emelianenko the greatest fighter in the history of Mixed Martial Arts, I can’t wait to see him back in the cage and battling it out with some of the best competition in the world.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Fedor’s new contract or Strikeforce’s solution to Josh Barnett’s problem?

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?

Overeem will enter the cage against Fabricio Werdum, the man who definitively defeated Fedor Emelianenko (who went on a ten-year undefeated streak and was widely considered as the best heavyweight fighter in the world).

Also on deck is former UFC champion Josh Barnett who will be making his Strikeforce debut when he meets with Brett Rogers as part of the eight-man heavy tournament. The two aforementioned bouts are expected to take place in March, and while no venue or date has been revealed as of yet, it is expected to coincide with the Arnold Sports Festival later this year.

The match pitting “The Demolition Man” with Werdum is actually a rematch years in the making, where the two met under the PRIDE banner more then 4 years ago. The Abu Dhabi Grappling champion submitted the Dutch striker with a kimura in the second round.

Since then, Overeem has gone on to win three world titles, two in 2010: the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 and the DREAM heavyweight interim title. It is unclear at this time if Werdum/Overeem II will be for Alistair’s heavyweight strap.

The second bout, Barnett and Rogers, will be the additional quarter-final match up for the heavyweight tournament which will culminate sometime in 2011. Rogers recently bounced back from a two-fight losing streak (knockout losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Overeem) when he defeated journeyman Ruben Villareal via unanimous decision this past October. The match took place outside of the Strikeforce promotion, however “The Grim” hopes to break an even 2-2 record inside the San Jose based organization with a potential victory over Barnett.

“The Babyfaced Assassin” is perhaps one of the most high-profiled fighters not in the UFC fold, both for good and bad reasons. Barnett remains the only fighter to test positive three-times for anabolic steroids in the world of mixed martial arts. Regardless, the PRIDE veteran has remained a staple in the heavyweight division and has remained as a top-5 fighter for many years. Barnett holds notable victories over Randy Couture, Pedro Rizzo, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He was last seen in action when he defeated veteran Geronimo dos Santos this past July in Brisbane, Australia–via TKO inside of the first round.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the newest additions in the heavyweight tournament? Arguably, the winner of said tourny could be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world, and I share that contention. Who do you think will talk away the victor? 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?

Here are the highlights from an interview Silva recently had with MMA Junkie: “… Who wouldn’t want to fight Fedor, a living legend in the sport? …As well as being a great person, [Mike Kyle] showed that he was a very tough opponent… It was the first time (I had been hurt like that), but a fighter has to fight through the good and bad… [Fabricio Werdum] already showed the hole in [Emelianenko's] game, but until you get to the ground, it’s a long [fight] since it starts standing up.”

For those keeping score, this latest interview represents a near-complete 180 from Silva’s earlier, highly controversial statements regarding Emelianenko. In the past, Silva even went as far as to compare the long period of contract negotiations that went on to secure another fight for Fedor in Strikeforce to a soap opera drama. Either absence really does make the heart grow fonder, or nearly being KO’d by a Light Heavyweight really does a number on your ego.

I’m only half-serious, of course. Antonio Silva is a controversial man that has said controversial things in the past, so of course sometimes I agree and sometimes I disagree with him. But he has shown some remarkable improvements in his time with Strikeforce, and I think now more than ever that Antonio Silva is ready for an athlete the caliber of Fedor Emelianenko, or any of the other members of Strikeforce’s increasingly-amazing Heavyweight division. Whether or not he can beat them is something that can only be decided in the middle of the cage, but “Bigfoot” deserves his shot and I look forward to seeing him try to make a serious run to the top.

And I think that Silva may have more of a chance than most people seem to think. It’s true that Mike Kyle nearly KO’d him, but there’s a saying about horseshoes and hand grenades that sums up that fight pretty well. Silva proved that he can still absorb crazy amounts of damage to that thick skull of his, and he proved that you might as well just lay down and accept it if he starts raining down bombs on you, because trying to block them just doesn’t seem to work. If he continues to say controversial things that I don’t agree with, I’ll continue to call him on it. But at the end of the day, I respect Antonio Silva.

