Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Predictions

Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Silva As Bas Rutten said on Inside MMA, this is not an easy fight for Fedor and I agree. However, Mike Kyle was 1 clean punch away from finishing off Silva in their recent fight. Fedor will not likely make the same mistake. I lean towards Fedor here, but Silva will […]

Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Silva

As Bas Rutten said on Inside MMA, this is not an easy fight for Fedor and I agree. However, Mike Kyle was 1 clean punch away from finishing off Silva in their recent fight. Fedor will not likely make the same mistake. I lean towards Fedor here, but Silva will be handful just in the size department alone. I don’t think it will be easy, but Fedor will catch Silva because his head is a large target and Fedor has pinpoint accuracy.

Andrei Arlovski vs Sergei Kharitonov

Arlovski is the faster more technical striker. In fact much more. Kharitonov is the russian bear and swings like it. He swings tight inside hooks and if he connects its trouble for Arlovski who has had trouble against heavy big punchers such as Tim Sylvia, Brett Rogers, and Fedor Emelianenko. If Arlovski can execute the gameplan he probably wanted to do against Brett Rogers he should be able to beat Kharitonov easily.

The Reserve Bouts

Shane Del Rosario vs Lavar Johnson

Could be the best fight of the night. I’m leaning towards Lavar, but Del Rosario is clearly the more talented fighter. I just have this feeling the toughness and power of Johnson will get him the victory.

Chad Griggs vs Gianpiero Villante

Chad Griggs.

Valentijn Overeem vs Ray Sefo

Ray Sefo. Overeem is coming off a monster layoff.

Strikeforce Main Event Breakdown: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva

Filed under: StrikeforceHis unbeaten streak finally over after nearly a decade, Fedor Emelianenko throws himself back into the fire as part of Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix. For an athlete who openly admitted considering retirement in the last y…

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His unbeaten streak finally over after nearly a decade, Fedor Emelianenko throws himself back into the fire as part of Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix. For an athlete who openly admitted considering retirement in the last year or two, it will be a tall order to find the fire to run the gauntlet and emerge as the winner over a crowded field of various former and current organizational champions.

His first tourney start will come on Saturday against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, a former EliteXC heavyweight champion who has lost only once in the last four years, to field entrant Fabricio Werdum. Ironically, Werdum is the man to snap Emelianenko’s historic streak.

Standing with the other seven members of the tournament field, Emelianenko is clearly the smallest and at 34 years old, he is also the oldest. All of which would make a Grand Prix tournament victory the biggest achievement of his career.

Strikeforce Grand Prix: By the Odds

Filed under: StrikeforceWhile small-scale gambling on the NCAA basketball tournament is something of an American tradition, I’ve found it’s much harder to get my friends and neighbors involved in a Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix betting pool.

That…

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While small-scale gambling on the NCAA basketball tournament is something of an American tradition, I’ve found it’s much harder to get my friends and neighbors involved in a Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix betting pool.

That’s because a) all my friends and neighbors know that I follow this stuff for a living, while they’re still wondering why Kimbo Slice didn’t get included in the bracket, and b) the lack of seeding means you kind of have to actually know something about each fighter in order to effectively pick a winner.

Thankfully, online oddsmakers have handicapped Saturday night’s opening round for us, so we might as well sift through the betting lines and see if there aren’t any egregious errors. Won’t you join me below?

Josh Barnett: Strikeforce Grand Prix Will Be ‘Total Earth-Shaker’ in MMA

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsNEW YORK — Josh Barnett has made it very clear that he doesn’t care about titles or fanfare or even the public perception of him, and he’s just as adamant that performance should stand on its own merits. In other words, f…

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NEW YORK — Josh Barnett has made it very clear that he doesn’t care about titles or fanfare or even the public perception of him, and he’s just as adamant that performance should stand on its own merits. In other words, forget about what’s come before today, and focus on what stands in front of you now.

As such, he wants fans to put aside existing thoughts or preconceptions about the UFC/Strikeforce rivalry and see the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix for what it is.

Flanked by the seven other tournament fighters at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Barnett demanded the MMA world’s attention.

“If someone’s just going to say, ‘If it’s not the UFC, then it’s not as good,’ then you’re really sort of s—— on all that we’re doing here,” Barnett said. “So I just want everybody to look at it from a completely objective standpoint for what it is, for what we bring to the table, and for what we’re going to accomplish.”

Antonio Silva Expects Fedor Emelianenko to Be at His Best

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NEW YORK — MMA Fighting spoke to Antonio Silva about his upcoming fight against Fedor Emelianenko at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva on Saturday night. “Bigfoot” talked about what he expects from Emelianenko, how he prepared for the fight and more.

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NEW YORK — MMA Fighting spoke to Antonio Silva about his upcoming fight against Fedor Emelianenko at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva on Saturday night. “Bigfoot” talked about what he expects from Emelianenko, how he prepared for the fight and more.

Strikeforce Fedor vs. Silva Preview and Predictions

Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce’s much-discussed heavyweight tournament begins on Saturday night, with two of the four quarterfinal bouts taking place on a five-fight card that features nothing but heavyweights.

What: Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva …

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Fedor EmelianenkoStrikeforce’s much-discussed heavyweight tournament begins on Saturday night, with two of the four quarterfinal bouts taking place on a five-fight card that features nothing but heavyweights.

What: Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva

When: Saturday, the Showtime card starts at 10 PM ET

Where: Izod Center, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Predictions on the five televised fights below.