The Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix—once considered a novel throwback idea to the PRIDE days of all—is finally and inexplicably over.
I say inexplicably because there were at least three instances over the course of the past year where it seemed impossible that the tournament, and Strikeforce as a whole, would continue to exist. But it did, and here we are after the culmination of the tournament and the rise of a brand new heavyweight force in mixed martial arts.
No longer a prospect, Daniel Cormier’s easy capture of the grand prix title—after not being an official member of the tournament in the first place—vaulted him into the ranks of title contenders. But he can’t simply jump to the UFC after his win; a contractual agreement between Zuffa and Showtime will keep him tied to the premium cable network for one more fight.
What’s next for Cormier and the rest of the stars from Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier?
Let’s take a look in the following pages.