With rumors of Silva/Fedor and even the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, I think 2011 will be an amazing year for Strikeforce. Just off the top of my head, we could see Fedor vs. Silva, Silva vs. Josh Barnett, Josh Barnett vs. Alistair Overeem, Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum, and much more. The promotion has slowly and quietly been amassing top-level Heavyweights for some time now, and it looks like 2011 will be the year where the promotion pulls the trigger and unleashes the full force of its acquisitions.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Silva’s recent comments?

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.

In August of 2009, Josh Barnett was set to headline the third event from the short-lived Affliction promotion. His opponent was scheduled to be the then-unbeaten Fedor Emelianenko in what many (including myself) were calling the biggest non-UFC fight that any promotion could conceivably make happen at that point in time. Affliction was in dire straits leading up to this event, badly needing a return on their investment after literally hemorrhaging money in their efforts to attract major-name stars and emerge as an immediate competitor to the UFC. Then Josh Barnett tested positive for steroids in a pre-fight drug test, and it was the beginning of the end.

Affliction would go on to not only cancel the Barnett/Fedor bout, but the entire event altogether. Shortly thereafter, Affliction Entertainment (the promotional side of the popular clothing brand) would go out of business and Affliction would return to the UFC as an official UFC sponsor. Since then Barnett has been embroiled in a long battle with the California State Athletic Commission to regain his license to compete in the state of California. His latest battle occurred just yesterday.

According to MMA Weekly, Barnett was issued a continuance yesterday at his meeting with the California State Athletic Commission. Basically, this means that his actual hearing has been postponed yet again. The central issue yesterday was that Barnett did not have legal representation present. Barnett was quoted as saying the following: “I feel that in this case, honestly, my counsel should be here… I had an opponent that I would have to go up against here. There’s no way I can go forward today… I show up only to re-apply and get ambushed by an assistant AG who has put together a case against me.”

I’ve honestly gotten to the point where I don’t care how this situation is resolved; I’d just like it to be resolved. I’m sure many other fans and friends have reached that point as well. All this stalling ultimately serves no purpose, although in this particular case, I guess there’s nothing else Barnett could have done. I think this situation needs to come to a close, and soon, or else Strikeforce has found itself a nice little money pit in the form of Josh Barnett’s contract.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Have you too grown tired of the constant back-and-forth between Josh Barnett and the California State Athletic Commission? Moving forward, how do you think this situation will ultimately resolve itself?

In a new interview with Sherdog, Werdum said the following: “Strikeforce want me to return in March against Fedor [Emelianenko] or [Alistair] Overeem, but I’m looking forward to having a fight before that one. I don’t have an exclusive contract with Strikeforce, only for the U.S., and I got a nice proposal in Abu Dhabi and another one in Japan… My arm is 100 percent now and I feel that by February, I’ll be ready to fight in Abu Dhabi or Japan.”

Is Werdum playing it safe and running from the competition by heading to Abu Dhabi or Japan for a glorified throw-away fight, instead of jumping right back into the shark tank? Or is Werdum making a smart strategic move by having a warm-up fight in order to shake off the ring rust so he can immediately take on the best of the best when he does make his Strikeforce return? It’s tough to say, really. There are some convincing arguments for both sides.

Let’s all be honest here: it’s normal for a high-ranked fighter to lose his return match after coming back from a long layoff. “Ring rust” is real, and jumping right back into top-end competition usually isn’t the smartest idea. If Werdum works out the kinks in a match in Japan or Abu Dhabi, this means we’ll get nothing but the best from him when he makes his inevitable return to Strikeforce. We’ll most likely get the best Werdum possible if we’re willing to wait just a little longer and let him get one fight under his belt before facing Strikeforce’s best.

Then again, an overseas fight does sound like a pretty blatant attempt to get an easy win in order to gain back some of the momentum that was lost while Werdum was sitting on the sidelines. A lot of people criticized Fedor Emelianenko when rumors began swirling that his next fight would be in Japan or Russia, this is virtually the same case. No matter how good of a fighter Werdum is, if his next fight isn’t in Strikeforce, that fight can and will be perceived as an utterly transparent attempt to bring his name value back up.

