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.

In fact, he’s probably the only friend that remains honest with “The Last Emperor”, despite both men seemingly severing ties some years ago after a falling out. Kharitonov is among the few who has spoken pubicly about Fedor’s camp, and his need to diversify his surroundings in order to better himself as a fighter.

He should know, he used to train with the guy.

Fedor, arguably the most lauded fighter of all time and the former consensus number one heavyweight fighter in the world, has lost..consecutively. In his last outing, Emelianenko, 34, was finished off by American Top Team product Antonio Silva in the quarter-finals of the Grand Prix tourney. Prior to the loss, Fedor was submitted by Fabricio Werdum in April of last year.

Both Sergei and Fedor were under the “Red Devil” banner not too long ago, where the training camp was littered with top-level mixed martial arts fighters, including both Fedor and brother Aleksander Emelianenko, Roman Zenstov, and of course Sergei. Now, the talent has diminished to a few “hopefuls”, but no true competition that push the Russian to his breaking point.

As a fighter, Fedor is one of the best in the sport, but when you lack competitivness in camp, you lack desire.

That is something that Sergei has noticed and has expressed those same sentiments aloud while speaking with BloodyElbow.com recently.

“I am always in shape, I am ready physically and morally. I wish the same for Fedor Emelianenko. I think that he lacks of competition. He needs to fight more in order to become great again”, said Sergei while he is in the midst of his own training camp with his new team in Golden Glory, whom boasts Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem among their prized pupils.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Do you agree with Sergei? What does Fedor need in order to reach greatness again? Sound off in the comment section below.

Heavy handed with an underrated ground game, Khartionov has fought and defeated some of the best fighters in his weight-class, including Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, and most recently recorded a knockout win over former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.

Now a semi-finalist in the inaugural Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Sergei will continue to develop his MMA career whilst in the tournament. Rather than wait for the culmination of the quarter-finals to resolve themselves, he will be taking on challenges, even if that means outside of Strikeforce.

BloodyElbow.com recently caught up with the stoic Russian who is currently training with the Golden Glory team out of Thailand for his next outing, which has yet to be determined.

Sergei is taking all precautions in order to remain in top form for the prestigious tournament.

“I am planning to have 2-3 fights before my semi-final bout”, said Kharitonov.

“I can’t get any ring-rust. You can train as hard as you want, but if you don’t compete, that won’t do you any good. Its always better to train and fight periodically. I had 4 fights in last few months, and very happy with this fact. I am always in shape, I am ready physically and morally.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Sergei’s comments? Do you think it’s in his best interest if he takes additional bouts elsewhere? Will it effect his stature within the tourney if he should lose? Sound off in the comment section below.

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

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

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

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

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

5. Gina Carano announcing her return to Strikeforce.

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

4. Shane del Rosario trapping and tapping Lavar Johnson.

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

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

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

2. Sergei Kharitonov crushing Andrei Arlovski.

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

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

1. Antonio Silva stopping Fedor Emelianenko.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preliminary fights (HdNet):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Official Result: Second round Knee Bar submission 3:57

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Saturday night, Fedor Emelianenko will make his third appearance under the Strikeforce banner as he hopes to record a victory since an upset submission loss to Fabricio Werdum last June, with a win over Antonio “Big Foot” Silva. The Brazilian hopes to extend a two-fight win streak with a win over the Russian legend.

Also in action, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski looks to snap a three-fight losing streak as he takes on K-1 veteran and former PRIDE star Sergei Kharitonov in the evenings co-main event of the evening.

All main-card bouts will be in the heavyweight division, with the aforementioned bouts featuring Fedor, Silva, Andrei and Sergei kicking off the promotion’s inaugural grand prix, serving as the quarter-finals for the tournament. The rest of the bouts on the televised portion of the event will be reserve matches for the eight-man tourney, meaning should any participants fall ill or are deemed unable to continue in the GP due to injury, a winner of the reserve match could be elected to step in for said heavyweight.

Here are the weigh-in results in full, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD (Showtime)

* Fedor Emelianenko (230) vs. Antonio Silva (264) – heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals
* Andrei Arlovski (242) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (250) – heavyweight-tournament quarterfinals
* Shane Del Rosario (248) vs. Lavar Johnson (243) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight
* Chad Griggs (229) vs. Gian Villante (227) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight
* Valentijn Overeem (239) vs. Ray Sefo (249) – heavyweight-tournament reserve fight

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

* John Cholish (155.75) vs. Marc Stevens (156.5)^
* Igor Gracie (170.75) vs. John Salgado (170)
* Don Carlo-Clauss (170.4) vs. Sam Oropeza (169.75)
* Josh LaBerge (145.75) vs. Anthony Leone (146.2)*
* Jason McLean (145.5) vs. Kevin Roddy (145.75)

* – Leone has been give one hour to lose the remaining two-tenths of a pound
^ – Stevens weighed one-half pound over the contracted limit, but Cholish elected to accept the match-up

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. The continuing evolution of Shane del Rosario.

