Title Could Change Hands Three Times in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Tourney

(Image courtesy of Strikeforce via MMA Convert)
Strikeforce has just released the bracket for their clusterfuctacular heavyweight tournament, which should clear up some of the conflicting reports about who’s fighting who. What it doesn’t specify is w…

Strikeforce heavyweight tournament bracket Fedor Werdum Overeem Barnett Silva Rogers Kharitonov Arlovski
(Image courtesy of Strikeforce via MMA Convert)

Strikeforce has just released the bracket for their clusterfuctacular heavyweight tournament, which should clear up some of the conflicting reports about who’s fighting who. What it doesn’t specify is when these fights are taking place. We know that Emelianenko vs. Silva and Arlovski vs. Kharitonov are both happening February 12th in New Jersey. Overeem/Werdum and Barnett/Rogers are tentatively slated to go down in April, exact date and location TBA. And the semi-finals and finals? Your guess is as good as ours, bro. With a little bit of luck, this entire dirty business will be settled by the time President Trump takes office.

(Personally, I think that getting all these guys together for a single-night tournament is the only way you can insure that the semi-finals and finals will actually take place, but we’re trying to stay positive here. For what it’s worth, Scott Coker is adamant that Josh Barnett’s licensing issues will not bar him from competing in the GP.)

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Fedor Emelianenko Signs Contract Extension, Will Face Antonio Silva

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, M-1 Global, News A rumored Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva fight is expected to be announced imminently, sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed to MMA Fighting.

As part of the announcem…

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A rumored Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva fight is expected to be announced imminently, sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed to MMA Fighting.

As part of the announcement, Strikeforce, Showtime and M-1 will announce that Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight extension that will guarantee his participation in a Strikeforce heavyweight tournament set to begin on Feb. 12.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Tourney Is Gutsy, but Is It Smart?

Filed under: StrikeforceWhatever problems Strikeforce may be forced to confront in 2011, a lack of ambition certainly won’t be one of them. Not in the heavyweight division, anyway. Not after Tuesday’s big news.

As MMA Fighting’s own Mike Chiappetta re…

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Whatever problems Strikeforce may be forced to confront in 2011, a lack of ambition certainly won’t be one of them. Not in the heavyweight division, anyway. Not after Tuesday’s big news.

As MMA Fighting’s own Mike Chiappetta reported earlier Tuesday, Strikeforce is planning an eight-man, single-elimination heavyweight tournament set to begin in early 2011. If the current plan holds, it should feature everyone from Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio Werdum to recent acquisition Josh Barnett and champion Alistair Overeem.

Coming from an organization that has struggled at times to get any two notable heavyweights into the same cage at the same time, it’s hard not to wonder if Strikeforce can even pull off something as complicated and prolonged as a high-profile heavyweight tournament. Even if we assume that CEO Scott Coker and his crew can make it happen, does that necessarily make it a good idea?

Overeem vs. Werdum Among Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament Pairings

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, M-1 Global, NewsEight Strikeforce heavyweights have all signed to compete in a single-elimination tournament to begin on Feb. 12, sources have confirmed to MMA Fighting.

While several of the matchups have …

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Eight Strikeforce heavyweights have all signed to compete in a single-elimination tournament to begin on Feb. 12, sources have confirmed to MMA Fighting.

While several of the matchups have been rumored for some time, MMA Fighting can report the addition of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem to the field. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Overeem will take on Fabricio Werdum.

*UPDATED* Strikeforce Locks Fedor in For at Least a Few More Fights

("I am ecstatic about new contract. I have not stopped smiling all week.")
Strikeforce moved one step closer this week to ensuring that its heavyweight tournament doesn’t implode and that Fedor Emelianenko *could* eventually fight heavyweight…


("I am ecstatic about new contract. I have not stopped smiling all week.")

Strikeforce moved one step closer this week to ensuring that its heavyweight tournament doesn’t implode and that Fedor Emelianenko *could* eventually fight heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

According to a report by MMAFighting.com, "The Last Emperor" has signed a contract extension with the San Jose-based organization that will see the Russian fighter compete in the planned 2011 heavyweight tournament. Although terms of the agreement were not released, as per Strikeforce policy, the report indicates that sources close to the situation said that the deal is for four fights. The new deal will commence with a February 12 first round tournament bout with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in New Jersey.

The question is whether or not it’s too little too late for Strikeforce to put together the most anticipated tilt in its promotional history between Emelianenko and Overeem.

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Emelianenko vs. Silva Targeted for Feb. 12, but Deal Not Yet Done

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsStrikeforce is targeting a Feb. 12 matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, but the bout is still not a done deal, according to sources in Strikeforce as well as Emelianenko’s camp.

The bout, which w…

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Fedor EmelianenkoStrikeforce is targeting a Feb. 12 matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, but the bout is still not a done deal, according to sources in Strikeforce as well as Emelianenko’s camp.

The bout, which was first reported by Sherdog, is the intended direction if Strikeforce and Emelianenko’s M-1 management agency can finalize a new deal.

A source in Emelianenko’s camp told MMA Fighting that it was likely that Emelianenko’s participation on the card would require that the deal be done by the end of this week, and that the two sides had several outstanding issues to deal with.