So, which side is right? The truth, as it so often is in these kinds of situations, lies somewhere in between. Werdum taking a “gimme” fight overseas may hurt his credibility, but it’s a smart move. Jumping right back into Strikeforce to take on Emelianenko, or Alistair Overeem, or Brett Rogers, or Josh Barnett, or any number of Strikeforce’s growing list of top-tier Heavyweight talent… it’s not a smart move by any stretch of the imagination, but it sends the message that Werdum wants nothing but the best as he makes his return.

Ultimately the only person that can make this call is Werdum. I’ll side with him either way, and I look forward to seeing him return no matter what. I doubted Fabricio Werdum once before, and then he beat the man I consider to be the best Mixed Martial Artist of all time. There’s simply no chance that I’ll ever doubt him again.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think the future holds for Werdum, and would you rather have him return to Strikeforce immediately or take a one-fight excursion to Japan or Abu Dhabi?

Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, expressed his desire to battle for the Japanese promotions’ first-ever heavyweight title.

There had been rumors that former UFC belt holder, Andrei Arlovski, was thought to be his opponent in order to vie for the promotion’s unheralded title. However, negotiation’s fell through and the bout was ultimately scrapped.

Now, it looks like one man’s loss is another man’s gain, and Josh Barnett is reaping the rewards.

MiddleEasy.com has reported that Josh Barnett, the besmirched black sheep in the heavyweight division will be vying for the promotion’s first heavyweight title.

Although it has not been officially announced by the organization, rumor has it that “The Baby Face Assassin” will be competing on the infamous New Year’s show, Dynamite!! for the 2010 edition.

Barnett, who once claimed UFC heavyweight gold was ultimately stripped of the title after testing positive for steroids. Perhaps not the greatest stigma to add, but Josh is the only person in MMA history to have tested for said performance enhancing substances not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions. The last of which was the most documented. After a super fight was established by the now defunct “Afflicition” promotion, which has reverted back to it’s clothing company identity, between Barnett and the former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko.

The bout was put to a halt ten days before the event by the California State Athletic Commission when Barnett had reportedly tested positive for P.E.D’s again, and eventually the whole card altogether was canceled, and the promotion eventually folded.

Josh recently signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce, however has some leniency in being able to compete in outside organization’s, under their approval.

According to the report by MiddleEasy, depending on the outcome of the K-1 Grand Prix which will feature the final 8 men in action on December 11th, Overeem may be available to reappear on the Dynamite!! year end show.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Should Barnett be battling for the promotion’s vacant heavyweight title? Would a winner and loser in a bout between Barnett and Overeem effect the heavyweight picture in Strikeforce in a negative or a positive way? Sound off in the comment section below.

He knows how to win, and he knows how to stir up controversy, better than anyone else in the business, hands down.

Recently Barnett appeared in California for the new “EA Sports: MMA” launch (and by the way, the game is everything and more I could have asked for and I challenge anyone to disagree with me) and his first order of business was to greet his good friend, Fedor Emelianenko.

Yes, thankfully Fedor and Barnett don’t fall into that lump sum of fighter’s who “won’t fight friends”. It’s an example of true comradery, to be able to put friendship aside and handle it just as it is, a business. But, ask Josh would he rather fight..say, Fabricio Werdum over anyone else, and see what he has to say.

The media were all in attendance to catch up on the newest happenings with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, the organization’s fighters (which of course include special guest apperances by UFC fighter Randy Couture, and Strikeforce’s own Josh Barnett and Fedor) and of course, the EA game.

A MiddleEasy cameraman was at the scene and prompted to ask Barnett specifically about some recent allegation’s coming by way of Werdum (and interrupted a bromance moment with pal, Fedor), who recently has come off of the biggest win of his career, a first round submission of the previously undefeated Emelianenko.

MiddleEasy: Josh what do you think about Fabricio’s comments about not wanting to face you?

“I say he’s smart. I’d fuck that guy up.