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

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

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

2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finally gets started.

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

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

1. The return of Fedor Emelianenko.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

And now, for a few final comments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Sergei Kharitonov vs. Brett Rogers

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

4. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett

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

3. Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett

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

2. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum

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

But my top pick simply has go to go to…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Who is Sergei Kharitonov, again?

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

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

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

2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship is basically being vacated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. It’s finally happening.

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

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

5. Strikeforce will be back on national television.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Once coveted as one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world, the deadly Russian striker now finds himself on the cusp of making a comeback in a big way when he returns to Japan once again to take on Tatsuya Mizuno at the year-end extravaganza, DREAM’s: Dynamite!! 2010.

The former PRIDE star will have chance to take on the finalist of DREAM’s inaugural light heavyweight Grand Prix in Tatsuya Mizuno, who earned his spot in the finals defeating the Dutch striking sensation in Melvin Manhoef via TKO in the first round. However, Mizuno later fell to former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi in the finals, succumbing to a rear-naked choke inside of the first round.

The contest will most likely be fought at heavyweight. Mizuno spent the bulk of his career as a heavyweight fighter, however just recently dropped down to the 205-pound class since entering in the promotion’s most recent Grand Prix.

Kharitonov was last seen in action at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final where he met Singh Jaideep in a special super fight feature at the kickboxing extravaganza. Sergei lost via TKO inside of the first round. The loss squelched any thoughts of the Russian completing a winning streak, after garnering his first such win when he defeated former prospect Takumi Sato via TKO last October.

MMAFighting.com first reported the news of the Sergei/Mizuno match up, which has since been a late addition to the Dynamite!! show.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the match up? Will Sergei or Tatsuya reign supreme? Sound off in the comment section below.

A heavyweight matchup between former top ten PRIDE heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) and UFC veteran “Pe De Pano” Marcio Cruz (6-2) is set for the Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship May 14, according to Tatame.

Kharitonov is coming off a submission loss to “Snowman” Jeff Monson (33-9) at DREAM.8 in Nagoya in April 2009.

Cruz tapped Dave Yost (6-2) in a rear naked choke at Art of Fighting 7 in Tampa April 3.

The event comes right on the heels of UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi last Saturday, giving an encouraging sign that Abu Dhabi could become a reliable and profitable MMA destination from now on.

Early in his career, Kharitonov served as a training partner for Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1). His martial arts background is primarily in combat sambo and boxing, but he has added elements of Muay Thai and karate in the last two years.  Kharitonov earned a spot in MMA’s top ten rankings at heavyweight as recently as October 2008, but has since lost via submission to “Snowman” Jeff Monson (28-2) at DREAM.8 in Nagoya April 5.

Kharitonov isn’t going light in his kickboxing debut.  In August, Ghi?? set a new K-1 record by winning three bouts in less than six minutes at the K-1 Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying Grandprix.

Kharitonov knocked down Ambriz almost immediately, snapping back Armbriz’s Arthur Fonzarelli ’do, and although he got back up, Ambriz was never really in the fight.

Even a yellow card to Kharitonov for holding the ropes didn’t help Ambriz.  Every hit staggered him, and Kharitonov was relentless in his assault, throwing straights, hooks, and knees.

Ambriz finally tapped from his hands and knees at 2:29 of round one as Kharitonov pummelled Armbriz’s ribs.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic’s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

“Mighty Mo” TKO’d “Warpath” Ruben Villareal (13-14-3) in Los Angeles in June 2007 to remain undefeated in MMA; but, after, returned to kickboxing for a 1-5 run in K-1.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic‘s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches.

A spot opened for Kharitonov when “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank.

Eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) and ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) each moved up a spot respectively on Herring’s loss.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) retained the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship during a slow month that saw no changes in the top seven spots.

Emelianenko pulled out of Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas 11 October in which he was matched versus fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) with a hand injury sustained in his 36-second destruction of seventh-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5).

Emelianenko was replaced by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5) in the main event.

Top contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) title challenge versus Frank Mir (11-3) got slightly more interesting when Lesnar, who got tapped by Mir in February, dominated Herring…but only slightly.

The UFC’s top heavyweight contender, fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) will probably draw either Lesnar or Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) in his next fight.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) is rumored to be considering a return to the UFC; but, Fighters.com has not confirmed that.

Sylvia (24-5) licks his wounds and awaits a match-up at Affliction’s return.

September Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)

It ain’t pretty! Nogueira has turned “blocking punches with your face” into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski will be his toughest fight since losing a decisiong to Nog’in 2006.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has versus Barnett in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and maybe Fighters.com title.

6. “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)

The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6’8″ riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC’s title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO.  Does he have a winning strategy to return to MMA?

