Filed under: Strikeforce
CINCINNATI — This is the Strikeforce live blog for Antonio Silva vs. Daniel Cormier, a heavyweight bout on tonight’s Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov event at the U.S. Bank Arena.
The winner of this Heavyweight Grand Prix fight will meet the winner of Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov at a later date. Silva (16-2) is coming off the biggest win of his career, a stoppage over Fedor Emelianenko in February. Cormier (8-0), who replaces Alistair Overeem in the tourney, bested Jeff Monson in June.
The live blog is below.
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Round 1: The size difference is very apparent when you see these two next to each other. Cormier looks like a child next to Silva. They touch gloves to start off and Silva goes on the attack first, charging straight in with a punch combo that Cormier avoids before tying up. Big right hand from Cormier slams home and drops Silva flat on his back. The crowd seems shocked as Cormier tries to follow up, but gets stymied by a recovered Silva. After a referee stand-up Cormier again finds opening on the feet, dotting Silva up with punches and prompting him to shoot a slow double-leg that has almost no chance of success against an Olympic wrestler like Cormier. Cormier slams Silva down but again can’t do much with the big man on his back. He lets him back up, and moments later drops Silva with a short right uppercut in close. Silva seems done, but Cormier lands one hammerfist and then another before the referee decides to step in. A dominant victory by Cormier, and he’s officially arrived in the big time.
Daniel Cormier def. Antonio Silva via KO (punch) at 3:56 of round one
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