Pardon “The Baby Face Assassin’s” language…he just doesn’t know better.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of this? Would you like to see a match pitting Barnett against Werdum, or who would you like to see him stack up against in the Strikeforce’s growing heavyweight division?
Sound off in the comment section below.

Bobby Lashley vs. Dave Bautista: Yes, it’s a freakshow. But it’s a great one, it’s the right kind of freakshow. Dave Bautista may only be good for one big ratings spike, but if it’s on CBS, a fight with Lashley would likely do some huge numbers by attracting a large number of pro wrestling fans. Even as an MMA fan I’d like to see this fight. It has the potential to be utterly atrocious if it goes past the first round and both men gas out, but the first few minutes should be very exciting. It’s a gamble, but a smart one, and it’s far more likely to pay off if it happens on CBS.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Jason Miller: As one of the most charismatic fighters in Strikeforce, Miller should be a big help in bringing in the ratings. Miller attracts a lot of casual fans, and even the hardcore fans would be very interested in this fight, since it’s the third of a trilogy that has seen some very close encounters. If Miller can finally beat “Jacare”, he’d probably put on one of the best performances of his career while doing it. If Souza can beat “Mayhem”, he becomes even more of a star and even more of a valid champion. All parties, including CBS, win with this fight.

Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers: If Josh Barnett really does want to make good on his promise of ripping off heads in Strikeforce, he’ll have ample opportunity to do so against the heavy-handed Brett Rogers. This fight would be a stand-up war through and through, the kind that anyone can really get into, and the added name value of both stars would be a perfect fit for CBS. Someone is going to be adding another epic KO to their highlight reel in this fight, and it would serve as an awesome co-main event.

But of course, my main event for my dream CBS card is…

Fabricio Werdum vs. Fedor Emelianenko: I know, I know. I’ve loudly stated in the past that Werdum deserves his shot at Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem. But this is the fight that everybody wants to see, and this is the fight that needs to happen if Strikeforce wants to get back on and stay on the CBS network. It’s only the rematch to the biggest upset in MMA history. If CBS wants to set the kind of ratings records they achieved when they had Kimbo Slice headlining EliteXC cards, they and Strikeforce need to make Fedor/Werdum 2 on CBS.

And that’s my card, fans and friends. Now it’s time for you to play fantasy match-maker: what did you think of my picks, and what do you think would be the best card Strikeforce could assemble in order to persuade CBS to hold another event on their network?

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?

Here are the highlights from “The Babyfaced Assassin”: “The Strikeforce heavyweight division is really phenomenal right now. I guess one way to look at it would be look at me, Fedor, Alistair, Bigfoot, Arlovski, and Werdum, and look at our records and stack them up. If you count all the wins that we have under our belts that far surpasses the top five guys in the UFC’s amount of fights even. Granted, just because you don’t have a lot of fights that doesn’t mean you’re not a great fighter, but I definitely think we’ve got a big edge with that kind of veteran, international talent… With that kind of time spent in the ring and the cage, we’ve fought under all kinds of different rules, we’ve been in all kinds of different wars, and I think it’s going to pay off when the people tune in to go and watch us fight.”

I think Barnett makes an interesting point even if he leaves himself open to two major counter-points if he insists on making this argument. I think that having a roster of veterans brings a lot of credibility to Strikeforce so long as those veterans can still bring it when the cage door closes. Barnett listed some big names that have, for the most part, aged remarkably well. Maybe Arlovski should have been taken off that list due to his recent losing streak, but he’s still a very marketable fighter and Strikeforce benefits from having him.

Speaking of marketable fighters, that’s point number one against Barnett’s claims. The UFC simply has far more marketable stars than Strikeforce, especially in their Heavyweight division. The most obvious example is current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, and for good reason. Not only is Lesnar one of the biggest draws in the UFC (perhaps the biggest draw period), I have no doubt that he’ll one day go down as one of the biggest draws in MMA history. Fighting skill is great, but a good fighter that’s incredibly marketable is even better. Money drives this business whether we as hardcore MMA fans want to admit it or not, and Strikeforce is just plain lacking in terms of bank-breaking stars, even with huge names like Fedor Emelianenko.

