Last Night’s Strikeforce Event, Overeem vs. Werdum, couldn’t have been worse
Ever since Strikeforce came up with the genius idea for a Heavyweight Grand Prix, fans have been anticipating each event. Last night Alistair Overeem faced Fabricio Werdum, a fight that would end the quarterfinals of the tournament. As an MMA fan, I was excited to see how this would play out. I couldn’t have been more disappointed in the main event.
The card itself was average at best. Josh Barnett looked great in return to the cage, as he destroyed Brett Rogers. KJ Noons and Jorge Masvidal as provided some energy, although it was mostly from Masvidal as he obliterated Noons. All this was acceptable, because the main event was suppose to be dynamite! When Overeem met Werdum in the cage, the crowd was cheering and going wild. It wouldn’t take long for the booing to start.
Overeem landed some nice power shots and knock Werdum down, but Werdum would stay on the ground inviting Overeem to the engage in the ground game. Now, Werdum is a second degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was Werdum that shocked the world and submitted Fedor, right? So why would Overeem, ever, engage him on the ground? Overeem would have no part of it, and instead would motion for Werdum to stand.
Overeem clearly had the advantage on the feet, he is a great kick-boxer after all. He would batter Werdum, but not to the point where he pushed ahead for a knockout. He was very picky and patient with Werdum, almost as if he were too cautious.
If you mix Overeem’s timidness with Werdum’s guard pulling strategy, it made for one boring fight. So boring in fact, I went through every main event in the UFC and Strikeforce in the last 3 years and only two were worse. Frank Mir vs Mirco Cro-Cop at UFC 119 and Anderson Silva vs Thales Leites at UFC 97. Both of those were a bit worse, but not by much. To be compared with those two events, should make Strikeforce take a long look at this fight. I understand it happens, and sometimes the main event just lacks explosion and excitement. But, Strikeforce is trying to gauge more and more interest in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and this didn’t help.
I place most of the blame on Werdum for not adjusting his strategy, but Alistair Overeem could have pressed and finished the fight. Both men are at fault and as an MMA fan, I know this is not what the sport is about.
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