Dana Speaks On Who Will Face The Winner Of The Strikeforce Grand Prix

[No More Sorrow]

"We'll figure that out when it happens," White said.

However, it's not out of the realm of possibility that a UFC import could fill the spot.

There were a gaggle of fighters to choose from at a pre-event press conference for the all-heavyweight main card of UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at MGM Grand Garden Arena and airs live on pay-per-view. (Preliminary-card fights air on FX.)

Some, of course, are more suited to the job than others. And while it's debatable that any of them would jump at the opportunity to move away from the industry-leading promotion to its sibling show, heavyweights aren't in short supply.

"Who knows," White told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "We could bring somebody else in. There's probably another heavyweight. I honestly don't know the answer to that question."

First, Josh Barnett needs to fight Daniel Cormier in the finals of the grand prix, which take place May 19 at

HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The event's main card airs live on Showtime and preliminary-card fights air on Showtime Extreme.

It's been 13 months since the eight-man tournament kicked off, and a multitude of scheduling challenges have delayed the competition, to say nothing of UFC parent company Zuffa's acquisition of Strikeforce this past March.

Most recently, the tournament has been pushed back by a broken hand suffered by Cormier in a fight with Antonio Silva that won him a trip to the finals.

Both Cormier (9-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) and Barnett (31-5 MMA, 2-0 SF) have both expressed excitement at the prospect of getting the whole thing over with, and White is right there with them.

As part of Zuffa's new broadcast agreement with Strikeforce broadcast partner Showtime, the winner of the tournament will fight in an event promoted by the premium cable channel before the Strikeforce heavyweight division is shuttered. Then, a jump to the UFC is possible.

Or, if a UFC import manages to beat the grand prix winner, a jump back. Either way, another to join the party.

For now, though, that's a scenario too far ahead to imagine.

"I can't even think about that yet," White said. "We've got to get that tournament done first."

Dana has to be hoping that Cormier wins this thing so he doesn't have to deal with Barnett. I don't think that'll happen though, Barnett is taking this.

 

[The Cork]

Well it surely has to be a UFC guy making the jump, theres nobody that comes to mind out there thats a free agent they could sign (Fedor, Sylvia, Lashley or Cro Cop anyone? : ) and theres nobody fitting the bill already in Strikeforce.

It would make sense to unify the SF and UFC divisions with winner vs winner of Reem/JDS.

 

[Troy]

I am amazed that this tournament still hasn't finished and we still have to wait two more months before it is over. Am looking forward to the fight but it has taken them too long to get to this final. Definitely see a UFC guy heading across to fight the winner, they have more than enough heavyweights so it won't hurt them to spare one guy for a fight.