Strikeforce has finally completed all the first round fights of their heavyweight tournament. Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett advanced to the semi-finals by beating Fabricio Werdum and Brett Rogers respectively.
Now the semi-final brackets are set: Alistair Overeem vs Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov vs Josh Barnett.
According to the USA TODAY/SBNation Consensus MMA Rankings Silva is the #6 best heavyweight in the world, Overem is #7, Kharitonov is #13 and Barnett is #14. Expect them to move around in the June rankings. Overeem just beat #3 Fabricio Werdum and Barnett hasn't fought in a long time so many rankers had dropped him.
The semi-finals are expected to take place in October. No word on the location but it's exceedingly unlikely they'll be held in California due to Barnett's ongoing issues with the California State Athletic Commission following his 2009 drug test failure and suspension.
Who you got in the semi-finals?
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum
Poll Who's advancing in the next round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?
- Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett
- Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett
- Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov
- Alistair Overeem and Sergei Kharitonov