Strikeforce Is Still Doing This Heavyweight Thing

Well, Fedor got smashed by a Bigfoot and Overeem got “cut” from Strikeforce only to land a fight with Brock Lesnar on New Year’s Eve Day Eve. The fact that they got this far is actually kind of impressive. If they complete this before Zuffa destroys Strikeforce and takes every working part, I’ll still be surprised, but for now, let’s continue the farce.

Oh, yeah… what does the winner get? A title shot against the guy who is now in the UFC? Never mind. Let’s just concentrate on some of the final few awesome Strikeforce fights we’ll ever see. I guess that’s what we should concentrate on. No matter how pointless some of the final Strikeforce cards are, they’ll probably still be full of entertaining fights. I shit on Strikeforce a lot, but dammit if you’re not entertained every time you watch one of the fights.

Josh Barnett (30-5) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (18-4)
Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Final #1 (or 2, depending on how you’re counting) This summer, Barnett easily put Brett Rogers away. Kharitonov has reemerged as a serious heavyweight thanks to the tournament. If Barnett doesn’t get this to the ground, he’s going to get knocked out. I’ll be rooting for Kharitonov in this one.

Daniel Cormier (8-0) vs. Antonio Silva (16-2)
HW GP semifinal #2: How can anyone beat Silva? He’s a monster. In a world where other men weight 265 pounds in the same division, he still seems so much bigger than anyone else. It’s probably the head, but still. Cormier’s single “name” win is against an aging anarchist in Jeff Monson, but he does have a decorated amateur wrestling background. This should be a good test for the “young” fighter.

Champ Ronaldo Souza (14-2, 1nc) vs. Luke Rockhold (7-1)
This is a title fight. I have never heard of Luke Rockhold. Strikeforce. It’s still around.

Roger Gracie (4-0) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (7-1)
In an alternate universe, this is a headlining fight. I’m glad we’re not in that universe.

Maximo Blanco (8-2-1, 1nc) vs. Pat Healy (25-16)
/shrugs

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)
Mike Kyle vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs. Yoel Romero
Jordan Mein vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Alexis Davis vs. Amanda Nunes
Chris Mierzwiak vs. Dominique Steele