Alistair Overeem cut by Strikeforce

[Ben]

Strikeforce has released its heavyweight champion.
Inside MMA has reported tonight on HDNet that Alistair Overeem has been cut by the promotion following his inability to participate in a scheduled match-up against Antonio Silva on Sept. 10 in the heavyweight grand prix tournament.

This could mean a couple of different things. It was a move to get Reem out of his SF deal so he can sign a UFC one, but that doesn't seem likely with both promotions under the Zuffa umbrella.

Second, he's just done with MMA is going to stick to K1 and possibly boxing. Either way the Grand Prix winner should just get the title now. Congrats to Josh Barnett :

 

[No More Sorrow]

Despite exercising its right to terminate the final fight on Alistair Overeem's contract, Forza LLC, which operates Strikeforce and is a subsidiary of UFC's parent company, Zuffa LLC, has not released the Strikeforce heavyweight champion.

Bas Boon, who represents Overeem through Dutch management firm Golden Glory, clarified to ESPN.com that the 31-year-old fighter is currently "in a negotiation period with Zuffa." Boon declined to discuss details, though sources familiar with the arrangement between Overeem and Strikeforce explained the fighter is bound to exclusive and separate 120-day negotiation and matching periods with the Las Vegas-based promoter.

Zuffa, through a representative, declined to comment on Overeem's contractual status. Because Overeem, ranked No. 4 by ESPN.com, turned down a Sept. 10 bout against Antonio Silva -- he blamed toe and rib injuries and inadequate time to prepare -- Forza executed clauses in the contract that allowed them to remove a fight from his deal. As it happened, the bout was Overeem's last on a contract that was assigned to Forza from Explosion Entertainment after Zuffa bought Strikeforce on March 10.

Overeem was scheduled to fight Silva during the semifinals of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix. Had Overeem won, he was free to negotiate a new contract while possessing considerable leverage. Sources say a handshake agreement between Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker and Golden Glory covered a finals appearance had Overeem advanced, but nothing was put down on paper.

"The problem with Strikeforce was that we made some agreements with Scott which were creating headaches (after) Zuffa took over," Boon said.

Attempts to renegotiate Overeem's deal ultimately failed.