Strikeforce HW Grand Prix: news, info, bracket, etc...

[Liquidrob]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa5pGXyZ26Y&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

Notes from Josh Gross over at ESPN:

- Tournament will kick off on February 12 at the IZOD Center in New Jersey, where Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Silva will take place.

-Quarterfinals will likely take place in April, locations and dates TBA. Overeem vs Werdum and Brett Rogers vs Josh Barnett are expected on that show.

- Shane Del Rosario vs Lavar Johnson will take place on the February 12 event, where they will battle for the number one alternate for the event. Valentijn Overeem vs Ray Sefo is expected to be another reserve bout (per MMAJunkie), and Scott Coker has confirmed that Daniel Cormier, pending on his Strikeforce Challengers performance this week, could see him also in the mix.

- Alistair Overeem’s title will be on the line (5 round title fights), and hence why the bracket is shaped the way it is. Overeem was given the winner of Werdum vs Fedor, and that winner will take on the winner of Fedor vs Silva, all who are legitimate contenders for the belt. On the other side of the bracket, a worthy contender will be made between Barnett, Rogers, Kharitonov, and Arlovski to battle the champion in the finals.

- Fedor Signs 4-Fight Deal with Strikeforce, reported by Sherdog.

- M-1 Global is also working on finalizing a separate TV deal with Showtime, which should be announced in the next few weeks.

- The Strikeforce HW tournament announcement was showing on the ESPN News Ticker today. The Fedor vs Antonio Silva bout taking place on 2/12 in NJ was also showing yesterday. Great exposure for Strikeforce following the announcement.

- Strikeforce will try to work through the Josh Barnett situation, where he was not licensed in California. Coker said Barnett supplied a clean sample to the CSAC 30 days ago and will apply for a license with the commission that will host the April event, which is not yet determined, as reported by Sergio Non over at USA Today.

- Scott Coker also mentioned that he is working on making Kawajiri vs Melendez this year, and is aiming at hosting the bout at the March Ohio event. The Miesha Tate vs Marloes Coenen title bout is also being targeted for March.

[Kuzzy Powers]

In terms of this tournament actually being set up properly, they probably shouldve elected to go with different first round match-ups, or even putting Fedor/Silva and Werdum/REEM on opposite ends of the bracket. Ideally you want some combination of those 4 meeting in the finals IMO. The other side is clearly the weaker side of the bracket. You kind of get the idea that they decided to put Fedor/Silva together first then randomly decided to turn it into a tourney type deal, probably with just the 4 of them.. which then somehow expanded to 8. Should be entertaining regardless, every first round match-up is pretty interesting.

PS: Really dope promo video, good job by Strikeforce there.

[Liquidrob]

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

In terms of this tournament actually being set up properly, they probably shouldve elected to go with different first round match-ups, or even putting Fedor/Silva and Werdum/REEM on opposite ends of the bracket. Ideally you want some combination of those 4 meeting in the finals IMO. The other side is clearly the weaker side of the bracket. You kind of get the idea that they decided to put Fedor/Silva together first then randomly decided to turn it into a tourney type deal, probably with just the 4 of them.. which then somehow expanded to 8. Should be entertaining regardless, every first round match-up is pretty interesting.

PS: Really dope promo video, good job by Strikeforce there.

No no no.

You want to try and put a guy over by having another guy in the finals that isn't one of the main guys. Have the main guys fight in the semi's.

[Kuzzy Powers]

No no no.

You want to try and put a guy over by having another guy in the finals that isn't one of the main guys. Have the main guys fight in the semi's.

Lol get wrestling out of your head son. Who is gonna get "put over" from that group? Especially when THE REEM smashes their face in? Its all about seeing the best possible match-up in the finals.

[Steel Mamba]

I think they probably did it this way to have a good chance of seeing Reem vs Fedor, which is the fight everyone wants to see. Put them on opposite sides and who knows, the match might not happen. Plus, Fedor losing to anyone besides Reem isn't good for business. With that we also get nothing but fresh matchups, instead of a potential rematch of Fedor/AA or Fedor/Rogers. The only rematch that would make sense right away is Fedor/Werdum. So the bracket looks good to me, who u guys picking?

[calgaryballer]

They want five rounders every fight of the tourney, and this means we are going to see Reem vs #1 Contender (Werdum), Champion vs Fedor/Silva (if Silva beats Fedor, then he is legit) and then Champion vs guy who came from other side.

I actually have to give SF credit. It's a way to make every fight matter. Props to them

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Love the setup...don't like the 5 rounds. Higher chance of injury.
Risk of injury also means better to have matchups early when guys are healthy and not have to wait a million months.

[CrimsonGhost56]

so barnett/rogers is gonna take place in south dakota on an indian reservation i take it?

[EmpireWF]

so barnett/rogers is gonna take place in south dakota on an indian reservation i take it?

Not that drastic. They just won't go to the 3 major commission states.

[CrimsonGhost56]

Not that drastic. They just won't go to the 3 major commission states.

u damn right new jersey is major

[EmpireWF]

not too many times you can say that

[Warner2BruceTD]

Lol get wrestling out of your head son. Who is gonna get "put over" from that group? Especially when THE REEM smashes their face in? Its all about seeing the best possible match-up in the finals.

No, Larry is right. The only guy who has no shot at getting over is Sergei. If AA survives, you have the whole comeback story to play off of. Barnett is charasmatic and knows how to build a fight, he would easily jump up a level if he goes deep. Rogers, you could do the whole rags to riches deal, tire guy, etc.

I hated the brackets at first, but now I've come around. This is a great setyp, the only thing I would have done different is fedor/OVereem round one to gauruntee the fight.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Lol get wrestling out of your head son. Who is gonna get "put over" from that group? Especially when THE REEM smashes their face in? Its all about seeing the best possible match-up in the finals.

And if Barnett whoops Reem's arse as expected, you now have a new guy to market.

Right now, in the heavies, all you have is Reem and Fedor, and Werdum on a lesser level BECAUSE HE BEAT FEDOR.

Now, you have other guys on the other side that you can see if they can make something of themselves.

MMA and the fight game in general, as W2B has mentioned a million times, is closer to wrestling than you'd think or give credit for. Its a big circus either way.

[Liquidrob]

My take on the brackets, wasn't crazy about them at first, now I like them, would prefer the reem and fedor on different sides, but this will almost guarantee great fights if fedor beats big foot, he gets the reem or werdum

The left side is the top 4, the right side are guys who need 2 wins to be as credible as the others, barnett just 1 win, buy this is good for him, its like redemption bracket

Plus the belt in the line is a bonus, never liked the pride non title matches

Would have preferred shane in place of rogers and fighting AA, barnett against sergei, wanted 1 of the prospects in it