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Who wins each Semi?

Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov

13K views 194 replies 51 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov
Date: Sep 10, 2011
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Venue: U.S. Bank Arena
Broadcast: Showtime



MAIN CARD (Showtime)

* Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov (heavyweight grand prix semifinal)
* Daniel Cormier vs. Antonio Silva (heavyweight grand prix semifinal)
* Champ Ronaldo Souza vs. Luke Rockhold (for middleweight title)
* Roger Gracie vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal
* Pat Healy vs Maximo Blanco

PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)

* Mike Kyle vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
* Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Yoel Romero
* Jordan Mein vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos
* Alexis Davis vs. Amanda Nunes
* Dominique Steele vs. Chris Mierzwiak

Strikeforce is headed to Cincinnati.

Multiple sources have confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Strikeforce's Sept. 10 event, which features the semifinal round of the organization's heavyweight grand prix, is set for U.S. Bank Arena in the Queen City.

It's the first-ever Strikeforce event in Cincinnati and the second in Ohio, which also hosted "Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson" back in March.

The Sept. 10 event's main card airs on Showtime.

According to sources, Strikeforce officials recently locked in the event's location with the Ohio Athletic Commission. Ohio regulates more shows per year than any other state commission.

In addition to the grand prix semifinals, the Sept. 10 event features a middleweight title fight between champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (14-2 MMA, 4-0 SF) and Luke Rockhold (7-1 MMA, 6-0 SF). Other confirmed bouts include light heavyweights Roger Gracie (4-0 MMA, 2-0 SF) vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (7-1 MMA, 2-1 SF) and lightweights Maximo Blanco (8-2 MMA, 0-0 SF) vs. Josh Thomson (18-4 MMA, 9-2 SF).

However, the featured attraction is the grand prix's final four. However, as MMAjunkie.com reported this past week, current heavyweight champ and tournament favorite Alistair Overeem (35-11 MMA, 3-0 SF) was pulled from the semifinals for what UFC president Dana White cited as a broken toe. However, the withdrawal also comes as Overeem, who has one fight remaining on his existing contract, attempts to renegotiate a new deal with Strikeforce, which the UFC's parent company acquired earlier this year.

In his place steps undefeated Daniel Cormier (8-0 MMA, 5-0 SF), who now meets Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (16-2 MMA, 3-1 SF). In the other semifinal fight, Sergei Kharitonov (18-4 MMA, 1-0 SF) takes on Josh Barnett (30-5 MMA, 1-0 SF).

In addition to Overeem, the tournament lost its other highest-profile entrant when Silva upset Fedor Emelianenko in an opening-round matchup back in February.

Cincinnati hasn't hosted a major MMA show since 2007, when UFC 77 also took place at the 17,000-seat U.S. Bank Arena on the Cincinnati riverfront. Middleweight champ Anderson Silva defended his title with a second-round TKO of Rich Franklin in a rematch and the night's pay-per-view headliner.

In addition to Franklin, the Cincinnati area is home to fighting notables such as Roger Bowling and Jorge Gurgel, who also are under contract to Strikeforce (but currently booked for other shows).
http://mmajunkie.com/news/24498/cin...ayweight-grand-prix-semifinals-on-sept-10.mma
 
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#15 ·
A discussin about the whole card right?

Mo-Gracie. Terrible fight for Roger IMO, we all know about his only possible way to win the fight and to take down a wrestler of Mo's caliber, i don't know about this one. I'm excited to see the improvement in Mo's stand up though.
 
#16 ·
Gracie's takedowns are surprisingly solid. I think if he keeps the pressure on him, he'll eventually get him down. Once its on the ground its a living hell for anyone on the planet.

I'm actually super excited for Yoel Romero vs Cavalcante. If you guys haven't seen Yoel Romero fight yet you need to! He reminds me of a bigger and stronger Hector Lombard. Both of them are from Cuba and competed in the olympics. Lombard for Judo obviously and Yoel for freestyle wrestling.
 
#17 · (Edited)
...I went with Kharitonov over Barnett because of his better striking and high ***** skills. Rogers could punch but had little to no ground defense skills. Sergi has good balance and serious power. Strange they have been watching each other fight in Pride for years and never met. If Barnett can't get take Sergi down or keep him to the ground, Barnett will be forced to trade- not to say he has no power but Sergi has a rock chin and very solid, nasty punches. Barnett has a good chance of getting flattened if he exchanges. I say Sergi takes it, brutally...
 
#19 ·
I think Barnett gets this down when he wants and either UD's Sergi or gets a sub.

I have Cormier UD'ing Silva and I think he could do it without taking Silva down aswell. His striking has improved greatly.

That would give us Cormier vs Barnett in the final and im not sure how that would play out.

Not sure about the Mo v Gracie fight, Roger could keep him at bay with his jab and look to bide his time with a takedown or Mo could prove to fast for him striking and win it that way.
 
#21 ·
Because of the size alone, i don't let myself give Cormier much chance although he could probably win this fight just by outstriking Antonio tbh.

As far as Barnett-Kharitonov, i think Barnett.

That would give us Cormier-Barnett on the finals where i', completely lost, but if i really had to choose, i'd go with Cormier.
 
#23 ·
I don't see him controlling Bigfoot. And I can't see him hitting harder than Mike Kyle who he trains with but gave Bigfoot everything he had right on the chin and Bigfoot still TKO ground and pounded him.

Bigfoot has decent hands. He's huge and still athletic enough to stay agressive with combos and jumping knees. His clinch work is good. He's very experienced against caged veterans like Ricco, Fedor, Kyle, Werdum, Arlovski... he's got that over Cormier as well.

He's heavy on top. And his BJJ is very good.

I know Cormier is a likable guy. Hell I really like him. But I dont see him winning this fight at all.
 
#27 ·
Barnett for sure against Sergei, I have a really hard time imagining Barnett losing that fight. Barnett will take him down and control him. Cormier-Silva I'm not sure about, that will be a close fight. I think Silva will take it just because he is too damn big.
 
#34 ·
Prelims are about to start in a few minutes, I'm really excited about Feijao/Romero, Mein, the Grand Prix semi-finals, Gracie/Mo, and most of all Jacare, Cyborg looked like hell at the weigh in's, so I think Mein will win big, and hope Jacare finishes Rockhold with a nice submission.
 
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