Another big counter to Barnett’s argument is that more fights does not equal more talent, and less fights don’t equal less talent. Even Barnett himself seemed to concede this point. Here’s a concrete example: Alistair Overeem’s brother Valentijn Overeem is a veteran of over 50 MMA fights, but his record is 28-25. If you were to put “the other Overeem” up against someone like Junior dos Santos, who is 12-1 and has taken the UFC’s Heavyweight division by storm, you’d like see Dos Santos run right through his far more experienced competitor. Swap “Cigano” with 12-1 Shane Carwin or 8-0 Cain Velasquez and you’d likely get the same result. Talent is talent, regardless of how many fights you have on your record. Even if Strikeforce’s best fighters have far more fights combined than the UFC’s top crop, that fact alone doesn’t come anywhere close to justifying the assertion that Strikeforce has the better division or produces the best fights.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Do you agree or disagree with Barnett’s comments, and why?

“I have said many times that I have nothing to do with match-making. Right now, Strikeforce are struggling to find me a serious opponent. Alistair Overeem keeps finding all sorts of excuses not to fight me. The remaining stars have lost in their recent fights, so the promotion has no desire to put them up against me. And Fabricio Werdum is still recovering from his surgery…My next fight will be last on the Strikeforce contract. I’m yet to decide whether I’m going to continue my fighting career after this contract expires.”

I think it’s understandable that Strikeforce and M-1 Global (Fedor’s management team) have hit yet another impasse. I don’t agree with it at all, I don’t like it at all, but I can see why it’s happening. Fedor’s reputation has been damaged, let’s all just finally admit it, so of course Strikeforce is wondering if he’s still worth the high amounts they’re paying him. M-1 Global wants big fights for big money, and right now Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Division is barely becoming legitimized. While the division’s future as a whole looks bright, it also remains uncertain for many better-known stars: Alistair Overeem still has ties with K-1, Antonio Silva needs several more fights before he’s taken seriously as a true top-level talent, Josh Barnett has yet to prove if he can bounce back from his latest steroid scandal…the list goes on.

I think Strikeforce has a lot to lose if they don’t give Fedor a good final fight…but I think M-1 Global has just as much at stake, which is why both parties are hitting brick wall after brick wall. I think Fedor is serious when he says that he may retire once he fulfills his final obligation to Strikeforce. While many will decry him for never having competed in the UFC, the man has nothing left to prove to anybody. He was one of the most dominant champions of all time, he’s always shown an incredible amount of humility and class, and he’ll go down as one of the best ever. Fedor retiring is a very real possibility.

It’s a possibility that I absolutely would not agree with, but one that I would fully understand. As a gigantic Fedor fan, I want to see him go out in a blaze of glory. I want to see him beat Werdum again, plow through Overeem, dismantle Barnett, and then, miracle of miracles, I want to see him get into the UFC and take on Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. I can dream, can’t I? Fedor may have nothing left to prove, but one last run of dominance, including a stint in the UFC, would forever solidify his legacy as the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time.

But in the end? I just hope that whatever happens, happens soon. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is accomplished if Fedor continues to sit on the sidelines. If he retires, he retires. Good for him, and it gives his fans closure. If he signs a new contract, he should fight as soon as possible in order to have the best shot at rebuilding his image against the best competition that Strikeforce has to offer. But just having him wait in limbo while Strikeforce and M-1 Global bicker back and forth serves no one and has no purpose. So make up your mind, people. Fedor isn’t getting any younger, and while patience may be a virtue, actions speak louder than words.

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?

In an interview with MMAWeekly, here’s what Barnett had to say: “Fedor was careless with his offense and his movements and he got caught in a very bad spot… When you put yourself in that kind of position with a guy like Werdum, it’s not by chance that you get put in a triangle or an armbar… People lose, and it doesn’t diminish anything in my eyes about Fedor or the importance of a fight between the two of us. I’m sure it will happen at some point, and it will be just as amazing, at least for me anyways, as it would have been.”