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

The oft maligned “Maine-iac” has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, “Napao” risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart?

9. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3)

Fedor’s li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of “The Last Emporer”. In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Kharitonov.

10. Sergei Kharitonov (15-3)

Kharitonov followed a TKO loss to Aleksander Emelianenko with consecutive first-round stoppages of Michael Russow and Alistair Overeem; but, has been laid up in Russia for the last year. His return would give a the division a needed dose of excitement.

If Atencio can make Emelianenko v Couture, Barnett and Arlovski will fight for the right follow-up Couture versus Emelianenko, since Couture has intimated his intention to retire win, lose, or draw versus Emelianenko.

However, the more intriguing matchmaking question in the heavyweight division after Saturday night is what to do with “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) after their losses. They present two very different matchmaking problems.

“Big” Ben should get no rest after his gutsy brawl versus legit heavyweight stud Arlovski. Rothwell took everything Arlovski dished and dished back until the end.

Rothwell closed distance despite Arlovski’s superior footwork, rolled out of the “Pitbull’s” leg locks, and worked Arlovski over from the top position on the mat.

As soon as Rothwell is healthy, he should get another challenge just a little less monumental than Arlovski.

Adrenaline MMA President Monte Cox, who will probably hold Rothwell for his Adrenaline sequel this autumn, should parachute into whichever Siberian boot camp Sergei Kharitonov (15-3) is teaching Russian soldiers how to snap necks in and convince Kharitonov to take the fight.

Kharitonov is an Arlovski-lite with an international amateur boxing pedigree and combat sambo ranking, but without the refinement and explosiveness of the “Pitbull”.

The match-up allows Rothwell to roll his training for Arlovski over into a camp for a similar opponent and maintain the intensity required to compete near the top.

For Kharitonov, the match-up allows him to return near the top of the division after a year’s holiday, make a splash in the U.S. in the wake of Emelianenko’s Russian wave, and pick-up a big win if he can watch the tape from Saturday night where Arlovski wrote the book on beating Rothwell.

If Kharitonov can’t be lured into the cage for a reasonable purse, “Snowman” Jeff Monson (25-8) provides a sufficient technical challenge to Rothwell in a very different kind of fighter than Arlovski.

Monson could sprinkle a little of his magic jits’ powder on Rothwell and steal Rothwell’s momentum back into big fights, maybe even a rematch with Sylvia.

After Rothwell’s solid showing versus Arlovski, it’s important the rising star not be given a pass in his next fight. Tell him what a good look he gave in Anaheim, get him in the gym, and give him another challenge to stay hungry for.

Sylvia is a different matter altogether. He’s fought and failed versus the three top heavyweights in the world in his last four fights; and, the magnitude of the whole situation in Anaheim got into his head.

Can you blame him? Emelianenko was Sylvia’s last and best opportunity to trump the booing crowds and UFC “co-main event” slights with an irrefutable historical legacy. It may have been his last chance to conquer a legend and create his own legend for posterity.

And, while Emelianenko is naturally aloof of such things and, anyway, was secluded in St. Petersburg, Sylvia was having the import of his task beat into his brain day-in and day-out as he managed the majority of hype duties for the Affliction debut.

Give him a break, at least psychologically.

Match Sylvia versus Adrenaline MMA’s debut heavyweight main event Michael Russow (10-1).

Russow isn’t a gimme’. In fact, the powerful wrestler is a great physical and technical challenge for Sylvia; but, importantly, it’s a low-key fight that Sylvia can focus on without the daily grind of international marketing and promotion.

For Russow, a win would propel him into big fights and all he has to do is watch Couture’s lesson on wrestling Sylvia to a “W”.

On the off chance that Sylvia wants to climb back into the ring in September, a heavyweight in a similar situation is looking for an opponent across the Pacific.

A match-up between Sylvia and “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) pits two former top five heavyweights who are both struggling with the mind-fuck of going from “I’m really good.” to “How good am I really?”

Sure, they’re both significant challenges for each other; but, Filipovic is righting himself at home, sweet home in Japan and the TLC the Japanese would show a big gaijin like Sylvia would be a stark contrast to the booing he endures at home.

Hell, Sylvia might get fitted for a kimono and never come back from The Land of the Rising Sun, win, lose, or draw versus “Cro Cop”.

Again, nothing is wrong with either fighter physically or technically. Both fighters need to get their minds right and, at least psychologically, they’re evenly matched for an explosive fight in a more comfortable atmosphere.

Cox could make the fight. He’s already loaned out lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) to DREAM with results that have propelled the former Bodog welterweight into the lightweight top ten.

It’s a matter of Sylvia’s agent Monte Cox convincing Sylvia’s promoter Monte Cox that the trip to Tokyo is for the long-term benefit of his heavyweight more than headlining him on the second Adrenaline MMA card.