Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship Grand Prix

When Strikeforce announced they were setting up a tournament between their heavyweight contenders, it wasn't just the most interesting even going in their promotion, but it may be the most intriguing development in the world of MMA in a number of years. Strikeforce has been developing a very nice stable of fighters within their promotion, guys like Jason Mayhem Miller, Dan Henderson, Jacare Souza, etc., but that has never been more true than in their Heavyweight Division. Alistair Overeem, the current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion as well as the Dream Heavyweight Champ, has not lost an MMA bout since 2007. Fedor Emilianenko is widely believed to be the best heavyweight MMA fighter of all time. Fabricio Werdum is coming off victories over fellow Tournament contenders Antonio Silva and Fedor Emilianenko. Andrei Arlovski has been on a bit of a losing streak, but showed well against Silva in his last fight and is a former UFC and Elite XC Heavyweight Champion. Josh Barnett hasn't lost since 2006 against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, but has battled failed steroid tests since that time and has had to withdraw from other big fights. Still, he's more than legit, he's beaten some tough guys in the division, including Aleksander Emilianenko and Randy Couture. Sergei Kharitonov is probably the most unknown fighter of the group, at least state side, but he too has some notable victories, including guys in this tournament, guys like Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, and has even bested Fedor Emilianenko in a Sambo match.

Outside of Cain Velasquez, you could make a case that any of these guys could be a top 5 heavyweight in the UFC. Could Werdum submit Junior Dos Santos or Shane Carwin, possibly, he submitted Fedor. Could Arlovski KO Frank Mir or Roy Nelson? He is the only guy to finish Roy Nelson after all. Could Alistair Overeem use his superior ring experience to withstand the rush of Brock Lesnar, using strong leg kicks to break his will, bully him around the ring, and beat him? I believe he can. This is a legit division for sure, and perhaps the best Heavyweight class in all of MMA.

So where does that leave the tournament? Its interesting, Strikeforce has made Overeem's fights "non-title" fights, meaning the belt is really only on the line in the championship round. But its been a bit vague as to what happens if The Reem loses in the first round, or what would happen were he to get injured and forced to drop out? They have a contingency plan if a fighter were to be injured, guys like Shane Del Rosario or Daniel Cormier (two younger up and coming contenders) would step in, but still are a bit mum about what would happen with the belt in Overeem's case.

Regardless, the idea of a tournament is a great element to bring back (similar to the "1 night" tournaments in Pride or the UFC), it lends more credibility to the eventual winner if they indeed become the last man standing amongs other true contenders. It also sets up the potential for other future bouts, if Fedor gets "caught" in an arm triangle without suffering any real damage, and misses the opportunity to face say Alistair Overeem in the final, that could be the first title defense match. I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Will Fedor redeem his single real loss by wining the tournament? Will Overeem become a more credible champion by surviving a tournament with all the top contenders? Or will someone like Andrei Arlovski or Josh Barnett re-capture their winning ways, and sit atop the Heavyweight division once again? Stay tuned!