I both agree and disagree with Josh Barnett. I side with him in thinking that a fight with Fedor would still be an amazing fight between two very gifted performers. As I’ve grudgingly admitted in the past, at his best Josh Barnett’s status as a top-ranked Heavyweight is unquestioned. In regards to Fedor, I along with many others consider him the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time. It doesn’t matter who wins, it’s going to be an epic fight that brings in loads of money and lots of viewers. No matter what anyone else says, you just can’t convince me that Fedor/Barnett has lost its “dream fight” status.

It just isn’t as big of a dream fight as it once was. That I’ll freely admit, and that’s where Barnett and I disagree. Despite all their flaws, Affliction gave us two great star-studded cards in their brief shelf-life, and “Trilogy” looked to be one the best MMA events of the last several years. Barnett was on a huge hot-streak, he’d won four straight with two wins in Affliction. Emelianenko was the unbeaten champion, the unstoppable destroyer who hadn’t lost in almost a decade and hadn’t legitimately lost ever.

Barnett’s latest steroid scandal and Fedor’s first legitimate loss were two heavy blows to the marketability and entertainment value of this fight. Barnett’s top-of-the-world status isn’t at risk, he lost it when he got caught juicing again. Emelianenko’s aura of indestructibility isn’t at risk, he lost it when he tapped out to Werdum. Even though it remains a very appealing and interesting fight, it’s simply not as appealing as it was when it was first announced.

But will I watch it? Of course I will. I even hope it happens sooner rather than later. I’d love to see Fedor’s cerebral method of attacking matched up with Barnett’s guns-blazing barrages. It would be interesting to see what both men do on the ground and in the clinch. There’s a very high probability that this fight won’t go three rounds. I’m going to give it to Emelianenko simply because I think he’s a better striker than Barnett, even though Barnett possibly has more raw power in his hands. If Fedor doesn’t lose again and Barnett doesn’t get caught juicing again, this could still be the biggest fight in Strikeforce history.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Has Fedor/Barnett lost any of its luster? And who do you see winning the fight?

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?

For those that may not be familiar with the man, here’s a quick crash course on “The Babyfaced Assassin”. He made his name in the UFC due to two things: his pretty-boy good looks and his penchant for finishing opponents. Barnett became the youngest UFC champion in history when he beat Randy Couture at UFC 36 to claim the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He then tested positive for banned substances, was stripped of his title, and was fired from the UFC.

Barnett then headed to Japan where he arguably became even more famous, with several high-profile fights in the now-defunct PRIDE FC promotion. After the fall of PRIDE, Barnett would go on to compete in the short-lived Affliction promotion, and was scheduled to face Fedor Emelianenko in the main event of Affliction’s third card. After testing positive for anabolic steroids in a pre-fight drug test, the fight with Emelianenko was cancelled, which played a huge part in the event itself being cancelled, which played a not-insignificant part in the promotion itself going belly-up.

Even with the controversy and stigma surrounding him, Barnett is on a six-fight win-streak and hasn’t lost since 2006, back when PRIDE was still around. Before he tested positive for banned substances yet again, and before Emelianenko’s shocking submission loss to Fabricio Werdum earlier this year, Barnett was widely regarded (even by me) as one of the last, great, legitimate tests for “The Last Emperor” outside of the UFC. Barnett’s first Strikeforce opponent is as-of-yet unknown, as are the number of fights he will compete in under the promotion.

I think this is a pretty huge gamble for Strikeforce. I understand why they did it, though. Strikeforce needs name-value stars, they need big names and good athletes if they ever want to get back on CBS again. Josh Barnett is still a world-ranked Heavyweight, he still has name-value, the UFC has shown virtually no interest in ever hiring him again, and when he shows up clean and in shape he can still put on some fantastic fights. If it weren’t for the Affliction controversy, I’d support Strikeforce 100% on this decision and I may have even wondered why they didn’t sign him sooner.

But Barnett lost a lot of credibility and burned a lot of bridges when he got popped for juicing yet again. I know that Barnett defenders rush to his side and claim that Affliction’s horrendous mismanagement killed the promotion dead far more than Barnett being pulled from the fight with Fedor, and I honestly agree with that. But don’t think I believe for one second that Barnett’s controversy wasn’t a major nail in Affliction’s coffin. The way they hemorrhaged money was definitely a bigger nail, but that shouldn’t diminish what Barnett did: he cheated to try and get ahead, and far more people than himself would pay the price for Barnett’s actions.

