Scott Coker discusses the details of Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament
Posted on January 5, 2011, 11:29 PM by Joey SantosusWith the recent confirmation of the Strikeforce Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament and the re-signing of Fedor Emelianenko, CEO Scott Coker has began rolling out his plans for 2011. The participants have been named and the bracket is set, however Coker acknowledges there are issues yet to be addressed.
The major question surrounds the division champ Alistair Overeem's participation and whether or not the title will be on the line.
"Right now, Alistair Overeem is the Strikeforce heavyweight champion," Coker explained. "That's something we can answer tomorrow, because what we're trying to do is clear it with the commissions to allow the fighters to fight more than three rounds outside of the title. The rules of MMA now say a five-round fight has to be a championship fight, and so we're working on that. Hopefully we'll have an answer soon on that."
There is also the on-going licensing issues that Barnett has encountered after being denied by the CSAC in 2009 for failing a required drug screening. Coker, however, did not seem discouraged.
"We've talked to four athletic commissions that will license him with a clean test. We feel confident that won't be an issue. Keep in mind Josh Barnett went to Sacramento six weeks ago, took a test and was clean. He hasn't fought for a year-and-a-half in America. He still has issues in California, so his fight won't be in California, but Josh has moved on, and we're moving on, too. He's been out of the fight business in America for 18 months. I think he's served his time."
After a lackluster 2010, the Strikeforce Heavyweight division seemed to lose momentum as the UFC's was at an all time high. However, with the UFC champ currently sidelined for much of the year, leaving the division at a stand-still, it appears Strikeforce is primed to prove its worth in 2011.
Source: MMAFighting.com | Photo: M-1Global.com
Comments
I hope no one drops out of this one.
This right here is gunna be a wild 2011 for Heavyweights
Can't wait to see Barnett fight against some legit competition, looking for him and Overeem in the finals.
no fedor?
finally arlovski is gonna have a real chance to show the world why he's the most technically sound HW in mma. And yes, u idiots might think he has a weak chin, but how was his chin in his last fight? thank you very much
I highly disagree. Andre Arlovski is a poopoo caca and fights like shit.
Thats poopoo doodoo in English
I agree to the point that I will say Arlovski is an extremely well rounded fighter. He has not been fighting at the level he is capable of for quite a while and I think it is because of mental issues. I really hope he comes into this with his head on right. If he does he has the potential to make it to the finals but I don't hold out much hope. You are right about his chin though. He took some big punches from Big Foot and never looked rocked.
I don't like to be "this guy"
But somebody is gunna get hurt, somebody won't like their contract, and somebody will downright make lies to not have to fight somebody.
If none of that occurs, we are in for a treat to say the least, let's just hope nothing comes up :/
This seems almost too good too be true.
That somebody being Fedor avoiding Reem IMHO
Overeem tests positive for steroids. Fedor pulls out over contract disputes. Kharitonov is out 8 months due to injury. Arlovski pulls out due to fear of being KOed. Rogers fights Silva for the title.
jk looks like this is the year for the SF heavyweights.
Wooooohooooo Bigfoot is the new best heavyweight in the world!!
Damn I wanted to see Boobie Lasley
Overeem!!
IMO SF will never get this all the way to the final, there are to many if's and but's with Barnett & Fedor especially. The likes of Reem & Rogers is they will fight anybody anywhere. Unfortunately you can't say the same for everyone in the Tournament.
I hope im not right and we see an amazing year for HW competition
there is not a single right fact in your comment...
go Strikeforce
Dude i got mad respect for Coker trying to put this show on. if this works i hope he gets the credit he deserves he rocks. he seems to now what the fans want, in that we want tournaments to find out who would actually beat who.
I have to agree with you man
Looks like the best thing to happen to the HW divison since the demise of Pride to me. The UFC divison has always been a bit of a joke and Cain is the first UFC champion that I have ever considered for the number 1 spot. But honestly I think I will consider the person that wins the semi final of Overeem/Werdum vs Fedor/Silva to be number 1.
I hope that this goes ahead and there's no last minute hiccup. It seems too good to be true.
i tell you raight now, This is "the event" of 2011.
Its not all taking place on the same card, It will be stretched out over a period of time.
This must be some kind of hoax, Scott Coker was killed decades ago by a hooker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktkgkA_ooh8
Great timing for the tourney too for these guys careers, most of them are between 29 and 33 except fedor. right in their prime.
Imagine if the whole tourney was all in 1 day like the 1st UFC's!
in that case Lesser Reem might win the whole thing....being a reserve and all ....
I'm very excited and anxious to see this tournament. Cudos to the strikeforce team if they can make it happen. If I were to rank these 8 in this tournament out of these 8 not including any1 else I would rank them like. #1 Fedor
#2 Overeem
#3 Werdum
#4 Barnett
#5 Bigfoot
#6 Kharitinov
#7 Arlovski
#8 Rogers
The only part about this tourney I don't like is it will take all year to complete. Other than that, fantastic! All match up possibilities are incredible.
I would like on the list that I put have
#1 vs. #8. #2 vs. #7
#4 vs. #5. #3 vs. #6
Love the picture of scott coker with Benny Hill haha
That makes a matchmaking sense, but one side of the bracket gives us probably the most exciting match-ups sooner then later. Marketing wise, it could a huge rematch between Fedor/Werdum or the HW fight of the decade Fedor/Overeem, or a total upset in Big Foot.
If I was Coker I would be giving the "Keep your pee clean, or I'll drop on your head all Pharaoh's 7 curses" speech twice each day to the usual "suspects" (**cough...Barnett, **cough...Alistair )