Until he proves that he’s trustworthy again, I’m extremely hesitant about Josh Barnett signing with Strikeforce. If he shows up clean and in top shape, and puts on good fights, then I’m willing to wipe the slate clean and support him once again. But with his track record, that’s a massive “if”. It will be interesting to see if “The Babyfaced Assassin” has finally learned his lesson.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Josh Barnett signing to Strikeforce?

Here’s what Frank said in its entirety regarding the situation: “I don’t know if he’s ever really lost his step. I just think the fighters now in the UFC are just a little bit more aggressive than the fighters in PRIDE. Studying tape on him, I noticed that guys that back away from him and give him that respect, it seems like they get unleashed on a little harder than the guys that come forward… I think Cro Cop has a good sprawl; he has a good double underhooks. I think if I were to try to just drop and shoot on him, he would stop my shot. I think standing up with him is actually the route to go at first and then eventually when you work in the clinch, going to the ground is obviously a lot easier to do with him than Nogueira.”

I think Frank Mir has a point, but only when it comes to aggressive opponents being Cro Cop’s kryptonite. Cro Cop first gained his fearsome reputation by brutally knocking out opponents that were mostly wrestlers, and in the case of Igor Vovchanchyn and Dos Caras Jr., a fighter that was past a prime that was never all that good to begin with and a Mexican Luchador that had no business in a PRIDE ring. By the time he took on predominantly striking-based fighters, those fighters were wary to engage with a man whose highlights involved knocking opponents senseless with legs seemingly made out of concrete.

Ever since Gabriel Gonzaga decided to not buy into the hype and instead try to beat Cro Cop at his own game, Cro Cop has floundered and flopped his way through two very boring, uneventful runs in the UFC. It’s true that Cro Cop is 5-1-1 since a loss to Cheick Kongo sent him out of the UFC in 2007, but Cro Cop hasn’t faced anyone with any skill and actually won since he beat Josh Barnett in 2006. Cro Cop has been feeding from the bottom of both the Japanese and UFC barrels in order to pad out his record with meaningless wins. Even past his prime, Cro Cop is still too much to handle for these bottom-level talents. It’s when Cro Cop faces somebody, anybody, with actual skill that he loses and loses convincingly.

So I applaud Frank Mir for keeping it clean against Cro Cop, but in all honesty, he’s got a lot to work with if he ever decides to get his hands dirty. You’ll never see Mirko Cro Cop win a UFC Heavyweight Championship. You’ll never see him reach the same heights as he did in PRIDE. What you will see him do is consistently fail against the UFC’s growing top-tier of Heavyweights, then go back to Japan and pick up a few decent wins over the slim pickings there. Expect Mir to win this one and win it quickly, either by out-boxing Cro Cop or taking him down and submitting him.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Does Mirko Cro Cop have a career rebirth in him, or do you agree with me in saying that his best days are long over?

Before the inevitable end though, Barnett launched a crushing front kick into Mo’s groin that required a ten-minute delay as Mo recovered.

Soon after the fight was restarted, Barnett took Mo to the matt and applied to finishing shoulder lock.

It was Barnett’s first win since testing positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid, before a matchup versus Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1). Barnett denies using steroids and has appealed to the CSAC.

Barnett hasn’t fought since forcing Dutch kickboxer “Hurricane” Gilbert Yvel (33-13-1) to give up on strikes at Affliction 2 in Anaheim in January 2009.  Of course, that victory earned Barnett a matchup versus Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1), but the event was cancelled after Barnett was denied a license to fight by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive for 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one, an anabolic steroid. Barnett denies using steroids and has appealed to the CSAC.

No opponent has been named for Barnett’s return, and with the event just 10 days away, Fighters.com wonders what Tatsuya Mizuno (7-5) or one of the other reliable last-minute punching bags has on their schedule that week.

No heavyweight at Barnett’s level would take a fight versus Barnett on such short notice, so expect a classic Japanese mismatch for Barnett.

But, at least Barnett is returning to competition.